"Mom, I'm back." I put down my school bag and walked carefully into the bedroom.

"Stop right there, why are you back so late?" Li Lifang came out of the kitchen, her hands full of water, looking at me displeased.

Seeing her fierce expression, I shrank back a bit and hesitantly spoke:

"Tomorrow is the college entrance exam, the teacher arranged a class gathering..."

Before I could finish my sentence, Li Lifang interrupted me, walking closer to me, pulling my arm, the water and oil stains on her hands soaking my freshly washed white school uniform.

"Have you eaten something you shouldn't have?"

She said sternly, getting closer to me, staring at my face, sniffing around me.

"No, I haven't..." I spoke stiffly, word by word.

I was somewhat afraid, years of beatings and abuse had made me develop a reflex.

I kept shrinking back, trying to get out of Li Lifang's control.

She grabbed my sleeve with one hand, and with the other hand, she wiped something near my mouth, angrily questioning me:

"What is this? Li Ziyuan, you tell me what this is?"

I looked at the shiny light yellow fluff on her fingertip, my eyes widened in fear, a sense of dread creeping from my feet to my whole body.

How could this be?

I'm sure, I'm sure I cleaned it off?

"Mom... it's cream cake, I just had a small bite."

"I really only had a small bite!"

Fearing she wouldn't believe me, I cried and begged for her forgiveness, tears falling down my face, my hair and tears smudging my face.

Looking like this, Li Lifang looked like a demon.

It was no use, crying and shouting were no use, when I saw her walk into the kitchen, at that moment, my heart completely died.