Jane Eyre woke up to the bright light of a new day, feeling disoriented. She looked around and saw the plain white walls of her old home, adorned with a childs photo, with her name printed beneath it. Was this... her previous home? Jane pondered, remembering she was in the hospital about to give birth, how did she end up back home?
And it was her adoptive mothers home. Before she turned eighteen, Jane had a different surname, "Atticus Finch," and was called Atticus Finch. It was only after she was found by her biological family, the Greys, that she learned of her true heritage. After being reclaimed, she took the surname "Grey" and officially moved into the Grey residence.
As Jane was lost in thought, the front door swung open, and a middle-aged woman entered with a meal in hand. Startled to see Jane awake, she blurted out, "Oh, youre finally up. Are you feeling alright?"
Jane gazed at the woman, speechless for a moment. "Mom!" she exclaimed. The woman before her was her adoptive mother, the one who had raised her until she was sixteen.
Since she had moved to the Grey family, she was strictly forbidden to contact her adoptive mother. Later, even though she wanted to find her, she found the place abandoned, and they lost touch. Seeing her again, Jane couldnt help but feel emotional.
"Whats wrong with you? Why do you look like youve seen a ghost?" her adoptive mother teased, placing the meal on the table. "Eat something first. The doctor said you had heatstroke; its nothing serious. You have no idea how scared I was when you fainted..."
Her adoptive mothers voice trailed off as she looked at Janes smiling face, perplexed.
"What are you staring at?" she asked, frowning.
"Mom... I missed you," Jane said softly, causing her adoptive mother to pause, her brows furrowing even more. "You didnt used to be this clingy," she muttered.
Jane felt a bit speechless and forced a dry laugh before urging her mother to take her to school. They walked through the narrow paths until they reached the citys edge district high school. In Janes memory, this high school was very dilapidated, with low fees and even lower education standards.
Her adoptive mother stopped at the school entrance, handed her the school bag, and urged, "Study hard."
Jane responded with a simple "Okay," her eyes filled with guilt. Her adoptive mother, without a husband, had raised Jane alone, living a tight and tough life. Yet, no matter how hard her job was or how tight their living conditions were, she never stopped providing for Janes education.
In her previous life, Jane was ungrateful and didnt study hard, squandering all her adoptive mothers good intentions.
Carrying her bag, Jane walked into the school, recalling her old school while searching for her classroom. Although the time had passed long ago, she only remembered the general direction, but she couldnt quite place which classroom was hers.
However, Jane wasnt worried. Even though she had never been a top student, she wouldnt lose to high school students now. With her bag on her back, she strolled through the school grounds, reminiscing about her alma mater while looking for her classroom. It was then that a voice came from behind her.
"Hey, are you going to give it or not?"
Jane paused, her memory of the neighboring school being equally as dilapidated and Tucao-worthy as her own. Could something be happening over there?
She crossed the green belt and soon saw the neighboring school. The two schools were separated by a row of chain-link fences, making it easy to see what was happening on the other side.
A group of about ten boys stood opposite, but Janes gaze fixed on the boy in the center. Her breath caught as she took in his appearance. He wore the blue and red uniform of the school, his tall and lean figure accentuated by his short, dark hair. His features were delicate, a blend of European boldness and Asian finesse. Although he appeared to be only in his teens, with features not yet fully developed, there was no mistaking the handsome potential in his face.
Jane bit her lip, regaining her composure as she observed the situation unfolding. The standoff seemed to be growing tense.
"Hey, are you going to answer me? Are you going to give us money or not?" The leader of the group, a boy with a rough appearance, demanded.
After a few seconds of silence, the boy in the center coldly replied, "Boring." His voice was low and hoarse, his tone indifferent.
His refusal seemed to ignite the discontent of the others. The leader, now visibly agitated, spat out a threat, "Do you not know whats good for you?"
"Or what?" The boy in the center completed the sentence smoothly, twisting his neck and looking at the others with a haughty expression. "Even if I choose the penalty, what can you do to me?"
Caught off guard, the leader could only grit his teeth and snarl, "Fight!"
"Not self-reliant enough, fight!"
"Fight, fight, fight!"
...
In an instant, the scene became chaotic. Jane noticed that the boy in the center moved with the fluidity and precision of someone trained in martial arts. He was clearly a skilled fighter.
Jane retreated into the bamboo grove, thinking to herself that this boy was someone who knew how to handle himself.
The commotion lasted for about a quarter of an hour before it began to die down. Most of the boys were bruised, and the skilled fighter was no exception. However, this time, no one dared to make another move.
"Do you want to go again?" The boy felt his fists, his dark eyes scanning the others, his tone as calm as still water.
"Christian Grey, youd better watch out!" A boy, barely able to stand, glared at him hatefully before leaving with the others.
Christian Grey? At the sound of the name, Janes brow furrowed deeper. He even had the same surname as Edward Cullen. Was this a coincidence?
At that moment, the boy who had his back to her suddenly turned his head and looked straight at her. The unexpected gaze startled Jane, causing her to step back and fall into a small pool behind her. The water wasnt deep, only half her height, but it left her looking very disheveled.
"Ah!" She screamed, flailing in the water for a moment. Because of her soaked clothes, her thin school uniform clung to her body. In her struggle, her collar had opened, exposing her neck.
She looked down at herself, immediately covering her chest as she realized what had happened. At that moment, a school uniform flew from the sky and landed perfectly on her head.
"..." Jane got up, picked up the uniform from her head, and turned to look at the boy named Christian Grey. However, she saw a clear look of disgust on his face.
"No matter how much you cover, its still flat," he said with his hands in his pockets, walking away from her. "Besides, youre still a novice..."
Jane didnt hear the rest, but she knew what he was going to say. She put on his uniform, which still carried a faint scent of sweat mixed with soap. The smell gave her an inexplicable sense of relief.
Jane shook her head, picked up her bag from the ground, and walked out of the bamboo grove.