Yu Wenli placed the six books he had carefully selected in front of Wen Tingxue, his expression gentle as he said:
"If there are any books you particularly like, you can tell me, and I'll recommend similar ones. If you don't understand anything, you can call me. Your brother's phone is always on."
Wen Tingxue did love to read, but her grandmother was unwilling to spend money on books for her.
Even asking would only result in scolding.
When she wanted to read, she could only flip through books briefly at a bookstore near the school.
After all, she didn't have the time to linger; she had to hurry home to do chores.
Therefore, Yu Wenli's study felt like heaven to her, filled with every kind of book.
During her ten-minute breaks, she would always find a book to read, but she wasn't good at choosing them.
Several times, she couldn't understand the books she picked up.
She hadn't expected him to be so thoughtful, noticing even this.
"Thank you, Brother Yu!"
Wen Tingxue happily hugged the six books and went home.
She knew Yu Wenli had chosen them carefully, but she didn't realize he had chosen them intentionally.
The six books, each one, taught her how to break free from conventional thinking, how to become more confident, independent, and clear-headed, and how to find her own path.
Many things began to change the moment the pages were opened.
Subtly, little by little, they influenced the trajectory of her life.
Much like him, who had suddenly appeared in her life, bursting in with a reckless demeanor and changing so much for her.
-
The peaceful days didn't last long. On Friday afternoon, during the last class, Yu Yahe returned, leaning on a crutch.
The moment their eyes met, Wen Tingxue knew she hadn't given up.
She hadn't expected her to act so quickly.
During dinner, a group of men and women forcibly dragged her outside the school into a dark alley, and Xie Jinyi was with her.
Wen Tingxue tried to call Yu Wenli, but Yu Yahe snatched her phone away.
In front of her, she turned it off.
"I know Yu Wenli cherishes you," Yu Yahe said, sitting on a pile of wooden crates with a faint smile.
"My current injuries are all thanks to him. I don't understand, you weren't even that badly hurt, why did I have to pay such a heavy price?"
Yu Yahe lightly tapped Wen Tingxue's left cheek with her phone, smiling slowly.
"But it doesn't matter. I can't afford to offend Yu Wenli. I won't hurt you from now on, but..."
The word "but" made Wen Tingxue's heart race again.
Meeting her suddenly raised gaze, Yu Yahe smiled meaningfully.
"You can't be touched, but your friend, I can definitely touch, right?"
"What do you want?!" Wen Tingxue asked, her heart pounding.
Yu Yahe placed her crutch upright on the ground, slowly twirling it.
Her tone was languid, "No matter how much Yu Wenli likes you, as long as you're not hurt, he won't intervene. So..."
Yu Yahe raised her eyes sinisterly, "From now on, Xie Jinyi will pay your debts for you, double the amount!"
"Yu Yahe!" Wen Tingxue shouted angrily, "Don't forget, she even pleaded for you back then!"
"So what?" Yu Yahe said dismissively. "I still ended up like this, lying in bed for days like a corpse, losing all face and dignity. What do I have to fear anymore?"
The madness in Yu Yahe's eyes pierced Wen Tingxue.
The young girl stared blankly for a few seconds before cursing, "You're truly crazy."
"Yes!"
Yu Yahe accepted it all. "You can call me whatever you want, because it wasn't you who fell down the stairs, it wasn't you who was despised by your parents, it wasn't you who almost lost everything!
"Wen Tingxue, you haven't stood in my shoes, so how can you know the bitterness in my heart? Why can you, an outsider, so easily gain Yu Wenli's affection?
"We were classmates for ten years, and he didn't even remember my name. Now he remembers it completely because of you! Do you think that's fair?
"I've known Xie Jinyi for three years, and because of you, we've fallen out. Is that fair?"
Yu Yahe spoke with tears in her eyes, her eyes red by the end.
Wen Tingxue was stunned and momentarily forgot to retort.
Xie Jinyi, in a bad mood, had remained silent for the most part. It wasn't until Yu Yahe mentioned their years of friendship that she slowly looked up.
"Yu Yahe."
Her tone was devoid of emotion.
Yu Yahe glanced at her faintly. "If you have something to say, just say it."
Xie Jinyi looked at her badly injured right leg, then after a moment, she proposed,
"Considering our three years of friendship, and considering I pleaded for you, can we just let this go?"
"Let what go?" Yu Yahe asked, not understanding.
Perhaps she understood but didn't want to.
Xie Jinyi swallowed dryly. "Stop targeting Tingxue. If you have a problem, come at me. Aren't you angry that I broke ties with you?
"As long as you stop bothering her, you can do whatever you want to me. Anyway... I don't really want to live anymore."
"Yiyi!" Wen Tingxue cried out anxiously, "This has nothing to do with you, you don't need to take it on yourself."
Yu Yahe sneered, "Such sisterly affection! Stop showing off in front of me again!"
With that, she had someone take Xie Jinyi to the side, and then said to the person behind Wen Tingxue, "Keep an eye on her, don't let her run."
Wen Tingxue couldn't break free, so she could only glare with wide, fierce eyes and warn, "If you dare to hurt her, I won't let you off!"
Yu Yahe scoffed, "You? Don't forget, I still have that video of you."
Wen Tingxue froze instantly. Yu Yahe gave a cold laugh and walked towards Xie Jinyi, leaning on her crutch.
A corner blocked her view, so she couldn't see exactly what was happening.
She could only hear a few crisp slaps, followed by muffled groans.
The paths from the school to this place were all small roads. No matter how loud the noise, it wouldn't attract attention.
This was why Yu Yahe dared to be so arrogant. Wen Tingxue gritted her teeth, regretting not warning Yu Wenli in advance.
Otherwise, Xie Jinyi wouldn't have had to suffer in her place!
After ten agonizing minutes, Xie Jinyi was brought back.
There were no visible injuries, except for a slight redness on her right cheek.
"Don't say anything."
Xie Jinyi stopped Wen Tingxue from speaking and, with a pale face, took her hand. "Let's go."
Yu Yahe stood not far away, hidden in the shadows, her expression unreadable as she reminded them, "Don't forget what you promised me."
Xie Jinyi's footsteps paused, then she left without looking back.
Wen Tingxue didn't know what Xie Jinyi had promised Yu Yahe.
No matter how she asked, Xie Jinyi just smiled and shook her head, saying it wasn't important.
But how could it not be important? Yu Yahe wasn't someone to be easily placated!
Xie Jinyi continued to shake her head. Ever since she learned about Xie Liangzhe's relationship with her dance teacher, she had become listless.
She was sluggish in everything she did, and even Wen Di had approached her several times.
Wen Tingxue was too worried. Before evening self-study began, she went downstairs and headed straight for Wen Di's office.
She thought it was time for Yu Yahe to face consequences.
As for that video... it wasn't that explicit anyway. If she wanted to post it, let her.
Adjusting her mindset, Wen Tingxue knocked on the office door.
Wen Di, who was about to go to the classroom, looked up. Seeing her, he frowned in confusion. "Class is about to start, why are you here?"
Considering other teachers were present, Wen Tingxue walked closer to him and lowered her voice. "Teacher, Yu Yahe is bullying someone."