The Cinnabar Mole of a Beijing Circle Tycoon

The private room was perfectly lit, with warm sunlight filtering through the carved window frames and casting dappled patterns of light on the mahogany table. A faint scent of sandalwood filled the air, creating a tranquil and elegant atmosphere.

After the two were seated, the manager promptly handed them a gold-embossed menu: "Ladies, what would you like to eat today? Please let us know."

Shen Qingyao gestured for Lu Ying to order, saying, "Whatever you like! I'm very happy to treat you to dinner!"

"Then I won't be polite!" Lu Ying flipped through the menu.

"Half a roast duck, pickled vegetables, braised sea cucumber with scallions, Buddha Jumps Over the Wall!" Lu Ying flipped open the menu and ordered several hearty dishes without hesitation. She looked up at Shen Qingyao, her eyes asking, "Qingyao, what would you like to eat?"

"Also, I'd like some pea flour cake and stir-fried shrimp with seasonal vegetables," Shen Qingyao said with a smile as she flipped through the menu. "And for drinks, I'll have a pot of corn juice, warm is fine."

"Alright! Please wait a moment, the food will be here shortly!" The manager responded and left with light steps.

Before long, the fragrant roast duck was served first.

The glossy duck skin, with its tempting amber color, was sliced ​​thinly and evenly by the chef on the spot, and the slices were arranged one by one on a white porcelain plate lined with lotus leaves, still steaming hot.

Lu Ying picked up a thin pancake, deftly wrapped it with crispy duck skin, sweet bean sauce, scallions, and cucumber strips, and handed it to Shen Qingyao: "Try it quickly, it's most fragrant when it's freshly sliced, it'll get greasy when it's cold."

Shen Qingyao took a big bite, the oil melting instantly in her mouth, fragrant but not greasy, making her mouth water. The crispy duck skin, the sweet sauce, and the refreshing vegetables blended perfectly.

Lu Ying also stuffed a piece into her mouth, eating with a satisfied expression, and said indistinctly, "It really lives up to its reputation, even better than what my Michelin three-star chef makes."

"Oh? Isn't your chef supposed to be an expert in everything?" Shen Qingyao put down her chopsticks and teased.

"Everyone has their own expertise!" Lu Ying waved her hand, picked up another piece of pickled chicken and put it in her mouth. Her eyes lit up. "The taste of this pickled trio is also amazing. The aroma of wine is just right, not overpowering, and the meat is especially tender."

The two chatted as they ate, discussing everything from choosing topics for their academic papers to the Impressionist art exhibition they were going to see over the weekend, and then reminiscing about the fun they had while playing ball earlier.

When Shen Qingyao talked about how she almost stumbled while catching the ball, Lu Ying laughed so hard he slapped the table, his eyes crinkling with amusement. The private room was filled with their cheerful laughter, creating a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere.

Halfway through the meal, the manager and his men brought over a plate of Typhoon Shelter Crab, their faces beaming with enthusiasm: "Ms. Shen, Ms. Lu, this is a new dish that we just launched in our restaurant. We'd like you two to try it for free. Please give us your feedback on the taste."

"Thank you very much, Manager." The two gladly accepted; there was no reason to refuse such a delicious treat offered for free.

The crab meat was fresh and plump, coated with golden and crispy breadcrumbs, with a savory aroma and a hint of sweetness. The taste was indeed quite good.

When they were almost finished eating, Shen Qingyao called the waiter to pay the bill, but the waiter replied with a smile, "Ms. Shen, someone has already paid your bill."

"Ms. Shen, next time you come, just put it on Mr. Meng's tab."

The manager brought in two glasses of warm corn juice and added with a smile, "Mr. Meng specifically instructed that you don't need to pay separately when you come to dine; everything has been arranged."

"Okay, thank you." Shen Qingyao accepted without hesitation; Meng Jiangyu's thoughtfulness was always just right.

The manager, carrying a package of corn juice, escorted the two ladies to the door and politely asked, "Did you enjoy today's food? If there's anything you're not satisfied with, please let us know, and we'll definitely improve."

"It suits my taste perfectly, the flavor is excellent, thank you for your hard work, manager." The two responded with smiles, giving him plenty of face.

The car started again and headed towards the school.

The afternoon sun shone gently through the car window, warming the two of them and dispelling the slight chill.

"Yaoyao, power is indeed useful!" Lu Ying leaned back in the soft chair, her tone tinged with emotion.

"Why are you suddenly saying that?" Shen Qingyao took a sip of corn juice. It was sweet but not cloying, with a smooth texture and a refreshing corn aroma.

"Didn't you notice? The manager of Wangjinglou was so obsequious to us just now." Lu Ying pursed her lips, her tone tinged with helplessness. "When I came here by myself before, he never even showed his face; he was just a regular waiter."

"She's really shrewd; her ability to read people is top-notch." Lu Ying shook her head and took another sip of corn juice.

"To get to this position, you must have some skills." Shen Qingyao smiled and looked out the window. The leaves of the plane trees on both sides of the street were translucent in the sunlight, radiating vitality. "But the corn juice was really delicious. It was worth the trip."

"That's true. This corn juice is purer than any I've ever had, and it's not cloyingly sweet at all." Lu Ying also picked up her glass, took a sip, and nodded in agreement.

"By the way, are you free tonight? I'd like to invite you all to my house for a housewarming party!"

"I'm free. Ask Xiang Yu and Huihui if they're free!"

"good!"

The car came to a smooth stop in front of the teaching building, and the two walked inside side by side.

Sunlight streamed through the glass windows of the corridor, casting long shadows on the floor. Accompanied by the cheerful laughter of the two, the shadows stretched into the distance, carrying the unique comfort and warmth of youth.

As the bell rang, the setting sun slanted through the classroom windows, casting warm orange patches of light on the desks.

Lu Ying packed up her notebook, turned to Xu Huihui and Xiang Yu, a smile in her eyes: "I just moved into my new house, and I'd like to invite you over for a housewarming party tonight. Are you free?"

Xiang Yu's eyes lit up, and she readily agreed, "I'm free, I'm free!"

Xu Huihui spoke up, "Okay!"

Lu Ying picked up her coat. "I'll go home and get ready first. You can come over as soon as you're done. I'll send you the address."

"good!"

The group said goodbye at the entrance of the teaching building. Shen Qingyao watched Lu Ying's figure disappear into the distance, then took out her phone, opened a chat window, paused, and carefully typed out the words:

【Yingying, there's something I want to ask you. I don't want too many people to know about my relationship with Meng Jiangyu, especially my classmates at school. So please keep it a secret for me. I mainly want to avoid too much attention and finish my studies quietly. Thank you!】

Not long after the message was sent, Lu Ying replied instantly, her tone full of understanding:

Don't worry! I understand. These are private matters, and I should respect your wishes. I promise I'll keep it a secret and won't mention it to anyone!

Looking at the screen, Shen Qingyao's worries instantly vanished, and a relieved smile appeared on her lips.

She knew that Lu Ying had high emotional intelligence and would surely understand her concerns.

After all, Meng Jiangyu's identity is special, and being too flamboyant will inevitably attract unnecessary discussion and trouble.

Xiang Yu, Xu Huihui, and Shen Qingyao turned into the flower shop on the street corner that was full of hydrangeas.

The three of them carefully selected from the dazzling array of bouquets, choosing a blue hydrangea, paired with several bunches of pink and white lisianthus and lilies, and adorned with a few sprigs of eucalyptus leaves, creating a fresh and elegant look.

The boss wrapped it in light blue wrapping paper and tied it with a ribbon of the same color.

The group then headed straight to IKEA, pushing shopping carts as they weaved through the shelves.

Xu Huihui picked out a pair of cute rabbit figurines, Xiang Yu chose a soft beige rug, and Shen Qingyao picked out a set of Instagram-style tableware—all practical and beautiful little items.

I took a taxi straight to Manhe, but as soon as the car stopped at the entrance, it was stopped by the security guards.