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

Xue Huaiqing regained his true freedom.

Although this incident ultimately did not affect his position, and he was soon reinstated, it did limit his potential to some extent.

But it's okay.

enough.

Meanwhile, Shen Yao attended several other events.

Saying it was "attended" is not accurate enough.

Each invitation was proactively extended, sealed in gold, and delivered by a special person, demonstrating an extremely humble attitude.

Why?

Because besides her abilities, she has connections.

Shen Yao was open and honest, without hiding anything.

I'm having the best luck.

That's what it's like to have someone to back you up; if the sky falls, someone will hold it up; if the road is blocked, someone will pave it.

All green lights all the way, smooth sailing.

The higher you stand, the more the wind will blow in your direction.

In the midst of her busy schedule, after much deliberation, Shen Yao decided to take the initiative to tell Xiang Yuchuan and Xiao Weilin about Xue Huaiqing.

Today is crucial. She needs them to lose their minds before she can even open her mouth.

Shen Yao dressed herself up beautifully, making her pleasing to the eye and easily captivating men.

The rare fuchsia dress clung tightly to her slender waist, making her radiant. The hem of the dress shimmered with a silky sheen under the lights.

The neckline was cut just right, not too high, not too low, revealing just a glimpse of her delicate collarbone.

Two small pearls dangled from her earlobes, understated yet subtly gleaming the moment she turned her head.

Shen Yao secretly vowed that this would definitely be the most flamboyant appearance she had ever made in her life.

The girl was like a tuberose blooming in the depths of winter, both hot to the touch and aloof, her fragrance so intense that one dared not approach, yet one could not look away.

The effect is immediate.

From the moment the car door was opened, everyone's gaze was drawn to Shen Yao as if by a magnet.

In the lobby, someone was holding a cup of coffee but forgot to drink it; in the corridor, someone brushed past her and couldn't help but turn around to look at her again; even the waiter at the restaurant entrance was a beat late in saying "Welcome".

Shen Yao walked in gracefully, her high heels clicking.

The rose-red skirt swayed gently with each step, like a silent burning fire, drawing all eyes into it.

Inside the restaurant, two men were arguing in hushed tones, their old grudges resurfacing.

The moment Shen Yao pushed the door open and entered, the arguing inside stopped abruptly.

Xiang Yuchuan and Xiao Weilin simultaneously raised their heads, their gazes falling on her, and without prior arrangement, an undisguised look of amazement flashed across their eyes.

Shen Yao knew better than anyone else:

You got this outfit right today.

The girl calmly sat down and recounted her story with Xue Huaiqing from beginning to end, without missing a single word.

After hearing this, Xiang Yuchuan felt a little sad, but also a strange sense of happiness.

Because Shen Yao's personality tends to avoid questions and she never opens up about her true feelings, does her telling him these things mean he has truly gotten closer to her heart?

"I'm telling you this because I don't want to lie to you anymore."

Shen Yao looked at him, her voice gentle.

"You said I could leave anyone and live the life I want, but I really can't live without you anymore, can I?"

She took the man's hand, which wore the ring from years ago, and stroked it, her fingertips tracing the metal edge, saying with genuine emotion:

"Maybe I'm not a good woman. But I really have to tell you, I loved you. And I still do."

"But I may never walk down the aisle with any man in my entire life. I'm sorry, Yuchuan."

This apology wasn't a way of letting him go.

Instead, tell him: You must stay and love me.

What a greedy idea!

But Xiang Yuchuan agreed.

He looked at her, his gaze arrogant and unrestrained, just like that of the arrogant young man he once was:

"Shen Yao, I've said it before, I will never leave you again. I will only love one woman."

"You don't need to say anything, I understand what you mean."

Xiao Weilin listened to her entire conversation with Xiang Yuchuan with a gloomy face, but he did not get angry.

The man lowered his voice, afraid she would think he was angry.

"I've always known you, and I accept that."

He paused for a moment, as if giving himself an explanation.

"Shen Yao, you like me too, right?"

Shen Yao nodded gratefully, and in front of Xiang Yuchuan, she took Xiao Weilin's hand with her other hand.

Both hands, one on the left and one on the right, were clenched in her palms.

Xiang Yuchuan and Xiao Weilin were still unhappy.

Before they could say anything, Shen Yao preemptively spoke:

"It's my fault. I thought you were all too good to me. I'd be miserable without any of you. I can't think of a better solution. If you're unhappy, you can..."

She didn't finish her sentence, but the unfinished thought lingered there, like an open door, inviting them to leave.

Unfortunately, this door is an illusion.

Shen Yao knew how to make these words most acceptable to them.

She knows them too well, so she knows how to say it, when to say it, and to whom to say it.

A woman like her needs to prepare a way out for herself early on, whether it's working hard to develop her career or managing her fishpond well.

Beauty will eventually fade, and young bodies will decay; there will never be a shortage of younger and more beautiful girls in this world.

But the bond between them and her is irreplaceable.

No woman could have given Xiang Yuchuan a wake-up call when he was acting recklessly, making him realize the importance of growing up; nor could any woman have saved Xiao Weilin from danger in a critical moment.

To outsiders, it might seem that these two men were completely manipulated by her.

Shen Yao was thoroughly wicked, and when she was even slightly kind, it was enough to make them feel gratified and even heartbroken, so much so that they couldn't bear to put her in a difficult position.

But only they themselves know that it was never because she was getting better that they chose to stay.

From the very beginning, they never intended to leave.

And so, two good brothers sat facing each other at this table and finished their entire dinner for the same woman.

To prove that his words earlier were not just for show, and to prevent Shen Yao from overthinking, Xiao Weilin gritted his teeth and picked up the bottle of champagne.

He filled Xiang Yuchuan's cup to about seven-tenths full.

As the bottle hovered, the man's wrist paused slightly, a hint of reluctance visible only to the two of them.

"Yuchuan, let's make up today."

Xiao Weilin pushed the wine glass towards him.

Xiang Yuchuan gripped the stem of the glass, a smile spreading across his face. He bowed slightly and clinked glasses with Xiao Weilin.

With a crisp sound, through a thin layer of liquid, the two of them swallowed the awkwardness that shouldn't have been there.

"We're all brothers."

The three of them began to get along in a murky way.

In such an atmosphere, any ordinary woman would probably not be able to stand it for even a moment, and would want to get up and escape this peace on the edge of a knife.

But Shen Yao is different.

She'd gotten used to it. And she knew this was just the norm for the long days to come.

Isn't a fleeting moment enough between people? Each and every one of them was carefully selected by her.

He was outstanding in appearance, came from a prominent family, and treated her very well later on. She wasn't settling or compromising; she was genuinely and sincerely in love at every stage.

Therefore, Shen Yao doesn't think she's a bad woman.

She was just a little greedy, wanting to keep all those who moved her heart in this limited lifetime.