The Cinnabar Mole of a Beijing Circle Tycoon

After washing up, the three of them walked very quietly as they pushed open the door to the guest room. The morning light was gently covering Xu Huihui's face.

She didn't sleep very soundly; her eyelashes trembled occasionally, but her lips were slightly pursed. Compared to the fear she felt when she had a nightmare in the morning, she was much more at ease now.

The three exchanged a glance, then quietly withdrew and gently closed the door behind them.

The atmosphere on the living room sofa became somewhat quiet for a moment.

Shen Qingyao unconsciously stroked the sofa armrest with her fingertips, her brows furrowing slightly: "Huihui seems better now, but she's definitely still holding something in her heart."

Lu Ying nodded and sighed, "Yes, how can we just forget about something like this? Let's not mention it anymore and find something she likes to distract her."

Xiang Yu chimed in, "How about we go see a movie with her this afternoon? Or go shopping? Buy some desserts from that place she's been raving about?"

As the group was discussing in hushed tones, the doorbell rang.

Shen Qingyao got up to open the door, where Zhang Ma was standing with groceries.

"Yaoyao," Zhang Ma smiled kindly, "the master instructed me early this morning that you girls probably wouldn't be in the mood to cook, so he asked me to come and cook you a home-cooked meal."

Shen Qingyao quickly let Zhang Ma in: "Zhang Ma, thank you for your trouble."

"No trouble at all." Zhang Ma waved her hand and walked briskly towards the kitchen. "The master specifically instructed that the girls were frightened and needed something light and nourishing. I stewed bird's nest and also brought some of your favorite snacks."

Lu Ying and Xiang Yu walked over and watched as the servants laid out the ingredients in the kitchen one by one, their eyes lighting up.

"Aunt Zhang, you're so thoughtful!" Xiang Yu said gratefully.

Lu Ying thanked her, "Your cooking is so delicious! When I was interning, lunchtime was my favorite time of day."

Aunt Zhang laughed, and quickly tied on her apron: "You all go and rest first, lunch will be ready in half an hour."

The three returned to the living room, where the maid placed bird's nest and pastries on the coffee table, and their conversation returned to Xu Huihui.

"It's so dark when we watch movies, it's not a good idea." Xiang Yu rested her chin on her hand. "How about we go to a flower shop with her this afternoon? Huihui has always wanted to grow a pot of daisies, hasn't she?"

"That's a great idea." Lu Ying's eyes lit up. "Fresh, lively little things are the best way to lift one's spirits."

"Then let's go for a stroll in the Summer Palace. The autumn scenery there is beautiful and perfect for relaxing," Shen Qingyao suggested.

"Great!" Xiang Yu's stomach rumbled as she picked up the bird's nest soup and started eating. "It's so delicious!"

As they were talking, the door to the guest room was gently opened, and Xu Huihui stood in the doorway, wearing a loose sweatshirt and her hair casually tied up. Although her face was still a little pale, her eyes were much clearer.

"Huihui, you're awake?" Shen Qingyao immediately got up and went over to her. "Are you hungry?"

"Yaoyao," Xu Huihui's voice was still a little hoarse, "I'm a little hungry."

She paused, her gaze falling towards the kitchen, her nose twitching. "It smells so good."

Lu Ying pulled her to sit on the sofa and handed her some bird's nest: "Aunt Zhang is here to make us lunch. Her stewed bird's nest is absolutely amazing."

Xiang Yu nodded in agreement, "Yes, yes, we're planning to go to the flower shop this afternoon, do you want to come?"

Looking at the three of them being so cautious, Xu Huihui's eyes suddenly welled up with tears.

She knew they were deliberately avoiding talking about last night, and she also knew the concern behind their cautiousness.

She sniffed, smiled genuinely, and said, "Okay."

The clattering of pots and pans in the kitchen was crisp and pleasant, and sunlight streamed in through the floor-to-ceiling windows, falling warmly on the floor.

The atmosphere in the living room gradually became more lively, filled with the laughter of the girls.

Not long after, Zhang Ma came out of the kitchen with dishes: sweet and sour pork ribs, stir-fried seasonal vegetables, tomato and beef brisket soup, and chicken soup, filling the table to the brim.

"Dinner's ready!" Aunt Zhang greeted with a smile.

The four sat around the dining table, picked up their chopsticks, and amidst the rising steam, Xu Huihui picked up a piece of pork rib, put it in her mouth, and her eyes welled up with tears again—it was a familiar taste.

The afternoon sun was warm and gentle, casting dappled light and shadows on the bluestone path through the sparse and dense branches.

The four of them strolled slowly along the long corridor of the Summer Palace, the air filled with the faint scent of grass and trees.

Xu Huihui was wearing an apricot-colored knitted sweater and holding a candied hawthorn she had just bought. The sweet and sour taste of the hawthorn melted on her tongue.

Shen Qingyao walked beside her, occasionally reaching out to brush away the stray strands of her hair, her eyes full of tenderness.

Lu Ying and Xiang Yu were playfully bickering in front of them, pointing at the colorful paintings under the eaves and chattering away. The phoenix's tail was painted in a cute way.

Outside the long corridor, Kunming Lake glistens in the sunlight, and tour boats carrying laughter glide across the water, creating ripples.

Xu Huihui gazed at the Seventeen-Arch Bridge in the distance, its reflection in the water forming a delicate jade rainbow.

"The breeze here is so refreshing." She turned to her roommates, a faint smile in her eyes. "Thank you."

Shen Qingyao's heart softened, and she reached out to take her arm: "Why are you being so polite with us?"

As they were talking, Lu Ying pointed to a convenience store not far away: "They sell lotus flower pastries there! I didn't manage to buy any last time I came, I definitely have to try them this time!"

Xiang Yu immediately chimed in, "Let's go, let's go! I want to eat some too! Let's buy two boxes to take home!"

The two pulled each other forward, while Shen Qingyao and Xu Huihui exchanged a smile and followed slowly behind.

The wind blew through the long corridor, carrying wisps of laughter, dispelling all the gloom in the beautiful scenery of the lake and mountains.

The afternoon breeze, carrying the crisp scent of grass and trees, made one feel completely comfortable.

-

The next day, Shen Qingyao drove Xu Huihui, Xiang Yu, and Lu Ying to Xiangshan Park.

As soon as the car came to a stop, Shen Qingyao reminded everyone, "It's windy today, so please button up your coats and don't catch a cold."

Xu Huihui smiled and nodded, the melancholy in her eyes fading slightly.

As you climb the steps, the lush greenery covering the mountains and fields comes into view.

The strong pines and cypresses provide shade, and sunlight filters through the gaps in the branches and leaves, falling like scattered gold on the stone steps.

Lu Ying and Xiang Yu walked ahead, but were stopped in their tracks by the wild daisies by the roadside.

Shen Qingyao walked slowly with Xu Huihui. The two walked side by side along the path covered with pine needles, listening to the birdsong coming from afar. They were silent for a moment, but did not feel awkward.

Reaching the viewing platform halfway up the mountain, Xu Huihui leaned on the railing and gazed into the distance, her eyes reflecting the rolling green hills and the clear sky.

"So, standing here, I can see this far," she said softly, a hint of relief in her voice.

Shen Qingyao followed her gaze, and the wind brushed through her hair, bringing with it the fragrance of pine branches.

"Troubles are like the clouds at the foot of the mountain; if you stand higher, they will naturally dissipate."

Xu Huihui turned to look at her, a smile curving her lips: "Yes, they've all dispersed."

As they were talking, Lu Ying ran over with a woven flower wreath and put it on Xu Huihui's head. The pale yellow of the daisies made her complexion look much better.

Xiang Yu followed behind, clutching a handful of foxtail grass in her hand, her eyes crinkling with laughter.

The mountain breeze carried the girls' laughter, as clear and crisp as wind chimes.