I fell, and things scattered even more.

James grabbed the back of my collar, and with a tearing sound, my shirt was in tatters.

The shirt was the same one I wore yesterday, and after three years, it tore easily with a gentle pull.

"Mr. Gates, please have some self-restraint." I covered myself, my tone a bit harsh, but luckily it was just the back that tore.

But that was the only shirt I had left, and I hadn't had the chance to buy a new one.

How was I supposed to go out and buy clothes now?

However, James's focus was on the injury on my back. "What happened to your back?"

"I misbehaved, and the teacher hit me," I said it so casually, as if I weren't the one being hit.

"You deserved it." James dropped that comment and walked away.

I glanced at my back, which was covered in countless scars, both new and old.

They were from being whipped.

The most recent scar was probably from a few days ago. I had forgotten exactly when.

The wound hadn't completely healed.

I went to the closet and found a shirt covered in dust.

I shook the dust off and put it on without hesitation.

After a while, I felt a bit of itchiness on my back, near the wound.

It might be infected.

When I went out to buy clothes, James returned again.

What was he back for? Did he want to watch me suffer?

He tossed a shirt at me and told me to wear it.

I refused. After all, he had a girlfriend, and it wouldn't be appropriate to buy clothes for another girl, right?

Wait, it had been three years. She must have become his wife by now, right?

But that was none of my business.

James pulled me back into the house.

I obediently sat in a chair.

James took out alcohol and ointment to clean my back.

It stung a bit, but I didn't make a sound.

What was this little pain compared to what I had endured?

"I wonder why this one is on your waist?" James pointed at a particularly ugly scar on my side.

It was more on my kidney than my waist.

I shook my head, indicating that I didn't know either.

"Why did they hit you?" asked James as he adjusted my shirt.

I had already changed into a new shirt.

"Because I was disobedient." I added quickly, as if afraid he wouldn't believe me, "But don't worry, I'm very obedient now."

"Why were you disobedient?" It seemed he didn't hear the answer he wanted, so he asked again.

"I dropped a grain of rice while eating, and the teacher noticed." I looked as obedient as I could.

James frowned and didn't say anything.

I glanced at him, unsure of what he was thinking.

After a long pause, he slowly spoke again.

"Besides your back, did they hit you anywhere else?"

I shook my head to indicate no.

Actually, they didn't hit my back. I curled up, and that was all they could reach.

"It's late, you should go back." I didn't want to stay in the same space as him. I felt suffocated.

Moreover, without me realizing it, it had already become dark outside.

"You said it's late. I won't go back tonight," said James after giving it some thought.

I hadn't eaten anything since breakfast at James's place.

I took out the vegetables I bought at noon, lit a fire on the stove, and casually cooked something.

Fortunately, my grandfather didn't use the gas stove much. Otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to eat at all.

"This isn't a rehab center. You don't need to eat so fast." I heard James's voice while I was focusing on my meal.