The Gaze of the Radio Girl (GL) - Chapter 24

Mom, or mother, was a very unfamiliar word.

Wu Lele deleted the voicemail and blacklisted the number again.

She thought of the A4 flyer from last night and knew the person wasn’t lying—she was really closing in.

How had her address been leaked?

Since the graduation trip when she got that call, she’d been careful. Why was she still found?

Delivery? The phone company? Social media? Or…

She remembered the interview.

She opened her laptop and searched her name on the website. In one of the most-viewed social media videos, she found terrifying comments.

—These two are obviously rich kids.

—The video says they live together? That house must be something, supporting two high schoolers, each with a smartwatch, phone, and tablet.

—Sure enough, excellence belongs to others. Rich and hardworking.

—They live near Yuanshan Lake, right? I think I saw them getting on at Yuanshan Lake Station a few times during my commute.

—Fancy neighborhood, huh~

—And those relocated families must’ve hit the jackpot, their parents probably retired early, just collecting rent.

—Talking about equal education, but it’s all about being born lucky.

—Time to debunk the degree myth in the comments. What’s the point of graduating? Just making milk tea? Waste of resources for this kind of interview…

Some people argued back.

—Ever heard of the Strong Foundation Program? Always thinking about getting rich?

—Don’t be so harsh. Lele got a full scholarship, and her competition records are verifiable.

—Who did she hurt? Is it that hard to say something nice?

—She survived with sheer resilience. Her biological parents are a mess. I’m genuinely happy for her today.

—Protecting the best class leader.

—Please be happy~~~~~

—Great, our Lele’s face-blind, our class leader’s aloof, they won’t bother with you!

—Classmates, keep it civil.

—Got it.

—Off-topic: If we make it big, don’t forget each other!!!!!

Wu Lele read and chuckled.

Even after setting off fireworks and eating barbecue together, she still couldn’t recognize all her classmates. She felt sorry, but things seemed different from a year ago. They didn’t mind and even thought it was an advantage—pretty interesting.

She looked at the group graduation photo on her desk and wiped it carefully with a tissue.

She’d once been a drowning soul, clinging to the radio her mother left, hoping someone would hear her voice and see her tiny existence.

Now, the radio sat in a corner of her desk, and she’d forgotten how long it had been since she last hung onto that fragile thread.

She couldn’t pinpoint her current thoughts or feelings about her mother—they were too distant, like another lifetime.

The only thing she knew was that she was no longer alone.

Maybe, when she had enough confidence stored up, she could face her mother calmly, no matter if she was still the same as before…

Oh, she was getting sidetracked. The problem wasn’t solved.

Her address near Yuanshan Lake had probably been leaked like this.

If that person really came to the house, what should she do? Would it cause trouble for Ran and the others?

She didn’t want that to happen.

She wanted to protect all this, just as they protected her.

But in the end, what should she do?

Family was harder than solving problems…

A knock came, and Wu Lele closed her laptop and opened the door.

Xue Lin stood outside, holding a pink paper box.

“Lele, I’ll be away for most of the next month and might not make it back for your birthday. This is my gift to you. Happy early birthday!”

“Thank you, sister.”

“No problem,” Xue Lin glanced around, raised an eyebrow, and said, “I’m heading out now, so… study it well…”

“What?”

Xue Lin nodded at the box, made a “shh” gesture, winked, and closed the door as she left.

What was that about?

Wu Lele untied the ribbon, opened the box, and found… pajamas?

A tiny camisole, barely any fabric, and weirder still, it was sheer, almost transparent…

Underneath was a set of underwear, designed with minimal material, as if the manufacturer went all out to save resources.

Xue Lin, probably worried she wouldn’t get it, included a faceless model photo with a handwritten note on the back: Go for it, take my sister down!

Wu Lele appreciated her sister’s intentions.

She closed the box, shoved it under the bed, her cheeks burning.

She’d probably burn herself out before she could “take down” Xue Ran.

It wasn’t like she hadn’t seen her body before, but this half-hidden clothing was even more overwhelming.

The essence of allure, the art of seduction, was probably just that.

No way, too embarrassing.

She pulled the box out, stuffed it in a drawer, locked it, and tossed the key under the bed.

She grabbed the clothes she’d wear today and ran to the bathroom, the sound of water flowing endlessly.

While she washed up, Xue Ran had made breakfast.

But Wu Lele didn’t come down.

“Lele, time for breakfast.”

“Oh… okay.”

Footsteps sounded upstairs, unlike usual, hurried and flustered. Xue Ran blinked, looking at Xue Lin: “You’re still here?”

Xue Lin, who’d been snickering, finished the last sip of instant coffee and said, “Leaving now, won’t disturb your little world. Go for it, sis.”

She grabbed her suitcase, patted Xue Ran’s shoulder, whispered something in her ear, and Xue Ran’s face caught fire.

“Get out!”

“Yes, yes, the third wheel’s rolling out.”

Once the third wheel left, Wu Lele came down.

Both their faces were burning, frozen at the dining table.

Xue Ran: “…Eat.”

Wu Lele: “…Let’s eat together.”

“Mm… sit.”

“Okay…”

“…Did Xue Lin say anything to you?”

“N-n-nothing… you?”

“Uh… nothing…”

“Good then…”

“Yeah, good, good.”

On the way to the check-up, they were silent.

At a crosswalk, Xue Ran instinctively held Wu Lele’s hand, walking slowly forward. Their sweaty palms made Wu Lele feel an unexplainable calm, her embarrassment fading.

Wu Lele’s arm was healing well; the external brace and bandages were removed. She just needed to apply medicine on time but couldn’t bear weight or do strenuous activities yet.

The female doctor: “You’re an adult now, so be mindful of certain things, got it?”

Wu Lele: “…Got it.”

What was with today? It was like soaking in an old cellar, everything reminding her of something.

Eighteen was a strange number. One moment, you couldn’t think about anything; the next, time passed, the clock struck, and the world couldn’t wait for you to grow up.

Growing up really took just a moment.

The doctor was still giving instructions when a commotion came from outside.

“Hey, are you cutting in line? Nurse, someone’s cutting in!”

“Can’t you see people are being seen? Stop looking around, respect some privacy.”

“S-sorry…”

Wu Lele’s ears twitched.

“Ma’am, what’s your number? Let me check if it’s your turn. Hey, ma’am, where are you going? Ma’am!”

The voice distorted in her memory, but Wu Lele vaguely recognized its texture.

That woman had finally found her.

In a daze, she recalled childhood—arguments, fights, bowls and food splattering everywhere.

The TV played the Spring Festival Gala, but all she heard was a long “beep—.”

Wu Haosen’s mouth opened and closed, but she didn’t catch a word.

“Lele.”

Her hand felt warm, and Wu Lele snapped back, realizing she’d been swallowed by a whirlpool of memories.

Xue Ran: “Doctor, can we eat ice cream now?”

“Sure, no special diet needed. Balanced nutrition is key, especially good protein, but don’t overdo it.”

“Okay, thanks, doctor. We’ll go now.”

“Remember to pay and pick up the medicine.”

Wu Lele followed Xue Ran out of the consultation room.

Her eyes scanned the crowd but didn’t find that person. At the payment hall and pharmacy, she kept looking.

Not that she wanted to see her, but she was afraid—afraid she’d appear suddenly, and she wouldn’t know how to handle it.

She wasn’t ready.

At the shaved ice shop, Xue Ran ordered mango shaved ice, and they ate together.

She stared behind Xue Ran, feeling that person was just outside the window.

“Lele, what’s wrong?”

Wu Lele shook her head: “Nothing…”

“Did something happen?”

“…”

“Tell me, I’m worried.”

“…”

“Is it… about your parents?”

Wu Lele froze.

“Since the trip, I noticed something was off. At first, I thought it was my fault, but last night, when the flyer scared you, I started to guess.”

Looking into Xue Ran’s calm eyes, Wu Lele’s restless heart settled.

She said: “That night at the hot spring, my mother contacted me. At first, hearing her voice, I was happy, thinking she finally remembered me, maybe she’d come back to be with me…”

Halfway through, Wu Lele stopped. Xue Ran didn’t push, just waited quietly.

The shaved ice melted into water. Wu Lele took a spoonful and continued: “But… she said she already has a family, lives abroad, has a decent job, and is doing well. She might never come back and told me to live well with your family. Then…

“She wanted me to take care of Wu Haosen, to find a way to get him out of prison… to be filial… But I couldn’t. I’m afraid of pain… I refused, and she started cursing me… I felt awful, I couldn’t convince her… Later, I hung up. But she didn’t give up. Even after I blocked her, she kept calling with different numbers, and now, she’s found me… Did I really do something wrong…?”

The surroundings grew quiet, only the wind chimes at the door tinkling.

Wu Lele kept eating the ice, as if it gave her a bit more confidence.

Xue Ran: “Lele, don’t doubt yourself. You didn’t do anything wrong.”

“…”

“Not everything in this world can or must be forgiven. You can choose to be angry, to refuse, to walk away. Even if she’s your mother, she can’t judge you.”

“But…”

“You hate her, don’t you?”

Wu Lele’s heart trembled, and the shaved ice on her spoon slid into the condensed milk in the glass bowl.

She nodded: “Yeah, I hate her. When I got the call, I thought if she’d come back to me, none of it would matter. She has her life, her struggles. But… when she defended Wu Haosen and blamed me, my longing for a mother vanished. I wanted to ask her…

“Why did you abandon me? Do you know how I’ve lived these years? I just want to live, to live well. Is that wrong? Me!”

Wu Lele choked: “Why can’t you be kinder to me? I need love too. Should I not have been born?”

Xue Ran reached across the table, gripping her hand tightly: “Lele…”

“Ran… I’m so sad… I don’t want to see her, or Wu Haosen. I want… to disappear…”

“So you stared at the sky every day, sending signals?”

“…Not at first. I hoped she’d find me under some sky. I thought she left the radio so she’d come back for me one day… But I waited so long, and no one answered. Later, I just hoped someone would show up to take me away, even an alien, anything…”

“Lele, that person’s here now. Look at me.”

“Ran…”

“I’ll stay with you.”

Wu Lele shook her head: “That woman’s gone crazy. I don’t want you to meet her. I want to avoid her.”

“But you know you can’t. She’s getting closer.”

“At the hospital earlier, I had a feeling the woman stopped by the nurse was her.”

“Lele, I think we should try to arrange a meeting with her.”