The May sky warmed slightly.
Even the mornings held a hint of heat, and the milky light filtering through the car window fell onto his face.
Framed by a soft glow, his features appeared particularly captivating.
Wen Tingxue's slice of bread, held between her lips, slipped out with a 'plop.'
It landed in his palm.
Yu Wenli curved his lips, teasing, "Is your brother that good-looking?"
Wen Tingxue, chewing her bread, replied, "You're a feast for the eyes."
Yu Wenli raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised.
In the past, this remark would have earned her a shy glare.
But now... she dared to retort.
Tsk.
She'd learned to be naughty.
Yu Wenli chuckled, shaking his head, and then pulled out a small black velvet box from his pocket.
"Since my little deskmate's words are so sweet, I shouldn't be stingy either. Here you go."
"What is it?"
Wen Tingxue blinked at the small box in his palm, puzzled.
The not-too-strong light fell into her eyes, as if they were studded with stars.
Yu Wenli's Adam's apple bobbed as he said, "Open it and you'll know."
"Oh."
Wen Tingxue first took the bread from his hand, and then took the small box.
Yu Wenli: ...
Food still came first.
"Wow!!"
Wen Tingxue gasped upon seeing the bracelet lying inside the box.
"Is this for me?"
The young girl looked at him uncertainly, her clear black and white eyes full of joy.
She was beautiful enough to make one want to kiss her.
Yu Wenli raised an eyebrow, "Or who else? Who do you want your brother to give it to?"
The exquisitely crafted silver bracelet was inlaid with a white rose in the center.
The carving was exquisite, lifelike.
It seemed as if a gust of wind could make the petals sway.
A rose...
For the first time, the young girl felt a surge of possessiveness, and pouted coquettishly, "You can only give it to me!"
Yu Wenli burst into laughter, pinching her cheek and saying, "Come on, say it again. I'd love to hear it."
"No."
Wen Tingxue blushed and pushed him away, but couldn't resist his strength.
She could only softly scold him for bullying her.
...
After the young girl couldn't stand his teasing and said the words again.
Yu Wenli personally fastened the bracelet onto her wrist.
The length and color were just right.
The white jade rose made her skin appear exceptionally fair.
Wen Tingxue shook her wrist, curious, "Why a white rose?"
"Because, you are the white rose in your brother's heart."
Yu Wenli reached out to adjust the bracelet, his gaze filled with tenderness.
"No matter what kind of environment you grow in, in your brother's heart, you will always be pure and flawless."
Wen Tingxue suddenly looked up, then threw herself into his arms.
Ever since Wu Shangrong had made a scene at school, she hadn't said anything, but inwardly, she had felt truly insecure.
Insecure about her unsavory upbringing.
Insecure about her unreasonable grandmother.
She had even had many dreams where everyone ignored her because of her grandmother...
She thought she had hidden it well, and no one had noticed.
Yu Wenli reached out and gently stroked her head, his movements soft and doting.
His little rose had suffered too much; she had to be cherished.
He had to pay attention to her constantly, or she would wither.
-
The art festival was scheduled for May 20th.
According to the half-month rehearsal rule, the program selection was to begin today.
As the cultural committee member, Wen Tingxue was so swamped during both the morning and afternoon breaks that she didn't have a moment to sit down.
Yu Wenli, with nothing to do, even had the leisure to ponder whether Fu Shilin's bicycle could carry a passenger.
Although their seats had changed, everyone was accustomed to their old arrangements.
Thus, after being 'abandoned' by Wen Tingxue, Lin Ling decisively chose Fu Shilin as her deskmate.
She had also made arrangements in advance to secure a seat in the row behind Yu Wenli.
In short, the seats had changed, but not entirely.
Fu Shilin was completely surprised that Yu Wenli would be concerned about her. She paused for half a second and nodded.
"Yes, it can."
"Oh."
Yu Wenli responded, his thick eyelashes drooping slightly as if in thought.
Fu Shilin blinked and was about to ask, when Yu Wenli looked up, "Can I borrow it tonight?"
Fu Shilin: ...?
Didn't he have mysophobia?
But she didn't dare to ask and obediently nodded, "Yes, you can."
"Mhmm."
Yu Wenli tilted his head, "Is there anything I can help you with?"
Fu Shilin: Help... help?
So polite?
"Then... can I copy your homework?" she asked tentatively.
Yu Wenli pursed his lips, "I can explain it to you directly."
Fu Shilin: ...
Fu Shilin: "Big shot, you didn't do it, did you?"
"Ah."
Yu Wenli picked up his pen, "It was too simple, I didn't feel like writing it."
Fu Shilin: Simple?!
She was in the top fifty of the grade!
How could she not find it simple?!
The gap between people, or rather, between humans and gods.
-
Jiangcheng High School had too many talented singers and dancers, and the art festival was a rare large-scale event.
Therefore, the number of programs submitted was considerable.
From the morning break to the afternoon break, and even during dinner, they still hadn't finished selecting the programs.
There was no choice but to continue during evening study.
Wen Tingxue had to organize Class One's programs while also ensuring her own performance.
After all, she and Xie Jinyi had a program together.
It was still uncertain if they would pass.
"I'm so nervous."
Wen Tingxue took Xie Jinyi's hand and placed it on her chest.
"Let you feel my heartbeat."
Thump-thump—
Thump-thump-thump-thump—
It was so fast it felt like it would leap out of her chest.
Xie Jinyi couldn't help but tease, "When you kiss your Yu-ge, is your heartbeat at the same frequency?"
"What are you saying! I'm worried about the program, and you're... Oh!"
Wen Tingxue really wanted to hit her, but her teasing actually made her less nervous.
"I don't care, it's mainly about you. You're only performing one program, what if..."
Xie Jinyi shrugged, "What's there to worry about? If it's rejected, it's rejected.
"At worst, I'll take a break. Don't put so much pressure on yourself."
She rubbed Wen Tingxue's slender waist and teased,
"If it's a real pity, you can just dance it for your Yu-ge alone then."
"Xie Jinyi!!"
Wen Tingxue couldn't stand it anymore and hit her.
Xie Jinyi dodged backward, and in their playful scuffle, they accidentally bumped into someone.
Dreadlocks, tattooed arms, looked intimidating.
"Sorry!"
Wen Tingxue instinctively shrank back and apologized quickly. Xie Jinyi also stood straight.
The young girl whose chest had been bumped inhaled sharply in pain before waving her hand,
"It's okay, it's okay, you guys continue, continue."
With that, she led the group of boys and girls who looked quite tough, and left.
Wen Tingxue blinked in astonishment, "She..."
A "social butterfly," but her voice was that of a sweet girl?!
Xie Jinyi thought for a moment, "She looks like Qiao Xixi from Class Twelve. I heard her brother is involved in the underworld."
Wen Tingxue: ...
"Then I just bumped into her..."
Before she could finish her sentence, someone called out, "Sister Xue! Hurry over! It's your turn!"
Wen Tingxue immediately forgot about Qiao Xixi and began to worry about the program.
Although they had rehearsed for a long time, and the effect was quite good,
She was still very afraid.
Afraid of implicating Xie Jinyi because of her.
The key was that they were in the same selection group as Tong Jiayi's classical dance.
The winning probability was really not high.