The final bell rang, echoing across the emptying corridors of the high school. Meilin walked quietly, blending into the crowd of students pouring out of the gates. Her face was calm as ever, but her mind was a storm of silent rage. Every laugh, every voice she heard around her reminded her of Xueyin. Her sister's gentle smile. Her cries for help. Her unjust death.
Clutching the strap of her bag tightly, Meilin took a longer route home—her usual habit now. She didn't want to be followed, and more importantly, she needed space to breathe.
But today was different.
As she passed a quiet alley near the park, sharp sounds reached her ears—grunts, fists hitting flesh, and low snarls of anger. She froze, eyes narrowing as she peeked around the corner.
A group of men surrounded a tall figure, clearly outnumbered. The lone man was injured—his white shirt soaked in blood from his arm—but he didn't back down. He fought with strength, calculated precision, and a cold fire in his eyes.
But even he couldn't hold on much longer.
Without thinking, Meilin dropped her bag and dashed forward. "Hey!" she shouted, catching the attention of the attackers. One of them turned toward her with a laugh.
"Run, little girl. This isn't your fight."
"You made it mine," she replied coolly—and with that, she kicked him square in the jaw.
Everything after that happened quickly. The thugs underestimated her, but Meilin had trained for years. Her movements were swift, each strike effective. Within minutes, the attackers scattered and disappeared into the alley's shadows.
She turned to the man, now leaning weakly against the wall, his sharp eyes locked on her.
"You okay?" she asked, stepping closer. "You're bleeding."
He didn't speak at first. Just stared at her, breathing heavily. Then finally, in a deep, low voice that sent a shiver down her spine, he said, "Who... are you?"
"Just someone who hates seeing cowards gang up on one person," she muttered, tearing her handkerchief and pressing it to his wound.
He didn't flinch. "You fight well," he said. "Better than most men I've met."
She shrugged. "You're not bad yourself."
He smirked faintly, the edge of his lips tilting. "Name's Ryu Xian."
Meilin paused. That name… she'd heard it somewhere.
Before she could ask, he said, "Let me thank you properly, but I need a hospital first."
She nodded and helped him walk out of the alley. As their steps echoed under the setting sun, neither spoke again. But both felt something unfamiliar.
Heartbeat racing.