Chapter 34 Long time no see
It was already dark when the concert ended.
Fan Shengmei followed the crowd out of the theater. The night wind blew across her bare shoulders and neck, causing her to unconsciously pull her shawl closer.
Andy was walking beside her, replying to Bao Yifan's message with a smile on his face.
Fan Shengmei was about to tease her, but her eyes suddenly stopped——
At the steps in front of the theater, next to a low-key black SUV, Meng Yanchen stood tall.
He was wearing a dark gray suit with his tie slightly loosened, looking like he had just come from some important event.
Fan Shengmei was stunned.
She didn't expect to meet him here, let alone that he would be standing there, as if... waiting for someone.
Meng Yanchen obviously saw her at first sight.
The game ended at 21:45, and in the last few minutes, he looked at his watch more frequently.
The crowd dispersed, but he still found her among them at a glance.
She was wearing a little black dress, her hair half tied up, and the diamonds on her earlobes sparkled in the light, making her skin look white as snow.
The way she lowered her head to gather her shawl looked like a classical oil painting, out of tune with the noisy crowd around her, yet so beautiful that one could not take their eyes off her.
On the way here, Meng Yanchen asked himself why he had to come to see her, and he also thought of many opening remarks, but at this moment, only four words could best express his current mood -
haven't seen you for a long time.
He watched her walk towards him, every step seemed to be stepping on his heartbeat.
He unconsciously clenched his hands behind his back to restrain the urge to open his arms.
"Mr. Meng?"
Fan Shengmei stopped in surprise and asked, "You're coming to the concert too?"
Meng Yanchen's Adam's apple moved slightly, and he suppressed the emotions surging in his chest, and a gentle smile appeared at the corner of his lips.
Andy patted Fan Shengmei's shoulder and smiled meaningfully at Meng Yanchen.
"I'll leave the person to you."
“Andy!”
Fan Shengmei hurriedly grabbed her and said, "If you leave, how will I get back later?"
"I'm going to Bao Yifan's place tonight,"
Andy winked at her, "Sorry, Xiaomei, you'll probably have to figure it out on your own."
Fan Shengmei shrugged helplessly, "Well, my sister's happiness is the most important thing. I'm very sensible."
She waved to Andy and said, "Go ahead."
After watching Andy leave, Fan Shengmei turned to Meng Yanchen,
"Where were you sitting? I didn't see you."
She explained a little sheepishly, "We came here on a whim. This is my first time attending a concert."
"Does it sound good?" he asked softly, his voice deeper than usual.
Fan Shengmei thought about it, took a deep breath, and her eyes brightened.
“It’s shocking, and…”
She paused, "I have mixed feelings."
Meng Yanchen listened quietly to her talk about her feelings about the concert with a gentle look in his eyes.
He liked listening to her talk, liked the twinkle in her eyes, liked the way she looked defenseless at the moment.
His eyes lingered on her.
She is really beautiful tonight.
As Fan Shengmei was talking, she suddenly noticed his gaze and looked down at herself awkwardly.
"What's wrong? Am I weird dressed like this?"
She bit her lip and trailed off, "I thought this kind of occasion was as formal as a cocktail party, but when I got here I realized many people were dressed very casually."
She tugged at the hem of her skirt, "So...is that too exaggerated?"
Meng Yanchen's eyes darkened slightly. He suddenly took a step forward and raised his hand to brush her hair.
Fan Shengmei's breathing stopped and her ears suddenly felt hot.
His fingers were slightly cold, and he gently lifted the hair by her ear. His fingertips brushed her earlobe lightly, and he pinned a black diamond hairpin in her hair.
"In Memory of the First Concert."
She smelled the faint sandalwood on him, which was cool and steady, just like him, making her heart beat faster.
Meng Yanchen took a step back, his eyes gentle.
"In the 17th to 19th centuries,"
His voice is low and pleasant. "There are clear and strict requirements for the attire of symphony audiences. This requirement is essentially a product of the combination of social class, etiquette culture and art consumption scenes at that time, which closely links music appreciation with social etiquette."
He looked into her eyes and said, "Your formal attire shows the greatest respect for music and its performers."
Fan Shengmei's eyes lit up, "Really?"
Meng Yanchen nodded, his eyes incredibly gentle.
The night wind blew, ruffling her hair.
The two looked at each other...
"elder brother!"
Xu Qin and Xiao Yixiao came over at the same time.
The scene just now - Meng Yanchen personally tidying up Fan Shengmei's loose hair and putting on the hairpins was seen by both of them.
Xu Qin knew too well the tenderness in Meng Yanchen's eyes, the tenderness that she had known but deliberately avoided for more than twenty years.
Xu Qin's heart sank suddenly.
She suddenly remembered what Ye Zi said that day. It turned out that Fan Shengmei was the woman in the box that day.
The night wind suddenly froze for a moment.
Xiao Yixiao stood beside Xu Qin, also looking shocked.
He looked at Fan Shengmei, then at Meng Yanchen, with a serious expression.
"Yan Chen,"
He strode forward and grabbed Meng Yanchen's arm.
"Come to my bar for a couple of drinks, I have something to tell you."
Meng Yanchen glanced at him calmly, raised his hand to adjust his glasses, turned to Fan Shengmei and said,
"Get in the car, I'll take you home."
"elder brother!"
Xu Qin suddenly stepped forward and said, "I'll take her home. You go with Xiao Yixiao."
Fan Shengmei stood aside, confused.
She looked at Xu Qin, then at Xiao Yixiao, and finally her gaze fell on Meng Yanchen.
"No,"
She smiled politely and said, "I can take a taxi back by myself. If you have something to do, please go ahead."
Meng Yanchen ignored Xu Qin and directly brushed away Xiao Yixiao's hand.
"I'll take her home first."
After he finished speaking, he opened the passenger door without saying anything.
Xu Qin stood there, watching Meng Yanchen standing by the car door waiting for Fan Shengmei to get in, and her heart felt like it was being gripped by an invisible hand.
This scene is so familiar.
Countless times before, Meng Yanchen had done the same, opening the passenger door for her and quietly waiting for her to choose between him and Song Yan.
And she chose Song Yan every time.
Every time, Meng Yanchen would slam the car door shut and drive away alone.
But this time——
Fan Shengmei hesitated for a moment, but nodded to Xiao Yixiao and Xu Qin and sat directly in the passenger seat.
Meng Yanchen leaned over, pulled the seat belt with his slender fingers, and gently buckled it for her. Then he walked around the front of the car and got in. Without looking back, he started the car and left.
The black Lincoln slowly drove away, and the dazzling red light of its taillights finally disappeared into the night.
Xu Qin stood there, as if petrified.
"That woman..." Her voice trembled a little.
Xiao Yixiao patted her shoulder and said, "Let's go. I'll take you home first."
He sighed, "I'll talk to Yanchen later."
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