The Cinnabar Mole of a Beijing Circle Tycoon

She looked at the same knitted sweater worn by the model, and was secretly amazed by the extremely neat and fine ribbed stitches around the cuffs. Meng Jiangyu's work was just too... genuine.

The staff worked quickly and sorted the clothes.

Coats were hung on one side, skirts and trousers were placed separately, and even scarves and small accessories were placed on separate trays, neatly arranged next to the coffee table.

Luckily, the living room is spacious enough, otherwise this whole mess wouldn't be able to fit.

Aunt Zhang pulled Shen Qingyao to her feet and picked up a beige sweater: "Try this one? I think the color suits you, and the material is lightweight, perfect for spring."

Karin directed a model to put on a sweater and a skirt.

The sweater was the perfect length, and the invisible pleats at the waist accentuated her beautiful waistline.

"What do you think?" Karin asked respectfully as she handed over the clothes.

Shen Qingyao took the clothes; the fabric was so light that she could hardly feel its weight.

"I think it looks great!"

Shen Qingyao touched the dark pattern on her sleeve, her heart filled with mixed feelings.

These clothes showed great care in every detail, but this "care" was so heavy that it made her feel both grateful and somewhat uneasy.

"Keep this one." Zhang Ma decided to hang the clothes in the "selected" section next to her, and then picked up a camel-colored trench coat. "Try this one too? It'll be warm and convenient to wear when it's cold."

"Aunt Zhang, could you bring me that green shirt so I can take a look?"

Karin immediately picked it up and handed it to Zhang Ma, "Do you like this color?"

Shen Qingyao picked up the clothes. "People always like to reminisce about summer in spring. This color is very summery, and it's very different from the green I usually see."

At the opportune moment, Karen spoke up, "Ms. Shen, you have excellent taste. The dyeing process of this shirt is very unique, and it is produced in very small quantities. There is only one of these in the country."

"I didn't think that much about it; just looking at this color makes me happy!"

"Clothes are meant to serve people. If you feel happy, it means that you are destined to wear this piece of clothing."

"Let it go!"

The models tried on one piece after another, while Karen took notes of her preferences from time to time. The whole process was well-organized, like a small private fashion show.

As the sun gradually sets in the west, the "selected" section of the floor-standing clothes rack is already full of clothes.

Shen Qingyao leaned back on the sofa, watching the staff repack the remaining clothes, and suddenly felt a little dazed.

"You must be exhausted," Aunt Zhang said, handing over a glass of warm water. "And your husband, he always loves to make such a fuss."

Although she complained, her tone was full of defense of Meng Jiangyu.

Shen Qingyao took the water glass, her fingertips touching the warm glass, and gently hummed in agreement.

Looking at the clothes hanging on the hangers, she suddenly remembered Meng Jiangyu's gaze that morning.

Perhaps, he was even kinder to her than she imagined.

The TV drama continued, with Minglan acting coquettishly towards her grandmother. Shen Qingyao watched the screen, a faint smile involuntarily appearing on her lips.

This must be what it feels like to be cherished.

It was a bit sudden, a bit unreal, yet... so heartwarming that you didn't want to let go.

It was almost six o'clock when I came out of the old house.

Meng Jiangyu sat in the car, leaning lazily against the back of the seat, and loosened his tie around his neck in a bit of annoyance.

His Adam's apple bobbed, he took a deep drag of his cigarette, his eyes half-closed, his gaze unreadable.

The surrounding air pressure was frighteningly low.

Jason knew that his husband was in a bad mood, so he even breathed very carefully.

"What did Yao Yao do this afternoon?"

Meng Jiangyu's voice was cool and aloof as he casually stroked the ring on his left index finger.

Jason answered cautiously, "Miss Shen had some Huaiyang cuisine for lunch, and in the afternoon she went to choose clothes with Aunt Zhang and the others. Later, Dean Zhao came to check on her and said that she was recovering very well and the stitches could be removed. She will be able to walk on the ground in two days."

Meng Jiangyu gave a faint "hmm".

As dusk settles, the lights in Yu Garden come on one by one, casting dappled shadows on the blue brick floor through the carved windows.

Zhang Ma placed the last dish, "Stewed Fish Fillets in Fermented Rice Wine Sauce," on the table. She glanced at the clock on the wall and whispered to the maid beside her, "The master should be back soon. Go and reheat the soup."

In the living room, Shen Qingyao was lying on the sofa, covered with a cashmere blanket.

She wanted to wait for Meng Jiangyu to come back so they could have dinner together, but after taking a walk in the yard in the afternoon and trying on a few new clothes, she was really tired and fell asleep without realizing it.

Breathing shallowly, her cheek pressed against the soft cushion, she looked like a sleepy kitten.

This is the scene that Meng Jiangyu saw when he pushed open the door.

He walked over quietly, squatted down beside the sofa, and gently brushed away the stray hairs from her forehead with his fingertips.

The little guy is well-behaved when he's asleep, unlike when he's awake he always frowns, probably because he's still agonizing over all sorts of worries.

His movements were very gentle, but they still woke Shen Qingyao.

She groggily opened her eyes, saw his face so close to hers, and stared blankly for a few seconds before realizing who he was. She quickly sat up and asked, "You're back?"

"Hmm," Meng Jiangyu helped her sit up, and casually pulled the blanket up a bit. "Have you been waiting long?"

"No, I'm just... a little sleepy." Shen Qingyao rubbed her eyes, her voice still soft and sweet from just waking up. "Aunt Zhang has prepared the food, and it's been kept warm."

Meng Jiangyu felt a warmth in his heart.

He had assumed she had already eaten, since it was past her usual mealtime.

He didn't say anything, he just reached out and picked her up in his arms.

"Ah!" Shen Qingyao was startled and instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck. "I can do it myself..."

"Don't move." Meng Jiangyu looked down at her, a smile in his eyes.

He carried her to the dining room, where the maid had already pulled out a chair.

The dining table was a round marble table covered with a beige tablecloth, on which were laid out seven or eight exquisite dishes, all of which were authentic Beijing cuisine.

The glistening roast duck steams hot, with thin pancakes and sweet bean sauce laid out beside it. The amber-colored braised pork knuckle trembles precariously, looking tender and flavorful. There are also bright green pea flour cakes and glistening donkey rolls. Each dish exudes a warm, homely feeling.

"It's all food you can eat," Meng Jiangyu said, placing her on a chair and picking up a serving chopstick to put a piece of roast duck on her plate. "Try it? Zhang Ma's cooking is just as good as any of the famous restaurants outside."

Shen Qingyao looked at the glistening duck meat in the bowl, then at him, and whispered, "You should eat some too."

"Mm," Meng Jiangyu responded, but he didn't touch his chopsticks. Instead, he served her a bowl of black chicken soup. "Drink some soup to warm your stomach first."

The soup contains some warming and nourishing medicinal herbs, giving it a rich yet not greasy flavor.

Shen Qingyao took two sips, and her stomach immediately felt warm.

She picked up her chopsticks, took a piece of pea flour cake, and it melted in her mouth, the sweet taste spreading on her tongue.

"It's delicious." Her eyes sparkled, like a child who had just received candy.

Seeing her satisfied expression, Meng Jiangyu's smile deepened.

He then began to eat, his movements elegant and composed, yet he never forgot to occasionally serve her food, piling the small dishes in her bowl like a small mountain.

"That's enough, that's enough, I can't eat anymore." Shen Qingyao quickly pressed his hand down.

"Eat more, it'll help you get better." Without waiting for a reply, he put another piece of braised pork knuckle on her plate. "This isn't greasy, have a taste."

Shen Qingyao couldn't refuse him, so she had no choice but to obediently eat it.

She knew in her heart that he felt she had suffered these past few days and wanted her to recover.

This thoughtful care warmed her heart more than the delicacies on the table.

Dinner ended in this warm and slightly ambiguous atmosphere.

The maid cleared away the dishes, and Meng Jiangyu carried Shen Qingyao back to the living room.