Wen Di was somewhat swayed by Wen Tingxue's words.
Yu Yahe sneered, "Who knows what your intentions are? You're outwardly helping me find my things, but in reality, you're just trying to clear your own name. If I hadn't searched your bag today, this matter would have been swept under the rug! Isn't that right?"
She was so angry her lips trembled, her questioning voice loud, as if she had witnessed Wen Tingxue taking the bracelet herself.
Wen Tingxue was not good with words and naturally couldn't argue with her.
The office fell silent, an unspoken confrontation.
After much thought, Wen Di still felt Wen Tingxue was more suspicious.
After all, Yu Yahe was a student he personally supervised, and he knew her character best.
She would never falsely accuse or frame someone; it had to be Wen Tingxue.
A problematic student transferred from Lucheng No. 7 High School was more likely to do such unsavory things!
Wen Di took a deep breath, suppressing his anger, and said to Wen Tingxue, "Seeing as this is your first offense, apologize to Yahe, and we'll let this matter go."
Wen Tingxue looked up abruptly, her dark eyes filled with shock. "On what grounds? I didn't take her bracelet, so why should I apologize to her?"
Her voice had always been soft, lacking any real authority.
Wen Di found her being melodramatic even more, his words naturally becoming sterner.
"You didn't take it? If you didn't take it, how did the bracelet end up in your bag?! Does it have legs of its own? Wen Tingxue, I told you yesterday not to cause trouble!
"What did you do? On the first day of school, you stole something from your deskmate and still deny it!"
Wen Tingxue felt she had no way to defend herself, her eyes reddening. "Teacher, is everything she says true? Just because it was found in my bag, does that mean I stole it? Why couldn't she have put it there?"
By the end, her voice had a sharp edge of grievance, making Wen Di frown.
"Why would she falsely accuse you? Besides, Yahe's grades are so good, how could she lie, and lie for someone who just transferred?"
Wen Di found it absurd, while Wen Tingxue's eyes welled up, her voice trembling.
"Do good grades represent good character? Teacher, isn't your judgment too narrow-minded?"
"..."
Wen Di paused for a second, then said irritably, "That's not what I meant, don't misinterpret me. In any case, you apologize, and this matter is over, or else I'll have to call your parents."
The mention of calling parents instantly deflated Wen Tingxue.
She didn't want her parents to know about this. She had just arrived and couldn't afford to cause trouble, nor could she bear to see the disappointment in their eyes.
She cherished her current life and was willing to pay any price for it…
"I..."
Wen Tingxue wavered on the verge of compromise. Yu Yahe, impatient, taunted, "Dare to do it but not admit it? My bracelet is worth more than your reputation..."
Wen Di's temper flared upon hearing this, and just as he was about to retaliate, the sunlight at the doorway darkened, revealing a tall, slender silhouette.
"How valuable is it?"
Yu Wenli's clear voice rang out, carrying an undeniable presence.
Wen Di also taught the first class, and Yu Wenli was the student he was most satisfied with and liked the most so far. His expression naturally softened.
"Why haven't you gone back yet?"
Yu Wenli walked to Wen Tingxue's side and said indifferently, "Waiting for my sister."
"Sister?" Wen Di and Yu Yahe were stunned simultaneously.
Wen Tingxue also looked up in surprise, her gaze landing on his clean, smooth jawline, exuding the distinct aura of youth.
She had never imagined he would acknowledge her as his sister in front of others.
She had thought his calling himself her brother was just to cheer her up and not to be taken seriously.
Unexpectedly…
The sense of grievance Wen Tingxue had felt all the way here was now infused with something else, mixing and mingling, lessening the bitterness.
Her eyes instantly welled up with tears.
"You're saying my sister took your bracelet?" Yu Wenli asked Yu Yahe expressionlessly.
His eyes held absolute unfamiliarity.
Even though they were classmates, even sitting at adjacent desks for so long, he didn't remember her!
Yu Yahe felt a pang of hurt and squeezed her palm, her posture defiant. "Yes! She stole my bracelet!"
She deliberately emphasized the word "stole." Yu Wenli's brows furrowed slightly, with a hint of displeasure, yet he remained impossibly handsome.
Yu Yahe was somewhat dazed, and when Yu Wenli walked towards her, she instinctively took two steps back.
"Ow!"
Her lower back suddenly hit a sharp desk corner, the pain turning her face green.
Yu Wenli chuckled. The desk corners in the office were much harder than those in the classroom.
He never liked to reciprocate; he preferred to give back double.
Yu Yahe realized he was standing up for Wen Tingxue, her expression growing more unpleasant, a hint of jealousy flashing in her eyes.
Yu Wenli glanced at her indifferently, then a mocking arc formed on his lips.
"Classmate Yu, why did you steal my school ID?"
He said this slowly, dripping with sarcasm.
"What school..."
Yu Yahe instinctively retorted, but quickly shut her mouth.
Wen Di watched as Yu Wenli plucked the school ID from Yu Yahe's pocket. His long fingers curled slightly, revealing the name on the ID:
Yu Wenli, Class 2, Year 2.
Wen Di recalled Wen Tingxue's earlier words, his face turning a faint shade of green.
"Yu Yahe, why did you take Wen Li's school ID?"
"I didn't!"
Yu Yahe gritted her teeth and argued, "I absolutely didn't take it! It was..."
She wanted to say Yu Wenli had orchestrated it, but she had no reason, nor any evidence.
In that moment, Wen Tingxue's grievance flashed in her mind.
Yu Wenli played with the ID with his fingertips, retreating to Wen Tingxue's side, his expression serene, yet laced with mockery.
Wen Di understood his meaning and coughed awkwardly.
"It's true that I wasn't rigorous enough just now. Even if the bracelet was found in your bag, it doesn't prove you took it..."
"She took it!" Yu Yahe insisted, "No one else would have taken it. I never lost things before, and as soon as she arrived, I lost something..."
Her words weren't direct, but they were clear enough.
They carried an insulting undertone.
Yu Wenli's eyes darkened. "Then let's call the parents and review the surveillance footage."
Yu Yahe had intended to make Wen Tingxue bow her head and admit guilt, but the situation had escalated, and she could no longer back down.
"Call them then! I'm not the one who'll be embarrassed!"
Wen Tingxue watched her leave with a pale face. Yu Wenli slipped the school ID into his pocket and gently reassured her.
"Don't worry, your aunt and uncle will definitely stand by you."
The more he said, the paler she became.
Yu Wenli's brows furrowed with concern. When he first came in, her face was already this pale, making her large eyes appear dark and deep, filled with grievance and stubbornness.
It pained him to see, making him want to hold her and comfort her.
"What's wrong? Afraid your aunt and uncle won't trust you?"
He always hit the nail on the head, always guessing her thoughts.
The tears Wen Tingxue had been holding back began to flow again, her almond-shaped eyes reddening, resembling a rabbit, her voice incredibly soft.
"My grandma always told me that only if I'm good will my parents love me. But I've caused trouble for them as soon as I arrived. Will they abandon me? Will they send me back?"
She tilted her head slightly, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears, trembling and swaying, her voice also shaking.
Her helplessness was heart-wrenching.