Chapter Fifteen: The Truth Comes to Light

Chapter 15: The Truth Revealed

Finally, after Zhang Jiaxin’s persistent coaxing, I reluctantly took a key and unlocked the wooden door of a small room upstairs.

Stepping inside, I was genuinely shocked by the sparse furnishings; this damn room was fit only for sleeping—what else could one possibly do here? I didn’t even ask for a computer, just a television would have sufficed. Being a man and woman alone in such a place, how was I supposed to endure the long night ahead?

“Phew…” Zhang Jiaxin immediately lay back on the bed, staring blankly at the dim yellow ceiling.

I paced around the room twice, mulling it over, and still felt uneasy. Although we had once been deeply acquainted lovers, that was in the past. Now, we had long since parted ways and walked different paths. Even if we simply slept quietly without doing anything, it would still harm her reputation—and that was something I absolutely did not want to see.

I only wished for her to remain a pure young woman, to find the right person on her journey ahead—someone who could offer her everything she ever hoped for.

Sitting by the bed and meeting Zhang Jiaxin’s somewhat dazed gaze, I softly said, “Go to sleep quickly. Staying up late isn’t good for your health.”

“And you?” Zhang Jiaxin reached out and lightly tugged on the hem of my shirt.

“I… I’ll just make do on the floor once you fall asleep.” Seeing the bloodstains on her chest, recalling her tender words before, my heart began to race inexplicably. It had been so long since I’d felt this way—like a pair of shy young lovers stepping into a hotel for the first time, full of hope and nervousness, about to embark on a new journey of growth.

“The floor’s cold, or you’ll catch a chill.” Zhang Jiaxin shifted slightly on the already narrow bed, revealing just enough space for someone to lie on their side.

“It’s fine, don’t worry about me. You sleep first. I’ll sleep after you’re sound asleep.” For some reason, I suddenly felt hesitant to share the bed with her—not because of a lack of self-control, but because she held an irresistible allure over me, a passion I couldn’t break free from.

“Okay then… you lie down first, or you’ll wake me up later.” Zhang Jiaxin said as she started to take off her clothes.

“Stop.” I hurriedly blocked her movements. Seeing the puzzled look in her eyes, I explained, “The sheets and blankets in places like this are probably dirty. Let’s just make do and sleep like this for one night.”

Zhang Jiaxin sighed and nodded in agreement.

Looking into her soft eyes, I couldn’t bring myself to refuse her request, so I turned sideways and lay down beside her, facing the worn wooden door. I tried to edge closer to the side, not out of fear of touching her, but to give her more space so she could sleep more comfortably.

“Yang Chen… turn off the light. It’s too bright; I can’t sleep.”

Hearing Zhang Jiaxin’s faint voice, I suddenly realized my carelessness—I had forgotten that this was a habit of hers: she couldn’t fall asleep without turning off the light. When we first started dating, this had caused her to go to class the next day with dark circles under her eyes, earning teasing remarks from classmates calling her “a moment worth a fortune.”

I turned off the light and lay back down. The cold winter night made me feel drowsy. Outside, the wind howled clearly. Slowly, I drifted toward sleep.

I lay still for a while until I heard Zhang Jiaxin’s steady breathing beside me. Then I dared to sit up and gently draped her coat over her. Knowing she moved around a lot when asleep, I tucked the edges of the coat beneath her before preparing to leave.

Just as I stood, my hand supporting the bed was suddenly grabbed tightly by a soft hand. Surprised, I turned to see Zhang Jiaxin’s eyes, cold and clear.

“Did I wake you?”

She sat up too, still holding my hand, her expression blank, and in the darkness, a chill seemed to emanate from her.

“Yang Chen, you actually look down on me, don’t you?” Her voice was low but filled with deep sorrow. “Everything you’ve done so far is just to comfort me, so I won’t feel too miserable, right?”

I looked into her indifferent eyes and shook my head. “I never thought that.”

“But Yang Chen, you are doing exactly that.” Zhang Jiaxin threw off the coat I had placed on her, “I don’t need pity. Even if I’ve fallen so low, pity is the last thing I want from you.”

“Do you know, Yang Chen, what kind of torment I endure day and night? I have never missed you like this. The pressure from family, society, and you—I’ve borne too much. I feel like my life has no meaning. Wherever I go, I’m just a soulless body.” A tear slipped down her face under the moonlight, yet she smiled bitterly. “The only thing that keeps me going is you…”

I silently lowered my head, unable to speak or meet her gaze. I feared that if I looked once, I would fall deeply into this and never escape.

“You are my faith, but you are also the only hope I have to keep living…” Zhang Jiaxin finally released my hand. I felt awkward and uneasy, an overwhelming sense of loss churning inside me, indescribable and tangled.

“But don’t you think… all this is your own doing?” I finally calmed myself. No matter what you say, it won’t change the fact that you betrayed me. This moment of despair is the eternal end of our love.

“If I could choose, if I had ten thousand chances to start over, I would always choose you…”

“But you only had one chance, and clearly, you didn’t take it.” Thinking of how heartless she had been, I sank into the past filled with anger and resentment.

Zhang Jiaxin stood frozen, tears in her eyes, staring at my resolute tone. Her fragile body trembled slightly, as if fearing what might come next.

Seeing her pitiful state, I sneered and turned to leave.

“Yang Chen… since you want to know the truth, I don’t want to hide it from you anymore…” Zhang Jiaxin’s voice fell over me like a net, making it impossible to move. I slowly turned back to see her unusually pale face. Deep down, I wanted to know why she had chosen to leave me.

The moment I turned, I was utterly stunned, speechless, staring at Zhang Jiaxin before me.

“See? This is the truth you’ve always wanted to know…”

At that moment, Zhang Jiaxin had taken off her shirt, her entire upper body bare before me. But what truly shocked me was not her nudity—it was the scars covering her once flawless skin. Some were faint and blurred, others deep and dark red, leaving long, terrifying marks that were chilling to behold.

“Who the hell did this to you?” I strode over to her, staring at her battered body in disbelief.

“If I could choose, would I have stayed with that beast for over a year?” Zhang Jiaxin gently cupped my face with both hands, smiling despairingly. “He’s a total pervert, a sadist… Yang Chen, do you know? Every day I endured this torture. Apart from numbly thinking of you, I didn’t know what else to do…”

“Xiaoxin…” I pulled her scarred body into my arms, tears uncontrollably flowing. “Why? Why did this happen?”

“Because… although I’m your girlfriend, I’m also my parents’ daughter.” Her voice was soft and calm, as if unburdened. “My father gambled away too much money, sold everything we had, and it barely covered a fraction of his huge debts. Debt collectors came knocking. My mother nearly lost her mind, disappearing somewhere alone, and my father’s legs were broken. I truly didn’t know how to keep this family going… but no matter how heartless he is, he’s still the one who gave me life. I couldn’t abandon him…”

“Why didn’t you tell me then?” I shook her frail body violently, shouting, “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because… husband… I’m the one who knows you best in this world. I know your family and your temper. I couldn’t tell you, not even a hint.” Zhang Jiaxin rested her head on my shoulder, her voice small but content. “I didn’t want to burden you. I wanted you to pursue your dreams without any worries…”

“Fool…” I held her smooth back, gently stroking her hair. “How could you be so foolish?”

“Then that beast promised to help my family pay off the debts, on one condition… I had to be his girlfriend…”

Listening to Zhang Jiaxin’s calm recounting, my heart shattered. This truth was unbearable. I felt like a powerless ant facing a devastating tsunami—completely insignificant. I didn’t even deserve to hear it.

“But… Yang Chen, do you know?” Zhang Jiaxin suddenly smiled, leaning close to whisper in my ear, “Just feeling your emotions now, I’m already satisfied.”

I gently laid her back on the bed, then lay beside her, holding her soft body tightly, breathing in her familiar scent. Yet my heart was in turmoil. Could I really accept such an ending?