In a narrow alley near the Chongwen Gate in Beidou, there stands a building with a modest facade but a long history.
Gray brick walls and a red door, through which one can vaguely see the main building’s intricate stained glass and the symbol of a cross.
This is the Chongwen Gate Church of the Beidu Christian Church, established in 1870. It was the first church built by the association in Beidou and even the North China region. In 2006, it was listed as a national cultural heritage site.
Across the whole of Beidou, the Christian Church has 16 churches. They each have their unique architectural styles, as well as distinct historical and cultural backgrounds. These churches are a highlight on many CityWalk routes.
Of course, this is rely for the tourists.
For those genuinely seeking a pilgrimage, these places are sacred.
At this mont, inside the small chapel of Chongwen Hall, in a confessional covered by a black curtain, a young woman in a light white spaghetti strap dress sits silently.
The dim light barely filters into the dark confessional, but it cannot hide the glow from the girl’s beautiful appearance. Her fair skin gleams even in the darkness, drawing an unbreakable gaze.
Yet at this ti, no one can witness this scene, not even the female priest sitting just across from her.
Seeing the young woman hesitate to speak, the priest across from her finally can’t help but say, "Child, from your voice, you seem quite young. Can you tell your na?"
"I... my na is Ji Xiaoxi, and I’m 23 years old."
Ji Xiaoxi hesitated for a mont, then spoke softly, politely asking, "And you, teacher?"
"Ji Xiaoxi, that’s a beautiful na. May I call you Xiaoxi? As for , you can just call Mr. Liu."
The elderly woman priest paused for a mont, then let out a kind laugh, "This must be your first confession, right?"
"Yes... is there a procedure?"
Perhaps it was the magnetic voice of the woman priest that made Ji Xiaoxi unconsciously relax a bit, and she asked carefully.
Today, coming to Chongwen Hall was initially to visit the priest here, as instructed by her parents and accompanied by a relative... That priest was a friend of her father’s from his study abroad days, considered an uncle figure to Ji Xiaoxi.
However, upon arrival, the priest was not there. Ji Xiaoxi originally planned to leave the gift and depart, but she happened to overhear another couple laughing and discussing what they confessed.
Confession, a sacrant within the church, involves candidly admitting sins to a priest, seeking forgiveness and psychological comfort.
Whatever is spoken in the confessional, the priest is obliged to keep confidential, ensuring that misconceptions of identity are set aside by having the curtain for privacy.
Initially, Ji Xiaoxi wasn’t interested, until she heard that the confessional was temporarily being overseen by an experienced female priest today.
In traditional Catholicism, only celibate n can serve as priests, while in Christianity, the requirents are relaxed a bit, allowing won to be priests.
It would be incredibly awkward for Ji Xiaoxi to open up to a strange man, but if the listener were an older woman, she would feel much more at ease.
After much hesitation, Ji Xiaoxi decided to let her accompanying sister and others wait outside while she gathered the courage to enter the confessional.
"There are no strict procedures to follow; the key is for you to open up your heart to and share those untold, yet tornting things, child. Rember, it is not who is listening to you, but the great Lord, who will forgive all your sins."
Unconsciously nodding, Ji Xiaoxi finally began to speak slowly:
"Teacher, I am guilty."
Yet the mont she finally spoke, Ji Xiaoxi couldn’t help but tighten her fingers.
"What kind of guilt?"
Mr. Liu’s voice remained calm, clearly having heard similar openings countless tis.
"I... am impure."
"Hmm?"
Mr. Liu was slightly surprised and then grew more serious, "Few won describe themselves this way. What... have you done?"
"I am entangled with a man. I should say that before we even knew each other well, he... violated ."
"Child, that is not your fault. You are also a victim. Why be so hard on yourself for this?"
"But, I cooperated... No, to be precise, I didn’t realize how imrsed I was. Even during the first ti, I was the one who asked him to continue. Yes, although I hate to admit it, although I was drunk, I know those were just excuses..."
Perhaps after suppressing these feelings for so long, having the opportunity to express them so freely to soone made Ji Xiaoxi abandon her sha.
From first eting Zhou Wang, to the first ti in that guest room, to later encounters in that restaurant, even how she once called Zhou Wang deep into the night only to hear him engaged in wrongdoing, sothing she secretly listened to as if bewitched.
And those countless midnight monts, drenched sheets, and disheveled bedding...
Ji Xiaoxi, with her glassy eyes, hadn’t realized that, unconsciously, her cheeks had already taken on a blush like the morning glow.
"..."
The priest on the other side of the curtain remained silent throughout the process until Ji Xiaoxi finished her confession,
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