"No."
Wen Tingxue unconsciously denied it.
Wen Zhongen asked again, "Then what's wrong with your eyes? Did he bully you?"
"..."
Wen Tingxue stroked Xiao Jiu's head, defending him with half-truth and half-falsehood.
"No, I was watching a movie. The movie was too touching."
Wen Zhongen didn't believe such an excuse, but his daughter was so protective of that boy.
He couldn't do anything.
After all, he had been through it before. It wasn't appropriate for anyone to interfere in such matters.
But he was still angry!
"Then why was he standing under your window and not leaving?" Wen Zhongen asked, suppressing his anger.
Wen Tingxue looked up in surprise, then lowered her gaze and continued petting the cat.
"Maybe... he was replying to messages."
She was still defending him!
Even in this situation, she was still defending him!
Wen Zhongen felt that if he asked any more questions, he would combust, so after drying his hair, he left decisively.
He went to the study to smoke.
-
Xu Kexin returned late at night. Aunt Fang was feeding the little duck.
Hearing footsteps, she asked without looking up, "Shall I heat up your meal?"
"No need."
Xu Kexin changed her shoes and walked in, petting the little duck. "Has Xiao Xue gone to bed?"
Aunt Fang sighed.
"She went to bed early. I don't know what's going on with her and Xiao Wen. Her eyes were swollen when she came back."
"Xiao Wen too, he stood at the door for a long time before leaving."
Xu Kexin was stunned. "Did they fight?"
"I'm not sure," Aunt Fang guessed. "But I think it's more serious than a fight."
Xu Kexin pondered for a moment and said, "When she wakes up tomorrow morning, wake me up."
Aunt Fang was surprised. "Aren't you working tomorrow?"
"Yes," Xu Kexin said. "High school is starting soon, and I want to focus on my studies."
Aunt Fang nodded. "That's true. If you keep at it like this, your body won't be able to take it."
"You'll be much more relieved after getting rid of that beast Xu Ziliang. Will you still be working the night shift?"
Xu Kexin took a deep breath and said honestly, "Aunt, only the night shift is profitable, so..."
She had to work the night shift.
She still had to go to college.
Tuition fees and living expenses.
She had to prepare for them in advance.
Aunt Fang's eyes turned red. "It's my fault for not being capable enough to afford your college education."
"It's okay," Xu Kexin said with a faint smile. "I'm happy as long as you're with me."
Back in her room, Xu Kexin took out the washed posters from her schoolbag. There were seven or eight of them, all of the same person.
Xing Jiahe.
Her new motivation.
After replacing the posters one by one, Xu Kexin went to take a shower.
-
The next morning.
When Xu Kexin was woken up by Aunt Fang, Wen Tingxue had already gone to the Xie family to practice dancing with Xie Jinyi.
Yu Wenli came to find her but also missed her.
On Monday, Wen Tingxue took Wen Zhongen's car to school.
Xu Kexin tried to speak several times but couldn't find an opportunity.
When they finally arrived at school, Xu Kexin quickly said, "Xiao Xue, I..."
"Darling!"
Xie Jinyi ran over in a hurry. Wen Tingxue instinctively turned her head.
"What's wrong?"
"I think this dance routine can be improved further, made even better!"
Xie Jinyi showed Wen Tingxue the video she recorded last night.
Wen Tingxue was stunned for a moment, then took it but didn't look at it. Instead, she asked Xu Kexin.
"Class monitor, what were you just saying?"
Xu Kexin glanced at Xie Jinyi and shook her head. "Nothing, I'm leaving now."
"?"
Wen Tingxue looked at Xu Kexin's hurried retreating figure, puzzled.
Xie Jinyi urged, "Look quickly~ If you think it's good too, I'll make the changes when I get back."
"That way, the chances of passing the selection should increase."
"Okay."
Wen Tingxue watched it and indeed, it was more explosive and inspiring than the part they danced yesterday.
The two of them chatted all the way to the entrance of Class One.
Wen Tingxue went in, and as soon as she sat down, Lin Ling nervously approached her.
"Tablemate, what's going on between you and Brother Yu? It's all over the forums, saying you guys... broke up?"
"Broke up?" Fu Shilin turned her head to join in. "What's going on?!"
The CP they were shipping had just broken up in the blink of an eye?!
The two of them looked at Wen Tingxue simultaneously.
Wen Tingxue instinctively looked at the empty seat in front of her and curled her lips sarcastically.
"Broke up? We were never together in the first place."
"How can that be?!" Lin Ling was surprised. "Brother Yu personally admitted to a date. If that's not being together, what is it?
"But what happened between you guys on Saturday? In the photo, you came out of the movie theater alone..."
Lin Ling spoke softly, afraid of hurting her.
Wen Tingxue didn't know how to explain, nor did she really want to. She shook her head and didn't say anything.
Lin Ling wanted to ask more, but Fu Shilin kicked her and whispered.
"Don't you see Sister Xue is unhappy? Why are you still asking!"
Lin Ling kicked her back stubbornly, also whispering. "What do you know!
"The whole school is laughing at her now. Yu Wenli is really something.
"He publicly announced a date one moment, and the next he abandoned her at the movie theater!
"Doesn't he know his reputation in Jiangcheng? Isn't this putting Xiao Xue on the spot?!"
Whether it was on the forums or on the message boards, there was nothing but mockery.
They were all saying it was normal for Wen Tingxue to be abandoned, that Yu Wenli was just playing with her.
He wouldn't possibly be interested in her.
Lin Ling was extremely annoyed.
Fu Shilin was about to say something when Song Jiamiao came over with two savory pancakes.
"Sister-in-law, Brother Yu asked me to tell you that he's going to a debate competition today."
"He'll probably be back in the afternoon. If you need anything, you can call him directly. His phone is always on."
Lin Ling retorted, "Can't he say it himself?"
Song Jiamiao looked innocent. "Sister-in-law blocked Brother Yu. How can he say it?"
Lin Ling & Fu Shilin: "..."?
What was going on?
-
Wen Tingxue didn't go back for lunch and ate at the school cafeteria with Lin Ling.
Lin Ling felt she was in a bad mood and proactively asked.
"Tablemate, do you want some milk tea? My treat~"
"I..." No.
"You'll drink it!" Lin Ling answered for herself. "I'll go buy it for you!"
Wen Tingxue: "..."
Fine.
Drinking something might be good.
Her heart felt bitter anyway.
As soon as Lin Ling left, Tong Jiayi sat down opposite Wen Tingxue.
"Don't worry, I'll only say a few words and then I'll leave."
Tong Jiayi spoke first, with the posture of a victorious winner.
Wen Tingxue didn't want to get entangled with her further and picked up her bowl to leave.
Tong Jiayi smiled and handed her phone over.
"This is a chat record between me and Yu Wenli. Don't you want to see it?"
"No."
She said so, but her body was honest and didn't move.
Tong Jiayi smiled. "You should take a look."
She placed the chat interface in front of Wen Tingxue.
Wen Tingxue bit her lip and finally lowered her eyes.
A familiar ID, a familiar avatar... a familiar tone.
But every word was so humiliating...
Tong Jiayi smiled with unconcealed smugness. "Admit it, you're just his pastime when he's bored."
"What he truly cares about is me, whether it was on Saturday or last time."
"As long as I make one call, he'll immediately abandon you."
"Wen Tingxue, if you had any self-awareness, you should understand that Wen Li only pities you. I am his true love."
"If you have any dignity, you should leave him far away as soon as possible, or you'll be the one to look foolish."
After speaking, Tong Jiayi picked up her phone and got up to leave. Then she remembered something.
She turned back and added, "I almost forgot to tell you, we broke up not long before you met him."
With that, she let out a contemptuous and pitying laugh.
It was as if she was mocking Wen Tingxue's overestimation of herself.