Chapter Eleven Framed

  Autumn has arrived, and the lush trees by the roadside have begun to wither their leaves. The yellowed fragments are trampled underfoot by people, unaware of their sorrow, their sighs at fate silenced beneath the footsteps, inaudible and imperceptible.

  Xin Ran, wearing long sleeves and walking to school on foot, didn't immediately enter the classroom. At the school gate, she looked in the direction of the teaching building, wondering what would happen today? Who would Ren He Yu send to bully her again? Discovering this challenging life also stimulated her fighting spirit.

  Taking a deep breath, I stepped forward...

  The professor was explaining knowledge to his classmates on the podium, but Xinran was not listening carefully. She nervously observed the movements around her, and even if someone moved slightly, her back straightened up, staring at that person vigilantly.

  Until the end of class, Xīn Rán's heart was still uneasy and nervous. She wanted to go out for some fresh air, but before she could even stand up, a classmate came over and tapped on her desk, pointing at her with an angry finger, "Yè Xīn Rán, did you steal my necklace?"

  Pointing fingers and surnames, the speaker who claimed to have stolen it felt angry and directly refuted, "Can't you guys talk some sense? What evidence do you have to prove that I stole your necklace? I've never even seen your necklace." It must be Ren He Yu's doing again, how can they wrongfully accuse someone like this, it's too much.

  "I knew you'd say that. Do you dare let us search your bag?" The classmate stared straight into Xinran's eyes, leaving her nowhere to hide.

  There must be something in the bag, otherwise she wouldn't be so determined to look at her bag. Xinran's mind was racing quickly, thinking if there was a way to get out of this predicament. This theft wasn't child's play, it would result in being detained and possibly even expelled from school. Xinran, who didn't dare think further, had sweat appearing on the palms of her hands.

  In order to make a big deal out of the situation, someone also called the director over. Those who were watching the commotion briefly explained what was happening here. After listening, the director agreed with the classmates to search Xiran's bag. Those people were about to take Xiran's bag with great pleasure, but it was still snatched away by Xiran a step ahead and hugged into her arms.

  "This is mine, you have no right to search my bag, did Ren Heyu tell you to do this? What else does he want to play?"

  They didn't answer her, how could Xinran possibly resist the strength of several people? After just a moment's tussle, Xinran was defeated and the bag was snatched away... They unzipped it, in front of everyone, and poured all the things inside onto the table...

  As expected, I saw a platinum necklace. With a prepared mind, Xinran closed her eyes and her eye sockets turned red with despair!

  The director was even more astonished to find the white director's daughter's necklace in Xinran's bag. He stared at Xinran and spoke seriously: "Ye Xinran, come with me to my office."

  Speechless to a certain extent, she followed the director to the office with a bitter smile, thinking that he could come up with such despicable things, what a vicious person, indeed a young master, no matter what method is used, as long as his goal is achieved, it's good. What a domineering and dictatorial person, just thinking about him makes her angry.

  As soon as I entered the office, the director scolded me, "I really didn't expect that you would be such a student. Looking at your character and exam results, it's hard to imagine how you could do such a thing! No matter how difficult things get, you can't steal other people's things, this is against the law. Do you want me to call the police or expel you? How could such a smart kid do something so foolish?"

  "Director, I didn't, please believe me!" Why don't you listen to explanations and just take it as fact? Don't you give any fair rights at all?

  "Could I still be wrong? I saw with my own eyes that the necklace fell out of the bag, no one would be so bored as to put it in there."

  Xin Ran's voice also rose, "Just because someone let it in, why do you believe them and not me?" Losing her composure, she was from a poor family, but couldn't be insulted or wronged. "Is it that you also deny what I say because of the other person's family background, and I don't have any backing, so you believe her?"

  "How could this be? You've made a mistake and still haven't reflected on it. I'm going to have to discipline you."

  For the first time, she spoke carelessly and indifferently: "Fine, you give it to me. A school like yours that only looks at background, I don't want to stay for a moment." She turned around and walked forward with big strides.

  You think I'm a pushover just because I look honest? Don't think I don't have a temper, it's just that I'm too lazy to bother with you guys. She went into the classroom, tidied up the messy things they had made, put everything in her bag, and swept a glance over everyone's face, not wanting to stay for another moment.

  As soon as Xinran walked out of the classroom door, the class erupted in cheers. Bitterness curled up at the corners of her mouth, really not knowing that her departure was such a celebratory event for others.

  Just walked out of school, and only then did I pluck up the courage to comfort myself by saying, "It's okay this way, I can have more time to work and earn money to pay off debts. Learning can happen anywhere, it doesn't have to be in school."

  Let's refuel for tomorrow!

  She bought a newspaper on the street, circled some job postings with a ballpoint pen, and started looking for work... It's not easy to make a living. Although it was September and the temperature had dropped somewhat, the sun at noon was still scorching hot, and Xiran was sweating profusely despite wearing long sleeves. She used her delicate hands to fan herself, sitting on a chair at the bus stop to catch her breath. She had flipped through both sides of the newspaper, finding all the jobs she could, but either the employer thought her education level was too low or there were other issues.

  Feeling utterly disappointed...

  A black off-road vehicle stopped in front, Xin Ran didn't pay much attention to it. Suddenly the car horn sounded, and only then did she look over... The window was slowly rolling down, a familiar handsome face appeared before her eyes, it was him!

  The depression that had been weighing on my mind earlier was all gone, and I walked over to him with a happy smile, politely asking "Hello, what a coincidence running into you here." I still remembered his name was Shen Yuheng.

  Shen Yu Heng leaned his elbow against the car window, smiling and saying: "Yes, just passing by, saw you here, stopped to ask if you're okay after last night?"

  He also remembered almost being knocked down by him, shaking his head, "It's okay, I'm fine, don't worry."

  Shen Yu Heng's sharp eyes caught sight of the job posting in Xin Ran's hand and asked her, "Are you looking for a job?"

  "Ah...this..." He smiled and raised the newspaper, "Just taking a look for fun, helping a friend ask around. You're busy, I won't disturb you."

  "Let me treat you to dinner, after all we have a pretty good fate, I don't know if you'd be willing to grant me the pleasure?" Shen Yuheng didn't ask her about finding work, he just invited her to eat together, which made Xinran, who wasn't used to accepting kindness from others, hesitate.

  She opened her mouth wanting to refuse, but under Shen Yu Heng's expectant gaze, she pursed her lips and nodded in agreement.