Standing Next To You

Grandma Bei did not answer. But she gave a nod.

Mrs. Bang was not offended by her seemingly arrogant attitude. She left after learning that Bei Sangyun had taken a nap.

Grandma Bei stared at the container that had several dishes on it. She returned to the hut and saw Bei Sangyun sleeping like a log. She flicked the child's nose lightly.

"I promised that I will take care of you and brought you up under my care. But am I really doing it the right way? Perhaps, I should have agreed to let them take you back then..." Grandma Bei reminisced about the past.

If she agreed back then, Bei Sangyun would not look at other people's food. She would have everything she needed without having to work hard for it.

But with that kind of family who looked down on people's origins, Bei Sangyun who had a mother from a small countryside, might not have a peaceful life.

Grandma Bei shook her head. She had decided to take Bei Sangyun because she witnessed with her own eyes how wealthy people treated other people like them.

She did not want to leave Bei Sangyun under the care of those people.

....

When Bei Sangyun woke up, she saw a container filled with food. Her eyes lit up.

"Mrs. Bang dropped by and brought this. She said this is your hard work. Also, they invited you to the children's party later. Do you want to come?"

Grandma Bei spoke while making a straw mat.

Bei Sangyun was surprised. She stared at her grandma like she was seeing a stranger, "Grandma....are you really my grandma?"

Knowing her grandma too well, Bei Sangyun expected that her grandma would turn down the other party's goodwill. Her grandma doesn't like to receive things from others.

Furthermore, her grandma would not allow her to attend a children's party so easily. Especially after what happened in the big house. So it took her by surprise that her grandma was asking her opinion.

"You worked hard for this and woke up at dawn after having a fever. Why won't I take this? So, are you going to attend the party or not?"

Bei Sangyun then pouted, "But the young master hates me."

"It is already explained to him that you did not do such a thing." Grandma Bei suddenly stood up and passed a small coin purse. "Here bring this. Ask them how much the plate is."

Bei Sangyun accepted the coin purse with guilt. "Grandma...."

"Don't just stand there. Gurgle with water before you go."

Bei Sangyun hugged her grandma's legs and spouted some praises such as how kind and generous her grandma was.

Grandma Bei still had a solemn face but her eyes were gentle.

Bei Sangyun followed his grandma's words. She gurgled with water and then left with the coin purse.

....

The yard of the Chuan villa was full of colorful balloons and pastries for children.

The children in the village rarely had a big party like this.

Because everyone wanted their child to become friends with the young master, they dressed their children in their best clothes and educated them to behave well.

But the children did not care about the young master at all. Their eyes were only filled with the colorful balloons and the sweet pastries on the table. They played among themselves and ran around in the big yard.

The protagonist of this party, the young master, was seating at the table alone playing with his portable game console. He looked very focused as he pressed the buttons on the side of the screen. One of the children who was running around heard the sounds coming from his game console.

He curiously peeked behind the young master and was captivated by the small screen.

The young master noticed someone watching behind him. So he shifted his position uncomfortably.

Some kids also noticed the sounds coming from the portable game console and gathered around the young master. The children in the village watched with amazement as the young master played.

They don't understand what he was playing but hearing the continuous sound which meant that he was winning, the children were all awed.

Some hot-tempered children could not resist the temptation and voiced out their desires, "Let me play too."

"Me too!"

Even though they don't know how to use the game console they all wanted to try and play a round. Being surrounded by children who were all looking at his game console unscrupulously, the young master's mood turned bad.

He did not like to play anymore and left the portable game console at the table before leaving. The children then fought among themselves as the portable game console changed hands.

Grandma Pei saw that the young master was not in the mood to play anymore and wanted to go back to his room. She could not help but persuade him.

"How about you play with them? Those children are playing hide and seek. Do you want to join them?"

The young master looked at the children who were crawling on the ground to hide in the bushes. Their clothes were now stained with dirt but they don't care a bit.

The young master's face showed a hint of disgust, "I don't want to get dirty."

Grandma Pei tried to persuade him more but the young master did not like to play anymore. He only chose to stay outside because Grandma Pei said he could make friends.

Although he said he did not want friends, the idea of having someone to play with still made him look forward to the party. But seeing the children who were the same age as him but played around like they were three-year-old kids, the anticipation of having a friend dissipated.

"I don't like any of them."

Grandma Pei sighed. "Alright, but let's wait for the little girl, okay? You still want to apologize to her, right?"

The young master paused.

Right, he had mistaken the little girl for a thief. When he saw the other three intact cookies on the countertop, the young master realized that he had indeed misunderstood the little girl. Grandma Pei explained the situation to him. He knew he said bad things and hurt the little girl's feelings.

The young master bit his lips. It was shameful to apologize. But since he made a mistake he should ask for an apology.

"...Alright. But I will stay on the balcony." He did not want to stay with the other children.

"Okay, I'll invite her in when she comes." Grandma Pei said with a smile.