Chapter 22: Sympathy (Part 2)

Chapter 22: Synesthesia (Part 2)

What sealed the deal was the quarrel between Li Shuo and Li Su in the evening.

Li Su's father dragged him back to his room. This time, it was his own door that got locked.

He pressed his ear against the door, hearing the yelling and hitting outside.

Li Su's mother's voice was so sharp; just hearing it made his hands and feet go numb and his heart pound with fear.

Li Shuo never made a sound the whole time, but the sound of flesh being hit came through the door and reached Li Su.

Coat hangers, belts—maybe both.

At school, kids would compete over whether their parents had hit them and what they used.

Li Su said that at the very most, his mother would tap his head with her knuckles, or spank him lightly a couple times.

When he said this, Li Su would receive envious glances.

Like it was unusual not to get hit.

Li Su cried again.

Hearing the racket outside, he suddenly felt like that cleaver-wielding maniac had shown up again.

Only this time, there was no Song Wuyi.

This beating lasted a whole day, from morning until evening.

When Li Su was allowed out of the room, his mother had dinner ready as if nothing had happened.

Li Su sat at the table and asked where Li Shuo was.

His mother glared at him. “Eat your meal.”

Li Su looked at the locked door, which now had an extra iron lock bolted on. The key was probably hidden in a place Li Su would never find.

“Isn't my brother eating?” Li Su asked again.

His mother got annoyed and put a chicken wing on his plate.

“He's not allowed to eat for two days. Just eat quietly.”

Li Su put down his chopsticks and, with tears streaming, asked his mother: “How can I eat in peace? This is my fault. I was the one who took my brother out late at night. Why do you only punish him and not me?”

Seeing that Li Su's protectiveness of Li Shuo had gotten to the point where he would talk back to her, her anger toward Li Shuo flared up even more.

She threw down her chopsticks, startling Li Su.

She wanted to tell Li Su that Li Shuo wasn't his real brother.

She resented how Li Su kept calling Li Shuo 'brother' and always took his side.

She wished she could kick Li Shuo out right now!

“Alright, sweetie. Your brother doesn't know better, so he has to be punished. It has nothing to do with you.”

His mother's sudden gentleness made Li Su shudder even more.

How could his mother be like this?

So gentle with him, but a monster to Li Shuo.

Li Su didn't dare speak anymore.

It seemed as if the world had split open, and things Li Su had never seen were pouring into his mind like a storm.

That night.

Li Su suddenly came down with a high fever—39.3°C (about 102.7°F).

His mother was panicking. Even after giving him medicine, she couldn't calm down.

It was raining outside. Seeing Li Su's pale face with an unnatural flush, she wanted to take him to the ER.

Li Su forced his eyes open and grabbed his mom's hand.

He didn't seem fully awake, muttering deliriously.

“It hurts…”

“Mom, don't hit me anymore…”

“I was wrong. I was wrong.”

His mother didn't catch what he said at first. She bent down, leaning close to Li Su's face, cocking her ear to listen.

“It was me who took my older brother out…”

“I want to apologize to my older brother…”

“I didn't mean to lock my older brother inside…”

“Mom.”

“Don't hit me.”

“I was wrong.”

“Don't lock me in the room.”

“Mom.”

His mother's pupils trembled violently. She suddenly looked at Li Su's face.

It was Li Su.

Not Li Shuo.

“Gu Zi, what are you saying?”

As if hearing his mother's words, Li Su frowned.

“I am… Li Shuo.”

His mother's mind went blank. She opened her mouth but couldn't make a sound, staring at Li Su in horror.

"You... what did you say?"

Li Su whimpered in pain.

"I am Li Shuo."

"Director."

"I want to go with Mom Li."

"I want my brother."

"Li Su."

Though Li Su's voice was weak, every word struck Mom Li's heart like a sharp spike.

Her heartbeat was deafening, her hair stood on end, and her whole body went cold.

Impossible!

Mom Li grabbed Li Su's shoulders, shaking him wildly.

"Gu Zi, wake up!"

But Li Su seemed trapped in a nightmare, moaning painfully, "Help."

Mom Li froze, her face pale, and asked, "Gu Zi, who did you say you are?"

"Li Shuo."

"Xia Man from the welfare home."

Mom Li collapsed to the floor, eyes wide, staring at her own palms, gasping for breath until she nearly suffocated.

Impossible.

Impossible!

Li Su couldn't possibly know about Li Shuo's background!

Even Li Shuo himself didn't know that!

Li Shuo was only four when he entered the Li family, and he had called her "Mom" for five years!

Li Shuo had never mentioned his origins; he couldn't possibly remember coming from a welfare home.

How could Li Su know?!

Yet in his fever, Li Su insisted he was Li Shuo, revealing truths only Mom Li knew.

Spirit possession!

Mom Li stared at Li Su in terror.

She froze for a long time, then, as if remembering something, scrambled to her feet and ran to Li Shuo's room door.

With difficulty, she struggled to insert the key into the heavy padlock; when it clicked open, the lock hit the floor with a thud that sounded like an ancient alarm, striking fear into Mom Li's heart.

She then unlocked the bolt and shoved the door open.

Inside, Li Shuo was still tied with ropes made from bedsheets, a rag stuffed in his mouth, blood oozing from the corner of his lips.

Mom Li's blood ran cold.

He looked exactly as Li Su had when rescued from the kidnapping case.

His mouth was also full of blood.

"Ah!"

Mom Li let out a frantic scream.

.

Dawn was breaking.

Li Su's high fever subsided after he broke out in a cold sweat.

But after the kidnapping, his health had deteriorated; his constitution was not what it used to be. Though the fever was gone, he suffered lingering aftereffects: a sore throat, weak limbs, palpitations, and trembling.

Mom Li had initially thought it was just poor health, but after what happened last night, she grew panicked and wondered if some supernatural force was really at play.

Li Shuo had already been untied and was standing gloomily in a corner of the living room, waiting for Mom Li to decide his fate.

Li Shuo vaguely felt that some new accusation was about to be leveled at him. The look in Mom Li's eyes was the same as the director's look when he discovered Li Shuo was the arson mastermind.

Li Shuo didn't know how much longer he could stay in the Li family, and he didn't want to stay either.

Li Su must hate him now, right?

However, Mom Li just looked at him but didn't touch him.

Maybe she'd beaten him enough the day before.

Li Shuo's cheeks were so swollen and red that no skin color was visible, as though stained with blood.

His body was also covered in belt welts.

He remembered Li Su comforting him: 'a childhood without beatings is incomplete.'

Li Su said it so cheerfully.

Li Shuo would never say to Li Su, 'Try it and see,' because he knew how painful it was—not just physically—and he hoped Li Su would never have to experience it.

Dad Li had somehow brought in a Taoist priest, and the moment the priest entered the house, he immediately caught Li Shuo's attention.

Li Shuo was bewildered.

What the hell was going on?

Last night, Mom Li suddenly burst into his room like a madwoman, screamed, and then fainted.

When Dad Li carried her out, he glared at Li Shuo with a warning look, as if Li Shuo were the culprit.

But he was tied up—what could he do?

Hearing that Dad and Mom Li said Li Su had a fever, Li Shuo really wanted to go see him, but Mom Li scolded him and warned him not to leave the living room even one step.

Li Shuo thought both Dad and Mom Li had lost their minds that morning.

It wasn't until the Taoist priest arrived that Li Shuo was sure—they had gone mad.