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

Countless thoughts flashed through her mind in an instant, and even a sense of absurd panic arose.

Xiang Yuchuan handed the small box to her, his eyes filled with anticipation and nervousness: "Open it and take a look."

Shen Yao's fingers trembled slightly. She took a deep breath and slowly opened the box.

Two rings lay quietly on a black velvet cushion.

It wasn't one of those grand and extravagant engagement rings, but rather a pair of simple and elegant wedding bands, clearly designed for couples.

The women's ring has a delicate band set with a perfectly cut, brilliantly sparkling diamond; the men's ring is more understated, with only a simple groove design.

Couple rings.

Shen Yao's mind went blank for a moment; it really was a ring.

She looked up at Xiang Yuchuan.

He was staring intently at her, and his usually somewhat lazy eyes now revealed an expression she had never seen before.

Is Xiang Yuchuan tired of the usual couple's games and wants something more "formal"?

Or has he really started to take her seriously?

This realization shocked, puzzled, and unsettled Shen Yao.

She had no time to think deeply; she quickly suppressed the turmoil in her heart, her face showing extreme surprise and emotion.

Shen Yao covered her mouth with her hand, her eyes instantly reddening, her voice filled with disbelief:

"Yuchuan, what... what is this?"

Seeing her "tears of joy" appearance, Xiang Yuchuan's nervousness was instantly replaced by joy.

He picked up the ring, took Shen Yao's left hand, and carefully placed it on her middle finger; the size was just right.

Do you like it?

Shen Yao looked at the ring on her finger, which shone with a warm glow in the candlelight, nodded vigorously, threw herself into his arms, and hugged him tightly: "I love it so much, thank you, Yuchuan."

Xiang Yuchuan's deep, smiling voice rang in her ear:

"Aren't you going to let me wear it?"

Shen Yao's heart trembled slightly, and she gently withdrew from his warm embrace.

She picked up the men's ring, and he reached out his hand in response.

The cool platinum ring was slowly pushed into his slender fingers.

The next moment, his hand firmly covered hers, and their fingers intertwined.

Two identical rings subtly reflected each other in the flickering candlelight.

Just like their fates that would be silently intertwined from then on.

The birthday dinner, prepared by a Michelin-starred chef, ended amidst flickering candlelight and the rich aroma of flowers.

Each dish was as exquisite as a work of art, but Shen Yao ate somewhat absentmindedly.

The new ring on her finger was so prominent that it constantly reminded her of Yu Chuan's unusual behavior that evening.

After dinner, Xiang Yuchuan cut open the cake with their photo printed on it; the sweet cream and soft cake base melted in his mouth.

The two shared the same piece of cake, and the air was filled with a sweet aroma.

As she was eating, Shen Yao looked up and met Xiang Yuchuan's eyes.

It was churning with an undisguised, thick desire, like two scorching sparks that could ignite the air in an instant.

He wasn't looking at the cake, he was looking at her.

Shen Yao was all too familiar with that look in her eyes.

"Is it sweet?" Xiang Yuchuan's voice was a little hoarse. He dabbed a little cream on his finger and casually brushed it across her lips.

Shen Yao subconsciously licked it, the action carrying an unconscious seduction: "Sweet."

This simple action became the final catalyst.

Xiang Yuchuan chuckled softly, no longer satisfied with just a touch of his fingertips.

He leaned down and kissed her lips deeply.

The kiss quickly escalated, spreading from the dining table to the living room sofa, and finally ending up on the large bed in the bedroom.

Their clothes had been removed at some point, and the candlelight cast flickering, tangled shadows on the wall.

Xiang Yuchuan brought out the remaining half of the cake at some point.

He scooped up a spoonful of cool, sweet cream with his fingers and gently spread it on the hollow of Shen Yao's collarbone before lowering his head.

Shen Yao trembled slightly, letting out soft sobs.

This is like a signal that a sweet and indulgent "tasting" has begun.

The sweet aroma of the cake, the rich fragrance of the flower petals, and that unique, fiery scent intertwined and rose in the room in an ambiguous way.

The cake was eaten clean, along with her.

The next morning, Xiang Yuchuan drove Shen Yao back to school.

Before getting out of the car, he leaned in and kissed her lips, his fingers caressing her middle finger adorned with a ring.

"Yaoyao, wear it, don't take it off."

Shen Yao nodded obediently with a sweet smile on her face: "Okay."

As soon as she turned around and walked into the tree-lined path on campus, the smile on her face faded.

Sunlight filtered through the leaves, illuminating the exquisite diamond ring on her left middle finger and reflecting a dazzling light.

Shen Yao raised her hand and stared at the ring.

A large part of her surprise and emotion last night was an act.

This thing is a hot potato.

She did indeed think about bewitching Xiang Yuchuan and making him fall head over heels in love with her.

But that was merely a means for her to acquire more resources and consolidate her position, an idealized goal, not the result she truly desired.

In her plan, Xiang Yuchuan's "liking" for her should ideally be maintained at just the right "degree".

She is enough to make him willingly spend money on her, provide convenience, and offer shelter when she needs it, but not enough to make him feel a strong possessiveness or desire for marriage.

She hopes this relationship is controllable, allowing for flexibility in terms of advancement and retreat.

She never intended to marry him.

Marriage? Shen Yao had no longing for these two words, and even instinctively rejected them.

Having witnessed that violent, betrayal, and painful marriage since childhood, she had long since lost all beautiful illusions about "family" and "husband and wife".

In her view, marriage is nothing more than another form of constraint and transaction, and may even be worse than her current "romantic relationship".

At least for now, she still has the freedom to withdraw at any time.

Sending Yu Chuan a ring clearly crossed the boundary of her "comfort zone".

Couple rings symbolize a relationship that goes beyond ordinary boyfriend-girlfriend relationships, carrying a sense of "bondage".

This made Shen Yao feel uneasy, as if the road beneath her feet had suddenly narrowed, leaving her no room to maneuver.

Is he serious?

This thought sent a chill down Shen Yao's spine.

She didn't want to be tied to Xiang Yuchuan for the rest of her life, no matter how lush and leafy that tree was.

Her goal is the stars and the sea.

Shen Yao took a deep breath and strolled around the campus, forcing herself to calm down.

Maybe she's overthinking it?

For someone like Xiang Yuchuan, giving a ring might be just like giving a bag or a car—a spur-of-the-moment thing, or perhaps he feels that couples should have this sense of ceremony. It's not as complicated as she thinks.

Yes, that's very likely the case.

She tried to convince herself with this reason and suppress her unease.

In any case, the ring is already on, and it cannot be taken off for the time being.