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墨書 Inktalez
My parents were waiting at the foot of the mountain.
My mother came over to greet me, holding my hand and saying, "Why do you look so pale? Did you not sleep well?" I used to think she genuinely cared about me, but after being scolded by her a few times, I learned to be cautious.
I smiled at her.
Her eyes shifted, and she continued, "Xiao Chi, the master said the tenth anniversary is special; this time you have to kneel from the foot of the mountain to the top."
So that's what Lin Rong was smiling about.
If I still had any expectations of them, perhaps I would comply.
But now I just found it amusing.
I kept a straight face and refused. My mother's expression darkened, heartbroken: "Xiao Chi, you won't even pray for your brother? Can't you bear to see him well?"
My father coldly snorted, "You ungrateful wretch; have you forgotten how your brother died?"
Everyone was reminding me that I should atone for Lin Che's death.
But what sin did I commit?
Why must I become the outlet for everyone's anger?
Gu Yan came to my side and unusually spoke up for me: "Mom and Dad, Chi isn't feeling well today; how about..."
The rest of his words were interrupted by Lin Rong, whose voice dripped with malice: "What difference does it make for a grown man to kneel? Gu Yan, you wouldn't really love..."
"I don't!"
Gu Yan hurriedly retorted.
With everyone watching, Lin Rong signaled the bodyguards to step forward and kicked hard at my knee.
It hurt.
I couldn't help but cry out in pain and fell to the ground.
"Let's begin," my mother said.
The morning in the mountains had just seen a rain shower, and the stone steps were all wet.
I bent down and bowed my head, then got up, repeating this over and over again, my face, hands, and clothes covered in mud.
My parents walked away quickly and had long disappeared from sight.
Only Lin Rong and Gu Yan walked slowly in front of me. "Do you really believe he’s not feeling well? Have you thought about how coincidentally he’s unwell today?"
"Gu Yan, you wouldn't really have no feelings for Che, would you?" Lin Rong teased.
"How can he compare to Che?"
"I just think that going on like this is a bit undignified."
"Dignified? What dignity does he want? Did he ever think about Che when he didn't answer the phone?" Lin Rong questioned angrily. "Poor Che, dying so young." Lin Rong's voice was tinged with tears.
I listened expressionlessly.
The long period of kneeling made my knees numb, and my hands felt unresponsive.
This wasn't my first time doing such a thing; it was just that last time I did it willingly.
Lin Rong had a high fever that wouldn’t go down, and seeing no improvement, I brought Lin Che to the temple to pray.
I heard that sincerity brings blessings, so I followed the old people and knelt all the way up the mountain.
It rained heavily that day, and Lin Che and I got soaked from head to toe.
Later, Lin Che couldn’t take it anymore and went ahead with an umbrella.
I insisted on staying until the end, and when I got home, I fell into a deep sleep for a day and a night.
When I woke up, my family was taking care of Lin Che, marveling at his sincerity in kneeling for his sister.
After re Chi ng the top of the mountain, I was finally allowed to walk into the temple while standing.
As I shakily got up, the pain in my chest intensified.
A warm liquid flowed out; I raised my hand to wipe it away and realized it was blood from my nose.
Gu Yan noticed first and hurriedly asked what was wrong.
Lin Rong looked over; the worry in her eyes flashed away as she spoke mockingly: "Are you addicted to playing the martyr?"
After going through a series of procedures, it was already noon.
Just as Gu Yan and I were walking towards the car, a group of reporters suddenly surrounded us.
"Mr. Lin, we heard you knelt all the way here today; why did you do that?"
I was dizzy from the flashlights and walked forward without intending to respond. When I met Lin Rong's mocking gaze, I knew that this group of reporters was definitely not here by chance.
They relentlessly pursued me, asking, "Your brother's last phone call was to you. This case had a huge impact at the time, and countless people were paying attention. As his closest family member, why didn't you answer?"
"We received a tip-off. According to your brother's phone recordings, you bear significant responsibility for his death. Do you have anything to say about that?"
I stood there, covered in mud, exposed and embarrassed in front of the cameras.
Gu Yan whispered beside me, "Beg me, and I'll say something for you."
I looked at her; she was staring intently at me, determined to get what she wanted. After a moment, I smiled slightly, paused my steps, and slowly addressed the camera:
"Isn't it normal not to receive calls late at night?"
"As for the kidnapping, you should ask the police."
"I'm not close with Lin Che. If he hadn't liked hanging out in bars and mingling with others while he was alive, he wouldn't have attracted the attention of the Kidnapper."
Someone asked, "Are you saying that you think your brother brought this upon himself? Don't you feel any guilt?"
I stared back at him, "Why should I feel guilty? I'm not the murderer..."
"Lin Chi! What nonsense are you talking?!" Lin Rong pushed through the crowd and shoved me hard.
My footing faltered, and I collapsed to the ground.
A warmth surged in my throat as I coughed up blood.
She stared at me in shock, her face pale.
Then came another cough after another.
Someone asked, "What happened?"
I wiped the blood from the corner of my mouth and casually replied, "Nothing much, just dying quickly."
Lin Rong snapped back, "What are you pretending for? Do you think we'll pity you like this?"
As everyone fell silent, Lin Rong's phone rang. After she answered it, her expression shifted from surprise to something complex as she looked directly at me.
I know, Lin Che is back.
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