Standing Next To You-Chapter 517: Almost...

Bei Sangyun persistently sent Fei Chuan ’apology gifts’ every day. Each day, she wrote a letter with her heartfelt apology. She baked his favorite cookies, cooked him meals, or made him sweets he often liked.

Like that, a week passed.

The rumors online had also calmed down. The scandal involving Bei Sangyun, George, and Fei Chuan had been completely erased. If one searched for Bei Sangyun and Fei Chuan’s names together, only articles about their friendship appeared, published and posted.

It seemed as if the calm in Bei Sangyun’s life had returned—except for the fact that Fei Chuan was not speaking to her.

Bei Sangyun had just stepped out of her office, when George, who was supposed to be in a faraway country, suddenly showed up.

George looked unkempt. His meticulously combed ginger hair was messy, and his face was covered with a scruffy beard, as if he hadn’t shaved in days.

"I need to talk to you."

Bei Sangyun was taken aback at the sight of him. She had ensured that this building was safe. But while it was secure against paparazzi, it wasn’t safe from a Henson.

However, she wasn’t worried.

She knew George in her previous life. This man might be arrogant, but he was all talk. For him to show up here, he must be at his wit’s end.

She faced him calmly. "If you wanted to talk to me, you should have used the number I gave you. I will keep my word. As long as the Henson family doesn’t pursue the matter—"

"It’s not about that. You dug up information from my uncle that even I didn’t know for years. You must know where my son is. Where is he?" George asked in distress.

Realization dawned on Bei Sangyun. She shook her head. "You should ask your uncle about this, not me."

"He won’t tell me. That bastard has been keeping my son away from me so he can replace me one day."

"Then that’s all the more reason I shouldn’t tell you."

George suddenly grew desperate. He stepped closer to Bei Sangyun and gripped her shoulders. "I’m not playing any games. Please tell me. It’s not like I want to harm my son."

Bei Sangyun felt the force he was putting on her arms and frowned. "Look at you. Would anyone trust the location of a four-year-old to someone who has eyes of wanting to kill? Clear your head. That child has twenty more years of hard work and pressure ahead of him to replace you. Surely, you can make yourself better within that time."

George didn’t like receiving advice from random people, least of all from Bei Sangyun. He had traveled to another corner of the world to find his son. His uncle remained adamant about keeping the truth hidden. For the first time in his life, George realized how powerless he was against his uncle, who held the true power of the Henson family.

However, George’s nefarious reputation had long been cemented in the minds of those around him. Even though he tried to suppress his uncle’s followers, they wouldn’t budge. With no other options, he had flown to Country C. His only choice was to get the answer from Bei Sangyun, who had given him the initial information in the first place.

His grip on her shoulders tightened.

"Why won’t you just tell me? Are you on my uncle’s side?"

Bei Sangyun felt her shoulders being crushed. Because she thought she would be safe in the building where her office was, she hadn’t brought any bodyguards with her. And Driver Cheng was still in the parking lot.

"Let go, George," Bei Sangyun warned.

"Why are you people hiding him from me? He’s my son!" George’s paranoia clouded his ability to think clearly. His grip on Bei Sangyun’s shoulders tightened, causing her to frown in pain.

Suddenly, a man appeared and forcefully shoved George away. Bei Sangyun almost fell, but the man caught her from behind, steadying her before she could hit the ground.

Bei Sangyun winced from the pain in her shoulders and couldn’t immediately push the man away.

"Are you okay?" a familiar voice asked from behind her. She turned her head and saw Jang Shin. She nodded.

Jang Shin steadied her, then looked at George grimly . "She said to let go."

George, already at the end of his patience, snapped upon seeing someone interfere. "Walk away now while I’m being nice. I have business with her."

Jang Shin glanced at Bei Sangyun. "Do you want him to leave?"

Bei Sangyun was massaging her bruised shoulder. With no one else around to help, she could only rely on Jang Shin at the moment. "Yes, please. I would appreciate your help."

Jang Shin stepped forward and blocked George. "You heard the lady. Leave."

"Do you even know who I am? The woman you’re protecting was in a scandal with me just recently. Are you really stupid enough to involve yourself with her?"

"I know who you are. And that so-called scandal was based on a photo that someone manipulated. Even if you’re a Henson, you have no right to harass her."

George wasn’t ready to back down. He braced himself to fight, even if it meant a physical brawl.

Just as he was about to step forward, several men in black suits suddenly appeared and surrounded him.

George froze. It must be his uncle’s men!

Without another word, he bolted, and the men chased after him.

Jang Shin and Bei Sangyun stood silently, watching the entire scene unfold.

"Hiccup."

A sudden sound broke the silence, drawing their attention. Both turned to see a thin man with a camera around his neck.

The man paled under their scrutiny and quickly ran away.

Jang Shin instinctively moved to chase him, but Bei Sangyun stopped him. fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com

"Let him go," she said.

Jang Shin hesitated. "Are you sure? That guy looked like a paparazzo."

"It’s fine. The rumors don’t matter right now."

What mattered to her had already been resolved so swiftly by Fei Chuan himself. She didn’t care if new rumors about her and George surfaced, or that the rumors about her and Fei Chuan had shifted from romantic to stories of childhood friendship.

She had never imagined the situation could be resolved so easily, but Fei Chuan had done so in just one day.

Reflecting on it, Bei Sangyun realized how foolish she had been.

"I see. Where is your car parked? I’ll walk you there," Jang Shin offered.

Bei Sangyun rejected him at first, but Jang Shin was adamant. Even though she kept saying no, he still followed her.

In the end, Bei Sangyun gave up and simply walked toward her car, with Jang Shin a few steps behind.

When she finally spotted Driver Cheng, Jang Shin stopped in his tracks. Just as she was about to leave, he spoke.

"Can I ask you a question?"

Bei Sangyun paused and silently turned to look at him.

Jang Shin took the opportunity to ask, "Are you and Fei Chuan....just childhood friends?"

Bei Sangyun stared at him, her gaze unwavering, and replied without hesitation, "I don’t plan on staying friends with him."

Jang Shin saw the answer in her eyes. Coupled with her words, it was clear to him. The faint hope he had felt when he read the articles about them being "solid friends" was crushed once again.

He smiled bitterly. "I see."

"I appreciate your help earlier. I’ll make sure to repay you in my own way," Bei Sangyun said plainly before walking toward her car.

Jang Shin watched her leave, his heart heavy with bitterness.

....

The thin man who had run away earlier now watched from a distance as Bei Sangyun got into her car and drove off, leaving Jang Shin behind.

He glanced at his camera. Every shot was clear and perfect—from the moment George confronted Bei Sangyun to Jang Shin and Bei Sangyun parting ways.

He immediately sent the photos to the account that had hired him.

"Those two are living a good life now thanks to this big boss. I hope I can get a huge bonus for this," he muttered to himself.

...

In a certain villa, inside the main study, Fei Chuan sat at his desk, staring at the letters scattered before him.

Wherever he went, he made sure to bring these letters along.

He picked up one and began to reread it.

[...I have realized how foolish I’ve been. At that time, I only thought of not burdening you. But in the process, I ended up hurting you...]

[...I wasn’t thinking clearly. I only considered the quickest way to clear the rumors...]

[...I haven’t thanked you yet for helping me. Those articles saying bad things about me didn’t disappear on their own. I know it was you who made that happen. Thank you...]

[...Is there anything I can do to fix this? Please, tell me...]

The letters began as explanations, then shifted to apologies, and finally to pleas for forgiveness. Coupled with the baked goods she had made with her own hands, these heartfelt gestures could move any man’s heart.

Fei Chuan gazed at the letters with an expressionless face, but the icy aura that usually surrounded him seemed to have melted.

He glanced at his phone. Bei Sangyun had been calling him every night—three times, like clockwork. He knew she would likely call again tonight.

For some reason, this time... he felt like answering.

Suddenly, his phone rang. He quickly picked it up, but his anticipation faded when he saw the caller ID—it was one of his subordinates.