Standing Next To You-Chapter 451: He won’t smile at her

"But hasn’t he changed so much? I was a member of his fan club in high school. We used to follow him everywhere, and every time we approached him, he would glare at us. But now, no matter how much our classmates pester him, he just keeps smiling."

"You noticed that too? It feels like our glaring prince has disappeared."

"Not that it matters. The smiling, seductive version of him is even more handsome. I nearly fainted from that smile."

"Exactly! Back then, I couldn’t even touch the hem of his clothes. Now, I actually held his hand!"

"I know, right? I even flirted with him earlier, and he flirted back! Do you think he’s finally open to a relationship? Maybe the rumor about him and the tyrant breaking up is true after all."

"So... do we have a chance?"

The women exchanged eager glances, their eyes sparkling with hope. Without hesitation, they stood up and joined the line again, ignoring the burning pain in their heels.

In the dimly lit corner, Bei Sangyun stood silently, her fists clenched. She had noticed the change too, but unlike them, it didn’t surprise her. After all, she had already seen this version of Fei Chuan in her past life—a Casanova who could seduce anyone with just a flick of his finger.

But... she missed the old Fei Chuan—the one who used to hide behind her, using her as a shield to fend off other women.

Her gaze shifted back to Fei Chuan, who continued smiling politely and exchanging greetings. The women around him seemed to melt under the glow of his dazzling smile.

How she wished she could be the one receiving those smiles again.

Bei Sangyun watched as the same group of women from earlier managed to squeeze back into the line, surrounding Fei Chuan once more. They said something, and the entire group burst into laughter, including Fei Chuan. The atmosphere around him was lively and warm.

But Bei Sangyun couldn’t bring herself to smile.

He looked so happy. She had told him to be happy, hadn’t she? So why... why couldn’t she feel happy for him? She was truly selfish and cruel for not wanting the person she loved to be happy without her.

’Then does it mean we stand a chance?’ That woman’s question echoed in her mind, gnawing at her.

The urge to confront them flared—she wanted to scream that they shouldn’t dare. But what right did she have? She had lost that right the moment she walked away from him. She had already crossed a dangerous line when she threatened those women at the bar. She couldn’t allow herself to make the same mistake again.

Bei Sangyun clenched her fists so tightly that her nails dug into her palms, as if the pain could stop her from storming over and claiming the place she still ached for—by his side. Watching him like this was both a blissful torment and an unbearable longing.

After a long internal struggle, Bei Sangyun took a deep breath, her heart heavy with unspoken emotions. Silently, she turned and slipped away from the hall.

At the center of the room, Fei Chuan’s smile faltered as the strange sensation of being watched faded. He instinctively raised his head, scanning the room, and his eyes caught a fleeting glimpse—a familiar figure disappearing through the door.

His gaze darkened.

"Mr. Fei? Will you be available? I promise it will be worth your time," one of the women coaxed, her voice light with anticipation.

Fei Chuan turned back toward her, smiling—but the warmth in his expression was gone, replaced by something distant, almost mechanical. "Excuse me for a moment," he said politely, though the words lacked sincerity.

Without waiting for a response, Fei Chuan stepped away from the crowd and followed the path that figure had taken.

.....

Bei Sangyun hurried out of the hall, her footsteps echoing faintly in the corridor. She pressed a hand against her chest, trying to steady her breath. Seeing him again had made her heart ache with both joy and torment. It was foolish, really—she had wanted to see him, even knowing it would hurt.

His smile lingered in her mind. Fei Chuan had looked so alive, so effortlessly radiant as he conversed with their former classmates. Even the ones who had bullied him—he smiled at them.

But for her? Not once. Not even a trace of a smile.

When they met in the elevator, he was expressionless and didn’t utter a word. She was no longer worthy of a smile from him, even if it had been a fake one.

This realization twisted her chest painfully.

’Does that mean... I’m worse than them?’

A bitter smile curled her lips. Of course, she was worse. She hadn’t just bullied him during high school; she had clung to him, drawn him in, made him fall... only to leave him in the end. She was the cruelest of them all.

Even worse than the Fei and Chuan families who had abandoned him.

By the time Bei Sangyun reached the parking lot, she was barely holding herself together. She leaned against the cold wall, gasping for air, as if it could calm the storm of emotions raging inside her.

"What if, after all this, he doesn’t want me back?" Bei Sangyun muttered softly.

A new wave of fear crashed over her. Even if she found the answers she sought—would it matter?

Would Fei Chuan forgive her?

Would he still care for her?

What if... he didn’t?

What if he had moved on entirely, and there was no place for her in his life anymore?

The flood of doubts was overwhelming, suffocating her with every ’what if.’ Despair clung to her, dragging her deeper into a place she feared she couldn’t escape.

"Bei Sangyun?"

Cutting through the heavy silence, a man’s voice reached her.

Startled, she looked up.

Before her stood a tall, handsome man with striking features, his gaze filled with a mix of curiosity and concern. He seemed familiar, but in her current state, her mind couldn’t recall him.

And, frankly, she didn’t care. Not right now.

She straightened her posture, ready to leave, but the man stepped forward, a look of recognition crossing his face. "It’s really you. Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten about me? It’s me, Jang Shin. Are you alright?"