Journey to become a God

Ye Chen, a 17-year-old boy, was raised by his grandfather in a quiet, secluded village. His life had been simple and uneventful until he ventured beyond the village to pursue his education in the city. With no family to support him, he learned to fend for himself, juggling part-time jobs while maintaining strong academic performance. His hard work earned him a place at Hexing School, where, after three months, he started dating Yu Ting.

Yu Ting, with her shoulder-length hair, slender frame, and modest height of 155 cm, was not the most popular girl in school, but to Ye Chen, she was the most beautiful. They had been together for nine months, sharing countless memories. However, as they entered their second year and were placed in different classes, Ye Chen noticed a shift in her behavior. She became distant, her messages fewer and her replies delayed.

It was a Sunday, and Yu Ting's workplace was closed for the day. Since it was Ye Chen's payday the previous evening, he decided to treat her to Starbucks, a rare indulgence given his tight budget. He had always been careful with his expenses, often eating leftovers from his workplace just so he could afford small luxuries for her.

Yet, today, she ignored both his calls and messages. Frustration gnawed at him as he stared at his silent phone.

"Where is she? Why isn't she answering?" he muttered to himself, running a hand through his hair.

By noon, he decided to head out for food. He settled at a roadside restaurant, eating quietly when the sudden roar of an engine shattered the calm. A sleek BMW sportscar, gleaming under the sunlight, sped down the street before coming to a smooth halt nearby. Conversations around him hushed as diners turned to admire the luxury vehicle.

Curiosity piqued, Ye Chen glanced over—and his breath hitched.

Yu Ting stepped out of the car.

His grip tightened around his chopsticks as another figure emerged from the driver's side—a tall, well-dressed man exuding confidence. His designer attire, polished shoes, and expensive watch screamed wealth. But what truly made Ye Chen's stomach churn was the way Yu Ting wrapped her arm around the man's.

They looked too close. Too familiar.

A wave of heat rushed through Ye Chen's veins as he pushed back his chair and stood up, his body moving before his mind could catch up. Within moments, he was in front of them.

"Ting Ting!" His voice was sharp, cutting through the murmur of the crowd.

Yu Ting stiffened before turning. Her eyes widened in shock, then quickly flickered with something else—guilt? Annoyance?

"Ye Chen? What are you doing here?" she asked hesitantly.

"I should be asking you that," Ye Chen shot back, his gaze shifting to the man beside her. "Who is this?"

The man raised an eyebrow, glancing at Yu Ting with mild curiosity. "Who's this guy, Ting Ting?"

Yu Ting hesitated, her fingers fidgeting. Then, after a pause, she inhaled sharply and spoke.

"He's… my ex-boyfriend."

Her words felt like a punch to the gut. Ye Chen's heart pounded in his chest, emotions clashing—hurt, anger, disbelief. His fists clenched at his sides.

The man smirked, looking Ye Chen up and down. "So, you're the broke guy she used to date?" His voice dripped with condescension.

Ye Chen's fingers twitched. A rush of anger surged through him, his hand instinctively lifting.

Yu Ting flinched, squeezing her eyes shut. But the slap never came.

Ye Chen's hand trembled mid-air before he slowly let it drop. No matter how betrayed he felt, he could never bring himself to hit her.

"Why?" His voice was raw, barely above a whisper. "Why are you doing this?"

Yu Ting crossed her arms, exhaling impatiently. "You really want to know?" She tilted her head. "I'm tired of struggling, Ye Chen. I'm tired of scraping by, counting every penny. You can't give me the life I want."

She gestured toward the man beside her. "He can."

Ye Chen felt a sharp sting in his chest. His lips parted, but no words came out.

"But… I loved you."

Yu Ting scoffed. "Love? Can love buy me a new phone? Can love get me designer clothes? You're naïve, Ye Chen. Love doesn't pay the bills."

The bitter truth settled in his bones, heavier than he could bear.

After a long silence, he let out a slow, deep breath. "I see." His voice was cold, detached. "I was blind to think you were different. We're done. Don't ever look for me again."

He turned and walked away, his chest tight but his steps firm. He would not give her the satisfaction of seeing him break.

Later that evening, Ye Chen boarded a bus back to his village. The exhaustion of the day weighed on him, but he forced himself to stay composed. As the hours passed and the bus emptied, he found himself alone.

Just a few kilometers from home, the bus suddenly lurched to a stop. The driver muttered curses as he stepped outside to inspect the problem.

"What happened, Uncle?" Ye Chen asked.

"Flat tire," the driver sighed. "We can't fix it until morning."

Ye Chen frowned. "I'll walk the rest of the way."

The road was eerily silent as he walked. The dim moonlight barely illuminated the path, and shadows stretched unnervingly in the distance.

Then, he froze.

Above him, a shadowy figure floated midair.

An old man with long, flowing white hair and robes drifted silently against the night sky.

Ye Chen's breath hitched. His mind raced. That's impossible… ghosts don't exist, right?

The figure moved, drifting closer.

A chill ran down Ye Chen's spine. His instincts screamed at him to run.

"G-Ghost!" he yelped before bolting down the road, running as fast as his legs could carry him.

Unbeknownst to him, his life was about to change forever.