Chapter 29: First Hug

Set off Warning: Suicide. In case you want to skip this chapter due to this, there’s a abstract on the finish.

That Friday afternoon, Ruan Zhizhi lay on her work desk and scrolled via Weibo, overcome with boredom. With nice curiosity, she watched the followers of at present trending male idols from the leisure trade have catfights over sesame-sized issues. Within the subsequent second, she was startled by her supervisor, who was hurrying over.

Instantly placing her cellphone away, Ruan Zhizhi stood up along with her different colleagues from their seats. Supervisors didn’t often come to examine them at work throughout the busy rush hour until there was an emergency.

“Xu Zhengyu from Group A, Ruan Zhizhi from Group C, one minute to arrange. Have a recorder and pc prepared. Comply with me to an on-scene interview now.”

Positive sufficient, there was big information.

After having obtained a full place for therefore lengthy, she lastly had the chance to seem on the scene. Named by her superior, Ruan Zhizhi was so excited that she instantly began packing up her issues and making ready.

As they rushed to the scene, Ruan Zhizhi and her colleague Xu Zhengyu from Group A sat upright and nonetheless within the again row of the industrial car like two major college college students. They listened severely to their supervisor’s description of the information context.

“Simply now, I obtained a dependable notification that at about two o’clock this afternoon, a fourth-year woman from A College fell from the ladies’ dormitory constructing. There have been no apparent indicators of trauma on her physique. The forensic medical expert tentatively recognized it as a suicide. Now, the members of the family of the feminine scholar who fell from the constructing, the police, in addition to some academics are all being investigated on the scene. We’ve got to reach sooner than individuals from different information businesses to assemble extra helpful data.”

The supervisor paused when he stated this. Considering of how this was their first time showing on the scene, he was uneasy and repeatedly warned them, “You need to do not forget that as reporters, it’s of utmost significance to put in writing a press launch that catches individuals’s eyes. Later, you two should not take note of the exterior disturbances. You solely must set your coronary heart on asking the questions you wish to know.”

The implication was to not care in regards to the feelings of the members of the family of the deceased, and to additionally not care about whether or not the questions had been applicable or not. As long as what they obtained ultimately was invaluable.

Ruan Zhizhi lowered her head, initially taking notes earnestly, however now her curiosity all of a sudden waned.

She believed that as a reporter, an important factor was to respect the info and restore the unique fact of occasions for readers, moderately than fabricating some groundless tales for the sake of newspaper and journal gross sales to draw individuals’s consideration.

However…if the accident scene was at A College, then in that case, would Shi Yan be there too?

She hoped he wasn’t implicated.

Ruan Zhizhi’s ideas had been in a whirl, at a loss as as to if or not she ought to name Shi Yan to ask in regards to the state of affairs. But she was afraid that her supervisor would know that she had a good friend at A College, after which he can be concerned in much more incidents. After serious about it, she put her cellphone again in her pocket. 

The industrial car quickly arrived on the gates of A College. Presently, there have been no lots of onlookers on the gates. It may very well be assumed that Ruan Zhizhi and her firm should be the primary to acquire the information.

Her supervisor confirmed the guard on the gate his press card. Then, fully unimpeded, he led all of them the way in which into the ladies’ dormitory, to the positioning the place the feminine scholar had jumped off.

The physique of the woman who had fallen from the constructing had already been taken away by the forensic investigator for an post-mortem instantly after the incident. Now, there was solely a stunning pool of deep crimson blood, and inflexible strains traced on the scene by the forensic employees with chalk.

Ruan Zhizhi, who was seeing this sort of scene that reeked of blood for the primary time, felt just a little faint. Her abdomen acid bubbled up constantly.

Presently, she all of a sudden missed Shi Yan. If Shi Yan was there, he would positively stand behind her, cowl her eyes, and inform her to not be afraid.

Beside her, Xu Zhengyu noticed her wan complexion and smiled placatingly. “That is your first time seeing a scene of dying, proper? It’s all proper, you’re going to get used to it.”

After talking, he took out a voice recorder from his briefcase and stated, “At this time we’re companions. With a view to assure effectivity, you go to interview the members of the family of the deceased first, and I’ll go round to search out the classmates and academics of the deceased to ask them for some clues.”

Ruan Zhizhi nodded politely, attempting laborious to restrain the urge to retch.

The 2 rapidly break up up.

Ruan Zhizhi took out a candied Ejiao honey jujube from her pocket and put it in her mouth. She shook her head and walked to the place the place the tide of individuals was most concentrated. In accordance with her previous expertise of at all times studying information experiences, on the scene of the accident, the members of the family of the deceased had been often very emotional, and there was nearly a 100% probability that they might have a dispute with the college and even beat others in severe circumstances.

With nice effort, she pushed previous the individuals circling round and walked via. Positive sufficient, she noticed a middle-aged couple standing in the course of the group. Their feelings had reached a state that would not be appeased. The lady’s eyes had been already swollen from weeping, and her hair was dishevelled, whereas the person was squatting on the bottom smoking one cigarette after one other, his face clouded with sorrow.

They’d simply stepped into their middle-ages, and earlier than they’d the time to take pleasure in household love and happiness, they misplaced their daughter. The pair regarded very pitiful.

“What sort of garbage college are you guys? I despatched my good daughter to review, and shortly my household’s little one was going to graduate from college. However right now, you’re telling me that she died, and that she dedicated suicide. I don’t settle for this, it’s completely not possible for me to just accept!” The lady’s voice was hoarse and was about to change into hysterical, “In case your college doesn’t give me an evidence for my daughter’s dying, I’ll go and petition. Even when I sue all the way in which to Beijing, I’ll completely by no means let it go!”

A College’s president, Wang Chongming, was born of a scholarly household. His dad and mom each had doctorate levels, and his paternal grandfather as soon as adopted the revolutionary leaders to develop the preliminary training establishment for a brand new China. It may very well be stated that he was an individual of advantage and status.

However now, with a tragic expression throughout his face, he constantly tried to consolation the middle-aged girl’s feelings. “This feminine comrade, take heed to me, Pupil Li Ruixi’s post-mortem report has been launched, and it’s confirmed that she dedicated suicide. Furthermore, the police have already investigated the college’s surveillance recordings, and there’s certainly no risk of homicide.” After President Wang completed talking, he additionally couldn’t assist however sigh deeply. “I admit that the college has dedicated many wrongdoings. It’s our fault that we didn’t take note of Pupil Li’s emotional and psychological well being in time. However I enterprise to ensure that the reason for Pupil Li’s dying was positively not created by the college.”

“Heh, all of you officers protect each other. My daughter was dwelling effectively, for what cause would she wish to go die! She was graduating from college quickly, and moreover, she had been really useful for graduate college. A shiny future was ready for her. You inform me, what cause would she should all of a sudden leap from a constructing right now?!” The lady was clearly deaf to their clarification, merely immersed in her personal sorrow.

The environment sank right into a impasse for some time.

“The explanation she jumped off the constructing in the end lies with you, not the college.”

All of the sudden, a person’s voice sounded within the air, faint however extraordinarily chilly.

Immediately, their environment had been completely silent, as if the drop of a pin may very well be heard.

Shi Yan?

Coming right here at such a time, wasn’t it asking for bother?

Ruan Zhizhi frowned and regarded in the direction of the path of his voice together with the group.

The person she knew effectively was carrying a white knitted jacket. He walked in from exterior the group in an unhurried method, trying increasingly more selfless and incorruptible. His brows and eyes had been calm, and he regarded as cool-headed as at all times: “My title is Shi Yan, I used to be the educational advisor answerable for Li Ruixi within the psychology division. In case you two have any points, yow will discover me to debate.”

The lady was clearly surprised when she noticed him, however she rapidly reacted and placed on an unreasonable look once more: “Educational advisor accountable, is that proper? Why don’t you say one thing, how are you going to be answerable for my daughter’s dying!”

Shi Yan laughed grimly and checked out her with contempt in his eyes: “I already stated that the explanation why Li Ruixi dedicated suicide lies with you. Naturally, you’re the one who must be accountable.”

The group turned noisy when his voice fell. Ruan Zhizhi heard the scholars round her whispering. Amongst them, two women had been standing very near her. Ruan Zhizhi might hear their whole dialogue clearly.

“Professor Shi is correct. As a result of Ruixi was below an excessive amount of strain, she turned depressed and jumped off the constructing.”

“Proper, her mom stored harping on her to review, take the postgraduate entrance examination, and have her carry honour to her ancestors. She by no means stated the rest. I heard that Ruixi failed the postgraduate entrance examination this time. Maybe as a result of she was afraid of being overwhelmed, scolded, and punished by her dad and mom, in order that’s why she selected to kill herself.”

……

When Ruan Zhizhi heard this, her coronary heart moved. She instantly turned her head and requested the 2 women for affirmation: “I’m sorry to disturb you classmates. I’m a reporter who got here to gather data on the scene. You talked about in your dialog simply now that Li Ruixi’s dad and mom had been forcing her to take the postgraduate entrance examination all alongside, however she failed the examination this yr. Could I affirm that this can be a reality?”

The 2 women had been interrupted by her abrupt voice and appeared considerably flustered. However after they heard that she was a reporter, they rapidly settled down: “What we stated are all info, this yr’s postgraduate entrance examination scores have already come out. The president and the high-level professors’ places of work have a listing of names. In case you don’t imagine it, go and see for your self.”

“Okay, thanks very a lot!” Ruan Zhizhi expressed her thanks whereas greedy the recording pen in her hand, making up her thoughts. 

Within the clamour of the disorderly crowd, Shi Yan’s voice was ice chilly, as if frost patterns had been forming in it. It resounded within the air as soon as extra: “Li Ruixi didn’t receive a advice for postgraduate research in any respect. She was afraid of being punished, so she deceived you and stated she was admitted. In truth, she’d been making ready to take this yr’s postgraduate entrance examination, however sadly, she wasn’t accepted. That is the reality about her leaping from the constructing. The primary culprits had been you. You closed in step-by-step, pushing her to a dead-end.”

When Shi Yan stated this, Xu Zhengyu, who had been gathering information on the opposite aspect, additionally handed via the group to stroll over: “How’s it going? Have you ever discovered any invaluable clues?”

Ruan Zhizhi raised her chin within the path of the household of the deceased: “That couple are the dad and mom of the deceased Li Ruixi. I’ve been observing right here for a very long time, and simply now I obtained just a little data from the deceased’s classmates. I feel the reality should be precisely what Professor Shi stated. As a result of Li Ruixi failed the postgraduate entrance examination, the strain was too giant, thus she selected to leap from the constructing and commit suicide.”

“It’s not attainable! I don’t imagine it! I don’t imagine it!” Within the crowd, the middle-aged girl all of a sudden erupted into sorrowful sobs, “My daughter wouldn’t simply kill herself like this…She wouldn’t…”

And beside her, the person who had been crouching on the bottom all alongside with out saying a single phrase all of a sudden stood up right now. He weakly held his spouse. “Spouse, I feel this trainer is correct…A number of instances, I completed work at evening. Once I got here again, I’d hear Ruixi hiding in her room, secretly crying. I considered discovering you and discussing correctly so that you simply wouldn’t be too strict and controlling with our daughter, however as a result of my work was so busy, I at all times went to sleep and forgot after I awoke. It’s my fault. I triggered our daughter’s dying. I killed my Ruixi…”

When the person spoke on the finish, he was unable to manage his tone of voice that was choked with emotion.

Ruan Zhizhi stood within the crowd, witnessing such a dismal and determined scene along with her personal eyes. She couldn’t assist however really feel distressed in her coronary heart.

It appeared that there was nothing to show at this level. The police quickly dispatched extra individuals to dam off the scene, and all unrelated personnel had been requested to go away promptly. Throughout this interval of time, Ruan Zhizhi and Xu Zhengyu tried to make use of the chance to search out the household of the deceased to ask some extra questions.

By the point their interviews completed, nearly the entire onlookers had dispersed.

Feeling just a little weary, Ruan Zhizhi couldn’t assist however attain out and press her temple. Simply now, the scene was so chaotic, Shi Yan most likely hadn’t seen her.

Within the distance, their supervisor had already begun to induce them to depart. For one final time, Ruan Zhizhi and Xu Zhengyu verified the knowledge they’d gathered that day, then packed their briefcases and ready to return.

Despite the fact that they’d gotten a agency grasp on first-hand data that day, there was no terribly convincing witness testimony or materials proof. She didn’t know if their supervisor would scold them after they returned later. 

Subsequent to her, Xu Zhengyu evidently wore an expression like there was rather a lot on his thoughts. Ruan Zhizhi turned her head to take a look at him and kindly placated, “Don’t fear, I’m sure we are able to report again easily.”

“Ah?” It appeared that his prepare of thought was interrupted. Xu Zhengyu got here again to his senses, after which frowned once more. “I’m not serious about that. Ruan Zhizhi, simply now, the college professor within the crowd regarded very acquainted. I really feel like I’ve seen him someplace earlier than.”

“You stated you’ve seen Shi Yan earlier than?” Ruan Zhizhi considered it, then replied indifferently, “Metropolis A is so huge, perhaps you met by probability.”

In any case, she used to see Shi Yan by probability nearly each day.

Nonetheless, Xu Zhengyu shook his head very candidly: “It wasn’t by probability, I keep in mind very distinctly. I will need to have seen this individual in some case, however I can’t keep in mind it now.”

Ruan Zhizhi watched him waste time on an insoluble drawback, considerably helpless. She merely felt that Xu Zhengyu had remembered fallacious and didn’t assume an excessive amount of about it. She proceeded to pack her briefcase, however at that second—

“Zhizhi.”

Listening to this acquainted voice, Ruan Zhizhi began to boost her head subconsciously.

The person standing in entrance of her, regardless of experiencing some unreasonable troubles and harassment from the household of the deceased simply now, nonetheless regarded sleek and picked up, as if he had solely greeted strangers.

“Shi Yan, these individuals simply now didn’t trouble you, proper?” Ruan Zhizhi checked out him and let it slip that she was involved, fully involuntarily.

The opposite social gathering reached out and gently stroked her hair: “Don’t fear, I’m positive.” After talking, he took out a diary with some broken corners from his pocket and lowered his voice. “That is the diary that Li Ruixi gave me when she was alive. I feel you’ll most likely want it.”

The deceased’s diary? This was certainly a treasured materials.

Ruan Zhizhi stretched out her hand to take it. There was nonetheless heat from the diary.

She regarded up at him considerably doubtfully, however noticed that the standard haze and darkness in Shi Yan’s eyes had subsided. At this second, they had been as clear because the wind, as if telling her: Ruan Zhizhi, it’s essential to write this press launch severely, and provides the deceased justice.

She pursed her lips, nodded, then replied very cautiously: “Relaxation assured, I’ll definitely examine rigorously earlier than writing the manuscript.”

Behind her, the urging voice of her supervisor turned increasingly more urgent. Ruan Zhizhi bid farewell to Shi Yan swiftly. Simply as she was about to show round and go away, her wrist was grabbed. Within the subsequent second, with out warning, she fell into an odd but acquainted embrace. 

There was at all times a clear peppermint scent on the person’s physique, combined with a faint trace of tobacco, which merely threw individuals’s expectations in dysfunction and confusion. How did that poem go? Tonight at this second I gained’t be capable to categorical my emotions.1

Her limbs had been leaning rigidly in opposition to Shi Yan’s chest. His heartbeat was just a little speedy, pounding repeatedly, however she knew that it was not as violent as her personal heartbeat. 

Shi Yan’s fingers gently rested on her head, and he extremely cherished serving to her straighten her hair that had been blown by the wind. His voice was low and just a little hoarse, however carried a hint of intimacy that made her really feel at a loss: “This world is impermanent. If the subsequent one to die is me, I’ll definitely not remorse holding you as soon as like this.”

Abstract: Ruan Zhizhi and her coworker Xu Zhengyu are chosen by their supervisor to report a giant incident concerning a scholar at A College. When she will get there, Shi Yan is there because the psychology professor accountable for the scholar concerned within the incident. Her colleague, Xu Zhengyu, appears to acknowledge Shi Yan. Later, Shi Yan hugs Ruan Zhizhi for the primary time. 

Translator’s Notice: That is my least favorite chapter. Some issues don’t sit effectively with me. Certainly one of them being how the household of the deceased bought portrayed as unreasonable for inflicting bother on the scene—like what do you count on? They misplaced a daughter, then discovered that they’d a big position in it. I can’t think about the grief you’d really feel in that state of affairs.