Standing Next To You-Chapter 503: Changes...leads to changes

That night, Fei Chuan couldn’t sleep well. The room’s temperature was cool, thanks to the air conditioner, yet he was sweating as he lay on the bed.

His eyes were closed, his brows tightly furrowed.

In his dream, the necklace he had held earlier that afternoon gleamed brightly in an extravagant jewelry box. He stood in a lavishly decorated room and heard himself say, "This will suit her."

Then, the scene shifted.

Magnificent lights illuminated the space, an orchestra played in the background, and guests with blurry faces came to greet him. Their words were unclear, as were his responses. He made his way across the crowd, and when he turned, he finally saw her.

Among the blurry figures fading in the background, she was the only one who remained vivid.

She was wearing a vibrant red dress, turning to leave the crowded hall. He instinctively followed her.

"Bei Sangyun," he heard himself call out to her.

They were now in a silent hallway, with no one else around.

The woman he called turned to face him. She was stunning, yet her face was void of expression, and her eyes were lifeless. She looked like a doll—beautiful but empty. The sight of her made his heart twist painfully, as though it were being squeezed.

"No one caught your eye, so you’re leaving already?" he heard himself say, his tone mocking.

The Bei Sangyun before him didn’t flinch. "No one, indeed."

Not even him?

He held the words on the tip of his tongue as he took a few steps closer, stopping just a step away from her.

"Why? Because no one falls under your manipulation and tyranny anymore?" His voice dripped with malice. "Well, can’t blame them. Everyone grew up. They’re no longer afraid of you."

A small laugh escaped Bei Sangyun’s lips. Her expressionless face shifted, and for a moment, her dull eyes seemed to brighten. She smirked.

"Are you still caught up with that? Poor boy, never grown up fully."

He froze—not because of her mocking words or her reference to his traumatized past, but because the moment she laughed, her dull aura seemed to come alive. Sparks flew, colors returned to her, and she seemed to glow with a radiant halo.

She was so painfully...

...beautiful.

His heart squeezed achingly.

...

Fei Chuan woke with a start as his phone on the bedside table kept ringing—it was his alarm.

He reached for his phone and realized it had been ringing for a while. He had slept through it, and it was now the fifth time it had gone off.

Fei Chuan was momentarily stunned. It was the first time in a long while that he had slept so deeply.

He touched his forehead, checking his temperature. There was no dizziness or lingering weakness. Feeling refreshed, he took a shower, got dressed, and called Assistant Cheng.

Assistant Cheng was taken aback when he saw Fei Chuan up and ready. "Are you feeling better now?"

"Yeah. Never been better," Fei Chuan replied, pointing to the necklace on his desk. "Find out where this came from. Report to me anything you discover."

Assistant Cheng snapped a picture of the necklace, but his curiosity deepened when Fei Chuan picked it up and slipped it into his pocket.

"You’re bringing it with you?" Assistant Cheng asked, surprised.

"Yeah."

Without further explanation, Fei Chuan left, the necklace now resting securely in his breast pocket.

.....

The news that Lin Zhe was the mastermind behind drugging Lin Fei and implicating the entire Lin family in a drug syndicate quickly spread through high society.

The revelation helped the Lin family escape the calamity of being ostracized, turning the scandal into a family feud instead.

Many people sighed at how lively the Lin family had become. For weeks, they had been the center of discussion—from Lin Sanju being announced as the heir, to Lin Fei’s alleged drug addiction, and now Lin Zhe’s arrest as the mastermind.

Thanks to this series of events, the rumors Bei Sangyun had been worried about were overshadowed. And for some reason, no news appeared from abroad. It was as if it had gone silent and forgotten.

For now, her plan to find a suitable candidate to deflect the rumors about her and Fei Chuan dating was put on hold.

Still, it was inevitable that she would meet Fei Chuan again. After his assistance with Lin Fei’s incident, Bei Sangyun owed him another dinner.

To avoid sparking any rumors, Bei Sangyun decided to invite Fei Chuan to her villa. She hired several five-star chefs to prepare the meal, ensuring everything was perfect.

When Grandma Bei learned that Fei Chuan would be coming to the villa, she was overjoyed. She assumed the two were getting back together and eagerly offered her help.

Bei Sangyun smiled and shook her head. "We’re not together yet, Grandma. We’re just friends now, and I like how we’ve started this time."

"My dear..." Grandma Bei took her hand gently. "I don’t understand why you’re still holding back when it’s clear you’re not over this man. I hope that one day you can let go of the burdens you’re carrying. I sincerely wish for your happiness."

Bei Sangyun hugged Grandma Bei tightly. Over the past four years, Grandma Bei had been recovering well from her illness. Seeing her now, healthy and full of life, filled Bei Sangyun’s heart with gratitude.

She already felt blessed. Grandma Bei was well, and Fei Chuan had forgiven her, even expressing a desire to start anew.

With so many good things happening, Bei Sangyun felt a renewed strength to leave her painful memories behind and fully embrace the bright future ahead of her.

"...I’ll try, Grandma," she said softly.

Since her return, Bei Sangyun had witnessed changes in people she once thought were incapable of transformation. The fourth branch of the Lin family, who had once despised her, had become loyal supporters. Lin Ruo, Li Mei, Lin Sunji, and Lin Sanju had all changed for the better, and with their changes, their fates had shifted as well.

Her once complicated and bitter relationship with Lin Fei seemed to have resolved almost overnight. He had changed, and because of that, so had his fate.

Perhaps if she, too, embraced change—if she welcomed the good things in her life, healed, and grew—her fate might change as well.

...

Fei Chuan arrived on time. Bei Sangyun had only a handful of workers in the mansion, fewer than five. They were all trusted and hardworking, and they stood in a neat line behind Bei Sangyun and Grandma Bei to greet Fei Chuan upon his arrival.

"This is such a grand welcome. Thank you for having me," Fei Chuan said with a polite smile. However, when he saw Grandma Bei standing beside Bei Sangyun, his smile faltered for a brief second.

Grandma Bei’s eyes sparkled with warmth. "You’ve grown up so much, Fei Chuan. So handsome and healthy now. I still remember the day you ran to the house right after you recovered from your illness to ask about Bei Sangyun. Sure time flies so fast," she said with genuine affection.

Fei Chuan managed a forced smile and lowered his gaze, avoiding her eyes. "Thank you. You look younger and healthy as well," he replied softly.

Grandma Bei laughed heartily. "Why do you seem shy now? You used to be so bold when you were a child."

Fearing that Grandma Bei might say something to make Fei Chuan uncomfortable, Bei Sangyun gently turned her around. "Alright, Grandma, you’ve seen him now. Let us be."

Fei Chuan looked up again, his composure seemingly restored. "Won’t she join us for dinner?" he asked.

Grandma Bei appeared to like the idea but quickly changed her mind, thinking this would be a good opportunity for her granddaughter and Fei Chuan to bond.

"Oh no, I have to host the chefs in the kitchen. I’ll be eating with them," she said with a knowing smile. Without further ado, she left, dragging the workers along with her.

Before leaving, Maid Ye Zhai glanced at Bei Sangyun and mouthed, ’Fighting, Young Miss!’

Bei Sangyun smiled in return and mouthed back, ’Take care of Grandma.’

With everyone gone, the mansion suddenly became quiet. freewёbnoνel.com

Bei Sangyun cleared her throat to ease her nerves. "Thank you for coming. I invited you here for dinner instead of meeting somewhere else because it’s much safer. I hope you understand."

"It’s fine. Actually," Fei Chuan said with a gentle tone, "I like that you invited me to your place. It makes it feel as though we’ve grown closer."

Bei Sangyun smile turned deeper. "Yes, we have indeed grown closer."

She led Fei Chuan inside. "This place is a bit smaller compared to the usual villas, but I don’t plan to have a lot of workers."

"It’s lovely," Fei Chuan commented as they passed by the garden. "You have a huge garden."

"Grandma loves planting, so I specifically chose a place with a large lot," Bei Sangyun explained.

Fei Chuan’s gaze fell on the garden through the glass window. His gaze paused. Amid the vibrant greenery, he noticed a patch of dark, dull flowers. They appeared shriveled, as though on the verge of death.

"Those flowers don’t seem to belong in the garden," he remarked.

"Ah, those," Bei Sangyun said with a light chuckle. "They were sent to me anonymously. I asked the gardener to try replanting them here. He said it might be futile because something that’s been cut off might not survive again, especially delicate flowers like these."

Fei Chuan shifted his gaze to the reflection of Bei Sangyun on the glass. His eyes were dark as he asked, "Why don’t you just throw them away? They were given to you by someone you don’t even know."

"I thought about that too," Bei Sangyun answered as she gazed at the shriveled flowers on the corner. "But... I kind of sympathize with them. I couldn’t let them just wither and die. I decided to replant them, and whether they survive or not is up to them now."

Fei Chuan turned his head to look directly at her. The soft light from the background seemed to form a halo around her, just like in the dream he had the night before.

The Bei Sangyun in his dream and the Bei Sangyun standing before him now looked entirely different. The first was cold, expressionless, like a doll moved by invisible strings. The one before him now was gentle, soft, and full of life.

Bei Sangyun turned to him. Her eyes curved as she smiled. "It’s been a few months since then, but they’re still holding on. They may be dark and dull, but it’s remarkable how they’re fighting to survive."

But whether it was the cold, distant smile from his dream or the warm, radiant smile before him now, both sent his world reeling.