After the distressing incident, Kecong succumbed to a profound depression, withdrawing from both his mother and aunt, firmly convinced that trust was a relic of the past.
On the fifth evening of his secondary school journey, at Lin's home, Kecong made a decisive choice.
"Mum, I want to rent a room near the school. I need to live independently," he stated resolutely.
"Why this sudden urge to move out? I noticed you working as a milk and newspaper delivery boy before school. Where do you go afterward? Is your father troubling you again? You must tell me!" Xue Fen replied, her concern evident.
"I just want to be alone!" Kecong shouted, tears streaming down his cheeks.
"Alright, take this money. But promise me that if anything happens, especially if your father comes looking for you, you'll come to me," Xue Fen said gently.
Kecong nodded, hurriedly packing his bag, fear gripping him at the thought of his father searching for him again.
Unfortunately, as he departed, Daqiang was lurking nearby and trailed him to his new residence.
Coincidentally, his classmate Danny lived in the vicinity and noticed someone following Kecong.
Oblivious to Daqiang's presence, Kecong opened the door to his new apartment.
"Hello, my dear son. Why have you chosen to live alone in such an isolated place? Why not come and stay with your father? I'm lonely," Daqiang said softly, wrapping his arms around Kecong from behind.
"Get away from me! You bastard!" Kecong screamed.
Daqiang forcefully shoved him into the apartment. The door hadn't fully closed, allowing Danny to peek inside and witness Daqiang assaulting Kecong. Rather than intervening, Danny chose to record the incident.
Daqiang pulled down Kecong's pants and underwear, dragging him toward the bed. Overwhelmed by Daqiang's imposing presence, Kecong felt utterly powerless.
On the bed, Daqiang began kissing Kecong's body, reaching beneath his waist when he suddenly exclaimed, "What is this?! Why do you have a female part? You're a monster!"
Danny overheard the commotion.
Confused and frightened, Kecong, exposed, asked, "Dad! What do you mean? I don't understand! What female part?!"
"Don't ask me! See a doctor! You're a monster! No one will accept you!" Daqiang retorted, panic rising in his voice.
He quickly fled the apartment.
"What monster?! Why is my father treating me like this?! What's happening to me?!" Kecong sobbed.
He took a bus to his aunt's traditional Chinese medicine clinic.
At Qing An Medical Hall, Xue Er immediately recognized his distress.
"Kecong, what happened? You're covered in bruises and crying! Did your father hurt you again?!" Xue Er asked urgently.
Without a word, Kecong lowered his pants and underwear, revealing his condition.
"Aunt Xue Er, Dad tried to abuse me. When he saw me, he stopped and called me a monster. What's happening to me?!" he pleaded.
Xue Er gasped, realizing that Kecong possessed both female and male physical attributes.
"Kecong, listen carefully. You must avoid your father or any man who intends to harm you. Always use a cubicle in public restrooms," she instructed.
"Why, Aunt? What's wrong with me?!" he asked, panic evident in his voice.
"You are intersex. If you engage in unprotected sex with men, there's a risk you could become pregnant," she explained softly.
Stunned, Kecong fled to the top floor, with Xue Er in pursuit.
Standing at the edge, he was overwhelmed by thoughts of being labeled a monster. He began to cry and laugh uncontrollably.
"Kecong! Come down! Don't do anything reckless! If someone sees you from below and calls the police, they will discover you're intersex!" Xue Er shouted, frustrated.
"Aunt Xue Er, what can I do? Can I get rid of the female parts? I don't want to be a monster!" Kecong trembled.
"I'm sorry, but there's currently no medical procedure available for that," she replied gently.
"Then what should I do?!" he yelled in despair.
Xue Fen rushed upstairs, calling out, "Xiao Cong! Get down now! Don't do anything foolish! Your aunt has informed me everything! Come home with me! I will protect you!"
Kecong descended and collapsed into her arms.
"Mum! What if I end up having a baby? What will I do?" he cried, shivering with fear.
"Don't worry. If that day comes, you can reach out to Aunt Xue Er," she reassured him.
"What happened to you?!" Xue Fen asked, noticing his injuries.
"Dad beat me earlier and when he pulled down my pants, he almost assaulted me until he saw… then he called me a monster!" Kecong sobbed deeply.
"Shh, baby! You're not a monster! Why does your life have to be so miserable?!" Xue Fen cried.
"When did your father first try to force you?" Xue Er asked urgently.
"Last year, on my birthday," Kecong whispered.
"Thank goodness you're not pregnant," Xue Er said.
That night, Kecong returned home with his mother, unable to sleep. By morning, he developed a high fever.
The next day, Xue Fen called the school to report his absence.
"Good morning, teacher. I apologize, but Lin Kecong cannot attend school today; he has a high fever," she said.
Kecong spent the day sleeping, waking only in the late afternoon.
"How are you feeling, Xiao Cong?" Xue Er inquired.
"My head is spinning," he replied quietly.
— End of chapter —