In the days that followed, Huo Yi donned a mask of indifference, burying his emotions beneath layers of practiced nonchalance. He navigated his life as if nothing had changed, keeping the heartbreak at bay with a façade that would fool anyone who dared to look too closely. On the outside, he laughed, joked, and engaged with friends, but within, a storm raged—a constant reminder of the love he still harbored for Liang Chen.
Their arrangement continued, a series of clandestine meetings filled with heated touches and stolen kisses. Huo Yi played his part well, transforming their encounters into a game of lust devoid of deeper meaning. He would kiss Liang Chen as if he were a fleeting shadow, every touch electric yet hollow, and each moment became an exercise in restraint. But the truth was, the walls he had built around his heart were beginning to crack under the weight of his suppressed feelings.
