Standing Next To You-Chapter 221: Do you believe me now?

The homecoming dance started with vigor but ended in an unsettling atmosphere. The crowd wasn’t provided a satisfying answer, and curiosity lingered about the authenticity of the ’Tears of Mermaid’ adorning Bei Sangyun’s ears.

Reporters were quicker off the mark, promptly reaching out to the group that had auctioned the ’Tears of Mermaid.’ The company from Country G was inundated with emails and calls that night.

Before Bei Sangyun departed, she sought out the Principal and exposed the perpetrator behind the disturbance.

"Shouldn’t the person responsible for this face the consequences of ruining this event? Not only did she spoil my moment, but she also tarnished the school’s reputation."

The principal perspired, "I understand. I, too, want to mete out punishment, but..." He glanced at Bei Sangyun with a pleading gaze, "...she is your family. Shouldn’t this be discussed within your family first?"

The principal was afraid that if he gave punishment to Lin Sunji, the Lin family would take it out on him.

He stood on Bei Sangyun’s side not only because she ranked number one, but also because the Lin family was behind her. Reporting and punishing Lin Sunji would be like acting against the Lin family. Since Bei Sangyun was from the Lin family, the principal hoped that she would handle this matter.

Bei Sangyun understood his predicament and nodded, "Don’t worry about the Lin family. I’ll handle it. Just do what the school needs to do for students who cause trouble."

"...Then, is a one-week suspension enough?"

Bei Sangyun’s expression did not change. She stared at the principal calmly, but her cold gaze made him sweat bullets.

The principal wiped the perspiration on his forehead. "...How about one month of suspension?"

"Add a public apology for ruining the whole event," Bei Sangyun finally spoke.

"Yes. Yes," the principal nodded vigorously.

Bei Sangyun settled the matter with the principal and left.

Fei Chuan was waiting for her on the side. She hooked her arm with his and winked, "Let’s go."

The principal: "...."

He could not help but muttered to himself, "Why am I being treated worse than a student? I’m a principal, for goodness’ sake!"

....

The white phantom departed, leaving everyone in awe. Despite the questions lingering in everyone’s minds, the two figures who had captivated the crowd exited just as they had arrived—grand and graceful.

Inside the white limousine, Bei Sangyun began discussing the aftermath of the incident with Fei Chuan, "I’ll contact the company that auctioned the earrings and transfer them to my name. I need the full details; you can email them to me. I’ll handle the press, so please stay still and don’t expose anything."

Fei Chuan stared at her for a while and couldn’t help but ask, "Why aren’t you asking me anything?"

Fei Chuan understood that Bei Sangyun was doing this to protect him. She must be aware of his situation in the Fei family.

An unfavored young master of the Fei family suddenly showing up with a phantom white limousine and earrings worth six million dollars—no matter how you look at it, it was very suspicious.

How could a person like him own such things?

Fei Chuan knew he was suspicious, and he expected Bei Sangyun to start interrogating him. However, after the event, Bei Sangyun did not ask him. She protected him unconditionally.

Doesn’t she want to know what kind of secrets he has?

Bei Sangyun also stared back at him. A smile slowly formed on the corner of her lips, "Why? Do I look cool for protecting you without asking anything? Do you like me even more now?"

Fei Chuan: "...."

How could she joke around at a time like this?

Seeing his expression turning stiff, Bei Sangyun coughed embarrassingly and answered him honestly, "Everyone has secrets. We are not married yet, so you can keep your secret for now. If you are wondering why I am not asking how you got those things, I already know how capable you are. You have ways to get them. But, since you are not being public about it, I bet you don’t want other people to figure it out. You are still trying to grow out of their radar. And I want to protect that."

Bei Sangyun looked at him solemnly, "I don’t want you to blow your cover because of me. Please continue to do what you are doing and don’t mind me."

Fei Chuan met her intense gaze. His heart seemed to burn under those eyes.

"...Why? Why are you going this far for me?"

Why do you want to protect me? Why are you being so good to me?

Fei Chuan didn’t know how to face this side of Bei Sangyun. He clenched his fist as he continued,

"You are so strange. You act kindly toward me sometimes but ruthlessly the next moment. I can’t help but think that everything you are doing is just a joke to you. If you are protecting me because of a whim, then don’t do it. I am not someone who needs your protection."

Bei Sangyun’s series of actions confused Fei Chuan. It didn’t matter if he exposed his identity since he was the one who gave the gift to Bei Sangyun. It was his choice, and he was prepared to face the consequences of his actions. But Bei Sangyun had no apparent reason to protect him.

If she was doing this just because she was bored or out of some simple reason like ’pity’, Fei Chuan didn’t need it.

Bei Sangyun blinked. Was she that complicated in his eyes?

She thought she was being straightforward with him and conveying her message clearly. But this whole time, he thought she was just playing tricks on him?

Bei Sangyun lowered her gaze and carefully selected her words. What did she need to do to make him believe that she was being sincere?

"..Didn’t I tell you I want to marry you?" That message was clear enough. "I want to marry you because I want to treat you well," Bei Sangyun sincerely said.

However, Fei Chuan sneered.

"At the beginning of the year, you clearly wanted me to disappear from your life. You even let others bully me so I wouldn’t stand in your way. I am the person you loathed since we were kids. And now, you suddenly want to marry me? Only a fool would believe you."

Bei Sangyun’s eyes widened. She was dumbfounded. So all this time, she was confessing to him, but he didn’t believe it?

What about all the efforts she had gone through?

It’s no wonder Fei Chuan was like a block of wood whenever she ’confessed’. Because he didn’t believe a single thing she said!

That’s why there was no ’progress’ that Zhong Cheng was talking about because the other party blocked the message from getting across.

"That...we discussed already that I don’t hate you or loathe you. Regarding what happened when we were kids, it’s already in the past," Bei Sangyun tried to explain.

Fei Chuan narrowed his gaze, not believing her.

Bei Sangyun was frustrated. "Didn’t I stick to you every day, choose to sit beside you, and select you as my partner in this homecoming dance because I wanted to grow a relationship with you?"

Fei Chuan scoffed, "I have a sharp memory. You did all those things to annoy me."

Bei Sangyun frowned. She tried to explain her past actions, but Fei Chuan had a perfect rebuttal for each of them.

Bei Sangyun grew frustrated.

What could she do to make him believe that she was genuinely serious about treating him well?

At this moment, Bei Sangyun wished Zhong Cheng were here, hoping he could provide the answer she desperately needed.

Fei Chuan observed her face as it shifted through different expressions.

His perturbed heart finally calmed down a bit. He felt a bit ridiculous. Why was he being so petty, expressing his grievances like a child?

However, it was oddly satisfying to see Bei Sangyun frustrated because of him.

This was the feeling he had experienced since becoming her seatmate. He was constantly caught in a web of confusion, attempting to decipher the intention behind her actions, until he eventually gave up trying to find meaning and accepted that she was just bizarre.

Finally, he felt like he had avenged himself.

An idea suddenly entered Bei Sangyun’s mind. Just as Fei Chuan was relishing the satisfaction of messing with Bei Sangyun’s mind for the first time, she abruptly grabbed his collar and closed the distance between them.

Fei Chuan was taken aback. The sudden pull forced his upper body to lean towards Bei Sangyun.

In a flash, Bei Sangyun’s lips were on his.

Fei Chuan barely had time to widen his eyes when Bei Sangyun let him go. Her face was entirely red as she angrily stated, "It’s my first kiss in both lifetimes. I gave you my first kiss; that is serious enough, right? Do you believe me now?"

Fei Chuan: "...."

****