The Cinnabar Mole of a Beijing Circle Tycoon

Stepping out of the dormitory building, the setting sun bathed the entire campus in a gentle orange hue.

The street was bustling with people, mostly freshmen and their parents. The parents carried newly purchased daily necessities and kept giving instructions, while the children responded either affectionately or impatiently. The air was filled with a lively and warm atmosphere.

Before she left, her parents had sent Shen Qingyao to school alone in order to save money.

Looking at my classmates surrounded by their parents, I couldn't help but feel a slight pang of sadness, like being pricked by a needle.

She quickly shook her head, trying to dispel her low spirits. "Shen Qingyao, you can't do this."

Your parents are already doing you a great favor by giving you money to study; you should know how to be content.

Everyone's life is a different story. Some people are born into privilege, while others have to climb mountains and cross rivers to get close. There's nothing to envy; just walk your own path.

She took out her phone and, following the instructions in the admission handbook, found the campus card recharge portal on WeChat and recharged 200 yuan.

Following the road signs, we found the cafeteria, where some windows already had queues.

As Shen Qingyao walked over, she was greeted by the aroma of food mixed with the bustling noise of people.

The cafeteria is very large, with more than a dozen windows offering dishes from all over the country.

The prices were clearly displayed on the electronic screen: one meat dish and one vegetable dish cost six yuan, two vegetable dishes cost four yuan, and rice cost one yuan for all you can eat... The prices were even cheaper than she had expected.

She walked to a window where they served home-style dishes and joined the queue.

When it was Shen Qingyao's turn, she looked at the dishes in the window, hesitated for a moment, and then pointed to the scrambled eggs with tomatoes and stir-fried greens, saying, "Auntie, I'd like this, thank you."

"Alright!" The cafeteria lady quickly served her a plate and then scooped up a large spoonful of rice. "A freshman, right? Eat slowly, and you can ask for more if you're still hungry!"

"Thank you, Auntie." Shen Qingyao took the tray and found an empty seat by the window.

She took out her phone and sent a WeChat message to her mother: "Mom, I'm eating at the cafeteria. The food here is cheap and tastes good, so don't worry."

The message went unanswered for a long time.

Shen Qingyao looked at the screen, feeling somewhat disappointed.

The cafeteria was still bustling. Several freshmen at the next table were discussing tomorrow's opening ceremony, and the voices of parents giving instructions to their children could be heard not far away.

After finishing her meal, she carried her tray to the recycling area, put away her utensils, and left the cafeteria.

Night had fallen, and the streetlights lit up one by one, their warm yellow glow illuminating the path beneath our feet.

Shen Qingyao looked up at the sky, where a few stars were already twinkling against the deep blue backdrop.

-

In a brightly lit private club in Beijing, Meng Jiangyu had just finished a social engagement.

He leaned back on the sofa, a cigarette between his fingers, his eyes somewhat indifferent amidst the swirling smoke.

People who have been in the business world for a long time have an increasingly high threshold for excitement. Meng Jiangyu had never felt so concerned about someone before.

Assistant Jason noticed something amiss and handed over a glass of warm water: "President Meng, Beijing University just sent us their statistics report on new student enrollment. The quality of this year's students is quite good."

Meng Jiangyu hummed in response, showing little interest.

The assistant hesitated for a moment, then said, "Shen Qingyao is a freshman in the Psychology Department."

Meng Jiangyu paused, the cigarette between his fingers, and looked out the window at the flashing neon lights in the distance.

"I understand," he said casually, stubbing out his cigarette in the ashtray.

-

When Shen Qingyao pushed open the door to dormitory 407, warm yellow light streamed out through the crack in the door, mixed with faint laughter, dispelling the slight chill she had felt on her way back.

Xiang Yu had just finished drying her hair with a towel, the ends still dripping wet. Seeing her come in, she held a piece of coconut candy in her hand and greeted her indistinctly, "Qingyao's back? Come here quickly! Huihui's coconut candy is amazing, ten times better than the ones I bought in preparatory school!"

Xu Huihui sat at her desk with a photo album open in front of her. She turned her head when she heard this, her cheeks still flushed from the journey.

She was wearing a pale yellow short-sleeved shirt, which made her skin look even whiter. She was holding a bag of candies with a coconut tree print on it and pushed it toward Shen Qingyao: "Try this. It's the oldest brand in our area. My mom specifically told me to bring a few more bags."

Shen Qingyao walked over, picked up a piece of coconut candy wrapped in transparent candy paper, and the candy paper made a rustling sound on her fingertips.

When you peel it open, a rich coconut aroma wafts out, carrying a hint of sunshine warmth. When you put it in your mouth, the sweet taste travels down your tongue and into your throat, without being cloying at all.

"It's really delicious," she smiled, her eyes crinkling. "Much richer and more flavorful than what you buy in the supermarket."

"Of course," Xu Huihui smiled, revealing her two little tiger teeth. "My mom asked someone to buy this for me in the old street; it's hard to find outside."

The dormitory door clicked open, and the sound of high heels tapping on the floor grew louder as it approached, carrying a crisp rhythm.

Shen Qingyao looked up and saw that the person was wearing a champagne-colored chiffon dress, the hem of which swayed gently with each step, revealing slender and shapely calves.

Her face was meticulously made up, with smooth eyeliner and a gentle mauve lip color. Her long hair was loosely tied back, with a few strands falling on her neck, making her neck look slender and white.

The girl walked to the center of the dormitory, her voice as sweet as spring water, with a hint of Beijing accent. "My name is Lu Ying, and we'll be roommates from now on."

She placed the velvet pastry box on the table. When she opened it, the pastries inside gleamed with an oily sheen. Some were filled with jujube paste, some with red bean paste, and others were printed with the character "福" (fortune).

"These are snacks from Huguosi Temple. I just had the driver buy them, they're still warm. Everyone, please have a taste."

Xiang Yu was the first to step forward, picked up a piece of jujube paste pastry, took a bite, and smacked her lips: "Hey, this tastes just right! Much better than the ones I bought at the scenic spot last time!"

As she ate, she patted Shen Qingyao's arm, "Qingyao, have a piece too! Lu Ying is so generous!"

Lu Ying smiled and waved her hand: "It's nothing. It's fate that we live together. We'll help each other out in the future."

She saw the photos in Xu Huihui's album on her desk: "You're from Hainan, right?"

"Hello, I'm Xu Huihui, from Sanya, Hainan!"

The four of them quickly struck up a conversation, talking about local delicacies, their summer travel experiences, and tomorrow's opening ceremony.

"Oh, right," Xu Huihui glanced at her phone, "the opening ceremony tomorrow requires us to be there by 7:30, and we have to wear school uniforms. Shall we set an alarm for 6:30?"

"I've already made the reservation!" Xiang Yu waved her phone. "I promise I won't be late."

Lu Ying stood up, picked up her toiletries bag, and said, "I'll go wash up first, everyone get some rest."

The dormitory gradually quieted down, with only the sound of rushing water and occasional whispers.

Shen Qingyao lay on the bed, recalling her roommates' chatter about their summer travel experiences.

I felt a little inferior. From childhood to adulthood, except for coming to Beijing for university, I had never left Wuzhen.

I lived with my grandparents since I was a child, and only started living with my parents after junior high and high school.

Moonlight streamed through the gauze curtains, casting dappled shadows on the floor like scattered pieces of silver.

At that moment, in the Yu Garden Study, Meng Jiangyu had just finished a transnational video conference.

He stood in front of the French windows in his study, a cigarette between his fingers, the smoke slowly dissipating in the moonlight.

The tablet computer on the table was still lit up, displaying the schedule for the opening ceremony of Beijing North University.

Meng Jiangyu flicked the cigarette between his fingers, and the ash fell onto the clean floor.

"Tell Principal Zhang that I won't be attending the opening ceremony." He stubbed out his cigarette, turned off his tablet, and turned to walk towards his bedroom.

The assistant on the other end of the phone replied, "Okay, boss!"

Some thoughts, once they emerge, spread silently like vines, making tonight a sleepless night.