Standing Next To You-Chapter 457: Back in the Game

The restroom was quiet and still. Bei Sangyun stood before the sink, berating herself.

Why did she run?

She had resolved to face Fei Chuan tonight, to make her presence known, to stir his memories of their shared past. Yet, instead of following through her plan, she ran.

Bei Sangyun closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. She has to keep it together. She couldn’t afford to be a coward anymore. If she kept hiding, Fei Chuan might truly forget her and move on.

"No more running." Bei Sangyun muttered.

Today was about testing the waters, and the only way to do that was by taking the first step.

She opened her eyes and stared at her reflection in the mirror. "You can do this. Just look at him, say hi, and smile. Keep it simple. Don’t do anything stupid," she whispered to herself, repeating it like a mantra until her nerves steadied.

With her confidence restored, she turned and left the restroom.

Luckily, with the arrival of the ’Royal’ families, the guests’ attention had shifted entirely to them.

Bei Sangyun moved forward, chin high and shoulders back. Even in the most daunting circumstances, her natural aura of command radiated.

She had always possessed a beauty that drew eyes, but it was her innate arrogance and self-assuredness—tempered by two lifetimes of experience—that gave her an edge. She didn’t just walk; she owned every step, as if the floor beneath her existed solely to carry her.

Several guests noticed her immediately. Most were already familiar with the others on the list, but this striking woman—who had appeared and disappeared so mysteriously—remained a mystery.

They have lived most of their lives in elite circles, attending grand banquets with illustrious figures, so the seasoned guests immediately recognized Bei Sangyun’s presence—the poised demeanor that only true leaders could embody.

"Good evening, Miss. We noticed you when you arrived earlier but didn’t have the chance to greet you," a gentle-looking, middle-aged couple greeted as they approached her.

The speaker was a woman in her forties, with elegant Western features. She walked arm-in-arm with an older man, whose hair was entirely white.

Bei Sangyun instantly recognized him—Vill Gates, the renowned founder of Microhard. The smiling woman at his side appeared to be his wife.

Bei Sangyun inclined her head gracefully. "I had a small emergency earlier. It’s an honor to meet you, Mrs. Gates and Mr. Gates. I am Bei Sangyun, founder of Phoenix Holdings and FourMoons."

Mrs. Gates tilted her head slightly, her warm smile deepening. Although unfamiliar with the companies Bei Sangyun mentioned, she seemed to appreciate her respectful introduction. "The pleasure is ours. Did you come alone?"

"Yes."

"Oh my! I imagine many people would have paid handsomely for that empty slot," Mrs. Gates remarked with a slight chuckle.

"I’d rather leave it empty than give it away. The invitation was entrusted to me, and I take full responsibility for it," Bei Sangyun said calmly.

She knew the stakes: should the companion she brought cause trouble and offend anyone here, it would be her name and reputation on the line.

Mrs. Gates seemed impressed by her answer, her expression turned soft, and she became more genuine and intimate towards Bei Sangyun.

While Mrs. Gates carried most of the conversation, Vill Gates remained silent, his thoughtful expression typical of the introvert he was known to be.

However, just as their discussion was flowing comfortably, Mr. Gates suddenly exclaimed, "Ah! Phoenix Holdings! Now I remember where I heard that name."

Both Bei Sangyun and Mrs. Gates blinked in surprise, momentarily speechless. fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm

’So he’s been thinking about that this whole time?’

Mrs. Gates gave her husband a fond, amused smile. "It seems your mind was elsewhere, dear."

Bei Sangyun couldn’t help the slight curve of her lips, sensing that beneath his quiet demeanor, Mr. Gates was a man who rarely forgot important details.

Mr. Gates scratched his head sheepishly. "I heard about your company from an investor I spoke with. He mentioned Phoenix Holdings as one of the firms he was eager to collaborate with, praising your track record of successful projects. He even talked about its potential to dominate the global market in just a few years. That’s why the name stuck with me; he was quite enthusiastic about it."

"Ah, he praised me too highly. We’ll work hard to live up to those expectations," Bei Sangyun replied with humility, though her confidence was shining through.

Mr. Gates finally looked at her thoughtfully. Although Phoenix Holdings had great potential, it alone didn’t seem significant enough to warrant an invitation to the Royal Banquet. Could there be another reason behind her presence here?

Curious, he asked about the second company Bei Sangyun mentioned. Her eyes sparkled in response. FourMoons was the company she had established while living overseas. Over the past four years, it had grown steadily, expanding its network with impressive resilience. Securing a collaboration with someone like Vill Gates would give it the momentum needed to attract even more investors.

Mr. Gates listened with genuine interest, growing more impressed the longer they spoke. Their conversation soon became immersed in business jargon, yet Bei Sangyun remained mindful of Mrs. Gates, occasionally bringing her into the discussion. Mrs. Gates noticed and appreciated the gesture.

Mrs. Gates was surprised by her husband’s engagement. For someone as introverted as him to show such keen interest in a rising company indicated it had immense potential. Although she didn’t grasp all the technical terms, the way Bei Sangyun presented her company’s vision and growth prospects intrigued her, sparking a desire to learn more.

However, this wasn’t the ideal setting for an in-depth conversation.

Mrs. Gates elbowed her husband gently as she hinted, "Dear, it’s a fortunate coincidence that we met her. You should give her your business card. And Ms. Bei, if you don’t mind, I’d love to invite you to dinner sometime. I would be thrilled to continue our conversation."

Bei Sangyun’s eyes sparkled with delight. "It would be my honor."

The exchange of contact information went smoothly, and as the couple departed to converse with one of the ’Royal’ families, Bei Sangyun’s gaze drifted across the room until it landed on a familiar figure.

*****

As individuals who obtained invitations through ’connections’ or ’recommendations’ rather than being selected based on strict requirements, Lin Zhe and Lin Sanju were not particularly popular at the Royal Banquet.

Old Master Lin used one invitation for the Lin family but chose not to attend personally. Instead, he gave it to his two grandsons, the strongest candidates for the family’s inheritance.

He saw this as an opportunity for them to experience the ’real world.’ The second invitation was given to the Simon family, represented by Richard, their only son, and his twin sister, Sophia.

The third invitation was auctioned and won by none other than the Fei family. They sent two representatives: Fei Ying Zhi and Fei Hua Juang.

However, unlike in their homeland, where they were admired and respected, here at the banquet, they were like dull pebbles among dazzling emeralds.

They were sidelined and avoided, sitting gloomily in a corner.

When Lin Zhe and Lin Sanju first arrived, their youthful, oriental features attracted the attention of many guests. Since they weren’t globally known, people were initially curious about them.

At first, the atmosphere around them was lively, with guests gathering to meet them. But as soon as it became clear they came from a wealthy family in Country C and represented a company that hadn’t yet reached the top fifty in the global market, the guests’ interest began to wane.

The only reason the guests maintained politeness was that the James family had extended the invitation to them as a "gift."

Beyond that, the other attendees saw little value in forming connections with them.