Startled Realization

"Then I'm really leaving. I won't go into Spirit City. You know, I really hate scenes like farewells..."

At Spirit City's gate, Huo Yuhao and Qian Renxue stood facing each other, both showing reluctance to part.

These past two months could be called the happiest time of Qian Renxue's life. Huo Yuhao's companionship had given her warmth and joy unlike anything she had ever known. Yet now, Huo Yuhao was leaving. At the thought that she would not see him for a long while, Qian Renxue's eyes reddened, her heart filled with reluctance and sorrow.

"All right, it's not like I'm never coming back. I'm only leaving for a while, and I'll come see you again soon. Why are you crying?" Huo Yuhao gently reached out and tenderly wiped away Qian Renxue's tears.

"Who's crying? The wind and sand are just too strong. I got sand in my eyes." Qian Renxue stubbornly raised her head. Despite her efforts to hide her feelings, a tear still rolled down her cheek and fell to the ground.

"Drip, drip..."

At some point, a light rain suddenly began to fall from the sky, gradually turning into a torrential downpour. Rain Threads wove through the air as layers of mist spread out, enveloping all of Spirit City in a hazy veil.

The pedestrians along the streets hurriedly sought shelter from the rain. Some ducked into roadside shops, while others ran beneath nearby buildings. At the vast city gate, the once-bustling crowd instantly thinned out, leaving only Huo Yuhao and Qian Renxue standing face-to-face.

Huo Yuhao's gaze remained fixed on Qian Renxue before him, a trace of daze in his eyes.

This scene felt so familiar, as though he had experienced it somewhere deep within a distant memory. His thoughts drifted uncontrollably back to the lakeside on Sea God Island beneath that curtain of rain.

That day, Shrek Academy's first semester had been about to end, and it had been raining just like today. The one by his side had been none other than Dong'er.

In his daze, Huo Yuhao seemed to see Wang Dong's figure overlap with Qian Renxue's. A pang of sorrow rose within him, his nose stung, and tears seemed to gather in his eyes.

Huo Yuhao gently reached out and pulled Qian Renxue into his embrace. His movements were tender and cautious, as though he wanted to grasp that lost warmth, those cozy moments that had once belonged only to the two of them.

Feeling Huo Yuhao's warm embrace, Qian Renxue felt her heart begin to pound, as though it might leap from her chest. A faint blush bloomed across her cheeks, and the tips of her ears turned red like newly blossomed peach flowers.

Although she had hugged Huo Yuhao before, this time, Qian Renxue could feel Huo Yuhao's burning feelings.

His embrace was tighter than before, as though he wanted to meld her into his body. She could feel his heartbeat, fast and powerful.

Feeling Huo Yuhao's warm breath brush against her neck, Qian Renxue felt a little dazed.

Huo Yuhao's scent carried a unique warmth that gave Qian Renxue an unprecedented sense of security. She closed her eyes and immersed herself in that warmth, nearly forgetting everything around her.

"Yuhao, it's time for us to leave." Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's voice rang out in Huo Yuhao's mind, breaking the tranquility. Only then did Huo Yuhao come to his senses.

Seeing Qian Renxue's flushed face in his arms, Huo Yuhao hurriedly let go. His gaze unconsciously dropped, and he did not dare look into Qian Renxue's eyes. "All right, Xiao Xue, I have to go. While I'm away, take good care of yourself. Wait for me to come back."

Qian Renxue lowered her head, her little face red, her voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz. "I-I'll keep waiting for you, Yuhao. Be careful on the road."

After saying that, Qian Renxue turned and ran toward the city gate. The flush on her face had nearly spread all the way down her neck.

Yuhao... he likes me, doesn't he? Otherwise, why would he have reacted like that just now...

Qian Renxue shyly covered her eyes, her heart as sweet as honey.

At the city gate, Huo Yuhao stood there and watched Qian Renxue's retreating figure gradually disappear into the distance, an indescribable sense of loss welling up within him.

Qian Renxue's figure slowly blurred in the lingering light of the setting sun until it vanished at the edge of his vision. Huo Yuhao's heart seemed to be pulled farther and farther away with it, leaving him with an unprecedented sense of emptiness and confusion.

Huo Yuhao took a deep breath, turned around, and took his first steps north.

"Yuhao, what you're doing is very unfair to her." Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's voice suddenly rang out in Huo Yuhao's mind, interrupting his thoughts.

Hearing Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's words, Huo Yuhao fell silent. Something deep within him seemed to have been stirred.

Huo Yuhao slowly spoke, his voice carrying a trace of helplessness and confusion. "Brother Sky Dream, I-I don't know why things have become like this. I've realized that I'm becoming less and less able to control my emotions..."

"Yuhao, you know that isn't what I'm talking about." Sky Dream Ice Silkworm interrupted him.

"What exactly are you thinking? You can't live in the past forever. Qian Renxue likes you so much. If she knew what was in your heart, how heartbroken would she be?"

A ripple stirred in Huo Yuhao's heart. He understood that Qian Renxue's feelings for him were sincere, while he seemed to have always intentionally or unintentionally avoided those feelings. At times, he even felt as though he were running away from emotions.

For some reason, Huo Yuhao found it increasingly difficult to control his feelings.

Huo Yuhao clearly knew what emotions he should show in what circumstances, and what feelings he should reveal. Yet it seemed that he himself had never developed any new feelings.

"Yuhao, those who toy with emotions will eventually suffer their backlash. To be honest, I noticed something wrong with you as early as when we were in the God Realm."

Sky Dream Ice Silkworm let out a helpless sigh.

"For the God of Emotion to suffer backlash from his own emotions sounds unimaginable. But it is precisely because that Divine Power has bound your emotions that I can sense it. Your perception of emotions seems to have become somewhat numb."

Sky Dream Ice Silkworm sighed helplessly.

"Haven't you noticed? All the emotions you feel now are actually imitations of emotions from your past."

"For your feelings toward Qian Daoliu, you're imitating those you had for Mu En. For your feelings toward Qian Renxue, you're imitating Wang Dong. For your feelings toward Hu Liena, you're imitating Ma Xiaotao."

Hearing Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's words, Huo Yuhao felt his scalp tingle as an unbelievable guess suddenly surfaced in his heart.

"Brother Sky Dream, my humanity may have been suppressed by the divinity of the God of Emotion!"