Chapter 8 Let's Break Up

Zhang Pengfei wolfed down his food. He hadn't eaten breakfast or lunch, and he was really hungry now. Most importantly, he wanted to finish eating quickly so he could leave this awful place as soon as possible.

Chen Jingyang knew what Zhang Pengfei was thinking, but didn't point it out. He just glanced at Zhang Pengfei as he finished eating, wiped his mouth, and got up to leave, saying, "Tomorrow is the first day, so make the most of the opportunity."

Zhang Pengfei's breath hitched, and he involuntarily clenched his fist. Without saying a word, he turned and left.

His girlfriend, Qin Xiaofang, is a good girl.

The two are from the same county, met in their second year of high school, and officially started dating a year ago.

Qin Xiaofang is beautiful, generous, hardworking and kind. She also came to Beijing to attend university based on her college entrance examination scores.

The two have similar backgrounds and experiences, so they have a lot in common.

After his family's misfortune, Qin Xiaofang even took leave to go home and asked her family and friends to help them through the crisis.

Without the help of Qin Xiaofang's parents, he wouldn't have been able to apply for government assistance so quickly on his own.

As he said, although he has not formally met Qin Xiaofang's parents yet, in their eyes he is already Qin's prospective son-in-law.

How could he possibly bring himself to say "break up"?

What will his classmates, friends, teachers, and relatives think of him?

But if they don't break up, Chen Jingyang will definitely ruin him! Then, how will he face Qin Xiaofang?

Moreover, given Chen Jingyang's wicked nature, it's entirely possible that he could ruin Qin Xiaofang as well!

Zhang Pengfei sat by the roadside, watching the magnificent red clouds in the sky being swallowed up by darkness little by little, unable to resist or struggle, until they finally disappeared completely into the inky night sky, as if they had never existed.

Isn't his life like that? Even if it's brilliant, it will eventually be swallowed by darkness.

Zhang Pengfei was lost in his own sorrow when Qin Xiaofang called. He hesitated for a long time before answering—it was too late, the moon was big and round, it was a beautiful night, not a time for crying. Even if he was to be executed tomorrow, he couldn't waste his last meal today.

After hanging up the phone, Zhang Pengfei turned off his phone.

Hearing the message that the phone was off, Qin Xiaofang reluctantly checked the phone number again. Zhang Pengfei rarely turned off his phone. Even if he missed a call, he would call back soon. They had exchanged messages at noon today. At that time, Zhang Pengfei said he was busy and would contact her in the evening. So why was his phone off?

A woman's intuition is usually very accurate. Qin Xiaofang didn't sleep well all night, feeling that something bad was going to happen.

Sure enough, Zhang Pengfei called her early the next morning and asked her to meet him at their usual spot.

The so-called "old spot" is a small grove of trees in Qin Xiaofang's school. It's not a big place, but it's secluded and quiet because of its dense foliage, making it one of the favorite spots for young couples.

Qin Xiaofang was still optimistic at this time because Zhang Pengfei said that he was busy until very late last night and did not notice that his phone had run out of battery and turned off automatically. He was worried about disturbing her sleep, so he did not return the call.

The two strolled through the woods. It was still early, and there were still dewdrops on the leaves. A flock of birds chirped and flitted through the woods, occasionally shaking off dewdrops and wetting the ground. The air was exceptionally fresh.

Qin Xiaofang, with her hands behind her back, suddenly bent down and stood right in front of Zhang Pengfei's face, startling him. She giggled, "What's wrong? Are you out of your mind? Hasn't Auntie's medical expenses been taken care of?"

Zhang Pengfei opened his mouth, but couldn't say anything for a long time, only humming in response.

Qin Xiaofang looked exceptionally beautiful today, wearing a purple floral dress, happily jumping around Zhang Pengfei like a nimble butterfly.

The happier she was, the less Zhang Pengfei could bear to speak.

After playing for a while, the sun gradually became scorching, so the two sat down to rest in a small pavilion. Qin Xiaofang thoughtfully handed Zhang Pengfei some water, her smile bright and cheerful.

Zhang Pengfei took it, and as if to bolster his courage, took a big gulp: "Xiaofang, there's something I want to tell you."

Qin Xiaofang blinked her big eyes: "Okay, what is it?"

In fact, Zhang Pengfei didn't sleep a wink last night. He thought of dozens of excuses to break up, but none of them felt right. They were either too fake or not decisive enough. He searched his phone and browser until dawn before finally finding a satisfactory reason.

“Yesterday, while I was walking on the street, I met a fortune teller.”

Qin Xiaofang chuckled upon hearing this: "What? Did you have your fortune told? You actually believe in this stuff?"

Zhang Pengfei gently squeezed the plastic bottle in his hand. Qin Xiaofang's smile was like a razor blade, cutting his heart until it bled profusely.

He turned his head away and whispered, "I didn't believe it at first, but the old man immediately asked me if something serious had happened in my family recently, or if a relative had passed away."

Qin Xiaofang scoffed: "Isn't that how fortune tellers always bluff?"

Zhang Pengfei licked his lips, lowered his head even further, and dared not look at Qin Xiaofang: "At first I thought so too, but then the old man asked me if I was born in August? And if I was dating someone born in September?"

Qin Xiaofang frowned, starting to believe it: "How...how did he know?"

Zhang Pengfei bit his lip secretly and said against his conscience, "I was also very curious, so I asked him a few more questions and gave him our birthdays."

Qin Xiaofang hurriedly asked, "What did he say?"

He said, "We two are like fire and water, metal and wood clashing. In your birth chart, the clash between Zi and Wu is fierce, and the Gui water is extremely strong. Meanwhile, in my parents' birth charts, the Wu earth and Bing fire, which represent the foundation and health, are being mercilessly overwhelmed and submerged by this overwhelming Gui water! It's a desperate situation where the water overflows, the earth collapses, and the fire is extinguished!"

Qin Xiaofang didn't understand anything about the concepts of Zi Wu Shui Huo (子午水火), but she knew the term Gui Shui (癸水), and her periods were indeed quite heavy. But what does it mean to be in dire straits?

Qin Xiaofang was getting a little anxious: "What did he mean?"

Zhang Pengfei's voice trembled slightly: "He said that our fates are incompatible and we shouldn't be together, otherwise it will bring disaster to my parents. He said that my father's destiny star is dim and has obviously suffered a calamity! My mother's destiny star has been destroyed and is afflicted by a serious illness star. If it is not resolved in time, she may also die!"

Qin Xiaofang's heart skipped a beat: "How do we break this?"

Zhang Pengfei swallowed hard and said with difficulty, "Complete separation, never to be related again, so that this conflicting force loses its connecting bridge, may be able to alleviate the evil energy and buy Mother a chance to breathe. This is the ruthless way of Heaven, which cannot be defied by human power!"

Qin Xiaofang jumped to her feet, looking at Zhang Pengfei in horror: "So, you believe him? You want to break up with me?"

Zhang Pengfei's eyes were already red. In this world, apart from death, there is no pain that can be compared with separation in life, and separation in life even ranks ahead of death!

What's more, he truly loved the girl in front of him, and until yesterday, he was absolutely certain that he would marry her!

"I'm sorry, Xiaofang. I really can't believe it. My father is gone. I really want to keep my mother. Let's... break up."