Yu Wenli's upbringing had ensured he wouldn't be a soft-hearted person, yet when it came to Wen Tingxue, he couldn't help but soften.
Even he admitted he was smitten.
"Don't cry."
His warm fingertip brushed away the tears at the corner of her eye, only to coax out more.
Yu Wenli sighed silently, his voice sounding watery and gentle.
"Your grandmother isn't telling the truth; she's tricking you. Your aunt and uncle won't stop loving you just because you're not good, nor will they send you back."
"Really?"
Wen Tingxue looked up at him with red-rimmed eyes, tears still streaming down.
She could usually hold back, but since meeting him, she found it increasingly difficult to control her emotions.
Thinking this, she cried even harder, feeling more wronged.
Yu Wenli found it both amusing and exasperating. "Do you believe me just because I say it's true? When your aunt and uncle arrive, you'll know if I'm telling the truth or not. Alright, stop crying, or you'll swell your eyes."
He patiently wiped her tears and coaxed her in a gentle tone, treating her like a younger sister.
Wen Tingxue hadn't experienced much warmth in her life; he was the one who gave the most. With this thought, she gradually calmed down.
...
Unexpectedly, both sets of parents arrived quite quickly.
Yu Xiuxiu and Wen Zhong'en had already planned to pick up their daughter from school. After all, they hadn't accompanied her in the morning, and not picking her up at noon would be inexcusable.
But as they waited and waited without her appearing, they went to her classroom. Just as they arrived, they received a call from the homeroom teacher.
Yu Xiuxiu rushed downstairs and saw her daughter at the entrance, her eyes no longer seeing anyone else.
"Yiyi, why are you crying? Your eyes are all red. What happened? Tell Mommy, were you bullied?"
Yu Xiuxiu was extremely worried and checked her over thoroughly.
Wen Tingxue hesitated for a moment, then pursed her lips. She then took Yu Xiuxiu's hand in hers and whispered the situation.
She was still afraid her parents wouldn't believe her, so she stared intently at them as she spoke.
Her cautious yet stubbornly hopeful demeanor tugged at Yu Wenli's heart.
Upon hearing that his daughter had been falsely accused, Wen Zhong'en's face darkened instantly, looking fierce and intimidating.
"I didn't take it, I really didn't take it..."
Wen Tingxue, mistaking her father's displeasure for anger, quickly explained, her eyes shimmering with tears that had just subsided.
Yu Xiuxiu immediately kicked him. "What are you looking so sour for in front of our daughter!"
Wen Zhong'en, feeling wronged, protested, "I..."
"What are you doing! Drop your commanding officer demeanor and speak less!"
Yu Xiuxiu had no time for his words; she focused entirely on comforting her daughter.
Her daughter already had a fragile sense of security; if they didn't give her enough trust now, what kind of parents would they be?
"Mommy believes you. Our Yiyi would never do such a thing. Daddy believes you too; he's just angry that someone slandered you for no reason."
Yu Xiuxiu gently stroked her daughter's slightly calloused hand, coaxing her with affection.
Wen Zhong'en, unable to interject, could only nod in agreement from the side.
Wen Di received a call stating that the classroom surveillance cameras were malfunctioning and were undergoing repairs, which would take a couple of days. Therefore...
A smug look flashed across Yu Yahe's eyes, but she noticed that Wen Tingxue's parents were not ordinary people.
She decided to put away her petty calculations and feign generosity, saying, "Since the surveillance footage can't be retrieved, let's drop this matter. I admit defeat."
As she spoke, she started to leave. Yu Xiuxiu grabbed her wrist and pulled forcefully.
Yu Yahe, caught off guard, stumbled twice and hit the corner of a table. New injuries compounded old ones, causing her so much pain that she wanted to curse.
But Yu Xiuxiu's imposing aura gave her no opportunity to speak.
"What do you mean by 'admit defeat'? We are all educated individuals; there's no reason for anyone to suffer a loss. Since classmate Yu believes my daughter took your bracelet, then let's report it to the police.
"Regardless, we cannot let classmate Yu suffer a loss, nor can we let my daughter bear an unfounded accusation."
Yu Xiuxiu was smiling, but her eyes held no emotion, like a smile hiding a dagger.
Yu Yahe, being a student, couldn't withstand Yu Xiuxiu's pressure and instinctively retreated towards her parents.
Yu Yahe's parents were both business people, with a moderately sized enterprise in Jiangcheng.
Coincidentally, Yu Xiuxiu's expertise lay in economic disputes, civil litigation, and criminal defense. They had collaborated on various cases.
Knowing Yu Xiuxiu was not to be trifled with, and that she was renowned in the industry for being fiercely protective of her own, they realized they had kicked a hornet's nest by provoking her daughter.
Yu's father looked somewhat troubled. "Lawyer Yu, what are you saying? It's just children playing; why involve the police?"
Although Yu's mother was inclined to side with her daughter, she understood that evidence was insufficient, and Yu Xiuxiu was a lawyer. If she were to accuse their Ya Ya of defamation, it would be disadvantageous.
"Exactly, exactly. At most, I'll have Ya Ya apologize to your child. It's just a bracelet, perhaps it was a misunderstanding."
Yu Yahe was pushed forward by her mother, her teeth chattering with anger.
She glared at Wen Tingxue, wishing she could tear her to shreds.
Yu Wenli, with a blank expression, adjusted Wen Tingxue's hat, pulling it down to obscure Yu Yahe's gaze.
This infuriated Yu Yahe to no end.
Yu Xiuxiu let out a cool, disdainful snort, completely unmoved.
"The bracelet is small, but relationships are important. We are all friends. If misunderstandings aren't cleared up, future collaborations will be inconvenient. It's best to clarify and investigate thoroughly."
Yu's father and mother exchanged subtle glances.
Wen Di, appearing troubled, stepped forward to mediate. "Lawyer Yu, I don't think it's necessary to involve the police. The situation is quite clear. Your daughter is indeed the prime suspect, as the bracelet was found in her bag.
"However, I also understand that this doesn't definitively prove she took it. So, I propose we let the two children shake hands and make peace. It can be considered an accidental acquaintance. After all, it's a child's matter, and escalating it won't benefit anyone."
Wen Di genuinely felt that calling the police over a recovered bracelet was making a mountain out of a molehill.
Wen Zhong'en burst into exasperated laughter. "According to you, my daughter deserved to be falsely accused? At the time of the incident, it was made known to the entire class. If this matter doesn't have a clear conclusion, my daughter will bear the reputation of a thief.
"Teacher Wen, while the bracelet isn't particularly valuable, my daughter's reputation is priceless. It cannot tolerate any slander, or I will not rest until it's resolved!"
At a young age, Wen Zhong'en had already ascended to the position of director at a major corporation, managing hundreds, even thousands, of employees.
Years of experience had instilled in him an imposing aura, which explained his rise to the company's second-in-command.
When he erupted in anger, everyone had to consider the consequences.
Wen Di's head pounded, and he reflexively retorted, "Why are you so sure your daughter was wronged? What if she did take it?"
Wen Zhong'en replied without hesitation, "Impossible! If my daughter says she didn't, then she didn't."
Wen Tingxue suddenly looked up, her tear-reddened eyes filled with starlight.
The softness buried deep in her heart was nurtured with care, sprouting, growing leaves, and blooming flowers.
Wen Di froze, his expression unreadable.
Yu Xiuxiu remained unyielding. "Teacher Wen, from your perspective, it's best to downplay the matter.
"But from our perspective as parents who deeply love our children, we cannot let our daughter suffer such injustice.
"If this incident is left unresolved, classmate Yu's reputation will remain untarnished, and people will point fingers. Only my child will suffer. Do you think that's fair to her?"
Wen Di's lips moved silently. He had considered the situation inadequately, thinking it was a minor issue, and overlooked their reputation.
Yu Xiuxiu continued, "To put it bluntly, if classmate Yu intentionally framed your daughter, then your perfunctory attitude today is condoning her actions and, in fact, making you an accomplice!"
Wen Di's eyes flickered. He apologized, "I was too simplistic in my thinking. Then let's report it to the police. If I have wrongly accused your daughter, I am willing to apologize."
"Report it to the police?"
Yu's father and mother hesitated, while Yu Yahe's heart pounded faster.
Once the police were involved, the matter would escalate, and then...