A/n: This Chapter is fixed. Thank you for waiting.
***
Bei Sangyun could not help but retort, "I admitted it was my fault and apologized to you, but you didn’t accept it. And that’s fine by me; if I were you, I would also not forgive myself."
"But what about keeping me in the dark? You had plenty of chances to tell me, yet you didn’t. You didn’t even bother to explain why. You just..." Fei Chuan trailed off. "...treated it as if it never happened."
Bei Sangyun was taken aback.
So, this was what he was upset about? He was angry because she hadn’t explained herself afterward but had gone back to sit with her ’friends’?
Fei Chuan curbed his emotional outburst, not wanting to appear petty. He took a deep breath. "Regardless, it’s my business whether I choose to accept their apology or not. It doesn’t concern you. We’re not even friends, so there’s no need for me to tell you."
"Hold that thought," Bei Sangyun interjected, raising her hand. "Let’s talk about what you said. I didn’t explain myself after you found out because I thought it would be best. You were angry with me, and you might not have wanted to see me or be around me. So, I gave you some space to avoid bothering you. After all, you’ve always told me to leave you alone."
"Since when have you ever listened to me?" Fei Chuan asked, his emotions from the last encounter resurfacing.
His disappointment, bitterness, and dejection returned, stemming from the moment he saw Bei Sangyun’s seat was gone beside his. When he found her back to her original place, surrounded by other people.
"When I told you to leave me alone, you didn’t. We even made a deal, but that didn’t stop you from bothering me. You stuck to me like glue, and then you just moved away without a word... You’re just playing with me."
Fei Chuan wished he could stop his mouth from uttering these miserly words. He didn’t understand why he felt so woeful, why he cared so much. He was acting like a wronged child, complaining of unfair treatment by his little friend.
It felt petty and pathetic.
"....I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that," Bei Sangyun sincerely apologized. She also regretted her unwise decision. She hadn’t expected the teenage Fei Chuan to be so sensitive about it.
"It’s not like I didn’t intend to explain. I didn’t mean to keep you in the dark. I allowed you to blame me because I played a major role in your current situation, and I intend to take responsibility for it. As for why I didn’t tell you about it, I thought it wasn’t the right time for you to know."
Bei Sangyun believed that the future Fei Chuan would figure it out on his own. However, at this moment, Fei Chuan didn’t need to know. Knowing the truth would only make things harder for him.
After all, his enemy was just in the same room as him yet he couldn’t do anything about it. How frustrating it would be?
He was the powerless, young Fei Chuan who could only keep a low profile for his survival at this point. Going up against Lin Sunji and the fourth branch would be too much for him now. So she thought she should face Lin Sunji and the fourth branch for now while Fei Chuan bided his time.
What she failed to consider was that Fei Chuan might be more upset and would misunderstand her intentions.
"Once again, I apologize. I really mean it," Bei Sangyun said.
Apologizing came more easily from her now. After her first apology, the second and the third were easy to say. However, this word was only reserved for Fei Chuan, the one person she had wronged the most.
Fei Chuan remained motionless. His hands were clenched. His gaze was conflicted.
Bei Sangyun met his gaze solemnly. "I’m not playing with you. I know it’s hard to trust and believe what I say, but please give me a chance. Give me a chance, Fei Chuan."
There was a moment of silence.
The two of them stared into each other’s eyes, one scrutinizing deeply, while the other expressed her sincerity.
The school bell rang, indicating the start of the class, its sound reverberating throughout the school.
Yet on the rooftop, the two remained still, their gazes locked, trapped in their own world.
****
On the day of Li Mei’s visit to the Fei family.
"The Lin family will give you anything you want within our power. If you need a significant sum of money, we can provide it. But I doubt that you require financial assistance. If you seek connections, we can assist you in that as well. I believe this deal would be advantageous given your current situation,"
Li Mei explained as she placed the agreement on the table. "You can ask for any favor you desire, as long as you sign this document. Opportunities like this are rare, you know."
Fei Chuan stared at the paper, contemplating the proposal.
Members of the Lin family had come to see him one by one due to the incident, and even Lin Sunji’s mother had visited him personally to settle the agreement. It appeared that the entire Lin family was giving special attention to this matter.
Then... did Bei Sangyun also have concerns about this?
Fei Chuan continued to look at the paper, and a profound intensity shone in his eyes.
"Any favor, you say?"
"Yes," Li Mei affirmed. "The Lin family will make every effort to fulfill your wishes."
It might have been a moment of impulse, but Fei Chuan decided to sign the paper, with the understanding that he could request something from the Lin family in the future.
At that time, accepting the apology or whatnot was not in his mind. The debt would be paid in due time. But for now, he would take advantage of this incident.
With this, Bei Sangyun had no choice but to come for him.