Standing Next To You-Chapter 258: Willing to share?

There was heavy snow that day, and everything lay blanketed in white.

From a distance, a man approached the silent graveyard.

He was supposed to be handsome in his late thirties, but his bloodshot eyes, pale skin, and thin body betrayed the noble bearing he once held as a young master.

He hugged a worn-out coat, his dirty boots sinking into the snow.

He stopped before a certain grave and read each word silently.

After a while, he took a cigarette from his worn-out coat and attempted to light it, but his hands were non-stop shaking. He couldn’t put the fire on the cigarette’s tip.

He put down the lighter and tossed the cigarette in frustration. But eventually, he retrieved it back and tucked it into his pocket.

"Can’t waste a stick. Cigarettes are expensive nowadays," his hoarse, rough voice cut through the silence of the graveyard.

He glanced at the name on the tombstone and gave a wry smile. "...Honestly, I didn’t want to come out, but I suddenly heard of your passing. I planned to come with a pair of drumsticks. But you see, I can’t even afford cigarettes now."

The cold wind blew, and the man closed his eyes. "Still, it would have been great to share one last meal with you. It would surely evoke memories."

Only the sound of the wind filled the silent grave.

The man opened his eyes and glanced at his hands, which wouldn’t stop shaking. "I don’t feel anything. Did I become numb like you?" He chuckled. But there was no happiness in his eyes.

"Actually, our fate is not that different, you see. That’s why I’ve always been fond of you. We start the same, and our lives will end the same.

"The lost little girl and the bored young man." The man shook his head. "Now, a dead demon who couldn’t feel any pleasure and a clown who is an addict," the man laughed out of spite.

He caught a falling snowflake and played with it for a while. "To be honest, I did not hate you for what you have done. It’s my retribution. But... how can you live such a life after gaining all that wealth? If I am going to die, I will choose to die while overdosing. At least I’ll die while being happy. Tsk, tsk."

The addict played, catching the snow, for a while. When he finally got tired, he sat down and leaned on the grave. "Hey, Let’s not meet each other again. Not in the afterlife, nor in any life."

The man looked up at the sky and realized how sad and beautiful the falling snow was. "Let’s only meet when both of us are not broken anymore, okay? Cousin sister."

*****

The car was deadly silent, the passing scenery outside the window going unnoticed.

On the passenger seat, Butler Xin sweated nervously, waiting for Bei Sangyun to speak. However, the backseat remained silent.

The silence became overwhelming, prompting Butler Xin to speak up.

"I tried to send him away, but he insisted. You know how he is. He doesn’t like to listen. Even Head Master Lin had headaches about him sometimes," Butler Xin explained, defending himself.

Bei Sangyun, lost in thought, glanced at him expressionlessly. "Don’t bother about it. Just be on guard next time."

Bei Sangyun knew Lin Fei better than anyone. When Lin Fei acted, no one could stop him.

"Just increase your guard next time. That person doesn’t like to be bored, so he will pick up on things quickly. Don’t make any contact with anyone in the company yet, especially the fourth branch."

Butler Xin’s face turned grim. Bei Sangyun’s instructions always had a reason. Could the second young master have found out their connection with the fourth branch?

Understanding the situation, Butler Xin nodded solemnly.

Bei Sangyun gazed out the window. Engaging in conversation with Lin Fei again reminded her of their last encounter.

Lin Fei had visited her alone. It was his first and last visit.

After she destroyed the Lin family, the second branch also crumbled among the others. And what happened after that, Bei Sangyun had no idea, aside from hearing that Lin Fei became a drug addict and lost the remaining funds he had due to his addiction.

Regarding Lin Fei, Bei Sangyun would rather forget everything between them. But despite burying those memories, the complicated emotions she harbored regarding Lin Fei lingered, like a piece of dirt stuck under her nails.

"Young Miss, that boy..." Butler Xin spotted Fei Chuan from a distance.

To be honest, Butler Xin didn’t want to inform Bei Sangyun that he saw the boy, but to save himself, he had to divert the boss’s attention momentarily.

Bei Sangyun followed Butler Xin’s gaze and noticed Fei Chuan.

Fei Chuan walked with his head low, moving at the speed of a turtle. A group of girls began to form behind him, growing with each passing second.

The gloom surrounding Bei Sangyun dissipated instantly. Her eyes lit up.

"Pull the car aside," she instructed.

Bei Sangyun darted out of the car to catch up with Fei Chuan. The girls who had just mustered the courage to approach him halted in their tracks.

"Hey, you almost got into trouble," Bei Sangyun greeted Fei Chuan with a cheeky smile.

Fei Chuan glanced back at the crowd, who erupted into cheers upon seeing him.

Fei Chuan: "..."

He hadn’t noticed.

Turning his attention to Bei Sangyun, he asked, "Did something happen?"

Bei Sangyun was taken aback and touched her face. How did he know? Was it obvious she was thinking about something else, earlier?

"You’re later than usual," Fei Chuan clarified.

Bei Sangyun blinked. "Were you waiting for me?"

Fei Chuan was stunned, biting his lip and berating himself inwardly.

Bei Sangyun’s smile widened. "So you did."

Fei Chuan looked away, his ears turning red. "...I’m not."

"Sure, sure," Bei Sangyun teased him.

Fei Chuan opened his bag and handed something to her. "Grandma Bei baked some."

Bei Sangyun opened the package to find cookies inside. She asked in surprise, "You’re willing to share your cookies with me now?"

"If you don’t want them, then give them back." Fei Chuan reached to take them back, but Bei Sangyun dodged his hand.