Chapter 4 Are You Tempting Me?!

• Back in my room, a little space that was meant for keeping foodstuff before it was given to me by my own mother. She said there was no space for me in the main room.
• I had no choice but to accept it. It was a tiny space with a damaged window. It was manageable during the summer time but when winter came, it was so unbearable.
• I sat on my mat since I wasn't given a bed or a simple flat mattress. I was lost in thought, thinking about the beating I would receive from my parents when they're home.
• They didn't always hear my plea especially when it's something reported directly from my sister. I knew she was going to make them hit me more and that alone, frightened the life out of me. I tried my very best to sleep but...
• It was 6:00 a.m in the morning and I had yet to wake up. I didn't wake up on time because I slept very late or rather, shot my eyes late at night.
• I woke up at 4:30 a.m at the dot, every morning and every day. I cleaned the house, took the trash out, did the laundry, cooked for the family and other errands if needed.
• But that unfortunate day, I could not wake up on time and was woken up by my sister with a bucket of cold water.
• It was winter time and everywhere was freezing and I could barely get decent winter clothes to cover my whole body. I sat up immediately, my face lowered to the floor and I was shivering. I was completely drenched from my head to my toe.
• "Why are you still sleeping by this time of the day?!" She raised her voice at me.
• I couldn't look at her, I lowered my head, facing the unrugged wet floor. I spoke to her with fear in my eyes, still shivering from the cold water she poured on me.
• "I...I'm sorry sister Hualing, I'll go and start now"
• "You lazy girl! Why won't you wake up late after doing all sorts of things with those men.
• And just how did you find such a man, huh?! You do not deserve good things like that because you are worthless!!"
• I just stood there like a statue on the cold floor, with my head down. Her words were heavy and at that moment, I couldn't even shed a tear. It was horrible!
• After a few seconds, I glanced at my sister and I saw how she was busy throwing daggers at me with deep hatred in her heart and I could feel that burning desires in her heart to rip me apart.
• I just stood there without even breathing out loud, just waiting for her command. I waited for a few more seconds without hearing anything from her and I got even more scared, because her silence was worse than her speaking out. And in the next second...
• "Chen Lijuan!! Are you tempting me?!"