His voice suddenly rose in volume, startling Wen Tingxue.
Her head buzzed afterward.
Many other teachers were still in the office, and she could feel them looking at her.
With the kind of gaze one reserves for a monster.
But she was not the one who had done wrong...
Was it because her grandmother was an elder that everything she said was right?
And because she was a child, she was bound to lie?
Wen Tingxue found such reasoning utterly absurd.
If Yu Wenli were here, he would surely believe her... right?
Actually, Wen Tingxue wasn't entirely sure.
This matter involved the most sensitive topic: filial piety.
His parents loved him so much; he was probably very filial too.
She had seen it this morning; he had slipped a birthday gift to Uncle Yu.
He seemed indifferent, but in reality, he cared deeply for his family and friends, just didn't like to talk about it much.
If he knew about this, what would he think of her?
Would he think she had a dark heart?
Wen Tingxue's mind was a chaotic mess, wishing she could tear open a crack in the floor and disappear into it.
Yet, she felt she had done nothing wrong, so why should she flee in disgrace?
Wen Di, unaware of her thoughts, unilaterally assumed her silence meant consent!
Thus, her attitude became even more aggressive.
"Wen Tingxue, I know you look down on your grandmother because she's from the countryside, but you can't forget your roots just because you've moved to the city!
"Your grandmother, at her age, raising you has been difficult enough.
"Furthermore, you're her granddaughter; the bond between grandparents and grandchildren is special. How harsh could she be on you?
"Your grandmother also said on the phone that she's willing to apologize to you, only asking you not to make things difficult for the elderly woman anymore.
"Can't you even show this much magnanimity?!"
Wen Di finished speaking and forcefully thrust the phone towards her.
Uncompromisingly, she said, "Apologize to your grandmother, or you won't be going to the next physical education class. You'll stay here and write a self-criticism!"
Wen Tingxue felt her lungs were about to explode, her eyes brimming with tears but none falling.
After staring at the phone for a long while, she gritted her teeth and took it.
At that moment, she could almost hear the grinding of her teeth.
In her entire life, this was the first time she had felt such profound loathing for someone.
She knew her grandmother and her aunt were shameless, but she hadn't realized they could be so utterly shameless.
They, who had clearly done wrong, were now splashing all the dirty water onto her.
They even resorted to lying to accuse her and her parents of being unfilial.
They would truly do anything for money.
No.
It should be for her uncle, who did nothing but live off others all day.
Otherwise, her grandmother wouldn't have been able to swallow her pride.
"Wen Tingxue."
A familiar voice drifted from the earpiece.
Her full name, devoid of any warmth.
Carrying the condescension from the depths of her memory.
"If you don't want me to cause a scene at your school, you'd better have your parents wire me money quickly! I'm not asking for much, just fifty thousand!"
Wen Tingxue heard herself let out a cold laugh, and for the first time, she retorted.
"Why don't you go rob a bank?"
"..."
There was a two-second pause on the other end, as if they couldn't believe she would argue back.
Sure enough, what followed was Wu Shangrong's enraged voice.
"Brat! You've really grown bold! You've even learned to talk back?!
"Don't think you can get away with anything just because you're back with your parents!
"I am your grandmother, the biological mother of your father. This blood connection can't be severed!
"If I wanted to, I could storm into your school right now and beat you to the ground. See who dares to stop me!"
Wen Tingxue's face drained of color, standing frozen.
Flashes of memory darted through her mind.
Her grandmother was a shrew who loved to hit people at the slightest provocation.
The most vivid memory she had was the time her clothes were ripped off.
Her grandmother, without any preamble, slapped her several times, scolding her for being shameless, calling her a little slut who seduced people at such a young age.
That time, her grandmother had hit her the hardest.
She still remembered it clearly.
Her grandmother's constant refrain was only two words: shameful.
It seemed that in their eyes, if a girl's clothes were ripped off by a boy, it was the girl's fault, and the boy could do no wrong.
Therefore, the one to be punished was the woman.
All along, she had also believed this.
Even when the one who ripped her clothes off was a girl, she would subconsciously feel it was her own fault.
But Brother Yu and Grandpa Yu had both said that in such situations, the wrongdoer is always the perpetrator.
They spoke of freedom of dress, they spoke of breaking old conventions, and they never thought she was the one at fault.
So, why should she be afraid?
Wen Tingxue felt warmth return to her long-stiffened face, a faint, mocking smile curling her lips.
"No one would dare stop you, but do you really think what you're doing is right? I doubt it."
This wasn't Lucheng; people's minds weren't so rigid and backward.
Moreover, she had loving parents here, and Brother Yu, who protected her.
They wouldn't let her get hurt.
Wu Shangrong truly hadn't expected that this troublesome girl, after only a dozen days in Jiangcheng, would completely change her personality.
In the past, even with a hundred times the courage, she wouldn't have dared to say more than a word.
Now, she actually dared to defy her!
It infuriated her!
She had thought the girl would be an easy target, but she hadn't expected this...
Wu Shangrong gritted her teeth, unwilling to give up, otherwise, her youngest son would be beaten to death.
"Wen Tingxue, I don't care what method you use, but I want fifty thousand, or I'll cause a scene at your school!
"I'll give you a week. You'd better comply obediently, or I'll make sure you have no peace!"
After delivering her final threat, Wu Shangrong fell silent.
Wen Tingxue remained quiet for about half a minute before spitting out two words, "Dream on."
Wu Shangrong remained silent, likely believing she was just putting up a brave front.
Wen Di frowned, glaring at Wen Tingxue displeasantly, then took the phone.
"Auntie, please rest assured, I will try my best to persuade classmate Wen. Please don't worry too much."
Wu Shangrong's demeanor instantly changed, and she began to cry:
"Teacher, you see, the child I raised with so much hardship is now treating me like this, sob sob sob~
"I know I was strict with her usually, and I know I'm a rough person, embarrassing her, but I just want some living expenses.
"It's not that much, just a drop in the ocean for them. They..."
Wu Shangrong sobbed heartbrokenly, as if she had suffered an immense injustice.
Wen Di's gaze towards Wen Tingxue grew more disgusted.
"Teacher Wen, I even apologized to her, and she said I was asking for too much, that I should go rob a bank?
"Oh, my heavens, my own son and granddaughter, whom I raised with my own hands, have become my enemies. My life is so bitter, Teacher Wen, please help me.
"Otherwise, I'll truly be all alone, and I'll starve to death without anyone even knowing!"
Wu Shangrong embellished her story for a good while before hanging up.
Wen Tingxue stood there indifferently. Although she didn't know what had been said,
she could tell from Wen Di's face that it wasn't anything good.
Indeed, the moment the call ended, Wen Di lost her temper.
"Wen Tingxue, if you don't want your parents to be called and this matter to escalate, you'd best resolve it quickly.
"Otherwise, if your grandmother calls again, don't blame me for deliberately making things difficult for you!"
"I..."
Wen Tingxue, indignant, opened her mouth to explain, but Wen Di cut her off with a single word, "Out!"
Silencing all her words.