The rain had intensified, its drumming on the car roof heavy, as if the heavens themselves were weeping for Mr. and Mrs. Wen.
Wen Tingxue gently stroked Yu Wenli’s head, gazing out at the hazy, misty rain.
She recalled Shang Ziqian’s state in that fight video, truly resigned to his fate, offering no resistance.
Shang Ziqian genuinely wanted to die at Yu Wenli’s hands.
On one hand, to atone for the deaths of his maternal grandparents, and on the other, to exact revenge on Yu Wenli for ruining his life.
Killing two birds with one stone?
Wen Tingxue suddenly found Shang Ziqian both detestable and pitiable.
His life shouldn’t have turned out this way.
All because of some baseless rumors.
All because he had been abandoned by his parents once.
He had become this person, consumed by extreme inferiority and extreme pride.
Even committing mistakes he himself couldn’t face…
-
Yu Wenli woke up around seven in the evening.
Due to the overcast, rainy weather, it was pitch black outside the car windows.
Occasionally, car headlights flashed by.
Yu Wenli sat up, clutching his blanket, a look of bewilderment on his face.
He seemed unsure of what had happened.
Wen Tingxue remained silent, slowly waiting for him to remember.
Waiting for his wounds to heal.
After less than three minutes, a familiar embrace enveloped her once more.
In the lightless darkness, the two simply held each other.
A moment later, the boy’s slightly hoarse but remarkably steady voice echoed in her ear.
“Are you hungry? What do you want to eat? Brother will take you.”
Before Wen Tingxue could answer, her long-empty stomach voiced its protest.
In the profoundly quiet car, the rumbling was clearly audible.
And it wasn’t just one sound!!
Wen Tingxue was so embarrassed she wished she could disappear into a crack in the ground.
What was this all about!
Why now, and not earlier or later!
It just had to happen when he woke up!
Was this intentional!
Wuwu~
Her image was completely ruined.
Yu Wenli and the driver couldn't help but chuckle softly.
The young girl grew even more flustered and reached out to push him away.
But he caught her hand, kissing it.
“I’m sorry, it’s my fault for sleeping too long, making your little tummy suffer, Yi Yi.”
Although his tone was laced with amusement, it was undeniably sincere.
The young girl, magnanimous and forgiving, said, “It’s okay, I’ll just count it as a diet.”
“That won’t do, you need to make up for it double.”
Yu Wenli held her hand, leaned closer, and asked, “Is there anything you want to eat? Or, shall I recommend something for you?”
“Hmm…” Wen Tingxue hesitated for a moment before saying, “I want to go to Song Gege’s house to eat cai bing.”
She had been dreaming of that dish.
Crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, the very thought whetted her appetite.
Yu Wenli paused for a moment, then smiled and said, “Alright, we’ll go to his place then.”
He then instructed the driver to proceed.
The two did not mention that secret along the way.
It was as if nothing had happened.
Yet, their tightly clasped hands proved that everything was real.
-
Mao Mao’s cafeteria.
The alley, damp with rain, had an even more ancient charm.
Stepping into it made one feel gentler.
“Song Jiamiao!!! You’re playing games again!! Have you finished your homework before you start playing games, you little brat?!”
Aunt Qin, brandishing a feather duster, chased after Song Jiamiao, her voice so loud Wen Tingxue thought she was holding a loudspeaker.
Yu Wenli, accustomed to this, smiled faintly. “Aunt Qin is just like this.”
He then folded his arms and watched the spectacle, showing no inclination to intervene.
Wen Tingxue: “…”
He’s called “Brother Yu” by that guy, after all.
Still, watching the show was incredibly entertaining.
“Dad!! Save your son!! Your son is about to be beaten by your wife… Little Sister-in-law?!”
As Song Jiamiao fled, covering his head, he unexpectedly spotted Wen Tingxue at the doorway.
His eyes immediately lit up, and he lunged towards her as if seeing a savior.
Yu Wenli, quick as lightning, pulled her behind him, watching as Song Jiamiao missed and slammed his head into the doorframe.
*Duang* – a sound that clearly indicated a solid impact.
Wen Tingxue: Oh dear…
“It’s fine, this little brat is tough.”
Aunt Qin, still fuming, approached with her feather duster. As she neared Wen Tingxue, her expression instantly softened.
“Little Xue, it’s been a while since you visited. Come, Auntie has been experimenting with new dishes lately. You must try them.”
“But…”
Wen Tingxue turned and pointed at Song Jiamiao.
Aunt Qin dismissed it with a wave of her hand. “He deserves it. He’s had four days of vacation and played for three. If he continues like this, how will he get into university?”
Song Jiamiao, cradling his injured head and backside, looked tearfully at his mother’s heartless retreat.
“I didn’t play for three days either, this day isn't even over yet.”
“So,” Yu Wenli raised an eyebrow, “are you planning to stay up all night writing homework today?”
Song Jiamiao chuckled. “How could I? There’s still a whole day left! No need to rush.”
Yu Wenli: “…”
-
As they entered the living room, Aunt Qin suddenly exclaimed, “Eh!”
“Wait! Don’t move, let Auntie see, have you grown taller?”
Wen Tingxue instinctively stopped.
Aunt Qin pressed her against the doorframe, then compared her height to the height markings her husband had etched into the wood. “Little Xue, you’re almost 1.6 meters tall! You’re growing quite fast.”
“Ah?”
Wen Tingxue was also surprised. She turned and measured herself against the height markings on the crimson doorframe.
She discovered she had indeed grown taller!
“At this rate, Little Xue will surely reach 1.7 meters. You can be a model then.”
She then asked with a smile, “Are you drinking milk with honey every day?”
“Probably,” the young girl thought for a moment. “I drink it every morning.”
Aunt Qin said, “That’s it then. When you leave, Auntie will give you two jars. We have plenty of honey at home!”
“This…” it’s not appropriate.
“Thank you, Aunt Qin.”
Yu Wenli placed a hand on the young girl’s shoulder and smiled, accepting on her behalf.
As the saying goes, arriving early is not as good as arriving at the right time.
This timing was precisely when the Song family had their meal.
Aunt Qin had prepared a table full of dishes, dazzling Wen Tingxue.
She didn’t know where to start.
“Come, Little Wen said you like cai bing. Auntie specifically made a pot for you. Take some with you when you leave, you can just pan-fry it for breakfast.”
Aunt Qin scooped a piece of cai bing into Wen Tingxue’s bowl.
Wen Tingxue thanked her.
Aunt Qin said with a chuckle, “Why thank me? You are Little Wen’s girlfriend, so you are like our daughter.
“If it weren’t for Little Wen’s help back then, this shop would surely not have survived.
“Besides, your mother also lent a considerable hand.”
“Ah?”
Wen Tingxue chewed on the cai bing, her dark eyes full of surprise.
Uncle Song took a sip of wine and said with a smile, “That was a long time ago, it’s normal you don’t know. It was about seven years ago when your mother and I moved from Ancheng.
“We wanted to establish ourselves in Jiangcheng with our skills, as Jiangcheng has the highest educational standards, which would be beneficial for Mao Mao.
“But we didn’t expect to be swindled as soon as we arrived, almost forcing us to return to Ancheng in disgrace.”
Aunt Qin chimed in with a smile, “And then, the day before we packed our bags and prepared to buy tickets home, Little Wen and the other three suddenly appeared at our door, injured.”