Standing Next To You-Chapter 32: The Lin Family

On the long dining table, three teenagers wearing school uniforms and two young men in business suits sat on the left and right sides, respectively. There was an empty seat at the head of the table and an empty seat on the side of the teenagers.

A sixteen-year-old girl in a sophomore uniform scoffed as she glanced at the empty seat beside her, "Look at this illegitimate daughter. How dare she be late than us?"

"Isn’t it just great that she’s running late? Grandfather will finally see how she lazes around, even with all the resources handed to her. Grandfather will think it’s a waste," an eighteen-year-old girl remarked, rolling her eyes. "Xaoini, seriously, engage your brain sometimes, will you? Thanks to you, that annoying girl seems more clever in front of Grandfather."

"I’m not a dimwit! It’s you who’s trailing behind her in the school rankings. Why are you blaming me? Sunji, you’re the real dimwit here!" Xaioni fired back.

Xiaoni was the youngest among the heir candidates, and she happened to be the most willful and spoiled of them all.

But because she was the youngest, everyone seemed to treat her as a fool. The appearance of the illegitimate daughter that her third uncle brought out of nowhere had already put her to the background again. Because that bastard girl was just a bit smarter, everyone in the family praised the latter’s intelligence while her foolishness was emphasized instead.

But it did not mean she would allow anyone to insult her just because she was young and seemed foolish! Her cousin Sunji was also a dumb person for losing to that bitch in the school’s ranking. So why she was the only one being insulted as witless?!

"What did you just say?! You actually dare to mock me, Xiaoni?! Just because you’re the youngest doesn’t mean you can act so spoiled! Grandfather might tolerate your antics now because you’re underage, but mark my words—once you turn eighteen, you’ll find that he won’t put up with your foolishness any longer!"

Sunji was incensed. The sore spot of her performance—school rankings—was prodded yet again. She already loathed the fact that she had lost to that girl, but having it thrown in her face ignited her rage.

Xiaoni pouted, puffing out her cheeks. "You’re just envious because Grandpa favors me more than he does you."

"Xaioni!" Sunji roared.

"Agh! So noisy! Can you two be quiet? I am playing!" An eighteen-year-old boy who had seventy percent features the same as Sunji growled as he furiously played on his phone.

The young man on the left side had finished reading the articles on his tablet and stopped the two girls who were close to tearing each other apart.

"Sunji, Xaioni, don’t fight on the dining table and keep your voices down. What if grandfather comes and heard you two? Do you want to get kicked out of the Lin mansion? We have a lot of cousins who wanted to take your place.

"And you Sanju, don’t yell like that to your sisters and keep away your phone."

Sanju ’tsked’. But he kept away his phone. He glared at the two girls instead, "Because of you two I was scolded."

The two girls quieted down but glared at Sanju.

Xaioni could not help but speak up, "But first brother, it is Sunji who picks a fight with me first. I am innocent."

"First brother, Xaioni is getting more rude these days. As if that bastard girl is not enough, Xaioni is adding to my headaches."

The first brother, Lin Zhe, put down his tablet. He was the oldest among the heir candidates and had the strongest candidacy. Even though his cousins were his competitors, he still looked out for them and guide them like their big brother. Because of this, most of his cousins looked up to him despite the rivalry between them.

"Xiaoni, Sunji is two years older than you. You have to call her ’First Sister’, likewise, Sunji, if you want Xaioni to respect you, you should stop picking a fight with her and properly address her as your fourth sister."

The two pouted. They glanced at each other and harrumphed. But they did not argue anymore.

"First brother is amazing. You always managed to calm down our two unruly younger sisters and made all our cousins listen to you. Without you, this house will be a mess." The young man beside Lin Zhe said with a smile.

However, although he was smiling, his gaze was a bit strange. It was malicious.

Lin Zhe gave him a glance, "Lin Fei, I have heard you took over the managerial position even though you don’t have the qualifications yet. Just because you got status, you can’t just steal away the positions that others work hard for."

Lin Fei leaned on his chair and gave a smile that was not a smile. His narrowed eyes glinted, "What are you suggesting first brother? Do you want me to step down and give it back? I am sorry but I am unlike Xiaoni and Sunji who followed your every word. If I don’t rise in the position to keep up with you, I might get kicked out of here and lose my right for the heir candidacy. Perhaps, are you aiming for that?"

Xaioni and Sunji were stunned. They both glared at Lin Fei, "In your dreams! First brother did not need to use such trickery to beat you. He is talented and has strong leadership. He will surely be the official heir!"

For the first time, the two were in an agreement.

Lin Fei scoffed, "Stupid girls. You don’t know anything at all. Because you two are so foolish and naive that the illegitimate daughter can step over your heads."

Xiaoni and Sunji: !

Their inverse scale was touched.

"Second brother!" The two growled and another round of fuss started again.

At this time, Bei Sangyun arrived downstairs and heard loud voices in the dining room. She passed them by without even greeting them.

Lin Fei who was in the middle of scolding from the two girls saw Bei Sangyun. His annoyed eyes shone brightly. "Oh, the illegitimate daughter is here! You came at the right time! Everyone is looking for you!"

Bei Sangyun glanced at him and her steps paused.

Although she was aware that she had returned to the past, she was still taken aback seeing the familiar faces.

Their youthful and lively faces were very different from the memories she had.

"Hey! We are just talking about you. Xiaoni and Sunji said that you got the top ranking because you cheated. Is that true?" There was a cocky and annoying smile on Lin Fe’s face.

The table was quiet for a moment and all eyes turned to look at her. There was no affection or kindness in their eyes. But only hostility and disgust.

Bei Sangyun blinked.

For some reason, unlike the usual her of the past, she was not bothered at all by these strange gazes. To put it simply, she doesn’t feel anything about it at all.

Was it because she was granted a second chance? Or was it because she had seen their outcomes after messing with her in that life she lived?

"Hey, what are you in a daze for? Grandfather is on his way. Or do you want to greet him at the door instead?" Lin Fei seemed to get a realization, "Ah, that’s also a good idea! You are amazing Sangyun! You can get more favor from Grandpa that way." He snickered.

The two girls gritted their teeth and muttered how disgusting Bei Sangyun’s trick was and that it would never work.

Bei Sangyun: "...."

Such a stupid provocation and obvious taunting. Yet these girls easily bought it.

Bei Sangyun glanced at Lin Fei’s smug smile.

If it was in the past, she would feel wronged and would be easily provoked. She would fight with him and with the others on the dining table more loudly than anyone. Then grandfather would come and would witness her unsightly appearance while fighting with her cousins.

She would be punished and the favorable impression she had worked hard for would go down the drain. This kind of incident happened so many times in the past.

That’s right. She remember this prankster, the second brother, who liked to instigate fights between the heir candidates. And his favorite toy to play around was her.

Bei Sangyun had a rather ugly yet complex relationship with him.

Bei Sangyun looked away and ignored them. She did not have any interest to argue with them.

She passed them by without saying anything.