Standing Next To You-Chapter 289: Not his

Caught off guard, Zhong Cheng yelped as an object struck him, whipping around to face them with a bewildered expression.

Fei Chuan’s expression remained stern as he issued his warning, "If you ever do something gross on this trip, you won’t be leaving this city."

Zhong Cheng, taken aback by the sudden threat, found himself at a loss for words.

What’s that threat for?

"I’ll be keeping an eye on you," Fei Chuan added, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Zhong Cheng could only respond with a baffled silence.

Meanwhile, Bei Sangyun shook her head in disappointment, casting a disapproving glance in Zhong Cheng’s direction.

It was one thing for teenagers to be spirited and lively, but the thought of him engaging in such inappropriate behavior with Lin Sunji was deeply troubling. She found herself questioning whether she could truly trust Zhong Cheng.

Sensing their judgmental stares, Zhong Cheng’s unease grew. His gaze fell upon the blue object that had mysteriously appeared behind his seat. Suddenly, everything clicked into place, and he felt a surge of indignation.

Did Boss and Brother-in-law think he brought this? For him and Lin Sunji?! No way!

Snatching up the object, he held it aloft for all to see. "I didn’t bring this—it came from your bag, Boss!" he declared, feeling unfairly accused.

Bei Sangyun and Fei Chuan both pause, their expressions registering a mix of surprise and bewilderment.

Zhong Cheng thought they didn’t believe him so he grabbed Lin Sunji, who was feeling queasy. "You’re the one who took this out. Where did you find it?"

Lin Sunji pushed him away and answered weakly, "...From the purse ." She passed the purse back to Zhong Cheng. She was confused as to why everyone was acting so strange just because of this blue thing.

Bei Sangyun saw the familiar purse and her calm heart suddenly beat loudly in nervousness. That was indeed hers.

Her eyes widened even more when Zhong Cheng opened the purse and let her and Fei Chuan see the contents inside. She was stunned to see not just one, but two additional condoms inside the purse.

"I swear, this isn’t mine," Zhong Cheng protested adamantly. "I didn’t bring anything like this—I don’t even have a girlfriend, so why would I?"

Zhong Cheng vehemently defended himself, unaware that each word he uttered resonated like thunder in Bei Sangyun and Fei Chuan’s ears.

If it wasn’t his, then...

Fei Chuan stared at Bei Sangyun in disbelief.

"...Yours?" he asked, stupefied.

Bei Sangyun swallowed hard, her mind racing as she recalled Maid Ye Zhai’s earlier words about packing something to be ’used wisely’. In her excitement for the trip, she had completely failed to grasp the significance of those words.

It dawned on her that this must be what Maid Ye Zhai had been referring to.

Bei Sangyun smiled awkwardly, "...Let me explain—"

"Oh my god! That thing....that thing...." Lin Sunji, upon hearing Zhong Cheng mention ’girlfriend,’ finally realized the true nature of the blue object.

Her dizziness forgotten, Lin Sunji’s mind was overwhelmed. "That thing...is a condom?!"

The realization hit her like a ton of bricks. She had smelled and bitten it earlier! So disgusting!

Lin Sunji, the sheltered lady of the wealthy Lin family, hadn’t seen a condom in real life. She was suddenly overcome with shock and nausea, causing her to weakly lean against the backseat, contemplating the absurdity of life.

Her loud exclamation had drawn the attention of the other passengers on the bus, who now cast strange gazes toward the group of teenagers.

Bei Sangyun’s expression remained impassive as she ignored the strangers’ stares. Instead, she turned her attention to Fei Chuan, who had pressed himself against the window seat, seemingly trying to distance himself from her as much as possible.

Fei Chuan looked at her as though she were some kind of pervert.

Bei Sangyun’s heart sank. She whipped her head and glared at the foolish Zhong Cheng.

If she had known it was hers, she should have let Zhong Cheng pretend it was his!

Now, thanks to Zhong Cheng’s unwitting revelation, the romantic encounter she had been anticipating seemed to have vanished into thin air.

*****

The bus came to a halt, and the remaining passengers disembarked with their luggage. Lin Sunji was utterly drained, unable to even manage her suitcase. This experience had solidified her decision to never again join any trips planned by Zhong Cheng or Bei Sangyun.

While Zhong Cheng, his expression reflected a sense of injustice as he still felt Bei Sangyun’s disapproving gaze lingering behind him. He hurriedly distanced himself from the group, seeking out the tour guide in an attempt to escape his Boss’s potential anger.

Fei Chuan kept his distance from Bei Sangyun, standing two meters away, though he still carried her backpack.

When Bei Sangyun approached him, he took a step back, refusing to make eye contact.

Bei Sangyun felt a pang of frustration. How could she explain herself if he wasn’t even willing to listen?

Feeling aggrieved, she gave him space as Zhong Cheng swiftly returned with the tour guide.

The hotel they were headed to was just a short walk away from the bus station. It was nestled in a remote town, the establishment appeared simple and somewhat old, but it was neat and clean. The ambiance of the place seemed to transport people back in time.

Bei Sangyun found herself drawn to the place, as it evoked a nostalgic feeling reminiscent of her childhood in the River Village, where she had grown up with her grandmother.

Each member of the group rented a room. The accommodations were fully equipped and everything was in working order.

The three were satisfied but Lin Sunji was not. She had never been in such a place before and she felt this place would collapse at any moment. She complained that the place was too poor and grumbled about the simplicity of the furnishings.

Despite her complaints, they did not change inns since it was closest to the hot spring.

The hot spring was just a short walk away from the hotel. This region was renowned for its volcanic activity and natural hot springs.

This time, Zhong Cheng decided to rent out the entire hot spring facility because he knew that his Boss and brother-in-law might prefer not to share the experience with other tourists.