The Cinnabar Mole of a Beijing Circle Tycoon

Unlike ordinary residential communities, the buildings nestled among the green trees exude understated luxury and offer excellent privacy; without the owners' consent, outsiders simply cannot enter.

The three of them stood at the door waiting. Shen Qingyao subconsciously pulled her mask down, covering most of her face, afraid of being recognized by the staff.

Xiang Yu looked around curiously and muttered to herself, "This place is so understated yet luxurious."

Xu Huihui nodded and echoed, "No wonder Lu Ying said it was very private; it truly lives up to its reputation."

As soon as he finished speaking, a butler in a sharp suit and with a respectful demeanor strode over and nodded with a smile from afar: "Are you Miss Shen, Miss Xiang, and Miss Xu? Miss Lu sent me to greet you."

He took the shopping bags from the group and led them inside, through a path surrounded by greenery, toward the building where Lu Ying was located.

The butler led the group inside, and Shen Qingyao followed behind Xiang Yu and Xu Huihui, feeling a sense of novelty.

She took the elevator directly from the basement entrance to the apartment building, and it was the first time she had ever stepped into the lobby of the complex through the main entrance.

Upon entering the hall, Xiang Yu and Xu Huihui couldn't help but gasp, their eyes filled with undisguised surprise.

The 9-meter-high space is exceptionally spacious with an unobstructed view. The overall design features a minimalist gray and white color scheme, clean and uncluttered, yet exuding understated luxury in the details.

The four-tiered water feature flows gently along the wall, with the sound of water gurgling. The water features on both sides of the corridor complement the garden architecture outside the window, and every line and every stone exudes exquisite elegance.

The most eye-catching feature is the necklace chandelier above the elevator lobby, with layers of crystal beads hanging down like an unfolded diamond necklace. Light refracts through the crystals, creating tiny specks of light that fall onto the polished marble floor, making the entire space feel grand and elegant.

"My God, this isn't a lobby, it's an art gallery!" Xiang Yu said in a low voice, her eyes filled with shock, and she couldn't help but reach out and tug at Xu Huihui's sleeve.

Xu Huihui nodded repeatedly, her gaze lingering on it, and whispered in agreement, "It's too luxurious! The details are so well done. Just this chandelier looks incredibly valuable."

Shen Qingyao wore a mask, but the corners of her lips unconsciously turned up.

The chef brought out the last dish of steamed grouper, carefully arranged the tableware, and then quietly said goodbye while carrying his toolbox.

Just then, the doorbell rang. Lu Ying hurried to open the door, stepping onto the soft carpet, and was immediately greeted by a refreshing floral fragrance.

Shen Qingyao, Xiang Yu, and Xu Huihui stood at the door carrying gifts and bouquets, all with smiles on their faces.

"Coming, coming! Come in quickly!" Lu Ying warmly stepped aside to let them into the house, took the bouquet of pink and white lisianthus, her eyes sparkling. "These flowers are so beautiful, they match my vase in the living room perfectly!"

She took the shopping bags from the group and casually placed them on the entryway cabinet. "You're all too kind, bringing so much stuff for our housewarming."

"It's just a small token of my appreciation. I hope you have a comfortable stay!" Xiang Yu said with a smile as she changed her shoes, her gaze darting around the living room with curiosity in her eyes.

The long table in the restaurant was already laden with dishes. Steamed grouper glistened with a lustrous sheen, squirrel-shaped mandarin fish was coated in a bright sweet and sour sauce, and there were also braised prawns, crab roe tofu, and stir-fried seasonal vegetables. The combination of meat and vegetables was just right, and the aroma wafted straight to the nose.

The four of them sat around the dining table and started talking as soon as they picked up their chopsticks.

"Did you know what? Last time, for our group assignment, Li Man actually copied a paper from the internet, and the teacher called her out on the spot!" Xiang Yu said with a hint of excitement in her voice.

"Really? Isn't she usually quite arrogant?" Lu Ying raised an eyebrow in surprise, picking up a piece of crab roe tofu and putting it in her mouth.

Shen Qingyao, biting into a shrimp tail, couldn't help but laugh: "I was there too. The teacher didn't say it explicitly, but she was implying it in her words. Her face turned bright red, and she was very uncomfortable."

Xu Huihui burst into laughter, almost dropping her chopsticks: "That's too outrageous! She probably won't dare to copy like that anymore."

The crab roe tofu for dinner was still steaming hot, but Xu Huihui's voice couldn't hide her excitement: "You guys know what? I just heard some juicy gossip—the class monitor cheated on me!"

"What?!" Xiang Yu nearly dropped the spoon in her hand, her eyes widening in shock. "The class monitor? The one who's always showing off his love for his girlfriend and posting long articles on social media saying they'll be together forever?"

Shen Qingyao was also stunned, her hand holding the food in her chopsticks froze in mid-air. "The class monitor and his girlfriend are the department's recognized model couple. They've been inseparable since freshman year, and last month they even signed up for a couples' volunteer activity together. How could he suddenly cheat on her?"

"Absolutely true!" Xu Huihui nodded, her tone becoming even more mysterious. "I know a graduate student who said that our class monitor has been spending a lot of time with one of the female students from her lab lately, and last week they were even spotted going to an off-campus hotel together!"

Lu Ying nearly spat out the soup she had just drunk, quickly wiping her mouth with a tissue: "No way? His girlfriend is so nice, beautiful and gentle, she always brings him breakfast and saves him a seat, how could he be such a jerk?"

"Who knows!" Xu Huihui pouted. "I heard that senior's family is well-off, and she can even help him find an internship. Do you think he's only with her for his future?"

These words immediately caused an uproar at the table.

Xiang Yu slammed her hand on the table in anger: "This is outrageous! He was all so affectionate before, but it was all an act!"

Shen Qingyao frowned, feeling a pang of regret. It was truly unexpected that someone who usually seemed so honest and steady would harbor such thoughts.

The girls' gossipy nature was completely ignited, and they started ranting and raving about it.

His tone was full of disdain for the class monitor and sympathy for his girlfriend, making the atmosphere at the dinner table even more heated than before.

Girls' happiness is always simple. A few dishes and a few gossips are enough to make them chat enthusiastically. Laughter spreads along with the warm light of the restaurant, creating a lively and pleasant atmosphere.

After dinner, Lu Ying carried several bottles of red wine and four wine glasses to the living room. She placed the glasses on the coffee table, poured in the deep red wine, and the aroma of the wine instantly filled the air.

The four of them nestled in the soft sofa, their feet on the plush carpet, holding warm wine glasses in their hands, and their conversation continued.

Lu Ying put down her wine glass, tapped the glass lightly with her fingertips, and a hint of amusement flashed in her eyes: "Want to hear something even more explosive? The gossip about that top male star Gu Yan is all over the news in the industry."

"Gu Yan? Is that the guy who's known as the 'Pure-Hearted God of War,' and whose fans always praise his chastity?" Xiang Yu perked up instantly and leaned forward.

"It's him." Lu Ying nodded, her tone tinged with sarcasm. "You might not believe it, but he's been kept by a rich woman for a long time. The mansion he lives in and the sports car he drives were all given to him by her. He's a typical gigolo."

Shen Qingyao and Xu Huihui exchanged a glance, both looking surprised. Gu Yan's persona had always been that of an inspirational grassroots man, but they never expected there to be such a hidden story behind him.

"That's nothing," Lu Ying said, taking a sip of red wine before continuing to reveal more. "Last year, when he was filming a drama, he even started a 'couple' relationship with an actress from the same production. They were inseparable in private. But that actress was ambitious and turned around and hooked up with the director, trying to get resources through him."

"My God, this is too chaotic!" Xu Huihui covered her mouth, her eyes filled with shock.

"The most dramatic part comes later. I heard that the director had a really messy private life, frequented nightclubs, and ended up contracting a sexually transmitted disease. Not only did the actress get infected, but she also passed it on to Gu Yan. And Gu Yan actually dared to go back to seeing the rich woman, and as a result, the rich woman also got infected!"

"Holy crap!" Xiang Yu couldn't help but curse, "What kind of chain of karma is this?!"

"The rich woman was furious when she found out the truth. She immediately declared that she would ruin Gu Yan's reputation, not only taking back everything she had given him, but also making it impossible for him to make a living in the industry." Lu Ying shrugged.

The people at the table were stunned and remained speechless for a long time.

Shen Qingyao shook her head, feeling a pang of regret: "Celebrities who appear glamorous on the surface are actually so chaotic in private. You can never truly know a person's heart just by looking at their face."

"Absolutely!" Xu Huihui chimed in, "I'll never believe in any persona again, it's all a lie!"

The girls' gossip instincts were completely ignited. They chatted away, one after another, getting more and more excited, and even forgot about the time.

As night deepened and the clock quietly passed ten o'clock, the warm light in the living room remained soft, but Xiang Yu and Xu Huihui were clearly drunk.

Their cheeks were flushed, their eyes were slightly glazed, and they were still muttering gossip they hadn't finished talking about, but their bodies were so weak that they were leaning against the sofa and even getting up was a bit of a struggle.

Shen Qingyao and Lu Ying exchanged a glance, smiled and shook their heads, then each helped one of them towards the guest room.

Xiang Yu, slightly drunk, grabbed Shen Qingyao's arm and mumbled, "Let's chat a little longer."

Xu Huihui smiled with her eyes narrowed, her steps unsteady as if she were walking on cotton.

The two of them gently placed them on the soft bed, covered them with a light blanket, poured warm water and placed it by the bedside, before quietly closing the door behind them.

As soon as Shen Qingyao returned to the living room, her phone rang, and a message from Meng Jiangyu popped up on the screen.

Shen Qingyao turned to look at Lu Ying and said goodbye with a smile, "I'm going upstairs now. Thank you for your hospitality tonight. I had a lot of fun."

"Don't mention it." Lu Ying waved her hand, her eyes full of knowing smiles. "Go on upstairs, don't keep President Meng waiting too long. Goodnight~"

"Okay, I'll come down tomorrow morning," Shen Qingyao said with a smile. "Goodnight."

Watching Shen Qingyao walk into the elevator, Lu Ying turned back to look at the empty wine glass on the coffee table, a smile still on her lips.