Standing Next To You-Chapter 42: The cunning Young Miss

The car was filled with an oppressive silence.

Butler Xin stole a glance at Bei Sangyun.

Bei Sangyun was leaning on the glass window as she watched the passing streets quietly. She was very different from the girl who threatened the guard and spouted those cold words a while ago.

"Young Miss, aren’t you afraid that Guard Huang might rebel instead and harm your grandmother?"

Butler Xin was genuinely curious about this. Since Bei Sangyun handled the guard so effectively, she clearly understood the potential risks of keeping him around. It seemed odd that she would entrust her grandmother’s safety to someone who had harmed her. Was she being too trusting?

Bei Sangyun’s gaze remained fixed on the passing streets as she responded, "Didn’t you once tell me that the best way to handle your enemies is to keep them close? Well, that man isn’t even my enemy; he’s just someone who angered me. If I want him to suffer more, I have to make use of him."

"But aren’t you worried that he might harm your grandmother instead? What if he holds a grudge?"

Bei Sangyun finally looked at him, "Hold a grudge? He knows perfectly well that he can’t escape from the Lin family. He’s sold his life to them. When someone willingly binds themselves to a powerful family, they’re not foolish enough to rebel against their own patrons. Now that I’ve given him a chance, he’ll likely try to work even harder. Who knows, he might even aspire to become the captain of the guards. That’s what he’s probably thinking. He’s a coward but an ambitious one."

Butler Xin fell into silence, but internally, he was stunned. As the boss of these guards, he had some insight into their characters.

Guard Huang had once been a skilled soldier but retired after a near-fatal battle. He had joined the Lin family’s service after retirement because it offered a lucrative income with relatively low risk compared to his previous line of work. Many individuals sought similar opportunities with legendary families for these reasons.

Bei Sangyun glanced at Butler Xin. Though Butler Xin maintained an expressionless facade, she could discern his thoughts.

A smirk crossed Bei Sangyun’s lips. She was certain Butler Xin must be wondering how she noticed such subtle details.

Her gaze returned to the passing scenery beyond the window.

How could she not know?

In the past, she hadn’t trusted anyone. The only thing she trusted was the control she had over people’s ambitions and desires. To gain an ally or confront a foe, she had always carefully assessed the other person before strategizing how to deal with them.

Her lack of trust in others had compelled her to rely on threats or the promise of fulfilling their desires. She had grown accustomed to manipulating people based on their needs.

Bei Sangyun lowered her eyes.

Yet, there was one person she had failed to outmaneuver in the end, someone whom she still didn’t know how to handle until now.

"We’ve arrived, Young Miss."

Butler Xin had reserved a private room in a Japanese restaurant and ordered a lavish feast.

The room was filled with the enticing aroma of the food. However, Bei Sangyun merely glanced at the dishes without touching them, and immediately diving into the conversation.

"So, how do you plan to begin? Are you going to persuade me to return or interrogate me?"

Butler Xin’s sharp eyes narrowed. "Young Miss, it seems I haven’t truly known you. Have you been concealing your true abilities all along?"

Bei Sangyun: "...."

An air of tension hung in the room.

Butler Xin’s expression remained serious.

During the car ride, after listening to Bei Sangyun’s analysis of Guard Huang, Butler Xin had contemplated her sudden transformation and peculiar behavior. He had reached a conclusion.

People don’t change overnight. The overwhelming pressure and penetrating gaze Bei Sangyun had exhibited weren’t traits of someone who had been unaware of her surroundings just moments earlier.

Bei Sangyun had always been intelligent, but she had previously lacked resolution, showing a significant weakness due to her inferiority complex and attachment to her grandmother.

However, when she stood before him and the guard, she emanated an imposing presence, as if she were someone who could look down on them with ease.

She must have been concealing her true personality all along, pretending to be submissive and obedient. While he couldn’t be certain why Bei Sangyun had chosen to reveal her true self today, he suspected it was related to Grandma Bei.

Witnessing how quickly Bei Sangyun had changed her demeanor—from maniacal laughter to gentleness—had convinced him that she was skilled at masking her thoughts and emotions.

Butler Xin was deeply shaken by the fact that Bei Sangyun had concealed her true self so effectively for eight years. He had believed that he was the one guiding her, but in reality, she had been playing along with him.

His anger and frustration toward her had now transformed into caution and a touch of fear.

Had Bei Sangyun not revealed her true nature today, he might have remained oblivious to her deception and be played by her.

"Young Miss, you may have thought I was raising you like a pet, but you are mistaken. I am genuinely your ally—"

"Let’s cut the bullshit, Butler Xin." Bei Sangyun interrupted his nonsense.

She did not correct his guess as she was too lazy to explain everything. Nor did she have the intention to explain in the beginning.

"As I said, there’s no need to pretend in front of me. I am not the little girl who can be easily deceived and threatened. And I don’t have much interest in playing along with your games," Bei Sangyun’s chilling eyes narrowed.

Butler Xin’s lips twitched. He was not used to this side of Bei Sangyun.

"Young Miss, with your intelligence, it should be easy for you to understand that you can’t survive in the Lin family without me. You have come this far because of my guidance. Regardless of my intentions behind helping you, your progress is a result of my assistance."

Bei Sangyun snickered, "So, are you saying that I needed you?"

"Yes. A young girl like you, with no power or a significant background to contend with other heirs, is just like a lamb waiting for slaughter."

"That’s where you’re wrong, Butler Xin." Bei Sangyun shook her head, a smile playing on her lips. "It’s not me who needed you. It’s you who needed me. I don’t care if I become the official heir or not. As someone who now carries the Lin family name, I will have my own inheritance and a share of the Lin family’s wealth. It might not be as substantial as the official heir’s, but it’s enough for a normal person to live the rest of their life with their family without having to work."

"Are you going to withdraw from the competition among the heirs? Are you going to give up the opportunity that many children in the Lin family desire?" Butler Xin couldn’t believe his ears.

She was supposed to be intelligent, so why was she making such a foolish decision?

"Young Miss, do you believe you’ll be safe by simply withdrawing? Think carefully as to why your father is still supporting and protecting you from the other heirs. If you abruptly back out, all that protection and support will vanish. Those who were once envious of you and wished for your downfall will undoubtedly seize this opportunity to remove you from high society. Your fate won’t be favorable," Butler Xin tried to convince Bei Sangyun to reconsider.

Bei Sangyun leaned back in her seat, her tone languid as she responded, "I’m well aware of what awaits the losers. I’m not saying I’m giving up. I have my own methods of achieving my goals without your presence or that so-called father’s support."

Butler Xin was taken aback.

With unwavering confidence, Bei Sangyun looked him in the eyes, as if she indeed possessed the means to become the official heir without anyone’s assistance.

"...You’re lying. How could you possibly defeat all the other heirs without us? You’re just one person with no resources or followers," Butler Xin retorted.

"Butler Xin," Bei Sangyun placed her elbows on the table and rested her chin on her palm, "You’re asking the wrong question."

Butler Xin stared at Bei Sangyun, who returned his gaze with a smile, taking her own sweet time.

The room descended into silence once more, thick with tension.

It was evident that the only person appearing desperate and on edge was Butler Xin. This made him more frustrated. freewēbnoveℓ.com

He clenched his hand, realizing that he was unable to outmaneuver this young girl, who exuded confidence and cunningness. Although he doubted her claims of having alternative methods, he acknowledged that he needed her to achieve his own goals.

Butler Xin closed his eyes, grappling with the idea of lowering himself to work with this inexperienced girl.

However, he had no other viable choice. If Bei Sangyun withdrew from the competition to become the official heir, all the hard work he had put in so far would be in vain.

Opening his eyes, Butler Xin reached a decision.

He didn’t fully trust Bei Sangyun, but he could feign cooperation. After all, he had already changed his name and entered the Lin family as a butler, having to lower himself numerous times to achieve his objectives. Lowering himself once more wasn’t much of a sacrifice.

"Alright, young miss. What do you want in exchange for letting me join you?"