In early February, the winter chill hadn't yet faded, and a heavy rain arrived, seemingly colder than the harsh winter days, overwhelming the worn-out room.
The only window, plastered with old newspapers, rattled noisily in the gusting wind.
Gu Lingling curled up on the icy bed and pondered, perhaps when her father went to Songshan years ago to ask the old Taoist with a cow nose for her name, did the old man foresee her fate today?
Lingling on seven strings, listening quietly to the cold pine winds.
The origin of her name.
Perhaps, calling her Gu Coldcold, or Solitary, would be more fitting for her situation now.
Solitary?
Who was it that when they first heard this name, shook their head and laughed, "How could someone have such a name? Solitary."
Ah yes, it was that man named Yang Yunhai.
Ha... Gu Lingling laughed at herself in irony.
At such a time, she was thinking about this?
"Gu Lingling, have I not hit you for a while, so you've gotten restless? Tell me, where is the child?" The room reeked of alcohol, and the man grabbed Gu Lingling's hair from the bed, tearing her to the ground.
"Where is the child?" He kicked Gu Lingling in the stomach, "Do you freaking know how much money this is worth? Huh?"
Money?
People say that even a tiger doesn't eat its cubs, yet this beast secretly planned to sell their unborn child without her knowing.
That was their own flesh and blood; she'd rather give the child to Yang Yunhai in such a degrading manner than let this scumbag sell the child.
Gu Lingling covered her stomach, looking coldly at the man who couldn't even stand steadily. How did she blind herself to trust her stepmother Wang Meili and stepsister Gu Juan, believing this man was righteous?
His greasy hair, knotted, his clothes were ones she had changed for him days before going to the hospital for childbirth, now stained with filth, the sour smell mixed with the stench of alcohol.
No matter how she looked, it was disgusting.
Those triangular rat eyes stared at her with hatred.
Suddenly, the man knelt down in front of her, "I'm sorry, Lingling, can you forgive me? If we sell the child, you won't need to be bullied working in the hotel kitchen anymore. We can flee far away from this dreadful place, okay?"
The man knelt on the ground, holding Gu Lingling as he cried.
The stench of his rank odor made her almost want to vomit.
Lv Guodong's words, since she was fooled by him, she had grown weary of hearing.
If she defied him, then she'd be beaten up again.
"The child is already dead," Gu Lingling said coldly.
"No, how is that possible? It was a son, how could he die?" Lv Guodong frantically grabbed Gu Lingling's collar and shouted, "The child must be found, you damn woman."
He owed so much money, and was counting on the child to pay off the debt.
"Ah, right, the hospital, the hospital!" Lv Guodong suddenly remembered, he seemed to hear the old woman across the street saying Gu Lingling was taken to the hospital two days ago.
"Lv Guodong, I'm begging you, let the child go," Gu Lingling held Lv Guodong's arm, preventing him from leaving.
It's been two days, that person should have taken the child away, right?
But what if?
"You damn woman!" Lv Guodong slapped Gu Lingling on the face, "Don't block my money road, let go."
"No, no," Gu Lingling refused to let go.
"Go to hell!" Lv Guodong shoved Gu Lingling away, his cracked black shoes mercilessly stamped on her, "I'll make you lie to me, let you lie, go to hell."
Gu Lingling clung tightly to his leg, muffled, allowing the man to vent his rage.
If death could bring liberation... then let her die!
She suddenly reached for the scissors in the sewing basket, gritted her teeth, and stabbed them fiercely into the man's neck.
Die, dying would be fine!
Everything could be resolved this way.