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Toph hadn't heard from Renee in days. Slowly, he realized their relationship could never return to what it once was.
During this time, he came to understand a few things. Since their relationship had taken its course, it was best to let
things unfold naturally. Not pushing too hard might show respect for their relationship and preserve their last shreds
of dignity.
Furthermore, he found something he enjoyed.
He could chat about comics with Arya daily and discuss plots. When he got stuck, Arya would draw the characters
with him. His comic had started serialization again, and with Arya's help, he had made some changes that led to a
steady increase in viewership. While it hadn't reached the previous 100,000-plus mark, watching the data steadily
rise gave Toph a great sense of accomplishment.
Most importantly, he could be himself around Arya.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtShe didn't pressure him with complicated theories or push him to compete for control of the Hamerton Group. In
Arya's eyes, family and happiness were equally important. Like him, she had a loving older brother and didn't have
to worry about family matters.
Arya told him, "When you're doing something, you don't need to calculate gains and losses. If you enjoy it, just go
for it. Keep at it, and good results will come."
"So, you think my drawing isn't a waste of time, right?" Toph asked.
Arya smiled. "This is something you love, and it's meaningful. How could that be a waste of time?"
Suddenly, Toph understood the concept of "sharing the same values." He and Arya had similar hobbies and ideas
and came from similar family backgrounds.
Neither of them had to struggle for their livelihoods because their families had enough resources to support their
interests. This made it easier for them to get along.
However, Toph still often thought about Renee. Sometimes, he would lie awake in the quiet of the late night,
replaying scenes from their past together. They had their happy moments, but everything changed later on.
As he thought about this, Arya's pure smile came to his mind.
His heart skipped a beat, and he immediately slapped himself, forcing those thoughts away.
Was he betraying Renee and their relationship by thinking that way?
He felt uneasy. He never saw himself as that type of person. Even if things didn't work out with Renee, he should
take time to heal after the breakup before starting a new relationship.
Guilt engulfed Toph. The more he thought about it, the worse he felt about himself.
His upbringing taught him to take all the blame, but he forgot how others treated him.
During that period, he stopped talking about the comic with Arya. Even when she knocked on his door, he wouldn't
answer. He would simply excuse himself, claiming he had a cold, and worried about passing it on to her, so he kept
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmhis distance.
Nevertheless, he leaned against the door, listening to her footsteps. He waited until he heard her return to her own
place and close the door before sighing in relief. Still, a slight sense of disappointment remained in his heart.
Shortly after, a courier arrived, delivering a box of cold medicine. As Toph held the box, a rush of emotions
overwhelmed him.
At the same time, his phone vibrated.
It was a message from Renee, begging to meet him.
Toph held his breath and took two steps back as his heart shattered like ice, a shallow ache spreading from deep
within him.
[Toph, we haven't been in contact for so long. Don't you want to see me?]
His finger hesitated over the screen, but he took a deep breath and ultimately agreed to her request.
In truth, Toph wanted to see her, too. Not for any other reason but to finally have a clear conversation with her.
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