Billionaire's Gold Digger - Chapter 146

Little Theater – Partition Room

That night’s singles party ultimately failed to stay “single” and turned into a big gathering for everyone.

On the terrace, Fan Shengmei leaned gently against Meng Yanchen’s chest, watching their friends laughing and playing downstairs.

“Thank you,”

she said softly, “for preparing all of this for me.”

She looked up, curiosity in her eyes. “When did you start planning this?”

Meng Yanchen took her hand, his fingertip rubbing the brand-new ring, his gaze drifting into the distance as he fell into memory.

“That time I went with you to 2202 to get your things.”

He spoke slowly, “None of your roommates were home that day. It was the first and only time I accompanied you into 2202.”

His arm tightened slightly, a barely detectable ache coloring his tone.

“A partition room so narrow it could only fit a mattress, not even a single window. You were inside searching for your things, and I stood at the door, stunned for a long time.”

With his words, Fan Shengmei seemed to return to that afternoon.

That tiny space, thin walls, stifling air, all her belongings crammed into the corners–proof of her struggle to survive, carrying all the embarrassment, anxiety, and heavy burdens from when she first arrived in this city.

“Through that little room, I felt like I suddenly saw clearly how you managed to get through those years, step by step, all on your own.”

He paused, steadying his emotions. “In that moment, I felt terrible, even… guilty. Regretting all the time I’d wasted, wondering why I hadn’t appeared sooner, why I let you bear so much alone.”

“I decided then that I’d do my best to smooth away all your painful past, to give you a completely new life, so that when you look back, you’ll have more than just pain and hardship.”

Fan Shengmei remembered now. No wonder Meng Yanchen had been so downcast after leaving 2202 that day. On the drive home, he was silent the whole way. When he parked in the garage, he didn’t unbuckle his seatbelt for a long time, just suddenly turned from the driver’s seat and hugged her tightly, for a long, long time.

He buried his face in the crook of her neck, leaning against her motionless, not saying a word.

Back then, she thought he’d run into trouble at work, so she quietly hugged him back, gently patting his back to comfort him.

It turned out that his strange silence and that long embrace were the result of overwhelming, unspeakable heartache.

“It’s all in the past now,”

Fan Shengmei turned to him, raising her hand to gently caress his cheek, her gaze warm and relieved.

“And I really do love 2202. That’s where I met Andy, Xiao Qiu, Guanguan, and Xiao Qu,”

She smiled as she listed them, then turned to kiss him,

“And of course, I met you too.”

Meng Yanchen wrapped his arms tighter, pulling her deeper into his embrace, whispering softly in her ear,

“I’m sorry I was late.”

Fan Shengmei shook her head, her eyes bright and resolute,

“I believe everything is the best arrangement.”

Suddenly remembering the morning, she pressed him,

“By the way, how did those little wontons come about?”

Meng Yanchen chuckled, kissing the tip of her nose,

“Secret!”

“Hey, Yan Chen! We agreed this was a singles party! Stop hugging your wife and come down! The guys really can’t take it anymore! Andy’s too good!”

Downstairs, the card game seemed to have paused for a moment. Andy was calmly sipping water, while Bao Yifan, tail practically in the air, was massaging her shoulders.

“See that? That’s what real skill looks like!”

He didn’t forget to show off to Pei Yuchen and Xiao Yixiao, who were thoroughly defeated on the other side.

“Come on! Aren’t you always making me pay? Let’s see who dares to make me pay next time!”

Fan Shengmei watched the lively scene, smiling as she nudged Meng Yanchen,

“Come on, let’s go down and have a look.”

There was a new round at the card table. Zhao Ziqian took a seat, saving a spot for Meng Yanchen too.

Just then, Zhou Xun arrived with Jiang Xiaoguo, and the game paused for a bit.

Before Zhou Xun could speak, Xiao Yixiao went over and pulled him into the game,

“Come on, let’s keep going. Three top students–Andy, don’t say we’re bullying you.”

Bao Yifan hurriedly cozied up, fawning,

“Boss~ It’s them, those three are the worst. One always makes me pay, one always wins my money, and the other…”

He pointed at Zhou Xun, thought for a moment, “This one… is in cahoots with the others.”

Andy glanced at the table, lifted her eyes with a faint, confident smile, commanding the scene,

“Then let’s all play together!”