Standing Next To You
Chapter 604: Meeting Acquaintances

Chapter 604: Meeting Acquaintances

Fei Chuan glanced at the shops lining the street. The once unfamiliar road was slowly becoming recognizable. Just around the corner stood their old elementary school. He couldn’t help but reminisce.

"I know school was boring. But with you around, it never felt that way. I had more knowledge than you back then, since I was educated early with the best resources. You, on the other hand, were mostly self-taught. But when you encountered something new, you absorbed it eagerly. Talking to you was never dull. Being in the same class with you was fun. For the first time, I felt a connection—something I never found with my peers. You were the one who changed me. You made me feel alive again."

Bei Sangyun was touched by his heartfelt words. She had never realized she held such an important role in his life so early on.

"I... I never thought you saw me that way. I always believed you hated my guts."

"I didn’t. When you left the village, it felt like a huge space opened in my heart. That’s when I realized I had to see you again. That’s why I enrolled at Tian Shen High," Fei Chuan said as he turned to her. "To see you."

Bei Sangyun stopped walking. She looked at him in surprise. This was the first time she had ever heard that.

"...To see me? But I..." She suddenly remembered what her past self had done to Fei Chuan when he entered Tian Shen High—bullying him, isolating him. Her heart ached with guilt.

"...I... I did those things to you..."

"And I hurt you back in elementary school," he replied gently. "So we’re even."

Bei Sangyun lowered her head, her guilt deepening. "You must have been truly hurt. You came to Tian Shen High to see me again... and I humiliated you instead. No wonder you were so angry..."

Fei Chuan squeezed her hand. "That’s all in the past now. We’ve faced it, and we’ve made things right."

He looked ahead. "The school has changed a lot."

Bei Sangyun followed his gaze and saw the elementary school. It had expanded with new buildings, making it nearly unrecognizable from the one in her memory.

"Do you want to look around the school?" Fei Chuan asked.

Bei Sangyun paused.

Her early elementary school days had started joyfully but had gradually turned bitter. Before she left the town, this little school had left a deep wound in her heart.

But she had never dwelled on it again. She had grown. She had lived through two lifetimes, experienced setbacks, betrayal, revenge, illness, and even death. Compared to all of that, the pain this little school had caused her felt insignificant.

Still, that didn’t mean it had meant nothing. Perhaps a part of her had buried that pain deep within, never intending to revisit it. And maybe, just maybe, returning here—facing the place again—could help heal the wound she had hidden for so long.

Bei Sangyun smiled at him. "Let’s go."

Like the rest of the town, the elementary school had changed immensely. The backyard where Bei Sangyun and her childhood playmates used to play was long gone. In its place, a large park had been built on what was once a grove of trees beside the school.

It was still daytime, and classes were ongoing. The campus echoed with the sound of children’s voices—reading aloud in chorus, mixed with the occasional giggle.

As the couple walked along the familiar grounds, a chubby young man approached from the opposite direction, struggling with several large bags. He looked up—and froze the moment he saw them. His sudden stop caused one of the bags to split under the weight.

Oranges rolled out onto the pavement.

Without hesitation, Bei Sangyun and Fei Chuan bent down to help pick up the scattered fruit. They handed them back to the flustered young man.

"This looks too much for you to carry on your own," Fei Chuan commented.

Bei Sangyun noticed the gray polo shirt with the school’s logo embroidered on the pocket.

"Oh, are you a teacher here? Since we’re already inside, we can help you carry these."

The man stared at them, wide-eyed. His gaze darted to Fei Chuan. "Y-Young Master?" Then to Bei Sangyun, "...And you... Are you Bei Sangyun?" _{fre\e(w)ebn ov.e l\. co.m}

Both of them paused. This man... knew who they were?

They looked closely, trying to recall his face.

The man quickly placed the bags down and patted his chest. "It’s me! Fatty Yang! We were childhood playmates!"

Bei Sangyun and Fei Chuan blinked in unison. Fatty Yang?

Almost as if reading their thoughts, the man added, "We used to play chess and board games together—with Cheng Li!"

Fei Chuan’s eyes lit up in recognition. "Ah. The chubby kid who used to trail behind Cheng Li?"

"Yes! That’s me!" Fatty Yang exclaimed, nearly bouncing with excitement. "I never thought I’d see the two of you again! I’m so glad you came back to town!"

And just like when they were children— his mouth rarely stopped moving—Fatty Yang launched into a cheerful stream of chatter. He recounted everything from the day he and Cheng Li first visited the Chuan villa, to the games they played, and finally to the day they last saw each other.

Bei Sangyun was amazed at how sharp his memory was—he even remembered details from over a decade ago.

"...You were so ruthless to us back then. Just suddenly cutting us off like that. Cheng Li even cried—" Fatty Yang abruptly stopped when his trip down memory lane reached that moment. His eyes widened, then locked onto Bei Sangyun. The excitement on his face faded, replaced by guilt and shame. "...Ah, right... we didn’t exactly part on good terms."

Bei Sangyun blinked. Isn’t that the most crucial part to remember?

Fatty Yang’s energy immediately deflated. He scratched his head awkwardly. "You left town so suddenly. It was too late by the time I realized what my friends and I had done. We were young, but that doesn’t excuse it. I’m really sorry for the pain I caused you." He bowed deeply, his tone filled with sincere regret.

Bei Sangyun was taken aback. She was still holding the orange she had picked up for him, frozen for a moment by the unexpected apology.

Fatty Yang remained bowed for nearly a minute before Bei Sangyun finally spoke.

"Oh... You can straighten your back now."

He straightened, looking ashamed. "I know it’s not easy to forgive or forget. Back then, if I hadn’t spread the rumor that you pushed the Young Master and made him fall ill... you wouldn’t have been expelled or ostracized. My reckless words drove you away."

Bei Sangyun’s eyes widened in surprise. It was him...?

She had never been entirely clear on how the rumors had spread. Everything had happened so fast. What she remembered most was pushing Fei Chuan away, crying, and eventually leaving town with a broken heart.

...It’s all in the past now," she said quietly after a long pause. "Like me, you were just a kid. You didn’t know things would turn out the way they did."

Fatty Yang teared up. "I only realized the damage I’d done when the Young Master came to us and broke off our friendship. Cheng Li cut ties with us too. I didn’t understand at that time the gravity of the situation. But when I became a teacher, I started to see how my words and reckless actions cause someone’s deep wound. Watching the children now... I finally understand what I put you through."

Tears spilled freely from his eyes.

Bei Sangyun and Fei Chuan stood there, unsure of what to do. Comforting a crying acquaintance wasn’t something they were used to.

Fei Chuan stepped forward and gently patted Fatty Yang on the shoulder—again and again—until his sobs began to quiet.

Though he had grown up, Fatty Yang was still the same chubby boy who overreacted to everything.

Wiping his tears and trying to compose himself, he turned to them. "I know I don’t have the right to ask anything, but... if you have time, would you come to my office? There are people who wanted to see you. They would be very happy with the news of your return," he added, turning to Bei Sangyun. "They’ve been waiting for you to come back. They have something they want to say."

Bei Sangyun looked at Fei Chuan.

Fei Chuan gave her a gentle nod.

"...Alright," she said softly.