Standing Next To You

After sending those gossipers, Grandma Bei looked back and saw the frozen Bei Sangyun.

She held Bei Sangyun's hands, "Don't mind them. You know those two aunts. They like gossiping bad things and none of what they said is true."

Bei Sangyun looked at her grandma's eyes and her tense heart slightly eased. "Why they said those things? What happened?"

She knew that rumors were not baseless. Something must have happened that she did not know.

Grandma Bei resumed walking while holding Bei Sangyun's hands, "That rich brat got sick. And those children with him spread rumors that you pushed him into the ditch. But I know those are not true."

Bei Sangyun's face was pale.

Fei Chuan got sick? Was it because...of that accident?

But she did nothing wrong. Why everyone was blaming her? Their attitude changed because of what other people said.

Grandma Bei saw Bei Sangyun's lowered head. Her heart ache for her granddaughter so she added.

"The Bang couple and Old Madame Pei also believed in you."

Bei Sangyun nodded slowly. Although Grandma Bei comforted her heart, she still felt upset that the villagers who were always fond of her suddenly changed their attitude towards her.

They avoided her like she was disgusting and their strange gazes made her feel depressed and sad. And those words...

Did everyone think her heart was dark?

Just because of a rumor. Just because of something she did not do. They talked about her with such bad words.

Grandma Bei patted her lowered head, "Don't worry about it. You know what rumors are like. It will die down soon."

Bei Sangyun nodded. She looked back at the villa they passed.

Was Fei Chuan...doing okay?

....

However, what she thought something would not grow big turned into a massive tsunami that swept away everything.

When she arrived at the school, her classmates looked at her with strange gazes. Even the friends she made in kindergarten were avoiding her.

It was unknown how the rumors spread to the school. But everyone learned that she pushed Fei Chuan into the ditch, cursed at him, and made him sick. It was even more exaggerated than the rumor in the village.

The little girl who had a crush on Fei Chuan faced her with her hands on her waist.

"It's because of you that Fei Chuan is absent for three days! You made him sick!"

Bei Sangyun ignored her and endured her yelling.

"You still have the guts to go to school! Leave! You are not welcome here!" The little girl started and the other kids were also influenced and shouted in chorus.

"Leave! Leave!"

Bei Sangyun's eyes turned red. But she did not move.

She already made a decision to return to school. If she leaves now, won't she make Grandma disappointed with her? Furthermore, leaving school was the same as acknowledging what they said.

It was unknown which child started it, but someone threw an eraser at Bei Sangyun, then the others followed. They threw their pencils, erasers, and sharpeners at Bei Sangyun while shouting at her to leave.

A child yelled, "My mommy said I should not be friends like you. She wants me to transfer because you are here!"

"My mommy said that too! She said that you have a bad personality because you have no parents to teach you!"

Many children followed suit and yelled at her to leave.

Bei Sangyun hugged her head. At first, she was going to endure it, but someone threw a book at the back of her head.

It was painful that her eyes teared up.

She stood up and yelled, "Stopped! I did not push him! It was an accident!"

"Lies! The adults in the village said you pushed him! My mother has a friend in your village. Many people saw you pushed him!"

"Fei Chuan is always nice to you but you hurt him!"

"You're bad! Bad!"

Nice to her? Fei Chuan was never nice to her!

"It's all rumors. It's not true." Bei Sangyun stood her ground stubbornly.

"If it's not true, why they said they see you pushed him? You are lying! Mother said I can't be friends with liars!"

"I am not lying! They are the one who is lying!"

Bei Sangyun was frustrated and angry.

Why these people did not believe her? They had been classmates since kindergarten.

"Bei Sangyun?" The classroom's door opened and the Teacher came in. She was about to call Bei Sangyun in her office when she saw the mess in the classroom.

She looked back at the children with a stern face. "Pick up your things and finish your writing! Bei Sangyun, come to my office."

Bei Sangyun felt hope when she saw the Teacher. The Teacher would believe her, right?

The two were alone in a small office.

The Teacher smiled at Bei Sangyun, "How come you did not come to school for the whole week? This will affect your ranking."

Bei Sangyun bowed sensibly, "I am sorry, Teacher. I did not feel well in the past week."

The Teacher nodded, "I heard it from Fei Chuan. He came to your house, right?"

Bei Sangyun fidgeted. Would the Teacher ask if what was said in the rumors were true?

"He came to persuade me to go to school. He said you are worried. I am sorry Teacher for making you worry."

"Bei Sangyun, Fei Chuan has a weak body and constitution. With a slight wrong move, his life can be in danger. The thing you did, cause Fei Chuan to suffer until now. Did you know that several doctors came to the Chu villa to treat him? His life is in danger because of what you did."

Bei Sangyun froze. Her face turned pale as she looked at her Teacher dumbfoundedly.

Fei Chuan's life was in danger?

He only fell to the ground. He did not have any injuries and left while walking. How could it cost his life?

Bei Sangyun did not notice she said the last sentence in a daze.

The Teacher's friendly face suddenly become solemn.

"I always wanted to believe in you. I have high hopes for you. You are still young and you have a bright future ahead of you. Because you are young, I understand why you make such a mistake. But if Fei Chuan loses his life because of this, won't you suffer with guilt and regret for the rest of your life?"