DATE: JANUARY 15, 2005, NINGBO NO.7 EXPERIMENTAL MIDDLE SCHOOL
The snow coated playground at Ningbo No. 7 middle school, feels temporarily empty, due to chilly weather winds and light rains.
Exams ended early in the morning, and the school was no longer strict as usual, even the children can feel the pressure were lighter than before. Rules still exist in the school, but they are softened, student became stress free after a attempting a full week of examination.
Teachers stand near the stage that has been assembled for the event, for the pre-vacation. Students, walk out of the school building, slowly after handing over their question and answer sheet while discussing over their answers, and their mid vacation plan.
Lin Jingxu, eleven years old, with deep black almond shaped eyes, long jet black hair tied in a high ponytail stands with her friends, where the red running track where it curves gently towards the snow coated grass.
"Jingxu, are you waiting for the performances later?"
"We've heard, that your family is funding for the library, and auditorium this year."
"This semester's exams were a bit tough, I hear that most of the students from our batch will fail, especially for maths and science subject, but I have also hear from you cousin that you have done very well."
The voices were light, and are filled with flattering, coated in sugar sweet praise. The children at her school, especially in her class, were all from top socialite families, some are daughters and sons of their parents' business partners. They are well practiced in this flattery, - standing close enough to be noticed, but not close enough to ask anything real.
Jingxu answers with few words, like she always does.
"I'll probably stay here for a while." "I'm not sure about the details." "It's all right"
Her tone is evenly measured. She is not cold and distant, but she does not lean towards warmth. Through time with her family without being taught - that when warmth is involved, expectations follow - and expectations had a heavy cost.
One of her friends laughs too quickly and said "You really don't stress about exams. If it were my family, I'd never relax." Jingxu smiles and replied "You'll get used to it." the conversation was ended, the girl nodded and started speaking to her other friends.
After a short while, sharp high pitched laughter followed from the garden area, it cut through through the chatter and playground falls silent at once.
Other children, standing nearby say "Is Qiu Suiyin causing trouble again?" her friend replied "Who else love to create ruckus every three days." hearing this Jingxu slowly turns in that direction.
Near the lower garden area, across the running track, Qiu Suyin stands with her arms crossed. There is nothing tense about her posture, only arrogance and pride. She wears confidence like an accessory, with her two friends on either side of her acting like minions. Opposite them stand three fragile scholarship students - triplets - with the brothers protecting their younger sister.
They are easy to identify, by their clean but worn out clothes, shoes soles thinned by overuse. The brothers stand rigidly on either side of their sister, forming a straight, quiet line, stating clearly: we are united.
"Sooo" Qiu Suyin dragged out of boredom, "Do you think passing an exam makes you equal to us?" One of the boys answers timidly "We have earned this scholarship with hard work"
She laughed again and said "That's not what I want to know. I want to know who pays for your scholarship, name them, thank them"
The other boy takes step forward with all the courage he had, looks Qiu Suyin in the eyes and says "We didn't steal anything from you, we earn it."
Qiu Suyin is angered by his defiance, and moves to strike him, but his sister pushes him aside and the slap lands on her face. After hitting her she wipes her hand with her handkerchief and said "Everything about you reeks of poverty, and you steals everything what doesn't belong to us, - space, attention, and resources."
The girl, struck while protecting her brother, keeps her head lowered as tears flowing down through her eyes. "Look at me when I'm speaking, and go on your knees and shout - Thank you for allowing us to study here" Suyin said arrogantly. The girl lips tremble and she bites down hard whispering "We didn't ask-" before her voice breaks,
She struggles to swallow the humiliation pressing on her today. Students and teachers gathered around shift uncomfortably, no one steps forward to help.
"This is awkward, why does she create trouble every day" the same girl comments. Jingxu didn't react, she was watchs them quietly, seeing the things unfold in front of her eyes. As she watches the girl try to minimise her presence by wrapping her arms around her shoulders.
Jingxu felt her chest tightened by seeing her like this. It wasn't anger, just a small tug, as if something loose had been pulled tight, she steps forward. Her friends call her, but she doesn't stop, as if her body is controlled by something powerful.
She crossed the snow covered field at an unhurried pace, without drawing any attention. As she walked forward, she notice - four older boys, kicking a football back and forth without aim, laughing so loud that she can hear even though she is far from them. Before she reaches the garden fence. Qiu Suyin has already turned away.
The triplets remain rooted in place, trembling together, brothers were especially pained to see their sister being hit and was crying uncontrollably, they tried to soothe her but unable to do. She stops a short distance away and crouches, careful not to frighten or overwhelm her. She says softly consoling her "It's okay, it was never your fault. You didn't do anything wrong."
The group of three and the students surrounding them were startled as well by Jingxu soft voice and her soft gaze. Before she can say anything else - someone shouted from afar "HEY - MOVE!" A football hurtles toward them in with full force towards them, so fast that it was not enough to stop it. Jingxu reacts without a second thought, stepping forward to shield the girl by covering her and move aside.
Before she can take a breath of relief, second ball follows with the greater force, but before anyone can react or warn, Jingxu feels the strong impact of the ball.
Pain exploded behind her eyes, the world swirls in front of eyes. She loses her footing, slips on the snow and hits the ground with a great impact.
Hell breaks loose - after witnessing this scene, children run in all directions, screams cutting through the air.
"Oh my God - there is lots of blood" "Don't touch her"
Students and teachers panic, colliding, tripping and shouting. Phones come out instinctively.
"All of you stop recording, and put your phones away" Disciplinary teacher screamed at the students. The four boys stood frozen on the spot, as if they have been hit by lightening, panic settling in.
"We didn't mean -!" "She jumped in front of them - "
Supervisors and teachers sprint across the field, after seeing the commotion, organising the students and restoring order on the school ground.
School medical team arrives, drops on their knees and begin working to stop the bleeding without further delay. "Don't move her head" the lead nurse order, "Apply pressure on the injury with the gauze"
Jingxu's stirred open her eyes black. Someone who saw at the moment she open her eyes sighed in relief "She's awake- her eyes are open."
One of the boy who was closest to her feels her grip on his hand, she whispers hoarsely "You" she called again "All four of you listen to me" the second boy replied shakily his voice cracking "Yes - yes, we're here - we're sorry, we didn't mean it, it was all an accident."
She nodded her head slightly indicating she believes them "Protect them - don't let anyone blame them - they are innocent" she requested them, her breath getting shallow as time passed by, finger slightly raised towards the triplets. The boys nodded their heads and promise her that they will take care of them. "Wait for me" she added "don't leave" her breathing shuddered and she said one last sentence "No police - please"
Blood flows down from her temple , towards her temple. The nurse warns "She's losing consciousness" She murmured faintly " I will wake up soon" her hand holding the boy went slack.
Parents arriving to collect their children also panic at the sight the girl lying in a pool of blood.
"Principal! Get the principal fast!" someone shouted. After some time principal arrived running, panting heavily, tie undone, face pale from fear. He asked the supervisor "Who is injured ?" someone from crowd shouted "LIN JINGXU", the name hit the principal like a huge blow. The atmosphere changed instantly, Principal gave order quickly to the teachers and supervisor "Clear the playground - Lock it down - make sure none leave until further investigation"
Lin Yujing leaves through the school gate, noticing the crowd gathering around a corner and sound of crying.
She became curious and moves forward pushing through the crowd, books clutched in one hands, and other one carrying her school bag. As soon as she came to the front and saw the horrified scene Jingxu lying in the snow, blood flowing from her head, and people surrounding her, her mind became blank as if she has been struck by lightning.
"Jingxu - No" the books fall from her hand with a thud. She ran forward, and drops to her knees beside Jingxu her hands shaking, contemplating as if she can touch her or not. She slightly pat her cheek saying "Little sister wake up - please wake up Jingxu- don't scare me please." tears flowing down from her eyes. Her breath hitched, and before she knew it she collapsed beside her sister.
HE'AN MEDICAL CENTRE
Sirens were blazing at the hospital entrance. Doctors and specialists were informed on priority, the top medical team were assembled by the Lin family. Stretchers were pushed towards the ambulance, and from inside a delicate 11 year old girl was brought out, head was still bleeding, her pale skin streaked with blood, black hair was stuck to her face.
Qiu Suyin cried hysterically, clinging on her mother hand holding her tightly and said "They were fighting with each other, I was too scared to react and stop her from getting hurt - the ground was in chaos"
"That's not true she's lying, we didn't fight with her." the eldest brother screamed, his voice breaking.
Their aunt fell on her knees and begged them while crying, tears flowing down her eyes "Please - please spare my niece, don't call the police, we will do everything."
Mr. Qiu reaches for his phone to make a call, at that moment the four boys returned from separate corners and stop the issue at hand.
"STOP" one of them shouted, Second boy continued "She asked us to protect them, and told us not ask for police." forth one added "She told us to wait"
At last Mrs Lin speaks coldly "My daughter is still in surgery" later added "We will honor her last request."
She thinks to herself "This is just like he - always caring about others even though while stayingaloof. "