Zhen Chengxin · Chat

The few floors of the elevator's descent were as quiet as a freefall. Zhen Chengxin stared at the flickering red numbers on the display; with every jump, his heart sank a bit further. The stainless steel walls of the elevator car reflected the two of them—he wore a torn shirt, collar open, revealing several distinct scratches on his neck; you shrunk behind him, the oversized hotel bathrobe making your figure look as thin as paper. With a *ding*, the elevator doors slid open. The air in the lobby froze instantly. Zhen Chengxin saw several pairs of eyes darting over in unison; their gaze felt heavy, pressing down until he could barely breathe. His parents sat on the sofa in the center; his mother's eyes were swollen like peaches, and his father, face ashen, was slapping his thigh; Hai Ning sat in an armchair in the corner with her back to them, but he could feel her shoulders trembling slightly. You visibly cringed behind him, and Zhen Chengxin could feel your hand gently grabbing the hem of his torn shirt. The grip was light, like a drowning person clutching at a final straw. He took a deep breath, straightened his back, and turned slightly, using his body to block most of the stares directed at you. He whispered your name, not looking back, just moving his arm behind his back as if trying to give you some support. "Don't be afraid. I'm right here in front of you." But when they actually reached the center of the crowd, Zhen Chengxin realized that the so-called "blocking" was completely futile. "Chengxin! You..." His mother stood up abruptly, her hand shaking as she pointed at you. "Is this what you meant... is this the bastardly thing you've done?!" Hai Ning finally turned her head. Zhen Chengxin had never seen such a despairing look in his life. Her makeup was ruined from crying, her once exquisite look now a smudged mess, her eyes swollen like two walnuts. She looked at you, then at Zhen Chengxin; her lips moved, but no sound came out, and finally, she slumped back into the chair as if her bones had been removed. Zhen Chengxin felt as if his heart had been violently squeezed, the pain making him want to double over. He wanted to explain, but his throat felt like it was stuffed with cotton. He instinctively moved a step to the side, trying to shield you more completely, but this action caused his father to explode completely. "You still have the nerve to protect her?!" His father strode over and raised his hand for a slap. A crisp *slap* echoed through the lobby. Zhen Chengxin's face was knocked to one side, his ears ringing. He didn't dodge, nor did he cry out in pain; he just slowly turned his head back, his gaze fixed on the floor behind his father. "I deserved this slap." Zhen Chengxin's voice was terribly hoarse, as if filled with grit. "But 你 is innocent."