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

Shen Yao slept soundly, but not peacefully.

At first, she did fall into a deep sleep, until Zhou Jingyan gently pulled her into his arms.

The vigilance she had developed from years of living at home, the constant threat of being beaten, had etched a sense of caution into her very bones, making her suddenly realize the truth at that moment.

She didn't open her eyes; her senses were amplified infinitely in the darkness.

Hearing his low, comforting words, her first reaction was to sneer and mock his misplaced sympathy.

But his voice was so gentle that she suddenly realized that this unintentional vulnerability might be the key to unlocking Zhou Jingyan's heart.

What alarmed her even more was that her long-frozen heart began to waver slightly as a result.

Shen Yao never claimed to be a genius, but she was exceptionally gifted at understanding people's hearts. She was used to dissecting herself while scheming against others, calmly examining the origin and destination of every emotion.

In front of Zhou Jingyan, she found herself becoming unusually irritable, like an animal with its quills raised, yet something deep within her barren heart was eagerly trying to break through the soil.

Regardless of her inner thoughts, she went with the flow, snuggling closer to him in a daze, making this unexpected "dependence" even more realistic.

She thought vaguely that these kinds of upright gentlemen were the most terrifying.

She couldn't get too close until she was completely sure she was interested in him and had seen through him completely.

Zhou Jingyan is a man of deep affection and an overwhelming sense of responsibility. Once he commits to someone, he may never be able to break free from that bond.

She could almost picture him looking at her intently as he led her straight to the Civil Affairs Bureau.

When Shen Yao finally woke up naturally from her deep sleep, she opened her eyes and was momentarily dazed before sitting up.

"You're awake?"

A calm and gentle voice came from the direction of the living room.

Shen Yao looked in the direction of the sound and saw Zhou Jingyan sitting on the sofa in the living room with a laptop on his lap, seemingly handling official business.

He looked to be in good spirits, but there was a hint of fatigue in his eyes, indicating that he hadn't slept well last night.

Seeing that she was awake, he closed his laptop and looked at her gently.

Shen Yao lowered her head somewhat shyly and replied softly:

"Yes, I'm awake. Mr. Zhou, did I oversleep? Did I disturb your work?"

Looking at her innocent and adorable appearance after just waking up, Zhou Jingyan unconsciously softened his tone: "No, did you sleep well?"

He paused slightly as soon as he spoke. The title "Mr. Zhou" seemed too distant after last night's events.

He wanted to say something, but he didn't know how to transition naturally, and the words he wanted to say ultimately hesitant.

What made him even more at a loss was that he heard her talking in her sleep last night and glimpsed the secret she kept in her heart.

This made him feel both distressed and somewhat uncomfortable.

He dared not ask, much less offer honest comfort, for fear of touching her sore spot, for fear of making her sad or angry.

After all, who would willingly show a wound that hasn't healed yet? Even if it's Zhou Jingyan, whom Shen Yao is increasingly relying on.

Shen Yao keenly noticed his momentary hesitation. She looked up at him, gave him a shy yet grateful smile, and said, "Mr. Zhou, from now on, just call me Shen Yao."

She paused, her eyes filled with cautious anticipation and affection, "If you'd like, call me Yao Yao, I'd be even happier."

Zhou Jingyan looked at her, the word "Yaoyao" lingering on his tongue for a moment, but he finally followed his heart and nodded, replying gently, "Okay, Yaoyao."

He then added, "Then you don't need to be so polite as to call me Mr. Zhou."

Shen Yao shook her head vigorously, her face serious: "No, I like calling you that. Mr. Zhou, it sounds very reliable."

She tilted her head and thought for a moment, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "But, can I call you Brother Jingyan?"

This nickname carries a hint of a little girl's coquettishness, but it's not overly intimate.

Looking into her expectant eyes, Zhou Jingyan's heart stirred, and he nodded: "Whatever you say."

The change in address subtly brought the two closer, creating a more relaxed atmosphere.

Zhou Jingyan seemed to remember something important and pointed to her phone on the bedside table:

"By the way, Yao Yao, check your phone. I called the president of Peking University this morning, and the matter has been clarified and should be resolved by now."

Shen Yao was stunned for a moment. A phone call to the principal?

She picked up her phone, and the moment the screen unlocked, WeChat notification sounds exploded incessantly, and the little red dot on the screen rapidly increased, spinning several times before finally displaying the message list.

She first saw her mentor's missed calls and a series of messages.

"Shen Yao, great news! Fantastic news! The list of exchange students for Peking University has been finalized, and you're on it! The university has received official notification, and to ensure accuracy, the list has been published on the official website and the university's internal system immediately. Congratulations on being selected!"

The mentor's voice was filled with excitement and joy.

Shen Yao then opened the class group and the project group...

Her screen was already flooded with messages and well wishes, with classmates congratulating her, their voices filled with envy and disbelief.

She took a deep breath, her fingers sliding across the newly released official list stamped with a red seal.

"Mr. Zhou, He Tian isn't on this list anymore?"

Zhou Jingyan met her surprised gaze, his expression remaining calm. When the topic turned to the person he disliked, he simply nodded slightly.

"Yes. Students with such poor character and who bully others are not suitable to represent the school in exchanges. Yenching University would not welcome such people either."

After a slight pause, he added another sentence, his tone completely flat:

"As for his father, he abused his power, and I will ask the school to handle the matter according to regulations and ask him to leave."

Shen Yao gazed quietly at the man before her, realizing for the first time with such clarity just how immense and terrifying the circle she had entered truly was.

With just one phone call, Zhou Jingyan could easily decide a student's future or a professor's fate. No explanation was needed, not even a moment's hesitation.

A smile of gratitude and dependence suddenly bloomed on her face, her voice so sweet it was almost honey-sweet:

"Jingyan, thank you."

Looking at Shen Yao's genuinely bright smile, radiant with joy at regaining her exchange student spot, Zhou Jingyan's lips unconsciously curved into a slight smile. It was as if her joy could also brighten his own mood.

But that tenderness lasted only a moment. He quickly suppressed his smile and glanced at the time:

"Yaoyao, it's getting late. Pack your things, have something to eat, and I'll take you back to Shanghai."

Shen Yao's heart tightened, fearing that she had overacted last night's incident, and she tentatively asked, "Brother Jingyan, are you going to personally take me home?"

Her question was just a casual inquiry, without any intention of pleading for pity, but it unexpectedly stirred up a complex feeling in Zhou Jingyan's heart.

Around him, most eighteen or nineteen-year-old girls were spoiled and carefree, never getting what they wanted, and their worries were limited to where to go for fun that day.

But Shen Yao always seemed to be cautiously probing, as if she had never been truly loved before, and even whether or not she was being sent home required such careful confirmation.

He nodded:

"Yes, I'll take you. I'm worried about you flying back alone. I won't feel at ease until I get you home safely."

"That's great, Brother Jingyan." Shen Yao immediately smiled happily, as if his decision was a great honor for her.

She seemed to be overwhelmed with joy, forgetting to put on her shoes. Barefoot, with her small, fair feet and slender ankles, she lightly jumped off the bed and landed beside him like a butterfly.

With remarkable ease, the girl reached out and took Zhou Jingyan's arm again, pressing her soft body close to his side.

Her upturned face was unadorned, yet her eyes shone brightly, and a faint fragrance emanated from her hair.

"You're like my own brother. With you around, I feel like I have no worries at all."

She became more and more adept at this dependent posture, and her self-righteousness seemed to grow quietly with each test.