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

This time, Zhou Jingyan's first reaction was not to feel the soft touch in his arms, or to agonize over the overly intimate distance.

His gaze immediately fell on her bare feet on the cold floor, his eyes showing disapproval, but his tone remained gentle:

"Why did you run downstairs without shoes? The ground is cold, what if you catch a cold?"

He paused for a moment, then said, "Go wash up quickly, put your shoes on, and then we'll go downstairs for dinner."

This was exactly the effect Shen Yao wanted. She constantly reinforced her image as someone who "needs to be taken care of" and "is easily hurt," thus arousing Zhou Jingyan's protective instincts.

She immediately stuck out her tongue like a child who had done something wrong, her face showing a mix of embarrassment and docility, and nodded quickly: "Oh, okay, I'll go put on my shoes now."

She released her grip on him, turned and jogged back to the bedside, obediently put on her slippers, and then headed to the bathroom.

Zhou Jingyan and Shen Yao had a simple meal at the hotel restaurant before driving to the airport.

He personally checked her in and escorted her to her first-class seat, then sat next to her.

Throughout the entire process, he acted naturally and considerately, as if taking care of her and escorting her had become a matter of course.

The plane accelerated on the runway, its engines roaring loudly, and then it took off and soared into the sky.

The view outside the porthole gradually shrank, turning into a blurry expanse of lights.

Shen Yao leaned back in her comfortable seat, looking out the window at the rolling sea of ​​clouds and the city silhouettes below that were getting smaller and smaller, her heart filled with mixed emotions.

In just two days, her life trajectory seemed to have undergone a violent upheaval and change of direction.

When she arrived, she was all alone, her heart filled with a do-or-die determination and fear of the unknown, like a moth drawn to a flame, not knowing whether destruction or rebirth awaited her.

Now, she has not only obtained the exchange student spot as she wished, removing the obstacles, but more importantly, Zhou Jingyan is sitting next to her.

This man, who was originally just a "target" she needed to conquer in her plan, now seemed like a guardian, giving her a faint sense of security.

The capriciousness and irony of fate made her sigh softly.

Although the sigh was slight, it was still noticed by Zhou Jingyan, who was sitting next to him, in the quiet cabin.

He turned his head to look at her, his gaze gentle yet filled with concern: "What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell? Or are you thinking about something?"

Shen Yao turned her head at the sound and met his concerned gaze.

She didn't answer immediately, but turned slightly to the side, moving closer to him and shortening the distance between them, creating a private atmosphere for sharing their thoughts.

The girl's eyes held a dazed and dependent look, a sense of relief at surviving a close call. Her voice was soft, tinged with emotion, as she spoke frankly:

"It's nothing, just a bit sentimental."

She paused, gazing at the clouds rushing past the window, as if reminiscing.

"I was really scared when I came here. I was scared that you wouldn't remember me, scared that you wouldn't pay any attention to me, scared that all my efforts would be in vain... I sat alone on the plane, looking down, and felt so lost."

Then, she looked away from Zhou Jingyan and smiled, saying:

"But now that I'm going back, you're right next to me. It feels so unreal. Jingyan, you're like... the kind of person I only ever dream of."

Shen Yao's words were not deliberately sentimental; they seemed to be simply narrating her true feelings.

As Zhou Jingyan listened to her outpouring of emotions, he reached out and gently patted her head in a soothing gesture, his voice low and tender:

"Don't overthink it. It's all resolved now, and things will be better from now on. Get some rest, I'll wake you up when we get there."

Shen Yao felt the warm touch on the back of his hand, a sweet smile appeared on her face, she gently hummed in agreement, and obediently closed her eyes, as if she had truly entrusted all her worries to him.

The plane landed smoothly at Shanghai Airport.

Zhou Jingyan also had assets in Shanghai, and he escorted Shen Yao all the way to her apartment building.

"Okay, we're home."

He stopped the car, turned to look at Shen Yao in the passenger seat, and said gently, "I won't get in; I still have things to take care of at the company."

Shen Yao unbuckled her seatbelt, a look of reluctance on her face. She lowered her head slightly and said, "Brother Jingyan, thank you for bringing me back. Are you leaving already?"

Seeing her expression, as if she were afraid of being abandoned again, Zhou Jingyan understood.

He softened his voice and said with a hint of promise:

"Okay, I have to go back to the office. Don't worry, feel free to call or text me anytime if you need anything. I'll reply as soon as I see it."

He paused, then added, trying to give her more reassurance, "Go ahead and hit me, don't be afraid of bothering me."

The phrase "Call me without hesitation" is like a reassuring pill.

Shen Yao looked up: "Okay, I understand. Jingyan, be careful on your way."

"Okay, you get some rest." Zhou Jingyan nodded to her, watching her get out of the car and disappear from sight.

Back in her apartment, Shen Yao closed the door behind her, leaned against the cold door panel, and let out a long sigh of relief.

She slumped heavily into the soft sofa and closed her eyes.

Success! The first step has been taken.

After resting for a while, she rallied and began packing her luggage methodically.

This time, her mood was completely different from before. Gone were the gloom and calculations; instead, she was filled with anticipation for the future and an excitement of stepping into a new battlefield.

She took out her phone and sent Xie Yuanzhu a voice message, her voice light and cheerful: "Yuanzhu, great news! Our school's exchange student list has been officially released, and I'm on it! I'm going to Beijing in a few days, and I'll come visit you then."

Xie Yuanzhu replied instantly, her voice filled with excitement:

"Wow, that's awesome, Sister Shen Yao! Congratulations! When you come, I'll definitely take you to try all the delicious food here. My brother also told me that we should have dinner together when you come. I'm looking forward to your visit!"

Over the next few days, Shen Yao handled all matters efficiently.

She bid farewell to her familiar teachers and friends, thanking them for their care and help, and then walked alone around Shanghai, the city where she had lived for a year, a city filled with struggles, calculations, and fleeting moments of warmth.

The wind on the Bund, the tree-lined paths on campus... every place seems to be saying a final goodbye to her.

Finally, she arrived at the chain coffee shop that had once taken her in for a part-time job and witnessed her initial struggles and efforts.

"Boss, thank you for giving me that opportunity back then."

Shen Yao pushed a thick envelope in front of the shop manager. Inside was 20,000 yuan. "This is a small token of my appreciation to thank you for taking me in and taking care of me back then."

Chen Yuan looked at the transformed girl before him, then at the thick envelope, and quickly waved his hand:

"Yaoyao, this is too much. You helped me a lot back then, so don't be so polite!"

Shen Yao insisted on putting the envelope into his hand, a genuine and relieved smile on her face: "Please accept it. Without this place, I might not be where I am today. This is my way of expressing my gratitude."

For some unknown reason, she lowered her eyelashes, and when she looked up again, her eyes were misty with tears. She whispered in a show of vulnerability:

"Boss, am I really that bad?"

Chen Yuan asked with concern, "What happened? What's wrong?"

Shen Yao shook her head with a wry smile:

"I made an unforgivable mistake. I fell in love with someone I shouldn't have, and wove a beautiful dream with lies. Now the dream is over, and he's gone without looking back."

Chen Yuan looked at her, unable to understand what kind of bastard could make her so heartbroken.

Deep down, he always felt that he was not good enough for Shen Yao—she was young, beautiful, gentle, and intelligent, and still cherished their past relationship. Even if a girl like that lied, it would be understandable.

What outrageous lie could she possibly tell? It would only be something harmless and trivial, something the other party would definitely make a mountain out of a molehill.

"who's that person?"

Shen Yao simply shook her head, wiped away her tears with the back of her hand, and forced a weary smile:

"Brother Chen Yuan, don't ask anymore. I just lost my mind for a moment and talked nonsense because I consider you family. Just pretend you didn't hear me."

The word "brother" was like a bucket of cold water, completely extinguishing the delusions that had arisen in Chen Yuan's heart due to her dependence.

He watched her leave the money, turn and leave, and the words he had been holding back for so long finally burst out: "Yao Yao!"

He paused, his voice hoarse, "You can come to me no matter what it is."

Shen Yao didn't turn around, but just waved her hand with her back to him.

As she stepped out of the coffee shop, sunlight streamed down her body.

Goodbye, Shanghai.