The Cinnabar Mole of a Beijing Circle Tycoon

The whistle for military training finally blew its last note, and Shen Qingyao dragged her leaden legs back to her dormitory. She sat down in a chair and didn't want to move.

The camouflage uniform was wet and then dried, leaving rings of white salt stains on his body, and the stray hairs on his forehead were stuck to his head, smelling of sweat.

"Finally over!" Xiang Yu threw her military cap on the table as soon as she entered the room and collapsed onto the bed. "My voice is almost hoarse from shouting. I need to buy some throat lozenges tomorrow."

Xu Huihui was applying aloe vera gel in front of the mirror when she heard this. She turned around with a hint of excitement on her face: "After military training, it's time to choose clubs. Have you all decided which ones to join? I'm planning to join the dance club. I heard there are a lot of amazing senior girls there."

"I'm definitely going to the pop music club!" Xiang Yu immediately perked up and sat up in bed. "I wanted to join during preparatory class, and now I can finally sign up."

Lu Ying had just finished showering and was sitting in front of the vanity mirror doing her skincare routine in her silk pajamas. Hearing this, she smiled faintly and said, "I won't join in the fun. My family has arranged some things for me, so I probably won't have time to participate in the club activities."

The conversation naturally turned to Shen Qingyao.

Xu Huihui asked curiously, "Qingyao, what about you? Is there a club you'd like to join?"

Shen Qingyao paused for a moment, then shook her head.

I've been so busy with military training and lectures these past few days that I haven't really thought about club matters.

She opened her notebook and flipped to the list of clubs she had previously written down. The densely packed names were dazzling: Literature Club, Debate Club, Volunteer Association, Photography Club...

"I haven't decided yet." She bit her pen, her brows furrowed slightly. "I want to find a club where I can learn something practical."

"Something substantial?" Xiang Yu leaned closer to look at her notebook. "What do you want to learn? Programming? Or design?"

Shen Qingyao lowered her voice: "It's just... it might be somewhat useful, and I can earn some living expenses with it in the future."

She wanted to be able to earn her own money as soon as possible, even if it meant asking for less living expenses, so that they could have an easier time.

She doesn't dare to consider clubs that are purely based on interests for the time being, as she always feels they are too "luxurious".

Xu Huihui looked at her with some concern: "Don't put too much pressure on yourself, it's only the beginning of the semester."

Lu Ying glanced at Shen Qingyao in the mirror, put down the serum in her hand, turned around and said seriously, "If you want to learn a skill that can earn you money part-time, I have a suggestion."

Shen Qingyao immediately looked up: "What suggestion?"

"The school has a bartending club," Lu Ying said. "Although there aren't many people, the instructor is a well-known bartender in the industry, and he teaches very professionally. Once you learn bartending, you can work part-time at bars or high-end events. The hourly wage is much higher than handing out flyers or tutoring, and it's not considered cheap labor."

Xiang Yu's eyes widened in surprise: "Crossing a bar? That sounds so cool! But... will it be difficult?"

"It's not hard to get started, just learn with your heart." Lu Ying smiled. "I know a senior who used to work in the bartending club. Now he works part-time on weekends and can earn several hundred yuan a night."

Shen Qingyao's heart started beating faster for no apparent reason.

Bartending... She had only ever seen it on TV before. Those colorful drinks and swirling glasses always seemed to have a mysterious and glamorous feel to them.

She never imagined she could learn this, let alone that it could become a skill that earns money.

"But..." she hesitated, "I know nothing about alcohol, and..." and it sounded a bit out of place with her "simple" life.

"You only need to learn what you don't know," Lu Ying saw her concerns. "Clubs are places to learn new things. Besides, it's always good to have more skills; the more skills you have, the more career paths you'll have in the future."

Xiang Yu nodded in agreement, "Yeah, Qingyao, why not give it a try? It sounds much better than being a waitress, and you'll get to experience something new."

Xu Huihui also encouraged him, saying, "I think Lu Ying makes a good point. You can go and see the recruitment event to learn more before making a decision."

Looking into their sincere eyes, Shen Qingyao's hesitation was gradually replaced by curiosity and anticipation.

Yes, why not give it a try? Isn't she here at university to change her current situation and learn more? How can she move forward if she always stays in her familiar little circle?

"Well... I'll go take a look." She gripped her pen tightly, still feeling a little uneasy.

The choice of club that had been giving her a headache seemed to have taken an unexpected turn.

She took out her phone and secretly searched for "bartending." Looking at the exquisite pictures of special cocktails on the screen, she felt a little excited.

Meng Jiangyu has just finished a multinational conference.

He rubbed his throbbing temples and looked out the window.

Jason knocked on the door and came in, handing over a document: "President Meng, something has happened to your seventh brother, Meng Yu."

"What is it?"

"I got carried away at the casino and was tricked by the local gang; I lost hundreds of millions!"

Meng Jiangyu gave a casual "hmm," opened the file, and said, "Tell him to wait for me at Junhe."

The night turned the glazed tiles of Junhe Clubhouse a deep amber color, and the bronze lions at the entrance gleamed coldly under the streetlights.

The building, constructed in the 1980s, has reliefs on its walls that bear the marks of time.

Meng Jiangyu stepped into the elevator, paused his fingertip on the number "6", and pressed the button.

The mirror reflected his sharp suit silhouette, and the cufflinks, made of understated platinum, shimmered subtly with his movements.

The sixth-floor corridor was covered with a thick carpet, which absorbed all the noise.

He pushed open the deepest walnut door, and Meng Yu was standing with his back to him in front of the French windows, the cigarette between his fingers burned to the end, and the ashes fell on the expensive carpet.

Hearing the noise, Meng Yu turned around abruptly, her eyes bloodshot and weary, her usual composure completely gone.

"Fifth Brother." His voice was hoarse, with a slight, almost imperceptible tremor.

Meng Jiangyu ignored him, walked straight to the liquor cabinet, poured himself a glass of whiskey, and the ice cubes made a crisp sound as they hit the glass.

"Isn't the influence of the Meng family enough for you to cause trouble in Las Vegas?" His tone was calm, but it was more intimidating than harsh words.

Meng Yu clenched her fingers, cigarette ash falling softly: "It wasn't intentional... I was with a client that day, drank too much, got set up, and couldn't stop when the stakes piled up."

He pulled a crumpled receipt from his pocket. "The other party wouldn't let go, saying they wanted either the chips or..."

"What do you want?" Meng Jiangyu raised his eyes, his gaze as cold as ice. "To kidnap you and use you as a bargaining chip in a casino?"

Meng Yu's Adam's apple bobbed, but she didn't dare to reply.

He knew Meng Jiangyu's temperament; he seemed indifferent, but in reality, he valued the family's reputation above all else.

"Who is the other party?" Meng Jiangyu took a sip of wine, the amber liquid rippled in the glass.

"It seems to be a local gang called 'Red Hands,' and I heard they're colluding with casino owners." Meng Yu lowered her head. "I asked around, and they don't want money. They want to use this as an excuse to connect with our Meng family and do some shady business."

Meng Jiangyu's fingertips traced the rim of his glass, his gaze fixed on the neon lights outside the window. "You do have some brains after all!"

"I'll have someone clear out the chips." He put down his glass, his voice devoid of emotion. "But Meng Yu, this is the last time."

Meng Yu suddenly looked up, her eyes reddening, her Adam's apple bobbing, and finally managed to utter only two words: "Thanks."

Meng Jiangyu ignored him, turned around and walked to his desk, picked up the intercom: "Have Attorney Chen prepare the documents and contact the lawyer in Las Vegas to handle Meng Yu's debts at the casino."

After hanging up the phone, only the sound of their breathing remained in the room.

"What are you still doing here!"

"Fifth Brother," he said softly, "it won't happen again."

Meng Jiangyu didn't turn around, he just waved his hand.

The night outside the window grew darker, and the lights of Junhe Club cast a warm yellow glow behind him.