Chapter 013: Think She’s a Gold Digger? That’s Just Because You Don’t Earn Enough


Standing beside the champagne tower, Fan Shengmei was surrounded by several investment banking executives. They laughed and joked as they tried to catch her attention, while she lazily traced the rim of her glass with a fingertip. Her eyes swept over the crowd with just the right hint of allure.

“Yo, yo, yo~”

Qu Xiaoxiao appeared in her short skirt, strutting over with mischief written all over her face. She deliberately gave Shengmei a once-over.

“Sister Fan, you look so stunning tonight I almost didn’t recognize you.”

The crowd around them tactfully dispersed, leaving the circle for this group of girlfriends.

Qu Xiaoxiao’s gaze fell on the Birkin hanging by Shengmei’s arm. She cooed in a sugary voice,

“Well, well, this time it’s real, huh? Who gave it to you, Sister Fan? Must be someone willing to bleed money. Better than that useless Qu Lianjie.”

Shengmei’s expression instantly darkened. “Qu Xiaoxiao, no need to drag your brother’s shame into the open. After all, it’s still your Qu family’s face being lost.”

Her meaning was clear: the guilty party should be the one ashamed—not the victim.

“Xiaoxiao!” Andy immediately cut in, warning her.

But Qu Xiaoxiao just pouted and shrugged.

“Relax, I’m joking. Honestly, it’s Old Qu’s tragedy that he gave birth to such a brainless son.”

Twenty meters away, on the viewing deck, Meng Yancheng stood in the shadows. He quietly watched her—so dazzling tonight.

Bao Yifan suddenly hooked an arm around his shoulder. “What’s got you staring so hard?”

“The party’s well arranged,” Meng answered smoothly, withdrawing his gaze without a flicker of emotion.

“Oh?” Bao Yifan arched a brow, glancing meaningfully in Fan Shengmei’s direction. “And the people I invited—what do you think?”

Behind his glasses, Meng Yancheng’s eyes chilled. His tone was indifferent.

“Some of them… are beneath notice.”

Bao Yifan blinked, then followed his gaze.

Qu Lianjie.

He had tagged along with the young heir of a construction conglomerate to sneak in. That’s how this circle worked—one drags another in. And with the Qu family name behind him, no one dared stop him even without an invitation.

His greedy eyes locked on Fan Shengmei, roaming over her figure.

Ever since she had cursed him out last time and blocked him everywhere, he had been stewing.

Who did she think she was? Just because he once gave her a fake bag?

He had assumed she wouldn’t even be able to tell the difference, but to his shock, the truth had blown up in his face.

He downed a gulp of liquor, bitterness mixing with alcohol in his gut.

Objectively speaking, Shengmei was indeed a stunner—face, figure, and capability all top-notch. When he had brought her to business banquets, she had sweet-talked even the toughest clients into smiles. Thanks to her, he had stood tall in front of his father for once, and even that brat Xiaoxiao had toned down.

But—her background was too lowly. Someone like her was only good for playing.

They had broken things off, fine. Yet seeing her again tonight, that unwillingness inside him stirred all over again.

Swaggering over, he sneered, “Well, if it isn’t the great beauty Fan. Look at you now—mixing in circles like this?”

Qu Xiaoxiao instantly stepped in front of Shengmei.

“Qu Lianjie, if you want to act cheap, go somewhere else. Don’t disgust us here.”

He growled, “Xiaoxiao, is this how you talk to your brother in public? Believe it or not, I’ll tell Dad!”

She snorted, “I talk to you this way at home too. Old Qu’s already used to it. Want me to call him right now?”

“You—!”

His face twisted with rage. “I’m not here for you!”

His eyes locked onto Shengmei’s bag.

“So that’s why you’ve been ignoring me lately snagged yourself a bigger fish, huh?”

He suddenly reached for the bag. “Let me see which sucker wasted money on you—”

Smack!

The sharp crack of a slap silenced the entire deck.

“Watch your filthy mouth.” Shengmei shook out her tingling hand.

Qu Lianjie clutched his cheek, staring at her in disbelief.

“You dared hit me? Even my dad never laid a hand on me!”

He raised his arm to strike back—

But Shengmei was faster. She caught his wrist and slapped him again, another crisp crack echoing.

“Your dad should’ve beaten you more. No wonder you grew into this piece of trash!”

People nearby, aware of his ties to Qu Xiaoxiao, all turned to watch.

“What are you looking at?”

Qu Xiaoxiao blinked innocently, then whipped out her phone with glee.

“How can I not record this? I’ll rewatch it whenever I’m upset.”

Qu Lianjie wrenched free, pointing at Shengmei’s nose, cursing,

“Bitch! Carrying a fake bag and acting like you’re something. You think any man would really spend money on you? You—”

“I would.”

The deep male voice cut through, silencing everything—even the waves against the hull seemed clearer.

At some point, Meng Yancheng had stepped up to stand beside Shengmei.

“President Meng…”

Qu Lianjie’s arrogance shriveled instantly.

Qu Xiaoxiao’s eyes went wide; she nearly dropped her phone into the sea.

“No way!”

She glanced at Andy’s calm expression—clearly, Andy knew something.

She tugged Andy’s sleeve hard. “That bag… President Meng gave it to her?”

Andy’s faint smile was confirmation enough.

Xiaoxiao squealed and turned her phone to capture the scene. “Now this is gold!”

Qu Lianjie’s face was drained of color. “President Meng…”

He forced a laugh. “Don’t let this woman fool you. She’s just a gold-digging leech—she—”

“You a dog or something?” Shengmei fumed, ready to rush him again. “Looks like I went too easy on you earlier!”

Meng Yancheng caught her arm and looked coldly at Qu Lianjie.

“You think she’s a gold digger? That’s only because you don’t earn enough.”

He adjusted his glasses, voice calm.

“If she carried only a ten-thousand-yuan bag, I’d be worried people thought Guokun was going bankrupt.”

Pfft—

Qu Xiaoxiao nearly choked laughing, squealing under her breath, “So handsome! Almost as good as my Zhao!”

She quickly shot the video at her father:

【Your son stirred trouble and offended Meng Yancheng. If Qu Corp’s cooperation with Guokun tanks, don’t say I didn’t warn you.】

Perfect. Qu Lianjie was about to get the beating of his life.

“Just you wait!”

Qu Lianjie spat one last threat at Shengmei before fleeing, pale as a ghost.

“Thank you, President Meng.” Shengmei’s voice was soft, a little embarrassed.

He only gave a faint “Mm,” his gaze lingering on her carefully chosen outfit. Clearly, she’d put thought into her appearance—no wonder the bankers had flocked around her earlier.

Then he said, “No need to thank me. Just… tonight will probably end up a wasted trip for you.”

“A wasted trip?”

She blinked, confused. “Not really. At least I gained some experience and met new people.”

“Yancheng! Get over here!”

From across the deck, Xiao Yixiao shouted for him.

Meng Yancheng gave Shengmei a polite nod before turning away.

Left behind, she was puzzled. “What did he mean by that?”

Qu Xiaoxiao leaned in with a grin. “Seriously? You don’t get it? With Meng Yancheng openly standing up for you, what man tonight would dare approach? You can forget about fishing for a golden turtle husband in this circle now.”

She even mimed snapping scissors with her fingers. “Snip! Path cut off.”

Shengmei stared at his retreating back, her heart sinking. So, that’s how he saw her too…