Living into the Person You Hate Most

It can be said that Dai Hao's attitude in this matter is clear: I made a mistake, I admit it, I feel guilty, and I want to make amends.

Although it was too late, at least he acknowledged this wife and son, and at least he did his best after the truth was revealed.

What about Huo Yuhao?

Look at how Huo Yuhao treats his son.

The birth of this child was itself a complex tragedy.

Xu Yunhan's mother is named Ju Zi. I won't comment much on Ju Zi herself, as many of the things she has done are highly controversial. However, one thing is an objective fact: the birth of this child was indeed planned by Ju Zi without Huo Yuhao's knowledge.

At the time, Huo Yuhao was unconscious for some reason, Ju Zi took the opportunity to obtain his bloodline and became pregnant with this child.

In other words, Huo Yuhao genuinely didn't know about the child's existence.

He was completely kept in the dark, at least until the child was born.

Does this sound familiar? That's right, it's almost exactly the same as Dai Hao's situation back then. Both had illegitimate children without their knowledge, were kept in the dark, and only found out the truth after the child was born.

The gears of fate turned, presenting Huo Yuhao with the same test.

Back then, he hated Dai Hao with a passion that seethed through his teeth, because he felt that a man should never let his child suffer away from home.

Now it's his turn. The same test questions—let's see how he answers them.

Dai Hao's choices were: guilt, repentance, making amends, and acknowledgment.

Huo Yuhao's choice was to distance himself, distance himself, and observe from the sidelines.

Shrek Academy, Female Dormitory.

Xiao Xiao was leaning against the headboard reading her diary when she came across this passage. She suddenly sat up straight, her almond-shaped eyes wide open, her face filled with disbelief.

"No way..."

She murmured, her voice trembling slightly, "Huo Yuhao... how could he do this?"

In the diary Lin Ye read, Huo Yuhao was described as a gentle and reliable person, the core of the future Shrek Team, and a partner trusted by everyone.

He was loyal to his friends, ruthless to his enemies, and devoted to his relationships—at least that's how she saw him.

But now his diary says that he actually chose to stand by and watch his future biological son with indifference?

Xiao Xiao rubbed her face vigorously, as if to make sure she wasn't seeing things.

She read it again, word by word, to make sure she hadn't misunderstood.

Lin Ye's wording was very clear: "Distancing," "disavowing," and "observing coldly."

Every word felt like a bucket of cold water being poured over her head.

She suddenly realized something.

When she read the diary before, she only saw Huo Yuhao's glorious side: Million-Year Soul Ring, Three-Life Martial Soul, Ultimate Ice, being granted a title at the age of nineteen, founding the Spirit Pagoda, and ascending to godhood.

These deeds were so dazzling that everyone subconsciously regarded Huo Yuhao as a perfect hero, an omnipotent chosen one.

Ke Lin Ye tore away the halo today, letting them see the shadows behind it.

A genius, a hero, a Deity —when faced with his own blood relatives, he chose to run away.

Xiao Xiao felt her worldview had been severely shaken; she needed time to process it.

The most ironic part is that Huo Yuhao himself was born out of wedlock, and he knows best what it's like to be without a father's protection.

What did he feel when he was called a "bastard" as a child? What did he feel when his cousins in the Duke's Mansion bullied him and no one stood up for him?

What did he feel when he watched his mother groan in pain on her sickbed, unable to afford a good doctor? He experienced all of that feeling firsthand, and it was etched into his memory.

However, when the same fate befell his own son, he felt no empathy whatsoever.

That child named Xu Yunhan also grew up without a father.

His mother, Ju Zi, was caught in the treacherous vortex of the Sun Moon Imperial Family, constantly facing suppression and danger from various forces.

The mother and son's situation was very similar to that of Huo Yuhao and his mother when they were struggling alone and helpless.

Huo Yuhao knew better than anyone how difficult those days were.

But what did he do? He deliberately distanced himself, unwilling to acknowledge this blood relationship.

He felt that the child was the product of Ju Zi's scheme against him, not something he wanted willingly, so he refused to acknowledge it.

Okay, let's assume he has a reason. After all, being schemed against is a terrible feeling, and he can resent Ju Zi.

But what about the child? What did Xu Yunhan do wrong?

This child had no right to choose his own birth, nor the right to choose who his father would be. He came into this world with Huo Yuhao's blood flowing in his veins; this is an undeniable fact that no one can change.

Huo Yuhao's resentment towards Ju Zi is one thing, but his indifference towards this innocent child is another.

He can hate Ju Zi's methods, but he shouldn't transfer that hatred to a child who has done nothing wrong.

Xu Yunhan did nothing wrong, yet he became a child without a father.

The one who made him a fatherless child was none other than Huo Yuhao, who hated the very thing about "not having a father" back then.

What do you call this? This is called living the life you hate most.

Shrek Academy, Female Dormitory.

Jiang Nannan frowned more and more as she read the contents of the diary.

She was usually mild-mannered and rarely made sharp comments about others, but at this moment, a rare look of disappointment appeared on her face.

She knew Huo Yuhao, and although they hadn't known each other for very long, in her impression, Huo Yuhao had always been a responsible person.

Judging from the diary entries, the future Huo Yuhao will be able to fight with all his might for his teammates in the All-Continent Tournament and risk his life for Shrek Academy on the battlefield.

How could someone who poured their heart and soul into establishing the Spirit Pagoda to resolve the conflict between humans and animals be so indifferent to their own flesh and blood?

She was a little incredulous because Lin Ye's previous diary had portrayed Huo Yuhao in such a positive light, depicting him as a chosen one, a lucky one, and a savior.

This is vastly different from the cold and indifferent image of Huo Yuhao that Lin Ye described today.

Ke Lin Ye's analysis left her speechless.

Huo Yuhao hated Dai Hao his whole life. What was the core of that hatred? Wasn't it simply, "Why won't you acknowledge me?"

All his suffering stemmed from an unacknowledged identity and a childhood neglected by his father.

Huo Yuhao knew better than anyone how deep that pain was, yet he transferred the same pain onto his son without any change.

Jiang Nannan thought of herself.

She came from a poor family and had a loving mother.

She imagined what it would be like if her mother disowned her for some reason and abandoned her in some corner of the world—that feeling would be worse than death.

And that's the fate that Xu Yunhan, that child, has to endure.

She sighed softly and said in a low voice, "Huo Yuhao was indeed wrong in this matter."