Standing Next To You

The young master was an intelligent child. He was remarkable and was considered a genius by his tutors. However, his weak body stopped him from becoming a candidate for the Fei family's heir.

His life in the Capital was lonely. Because of his weak constitution, he wasn't able to come out of his room nor play around in parks like other young masters. His only company was his nanny- Grandma Pei and his weak mother.

But after his mother passed away, the young master had been more gloomy. He matured overnight. Coupled with the fact that both families gave up on him, the young master had become introverted to the point of nothing to meet anyone.

Grandma Pei was saddened by this. The young master was only eight years old. Yet, he already had a wall surrounding him.

Grandma Pei knew that no one really wanted to be alone. So while the young master was still young, she wanted him to have a normal happy childhood. Now that they were in the countryside, the young master could spend his childhood with the children in this village.

Since they might stay here for a long time, it was better to give a good impression to the people in the village.

Grandma Pei wished that in the young master's short life, he would be happy and make unforgettable memories.

The young master would not be able to live a happy life if he was surrounded by scheming people. But with people who lived simply, the young master might understand and feel the joy in living.

The boy lowered his eyes. "There's no use in getting to know more people. I am going to die, anyway."

Grandma Pei's eyes turned wide. "Young Master...who told you that?" Who was so malicious to say those words to a child?

The boy looked indifferent but his hands were clenched, "My cousins said it. All of them agreed to send me here because I am dying. Isn't that why everyone does not want to see me?"

Grandma Pei's eyes turned red. Sometimes, she wished that her young master was not too bright. He was only a child yet he already knows the word 'death'.

Those young masters were malicious too. They were older by more than five years than the young master yet they were speaking so recklessly.

"Young Master, you are not going to die. You will still grow happily and healthily. Don't mind those words. This place is truly beautiful. This is where your mother grows up. We will live in this place happily. You will make a lot of friends."

The boy just kept his lips shut tightly.

Grandma Pei was heartbroken seeing the young master like that.

The young master must have felt so heartbroken and sad. Grandma Pei teared up. She did not wish to shed tears in front of the young master. She knew that the young master did not like crying because of his mother who always cried in front of him. Afraid that she might upset the young master with her tears, she sent him to his room.

"You go back to your room. I will bring your drink and cookies later. Or do you want to watch the villagers in the yard? They will be happy to see you. There's also a child in your age--"

"I'll stay in my room." The boy did not want to see or talk to anyone in the village. He was a dying person and he had no future. As his cousins said, there was no use in being smart if his ending was death.

There was also no use in gaining friends when he was just going to leave them early too.

For this kid who learned the word death so early, everything in front of him was useless and bleak.

*****

The boy stayed in the room while he continued reading his book.

Ever since he arrived in this strange place, he did not get proper sleep. So he get up early and walked around. But when the villagers came, he hid in his room and only come out when he was hungry.

The boy looked at the door.

Why Grandma Pei hadn't sent his cookies yet?

He closed the book and went out of his room.

On the staircase, he saw a small figure heading toward the kitchen.

In this villa, there was only his nanny, Grandma Pei, and him. Sometimes the village chief and his family came here from time to time to clean the house.

But there was no child in the village chief's family.

So who was that?

The boy then thought of the feast outside.

It must be one of the family members of the villagers.

The child's direction was in the kitchen. And the kitchen was full of dangerous things. Grandma Pei did not even allow him to stay there for long.

Afraid that the little figure might have an accident in the kitchen, the boy followed hurriedly.