Standing Next To You-Chapter 389: Bitter Aftertaste

Bei Sangyun had been busy all day. After assigning her people to their tasks, she finally set aside the heavy burden on her heart.

Everything was set. The only thing to do now was to wait and watch from the sidelines.

As she was leaving the Lin mansion, Lin Ginxian suddenly arrived. They met at the doorway.

Lin Ginxian paused as soon as he saw Bei Sangyun. He had rushed here after hearing the news, but now that he saw her, he did not know what to say.

At first, he was furious. Bei Sangyun always did whatever she wanted, causing him trouble left and right. However, after a while, he calmed down. Rationality kicked in.

He realized that he didn’t know much about Bei Sangyun. First, she turned the spy he had sent to her to her side, then she gave him information and strategies. And although he didn’t want to admit it, Bei Sangyun had indeed saved the third branch. If it wasn’t for her, the third branch would have been swallowed by the first and fifth branches by now.

So after calming down, he could not help but think that this issue she had caused must have some meaning behind it.

Bei Sangyun also paused in her steps because Lin Ginxian was blocking her way.

"You..." Lin Ginxian started, his expression turning awkward. "...Why are you being so reckless? The Fei family is not an easy opponent. I heard Father left the issue for you to handle, but he did not give you any support. The third branch is still under pressure from the first and fifth branches. Adding this problem will make it harder for us. What have you been thinking?"

Bei Sangyun, who was expecting him to throw a fit the moment he saw her, was a bit surprised. This was the first time Lin Ginxian showed up and asked her first before getting angry and violent.

Facing such an unexpected Lin Ginxian, Bei Sangyun answered, "...I have my own plans. This won’t affect the third branch."

Lin Ginxian stared at her, and Bei Sangyun met his scrutinizing gaze. While Bei Sangyun was still waiting for the man to erupt in anger, Lin Ginxian suddenly nodded his head.

"...If you say so. The third branch might have limited resources right now, but if you ask...I’ll try to give you some support," Lin Ginxian awkwardly added.

Bei Sangyun raised her brow in disbelief. Did Lin Ginxian eat something strange today?

He actually...offered support?

Not hearing Bei Sangyun’s answer, Lin Ginxian remained in his position stiffly. Bei Sangyun also did not move and just looked at him.

Lin Ginxian grew anxious under her stare, "...What is it?"

Bei Sangyun motioned to the door behind him. "Do you have any more to say? You are blocking the door."

"Ah." Lin Ginxian hurriedly stepped aside. But then he thought standing here would be too embarrassing, so he quickly went upstairs to his study room.

Bei Sangyun watched his retreating back with a strange gaze. What an unexpected reaction. That man did not scold her or throw a fit today. Very strange.

However, this wasn’t the end of the strange events.

As she was on her way to the house where Grandma Pei and the others were, she received an email from an unknown sender.

It was a file containing information about the Fei family. Although the Fei family appeared harmonious without any internal conflict, each member had their own secrets that could cause an uproar within the family.

Some of these secrets were listed in the file.

However, Bei Sangyun had no use for this. Fei Chuan’s information was more detailed. She bet there was no secret in the Fei family that Fei Chuan did not know.

But that was because he was Fei Chuan. For this person to have such information, they must have very useful spies.

Anyway, what caught her attention was the ’P.S.’ at the bottom of the file.

[The other branches are working together to sabotage your plans. Be careful.]

"Tsk. Does he think this will make me feel indebted to him? He never changes," Bei Sangyun said as she closed the file. There was no need to investigate who the sender was.

The flashing scenery outside the car window sped by. The unfamiliarity of the situation made Bei Sangyun fall into deep thought.

Why did it feel like things were different from what she had imagined?

First, it was her grandfather’s unexpected decision. Then her father’s surprising support, and finally, Lin Fei’s sudden assistance.

She had done the exact opposite of what they wanted her to do, yet the approval and help she had longed for in her previous lifetime came so easily, even when she had neither made an effort nor expected to receive it.

This left her with a lingering bitterness.

.....

Bei Sangyun arrived at the house. Grandma Pei had been waiting for her with a warm meal. After eating, she went to check on Fei Chuan.

"His fever has gone down a lot. He woke up earlier and looked for you. He fought to stay awake until you arrived, but the medicine’s side effects were too strong," Grandma Pei told her as she checked Fei Chuan’s temperature.

"He must have been worried." Bei Sangyun lovingly stroked his cheek. He was no longer burning up. What a relief.

"Grandma, may I sleep in this room tonight? I won’t bother him. I will sleep on the couch," she asked Grandma Pei with a pleading gaze.

Grandma Pei immediately agreed. She knew these two were not immature or reckless enough to do anything, especially when one of them was sick.

She brought some bedding and a pillow to the couch in Fei Chuan’s room.

"Seeing you as soon as he opens his eyes will lift his spirits. If you need anything, just call me. My room is downstairs."

"Thank you, Grandma. You should rest as well."

The door closed, leaving Bei Sangyun alone with Fei Chuan.

He was sleeping soundly—a rare sight for Bei Sangyun. Only in these moments of rest could she see his vulnerability.

These quiet times made her yearn to protect him unconditionally.

She held his hand gently.

"Get well soon, Fei Chuan, so you can see the gift I’ve prepared for you."

She placed his hand on her cheek, feeling his warmth as the strange emotions in her heart began to settle.

It didn’t matter if the ’what ifs’ from her past had come true in this life. The only ’what if’ she cared about was the different ending she desired with Fei Chuan.