The Healing Sunshine (一厘米的阳光)

Chapter 10.3 - Life's Hidden Billows (3)

Prior to the Lunar New Year, all senior-year high school students of Fuzhong returned to the school to take part in mock college entrance examinations.

The reason the head of their grade set the dates of the exams to be on these two days was so that all the senior-year students' nerves would be strung tight at all times, that even the Lunar New Year period would be spent buried in exam papers, and they would not let themselves be relaxed and undisciplined for even a moment. Her performance in this set of mock exams was completely out of form. Even during the English listening comprehension section, her mind had frequently wandered. With great difficulty, she managed to get through the morning of the last day. After her examination paper was handed in, she blew out a light breath and said to Zhao Xiaoying, who was sitting diagonally behind her, "I'll treat you to something to eat?"

Zhao Xiaoying's mood was down because she had performed poorly on her exams. Jǐ Yi, conversely, had performed poorly on her exams because her mood was down. Hence, when the two came together, there was no real dialogue between them. Walking side by side with her out the school's gates, Jǐ Yi assessed both sides of the road to see what there was to eat. As it was noon on Lunar New Year's Eve and the shops had all closed early to celebrate the New Year, they could only go eat at a fast food restaurant.

Jǐ Yi was still a little preoccupied. The next second later, though, a large basin of ice water was being whipped directly at her, and along with the chunks of ice that were in it, it struck her face. The water and ice completely drenched her upper body.

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The ice water that had suddenly dropped seemingly from the sky splashed not only herself but also Zhao Xiaoying beside her.

Before her mind even found its awareness to register anything, someone had shoved her aside roughly. She slammed into a student who was pushing a bicycle, slicing open her wrist on the front brake of the bike. Blood instantly streamed out. Because of her, confusion broke out in this place. At the same time, someone had sent a kick into Zhao Xiaoying, knocking her to the ground. "Zhao Xiaoying, f*ck your whole f*cking family! Your mom and you are a pair of cheap b*tches!"

Wang Xingyu, Zhao Xiaoying's arrogant, overbearing younger brother, spat on Zhao Xiaoying. "You cheap b*tch, spurring your mom on to find my dad. What, you want them to get married again? Just who do you think you are? You're just a daughter. You think my dad would want you? Or want your mom? Don't f*cking bother to dream!"

While Wang Xingyu was yelling this, he was about to pummel his fist down.

Jǐ Yi could not care about anything else right then. Rushing over, she shoved him fiercely away.

With the blood from her wrist, she left a bright crimson handprint on his body.

"Wang Xingyu"—Jǐ Yi took a backward step, placing herself in front of Zhao Xiaoying—"if you dare hit anyone, I'll call the police."

"Call the police?" Wang Xingyu was actually entertained by this notion. "I'm just beating someone from my own family. The police won't care about that! Oh, I'm so sorry. You got splashed by the water, too. Well, who told you to always like protecting her since you were kids, huh? You can say you're sharing both life's joys and sufferings together—"

He took one step forward.

Jǐ Yi did not back down. One after the other, drops of blood from her wrist fell to the ground.

Behind them, group after group of senior-year high school students were walking out. The people in front had already halted their steps, but the ones at the back did not know what was going on and were still squeezing their way forward... She wanted to ask for help, but these people behind her all had evasive looks on their faces. She did not even hold out hope that one of them might be a good Samaritan and help Zhao Xiaoying up from the ground, much less think that someone would come help her.