Do you have a very close friend that was there for you since you were naive and ignorant until you grew into a more mature and level-headed adult?
Maybe you used to detest and pick on one another, or laugh at each other’s hairstyle and the stupid things the other person did, but when you experienced a setback, fell into a predicament, or were insulted, he or she would be the first one to step out, protect you, comfort you, and offer you a shoulder to lean on.
Do you still remember that person?
An Xiaxia’s first memory of Kang Jian was when she was nine and a Year 4 primary school student.
She barely had any schooling when she was little, and given that one year of abusive life with her foster father, she didn’t even know how to read or write.
On the day she was transferred to Experimental Primary School, the class teacher walked her into the classroom.
“Please be quiet, everyone. We have a new student here today. From now on, you’ll help and learn from one another. Understand?”
“Yes —”
An Xiaxia was frightened by the loud voices and stepped back gingerly.
The class teacher stroked her hair, thinking that she was just shy. The teacher then said in a comforting voice, “It’s ok. Everyone here is very warmhearted and friendly. Now, will you write your name on the blackboard?”
She put a chalk in An Xiaxia’s hand, but An Xiaxia said timidly, “I — I don’t know how to write it…”
“Why, stop kidding around. Please write it down.” The teacher then prompted her onto the platform.
Holding the chalk, An Xiaxia was conscious of the dozens of eyes on her and burst into tears.
“Hahaha —” Everyone began to laugh. The class teacher had no choice but to find a seat for her and let her sit down first.
An Xiaxia had just settled into her seat when someone tugged her ponytail hard.
“Hm…” Her scalp felt like it was nearly torn off. Turning around, she saw a good-looking boy behind her, who made a face. “You’re such a chicken!”
An Xiaxia bit her lip and almost cried again.
The boy seemed to think her his new entertainment and wouldn’t stop harassing her.
An Xiaxia’s hair was tied into two ponytails today, which had been achieved by An Yibei after much painstaking effort. But they soon turned disheveled in the boy’s hands.
“It hurts… stop it…” An Xiaxia said in an aggrieved tone. The boy grinned. “I’ll do as I please! Cry if you want!”
Back then, An Xiaxia’s tears came very easily, and were on call 24/7.
Up on the platform, the teacher couldn’t take it anymore. “Kang Jian! What have you done? Did you pick on the new classmate?”
Kang Jian grinned. “I didn’t. She just loves crying!”
“That’s enough! Go stand in the corridor, now!” The teacher banished him from the classroom.
Kang Jian was so used to the punishment that he simply grabbed a comic book he had hidden in his drawer and strolled out of the classroom.
He had barely been standing there for ten seconds when An Xiaxia rushed out as well. Her ponytails were all disheveled, her eyes were red, her cheeks were streaked with tears, and her nose was running.
She looked kind of ugly.
“Hey, stop crying!” he comforted her awkwardly, which An Xiaxia didn’t seem to hear at all. She threw herself into the arms of a middle-aged man a short distance away, saying, “Dad, I don’t want to go to school…”
It pained Papa An to see her like this. Luckily, it only took him an ice cream to calm An Xiaxia down. After seeing Kang Jian standing there, Papa An suggested, “How about you stay out here for a moment and go back after you finish your ice cream?”
An Xiaxia sniveled and nodded numbly.
Kang Jian was very intrigued. When Papa An walked away to speak on the phone, he snatched the ice cream out of An Xiaxia’s hand, wolfed it down in two bites, and stuck out his tongue at her.
“Teehee!”
An Xiaxia cried even louder now.
