Chapter 3: Your Appendix Is Gone

One year ago, a damp and stifling summer.

The morning was clear and sunny; by afternoon the sky darkened, and rain poured nonstop.

Yun Zhixue returned home from school.

Inside the sealed bathroom, the scent of pomegranate milk kept leaking out. On closer breath, there was also the ripe note of tuberose. The sound of running water was intense, almost intense, like a passionate sexual encounter.

Almost instantly, Yun Zhixue understood.

Her mother’s girlfriend had come to the house to shower, using her bathroom, her body wash.

Meng Zhenyue stepped out of the bedroom, equally startled, and immediately met the fierce gaze outside.

Meng Zhenyue’s first impression of Yun Zhixue was: pale, with very long hair. She looked a bit like Rapunzel, her braided hair hanging past her waist.

Perhaps because of stereotypes, Meng Zhenyue had always believed that girls with long hair were gentle and patient, after all, maintaining long hair was tedious.

But the girl’s brows and eyes were sharp, her pupils dark. Like an animal defending its territory, she stared at Meng Zhenyue with hostility. She looked like a high school student, but it was hard to tell whether she was already an adult.

Meng Zhenyue asked, “Do you live here?”

The girl didn’t answer. She pressed her lips tightly together; her face turned pale.

Considering she was just a child and lightly dressed, Meng Zhenyue didn’t press further. She pushed open the bathroom door.
“Go take a shower. We’ll talk later.”

Meng Zhenyue was wearing a purple spaghetti-strap nightdress. The thin fabric clung to her body; the once-loose neckline was now filled out.

She wasn’t wearing a bra. It was obvious, since her nipples were clearly visible. Presumably her own underwear didn’t fit, so she chose not to wear any.

She had come in naked, and left just as blatantly.

The scent in the bathroom was overwhelming, as if a master perfumer had added one extra drop of essential oil before sealing the bottle—everything restrained suddenly becoming vivid.

The tuberose aggressively invaded her senses.

The fresh pomegranate scent was pitifully overwhelmed and erased.

****

In the bathroom.

A black V-neck slip dress belonging to a mature woman hung wet against the wall. A black lace bra drooped beside it, one cup facing inward, the other outward. It was easy to imagine how a full, shapely body had once been wrapped within.

This sense of invasion caused intense discomfort. Yun Zhixue reached out to take it away, but the moment her fingers touched the fabric, a strange electric sensation seemed to latch onto her fingertips, making her nerves twitch.

Yun Zhixue did not have a good relationship with her mother.

They were emotionally distant, maintaining only a financial arrangement. Only at important family banquets would Yun Zhixue appear, playing the role of the exemplary daughter.

Her mother was cold, emotionally detached, harsh, and openly promiscuous. She changed girlfriends frequently. Yun Zhixue couldn’t understand what kind of charm this woman had that made her mother so eager to bring her home.

Yun Zhixue chased the other woman’s scent out of her space, took a quick shower, then scrubbed her hands hard in the sink and sprayed them with disinfectant alcohol.

Rain streaked diagonally against the floor-to-ceiling windows. The woman was on the phone with someone, smiling. Her once-wet hair had been pinned up, revealing a slender neck.

With a cigarette between her fingers, she flicked ash away and said into the phone, “She’s sick in the head. That girl is really pretty, very likable. What a pervert.”

Whatever the other person said made her laugh.

“Well, that’s true. I’m immoral by nature, my tastes are taboo. Stop talking. I feel so uncomfortable right now, like it’s about to overflow.”

Her tone was flippant, her words indecent.

Yun Zhixue’s hands, scrubbed red, burned. Her gaze caught the side profile of Meng Zhenyue—the curve of her chest, her straight, elegant nose.

What was this woman talking about?

She likes me?

She’s sick… what does she mean, overflowing?

No wonder Yun Jing liked her so much, openly calling her a girlfriend. With just a few words, she could stir desire deep in people’s hearts.

If asked what kind of woman Yun Zhixue liked, the answer would be: beautiful, clean, academically outstanding. Yes, academically outstanding. Certainly not someone who smoked and dressed so lightly.

Yet this woman wasn’t a prostitute. There was something… hard to define.

She chatted lazily, her smile spreading across red lips, alluring like rose petals steeped in poison.

Then the woman noticed her, turned her head, and said,
“Go blow-dry your hair.”

That unrestrained smile instantly softened. Yun Zhixue’s heart jolted violently, as if an invisible hand had seized her throat. The sensation was too overwhelming. She turned sharply and fled back to her room.

The woman didn’t follow.

Yun Zhixue exhaled deeply. Her mind felt rusted and dull as she blow-dried her hair. Later, the woman knocked on her door once, reminding her not to forget to come out.

Meng Zhenyue took a second cigarette between her fingers. She was still wearing the nightdress. The earlier sharp outlines of her breasts  were gone, replaced by fuller contours, she had put on a bra, though it was unclear whether it was hers or Yun Jing’s.

A cup of hot milk sat on the table. Meng Zhenyue placed it near Yun Zhixue’s hand.

“Drink it. Warm yourself up.”

Yun Zhixue ignored her.

Meng Zhenyue crossed her arms.

“You the third party, or am I?” She couldn’t quite accept being the third, so she curled her lips. “I’m the third party.”

Yun Zhixue replied, “I’m in my third year of high school.”

Meng Zhenyue froze. Her brow twitched.

“Underage?”

She stubbed out the freshly lit cigarette.

“Sorry. You really are underage?”

Yun Zhixue didn’t respond. Her lips trembled as she pressed them together. She wore a white T-shirt and shorts, thin and frail, like she could snap easily.

Third year of high school, definitely underage.

Meng Zhenyue’s expression changed.

“If you’re underage, why aren’t you studying properly? What are you doing being with her?” She smiled at Yun Zhixue, perhaps out of anger, yet with a hint of allure. “If you’re going to date someone, wait until you grow up and date me instead. By then, she’ll be old.”

She didn’t continue the conversation. She tapped the table, signaling Yun Zhixue to drink the milk, then walked to the window to call Yun Jing.

Her tone turned sharp.

“Are you sick? Bringing a minor into your house? I’m disgusted by pedophiles.”

On the other end, Yun Jing said, “You met my daughter?”

“What?” Meng Zhenyue looked at Yun Zhixue again. After a few seconds, she noticed the resemblance. Disbelief filled her voice. “She’s your daughter?”

Seeing her reaction, Yun Zhixue felt a twisted sense of revenge. Under the table, she rubbed her fingers together hard.

“Yes,” Yun Jing said. “When we talked, you said underage, but you didn’t say seventeen years and eleven months. Nice loophole. I moved you in, and she turned eighteen right after.”

Meng Zhenyue laughed angrily.

“You’re exploiting a bug.”

Her eyes lifted slightly, her gaze sliding toward Yun Zhixue, unmistakably captivating.

There was no doubt Meng Zhenyue was beautiful. Even when angry, she was impossible to look away from.

Yun Zhixue had seen many of her mother’s girlfriends. Yun Jing’s taste was consistent, but Meng Zhenyue stood out. She wasn’t dignified or aloof. Her voice was pleasant, lazy in tone, always hard to tell whether she was angry or teasing.

Yun Jing said, “She studies at school and rarely comes home during breaks. What’s there to care about?”

“This is deception,” Meng Zhenyue replied.

“And you like liars, don’t you?”

They talked for nearly ten minutes before hanging up.

Clearly, Meng Zhenyue cared that her girlfriend had an adult daughter, just like all the women before her.

She sat back down across from Yun Zhixue. Neither met the other’s eyes. Meng Zhenyue felt awkward. She skipped introductions and crossed her long legs, saying after a while,

“My apartment is being renovated.”

To be honest, Meng Zhenyue didn’t mind becoming a mother, especially without childbirth, but she did mind becoming a mother to an eighteen-year-old at twenty-six.

Yun Zhixue’s face went pale. She pressed her hand tightly to her abdomen.

“Stomach ache?”

Meng Zhenyue stood up to change the milk. When she turned back, the girl on the sofa was gone.

She could clearly sense the girl’s rejection and hostility.

The rain continued through the night.

The living room light stayed on.

Despite the storm, the apartment remained stiflingly hot.

Yun Zhixue curled up in bed. Her head felt heavy, her muscles cramped, her sleep muddled. Her throat burned with dryness, and both hands clutched her lower right abdomen.

After an unknown amount of time, her neck was lifted, then her waist. She was helped into a soft embrace. The bitter smell of medicine filled her nose. Irritated, she tried to push away, but her chin was held instead.

The bitter liquid was fed into her mouth.

She twisted her body; the movement stopped.

“Why are you crying?” Meng Zhenyue asked.

Yun Zhixue slapped at her hand. Meng Zhenyue adjusted her face, her fingers brushing the corner of her eyes.

“Don’t cry.”

Yun Zhixue hated her closeness. Meng Zhenyue tightened her hold, using her long legs to restrain her restless body.

“Don’t move. I’ll give you something sweet.”

It wasn’t especially gentle. A sip of honey water was fed into her mouth. Her dry throat felt much better. Then spoonful after spoonful of medicine followed.

“Swallow slowly. Don’t choke.”

Yun Zhixue gagged. Brown, sticky liquid dribbled from the corner of her mouth. Meng Zhenyue wiped it away with tissue. Yun Zhixue felt limp and weak, her skin cold and damp, her mind trapped in a feverish haze.

Bitter, then sweet, she couldn’t tell which she wanted to push away.

When Meng Zhenyue stood up, the cold rushed in immediately. Yun Zhixue curled deeper into the blankets, pain tearing through her abdomen again.

Before she could fully retreat, Meng Zhenyue returned, pulled back the blanket, and placed her hand gently on Yun Zhixue’s lower abdomen, rubbing slowly.

“Here?”

Warmth seeped through her skin.

“Did you eat dinner?”

Yun Zhixue bit her lip.

Meng Zhenyue pressed her thumb against it, freeing the blanched flesh.

“Trying to hurt yourself?”

Yun Zhixue’s eyes reddened. Suddenly, she bit down hard on Meng Zhenyue’s shoulder, trembling with the force.

A muffled groan sounded.

Meng Zhenyue didn’t push her away. She only sighed, endured the pain, and adjusted her position.

“Alright. Be good. Open your mouth, hold the candy.”

An orange candy was placed between Yun Zhixue’s lips and gently pushed inside.

Sweetness instantly chased away the bitterness.

One hand continued to warm her abdomen; the other rested on her forehead. Yun Zhixue could feel the heat and rise and fall of the body pressed against her. Meng Zhenyue didn’t leave right away, touching her forehead again with something.

Yun Zhixue wanted to push her away but couldn’t lift her arms.

A warm towel suddenly covered her face. Meng Zhenyue gently wiped away her sweat, her fingers brushing her earlobe, causing a faint shiver.

“Rinse your mouth.” She removed the candy and brought water to her lips.

Yun Zhixue accidentally spilled water onto Meng Zhenyue’s arm, but no scolding came. Meng Zhenyue only patiently wiped her mouth.

In her haze, damp bangs were brushed aside, warm fingers pressing lightly at her temples. Even through her resentment, Yun Zhixue knew whose fingers they were.

“39.2 degrees. The fever hasn’t gone down.” Meng Zhenyue covered her eyes and unlocked her phone.

…Was she delirious from fever? She felt herself being lifted. Meng Zhenyue said something she couldn’t hear clearly.

When Yun Zhixue woke again, she was in a hospital.

Her vision was blurry. Her throat burned. She tried to lift her hand and hit the IV needle. Meng Zhenyue sat beside her wearing earphones. The smell of disinfectant replaced her usual scent.

Pain tore at Yun Zhixue’s lower abdomen. She lifted the blanket and looked. A white sterile dressing covered her lower right abdomen, yellow fluid seeping out.

It felt as though her stomach had been cut open, tubes inserted. Her mind went numb, she couldn’t remember anything. Had she been tied up…?

Meng Zhenyue removed her earphones. Her red lips parted slightly as she spoke slowly:

“Don’t look. I had your appendix removed.”