“Father! Bad Father!”
When Feng Yuan heard what Dad said, his chubby little face showed not a hint of happiness. He clenched his tiny fists, huffing angrily. “Bad Father doesn’t want Yuan Yuan, so Yuan Yuan doesn’t want bad Father either!”
Feng Yuan had once lived together with his Dad in the World of Mountains and Seas.
In the World of Mountains and Seas, all the other little ones had two parents!
Only Feng Yuan didn’t.
It was one thing for the bad Father not to want him, but he had even passed down a whole bunch of flaws to him.
Thinking about the bad Father, Feng Yuan’s little chubby hand unconsciously reached back to touch his own plump, round bottom.
In his original form, he was a little cub with a bald bottom.
Among phoenixes, lush and magnificent plumage was the standard of beauty.
But Feng Yuan, this little cub who was constantly getting into fights, so much so that his feathers had become a bit bald, was nowhere close to being considered beautiful.
And yet, despite his young age, he had already awakened a love for beauty.
For a vain little cub to look at himself—bald here, not beautiful there—was truly a cruel thing.
At that time, the cub, unwilling to accept this cruel reality after spending a few days staring at himself in the mirror, ran straight to his Dad.
He held his little wings out stiff and straight, and chirped seriously.
He was announcing his new discovery: “Dad, Yuan Yuan isn’t bald from fighting. Yuan Yuan inherited it from bad Father!”
Feng Qi: “…”
Feng Qi said helplessly, “Yes, yes, yes, everything is your Father’s fault. Even the bed-wetting from the night before last, also your Father’s fault.”
As for Feng Yuan’s Father, who was always taking the blame, Feng Qi couldn’t be bothered to speak up for him.
After all, even though the two of them had a child together, the amnesiac Feng Qi still wasn’t familiar with Feng Yuan’s Father.
He couldn’t even remember what Feng Yuan’s Father looked like. He only remembered his scent.
“Yuan Yuan.”
In the past, Feng Qi never cared to speak up for Feng Yuan’s Father, but right now, he had no choice but to say a few good words on his behalf.
“Your Father didn’t abandon you. He probably doesn’t even know that I gave birth to you.”
For phoenixes, nurturing life was a very long process.
By the time Feng Qi laid the egg, he was already alone.
He laid the egg and incubated it, spending quite a lot of time and effort in the process.
For a long time, Feng Yuan stayed inside the egg without the slightest reaction, looking exactly like a dead egg.
If not for the fact that the egg’s weight was steadily increasing, Feng Qi would have panicked long ago.
“Good Yuan Yuan, listen to Dad. Go see your Father, alright?”
Feng Qi sat down, placed the chubby little cub on his lap, and patiently coaxed, “Our Yuan Yuan used to want a Father too, didn’t you?”
A child’s feelings toward their parents carry a natural kind of affection.
Before calling him a bad Father, Feng Yuan had once held Feng Qi’s large hand and asked him for a Father.
Because he could never get one, the little one started calling him “bad Father”.
He chirped and chirped about all the bad things his bad Father had done, as if only by doing that could he make it seem like he didn’t want the bad Father, and not that the bad Father didn’t want him.
For not bringing Feng Yuan to the human world earlier to look for his daddy, Feng Qi felt both guilty and helpless.
He was one of the guardian gods of the World of Mountains and Seas, and couldn’t leave it easily.
Some time ago, the World of Mountains and Seas completely collapsed. All the demon beasts and spirits trapped inside—good or evil—fled in every direction.
Feng Qi came to the human world not only with the thought of finding a “meal ticket” for his cub before his own death, but also with the plan to use his remaining time to reseal or slay as many of the escaped evil beasts as possible.
Under Feng Qi’s gentle coaxing, the cub, still clutching his cotton candy, mumbled in a soft, muffled voice, “If I meet Father, will Father help Yuan Yuan take human form?”
“In theory, yes.”
When Feng Qi heard him bring this up, he knew the boy must have eavesdropped on his conversation with Bai Ze: “Your Uncle Bai Ze said that in your situation, if you had your biological Father’s aura to soothe you, your little body might no longer be restricted from taking human form.”
After Feng Qi finished explaining, the cub, who had buried his chubby face in his arms, finally lifted his round little chin slightly.
“Hmph, Yuan Yuan is only going to find Father because he wants to take human form.”
Feng Yuan raised his chin high, putting on a proud little expression. With a deliberately emphatic soft voice, he said, “Yuan Yuan doesn’t want Father at all.”
“Alright, our Yuan Yuan doesn’t want Father. Our Yuan Yuan only wants to use Father to take human form.”
Feng Qi played along with him, giving him a way to step down.
Feng Yuan, following along that step, dawdled for a while but finally went along with it.
After the father and son finished talking about finding Father, Feng Qi got up to boil some water, preparing to cook a meal.
He knew Feng Yuan had already eaten, so he only made food for himself.
He was a phoenix on the verge of death. To preserve the last of his spiritual power, he never used any in his daily life.
Right now, he was just like an ordinary mortal. He could feel hunger, pain, and illness.
“Dad, let me cook for you.”
Feng Yuan saw his Dad covering his mouth, trying hard to suppress a cough. Heart aching, he ran over, volunteering to cook.
Feng Qi didn’t let him.
Although Feng Qi’s cooking wasn’t particularly good, he never pushed the chore of cooking onto Feng Yuan.
“Yuan Yuan, go brush your teeth, and also pick out the clothes you’ll wear after your bath. Once Dad finishes eating, he’ll help you take a bath.”
Feng Yuan replied, “Okay~”
He put away the cotton candy his daddy hadn’t eaten yet, then obediently went to brush his teeth and picked out the short-sleeved dinosaur pajamas he would wear to bed.
In addition to the pajamas, there was also a row of little yellow ducks. Feng Yuan’s favorite bath toys.
Soon after.
Feng Qi had finished his meal and got everything ready. He mixed water in a plastic washbasin, undressed Feng Yuan until he was completely bare, and placed him inside.
Feng Yuan didn’t like staying in the water.
To make him soak a bit longer and get properly clean, Feng Qi would deliberately tease him during bath time to distract him.
“Yuan Yuan, aren’t the little ducks cute? Can you sing the new little duck song you learned for Dad?”
“I can!”
Sitting in the plastic washbasin, the chubby little cub held a floating duck in his plump hand and opened his mouth to sing.
The little duck song he sang had all its lyrics jumbled up, and the tune wandered so far it couldn’t find north, south, east, or west.
But even such a childish song made Feng Qi listen with a smile in his eyes.
“Yuan Yuan sings so well.”
Feng Qi’s eyes curved as he praised the cub. His long, handsome fingers rubbed the chubby little body.
Feng Yuan’s plump little body was very ticklish and full of soft flesh.
As Feng Qi scrubbed him, the boy started splashing around in the water.
“Giggle giggle giggle—”
Feng Yuan leaned his small body back while laughing uncontrollably.
Water splashed out of the basin, landing on Feng Qi’s handsome face.
Feng Qi didn’t mind at all, nor did he lift a hand to wipe it away.
He only smiled as he reached out to catch the cub, who was tilting and flopping about in the water.
When the bath was finally over, a large patch of the cement floor in the room was visibly wet.
Feng Qi wrapped the dripping wet cub in a dry, fluffy towel. He placed him on his lap to dry him off, and then skillfully dressed him in his little dinosaur pajamas.
“Yuan Yuan, go to bed. Dad will come to keep you company in a bit.”
After washing the cub, Feng Qi still had to tidy up the room.
Feng Yuan got into bed early. He sat cross-legged on the bed, his round eyes staring unblinkingly at his Dad.
Dad’s condition had clearly gotten worse.
Before he even finished mopping up the puddles on the floor, Dad stopped from exhaustion, turning his back to cough.
Feng Yuan saw his Dad wipe his palm and mouth with a tissue.
He knew Dad must have spat blood again.
“Dad, you said your sickness would get better. Was that a lie to your cub?”
Feng Yuan suddenly asked, eyes fixed on his Dad’s back.
Hearing this, Feng Qi’s body froze instantly.
He didn’t dare turn around to look at Feng Yuan. Even more so, he didn’t dare tell him—
That he had lied to his cub.
His illness had long been beyond saving.
Feng Yuan was too young. If he learned the truth now, it would be far too much for him to bear.
Feng Qi wanted him to find his Father first. Then, when he had his Father’s company, he could be told the truth. At least there would be someone to comfort him.
“Why are you suddenly asking this? Did Dad’s coughing scare you?”
Feng Qi forced himself to finish mopping the floor.
He came back and sat by the bed, pinched Feng Yuan’s soft cheeks, and comforted him, “Alright, don’t be afraid. Dad’s fine. Dad still has to watch Yuan Yuan go to school, grow up, and start a family.”
As Feng Qi spoke those reassuring words, Feng Yuan, sitting in front of him, pouted his little mouth. He raised his chubby hand and wiped the corner of his mouth.
“Dad.”
Feng Yuan buried his small head in his embrace, his soft voice sounding like he was holding back tears. “You have to get better, okay?”
“Yuan Yuan will pick up more scraps and sell them for money to take you to the hospital.”
Hearing such filial words from the little one filled Feng Qi’s heart with a mix of sourness and ache.
Lowering his gaze, he hid all the emotions surging in his eyes.
“Yuan Yuan.”
Feng Qi avoided the topic of his own health. Hugging the cub in his arms, he lay down and coaxed him in a clear, pleasant voice, “Close your eyes and sleep. Tomorrow, Dad will take you out.”
“Mm!”
Feng Yuan shut his eyes tightly. Before long, he really did fall asleep.
Feng Qi gazed at his peacefully sleeping little face and gently kissed him.
The next day.
Feng Yuan woke up early.
He had already turned back into a little chick—soft, pale yellow fluff with a tuft of messy bedhead feathers sticking up on top, making him look a little silly.
Feng Qi, who had also woken up, reached out to smooth down the tuft.
“Yuan Yuan, do you want to meet your Father like this, or do you want to take human form?”
By his side, Feng Qi had already prepared the clothes for him to wear.
Feng Yuan hesitated for a few seconds before making his choice. “Chirp, chirp chirp.”
Yuan Yuan won’t take human form!
If he followed Dad out like this, Dad would definitely carry him along the way.
Compared to his human form, his current original form was a bit smaller. That way, Dad could carry him more easily.
“Alright, Yuan Yuan looks good like this, too.”
In Feng Qi’s eyes, whether his cub took human form or not made no difference.
His cub was beautiful and adorable in any form.
After the father and son finished breakfast in their small house, they set off.
Feng Qi walked slowly, teaching Feng Yuan along the way how to recognize his Father’s scent.
“You and your Father share a bloodline, so you can also smell his scent.”
Feng Yuan: “Chirp chirp.”
Feng Yuan didn’t want to be carried by Dad anymore. He flapped his little wings, wanting to get down and walk on his own.
Feng Qi occasionally let the chubby little cub walk for a bit. But most of the time, he carried him.
They needed to pass through a bustling commercial street to reach the wealthy district.
Feng Qi was worried that if the cub ran on the ground by himself, he might get lost.
Father and son walked and rested along the way. Finally, close to noon, they arrived at their destination.
It was a villa district, with several houses that looked extravagant at a glance.
Feng Qi stopped at the gate of one of them. Having walked for so long, his complexion wasn’t looking very good.
“Hello, may I go in? I’d like to go inside to look for someone.”
A villa like this not only had top-tier access control but also twenty-four-hour gatekeepers working in shifts.
Supporting himself against the iron gate, Feng Qi politely asked the guard.
The guard was a sturdy young man. Looking at Feng Qi, he asked in return, “Do you have proof?”
“What kind of proof?”
“Proof that you have an appointment to meet with the owner, Mr. Li.”
Feng Qi: “…”
Of course, Feng Qi had no such thing.
He glanced down at the little ball of fluff at his feet and fell into thought.
“Chirp chirp.”
Dad, Yuan Yuan can squeeze through here.
Seeing that Dad couldn’t get in, Feng Yuan pointed with the tip of his little wing at the iron fence gate in front of them.
Feng Qi: “Forget it.”
Feng Qi: “Let’s just wait here.”
He didn’t let his son try to squeeze through the gate. Instead, he waited at the entrance, planning to guard the door and wait for the Father.
He wasn’t sure whether Feng Yuan’s Father was inside or outside. The scent here was so dense that it was throwing off his sense of smell.
The guard frowned slightly at the sight of the man and the chick outside, not leaving.
As a gatekeeper, he not only had to guard the entrance but also prevent anyone from disturbing the residents.
This man, who looked like he could be a celebrity, standing there set the guard’s vigilance to full. He kept a close watch on him.
As for the little chick squeezing back and forth between the bars of the fence, the guard didn’t really care.
The chick was round and plump, looking very meaty.
In fact, he even thought that if the little chick got lost, he could wait until his shift ended, pick it up, and maybe have a fragrant braised chicken dinner.
“Chirp, chirp chirp!”
After squeezing around inside the fence for a while, Feng Yuan got tired of the game.
He looked toward his Dad and chirped at him nonstop.
He wanted to go in and look for his Father!
Feng Qi stood at the gate for a while, his head growing dizzy.
Lowering his head to look at the chirping cub, he waved a hand. “Go on, but remember to come back soon.”
The little one knew the way, so Feng Qi wasn’t worried about him getting lost and being unable to find his way out.
With permission granted, Feng Yuan happily ran inside.
The guard saw the little yellow chick run into the villa and didn’t stop him.
“Sir, to tell you the truth, Mr. Li isn’t home. Even if you wait here, you won’t be able to see him. The weather’s hot right now. You might as well come back another time.”
Seeing Feng Qi standing out in the sun, the guard tried to persuade him to leave.
Feng Qi didn’t listen.
Just as the guard was about to try again, a car approached from a distance.
The same guard who had just said Mr. Li wasn’t home opened the gate ahead of time, before the car even arrived.
He bent slightly at the waist, respectfully waiting for the vehicle to drive in.
Feng Qi: “?”
His eyelid twitched, and his gaze locked straight onto the car.
“The person in the car is Mr. Li?”
He asked the guard softly, even as the feeling in his heart grew so strong that his fingertips began to tremble.
The guard didn’t respond to Feng Qi.
But Feng Qi was already certain. Whether or not the person in the car was Mr. Li, one thing was for sure—
Feng Yuan’s Father was in that car.
