PAIN - CHAPTER 1
In Class 3, Grade 3 of Linlan No. 3 High School, the evening sky bled crimson like a blade slicing
through the century-old campus.
Bai Xun Yin lay quietly over her desk in the empty classroom, her slender fingers tapping the cracked
wood—one tap at a time, counting.
There was no clock. Around the 300th tap, the school’s night guard would usually notice the lights
still on and come to let her out.
It wasn’t the first time she’d been locked in after school. She’d grown used to it, even found a strange
kind of rhythm in the routine. Her legs swung gently under the desk, graceful arcs in motion.
Sure enough, ten minutes later, the patrolling guard, Uncle Liu Chen, frowned at the glowing lights
in Class 3. He unlocked the door and found the girl curled over her desk. His voice was a mix of
concern and resignation.
Little one, locked in again
Bai Xun Yin stood, clutching her backpack straps with pale fingers. She smiled softly, her face serene
and gentle.
Go on home now
She nodded obediently and walked out.
Liu Chen watched her delicate figure disappear down the hallway and sighed. He’d worked at Linlan
No. 3 for years, always patrolling the classrooms in the evening. For the past six months, Class 3’s
lights had often stayed on after hours. And every time, he’d find the same girl inside—waiting
silently, like she knew he’d come.
At first, it unsettled him. Then he understood. Her classmates were locking her in on purpose. The
lights were her silent SOS.
He’d tried reporting it to her homeroom teacher, Shen Lang Li, arguing that this was hidden school
bullying. But nothing changed. The lights kept glowing. The girl kept waiting.
Because locking someone in didn’t count as violence.
He’d once told her to shout for help next time. He hadn’t known she couldn’t speak.
She had no voice. Only light.
By the time Bai Xun Yin left the classroom, it was past seven. The sky over Linlan was nearly black,
save for a few lingering streaks of sunset. The school was silent, deserted.
Her white sneakers padded softly down the corridor, blending into the quiet. But as she turned the
stairwell, she heard voices—soft, hesitant.
A girl’s voice, shy and sweet
Yu Luo Yin, I have two movie tickets. Can we… go together this Saturday
Bai Xun Yin froze. She recognized the voice—Sheng Chu Ran, her classmate. Sheng Chu Ran hated
her. Bai Xun Yin, ever conflict-averse, decided to hide and wait it out.
It’s a popular film, called—
No time
The boy’s voice was lazy, low, and cool like mint. Find someone else
Oh… I just wanted to go with you
Sheng Chu Ran, usually proud and fiery, now sounded fragile and pleading. Bai Xun Yin was
surprised. She stared at her toes, a vague thought forming.
Then the boy spoke again
No time
Silence.
Sheng Chu Ran stomped off, her footsteps echoing with frustration. Bai Xun Yin exhaled in relief. At
least she wouldn’t run into her. She waited five more minutes before stepping out.
And walked straight into a pair of dark eyes.
A boy stood on the stairs, leaning against the railing. His school uniform looked colder than his pale
skin. His features were sharp, his gaze piercing. Wind tousled his hair, and a cigarette hung from his
lips—bold and rebellious.
Bai Xun Yin froze.
He was tall, lean, broad-shouldered. Just standing there, he radiated pressure.
Yu Luo Yin stared into her wide, deer-like eyes, his own reflecting a teasing glint
Eavesdropping
Not very polite, classmate
He’d heard her footsteps earlier but waited to see who it was. He hadn’t expected a girl like her—
delicate, quiet, pretty.
His teasing tone made her ears flush red, the color creeping down her jaw. She hadn’t meant to
overhear.
She shook her head, gripping her backpack tighter.
Hmm
He flicked the spent cigarette into the trash with casual precision
Why aren’t you speaking
She wanted to say it wasn’t on purpose. She wanted to say smoking was bad. But the words wouldn’t
come. She bit her lip.
They stood there, awkwardly distant, like two students punished to stand in silence.
Yu Luo Yin chuckled softly.
Bai Xun Yin lowered her head and darted past him.
Classmate
She heard him call out as she reached the stairs
What’s your name
She paused. Her nails dug into her palm.
For the first time, she felt the weight of her silence. She couldn’t answer. Not without seeming rude.
She turned back, lips moving silently.
Yu Luo Yin blinked. He thought she mouthed the word “Yun.”
She smiled faintly and walked away, her slender figure fading into the night.
He stood there, stunned. It was the first time he’d ever asked a girl’s name. And she hadn’t told him.
He’d hit a soft wall.
Yu Luo Yin scoffed, eyes drifting to the basketball court below where boys played under the
floodlights.
One of them, Li Yuan, ran up, sweaty and grinning
Yu bro, that score gap was wild. You missed a killer game. Did Xin Sui go ahead to book the BBQ
spot
Yu Luo Yin tossed his water bottle at him
Next time, don’t make me wait
Li Yuan chugged the water, confused
Huh Why
Yu Luo Yin shoved his hands in his pockets, heading down the stairs
Too easy to run into girls with movie tickets
Annoying
Huh Our school gives out movie tickets I’ve never gotten one
…
It took Bai Xun Yin twenty minutes by bus to get home. By then, it was nearly eight. Her mother, Ji
Hui Ying, greeted her with warm food and a string of complaints
You’re not even in senior year yet. Why are you always home so late You’ll ruin your stomach
Bai Xun Yin paused while changing clothes. Then she wrote on a piece of paper and held it up
Mom, a classmate helped me with homework. I’m fine. Not hungry
Ji Hui Ying stared at the neat handwriting, then at her daughter’s face.
Her skin was ivory pale, almost translucent. Her features were delicate, her smile radiant.
But the accident had taken her voice.
For two years, they’d only spoken through paper.
Good… it’s good to study more now
Ji Hui Ying forced a smile and set the food down
You’re in second year. Time to catch up
Bai Xun Yin nodded and quietly finished her meal.
Since losing her voice, she’d learned something important.
When you can’t fight injustice, you learn to ignore it. Or accept it. At least then, the people around
you won’t worry.
That’s why she never told her mother about being locked in the classroom.
Life was hard enough. No need to make it worse.
There were other things too… but she could handle them.
Back in her room, she checked her phone. A flood of messages from A Mo lit up the screen
Babe I’m almost done transferring to No. 3 High. Soon I’ll be glued to you every day
Hey hey hey why aren’t you replying It’s past six You should be out of school
Did Sheng Chu Ran lock you in again because of cleaning duty
Ugh she’s so annoying
…
A Mo could send 50+ texts without pause. If you didn’t reply, she’d keep going.
Bai Xun Yin knew her too well. She smiled and replied
Nope Just got home
Had tutoring today so I didn’t check my phone
She didn’t want A Mo to worry either.
But thinking of Sheng Chu Ran brought her mind back to the boy on the stairs.
Yu Luo Yin.
Was it “Luo” like falling or “Luo” like Luoyang Was it “Yin” like silver or “Yin” like singing
She didn’t know.
But one thing was clear.
Sheng Chu Ran probably liked him.
Maybe they were even dating.