Standing Next To You
Chapter 114: Treated Like a Servant

Chapter 114: Treated Like a Servant

The sky was clear tonight, and the moon shone brightly as the night wind grew colder.

Bei Sangyun had changed into her pajamas and was the first to leave the banquet with the excuse of being tired.

Lin Ginxian didn’t want her to leave and signaled for her to stay with the Simon children. She replied, expressing her concerns that excessively sticking with the Simon children might yield negative results, and it was better to appear only when the timing was right.

Fortunately, Lin Ginxian bought her excuse and allowed her to leave.

There was no way Bei Sangyun would stick with those troublesome bastards. She was doing her best to avoid them and pass them off to other Lin family children, and so far, she was succeeding.

She couldn’t allow herself to become a victim again.

Bei Sangyun went to the balcony and called Grandma Bei’s number. The two talked for a while before ending the call.

Bei Sangyun glanced at the bright moon. It seemed like tonight would be another sleepless night. How she wished morning would arrive soon.

.....

"You two will be the hosts this time. Sunji, since you are more fluent than your third cousin, guide her well," Old Master Lin stated.

"But, Grandpa, I can do it alone. There’s no need for her help. Her abilities are lacking, and she will just slow me down-"

"Sunji, I have given you the role because you speak their language well. However, knowing their language is not the only thing you have to be capable of. You have to be good at reading people and knowing how to handle them. Sangyun has learned things later than you, but she is able to adapt well to our society. I believe she will be capable enough to help you."

Old Master Lin held Bei Sangyun in high regard, which made the other branches grit their teeth and glare at Bei Sangyun with envy and anger.

Lin Ginxian was full of smiles. He patted Bei Sangyun’s shoulder. "Good job, my dear daughter. Keep up your good work."

Bei Sangyun smiled. She was happy that she had finally earned her grandfather’s favorable impression of her and made her father proud.

The sleepless nights of hard work were finally paying off!

She had to do a good job with these guests as well and not let anyone find any flaws in her.

On the day the Simon family arrived, Bei Sangyun and Lin Sunji welcomed them warmly.

The children of the Simon family were of the same age as Bei Sangyun. She had prepared all possible ways to befriend them.

However, because Lin Sunji was more fluent and had more experience in conversing with people of high status, the latter quickly won over the two and became their friends, while Bei Sangyun found herself fulfilling their every request, akin to serving them like their maids.

At first, the Simon children treated her with respect as equals, but their attitude changed over time. Their requests became more demanding.

"Sangyun, I don’t like this dress. Do you have any other clothes you can recommend to me?" Sophia’s eyes then locked on the dress she was wearing.

"How about the one you are wearing right now? Can I borrow it?" Sophia hugged her arm and asked sweetly.

Bei Sangyun looked down at her dress. This was just a normal dress from a high-end brand. It didn’t matter if she lent it to her, but she was wearing it at that moment. Was she expected to take it off just to show it to her?

"...I’ll show it to you later after my maid washes it."

"Show it to me now," Sophia insisted, still wearing that sweet smile.

"...There are other dresses in my closet."

"I only like the dress you are wearing right now," Sophia replied, her sweet smile becoming cold.

Bei Sangyun awkwardly smiled. "...Alright."

Even if it didn’t feel right, she had to comply with their requests. She didn’t want to disappoint her father and her grandfather.

However, these requests became increasingly absurd as time went on.

"I can’t finish it. It doesn’t taste good," Sophia passed the leftover food to her. "We can’t waste food, right? So finish it for me."

No matter how much she denied it, Bei Sangyun could tell that something was amiss. The Simon children were intentionally making things difficult for her.

She stared at the leftover food.

Lately, she had no appetite, and to make matters worse, her illness had relapsed since yesterday. Sophia must have noticed her lack of appetite and deliberately chosen this kind of request to torment her.

But what choice did she have? If she rejected Sophia, it would reflect poorly on her and make it appear to everyone that she was a bad host.

Bei Sangyun forced a smile through clenched fists. "...Alright."

She just had to endure.

Days passed, and Sophia treated her like a servant more evidently.

"Carry this for me..."

"Wear that...."

"Do this...."

Her tone when talking to Bei Sangyun had worsened, treating her as if she were a servant she had brought along.

Bei Sangyun endured with a smile, but in the process, her appetite became terrible, and her illness last longer. Which did not help at all in this circumstance.

On the other hand, Richard was tormenting her in other ways.

He would sometimes slap her butt or suggest subtle words. There was even a time when he tried to touch her bosom. Fortunately, a maid arrived before Bei Sangyun’s clenched fist aimed at his face.

And then there was that incident...

.....

Bei Sangyun opened her eyes suddenly. She had fallen asleep. She held her aching head and glanced at the window. The moon was still in the sky.

Bei Sangyun went to the balcony and opened the window, letting the chilly breeze in, calming the raging memories.

This place was filled with nightmares. She needed to stay awake.

She lifted her face to the moonlight and thought of the things that calms her. Her Grandma and ’his voice’.

The chilling wind caressed her hair. This ambiance brought her back to that gloomy grave. She recalled that man who held the flowers as his magnetic voice started a story.

Bei Sangyun picked up the story of the cat he had once adopted among his other stories. Although the ending was tragic, it was the most lighthearted one- and her favorite.