The next day, early in the morning.

When Chen Hao woke up, he was overwhelmed by a single feeling, numbness.

He felt that everything, including his body and his breath, belonged to him except for his soul.

Last night, everything seemed unreal to him, as if it were all just a dream. Yet, even under the numbing hypnosis of that dreamlike state, the pain in his heart was still distinctively sharp.

After brushing his teeth and washing his face, Chen Hao managed to squeeze out an incredibly stiff smile in front of the mirror. He told himself that only by fleeing could he live a numb life. If he were sober, he would realize that there was no meaning or reason to keep on living.

Since his grandfather passed away, Ye Yuqiao had become the last haven and home in his heart. Now that Ye Yuqiao's heart no longer belonged to him, he could only escape this fact and deceive himself that none of it was real.

Looking in the mirror, Chen Hao smiled foolishly again, only to realize that his tears and bitterness were like a fishbone stuck in his throat. He quickly turned on the faucet and doused his skin and cheeks with cold water, using it to dilute everything, preventing himself from seeing his own tears.

After packing up, Chen Hao went downstairs. Passing by Ye Yuqiao's doorstep, he nearly knocked on the door to call her to class, as he used to do. Fortunately, he caught himself in time and stopped himself. To keep from recalling that painful incident, Chen Hao hurriedly ran down the stairs at a brisk pace.

Hearing Chen Hao's departing footsteps, Ye Yuqiao, hidden behind the door, slowly knelt to the ground and whimpered, "Do you really plan to ignore me from now on?"

Although she rationally hoped that Chen Hao would stop bothering her, deep down she longed for him to knock on her door as before, to embrace her upon seeing her, and then to hold her hand as they went to school together.

Would those days never return? Ye Yuqiao wondered.

On the way to school, Chen Hao couldn't escape the heartbreaking fact that he had grown accustomed to the warmth of Ye Yuqiao's palm in his hand.

Though the streets were bustling, Chen Hao felt desolate and lonely. Dragging his heavy feet forward, he was agonizing and struggling through memories of the past.

Finally, Chen Hao arrived at the school gate.

Suddenly, a hand patted Chen Hao on the shoulder from behind. Startled, he slowly turned around, his gaze hollow, "Tang Jing, good morning?"

Seeing Chen Hao's distracted and pale appearance, Tang Jing frowned and asked, "Chen Hao, why do you look so haggard? I've been calling you a few times, didn't you hear me?"

"Ah!" Chen Hao exclaimed in surprise, then said with a pained expression, "I didn't sleep well last night, I'm a bit sleepy!"

"Is that so?" Tang Jing looked at Chen Hao suspiciously, then glanced around, and asked again, "Where's your girlfriend? Why isn't she here? Oh! I get it, you must have had a fight and ticked off Yuqiao! You pissed her off so much that she didn't want to come to school, you're such a jerk!"

Hearing Tang Jing say this, Chen Hao sighed deeply and turned away to leave alone.

"Jerk, why would you just walk away like that, so petty!" Tang Jing said rather displeasingly to Chen Hao, "Just go apologize to Yuqiao, aren't you thick-skinned?"

Chen Hao didn't respond, but walked away even faster. Before he knew it, his eyes were brimming with tears as he wished it were just a typical quarrel.

But it wasn't!

In a daze, Chen Hao finally made it to the end of the school day. As soon as class ended, fearing being bothered by Tang Jing, Tang Chao, and Xie Xiaofeng, he swiftly left the school.

Since Wang Chuan vanished after activating the Five Elements Reincarnation Formation, Chen Hao had to visit the Yin Yang Master Association personally to arrange the defense against Wang Chuan and to cooperate with the police to complete the investigation and reporting of the matter.

Not until nine-thirty at night did Chen Hao finish his tasks and leave the Yin Yang Master Association. This busy day had been torturous for someone whose spirit remained in a haze. On his way back, when passing by a bar, Chen Hao stopped.

After hesitating for a long moment, he still entered the bar.

As soon as Chen Hao sat down at the bar, a female bartender approached and asked, "Handsome guy, are you of age? Minors aren't allowed in the bar, you know."

Chen Hao expressionlessly took out his ID and his work permit from the Yin Yang Master Association and said coldly, "Can I order a drink now? I want to get drunk, not heartbroken!"

After carefully inspecting the ID Chen Hao handed over, the waitress smiled and said, "Welcome! I'll go get you a drink that's guaranteed to make you forget your heartbreak."

Chen Hao chuckled, but his heart felt increasingly bitter.

Fifteen minutes later.

Chen Hao had already finished five drinks, an unprecedented binge for someone who rarely drank. At this moment, resting his head on the bar, he was somewhat inebriated.

At Ye Yuqiao's home, seeing that Chen Hao hadn't come back so late, she became a bit worried. She closed her eyes and, through her connection with the Nether King's Heart, sensed Chen Hao's presence. Seeing him asleep in the bar, with the lights casting shifting shadows, Ye Yuqiao furrowed her brows and immediately got up to head for the bar.

Twenty minutes later, Ye Yuqiao arrived at the bar.

However, under a tree not far from the bar's entrance, she found Chen Hao tightly kissing a girl, who was none other than Tang Jing.

"Ah!" Ye Yuqiao let out a piercing scream, her body convulsing, unable to believe what she was seeing.

At that moment, Chen Hao and Tang Jing separated and turned their heads to look at Ye Yuqiao, both with faces full of shock.

The three of them locked eyes, silent. A few seconds later, Ye Yuqiao turned and ran off, leaving only a few scattered teardrops behind.

"Tang Jing!" Chen Hao suddenly sobered up, "Sorry, I didn't mean to take advantage of you!"

Tang Jing shook her head repeatedly, explaining, "Chen Hao, today you seemed a bit off, and I was afraid something would happen to you, so I secretly followed you. Later, when I saw you were drunk in the bar, I wanted to take you home, but I didn't expect you would mistake me for Yuqiao, and even less that Yuqiao would appear at that moment."

Scratching his head in great annoyance, Chen Hao said with a face full of regret, "It's all my fault, going to a bar and trying to drown my sorrows with alcohol!"

...

Half an hour later, Chen Hao arrived downstairs at his home, slightly sober at first but becoming dizzier as the alcohol's aftereffects kicked in.

Standing in front of Ye Yuqiao's door, hesitating for a long while, Chen Hao ultimately did not knock but staggered upstairs.

After entering his home and lying on the sofa for a few minutes, suddenly, someone knocked on the door.

It wasn't until the fifth knock that Chen Hao stumbled to the door and opened it, only to see a tear-streaked Ye Yuqiao standing in front of him.

Chen Hao thought it was a dream.

With a "smack!", Ye Yuqiao slapped Chen Hao on the left cheek.

Feeling the pain, Chen Hao's eyes widened as he muttered, "This isn't a dream!"

Somewhat sober now, he looked at Ye Yuqiao, slightly angry, "What right do you have to hit me?"

"I hit because I wanted to! You deserved it!" Ye Yuqiao said angrily, tears streaming down as she spoke. After that, she lifted her head and slapped Chen Hao's right cheek.

Her hand was very heavy, and the heavier she hit, the more her heart hurt.

"Don't you dislike me?" Chen Hao said angrily, grabbing Ye Yuqiao's arm and glaring at her. "Who I choose to kiss is none of your business!"

Provoked, Ye Yuqiao raised her hand to slap Chen Hao's face again.

However, this time Chen Hao caught her arm. Just about to say something, he suddenly felt dizzy and fell toward Ye Yuqiao.

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