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墨書 Inktalez
Chapter 3: The Wings of First Love
College was a brand new world for me. There were no parents nagging me, no endless assignments, only freedom and infinite possibilities. I felt like a bird that had broken free from its cage, eager to explore this vibrant world.
I joined the literature club, signed up for the choir, and enrolled in dance classes. I wanted to try everything new, to make up for the childhood I had lost.
One sunny afternoon in the library, I met him—Zhang Lei. He was tall and thin, wearing a pair of black-framed glasses, holding a copy of "One Hundred Years of Solitude."
"Do you like Márquez too?" I couldn't help but ask.
He looked up and smiled shyly. "Yeah, his works are full of magical realism; I really like them."
And just like that, we began our first conversation. We talked about literature, music, life, and dreams. I discovered that we surprisingly had a lot in common. He was like a ray of sunshine that illuminated my world. My heart began to beat for him.
We started dating, strolling together along the tree-lined paths of campus, studying in the library, and stargazing on the playground. He would bring me hot milk tea on cold winter days, hold an umbrella over me on rainy days, and tell jokes to cheer me up when I was feeling down.
For the first time, I experienced the sweetness of love and the warmth of being cared for. I thought I had finally found my happiness.
But my happiness was so fleeting. When I mustered the courage to introduce Zhang Lei to my parents, they erupted in anger.
"Are you crazy? You’re dating such a poor boy!" My father's face turned pale with rage.
"His family situation is terrible; how can he make you happy in the future?" My mother vehemently opposed as well.
"I love him! I don’t care if he has money or not!" I shouted through my tears.
"What do you know?!" my father shouted. "Marriage is not a game! You have to be responsible for your future!"
In my parents' eyes, love is built on a foundation of material wealth. They do not believe in love; they only believe in reality. I found myself caught painfully between love and family.
Zhang Lei was also under immense pressure. He didn't want to make things difficult for me, and he cried as he pleaded, "Yumei, forget about me. I don't deserve you." My heart shattered. I knew I couldn't give up my family for love. The only choice left was to let go.
With tears streaming down my face, I said goodbye to Zhang Lei and turned away. My first love ended in tragedy, becoming an everlasting pain in my heart.
Chapter 4: The Disillusionment of Marriage
The failure of my first love filled me with fear regarding relationships. I closed myself off and threw myself into my studies. After graduating from university, I successfully became a middle school teacher. Although work was busy, it allowed me to temporarily forget the pain of my past romance.
My parents began to worry about my marriage prospects. They incessantly arranged blind dates for me. "Yumei, a woman should find a good place to settle down," my mother said earnestly. "Look at Zhang Qian; he works in a government department, has a decent family background, and is a reliable man." Zhang Qian was the blind date my parents had introduced to me. He was not tall and had an ordinary appearance, but he was honest and had a stable job.
I didn't have any special feelings for him, but I didn't dislike him either. Perhaps this was what my parents considered a "good match." Under their urging, after dating Zhang Qian for a few months, we got married. The wedding was simple, lacking in ceremony and well-wishes. I felt like I was just completing a life task.
After the marriage, I discovered that Zhang Qian was a typical "mama's boy." He had no opinions of his own and followed his mother's arrangements in everything. My mother-in-law was a very strong-willed woman. She favored sons over daughters and treated me with indifference. When I became pregnant, she didn't show much joy either.
"It's a girl," the doctor announced. My mother-in-law's expression immediately darkened. "How can it be a girl?!" Her tone was filled with disappointment. I felt uncomfortable but said nothing.
After our daughter Lele was born, my mother-in-law's attitude towards her grew even colder. She rarely visited Lele and was unwilling to help care for her. All the burdens fell on me and Zhang Qian. On the day of Lele's hundred-day celebration, my mother-in-law said in front of all the relatives, "Yumei, you need to hurry up and have a son so we can carry on the family line."
I suppressed my anger and didn't lash out. But from that day on, I was completely disappointed in Zhang Qian and his family. Our arguments increased as we fought over issues regarding our daughter's education and family responsibilities. Zhang Qian always sided with his mother, accusing me of being unreasonable and unfilial.
I was physically and emotionally exhausted and had completely lost hope in this marriage. In the end, I chose to get a divorce.
I left that home devoid of warmth with my daughter, Lele. I told myself that I would start anew and create a better future for her, even if the road ahead was fraught with thorns.
Chapter 5: Regaining Hope
The two years following the divorce felt like a stagnant pond, calm and uneventful. Each day, I followed the same routine: work, return home, and care for Lele. Life was plain yet surprisingly peaceful. I thought this would be my existence—caring for Lele and growing old in solitude. However, the urging of my parents and Lele's hopeful gaze began to shake my resolve.
"Yumei, you're still young; you can't spend your life alone," my mother said earnestly. "Lele needs a complete family too." How could I not know that? Yet, the failures of two marriages had stripped me of faith in love. I feared being hurt again and worried about disappointing Lele once more.
But fate has a way of surprising us. Lele's art teacher, Fang Qingqiang, entered my life. His refined appearance and gentle nature captivated me deeply. He was like a ray of sunshine breaking through the clouds of my heart. He was considerate and caring towards Lele, as if he were an angel sent from above to rescue me.
I began to develop feelings for him and even started to look forward to a new romance. Our relationship received blessings from family and friends alike. Everyone said I had finally found my happiness. Immersed in this sweetness, I forgot the pain of the past. I thought I could finally have a complete home, a warm harbor.
But I had no idea what kind of crisis lay hidden behind this seemingly beautiful facade. Was Fang Qingqiang really as perfect as he appeared? What were his true intentions? Could I truly regain hope and find happiness? The wheels of fate had already begun to turn, and my life was about to undergo a tremendous change. Everything was filled with uncertainty; I could only passively accept it and await the judgment of destiny.
Chapter 6: The Truth Revealed
On a deep night a month later, at Guan Yumei's home. Lele woke up from a nightmare, crying out for her mother. Guan Yumei hurriedly got out of bed and embraced her trembling daughter. "What’s wrong, sweetheart? Did you have a bad dream?" Lele clung tightly to Guan Yumei's neck, sobbing uncontrollably, unable to utter a word. Guan Yumei gently patted her daughter's back, softly comforting her. This situation had persisted for over a week now. Ever since Fang Qingqiang moved in, Lele had become withdrawn, often plagued by nightmares at night. During the day, she would hide in her room, unwilling to come out.
At first, Guan Yumei thought Lele was just struggling to adapt to the new living environment. However, as time went on, Lele's condition worsened. She began to resist Fang Qingqiang's presence and even refused to speak to him. Guan Yumei sensed that something was amiss. She cautiously asked Lele about it, but Lele merely shook her head, unwilling to reveal the reason. Guan Yumei's heart was filled with worry and anxiety. She didn't know what was wrong with her daughter or how to help her.
That night, Fang Qingqiang returned home very late. He was drunk and stumbled in, shouting loudly. Lele was startled awake and instinctively hid in Guan Yumei's arms. Guan Yumei looked at Fang Qingqiang with a heart full of disgust. She increasingly felt that he was not an ordinary person. His smile and his gaze made her uncomfortable.
The next morning, after Fang Qingqiang left for work, Guan Yumei decided to thoroughly check the house. She wanted to know if Lele's unusual behavior was related to Fang Qingqiang. She meticulously examined Lele's room but found nothing out of the ordinary. Then, she moved on to Fang Qingqiang's room.
She opened the wardrobe and rummaged through his clothes. Suddenly, she discovered a black box. The box was exquisite, adorned with strange carvings. Guan Yumei's heart raced as an ominous feeling washed over her. She opened the box and found a locked phone inside. After several failed attempts to guess the password, she hesitated for a moment before deciding to try Fang Qingqiang's birthday.
The password was correct! The phone unlocked. Guan Yumei opened the photo gallery and was instantly stunned. The gallery was filled with inappropriate photos and videos! Among them were even pictures of Lele!
Guan Yumei's mind buzzed as if it were about to explode. She couldn't believe her eyes, trembling as she scrolled through the photos and videos. The content made her feel sick and furious. Finally, she understood why Lele had changed so drastically.
Fang Qingqiang, that beast, actually did such a thing to Lele!
Guan Yumei's tears streamed down her face as she tightly gripped her phone, trembling all over. She wished she could kill Fang Qingqiang immediately to avenge Lele! Just then, the sound of keys unlocking the door echoed from the entrance. Fang Qingqiang was back!
Chapter 7: The Tragedy Comes to an End
In the courtroom, the cold gavel struck down, sentencing Guan Yumei to death. She stood numbly in the defendant's seat, as if her soul had already departed. The verdict was what she had expected, yet it felt like a heavy hammer crashing down on her heart.
Back in her solitary cell in prison, Guan Yumei refused all visits from her family. She curled up on the cold bed, tears silently streaming down her cheeks. Images of Lele's smiling face flashed through her mind, along with Fang Qingqiang's disgusting visage.
"I'm sorry, Lele. Mommy couldn't protect you." Guan Yumei whispered repeatedly in her heart, feeling as if it were being torn apart. She knew she had committed an unforgivable crime, but she had no regrets. If given another chance, she would still choose to kill Fang Qingqiang, even at the cost of her own life.
The prison guard conducted his routine patrol and stopped in front of Guan Yumei's cell. "Guan Yumei, someone is here to visit you."
Guan Yumei lifted her head, her gaze vacant. "I don't want to see anyone."
Her voice was hoarse but resolute. The guard looked a bit surprised but continued according to protocol: "It's your parents and daughter."
Guan Yumei's body trembled slightly at the mention of them, but she quickly regained her composure.
"Tell them I don't want to see anyone."
The guard sighed and turned to leave.
Guan Yumei closed her eyes, tears welling up once more. She couldn't face her parents, let alone Lele. She was afraid to see the fear and disappointment in Lele's eyes, afraid to hear her parents' reproaches and sighs. She would rather bear it all alone than let her family suffer for her.
"Lele, Mommy has to go on a business trip for a while. You need to listen to Grandma, okay?" Guan Yumei said in her heart, as if that could ease the guilt within her. She knew she could no longer accompany Lele as she grew up, nor could she witness her marriage and children. But she hoped Lele could forget this painful experience and have a happy, joyful life.
"Mom and Dad, I'm sorry. Your daughter is unfilial." Guan Yumei silently spoke to her parents in her heart. She knew she had let down their expectations, bringing them immense pain and shame. But she had no chance to make amends; all she could do was pray silently that they would take care of themselves and enjoy their later years.
The guard returned to Guan Yumei's cell.
"Guan Yumei, do you have any last words?"
Guan Yumei took a deep breath, striving to control her emotions. "I have only one request: please tell my daughter that Mommy loves her very much and will always love her."
The guard nodded and turned to leave.
Guan Yumei closed her eyes again, waiting for the final judgment of fate. She knew she was approaching death, but there was no fear in her heart—only endless love and longing for Lele.
"Lele, Mommy loves you..." Guan Yumei's lips moved slightly as she silently uttered her last words.
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