TNIBFT -Chapter 44 Image Shattered

“What nonsense are you spouting?”

Shen Jie was furious, his face dark as iron as he glared at the child before him.

He was always the picture of grace and honor, the center of attention wherever he went. No one would ever associate him with theft—this was pure slander. Ye Yunting was deliberately trying to tarnish his reputation, and he wouldn’t allow it.

In the classroom, all eyes turned toward Shen Jie.

Shen Jie was the pride of the school, a student that the master boasted about, a role model for everyone. In his presence, all others felt humbled and ashamed; he was like a pearl among grains of sand.

To accuse him of stealing, and for people to even harbor a tiny bit of curiosity—what was going on?

It was as if a proud landlord suddenly went bankrupt overnight, reduced to the same level as an ordinary person. A noble soul fallen into the dust—that was what made people believe in the world’s fairness.

The skeptical gazes annoyed Tao Ling’er. She stepped forward to block Shen Jie, saying, “Ye Yunting, I know you don’t accept it, but Shen Jie has always been with me. How could he possibly steal anything?”

Ye Yunting remained calm, raising his head to look at everyone. “We’ve always been together as well, but why wouldn’t you believe me when I defend Ye Shuangxue?”

Tao Ling’er’s face flushed crimson, leaving her speechless.

Shen Jie could hardly contain a laugh of disbelief.

He pushed Tao Ling’er aside, his eyes full of contempt as he stared at Ye Yunting. Coldly, he asked, “How do you intend to prove it?”

He hadn’t taken anything. Today, he would prove his innocence and, incidentally, shift the blame for the previous stolen bracelet onto Ye Shuangxue.

At this moment, he exuded composure and grandeur.

A handsome face, radiating righteousness.

All eyes were now on Ye Yunting. He said, “Since you didn’t bring your schoolbag, take off your coat just like us.”

“And if I don’t?”

Shen Jie feigned hesitation, his attitude humble. Across from him, the three siblings looked like they were stubbornly pressing him, step by step.

“Shen Jie didn’t come to school today. It definitely wasn’t him.”

“Exactly. Someone like Shen Jie could never steal anything.”

“It must be them, the siblings crying ‘stop thief’…”

“I believe in Shen Jie…”

The classroom of children began to take sides, while only Ye Yunting and his two siblings stood together.

Shen Jie smiled smugly—this was exactly the effect he wanted. He stepped forward into the middle of the crowd, untying his cotton robe. “Snap!” A crisp sound rang out as a brand-new brush with a purple handle fell to the ground, instantly snapping in two.

Shen Jie’s eyes went wide as he stared at the broken brush.

His mind buzzed, and the smile froze on his face. He couldn’t believe it and looked up at Ye Yunting with a feral expression. “You?”

He had already suspected that Ye Yunting wouldn’t let this go. Just a moment ago, he had lunged forward to grab him—surely this little brat was behind this.

Enraged and losing all rationality, Shen Jie charged toward Ye Yunting, ready to beat him mercilessly.

Ye Shuangxue, quick and alert, immediately grabbed a nearby chair and swung it at Shen Jie.

“Bang!” A muffled thud.

Shen Jie was struck on the head and fell to the ground, blood gushing from his nose.

Everyone was stunned.

“Ouch!”

“I’ll kill you, you little brats!” Shen Jie lay on the ground, clutching his forehead, screaming in a goose-like voice.

Realizing she’d caused trouble, Ye Shuangxue grabbed her schoolbag with one hand and Xiao Jiang’s hand with the other, shouting to her older brother, “Run!”

The three siblings grabbed their belongings and bolted from the classroom without looking back.

At this moment, the classroom was so silent you could hear a pin drop.

A group of little kids stared at the purple jade brush on the floor. Before they could react, Shen Jie was already lying on the ground. His hair was disheveled, his face bruised blue and red, blood smeared all over—he looked nothing like the clear, jade-like appearance he usually had. And the Shen Jie who was now cursing wildly? None of them had ever seen him like this before. It felt like their entire worldview had just shattered.

Little chubby Shi Hao quietly stretched out his small hand, picked up the brush broken into two pieces, and silently ran off.

It was over—they’d gotten into trouble!

If they stayed any longer, the teacher would only punish them even more severely.

“Shen Jie, are you okay?”

Tao Ling’er only realized after a moment. She bent down to help Shen Jie to his feet, but her mind was a tangled mess. Today’s Shen Jie seemed like a completely different person. What was going on?

And… did Shen Jie really steal something?

Was he really a habitual thief?

…

The three children dashed off, one hand clutching a schoolbag, glancing back as they ran.

They ran breathlessly, stray hairs sticking up on their foreheads. Passersby found it amusing—seeing children run as if being chased by a rabid dog.

“Huff… huff…”

Xiao Jiang braced his hands on his knees, lips pale, gasping for air.

Seeing his younger brother stop, Ye Yunting frowned in discomfort, standing still to wait for Xiao Jiang.

“I… I can’t run anymore… I’m gonna die!”

Xiao Jiang panted heavily.

Ye Yunting glanced back, then turned to Ye Shuangxue. “Shen Jie won’t die, right?”

“Only good people die. That jerk Shen Jie? He won’t die!” Last time Shen Jie framed her for stealing, and now he’d tried to get her in trouble again. Ye Shuangxue’s hatred for him was now absolute.

The three siblings rested for a while before slowly walking along the snow-covered path.

Sunlight glinted off the snow, making Xiao Jiang’s eyes ache. He squinted, hesitating for a long moment before speaking. “Should we tell him about the fight at school?”

They all knew exactly who “him” was.

Ye Shuangxue bit her lip and remained silent.

Ye Yunting said, “Let’s not.”

His tone carried a trace of melancholy. Looking at the distant sunset, his young face betrayed a complex mix of emotions.

Ye Tian had said that no matter what happened at school, they should tell him, and he would handle it.

Recalling Ye Tian’s words, Xiao Jiang said, “But Dad said he’d handle everything, no matter what…”

“He’s not our dad!”

Before Xiao Jiang could finish, Ye Yunting interrupted sharply. His expression turned bitter, then suddenly harsh. His cold gaze frightened Xiao Jiang. Seeing his brother shrink back, Ye Yunting quickly softened, taking Xiao Jiang’s hand and saying with guilt, “Xiao Jiang, no matter what, including today, it’s just the three of us siblings. Only we have each other.”

“Don’t trust anyone else, do you understand?”

“Ye Tian just started being ‘good’ a few days ago? Someone who’s rotten to the core—how can he really change? And why are the people at school targeting us? Isn’t it all because of Ye Tian?”

“We should be like the other kids. Everything we’re going through now is because of him. No one will pity us, and we don’t need anyone’s pity. I just want you to understand—this world, besides the three of us, everyone else is laughing at us. When we fall to the ground, they only want to kick us while we’re down.”

“In this world, no one will care about us!”

Xiao Jiang nodded, head lowered.

The three siblings had endured too much. They seemed out of place in this world. When it mattered most, everyone else would abandon them, as if an invisible circle separated them from the rest of humanity.

Ye Shuangxue looked up at the distant sunset. Seeing Shi Hao walking alone on the path, she immediately smiled, tossing her schoolbag to Ye Yunting. “You guys go ahead. My stomach hurts!”