Standing Next To You-Chapter 547: Who, What and How?

Ever since the storm had passed beyond the country’s borders, the weather had been pleasant. However, unlike the clear skies outside, Bei Sangyun’s heart was clouded with heavy shadows.

She couldn’t stop replaying the scene she had witnessed yesterday. Each scenario she imagined sent a thorn through her heart.

Melanie had appeared.

Fei Chuan’s fiancée had shown up at the exact moment when she and Fei Chuan had just broken off.

Although Bei Sangyun was unwilling to let the two spend time alone, there was nothing she could do but leave them be.

She had no right to interfere.

All she could do was quietly manage the chaos of emotions swirling inside her.

With so many thoughts weighing on her mind, she hadn’t been able to sleep the entire night. Worried that Grandma Bei and Maid Ye Zhai would notice her lifeless demeanor, she left the house early in the morning.

She decided to keep herself busy—to push that scene out of her mind.

At the company, Bei Sangyun took some of the workload off Zhong Chen’s hands. The latter was more than happy to pass it over.

Zhong Cheng slouched lazily on the couch like a freeloader, finally getting the rest he had been deprived of for months. A lollipop dangled from his lips as he watched his boss bury herself in paperwork at the CEO’s desk.

The sight of his laziness annoyed Bei Sangyun, and she threw several folders at him.

"Review some of these résumés while you’re lying there. If someone catches your attention, bring it to me."

Zhong Chen made a face.

He had wanted to relax for at least half a day without working, but that dream was clearly out of reach.

"Right. I need to find the best vice so I can finally get some rest," he muttered.

Phoenix Holdings had been thriving and expanding rapidly over the past five years. With such fast progress, the workload for each employee had increased significantly. Even after doubling the workforce, it still wasn’t enough. Most employees had to work overtime just to finish their tasks for the day.

Zhong Cheng also needed an internal CEO to help him manage the company. He couldn’t pull someone from the other department heads, as they were still learning and mastering their roles. And taking someone from a department would only create an imbalance in the company.

So, he had to hire someone new.

Someone skilled in management. Someone impressive.

As Zhong Cheng scanned through résumés, he suddenly paused at one in particular. Reading through the credentials, he was immediately impressed.

He made a call to HR and requested a detailed background check on the candidate.

Minutes later, Zhong Cheng received an email and began reviewing the report.

The applicant came from a humble background. He had been a scholar since his senior years, consistently ranked at the top of his class, and had graduated with the highest academic honors. But what impressed Zhong Cheng the most wasn’t just his academic achievements—it was his projects and ideas.

Zhong Cheng sat up straight, his eyes gleaming with interest.

"I want to interview this person personally."

"Good. Call them, then. The sooner you hire them, the sooner you’ll finally get some rest," Bei Sangyun remarked without even lifting her head from her paperwork.

Following her advice, Zhong Cheng dialed the candidate’s number. The call was answered immediately.

"...Yes. Tomorrow morning. We look forward to seeing you here. Thank you. Looking forward to meeting you as well, Mr. Xu Tian." Zhong Cheng spoke into the phone with a satisfied smile.

Bei Sangyun, who had been focused on her work, suddenly looked up upon hearing the familiar name.

"Can I see that person’s CV?"

Zhong Cheng stood up and handed her the folder. "He seems promising. I want to meet him in person to see if he’s really as capable as this résumé suggests."

Bei Sangyun’s gaze fell on the applicant’s photo.

She had been right.

It was indeed Xu Tian.

A small smile formed on her lips. "You have a good eye. This person is indeed impressive."

This was the same talented yet stubborn man she had tried to recruit multiple times in the past. No matter how generous the offers she gave him, he had always refused.

In the past, Xu Tian had his reasons for turning her down.

But now, with circumstances vastly different from before, would this stubborn man finally agree to work for her company? Especially since that reason no longer existed?

She was excited to find out.

Bei Sangyun glanced down at the stack of papers on her desk. She was nearly finished with her first task. Once she completed it, she pulled out a sheet filled with her scattered notes and thoughts.

Keeping herself busy with work had been a useful distraction. Now, with that troubling scene pushed out of her mind, she could finally focus on the most urgent matter.

Finding the "answer" the monk had spoken about.

She had listed all the possible clues that might lead to it. fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com

What was it that had "found her" but still needed to be figured out?

Was it a person? If so, who could it be?

Bei Sangyun reviewed the list of people who had recently entered her life. None of them seemed to play a significant role in her rebirth or had any direct connection to it—except for her mother, who appeared to be hiding something.

Her gaze shifted to the left side of the paper, where she had repeatedly circled a particular phrase.

The Cry of the Mermaid.

This was another lead that seemed to be linked to her rebirth. It couldn’t have been a mere coincidence that the old monk, who had read her mother’s fate, mentioned it so suddenly. Nor could it be random that Fei Chuan had given her a necklace and earrings bearing the same set in different timelines.

Her gut told her that everything was connected.

But how? And why?

Bei Sangyun tapped her pen against the paper before circling the words once again. She needed more information about this myth. Perhaps then, she could find a clue.

She unlocked her phone and sent a message to her team, asking for an update on their research. The reply came quickly.

/

They reported that they still needed more time, as there were many versions of the story. They were working on tracing its true origins, but they were close. The team assured her they would have a report ready by the end of the week.

However, one particular message made Bei Sangyun pause.

[We also discovered that someone else is searching for information about the ’Tears of the Mermaid’ and the myth. It seems to be the work of the same group.]

Someone else was researching the "Tears of the Mermaid"?

She immediately asked if they had any idea who it might be. But the reply was disappointing.

[We couldn’t uncover their identity. They covered their tracks well. If not for a small slip-up while searching for the necklace, we wouldn’t have even known another group was investigating the same thing. We do know one thing—they have a connection to someone in Country C.]

Bei Sangyun’s fingers tightened around her pen.

She glanced back at her list of people.

Who could it be?

And more importantly—what did they know that could lead her to the answer?