Chapter 18

Chapter 18

I continued reading.

Further on, Bai Yanmei gradually grew up.

In the rainy season of youth, she wrote in her diary that since elementary school, boys had chased her, but her aunt’s strict upbringing meant she ignored them all.

In middle school, a boy even got into a fight over her and was expelled.

At that time, her cousin had a crush on an older boy, but the boy sent her a love letter every day instead.

Her cousin held a grudge against her because of that and bullied her constantly.

She had done nothing, agreed to nothing, yet was branded a bad girl.

Suddenly, a diary entry from 1991 made my heart skip a beat.

1991, Bai Yanmei was 16.

[June 19, 1991, Rain]

I hate that animal!

I had taken the chance while he was at work to run a hot bath.

While bathing, I felt a chill on my back.

Looking back, an eye appeared through the crack in the door-it was Qi Wentao.

He was peeping at me again.

I screamed in fright, quickly wrapped myself in a towel, and held the door shut with all my might, afraid he’d come in.

I shouted and cried in the bathroom, begging him to leave.

Finally, I heard the front door close.

He left.

I sat on the floor and cried for a long time, too scared to go out.

At dinner, he acted as if nothing had happened, chatting with my aunt about work.

I didn’t dare look up the whole time.

Aunt asked what was wrong.

I didn’t dare tell, so I said I had a slight fever.

Oh God!

I really don’t want to stay in this house anymore, don’t want to see him.

But Aunt is my only family.

I can only swallow my grievances, endure it. When I go back to school, I won’t have to see him.

…

What?!

Qi Wentao actually peeped on Yanmei?!

Damn!

I slammed my fist on the table.

If I had been there, I would have gouged out that old beast’s lecherous eyes!

I continued flipping through.

[July 23, 1991, Clear]

He’s getting more and more brazen.

Today when he passed me, he was holding a glass of water and his elbow brushed against my chest, seemingly accidentally.

I stumbled back several steps, pressing myself against the wall.

He chuckled and then went to read the newspaper as if nothing had happened.

I really can’t take it much longer!

–

August 25, 1991, Clear.

Today when I was tidying up, I noticed a pair of my panties was missing.

I know he must have taken them.

Aunt seems to have noticed something off too; she asked why I always lower my head when I see Uncle.

What can I say!

If my dad were here… sigh!

–

March 27, 1992, Overcast.

Today, I had a big fight with Aunt.

I finally couldn’t hold back and told Aunt about that animal molesting me.

Aunt didn’t believe me and called me an ungrateful wretch.

It’s so unfair.

In the evening, Aunt confronted that beast.

Of course the beast denied it and accused me of slandering him.

But what girl would slander someone with such things!

Qi Xin had long held a grudge against me; of course she sided with her dad and hurled all sorts of vile insults at me.

Calling me a slut, a little whore who seduces men.

We got into a fight.

Although I lost, I felt very satisfied!

–

Seeing her delicate handwriting, my heart ached terribly.

If I had been there, I would have beaten every one in that family, big and small, once-no, a hundred times!!

The following diary entries were about her studying at the nursing school and matters with her aunt’s family.

Suddenly, I saw a special entry.

April 3, 1993, Clear.

Today I met him, my destined one.

This entry was only a single short line.

He?

It definitely couldn’t be Qi Wentao; could Yanmei have fallen in love?

I quickly flipped a page.

May 5, 1993, Rain.

Today, I changed from a girl into a woman.