Standing Next To You-Chapter 558: Visiting the Fei family once again

It was a fine day. But not for the Fei family.

Ever since the string of scandals involving its members erupted five years ago, the Fei family had closed its doors to social gatherings and kept a low profile.

When Fei Chuan rose to fame, the Fei family seized the opportunity to reenter high society, desperate to recover their lost reputation. They sought to ride on Fei Chuan’s success while they still could, hoping to erase the stains of their past disgrace.

For a time, it worked. The whispers of past scandals faded, and the family experienced a fleeting sense of relief.

But borrowed glory was never meant to last.

After their failure at the Royal Banquet, the Fei family stopped trying to cling to Fei Chuan and returned to their low-profile existence. After all, they had once witnessed Fei Chuan’s wrath and learned the consequences of it. Now that Fei Chuan had warned them again, they chose not to act and remained in the shadows. Since then, they had appeared less frequently in public, and most people knew little about them.

Today, the now reclusive Fei family gathered for a small dinner. The once grand dining table, which used to be filled with people, now had many empty seats. After all, most members of the first branch had been exiled, and some branches no longer saw the point in attending.

Head Master Fei glanced at the few people present. None of them had made any significant achievements. No one stood out. And the most capable member of his bloodline had left the family—disowning them in the process. The thought made his heart grow bitter.

His gaze landed on Fei Hua Jiang—his once pride and joy. But looking at him now only gave him a headache. The once bright, polite, and brilliant young man had become silent and lifeless, like a puppet being dragged around.

Seeing him made Head Master Fei even more bitter.

"Have you chosen a fiancée from the profiles I sent you?"

Fei Hua Jiang continued eating in silence. Just as Head Master Fei was about to grow angry at the lack of response, Fei Hua Jiang finally spoke.

"It doesn’t matter who I choose. In the end, you will only allow a marriage with the person of your choosing." He put down his utensils and met the old man’s gaze. His eyes held little emotion. "I’m fine with whoever you decide on."

"This is your marriage. Of course, you’re the one who should choose!"

A bitter chuckle escaped Fei Hua Jiang’s lips. "My marriage? If I were to speak honestly about my opinion and true feelings, would you really allow it?"

The table fell into silence. Head Master Fei’s expression darkened.

After the scandal five years ago, everyone had learned of Fei Hua Jiang’s sexual orientation. It had become a disgrace to the Fei family.

Fei Hua Jiang saw the disgust, ridicule, disappointment, and avoidance in their expressions. He smiled bitterly.

"Don’t ask me if none of you are willing to listen. Since I am the chosen heir, I will take responsibility. After all, this family has invested a lot in me. I am not ungrateful, nor am I some reckless punk who will abandon my duties."

With that, Fei Hua Jiang left the dining table. The already lifeless gathering became even gloomier.

Head Master Fei suddenly threw his utensils, shattering the silence and creating even more tension. The remaining people at the table did not dare to move. The old man stood up, his voice filled with frustration.

"This family is doomed. Completely doomed!"

He stormed off, leaving the rest to chew their food slowly, swallowing hard.

"I always get indigestion every time I come here for dinner. I’m not coming next time," someone muttered.

Others echoed similar sentiments, agreeing that they wouldn’t return here even the old man summoned them.

Fei Jian and his son, Fei Ling, remained at the table, glancing at those who had just sworn not to return. If these people stopped coming, this long table would become even emptier.

It seemed the bleak days of the Fei family would only grow darker.

However, the gloominess soon dissipated when the Fei family received an unexpected visitor.

The remaining members, who had been preparing to leave the mansion, instead gathered around the Head Master’s floor. Some stood outside the building, their gazes fixed on the closed window from the garden below.

A group huddled beneath the window, whispering among themselves.

"That’s Fei Chuan, right? Why did he come? Is he returning to the family?"

"I thought he hated us and swore never to set foot here again. What’s going on?"

"Shh. It’s a good thing he’s here. With him back, we won’t have to worry anymore. After all, we have the James family."

"Right. Good thing I didn’t leave early. I almost ruin myself an oppurtunity."

Fei Hua Jiang, passing by, glanced at the gossiping group before looking up at the window above. Unlike them, he knew Fei Chuan hadn’t come to return to the Fei family.

After all, even he—the heir—would leave if given the chance.

But he couldn’t. He was different from Fei Chuan. From birth, the Fei family had taken care of him, investing in him in every way. They had placed all their hopes on him to carry on the family legacy and become the next head. Without the Fei family, he wouldn’t be where he was today.

Fei Chuan, on the other hand, had grown up without the Fei family’s support or care. He owed them nothing. He could walk away at any time without guilt.

Fei Hua Jiang couldn’t help but envy him.

If only I could be free, unrestrained, and brave like him...

With that thought, Fei Hua Jiang turned away and walked off. His back becoming more desolate than ever.

...

Inside the Head Master’s study, Head Master Fei let out a cold harrumph as he regarded Fei Chuan.

"I thought you swore never to return. What are you doing here now?"

The old man had been stunned when his butler informed him that Fei Chuan was at their gate. He could hardly believe that, after all this time, the man had come of his own accord.

Though a part of him was eager to know the reason behind this unexpected visit, he refused to show it. Instead, his expression remained grim, a silent reminder that he had not forgotten—nor forgiven—what Fei Chuan had done to the family.

Fei Chuan stood still, his fingers tightening around the necklace hidden in his pocket. He was silent for a long moment before finally speaking.

"I have something to ask."

"Hmph. And what makes you think I’ll answer just because you came here personally? Have you forgotten what you said to us?"

Head Master Fei still remembered vividly how Fei Chuan had coldly disowned the family and threatened them. Even when his own father had humbly asked him to return at the Royal Banquet, he had pushed them away as if they were nothing more than a swarm of flies.

Yet Fei Chuan didn’t back down despite the old man’s hostility. He met his gaze directly and asked, "You once said a monk came to give me a reading when I was young. The monk who claimed I was destined to die early—the one who led you to abandon me. Where is that monk now?"