The Cinnabar Mole of a Beijing Circle Tycoon

Upon hearing this, Meng Jiangyu casually stroked her back with his fingertips: "I know him. I've collaborated with his father a few times before and met him a few times."

"So what do you think of him?" Shen Qingyao perked up, looking up at him with bright, sparkling eyes.

"Not bad," Meng Jiangyu said after a moment's thought.

"What do you mean by 'not bad'?" Shen Qingyao sat up abruptly, staring at him and pressing him for details. "Tell me more about his character, abilities, and personality."

Meng Jiangyu also got up, leaned lazily against the headboard, reached out and pulled her back into his arms, letting her sit on his lap. He chuckled and ruffled her hair, saying, "Baby, I've only met him a few times, so I don't know him very well."

"Then just say as much as you know."

"Okay." Meng Jiangyu pinched the tip of her nose, his tone becoming more serious. "He is capable and knows how to advance and retreat appropriately. He has established himself in his father's company through his own abilities. He is not a spoiled brat."

Shen Qingyao rested her chin on her hand, thinking seriously, a smile gradually spreading across her lips: "So, it seems Yingying's blind date this time has a good chance of going well."

Seeing her so happy for her friend, Meng Jiangyu couldn't help but lean down and peck her on the corner of her lips, teasingly asking, "What's wrong? So concerned about your friend's marriage?"

"Of course." Shen Qingyao slapped away his wandering hand and said matter-of-factly, "Yingying is my good friend, and I hope she can be happy."

"Okay." Meng Jiangyu nodded with a smile, put his arm around her, rested his chin on the top of her head, and said in a voice so gentle it could melt your heart, "Now that you've found out, why don't you sleep with me a little longer, okay?"

"Tell me a story and I'll go to sleep."

"Okay." Meng Jiangyu had a sudden inspiration. "Ice cream and refrigerator are a couple. One day they had a fight, and ice cream ran away from home, but it melted halfway there. Having no other choice, ice cream had to come back to the refrigerator. Guess what the refrigerator said?"

"What did he say?" Shen Qingyao asked curiously.

"Come on up, get out of the cold yourself!" Meng Jiangyu chuckled. "Can you go to sleep now?"

Shen Qingyao didn't understand the implied meaning, but obediently snuggled into his arms, found a comfortable position, and closed her eyes contentedly: "Okay."

When the sun was high in the sky, Shen Qingyao woke up again. She was trapped in his arms and couldn't move at all. She could only helplessly raise her hand and gently poke his jawline with her fingertips: "If you stay in bed any longer, breakfast will get cold."

Meng Jiangyu didn't even lift his eyelashes, only gave a low hum, pulled her closer to his chest and rubbed her head against his chest, his voice terribly hoarse: "If it gets cold, have the kitchen redo it."

She chuckled softly, then turned around and nestled into his arms, tracing the outline of his collarbone with her fingertips, her voice soft and sweet: "Ah Yu, aren't you going to work today?"

Before she could finish speaking, Meng Jiangyu lowered his head and sealed her lips with his.

This kiss wasn't as passionate as last night's; it carried the languidness and tenderness of early morning. His tongue gently swept across her lips, the touch incredibly gentle yet possessing an undeniable sense of control.

Shen Qingyao subconsciously raised her hand and wrapped it around his neck, her fingertips sinking into his thick black hair.

After the kiss, Meng Jiangyu pressed his forehead against hers, his breathing slightly heavy: "Baby, it's a day off today."

"I'm hungry," Shen Qingyao said coquettishly.

"Get up," he said, then rolled off the bed, bent down, and picked her up in his arms.

Shen Qingyao gasped and hurriedly wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing her cheek against his warm chest, where she could clearly hear his steady and powerful heartbeat.

"Meng Jiangyu!" she said shyly and reproachfully.

The man chuckled softly, his footsteps steady as he entered the bathroom, a hint of teasing in his voice: "Honey, what's up?"

"It's alright."

Meng Jiangyu placed her in front of the washbasin, slowly wringing out a towel. When the warm touch landed on her cheek, Shen Qingyao subconsciously flinched.

"Don't move." His voice was deep, and his fingertips were exceptionally gentle as he carefully wiped her face.

Shen Qingyao looked at the man in front of her; his brows were cold and his expression was focused.

A warmth filled her heart, and she gently pecked the corner of his lips.

Meng Jiangyu paused in his wiping motion, looked up at her, his dark eyes deep and filled with a familiar possessiveness.

He leaned down and whispered in her ear, his breath hot: "Baby, you're... playing with fire."

"Ayu, I'm hungry," Shen Qingyao said, looking aggrieved.

"Okay." Meng Jiangyu chuckled softly.

-

Time flies, and before we know it, we're in the first semester of our junior year.

The counselor told Shen Qingyao that she had been ranked first in her major for four consecutive semesters, and if she could maintain that ranking in her junior year, she would likely be eligible for a postgraduate recommendation.

Shen Qingyao had never considered pursuing a master's degree before, but now she has complete freedom of choice.

Shen Qingyao came out of the counselor's office and sat on a chair by the school lake, lost in thought.

Students kept passing by on the path opposite, under a blue sky with white clouds and a gentle breeze.

Compared to the daily grind of working, doing scientific research is more meaningful and appealing to me.

I don’t know when it started, but I began to put Meng Jiangyu first in my heart. When I encountered problems, I started to discuss them with him instead of planning them myself.

Shen Qingyao glanced at her watch. It was a little past ten in the morning. She would go home now to get the food the chef had prepared, and then head to Hanhai Building so she could have lunch with him just in time.

Shen Qingyao glanced at the schedule for Meng Jiangyu this week that Jason had sent her, and found that she was free at noon today.

-

Shen Qingyao had been to Hanhai Building many times before. Jason had already spoken to the receptionist and security guards, so no one would stop her.

Shen Qingyao, carrying the insulated food container prepared by Zhang Ma, stepped out of the elevator. Jason stood up to greet her, "Miss Shen, the boss is inside."

"You go ahead with your work, I'll go in myself," Shen Qingyao replied with a smile.

"Okay." Jason helped her open the office door and then returned to his workstation.

The office was well-lit, and Meng Jiangyu, wearing golden glasses, looked at the contract on the table.

"Ayu." Shen Qingyao's voice rang out.

Meng Jiangyu took off his glasses and stood up. "Why did you suddenly come to have dinner with me?"

Shen Qingyao would always tell him the night before she came to have dinner with him.

Meng Jiangyu approached Shen Qingyao, took the things from her hands, and led her to the sofa area.

"I went to see my counselor this morning, and she told me that if I maintain this level of academic performance in my junior year, I can qualify for a guaranteed admission to graduate school," Shen Qingyao said earnestly.

Meng Jiangyu placed the food on the coffee table. "Do you want to pursue a master's degree?"

"I never thought about pursuing a master's degree before, but now I find research quite interesting."

"If you want to do it, then do it," Meng Jiangyu encouraged. "What matters is that you enjoy doing it."

"Thank you, Ayu." Shen Qingyao was very touched, as all her previous decisions had been overturned.

"It's what I should do," Meng Jiangyu said, looking at the little girl in front of him.

Thank you for supporting my choice.

"Baby, I'll always have your back."