On a Monday morning, the 7th Jiangcheng Ordinary High School Student Debate Competition was held at Jiangcheng No. 12 Middle School.
This event attracted much attention. The most captivating match was between Jiangcheng No. 1 High School and Jiangcheng No. 5 High School, with the topic of debate being "The pursuit of money can coexist with morality." The entire session was high-stakes, with every word being a pearl. Although Jiangcheng No. 5 High School's debating prowess was widely acknowledged, Jiangcheng No. 1 High School ultimately emerged victorious.
Therefore, before Yu Wenli even returned with his team, the confession walls of various high schools were already flooded with mentions of Yu Wenli. Wen Tingxue sat on Lin Ling's bed, scrolling through her phone, only to see Yu Wenli's name no matter how she swiped. Following closely behind was a quote he uttered on the debate stage:
"I will never abandon the morality I uphold for the sake of money."
Wen Tingxue uncontrollably tapped to open the attached pictures. She flipped through them one by one. On the debate stage, the young man slightly turned his head, his gaze sharp, his aura powerful. No matter how fiercely his opponents debated or how eloquently they spoke, he remained composed, confident of victory. That self-assured casualness was something many couldn't emulate.
Wen Tingxue gazed at the familiar yet incredibly unfamiliar young man. Suddenly, she felt... Tong Jiayi had at least said some things right.
She had said, "Wen Tingxue, it's not that I look down on you, but there's truly nothing about you that earns my respect. Yu Wenli comes from a scholarly family, has been at the top of his class since childhood, and is a prominent figure in all major competitions. He started a band at twelve and became famous at fourteen. And you? What achievements or trophies can you show off?"
She had said, "Never mind other things, but I also come from a family of dancers. I've been excellent in my studies since childhood. Whenever there's a dance competition in China, if I participate, I'm guaranteed a top-three finish. Gold medals, trophies, and certificates of honor fill my house. Even setting these aside, my appearance is far superior to yours. How can you possibly think Yu Wenli would be interested in you?"
Yes. How could she assume Yu Wenli would definitely like her? The gap between them was like the distance from school to home. On the map, it didn't look far, but the actual walk could exhaust one's legs. Regardless of why he was interested in her, she couldn't guarantee that his interest would last. Since that was the case, why cling on so desperately? They were bound to drift apart eventually. She truly lacked the confidence to bridge those gaps, nor did she believe she could always stand by his side. She had never been confident; what she had now was merely what he had given her. And now, it was gone...
In the afternoon class, Yu Wenli had already returned, arriving even earlier than Wen Tingxue. So, as she entered the classroom, everyone stared at her. Were their expressions envious? Wen Tingxue paused for a moment, shouldn't it be pity? Wen Tingxue gave a self-deprecating smile, then noticed a pile of snacks and... a bouquet of flowers on her seat. The message was clear: roses.
"Did you have a good rest at noon?" Yu Wenli looked up, his familiar gentle smile, with just the right amount of fondness. Everything seemed... unchanged. A pang of bitterness tightened Wen Tingxue's chest. She suddenly recalled a phrase he had once said: "Ordinary roses need to be pampered, let alone one that grows in my brother's heart." But then he had also had those conversations with Tong Jiayi... She could no longer discern which of his words were true.
Wen Tingxue's eyes were dazed for a few seconds. Ultimately, she didn't want to embarrass him in front of everyone. With a faint smile, she replied, "Very good." After all, she hadn't slept.
Yu Wenli didn't really expect a response from her. His actions were purely to prove that he was the one pursuing, not her. Regardless of whether she saw the online posts and comments, he didn't want them to continue to exist. He just hadn't expected her to still consider his reputation in such a situation. Silly girl.
Yu Wenli personally delivering flowers was more impactful than any exposé. Thus, the public opinion shifted remarkably quickly. When Tong Jiayi entered the classroom with a delighted expression, the students were already discussing their favorite pairings.
"I heard those lotus seed pastries were made by Yu Wenli's grandfather."
"So, have they met each other's parents already?!"
"They're neighbors, of course they've met long ago!"
"Have you noticed something? Yu Da佬's expression when he saw Wen Tingxue was even happier than when he won today."
"Yes, yes, I noticed it too, especially when Wen Tingxue responded to him."
"It's hard to believe that Yu Da佬 is actually a love-struck fool. I'm so envious of Sister Xue, she found a gem."
"I heard that Yu Wenli skipped lunch to buy that bouquet of roses."
"I heard that too. While his teammates were eating, he was squatting in the flower shop, choosing them one by one. By the time he finished choosing, his teammates had already finished eating, it was hilarious."
"It was only last Saturday, he's probably trying to appease her."
"Damn, I want to be appeased like that too!"
Tong Jiayi's expression grew more unpleasant with each word she heard. But then she thought, as long as Wen Tingxue lacked confidence, their relationship would eventually collapse. She didn't believe Yu Wenli had the patience to appease her again and again! Thinking this, Tong Jiayi became happy again.
That evening after school, Wen Tingxue left in a hurry, carrying her backpack, without waiting for Yu Wenli.
Everyone: "..." What are you waiting for, Brother Yu? Why are you sitting so calmly?
Yu Wenli, under everyone's gaze, leisurely twirled his pen and continued with his practice test.
Everyone: "???" What's going on? Weren't things fine just now? How did it change so quickly... This divine romance, they just don't understand. They truly don't understand.
Meanwhile, as Wen Tingxue reached the school gate, she suddenly received a call from Lin Ling.
"Help! Zhuer, hurry and save me!"
"What's wrong?" Wen Tingxue's heart immediately leaped into her throat.
Lin Ling said anxiously, "The classroom door was locked by someone. Everyone on this floor has left. Hurry and save me!"
"But... I don't have a key. I'll go find the homeroom teacher." Wen Tingxue quickly turned back. Lin Ling said, "No need to find the homeroom teacher. The key is placed on top of the door frame. You just need a branch."
"Okay!" Wen Tingxue didn't dare to delay and ran back, not noticing anything amiss with the instructions.
Jiangcheng No. 1 High School was truly vast. By the time Wen Tingxue ran back to the teaching building, the lights had just been turned off. It was quiet, with no sound of people. Wen Tingxue cowered in fear, her legs too weak to move. But thinking of Lin Ling waiting anxiously in the classroom, she gritted her teeth and turned on her phone's flashlight. Then, she tried to overcome her fear and slowly shuffled upstairs.
Finally reaching the floor, she forgot about the locked door and instinctively pushed it. The door opened... The door actually opened! Only then did Wen Tingxue realize something was wrong. As she turned to run, two hands suddenly wrapped around her waist, pulling her into the classroom. Her scream was muffled by a familiar hand.
"It's me." A clear, gentle voice like the wind sounded. Wen Tingxue, realizing what had happened, felt a surge of anger.
"Are you crazy! Do you know how terrifying that is!"
Yu Wenli paused, admitting fault. "I'm sorry, I didn't expect you to be afraid of the dark."
Wen Tingxue: "..."
"Let me down!" Wen Tingxue was trapped by him on the desk. After regaining her senses, she struggled to get down. Yu Wenli, having finally created an opportunity to speak with her, was unwilling to let it go easily. "No, unless you kiss your brother."
Seeing that some readers mentioned 'no misunderstandings, no green tea, no third party,' the author would like to explain here. Firstly, misunderstandings were introduced to trigger the male lead's experiences and to allow the female lead to believe in the male lead's sincerity through repeated choices. (To put it aside, I define misunderstanding as: You explain to me, and I still don't believe you; I only believe what others tell me. Therefore, I don't really consider this kind of misunderstanding a misunderstanding, as the male and female leads didn't grow up together, and the information they have about each other is limited. If someone intentionally instigates at this moment, it's hard not to have emotional fluctuations. But as long as it's explained clearly, it's an opportunity for emotional growth.) Secondly, the female lead's personality is insecure, and even without Tong's instigation, she would eventually fall into such a tunnel vision. So, revealing it earlier might not be a bad thing. Lastly, the misunderstandings between the male and female leads will end here, and it's unlikely there will be any more in the future. If all goes well, it will be a sweet romance, unless the outline collapses (blushes). (Still thanking all the beautiful readers for their support. Feel free to ask any questions, and I will respond seriously!) (I read both chapter comments and general comments, and I'm very happy you leave messages.) (Oh, and there was a question before that I forgot to answer, regarding the male lead's love at first sight for the female lead. Mu Chen mentioned three possibilities, and the female lead fits two of them. They are: she has a shadow of the male lead's past (raised by elders, returned to parents' side late, ostracized at school) and she possesses something the male lead yearns for (kindness, purity, passion).)