TNIBFT -Chapter 72 I think Ye Tian is pretty good

The woman on the ground lay on her side, frail and thin, completely still.

Ye Yunting stepped closer, one careful step at a time.

Liu Ruyan’s eyes were tightly shut, as if she were sound asleep. Snowflakes clung to her curled eyelashes, and in the palm of her right hand, she still tightly clutched three pieces of broken jade.

Ye Yunting crouched down. “Madam, I don’t know who you are. You are a good mother, but Shen Jie is not a good person. If this broken jade is really important to him and has real power, he will surely harm many people in the future. Madam, please forgive me. I will make sure you are properly buried.”

After saying this, Ye Yunting pried open Liu Ruyan’s icy fingers and took the broken jade.

Liu Ruyan was the first person to let him feel a mother’s love. Since she had died so tragically on the streets, he would find a good place to bury her.

“Thump, thump…”

“Thump!” A series of hurried footsteps echoed. Ye Yunting’s small face tensed with alertness. He immediately stood up and looked around. Seeing a few piles of firewood against the wall, he made a split-second decision and hid among them.

Within a few breaths, several people rushed into the alley, men and women, dressed plainly, looking like merchants and farmers from Sifang City.

They scanned the area before whispering to one another: “The signal came from here.”

“There’s someone on the ground.”

“Is it one of ours? What should we do?”

One of them spoke, then turned to a middle-aged man. The man bent down to inspect Liu Ruyan, then had others search her body, discovering a signal tube made of gold-threaded jade beneath her.

The middle-aged man held it, examining it. His expression instantly grew tense. “She’s already dead.”

“This person must be taken back.”

The others nodded. Someone lifted Liu Ruyan and carried her out of the alley, while the last person stayed behind to clean up the scene.

Ye Yunting watched them carefully, staying perfectly still in the firewood pile. After they had gone far enough, he waited a little longer for safety. When the alley was completely quiet, he crawled out from the firewood.

Who were these people?

Looking at the broken jade in his hand, Ye Yunting frowned. No matter what, he couldn’t let Shen Jie have it, even if he threw it away.

He tucked it into his school bag to keep it with him.

…

Elsewhere, Ye Tian had purchased ready-made clothes and handed them to Tao Lichun.

After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Tao Ling’er had changed into the new clothes in the private room and helped Tao Lichun downstairs. Ye Tian was surrounded by diners in the middle of settling accounts, so Tao Lichun didn’t want to disturb him. They waved briefly to acknowledge each other.

Tao Lichun led his daughter out of the hotpot restaurant.

Outside, the wind and snow swirled.

When they had arrived, the day had been sunny and clear; now, thick snowflakes fell like goose feathers.

Tao Ling’er watched the hurried passersby and felt a deep emptiness inside. The innocent smile she once wore was gone, her gaze dull and blank.

Having narrowly escaped death, she seemed to have grown up in an instant.

A hollow feeling filled her heart, leaving her unable to smile, replaced by a growing resentment.

Father and daughter walked through the bustling street without speaking. Tao Ling’er slightly turned her head and saw Tao Lichun’s temples graying, his face lined with deep grooves. The upright figure she remembered from her childhood had somehow become stooped.

Thinking of what had happened today—her being beaten because of her own actions—she silently sobbed, “Father, I was wrong.”

Tao Ling’er turned her gaze downward to the snow underfoot, too ashamed to look at her father directly.

Tao Lichun nodded, his aged face etched with life’s hardships. He patted his daughter’s hand. “Recognizing one’s mistake and correcting it is the greatest virtue.”

“Ling’er, failing to see a person’s true character can bring lifelong regret. If you truly lack the ability to judge, do not rush major life decisions. We are father and daughter, depending on each other—what can’t we discuss together?”

“I understand.”

Tao Ling’er nodded. “From now on, I’ll stay at the school with Father. I won’t go anywhere else.”

Tao Lichun saw the mist of tears in his daughter’s eyes and said nothing more. He simply nodded lightly, and the father and daughter walked toward Lingfeng Village.

Shen Jie, chasing Xiao Tianyi, was driven away by the attendants.

The plan had failed. Xiao Tianyi would no longer pay him any attention. His request to stay by Xiao Tianyi’s side in the City Lord’s mansion was impossible to fulfill.

Penniless and expelled by the Shen family, Shen Jie’s daily expenses along with Liu Ruyan’s had been covered by Tao Ling’er, who had been diverting funds from the school to support him.

He had no way to earn money. Even getting a single meal without Tao Ling’er’s help was difficult.

So Shen Jie waited along the road to Lingfeng Village for Tao Ling’er.

In the past, all he had to do was play the victim. A few sweet words, a few flattery lines, and Tao Ling’er would forgive him, even make excuses for him.

He had already prepared his excuse: Xiao Tianyi had deceived him.

He had finally woken up to the truth—he could not be without Tao Ling’er.

Seeing Tao Lichun and his daughter approaching, Shen Jie immediately rushed forward, staying by Tao Lichun’s side. He dropped to his knees, forehead touching the ground, and said, “Master, I truly realize my mistake. I should not have trusted a spoiled young master’s words.

“My sincerity toward you and Ling’er is witnessed by Heaven and Earth!”

“Master…”

Tao Lichun didn’t want to acknowledge him and simply stepped around Shen Jie, continuing forward.

Shen Jie, like a stubborn adhesive, clung to Tao Lichun’s legs, kneeling on the ground, weeping bitterly. “I know you won’t forgive me. I dare not hope for anything else. Master, Ling’er, please give me one more chance—I will make it up to you!”

Tao Ling’er’s steps faltered.

Memories of the sweet times with Shen Jie flashed relentlessly through her mind.

Seeing Tao Ling’er’s reaction, Shen Jie’s heart leapt. There was hope. Tao Lichun had only this one daughter, and he rarely involved himself in the household’s affairs. He always obeyed Tao Ling’er.

“Ling’er, I have my hardships. Can you give me one chance?”

“When I succeed and make a name for myself, you and Master will be at the top of society.”

Shen Jie continued pleading.

Seeing her reaction, Tao Lichun slightly loosened his grip on Tao Ling’er’s hand, his eyes full of disappointment.

Tao Ling’er noticed her father’s reaction and looked coldly at Shen Jie kneeling in the snow, sneering. “Begging me for forgiveness? Out of options, aren’t you? My usefulness to you is limited to this. I liked you, but that doesn’t mean I’m blind and foolish. If I ever look back at you, I’d deserve to die a thousand deaths!”

Having said this fiercely, Tao Ling’er grabbed Tao Lichun’s hand and quickened her pace to leave.

Shen Jie had tricked her into the private room.

Inside, she had begged desperately for help, while Shen Jie lowered his head in silence, even persuading her to drink the prepared wine. The depth of her love for him had transformed into an equal measure of hatred.

“Ling’er…”

Shen Jie knelt in the wind and snow, calling out as he watched Tao Ling’er’s retreating figure.

Seeing that she didn’t even look back, he knew there was no hope. Slowly, he got to his feet, brushing the snow off his knees. Tao Ling’er would regret it one day. He was the son of the City Lord, the child of destiny.

For a daughter of a countryside teacher, even a single glance from him was a gift.

To enter the City Lord’s mansion, only Liu Ruyan could make that possible…

Thinking of this, Shen Jie turned and headed toward the city.

In the storm, Tao Ling’er glanced back. Shen Jie, kneeling in the snow, had already disappeared. She laughed bitterly at herself.

Tao Lichun, voice weathered, said, “I think Ye Tian is just fine.”