The Cinnabar Mole of a Beijing Circle Tycoon

As night fell over the school gate, the car's air conditioning still kept the temperature warm.

Meng Jiangyu unbuckled his seatbelt, reached out to tidy Shen Qingyao's wind-blown bangs, and ran his fingertips across her cheek, a hint of reluctance in his voice: "Are you sure you don't need me to take you inside?"

Shen Qingyao shook her head, lightly tracing the back of his hand with her fingertips: "No need! I can manage myself!"

She pulled his hand closer to her, saying, "Besides, I'm not a child. I can carry a suitcase without any problem."

Meng Jiangyu didn't speak, but leaned closer, his forehead touching hers, their breaths mingling, carrying the girl's unique sweet scent.

He didn't do anything excessive, just leaned against her quietly, enjoying this moment of intimacy.

"I'm going to Germany on a business trip tomorrow, which will last about a week. Take care of yourself at school, and call me anytime if you need anything."

"Okay." Shen Qingyao tilted her head back and pecked his chin, then quickly pulled away, her cheeks already burning. "Then... I'll go down?"

"Wait." He grabbed her wrist, took a small box from the passenger-side storage compartment, and stuffed it into her hand. "I bought this in the South of France; I forgot to give it to you."

Inside the box was a small seashell brooch, its edges inlaid with tiny sparkling diamonds, gleaming softly under the car's interior lights.

Shen Qingyao held the brooch, feeling a warm glow in her heart: "Thank you."

"Go ahead." He gently ruffled her hair, his voice soft.

Shen Qingyao nodded, and when she opened the car door, she looked back at him again. He was looking at her, and the smile in his eyes was brighter than the car headlights.

She carried her suitcase and walked briskly into the school gate. After a few steps, she couldn't help but look back. The car was parked in place, and the window was rolled down.

Meng Jiangyu only started the car after the figure disappeared around the corner.

When Shen Qingyao reached the dormitory building, the cold wind lifted the corner of her clothes, and the wheels of her suitcase rolled over the cement road, making a crisp sound.

When the dormitory door was pushed open, Xiang Yu was playing games on the table, Xu Huihui was trying on a new lipstick in front of the mirror, and Lu Ying was leaning back in her chair flipping through a picture book.

The room was filled with the warmth of the heating, mixed with the scent of the girl's perfume, making it cozy and inviting.

"I'm back." Shen Qingyao's voice was light and cheerful as she took off her camel coat and draped it over the back of her chair.

Shen Qingyao opened her suitcase and took out several exquisitely packaged small boxes. "I brought you gifts."

Xiang Yu immediately threw down her keyboard and rushed over: "What good stuff is it?"

She opened it and saw a beautiful star necklace with a ring of small diamonds around the outside. "Wow, this is so pretty!"

"Thank you, Yao Yao!" Xu Huihui opened the package, her eyes lighting up. "Wow, this little moon is so exquisite, it's so pretty!"

Lu Ying opened the box, inside lay a sunflower necklace with a small diamond adorning the bottom: "The craftsmanship is truly excellent."

She traced the lines with her fingertips, and when she looked up at Shen Qingyao, her gaze paused.

Shen Qingyao wore a beige cashmere sweater with delicate pearl buttons at the neckline, paired with a light gray wool skirt. The fabric looked exceptionally soft and smooth.

She used to always wear faded hoodies and jeans, but today's outfit exuded an indescribable sophistication, making her skin appear even fairer, and giving her eyes and brows a soft glow.

"Qingyao, I've noticed you're different since you came back!" Xiang Yu stared at her for a long time, then suddenly clapped her hands. "Your eyes are like they're filled with stars!"

Xu Huihui also came over and pinched her cheek with a grin: "You can't hide how pampered you are!"

Shen Qingyao's cheeks flushed slightly. She neither admitted nor denied it, but simply lowered her head to tidy up the books on the table, while the corners of her mouth couldn't help but turn up.

Lu Ying's gaze fell on Shen Qingyao's cashmere sweater. The pearl buttons had a warm luster that was incomparable to ordinary brands. The cut of the skirt also revealed a low-key sophistication, and even the stitching on the cuffs was as neat as a work of art.

Her own clothes, carefully chosen by her family, seemed rather ordinary compared to Shen Qingyao's.

She had a vague idea in her mind: if someone could make Shen Qingyao change like this and give her clothes of such quality, then that person's identity must be extraordinary.

But since Qingyao didn't say anything, she must have had her reasons. Everyone has their own secrets and life trajectory, and outsiders don't need to pry too much.

"I really like the gift, thank you." Lu Ying put the gift into her jewelry box, then naturally changed the subject, "By the way, I got the tickets for next week's art exhibition. Are you all sure you're both free?"

"I'm free! I'm free!" Xiang Yu immediately raised her hand. "I've been wanting to see that Impressionist exhibition for ages!"

Xu Huihui nodded, "I don't have class that day, let's go together!"

Shen Qingyao smiled and agreed, packing her things while listening to her roommates chattering about the art exhibition.

Their concern was perfectly measured; there were no questions or inquiries, only mutual respect hidden in this tacit understanding.

Yu Garden Master Bedroom

As night deepened, the faint fragrance of Shen Qingyao lingered in the room, like a sweet floral scent, making Meng Jiangyu toss and turn, unable to sleep.

He got up and sat against the headboard, his fingertips unconsciously stroking the sheets, where the warmth of her lying still lingered.

A restless energy surged within his young body. He took a deep breath and picked up his phone to dial Jason's number.

"I need to find a fully furnished apartment near Kyoto University, with strict security and a quiet environment. I want to see the listings by tomorrow." His voice was still slightly hoarse, but his tone was very determined.

"Yes, Mr. Meng, I'll arrange it right away." Jason responded crisply on the other end, well aware of his boss's style of doing things.

After hanging up the phone, Meng Jiangyu got up and went to the bathroom.

He poured cold water on himself, trying to extinguish the burning sensation. The water flowed down his firm muscle lines, but it couldn't completely suppress the turmoil in his heart.

He turned off the shower, dried his hair with a towel, and stared at his reflection in the mirror, his eyes deep and thoughtful.

Back in the bedroom, the sweet fragrance seemed even stronger.

He paused, then turned and walked towards the study.

-

People in Shen Qingyao's dormitory gradually went to bed in the early hours of the morning.

The dormitory was so quiet at night that you could hear the wind outside the window. Shen Qingyao opened her eyes and stared at the upper bunk. She turned over and felt a little sore in her back from the hard bed beneath her.

She subconsciously shrank further under the covers, the faint scent of cedarwood from Meng Jiangyu's bedroom still lingering around her nose, mixed with the aroma of the soft bedding.

Last night, she lay on that large, custom-made bed, the blankets as soft as clouds, so soft that she could barely hear a sound when she turned over, and slept soundly all night.

But now, the hardboard bed in the dormitory is rock hard, and the pillows aren't as fluffy as they are over there. No matter how I lie down, it doesn't feel comfortable.

She turned over again, and the bed made a slight creaking sound, which was particularly clear in the quiet night.

"It's easy to go from frugality to extravagance, but difficult to go back to frugality," the old saying popped into Shen Qingyao's mind, and she couldn't help but sigh softly.

I used to think the dorm beds were fine, as long as I could sleep peacefully. But after experiencing that kind of comfort, I feel a little uncomfortable coming back.

She wasn't a vain person; it's just that physical sensations don't lie.

Moonlight streamed through the gaps in the curtains, casting a thin band of light across the bed curtains.

Shen Qingyao forced herself to calm down, and slowly, her eyelids began to feel heavy, and her body gradually adapted to the feel of the hard bed.

Shen Qingyao yawned and told herself not to think too much, to get some sleep, because she had to get up early at 8 a.m. tomorrow.