The Cinnabar Mole of a Beijing Circle Tycoon

Looking at herself in the mirror, Lu Ying said, "Yao Yao, I have something to tell you. Sister Su Wan is pregnant."

Shen Qingyao gently traced the patterns on the sofa armrest with her fingertips, a slight smile playing on her lips, her tone flat: "I know, I saw you at a dinner party a few days ago."

Shen Qingyao continued, "The person who usually drinks red wine suddenly switched to juice, which clearly indicated something was up. Later, during our conversation, she told me that she had just settled down."

"Wow, you have a good eye for observation!" Lu Ying raised an eyebrow.

"By the way, Xu Mingxuan's older sister is getting married."

Shen Qingyao was somewhat surprised. "Huh?"

"It's a business marriage; the groom is the heir to a top-tier wealthy family in Shanghai and Hong Kong. It's a powerful alliance."

Shen Qingyao was at a loss for words, so Lu Ying continued, "Sister Xu Mingxuan is almost thirty years old. I heard that her family is urging her to get married, so the process is going very quickly."

"You're only thirty, why the rush?"

"It's an unspoken rule in the industry that most girls get married in their early twenties."

"I see." Shen Qingyao said thoughtfully. "Why? Can't girls develop their own careers?"

"I don't know about other families, but my parents say that the bond between young couples is different, and having children earlier means less risk and less suffering."

"I heard that Xu's eldest sister's fiancé has a mistress. They've been together for many years and have a very good relationship, but the elders in the family don't approve."

"Doesn't the eldest sister of the Xu family care?" Shen Qingyao asked, somewhat surprised.

"They probably don't care, otherwise they wouldn't have reached the point of discussing marriage."

"Why would she want to wrong herself?" Shen Qingyao didn't understand.

"Since there's no affection, let's pursue mutual benefit. Each of us gets what we need, maximizing our profits."

"I don't understand, but I respect it."

"My wedding date is set for May 31st."

"I thought I'd have to wait until after graduation."

"The master calculated an auspicious date based on your birth dates and times," Lu Ying asked. "When are you and Jiang Yu's wedding date?"

"It's tentatively scheduled for the second half of the year, most likely in September."

They chatted on and on about gossip in the entertainment industry, their rambling tone light and lively, with Shen Qingyao occasionally chiming in.

Shen Qingyao and Lu Ying's long hair was curled into loosely sized curls. The stylist connected a heating device to the curlers, and the warm temperature enveloped their hair, making it feel comfortable without being too hot.

Two nail technicians walked over with tablets, showing off the nail design drawings. Both of them were very satisfied.

An assistant approached with an elegant manicure kit, and the manicurist smiled and said, "Ms. Shen, Ms. Lu, now is the perfect time to do your manicures without delaying the hair heating and styling."

The nail polish box was opened, and various colors of gel polish were neatly arranged. Nude pink, gold cat-eye, and rhinestone polish were all categorized separately, and they were all nail polishes that the two of them would be using later.

"it is good."

The nail technician immediately agreed, moved a small stool over and sat down beside the two of them. She first meticulously manicured their nails and removed the dead skin, then lightly applied the base coat. Her movements were so gentle that there was no discomfort at all.

The warmth of the hair, the light touch of the fingertips, and Lu Ying's incessant chatter in my ear created a relaxed atmosphere throughout the styling area.

Lu Ying chatted with her about gossip in the entertainment industry, and Shen Qingyao occasionally responded with a few words, always with a faint smile on her lips.

After the manicure was done, both of them were very satisfied, and Shen Qingyao took a picture and sent it to Meng Jiangyu.

Meng Jiangyu had just landed at Hong Kong Airport and immediately replied to the message, "Baby's nail art is so beautiful, you have great taste."

"You've arrived in the port city."

"Yes, I received your message as soon as I landed."

Shen Qingyao and Lu Ying had lunch at the club, where the chef prepared exquisite dishes: stir-fried seasonal vegetables, creamy lobster, pan-fried cod, and mushroom soup.

Around 2 PM, after their hair was blow-dried, two loose, natural waves fell over their shoulders, with the ends slightly curled up, making their features appear softer and adding a touch of languid charm.

Both were very satisfied and left the club after signing the contract.

The afternoon sun was shining brightly, so the two went to SKP. They familiarly gave their membership numbers and were led to a private VIP room, where the staff thoughtfully served them hot tea and snacks.

Store managers from various brand counters delivered a wide variety of new dresses, shoes, bags, and accessories, creating a dazzling array of items.

Lu Ying picked out a burgundy velvet maxi dress and had a model try it on: "Yao Yao, this dress makes your skin look so fair!"

Shen Qingyao's clothes and jewelry were all custom-made according to her preferences, so naturally none of them met her standards.

Seeing her shopping spree, Shen Qingyao couldn't help but laugh: "Are you trying to empty the entire department store?"

Lu Ying raised an eyebrow: "It's because Gu Xizhou didn't spend time with me, I'm going to max out his credit card." As she spoke, she picked out a smoky gray cashmere coat.

"Alright, your happiness is priceless." Shen Qingyao sat to the side drinking tea, offering her advice.

"Yaoyao, what do you think of this dress?"

"It looks good and suits you."

"What about this one?"

"This one isn't good; it's too old-fashioned."

After a while, the Hermès store manager brought the new products to the VIP room of the mall.

The store manager could tell from the bags the two were carrying that they were well-off.

Shen Qingyao fell in love at first sight with the crocodile-skin Kelly in light yellow, dreamy purple, and cherry blossom pink.

Afterwards, the sales associate learned of her preferences and had someone bring over all the yellow, pink, and purple bags in the store.

Kellydoll, Kang Kang, and the vegetable basket were all brought up.

Shen Qingyao chose six bags; indeed, girls are born shopping experts.

After the two paid, the staff tidied up all their belongings and arranged for someone to deliver them to their home.

Lu Ying took Shen Qingyao's arm and walked out of SKP. The setting sun hung obliquely in the sky, its golden-red light shining on the two of them. A cool evening breeze blew by.

"Yingying, let me take you to eat what I think is the best hot pot in Beijing."

"Okay." The driver drove the car to the door, and the two got in one after the other.

In the alleys of Shichahai, the red lanterns of a century-old hot pot restaurant sway warmly under the eaves.

"This is the place. Ah Yu brought me here before, and the food is absolutely amazing."

Upon seeing the two enter, the waiter immediately came forward to greet them, and the two sat down to order.

Before long, all the dishes were served.

The waiter brought out a copper pot, with charcoal crackling and the clear broth floating with scallions and red dates.

Freshly sliced ​​mutton rolls cook instantly when placed in the pot, then coated in sesame sauce and popped into your mouth, filling your mouth with a rich and mellow aroma.

Shen Qingyao bit into the mutton, her eyes curving into crescents. "Try this sesame sauce. It's thicker and more glutinous than other places, and it's not too sweet at all when mixed with chive blossoms."

Lu Ying nodded as she cooked the meat, then glanced up and noticed a bit of sesame paste on her fingertips as she dipped the meat in the sauce. She smiled and handed her a tissue: "No wonder you went out of your way to come here. You really know how to do it. The taste is amazing."

"Of course," Shen Qingyao wiped her hands, "the copper pots in this shop are all family heirlooms, and the charcoal-fired flavor is the best complement to the mutton."

The soup in the pot was bubbling away, and steam rose onto their faces.

Lu Ying poured her a cup of warm pear soup, clinking the rim of the cup softly: "Absolutely amazing."

Shen Qingyao smiled and took it, the sweet pear soup soothing her throat: "I knew it."

Light snow was falling outside the window at Shichahai Lake, and the faint sounds of vendors hawking their wares could be heard from the alleyways.