TNIBFT -Chapter 135 The Academy Can’t Continue

“Of course you can!”

Ye Shuangxue spoke immediately.

Seeing Ye Tian staring at her, she fidgeted with her chopsticks and said awkwardly, “Our family runs a hotpot restaurant. You’re a guest, so of course you can come whenever you want.”

“I never considered you a friend,” the little guy added, his small face falling.

Seeing Shi Hao lower his head, too shy to speak, his chubby body like a little bear—this same brat who flaunted his rich father at school every day—who would have guessed that at home he couldn’t even get a proper meal?

Seeing him so dejected, Ye Shuangxue picked up a piece of roast duck and put it in front of Shi Hao. “This won’t make you fat.”

Shi Hao looked up in surprise, his little face full of disbelief.

Ye Shuangxue’s hand froze mid-air, her big eyes spinning around. “This… this is a lean duck. It doesn’t make you fat. It’s fine to eat it.”

Ye Tian: …

Xiao Jiang calmly watched his second sister while eating.

Shi Hao was moved to tears. Who treats him kindly—he always knows.

“Actually… actually my father does like me,” Shi Hao spoke first, his face showing a simple smile as he looked at Ye Shuangxue. “I just messed up my brother’s birthday, so my dad was angry. But normally, he buys me gifts and the best clothes. Oh, and he even gives me those nine-link puzzles.”

“When I take them to school, we play together.”

“And… my dad also brings me candied hawthorns…”

The more he spoke, the more awkward his smile became.

Because all of this—Shi Hao had seen it from the corner, watching Shi Shanxiang give these things to Shi Xuan—but Shi Xuan never appreciated it. He never showed a good face, and whenever Shi Shanxiang turned, Shi Xuan would throw everything on the ground. Only after his brother walked away would Shi Hao dare to pick them up.

When he was little, he didn’t understand why, even though he was younger, he always had to yield to his brother. Their mother would cry and tell him, “Your brother is pitiful. He grew up without a mother. You have to give in to him—he’s the only family he has.”

He envied Xiao Jiang and Ye Shuangxue.

Ye Tian would go to school to deliver candied hawthorns. Many times, Shi Hao saw Ye Tian balancing two on his head and holding one in his arms while picking up the children from school.

No matter the time, Ye Tian was patient. Being with him felt like having an older brother—easy, comfortable.

The room fell into an awkward silence.

Shi Hao’s voice stopped, and the room was completely quiet.

Ye Shuangxue and Xiao Jiang both looked at Shi Hao. Shi Hao avoided their gaze, nervously adjusting his sleeves.

The blue-and-white cuffs were frayed from wear. The oversized clothes were obviously ill-fitting—clearly hand-me-downs from Shi Xuan.

Ye Tian remained silent, eating his lamb one piece at a time.

In the original story, Shen Jie used Shi Shanxiang as a scapegoat, and Shi Xuan immediately ran to Shen Jie, cutting ties with the Shi family. By then, Shi Shanxiang had already emptied his family’s assets, buying a mansion, arranging a marriage contract, and hiring servants for Shi Xuan, who enjoyed it all without a care for Shi Shanxiang’s wellbeing.

Meanwhile, the youngest son, Shi Hao, sold off what little family property he had to save his father, running around and even taking the blame for Shi Shanxiang.

In the end, he was killed while defending his father, crushed by panicked refugees.

Ye Tian sighed.

This boy had never received attention or love. Yet in the end, he was willing to die for his father. One wonders if Shi Shanxiang ever felt guilty about that.

Ye Tian put down his chopsticks and said earnestly, “Parents do love their children. That’s certain.”

Shi Hao’s expression froze.

Ye Tian continued, “But as a child, you can’t rely on others to love you. You can’t control how others think. If you hope for it, you will be disappointed. You have to love yourself, get to know yourself again, and pay attention to yourself!”

Shi Hao frowned, half understanding Ye Tian’s words.

“You’re filial, kind, and have a heart that stands up for justice. You can even carve all kinds of little wooden figures. These are qualities no one else has—you are truly one of a kind…”

Ye Tian reached out and ruffled Shi Hao’s hair. The boy lowered his head, tears streaming down like beads slipping from a broken string, falling one by one onto his cotton jacket.

His shoulders shook uncontrollably—no one had ever praised him like this.

Even his mother thought he was wasting his time. Carving wooden figures was a frivolous hobby; he should focus on studying.

As if not being good at studying meant life was already a failure.

But he had tried. He had really tried—yet he just couldn’t understand that damn book!

Ye Tian’s words struck his fragile, insecure heart with full force. The warmth above him made his body tremble slightly.

Shi Hao suddenly stood up. He wiped his tears and, head lowered, bolted straight out.

He looked so miserable.

He didn’t want his rival to see his vulnerability; Ye Shuangxue would surely mock him for the rest of his life.

“Hey…”

Seeing Shi Hao’s flustered back, Ye Shuangxue was utterly confused and stood up in surprise.

Xiao Jiang watched Shi Hao as he ate.

Shi Hao paused for a moment, gathered his courage, and said, “Uncle Ye Tian, thank you.”

Then he ran off without looking back.

“The little chubby guy is acting weird today… what’s going on?” Ye Shuangxue whispered. Ye Tian smiled and said, “Once you finish eating, go practice your calligraphy.”

“Don’t think I don’t know—you’re trying to slack off!”

“Nyah nyah nyah…”

Ye Shuangxue stuck her finger under her lower eyelid, stuck out her tongue, and made a funny face at Ye Tian.

The new restaurant was crowded with customers.

Yuan Heipang was so busy he looked like he might take off. The staff was short-handed, so Ye Tian planned to have Duan Qingshan come over to help—no reason to keep him idle at home.

In the afternoon, as they were about to close, Tao Ling’er and Ye Yunting returned to the hotpot restaurant.

Seeing the eldest come back, Ye Tian was overjoyed. He hurried from behind the counter and pinched the eldest’s cheeks: “How are you feeling?”

“Uncomfortable anywhere? Hungry? Want to eat something? I can go get it.”

Ye Yunting tilted his little head. In front of everyone, he didn’t like Ye Tian pinching his face: “Everything’s fine. I’m not hungry either.”

The corners of Ye Yunting’s mouth lifted slightly. His big eyes scanned around. The new restaurant was spacious, bright, and beautifully decorated—far better than the old shop. Ye Tian, this money-lover, should be thrilled, right?

Tao Ling’er quickly explained: “Yunting answered the questions well, but the examiners felt he was too young, so they let him return early. I happened to bring him back.”

“Thank you.”

Ye Tian grabbed the eldest, full of joy. He alternated between rubbing Ye Yunting’s little head and pinching his cheeks: “Two days without you, I missed you so much.”

“You’re still shy, tsk tsk…”

“Do you think you’re going to be an official now, so you don’t let your dad pinch you?”

Hearing this, Ye Yunting’s expression turned blank. He stood there motionless, letting Ye Tian playfully pinch him.

“Big brother!”

“Big brother…”

Ye Shuangxue and Xiao Jiang ran down from the second floor toward Ye Yunting. The three siblings had never been apart; now, hugging each other, they were reluctant to let go.

Tao Ling’er watched the three children with a big auntie-style smile. Ye Tian had raised them so well. She looked up at Ye Tian, who was holding his ledger, seriously writing and calculating. A man who was diligent and focused was incredibly attractive, and Tao Ling’er couldn’t help but be momentarily stunned.

Ye Tian looked up.

Their eyes met. Tao Ling’er’s gaze turned awkward, and she quickly looked away: “Ah… I—I wanted to tell you… the academy can’t go on…”