He asked it so suddenly that Wen Tingxue almost stopped breathing.
"I... I ate it."
Alas.
She had lied to him again.
The candy wrapper wasn't completely sealed, and once it was soaked in dirty water, it was basically inedible.
She had kept it in her pocket, wanting only a memento.
Yu Wenli asked again, "How did it taste?"
Wen Tingxue fabricated, "It was delicious, why?"
She blinked her sparkling eyes at him, afraid he would continue to press.
She was afraid of accidentally revealing the truth.
Unexpectedly, Yu Wenli took a small packet of fruit candy directly from his pocket and put it into her arms without question.
"Since you think it's delicious, from now on, you're only allowed to eat the candy I give you. You're not allowed to eat candy from anyone else."
He emphasized the last three words a little heavily.
Wen Tingxue froze for a few seconds, then hugged the candy with a smile.
"So you asked so much... just to know if I liked it?"
Yu Wenli raised an eyebrow, with a hint of roguishness, "Or what? Would I give you something you don't like?"
Wen Tingxue said sweetly, "I like whatever Brother Yu gives me."
Yu Wenli was in a good mood from being coaxed and said, "You like milk candy? I'll buy you some tomorrow."
The implication was that the candy Xie Jin'an gave her could just gather dust.
"Oh."
Wen Tingxue, being pragmatic, unwrapped a fruit candy and popped it into her mouth.
"Brother Yu's choice is still better."
Yu Wenli smiled and patted her head, "I knew you'd eaten candy."
Even though he knew she was trying to appease him out of guilt, he was still happy.
"Brother Yu, try one too~" Wen Tingxue unwrapped another and offered it to his lips.
Yu Wenli initially wanted to say he didn't like candy, but seeing her expectant gaze, he lowered his head.
At that moment, Wen Tingxue felt that even if he were a deity from heaven, she could still yearn for him.
-
At the Wen residence.
The day had been too eventful, and Wen Tingxue fell asleep listening to a few songs in bed.
Yu Xiuxiu didn't even have time to say a few words to her.
Jiangcheng No. 1 High School was a key high school, and they started focusing on studies from the second semester of junior year. Now, even evening study sessions were gradually being scheduled.
Since her daughter wasn't home for dinner, Yu Xiuxiu was worried about her nutrition.
Just as she was considering whether to send food to the school, Wen Zhongen returned, his body filled with fatigue, and asked,
"Where's Yi Yi?"
Yu Xiuxiu went to help him hang his coat and said with a slight complaint, "She's already asleep. You've been so busy lately, I barely see you."
Wen Zhongen raised his hand to loosen his tie and sighed with some regret.
"Alas, I rushed back just to talk to her, but it seems I'm still too late."
"Hmph~"
Yu Xiuxiu glared at him playfully, "Why haven't you thought of talking to me?"
Wen Zhongen embraced his dear wife and said affectionately, "Why are you jealous of our daughter? Shall we settle this account in bed later?"
"Get lost."
Yu Xiuxiu pushed him away with a laugh, "You smell. Go wash up."
Wen Zhongen lowered his head and kissed her, then, before his wife could get angry, dashed into the bathroom.
Yu Xiuxiu, not knowing whether to laugh or cry, playfully threw a sofa cushion at him.
They were a couple who had gone through hardships together; neither of them had come from a happy family.
When they first met, they were both burdened with family debts.
To avoid being eliminated by society, they worked their hardest to climb up.
They dared not relax for even a minute.
Later, when things were finally looking up, they were tricked and plunged into debt again.
At that time, they had even considered ending their lives.
But the next day, when the sun rose, they still decided to grit their teeth and persevere.
Even if it were for no one else, it would be for their daughter.
To bring their daughter to them sooner, they wound themselves up like clockwork.
When others rested, they worked.
When others worked, they worked twice as hard.
They used one minute as two, only then could they achieve their current success.
Everyone thought that with such hard work, they wouldn't even see each other every day, and their relationship surely wouldn't be good.
But the opposite was true; they had both been through hardship.
So they knew even better what was most precious. They worked with all their might only to make life better for each other.
Yu Xiuxiu had never felt fortunate in her life, except for her marriage and her child. She felt blessed.
She felt it was worth it to endure all the hardship and fatigue for them.
Completely worth it.
Yu Xiuxiu bent down to pick up the cushion from the floor and placed it on the small table beside her.
Then she pushed open the door to the laundry room and tossed Wen Zhongen's dirty clothes inside.
As she exited, she noticed her daughter's clothes and, on a whim, picked them up to smell them.
Once.
Twice.
Yu Xiuxiu frowned deeply. Something was wrong.
The smell was not right.
Recalling her daughter's phone call at noon that day.
Why didn't she come home for dinner for no reason?
Yu Xiuxiu dropped the clothes and was about to go upstairs to ask, but as soon as she stepped onto the stairs, she regretted it.
If her daughter didn't want to talk about it, there must be a reason.
No matter what, she couldn't just go up and ask directly.
It would scare her daughter.
After much thought, Yu Xiuxiu still dialed Yu Wenli's number.
He answered quickly, clearly not asleep yet.
"Auntie Yu."
The young man's voice carried the cool clarity of the night.
Yu Xiuxiu felt reassured and carefully explained the situation, asking if he knew anything.
Yu Wenli said without surprise, "Auntie Yu, if you trust me, please let me handle this matter."
Yu Xiuxiu had heard of Yu Wenli's capabilities before.
Especially since his attitude was so calm, it was clear he knew something.
Moreover, it would indeed be more convenient for him to handle it than for them, the adults.
Yu Xiuxiu pondered for a moment and said solemnly, "Wenli, Auntie has never asked you for anything. This time, you absolutely cannot let Yi Yi be wronged."
Yu Wenli promised, "Don't worry, Auntie. Yi Yi's place in your heart will only be higher in mine."
Yu Xiuxiu was silent for a few seconds, then asked, "What do we need to do?"
Yu Wenli replied, "Just pretend nothing happened."
-
In the blink of an eye, it was the weekend.
Wen Tingxue didn't know why Yu Yahe had suddenly become so quiet.
She guessed it was probably related to Yu Wenli.
However, she couldn't say it directly, so she subtly tried to appease him.
Their relationship grew better and better, and they occasionally chatted on their phones before bed.
"Yi Yi."
Yu Xiuxiu called from downstairs, "Come down quickly for breakfast. You have your favorite soy milk and fried dough sticks!"
"Okay! Coming down!"
Wen Tingxue put down the homework she was holding and hurried downstairs.
Yesterday, she had casually mentioned wanting soy milk and fried dough sticks, and Aunt Fang had remembered.
This morning, she had started making soy milk and frying dough sticks.
Wen Zhongen was as busy as usual, and not a trace of him was to be seen.
Only Yu Xiuxiu was at the dining table, busy with work documents.
When Wen Tingxue walked over, she put her things away and focused on talking to her daughter.
"Try it quickly, Aunt Fang's cooking is excellent."
She pushed the cooled soy milk towards her daughter and cut the fried dough sticks into small pieces for her to eat easily.
Wen Tingxue felt incredibly happy, and her personality became a little more cheerful.
"Thank you, Mom, thank you, Aunt Fang."
They teased her with smiles, and just as the atmosphere was good, Yu Wenli arrived with something.
The Yu family had a case that Yu Xiuxiu was handling.
After Yu Xiuxiu took it, she invited, "Xiao Wen, have you had breakfast yet? Come and sit down for a bit."
Yu Wenli smiled faintly and shook his head, "No, I've already eaten."
Yu Xiuxiu then asked, "Do you have time later? I want to take Yi Yi to buy a few more clothes, and I'd like you to come along and give your opinion."
The last outfit was quite good, but when Yu Xiuxiu remembered the smell, she felt a little uneasy.
Yu Wenli understood her meaning and nodded, "Okay, I'll wait for your call at home."
After he left, Wen Tingxue quickly finished her breakfast, afraid of making him wait even a second longer.
Yu Xiuxiu, not knowing whether to laugh or cry, said, "You really care about your Brother Yu."
Wen Tingxue, running upstairs, blushed halfway at the remark.
But soon, she dismissed the thought.
Because Yu Yahe sent her a message with a few video screenshots, which were rather explicit.
It was like a bucket of cold water poured over her head, extinguishing all her enthusiasm.
-
Outside the door, Yu Xiuxiu knocked, "Yi Yi, have you changed? It's been half an hour. Are you feeling unwell? Xiao Wen has already come to find you."
On her phone, Yu Wenli sent a message: Are you feeling unwell?