Standing Next To You-Chapter 190: Cleaning Up

Lin Sunji had been eliminated from the competition, and the SangRi La project which was tirelessly worked on by Lin Ruo, had been handed over to Lin Ginxian.

Upon receiving the news, Lin Ginxian who was initially furious at Bei Sangyun, managed to calm down. Despite his reluctance to admit it, Bei Sangyun had done something beneficial for him.

Like Old Master Lin, Lin Ginxian suspected that it was his daughter who had spiked Richard’s drink. The fourth branch had nothing to gain by scheming against Lin Xiaoni and Richard, and they certainly weren’t foolish enough to keep the evidence hidden in their own room.

Having personally witnessed his daughter’s ruthlessness and methods, Lin Ginxian harbored some doubts. However, given that the outcome was favorable for him, he was willing to tolerate Bei Sangyun more.

After all, he would be busy in the upcoming days because of the project and there was nothing he had to control Bei Sangyun. The only option he had was to keep an eye on her.

Thus, as Bei Sangyun desired, she managed to escape from Lin Ginxian’s tight grasp and gained the temporary freedom she sought.

Back in the car, Butler Xin, who had been absent for days, drove Bei Sangyun to her school. Handing over a file to her, he reported, "I have done everything you asked. The companies are progressing well, and the people you poached are doing great."

Bei Sangyun examined the report and nodded in satisfaction. Butler Xin’s meticulousness and efficient handling of matters were the reasons she had immediately recruited him to her side rather than letting him go.

Through the rear-view mirror, Butler Xin glanced at her and expressed, "But, Master, I can’t keep tracking them like this. I am your personal butler, not a businessman. I think it’s better if you hire a capable person in my place."

Butler Xin couldn’t help but feel bitter. After fetching Bei Sangyun from the hotel, he had disappeared for a few days to handle business matters. The busy schedule left him with no time to contact the mansion for updates.

So when he arrived earlier and heard from Maid Ye Zhai about the recent events, Butler Xin was at a loss. He had actually missed that dramatic moment!

Fortunately, Maid Ye Zhai proved to be capable and handled things in his place. Still, Butler Xin detested being the last person to learn about matters in the mansion.

"I can look for capable people who will be your temporary stand-in. That is fine, right?" he asked.

Bei Sangyun closed the file and leaned back on the seat calmly. "I have plans for it. I’ll take care of it. You have worked hard."

Butler Xin was complimented and his bitter expression finally eased. He then reported another matter, "We received a huge amount from Head Master Lin earlier. Do you want to check it?"

"How much?" Bei Sangyun inquired instead of checking it.

"Ten million."

Bei Sangyun chuckled. Ten million? It was not a small sum but not substantial either.

For Old Master Lin, it might be a mere trifle, but for someone like Bei Sangyun- a student who depended on every month’s subsidiary from the Lin family- it was a decent amount.

"So this is the amount of his guilt towards me? How interesting."

She mused that perhaps she should have acted more wronged to get more than ten million.

(A/n: This is the bet money Old Master Lin won against Mr. Simon. Old Master Lin added some amount as compensation.)

"Also, your father gave me an instruction to keep a close eye on you and report everything you do. He seems to have given up on controlling you; however, he still hasn’t stopped his search for Mrs. Bei."

Bei Sangyun coldly smiled. "Let him exhaust himself searching for Grandma. He will never find her."

Bei Sangyun had no intention of bringing Grandma Bei until she gained full control of the Lin family. When she rose in power, she would no longer have to worry and could bring Grandma Bei here.

Bei Sangyun lowered her eyes. Grandma Bei was old and aging. She didn’t have much time. She doesn’t want to continue being apart.

"Master, the first branch and the second branch are starting to move. With the fourth branch’s strongest contender out, they are becoming more active," Butler Xin reminded.

Many people who were supporting the fourth branch withdrew from their alliance and started to seek a strong contender to support. Of course, their only choice was the first and second branch. That’s why the two branches were busy trying to poach these people to their side, not letting the opponent have more supporters.

Bei Sangyun just smiled, "The first branch and the second branch only have eyes on each other. They don’t regard me as their enemy or a threat. Let them play for a while. I have something more important going on."

Butler Xin glanced at her. ’Important thing? What could be more important than the heir competition?’

....

The arrival of the twins caused a stir in Tian Shen High School, but their departure was swift, leaving behind a mess of rumors.

Among the various rumors, the most prominent one was the incident in which Richard had been beaten up by Bei Sangyun’s lackey. A picture of his battered face circulated on the forum.

Initially, many students, particularly the girls, sympathized with Richard and felt that Bei Sangyun and her group had gone too far.

However, when it came to light that Richard had attempted to harass Bei Sangyun, resulting in his beating and subsequent expulsion from the country (a rumor as well), their opinions shifted immediately.

Students couldn’t openly express their dislike for the tyrant, but when it came to supporting and praising her, they didn’t hold back.

The forum posts were filled with mockery and insults directed at Richard. Even Sophia, who seemed innocent and kind, was dragged into the controversy.

A few students who had more information than others began sharing updates on the current happenings in country F. As news stories featured Richard and Sophia’s alleged crimes, curses were hurled their way.

Gradually, their misdeeds started being exposed one by one. Someone even brought up the topic of Sophia revealing the tyrant’s illegitimate status to everyone.

[The Lin family has accepted the tyrant and even allowed her to change her surname from Bei to Lin. She is no longer an illegitimate daughter. So why did Sophia tell everyone about it and make us misunderstand? Isn’t she clearly trying to ruin the tyrant’s image?]

This post received unanimous likes, and numerous students expressed their opinions.

[I don’t care if the tyrant has such a background. There are many young misses and young masters who are legitimate and have a good status in the family, but do they contribute great achievements to their family? The tyrant is the role model and top rank of this school. Who dares to say he or she is better than her?]

[I agree +100. I don’t see why these people are making a huge deal about the tyrant’s background. It was all in the past. The Lin family saw her worth, and everyone can see that she is noble and has strong leadership. Some people are just envious and jealous.]

Each comment received thousands of likes.

Zhong Cheng looked at each comment with a huge grin. If someone peeked at his laptop, they would see that his anonymous profile was the same as the person who posted this column.