Page 211
by 陈年奶泡The English teacher was quite young, not yet thirty and sporting a charming Latin curl. Seated in the middle, he gazed at his adorable students with a smile, encouraging them to enjoy the meat.
"Since it's a rare BBQ, everyone relax and have fun to your heart's content."
Chu Yi sat beside the English teacher, nodding repeatedly as she watched the succulent chicken wings being grilled.
The teacher patted her shoulder, assuring her, "Relax, don't be nervous. Learning should be enjoyable and stress-free. It's because you put too much pressure on yourself that memorizing words becomes a struggle. Occasionally, try to let go."
Chu Yi was surprised that her teacher would think of her even during this moment of indulgence. She shifted her gaze away with effort and nodded seriously. "Thank you. I'll make sure to unwind properly."
"If I could taste the first bite of that tender and juicy chicken wing, I would definitely be even more relaxed."
Teacher Yang paused for a moment before bursting into laughter. He stood up, picked out a perfectly cooked wing from the skewers, and offered it to her.
"Go ahead and enjoy."
Chu Yi chuckled, promptly taking the skewer and biting into it without hesitation.
Teacher Yang shook his head, amused.
Chu Yi, being a student from the mainland, couldn't compare to Hong Kong students who had been learning English since childhood.
Yang Hai had been paying close attention to Chu Yi ever since he transferred schools.
He noticed that Chu Yi spent three times as much time on English after classes each day just to keep up with the rest of the class.
Yang Hai had seen mainland textbooks before, and he knew that their curriculum was indeed slower-paced than Hong Kong's.
Despite the initial half-semester of adjustment struggles, Chu Yi had caught up well, though the effort was evident in his struggles.
Aside from Chu Yi, the other students in the class had their own unique challenges. As the Form 3 homeroom teacher, Yang Hai wanted to help alleviate their stress.
That was why he organized this field trip.
Teacher Yang was aware that his special status might make the students feel uncomfortable, so after accompanying them for half an hour, he considerately excused himself.
Sure enough, once the teacher left, the students relaxed and let loose.
Under the cover of a dark, moonless night.
The crackling flames spat sparks into the air.
A male classmate held a flashlight under his chin, adopting a spooky tone. "Have you all heard the story of Shallow Bay Beach?"
"It's mysterious and astonishing," he added dramatically.
Intrigued by his suspenseful buildup, the classmates eagerly admitted they hadn't heard it before.
Reluctantly, under their persistent urging, the male classmate began to recount the tale of Shallow Bay Beach.
"Shallow Bay Beach is renowned for its breathtaking sunsets. Legend has it that throughout the ages, many lovers, driven by romance, have chosen this spot to drown themselves in a tragic pact. Mostly, they were pairs unable to stay together in the mortal world due to the constraints of feudalism."
"As more people died, the resentment accumulated. And then..."
Pausing intentionally, he gripped the flashlight and gazed meaningfully at his peers. "This place... began to be haunted."
His words hung in the air.
A collective gasp echoed: "Whoa!"
A male classmate leaped out from behind another, pulling a silly face.
"Ah ah ah ah!"
"It's a ghost!"
Many of the timid female classmates were startled, fleeing in fright.
"Hahaha!" The two boys, seeing that they had genuinely scared someone, supported each other as they laughed uncontrollably.
"Boring," Chu Yi rolled her eyes. "Totally tasteless."
Looking up at the full moon in the sky, she wondered how her elder sister, Chu Yuening, was doing back home.
The night breeze began to pick up, bringing a chill with it.
Chu Yi gathered the barbecue skewers and placed them in a garbage bag. After tidying up, she made plans with Chen Mixin to take a walk by the beach. The tide was slowly rising, and it was her first time seeing the ocean since coming to Hong Kong for so long. Curiously, she dipped her hand into the seawater, feeling its temperature.
Suddenly.
A slimy sensation brushed against her arm, sending a chill through her.
Curious, Chu Yi turned around and grabbed hold of what felt like a cylindrical object, covered in a slippery membrane. Suddenly, the cylinder exerted a force, dragging itself towards the sea.
Steadying herself, Chu Yi lifted her hand. "Could it be a fish?"
Marine fish were different from freshwater ones; the slippery touch might be normal. Or perhaps it was a jellyfish?
Chen Mixin kicked the water excitedly. Seeing Chu Yi in a daze, she asked, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," Chu Yi replied, only to feel a sudden warmth in her pocket. She hastily reached in and pulled out a pile of ashes, instantly deflated. "The talisman my elder sister drew has somehow vanished."
The talisman had inexplicably turned into dust.
Both of them lost their enthusiasm for play and retreated to their respective tents to check on any messages.
In the middle of the night.
A shrill scream pierced the air, jolting Chu Yi awake from her slumber.
A classmate cried out, "Quick, come help! Ye Chuxue just fell into the sea! Does anyone have a blanket?"
It was already two days later when Chu Yuening received Yin Yao's dance performance ticket.
Yin Yao was dressed in a white dress, standing behind the stall with her parents from the Yin family.
The Yin family had heard everything that had transpired, and they bowed deeply to Chu Yuening in gratitude. Yin Yao's mother wiped away her tears continuously, "Master Chu, thank you so much. If not for you, Yao Yao wouldn't have been able to stand up again."
Chu Yuening shook her head, "There's no need to thank me. Yin Yao originally had a chance of recovery."
Yin's father said, "Master is too modest. The American medical professor said that with persistent rehabilitation, there might be a chance of standing up again after decades, but it would only be a one in a thousand chance."
"It was just not the right time yet," Chu Yuening smiled.
All she did was help Yin Yao avoid the fire that would have otherwise burned her to ashes.
With the passing of her death crisis,
Yin Yao's destiny was rewritten. Coupled with her intense will to survive during the fiery ordeal, the alignment of heaven, earth, and people, Yin Yao was able to stand up once more.
"In any case, I must express my deepest gratitude to Master for the gift of a second chance at life." After Yin Yao stood up again, she seemed much more cheerful. With a smile, she handed over the tickets.
0 Comments