Standing Next To You
Chapter 109: Not Engaged?

Chapter 109: Not Engaged?

The scenery outside changed as Bei Sangyun leaned against the car’s window, her thoughts dwelling on the earlier scene.

What could Fei Chuan be thinking?

Earlier, on the rooftop, after she had asked him for a chance, he fell silent. If it weren’t for the persistent ringing of the school bell, they might have remained there for longer....

Time passed in silence.

Fei Chuan was the first to break the tension between them. He averted his gaze.

"I’ll think about it."

That was all he said, leaving Bei Sangyun feeling puzzled.

Bei Sangyun narrowed her eyes as the road passed by outside.

What was there to think about? He could have simply rejected her outright and said he would never forgive her. That would have been more straightforward.

But instead, he provided a vague response. Not a definitive yes or no.

When she chose to sit beside him upon their return to the classroom, he didn’t stop her.

When she joined him at his table in the cafeteria, he didn’t push her away.

Bei Sangyun stayed by his side but remained silent, unsure of how their relationship should proceed.

As Bei Sangyun continued to contemplate, she squinted her eyes.

So, ’thinking about it’ was a positive response, wasn’t it? At least he was considering giving her a chance and not pushing her away.

The car pulled up to the Lin mansion, where Butler Xin had been waiting for Bei Sangyun.

"Master, I’ve gathered the intel about the upcoming guests," he said, handing her a tablet. However, Bei Sangyun waved her hand dismissively.

"I’ve already looked into it."

Butler Xin was taken aback. "When did you start looking into it? This intel was hard to obtain."

Bei Sangyun sighed and reluctantly accepted the tablet. After casually scrolling through it, she handed it back to him. "There. I’ve seen it."

Butler Xin had made her memorize this intel multiple times in the past. She could even recite their names and personal histories. She didn’t want to revisit her memories associated with these bastards.

Butler Xin accepted the tablet, feeling a bit defeated. The information he had worked hard to gather was scanned with such indifference. He sighed and continued, "Tomorrow, you’ll have to welcome them and escort them here. Are you prepared?"

"I just want to get it done as soon as possible. How about Grandma Bei? When is she departing?"

"The day after tomorrow, at dawn."

Bei Sangyun’s steps paused. She changed direction and headed back to the car. "Let’s go to the hospital."

"But... you still have to meet with Butler Yang. Master Lin’s instructions will be conveyed through him. You could just call her instead—"

But Bei Sangyun had already closed the car’s door.

Butler Xin sighed. When had she ever listened to him?

***

The sun had already set when Bei Sangyun arrived at the hospital.

Grandma Bei was knitting a sweater on the hospital bed.

The door opened, revealing Bei Sangyun. Grandma Bei paused and let out a gentle smile.

"I thought you weren’t able to come today."

Bei Sangyun hugged Grandma Bei. "I had to see you today."

"You must have been busy. There’s no need to see me every day. You can just call me." Grandma Bei patted Bei Sangyun’s back.

She thought Bei Sangyun wouldn’t come today as well, but here she was.

In the past few days, Bei Sangyun wasn’t able to visit her. She had heard from her granddaughter that she had something going on back at home and at her school. Grandma Bei understood and wished that Bei Sangyun come here less so her granddaughter could rest more.

"...You will leave the day after tomorrow. I am afraid I won’t be able to see you off," Bei Sangyun said dejectedly.

She would be busy babysitting those bastards. With all the attention on her, she couldn’t visit Grandma Bei freely and let them find out about her.

"What’s the need to see me off? I’ll be back soon. We can see each other then."

Bei Sangyun hugged Grandma Bei’s waist and leaned on her shoulder. She liked hugging and sticking close to her grandma like she did when she was a child. Doing this calmed her heart and mind.

"Yes. We will see each other a lot then. But...I will miss you. I have no one to hug like this once you leave."

"This child... When did you become so clingy?"

"It can’t be helped. You’ve been gone for too long, leaving me all alone," Bei Sangyun muttered.

Grandma Bei’s heart ached. She really regretted leaving her nine-year-old daughter in the hands of the heartless Lin family.

Fortunately, her daughter returned for her. She did not want to be separated from her again.

"I will surely recover. I will make sure I will live long until I see you married and have children."

Bei Sangyun blinked. Would she ever get married and have children? That seemed quite impossible.

But she couldn’t burst Grandma Bei’s bubble. She wished Grandma Bei would live long and accompany her for a long time. If Grandma Bei wanted to see children, she did not mind adopting one.

"Speaking of marriage. The Lin family did not arrange a marriage for you, did they?" Grandma Bei asked. Her friend and next-door neighbor in the hospital, Mrs. Wang, had one of her granddaughters engaged at a young age.

Engagements were very common in wealthy families, especially prominent wealthy families that saw marriage as politics and business.

Grandma Bei wondered if her granddaughter was being used as a pawn for a political marriage.

Bei Sangyun lowered her eyes, "....No. I don’t have anything like that."

Because she wouldn’t allow it.

"Good." Grandma Bei sighed in relief. "I was worried they might force you into something like that. You will get married someday, and I want you to marry the person you love, not someone forced upon you."

Bei Sangyun smiled, "I understand. That’s why, Grandma, you have to take care of yourself even if I am not there. I will call you every day."

"Of course, I will. Oh, right, here. See if this fits you. Winter is coming, so I have been knitting a pair of sweaters. This one is finished, and the one I’m working on right now is almost done too..."

Bei Sangyun smiled at Grandma Bei’s chattering. Her heart was at peace.

She lowered her eyes as she thought of Grandma Bei’s departure. Grandma would be gone for a month or two.

How would she last that long? Without Grandma Bei, who could calm her heart and mind, how would she endure the upcoming days?

It’s not like she could visit Grandma Bei every day and sleep beside her like she usually does because grandma would be thousands of miles away.

Bei Sangyun could only hope that her sick mind wouldn’t be triggered in these days. Because even she would not know how to handle it properly.

****

The students secretly yawned as their teacher droned on at the front.

In the last row, Fei Chuan secretly took a glance at his seatmate.

Bei Sangyun was taking a nap. Ever since she arrived, the first thing she did was sleep in her seat.

Fei Chuan took this chance to observe Bei Sangyun.

He contemplated how to handle her.

To be honest, he also didn’t know if he could really forgive Bei Sangyun. He hated her. He wished she would be gone from his life.

However, even when he thought of that, he would find himself looking in her direction. His eyes would search for her.

He had accepted that proposal partly because he knew Bei Sangyun would have to seek him out about it.

Now that he had calmed down from those conflicting emotions, Fei Chuan was able to think rationally.

A big part of him wanted to take advantage of this situation and slowly pay her back for all she had done to him, hiding behind the facade of this ’giving a chance.’

That person tormented him every day. Although Bei Sangyun was only used by Lin Sunji, her intentions played a huge part.

The dark side of him wanted to return what she did to him.

However, there was also that small part of him that wished to try to take this chance and see what kind of change it would bring to their relationship.

Would they continue to be enemies who hated each other’s guts forever? Or...perhaps there would be a slight chance they could be real friends?

After all, there was a time when he was a kid, and he wanted to get to know her and befriend her. But because of the misunderstanding that grew between them, that chance was forcibly taken away.

"Now, you can work on the project with your seatmates. Please pass your draft to the front before the end of the class."

The teacher’s voice broke Fei Chuan’s train of thought.

The students became lively. The classroom became rowdy. They partnered with their seatmates and started brainstorming.

Class 3-1A was the star section of their year level. Everyone was competitive. The entire class had become busy with their schoolwork.

Bei Sangyun stirred in her sleep. The loud noise of the class woke her up. She raised her head and wiped her saliva.

"What’s going on?" She asked groggily.

Fei Chuan couldn’t help but stare at the strand of hair that stuck to her cheek.

"There’s a group project. We have to turn in our draft before the end of the class."

"We are partners? You can do it then." Bei Sangyun then went back to napping.

Fei Chuan: "..."

He didn’t mind working on it alone because it was easy for him. But this was a good chance to close the distance between them, yet she was sleeping? Didn’t she say she wanted to be his ’real’ friend and give her a chance?

How could he give her a chance when she wasn’t making any effort at all? Was it all just talk?

Fei Chuan became annoyed and kicked her chair. "It’s a ’group’ project. Wake up and work with me."

"...You can manage it. Don’t wake me up." Bei Sangyun replied groggily and started to snore.

Fei Chuan: "...."