The Cinnabar Mole of a Beijing Circle Tycoon

The noise in the private room was blocked by the heavy door. Shen Qingyao had just come out of the restroom when she bumped into Su Wan, who was standing in the corridor getting some fresh air.

Several lanterns hung under the eaves, their warm yellow light flowing down and falling on Su Wan's off-white dress, outlining a soft gold edge that made her look gentle and charming.

Upon seeing Shen Qingyao, Su Wan was taken aback for a moment, then politely curved her lips into a smile: "Miss Shen."

Shen Qingyao was slightly taken aback when she heard her greeting, but smiled and nodded, "Miss Su."

A gentle evening breeze wafted from the end of the corridor, carrying the delicate fragrance of osmanthus blossoms from the courtyard, a scent that soothed and delighted the soul.

The two stood side by side, speechless for a moment, with only the rustling of the wind under the eaves.

Su Wan spoke first, her voice as soft as a feather brushing against the heart: "I heard from A-Chuan that you and Miss Fang are very good friends."

Shen Qingyao was surprised that she would bring this up, and blurted out, "Yes! You know about their relationship?"

As soon as she said it, she realized her tone was too harsh and quickly added, "Um... I didn't mean to."

Upon hearing this, Su Wan's gaze slowly fell upon the moonlight outside the corridor. The clear moonlight shone on her face, revealing a barely perceptible sigh: "I know, A-Chuan told me everything."

"So you still agreed to this marriage?" Shen Qingyao couldn't help but press, "Don't you feel uncomfortable?"

"I've liked him for many years." Su Wan's voice was soft, but it carried an almost stubborn certainty. "The dinner party where they met was specially arranged by my elders to introduce me to him."

"So that's how it is..." Shen Qingyao was stunned, a sigh of regret washing over her. "Fate is truly unpredictable."

"I know I may never be able to enter his heart in this lifetime." Su Wan turned to look at her, her eyes as calm as a deep pool, without any ripples. "But being able to stay by his side like this is already enough for me. I don't regret this decision."

These words were so straightforward that they surprised Shen Qingyao. She looked up and met Su Wan's clear and determined eyes.

"Ms. Su, we've only known each other for a short time. Don't you think it's a bit too forward for us to be so familiar with each other?"

"Perhaps." Su Wan's lips curved into a smile, a hint of relief in her expression. "I just liked you the moment I saw you, and I couldn't help but want to say a few words. You're so clean, so clean that it makes people want to get close to you. No wonder Mr. Meng likes you so much."

Shen Qingyao frowned slightly, her tone becoming serious: "Miss Su, I'm sorry. Sister Fang and I are very good friends. I will pretend I didn't hear what you said today."

Su Wan turned to look at her, her eyes exceptionally sincere: "I praised you not to curry favor with you, but simply to express my liking for you, nothing more. You don't need to feel sorry."

She lowered her eyes slightly and sighed softly, "Indeed, whether it's love or friendship, the order in which they appear is really important."

She paused, seemingly choosing her words carefully, and then said, "We may have many opportunities to meet in the future, and I hope... it won't be too awkward."

"No, not at all." Shen Qingyao looked at her sincerely, "Su Wan, it's a pleasure to meet you today."

Su Wan's eyes lit up, and she smiled, "If you don't mind, you can call me Wanwan."

"Okay, then you can just call me Qingyao."

Just then, a familiar figure walked around the corner, Meng Jiangyu's voice carrying a lazy smile: "Yaoyao, come with me..."

Seeing this, Su Wan nodded tactfully, "Qingyao, I'll go in first."

Watching her figure disappear through the door of the private room, Shen Qingyao turned around and met Meng Jiangyu's smiling eyes.

"Why have you been out for so long?" He walked up to her and ruffled her hair. "I saw you hadn't come back for a while, so I came out to check on you."

Shen Qingyao looked up at him, a faint smile in her eyes.

Meng Jiangyu raised an eyebrow and asked casually, "What were you talking about with Su Wan just now? What do you think of her?"

Shen Qingyao tilted her head, thought about it seriously, and said softly, "She's a good person. It's just... a little heartbreaking."

Upon hearing this, Meng Jiangyu raised an eyebrow, his gaze falling on her slightly furrowed brows. He gently smoothed out the wrinkles with his fingertips, his tone casual yet carrying a hint of unwavering certainty: "Feeling sorry for her? In matters of the heart, it's always a matter of one party being willing to give and the other being willing to receive. No matter how much others sigh, they can't interfere in the slightest."

"Don't be so overly compassionate, this is someone else's karma!" He paused, looking down at her, a faint smile playing on his lips. He reached out and tucked a stray strand of hair, ruffled by the evening breeze, behind her ear, his fingertips brushing against her warm earlobe. "What were you talking about just now?"

Shen Qingyao subconsciously took a half step back, but he reached out and grabbed her waist. The force was not strong, but it carried an air of inescapable resistance.

She tilted her head and glared at him, her tone slightly coquettish: "We just exchanged a few polite words, what's the big deal?"

Meng Jiangyu chuckled softly, the vibrations from his chest transmitted through their pressed parts, making her feel itchy.

He leaned close to her ear, his voice low and teasing: "Why don't I believe you?"

The warm breath brushed against her ear, and Shen Qingyao's face flushed even more. She reached out and pushed against his chest, saying, "Meng Jiangyu, you..."

Meng Jiangyu took the opportunity to grab her wrist, which was pressed against his chest, and gently stroked the delicate skin of her wrist with his fingertips, his eyes filled with an irrepressible smile.

He leaned down slightly, trapping her between himself and the pillar, his nose almost brushing against her forehead: "Why are you pushing me? Did I say something wrong?"

Shen Qingyao was held in his arms, the faint scent of cedar lingering around her nose, mixed with the sweet fragrance of osmanthus, making her feel slightly dizzy.

She turned her head away from his gaze, but her ears turned red uncontrollably: "Meng Jiangyu, stop messing around, we're outside."

"What happened outside?" He chuckled softly, raised his other hand, and gently hooked her chin with his fingertips, forcing her to turn her head.

His gaze fell into her almond-shaped eyes, which were shimmering with tears. His voice deepened, carrying a hint of coaxing, "Yaoyao, no one dares to look at us."

Shen Qingyao's heart skipped a beat from his gaze, and she reached out to cover his mouth: "Keep your voice down!"

He took her fingertip into his mouth, and the warm touch made Shen Qingyao pull her hand back, her cheeks turning so red they looked like they could bleed.

He looked at her flustered appearance and chuckled softly. The vibration of his chest transmitted through their pressed bodies, making her heart flutter.

"Why are you blushing?" He leaned close to her ear, his breath hot against her earlobe. "Weren't you quite calm just now?"

Shen Qingyao bit her lip, reached out and punched him lightly, as if it were a tickle: "If you keep doing this, I...I'll..."

"What are you?" He raised an eyebrow, tightening his grip and holding the person firmly in his arms.

The last syllable of his voice trailed off with a hint of mockery, and his hot breath brushed against her reddened earlobe, making her tense up all over.

Shen Qingyao was trapped in his embrace, unable to move, and could only glare at him from below: "I'm ignoring you!"

These words have no deterrent effect whatsoever; instead, they sound like a coquettish plea.

Meng Jiangyu chuckled softly, then lowered his head and nuzzled her nose. The scent of cedar mixed with the sweet fragrance of osmanthus enveloped the two of them.

His voice was extremely low and slightly hoarse: "Ignore me? Shen Qingyao, are you really willing to do that?"

Shen Qingyao was speechless, and could only turn her face away, her ears burning red.

The lanterns under the eaves swayed gently, their warm yellow light flowing over the two figures pressed together, making even the evening breeze seem a little gentler.

"Honey, we're so close now, why are you still so easily embarrassed?"

Meng Jiangyu's voice was tinged with laughter, the last syllable drawn out softly and hoarsely, his fingertips gently rubbing against her burning earlobe.

Shen Qingyao snuggled closer to him, her cheek pressed against his warm shirt, her voice barely audible: "I'm timid and easily embarrassed!"

"Really?" He chuckled softly, leaning down to whisper in her ear, "Weren't you quite bold last time?"

These words carried a hint of ambiguity that was hard to define, instantly making Shen Qingyao's face burn even hotter.

She reached out and grabbed the hem of his shirt, giving it a gentle twist, her voice tinged with a hint of reproach: "It's your fault for always teasing me!"

"I can't help it." Meng Jiangyu lowered his head, his nose brushing against the top of her head, his tone full of indulgent laughter, "You're too tempting, I can't resist."