I Was Her Experiment

After my SAT scores came out, my mom Lester forcibly locked me in my room.

Because of this, I missed the college application deadline and had no choice but to go out and work.

Lester would boast to everyone she met:

Children need strict discipline. Only then will they know gratitude when they grow up.

I got married and became pregnant early. During delivery, the baby was too large, and I was in excruciating pain.

She desperately held back my husband, refusing to let him sign the consent form for an epidural.

In the end, I hemorrhaged and died on the operating table along with my child.

Yet Lester said self-righteously: "I just wanted her to have a natural birth so she'd understand a mother's hardship. It was her own bad luck!"

When I opened my eyes again, I had returned to the day Lester locked me in my room.

Before I could react, someone shoved me hard.

With a loud "bang," I fell to the ground, completely dazed.

The cursing from outside the door came through clearly.

"I feed you, clothe you, raised you until now, and you still want to run off to college to have it easy? Dream on!"

"Once the college application deadline passes, you're going out to earn money for this family. My son is applying to college next year. If you dare delay his future, I'll beat you to death!"

The shrill scolding continued endlessly. I went to the mirror in a daze.

The reflection showed someone weary but not aged, with black hair not yet dried out and whitened by life's torments.

My abdomen was flatit hadn't yet carried a life.

Only at this moment did I clearly realize: I had been reborn.

Reborn to the first day after SAT scores were released, the first day of filling out college applications. And now, I had already been locked in my room by Lester.

In my previous life, she kept me locked up until the SAT application system closed, then forced me to go out and work to support the family.

She would boast to everyone: "She cried and made such a fuss back then, but now doesn't she obediently bring money home?"

I had resisted, but it only earned me a beating.

The moment I escaped from this house, she reported me to the police, falsely claiming I'd been kidnapped. I was sent back before I'd gotten far.

She would hit and scold me at will, belittle and insult me, then forcibly take all my wages to subsidize her most beloved son.

Even after I finally got married, I remained her blood bag, clinging tightly to suck me dry.

She didn't love me.

So during my pregnancy, my mother-in-law force-fed me nutritious soups, causing the fetus to grow too large and making delivery difficult.

Not only did she show no sympathy, but she desperately held back my husband, refusing to let him sign for the epidural.

Due to the delay, I died along with my baby.

When she heard the news, she only stiffened her neck self-righteously.

"I just wanted her to feel pain so she'd understand a mother's hardship. It was her own misfortune and short life!"

Thinking back on my previous lifecontrolled, drained of blood, enslaved and abused like a tool.

Living again, should I walk the same old path?

After shuddering violently, I looked at the poorly soundproofed wooden door, grabbed a nearby stool, and smashed it hard against the door handle.

Once, twice, three times...

I don't know how many times I struck it. Only one thought filled my mind.

I won't walk the same old path again!

My room door was the cheapest wooden doorthin panels, poor quality lock. After my frenzied assault, the door opened.

Lester charged out of the kitchen with a cleaver, looking fierce. The moment she saw me, her expression changed. She swung her arm wide and slapped me hard across the face.

Just breaking down the door had already exhausted most of my strength. I couldn't possibly withstand her slap.

I fell to the ground, dizzy and seeing black, beaten by continuous slaps with no ability to fight back.

In my daze, my hand was pressed down hard. Lester cursed through gritted teeth.

"You bastard, you actually dared to break down the door! Let me show you!"

My cheeks stung densely. I struggled to open my eyes and saw Lester raising the cleaver high, her face full of fat and vicious intent.

My heart stopped for a moment, then raced wildly.

Lester had worked as a housekeeper for years and had tremendous grip strength. My pinned right hand throbbed numblyI couldn't pull it free no matter what.

Seeing the cleaver about to fall, my heart went cold. Only one thought filled my mind.

If she ruins my life again this time, then let's all be destroyed together!

"That's enough!" A male voice impatiently stopped Lester. "Can you use your brain! If you cripple her hand, will you support her?"

Lester, who had looked ready to devour me moments ago, instantly became docile as a cat. She dropped the cleaver and mumbled an explanation.

"I just wanted to teach her a lesson. Look how lawless she istoday she dares break down doors, who knows what she'll do tomorrow!"

I looked at Johnson, who had picked up his phone again and didn't want to get involved, and immediately crawled over to kneel before him.

"Daddy, please let me go to college! My teacher said my grades could get me into a good university. Once I graduate, I'll take the civil service exam to become a teacher. Not only is it a respectable job, but when my brother gets married and has children, I can help take care of them and tutor themhow convenient!"

To convince them, I didn't dare stop for a breath.

"Only by attending a good university can I find a respectable job. Then while I'm still young, I'll find a wealthy boyfriend and get married early. Not only can we collect high betrothal gifts, but I'll have him buy a house in my brother's name to support you in old age and let you enjoy life!"

I spoke with such conviction that Johnson fell into thought.

Instead, my brother Julian, playing games on the sofa, couldn't contain himself and asked excitedly.

"Can you also buy me a car?"

I paused, then agreed immediately.

"Yes! Once I've worked for two or three years and saved up money, I'll buy you a nice car!"

Julian was instantly swayed and urged our silent parents.

"Just let Colleen go to college. By the time I graduate, I'll have a house and a carmy classmates will be so jealous!"

With Julian's support, signs of wavering appeared on Johnson's hesitant face.

But Lester looked me up and down suspiciously.

"What if you go to college and run away after graduation? Who'll take care of us in our old age then? Back home, some college graduates' parents can't even find them now."

As soon as she spoke, suspicion also appeared on Johnson's face. He stared at me intently while smoking, as if trying to determine the truth of my words.

My heart sank, afraid my college plan would fall through. I quickly said:

"I can sign a guarantee letter, then choose a university close to home and come back to find work after graduation!"

Lester wanted to say something more, but Johnson stubbed out his cigarette, his face showing rare kindness.

"How can I not trust you? Colleen, you're my daughter. You and Julian share the same blood. We're familywe should be harmonious and support each other..."

Lester's expression soured.

"What's the use of a girl studying so much? Better to go work now. The money she earns can support the family, and when she gets married, we can collect more betrothal gifts."

"Lester!" Julian raised his voice in displeasure. "With just a high school diploma, how much can she earn working in a factory? In the future, she'll only marry poor guys. Forget buying me a houseshe won't even afford a decent car."

Johnson glared hard at Lester before half-heartedly smoothing things over.

"Don't stoop to her level. She didn't study muchlong hair, short insight."

He then made a show of scolding Julian.

"Why are you still playing games? That's too much. Your sister is good to you, willing to buy you a car and house. If you're not going to reciprocate, at least don't make your sister write the guarantee letter herself!"

Upon hearing this, Julian didn't throw a tantrum like before when criticized. Instead, he tossed his phone aside, shuffled over in his slippers to find paper and pen, then began writing the guarantee letter in front of everyone. After finishing, he thoughtfully dug out an ink pad from the corner.

I signed with a smile that didn't reach my eyes, pressed my fingerprint, then filled out my college application in front of them.

Father and son beamed with rare smiles.

Lester snorted heavily, then rolled her eyes.

"Let me say this upfrontyou're the one who wants to go to college. You'll have to earn your own tuition and living expenses. All the family money belongs to Juliandon't expect a single cent. Also, since you've filled out the application, you'll start working at the factory tomorrow. You broke the dooryou have to pay for it."

Faced with her harsh demands, I gritted my teeth and agreed to everything, then quietly changed my application late that night.

The next day I entered the factory and began working 14-hour days.

On my first day home, I was so exhausted my eyelids were fighting each other. No food had been left for me. I searched every cabinet but couldn't find any noodles, so I had to eat the steamed bun meant for tomorrow's breakfast, then collapsed into sleep.

While sleeping hazily, I suddenly felt lighter. A shrill female voice exploded in my ears.

"You bastard! Look what time it is and you're still sleeping like a pig! Get up and go to work!"

Lester yelled at me. I groggily grabbed my phoneit was only 4:30, still dark outside. I instantly felt aggrieved and desperate.

"Mom, work doesn't start until eight. Getting up at seven isn't late. Why get up now?"

"Smack!"

I'd barely finished speaking when I was slapped.

Lester stood with hands on hips, looking furious.

"I work as a housekeeper and have to go to the market at six to buy fresh meat and vegetables. Why should you get to sleep until seven? Get up and make breakfast!"

Seeing my pained expression, Lester finally looked satisfied. She looked down at me condescendingly, speaking in a lecturing tone.

"No pain, no gain. I'm doing this for your own good, letting you experience work hardships early and build your character."

I looked at the broken door, then at Lester poised to strike, and resignedly got up to make breakfast.

Hungry all night, my stomach was already touching my back, but Lester grabbed my bowl first and scooped most of my rice into Julian's bowl.

Julian rubbed his sleepy eyes, somewhat complaining.

"Mom, how can I finish this much?"

Lester shouted: "Why can't you finish it? You're about to be a seniorit's exhausting. You need to eat more to have energy!"

I looked at my bowl with only a small portion left and quickly ate.

Naturally, I didn't get enough breakfast. I went to work without them giving me a cent, so I had to walk to the factory. Lunch and dinner were provided free by the factory, but since I ate early in the afternoon and then worked over three more hours before walking home, my stomach was already growling.

The work was intense, I often didn't eat enough, and I was already malnourished. Within half a month, I felt dizzy and lightheaded.

Sometimes when I came home at night, I was so hungry and couldn't find noodles, so I had no choice but to eat the leftovers on the counter.

In summer's heat, the food hadn't been refrigerated and had easily spoiled.

I was too hungry to be picky and swallowed it in a few bites, then rushed to wash up and sleep.

After all, Lester would wake me up after four the next day under the pretense of "training" to make breakfast for the whole family.

This night when I came home, besides the leftovers on the kitchen counter, there was surprisingly a watermelon.

Watermelon...

I swallowed hard, picking at the leftovers in my bowl.

I'd long forgotten when I last ate watermelon. I just looked at it longingly.

Lester, wearing her nightgown, somehow entered the kitchen.

When she saw me, she slapped me without question, her mouth spraying saliva.

"You bastard! How did I give birth to something so lazy, greedy, and inconsiderate!"

"Taking pity on you, I specially left you leftovers, and you're still not satisfiedyou want to eat the watermelon I prepared for my husband and son! Today I'll smash your mouth!"

As always, she didn't bother distinguishing right from wrong. After speaking, she raised her palm-sized hand and slapped my cheeks repeatedly.

Soon my vision went black, and worse, my stomach began to cramp, my insides churning.

Feeling the upheaval in my stomach, I ignored the cursing Lester and rushed past her into the bathroom to vomit.

Wave after wave of nausea gave me no chance to leave the bathroom.

Outside, Lester started jumping and cursing.

"You shameless slut, have you been sleeping with men outside?"

"Bastard! You're so young and already promiscuous. You're ugly and dirtywho'll want you now? If I can't sell you off, how will I collect betrothal gifts?"

She charged forward again and beat my face and the back of my head.

For a moment, I couldn't tell which part hurt more. I just felt cold sweat all over, dizzy and ears ringing.

Lester forcibly dragged me back to my room. She threw me on the floor, then snatched my phone.

"You'll stay home for now. When the bastard in your belly starves to death, then you can go out!"

She meant what she said. The next day she changed the door lock, locked me at home, and gave me no food.

My stomach hurt terribly. I curled up on the bed, consciousness gradually fading.

Would I die?