Standing Next To You-Chapter 390: Negotiation

Another tense morning arrived at the Fei mansion.

The visitor who came yesterday had returned. This time, Head Master Fei did not allow them inside the mansion and quickly turned them away.

Inside his office, Butler Zhao reported the departure of the visitors.

"They want to deliver the same message again. Before they left, Mr. Xin and the lawyer said they would come again tomorrow."

Yesterday, after that eventful night, Bei Sangyun sent her lawyer and her representative to the Fei house. Their visit took Head Master Fei by surprise. It seemed he wasn’t the only one who had sent people to the other party.

Bei Sangyun’s quick action certainly surprised him.

Curious about why she sent her people, Head Master Fei had let them in. However, his curiosity turned to fury when they suddenly initiated a negotiation with a ridiculous demand.

They proposed that if he agreed to relinquish control over Fei Chuan and protect him from the other family members, they would not file a lawsuit or escalate the matter.

In other words, she was asking him to drop the entire issue, including the threats Fei Chuan had made that night, and grant Fei Chuan his freedom from the family.

Head Master Fei was incensed upon hearing this. How could he simply let the matter go?

There were numerous questions concerning Fei Chuan. He needed to know how that child had acquired such sensitive information and who he was collaborating with.

Besides, Fei Chuan was his grandson. He didn’t need an outsider to tell him to protect his own family. Fei Chuan was a Fei, and his place was with the Fei family.

Moreover, he had already shown enough mercy by not detaining her, yet she had the nerve to make such demands! Whose face was ruined that night? His!

Head Master Fei was truly annoyed. "That girl has big guts, but she is fickle. She claimed she wanted to settle this issue in court, yet she keeps sending her lawyer to negotiate with us. Since she isn’t afraid to make a bigger mess out of this, she should abide by her words."

"She must be afraid of the consequences. Winning or losing would damage her reputation and the Lins’. After calming down, she must have thought about the responsibilities she would have to face afterward, which might be why she changed her mind," Butler Zhao voiced his speculation.

Head Master Fei narrowed his eyes.

Did she really change her mind as Butler Zhao guessed? After all that big talk?

Head Master Fei scoffed, "She sent Fei Jian away rudely. She doesn’t seem interested in settling this peacefully. The Lin family isn’t cooperating either. I thought they at least wanted to avoid clashing with us, but they decided to play the bystander instead. Does that old man really trust her that much?"

Head Master Fei believed that Bei Sangyun’s position in the Lin family was the weakest and that there might be a chance the Lin family would hand her and Fei Chuan over. As long as he secured Fei Chuan and their secrets, he wouldn’t need to be patient with the Lins anymore.

"According to the spies’ reports, the first and fifth branches have been fabricating stories and spreading them at the gatherings they attended. They are also gathering witnesses to testify against Bei Sangyun in case they are summoned to court."

Head Master Fei chuckled. It seemed he was still right. That girl’s status in the family was still precarious.

"Those fools are too blinded by greed. No wonder Old Lin didn’t want to name an heir among his sons. They are hopeless. The Lin family will surely be left in ruins under their hands."

Thinking of the hopeless situation of the Lin family, Head Master Fei’s expression finally lightened a bit.

"How about the task I assigned? Did our people succeed in winning over the guests? With those fools inadvertently helping us, we should have the guests agreeing by now."

"Our people are on the move, Sir. We will receive the news by this afternoon—" Butler Zhao’s words were interrupted by a phone call. It was from one of his men.

Head Master Fei gestured for him to put it on speaker.

The voice of his subordinate sounded on the phone.

"Butler Zhao, this is bad. The others and I visited all the major guests yesterday, but none of them agreed to testify for us! Even the lesser guests, whom I asked my colleagues to approach, turned away our gifts! They said they wouldn’t lie, even if we bribed them!"

Head Master Fei and Butler Zhao were both stunned.

All the guests who attended the recent banquet were acquaintances of the Fei family. Some of them wanted to use the Fei family as a bridge to connect with other powerhouses, while others were trying to curry favor with them.

If the guests were given a choice between the Fei family and the Lin family, they would obviously choose the former.

That was why Head Master Fei wasn’t too worried about the guests’ testimonies—he knew they would be on his side.

So what was going on?

Head Master Fei’s face was glum. "Tell me in detail."

His firm and solemn voice was recognized by the subordinate.

"H-head Master! Uhm..." The subordinate on the other line struggled for a moment.

"You don’t have to sugarcoat your words. Tell me honestly what the guests said."

"Yes, s-sir."

According to the subordinate, the visits to the first three guests on their list went smoothly. As representatives sent by Head Master Fei, they were treated quite well.

They first provided the ’explanation’ that Head Master Fei had promised at the banquet, mixing lies with truth and twisting events in the way the Fei family preferred. The guests weren’t fools; they understood the hint the Fei family wanted to convey.

They even gave out the ’tokens of appreciation,’ which brightened the guests’ faces. Before the subordinate left, the guests gave their word that they would help if the Fei family called upon them.

They thought they had sealed the deal. However, things started to go wrong on their fourth visit.