Shinnshiow met Shannchyuan for the first time some seventeen years ago. At that time, Shinnshiow was on vacation in Yehjing, the metropolitan city where Shannchyuan lived. While in the city, Shinnshiow lived with a distant relative who had lived in Yehjing for several years. Shinnshiow's distant relatives comprised the father, mother, and two daughters. The father was a distant relative of Shinnshiow. Actually, the family relationship between them was not too far away, but the relationship seemed to be more distant because there was rarely contact.
Shinnshiow was on vacation to Yehjing because the city was hosting a sports event attended by a contingent from all regions of Yeuandong. That's not to say that Shinnshiow was so passionate about sports that he should take a vacation there. There was something else causing it. Shinnshiow had an older sister who was passionate about sports. Two months earlier, Shinnshiow had just graduated from university, so he still had plenty of free time. Shinnshiow's older sister was unemployed. Previously, she worked for a company that produces soft drinks. Several months earlier, there had been a problem at the company so that the company could not afford to pay so many employees. As a result, they had to reduce the number of employees. Shinnshiow's sister was one of several hundred employees who had to lose their jobs.
Because they don't want their daughter to be stressed because she is unemployed and just sitting at home, Shinnshiow's parents suggested their daughter take a vacation to find a new atmosphere. Yehjing was hosting a sports party, and they had relatives there. However, Shinnshiow's parents did not allow Shinnshiow's older sister to go alone. They asked Shinnshiow to accompany his older sister there. Shinnshiow had no other choice but to agree to the request. Shinnshiow's father immediately called his relatives to ask if they would not mind having guests over for the night. Their relatives were delighted to hear that. They welcomed Shinnshiow and her older sister with great joy.
The two daughters of Shinnshiow's relatives also liked sports-related things. So the two of them got along very well with Shinnshiow's older sister. One day, the three of them took Shinnshiow to watch a swimming competition. Shinnshiow could not swim, nor did he really like to play in the water, but since he had nothing else to do, he accepted the invitation.
The race was fun. At least that's what Shinnshiow's older sister had said. However, after all the competitions held that day were over, there was a bit of chaos. A group of people who suddenly appeared alleged that there had been systematic cheating in the race. The accused parties were angry because they did not feel they had cheated. This has become a big problem because supporters affiliated with the accusing party and supporters of the accused party were then provoked. The commotion that started out as just an argument quickly developed into a fistfight between the various parties presented.
Shinnshiow's older sister and the two relatives escaped from the enraged crowd. However, Shinnshiow was not so lucky. He was caught between the warring parties. Unfortunately, Shinnshiow had to accept a terrible fate. Someone was pushing Shinnshiow. It was so hard that Shinnshiow fell into the swimming pool, which was quite deep.
What happened next was even worse because other people also jumped into the pool and fought there. Shinnshiow, who couldn't swim, almost drowned because it was so difficult to save himself. Luckily, at a critical moment, a pair of hands grabbed him. That pair of hands belonged to Shannchyuan. He was also in the pool because someone pushed him.
Shannchyuan actually couldn't swim either. Shinnshiow found out about the fact a few hours later when they were all at the police station to testify. He survived, even could help Shinnshiow, because he was wearing a life jacket. Shannchyuan explained that his presence at the venue was to provide support to one contestant, a student who attended the school where Shannchyuan taught. Shannchyuan certainly didn't come alone. He came with a group from the school where he taught.
Regarding the life jacket, actually, it's just symbolic. Students attending the school where Shannchyuan worked must bring the object, which was one of the mandatory equipment when they were taking swimming lessons. That day, one student brought the life jacket. So, not that Shannchyuan knew that something like that would happen. One teacher confiscated the life jacket and left it with Shannchyuan. That was why the life jacket was in Shannchyuan's hand.
After that incident, Shinnshiow became friends with Shannchyuan. Because they live in different cities, they haven't seen each other in a dozen years. When Shannchyuan came up with the crazy idea of traveling, Shinnshiow just frowned at first. But in the end, he had to admit that there were things worth trying. Either way, it's much better than not trying at all. That was why Shinnshiow was now in that place, together with the rest of Shannchyuan's friends.
Shinnshiow straightened his back. He sat alone on the sofa in the living room. The atmosphere was dark because their living room lights were turned off. They don't want to look so flashy. If it was confirmed that people were watching them, at least they would try to keep them from becoming more suspicious.