The day I was born, my parents made a bet. If I learned to say "Mama" first, my mother would get all the family assets. If I said "Dada" first, my father would get everything. But no matter how hard they tried, I wouldn't make a sound. Eventually, they decided I was mute. So they decided to start over with a new kid. I breathed a sigh of relief. In this life, I might finally survive. Because in my first life, I said "Dada" first, and my mother threw me off a high-rise the next day. In my second life, I said "Mama" first, and my father drowned me in the bathtub that very night. 1 My dad frowned, scrutinizing me from head to toe. "She's five already. Is she really mute?" My little heart pounded in my chest, thump-thump. I pursed my lips tightly. I knew another round of "Teach the Kid to Talk" was coming. My mom shook her head. "I couldn't have given birth to a mute." The next moment, they pulled out snacks to bribe me. I stood my ground, though my eyes betrayed my longing for the treats. "Cici, say 'Dada,' and all these candies are yours." "Cici, say 'Mama,' the chocolate is super sweet." I swallowed hard and slowly opened my little mouth. Excitement flashed in my parents' eyes. They grabbed my arms eagerly. "Finally going to talk! I've waited five years for this money!" "That money is definitely mine!" Before I could even speak, they were already arguing. "Ah... ah... ah..." My vocal cords produced only childish, incoherent noises. They took turns squatting in front of me, speaking patiently. "Repeat after me: Mama." "Dada. No, say Papa..." I tried to mimic them, but no more sounds came out. My dad's face clouded over instantly. My mom angrily devoured the chocolate in her hand. "Useless. She really is a freaking mute." As soon as she finished, my dad kicked me. I rolled across the floor like a snowball. When I rolled to my mom's feet, she kicked me back. "Since the first account is a bust, let's start a new character?" My mom's sudden suggestion immediately won my dad's approval. "You're smart. Why didn't I think of that?" As they headed to the bedroom, my mom's gaze met mine. "Throw her outside. I'm afraid she'll jinx the next one into being mute too." Without a word, my dad strode over. He pinned me down with his foot, flipped me onto my back, and lifted me by the neck with one hand. My breathing grew difficult, and stars danced before my eyes. Fortunately, it didn't last long. My dad tossed me out the door. I sat up on the ground, patting my wrinkled, dirty little white dress. Then I pulled a hidden candy from my pocket and popped it into my mouth. Resting my chin in my hands, biting my lip, I pondered my life. If my parents have another child, will he end up like me? 2 In my first life, I learned to speak early. My dad teased me with a toy. "Cici, say 'Dada'." His eyes were kind, filled with the joy of a new father. I called out "Dada" in a milky voice. My dad excitedly picked me up, peppered my face with kisses, and spun me around. "Cici, you really are Daddy's precious treasure." I giggled like a little chick. But the next day, my dad got a new girlfriend and kicked my mom and me out. Without a word, my mom took me to the roof of a 25-story building. She handed me a piece of chocolate. "Cici, eat up. After you eat this, you'll go to another world." Not understanding her words, I just focused on eating the chocolate. But halfway through, my mom snatched the chocolate and threw it off the edge. My body followed, plummeting along with the chocolate. In my second life, I spoke a year later than before. My parents still patiently taught me every day. Even late at night, my mom would tirelessy come to my room to teach me "Mama." Under her relentless pressure, I couldn't take it anymore and finally said "Mama." My mom, who was eating, threw her bowl aside and danced with me. "Mama knew it! Cici is the best!" She immediately took me to the mall and bought me the prettiest princess dress. That night, my mom went to see her "white moonlight"—her first love. My dad smoked a cigarette, grinning at me constantly. "Cici, Daddy will help you take a bath. It'll be very comfortable." The huge bathtub was filled with warm water. The steam flushed my little face red. My dad held my head underwater at the bottom of the tub. He didn't let go until I stopped struggling. My parents' marriage was a business alliance. There was no love, only profit. But while my mom was pregnant with me, both families' businesses suffered a catastrophic failure. Their assets shrank drastically, moving from a villa to an apartment. Both my parents were used to luxury and couldn't handle hardship. Their remaining assets were still enough for one person to live comfortably. To secure their future, they made a bet the day I was born. Both wanted the money, but because I wouldn't speak, neither could claim it. 3 "Are you Cici?" An old lady with gray hair, wearing a glittering gold dress, stared at me. I blinked, pursed my lips, and nodded. The old lady hugged me excitedly. "Cici, I'm Grandma. Your real grandma." "Quick, say Grandma." My little heart pounded furiously again. If I call her Grandma, will Grandpa throw me in the bathtub? I struggled out of her embrace, lips sealed tight. "Oh my, Cici, what's wrong?" "I really am Grandma." Just then, the door clicked open. My dad walked in, head down, muttering curses. "What's all the noise?" The next second, he got a sharp knock on the head. "Damn it, who's got a death wish hitting me?" My furious dad looked up, saw Grandma, and instantly changed his tune. "Mom, what are you doing here?" Grandma rolled her eyes at him and elbowed him in the stomach. "Move. Don't block Cici and me." Grandma led me back into the apartment by my small hand. My mom walked out of the bedroom, hair messy, looking impatient. Grandma rattled on to me. But I just looked at her blankly, then stared at the candy on the table. Finally understanding, Grandma gave me a piece. I grinned, showing my little tiger teeth, but made no sound. "David, why doesn't Cici talk?" "And she's five, why isn't she in kindergarten?" My parents exchanged glances, communicating silently. Then my mom stepped on my dad's foot. He yelped in pain before speaking. "Mom, Cici is mute." "A mute can't go to kindergarten." While they weren't looking, I stuffed a few more candies into my pocket. The three adults argued over me. Sucking on the candy, I walked to the balcony and looked outside. Many kids my age were skipping along, holding adults' hands, carrying little backpacks. They must be coming home from kindergarten. "What kind of parents are you?" "Cici doesn't speak, and you don't even take her to a doctor?" Grandma's roar startled me. I turned to look at them. My dad scratched his head and licked the corner of his mouth. "Why waste money on a doctor?" "A mute is a mute. You can't change it." My dad waved me over. Seeing me stand still, he grabbed me. "Mom, I'm telling you, Cici can't even cry." saying that, he started spanking me hard with his large palm. He hit harder and harder. I bit my lip until it bled. But I didn't make a sound, tears rolling down my cheeks. Seeing this, my mom came over and pinched my thigh viciously. Red marks bloomed on my pale skin. Still, I made no sound. 4 "Enough! Even if Cici can't speak, she still needs to go to school." Grandma's pale face flushed red, probably from anger. My dad patted Grandma's back, grinning cheekily. "Mom, don't be mad. She'll go to school." "Can our business make a comeback?" Grandma sighed. "Don't know yet. Still negotiating." Just then, Grandma's phone rang in her bag. After taking the call, she left in a hurry. My parents started discussing their business. "Ever since we had this jinx, nothing goes right." "She definitely dragged down both our families' businesses." As they spoke, my mom slapped me. I saw stars again. "David, do we really have to send this jinx to school?" "Won't everyone know we gave birth to a mute?" "We have to. My mom will be watching." After weighing the pros and cons, my parents decided to send me to kindergarten. If Grandma's business recovered and they hadn't sent me to school, she definitely wouldn't give them money. Sunshine filled my heart. I can go to kindergarten too. I'll have lots of playmates. The sound from the TV caught my attention. A man in a white coat and gold-rimmed glasses spoke authoritatively. "The patient has suffered language regression due to a long coma." "They must speak more, or over time, they might really lose the ability to speak." I frowned deeply, staring at the man on TV. Actually, I can speak. But to survive, I haven't opened my mouth. Can I still speak now? "Oho, the little mute relates?" "Look at that face, wrinkled like an old lady." My dad sneered, and my mom rolled her eyes in contempt. My stomach grumbled gurgle gurgle. I had only eaten a slice of bread and two candies all day. My mom smirked wickedly. "David, let's go have a big meal tonight, then get a foot massage." My dad nodded immediately and dragged my mom out. Before I could react, the door slammed shut with a deafening bang. My parents were gone. I climbed onto a chair and struggled to reach the bread on the table. After wolfing it down, I remembered the man on TV. So I walked to the TV and mimicked him. "This herb is called Astragalus, very effective for qi deficiency." "You can boil it with red dates every day..." I was so immersed in imitating that I didn't notice the front door opening. Thirsty from talking, I looked for water. But turning around, I saw my parents standing there, giving me a death stare. I trembled all over, legs refusing to move. My parents' faces were twisted and ferocious, looking terrifying. My little heart felt like it would burst out of my chest. The TV sound buzzed in my ears. Memories of my past two lives flashed through my little brain like a movie. "Cici Sun." My parents screamed my name in unison. Veins popped on their foreheads, eyes bloodshot. 5 My mom rushed forward, squatted down, and gripped my arms tightly. "Cici, say Mama quickly." My dad stared at my mom in disbelief, but a few seconds later, he ran over too. He shoved my mom aside, grinning at me maniacally. "Cici, say Dada quickly." I pursed my lips, tears falling like rain. "Wah!" I started wailing. My parents panicked, trying to coax me. "Cici, don't cry. Say Mama and I'll buy you a princess dress." "Cici, Dada will take you to KFC." They started a new round of teaching. But I knew, as soon as I said either name, I wouldn't live. I wiped my tears with my small hands. "I want to eat now. I want to go to kindergarten." My parents nodded repeatedly, seemingly obeying my every command. "Cici, Daddy will take you to eat good food right now." "Mommy will take you to a fancy restaurant and buy Cici dresses." Speaking, my dad snatched me up and rushed out the door. "David Sun, stop right there! Give Cici back!" My mom chased after us in her high heels, ignoring her image. Lying on my dad's shoulder, I giggled at my mom. The table was piled with food: fries, cola, burgers, fried chicken. "Cici, eat up." My dad smiled until his face wrinkled, looking like a loving father. My mom grabbed my wrist from the side. "Cici, Mommy will take you to a high-end restaurant." I shook my head, rejecting my mom. I devoured the feast before me. My parents argued endlessly. After eating, I patted my round belly and burped. "Cici, are you full?" My dad looked at me fawningly. I nodded. "Good. Say Dada for me." "David Sun, you're dreaming." "Thinking you can take all the assets with one KFC meal? Keep dreaming." Soon, their verbal argument escalated to physical conflict. "I want a backpack." My childish voice interrupted their fight. This time, my mom grabbed me and ran. "Cici, Mommy will buy it for you." But soon, my dad caught up. My parents took me shopping for the first time. They fought to buy me backpacks, stationery, and clothes. When we went home, we had bags big and small. Grandpa Neighbor couldn't help but exclaim. "The Suns treat Cici so well." My parents' faces flushed simultaneously, maybe from what adults call shyness or shame.
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