Standing Next To You-Chapter 495: Spread Everywhere

Bei Sangyun listened intently as Lin Sanju recounted the full story. As she had suspected, it was indeed Lin Zhe behind the scheme.

"It was thanks to Fei Chuan that we were able to avoid disaster. He helped us a lot this time again. He even captured those people and brought them to me so I could banish Lin Zhe immediately. Without him, I can’t imagine the mess we’d have to clean up." Lin Sanju’s voice was emotional, his loyalty and gratitude toward Fei Chuan growing even stronger after this incident.

He turned to Bei Sangyun. "But because of this, you two are now caught up in rumors. I’m truly sorry, Bei Sangyun. My carelessness has implicated you and Fei Chuan. I deeply apologize."

"Don’t blame yourself," Bei Sangyun replied calmly. "We were already on guard. We just didn’t anticipate Lin Zhe to be ruthless enough to pull something like this. What’s important now is how you handle things moving forward. You’re the official heir of this family now. You need to focus on leading these people, especially with the first branch still in your midst."

Lin Sanju nodded resolutely. "I understand. Are you leaving already?"

"Yes. My business here is done."

Lin Sanju hesitated, wanting to say more. He wanted to tell her how the old man had been waiting for her arrival or how Lin Ginxian had spoken up for her the previous day. But knowing Bei Sangyun, he decided against it and kept quiet.

As they made their way out of the mansion, Lin Dayun, who had heard about Bei Sangyun’s presence at the main mansion, was standing outside. She pretended to be surprised, acting as though their encounter was coincidental.

"Cousin, you’re leaving already?" Lin Dayun exclaimed with a bright, feigned enthusiasm.

Bei Sangyun paused mid-step, her eyes narrowing slightly as she took in Lin Dayun, who stood deliberately in her path.

"We haven’t had the chance to get acquainted," Lin Dayun continued with a sugary smile. "But I’ve heard so much about you."

Bei Sangyun raised an eyebrow. Based on what she remembered of Lin Dayun from her past life, this woman’s pride was even taller than Lin Sunji’s. But unlike Lin Sunji, Lin Dayun was smarter and much better at hiding her true self.

There was no way a person like her would initiate a greeting simply out of a desire to be acquainted.

"I’m no longer a Lin. So, I’m not your cousin anymore," Bei Sangyun said coldly, bypassing her without hesitation.

But Lin Dayun wasn’t one to give up so easily. She followed closely behind.

"I heard about that too. You’ve got quite the guts to go against Grandpa. I have to admire you for that," Lin Dayun said, her tone deliberately light.

Bei Sangyun ignored her and kept walking, her expression unchanging.

"Yesterday, Cousin Lin Zhe went too far with his prank," Lin Dayun continued. "I’m truly worried about you and Mr. Fei. Because of what he did, Mr. Fei’s reputation has been tremendously implicated. But I know your relationship with him is nothing more than friendship. I could help clear up the rumors—"

Bei Sangyun abruptly stopped and turned to face Lin Dayun. Her sharp gaze made the latter falter.

"That’s a generous offer," Bei Sangyun said, her voice icy. "But I know how to handle it. If you’re truly concerned about me, I suggest you stepped out of the way and do nothing."

Without waiting for a response, Bei Sangyun turned and walked away, her imposing aura leaving Lin Dayun rooted to the spot.

Lin Dayun stared after her, taken aback. The concerned expression she had worn moments ago vanished, replaced by one of irritation.

"Whatever you’re planning, don’t do it. You’re no match for her."

A weak voice sounded behind her. Lin Dayun turned to see Lin Fei, and she barely resisted rolling her eyes. With feigned politeness, she greeted him.

"...Cousin Lin Fei."

"You’re smart, so I trust you’ll make the right choice," Lin Fei said calmly, though his tone carried a hint of warning. "Don’t follow in Lin Zhe’s footsteps. And I’m sure you know what happened to Lin Sunji before, right? If you don’t want to join her on that list, don’t provoke someone you can’t outsmart."

Lin Dayun’s expression remained neutral, though irritation flickered in her eyes. "What are you talking about, Cousin? I have no such intentions. Anyway, you don’t look well. Are you sure you should be outside for this long?"

Lin Fei studied her innocent, concerned face, but he could sense the subtle mockery in her tone.

He sighed, too tired to spar with her. Coughing lightly, he said, "Whatever. I’m just reminding you out of familial duty."

Without another word, he turned and walked away.

Lin Dayun’s polite smile dropped the moment he left. Her true feelings seeped through as she smirked to herself.

But Lin Fei had made a point. Bei Sangyun wasn’t someone she could easily take on. She was, after all, a woman who had Fei Chuan wrapped around her finger. Their brief exchange earlier had already proven that Bei Sangyun was a fortress not easily breached.

"Tsk. This is really frustrating," Lin Dayun muttered to herself. Perhaps she needed to latch onto the fourth branch first and get them on her side. If she could win their favor, she might stand a chance against Bei Sangyun.

However, Lin Dayun was soon proven wrong. No matter how hard she tried to ingratiate herself with the fourth branch, she was never considered equal to Bei Sangyun. No matter what she does to get in their good sides, their loyalty and respect to Bei Sangyun was unrivaled.

...

The rumors of Fei Chuan being found with a woman in bed at the Lin family’s banquet spread like wildfire.

Fei Chuan’s reputation as a high-profile individual, closely associated with the James family, ensured that any news involving him would grab attention instantly—not just in Country C, but globally.

Within hours, the scandal had reached across borders, making its way into articles, news reports, and social media.

Bei Sangyun acted swiftly, suppressing the rumors as best she could. She didn’t want to implicate or trouble Fei Chuan with such a trivial matter, so she took it upon herself to handle the situation meticulously.

Starting with the banquet guests, she negotiated with those present, ensuring they kept silent. She also dealt with the staff who had been on duty, offering bribes where necessary and issuing stern warnings where money wasn’t enough. From the attendees to the media outlets, she hunted down every possible source of the rumor.

She worked tirelessly to erase the articles and news reports, using force when needed. The effort required significant financial resources, and she spent a staggering amount to wipe all digital and physical traces of the story.

But despite her efforts, she was too late. The damage was already done. By the time the scandal had been "erased," countless people had already read about it. The story had been shared, discussed, and dissected worldwide.

What Bei Sangyun couldn’t erase were the memories of those who had seen or heard of the incident. Nor could she control what people whispered about behind closed doors.

Sitting alone in her study, she sighed heavily, her fingers gripping the edge of the table.

"I should’ve left this matter to Butler Xin before I slept," she muttered in frustration. Her oversight gnawed at her. The night before, she had been too comfortable, too preoccupied, and had let her guard down.

Now, even though she had managed to erase the visible traces of the scandal, the damage remained. The rumors persisted, lingering in people’s minds like an unwanted shadow.

Her regret deepened as she thought about the fallout. Bei Sangyun could clean up the mess, but she couldn’t undo the stain it had left on Fei Chuan’s reputation.

"You shouldn’t worry too much, Young Miss." Maid Ye Zhai placed a cup of tea gently on the table beside Bei Sangyun. Her calm demeanor carried an air of reassurance. "You’ve done your best. No one can find any trace of the story online, and any possible source of the rumors have accepted your bargains. Without proof or witnesses willing to speak, the rumors will fade. People have no choice but to doubt it. Soon, they’ll forget."

Bei Sangyun took a deep breath and sipped the tea. Maid Ye Zhai’s words has a point. Without evidence, the rumors were just whispers in the wind. Fei Chuan could deny them confidently, and no one would dare question him without tangible proof.

"You’re right," Bei Sangyun said, her composure returning. "People will forget soon enough."

She leaned back in her chair, letting the tension in her shoulders melt away. After all the frantic work she’d done to suppress the scandal, it seemed like she could finally breathe.

But her relief was short-lived.

The next night, as she sat in her study reviewing reports, her phone buzzed incessantly. At first, she ignored it, assuming it was another update from her contacts. But when the buzz turned into a stream of notifications, she sensed something was wrong.

Picking up the phone, her heart stopped as she stared at the headlines plastered across the screen.

A prominent news outlet in Country A had splashed Fei Chuan’s face on their front page, his sharp features unmistakable as he attended another banquet abroad.

[Going Back to Country C: Is It to Marry?]

[The Mysterious Woman of Mr. Fei, Unraveled!]

[Mr. Fei Is Dating? A Woman Surnamed Bei!]

Bei Sangyun shot to her feet, her eyes wide in disbelief. The tea cup on the table rattled from the sudden movement.

"What—what is this?" she stammered, her voice trembling.

Her hands gripped the phone tightly as she scrolled through the articles. Fei Chuan’s name and image were everywhere, linked to her own. The photographs were clear —shots of him at the recent banquet, along with captions speculating about their supposed relationship. There was even a statement below.

[...Mr. Fei vaguely answered, "Yeah, I know her. We were together at that time."

Was she the person Mr. Fei returned to Country C for?]

Her breath came in shallow gasps. There was no way Fei Chuan would answer like this! Couldn’t anyone see that no one in their right mind would dig a grave for themselves?