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

Qin Fang leaned forward slightly, continuing to close the distance:

"Yaoyao, I remember you studied journalism and communication in Shanghai, right? Are you continuing to study that major at Yenching University?"

Shen Yao nodded and replied softly, "Yes, Mr. Qin."

As she spoke, she subtly shifted her body to the side by adjusting her posture, creating a distance between herself and Qin Fang that was not too close.

Qin Fang then threw out the real bait:

"That's great! What a coincidence! I recently invested in a new TV program and I really need professional talent right now. Yao Yao, you're so talented and your expertise is exactly what you need, you could be a great help to my program. What do you say?"

He spoke casually, as if it were just a small favor between friends.

Shen Yao's face immediately showed hesitation and unease. She frowned slightly and refused with a hint of doubt in her voice:

"No, that's not really appropriate, Mr. Qin. I'm just a student, and I'm afraid I'll only cause you trouble."

Qin Fang immediately waved his hand, his tone sincere yet tinged with humility:

"Yaoyao, this is just a small-scale program, just starting out, and we're short-staffed. Your presence is a great help, and I should thank you properly."

As he spoke, he casually took out his phone. "Come on, let's add each other on WeChat first. We can talk about the details later. You can also tell me anytime you have any thoughts."

Shen Yao looked at him, seemingly moved by his "sincerity." The hesitation in her eyes gradually disappeared, replaced by a joy of being trusted and recognized.

Her bright eyes curved into a smile, and she gave Qin Fang a shy yet incredibly charming smile:

"Thank you for this opportunity, Mr. Qin. I will try my best not to let you down."

Qin Fang was struck by that smile. He was once again certain that among all the women he had ever met, only Shen Yao, whether it was a gift from heaven or simply her nature, could blend her outward gentleness with her inner sharpness so exquisitely and without leaving a trace.

He still couldn't see through her true nature, but that only made him more interested.

Qin Fang enjoyed this tacit understanding of "acting together, seeing through each other but not pointing it out," and was even willing to pay his dues for this unspoken game.

Shen Yao was also in a bright mood.

She had already heard rumors that Qin Fang was preparing a highly anticipated new program, and she was certain that he would eventually hand the opportunity to her himself.

She played along in this drama that outsiders couldn't see through, a play that belonged only to the two of them—he enjoyed it, and she enjoyed it too.

Seeing that they had added each other on WeChat, the atmosphere was harmonious, and the initial cooperation had been reached, Qin Fang was about to say something to deepen their connection.

A gloomy, menacing male voice suddenly shattered the fake warmth in the booth.

"Qin Fang, do you need me to chop it up for you right now?"

The sound wasn't loud, but it instantly lowered the temperature of the entire booth to freezing point.

Everyone stared in astonishment, turning to look in the direction from which the sound came.

The crowd had spontaneously parted to form a passage.

A tall, slender man was leaning against the bar not far away.

He was wearing a crisp white shirt and a dark tie, but the shirt hem wasn't neatly tucked into his trousers; instead, it hung loosely.

The man was verbally threatening Qin Fang, but his gaze was fixed precisely on Shen Yao, who had just put away her phone and whose smile had not yet completely faded.

Shen Yao remained expressionless, but looked at him with surprise.

However, she was genuinely puzzled.

She had seen plenty of these rich kids born with silver spoons in their mouths, and they all seemed to have some common flaws.

They share a privileged class's capriciousness, disregarding rules and living as they please.

But someone like Xiao Weilin was someone Shen Yao had never seen before.

He was like a weapon that had been tempered and fired, beautiful but seemingly filled with restless gunpowder, ready to ignite at any moment.

Harsh words were his norm, meanness was his armor, and his bad temper was well-known.

Qin Fang was taken aback by this sudden turn of events and the ruthless threat, and annoyance immediately surfaced on his face: "Xiao Weilin, what's wrong with you now?"

Shen Yao merely glanced at Qin Fang in a very discreet and silent manner.

Although Qin Fang's face showed anger, his posture remained composed. Surprisingly, this man had some limits when it came to his temper?

Shen Yao silently revised her previous judgment of him.

Xiao Weilin seemed not to have heard Qin Fang's words at all, and strode towards the booth step by step.

"Long time no see, Shen Yao."

"Looks like you've found a new backer?"

Shen Yao raised her eyes to meet Xiao Weilin's dark gaze, forcing a bitter smile, her voice soft:

"It's been a long time, Mr. Xiao."

After saying that, she seemed to have exhausted all her strength and quickly lowered her eyelashes, her long eyelashes casting an uneasy shadow under her eyelids.

The whole person was shrouded in a somber atmosphere, as if the phrase "long time no see" had stirred up countless painful memories.

Xiao Weilin chuckled at her appearance, then reached out and took a glass of whiskey from the person next to him. The ice cubes clinked crisply against the glass.

He swirled his wine glass, his gaze still fixed on Shen Yao's lowered profile, his tone laced with merciless sarcasm:

"What's wrong? Who are you trying to fool with that sour face? Trying to play the victim?"

Qin Fang quickly pulled Shen Yao behind him, his tone clearly showing displeasure:

"Can't you speak like a human being? Yao Yao just broke up with Yu Chuan and is in a bad mood. Stop acting crazy and scaring people."

His words, on the surface, were a rebuke of Xiao Weilin, but in reality, they were clearly conveying a message.

First, Shen Yao is currently single, so his pursuit of her is perfectly legitimate; it's not about stealing someone else's partner.

Second, she just broke up with her boyfriend, so have some sense and don't interfere with your buddy's business.

"You broke up?" Xiao Weilin's gaze swept over Shen Yao, finally settling on her slightly reddened eyes. "You got dumped?"

Shen Yao lowered her head even further, filled with immense disappointment and embarrassment, and softly hummed in acknowledgment.

Qin Fang is a very chivalrous person, but he is also troubled by Xiao Weilin's appallingly low emotional intelligence.

He shoved the untouched glass of wine in front of him forcefully in front of Xiao Weilin, trying to shut him up:

"Drink your wine, and if you keep quiet, no one will think you're mute."

Surprisingly, Xiao Weilin didn't continue to press him. He actually took the glass of wine, tilted his head back and took a big gulp, then fell silent and stopped talking.

Yu Hang witnessed this entire scene.

The boy didn't quite understand why Qin Fang was so agitated, nor did he understand why Wei Lin was so angry.

"Never mind," he yawned slightly, deciding not to waste his precious brain cells any longer.