Standing Next To You-Chapter 582: Another beautiful morning

The sun dyed the tops of the trees with a golden hue. The flowers in the garden basked in the glory of the golden light.

It was another beautiful morning, with clear skies and good weather. The sun, peeking out from behind the clouds, seemed to be smiling.

Bei Sangyun opened the balcony door and took a deep breath of the fresh morning air.

The morning breeze played with her hair, as if greeting her in return. Bei Sangyun smiled.

Today was bright and colorful, just like yesterday.

She touched her necklace, her eyes brimming with life."I’ll be bringing you with me starting today. And this time, I won’t ever lose you."

Her earrings and necklace sparkled with a blue hue as she moved.

The old monk’s words had been cryptic, but she understood well the last sentence he said to her:

"Use it as it is."

Weren’t the earrings and necklace meant to be worn?

So Bei Sangyun decided to wear the necklace and earrings that cost millions in her everyday life.

"Bei Sangyun, breakfast is ready," Maid Ye Zhai called as she knocked on the door. Bei Sangyun stepped out soon after, a bright smile on her face.

"Good morning, Sister Ye."

Maid Ye Zhai smiled back. "Good morning. Did you sleep well?"

"I did. No bad dreams—just good ones," Bei Sangyun replied, her earrings and necklace sparkling with every movement.

"I’m glad." Maid Ye Zhai couldn’t help but glance at the dazzling gems. "You found the necklace. They’re so beautiful, especially when worn together."

Maid Ye Zhai had seen the earrings before, during the Homecoming dance, but the necklace—this was her first time seeing it.

"I know, right? I can’t take my eyes off them either."

"I thought you’d keep them in the box forever since you treasured them so much. I’m glad you’re finally wearing them."

Bei Sangyun gently touched the gem on her earrings."I couldn’t wear them before... I was always stricken with guilt. But now... I’m happy to wear them every day."

The two engaged in conversation as they made their way downstairs. They wee like sisters who shared about the days they had missed from each other.

Grandma Bei had been waiting for them and couldn’t help but nag."The food’s getting cold! You two, hurry up!"

Maid Ye Zhai and Bei Sangyun quickly made their way to the table.

Bei Sangyun’s eyes lit up when she saw her favorite xiaolongbao. She looked at Grandma Bei in surprise."You prepared this so early in the morning? Did you even sleep?"

Grandma Bei harrumphed. "It wasn’t me who made it."

Bei Sangyun turned to Maid Ye Zhai, about to nag her softly. She was happy to see her favorite dish on the table, but guilt tugged at her heart. She didn’t want her loved ones losing sleep just to make her a heartfelt meal—especially when something like this could’ve been made for dinner instead, with plenty of time to prepare.

But Maid Ye Zhai was quicker to respond. "It wasn’t me either."

Bei Sangyun’s mouth, halfway open in another question, closed in confusion.

Maid Ye Zhai glanced at Grandma Bei."Shall I tell her?"

Grandma Bei snorted. "She wasn’t even asking yet, so why bother?"

Still, Maid Ye Zhai turned to Bei Sangyun and gently explained,"It arrived about ten minutes ago, brought by a young butler from Mr. Fei’s villa. He asked me to pass along a message: ’Eat well.’"

Grandma Bei made a face."He couldn’t even bring it himself. With all his people and money, of course it’s easy for him to do things like this."

"But didn’t the young butler say Mr. Fei made it himself?" Maid Ye Zhai said, glancing at Bei Sangyun. "He’s very honest and clever, that young man. Mr. Fei didn’t want you to know he cooked it himself—he just wanted to hear what you thought of the taste, without knowing it was him. But the butler told me everything. He wants to help his master."

"Hmph. Maybe he didn’t cook it at all. That’s why he wanted to keep quiet—to avoid being questioned," Grandma Bei grumbled.

"The young butler even showed us a video he secretly took," Maid Ye Zhai replied calmly. "We both saw it. Why won’t you believe it?"

Grandma Bei’s face darkened."And why are you defending him? Have you forgotten how much he made my granddaughter suffer?"

"I saw him kneel and apologize with my own eyes. Why are you still angry? Bei Sangyun has already forgiven and accepted him. Why can’t you?"

"I never said I didn’t accept him," Grandma Bei muttered, her tone softening at last.

Maid Ye Zhai placed Grandma Bei’s favorite fish dish in front of her. "You shouldn’t waste your time being angry. Mr. Fei is making an effort. And Sangyun is finally happy again. Instead of nagging them, we should support them."

Grandma Bei took the fish dish and began to eat. Though she still looked slightly annoyed, she didn’t badmouth Fei Chuan anymore. After taking a bite, her expression immediately softened.

She looked up at Maid Ye Zhai in surprise."You cooked this fish really well. It tastes exactly like the one back home."

"I’m glad you like it," Maid Ye Zhai replied with a smile, handing the dish over to Bei Sangyun.

Bei Sangyun watched the two of them go back and forth. They bickered like... sisters. Or should she say like mother and daughter? The boundary they had before seemed to have disappeared.

Maid Ye Zhai, who once kept clear boundaries with her masters and the people she served, now seemed to have let those lines fade. She was friendlier, even bolder. And Grandma Bei actually listened to her—as if she were her peer.

Only a day had passed since Bei Sangyun had last seen them, yet their relationship had changed significantly. She liked this change. Still, curiosity tugged at her.

"Did something happen during the trip?" she asked, enthusiastically waiting for a story.

Both Maid Ye Zhai and Grandma Bei paused. They looked at each other, nodded, then shook their heads.

"Nothing much. Why do you ask?" Grandma Bei replied.

"You two just seem a lot closer. I’m happy you’re getting along so well. The trip must’ve helped."

Maid Ye Zhai chuckled. "You could say that. Actually, something funny happened. Your grandma, in order to save money joined an event...."

As Maid Ye Zhai launched into the story, Grandma Bei made all sorts of funny faces from her seat.

Bei Sangyun burst into laughter as she listened.

"I see. Grandma, you should use the money I gave you. I worked so hard so you can have the best life. But I guess this was a blessing in disguise. You two grew closer. Grandma has someone to bicker with now, and you finally got to say the things you’ve always wanted to say to both of us."

"Are you telling me to become unrestrained?" Maid Ye Zhai teased.

"We’re family. Why not? As long as you’re comfortable," Bei Sangyun said warmly.

Grandma Bei nodded in full agreement. She actually appreciated that Maid Ye Zhai was voicing her complaints now, rather than silently going along with her whims despite how she truly felt.

Maid Ye Zhai was momentarily stunned. Her heart was warmed by these two precious people in front of her. She smiled at both of them, her eyes shimmered with emotion."You’re right. We’re family. Then don’t complain when I start nagging you, Bei Sangyun."

"Of course, Big Sister."

Laughter filled the breakfast table. With delicious food, the presence of her loved ones, and the joy of being able to truly savor the moment, Bei Sangyun felt like she was in paradise.

She took a bite of the xiaolongbao, and the rich broth and umami flavor burst in her mouth. The dumpling was soft, tender, and perfectly crafted. She nearly moaned as she chewed, savoring every moment.

Bei Sangyun’s eyes welled up. This xiaolongbao wasn’t just delicious—it didn’t just fill her stomach. It filled her heart.

Fei Chuan must have poured so much effort into making this, perfecting it just for her. The thought touched her deeply. She wanted to kiss him, to hold his face and tell him how perfect it was—how perfect he was.

She couldn’t wait to see him.

But she didn’t have to wait long.

The doorbell rang.

And there he was—Fei Chuan, standing outside with a fresh bouquet in his hands.

****

Additional story:

Maid Ye Zhai held her head, a dull ache growing behind her temples. She truly couldn’t understand why Grandma Bei seemed determined to make their lives difficult unnecessarily.

Grandma Bei paced around the plain room with its wooden floors and bare walls. It had only one small window, outdated appliances that looked like they hadn’t worked in years, and a single double bed in a cramped studio layout. Yet, Grandma Bei appeared perfectly satisfied. She gave a firm nod to the staff.

"We’ll take this room."

"There’s another one just like this nearby," the staff offered. "Would you like to book a second room for your companion?"

"No need. We’re both small. We can fit on one bed."

Maid Ye Zhai: "..."

Ever since their trip began—armed with Bei Sangyun’s infinite card and a generous amount of cash—Grandma Bei had been penny-pinching at every turn.

She refused to fly first class, so they settled for business class.

She turned down a taxi from the airport and insisted they take the most economical bus, which was far cheaper.

And when they arrived at a hotel and heard the astronomical price of each room, Grandma Bei didn’t hesitate to march right back out and find this place—which looked worse than their storage room back home.

Maid Ye Zhai was baffled. They had the means to afford everything—the best flights, luxury cars, five-star hotels—so why live like this?

Grandma Bei’s answer? "This is my granddaughter’s hard-earned money. We can’t just waste it."

Maid Ye Zhai wanted to argue: Your granddaughter worked hard to give you the best. She wants to spoil you, not see you live like this. But, as always, she said nothing.

Even though she had never flown business class before, never used public transportation, never stayed in a room this cheap, and certainly never shared a bed with anyone—Maid Ye Zhai remained quiet. Though her stoic face had become even more expressionless, bordering on stone.

What nearly broke that mask of calm, however, was the moment Grandma Bei joined a public event just to win free tour tickets.

It was a mother-daughter competition.

Participants—pairs of mothers and daughters—were given tasks to complete within a time limit. The fastest team would win.

Grandma Bei wanted the free tour tickets to save even more money, so she dragged Maid Ye Zhai into the competition.

Maid Ye Zhai hesitated."But it’s for mothers and daughters. Anyone can tell we’re not related."

"Of course they can—especially with the way you speak and act," Grandma Bei replied bluntly. "From now on, you’re my daughter. So treat me like your mother."

Maid Ye Zhai looked even more confused. How do you treat someone like a mother? She didn’t know—because she never had one.

Grandma Bei noticed the uncertainty on her face and finally understood. She sighed.

"Daughters are transparent. They complain. They’re unrestrained. Sometimes sweet, sometimes annoying. Just act like that with me—then no one will question us."

Maid Ye Zhai blinked. She could... complain?

Her mind immediately went to the cheap room, the tiny bed, and the poor living conditions they were enduring.

Her eyes suddenly lit up.

"Alright. Let’s join... Mother."