Standing Next To You-Chapter 238: Grooming

Bei Sangyun and Butler Xin arrived at the third branch’s building. Once they were out of everyone’s sight, Butler Xin voiced his concerns.

"Is it really okay to leave the fourth branch like that? What if they recover and suddenly stab you in the back? It might be better to take care of them now while they are still weak."

Unlike Butler Xin, who was filled with worries, Bei Sangyun remained quite relaxed.

"There’s no need to worry. Lin Sanju is smart and has good intuition. I trust that the fourth branch won’t suddenly betray me under his watch. Besides, I am curious to see what the fourth branch will become under his lead."

In fact, Bei Sangyun felt relieved that she didn’t have to deal with the fourth branch more forcefully. She had resorted to harsh measures in the past--putting a scythe on their heads and harvesting them like a grim reaper-- but they hadn’t brought her satisfaction.

Even though Lin Sunji and the fourth branch had done terrible things to her, she didn’t harbor strong feelings of destruction towards them.

Butler Xin gazed deeply at Bei Sangyun.

He saw another side of her that left him in awe. He realized that his master was not vengeful and actually had a broad mind, very different from what he initially thought of her. Where had that kid full of inferiority and insecurities gone?

All he could see now was a person with a strong personality and a deep mind that he couldn’t fully fathom.

He sighed, "If you say so. But what about Lin Sunji? What are you planning to do with her?"

Bei Sangyun smiled mysteriously, "I have given the fourth branch a second chance, and Li Mei and Lin Ruo understand what they need to do in exchange. However, Lin Sunji won’t appreciate it. Rather, she will be full of hatred. Someone like her requires a lot of time and effort for grooming. Besides, it’s better to keep her close than let her loose."

When Butler Xin heard the word ’grooming’, he shuddered out of nowhere.

He felt a chill down his spine, and goosebumps appeared on his arms. He suddenly experienced a sense of terror that he couldn’t explain. It came and went quickly, going unnoticed.

Butler Xin hugged his arms in confusion. Why did it suddenly become so cold?

He commented to Bei Sangyun as he rubbed his arm, "Can a person like her change? She is very prideful and egotistic. I can’t imagine her bowing to you or following you obediently."

Bei Sangyun suddenly gazed at him with amusement in her eyes, "Trust me. People can change, even someone as prideful as her. There is actually a living example right here." freēwēbnovel.com

Butler Xin: ?

Bei Sangyun laughed at seeing the confusion on his face.

How could she tell him that the once full of ridicule and egotistic Butler Xin had become a very obedient dog who did not dare to raise his head in her presence?

Although the current Butler Xin somewhat deviated from the scaredy-cat Butler Xin of the past, Bei Sangyun saw remnants of that obedient dog in the current him.

But she liked the current Butler Xin more, the one who could speak his opinions freely to her and grumble like a child.

....

That night, Bei Sangyun called Grandma Bei.

The two talked a lot. Grandma Bei could now walk and engage in simple exercises. The wound from her surgery had already healed, and Grandma Bei was more active than before.

She grumbled to Bei Sangyun, "It’s too boring in the hospital. I miss fishing in the river and tending to my vegetable farm. All I do here is lie on the bed or walk around the garden. Guard Huang is also getting fatter. We’re too idle here. I told the doctor to discharge us, but he didn’t approve. He said he needs your consent. Why would he need your consent? I am your guardian."

Bei Sangyun chuckled, "Grandma, the doctor said you are still under observation. But once it’s over, I will let Guard Huang look for a house there. We will get a house near the river with a big backyard where you can grow your vegetable farm."

"The weather is indeed good here, but our country has better soil." Grandma Bei realized what she said and took it back, "Never mind. I will be obedient and follow the doctor’s advice so that I can be discharged soon. I will grow a big vegetable farm in our new house."

Bei Sangyun smiled, feeling a bit guilty and sad.

Grandma was already old, yet she made her leave the country where she was born and grew up. She must have missed her home country.

’Just wait a bit, Grandma. Once everything is prepared, I will take you back. I will leave the Lin family, and we will have a house of our own.’

Bei Sangyun inwardly promised. She wished for that day to come soon.

However, at the moment, they had to be apart. Many things needed attention in the Lin family. She couldn’t leave when those people could threaten her and her grandma.

"By the way, how is it with that boy? Are you two together now?" Grandma Bei suddenly changed the topic.

A sweet, shy smile appeared on Bei Sangyun’s lips. "We are almost there. I have already confessed. But he is really shy. He needs a lot of time."

"Why does he need a lot of time? My granddaughter is the best. Can’t he see how pretty you are? If he doesn’t act fast, he might lose you to other boys."

"There are no other boys, grandma. He is just really innocent and inexperienced. But that’s okay. It makes it more interesting."

"You are already defending him when you two aren’t a couple yet. What will happen when you marry him? Will you take his side over mine?" Grandma Bei teased Bei Sangyun.

"Of course not. You are the queen dowager. We both have to follow you obediently," Bei Sangyun immediately placated her grandma’s feelings.

Grandma Bei was just kidding around, but hearing her granddaughter’s reply put her in a good mood. "That’s good. Anyway, you don’t need to hurry things like this. You two are both young. I just wish you enjoy every process. If he ever breaks your heart, tell grandma; I still know a bit of witchcraft!"

"He won’t break my heart," Bei Sangyun answered confidently. "But if he does, I will break his treasured ’jewels’. You just need to watch, Grandma."

Grandma Bei laughed. She then looked lovingly at Bei Sangyun on the screen, "I really wish you have all the best things in the world. I don’t want you to grow old and die alone. Grandma is always happy when you are healthy and living a good life."

Bei Sangyun smiled and touched the screen, "I will live a good life, Grandma. We will both live a good life."

"Mhm. You should."

The two talked a lot until the night deepened. When Bei Sangyun saw that Grandma Bei was getting tired, she ended the call.

Bei Sangyun gazed at the ceiling, Grandma Bei’s words echoing in her ears.

’Live a good life...’

Perhaps, because the conversation with the fourth branch today reminded her of the past, she felt a bit melancholy.

Before her grandma died, she must have also wished the same thing for her. Too bad, she couldn’t live a good life and died tragically.

Bei Sangyun closed her eyes, and a person suddenly emerged in her mind. That person did not live a good life either.

All the people she wished to treat better ended tragically.

Bei Sangyun patted her chest, various emotions swirling around her heart - sour, warm, and sad.

In this moment of melancholy, Bei Sangyun suddenly missed him. She wished she could see him right now or hear his voice.

She wondered, what was he doing right now?