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

This was said directly to him.

Xie Yunzhou's heart, in that instant, felt as if it had been violently struck by something, contracted sharply, and then began to pound wildly and uncontrollably.

"Bang, bang, bang..."

The sounds, heavy and urgent, pounded against his eardrums like drums, making his chest feel numb.

He even had a moment of disorientation, wondering if he was having an asthma attack, otherwise why would he be having so much difficulty breathing and his heart beating so out of control?

"Brother, what are you standing there like an idiot at the door? Come in, wash your hands, and eat!"

Xie Yuanzhu's clear voice broke the brief silence in the entryway, carrying a hint of confusion and urging.

Xie Yunzhou was jolted awake from his dazed state by his sister's shout.

He quickly lowered his eyelashes to hide the fleeting embarrassment in his eyes, and when he looked up again, his face had returned to its usual calm and expressionless state.

The man cleared his slightly tight throat, his voice as calm and cool as ever, carrying just the right amount of distance: "Miss Shen."

Shen Yao had already gently placed the soup bowl in the center of the table. Upon hearing this, she turned around with a polite smile on her face.

"Good evening, Mr. Xie. Yuanzhu invited me to come and try her cooking."

Seeing the two of them being so polite and distant, Xie Yuanzhu couldn't help but roll her eyes slightly. She plopped down at the table, tapped her bowl with her chopsticks, and complained in an exaggerated tone:

"Miss~ Sir~ Brother, can't you give your own sister a little face? Yao Yao is my good friend. The way you two address each other is so awkward! Anyone who didn't know better would think you were talking business! Not only do you not have each other's contact information, but you're also being so distant with your address!"

She said it half-jokingly and half-seriously.

Xie Yunzhou paused for a moment. He walked to the dining table but didn't sit down immediately. His gaze involuntarily fell again on Shen Yao, who was bending down to untie the ties of her apron.

The warm yellow light outlined her slender neck and soft profile. She seemed to be in much better health than when we last met, with a healthy rosy glow on her cheeks. It seemed she had truly moved on from the unpleasant past.

This realization brought Xie Yunzhou a slight sense of relief, but it was followed by a more unfamiliar and subtle feeling of tension.

His Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily, and his eyes, which were always as clear and cold as the frosty moon, seemed to have taken on a hint of warmth and hesitation under the lamplight.

After a few seconds of silence, as if making a major decision, Xie Yunzhou finally raised his eyes, his gaze calmly meeting Shen Yao's, who had already taken off her apron. His voice softened slightly:

"You... just call me by my name."

Even he himself was slightly surprised by these words.

This was not his usual way of doing things, but at this moment, under his sister's exclamation and her quiet gaze, the words seemed to come out naturally.

Shen Yao seemed surprised by his directness. She paused slightly, her long eyelashes fluttering gently, then lowered her head somewhat shyly, a bashful smile curving her lips.

But soon, she raised her head again, met his gentle gaze, and smiled brightly, a smile as beautiful as a spring peach blossom. Her voice was soft as she called out:

"Cloud Boat".

The two words, uttered from her lips, carried a strange softness and intimacy, striking Xie Yunzhou's eardrums clearly.

Xie Yunzhou's heart skipped a beat the moment she called his name.

He maintained his composure, simply nodding and replying softly, "Mm."

With Shen Yao's deliberate guidance and Xie Yuanzhu's lively encouragement, dinner time slipped away unnoticed.

Shen Yao didn't rush to end the meal, but cleverly prolonged the process.

She shared anecdotes from her internship at the TV station, describing the process of program production in a vivid tone. Occasionally, she would ask Xie Yuanzhu some "small questions" about the local customs and culture of Beijing, which filled Xie Yuanzhu with a sense of accomplishment in sharing.

When Shen Yao mentioned that she might encounter some difficult guests to communicate with or complicated coordination work at the TV station, she just downplayed it, her tone carrying a hint of the common anxieties of a newcomer.

Upon hearing this, Xie Yuanzhu's eyes widened immediately. Without thinking, she turned to look at Xie Yunzhou, who was quietly eating but clearly listening attentively, and spoke with an air of self-righteous protectiveness:

"Sister Yao Yao, if you encounter any trouble at the TV station or if anyone bullies you, please don't hesitate to tell us. My brother will definitely be able to help you sort it out!"

She patted her chest, as if she were someone extraordinary.

Xie Yunzhou raised his eyes, his gaze calmly sweeping over Shen Yao's slightly troubled face, then looked at his sister and gave a faint "hmm," which was taken as acquiescence.

Shen Yao's face immediately showed fear and unease, and she quickly waved her hand: "How can I accept this? It's too much trouble for you. It's just a small matter, I can handle it myself."

"Sister Yaoyao, why are you being so polite with us?"

Xie Yuanzhu pouted in dissatisfaction, leaned closer to Shen Yao, lowered her voice, and muttered mysteriously with a hint of smugness in a volume she thought only the two of them could hear:

"Let me tell you, there are many things... well, in many aspects, our family's word still carries some weight, so don't be afraid to bother us!"

Shen Yao merely frowned slightly, her eyes filled with a persistent and uneasy feeling that "this is causing you too much trouble," and gently shook her head: "Yuanzhu, really, it's not necessary."

"You can come find me." A voice interrupted her; it was Xie Yunzhou.

He looked at Shen Yao with a calm and serious gaze, his tone unwavering yet reassuring: "If you encounter any difficulties you can't resolve, feel free to come to me. Don't hesitate to ask."

Shen Yao met his gaze and saw a rare signal in his eyes that said "allowing him to approach".

A struggle flashed across her face, but it ultimately turned into gratitude and a hint of dependence. She nodded gently, her voice soft: "Thank you, Yunzhou."

The "thank you" and the natural "Yunzhou" made the atmosphere at the table seem even closer.

By the time the last fruit dish was served, it was already deep into the night outside the window.

Xie Yuanzhu glanced at the clock on the wall before belatedly exclaiming, "Ah? It's so late already?"

She looked at Shen Yao with a troubled expression. "Sister Yao Yao, I'm so sorry, we were having so much fun chatting that we forgot the time. It's almost midnight, and it's not safe for you to go back to school alone! Why don't you stay at my place tonight? My guest room is always clean."

This suggestion was exactly what Shen Yao wanted to hear.

A hint of hesitation appeared on her face: "Wouldn't this be too much of a bother?"

"No problem, no problem, it's settled then." Xie Yuanzhu immediately made the decision, not giving Shen Yao a chance to refuse, and excitedly grabbed her hand, "Come on, I'll take you to see the guest room!"

Shen Yao was half-heartedly pulled to her feet by Xie Yuanzhu, but her gaze seemed to casually sweep over Xie Yunzhou, who had also stood up.

His face remained expressionless; he neither objected nor showed any particular enthusiasm. He simply stood there quietly, as if tacitly approving of his sister's arrangement.