Standing Next To You-Chapter 402: Will you return with me?

It was already dark when Bei Sangyun returned to the villa. As soon as she arrived, she saw Fei Chuan on the balcony.

Fei Chuan saw her too. He waved and rushed downstairs to meet her.

Bei Sangyun chuckled as she watched him run to greet her. Just as she thought he was going to hug her, Fei Chuan stopped, halting a meter away.

He paused to catch his breath, looking her up and down. Seeing her safe and unharmed, his expression visibly lightened.

"Have you eaten?" he asked.

Bei Sangyun shook her head. "Not yet. How about you?"

"Not yet. I was waiting for you."

Bei Sangyun smiled, warmth spreading in her heart. It was so nice to have someone waiting for her.

"Sorry, I’m late." She opened her arms for a hug, teasing him, "Miss me?"

Fei Chuan’s ears turned red. She expected him to deny her teasing like always and turn away, but he actually nodded shyly. He stepped forward and carefully entered her embrace.

"...Yes. If you had been thirty minutes later, I would have gone looking for you."

Bei Sangyun’s arms stiffened. With such closeness, she could smell his shampoo and soap. His soft hair brushed against her ears, and his arms were gently pressing behind her back. For a moment, Bei Sangyun didn’t know how to react.

Fei Chuan crouched a bit to match her height. He looked up and met her eye-to-eye. Seeing her dumbfounded expression, Fei Chuan was puzzled. "You okay?"

"...W-who are you?" she stammered. Who is this adorable, handsome, cute, lovely person?

Fei Chuan blinked. Suddenly realizing something, his face turned red. He straightened up, towering above her, but he still didn’t let go, continuing to hug her. With a reddened face, he muttered, "...You asked for a hug..."

Bei Sangyun snapped out of her shock and immediately hugged him back, encircling her arms around his waist. "I did ask for a hug. I just didn’t expect you to hug me at the entrance."

She didn’t mind this; in fact, she liked it very much. But Fei Chuan was very conservative. Whenever she asked for intimate contact in the past, such as holding hands, he didn’t want to do it in public.

Although this was their private area, it was still at the entrance. She thought he would decline since Grandma Pei and the others might see them.

When Fei Chuan heard the word ’entrance,’ he suddenly flinched and let go of her. "...Ah, right."

Bei Sangyun immediately stepped forward and hugged his waist. "It’s alright. We already hugged. If the others are around, they’ve seen it already."

Fei Chuan blushed but did not let go, hugging her back as well.

The two hugged for a while at the entrance, letting their hearts do whatever they wanted.

.....

After the meal, Bei Sangyun finally told Fei Chuan about the events from earlier. She explained the deal, the game, and the condition.

"I told him the decision solely lies with you. The condition will only apply if you agree." Bei Sangyun glanced at him. "Whatever your decision is, I will support you."

Fei Chuan was silent for a few seconds before replying, "Then I shall meet him one last time."

"You don’t have to force yourself if you don’t want to do this. I have other ways to keep the Fei family away from us. They won’t pose a great danger to you from now on."

Especially after the bomb she had dropped on the Fei family, Fei Chuan would be safe for now as the rest of the Fei family would be busy scheming among themselves.

Fei Chuan shook his head. "It’s not about that. Since I will be leaving the family, this might be the last time I speak to him as his grandson. And besides, I want to clarify a few things with him."

Bei Sangyun held his hand. "Alright. I’ll support you. As for the condition, is it alright if I choose the meeting place?"

Fei Chuan stared at her and nodded.

...

Bei Sangyun chose a crowded park as the meeting place.

She had a vague idea that the Fei family would use this opportunity to either convince Fei Chuan or plot something against him. The reason she was against this meeting was that it would put Fei Chuan’s safety at risk.

However, since Fei Chuan had decided, she formulated a plan and prepared everything in advance.

The meeting took place at 9:00 am. It was the middle of spring, so the weather was good.

With such good weather, there were many people in the park. Several groups of teenagers were laughing and chatting in the shade of the trees. Couples sat on benches and walked around.

Everyone was laughing happily, either with their partners or in groups.

Head Master Fei sat on a bench, arriving ten minutes early. He looked into the distance at the van parked far away. He recalled the message he had received yesterday.

[I will choose the place and time for tomorrow. You will receive the details of the meeting place tomorrow at 8:00 am.]

Her message was bold and rude, like the person she was.

There was only one hour to prepare. He had to get everything ready quickly in such a short time.

Finally, after waiting for ten minutes, he saw a familiar figure walking toward his bench.

Fei Chuan sat beside him, slightly bowing his head in greeting.

Seeing him again, Head Master Fei was filled with mixed emotions.

He had watched this child show his brilliance at such a young age. He had also witnessed him fall ill and nearly die. He had watched him sorrowfully as he sent him away only to summon him back years later.

And now, he was watching him again as he tried to leave the family on his own.

"I heard you wanted to see me," Fei Chuan spoke, his voice deep and determined, showing no cowardice in front of him.

Head Master Fei smiled. "Are you doing well? Do you have enough money to live by?"

Fei Chuan glanced at him. "I am doing well. And I have enough money."

"I see." Head Master Fei smiled bitterly. From the look in his grandson’s eyes, he could see that it would be hard to convince him at all.

He sighed, "Why do you want to leave the family? Is it because of Fei Min? Fei Min can no longer live in the Fei mansion nor can he appear in public using the family name. He is now receiving his punishment. You don’t have to worry about him anymore."

"It’s not just about him." Fei Chuan looked into the distance, watching a group of young men awkwardly playing with balloons. "...It’s the Fei family."

"Is it because we left you in that unknown village? You might not understand why I made such a decision at that time. But believe me, it was for your own good—"

"I have questioned it several times. Why did the grandfather who favored me suddenly send me away to a far place to die? If I was only waiting for my death, shouldn’t I have spent the remaining time with my family?" Fei Chuan smiled mockingly at himself. "But... there was actually no family for me in the Fei family. My mother is gone. The father I once had became a stranger and fathered another son. And you, the only person I considered my family back then, suddenly pushed me away."

Head Master Fei fell silent. He did not rebuke his words.

"But, it’s actually a good thing. Because you sent me to that place, I found her. So I won’t blame you for that."

Head Master Fei looked into the distance, watching the lively atmosphere around them. Unlike his heavy heart, this place was bustling with happiness. "...Fei Chuan, do you believe in fate?"

Fei Chuan did not answer.

Head Master Fei continued. "I am not saying this because I am old. But fate and other things do exist. Seeing you cough up blood and dying in front of me, the only thing I could do was believe what the monk said and send you away. It also pained me that I had to send you off when you were in poor health. But as time passed and I received reports that you were doing well, doing better in fact, I never once regretted my decision. Even if I had to go back to that time, I would make the same decision again."

Head Master Fei glanced up at the clear sky. "...But I never imagined that after I brought you back, you would leave on your own." He turned to him, his eyes pleading, "My grandchild, if I ask you to return to the Fei family with me, will you come? This time, I won’t let anyone harm you again and will give you a position in the family that no one will dare look down on."