Standing Next To You-Chapter 356: Like a family

"Wait, Lin Sangyun!"

Bei Sangyun’s steps halted. She looked up and saw Li Mei running down the staircase, followed by her husband and the twins.

Bei Sangyun raised an eyebrow. She hadn’t expected the entire fourth branch to follow her out.

Li Mei arrived in front of her. "Ah... That..."

Bei Sangyun tilted her head, wondering what she was up to.

"That..." Li Mei looked to her husband for help.

Lin Ruo stepped forward, "My wife wants to invite you to dinner this Saturday. Would you care to join us?"

Bei Sangyun and the twins were stunned by the sudden invitation.

Lin Sunji looked at her parents, bewildered. "...Why are you inviting her?"

Lin Sanju quickly recovered. He glanced at his parents suspiciously.

"I can’t join you. I will be busy this weekend. Is there anything else?" Bei Sangyun replied.

Li Mei was disappointed. "Ah, is that so? Then I suppose we can invite you next time."

Bei Sangyun nodded. "Next time, then."

After Bei Sangyun left, Lin Sunji pulled her mother aside. "What’s that about, Mom? Why are you suddenly inviting Bei Sangyun? Messing with her will only bring us trouble!"

"I have no ill intentions in inviting her," Li Mei explained. She patted Lin Sunji’s hand gently. "...Your mother won’t be blind anymore, foolishly scheming like I did in the past. She is still our benefactor in some ways, so I just wanted to invite her to express my thanks."

Lin Sunji looked at her mother strangely, as if seeing her for the first time.

"You’ve done well, Mom. Let’s invite her next time then." Lin Sanju patted his mother’s back encouragingly.

Li Mei was taken aback. Her son, who usually stayed silent and didn’t speak unless spoken to, had initiated the conversation. She was flattered by his encouragement. She smiled brightly. "Thanks, son."

Upstairs, Lin Fei leaned on the railing as he watched the members of the fourth branch interact harmoniously. When Bei Sangyun emerged from the room, the fourth branch followed her, and then he followed them out.

He did not expect to witness such a scene. The fourth branch, who deeply hated Bei Sangyun and the third branch, was now interacting harmoniously—as if they were family. They even approached Bei Sangyun just to invite her for a meal without any ill intentions. Could it be true?

But observing their expressions and listening to their conversation, it didn’t seem that they harbored any ill will. Could such complicated relationships be easily mended?

Lin Fei turned around and went back to the room. He peeked inside.

The door was slightly ajar. The people inside, who had been stunned, were waking from their stupor and began cursing Bei Sangyun. Despite their curses, they looked aghast. Having someone point out the cruel truth was not pleasant, after all.

This. This was the true Lin family.

Lin Fei glanced at the old man sitting at the center, now silent and seemingly lifeless.

’Heh. The old man is speechless for the first time.’

As expected, his favorite toy was really something else.

*****

Despite the strange atmosphere in the mansion, Bei Sangyun was not affected. She woke up early and left for school. This time, Butler Xin accompanied her.

In the passenger seat, Butler Xin began nagging Bei Sangyun.

"I heard you caused a commotion last night. When I heard the things you said to the headmaster, my heart almost stopped! You just committed a severe offense! I thought you were going to be kicked out the next morning. Fortunately, the headmaster hasn’t made his move yet."

Butler Xin continued, "What are you going to do if he acts now and kicks you out? Or worse, makes an enemy out of him?! You are still not at his level to handle him!"

Driver Chen, who was in the driver’s seat, sweated as he thought, ’Is it okay for me to hear this?’

Bei Sangyun looked out the window, unbothered. "That old man won’t make any move. If he acts after what I said to him, he will just be proving to himself and the rest of the family that I was right. He is too proud to do that."

Butler Xin was still not convinced. "Do you think he will take it lying down? I am sure he is pissed! Not to mention, your father has also been pestering me to talk to you. Agh, why does he still have time to look for you? Aren’t the first and fifth branches enough to keep him busy?"

Bei Sangyun looked at the passing scenery, letting the nagging words enter one ear and come out the other.

"Stop here." She cut off Butler Xin’s nagging and instructed the driver to park in their usual spot.

"Don’t worry about that old man. I’ll handle him. Just handle Lin Ginxian. He can be really annoying." After saying this, she got out of the car.

Her timing was impeccable; a few seconds later, Fei Chuan appeared on the other street. Bei Sangyun happily ran toward him.

Butler Xin watched as Bei Sangyun’s demeanor transformed completely when she saw the boy. He was speechless. Didn’t his master change too much? What happened to the intimidating, crazy, and cruel young miss?

Had she really become a fool in love? To think she would be so bold as to confess her love in front of the family.

Butler Xin observed them for a long time before sighing in defeat.

Sigh. Whatever. Trying to understand the mind of an insane person might turn him crazy too.

"Let’s leave."

******

The teacher at the front was solemnly discussing the lesson. He was more passionate than usual. The students in the class were the same. They were taking notes and listening intently. Even the troublemakers, who always slept and fooled around, had straightened their backs and were paying attention.

Everyone was studying passionately. How could they not be?

They were influenced by the strong desire to study because of the person in the last row.

The tyrant, who usually slept, flirted with Fei Chuan, or just stared into the air, was actually studying well!

Bei Sangyun was taking notes diligently.

When she didn’t understand something, she would raise her hand to ask the teacher. The teacher gladly answered her questions. Sometimes, she asked difficult questions that even the teacher had trouble answering. Fortunately, they had a genius in the class who helped the teacher fill in the gaps.

Under such an atmosphere, everyone was studying seriously.

The class bell rang. For the first time, the students showed disappointment on their faces. The teacher laughed at their expressions. He was very happy and content inside. This was why he chose the path of teaching!

"Alright, class. Don’t be too sad. Since there’s only a little time left before the college exams, the school is considering having afternoon classes as well as late-night self-study. I am glad you have a strong desire to study and learn. Please keep this up!"

The students suddenly lost their motivation to study after hearing what the teacher said.

"Ahhh~ I never thought studying could be this fun!" Zhong Cheng stretched out as he approached the last row. "Boss, since we spent a lot of energy studying this morning, we should eat some delicious food."

Bei Sangyun finished wrapping up her notes. "Alright."

She glanced at the twins in the front who were about to leave the room. After a moment’s thought, she added, "Invite those two as well."

Zhong Cheng was pleasantly surprised. "Alright, Boss! The more, the merrier!" He was relieved that he wouldn’t be the only one feeling like a third wheel.

"Cough! Cough!"

Bei Sangyun immediately handed Fei Chuan a tissue. "What’s wrong? Is your cold getting worse?"

Fei Chuan hadn’t been feeling well that morning, but he had refused to go to the infirmary and insisted on studying with her. He even taught the entire class despite feeling under the weather.

"...It’s alright. I think I’ve just been worn out these past few days." His voice was hoarse.

"This won’t do. Should we ask for half a day? You need some rest."

"No. I still need to help you review."

Bei Sangyun stared at Fei Chuan, knowing how stubborn he could be. Once he made up his mind, no one could change it. Unless she do something.

"...Alright. If that’s the case, then I guess we have no choice."

.....

A while later, inside the restaurant Zhong Cheng had booked, the three of them sat in silence, waiting for their food.

In the lively restaurant, their silent table and its strange atmosphere stood out.

"Ahem. So, what do you guys usually eat?" Zhong Cheng tried to break the silence.

It took a long time for him to get a response. Lin Sanju finally replied, "Rice."

Zhong Cheng: "...." Of course, rice.

Lin Sanju harrumphed, "This is stupid. Why did I even come here?"

Zhong Cheng: "...." He wanted to dine while flattering his boss, not with these two bipolar people!

Huhu. Why did Boss change her mind so late?