The Cinnabar Mole of a Beijing Circle Tycoon

As soon as the car came to a stop in front of the community gate, the barrier slowly rose.

The younger father stood in the morning light, wearing a dark coat. The moment he saw Shen Qingyao, his eyebrows and eyes curved into a smile.

The security guard gestured with his chin toward Meng Jiangyu, indicating that he should drive directly into the residential area.

Meng Jiangyu stepped out of the car briskly, his steps steady. He took the initiative to greet her, giving a slight nod. His voice was gentle yet measured: "Hello, Uncle. I am Meng Jiangyu, Yao Yao's boyfriend."

He was tall and straight, wearing a well-tailored dark suit, exuding an air of nobility from someone who had long held a high position, yet without the slightest hint of arrogance.

The younger father paused for a moment as he sized him up, and then he realized that this young man was no ordinary person.

"Hello." He responded calmly, then turned his gaze to Shen Qingyao, his tone full of concern: "I heard from your stepmother that you just got back yesterday, right? You came back so late, is the pressure at school too much?"

Shen Qingyao felt a warmth in her heart: "It's alright."

Meng Jiangyu turned and walked to the trunk, opened the car door, revealing neatly stacked gift boxes inside.

He picked it up deftly, his movements unhurried, always half a step behind Shen Qingyao, quietly following behind the two of them.

Her stepfather kept asking about her well-being the whole way, talking about everything from her studies to her health, his words full of concern. As Shen Qingyao listened, her eyes welled up with tears.

Upon entering the house, the clear laughter of children echoed from the living room.

The little boy, wearing a cartoon hoodie, was standing on tiptoe, peering out from behind the sofa. When he saw a stranger, he first timidly hid, but then couldn't resist peeking out.

Meng Jiangyu put down the gift box in his hand, took out a red velvet box from his pocket, and walked over slowly.

He crouched down, his gaze level with the child's, and spoke in an exceptionally gentle voice: "Hello, I'm the eldest sister's boyfriend. This is a small gift for you."

The box was opened, and inside lay a gleaming gold bar, quite substantial.

The little boy's eyes lit up immediately. He took it and said, "Thank you."

The father immediately stopped him, saying, "This is too valuable; we can't accept it."

Shen Qingyao spoke up, "It's nothing, Uncle. This is his first visit, and it's just a token of his appreciation."

The stepmother came out of the kitchen. "Yaoyao is here."

"Stepmother, it's been a long time. You've become even more beautiful," Shen Qingyao said affectionately.

Meng Jiangyu followed Shen Qingyao's greeting and said, "Hello, Auntie, I'm Meng Jiangyu."

"Come and sit down, stepmother will pour you some water."

"Let me help you." Shen Qingyao took her stepmother's arm.

The father gestured for Meng Jiangyu to sit down, "Xiao Meng, right?"

Meng Jiangyu nodded politely, no one had ever called him that before, "Uncle".

"Why did you bring Xiao Meng here before the New Year? Didn't you say you'd come after the New Year?" the stepmother asked with concern.

"I'll tell you in a bit." Shen Qingyao placed the tea on the coffee table and then went to the kitchen with her stepmother.

"Xiao Meng, judging from your age, you're probably quite a bit older than our Yao Yao, aren't you?" The father looked up at Meng Jiangyu, his tone carrying a hint of scrutiny.

"Ten years older." Meng Jiangyu nodded slightly, his tone gentle yet measured.

"How long have you been together?" The father asked, his fingertips tracing the rim of his teacup.

"It's been more than three years."

"What do you do for a living, young man?"

"Financial investment," Meng Jiangyu answered succinctly.

"Who else is in the family?"

"I still have my mother and grandmother."

"Oh, so you're an only child." The father asked again, as if to confirm.

"Yes."

"Where is your hometown?"

"Beijing."

"Judging from their appearance, their family must be well-off. Do your mother and grandmother know about you and our Yao Yao?" The father changed the subject and asked the crucial question.

"Yes, I know. My mother and grandmother both like Yao Yao very much." Meng Jiangyu's tone softened, a rare occurrence for him.

"And what about your personal assets?"

Upon hearing this, Meng Jiangyu pondered for a moment before speaking, his words earnest: "I own a house and a car, have some savings, no bad habits, and no debts. After marriage, all my assets will be jointly owned with Yao Yao."

"Please don't think I'm being presumptuous," the father said, putting down his teacup and leaning forward slightly. "We're all men, and I have to think about Yao Yao's future."

"I understand your intentions, Uncle." Meng Jiangyu nodded in agreement.

"Do you understand? I have to say this upfront." The father's tone deepened, carrying an undeniable seriousness. "This place will always be Yao Yao's fallback, her family. If you ever grow tired of her and stop liking her, I beg you, please don't hurt her."

Upon hearing this, Meng Jiangyu straightened his back, nodded solemnly, and said with unwavering determination in his eyes, "Uncle, rest assured, I understand your concerns. Yao Yao is the one I love, and I will cherish her dearly."

The conversation in the living room continued, and the atmosphere gradually became more harmonious.

The kitchen range hood was spinning low, and the rich aroma of stewed beef brisket with tomatoes wafted from the pot, enveloping the two of them in a warm, smoky atmosphere.

Shen Qingyao rolled up her sleeves, dipped her fingertips in warm water, and picked out the tender leaves of the green vegetables one by one.

My stepmother was chopping scallions and ginger beside me, the back of her knife tapping against the cutting board as she spoke in hushed tones about what had happened.

"How could my brother and sister-in-law be so cruel?" Stepmother put down the kitchen knife, her voice filled with heartache and anger. "All they care about is money. Yao Yao, I'm so sorry to have wronged you."

Shen Qingyao's fingertips trembled, and water droplets rolled down the vegetable leaves, dripping into the sink and splashing up tiny water droplets.

She lowered her head, her voice as soft as a sigh: "There's nothing to be wronged about. It's better to end it now, it'll be cleaner."

As soon as she finished speaking, her stepmother turned around, opened her arms, and hugged her tightly.

Her embrace carried the smell of cooking oil and the faint scent of dish soap.

Her stepmother's voice brushed against the top of her head, choked with sobs, "You must have had a very difficult time last night, right?"

Shen Qingyao felt a lump in her throat, and the emotions she had been holding back for so long finally found an outlet.

She buried her face in her stepmother's shoulder, her shoulders trembling slightly, tears silently soaking the cotton shirt.

"Stepmother, don't worry about me, I've come to terms with it."

Ten dishes were laid out on the table. In the center, a casserole contained steaming hot beef brisket, and bright green vegetables were soaked in clear oil. Several stir-fries were brightly colored, all of which were Shen Qingyao's favorite flavors.

Meng Jiangyu picked up a piece of stir-fried shrimp, Shen Qingyao's favorite dish, with a natural and appropriate gesture.

The younger father saw this, raised his glass and clinked it with his, the scrutiny in his eyes quickly turning into a gentle smile.

As Shen Qingyao bit into the beef brisket, the soft and tender aroma of the meat wafted over her tongue, and her eyes welled up slightly.

The afternoon sun shone through the glass windows of the balcony, casting a warm glow on the floor.

Shen Qingyao and her stepmother went to the room for a private conversation. "Yaoyao, do you think Xiao Meng is someone we can entrust our lives to?"

"Your stepmother doesn't want you to make irrational decisions when you're emotionally out of control."

"No, he's a very good person, and he's very good to me."

"Yaoyao, your stepmother has been through this before, so I'd like to give you a few words of advice."

Shen Qingyao nodded. "Stepmother, please speak."

"In daily life, you need to learn to focus on the important things and let go of the trivial ones. Friction is inevitable in life, and you need to learn to compromise with each other."

"If one day you really can't work things out anymore, don't force yourself. You still have your family, and your stepparents will always be there for you."

With tears in her eyes, Shen Qingyao hugged her stepmother and said, "Yes, I know."

Shen Qingyao and Meng Jiangyu got up to say goodbye. The stepmother held a red envelope in her hand and stuffed it directly into Meng Jiangyu's hand.

"It's my first time visiting, so there's not much to prepare." The stepmother patted the back of his hand, her gaze falling on Shen Qingyao beside her, full of earnestness. "Yaoyao has always been a well-behaved and kind child. From now on... I'll trouble you to take good care of her."

The red-sealed edges pressed against my palm, feeling warm to the touch.

Meng Jiangyu held the red envelope, nodded slightly, and said in a deep and solemn voice, "Don't worry, I will."

Shen Qingyao stood aside, watching the scene before her, a sweet smile finally spreading across her lips.

As the car drove away from the residential area, Shen Qingyao looked back and saw her parents still waving at her.

She turned back, leaned back in her chair, a faint smile playing on her lips, and her eyes shone with a clarity that had dispelled all the gloom.

Meng Jiangyu caught a glimpse of her expression, reached out and ruffled her hair, his fingertips slightly cool: "Are you sad?"

"No." Shen Qingyao turned to look at him, her gaze falling on his hands gripping the steering wheel, their knuckles distinct and exuding strength.

Shen Qingyao smiled, her voice as soft as cotton candy: "Ayu, thank you."

She thanked him for being there for her through the toughest nights, for understanding her unspoken grievances, and for walking with her on this journey of reconciliation with the past.

"Silly boy, why are you being so polite with me?"

The scenery outside the car window rushed past, and sunlight streamed through the glass, bathing the two of them in a warm golden glow.

Shen Qingyao closed her eyes, bidding farewell to the past, and embarking on a better future with the right person.