Standing Next To You

Grandma Bei smiled. She held back her tears.

"Grandma...will stay. I like this town. This is where you grow up. I will take care of the hut and the little chics. Compared to this place, the place you are going to will have many big schools, large playgrounds, and grand houses. You will have many dresses and shoes as much as you want. You can eat whatever you crave. You don't have to starve and sell baskets in the market. You will live a good life."

Bei Sangyun teared up. Even though she was a child, she understood the things that her grandma and this man didn't say.

After what happened to her at school, Bei Sangyun matured a lot. She knew this world was not fair and not everything was good.

The promised life was tempting and beyond her imagination. If it was her in the past, she would nod happily without thinking about it.

Bei Sangyun hugged Grandma Bei tightly with tears in her eyes. "Then I will go with you. I don't need to meet Mom and Dad. I only need you."

Grandma Bei patted her back, "You liar. You always asked about your mom and dad. This is a chance for you to meet them. Don't worry about your grandma, I can take care of myself."

"They don't even like me. I won't go!"

"Bei Sangyun."

"No. I won't go!"

Mr. Xin's smile stiffened. He tried to persuade her, "Young Miss, the Capital is a lot much bigger than this town. You will meet a lot of friends. Everyone there will admire you and will like you. You will also meet your grandpa. Your grandpa is very powerful. He can do anything for you as long as you gain his favor-"

Grandma Bei glared at Mr. Xin.

Mr. Xin closed his mouth. He was afraid Grandma Bei would suddenly changed her mind.

Bei Sangyun shook her head, "I won't go. Not without grandma."

She did not know where is the Capital or what kind of place it was. She did not care if she would live a life like Fei Chuan's.

So what if she had all those cookies, books, and dresses? Bei Sangyun could not imagine what her life would be like without her grandma.

Mr. Xin was dumbfounded.

He did not expect that after going through so much trouble, it was the young miss who would make things difficult for him again.

He tried to coax her, "Young Miss, the Capital is a majestic place. You will live in a big mansion. Ten times bigger than the Chuan family's villa. You will have the best teachers and tutors. You will have the best dresses and food--"

"I don't care!"

Mr. Xin: "...."

Grandma Bei was speechless too. She tried to peel off Bei Sangyun's hand from her waist. "Bei Sangyun, looked at grandma's eyes."

Bei Sangyun closed her eyes.

"Bei Sangyun, do you want to part ways like this with me?"

Bei Sangyun slowly opened her eyes. Her tears continued to fall. She was crying so badly that she was starting to get hiccups. "I won't leave you...."

"Grandma won't leave anywhere. I believe my beloved Bei Sangyun will come back here one day to take me away. When that time comes, my little Bei Sangyun has grown into a great lady. With so much knowledge and wisdom. You will accompany me to many good places in the Capital. You will tell me which house is the biggest, which place is the coolest, and many other things. Right?"

Grandma Bei wiped away Bei Sangyun's tears and softly said, "This town is too small for you. You don't have a future here. But in the Capital, you will get the best resources that you deserve. It is what they owe you."

Bei Sangyun bit her lips. She imagined the future where she would lead her grandma to many good places in the capital, give her many good food, and make her not worry about money.

It was...a good future.

Her heart could not help but be moved.

"Remember all the things I said to you. Don't let other people trample you down. You are not a beggar in this family, everything you will receive from them is something they owe you. So don't let their words hurt you."

Grandma Bei could foresee the future where Bei Sangyun would receive a lot of scorn because she was an illegitimate daughter.

The world of the rich was harsh towards illegitimate children. She did not want her precious Bei Sangyun to feel inferior or get stomped on by other people because of her origin.

Grandma Bei stared into her granddaughter's eyes and gave her a lot of advice. She hoped Bei Sangyun would remember all of them.

"Although the Capital is a good place, there are a lot of untrustworthy people there. Don't trust others and just follow Mr. Xin's advice. Live with your head held high. Remember, Grandma is always with you."

Bei Sangyun bit her lips.

Was life in the Capital truly good that she had to endure her separation from her grandma? What was in the Capital that her grandma wanted to send her there?

Bei Sangyun stared at her grandma's eyes. Knowing her grandma well, she knew she had made up her mind. Her grandma was really sending her away with this man.

"....Once I come back, you will come with me, right?" Bei Sangyun looked at her grandma hopefully.

Grandma Bei fixed Bei Sangyun's messy hair and nodded softly.

Bei Sangyun wiped away her tears and tried to be strong.

"...Grandma, I'll come back. You have to be healthy so that I can take you away at any time. I'll see you again. So don't leave this town, okay?"

Grandma Bei smiled and hugged Bei Sangyun. She wiped away the tears that fell from the corner of her eyes.

"Mhm. I'll see you again. Live well and don't worry about me."