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

Shen Yao was in a good mood on her birthday.

She received a gift from the Xie siblings, made plans with Xiang Yuchuan at noon to celebrate in the evening, and since she had no classes in the afternoon, she was leisurely tidying up her things in her dormitory, thinking about which dress to wear that evening.

Just then, the cell phone on the table rang.

She glanced at the screen; it was an unfamiliar number originating from Beijing.

Shen Yao was somewhat puzzled. She didn't have many friends in Beijing in her social circle, except for the Xie siblings...

Could it be that Xie Yuanzhu changed her phone number?

Without thinking much, she casually pressed the answer button.

"Hello?"

On the other end of the phone came a gentle, steady male voice with a familiar, magnetic quality:

"Miss Shen."

Shen Yao recognized him with just three words.

Fang Yunci.

How could it be him?!

Countless thoughts and speculations flooded her mind, leaving her momentarily speechless.

There was a two-second silence on the other end of the phone, as if slightly surprised by her quietness, before the call resumed, the tone still gentle, but with an inquiring quality:

"Miss Shen? I am Fang Yunci."

Shen Yao suddenly came to her senses and cursed herself inwardly.

I lost my composure in front of him again.

She quickly adjusted her breathing, forcing herself to calm down, and responded in a tone that was both surprised and uncertain:

"Oh, Mr. Fang? Hello, I'm sorry, I didn't recognize your voice just now... I didn't expect it would be you calling me, this is a bit of a surprise."

Her voice sounded slightly flustered, yet it also conveyed a genuine joy.

Fang Yunci seemed to chuckle softly; his voice, coming through the receiver, was gentle and warm, yet carried a sense of distance.

"It's alright, it was my presumption."

He paused for a moment, then explained naturally, "I heard Yuanzhu mention at a dinner party with Yunzhou and the others a while ago that today is your birthday."

Shen Yao's heart started beating even faster.

He actually remembered? And even called specifically to tell me?

This was completely beyond her expectations.

Given Fang Yunci's status and personality, he could completely ignore such a "trivial matter".

"So, I'll just make a call and say hello." Fang Yunci's voice was calm and composed, without any extra emotion.

Happy birthday, Ms. Shen.

His blessing was simple and appropriate, just like him—seemingly gentle and approachable, yet with clear boundaries.

There were no unnecessary pleasantries, no deliberate attempts to get close; it was as if he was merely fulfilling a necessary courtesy befitting his upbringing.

Shen Yao's fingers tightened slightly as she gripped her phone.

Was he merely being polite? Or was he doing it out of consideration for the Xie siblings?

She wasn't sure, but in any case, the call meant that she had at least left Fang Yunci with the impression that he "needed to be treated politely," rather than a complete stranger who could be ignored.

Shen Yao responded with even more gratitude and flattery: "Thank you, Mr. Fang. You're too kind. You even remembered my birthday. I'm really happy. Thank you."

Her voice was filled with genuine emotion, perfectly conveying the excitement and honor of an ordinary female student receiving birthday wishes from an "important person".

"You're welcome." Fang Yunci's tone remained calm. "Miss Shen, I won't bother you any longer. Happy birthday again."

"Thank you, Mr. Fang. I hope everything goes well for you too," Shen Yao said quickly.

The phone hangs up.

Hearing the busy tone from the receiver, Shen Yao slowly put down her phone, sat in a chair, and remained motionless for a long time.

The sun was shining brightly outside the window, but her heart was still beating rapidly.

As night falls, the lights are on.

Shen Yao dressed up carefully, wearing a champagne-colored halter dress that Xiang Yuchuan had recently bought for her. Her long hair was slightly curled, her makeup was exquisite, and she exuded a charming glow in the night.

Xiang Yuchuan personally drove to pick her up, and instead of going to a restaurant, he took her directly back to his apartment in Luhu International.

As soon as she opened the door, Shen Yao was amazed by the scene before her.

The main light in the living room wasn't on; instead, it was filled with warm scented candles and fairy string lights, the soft lighting making the whole space look dreamlike.

The ground was covered with fresh rose petals, and the air was filled with the rich fragrance of flowers and a faint aroma of champagne.

A huge, beautifully designed birthday cake was placed in the center, next to a large bouquet of vibrant red roses.

"Happy birthday, Yao Yao." Xiang Yuchuan gently hugged her from behind and whispered in her ear in a tender tone.

Shen Yao turned around and looked at the carefully arranged scene before her, and a genuine feeling of emotion welled up in her heart.

She tiptoed and kissed Yu Chuan's lips: "Thank you, Yu Chuan, I like it very much."

Xiang Yuchuan was clearly pleased with her reaction and pulled her to the cake.

Shen Yao then realized that the cake's decoration was actually a photo of them taken on the observation deck of Rockefeller Center in New York City.

The photo was perfectly replicated with icing, and the details were incredibly lifelike.

Shen Yao was somewhat surprised by this thoughtfulness.

"Make a wish, blow out the candles," Xiang Yuchuan urged with a smile.

Shen Yao closed her eyes, silently made a wish about the future, and then blew out all the candles in one breath.

"A gift." Xiang Yuchuan magically produced a beautifully wrapped rectangular box from behind his back.

Shen Yao took it, untied the ribbon, and opened the box.

Inside were a pair of extremely elegant nude high heels, with delicate satin uppers, smooth lines, and just the right heel height.

She recognized the brand; it was quite expensive.

"They're really beautiful." Shen Yao genuinely liked them; the shoes perfectly matched her aesthetic sense.

She thought that was all the surprises for the night.

Xiang Yuchuan's ability to go this far has far exceeded her expectations for a "playboy" boyfriend.

Xiang Yuchuan, however, showed no sign of ending the conversation.

Seeing Shen Yao's delighted expression, he smiled even more deeply, reached into his pants pocket, and pulled out an even smaller and more exquisite velvet jewelry box.

The moment Shen Yao saw the box, her heart skipped a beat.

This size... it can't be...?