Standing Next To You-Chapter 477: Blurred Lines

Lin Sunji moved closer to get a better view, but the guests ahead blocked her line of sight.

"Don’t they look intimate? I think we’ll have a Mrs. Lin soon," the man in the dark blue suit added, earning murmurs of agreement from the group.

Lin Sunji frowned deeply. This man was stirring up wild speculation. There’s no way there’s going to be a Mrs. Lin anytime soon, she thought. Her brother wasn’t even interested in socializing with women, let alone forming an intimate connection.

The spread of such baseless rumors could cause misunderstandings, especially in a setting where his brother would be announced as an heir. It could potentially harm her brother’s reputation.

Lin Sunji was about to step forward and rebuke the man for his assumptions when the crowd ahead finally shifted, revealing the scene at the front.

She froze mid-step.

Her brother, Lin Sanju was speaking to none other than Bei Sangyun. But what made her pause was the person standing quietly behind Bei Sangyun-- Zhong Cheng.

Lin Sunji froze momentarily at the sight, but the initial shock quickly gave way to fury. Forgetting everything she had planned to say, she bolted toward the entrance.

"Zhong Cheng! You damn bastard!" she yelled. If not for her heels and dress, she would have already lunged at him.

Zhong Cheng flinched at the sight of Lin Sunji charging toward him like a storm. Panic flashed across his face as he glanced between Bei Sangyun and Lin Sanju.

"I-I’ll be leaving now. Please take care of my boss. Bye!" he stammered, then turned and dashed toward the exit without another word.

Lin Sunji muttered a curse under her breath and chased after him, her movements hindered only slightly by her attire. As she passed by Bei Sangyun, she nodded awkwardly in acknowledgment.

"Hey. Talk to you later," she said hastily before resuming her pursuit.

Bei Sangyun and Lin Sanju stood in stunned silence, exchanging a brief, confused glance.

"...Well," Lin Sanju said after a moment, turning back to Bei Sangyun with a warm smile. His surprise and joy at seeing her were evident. "Let’s go inside. Mom and Dad will be thrilled to see you."

He extended his hand toward her, and after a brief hesitation, Bei Sangyun accepted it.

The two entered together, heading toward the fourth branch’s table, completely unaware of the whirlwind of gossip brewing among the guests who had witnessed their interaction.

....

Li Mei and Lin Ruo were overwhelmed with tears of joy upon seeing Bei Sangyun again. Though they longed to say so much, they restrained themselves under the watchful eyes of the guests, choosing instead to embrace her tightly.

Their warm and attentive welcome caught the attention of the onlookers, who murmured among themselves in curiosity.

"Who is she?"

"She seems familiar, but I can’t place her."

The questions buzzed through the crowd, but no one could pinpoint Bei Sangyun’s identity.

Her four-year absence from the public eye had erased her presence from their minds. Furthermore, she was a teenager back then. Four years had passed, transforming her completely into a woman.

Bei Sangyun, however, had no interest in introducing herself or explaining her return. She was here only to witness Lin Sanju claim the heirship title and, more importantly, to see Fei Chuan. After that, she would leave quietly.

Her gaze briefly lowered to the dark purple purse in her hand, perfectly complementing her elegant dress. It was the one Fei Chuan had gifted her, and she silently hoped he would notice that she cherished it.

Before long, Old Master Lin and the other elders entered the banquet hall, their presence commanding immediate respect and attention.

The old man was preoccupied talking to his only daughter and his granddaughter, whom he hadn’t seen in years. They entered the banquet together which caused the guests to be curious about the new arrivals.

Behind them was the silent Lin Ginxian, slightly behind, and overlooked.

Bei Sangyun’s expression remained calm and composed as she watched the procession.

Old Master Lin was still laughing at something his second granddaughter from the States had said, but when his gaze landed on the fourth branch’s table and he spotted Bei Sangyun, his smile faltered.

Lin Ginxian, walking behind him, froze as well, both men unable to conceal their shock at seeing her.

Their uncharacteristic reactions drew the attention of those around them. Old Master Lin’s sixth child and only daughter, Lin Yin, looked in the direction where he was looking. Her daughter, Lin Dayun, also looked toward Bei Sangyun.

The other guests followed their gazes to Bei Sangyun, whose poised demeanor contrasted sharply with the astonishment on the elders’ faces.

A ripple of murmurs spread through the room as people speculated about what had caused such a reaction.

Meanwhile, Li Mei and Lin Ruo sat stiffly, tension radiating from them as they nervously anticipated how the situation might unfold.

Fortunately, Old Master Lin quickly composed himself and continued forward, seamlessly resuming his role as host. He greeted the big shots with his usual grace, and the harmonious atmosphere of the banquet carried on.

Lin Ginxian, however, couldn’t help but glance at Bei Sangyun from time to time. Though his words to the guests were polished, his slight distraction did not go unnoticed.

While Lin Yin and Lin Dayun threw glances in Bei Sangyun’s direction indiscreetly.

Bei Sangyun remained indifferent.

Li Mei, sitting beside Bei Sangyun, leaned over and passed her a glass of water. "If there’s anything you need, don’t hesitate to tell me. I hope you’ll feel comfortable here with us."

Bei Sangyun took the glass and looked at Li Mei.

The woman before her seemed so different from the one she remembered. The layers of jewelry that once adorned her from head to toe and the sophisticated makeup that made her intimidating were gone.

Now, she wore only a simple family necklace and understated earrings. Her appearance was simpler but elegant, free from the pretension of the past. ƒreewebɳovel.com

For a moment, Bei Sangyun blinked, her mind flashing back to the Li Mei of her previous life—the arrogant stubborn woman who had knelt before her, disheveled and desperate.

She could still hear the couple’s voices, trembling as they begged her to spare their family. She recalled their hands, once pampered and soft, now battered and worn from harsh labor—

"Dear—"

Li Mei’s soft hand gently clasped hers, pulling Bei Sangyun from her thoughts. Bei Sangyun looked up, startled, and met Li Mei’s warm, genuine gaze.

"I am truly grateful that you gave us a chance," Li Mei said, her voice steady and full of heartfelt sincerity. "Because of you, my husband and I were able to save our family. Without you, this family would have fallen apart. So, dear, I hope you’ll consider us family, too. I hope you’ll also give yourself a chance to belong to a family."

Li Mei squeezed Bei Sangyun’s hand. "And we would be so honored to be your family."

Bei Sangyun’s gaze dropped to their joined hands. A heaviness filled her chest, yet at the same time, there was warmth—a complicated, indescribable feeling that swirled within her.

"Take your time, dear," Li Mei continued softly. "We’ll always be here for you. Our arms are always open."

Bei Sangyun slowly raised her head, meeting Li Mei’s eyes once more. There was a motherly warmth in them, something tender and sincere.

But how had those same eyes looked in her past life?

Her memories were hazy now. How had they gazed back at her when Li Mei had knelt before her, broken and defeated?

She... couldn’t remember. Or perhaps she preferred this Li Mei compared to the previous one.

Bei Sangyun smiled faintly. "Uh... thanks."

Li Mei returned the smile warmly.

That small response was enough for her—for now. She understood that, given their complicated history, it would be difficult for Bei Sangyun to fully trust her. Still, she was patient. She and the rest of her family were willing to wait, however long it took, for Bei Sangyun to open her heart to them.

Bei Sangyun’s gaze shifted forward, and she unintentionally locked eyes with Lin Ginxian. The latter froze for a moment, obviously startled that their gazes had met, before quickly composing himself. Pressing his lips together, he returned his attention to the guest he had been speaking to, though his posture seemed slightly stiff.

Bei Sangyun lowered her eyes, her expression unreadable.

This is exactly why I didn’t want to come here.

The memories she had buried deep within herself were beginning to resurface, unbidden. They overlapped with the present, colliding and weaving together, blurring the lines between the past and the present.

It was unsettling. Confusing.

She clenched her fists subtly in her lap. Why couldn’t they have just stayed enemies? Or strangers?

She would have preferred that. At least then, she could have maintained a clear boundary between herself and them. But now, they were people who seemed to want a role in her life, a connection she hadn’t anticipated—or wanted.

And that blurred everything even more.