The Cinnabar Mole of a Beijing Circle Tycoon

On the last day of 2025, red lanterns and Chinese knots complemented each other in the resort, giving the blue bricks and gray tiles a warm and inviting feel.

Under the wooden corridor, the wintersweet is in full bloom. Its sparse shadows cast shadows, and its cool fragrance drifts in the wind, mingling with the warmth of the charcoal fire, creating a touch of festive joy.

When Meng Jiangyu led Shen Qingyao through the door of the private room, it was already bustling with activity.

Lu Linchuan, Lu Linfeng, Xu Mingxuan, and Zhou Yanqiu sat around the mahjong table, the clatter of tiles and the sounds of laughter and banter filling the air.

Fang Shuning curled up in a corner of the sofa, scrolling through her phone, her fingertips swiping across the screen, a smile she couldn't hide playing on her lips.

"I'm late." Meng Jiangyu handed the red wine in his hand to the waiter standing to the side, his tone calm but exuding an aura of authority.

"We've been waiting for you all." Lu Linchuan looked up and waved, the mahjong tiles spinning smoothly between his fingers.

Meng Jiangyu reached out and took off Shen Qingyao's coat, then neatly hung it on the coat rack by the door.

She wore a beige turtleneck sweater underneath, which perfectly covered the conspicuous red mark on her neck, revealing only a bit of her fair neck, making her eyebrows and eyes appear even more delicate.

"Yaoyao, come here and warm your hands." Fang Shuning smiled and handed over a hand warmer, its velvety surface gleaming softly.

Shen Qingyao looked up at Meng Jiangyu, and after receiving his nod of approval, she quickly walked over and took the bag from his hands. She then sat down next to Fang Shuning, leaning her shoulder against him gently, like a little animal seeking warmth.

"Your nail art is so pretty, where did you get it done?" Fang Shuning stared at the cat-eye nails on her fingertips, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

"Ayu had someone come and make it." Shen Qingyao shook her finger, her tone unconsciously sweet.

"Then you can ask them later, how about we get our nails done together after the New Year?"

"OK."

The private room was nicely heated, and Meng Jiangyu took off his coat and handed it to the waiter. Just as he approached the card table, Xu Mingxuan grabbed him.

"Fifth Brother, help! If I keep losing, my Rolls-Royce will have to change hands!" He only had a few chips left in front of him, and he looked miserable and was about to cry.

Meng Jiangyu reluctantly accepted the card, while Xu Mingxuan stepped aside as if he had been granted a pardon.

"Cousin, I'm afraid we're going to lose here today." Zhou Yanqiu raised an eyebrow and played a card, "Three of a Kind."

"Take care of your own cards first, don't miscount again." Lu Linchuan laughed and scolded as he tossed out a card, "Mahjong."

"Don't underestimate Fifth Brother!" Lu Linfeng followed closely behind, "Five of Bamboo."

"Pong." Meng Jiangyu's eyes were focused, and his fingertips steadily placed the card down. "Nine of Bamboo."

In just a few rounds, he turned the tide with his accurate calculations, gradually balancing out his opponents, which made Xu Mingxuan slap his thigh in disbelief.

Just as they were locked in a stalemate, a rich aroma of meat wafted through the crack in the door.

Several waiters carried in a whole roasted lamb, its golden skin glistening with oil, the juices dripping down its skin and splashing into a white porcelain plate, making one's mouth water.

Then, a variety of dishes were served one after another, creating a dazzling array of dishes, all steaming hot.

"The dishes are all served, we're a little hungry," Fang Shuning said, getting up to greet them.

"Let's eat." Meng Jiangyu put down his cards and stood up, his tone carrying an unquestionable certainty.

The others, as if granted a pardon, quickly threw down their cards, saying, "Let's go, let's go! If we keep playing, we'll lose everything!"

Looking at the situation, Xu Mingxuan smiled broadly, feeling that everyone was happy.

As everyone took their seats, Meng Jiangyu naturally sat in the main seat, and Shen Qingyao sat down next to him.

"Wishing everyone a Happy New Year in advance." Meng Jiangyu raised his glass, the glass reflecting the light in his eyes.

"Cheers!" The glasses clashed, the crisp sound shattering the last trace of restraint.

They are all rich kids who have been raised in the business world since childhood. They are used to the hypocrisy and deceit of the business world and are also well aware of the helplessness they have in their families. Only in front of each other can they take off all their armor and show their truest selves.

Lu Linchuan placed a piece of lamb chop on Fang Shuning's plate and said in a gentle tone, "This Ningxia Tan sheep was air-freighted in this morning. Try it."

The chef, wearing white gloves, was carefully slicing the whole roasted lamb with a silver knife, slicing the tenderest tenderloin into thin slices and drizzling it with amber-colored secret sauce.

"Try this." Meng Jiangyu used serving chopsticks to pick up a piece of mutton with the skin on and gave it to Shen Qingyao. "It doesn't have much of a gamey smell."

Shen Qingyao blew on it, took a small bite, and the outer skin was so crispy that you could hear a "crunch," while the meat inside was so tender that it was juicy. The rich aroma of the spices and the sweetness of the mutton melted on her tongue, and it was indeed refreshing and not greasy.

Her eyes lit up, and she ate a couple more bites, mumbling, "Delicious."

"Judging from your appearance, anyone who didn't know better would think Mr. Meng usually mistreats you," Fang Shuning teased, her eyes full of laughter.

Shen Qingyao's cheeks flushed slightly, and she was about to speak when Meng Jiangyu spoke for her: "You were on a diet while recovering from your injury the other day, and you were really craving something sweet."

As he spoke, he picked up a shrimp, peeled off the shell and removed the vein in a few quick movements, and placed it on her plate, his actions as practiced as if he had done it a thousand times.

Lu Linfeng was astonished: "Fifth Brother's ability to serve people is truly different from before. Before, even if you asked him to hand you a bottle of water, you had to watch your expression."

"How can that be the same?" Zhou Yanqiu chewed on a lamb chop, raising an eyebrow. "This is the person I cherish most."

"That's right, that's right. Fifth Brother treats Yao Yao like a precious gem, afraid of breaking her if he holds her in his hands or melting her if he keeps her in his mouth." Xu Mingxuan quickly chimed in, which drew laughter from everyone.

Shen Qingyao's ears burned from what she was being told, so she buried her head in her food, but her heart was secretly filled with sweetness, like she was carrying a piece of candy.

Meng Jiangyu glared at the troublemakers and said calmly, "Can't you even shut your mouths while eating?"

The group tactfully changed the subject. Lu Linchuan placed a lamb kidney on Fang Shuning's plate and said in a low voice, "Have some nourishing food; you've been staying up late a lot lately."

Fang Shuning blushed and secretly pinched him under the table, but she retorted, "You think you know everything? I think you just wanted to eat it yourself."

Lu Linchuan chuckled softly, his eyes overflowing with doting affection that Sheng Du couldn't contain.

After several rounds of drinks, the atmosphere became increasingly lively.

Zhou Yanqiu talked about his embarrassing experience racing in Macau last year, saying that his driving skills were too bad and he was left half a street behind by Lu Linfeng. In the end, Meng Jiangyu had to drive him back.

"How can you blame me?" Lu Linfeng retorted. "Your lousy car tires are almost worn flat, no wonder it slips."

"If you ask me, it has to be Fifth Brother's car." Xu Mingxuan chimed in, "Last time I rode in his custom Maybach, the back seat was so comfortable that I almost fell asleep. You could lie down and look at the stars."

Meng Jiangyu didn't reply, but poured Shen Qingyao a glass of hot milk, his tone gentle and unyielding: "No drinking alcohol, drink this instead."

Shen Qingyao obediently took it and sipped it.

They talked about sports cars, projects, and the intricacies of their families. She couldn't join in most of these conversations, but she didn't find them boring.

Watching Meng Jiangyu occasionally furrow his brow in deep thought, and occasionally smile and agree, I felt at ease and warm inside, as if I were wrapped in thick cotton wool.

The fragrance of winter plum blossoms drifted in through the crack in the door, mingling with the aroma of roasted lamb, filling the warm air and evoking a taste of the Chinese New Year from my memories.

"Oh, by the way," Lu Linchuan suddenly spoke up, "there's a party on the second day of the Lunar New Year. If Qingyao isn't home, why don't you come and join the fun?"

Shen Qingyao was stunned for a moment, and subconsciously looked at Meng Jiangyu.

"She has to go back to Wuzhen to be with her parents and won't be back until after the fifteenth," Meng Jiangyu answered for her, his tone knowing.

"Wuzhen?" Lu Linchuan smiled. "The water towns of Jiangnan are good for people; no wonder Qingyao is so beautiful."

Zhou Yanqiu nodded in agreement: "That's right, look at those eyebrows and eyes, they look like they stepped out of a painting."

Shen Qingyao felt embarrassed by the praise and thanked him quietly.

After a satisfying meal, everyone moved to the sofa to drink tea and chat.

Shen Qingyao leaned on Meng Jiangyu's shoulder, listening to them talk about embarrassing things from their childhood.

Lu Linfeng broke his leg while climbing a tree to steal a bird's nest and cried for his mother; Zhou Yanqiu broke his father's antique vase and blamed it on the family cat, only to be scratched in the face by the cat; Meng Jiangyu fought with a child several years older than him to protect Xu Mingxuan who was being bullied, got bruised on his face, and still stubbornly insisted that he had won.

"I never imagined you used to fight when you were little." Shen Qingyao looked up at him, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

Meng Jiangyu pinched her cheek, his tone slightly arrogant: "Protecting our own people, there's nothing we wouldn't dare to do."

Looking at the smile in his eyes, Shen Qingyao suddenly realized that this man, who was aloof and unsmiling in front of outsiders, also had such a lively and playful side when he was with his own people.

The warm yellow light fell on his face, softening his features and warming her heart as well.

On the last day of 2025, red lanterns and Chinese knots complemented each other in the resort, giving the blue bricks and gray tiles a warm and inviting feel.