Standing Next To You-Chapter 511: Why can’t it be me?

In the dim parking lot, Driver Chen smoked a cigarette—something he rarely did.

He had done it again, revealing his master’s location because of that man.

Driver Chen glanced at the Maybach parked some distance away.

Would those two be okay?

When that young man had called earlier to ask where his master was, his voice had been so heavy and intimidating that even Driver Chen, who usually hesitated to give out such information, had blurted out the answer without thinking.

Finishing the cigarette, Driver Chen flicked it to the ground. He reached into his pocket for another, but stopped himself. He didn’t want to get addicted. Sighing, he decided to look for a nearby convenience store instead.

It seemed those two were in for a long talk.

.....

A heavy silence hung in the air inside the car.

On the back seat, Bei Sangyun and Fei Chuan sat by the windows, a noticeable distance separating them.

"...This is the only place I could think of as safe. I hope you understand," Bei Sangyun explained. She couldn’t risk bringing Fei Chuan back to the restaurant or her office; she was terrified they might be seen together again, like last time.

The dim lighting inside the car cast shadows across Fei Chuan’s face, concealing half of his expression. He remained silent.

Bei Sangyun sensed something was wrong. He had sounded so urgent earlier, but now he was terrifyingly calm. This kind of tense silence was unlike him. She carefully tried to gauge his mood. "...What is it you want to talk about? If I could help—"

"Bei Sangyun." Fei Chuan cut her off. He turned to face her, his eyes deep and intense amidst the dim lighting. "Do you hate me?"

Bei Sangyun was stunned by the sudden question. She immediately answered, "Of course not."

"Do you dislike me?"

"No. Why are you asking this?"

"Then why did you choose to ruin your own name just to save mine?" Fei Chuan’s voice was low and restrained, but the intensity of his emotions was palpable, like a dam about to burst. "...Why did it have to be George Henson? You know what kind of person he is, don’t you? He treats women like..." Fei Chuan’s voice trailed off, his jaw tightening. He took a deep breath.

Bei Sangyun blinked as realization struck her. She finally understood what this was about.

Awkwardly scratching the back of her head, she replied, "He’s the only person who can rival you in terms of fame. I couldn’t pick someone from the James family because of your affiliation with them. George Henson was the best choice."

"...Best? Do you really think this is the best, Bei Sangyun?"

Bei Sangyun bit her lip. "...Yes." She would rather drag George Henson down with her than see Fei Chuan’s name tarnished.

Fei Chuan’s gaze darkened further.

"...I can’t understand why you would choose this method. The Hensons won’t let you smear their name. George Henson won’t protect you."

"I know. I’ve already made preparations for that."

"Your name and your company will take the fall."

"I’m well prepared."

"People will relentlessly harass you. They won’t care about the truth."

"I’m well aware."

Bei Sangyun always had an answer, and she sounded so determined that it pushed Fei Chuan—who was already on the brink of exploding—further into madness.

"Do you really have to go that far?" Fei Chuan suddenly asked, his voice breaking the tense silence. "...Why can’t it be me? I told you—you can trust me and rely on me. I thought I was your friend."

Bei Sangyun froze, stunned by his words. She hadn’t expected Fei Chuan to feel this way. She instinctively inched closer, wanting to bridge the distance between them, but stopped herself, keeping the safe gap intact.

"I did this because I don’t want you dragged into these rumors. You’re just starting and there are incredible oppurtunities waiting for you. You don’t need unnecessary scandals in your life. I don’t want your image ruined because of me."

Lies.

Fei Chuan, who had been watching her closely the entire time, saw every subtle movement, every hesitation. Despite her words, the way she stopped herself from approaching him only deepened his conviction that she wasn’t telling the truth.

His restraint snapped.

He closed the distance between them in one swift motion. His arm rested behind Bei Sangyun, braced against the window, as he leaned in closer.

"What’s wrong with being paired with me?" he asked, his voice low and intense. "Didn’t you want to marry me so badly in the past? Why now... does it seem like the thought of touching me disgusts you?"

His hand gently cupped her chin, tilting her face upward. His gaze burned into hers, locking her wide-eyed stare. "You say you don’t hate me, and you don’t dislike me. Then prove it."

Fei Chuan leaned in slowly, his face inching closer to hers.

Bei Sangyun, frozen in shock since he moved toward her, suddenly felt a surge of panic. She couldn’t let Fei Chuan kiss her.

Her mind flashed back to those agonizing days when he had vomited blood, fallen into a coma, and teetered on the edge of life and death. Those painful memories were too vivid, too raw.

She instinctively pushed him away.

Fei Chuan stumbled back slightly, the dim lighting in the car casting shadows across his face.

But Bei Sangyun saw it clearly—the hurt written plainly in his expression.

"I-I’m sorry..." Bei Sangyun stammered, her voice trembling. "We c-can’t... not right now..."

Fei Chuan moved away, his expression guarded yet vulnerable. He met Bei Sangyun’s gaze, and the hurt in his eyes cut through her heart like a thousand blades.

"I see," he said quietly, his voice devoid of its usual warmth. "You don’t have to lie to me anymore. And you don’t have to ruin your name with George. Don’t do anything else—I’ll handle this."

Without waiting for her response, he opened the car door and stepped out, leaving without looking back.

Bei Sangyun remained frozen in her seat, her mind spinning in a whirlwind of shock, confusion, and pain.

Her chest ached as though a heavy weight pressed down on her, suffocating her. She clutched at it as if the pressure might lessen.

If only... if only he believed me, she thought bitterly. Maybe he would understand why I’m doing this... why I have to act this way...

Tears welled up in her eyes as she whispered into the empty space, her voice trembling with anguish.

"...I’m sorry, Fei Chuan... I’m so sorry..."

...

It was midnight. The moon hung high in the night sky, casting a pale glow, while the city below shimmered with countless lights.

Fei Chuan entered his apartment and threw his coat onto the sofa. Without hesitation, he headed straight to the wine rack, grabbed a bottle, and uncorked it. Taking a glass, he poured himself a generous amount and drank it all in one go.

When the glass was empty, he sank into the sofa, his body heavy with exhaustion and frustration.

He stared blankly into space, his mind replaying the scene over and over.

He had confirmed it: Bei Sangyun was avoiding his touch.

That painful realization drove him to reach for the wine bottle again. This time, he drank straight from it, ignoring the glass entirely.

He had thought he was over her. He had convinced himself that he had moved on, that his return was fueled solely by the desire for revenge.

But no matter how much he lied to himself, he couldn’t deny it—she still had power over him. She still made his mind spiral into chaos, throwing logic and control out the window.

And it seemed that even now, after all these years... she affected him the same way.

Fei Chuan poured another glass, his eyes dark and stormy, weighed down by thoughts he couldn’t escape. Initially, he came back to make her regret leaving him. He wanted her to fall for him, to suffer the same way she had made him suffer. He wanted her to see, to feel, the full weight of the mistake she had made four years ago.

But it seemed he was the only one still tethered to those memories, the only one holding onto them as if they were precious treasures. Perhaps he was the only one who couldn’t let go.

Fei Chuan finished another glass, and his grip on the bottle tightened. He muttered to himself, his voice low and bitter, "...You’ll regret this, Bei Sangyun... I won’t forgive you next time..."

He downed two more glasses. His movements grew sluggish, and his vision began to blur. Just before his mind succumbed to the haze of alcohol, he grabbed his phone and dialed Assistant Cheng.

"...Delete all the articles... mine included. Then release a statement... Yes, that statement. Let’s give her what she wants. Just this once..." His voice trailed off, and the phone slipped from his hand as he blacked out.

On the other end of the line, Cheng Li, already in his pajamas and moments away from sleep, glanced at his phone in disbelief.

What happened to stepping up the game?

He sighed, shaking his head as he hung up.

Before this game had even begun, his boss had already lost. He had lost the moment he came back.