Xia Zhaoyun's body was still covered in numerous scars. Although they had gradually faded as time passed and she grew into her body, every single one was seared into her memory!
When she was in the second grade, she got a 99.5 on her language test for writing a single character incorrectly. For that, Father Song burned the top of her thigh with a cigarette butt.
During the summer vacation of third grade, she was replaced as the lead dancer for being too thin. Mother Song knocked over a cup of freshly boiled water, scalding her shoulder.
When her new dance leotard was cut to shreds, Father Song—who had just been passed over for a promotion and had been drinking—beat her back with his belt until it was a bloody mess, scolding her for not cherishing things and always wasting the adults' hard work.
