Standing Next To You
Chapter 600: A test

Chapter 600: A test

Fei Chuan stood up, and Bei Sangyun immediately ran into his arms.

"What’s this sudden surprise?" Bei Sangyun asked, her eyes shining.

Fei Chuan hugged her tightly. "I missed you so much."

Bei Sangyun buried her face in his chest. "I missed you so much too."

They held each other for a long time before Bei Sangyun suddenly remembered something. "Wait. Is it okay for you to be here?"

"Yes. I’ve finished everything. I can finally spend the rest of my time with you," Fei Chuan said, his voice full of meaning.

Bei Sangyun was so excited that she didn’t fully grasp what he meant. She was simply overjoyed. She jumped with excitement. "That’s great! Let’s stay here for a while, then go back to the Capital together!"

The two lovebirds, who hadn’t seen each other in so long, clung to each other like they’d never part again. Bei Sangyun didn’t let go of Fei Chuan’s hand, not even for a moment.

The Bei family’s hut was small for two adults, with not much to see inside.

But that didn’t stop them from sitting on the wooden floor, holding hands as they talked about their travels.

Time passed, and the roosters in the town began to crow noisily. The sun was beginning to set. Since the hut didn’t have much furniture, the wooden floor was growing cold, and the only light bulb hanging from the ceiling began to attract flies.

"I’ve prepared rooms for you, and for Sister Zhai and Grandma Bei at the Chuan Villa. You can all spend the night there," Fei Chuan offered.

Bei Sangyun agreed, and they walked back to the Bang couple’s house. But just before going in, she paused. She remembered how Grandma Bei had seemed upset the last time she spent too much time with Fei Chuan.

She was about to warn him when the door suddenly opened.

Grandma Bei looked at them with a strange expression. "What are you two standing there for? It’s getting cold. Come in."

Bei Sangyun was stunned. Grandma Bei didn’t seem upset about seeing Fei Chuan—nor even surprised.

"You’re inviting us in like it’s your own house, Grandma," Bei Sangyun said, chuckling.

Mrs. Bang waved it off with a chuckle. "I don’t mind. We neighbors are basically family." She then glanced at Fei Chuan, who gave a respectful bow.

"You were the Young Master back then? So handsome! You two make such a great pair!"

Grandma Bei coughed. "What’s so great about being handsome? As long as the person is reliable and puts my granddaughter first in everything, then they can be called great."

Fei Chuan nodded politely. "I agree, Grandma."

"Hmph." Grandma Bei harrumphed, but she didn’t seem upset.

"I need to get back to the kitchen. Ye Zhai is already preparing to cook. Where did you find such a hardworking lady?" Mrs. Bang said, heading back inside. Fei Chuan followed her.

"Let me help too."

"What’s a man doing in the kitchen?" Grandma Bei commented. "You will just cause trouble by being there."

"I promise I won’t make a mess. I’ve been taking cooking classes. My instructors even said that if I weren’t a businessman, they would’ve taken me in and trained me to become a chef." Fei Chuan replied kindly but confidently. All the meals he had sent to Bei Sangyun for breakfast were made by him—he was confident in his skills.

This was a good oppurtunity to win over these people, who were important to Bei Sangyun’s life.

Grandma Bei raised a brow. "Really? Alright. Let’s see then." She turned to the stunned Mrs. Bang. "Mind if we borrow your kitchen for a bit?"

"Oh... sure." Mrs. Bang handed them aprons and let them in.

Bei Sangyun was about to stop them, but Fei Chuan smiled at her. "I’ll cook your favorite. I’ll be back."

"That’s right. You better stay here with Mr. and Mrs. Bang," Grandma Bei said. "Ye Zhai, come out of the kitchen too. Let the young man handle the cooking."

Ye Zhai stepped out, along with Mr. Bang.

They all sat in the small living room, exchanging glances.

Mrs. Bang noticed Bei Sangyun’s worried expression. She gently took her hand. "Don’t worry too much, dear. We all know that Mrs. Bei has a tough exterior, but she’s soft inside—especially to those who truly love her granddaughter. The Young Master will be fine."

Bei Sangyun smiled and took a deep breath. Right, there was no use worrying. She had to trust in Fei Chuan and Grandma Bei.

Maid Ye Zhai spotted a deck of cards under the table. To ease the awkward atmosphere and lighten Bei Sangyun’s mood, she suggested a game.

Soon, the once-silent living room was filled with laughter and lively chatter.

Bei Sangyun glanced toward the kitchen, wondering how the two were doing in there.

....

Inside the kitchen, Fei Chuan focused intently as he prepared the ingredients. From washing and slicing to seasoning with condiments, his expression of concentration never faltered.

Grandma Bei silently observed him. She was looking for flaws in his cooking, but Fei Chuan was meticulous. He even sliced the potatoes into uniform shapes. From his practiced movements, one wouldn’t think he had only been learning to cook for a few months. He looked more like a professional who had been doing this for years.

Grandma Bei was quietly impressed, though she didn’t show it on her face.

"You endured not seeing her for a long time just to show up like this?" she asked.

Fei Chuan placed the ingredients into the pot, then turned to face her and bowed. "I apologize for not informing you earlier. I couldn’t wait any longer. I missed her," he said softly.

"You just saw her two days ago."

Fei Chuan paused. Grandma Bei must have noticed him that time.

"But she didn’t see me," he replied, returning to the stove. "She misses me. I had to show up."

Grandma Bei fell silent. When Bei Sangyun had arrived at the door with Fei Chuan earlier, she had looked like a child who had just received her most treasured gift—just like she used to when she proudly showed off her winnings as a little girl.

Her granddaughter was truly happiest with this man around.

She sighed. There was no stopping these two.

"Then you’d better cook well. I won’t let any man step into her kitchen if he can’t cook her favorites properly."

Fei Chuan smiled. "Understood."

He returned to cooking, and this time, Grandma Bei didn’t interrupt. She simply watched the young, handsome man work with quiet seriousness.

As she observed him, her thoughts drifted to the day before this man had left for C Country.