Standing Next To You
Chapter 89: Thank You

Chapter 89: Thank You

Bei Sangyun stared at Fei Chuan, who was busy dabbing the cotton with alcohol on her wound. This scene reminded her of a story he had once told her. Who would have thought it would come true?

She had indeed appeared at his door, injured, asking for help, and he had let her in. The coincidence was so remarkable that Bei Sangyun wondered if the adult Fei Chuan had known it would come true one day.

"People usually cry or frown when their wounds are being cleaned. But you’re laughing instead. Are you a masochist?" the man asked, his tone laced with mockery, but his hands were still gentle.

Bei Sangyun hadn’t noticed she was smiling, and his insulting words didn’t ruin her good mood. "I’m just amused. Would you also find it funny if I told you that someone predicted this would happen long ago?"

Fei Chuan glanced at her suspiciously. Was she serious in asking that dumb question?

Bei Sangyun continued, "Either he predicted it, or his words have become reality."

Fei Chuan scoffed, "I didn’t expect you to believe in that kind of nonsense."

"...It’s not nonsense; it’s a miracle," Bei Sangyun said with a light smile.

Fei Chuan stared at her. Bei Sangyun believing in miracles? That was an unexpected side of her.

Fei Chuan didn’t reply and went back to cleaning her wound, but their conversation lightened the atmosphere between them.

He didn’t know what had gotten into him that he allowed her in.

He didn’t expect that one day he would invite the person who had tormented him into his place, have a peaceful conversation with her, and fix her wound.

He was still confused by her intentions and actions, but since he chose to be the bigger person for once, he should see it through and peacefully send her off.

Fei Chuan focused his attention on her palm. Bei Sangyun’s hand was slender and smaller than his. For a moment, Fei Chuan thought it was a pity that such a pretty hand had a hideous wound. He hoped this wouldn’t scar.

Fei Chuan was gentle and quickly bandaged her hand.

Bei Sangyun glanced at her palm. The bandage was neat and perfect.

"Don’t let it come into contact with water for now. Just clean your wound like I did."

Bei Sangyun nodded obediently.

Fei Chuan glanced at her. He hesitated for a moment but then sighed defeatedly. He took a band-aid and lightly placed it on her cheek.

"This wound is small, but it’s still on your face, so it might hurt when you wash your face."

He then handed her an ointment. "This is for the bruise on your neck."

"You know a lot, huh?" Bei Sangyun praised him as she accepted the ointment.

"Of course. Your lackeys frequently play pranks on me and always end up hurting me. That’s where I learned how to bandage wounds," Fei Chuan sarcastically replied.

Bei Sangyun bit her tongue. She should not have praised him.

Fei Chuan cleaned up the mess and pointed toward the door. "You don’t need me to show you out, right?"

Bei Sangyun glanced at the Tupperware filled with pastries on the dining table. Her sole target was there; how could she not have a taste of it before leaving?

"You haven’t eaten yet. I haven’t eaten as well. Can we eat together?" She asked hopefully.

"No," Fei Chuan answered flatly.

Bei Sangyun: "...."

She stayed in her spot and looked at the Tupperware longingly. She did not want to leave yet, so she thought of staying longer by starting a conversation.

"Aren’t you going to ask me?" Bei Sangyun began.

"Ask what?"

"Why I am hurt?"

"I don’t care," Fei Chuan said without any emotion, sounding like he truly didn’t care.

"Aren’t you even curious?"

"I don’t mind other people’s business."

Bei Sangyun: "...."

She wasn’t good at small talk. So she decided to abandon striking a conversation.

"You helped me a lot today. How can I repay you?"

"Don’t show up at my door."

Bei Sangyun: "..."

This won’t work; she had to be more direct.

"Fei Chuan."

Fei Chuan looked at her warily.

"I don’t want to eat alone. Can we eat together?"

Fei Chuan squinted his eyes at her. "You have plenty of ’friends’ to call. Why don’t you eat with them?"

"Because I want to eat with you," Bei Sangyun answered straightforwardly. Inside, she was a bit nervous because, knowing Fei Chuan, he might reject her again.

As expected, Fei Chuan coldly rejected her. "I want to eat alone, so no."

She had already foreseen his answer, but being rejected coldly twice still affected her somewhat, causing her improved mood to plummet.

"...I see. There’s nothing I can do about it then," Bei Sangyun said, downcast.

Fei Chuan narrowed his eyes under his bangs, appearing irritated but not saying anything.

"I ran away from home, so I’ll be staying in the room next to yours. If you ever need help, I’ll be happy to oblige," Bei Sangyun offered.

Fei Chuan just nodded, giving the impression that he didn’t care.

"I know you dislike me, but you still helped me. You are a great person," Bei Sangyun said sincerely.

Whether it was the teenage Fei Chuan or the adult Fei Chuan, he never failed to amaze her.

After her loathing and misunderstandings toward him had disappeared, Bei Sangyun was able to see things more clearly.

Fei Chuan said he loathed her, but would he let her into his own abode and bandage her wound if he truly hated her to the bone? Would the adult Fei Chuan accompany her to death if he truly despised her?

Although she couldn’t understand some of the words he had said back then, Bei Sangyun was sure that she had become something else to him.

And she felt the same.

The incident with Lin Sunji made her realize that she was indebted to him in many ways.

Fei Chuan had his leg broken because of her, yet he didn’t use it against her. He silently endured it instead. Although he had bothered her often to the point she cursed at him when they both became the family head, compared to what she supposedly did, it was nothing.

Perhaps she could pay off the debt little by little in this life. Although she still disliked his arrogant attitude and felt bitter about many things concerning him, the grudges of the past should be resolved.

Decades of his companionship had made Bei Sangyun see Fei Chuan as more than just an acquaintance or enemy.

He was the second closest person to her after Grandma Bei, and that meant a lot.

"Fei Chuan, thank you."

Thank you for letting me in. Thank you for your decades of companionship.

Bei Sangyun silently thanked him for all the good and bad memories. Perhaps, in this world, the only bad memories she would willingly accept and recall were from Fei Chuan.

Fei Chuan paused, clenched his hand, and looked away, avoiding her intense gaze. He was afraid he might make a mistake again. So it was better to keep quiet.

The sound of the door closing echoed in the room, and Fei Chuan finally looked up.

Bei Sangyun was no longer in the room. For a moment, Fei Chuan didn’t know what to feel.

.....