Standing Next To You-Chapter 45: I’ll Throw Acid to Your Face

Old Master Lin also glanced at the empty seat.

"Why didn’t your daughter join us today? Is she ill?" he inquired.

Lin Ginxian respectfully replied, "She hasn’t been feeling well since yesterday."

"You must have stressed her too much. I heard she has a good ranking at her school. Education is important, but health should be the priority."

"I’ll keep that in mind, Father," Lin Ginxian replied, feeling satisfied that his daughter’s school achievements had already reached his father’s ears.

But his happiness did not last long.

"Father is right. Health should be the priority, and education must come second. I would understand if Lin Ginxian’s daughter was truly sick and couldn’t come to school. But I heard she left the mansion and hasn’t returned for two days," Lin Baozhi, the eldest son, voiced what everyone was thinking.

Li Mei lowered her head and smiled. After learning the information from her daughter, she visited her first brother’s family and spoke with her first sister-in-law.

Knowing her first sister-in-law’s penchant for gossip and loud mouth, everyone would soon find out what Lin Ginxian’s daughter had done.

"So, she missed school not because she’s sick? Where did she go then? Third brother, did you allow her to leave and cover up her actions despite knowing? You shouldn’t tolerate your daughter’s wrongdoings," Lin Fang, the second son, pretended to be unaware as he scolded Lin Ginxian.

Anger flared in Lin Ginxian’s eyes. He was well aware that his brothers had teamed up to undermine him in front of their father.

"I don’t know where you heard it, but my daughter is indeed sick. That’s why she couldn’t come. Please don’t tarnish her reputation," Lin Ginxian insisted.

His daughter had already caught the old man’s attention. If her reputation was tarnished because of this, the old man might not look favorably on Bei Sanyun again. He couldn’t afford that.

Lin Xiao, the fifth son, scoffed, "If she didn’t leave the mansion as you claim, then call her. Prove to us that your daughter didn’t run away like you insist."

Everyone turned their attention to Lin Ginxian with curiosity. They wanted to see how Lin Ginxian would continue to fabricate his lie.

Lin Ginxian tightened his grip on his fork.

His daughter had indeed left the mansion and hadn’t returned yet. He didn’t even know her whereabouts. How could he prove to everyone that she was still here?

Lin Ginxian’s hatred for Bei Sangyun had risen once again. That damn girl was really good at making trouble.

"My daughter is sick. Do you want my daughter to infect everyone here? I don’t mind inviting her, but think about your children and father."

"Heh, you’re afraid your daughter will infect everyone, but you’re not concerned that if she is indeed sick, she won’t have the energy to come down? What a good father," Lin Fei sarcastically remarked.

Lin Fang, Lin Fei’s father, glared at his son. "Lin Fei, stay out of the adults’ discussion."

Lin Fei shrugged with a mocking smile and continued to eat heartily.

Lin Fei’s words momentarily silenced the discussion.

The adults exchanged glances, subtly attempting to gauge who would step in next to corner Lin Ginxian. Their momentum had been disrupted by Lin Fei’s interference.

Meanwhile, Lin Ginxian’s expression was bad. His second brother’s son had just exposed his hypocrisy as a father. He wouldn’t have cared much if these words were spoken to others, but they were uttered in front of the Old Man.

Old Master Lin paused mid-bite, his gaze sweeping across the expressions at the dining table.

With his extensive experience, he could see through everyone’s schemes. He cast a disappointed look at his untouched food. His intention in joining the dinner was to foster family bonding, but it had turned into a silent battle. His appetite waned.

He laid down his utensils.

"Has your daughter truly left the mansion?"

The old man had finally spoken, and Lin Ginxian found himself in a predicament.

If he admitted that his daughter had run away, all his efforts to make Bei Sangyun the apple of his father’s eye would be in vain. But if he lied to his father, he would lose his father’s trust.

For a moment, he was at a loss for words.

He could not help but curse at Bei Sangyun inwardly again.

At that moment, Lin Ginxian’s personal butler received a call and discreetly gestured to get Lin Ginxian’s attention.

Fortunately, Lin Ginxian noticed the signal and understood its meaning. A sudden idea crossed his mind.

"My daughter is indeed sick. She pushed herself too hard for her school ranking, so I allowed her some time to recuperate in a natural setting. Her personal butler is with her, keeping a close watch. I informed her about the dinner but I also told her that she did not need to come if she is still not feeling well. However, I believe she genuinely wishes to join her grandfather for dinner. I apologize for her tardiness."

This unexpected response surprised everyone.

Old Master Lin raised an eyebrow, his gaze fixed on Lin Ginxian.

They all observed with puzzlement as Lin Ginxian nodded to his butler.

The butler then departed.

Lin Xiao sensed something was amiss and leaned in closer to his wife, asking, "Is Third Brother going to fetch his daughter now? But didn’t you say she had left the mansion?"

Xiao Mi glanced at Li Mei, who also appeared perplexed. She responded in a hushed tone, "I’m not sure. I heard this from First Sister-in-law. You know how she is. Most of her information comes from Li Mei."

The other couples were also puzzled by the butler’s departure.

When the butler returned, he was accompanied by another person.

Bei Sangyun entered the dining room, immediately sensing the weight of everyone’s gazes upon her.

She lifted her head, meeting their gazes one by one, her eyes devoid of the insecurity and shame that had been in the past before.

’Hmmm... they all appear to be in good health,’ Bei Sangyun thought to herself.

"Lin Sangyun, why are you just standing there? Everyone is waiting for you. Take your seat and eat," Lin Ginxian demanded.

Bei Sangyun glanced at the empty seat and then at the food spread out on the table. Despite the tempting aroma, she felt no appetite. All she wanted was to leave this place and return to her grandmother.

"I’m not hungry. Since you’ve already seen my face, can I leave now?"

Lin Ginxian: !

Did he hear it right? This girl just answered him rudely!

This audacious behavior, displayed in front of everyone and their father, left Lin Ginxian dumbfounded.

Had she lost her mind?

"Lin Sangyun. Take. A. Seat," Lin Ginxian said through gritted teeth, emphasizing each word. He sent a warning glare to Bei Sangyun, silently instructing her to follow his command.

Bei Sangyun blinked lazily and responded in a nonchalant tone, "What’s the point of sitting there if I’m not going to eat? Just watch all of you eat?"

Lin Ginxian: !

Lin Ginxian did not expect that Bei Sangyun would act like this.

His face heated up from anger and embarrassment. His damn daughter was openly disrespecting him in front of everyone and in front of his father!

He could almost hear his brothers’ mocking laughter behind him.

"Sangyun, I won’t repeat myself," Lin Ginxian said angrily.

Bei Sangyun narrowed her eyes. She wasn’t hungry, and she had no intention of forcing herself to eat tasteless food, especially in the company of these people. She might even end up feeling nauseous.

She had considered feigning cooperation with this man, but that didn’t mean she would endure suffering under him.

"And I won’t repeat myself either. I’m going to my room. Enjoy your dinner."

"Sangyun!" Lin Ginxian roared. Bei Sangyun’s rude attitude had pushed him over the edge.

He stood up and approached Bei Sangyun in long strides.

Without any warning, he raised his hand and slapped her in front of everyone.

Slap!

The sound of the resounding slap reverberated through the silent dining table.

"I won’t tolerate your rudeness any longer! If you’re so eager to return to your room, then stay there. You’re grounded until you reflect on your behavior."

Bei Sangyun’s head snapped to the side. The abrupt slap had caught her completely off guard.

Perhaps it had been a long time since anyone had dared to go against her, let alone harm her, that Bei Sangyun had forgotten how violent Lin Ginxian could be.

This sudden slap served as a brutal wake-up call.

Right. She had returned to a time when this man held absolute control over her life. She was powerless and submissive, with her existence entirely dictated by him. He could use violence to punish her, and she wouldn’t be able to utter a word in protest.

Bei Sangyun’s head tilted to the side. Amidst her disheveled hair, the calmness in her eyes shattered.

As she reminisced about those bitter memories, the rage that had calmed down once more resurfaced.

Bei Sangyun straightened her head, her cheek tingling.

She walked past Lin Ginxian, heading for the silent dining table. Without uttering a word, she picked up a glass of water, specifically Old Master Lin’s water.

Without hesitation, Bei Sangyun emptied the glass’s contents onto Lin Ginxian’s face.

A splash of cold water drenched Lin Ginxian.

"Consider yourself lucky it’s just water. The next time you lay a hand on me, I’ll make sure it’s acid I throw in your face," Bei Sangyun said icily.

The sudden sequence of events, from Lin Ginxian’s slap to Bei Sangyun’s swift retaliation with water, occurred so rapidly that onlookers had no time to react.

They gasped in shock at Bei Sangyun’s fierce response.

The slap hadn’t surprised them, as they believed the illegitimate daughter deserved it. However, seeing her humiliate her own father and issue such menacing threats in front of everyone left them utterly stunned.

Lin Ginxian, too, was left dumbfounded.

The anger in his head had been utterly overwhelmed by shock.

She... she had dared to throw water at him?!