Standing Next To You-Chapter 429: Let’s break up

Fei Chuan immediately booked a flight. He already knew where Bei Sangyun was.

The flight took only thirty minutes, but to Fei Chuan, it felt like an entire day had passed.

As soon as he landed, he boarded a bus heading toward River Village. The village was the last stop, making the bus ride three hours long.

Impatience gnawed at him. He wished the bus could sprout wings, that he could somehow teleport to Bei Sangyun’s side.

He had been patient with her over the past week, not pressing her even when she cut their calls short. He longed to see her, but held back because she insisted that he should not visit.

For days, he had tried to stay calm and be an understanding boyfriend. But this time, Bei Sangyun had gone too far.

She wanted to leave the country? So suddenly?

She spoke as if this would be the last time they’d ever talk. They hadn’t even seen each other. How could she expect him to just nod and say, "Alright, best of luck"?

No way in hell.

Bei Sangyun was acting strange. And it did cross his mind that she might be doing this to punish him for lying.

He knew he was wrong for hiding his illness and scaring her, and he was ready to apologize and take responsibility. He promised himself he wouldn’t lie again and would be better for her.

This was his only mistake. And this won’t happen again.

Fei Chuan wished this was some kind of joke, but he knew Bei Sangyun would never joke about something like that.

Something was going on that she wasn’t telling him.

Fei Chuan stared out the window, his mind heavy with thoughts. Suddenly, something caught his eye. He yelled, "Stop the bus!"

His shout startled the other passengers, who turned to look at him.

The bus driver, equally surprised, unconsciously hit the brakes. "Young man! This isn’t a stop! You can’t just order the bus to stop—"

But Fei Chuan was already at the door. "Open the door!"

The bus driver clicked his tongue in annoyance but still unlocked the door.

Fei Chuan bolted out. Across the road, there was a gas station with bathroom stalls. In the parking lot, a car was parked, and someone was leaning against it.

As he got closer, the person’s back grew increasingly familiar.

There was no doubt. It was her.

"...Bei Sangyun."

Bei Sangyun, who had been leaning against the car while waiting for Grandma Bei, stiffened in shock. She turned and saw Fei Chuan standing a few meters away.

"...Fei Chuan?"

Fei Chuan coughed, his throat burning from running so fast after the moving bus and inhaling its exhaust. But despite the discomfort, he glared at Bei Sangyun.

"I told you not to go anywhere..."

He had been lucky to spot her through the window. This place was a two-hour ride away from River Village. If he hadn’t caught sight of her, by the time he reached the village, Bei Sangyun might have already taken a flight somewhere else.

The thought terrified him. What if she really had gone to a place where he couldn’t find her?

Fei Chuan approached her, his emotions spiraling out of control. "What’s gotten into you? Why are you suddenly making rash decisions? Are you not planning to explain anything to me at all? Are you really going to leave the country? Why?"

Bei Sangyun’s gaze didn’t waver from his figure. Seeing her eyes filled with yearning made all the anger he felt dissipate. It had been a long time since they’d seen each other. He shouldn’t be angry with her.

He stepped closer, wanting to embrace her. "...I... I’m sorry. I was just really surprised by what you said on the phone. I’m here now. You can talk to me. No matter what kind of trouble it is, we can overcome it together."

Bei Sangyun suddenly took a step back, covering her face with her hands. "...Don’t come closer. Just stay where you are." Her voice sounded strained, and Fei Chuan grew worried.

He stopped in his tracks. "...What’s going on? If you could just talk to me..."

Bei Sangyun lowered her hands, the yearning in her eyes replaced by a firm gaze. Her expression was solemn and grim. If not for the redness around her eyes, he might have thought she was looking at him as if he were a stranger.

"...I have to leave the country. And as I said, I won’t change my mind. I’m sorry I have to tell you this on the day I’m leaving."

Fei Chuan was stunned.

Even coming here hadn’t changed her mind.

Was this trip really that important?

They hadn’t seen each other in so long—hadn’t she missed him?

"...When will you be coming back?" Fei Chuan asked, his voice defeated.

"...I don’t know. But it will take a long time."

"How long?"

"....Years."

Fei Chuan’s eyes widened. Years? Did he hear her right?

"Why would it take years? H-how about university? We promised to go to university together."

"...You’ll be fine on your own." Bei Sangyun avoided his gaze. "We won’t be seeing each other for a long time, so... I think... y-you and I should b-break up."

Bam!

It was as if the world had thundered, freezing everything in its place. Fei Chuan thought something must have gone wrong with his hearing.

He opened his mouth to say something, but the words he’d just heard from her were too powerful. His mind went blank, and his body turned rigid.

Bei Sangyun didn’t look at him as she turned around. "...I wish you all the best," she muttered weakly.

It felt like slow motion as Fei Chuan watched Bei Sangyun turn her back on him.

Was this... real? Or was he still in a coma, having a nightmare?

Is Bei Sangyun breaking up with him? That couldn’t be happening!

This was all... it couldn’t be real.

Fei Chuan immediately caught her arm, gripping it tightly.

"...What kind of prank are you playing right now? This isn’t funny, Bei Sangyun."

Bei Sangyun tried to pull her arm away, but Fei Chuan held on tightly. Her back was still to him. She spoke, her voice trembling, "...Let go."

"...Look, I’m truly sorry for lying to you. I won’t hide anything from you anymore. I won’t worry you like that ever again. I know where I went wrong. So please, stop this cruel joke."

"I said, let go!" Bei Sangyun used force to fling her arm free. Fei Chuan was taken aback by her strength, his hand slipping away as he stumbled.

Bei Sangyun turned around just in time to see him stumble. Instinctively, she wanted to reach out and stop his fall, but at the last moment, she pulled back and could only watch as he hit the ground.

Fei Chuan fell, but the physical pain didn’t register. What pained him and broke his heart was seeing Bei Sangyun, who almost reached out to him, withdraw her hand at the last second.

He looked up and saw her expressionless face.

"I meant what I said. We are breaking up."

Fei Chuan felt his throat go dry, his heart sinking, and his body heavy as lead.

"...We aren’t," he muttered, his voice trembling. "...We aren’t breaking up!" he yelled, his voice echoing in the parking lot.

Bei Sangyun took a deep breath. "...I’m sorry. I’m really sorry."

She immediately turned and headed for the car. Only then did he notice that Grandma Bei was already inside.

The car door closed, and the driver started the engine.

Fei Chuan couldn’t let her leave. He immediately stood up and knocked on the window.

"Bei Sangyun! Let’s talk this out! You’re not telling me anything and just spouting nonsense. How can you expect me to understand any of this?"

Bei Sangyun turned her gaze away from him.

The car began to move. Fei Chuan couldn’t comprehend what was happening. Everything felt like it was happening too fast, and none of it made any sense.

But there was a terrifying feeling gnawing at him, the fear that if he let Bei Sangyun leave now, he might never see her again.

In desperation, he blocked the car’s path. He threw himself onto the hood, clinging to it like a desperate man. "You’ll have to drive over my dead body! I won’t move until you come out and explain everything to me."

Fei Chuan noticed Grandma Bei nudging Bei Sangyun. When their eyes met, he felt embarrassed and sorry. This was the first time they had seen each other in years. He had hoped to leave a good impression when they met again, but unfortunately, he couldn’t this time.

He held his ground until, finally, the car’s engine died. The door opened, and Bei Sangyun stepped out.

Her face was no longer expressionless; it was filled with anger and sorrow.

"...You fool. Get down."

"...I won’t until you promise to tell me why you’re acting this way." Fei Chuan remained clinging to the car’s hood.

Bei Sangyun rubbed her face with her hand. "For God’s sake, this is already so hard for me..." she muttered.

She took a deep breath and turned to Fei Chuan.

"Fine. I’ll tell you."