The Guide to Rising to Power: The Ultimate Schemes of a Green Tea Beauty

Pushing open the door to the small screening room 301 in the college building, a wave of heat mixed with coffee, popcorn, and the atmosphere of youth hits you.

The indoor lighting was dim, and there were already twenty or thirty people sitting there, chatting quietly in small groups.

As soon as Shen Yao appeared, the conversation fell into an eerie silence, and almost all eyes instinctively turned toward the doorway.

The girl wore a simple blue shirt and pleated skirt, her plainness somewhat out of place with her surroundings, yet she possessed an undeniable radiance. Her carefully applied, "no-makeup" makeup made her already striking features even more exquisite.

Some stared wide-eyed, making no attempt to hide their amazement; others exchanged meaningful glances, scrutinizing her; and still others simply looked at her with pure admiration.

Zhang Chen immediately came to greet her, his face beaming with undisguised smugness, as if Shen Yao were his masterpiece.

He leaned closer and chuckled softly, "Junior Shen Yao, you look especially beautiful today?"

He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but he felt that the person was more dazzling than usual, making it hard to look away.

His voice wasn't loud, but it still sounded somewhat clear in the suddenly quiet environment.

Just then, a boy who had been lounging in the corner of the screening room, wearing headphones and playing on his phone, seemed to have his attention drawn by Zhang Chen's words.

He casually raised his head, his gaze passing over the crowd and landing on Shen Yao.

The boy was wearing a black leather jacket that looked a bit old but was of good quality. He was tall and had long legs. He had a handsome face with a slightly roguish charm and a sharp jawline.

His gaze lingered on Shen Yao's face for two seconds, and then an interested light flashed in his previously somewhat lazy eyes.

Shen Yao's heart skipped a beat, and a blush rose to her cheeks, as if she were embarrassed by Zhang Chen's words. She lowered her head slightly and spoke softly:

"Don't make fun of me, senior. I'm here to learn."

While dealing with Zhang Chen, her peripheral vision instantly locked onto the boy in the leather jacket.

At the same time, her brain was working at lightning speed, quickly scanning everyone present with their clothing, demeanor, and the way they looked at her.

Zhang Chen led her to an empty space in front.

As she sat down, Shen Yao's movements seemed natural, but she deliberately adjusted the angle so that her beautiful neckline and a small patch of fair and smooth collarbone were aligned precisely with the direction of the boy in the leather jacket.

She knew that this part of her body was beautiful—slender, delicate, and possessing a silent allure.

Sure enough, she felt that the gaze from the corner seemed to become more focused, lingering on her neck with a hint of amusement.

Not only him, but several other boys around him also glanced in their direction, intentionally or unintentionally.

Shen Yao was indifferent to it, but on the surface she still looked obedient and attentive, waiting for the movie to start. She even tilted her head slightly, as if she was listening very attentively to Zhang Chen's introduction of the movie's background. This posture made the curve of her neck even more obvious.

She wouldn't take the initiative to talk to that guy in the leather jacket; that would be too low-class and too obviously ulterior motive.

What she had to do was become the only light source in the darkness, attracting moths to her.

Moreover, in that brief glance, she had already clearly seen the watch on the boy's wrist.

Although she didn't know much about luxury goods, the fashion magazines she had been cramming on recently made her recognize that it was an Italian luxury brand called "Panerai," and the price was far beyond what Zhang Chen's family could afford.

The movie had already started playing; it was an obscure art film, with black and white light and shadow flowing across the screen, and the room was very quiet.

Shen Yao seemed somewhat uneasy. She gently tugged at Zhang Chen's sleeve beside her and whispered:

"Senior, who are all those people sitting over there? I don't recognize any of them, I'm a little nervous."

She frowned slightly, glancing at the surrounding crowd, revealing a newfound sense of helplessness.

Zhang Chen immediately leaned over, lowered his voice, and enthusiastically pointed them out one by one: "The girl with short hair over there is the vice minister of the publicity department, the one next to her is from the student council, oh, and the one by the window is our president."

His introduction was mainly concentrated in the first few rows.

Shen Yao listened attentively, nodding obediently from time to time.

After Zhang Chen had finished his introduction, she asked, seemingly casually but with a hint of curiosity:

"What about that senior in the leather jacket in the very back corner? He seems a bit different."

Zhang Chen followed her gaze, and a complex expression immediately appeared on his face.

There was a hint of apprehension, and also a tacit understanding between men.

He leaned closer, almost touching Shen Yao's ear, and warned her in a whisper:

"Him? Xiang Yuchuan. You might not know this since you're new to school, but he's a big shot here. His family... well, anyway, they're quite influential. A good girl like you should stay away from him."

"Why?" Shen Yao opened her eyes wide at the opportune moment, completely puzzled.

Zhang Chen pursed his lips, his tone carrying a hint of sourness:

"Why? This young master Xiang changes girlfriends faster than he changes clothes. He only likes pretty and fresh girls like you."

He paused, then added, "A notorious playboy, he's very outgoing, you can't afford to mess with him."

If an ordinary, naive young girl heard this description, she would probably be terrified and avoid the boy named Xiang Yuchuan like the plague.

But Shen Yao felt no ripples in her heart.

She'd seen plenty of ordinary guys who were broke, unattractive, yet incredibly confident since she was a child.

Those men have absolutely no skills, yet they think all the women in the world should revolve around them—disgusting yet overconfident.

In contrast, Xiang Yuchuan, a wealthy and handsome playboy who openly has a penny to pay for pretty girls, seems much more "open and honest".

At least the emotional value or material resources he provides are tangible.

What Shen Yao wanted was not some lifelong, faithful love.

That kind of thing is ethereal and intangible; it's not as tangible as a banknote.

What she's after is money, resources, and a ladder to climb higher.

Men like Xiang Yuchuan are dangerous, but their potential returns are also extremely high.

Like a beautiful flower with poisonous thorns, picking it may result in injury, but if you manage to pick it, its value is far greater than that of roadside weeds.

Playboy? Shen Yao thought happily to herself, perfect.

Each gets what they need, and no one owes anyone anything.

She showed a learned expression, softly said "Oh," and whispered, "Thank you for reminding me, senior. I understand."

Then she sat up obediently, her gaze returning to the screen, as if she was truly frightened and dared not look at the back row again.

Beneath her lowered eyelashes, her clear eyes shone with the excitement of a hunter seeing his prey, the complete opposite of fear.

Is it Xiang Yuchuan?

A prominent figure? A playboy?

It's perfect for Shen Yao to use as the first stepping stone into this world of fame and fortune.

She wanted to pick the flower herself.