05:00
The screen flickers to life, revealing a familiar face—
"Welcome to the Truth Game. I'm your host."
The man's voice is mild, like a TV news anchor.
"Each round, you'll face a choice: tell the truth or face punishment."
"What's the punishment?" I ask.
"Lose part of your memory, or—lose part of your body."
He chuckles, the screen shifts to a sealed room.
"Round one, Chen Yanxi, you're up."
The door opens, I step inside.
It slams shut behind me. I turn to see a wall—
Covered in photos, all of me.
From kindergarten group shots to recent college candids.
I reach out, touch one—
The photo lights up.
"Tell the story behind this photo."
I look at it, me at ten, with my mom in the park.
"That day, mom took me to the park and bought me a matcha ice cream."
The host nods. "Good, next."
I keep touching photos, each with its own story.
Some happy, some sad, some I'd rather forget.
Until the last one—I standing in front of the orphanage.
"What's the story here?"
I'm silent.
"Or the punishment starts."
I take a deep breath and speak: "That day, mom left me at the orphanage."
06:00
Punishment begins.
A sharp pain, like memory being torn away.
The host says, "You've lost all memories of your mom."
I shake my head, trying to recall her face, but it's gone.
"Next, Shen Yan."
Shen Yan steps into the room, door closes.
"Tell me what you thought when you first saw Chen Yanxi."
He pauses, then speaks: "I first saw her at the orphanage."
"Go on."
"She was wearing a camel coat, standing in the rain, looked lonely."
"Good, next."
07:00
Punishment is Fei Ye's turn.
"Tell me what you fear most."
Fei Ye looks up, eyes steady: "I fear losing her."
"Punishment begins."
Fei Ye collapses, convulsing.
The host says, "You've lost all memories of her."
Fei Ye struggles up, dazed.
08:00
Qi Si enters the room.
"Tell me what you want most."
Qi Si looks at the screen, voice calm: "I want the truth."
"Punishment begins."
Qi Si falls, convulsing.
The host says, "You've lost all memories of the truth."
Qi Si gets up, dazed.
09:00
Last round, back to me.
"Tell me what you want to forget most."
I pause, then speak: "I want to forget that I'm an orphan."
Punishment kicks in.
The same sharp pain, memory being torn away.
The host says, "You've lost all memories of the orphanage."
09:30
Game over.
The host says, "Congratulations, you've completed the Truth Game."
"What's this game?" I ask.
"It's part of the system upgrade, to help you understand each other better."
"Understand each other?" I sneer, "We're just pawns."
"No, you're players."
The host smiles, "Welcome to the new game world."
Chapter 13, end.