Standing Next To You-Chapter 442: Meet at the Bar

He was already surprised she had come back, but the idea of her staying longer made him question everything.

Bei Sangyun shrugged. "Grandma misses the country. So, we might stay here for a while. Anyway, start packing and say goodbye to anyone you want to."

Butler Xin was dumbfounded, while Zhong Cheng looked at him and snickered. He was delighted to see the ’fake boss’ who had made him suffer for four years finally getting a taste of his own medicine.

"I wish you the best of luck, Butler Xin," Zhong Cheng said, giving him a playful finger heart. "I’ll miss you. Who knows when I’ll see you again?"

Butler Xin knocked him lightly on the head. "You’re that happy to get rid of me? Master, why don’t you send this guy with me? I could use his help. It’d be another good round of training for him."

Zhong Cheng paled at the suggestion.

Bei Sangyun considered it. It was a good idea. Zhong Cheng was clever but still lacked real-world experience in professional business. More exposure to the business world would help him grow.

However, she might need him in the coming days.

"Nope. He has other things to take care of here."

Butler Xin’s face soured, while Zhong Cheng grinned in relief.

The three of them continued discussing the company and its future. Although they hadn’t seen each other in years, the distance between them felt small, as they had stayed in touch regularly over the phone.

Once Butler Xin left to pack, Bei Sangyun glanced at Zhong Cheng.

"So, did you succeed?"

Zhong Cheng’s expression turned serious. He nodded. "Yes, he agreed to meet me."

Bei Sangyun smiled. She had sent Zhong Cheng information about Fei Chuan’s arrival, instructing him to arrange a reunion. Initially, she doubted it would work. After all, Fei Chuan hadn’t gotten along well with Zhong Cheng in the past.

But among their old high school classmates, Zhong Cheng was the only one who could potentially reconnect with Fei Chuan since they had spent some time together.

It was sad, but Fei Chuan had no real friends to speak of.

Since Lin Sanju successfully connected with Fei Chuan despite the small encounter they have in the past, Bei Sangyun wanted Zhong Cheng to try his luck. Unexpectedly, Fei Chuan was accommodating.

"But Boss, it’s obvious you still care about him. And I don’t think Fei Chuan’s forgotten about you. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have responded to my invitation. Why not...try to reach out to him yourself?" Zhong Cheng asked the question he had been wondering for years.

"...It’s not time yet," Bei Sangyun replied, her voice steady. "Just remember what I told you."

Zhong Cheng nodded solemnly.

.....

Zhong Cheng had invited Fei Chuan out for drinks through Xstagram—one that his boss had sent him. He didn’t expect to receive a reply. After all, he had contacted Fei Chuan out of the blue, mentioning their high school in passing. He wasn’t sure if Fei Chuan would even remember him, let alone consider his invitation.

Fei Chuan was renowned worldwide, and everyone wanted to invite him. As a busy man, Zhong Cheng thought an ordinary guy like him would likely be ignored.

So when Fei Chuan actually remembered him and responded to his chat, he was thrilled. This led to their meeting today.

Now, Zhong Cheng felt nervous as he glanced at the building across the street. The bar they had chosen was on the second floor of a three-story building. Across from it stood a twelve-story hotel.

Though this bar was upscale, it had an unusual layout. The entire place was luxurious, with floor-to-ceiling windows allowing guests across the hotel to easily spy on them.

Who would willingly go to a bar, have a few drinks, and let others gawk at them from the opposite building?

Zhong Cheng thought the bar would shut down within a few months due to its lack of privacy, but surprisingly, it had become popular. There were plenty of wealthy patrons who reveled in flaunting themselves, enjoying the thrill of being watched by strangers. The mere knowledge that someone was observing them added to their excitement.

Really perverted.

Zhong Cheng shook his head. He had criticized them like that, yet here he was, choosing a seat by the window. His gaze shifted to the building across the street.

In one of those rooms, ’she’ must be there, watching this place intently.

He sighed inwardly. Why go to such lengths when she could just meet the other person in a normal, straightforward way?

Zhong Cheng couldn’t understand how his boss’s mind worked.

"You’re early. I didn’t intend to keep you waiting," a deep, husky voice interrupted his thoughts.

Zhong Cheng turned around, momentarily overshadowed by the tall figure before him. He quickly stood up upon recognizing the other man.

"I haven’t waited long," Zhong Cheng smiled, trying to be friendly. "I’m glad you accepted my invitation. I got a bit excited and came too early. It’s been a while Brothe- Fei Chuan," he added, almost letting slip the more familiar term he used to address him.

"It has been a while. Still, I kept you waiting, so the drinks are on me."

Fei Chuan’s smile was neither too intimate nor too distant, yet it left Zhong Cheng momentarily stunned. Fei Chuan hadn’t been the type to smile much in the past, but now that he did, it was almost dazzling.

Zhong Cheng chuckled, insisting that hadn’t been his intention, but he didn’t refuse Fei Chuan’s offer to buy drinks. He promised he’d cover the tab next time. Through this, he managed to secure another meeting.

Fei Chuan didn’t comment, only smiling—neither accepting nor rejecting the second invitation.

Zhong Cheng felt a bit intimidated by Fei Chuan’s presence, but he had thick skin and was used to his boss’s commanding aura, so this wasn’t much of a challenge compared to what others might feel. After a few awkward minutes, he gradually relaxed and became genuinely friendly with Fei Chuan, just as he had been in the past.

"Imagine my shock when I saw you featured in Timeless Magazine. At first, I didn’t even recognize you. Besides your name, there wasn’t much resemblance to the past you I used to know. And weren’t you the type to avoid showing your face in public? I remember when you took first place and dethroned the Boss in the rankings—"

Zhong Cheng had been drinking quite a bit, and his words started to slip out without restraint. But he was quick-witted and caught himself before finishing the sentence. Throughout their time together, he had carefully avoided mentioning Bei Sangyun or the past relationship between her and Fei Chuan.

He clamped his mouth shut and cast a quick glance at Fei Chuan.

Fei Chuan held a glass of wine, his head slightly tilted as if he had also drunk more than usual. Yet his eyes remained sharp. He smiled, "Why did you stop? What about after dethroning her?"

Zhong Cheng hesitated, cautiously testing the waters. "...I mean, after you took first place, you didn’t want to reveal the results publicly. Partly because you didn’t want the attention, and partly because...you wanted to protect Bo—Bei Sangyun back then."

Zhong Cheng studied Fei Chuan’s expression as he mentioned Bei Sangyun’s name.