Yu Wenli suppressed his thoughts.
He gently stroked her expressionless, soft little face with his fingertips, and said plainly:
"Dressing up is personal freedom. As long as you like it, I won't comment on it.
But if you ask, I think it's fine."
Wen Tingxue blinked slowly. After understanding his meaning, she remained silent for a few seconds before asking another question.
"Then... do you think people who wear this kind of clothing are... a bit...?"
"No."
While she was still struggling to phrase her words, he quickly provided an answer.
"Whether it's voluntary or forced, judgment of a person should not stem from their attire, nor should it lead to condemnation."
Yu Wenli had indeed heard those vulgar remarks; they were detestable.
Yet, he still believed that freedom of dress should not yield to such disgusting commentary.
Similarly, he didn't think she should forever compromise because of that video.
He wanted her to understand this principle on her own, rather than him forcing her to voice her hidden fears.
That wouldn't help her; on the contrary, it would only make her fear him more.
"Oh..."
Wen Tingxue stared blankly at his fingers resting on his phone.
If this wasn't considered revealing, then the video of her being filmed seemed harmless.
It only made her look a bit pathetic.
But that was still better than being constantly controlled.
Wen Tingxue's mind was a battlefield, and she couldn't decide whether to speak or not.
By the time they reached school, she still hadn't mentioned the video to Yu Wenli.
Yu Wenli sensed her struggle but said nothing more.
He wanted her to figure it out herself. He had already done what he could to guide and prompt her.
The final step had to be taken by her alone.
Moreover, as long as she had the inclination to take that step, it was only a matter of time before she did.
He could wait.
The news that Wen Tingxue and Yu Wenli were going to school together again quickly reached Yu Yahe.
She kicked Wen Tingxue's chair and said with a distorted expression:
"Have you forgotten something? You're not listening to me again?"
Wen Tingxue calmly put down her schoolbag.
"Bring on whatever tricks you have, but stay away from Yu Wenli..."
Showing a rare hint of sharpness, she looked up at Yu Yahe with determined eyes.
She stated, word by word, "I can't do that."
"You!"
Yu Yahe jumped up, her expression a mix of anger and disappointment.
Instinctively, Wen Tingxue's face paled, but her gaze did not waver.
Yu Yahe's eyes narrowed in anger, and she threatened through gritted teeth:
"Wen Tingxue! Don't forget, I have..."
"What are you doing?"
Xu Kexin, holding a pointer, tapped Yu Yahe's desk with an imposing air.
Her tone was cool:
"If you don't want to attend the morning self-study, you can leave."
As the class monitor and today's duty officer, she was in charge of discipline.
Yu Yahe didn't want to be marked down, but she retorted:
"Class monitor, morning self-study hasn't started yet!"
Xu Kexin glanced at her watch and said indifferently, "It has started now. Do you want to leave?"
She reminded Yu Yahe with her eyes: Sit down!
"Tch!"
Yu Yahe reluctantly kicked her chair and sat down.
Xu Kexin withdrew her gaze and glanced at Wen Tingxue.
"You sit down too."
She said, then turned and walked towards the door.
Xie Jinyi was habitually late; it was good enough that she arrived on time today.
Xu Kexin said a few brief words and didn't mark anyone down.
Wen Tingxue knew that Yu Yahe wouldn't let her off easily, and she was prepared for retaliation.
However, she never expected that the retaliation wouldn't come from Yu Yahe.
Instead, she received a call from her grandmother.
Wen Tingxue was quite surprised when she was called to the office.
Under normal circumstances, Wen Di wouldn't summon students to his office.
Especially not her.
Because of Yu Yahe's recent harassment, she was either missing books or homework.
Even if both were present, she would lose a couple of pens, which made Wen Di very displeased with her.
At the time, she didn't even have a chance to explain.
Therefore, Wen Di became even more convinced that she was not focused on her studies.
Lately, he hadn't even bothered to look at her much.
"Teacher?"
Wen Tingxue nervously approached Wen Di's desk and saw him on the phone.
He seemed to have no time for her, so after waiting for a while, she couldn't help but mouth at him.
She thought he might have forgotten about her and was calling for her before class started.
So, she wanted to remind him and asked to be let go.
Unexpectedly, Wen Di raised his hand and made a "wait" gesture at her.
Then, he moved the phone away, covered the receiver, and said to her:
"Your grandmother called me saying that since you returned, your parents have stopped giving her living expenses. What's going on?"
His tone was stern, his eyes filled with questioning.
Wen Tingxue never expected her grandmother to call her school.
To her homeroom teacher!
Anger surged through her, and her face turned even paler.
In Wen Di's eyes, this was a sign of guilt!
He had actually had a better impression of her last time.
Even if the bracelet was an accident, what about this time?!
Inciting parents to neglect their elders, she was truly capable!
Wen Di was a filial person and couldn't stand disrespect towards parents.
Therefore, he said sternly, "Wen Tingxue, how can you be so wicked at such a young age?!"
Wen Tingxue suddenly looked up, her usually gentle eyes now filled with coldness.
Her porcelain-white face was almost devoid of color, chillingly cold.
Wen Di had never seen her like this before. He paused, then spoke as if he understood,
"Perhaps there's a misunderstanding between you, but regardless, your grandmother raised you.
Even if she has made some great mistake, you cannot be unfilial, nor can you instigate your parents to withhold her support payments!"
Wen Tingxue had a peaceful temperament and rarely got angry.
Yet, Wen Di's words still made her chest heave with emotion.
The words of explanation were on the tip of her tongue, but she swallowed them.
Family matters should not be aired in public.
Besides, even if she explained, he might not believe her.
Wen Tingxue calmed herself down and said softly,
"I didn't."
Wen Di didn't believe her, but he didn't press the issue.
"Then tell your parents to send the money to your grandmother. She's old; she can't starve."
"No."
Wen Tingxue refused outright.
She didn't know before, but she knew now.
Her grandmother and aunt dared to spend money so lavishly because it wasn't money they earned.
They didn't feel any heartache spending it.
But she knew how hard her parents worked to earn money.
She heard from her older brother Yu Fan that both her parents suffered from severe stomach problems.
They worked day and night, sometimes for days without sleep, to achieve their current status.
Once, when they had finally secured a big deal.
While slightly drunk, they received a call from her grandmother.
She claimed to be seriously ill and in need of a large sum of money.
Upon hearing this, her parents immediately sent tens of thousands.
But in reality, she wasn't sick. The person who actually needed money was her uncle, who had lost money gambling.
Her grandmother then lied to trick money out of her parents.
Over the years, such tricks were countless.
She overheard her parents say that the money sent to her grandmother's account over the years amounted to at least five hundred thousand, if not six hundred thousand.
And now, what else did she want?
Wen Di immediately frowned and said loudly,
"What do you mean 'no'? Don't you have any regard for your grandmother's upbringing of you?!
Didn't you just deny instigating them? What do you mean by refusing now?!"