The wound was in a precise location, right at the corner of her left eye, close to the outer edge.
If it had been even a fraction of an inch off, it could have damaged her eye.
It looked so much like…
Just as Wen Tingxue had the thought, she pushed it down, only for him to give her the definitive answer.
"A fight."
The little girl paused in her rubbing of the scar, her almond-shaped eyes wide with surprise.
She had always thought he had nothing to do with such things. Even with the suspicion in her mind just now, she had quickly dismissed it. She hadn't expected…
Wen Tingxue suddenly realized that she didn't know him that well.
Or, to be more precise, she only knew the him of today.
As for his past, she had never seen it, nor had she been a part of it. It felt as if there was a layer of separation.
The little girl withdrew her hand and asked, her voice a little muffled, "With whom?"
Yu Wenli raised his hand and gently turned her face towards him, speaking word by word, "Shang Ziqian. Yiyi, about my past, I will tell you slowly.
"You never need to feel there's a gap between us. Even if there is, I will fill it. Do you understand?"
Wen Tingxue had always known he had a keen eye, but she hadn't realized he could be so perceptive.
She had merely withdrawn her hand, her tone of voice had shifted slightly, and he had completely grasped her thoughts.
It was as if… he could really read minds.
The little girl's mouth was slightly agape, her stunned expression incredibly endearing.
Yu Wenli smiled and gently held her chin, helping her close her mouth.
"It's not that magical. It's just a connection of hearts, and it's because I care about you, silly girl. You believe anything I say."
Somehow, a particular word pleased the little girl, and she hummed contentedly.
"Yes, yes, yes, my Brother Yu is the smartest."
After a bit of lighthearted banter, the two headed downstairs. The day's calligraphy practice was still pending.
According to Yu Wenli's rule, two pages had to be practiced today.
Even after receiving a spanking earlier, it didn't matter; two pages meant two pages.
He was incredibly strict.
Although, the spanking hadn't been that hard, certainly lighter than on her bottom.
"Hiss~"
As she reached the second step, the little girl took a slightly too large stride, stretching her backside, and gasped in pain.
She suspected he had done it on purpose; the last strike had landed right at the junction of her buttock and thigh.
It had brought tears to her eyes at the time.
Yu Wenli reached out to steady her.
As he looked up and met the little girl's teary, accusatory gaze, he raised an eyebrow, openly admitting, "It hurts to remember."
"..."
Wen Tingxue quickly averted her gaze, wisely choosing to steer clear of the topic.
The next second, she was lifted into the air. Instinctively, the little girl wrapped her arms around his neck, panting in his embrace, still shaken.
The young man looked at the small, delicate figure in his arms and his lips curved slightly. "From now on, if anyone bullies you, even if you can't fight back, you must learn to report them. Let them know you're not easy to mess with."
"But…" they would only escalate.
She had experienced this before.
Yu Wenli carried the little girl down the stairs, his voice a soft interruption. "That was before. Now you have us behind you. What are you afraid of? Would I let you suffer any grievances?"
Now you have us behind you…
Behind you…
The little girl's eyes reddened. So many years of suppressed grievances seemed to erupt at this very moment.
Since she could remember, she had always been alone. Whether she was wronged or achieved something, there was no one to share it with.
Her back felt empty, with no one to support her, nor anyone to shed tears for her.
She had almost gotten used to being strong, and suddenly, someone appeared, offering warmth and support.
Telling her, "Don't be afraid, you have us behind you, we won't let you suffer any grievances…"
This feeling was like a long-thirsty wanderer finally encountering water.
It was both joyous and fearful, as if it might be an illusion.
Only when the water was offered to her lips did she dare to believe it wasn't a dream.
She truly didn't have to be so strong anymore.
She could, for a while, just be a child…
A low sob was heard. Yu Wenli paused his descent, then quickly walked to the study.
He placed the little girl on the desk and looked down, wiping away her cascading tears. "What are you crying for? Did Brother really hurt you that badly?"
His voice was gentle, like the finest medicine.
Wen Tingxue looked up with tear-filled eyes, her nose tip red, and asked, "Brother Yu, you will always be with me, right?"
She clutched his clothes nervously, as if trying to grasp something to prove that it was all real.
Yu Wenli patiently wiped away her incessant tears, his tone firm and resolute. "Yes, Brother will always, always be with you."
After speaking, Yu Wenli remembered the candy she had tucked into his pocket. He unwrapped one and fed it to her.
"Good Yiyi, stop crying."
…
After practicing for two pages, the little girl's emotions had completely stabilized, and her intellect began to return.
"Huh?"
On the way upstairs, Wen Tingxue suddenly noticed something.
"Brother Yu, why haven't you worn a shirt and glasses these past few days? Was only the first time worthy of your full formality?"
To be honest, she missed that attire; it was both demure and seductive.
Especially with his broad shoulders and narrow waist, even if he hadn't fully grown, the sexual tension emanating from him was captivating. What would he be like when he was fully grown…
Before Wen Tingxue could ponder further, the young man beside her suddenly uttered a sentence she had never considered.
"Is there a possibility that my intention wasn't formality, but to trick you?"
His gaze fell upon her lightly, like a hunter meticulously laying a trap for his prey.
Wen Tingxue's mind exploded. All the past events flashed before her eyes.
She had never taken his verbal warnings to heart.
Only when he approached her with the red wooden ruler did those warnings truly embed themselves in her heart, leaving her with lingering fear.
It made her constantly worry about being caught in a lie. The more she feared it, the more likely she was to fall into his carefully constructed net when things were revealed.
Looking back now, every word he spoke was imbued with hidden meaning, hinting at something.
No wonder he had dressed so formally that day; the point wasn't his identity as a teacher, but to make her firmly remember the red wooden ruler in his hand.
This way, when everything was revealed, he would only need a few mild threats, and she would confess everything.
Because the seeds he had planted long ago had already sprouted by that moment.
He knew too well how to make her talk.
She was almost defenseless in front of him.
"You're such a cunning fox, wearing a human skin!" the little girl scolded, both embarrassed and annoyed.
Her soft, delicate voice sounded more like a playful complaint.
Yu Wenli smiled noncommittally. "Who asked you to be such a pretty little rabbit? So patient and clever. If I weren't cunning, how could I lure you into my den?"
His gaze was so direct and burning, revealing his intentions without reservation.
Wen Tingxue was no match for him. With a playful glare, she ran upstairs.
The young man chuckled and leisurely followed.
…
It was quite late when they returned home. Wen Tingxue, her face slightly flushed, carried her schoolbag upstairs.
As she passed the living room, she noticed her parents were still awake.
"Oh?"
The little girl looked up in surprise. "Mom and Dad, you're not resting yet?"
Because tomorrow was a holiday, Yu Wenli had extended their lesson. According to his usual schedule, she would have been asleep by now.
She had assumed her parents, having returned home after a long day, would have gone to bed early.
Yu Xiuxiu smiled and rose from the sofa, taking her daughter's schoolbag and pulling her to sit between them.
"Yiyi, Mom and Dad have something to tell you."
Yu Xiuxiu and Wen Zhongen looked at her with unusual seriousness.
The little girl meekly and innocently shrank her neck. "What is it?"