Standing Next To You-Chapter 458: Why is she here?

It was even worse for the Simon and Fei families, who only got in thanks to ’someone else’s gift’.

Once the other guests found out how they obtained their invitations, they offered little more than polite smiles before walking away.

No matter how influential they were in their own country, to these globally ranked elites, they were insignificant and lacking.

The subtle disappointment in the guests’ glances weighed heavily on them, stirring waves of shame and embarrassment that quickly eroded their initial arrogance.

Richard downed a glass of wine in one gulp. "I thought this place would be amazing, but it’s just a load of crap."

Sophia nudged her brother sharply. "Keep your voice down, Richard! Stop drinking. I’m sure everyone’s just busy talking to others." She glanced around nervously, hoping no one overheard her brother.

Ever since the scandal that sent her brother to jail five years ago, he had lost the gentle facade he once wore and had been aimlessly drifting through life. The Simon family paid a steep price to secure his release and compensate the victims. If he weren’t the family’s only son, they would have disowned him long ago.

Richard scowled. "Quit babysitting me. Go do what you came here to do."

Sofia pouted. This invitation, secured by their grandfather through the Lin family, was meant to reignite her brother’s ambition by exposing him to the pinnacle of high society—and to help her find a potential husband.

She had postponed several engagements arranged by her grandfather because none of the young men he picked seemed good enough.

Now, with the chance to attend this exclusive banquet, she saw it as a golden opportunity to find a suitable fiancé.

The room was filled with impressive people known around the world. It felt like the perfect place to meet someone extraordinary—maybe even someone from a Royal family.

In her dreams, she imagined falling in love, perhaps even catching the eye of someone from the James family.

But no one had shown interest in starting a conversation with her. Although a few guests approached them at first, once they learned about their background, they quickly lost interest and kept their distance.

Sophia was unwilling to give up, but since the so-called royal families had not yet arrived, she held on to a glimmer of hope. Scanning the room, she noticed two other tables that were just as quiet and lifeless as theirs.

She immediately recognized Lin Sanju and Lin Zhe, but she quickly turned away, pretending not to know them.

At their table, Lin Sanju and Lin Zhe appeared far calmer than the Simons. They had expected this cold reception and seemed to have already decided to focus on something other than seeking favor from the guests.

Meanwhile, at the neighboring table, Fei Ying Zhi and Fei Hua Juang sat silently. They didn’t seem bothered by the emptiness around them, as if they were waiting for something.

Growing bored, Sophia absentmindedly touched the drinks in front of her, taking only small sips, wary of smelling like wine instead of her expensive perfume.

Just as she raised her head, a new figure entered the hall, causing her to pause. But before she could get a closer look, the person disappeared into the crowd, leaving Sophia—and the others—stunned and curious about the newcomer’s identity.

Her brows furrowed in suspicion.

’It couldn’t be... No way that bitch would be here.’

A sudden stir at the front of the hall pulled her from her thoughts. There was another newcomer. He was surrounded by a crowd and she could only catch glimpses of the top of his head.

"Is it someone from the James family?" She asked her brother.

Richard gave a lazy shrug, indifferent. "I don’t know."

Sophia gritted her teeth, annoyed at her brother’s lack of interest. But then she noticed a shift—both the Lin family’s table and the Fei family’s table suddenly came to life. The four of them quickly rose and headed toward the front, joining the growing crowd.

However, the newcomer was far too popular. Despite their efforts, Lin Sanju, Lin Zhe, Fei Ying Zhi, and Fei Hua Juang could only hover at the back of the line, unable to get close.

The excitement in the hall reached new heights as the royal families arrived, making the atmosphere even more lively.

Lin Zhe and Lin Sanju had no choice but to step aside. Fei Ying Zhi stared at the newcomer with intense focus before reluctantly giving up and retreating.

Their strange reactions piqued Sophia’s curiosity, and she turned her gaze toward the handsome man who had captured everyone’s attention. Did the Lin and Fei families know him?

She overheard some guests addressing the newcomer as ’Fei Chuan.’

’Fei Chuan?’

That name sounds familiar. Is he connected to the Fei family?

But she quickly dismissed the thought. If this impressive man were truly part of the Fei family, there would have been no need for them to spend a fortune buying an invitation from the Lin family.

Yet Sophia couldn’t shake the feeling that she had seen him before. With a face like his, he wasn’t someone she would easily forget. So where could she have seen him?

It was clear that the man carried significant influence. William James stayed close by his side, introducing him to one guest after another.

Sophia’s eyes gleamed with interest.

’He’s perfect.’ She had found her target.

She discreetly followed him through the crowd, but William James kept dragging the man along, introducing him to people one after another, leaving her with no opportunity to approach.

Sophia’s determination only grew as she watched the man mingle effortlessly with legendary figures and even members of the royal families. She didn’t mind waiting.

Then, a nearby conversation caught her attention.

"Ms. Bei Sangyun is truly remarkable, isn’t she?"

Sophia froze. It was a name she hadn’t heard in a long time—one she could never forget. She whipped her head toward the source of the voices.

Two middle-aged couples stood behind her, unaware she was listening.

"Yes, her company is very impressive," one of them remarked.

"I’m not just talking about her company, dear. I think she’s a genuinely remarkable person. It’s rare to meet someone like her in our circles. We must stay in touch with her, all right?"

Sophia’s heart raced as she processed their words.

She looked toward the direction the couples had come from—and there, standing in clear view, was the same woman she had glimpsed earlier before she vanished into the crowd.

This time she saw the person’s face clearly.

"Bei Sangyun?" Sophia whispered in disbelief.