The Cinnabar Mole of a Beijing Circle Tycoon

As soon as the clock struck midnight, Fang Shuning fumbled in the dark and pressed the power button on the TV remote.

The moment the screen lit up, a cold white light swept across her profile, illuminating a thin layer of red in her eyes.

When the opening theme of "I Want Us to Be Together" played, even the dust in the air seemed to freeze.

That was the first movie she and Lu Linchuan watched together on the sofa.

Fang Shuning watched the screen frame by frame, using the flickering light.

Lin Qinyang's persistence and Ling Yiyao's forbearance, those scenes that once made them laugh and cry, now hit Fang Shuning's heart like a waterlogged sponge.

Shen Qingyao leaned back on the sofa, initially trying to stay with her, but eventually she couldn't resist the drowsiness. Her breathing gradually became long and even, and her head drooped down little by little.

The movie automatically replayed after it finished playing, and the end credits song played on repeat. The sky outside the window gradually turned from pitch black to a pale white, and then finally became completely bright.

Shen Qingyao was awakened by her biological clock. When she opened her eyes, she felt a soreness in her neck.

She raised her hand and rubbed it, her gaze falling on Fang Shuning, who was still in the same position as last night, her eyes fixed on the screen, her eyes bloodshot.

It felt like all my strength had been drained away, leaving only an empty shell wrapped in memories.

She took out her phone to check the time; the screen showed it was a little after nine in the morning.

She tiptoed to her feet, walked to the French windows, and reached out to pull back the heavy curtains.

In an instant, sunlight surged in, golden rays crashing onto the floor and scattering a dazzling shower of light.

Fang Shuning narrowed her eyes abruptly, her brows furrowing deeply, and instinctively raised her hand to cover her face.

Shen Qingyao quickly pulled the curtains back, leaving only a narrow gap to let in some soft light.

She walked back to the sofa, squatted down, her gaze falling on his pale lips, and said in a voice as soft as a feather, "Sister Fang, are you hungry? Shall I go and cook some porridge?"

Fang Shuning's gaze remained fixed on the screen, where Lin Yi was shouting "I want us to be together" at Ling Yiyao's back. His Adam's apple bobbed, and after a long while, he slowly, very slowly shook his head.

On the coffee table sat a half-eaten strawberry cake and several opened packs of tissues, crumpled and piled in the corner.

On the screen, the plot of "I Want Us to Be Together" continues.

Familiar lines flowed from the speakers, carrying the dull weight of bygone days.

Fang Shuning hugged a pillow, her eyes fixed on the screen.

When Lu Qinyang was writing a love letter to Ling Yiyao in the snow, she suddenly chuckled, her shoulders shaking slightly, but her voice was thick with nasal tone: "Look at his... his handwriting is so ugly, Lu Linchuan's handwriting is so beautiful."

As soon as she finished speaking, tears streamed down her face, landing on the pillow and leaving a small, dark stain.

She hurriedly raised her hand to wipe it away, but the more she wiped, the more tears flowed. In the end, she simply gave up and let the tears stream down her cheeks, but a slight smile still lingered at the corners of her mouth.

"Back then, Lu Linchuan took me to see this movie, and he cried even harder than I did at the end."

She sniffed, her voice broken, "He said... he said we definitely wouldn't end up like Lü Qinyang and Ling Yiyao. He said he wanted to marry me, to give me a grand and glorious marriage into the Lu family..."

Shen Qingyao didn't say anything, but simply put her arm around her shoulder, placed her warm palm on her back, and gently patted it.

She knew that at this moment, any words of comfort would seem inadequate.

The theme song from the movie is still playing; the melody is gentle yet melancholic.

Fang Shuning stared blankly at the male and female protagonists embracing on the screen.

Shen Qingyao's heart clenched as she looked down at the girl's reddened eyes.

Fang Shuning didn't respond, but buried her face in the pillow, her shoulders shaking violently.

The light from the television screen shone on her trembling profile, flickering like an old dream that never ends.

Shen Qingyao stayed with her like this, from dawn till dusk.

The movie was replayed after it finished playing. The lines were so familiar that they could be recited from memory. Fang Shuning's crying and laughter mingled together, filling the entire room.

Shen Qingyao looked at Fang Shuning, who was in tears. Brown eyeshadow had left two shallow streaks on her foundation, messily covering her eyes.

Shen Qingyao felt sorry for her and turned to go to the bathroom to get makeup remover pads and makeup remover, and then took out her usual face wash and face cream.

She squatted in front of the sofa, unscrewed the cap of the makeup remover bottle, soaked the makeup remover cotton pad, and moved as gently as if afraid of breaking a piece of porcelain.

"Don't move," she said softly, raising her hand to gently wipe Fang Shuning's eyes with a makeup remover pad, removing the makeup mixed with tears.

One cotton pad after another was used to remove the makeup from her face until it was completely wiped clean, revealing her originally pale skin.

Shen Qingyao squeezed out a little more facial cleanser, rubbed it into a fine foam in her palm, and carefully cleansed her cheeks. She then dried her face with warm water, and finally applied face cream. With her fingertips warm, she gently patted the cream onto her face to help it absorb.

Fang Shuning didn't say a word the whole time, only lowered her eyelids, her long eyelashes were wet, like butterfly wings covered in dew.

After tidying up her face, Shen Qingyao stood up and began tidying up the living room.

There were some chestnut shells scattered on the coffee table. The milk tea had been opened but not drunk, and a few bites of cake had been eaten.

Shen Qingyao threw them all into the trash can.

She bent down and arranged the cushions one by one, then picked up the blanket from the floor and folded it up. Her movements were slow and deliberate, trying not to make too much noise, for fear of breaking the fragile peace.

Just then, the doorbell rang.

Shen Qingyao went to open the door, and standing outside was Jason, carrying two exquisite insulated food containers. He smiled politely and said, "Ms. Shen, Mr. Meng asked me to deliver this lunch, which was prepared according to your requirements."

Shen Qingyao took the food box. "Thank you, Jason."

"Miss Shen, you're too kind!" Jason didn't linger and left quickly.

She closed the door, turned around and looked at the person on the sofa, where a faint aroma of food wafted from the food box.

Shen Qingyao placed the insulated food container on the coffee table. The moment she lifted the lid, the warm aroma of rice mixed with the fresh scent of shrimp and crab wafted out, forming a warm mist.

She scooped up a spoonful of warm porridge and held it to Fang Shuning's lips, her voice as soft as cotton: "Sister Fang, try this, it's your favorite seafood porridge."

Fang Shuning turned her head away, resting her chin on her knee, her eyelashes drooping to conceal the turbulent emotions in her eyes.

She remained silent for a long while before speaking in a hoarse voice, so soft it seemed as if a breeze could dissipate it: "Qingyao, do you think... if I fainted from low blood sugar and was taken to the hospital, would Lu Linchuan soften his heart? Would he abandon those damn family rules and come back to see me?"

Shen Qingyao paused, holding the spoon, feeling a pang of pain in her heart, as if something had struck her.

She put down her spoon, sat down next to Fang Shuning, put her arm around her thin shoulder, and sighed helplessly, "Sister Fang, don't be silly, this is like drinking poison to quench your thirst."

She paused, looking at Fang Shuning's pale profile, and finally spoke frankly, "Lu Linchuan doesn't not love you, but the family behind him is a responsibility he's carried since childhood. He made a choice long ago: on one side is his blood-related family, and on the other is you. He chose the former."

Fang Shuning's shoulders trembled suddenly, and tears welled up silently again, splashing onto the blanket on her knees and spreading into a small, dark stain.

"No matter what, you should never try to keep a man by harming your own body."

Fang Shuning still refused to eat. "But I want to see him!"

Shen Qingyao didn't want to give her false hope, but seeing her like this, she couldn't help herself.

"Sister Fang, things have changed, there might be a turning point!" Shen Qingyao coaxed.

"What do you mean? Did Mr. Meng say something to you?"

"Eat your food first, and I'll tell you everything after you finish!" Shen Qingyao handed the porridge to Fang Shuning.

Fang Shuning took the porridge and started drinking it.

The spoon tapped against the rim of the bowl, making a soft clinking sound, but her hand trembled slightly. After eating half a bowl of warm porridge, her stomach felt much better.

When he looked up, there was still a lingering redness in his eyes.

"You can talk now." She gripped the rim of the bowl, her knuckles turning white, her voice filled with barely suppressed urgency.

Shen Qingyao sighed, "Sister Fang, the reason for your breakup has existed for eight years, and the problem remains unresolved. Now that things have taken a turn for the better, a solution may also emerge."

"But I don't know what the specific solution is!"

She stared blankly at Shen Qingyao, her lips moved but no sound came out, only tears welled up in her eyes and streamed down her face uncontrollably.

Fang Shuning raised her hand to cover her face, and suppressed sobs escaped through her fingers.