Chapter 339: Chapter 228: The Pains of a Breakup?

A palm-sized pot bubbled on the induction stove. Chen Yuan ladled in some cold water, quelling the foam that was threatening to boil over.

He dished out the noodles, now with two fried eggs, and carried the bowl to the table. The steaming porcelain was so scalding that he had to shake his hands vigorously.

While moving, the storage box full of pots and pans had accidentally fallen, and Chen Yuan had to wrap his hand in a towel to pick out a usable bowl from a pile of sharp shards.

Leaving a familiar place meant having to get used to everything all over again.

Chen Yuan picked up some noodles, puffed out his cheeks to blow on them, and glanced around. This was the new apartment he was renting. It wasn’t large, but it was cozy.

That day, the two sisters had ultimately failed to make Chen Yuan stay.

After he had made it clear that getting back together was not an option, a dejected Jiangg Ning stopped her sister from blocking his way and stepped aside from the door.

And so, he had moved all his things here—a serviced apartment not far from Lanjing University. The service was excellent; you could summon a housekeeper with a single button press, and the soundproofing was fantastic.

Downstairs, there was a swimming pool and a gym. Most lifestyle amenities were readily available.

Men and women handle breakups differently.

After two days of contemplation, Chen Yuan couldn’t say he was still sad, but the images that occasionally popped into his head still stirred his emotions.

It was bearable during the day. The real torment began at night, when he was alone.

The solution to this problem was equally simple.

He had to keep himself constantly engaged with the outside world, too busy to feel sad. That way, the pain wouldn’t get to him.

Of course, Chen Yuan knew he only felt fine because the full force of the breakup hadn’t hit him yet.

According to his research, when guys face romantic failure, it’s like having a thorn stuck in their flesh that can’t be pulled out. They can only let their own flesh and blood wear it down over time. This process takes a long time and requires enduring the feeling of that thorn for the long haul.

It lasts until you meet the next right person.

In any case, the farce was over.

Now, this college student in the prime of his youth was ready for a full recovery. Just as he’d told Jiangg Ning and Jiangg Yao, it was time to pull himself together and embrace his new life.

Starting now, he was single again and ready to get his groove back.

The biggest perk of living alone was having plenty of time to try countless new things, without ever having to worry about neglecting his girlfriend and having to coax her back into a good mood when he got home.

Losing one role in life meant shedding a corresponding responsibility. He felt a great sense of relief.

Chen Yuan took a bite of the slippery fried egg and habitually picked up his phone, opening Green Bubble.

His body suddenly went stiff.

He abruptly realized he had already deleted Jiangg Yao’s contact information. There would be no more messages from his girlfriend. ’Perhaps it’s time to break this habit of constantly checking my phone.’

Chen Yuan let out a self-deprecating laugh.

After finishing his noodles, Chen Yuan set down his chopsticks, grabbed the crossbody bag he’d left by the entryway, and headed out.

He drove to a private sports facility in Lanjing. In the parking lot, he was backing up his car under the direction of a gray-templed old man.

"Back!" 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

"Back!"

"Back!"

Chen Yuan kept reversing. He looked in his rearview mirror and saw he was about to hit the wall, the parking sensor beeping frantically, but the old man was still waving his signal flag and yelling.

Just as he was getting confused, a young man with a buzz cut hurried over.

He knocked on the glass. KNOCK KNOCK.

After he rolled down the window, the young man apologized profusely.

"Sorry about that, sir. That old man lives on the next street over. He has dementia and often imagines he’s a traffic cop."

With that, the young man craned his neck, shouted a couple of angry words, and shooed the old man away.

Chen Yuan didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. He finished parking, grabbed his backpack from the seat beside him, and headed for the front desk on the first floor.

He’d only noticed this sports facility yesterday. It was surrounded by lush green trees, hiding it from the view of the street. A few large, red characters were embedded on the east side of the building, and a glance at its footprint told him it was a high-end establishment.

He was even more certain after entering the parking lot, as his Mercedes-Benz was one of the cheaper models there.

Lined up in rows were Maybachs, Panameras, Lexus LSs, and Land Rovers, each one occupying a parking space with an imposing presence.

Chen Yuan wasn’t intimidated. He was looking for a comfortable place to work out, one that didn’t reek of sweat like a typical gym.

’I’ve figured it out,’ he thought. ’If you have money, you should spend it. Acting like a fool and giving your all for someone else every day just gets you cheated in the end.’

’In this world, you have to learn to love yourself before you can love anyone else. That’s the only healthy view on love.’

’My family has the means, so why would I force myself to suffer? What is that, if not being a masochist?’

With this single epiphany, the conflicted feelings that had twisted Chen Yuan up since childhood finally eased. He dug the bank card his father had given him out of his bag. He had never touched the living expenses on it, and it was probably enough for a good spending spree.

"Hello, sir. How may I help you?"

This high-end place really was different. The young lady at the front desk wore a pricey-looking athletic outfit—a light purple top, her hair in a high ponytail, and a bright smile.

She was also quite buxom, revealing a hint of trembling, pale cleavage.

"It’s my first time here. How does it work? Do you charge by the hour or what?"

"Then you’ve come to the right place, sir! We’re a sports club co-founded by a global athletic brand and a local partner. It’s membership-based with prepaid credit. All drinks, meals, and other services inside are complimentary."