The Gaze of the Radio Girl (GL) - Chapter 11
Wu Lele stood with her back against the iron door, not daring to move.
It was quiet outside, then came the sound of footsteps fading away.
The class monitor was gone. Wu Lele breathed a sigh of relief, though she felt a bit guilty.
Wu Haosen was still smoking.
The smell of smoke was etched into her bones, seeping into every molecule, wrapping around every inch of skin, every strand of hair, every fiber, reeking of rot.
Wu Lele, who should’ve been used to it, suddenly felt sick.
“…I’m back.”
She stood rooted, not daring to move.
“School’s out?”
“Yeah…”
“Off tomorrow?”
“Yeah…”
“Come here.”
Wu Haosen’s tone was harsh, his dead-fish eyes staring at her through the smoke.
She didn’t want to go near, but defying him would only make things worse.
Clutching her backpack straps, she slowly walked over.
Her carefully bandaged palms ached and stung. Her medicated knees rubbed against the stiff school uniform, faintly seeping bl00d.
Wu Haosen saw none of it. In his pupils, Wu Lele only saw her hair, grown past her collarbone.
A foul-smelling hand lifted, picking up loose strands by her cheek, rubbing them between fingers.
“Looks nice. Long enough for a ponytail? Why not cut it now?”
His logic was chaotic, his tone non-negotiable.
This wasn’t a discussion—it was an order.
Wu Lele bit her lip: “The salon at the corner closed. I’d need to take the subway, it’s far, no time.”
“Tomorrow then. You’re off tomorrow, right?”
“…Okay.”
“Good girl.”
“…”
“Come, sit and eat.”
“I’m not hungry.”
“Already ate?”
“Yeah…”
“Who fed you?”
“At… school…”
Wu Lele lied.
“That Tao woman again?”
“…Nothing to do with her.”
“Then sit!”
Wu Haosen’s voice spiked. Wu Lele flinched, hurrying to her usual seat.
The chair scraped as her father circled the table, standing behind her, kindly taking off her backpack.
His heavy breath hit her neck, raising goosebumps.
He touched her ponytail, suddenly yanking off the blue hair tie.
Her hair fell loose. The class monitor’s hair tie landed in the trash.
“Don’t bring people home casually, and don’t let me see cheap, tacky stuff like this, got it?”
“…Got it.”
The clatter of dishes came from the kitchen. Wu Lele stared at the trash can, pinching the flesh of her thigh.
That night, she didn’t turn on the radio.
Lying in bed, she stared blankly at the ceiling, her mother’s voice in her ears.
—Lele, when you’re lonely, send signals to the sky. Your person will hear.
The Deep Space Witch heard her voice, but what did it matter?
She curled into a ball, wrapping herself tightly in the sheet.
In the dark, she touched two medals—one gold, one silver, cool in her palm.
That night, Wu Lele slept fitfully, tangled dreams turning her mind to mush.
Sometimes it was the class monitor’s blue hair tie, her back, her hands; sometimes Tao Tao’s ramen, her camera. They swirled in Wu Lele’s breath, fading, turning into the Deep Space Witch’s laughter—Why are you messing around again?
Her eyes snapped open, cheeks burning, forehead scorching.
She thought she might have a fever.
Daylight streamed outside. She threw off the thin blanket, grabbed the electronic thermometer from the desk drawer, and pressed it to her forehead.
After a while, no sound. She checked—it was dead, unused for too long.
Bad, so bad.
She flung it onto the bed in frustration, the muffled thuds echoing her anger.
Rationally, she should get up, find the only adult in the house, take the subway to the nearest hospital, and register…
But she didn’t dare go out.
Hair salons were everywhere—fancy ones, discount ones. Wu Haosen might hand her to some stranger to decide her hair’s fate.
She rolled off the bed, instinctively locking the door handle.
Click—her heart pounded wildly.
She couldn’t go out. She wouldn’t go out…
She reached under the bed, pulling out a metal box with hidden pills.
There was fever medicine, expired. She didn’t care, swallowing it with a gulp of cold water.
Then, pretending everything was normal, she shed her pajamas, put on long sleeves and pants.
She sat at the desk, turned on the radio, put on headphones, and worked on problems.
Her brain was sludge, her throat itchy, urging a cough. She held it back, wrapping the sheet tighter.
She read questions softly into the mic, writing answers stroke by stroke.
Soon, the Deep Space Witch’s voice came through.
“Why didn’t you come last night?”
Wu Lele sniffed, ensuring she wouldn’t cough, then pressed the button: “Family came back, no time.”
Compared to before, the reply came fast: “You got a cold?”
“…No.”
“Your voice sounds off.”
“Just a sore throat. Medicine’ll fix it.”
“Why not go to the hospital?”
“Don’t want to… Wanna do problems with me?”
“Where’s your family?”
“…Busy.”
“You could ask a classmate, like your class monitor.”
“No need, she’s busy… Wanna do problems with me?”
“…”
“Witch sister, wanna do problems with me?”
“…I want to take you to the hospital.”
Why circle back?
She said no, so no.
She sniffed, ignoring her, reading questions to herself, voice fading.
Wu Haosen hated everyone close to her equally—Tao Tao, the old biology teacher, the circle-drawing math teacher, the cool aunt who did experiments without gloves. If he found out about the class monitor…
She couldn’t trouble them.
Suddenly, a bang hit the door.
“Wu Lele, open the door!”
She yanked off the headphones, startled.
“Why’d you lock it? You sneaking around with that radio again?”
Wu Lele stared at the door.
She’d forgotten to unlock it after taking the medicine.
“What did I tell you?” His voice moved away, then closer. “This house is mine, you’re mine. I tell you to lock the door… I tell you to lock the door, I tell you to lock the door!”
A loud crash—an axe smashed a hole in the door, the handle and lock clattering to the floor.
Wu Haosen’s snarling face gleamed green in the axe’s reflection, like a demon from hell.
Maybe she’d die here today.
“…What’s wrong? What happened? Lele, speak!”
The Deep Space Witch’s voice came faintly from the headphones.
It was weak, but she was likely shouting with all her might.
Noticing the sound, Wu Haosen tilted his head, spotted the silver headphones, and ripped them off, smashing them to the ground.
The Deep Space Witch’s voice cut off.
“Who’s that?” Wu Haosen loomed over her. “You’re abandoning me too, huh? Running away like her?”
His final question was a roar.
Wu Lele’s eyes fixed on the axe in his hand.
Ten centimeters away—one swing, and she’d be a headless ghost.
She closed her eyes, awaiting death.
But the faces of the class monitor and Tao Tao flashed in her mind. A primal survival instinct made her grab the Morse code transmitter.
—Beep beep beep beep—beep—beep—beep beep beep.
—Beep beep beep beep—beep—beep—beep beep beep.
—Beep beep beep beep—beep…
Before Wu Haosen could react, she sent the distress signal repeatedly.
“You!”
His eyes widened, staring in disbelief.
Then he dropped the axe, grabbed her hair, and threw her out of the room.
The signal cut off. Wu Lele saw him raise the axe.
Under it, the radio shattered, the computer split in half, medals scattered, her room reduced to fragments.
She turned away, unable to look. But in her sight, the class monitor’s hair tie lay in the trash, covered in food scraps.
The sky fell.
Wu Lele curled into a ball, pretending nothing happened.
When the destruction ended, Wu Haosen panted heavily.
“I… I gotta teach you a lesson…”
Busy, he dropped the axe and searched for new tools.
He rummaged through the kitchen and living room, and a pair of scissors appeared in his hand.
“Seeing your long hair, I knew something was wrong. Just like your mom, your heart’s gone wild, not staying home… Lele, be good…” Wu Haosen’s voice turned soft.
He crouched before her, gently lifting her hair.
The scissors’ cold glint flashed. Sensing his intent, Wu Lele’s eyes widened, and she struggled.
The sharp tip grazed her neck, drawing a line of bl00d.
“Lele, don’t move. Look, you’re hurt… Be good, after the haircut, Daddy’ll buy you strawberry cake…”
“I don’t want it…”
With unknown strength, Wu Lele broke free, crawling up and lunging for the door.
But Wu Haosen gave her no chance. Grabbing her slender ankle, he dragged her back, pinning her down.
—Snip, snip, snip.
Black hair fell. Wu Lele gave up struggling, staring blankly at the floor.
“Mr. Wu, are you home?”
It was Tao Tao.
Tao Tao pounded the door, making it rumble.
Wu Lele thought she was hallucinating. She slowly looked toward the door.
By the window, she saw a shadow pass.
“Mr. Wu, please open the door!”
“That meddling woman again…” Wu Haosen spat, covering Wu Lele’s mouth with his huge hand, whispering, “Lele, don’t make a sound. They’ll leave soon, don’t be scared, don’t be scared… Okay?”
Wu Lele blinked, staring at the shadow behind the window.
“Mr. Wu, I’m from the nearby police station. Open the door for the investigation.”
“Damn, that crazy woman!”
“If you don’t open, we may take forceful measures.”
“Tch!”
Wu Haosen finally let go of Wu Lele.
He tossed the scissors, brushed off his clothes, shaking off the stray hairs.
He gestured for silence and cracked the door open.
Through the gap, Wu Lele saw the class monitor.
In the backlight, she couldn’t see clearly—just long, straight hair and a slender silhouette. But that one glance confirmed it was her.
What now?
She turned away, hugging her head, wanting to hide.
Too pathetic, don’t look.
“What’s up?” Wu Haosen snapped at the visitors.
“Someone reported you for domestic violence.”
“Who? You again, Tao?”
“Where’s Lele?”
“At the library.”
“Let me see inside.”
“On what grounds?”
“On the grounds that…”
“Teacher Tao, no need to waste words with him.”
“Ran, what are you doing?”
A loud crash—the window by the door shattered, glass scattering.
The iron door buckled. Wu Haosen stumbled to the ground.
Wu Lele, back to the door, glimpsed a red fire extinguisher in her peripheral vision.
It rolled to her feet. She recognized the sneakers behind it.
She looked up, dazed, not yet seeing the class monitor’s face but catching her scent first.
In that moment, she recalled the class monitor’s name, hesitant: “…Xue… Ran?”
Xue Ran froze, then hugged her tighter: “Yeah, it’s me.”
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