Chapter 25

As I walked up to Ji Ming, he grabbed my hand and led me straight into the building.

His grip was tight, as if afraid I might run away.

We walked in silence, the only communication being the warmth of our palms.

The moment the door closed, he pinned me against the wall, his burning lips pressing down forcefully.

I pounded on his chest, struggling to push him away.

Perhaps my resistance was too fierce, and he finally let go of me.

I slapped him hard.

He merely paused for a moment, then looked up at me, “If he can, why can’t I?”

I met his gaze, “He’s my boyfriend, you’re my brother.”

Suddenly, he picked me up and headed towards the room, “Then I’ll embrace the identity of the other person.”

I frantically hit him, but it was to no avail.

He tossed me onto the bed, leaned over, and his scorching lips once again covered mine, swallowing my breath in his embrace.

Desire colored the corners of his eyes as he shed his shirt, muscles coming into view. His hand slid to my back, pulling at the zipper of my dress.

I quickly pushed him away, “Didn’t you say you’d wait until all concerns were resolved before…”

“Yes, and now all concerns are gone.” He pressed his forehead against mine, his voice choked, “I’m an orphan now, just like you.”

After saying that, he kissed me again, his hands not stopping.

How could he say that?

The defenses I had built up inside for so long were easily shattered by him.

I gave up struggling, the last shred of reason destroyed by his words.

He was urgent yet cautious, but I still cried from the pain, and he could only soothe me, kissing my eyes.

The room was too dark to see his expression, only feeling drops falling on my face, unsure if they were sweat or tears.

Between breaths, he whispered in my ear, saying he loved me, begging me not to leave him.

But my only response was tears.

Late at night, Ji Ming once again fell into a deep sleep beside me, while I remained wide awake.

Just now, a thought finally grew from a sprout into a towering tree in my mind.

I dressed, tidied my hair, and left the house empty-handed.

The early summer night was slightly cool, and the bustling city quieted down in the deep night.

I walked aimlessly, unknowingly arriving at a riverbank.

I climbed onto the railing, sitting there, eyes closed, quietly feeling the night breeze.

It felt like returning to the time when I couldn’t hear, the haunting voices impatiently emerging.

If I hadn’t told Zhou Yuming about Mr. and Mrs. Ji’s whereabouts that day, would they not have been kidnapped and killed?

Then Zhou Yuming wouldn’t have died either.

I could know who my parents were.

I could know who I am.

For years, I was used by Zhou Yuming, hated the wrong people, killed the wrong people.

Before, seeing Ji Ming reminded me of the “parents” suffocated by gas.

Now, seeing Ji Ming reminds me of the adoptive parents’ limbs blown apart in the fire.

And here I am, entangled with the victim’s son.

But they harmed people!

They deserved to die!

They deserved to die!

But they should have faced legal punishment, justice’s judgment, not died by my hand.

I killed them.

I’m a sinner too.

I should go to hell.

Maybe I should have died in that explosion.

The sky was so clear, only stars remained, the river so quiet, only reflections remained.

Such a good ending is too good for me.

Thinking this, I pushed myself lightly, sending myself out.

But the expected coldness didn’t come, replaced by a familiar embrace.

The victim’s son pulled back the perpetrator ready to commit suicide and held her tightly, apologizing.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” he trembled, almost crying, “It’s my fault, I won’t touch you again, okay?”

How foolish he was, thinking it was because of this.

I lay motionless in his arms like a mummy.

Noticing my indifference, he released me.

I saw the man before me, his face streaked with tears.

It was the first time I saw him cry.

So, even someone like him cries.

I laughed, a bit maniacally.

He paused, but his expression grew more worried.

He held my hand tightly, “Say something, please? Whatever you want, whatever you want to do, I’ll agree, okay?”

I stopped laughing, my gaze cold, “I want to never see you again.”

His throat seemed blocked, his voice dry, “Why?”

Why, why again!

Why so many “whys”?

Since he wants to know so much, I’ll tell him!

“Because I provided Zhou Yuming with your parents’ whereabouts, I wrote the allegation letter, I had the lawyer confess. I was in cahoots with Zhou Yuming, I killed your parents! Do you understand this reason?”

Ji Ming stood frozen, his deep eyes clouded with a gray mist.

After a long time, he gritted his teeth and asked, “What is your relationship with Zhou Yuming?”

“He’s my uncle,” I blurted out, “He rescued me from human traffickers, sent me to the orphanage, allowing me to be adopted by your family.

“The past me in front of you was all fake!”

After saying that, I suddenly felt relieved, the stone weighing on my heart lifted.

Yes, why should I bury the truth inside, suffering alone?

Doesn’t he love me? Then let him taste my torment!

He enjoyed the flesh scraped from others by his parents, living a life of luxury.

Shouldn’t he be punished?

I laughed again.

Thinking this way, everyone in this world is guilty, why should only I go to hell?

I want to drag him to hell with me!

I deliberately caressed his tense cheek, smiling softly, speaking in the gentlest voice, “Ji Ming, we can’t be lovers, we were enemies before, and we’ll be enemies in the future, we’ll only ever be enemies in this life.”

A tear slid across my fingertip, scorching my heart.

Ji Ming said nothing, his eyes lost, the reflection in his dark pupils slowly shattering.

He slowly retreated, his steps faltering, finally turning and disappearing into the night.

I closed my eyes, suddenly finding the world unbelievably beautiful, the night so tender it excited me, making me circle the river once more.

When I returned to the apartment, dawn had broken, morning light spilling into the room.

Looking at the empty room, a sudden wave of inexplicable sadness rose in my heart.

I curled up on the sofa and began to cry again.

Tears flowed uncontrollably, how could I have so many tears?

Until the doorbell rang, waking me.

I opened the door, greeted by a stranger.

She told me she was a psychologist hired by Ji Ming.

I looked at her through tear-filled eyes, too embarrassed to say I wasn’t sick.

After talking with her for a while, she directly prescribed me medication.

Seems I really am quite ill.