TNIBFT -Chapter 116 Aren’t You All Talking Too Much?

Shi Hao and the others, sprawled on the ground, twitched at the corners of their mouths.

They had just arrived at the academy, and this big sister was already waiting for school to end!

If this was how she attended classes, wouldn’t every day feel like an eternity?

But none of them dared to say that out loud.

Ye Shuangxue’s little face looked drowsy, her hair messy and fluffy from sleep—so adorably disheveled it made people feel a little dazed just looking at her.

“Sister Ling’er.”

Seeing Tao Ling’er walking toward her, Ye Shuangxue stood up and greeted her.

Today, Tao Ling’er was dressed in a light gray cotton jacket paired with a pale yellow skirt. Her long hair was casually pinned up with a wooden hairpin, revealing a slender swan-like neck. She looked gentle yet capable as she approached, holding a tray with both hands, steam rising from it. Instantly, Ye Shuangxue’s sleepiness vanished.

After politely greeting her, Ye Shuangxue even wiped the drool from the corner of her mouth.

Tao Ling’er nodded slightly, her gaze drifting toward the pile of children stacked on the ground. Shi Hao’s chubby face was flushed red, his hands tightly covering his mouth as he sneakily glanced at Ye Shuangxue in fear. The other children all pressed their lips together, not daring to make a sound.

What’s going on?

Ye Shuangxue frowned and looked down. Around her little desk, several classmates were lying on the ground like toads.

“What are you doing?”

“Nothing!”

“We didn’t do anything—we just fell down. Do you believe us?”

Shi Hao hurriedly explained.

Ye Shuangxue’s little face darkened as she slowly rolled up her sleeves.

Shi Hao already knew what was coming next. The group scrambled to their feet, not daring to run away, only able to plead with her using their eyes.

Watching the interaction, Tao Ling’er shook her head helplessly and said, “Shuangxue, look what I brought you.”

“Huh?” Ye Shuangxue leaned forward curiously, peeking at the tray in Tao Ling’er’s hands.

A rich aroma of flour mixed with meat wafted over.

On the tray were many plump dumplings, steaming hot, their fragrance rushing straight into her nose. Ye Shuangxue swallowed.

“Dumplings?”

“Yes, dumplings.”

The little girl’s eyes lit up with excitement.

Tao Ling’er smiled and gave Shi Hao and the others a look. As if granted amnesty, the boys quickly lowered their heads and scurried off like little mice with their tails tucked, disappearing in a flash.

“No one at your home makes dumplings, and Ye Tian doesn’t look like someone who can cook. Hurry and eat—today is the Winter Solstice. Eat dumplings so your ears won’t freeze off,” Tao Ling’er said with a smile, placing the dumplings on Ye Shuangxue’s desk before beckoning Xiao Jiang and Ye Yunting over.

“Smells amazing.”

“I’ll try one first.”

Unable to resist, Ye Shuangxue picked up her chopsticks and took a bite. As she bit down, the soup inside burst with flavor. The wrapper was chewy, slightly sweet, wrapping around the fragrant filling of meat mixed with lotus root and chopped scallions—juicy and delicious, so good it made one want to swallow their tongue.

She ate like a little hamster, cheeks puffed out, mumbling as she spoke, “Sister Ling’er’s dumplings are so delicious! Brother, Xiao Jiang, you have to try them!”

Her eyes sparkled as she clutched her chopsticks excitedly.

Hearing her cooking praised, Tao Ling’er’s cheeks flushed slightly. Watching the three children eat so happily, she hesitated, then finally mustered the courage to ask:

“Do you… do you still remember your mother?”

“Mother?”

Xiao Jiang paused, chopsticks in hand, then shook his head blankly.

Ye Shuangxue looked downcast. “Even in my dreams, I can’t remember what Mother looks like.”

Ye Yunting remained silent, casting a suspicious glance at Tao Ling’er.

Tao Ling’er continued, “You’ve never seen her? All these years, hasn’t Ye Tian ever mentioned her?”

“No!”

All three children shook their heads in unison.

Tao Ling’er bit her lower lip and nodded. Then she picked up her chopsticks, placed a dumpling into Xiao Jiang’s bowl, and gave one each to Ye Shuangxue and Ye Yunting.

“Has Ye Tian been getting close to Miss Xiao lately?”

After asking, Tao Ling’er’s cheeks flushed red like dripping blood. Embarrassed, she quickly lowered her head.

A flicker passed through Ye Yunting’s eyes. Seeing that Ye Shuangxue was about to speak, he cut in first, “Not really.”

“Miss Xiao just wants to open a hot pot restaurant. That’s the only reason my father has been interacting with her.”

Tao Ling’er seemed lost in thought.

Xiao Jiang and Ye Shuangxue kept eating without lifting their heads, while Ye Yunting chewed slowly, absent-minded.

After the three children finished eating, Tao Ling’er tidied up and left. Watching her back, Ye Shuangxue turned to her elder brother, her little face full of helplessness.

“Are we… going to have a stepmother soon?”

“Don’t talk nonsense!”

Ye Yunting’s expression remained calm. Xiao Jiang frowned and said, “Miss Xiao likes Father, and Sister Ling’er likes Father too… what should we do?”

The little guy looked conflicted and troubled—after all, he liked both of them.

Ye Shuangxue rolled her eyes and looked at Xiao Jiang disdainfully. “Ye Tian doesn’t like either of them.”

“The one he likes most is me—he said it himself.”

She lifted her chin proudly, looking like a victorious little peacock. Her reaction left Ye Yunting and Xiao Jiang speechless.

As expected… women are the most narcissistic creatures.

After eating dumplings, the children sat around and played for a while.

The classroom was already full, but the teacher still hadn’t arrived.

“Strange, why hasn’t class started yet today?”

“Did the teacher get sick again? If so, does that mean we get another holiday?”

“I saw a lot of people go into the teacher’s study—they all looked really scary!”

“Yeah, really! They were this tall…”

Several children spoke vividly, some even standing on chairs and gesturing.

Ye Shuangxue frowned and looked at Ye Yunting.

But Ye Yunting seemed not to hear anything, staring at his book, lost in thought.

Time passed bit by bit. The snow outside melted, and the sound of dripping rain echoed. Inside the classroom, children chattered noisily, laughing and telling stories.

“Yunting!”

“Yunting, the teacher is calling you to the study!”

Tao Ling’er stood in the middle of the courtyard, shouting toward the classroom.

The teacher was calling Ye Yunting to the study?

The classroom instantly fell silent. A group of little kids looked at Ye Yunting with envy—he was the only one who often got to visit the teacher’s study.

Ye Yunting showed no panic. He first closed his book, tidied his desk, and only then walked out of the classroom.

“What do you think the teacher wants with him?”

“Probably to test his knowledge—not exactly a good thing.”

“You don’t think the teacher secretly gives him chicken legs to eat, do you?”

The children burst into laughter.

Ye Shuangxue said coldly, “Don’t you think you’re talking too much?”

The classroom instantly fell silent.

…

Inside Tao Lichun’s study.

The old, dim room carried a faint musty smell in the air.

Tao Lichun sat behind his desk. Opposite him sat several middle-aged men dressed in luxurious clothing. Each of them had an extraordinary presence, carrying both pride and elegance in their bearing.

“Teacher, we come every year, and every year you refuse.”

“You’ve secluded yourself here—it serves no purpose. Mistress has been gone for ten years, and you’ve mourned here for ten years. Even if not for yourself, then for Ling’er—you should pull yourself together!”