Standing Next To You-Chapter 449: Class 3-1A Reunion

The afternoon sunlight streamed through the slightly open window in the study. The rays scattered, and a few glinted off on a small envelope resting on the desk.

Bei Sangyun stared at the invitation on the table, her expression solemn, as though she were contemplating life and death. Maid Ye Zhai placed a cup of tea beside her.

"Young Miss, if you keep staring like that, you’ll burn a hole through it."

Bei Sangyun glanced at her. "Should I go?"

"If you want to, no one can stop you. The choice is yours."

Bei Sangyun sighed and slumped over the desk. In truth, something far more daunting held her back.

She picked up the invitation and studied it again.

Earlier that morning, she had received an invitation from a former high school classmate—the vice president of their class. Perhaps hearing she was back in the country after four years, the classmate had organized a reunion.

Zhong Cheng and the twins had also received invitations. In other words, the entire Class 3-1A was invited.

Ordinarily, Bei Sangyun wouldn’t have cared about a reunion party, much less attending one. But this one was different.

There was a high chance that Fei Chuan, who had been as renowned as she was back in high school, would be there too. After all, he was in the country. Maybe this former classmate had arranged the reunion precisely because the two of them—the ’tyrant’ and the top student—had reappeared at the same time.

Bei Sangyun wanted to go, just to catch a glimpse of him. But she knew she couldn’t bridge the distance between them.

They had crossed paths just a few days ago. Fei Chuan had seen her—she was certain of it—but he acted as if he didn’t recognize her. If he did the same at the reunion, she feared she might lose control. She was already teetering on the edge.

What if she couldn’t hold back? What if she shattered the distance she had so carefully maintained all these years—clinging to him, begging him to look at her again? All her efforts to stay away, every sacrifice she made, would be for nothing.

She only had to wait four more months. Just four months.

But... a quick peek wouldn’t hurt, right? Seeing him from afar would not satisfy her longing, but it would at least ease her desperation of wanting to see him again.

Bei Sangyun wrestled with this thought until the day before the reunion arrived. In her indecision, she called Zhong Cheng and Lin Sanju to ask if they were going. Both gave the same answer.

"We’re coming. How about you, Boss? Are you joining us? I asked brother-in-I mean Fei Chuan yesterday, and he said he’d be there," Zhong Cheng added.

Bei Sangyun fell silent, her gaze drifting to the darkening sky outside the window. Fei Chuan would be there. And she wanted to go. She wanted to see him.

But could she?

"...I don’t know," she whispered. It was all she could say.

The day of the reunion finally arrived.

Bei Sangyun sat by the window, lost in thought. Her unfinished work lay untouched on the desk, exactly as she had left it the day before. She glanced at the vintage clock on the wall. An hour remained until the party began.

Then, as if something inside her snapped, she stood abruptly.

"I’m just going to take a quick peek. Like always. Just a quick look." she told herself. She’d drop by, steal one glance at him, and leave before he could notice her.

Without wasting another second, she hurried to the shower and changed.

.....

The reunion party was organized by Qian Hua, the vice president of Class 3-1A of Tian Shen High. Though he had held the title for two years, Qian Hua’s presence was so overshadowed by the ’tyrant’ that few even knew he was the vice president until their final year.

The tyrant had always been active, favored by teachers, and was always at the center of attention.

But when she abruptly changed, adopting a laid-back attitude and abandoning her duties as class president, Qian Hua finally stepped into the spotlight.

He took over the responsibilities she had left behind. For the first time, his classmates acknowledged his role, and the teachers began to appreciate his leadership and skills.

With this newfound recognition, Qian Hua eagerly took on the task of hosting the first-ever reunion for Class 3-1A. Most of the students accepted the invitation without hesitation.

However, what fueled the growing excitement around the reunion was a circulating rumor—Fei Chuan was back in the country. And it was said that the tyrant had returned as well.

With both of these well-known figures in the same place at the same time, the chance that they might attend the reunion—and cross paths again—made the event even more intriguing.

The disappearance of the two four years ago sparked a scandal that lingered long after their graduation. No one knew what had happened to them, leading to endless speculation.

As time passed and their classmates became busy pursuing degrees and entering the workforce, the mystery of their disappearance gradually faded from memory.

However, news of their possible return, combined with the upcoming reunion, reignited interest in the old event. People couldn’t help but remember the rumors, and anticipation for the reunion grew.

The event was hosted by the Qian family, known for owning several hotels and vast estates across the country. The venue buzzed with activity, and it was clear that the Qian family had spared no expense in preparing for the occasion.

One by one, the guests began to arrive. Squeals of surprise and cheerful greetings echoed through the venue as former classmates reunited. Some hadn’t seen each other since graduation—many had studied abroad or undergone rigorous training to inherit their family businesses. Others, who had crossed paths over the years, exchanged polite greetings, though their reunions lacked the same excitement.

Still, the atmosphere was lively, with conversations buzzing throughout the room. Gradually, the topic shifted to Fei Chuan and Bei Sangyun.

"Do you think they’ll show up today?"

"I heard Fei Chuan attended the Lin family banquet, but the tyrant was nowhere to be seen. Maybe we’ll see him here, but I doubt the tyrant will come."

"You think so? But Fei Chuan’s become unreachable now—he’s standing at a level we can’t even dream of. It makes sense for him to attend the Lin banquet, maybe to see the tyrant. But why would he come to this reunion? He was never close to any of us, except her."

"Maybe he’ll come. And maybe she will too. Haven’t you heard? The tyrant is back in the country."

"That’s just a rumor. No one’s actually seen her yet. They won’t come."

"If you’re so sure, then why are you here?"

"In case I’m wrong. If they do show up, I want to see how they’ve changed after four years."

The group of gossiping classmates exchanged glances, then nodded in agreement.

Everyone was eager to catch a glimpse of the two figures who had once reigned over their high school days. The sudden disappearance of the two had only heightened everyone’s anticipation for their reappearance.