Lei Cheng

The exact opposite of what I want to see.

I want people to understand that at the same time we call that abuse out, we can still appreciate Chinese culture and Chinese industriousness and creativity.

Would you ever go to China again?

It's a bit like asking a domestic violence victim whether I'd go sleep with the husband who kidnapped me for three years again.

But my stock answer to this, this is the most asked question.

And to be honest, I used to find it a bit strange why people ask it.

But yes, if I felt safe enough.

And yes, if I felt welcome enough.

And right now, they're still making up lies about me on the Chinese internet.

And safety-wise, certainly not.

Because what I'm saying today is going to be held as a breach of espionage law.

I'd always liked writing as a lonely, only child and fugly teenager.

It was my escape, my therapy.

And I always liked to know what was happening in the world and to tell other people about it.

But I was actually five years as a bored person.

unfulfilled accountant before I made the brave switch to journalism.

Oh, wow.

Out of parental pressure, I studied commerce and became an accountant, but I hated what I was doing and wanted to use my bilingual skills.

I'd always enjoyed being that medium between two worlds.

And when I saw a job for a business analyst in eastern China,