Feng Yuan didn’t have to wait long at the door before Li Ting’s car arrived.
Li Ting was sitting in the driver’s seat, his expression visibly unpleasant.
“Little uncle.”
Feng Yuan tiptoed and patted the car door. When the door opened, he climbed in. “Yuan Yuan is here!”
Li Ting knew that Feng Qi’s birthday was today.
He had come here, and he even brought a gift.
“Here, your dad’s birthday gift.”
“Thank you! I’ll give it to my dad in a bit.”
Feng Yuan touched the gift, expressing thanks on behalf of his dad.
After he finished with the gift, he raised his hand to touch Li Ting’s large hand.
“Little uncle, don’t worry. Yuan Yuan will definitely find a way for you.”
“I’ll take you home first.”
Li Ting put him in the back seat. After making sure he and Qin Xun were seated properly, he drove home.
On the way, Li Ting said, “When I woke up this morning, I found Su Miao was missing.”
“I searched the entire house but couldn’t find him.”
Li Ting’s hands gripped the steering wheel tightly. Even though his emotions were extremely unstable, he drove steadily.
Feng Yuan sat with his little chubby legs crossed, patiently comforting him.
The car stopped at the doorstep.
As soon as Feng Yuan stepped inside, he saw Su Miao.
He looked at Su Miao’s figure, his mouth slightly open.
“Yuan Yuan, you’re here.”
Su Miao stood by the table, smiling faintly at Feng Yuan. His smile carried a trace of helplessness. “Li Ting must have told you, right? He can’t see me again.”
Feng Yuan’s little face froze as he turned to look at Li Ting.
Seeing his expression, Li Ting immediately understood.
“Su Miao didn’t leave, right? He’s here, isn’t he?”
“It’s just that I can’t see him.”
When Li Ting said the last sentence, his hands clenched tightly into fists.
Feng Yuan walked over, a sour feeling rising in his chest.
He felt that seeing little uncle and little aunt like this was just too pitiful!
“Little uncle, don’t cry!”
Feng Yuan’s little brain was working hard, thinking about how last time little uncle was able to see Su Miao.
This question wasn’t only on his mind. Li Ting and Su Miao were actually thinking about it, too.
Su Miao had come to Li Ting before, many times in fact, yet without exception, Li Ting had never been able to see him.
From not being able to see him to being able to see him, Su Miao and Li Ting thought about it for a long time and finally realized the only factor that had appeared in between—
They had both come into contact with Feng Yuan.
Su Miao had clung to Feng Yuan for several days. Feng Yuan had been with Li Ting for quite a few days as well.
Then, when Su Miao stood in front of Feng Yuan, Li Ting finally saw him.
The reason the two adults had thought of, Feng Yuan’s little brain turned over for a moment, and he thought of it too.
He lifted his little face and asked, not very sure, “Little uncle, are you able to see little aunt because of Yuan Yuan?”
Li Ting didn’t say anything.
Feng Yuan was a practical little one. He immediately decided to test it.
“Yuan Yuan will stay here with you for a while and see if you can meet!”
As he said this, he opened his little arms, wanting a hug.
Li Ting picked him up and sat down on the sofa.
Su Miao also sat down nearby.
Qin Xun had the yin-yang eye, so he could see Su Miao quite clearly.
The few of them squeezed onto the sofa. Li Ting held Feng Yuan in his arms and put on a cartoon for him.
Feng Yuan sat on Li Ting’s lap. But after a while, he couldn’t sit still anymore.
His little body tilted over, his head resting on Li Ting’s lap, while his chubby little feet kicked against Su Miao.
The few of them watched TV like that.
The cartoons Feng Yuan loved to watch were a bit childish for the adults.
The two adults hardly paid attention to the cartoons, only occasionally glancing at Feng Yuan.
Qin Xun didn’t watch the cartoons either.
He borrowed a tablet from Li Ting and then logged into a website.
Seeing which site he logged into, Li Ting asked, “What kind of website is this? I’ve never seen it before.”
“It’s a discussion forum.”
Although Qin Xun was still young, he understood a lot. He had been precocious since childhood.
“Most people can’t access this forum. It’s all about exchanging information on abnormal events.”
Hearing this, Li Ting’s curiosity was piqued a little.
“Abnormal events?”
“Yes. People who can access it aren’t ordinary.”
“I have the yin-yang eye, so I can access it too.”
Qin Xun skillfully searched through the posts, reading them carefully.
He could recognize and type many characters, unlike Feng Yuan, who still couldn’t read and could only send voice messages when posting.
He often searched for things on this forum.
The forum had a section on ancient mythology.
In the ancient mythology section, there was a lot of information recorded about the phoenix.
The phoenix had always been a symbol of good fortune. Over many past years, phoenixes had even appeared in the world.
Therefore, there was still a considerable amount of information for exploring and understanding phoenixes.
Qin Xun read it all.
He also frequently posted questions.
And his questions were answered by others.
Right now, he was asking: “Everyone, I was reading a book and saw an article that said someone who spent a long time with a phoenix was able to see their deceased spouse. What causes this? Does anyone know?”
Qin Xun’s question had the tone of an adult.
Even in his usual posts on the forum, it was never apparent that a child was asking the questions.
Soon, a few replies popped up under the post.
1L: “Yo, it’s this ID again. You’re really interested in phoenixes, huh? I see you in all the posts about phoenixes.”
2L: “Hahaha, you’re asking about phoenixes again. I’ll @ a top expert on phoenixes for you.”
This forum had decent traffic.
Before long, a senior user who researched phoenixes replied to Qin Xun.
“The person in the book could see their deceased spouse not because the phoenix gave them a connection to spirits, but because their own desire to see their spouse was extremely strong.”
“The intensity of their desire, combined with the presence of the phoenix’s aura, allowed their wish to be fulfilled.”
“To explain it simply: in ancient times, people often set up altars, praying to the gods to fulfill their wishes.”
“The phoenix is a deity.”
“The fact that this person could be accompanied by a phoenix means he was offering it tributes—same principle as worship. The phoenix was very pleased with him, and invisibly, its aura favored him.”
Qin Xun kept staring at the post.
Seeing this reply, he typed rapidly, asking further: “Does everyone who has come into contact with a phoenix receive such favor?”
45L: “You’re dreaming.”
46L: “The phoenix isn’t some magical wishing well. It won’t grant everyone who sees it their heart’s desire.”
47L: “The phoenix is naturally proud. Only those who have offered tributes to it or have earned its recognition can come into contact with its aura and receive even a trace of its favor.”
48L: “The phoenix’s favor isn’t given out casually.”
Qin Xun: “In the article I read, that person had the phoenix by his side, but still couldn’t see his deceased spouse. Why is that?”
49L: “……”
49L disappeared for quite a while.
It was more than twenty minutes before it appeared again.
50L: “I’m back. I went to check some things.”
51L: “The situation you described usually has two reasons.”
52L: “Reason one: the phoenix has grown weary of this person.”
53L: “Reason two: this phoenix isn’t up to the task, I guess?”
Qin Xun: “……”
This time, the silence was on Qin Xun’s side.
He turned his head to look at Feng Yuan, who was still watching the cartoon.
“Yuan Yuan, don’t squint your eyes.”
Qin Xun frowned, reminding Feng Yuan, who was imitating the movements from the cartoon.
Feng Yuan loved to mimic things.
He would imitate people around him, and he would also mimic things he saw on TV.
The squinting thing, Qin Xun had caught him doing several times.
He didn’t just blink normally; he would suddenly squeeze his eyes shut.
This wasn’t a good habit.
After reminding him, Feng Yuan paused with his little chubby legs crossed and obediently didn’t squint anymore.
Seeing this, Qin Xun returned to reading the posts.
This time, he didn’t continue with that thread.
He searched for a new one.
The new thread was about the growth of a young phoenix.
What a juvenile phoenix had to go through to grow into a majestic phoenix capable of protecting all beings.
In other words, it was about the progression path of a young phoenix—how it should advance.
Qin Xun read it very carefully.
Originally, Li Ting had been watching cartoons with Feng Yuan, but now his gaze was completely drawn to the posts Qin Xun was searching through.
He went through a lot of information together with Qin Xun.
There was an old post that described the method for a young phoenix to advance.
It was simply to let the young phoenix do what a phoenix is supposed to do.
Eliminate evil spirits, drive away malevolent forces.
The more of these things a young phoenix did, the more beneficial it was for its growth.
Li Ting stared at the post, lost in thought.
After a long moment, he murmured, “Su Miao… he’s not evil, right?”
His Yuan Yuan… surely wouldn’t drive Su Miao away, would he?
“Little aunt isn’t evil.”
Qin Xun heard Li Ting’s murmur and offered a small word of comfort.
Qin Xun followed Feng Yuan’s lead in how he addressed Li Ting and Su Miao.
After Qin Xun comforted Li Ting, Li Ting’s expression improved a little.
The two of them had spent a long time researching, and now at least had a direction.
They could basically confirm that the reason Li Ting and Su Miao could meet was indeed because of Feng Yuan.
And the reason the two couldn’t meet now was also because this little phoenix, Feng Yuan, wasn’t quite capable enough.
“Qin Xun, don’t you have the yin-yang eye?”
“Mm.”
“I have a task for you. Find a few ghosts and let Yuan Yuan drive them away.”
As Li Ting spoke, he patted Qin Xun on the shoulder, looking very confident in him.
Qin Xun looked up, his little face showing a hint of speechlessness.
“Little uncle, I only have the yin-yang eye, that doesn’t mean I can catch ghosts.”
He couldn’t bring the ghosts over for now.
He had met a Taoist on the forum who knew he had the yin-yang eye. Perhaps feeling sorry for him, the Taoist had sent him a few tattered, old books.
The books contained information on catching and driving away ghosts and such.
But Qin Xun had just started reading them.
He hadn’t practiced any of it yet.
Hearing this, the hope that had just risen in Li Ting instantly burst like a bubble.
Just as the tall and the small sat in awkward silence, Feng Yuan, who was watching the cartoon, suddenly spoke up: “Yuan Yuan will go find the bad ghosts himself!”
Li Ting: “?”
Qin Xun: “?”
Both of them looked at Feng Yuan at the same time.
Lying on the sofa, leisurely watching the cartoon, Feng Yuan grabbed some chips and spoke to them: “You want Yuan Yuan to level up? Yuan Yuan can do it.”
The young phoenix knew what needed to be done for its own advancement.
Unfortunately, just now, neither the tall nor the small beside him had asked him.
While the tall and the small were still frozen in surprise, Feng Yuan, having finished a bag of chips, rubbed his rounded little belly and sat up.
“Little uncle, can’t you see little aunt anymore because Yuan Yuan isn’t strong enough?”
Feng Yuan’s unexpected question made Li Ting pause for a few seconds before he instinctively nodded.
After nodding, he immediately felt that nodding might be too discouraging for his chubby little Yuan Yuan.
So, he pointed to the tablet in Qin Xun’s hands and shifted the responsibility: “That’s what the forum says. I still think my Yuan Yuan is very capable.”
Hearing the word “forum”, Feng Yuan leaned his little head closer and glanced at it.
After just two quick glances, he looked away.
There were so many characters on the forum.
He didn’t recognize any of them.
Up to now, Feng Yuan, still a little illiterate, hasn’t made things difficult for himself.
Since he couldn’t read the characters on the forum, he could just ask Qin Xun what he had been reading.
Qin Xun explained everything to him in full detail.
Feng Yuan was sometimes afraid of evil spirits and malicious demons, and sometimes not.
Suddenly appearing ghosts scared him.
Demons he couldn’t defeat scared him too.
But if he was mentally prepared in advance, knowing what he would face, he could dispel a large part of his fear.
Now, for the sake of little uncle and little aunt being able to be together, Feng Yuan climbed off the sofa, puffed out his little chest, and proudly announced: “Yuan Yuan is going to level up!”
“Little uncle, little aunt, just wait! Yuan Yuan will definitely make you meet!”
With his tiny, high-pitched voice, he finished his announcement and stopped watching the cartoon.
He sat down, crossing his chubby little feet: “Put shoes on Yuan Yuan.”
Li Ting hurried to put on his little shoes.
Once his shoes were on, Feng Yuan jumped down and, leading Li Ting, Su Miao, and Qin Xun, headed straight out the door.
It was still early. If he said he was going to level up, he was going to do it.
As for the location of the leveling-up…
He walked to the doorway before finally turning to Qin Xun with a question: “Where should Yuan Yuan go to find bad ghosts?”
Qin Xun: “Let me check.”
Qin Xun once again skillfully searched on the tablet.
This time, he looked through the “paranormal help” section.
Someone had posted: “I feel like my aunt smells bad… she doesn’t seem human.”
The poster explained that his father had found him a stepmother, and the two were about to get married.
But he could always smell a foul odor coming from this aunt, who was supposed to be his stepmother.
The stepmother smelled bad, yet she clearly wore perfume.
One night, when he got up, he even saw her putting on makeup in front of the mirror and spraying perfume.
When the stepmother saw him, she even walked over, sniffed him, and said he smelled sweet.
He was a little afraid of his stepmother.
And today, his father and stepmother were getting married…
“Let’s go here.”
Qin Xun pointed to the location given by the poster.
It was the most luxurious hotel in the city, with a very large area and a vast outdoor space.
Qin Xun said, “I know the person who’s getting married.”
To be able to hold a wedding in the city’s most luxurious hotel, have a child, and be divorced. Just from those details, Qin Xun thought for a moment and knew who it was.
Qin Xun chose the location, planning to take Feng Yuan to see whether this smelly stepmother was actually human.
On the way.
Qin Xun introduced the people getting married to Feng Yuan: “His surname is Chen, and his son is called Chen Wen. The one asking for help online is Chen Wen.”
Chen Wen was in the third grade of elementary school. Before his parents divorced, he had a cheerful personality. But after the divorce, he became somewhat withdrawn.
After finishing his introduction of the groom, Qin Xun added, “Yuan Yuan, your big daddy might also be there.”
This Mr. Chen, the company president, came from a good family background and had a wide network of friends in their circle.
The guest list for this wedding, Qin Xun felt, would include many people he knew.
“Big daddy definitely won’t go.”
Feng Yuan, who had rolled the car window down to enjoy the breeze, for once didn’t fall asleep in the car.
He huffed, “Big daddy has to stay with dad!”
Today was Dad’s birthday, so he wasn’t working.
If Dad wasn’t working, Big Daddy surely wouldn’t be willing to leave him either.
Feng Yuan swung his chubby little legs as he revealed the fact that Big Daddy was a kissy monster.
After hearing him say that, Qin Xun glanced at him.
Feng Yuan himself probably hadn’t realized yet—
He was also a little kissy monster.
The car sped along and soon reached the destination.
With Li Ting there, getting inside went very smoothly.
After they went inside, Li Ting spotted a familiar face.
“Well, Xiao Ting, what a surprise. You actually came too.”
The acquaintance was Yu Yi, a friend of Li Sheng’s, who also knew Li Ting quite well.
Holding a wine glass, he walked over with a smile and greeted Li Ting: “Did you hear your brother wasn’t coming, so you came in his place?”
That teasing remark earned him a sharp glare from Li Ting.
While the two adults chatted, Feng Yuan and Qin Xun had already slipped away hand in hand.
Back in the car, they had already discussed it—
Since Feng Yuan and Qin Xun were both small, wandering around inside wouldn’t draw much attention.
So, the two little ones were going to act on their own.
