Fan Shengmei stared at Meng Yanchen's text message on her phone screen, her fingers hovering over the screen for a long time. Finally, she gritted her teeth, her fingers trembling as she began to type, telling Meng Yanchen about her current predicament. After sending the message, she gripped her phone tightly, as if grasping at the last straw, her heart filled with both anticipation and fear, wondering how Meng Yanchen would react after seeing the message.
A moment later, her phone rang suddenly. Fan Shengmei was startled and quickly looked up. It was Meng Yanchen calling. She took a deep breath and pressed the answer button. Meng Yanchen's steady voice came through: "Fan Shengmei, come downstairs." The few words were simple, but they seemed to carry a reassuring power.
Without a second thought, Fan Shengmei quickly tidied herself up, grabbed her coat, and went downstairs. As she stepped out of the apartment building, she immediately saw Meng Yanchen standing beside a black car. The dim light of the streetlamp illuminated his tall and imposing figure. Meng Yanchen saw Fan Shengmei and slightly raised his hand in greeting; Fan Shengmei quickly walked over.
"Get in the car," Meng Yanchen said softly, opening the door. Fan Shengmei silently got into the car. A faint woody aromatherapy scent filled the air, easing her slightly tense nerves. Meng Yanchen started the car, and they drove in silence. Fan Shengmei secretly glanced at Meng Yanchen's profile; the streetlights cast shadows on his face, making his sharply defined features appear particularly cold and stern.
After an unknown amount of time, the car slowly came to a stop. Fan Shengmei looked out the window and saw a tranquil seaside. Moonlight, like a silver veil, spilled onto the sand, and the waves gently lapped against the shore, making a rhythmic sound. The sea breeze seeped in through the cracks in the car window, carrying a slight coolness and a salty taste.
Meng Yanchen got out of the car first and went around to the other side to open the car door for Fan Shengmei. Fan Shengmei followed him to the beach. The waves washed over her feet, wetting them and sending a cool sensation through her. The two walked slowly along the coastline, and for a moment, only the sound of the waves and their footsteps could be heard.
Finally, Fan Shengmei broke the silence and began to recount her family troubles. From her mother's endless demands to her younger brother's lack of ambition, one thing after another poured out like a flood that had been suppressed for a long time. Meng Yanchen listened quietly, occasionally turning his head to glance at Fan Shengmei, his eyes full of focus and heartache.
"I'm so tired. I feel like a never-ending ATM. No matter how hard I try, I can't meet their demands," Fan Shengmei said, her voice choked with emotion and tears welling up in her eyes.
Meng Yanchen stopped, gently grasped Fan Shengmei's shoulders, looked into her eyes earnestly, and said, "Fan Shengmei, don't carry all the pressure on yourself. Your family shouldn't be a shackle for you; you have your own life." His voice was deep and gentle, carried by the sea breeze, reaching Fan Shengmei's ears like heavenly music.
Fan Shengmei looked up and met Meng Yanchen's gaze. In his deep eyes, she saw an unprecedented sincerity and care. This warmed her heart, and tears welled up in her eyes. Meng Yanchen gently embraced Fan Shengmei, patting her back as if comforting a wounded child.
"Don't worry, everything will be alright. I'm here," Meng Yanchen whispered in Fan Shengmei's ear. These simple words struck Fan Shengmei's heart like a heavy hammer. At that moment, she felt a long-lost warmth and peace, as if she had found a safe harbor in this cold world.
The waves continued their tireless lapping against the shore, and in the moonlight, the shadows of the two embracing were stretched long. Fan Shengmei, nestled in Meng Yanchen's arms, temporarily forgot her family troubles and workplace pressures. At that moment, time seemed to stand still; the only sounds in the world were their breathing and the soft murmur of the waves.
After a long while, Fan Shengmei slowly lifted her head from Meng Yanchen's embrace. She wiped away her tears somewhat shyly and said softly, "Thank you, Meng Yanchen." Meng Yanchen smiled at her, his eyes full of doting affection: "Why are you being so polite with me?"
Afterwards, the two strolled along the beach for a while, with Meng Yanchen occasionally making lighthearted remarks that made Fan Shengmei laugh through her tears. Before they knew it, it was quite late. Meng Yanchen escorted Fan Shengmei back to her apartment. Downstairs, Fan Shengmei looked at Meng Yanchen, her eyes filled with complex emotions—gratitude, dependence, and a hint of confusion.
"Go back and get some rest, don't think too much," Meng Yanchen said softly. Fan Shengmei nodded and turned to walk into the apartment building. When she reached the corner of the stairs, she couldn't help but look back. Meng Yanchen was still standing there, looking in her direction. Their eyes met, and Fan Shengmei's heart skipped a beat. She quickly turned back and continued upstairs.
Back home, Fan Shengmei sat on the sofa, her mind replaying the moments she and Meng Yanchen had shared on the beach that evening. A smile unconsciously crept onto her lips, but she quickly fell into deep thought. How would her relationship with Meng Yanchen change after this walk on the beach? Was Meng Yanchen's affection for her merely sympathy, or did he harbor deeper feelings? And how should she herself react to this sudden warmth and care?
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