Standing Next To You-Chapter 441: Has he forgotten about her?

His back was to her. The tree had concealed him earlier, and only now, a few meters away, did she notice him.

Bei Sangyun’s heart skipped a beat. Then it began to race, her breath catching in her throat, her eyes welling up.

Though his back had changed in subtle ways, Bei Sangyun recognized him instantly.

She stood rooted in place, her heart—the same heart that had longed for this man for years—cried out, calling his name over and over again. If it had hands, it would have reached out, desperate to embrace him.

But she couldn’t move forward. And she didn’t want to leave, either.

She just wanted to watch him a little longer, like she had done all these years from afar.

The longing she could never express except when alone surged to the surface. She hadn’t been able to see him in person during these years, but she had collected pictures of him and had watched from a distance many times.

The reason she had asked Lin Sanju about how he looked now was because she desperately wanted to see him up close. And today, standing just a few meters away, this was the closest she had ever been to him.

"Fei Chuan... I miss you," Bei Sangyun whispered shakily.

As if hearing her, the figure beneath the tree suddenly turned around. Bei Sangyun’s heart leaped, and she quickly turned away, leaving with hastened steps.

He couldn’t have heard her, could he?

It was only a whisper, and with the distance between them, there was no way he could have heard her.

Bei Sangyun walked quickly, but as she recovered from the panic, she realized there were no footsteps behind her. She paused and cautiously looked back.

There was no one following her. He hadn’t come after her.

He must have sensed someone watching him, but since she had quickly turned and walked away, he probably didn’t think much of it.

He likely mistook her for just another visitor who had wandered too close and left upon seeing a stranger.

Bei Sangyun smiled helplessly. "...So he didn’t recognize me?"

She could recognize him in a crowd of thousands, even if it were just his back, the top of his head, or his hand. But Fei Chuan hadn’t recognized her.

Could it be that he had moved on and forgotten about her?

A sharp pang hit her chest. It was selfish, but she desperately wished he hadn’t forgotten her—that he longed for her, even if only a fraction of the way she longed for him.

"Ha... Damn it. How did I fall this low?" Bei Sangyun muttered.

As Maid Ye Zhai had said, the one who loves more always loses. And not only had she lost her heart, but she was slowly losing her mind as well.

Bei Sangyun called Driver Chen and told him she was on her way back.

Behind her, the park closed, and the car drove toward the villa where she was currently staying.

.....

The news of her return to the country had been shared with only a select few. Among them were Lin Sanju, her trusted staff like Driver Chen and Maid Ye Zhai, and lastly, Zhong Cheng.

"Boss!" Zhong Cheng exclaimed, almost rushing to hug Bei Sangyun as soon as he saw her. But Butler Xin tugged at his suit jacket, stopping him just in time.

"What are you doing?" Butler Xin scolded, glaring at him.

Zhong Cheng whimpered, "I’m just happy to see my real boss. Don’t stop me, fake boss."

"You two seem to have gotten much closer." Bei Sangyun chuckled, amused by their banter, seeing them both for the first time in years.

Butler Xin hadn’t changed much, except he no longer wore his butler’s uniform, having switched to a business suit. Zhong Cheng, however, had changed significantly over the years.

He had grown much taller, and his once lean frame had gained muscle. If he sported tattoos and a buzz cut, he could easily pass as a mafia boss.

Yet, here this big guy was, whining like a child. "Boss, can you take me with you next time? I can’t work under him anymore. He’s too brutal."

"Brutal? I’ve given you more freedom than I ever had when I worked under her. And be grateful—I’m much more generous now. If you’d met the old me, you wouldn’t even have the chance to complain today."

"No, thanks! I don’t want to meet the old you or any of you." Zhong Cheng pleaded, turning back to Bei Sangyun. "Boss, my training’s done now, right? Let me work under you again."

When Bei Sangyun left four years ago, she didn’t just entrust Zhong Cheng with news about Fei Chuan—she also gave him a significant task. After his graduation, he had to undergo rigorous training with Butler Xin.

Naturally, Butler Xin wasn’t happy about this arrangement. He had wanted to work alongside his master, but Bei Sangyun had refused to let anyone, aside from Grandma Bei, accompany her. Even her personal maid, Maid Ye Zhai, had been left behind.

The company she founded was placed in Butler Xin’s hands, and she appointed Zhong Cheng as the CEO of Phoenix Holdings. Although she quietly assisted them from afar, she planned to rebuild another company abroad.

After earning her degree, the company she founded overseas had grown and was now receiving attention from other countries. However, she hadn’t linked this new venture with Phoenix Holdings, as she had other plans for the future.

"Your training is officially over," Bei Sangyun said to Zhong Cheng. "Once you’ve successfully settled into your new position, I’ll assign you a helper."

She then turned to Butler Xin. "And you, Butler Xin, I’ll need you to manage the company overseas."

Butler Xin’s face lit up—finally, he could serve his master again! But his excitement was quickly dashed by Bei Sangyun’s next words. "Your flight leaves today. You’ll be the acting CEO while I’m gone."

Butler Xin’s smile froze. "...What do you mean ’while you’re gone’? Aren’t you coming with me?"

"I’ll be staying in the country for a while. Grandma also wants to remain here for some time."

"...You’re staying here? Why?" Butler Xin was confused. He had always believed that Bei Sangyun didn’t want to stay in country C any longer. After years of trying to convince her to return, only to be repeatedly rejected, he had assumed she was gone for good.