Chapter 28: The Face Beneath the Bandages

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Lin Zhenzhen froze, her tears abruptly stopped, and her hand instinctively touched her face. The texture of the bandages was slightly rough, and because they were dampened by her tears, they felt cold to the touch. Although the tears that had flowed were scalding hot, their warmth was quickly absorbed, leaving only a chilling coldness across her face.

It was uncomfortable—the bandages, alternately wet and dry, sticky and stiff, clung tightly to her skin. But how could she remove them?

Every day, Lin Zhenzhen struggled desperately to forget the face she saw in the mirror, yet every day, uncontrollably, that disgusting, repulsive face haunted her thoughts. Her stomach churned violently; she felt nauseous, wanting to vomit.

But nothing came up—only dry retching. Now, the nausea returned.

She lowered the hand from her face and clutched her belly instead. Her spine curved in a fragile arc, shoulders hunched forward. Her shoulder blades pressed sharply against thin skin, creating a pale and pitiful silhouette.

“No,” she finally murmured, her throat swallowing hard before she uttered the word, faint but resolute in refusal.

As expected, Xiao Xiao sighed deeply, just as he had anticipated. Although he never truly believed that Lin Zhenzhen would obediently follow his words, he couldn't help but hope.

Indeed, he had been overthinking.

Yet, convincing Lin Zhenzhen was both extremely difficult and surprisingly simple.

“Do you want to heal your face?” Xiao Xiao asked softly, his voice gentle but imbued with a strange allure.

“Yes!” Without hesitation, Lin Zhenzhen blurted out. How could she not want that? She thought about it day and night, every moment consumed by the desire.

But what good was just thinking?

Her mood sank deeper. Over this period, Lin Zhenzhen had become irritable, fragile, hypersensitive—bordering on neurotic. Not only she, but even her parents were exhausted by her state.

She felt as if she was breaking apart.

“If you want to, then why not try?” Xiao Xiao pressed.

“I said, I might be able to heal your face.”

“You shouldn’t give up any hope.”

“Right now, you can only trust me.”

Xiao Xiao’s words were blunt, lacking any soothing softness, yet they struck at the raw, painful truth. Lin Zhenzhen was at her lowest point; she must not abandon even the slightest hope. Even if that hope was only one percent, she had to devote her entire heart and soul to it.

A moment of suffering might bring about a future of blossoming warmth—why not try?

Her voice was thick and unclear, barely audible, yet to the attentive Xiao Xiao, it was unmistakable.

Her trembling lashes betrayed the torment and struggle within her heart.

“Think of this as a doctor’s consultation,” he said gently.

“I’m the doctor, you’re the patient. Don’t be afraid to face your illness.”

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“Your face can’t withstand any more delay.”

“It’s already in the worst condition. What else could you possibly fear?”

One sentence after another, Xiao Xiao spoke, and with each word, Lin Zhenzhen trembled slightly, as if startled.

“...Okay.” Her faint voice was barely audible, but it was enough for Xiao Xiao, who had been watching her closely, to hear clearly.

A relieved smile spread across his face.

Finally, she had been convinced.

“Do you need my help?” he asked.

Lin Zhenzhen shook her head. Her slightly trembling hands rested nervously behind her head.

Xiao Xiao didn’t press further. He trusted her; once she had made a decision, she wouldn’t back down.

The bandages were unwound layer by layer.

Lin Zhenzhen’s face gradually revealed itself.

It could hardly be called a human face anymore.

Horrifying black-purple lumps covered it entirely, obscuring any discernible features.

As the bandages slipped away, a foul stench emanated, nauseating to anyone nearby.

Xiao Xiao’s expression twisted momentarily but soon returned to neutrality.

He even stepped closer, bending down to examine the face.

Even though Lin Zhenzhen had agreed to remove the bandages, she felt coerced by Xiao Xiao’s insistence.

She lifted her chin defiantly, meeting his gaze with a hint of malice, secretly anticipating his discomfort.

Yet, it was Xiao Xiao who seemed unbothered, and it was she who felt exposed and helpless under his deep, calm eyes.

She stiffened, overwhelmed by a feeling of being completely unveiled, leaving her both confused and afraid.

Why wasn’t he afraid? Didn’t he feel disgusted?

This face—she herself vomited every time she saw it, her despair deepening with each glance.

She didn’t know how many mirrors she had shattered in frustration.

The sharp edges, the glinting shards, the crimson blood—all reflected her ghastly, monstrous visage.

She began to have endless nightmares.

In her dreams, an unknown bird cried out eerily, laughter mingling with sobs. A bone-chilling cold seized her entire mind; she struggled helplessly, her pleas unanswered, ultimately surrendering to the abyssal darkness that swallowed her whole.

Xiao Xiao scrutinized Lin Zhenzhen’s face carefully.

The black aura seemed thicker...

He remembered the last time the black aura assaulted him—the lingering panic was unforgettable. Though he didn’t fully understand what had happened, it appeared not to have harmed him.

But it was clearly something unnatural.

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Xiao Xiao approached Lin Zhenzhen’s face with utmost caution.

The black aura surged, weaving in and out of the lumps.

Beneath the occasionally dispersing black mist, the lumps revealed themselves to be larger than before, dark purple-black in color. The skin stretched tight over them, almost translucent, with faint streaks of blood within the deep hue, as if ready to burst at any moment.

Xiao Xiao recalled the last time Lin Zhenzhen had scratched a lump, releasing yellow pus—foul-smelling and viscous, utterly revolting.

The black aura seemed agitated, gradually boiling.

Xiao Xiao instinctively wanted to retreat but then froze, as if reminded of something, his gaze growing even deeper.

In the dark depths of his eyes, a golden light flickered like a nimble fish, weaving through his pupils.

The golden glow intensified, eventually engulfing his entire eyeball.

The black aura abruptly contracted, as if terrified or threatened by something, forced to withdraw all its claws.

Even the encased lumps became fully exposed.

Lin Zhenzhen’s face became a little clearer.

Sure enough, there were changes in her that even she didn’t know about.

Although Xiao Xiao was eager to investigate this confirmed suspicion, Lin Zhenzhen’s condition remained his priority.

Still, this gave him a bit more confidence.

Did this mean he had gained some degree of self-protection? With the addition of the demon lens, he might be able to handle most situations.

Xiao Xiao straightened up—it was indeed a demon causing this affliction.

But what kind of demon?

His knowledge of demons was still limited.

He regretted not bringing the demon lens with him, convinced it would have revealed more.

It seemed he would have to come again.

“I’ve examined everything.”

“But there are still some uncertainties. I need to do some research.”

“I’ll come back this afternoon.”

Lin Zhenzhen had no objections—she had already seen him once; it didn’t matter if he came again or several more times.

Yet, she hesitated, wanting to ask but afraid to.

She was both anxious and terrified.

Meanwhile, Xiao Xiao remained calm and gentle, revealing nothing crucial.

Her pounding heart left her dry-mouthed.

Her throat felt stuck, unable to produce a sound.

She opened her mouth helplessly, her face growing even more grotesque.

“I’ll tell you my thoughts when I come back this afternoon.”

With those words, Xiao Xiao left.