A Love That Ended Before It Began

Chen Mo stood in the small courtyard, sensing his True Essence. It had only grown by the slightest bit, which brought both comfort and pain, hardship and exhaustion. But he was used to it. Keeping at one thing every day for four years was no easy feat, yet he had long since formed the habit.

Although the early morning air was not particularly good, it was far better than in the urban area. Chen Mo stretched his body and wondered whether he should find a proper internship job. For the sake of cultivation, even though he was in his internship period, he was only delivering packages. The rest of his time was spent cultivating.

Without reaching Qi Refining Layer One, there could be no Spiritual Sense, and without Spiritual Sense, he could not set foot on the path of Cultivation of Immortality. He would never be able to open that Storage Bag, nor would he ever learn what the White Jade Bead was. He truly could not accept that! That was why he cultivated so desperately. Reality had forced his hand.

If not for the Transmission Jade Talisman, he would never have been this obsessed. But after receiving the Transmission Jade Talisman, undergoing Qi Induction and Marrow Cleansing, Chen Mo had realized that the path of Cultivation of Immortality was within reach. That was why he had persisted for so long. No one could give up power within reach—the ability to fly through the sky and escape through the earth, along with the dream of a long life. And when that dream was right beside you, needing only action, who could refuse to persist?

But some things could no longer let him continue like this. His parents were gradually growing old. Because they had worked so hard when they were young, they were now covered in illnesses. It was all because they had overworked themselves so that he and his younger brother could attend university.

Then there were Chen Hui's university fees. Although his family had never told him, he knew their circumstances very well. They had probably borrowed money to pay Chen Hui's tuition. Chen Hui was a freshman who had gotten into university last year. The tuition fees for both brothers every semester had turned their parents' hair gray with worry.

So Chen Mo could not go on like this, caring only about himself. It was time for him to shoulder some of the family's living expenses.

He let out a deep breath and silently encouraged himself. Just then, the phone in his pocket rang.

"Fourth Brother, today is the return to school exam. Don't forget," his roommate and good friend Ma Yuan said.

"Alright, got it. I'll head over right away. I'll treat everyone to lunch," Chen Mo said.

"Get lost! You're fourth brother, remember? Even if you're treating, you're still fourth brother! Besides, you don't need to treat us at lunch. The class monitor said there's still some class fund left, so he booked a restaurant. He said it'll be the class's final dinner party!" Ma Yuan reminded him.

"Alright, alright, I know. You nag like a nagging woman! The class is having a dinner gathering at noon? How come I didn't know?" Chen Mo said with a laugh.

Chen Mo was extremely close with Ma Yuan, as well as his Roommates Zhao Guodong and Li Rui. At the beginning of university, they had ranked themselves by age. Based on their Dates of Birth, Li Rui became Oldest Brother, Zhao Guodong became Second Brother, Ma Yuan became Third Brother, and Chen Mo, the youngest, became Fourth Brother.

"How many days has it been since you last came to school? Isn't that why the class monitor asked me to tell you? Also, Legs for Days will be attending today. Are you still going?" Ma Yuan asked.

When Chen Mo heard "Legs for Days," he thought of Gong Hui, that rather pretty girl with a great figure—especially those legs that went on forever. She was also his classmate.

As for what had happened between the two of them, that story began in his sophomore year.

Back then, wood ear was something to eat, chrysanthemums were something to look at, and cucumbers could only be used as vegetables. Everyone was still innocent.

When he had just entered his second year of university, he was still cultivating diligently, though only in the mornings. Once, after finishing his cultivation and walking back to the dormitory, he ran into Gong Hui, Legs for Days. She had not gotten up early to exercise; she was returning from off-campus when she accidentally twisted her ankle on a campus road. She was sitting on the curb, rubbing her foot, when she looked up and saw Chen Mo.

Chen Mo did not pull out his phone to make a video recording, nor did he pull out a Non-liability Contract for her to sign. Since this was on campus, he did not think anyone would try to scam him. Besides, Gong Hui was a classmate from the same year, so he offered her a hand.

He helped Gong Hui to the infirmary, and after the examination, he helped her back to the dormitory. But the distance was rather long, and with one injured foot, she could not walk properly. Out of humanitarian spirit, he carried Gong Hui on his back and took her to the Girls' Dormitory.

Once they reached the Girls' Dormitory, he put her down and hurried away. It was his first time carrying a girl on his back, and he felt a little embarrassed. He thought that would be the end of it, that he and Legs for Days would have no further connection. But he was still too young, thinking the matter would simply pass. Unexpectedly, someone posted a photo of him carrying Gong Hui on the Campus Forum, along with the caption: 'Young couple's early morning public display of affection!'

What the hell? I was helping someone, alright? Can't people do Good Deeds anymore? Chen Mo was immediately a little angry, but there was nothing he could do about it, so he chose not to pay attention to it.

Unexpectedly, a day later, for reasons unknown, Gong Hui replied directly beneath it: 'No need to be jealous!' Instantly, the forum erupted in howls. Gong Hui was considered one of the Campus Belles of the academy, quite pretty. No one had expected the most inconspicuous Chen Mo to win her over, and everyone felt rather indignant.

Chen Mo only learned of Gong Hui's reply when the others in his dormitory mentioned it. He was utterly confused. They were not even familiar with each other, so why would she say something like that? He set the matter aside and did not deal with it or think about it anymore. He had far too much to do every day. He had to study, cultivate, and take part-time jobs to earn living expenses. He truly did not have time to think about such things. His roommates teased him several times, leaving him with nothing but bitter smiles. He told them there was no such thing between them and that he had merely helped a female classmate in trouble, but no one believed him when he told the truth. In the end, he simply let them say whatever they wanted.

After this happened, she posted that reply without offering any explanation. Then, during class the next day, Gong Hui sought him out and said she had only done it because she thought it was funny. She hoped he would not mind, and she even treated Chen Mo to lunch as an apology.

That was how the two became acquainted and became friends. Sometimes they studied together, and sometimes they treated each other to meals. After this continued for a while, their relationship gradually began to warm. Because of this, Chen Mo even clashed with several male students from the academy. Fortunately, with his inhuman physique and strength, dealing with those lust-addled fellows was effortless.

But what he had not expected was that just as Chen Mo was considering starting a Love Affair with Gong Hui, one morning after exercising, he saw her getting out of a BMW Car while walking back to the dormitory. When she shared a goodbye kiss with the driver, his heart turned icy cold.

Chen Mo stood behind Gong Hui. When she finished and turned around, she was startled out of her wits by his presence, and her face immediately went pale.

He did not listen to any explanation, nor did he need one. It was true that he had some feelings for Gong Hui, but he had not confessed yet. That meant he was not her boyfriend and had no right to interfere in her affairs. Turning around and leaving was the best choice. A love that had not even begun was cut short just like that.

When Gong Hui came looking for Chen Mo again afterward, he found excuses to brush her off. Gong Hui was very smart and seemed to understand something, so she gradually stopped interacting with Chen Mo. Even when they ran into each other later, neither spoke to the other. His Roommates asked him about it many times, but he always muddled through with vague answers.

"Why is Legs for Days going? Isn't this our class dinner gathering?" Chen Mo asked.

"Someone invited her. I only saw it when the class monitor was booking the dining room and counting the number of people," Ma Yuan said.

"Oh," Chen Mo replied.

"Fourth Brother, what happened before is already in the past. I'm not very clear on the grievance between you and Gong Hui, but since you're all Fourth Year Students about to graduate, let it go. After all, you were Classmates once. Isn't there that saying—if romance is gone, the friendship remains?" Ma Yuan said.

Chen Mo thought about it and agreed. He said to Ma Yuan, "Alright, I'll go to the dinner gathering too. Let's consider the past settled. From now on, we'll each go our separate ways."

Gong Hui was Chen Mo's love life in university that ended before it began, and also his only chance at romance during university. But after learning the truth, he gave it up. He did not want to be anyone's shield, and being a backup had nothing to do with him.