Standing Next To You-Chapter 350: Not over my dead body

She was at cold war with Lin Fei because of that. But later on, she had no choice but to return to him after the incident with the Simon family. Her anger fueled her to swallow his methods and become the person he wanted her to be.

Cold, unfeeling, cruel, and heartless.

The birth of the true tyrant.

Bei Sangyun faced him and scoffed, "I am no longer your toy, Lin Fei. You don’t have to manipulate and hone me to become your perfect tool. As for our ’alliance,’ only an eleven-year-old would agree to that."

Lin Fei’s eyebrow jumped. This was the first time Bei Sangyun had mentioned their ’alliance’ from back then.

He blocked her way, "You’re backing out? Is it because you were hurt by what I said? I told you, it is for your own good—"

"I remember that Lin Ginxian covered up my background and introduced me as a child he hid overseas with his former lover. But when I first arrived at this mansion to greet you all, the people here openly mocked me as an illegitimate brat picked up from the backwaters." Bei Sangyun gazed at Lin Fei deeply, "Wasn’t it you who dug up that information and spread the truth behind my birth to everyone?"

Lin Fei was taken aback.

Bei Sangyun smiled coldly and continued, "The incident at my first family dinner, the humiliation at the first party I attended, the culprit behind Lin Xiaoni’s missing doll, and other incidents caused by Lin Sunji and Lin Xiaoni—weren’t you the one who instigated them all?"

Lin Fei’s eyes grew wide.

Bei Sangyun scoffed, "Do you think after knowing all this, I would still trust your alliance?"

The calm look on Lin Fei’s face completely disappeared. He became flustered.

Lin Fei’s eyes wavered, "I...I didn’t mean—"

"I truly trusted you and thought that among the people here, you and I were family. Despite you being cold to my circumstances, it wasn’t enough to make me hate you."

Lin Fei went silent. For the first time, Bei Sangyun rendered him speechless. Even his shamelessness seemed to have a limit.

Bei Sangyun lowered her gaze, "But the betrayal of the person I trusted the most is the worst thing you have done to me. You are no different from my father."

Bei Sangyun turned around to leave, the look of reminiscence disappearing from her eyes, "Be thankful that I have not become the person you wanted me to be. Because if I were that person, I wouldn’t be this generous after knowing what you did."

The past Bei Sangyun—the person he helped groom—destroyed the entire family, including him. But that Bei Sangyun was no longer in this world. And that cold, unfeeling person would never be born again.

...

Perhaps her confrontation with Lin Fei worked because, on her next date with Fei Chuan, she no longer saw him.

Unfortunately, Bei Sangyun could not enjoy the whole day with Fei Chuan because he had business to attend to.

Bei Sangyun volunteered to wait for him.

"No. Don’t wait for me. I have to visit the site, meet more people, and handle other troublesome matters. It won’t only take a few hours. So go home early or study the new review materials I gave you."

"It doesn’t matter even if I have to wait for you until night..."

"No. I won’t be able to focus properly if I know you’re waiting for me."

Fei Chuan was telling the truth. Every time Bei Sangyun waited for him while he was in a meeting or running an errand, he always wanted to hurry up and quickly finish so he could return to her as soon as possible. His thoughts were always on Bei Sangyun.

He couldn’t help but be too aware of the passing time, worrying whether she was bored waiting or if he was making her wait too long. Fortunately, he hadn’t made any mistakes yet.

Bei Sangyun pouted, but she was an understanding girlfriend, so she agreed.

Seeing her nod with a disappointed face, Fei Chuan’s heart softened. He poked her cheek, "Next weekend, I will bring you to meet Grandma Pei. There’s a place that I think both you and Grandma Pei will like."

Bei Sangyun’s face lit up. "I’ll meet Grandma Pei?"

"Yes. I haven’t told her yet, but Grandma Pei will surely like to meet you. I am sorry I can’t bring you to the Fei mansion."

"It’s alright. If you are too busy, I can help you arrange it."

"It’s okay. I’ll handle it. In return, you also..." Fei Chuan lowered his voice, his ears growing hot. "You also help me arrange a meeting with Grandma Bei. You’ve told her about me, so I want to greet her at least once."

He wanted to make a good impression on Grandma Bei this time.

Bei Sangyun’s face was practically glowing. This was a huge step towards a stable relationship!

"Alright. I’ll arrange it. Do you want to meet before or after graduation?"

"...Hmm. I think after graduation. You still need to review for the finals and upcoming college exams."

Bei Sangyun couldn’t hide her smile. She had probed Fei Chuan’s thoughts, and it seemed that Fei Chuan wasn’t considering the one-month time limit of their relationship. And she wouldn’t remind him!

"This is a deal then! You can’t take it back!"

Fei Chuan nodded, visibly affected by her excitement, his lips curving into a smile.

"Ah, right. Is there anything Grandma Pei likes? I have to prepare a gift."

The two talked for a while until it was time for them to part ways.

Bei Sangyun was fetched by her driver, and Fei Chuan went into his meeting.

....

As soon as Fei Chuan entered the high-rise building, a car parked nearby. The car’s window rolled down, revealing Lin Fei’s face.

Lin Fei gazed at the building. "What is a high schooler doing in a prominent company? Do the Fei and Chuan families have influence here?"

The young butler on the driver’s seat was more informed about the structure of leading and lesser-known companies in the industry. The one in the building was among the major players.

"No, young master. This company is currently dominating the industry due to its relationship with the James family. It has nothing to do with other influential families in the country."

Lin Fei was stunned, "The James family? Aren’t they the big shots in the west?"

"They are also big shots here," the young butler commented.

"I know that," Lin Fei rolled his eyes.

The Lin family was trying to expand their influence in the foreign market for years.

Their first step toward this goal was their connection with the Simon family. Thanks to the friendship between the two families, the Lin family was able to enter the foreign market. In fact, Lin Zhe’s previous task was related to their overseas project.

Lin Fei obstructed Lin Zhe’s progress with other foreign investors as much as he could. Therefore, he was also knowledgeable about the leading families dominating the foreign market.

The James family was several levels higher than the Simon family. They were at the top of the hierarchy.

Although the Lin family was highly reputable and amassed great wealth in the country, it did not yet have enough influence to align with the James family.

Lin Fei believed that Fei Chuan, an outcast of the Fei family, would not have any connection with the globally renowned James family.

"Can you find out who he is meeting there?"

"It will be possible, but it might take some time."

"Do it. I don’t care how much it costs."

Lin Fei squinted his eyes. After the confrontation with Bei Sangyun, Lin Fei couldn’t bring himself to face her. Despite his thick skin, he couldn’t show his shamelessness to Bei Sangyun after hearing her words.

He didn’t know how Bei Sangyun had learned of his past deeds. Winning her back would be very difficult; he knew how stubborn she could be. It was better not to anger her further by appearing in front of her.

But that didn’t mean he would stop.

Lin Fei leaned against the window, his face devoid of a smile, looking cold and detached.

Bei Sangyun might be angry at him now, but he believed she would still return to him. After all, she hadn’t revealed the secret he had once confided in her.

The real battle within the Lin family hadn’t started yet. No blood had been spilled, no lives taken. Lin Zhe and that old man hadn’t played their real cards yet.

When the true fight began, Bei Sangyun would have to let go of the past and seek him out. The support of the fourth branch alone would not be enough.

However, for her to return to him, this nuisance called Fei Chuan needed to disappear from her life. She didn’t need someone like him around.

Lin Fei lowered his gaze, memories of his conversation with Fei Chuan weighing heavily on his mind. The boy’s unwavering gaze seemed to have taken root deep within him.

He scoffed.

There was no way there wouldn’t be a broken heart after all of this.

*****

Epilogue:

The atmosphere inside the car was tense.

Lin Fei smiled at Fei Chuan, though his eyes betrayed a coldness, akin to the frost of winter. "Honestly, I wish you would break up with my dear cousin. She’s like a sister to me. I don’t want someone close to me to have their life destroyed because of someone like you."

Fei Chuan met his gaze, his own eyes equally frigid, intensifying the tension in the air. "And why are you so sure her life will be ruined because of me?"

"It’s obvious, isn’t it?" Lin Fei replied, his tone laced with disdain. "You’ve been stalking her, so I’m certain you understand how the Lin family operates. And I doubt the Fei family would approve of your relationship with her either."

"So?" Fei Chuan smirked, a hint of arrogance in his voice. "She doesn’t care what your family thinks, and I couldn’t care less about mine. If we ever break up, it’ll be because of us, not because of anyone else."

Lin Fei chuckled dismissively. "Why are you so confident? Do you think she’ll move mountains for you? She’s just enjoying herself for now. But once she grows tired of you, she’ll leave and break your heart. Wouldn’t it be better to end things before it hurts you deeply?"

Fei Chuan’s chuckle matched his own. "Seems like you don’t know your dear cousin as well as you think. The Bei Sangyun I know would move mountains if she wanted to. If she decides something, it will happen." His eyes narrowed. "You’re underestimating her."

The smile vanished from Lin Fei’s face. He disliked Fei Chuan’s unwavering confidence in Bei Sangyun. It was as if Fei Chuan knew her better and longer than he did.

What does he know? The rational Bei Sangyun he had molded wouldn’t be that foolish over love.

"Let’s see then. I’ve warned you. Don’t come crying to me when she breaks your heart."

Fei Chuan’s gaze remained steadfast. "She won’t break my heart. And I won’t break hers. Not over my dead body."