"I didn't take it," he repeated firmly, his gaze unwavering.
"Then how do you explain the wallet being under your desk?"
Su Yuanzhou's jaw tightened. "Someone must have put it there."
"Then why is it under your table?" the homeroom teacher asked, her frown deepening. Her tone carried a sharp edge, teetering on mockery.
Ren Yuxin stood frozen near the doorway.
She shouldn't have said that in front of everyone.
Her eyes darted to Su Yuanzhou.
His defiance was still there, but now that she looked closely, his eyes seemed glassy, his hands clenched tightly at his sides.
In her past life, she thought he was simply angry. But now… now, he looked like he might cry.
Finally, Ren Yuxin stepped forward, her voice slicing through the oppressive silence. "Miss, I have some footage here."
The homeroom teacher hesitated, her lips pursed in disapproval.
"We don't need to see the footage," the teacher snapped. "Su Yuanzhou just needs to apologize. That's all."
Ren Yuxin's brows furrowed.
Her grip on her phone tightened.
So, this was the kind of person she was—someone who didn't care about the truth, as long as Su Yuanzhou was at fault.
"But, Teacher," Ren Yuxin spoke slowly, her voice steady, "Shouldn't we at least confirm the truth? Shouldn't he be allowed to defend himself?"
The girl who owned the wallet folded her arms, her tone laced with skepticism. "But we found my wallet under his desk. Isn't that proof enough?"
Ren Yuxin ignored her. Instead, she turned to Su Yuanzhou, taking slow, deliberate steps until she was standing right in front of him.
She leaned down slightly and asked, "Did you steal it?"
Su Yuanzhou's eyes widened in surprise.
For a moment, he seemed caught off guard.
He opened his mouth, closed it, then finally spoke. "I didn't." His voice cracked slightly. "If I had, I wouldn't be stupid enough to leave it out in the open like that."
Ren Yuxin nodded thoughtfully. "I believe you."
Her words, simple as they were, seemed to stun him.
He blinked at her, his lips parting as if to speak, but no sound came out.
She turned back to the teacher. "Miss, I think we should watch the footage now."
The teacher hesitated, clearly annoyed. But with the entire class watching, she reluctantly gestured for Ren Yuxin to proceed.
Ren Yuxin connected her phone to the projector, and the CCTV footage played.
It showed another student discreetly slipping the wallet under Su Yuanzhou's desk before backing away with a smug grin.
The room fell into a stunned silence.
The wallet's owner gasped, her face turning red with embarrassment. She stammered an apology. "I'm… I'm sorry, Su Yuanzhou. I didn't know… I really didn't know."
The words were sincere, but the damage had already been done.
Su Yuanzhou said nothing.
He simply stared at the screen, his expression unreadable.
The class dispersed for lunch soon after, but Su Yuanzhou didn't move.
He stood in the now-empty classroom, his eyes fixed on the floor, his shoulders slumped in a way that made Ren Yuxin's heart ache.
It was better than before… wasn't it? she thought bitterly. But then, why do you still look so broken, Su Yuanzhou? Why can't I stop seeing the hurt on your face?
The bitterness in his expression was like a knife twisting in her heart.
She lingered behind, watching him quietly.
After a long while, he finally sank into his chair, his movements slow and heavy, as if the weight of the world rested on his shoulders.
Ren Yuxin approached and sat beside him.
He flinched at first, clearly startled, but then his body relaxed when he saw it was her.
For a moment, neither of them spoke. Then, in a voice so soft it was almost inaudible, he murmured, "Thank you."
Ren Yuxin smiled, her bright expression almost too cheerful for the somber moment. "You're welcome."
But the words felt hollow in her mouth.
Because when Su Yuanzhou looked at her again, there was no gratitude in his eyes—only a quiet despair that cut deeper than any words could.
She watched as he leaned back in his chair, his eyes closed.
He slipped on a headset, a faint trace of music escaping the small speakers.
Ren Yuxin tilted her head, curiosity piqued as she studied him.
"What are you listening to?" she asked, leaning in slightly.
He didn't respond.
Ren Yuxin blinked, a little taken aback.
It wasn't often that someone ignored her so blatantly. But she wasn't the type to give up easily.
Starting today, I'll slowly open Su Yuanzhou's heart and tame him, she thought, determination gleaming in her eyes.
It was rare for Ren Yuxin to encounter someone who wasn't charmed by her warmth or friendly persistence.
Being treated rudely for the first time felt oddly invigorating, like a challenge she couldn't ignore.
"What are you listening to?" she asked again, her voice more persistent this time.
Su Yuanzhou finally opened one eye, his expression as cold and distant as ever.
For a moment, it seemed like he would ignore her again.
Then, with a slight sigh, he took off one side of his headset and held it out to her. "Can you hear me," he said flatly.
Ren Yuxin's eyes lit up, a spark of triumph flickering in them.
She gently took the offered headset and slipped it on, careful not to brush against his hand.
The melody was soft and melancholic, the kind of music that tugged at your heartstrings.
It wasn't what she expected someone like Su Yuanzhou to listen to.
"This is…" she started, but her voice trailed off.
The lyrics, though faint, spoke of loneliness, of walls built high and unscalable.
Su Yuanzhou leaned back again, closing his eyes.
He didn't say a word, but his silence was no longer cold.
For a moment, they shared the music, sitting in an unspoken truce.
Ren Yuxin glanced at him, her gaze softening.
Su Yuanzhou is like a cat, she thought, skittish and sharp, ready to scratch anyone who comes too close. But even the most guarded cat can be tamed with patience.
As the song ended, Su Yuanzhou reached for the headset, brushing against her fingers accidentally.
He froze for a second, then quickly pulled away.