Standing Next To You-Chapter 577: At Peace

"What do you think is happening downstairs? Did they make up?"

Grandma Bei paced around the door, tempted to open it, go downstairs, and peek at the two in the living room.

Maid Ye Zhai stood rigidly at the side, occasionally glancing at the door with great concern."...It looks like he came here to apologize."

"But it’s been an hour already. Surely they’re not fighting again, right?"

"They shouldn’t be."

"You think it’ll work out this time? What if that boy... hurts her again? I don’t want my granddaughter to go through that pain all over again."

Maid Ye Zhai paused. Unlike Grandma Bei, who only knew bits and pieces of what happened between the two, Maid Ye Zhai knew everything. Every detail.

She knew how much this meant to Bei Sangyun. And she could only hope that Fei Chuan had truly come this time to apologize sincerely and fix things. He was a big part of her young miss’s happiness.

"...I only want the Young Miss to be happy. So I really hope it works out this time."

Grandma Bei fell silent. She, too, wanted nothing more than her granddaughter’s happiness. But her feelings were complicated.

Despite her worries, she chose to trust her granddaughter—just this once more.

Upstairs, both women were anxiously waiting. But downstairs, the couple had long forgotten their existence.

Bei Sangyun rested quietly in his arms, basking in the warmth she had yearned for so long. Fei Chuan held her tightly, unwilling to let go.

After the emotional storm they went through, silence had taken over. A peaceful, comforting silence. They simply stayed in each other’s embrace, feeling each other’s warmth.

Fei Chuan looked down at her. Seeing Bei Sangyun resting so peacefully in his arms, the heart that had been troubled for years finally found peace.

He felt utterly foolish—for wasting so many years orchestrating a revenge plan. When all he ever wanted was this. This peaceful moment. But back then, he hadn’t understood his own heart.

Just like the past version of himself.

He gently tucked her hair behind her ear. As he did, her neck was exposed—revealing a small mark. A hickey—one he had left last night. The memory of their passionate night came rushing back, and Fei Chuan’s ears turned red.

Still, he asked nervously,"...How... how are you feeling?"

Bei Sangyun, still nestled comfortably in his arms, murmured, "At peace."

Her answer made Fei Chuan smile. He too felt at peace. He hugged her tighter."I mean... your body. Does it... hurt? I was too... emotional last night. I don’t know if I restrained myself properly."

Bei Sangyun suddenly froze, her eyes opening slowly. She turned to look at him.

Fei Chuan met her gaze, then quickly looked away, embarrassed."I mean... I’m not sure if I handled things right. It was... my, uh... f-first time..." The last part came out as a barely audible mutter.

Bei Sangyun watched him stumble through his words. This shy, awkward version of Fei Chuan was the one she remembered. She grinned, then pouted.

"It hurt... a lot. My hips and thighs are sore. I had a hard time walking home earlier."

Fei Chuan immediately looked guilty. His hands instinctively moved to her hips, massaging gently, moving down toward her thighs."...I’m sorry. I—"

Seeing his flustered expression, Bei Sangyun chuckled softly. "It’s fine. I managed to rest afterward and slept like a log. I’ve recovered my strength."

Fei Chuan continued to massage her thighs."I brought some ointment..." He gestured toward the package he had brought from the clinic.

Bei Sangyun glanced at it—so that’s what was inside. Fei Chuan buying it from the clinic...she wondered what kind of expression he had when he looked for those.

"...I’ll do better next time," Fei Chuan muttered.

Bei Sangyun heard him and couldn’t help but laugh softly. Why is he so cute?

She gently pinched his reddened ear."Don’t worry about it. Just let yourself go and don’t restrain yourself. It’s not like it was our first time anyway."

Fei Chuan paused. Not their first time?

"...In that life, something happened between us," she explained with a small smile. "It’s funny, really. The person who drugged me was Wei Lang, again. And you’re the one who found me. Unlike now, we didn’t drink any counteragent... and we were completely consumed by lust. I didn’t remember it afterwards because you... erased all traces of what happened."

Fei Chuan’s eyes widened slightly. He finally understood what she meant. That life. The dreams he had recently—they were real. They were from that life.

"I always thought I ended up with a stranger... or worse, Wei Lang," Bei Sangyun continued. "At the time, I told myself it didn’t matter. But during our night together yesterday, I remembered parts of that moment. And I’m so glad... that it was you." She held his cheek, leaned in, and kissed it gently."I’m really glad the man I was with in that life... was you."

Fei Chuan looked into her sincere eyes and smiled. "I have to correct you on one thing. It wasn’t me who erased the evidence—it was Assistant Cheng. He never told me what really happened. So I always thought... I never spent a night with anyone."

The drug back then was so potent it clouded their memories, making everything feel like a hallucination. The details became hazy, and eventually, they chose not to look back, letting the past fade completely.

Bei Sangyun was stunned."...You remember?"

"I dreamed of it too. Right before I woke up. I finally remembered who the woman was that night. And it was you. I’m glad it was you."

Bei Sangyun was silent for a moment. For Fei Chuan to remember those moments—fragments from another life—was strangely comforting.

It was as if she hadn’t been alone. As if they had both been reborn... together. She felt truly understood—her melancholy, her pain, and the way she saw this life. In this journey, she no longer felt alone.

"By the way..." Fei Chuan added gently, "last night... I didn’t plan for any of it. It just happened naturally. And I don’t regret it. I wasn’t under any influence. I... I just took the opportunity."

Bei Sangyun looked up at him."Don’t blame yourself. The drug had greatly affected you."

"No... it wasn’t just that. I’ve built some resistance to those kinds of drugs. Everything I did last night—I did it with a clear mind."

Bei Sangyun let out a small laugh."Then I guess I’m guiltier than you. I was probably the one who took advantage of the situation."

Even though she once feared that Fei Chuan might regret it, thinking that he was just saying those things because of the aphrodisiac, she had still gone through with it. Her longing for him had grown too strong to hold back—especially after learning that the dangers of her "dragon fate" no longer threatened him.

"You stopped me... So you don’t have any fault." Fei Chuan replied.

"But I was the one who was more clear-headed. If anyone was in the wrong, it was me."

"I wanted it," Fei Chuan said softly, gazing into her eyes. "I let myself be consumed by it."

He paused, voice lower, gentler. "Is that why you left so early?"

Bei Sangyun was suddenly confronted. She bit her lip. Everything was already out in the open, so she decided to be honest.

She nodded. "I was afraid you’d hate me when you woke up sober..."

"Oh, Bei Sangyun," Fei Chuan murmured, pulling her into a tight embrace. His heart ached. This—her fear—was because of him. Because of his foolish revenge, she had been left thinking this way."...I was so stupid back then. I no longer feel that way."

Bei Sangyun wrapped her arms around him."I told you... your anger and emotions were valid."

Fei Chuan held her tighter. But he couldn’t forgive himself so easily—not after putting Bei Sangyun through so much.

Bei Sangyun gently patted his back."I’m just glad you came to me and apologized. That’s all that matters now."

He stayed in her arms for a long time, holding onto the peace he thought he’d never feel again.

Then suddenly, a thought crossed his mind—the thing that started this whole situation.

"Right," he said, pulling back slightly. "Why were you looking for that necklace?"

Bei Sangyun’s eyes widened as she remembered the most urgent matter. She straightened up immediately."Right! Before that—how are you feeling? Did you get sick this morning? Did your throat burn? Any symptoms at all?"

Fei Chuan shook his head. "I felt quite refreshed when I woke up. I don’t feel sick."In the past, he might’ve been confused by her sudden concern. But now, he understood.

He looked at her, mirroring her concern. "What about you? Besides the soreness... did you feel anything strange? Your taste—can you still not taste anything?"

"I’ve been asleep this whole time. I haven’t had the chance to check. And before that, no—my sense of taste hadn’t returned yet."

Fei Chuan’s expression grimmed slightly. He remembered what Bei Sangyun had said before.