Identification Card - 563743675
After finishing the statement and leaving the police station.
Shang Ziqian, with a cigarette between his lips, said, "Shall we talk?"
The rain had stopped.
Yu Wenli lowered his head and said a couple of words to Wen Tingxue.
Then he followed Shang Ziqian to the banyan tree, standing face to face, smoking.
"What do you say? Is it a tie?"
Shang Ziqian cut to the chase and asked directly.
Yu Wenli slowly exhaled a puff of smoke, "You knew Wenbin was going to abduct Xiaoxue?"
His tone was light, and Shang Ziqian's heart sank.
He knew this was Yu Wenli's way of settling scores. Reading Group 563743675
"No," Shang Ziqian shook his head. "By the time he told me, things were already out of control.
"Besides, if I had known, he wouldn't have had to look for people outside; the casino guys could have handled it."
Yu Wenli held his cigarette and exhaled, a casual "Mm" in response.
Shang Ziqian grew anxious, "Can you give me a straight answer?"
Wenbin was his brother, and he couldn't just watch Yu Wenli move against him.
He and Yu Wenli had deep entanglements.
Yu Wenli wouldn't easily do anything to him.
But Wenbin was different; this time he had targeted Wen Tingxue.
Given Yu Wenli's vengeful nature, he certainly wouldn't let him off easily.
The Wen family in Jiangcheng couldn't compare to the Yu family, let alone the Chi family.
If Yu Wenli intended to make things difficult, the Wen family wouldn't fare well.
Not to mention the Mu family behind Yu Wenli.
Shang Ziqian had brought people over today not only to help Wenbin salvage some losses but also to prevent Yu Wenli from falling into someone else's hands.
They had their own unspoken understanding; they would never allow outsiders to plot against them.
Yu Wenli looked at the sun just beginning to rise, squinted, and asked,
"Why did Wenbin want to abduct Xiaoxue?"
Shang Ziqian: "..."
What the hell do I know?
After a two-second silence, Shang Ziqian said, "You two have had long-standing grudges, so it's normal for him to abduct the apple of your eye, right?"
Yu Wenli sneered and glanced at him, "Do you believe that?"
Shang Ziqian: "..."
Logically speaking, when Wenbin left Jiangcheng, their grievances were settled.
There was no reason for him to attack Wen Tingxue immediately upon his return.
But besides this, Shang Ziqian couldn't think of any other reason.
Yu Wenli crushed his cigarette butt and stated unequivocally, "Just this once."
With that, he turned and walked towards Wen Tingxue.
Shang Ziqian breathed a sigh of relief, then his eyes rolled.
Why did Wenbin abduct Wen Tingxue?
Could it be...
Shang Ziqian stared at the remaining cigarette butt, lost in thought.
-
On the way back, Wen Tingxue finally pieced together the entire sequence of events.
Simply put, Jiang Tu was the first to contact the man, followed by Wenbin.
But since it was the same deal, the man proceeded according to Wenbin's plan.
"That's not right."
Mu Chen shook his head, "If it were truly according to Wenbin's plan,
"He wouldn't have possibly not known the address of the abandoned factory."
Yu Wenli remained silent, not chiming in.
Chi Zerui asked curiously, "Why would he abduct a young girl? Haven't his grudges with Brother Yu been settled long ago?"
Yu Wenli and Wenbin's feud began when Yu Wenli moved into Moxian Garden.
It was over a very, very small matter, a simple greeting.
Yu Wenli was withdrawn at the time, and the Wen family paid a visit, but he remained cold throughout.
Wenbin found him disagreeable and had been causing trouble for him ever since.
Yu Wenli continued to ignore him, occasionally getting annoyed and beating him up.
Then their animosity grew.
By their first year of high school, Wenbin, for some unknown reason, insisted on fighting Yu Wenli.
The matter escalated to the grade dean, and Wenbin was expelled.
In the end, no one knew what Wenbin and Yu Wenli discussed, but Wenbin obediently left school and never bothered Yu Wenli again.
Everyone looked at Yu Wenli, who said faintly, "Didn't he terminate the cooperation midway?"
"So?"
"He probably went crazy."
Everyone: "..."
It was quite reasonable, actually.
After all, Wenbin himself was quite crazy.
Otherwise, how could he be friends with Shang Ziqian.
Wen Tingxue recalled Wenbin's interactions with Xie Jin Yi and couldn't help but ask, "Are they very close?"
"Yes," Mu Chen said. "When Wenbin lost his brother, it was Xie Jin Yi who always stayed by his side.
"If you think about it, Xie Jin Yi should be considered his sister."
"Lost his brother?" Wen Tingxue's eyes widened. "What do you mean?"
Yu Wenli said, "Wenbin had a younger brother, three years his junior. When he was twelve, during the New Year, he went to buy firecrackers.
"He wasn't careful for a moment, and the child was hit and killed by a car. The scene was said to be quite gruesome.
"Since then, Wenbin has been... quite unstable."
Yu Wenli didn't know how to describe it; in any case, anyone would go crazy after such an event.
Moreover, the two brothers had a very good relationship.
It was just a moment of carelessness...
-
Since that incident, no matter what Wen Tingxue did, Yu Wenli insisted on accompanying her.
Even if she went to the restroom, he would wait outside.
It was as if he was still shaken, unable to rest easy.
On Friday, the homeroom teacher came in and said, "Because our class's art representative will be studying abroad.
"Therefore, during the evening self-study session, I hope we can elect a new art representative. Please participate actively."
The classroom instantly buzzed with excitement.
It wasn't that they were particularly looking forward to the new art representative, but the tedious and boring studies finally had a little new interlude.
"Hey, tablemate~"
Lin Ling nudged Wen Tingxue, who was doing a practice test, her face beaming with excitement.
"Art representative! You should go for it! Your paintings are so beautiful!"
She pointed to the blackboard newspaper behind them, "You've already earned us points for the class and were publicly praised by the grade dean."
As the May Fourth Youth Day was approaching, Wen Tingxue had drawn ancestors like Lu Xun and Chen Duxiu on the blackboard newspaper.
Her superb and vibrant painting skills attracted many classes to visit, creating a lively atmosphere for the entire week.
Wen Tingxue shook her head, "No, no, I can't do it..."
"What can't you do? We'll vote for you!" Fu Shilin turned her head and cheered.
Even Yu Wenli said, "Just try it. Being a class officer is pretty good."
"Then..."
Wen Tingxue felt a little flattered, "Should I try?"
"Okay!"
Fu Shilin and Lin Ling agreed in unison, with such spirit, as if they were the ones running for class representative.
Wen Tingxue: "..."
"Will you vote for me?" After holding back, she couldn't resist.
She leaned into Yu Wenli's ear and whispered, "Will you?"
Yu Wenli smiled and closed his book. Wen Tingxue, impatient, asked again.
"Will you or won't you?"
Does it really need so much thought?
Yes.
No.
At most two words, is it that difficult to answer?
The young girl pouted unhappily.
The next second, the young man hugged his book and turned around, sunlight falling on his face.
Blue and white school uniform, high school classroom, everything was imbued with the flavor of youth.
Wen Tingxue blinked for a moment before hearing him say, with almost helplessness,
"Among your options, you are always my first choice. You don't need to doubt that."
Wen Tingxue blinked her eyes, meeting his clear and gentle gaze, which was filled with unspoken tenderness and affection.
-
Meanwhile, at the school gate.
"Hey, hey!"
The gatekeeper stopped an old man who was trying to enter, frowning.
"Whose parent are you? You can't just come in without explaining."
The old man glanced at the school sign, confirmed it was Jiangcheng High School, wiped his sweat, and said,
"I am Wen Tingxue's grandmother."