Standing Next To You-Chapter 43: Deal with Butler Xin

Bei Sangyun’s smile deepened. "That’s the right question. It’s good to see you’re still as sharp as ever."

Butler Xin: ?

Bei Sangyun straightened her posture and tapped the table. "The first condition is for you to address me as ’Master.’"

Butler Xin: "....."

A faint hint of mockery flickered across his face.

Master?

This little girl was pushing it. Did she believe that being a bit more intelligent would earn her his respect and admiration?

However, Butler Xin kept his opinion to himself and continued to listen.

"Second, you won’t question my decisions and choices from now on."

Butler Xin felt that these two conditions were quite demanding. Not to mention the first, which was already a stretch, the second was something he couldn’t easily agree to.

"Young Miss, how can you be certain that all your decisions will lead us toward becoming the official heir? It might be better to allow me to participate in the decision-making process. Since we are in the same boat, I’ll ensure we make the right choices."

"So you’re not in agreement? You haven’t even addressed me as ’Master’ and now you’re questioning me. I guess, this is how our talk ends," Bei Sangyun began to rise from her seat when Butler Xin stopped her.

"’Master, it’s not that I disagree with your conditions. But entrusting all decision-making to you alone might leave us vulnerable in the long run."

Butler Xin clenched his teeth as he uttered the word ’Master’. He wasn’t comfortable calling a young girl ’Master’ and did not like the sound of it coming out of his mouth. But he had no choice since he needed her.

The unwillingness that flashed across his face was very clear to Bei Sangyun’s eyes.

She could not help but smile. She settled back in her seat, "If you are not going to agree, then there’s no need to make a deal with me. I am not going to change these two conditions."

These two conditions put him at a disadvantage. Not only would he be in the position of the servant, but he wouldn’t have any right or authority to influence every decision!

"I’ll give you thirty seconds to decide. The clock is ticking," Bei Sangyun remarked, glancing at her watch.

Thirty seconds passed swiftly.

As the time ran out, Bei Sangyun began to rise from her seat again. "I believe I have my answer—"

"I’m willing, Master!" Butler Xin interjected, his words coming through gritted teeth.

A smile slowly spread across Bei Sangyun’s lips.

She turned back, her gaze inquisitive. "Are you absolutely sure? Once we strike a deal, there’s no turning back. Take your time to consider it, Butler Xin. I’m offering you one final opportunity to withdraw from our agreement."

’Since you won’t have a chance to run away in the future...’ Bei Sangyun silently added.

Butler Xin’s eyes hardened with determination. "I won’t back out. Since I have shown my sincerity by agreeing to your conditions, may I know where you got the information about that name?"

"Tsk, tsk, Butler Xin, you still doubt that I know everything about you. Well, it doesn’t matter. I’m not in a rush." The young girl spoke cryptically, leaving Butler Xin bewildered.

Turning toward him once more with a smile, Bei Sangyun continued, "You’re already violating the second condition. However, I’ll make an exception today. Whether you go by Butler Xin or Lin Wulou, Butler Xin, or Lin Wolou, anyone who got curious of the childhood you spent abroad would easily uncover your true identity with some digging. Not to mention, your obsession and dedication towards the Lin family is already suspicious."

After Grandma Bei’s death, Bei Sangyun’s trust in Butler Xin faded. She discovered that he knew about Grandma Bei’s passing but had concealed it from her.

Consequently, Butler Xin’s name was added to the list of individuals she intended to hold accountable in the future.

As trust waned, Bei Sangyun became increasingly aware of the details she had previously overlooked. For example, she began to question why Butler Xin was so adamant about her becoming the official heir.

The other personal butlers serving the other heirs were equally diligent and dedicated. However, they lacked the same fervor for molding their respective heirs into perfect candidates. They simply carried out their duties, following their master’s orders like true butlers.

Butler Xin, on the other hand, had gone to great lengths, even locating her in a remote village. He consistently emphasized the importance of winning the Old Man’s favoritism and shaping her into a flawless, unquestioning heir who only relied on him.

What was once a mere doubt had blossomed into curiosity. When she acquired a measure of power that Butler Xin was unaware of, she delved into his past, uncovering the loopholes he tried hard to hide.

"However, it’s not like there would be others who would look into your past. Since you appear to be uninteresting and irrelevant to them." Bei Sangyun added nonchalantly.

Butler Xin fell into silence, his fist clenched, and his shocked expression betraying his inner turmoil.

He had merely been testing the waters, trying to gauge if Bei Sangyun truly possessed knowledge beyond just his name. Yet, she had now mentioned his past and various anomalies concerning him.

Could it be that she genuinely knew everything?

"Master, we are on the same side. You should tell me who is helping you behind my back."

"You’re still underestimating me, Butler Xin. There’s no one else. Just me," Bei Sangyun asserted, extending her arms to emphasize her point.

"It’s not that I underestimate you, but it’s difficult to believe you’re accomplishing all this without any assistance. I’ve been keeping a close watch on you—"

"Are you suggesting you have complete knowledge about me? How much do you truly know? Are you aware of my aspirations, my dislikes, or my favorite food?"

Bei Sangyun narrowed her eyes, challenging him. "You don’t know even the most basic things about me. All you know is the little girl you are trying to raise as a puppet."

Butler Xin had no words to refute.

That’s right. Despite watching Bei Sangyun closely since he brought her to the Capital, he did not know everything about her.

He could manipulate her to some extent, but she remained stubborn, repeatedly attempting to escape and return to her village.

Bei Sangyun managed to leave Butler Xin speechless once more.

’Tap, tap.’

The rhythmic tapping of her finger against the table grabbed Butler Xin’s attention. As he observed her finger and her calm demeanor, a sense of familiarity washed over him. When had he seen this gesture before?

No, the real question was, when had she developed this habit?

The young girl had always eaten with her head bowed low.

"Butler Xin, since you worked for me for a long time, I don’t have much intention to make you suffer like last time."

’Last time?’

"So heed my advice. If you follow the two conditions faithfully, I will let you tag along with me and I’ll be kind enough to let you get your name back. How about it?"

Butler Xin still had numerous questions about how she had uncovered his true identity and her plans for securing the heirship.

However, his intuition warned him that if he questioned her now, the unpredictable Bei Sangyun might lose interest in the conversation and call off the deal—a risk he couldn’t afford to take.

Butler Xin took a deep breath. "I understand."

He believed that the answers he was looking for would be answered along the way.

Bei Sangyun tapped the table again with satisfaction.

This was one aspect of Butler Xin she appreciated. He knew when to step back and maintain silence, displaying great flexibility.

"One more thing. I have a new task for you. Look for a hospital that can treat my grandma. I want a sure way for her recovery. I’ll send you the medical results through Guard Huang."

"....I’ll search for one." It would take some getting used to, being given orders by the little girl he had once underestimated.

Bei Sangyun motioned for him to begin eating. "If our discussion is concluded, I’ll depart first. I need to return to my grandmother. Enjoy your meal."

"Young mi- I mean Master, you have an urgent matter to attend to. Your father is looking for you. I advise you to report to him first. If he did not see you today, I am afraid he will know that you left to see your grandma. It will be hard to convince him to bring your grandmother to the Capital once he learns you broke your promise."

Bei Sangyun narrowed her eyes intensely. "It was him who broke the deal first."

Butler Xin: "?"

Bei Sangyun ran her fingers through her hair to alleviate the annoyance that had welled up in her heart at the mention of the deal. It might have been in the past, but it still irked her. frёeωebɳovel.com

"Very well. I’ll meet with him. But I’ll see my grandma first."

She realized that escaping from the Lin family at this point was futile. There was no use hiding from her father.

Knowing her father’s ruthlessness, he might even resort to underhanded methods to take what was most precious to Bei Sangyun.

Bei Sangyun’s eyes turned fierce.

But he could try. She wouldn’t hesitate to confront him again and cast him away into some remote village.

She did not mind doing those difficult tasks again to break that damn man once more.

However, this was a critical time for Grandma Bei.

Grandma Bei’s health and well-being were her top priorities. She could endure seeing that man’s face for a while and feign to cooperate in exchange for some quiet peace with Grandma Bei.