Standing Next To You-Chapter 521: I thought you are on my side

The moon hung low in the night sky, casting a pale glow over the city.

In the main square of City A, various lights adorned the trees lining the sidewalks, creating a mesmerizing scene.

The night wind carried a faint chill, and Bei Sangyun shivered slightly.

A coat was suddenly draped over her shoulders. She glanced up and smiled softly. "Thank you."

Fei Chuan, careful not to touch her shoulders, replied, "Sure."

The two continued walking along the farthest sidewalk.

The square was lively, with couples, friends, and families scattered about. Most people were focused on their companions and the dazzling beauty of the illuminated trees, leaving the solitary couple unnoticed in their quiet walk.

The sight of people laughing, chatting, and enjoying snacks together stirred memories in Bei Sangyun.

It was the day after she had become the head of the Lin family. Gaining that position, which she had fought so hard for, had come at a heavy price. Among the things she had lost was her peace of mind.

Unable to sleep that night, she had decided that a walk might help clear her thoughts. Despite the late hour, the main square had been far from empty. Couples strolled hand in hand, their faces alight with contentment. Groups of friends wandered about, laughing and nibbling on snacks.

Watching them, Bei Sangyun had felt a pang of desolation. She had returned to her car, and never visit the square again for a night walk.

Taking a deep breath as she reminisced, Bei Sangyun broke the silence. "I’ve never liked night walks, you know. Because whenever I did, I’d see people—couples, families, or friends—happily walking together. It only made me feel lonelier." She glanced at the moon, now faintly visible amidst the city lights. "I’ve always preferred sitting on my balcony, staring at the moon, and feeling the cold wind against my skin. It’s the only thing that ever calmed my mind."

Fei Chuan caught the hint in her words. "...How about now?"

Bei Sangyun turned to him. The warm glow of the lights around them softened her expression as she smiled. "I’ve come to love it. Especially walking with you."

Fei Chuan stared at her for a moment before averting his gaze. "...Me too. I never used to like sidewalks—or parks, for that matter."

"How about now?" Bei Sangyun asked hopefully.

Fei Chuan spotted a bench nearby and said instead, "Do you want to take a break from walking?"

Bei Sangyun nodded. She was a bit confused as to why Fei Chuan did not answer her. She thought it was a simple question. But she did not bring it up again as they made their way to the bench.

The two sat down, quietly watching the people passing by. From a distance, a family caught Bei Sangyun’s attention, stirring memories of the Chuan family.

After a moment of hesitation, she began cautiously, "...Yesterday, the Chuan family paid me a visit."

Fei Chuan froze mid-thought but said nothing.

Bei Sangyun glanced at him, carefully gauging his reaction. "They asked me to pass along a message: the Chuan family has always thought of you. They say they have good intentions and wish to clear up the misunderstandings of the past. To show their sincerity, they want to offer you the position of head master."

Fei Chuan let out a bitter chuckle. "They don’t know when to quit, do they? What makes them think that going through you would change my mind about them?"

Bei Sangyun had anticipated his reaction. She wanted to take his hand but instead clutched the edge of his coat lightly.

"I know I have no right to persuade you or even speak on this. The Chuan family hurt you deeply, and you have every reason not to forgive them. But I’m afraid you might miss something you deserve." She met his gaze with gentle determination. "I hope you won’t deny yourself the chance to be supported and loved by your family."

Fei Chuan’s eyes darkened, his expression unreadable. "I didn’t think you’d even consider passing their message to me. Do you really believe the Chuan family has good intentions toward me? They abandoned me, Bei Sangyun."

"And that’s something they regret," Bei Sangyun said softly. "They want to make things right. I’m not saying you should forgive them. But at least give yourself a chance. Maybe some people in that family have changed."

"It doesn’t matter if they’ve changed or not," Fei Chuan said coldly. "The fact that they abandoned me won’t change."

Bei Sangyun felt her heart ache. Fei Chuan’s walls were impenetrable, isolating him from everyone. She saw her own past reflected in him and knew all too well where that path led—to desolation, loneliness, and being utterly alone.

She didn’t want Fei Chuan to suffer as she had. He had forgiven her once. Perhaps he could forgive the Chuan family, not for their sake, but for his own peace.

"It won’t hurt to just listen to them," she said gently. "Maybe they had their reasons—"

"Reasons?" Fei Chuan’s voice hardened, his jaw tightening. "Does having a reason give someone the right to abandon another, leaving them alone and in pain for the damage they’ve caused?" His tone sharpened further. "You hated the Lin family so much that you changed your surname back to Bei and erased yourself from their registry. I thought you, of all people, would understand me. I can’t believe you’re taking their side."

Bei Sangyun hadn’t expected him to misunderstand her intentions.

"I’m not taking their side," she said firmly. "I hated the Lin family, too. I thought they’d never change. But... people do change. If you’d just give them a chance—no, if you’d just give yourself a chance."

Fei Chuan’s hands curled into fists, his frustration evident. Forgive and forget. It sounded so simple when she said it.

He remained silent for a long time, his gaze fixed on the distance. After what felt like an eternity, he asked, his voice low and strained, "...Is that what you really believe? That talking with them will be good for me?"

Bei Sangyun nodded gently. She spoke with soft conviction. "You deserve to hear their reasons. Whether you accept their apology or not is up to you. But you deserve to know."

Fei Chuan stood still, staring at the square. The moments stretched on before he let out a low, humorless laugh.

"...People do change. But some people don’t." He turned to face Bei Sangyun, his expression unreadable. "But you’re right. I should still try. I’ll meet them."

....

Fei Chuan kept his word. The next day, he arrived unannounced at the Chuan family’s main villa, throwing the usually quiet and exclusive household into chaos.

Madame Chuan had not expected Head Master Cai’s method to be so effective. Over the years, they had tried repeatedly to contact Fei Chuan, but they never received a single response. Since the day Fei Chuan left the Chuan household at the age of six, he had never returned.

As soon as she heard of his arrival, Madame Chuan immediately instructed the staff to prepare Fei Chuan’s favorite dishes and ready his room. She rushed to the living room, where he was waiting.

The young man she had only seen in photographs now stood before her—tall, handsome, and exuding an aura that demanded respect.

Fei Chuan waited for ten minutes but never sat down or touched the refreshments placed before him. When Madame Chuan entered, he got straight to the point.

"You have something to tell me?"

Madame Chuan, who had been in a good mood and prepared to welcome him warmly, froze in her tracks. She did not expect to get such a question rudely thrown at her.

But she kept her composure and still tried to show a smile. "How about you sit first and dig some? This might be a long talk."

"Keep it short. I don’t have all day." Fei Chuan coldly replied.

Her smile faltered. Decades of being treated with reverence as the matriarch of the Chuan family had not prepared her for someone speaking to her with such authority—especially someone so much younger.

Bitterness welled up in her chest, but she remembered her butler’s advice: to keep her temper in check. Taking a deep breath, she began.

"You’ve always thought we abandoned you," she started softly. "It’s true that when your mother married into the Fei family, we left your care to her. But when we heard you were sick, I wanted to bring you back here. I knew how difficult things would become without your mother and with your father having another wife and son."

She sighed, her voice tinged with regret. "But your grandfather insisted otherwise. He was adamant about sending you away. He convinced me it was for the best, and so we left you in your mother’s villa."

Fei Chuan let out a low, bitter chuckle. "I might have been young, but I remember every word you said. You and that old man didn’t just give up on me—you sent me away because you’d already decided I was a lost cause. You wanted me gone, far enough that no one would see me die."

His words hung heavy in the air, cutting through whatever semblance of justification she had tried to offer.

Without waiting for her to respond, Fei Chuan reached into his coat and threw a file onto the desk before her. It landed with a dull thud, the papers inside threatening to spill out.

"There’s no use dredging up the past," he said sharply. "Let’s skip to the part where you tell me the real reason I’m here. You need my connections to bring the Chuan family back to prominence, don’t you?"