Standing Next To You-Chapter 431: I won’t wait for you

Fei Chuan’s tight embrace, the warmth radiating from his chest against her back, his shaky breath, and his pleading voice all threatened to crumble Bei Sangyun’s resolve.

Bei Sangyun closed her eyes and bit her lip. She shouldn’t say this..."...Four years...Let’s be apart for four years... after that, I’ll find you," she murmured.

Fei Chuan froze, his expression clouded with hurt and distress. "...You’re so cruel, Bei Sangyun. Do you know that?"

Bei Sangyun was startled by the pain in his eyes.

"After chasing me, making me fall deeply in love with you, you suddenly drop the bombshell of breaking up. Then you tell me we’re not destined to be together, and now you’re asking me to wait. Not just for a day, but for four years?"

Fei Chuan slowly released her, his arms slipping away. "...Am I something you can pick up when you want, then put away when you’re bored, only to pick up again whenever you like? Is that all I am to you?"

Bei Sangyun opened her mouth to say no, to disagree. Fei Chuan was precious to her. She would cut off her own arms and dig out her heart if it could help him recover. Without him, she wouldn’t be able to see the world the same way.

But...

She thought of the four years and the uncertainty that might never provide any answers.

What if those four years passed, and... she found no clue to this doomed fate? Wouldn’t she have made him wait for nothing?

It was better... not to raise any hopes or expectations at all. Because when hope is crushed, it’s more devastating—far more than what they faced now.

Bei Sangyun clenched her fists, summoning every ounce of strength she had to look him in the eye. She prayed her gaze wouldn’t waver.

"...You can think of it that way. Perhaps you’re right. Who knows, after four years, if I will ever pick you up again? So... isn’t it better if we part ways now?"

She dug her nails into her palms, trying to sound condescending. "But I’ll understand if you can’t let go. You’re free to wait for four years or not. But even after waiting, I can’t promise we’ll go back to how we were before."

’So please... don’t wait, Fei Chuan. I don’t want to hurt you any more than I have today.’

Fei Chuan looked at her, his beautiful eyes reflecting the pain her words had inflicted.

He asked her again, still hoping she would change her mind. "...Are you really going to leave me because of that bullshit?"

"Yes," Bei Sangyun answered without hesitation.

Fei Chuan felt his vision blur. He looked up, refusing to let his shameful tears fall.

"...Even if I beg you to?"

"...Yes."

"So you’ve chosen that fraud over me?"

Bei Sangyun paused for a moment before giving a determined answer, "Yes."

Fei Chuan felt his world slowly fall apart. The future he had envisioned—their campus life as a couple, living together with their grandmothers in a villa with a big backyard, venturing into adulthood together, pursuing their dreams while supporting each other, their marriage, the number of children they had argued about—the world that had Bei Sangyun in it was crumbling, piece by piece.

"So... all your promises... mean nothing now?" he asked again, looking at her, pleading, hoping she would say ’no.’ He could still accept it if she took her words back and said this was just a cruel prank.

But unfortunately, Bei Sangyun remained stubborn and unwavering.

"....Yes."

Fei Chuan felt he heard his own heart being ripped apart.

"Ha!" He chuckled bitterly.

Each ’yes’ pushed him further into despair, as if the ground beneath his feet had vanished, leaving him to fall endlessly with nothing to hold on to.

He took a deep, shaky breath and stepped back from Bei Sangyun. He quickly wiped away the tears that had slipped down his cheeks.

He looked back at her, determined not to let her see just how tormented she had made him feel at that moment.

"You’re right. I don’t think someone who chose a fraud over me deserves my four years of waiting. That kind of person doesn’t deserve my devotion and affection. Unless..." Fei Chuan paused, looking at her one last time, pleading, "...unless you take it all back."

Bei Sangyun didn’t dare blink. With trembling hands, she spoke the words that would scar both their hearts deeply. "....I won’t take it back."

"...I see. Stubborn until the end." Fei Chuan couldn’t hold on any longer and lowered his head, teetering on the edge of breaking.

Bei Sangyun saw him deflate in front of her. It was an unbearable sight that almost made her reach out to hug and comfort him.

She quickly turned around. "This is goodbye, then... Thank you for everything, Fei Chuan. I only wish the best for you," she muttered softly.

Fei Chuan heard her footsteps running away, each sound like a stab to his wounded heart. He couldn’t hold back any longer, and his tears began to fall.

How could it be so easy for her to say those words and leave him?

How could she choose to believe those people over him?

This is so unfair... so unfair...

All because of his damned illness and their nonsense lies...

Fei Chuan heard the car’s engine roar to life in the distance.

It sank in...

Bei Sangyun was indeed leaving him.

Their treasured moments together came crashing into his mind—her smile, her teasing gaze, her kisses, her sweet words...

Would all the time they spent together be reduced to nothing but a memory?

It wasn’t just memories for him. It was... the best time of his life. It was her who changed him. It was their time together that made him who he is. His future, his world—half of it was her.

Now that she was gone, how could he live from now on?

And how about her? How could she live without him?

Was he really just... as she said... something she could put aside and never pick up again?

Fei Chuan couldn’t believe those words. But now that she was really leaving, anger, frustration, and denial erupted in his heart. ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com

His feet moved on their own.

He ran towards the moving car and yelled, "I am not something you can just leave aside, Bei Sangyun! If you don’t plan to meet me again, then make sure to hide well! Because once we meet... I... I will never let you get rid of me, ever again!"

Fei Chuan shouted at the top of his lungs, his words echoing on the pavement.

But the car had already disappeared, leaving only dust behind.

Fei Chuan watched as the car grew smaller and smaller, his vision blurred by tears. His heart was unwilling, frustrated, defeated, and full of despair.

He stood there for a very long time.

He didn’t know how much time had passed or how many buses had gone by. A tap on his shoulder made him instinctively turn around. His gaze was blank, and his face was streaked with dried tears.

Driver Wang draped a jacket around his shoulders. "Let’s get you inside the car, Young Master."

Fei Chuan followed him numbly. All the way back to the villa, he remained silent, as if his soul had been sucked away.

Only when he recognized the familiar scenery on the way to the villa did Fei Chuan become aware of his surroundings. "...We’re back," he muttered hoarsely.

He looked at Driver Wang, and it finally registered that he hadn’t called for him. He hadn’t been in the right state of mind to call anyone.

"...How did you know I was there?" he asked.

"...The Young Miss called," Driver Wang answered carefully.

Fei Chuan gazed out the window, falling silent once more.

When the car parked in front of the villa, Fei Chuan finally spoke, "...Will you still follow me if I leave the country?"

Driver Wang was stunned. He glanced at Fei Chuan’s reflection in the rearview mirror. Seeing his solemn expression, Driver Wang grew serious as well. "Yes, I will follow you wherever you go."

Fei Chuan nodded. "Thank you. I’ll talk to Grandma Pei and the others."

Fei Chuan no longer wanted to stay in this country. It was filled with memories of Bei Sangyun. If he remained here, he would be trapped in this moment forever. Since she chose to leave, he could leave as well.

Besides, before Bei Sangyun entered his life, he had planned to go overseas after graduation. That plan changed because she had become a part of his life and his future.

But now that she had left him, he saw no reason to continue living here.

A big part of him was angry that Bei Sangyun was leaving him, and he wanted to go somewhere with no trace of her. The fact that she had called Driver Wang to pick him up gave him a glimmer of hope that she still cared.

If she still cared, there was a strong possibility she would try to keep tabs on him. If he were in her position, he would do the same.

But since she chose to hide, he would also hide. He would go somewhere she couldn’t reach, until she had no choice but to come out and look for him.

Fei Chuan didn’t hesitate any longer and called William James. The latter was pleased with his decision and told him he could leave whenever he wanted.

"Today. I want to leave today."