Standing Next To You-Chapter 455: The Guests of the Royal Banquet

In Country Z, within the capital city, inside of the most luxurious hotel in the world—the tallest structure known as the ’Triple Tower’—the Royal Banquet was taking place.

The middle tower, said to be the tallest in the world at 2,700 feet with 158 floors above ground, housed the grand event. The highest floor featured an open-roof terrace made of glass, reserved for opulent occasions like the Royal Banquet. From there, guests could gaze down upon the magnificent city below, reinforcing their sense of prestige and superiority from such lofty heights.

Several guests had arrived days in advance, booking rooms within the Triple Tower to prepare for the banquet. One of them was Bei Sangyun.

"It looks stunning on you," Maid Ye Zhai said, admiring Bei Sangyun from a distance after fastening a delicate necklace around her neck.

Bei Sangyun glanced at herself in the mirror, nodding in satisfaction. "You’ve done a better job than any stylist I’ve ever hired. I should give you a raise—if you ever consider changing industries," she teased.

Ye Zhai smiled softly as she tidied up the room. "I told you, my contract binds me to serve you for fifty years."

Bei Sangyun chuckled, grateful to have brought Maid Ye Zhai with her to Country Z. She had initially wanted to bring Grandma Bei along and visit around this country, but the older woman preferred to stay back in Country C. Bei Sangyun hadn’t insisted, knowing her trip here would only last two or three days at most.

"Are you ready, Young Miss?" Maid Ye Zhai asked, handing her the purse and offering support as they moved toward the door.

"I’m nervous. I might see him there." Bei Sangyun clutched her purse tightly. "I still don’t know how to act around him. What if... I lose control of my emotions?" She exhaled shakily.

"I know I can’t avoid him forever. I need to face him and make sure he hasn’t forgotten about me. But at the same time..." She hesitated, her voice wavering. "I’m scared. What if I act like a coward again, like last time? Even now, part of me thinks I shouldn’t have come at all."

Maid Ye Zhai reached out and held Bei Sangyun’s hand. "I believe you’ll overcome this. It’s normal to have doubts and hesitations. But the sooner you face them, the sooner you’ll have your answer—whether good or bad." She gave Bei Sangyun’s hand a reassuring squeeze, her voice calm and steady.

"If you feel you shouldn’t go, then just leave. I’ll be here, just a few floors away," she added gently.

Bei Sangyun squeezed her hand in return, drawing strength from her touch. Maid Ye Zhai’s words gave her courage.

Right. If it was really Fei Chuan who sent the invitation, then she has even more reason to go. Four months had already slipped by so quickly. If she did nothing, her worst fear—that Fei Chuan had moved on—would come true.

She had to act now. It wouldn’t be easy; she knew she could only meet him and still keep him at a distance. But she believed that if she took small steps forward, she could eventually find her way back to him.

Her hesitant eyes slowly calmed down, she smiled with gratitude at Maid Ye Zhai, "Thank you, Sister Zhai."

Maid Ye Zhai froze in surprise.

Seeing her stunned expression, Bei Sangyun laughed. "We’re only five years apart. All this time, you’ve been more like a big sister to me. You don’t mind if I call you ’Big Sister,’ do you?"

Maid Ye Zhai was at a loss for words. While she was touched by Bei Sangyun’s sentiment, she still saw herself as a servant, and it didn’t seem appropriate. Just as she opened her mouth to say something, Bei Sangyun gently interrupted.

"No need to answer now. Tell me later," she said with a playful wink.

With that, she left the room, leaving Maid Ye Zhai standing there, still stunned.

Outside the room, Bei Sangyun chuckled softly. Her earlier nervousness and anxiety had dissipated, replaced by a sense of warmth. She meant what she said—Maid Ye- No- Sister Ye Zhai truly felt like family to her.

As an only child raised by Grandma Bei, Bei Sangyun had always felt lonely, even after moving to the capital. Although she had cousins, none of them had made her feel like part of a family. Nor had she ever found a friend she could confide in, or someone she could trust with her emotions.

But after coming back, things between her and Maid Ye Zhai had changed for the better. She never imagined that such a precious person, whom she could have a treasured relationship with, had been right beside her all along. She had been too consumed by revenge, hatred, and anger to recognize the people who truly cared for her—like Maid Ye Zhai and Fei Chuan.

At the elevator, Bei Sangyun took a deep breath. She just needs to keep it together, and everything will be fine.

.....

The Royal Banquet was an extravagant, exclusive event. Yet, with its reputation spanning the globe, the media and curious onlookers gathered, hoping to get a glimpse or scoop. Most reporters were stationed outside the building, photographing the luxurious cars arriving and departing.

Security at the Triple Tower was exceptionally strict, given that its guests were among the wealthiest in the world, who were capable of affording the staggering room rates.

The middle tower, the tallest of the three, hosted the most prominent attendees, including those staying for the banquet.

Only a select few media outlets, approved by the James family, were permitted inside to photograph the guests as they walked the red carpet.

"That’s Prince Rahman! Who’s with him?"

"Oh! I recognize her—it’s Ms. Suhana Amid, General Amid’s daughter!"

The cameras swiveled to capture the striking pair. Prince Rahman, a man in his early thirties, wore a traditional black ’bisht’ embroidered with gold along the edges, and a golden ’ghutra’ neatly folded atop his head. Beside him was Suhana Amid, a stunning woman with equally striking Arabic features, draped in elegant, luxurious attire that complemented the prince’s.

The cameras flashed incessantly as they walked the red carpet, each step followed by murmurs and shutters clicking in rapid succession.

Once they disappeared inside the hall, a soft ’ding’ echoed through the air. The elevator doors opened.

The gathered media immediately turned their cameras back toward the elevator, eager to capture the next guest.

As the elevator doors slid open, Bei Sangyun stepped forward—only to be greeted by a blinding barrage of camera flashes. Startled, she flinched and squeezed her eyes shut, her vision overwhelmed by the harsh white lights.

Instinctively, she raised her purse to shield her face as she took slow steps forward, trying to adjust to the sensory onslaught. Around her, the cacophony of camera clicks and murmurs grew louder, the chatter flowing in various languages—some familiar, some foreign to her ears.

"Who is she? I don’t recognize her."

"She has an oriental face—so beautiful! But... is she alone?"

"Where’s her companion?"

The reporters buzzed with confusion. It was unusual, perhaps unprecedented, to see someone walk out of the elevator and onto the red carpet alone.