Both beautiful and awe-inspiring.

This is a flame unique to the Phoenix Clan Leader.

With a flick of his finger, Chu Chengfeng sent this ball of flame into the air, and the Fire Phoenix joyfully flapped its wings, opened its mouth wide, and swallowed the flame in one gulp.

Immediately, the room echoed with the light-hearted and joyful cry of the phoenix filled with delight.

Fortunately, Chu Chengfeng had set up an escape route in the room in time, so the clear and bright sound did not travel outside.

Having devoured the golden flame, the Fire Phoenix appeared very satisfied. It seemed that its body had grown slightly larger, and it emitted a faint golden glow.

The Fire Phoenix timidly glanced at Sima Xiaowen, but Sima Xiaowen did not reprimand it.

After all, this ball of flame was very important to the Fire Phoenix. Some spiritual creatures may never have the opportunity to encounter it until they disappear; this was its destiny, belonging to the Fire Phoenix, so she had no right to stop it.

Besides, she wasn’t foolish. Why stop a beneficial occurrence when it was right in front of her; only an idiot would pass it up.

Sima Xiaowen let out a cold snort and recalled the Fire Phoenix, which was exceptionally obedient this time. However, before it vanished, it kowtowed to Chu Chengfeng to express its gratitude.

Chu Chengfeng smiled again, waved it off, only then did the Fire Phoenix completely disappear.

Only then did Chu Chengfeng turn his gaze to Sima Xiaowen. After coughing a few times and retracting his smile, he asked, "...Have you finished packing?"

Sima Xiaowen didn’t answer Chu Chengfeng’s question, but instead asked, "I heard Liu Ling call you Mo Li?"

Chu Chengfeng was taken aback, nodded, "My real name is Mo Li."

"Oh, so that’s how it is," Sima Xiaowen said softly, "You should try using that name from now on. Don’t use Chu Chengfeng unless necessary."

"Why?" Chu Chengfeng frowned and asked.

"Because in my heart, Chu Chengfeng is already dead, so I don’t really like hearing those three words."

Xiao Wen didn’t act as overbearing as she used to, nor was she aggressive. Her tone was very light, as if a gust of wind could blow it all away, yet each word hit Chu Chengfeng’s heart, making him feel suffocated, unable to breathe or exhale.

He felt that if he continued to hold it in like this, he might suffocate to death here.

In a rough and low voice, he said, "I don’t mind what I’m called, but I’m used to Chu Chengfeng for documentation, driver’s license, ID card, everything under this name. There’s nothing I can do about it."

"Why can’t you do anything? You’re only an adopted son of the Chu Family. You just need to tell Father Chu that you’ve found your biological father, whose surname is Mo, and your real name is Mo Li."

Chu Chengfeng looked inquisitively at Sima Xiaowen; he couldn’t believe she was saying this on a whim; she must have had this in mind for a long time.

"Where am I supposed to conjure up a father from? There needs to be an actual person," Chu Chengfeng replied with a touch of annoyance.

"You’re so formidable as Chief Mo Li; such a small matter shouldn’t be a problem for you."

"Don’t make it sound so easy; it’s not as simple as you think."

"What’s so difficult about it? You now suddenly have a fiancée with you, yet you still roam the streets and alleys of the Imperial Capital with your friends, don’t you?"

Sima Xiaowen spoke in a calm tone.

Chu Chengfeng was rendered speechless.

Especially the few sentences Xiaowen said later made his face flush red, even his ears grew red.

"That’s different." He seemed a bit angry with embarrassment.

Sima Xiaowen’s voice was cold, with a hint of sarcasm, "What’s different about it? You’re just deceiving yourself. Since it’s done, might as well do it thoroughly. What’s the point of covering it up?"

"I feel exhausted for you, Master Mo Li."

These four words suddenly slipped out of Xiaowen’s mouth.

Even though they were just four ordinary words, when they came out, both Sima Xiaowen and Chu Chengfeng instinctively froze.

At that moment, even the air seemed to solidify.

Master Mo Li!

Sima Xiaowen’s face turned somewhat pale, and in her distant memory, she seemed to have addressed a man as Master Mo Li.

But she was certain that this memory had just resurfaced, far from the present. She couldn’t determine what such a memory meant, but she knew that when she called out those four words back then, she did so with a smile, feeling incredibly joyful.

Chu Chengfeng felt the same way, albeit only to that extent. The air inside was silent for a moment; regrettably, neither of them could remember anything.

Sima Xiaowen gazed out the window at the world beyond, where the cold winds howled and snow covered everything in white.

She stood in this small, warm space, seemingly afraid to take a step forward. This warmth and the cold were merely a line apart. She feared that once she stepped out, there would be no turning back.

But the road always needs to be walked forward.

Just like time!

Sima Xiaowen picked up the travel bag by her feet, looked away from Chu Chengfeng, turned around, indifferently opened the door, and quickly walked towards where her car was parked outside.

She had her own car. She opened the car door, placed her belongings on the back seat, got into the car, started the engine, and sped off.

A series of actions were executed smoothly, like flowing clouds and water. Chu Chengfeng only had time to see the shadow of the car before it turned onto the road, out of sight.

He stood dumbfounded at the door for a while, then fiercely grabbed a handful of his hair, rubbed his face, locked the door, and looked once more at the place that was supposedly his marital home...

To be fair, this place was really nice, had good feng shui, and would surely be beautiful in the summer because from the second-floor balcony, one could see the distant Shuipo Lake.

It seemed that his former self had indeed put in a lot of effort for Sima Xiaowen.

And now it seemed that the last link between them had disappeared. Thinking about the future challenges at work gave him a bit of a headache.

He got into his car, looked at the mobile phone he had placed on the passenger seat, thought for a moment, and dialed Liu Ling’s number.

Currently, Liu Ling lived in the apartment where he used to live.

Liu Ling didn’t have a job. As a child, she was adopted by a family with the surname Qi, but they didn’t treat her well. At fifteen, they didn’t let her attend school anymore.

Liu Ling had two younger brothers, a few years younger than her.

She started working early, earning money to support her two brothers and that family.

This was unfair to a fifteen-year-old girl, but she gritted her teeth and persevered, and continued for ten years.

Although she was considered extremely young in their Phoenix Clan, in this world, she was too old to return to school.