Standing Next To You-Chapter 67: Was it a boy?

A/n: Thanks for waiting!

*****

Bei Sangyun put down the pocket of cookies with a disappointed expression.

This wasn’t it.

She stared at the pile of opened packets of cookies on the passenger seat. She had tried various flavors, but they all tasted the same—flavorless.

The delightful combination of chocolate’s depth and sweetness, complemented by buttery undertones she experienced felt like a dream.

Bei Sangyun licked her lips, savoring the fading memory. She couldn’t possibly have imagined it; it had felt so real. The lingering blissful taste was still on the tip of her tongue, and Bei Sangyun fought to hold onto that memory. She refused to let it slip away.

How long had it been since she could taste anything? After briefly experiencing heaven, returning to that tasteless existence was unbearable. She didn’t want to go back.

But...

Bei Sangyun looked at the pile of cookies. Why couldn’t she taste them again?

"How about trying some other desserts? Maybe cake?" Butler Xin suggested.

He had been watching Bei Sangyun through the rearview mirror as she opened one pack of cookies after another without even finishing the first one. She would take a small bite, frown, and then open another pack.

Her peculiar actions left Butler Xin speechless. He knew Bei Sangyun was a picky eater who found most foods unappealing, but this was something else. Did she want to taste every flavor of cookies in the market?

"No need," Bei Sangyun muttered helplessly.

She set aside the cookies. Her taste had briefly returned, but it seemed to have vanished as quickly as it came. But what had triggered it?

As Bei Sangyun fell into contemplation, Butler Xin brought up the topic of Bei Sangyun’s sudden request earlier.

"Master, for whom did you make the hotel reservation?"

When Bei Sangyun suddenly called him earlier to request a hotel room reservation, it took him by surprise. Initially, he thought it was for her and Grandma Pei. He had advised her that she couldn’t live outside the Lin mansion and couldn’t bring Grandma Pei, who was still receiving treatment at the hospital. frёeωebɳovel.com

However, Bei Sangyun informed him that it wasn’t for herself or her grandmother and then ended the call.

Butler Xin had no choice but to arrange the room and send the details to Bei Sangyun.

"It’s for my classmate," Bei Sangyun replied, her expression furrowing as she thought of that particular classmate.

Fei Chuan had refused to open the door for her, no matter how much she had asked to be let in. Eventually, she waited until class ended.

After receiving the room number and other details from her, Fei Chuan left immediately, running away as if she were some kind of monster. The disgusted look he had thrown at her had left Bei Sangyun speechless.

In the end, she hadn’t been able to get another cookie to test her taste again and ended up buying all the different types of cookies in the market.

"For your classmate? Is there someone in your class worth befriending?" Butler Xin asked, surprised. For Bei Sangyun to help someone in her class, it was clear that her intentions were not purely out of goodwill.

There might be some ulterior motives involved, and Butler Xin suddenly grew curious.

"Yes, there is someone."

"Is that person already acquainted with the first young miss? If that person is allied with Lin Sunji, I think there’s no need to invest in them," Butler Xin advised.

"No, that person doesn’t have any friends. And there’s no way someone like Lin Sunji would be his ally. Lin Sunji is not even worthy of being his subordinate."

Butler Xin raised an eyebrow in surprise.

To think that someone at the school was held in high regard by Bei Sangyun. It seemed that this person had more abilities than Lin Sunji.

"Then you should try to befriend them. Let’s recruit them to our side. Which family are they from? I’ll investigate further and see what we can do to bring them to our side."

"Don’t do that. Unless you want to retire early," Bei Sangyun warned.

If Butler Xin approached Fei Chuan, that man would know that Butler Xin dug into his background.

Knowing Fei Chuan, this will not suit him well and Butler Xin would surely get on his bad side. If that happened, her capable butler would surely suffer in the future. Since Butler Xin would be working for her for a long time, she couldn’t allow him to be entangled in that trouble.

Butler Xin: "...."

So protective, huh? Was it a boy?

He glanced at Bei Sangyun through the rearview mirror but didn’t see any signs of a love-struck young maiden. She still looked like the arrogant, domineering tyrant he knew.

He must be out of his mind for thinking that way.

"Let’s go to the hospital. I’ll be spending my dinner with Grandma," Bei Sangyun stated firmly.

Butler Xin nodded and started to drive, smoothly maneuvering the car through the city streets.

Bei Sangyun looked out the window, her mind preoccupied with her newly gained weapon: the phone she had taken from the big bully.

"Butler Xin, please give me the files regarding Lin Sunji. " Bei Sangyun requested, her tone domineering.

"But you already reviewed the updated files before the school year started. Why do you need them now?" Butler Xin inquired, puzzled by her sudden interest.

Bei Sangyun rolled her eyes in annoyance. "Haven’t we agreed that I don’t need to explain myself every time? Just give me the most recent files. I want to know what she’s currently interested in and her hobbies."

Butler Xin scrutinized her carefully. He had a feeling that his master had an evil plan in mind. However, as long as it served to undermine their enemy and benefit their cause, he was willing to comply.

"Very well, I’ll compile the new information and hand it to you."

Bei Sangyun nodded in satisfaction.

In the world of heirs and heiresses, personal butlers and maids played crucial roles in guiding and assisting them to become suitable heirs. Under the guidance of their capable personal butler, it was common to gather information and employ spies in various places to gain an advantage.

As Bei Sangyun’s personal butler and chief aide, Butler Xin had placed spies strategically throughout his sphere of influence. This network provided him with valuable information that kept them ahead of their rivals.

"I have a suggestion, Master. If you plan to confront her, why not wait until the guests from France arrive? It would be a perfect opportunity to separate her from the Lin family, reducing the competition," Butler Xin advised, his experience guiding his words.

Bei Sangyun considered his suggestion, and an idea began to form in her mind.

"Well, since my all-knowing butler thinks it’s a good idea, why not?" She smiled slyly, her mind already devising a plan to exploit the upcoming opportunity.

****

"Fools! They were caught! How useless!" Lin Sunji screamed in frustration while watching the new video circulating on the school forum.

It was the video of the big bully and his lackeys kneeling on the ground and ’confessing’ their sins. They vowed to be Fei Chuan’s lackey from now on with their hands over their heads.

Lin Sunji impatiently scrolled through the comments section, seeking information about the target’s condition. She had hoped for severe injuries or a trip to the hospital, but to her dismay, the comments suggested that while the target had been beaten badly, he had limped away and disappeared without seeking medical attention.

"Argh! Why is he still fine?! They had plenty of time and people, so why couldn’t they even handle him?" Lin Sunji’s frustration reached its peak, and she impulsively hurled her phone across the room.

"What’s with her? Why did she suddenly intervene now?!" Lin Sunji paced around her room, her frustration boiling over.

All the meticulous planning she had undertaken for the past two years had unraveled in an instant. She had worked tirelessly on her scheme, which had been going smoothly until a few days ago.

That infuriating girl, who had never paid particular attention to her reputation, had suddenly intervened against the bullies who were supposed to be her lackeys.

Lin Sunji had taken great care to paint Bei Sangyun as the tyrant of the school, as per her mother’s wishes. Despite Bei Sangyun’s reign of tyranny, she had chosen to remain quiet and let her reputation spread unchecked. All of this was to benefit her in the long run.

However, this had only served to make Bei Sangyun more popular. While everyone knew that Bei Sangyun was a Lin family member, her own reputation had faded into obscurity, while Bei Sangyun basked in the spotlight. It was a situation that left Lin Sunji seething with irritation.

"What should I do now? I can’t let all my effort go to waste like this." Lin Sunji continued to pace, her mind racing for a solution.

Had that bitch somehow caught wind of her schemes? Was that why she had suddenly intervened, attempting to reverse the situation and cleanse her own reputation?

Lin Sunji couldn’t allow that.

She knew that Bei Sangyun’s reputation wouldn’t change overnight. While the school was still condemning her, Lin Sunji had a chance to strike and prevent Bei Sangyun from turning the tables.

But how?

Her previous scheme to use those bullies to hospitalize the target and frame Bei Sangyun had failed.

Should she seek her mother’s advice on this matter?

Just as Lin Sunji pondered her options, the door to her room opened, revealing Li Mei.

Lin Mei’s gaze immediately fell upon the shattered phone on the floor, and concern creased her features. "What happened?"

"Mom, the plan failed. What should I do? That girl must have figured out my plan," Lin Sunji said, her desperation evident.

"How did it fail?"

Lin Sunji quickly recounted the situation to her mother and implored, "What do we do now? After all the effort I’ve put in, I can’t just abandon my plan."

"My daughter, you need to stay the course with your plan."

"But how? I’ve already failed."

"Your plan didn’t fail; it was the bullies who failed," Lin Mei reassured her daughter, her hands firmly gripping Lin Sunji’s shoulders. "Remember, your goal is to use the target and place the blame on Bei Sangyun. You can still achieve that by using the bullies this time. Then, revert to your original plan and place the blame squarely on her shoulders. Your plan will still work."

The confidence and unwavering support from her mother ignited a fresh wave of determination within Lin Sunji.

Yes, she couldn’t afford to give up now!

With newfound hope and renewed resolve, Lin Sunji’s eyes sparkled as she realized that her plan could still succeed.