Don't pretend, everyone knows you're the villain!

Nie Shuyi quickly handed the fruit she had picked that day to Bai Fengming, who then held one to Nie Shuyi's lips.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to run away and make you worry, or cause you any trouble."

Nie Shuyi was stunned by the soft tone of voice, her heart melting. She hurriedly took a bite of the fruit that was close to her lips.

After chewing for a while, I realized that I hadn't expressed my opinion yet.

"Hey, it's nothing. If you're okay, then I'm okay too."

Nie Shuyi didn't feel that worrying about the other person was causing him trouble; he did it voluntarily.

But Bai Fengming clearly didn't think so.

Bai Fengming held up the fruit, which was still half full, so Nie Shuyi had no choice but to take a big bite, making a crunching sound.

"Can you please stop being angry with me? Actually, I just wanted to do something to ease your burden, but I didn't expect it to be dangerous. I won't do it again, and I won't cause you any more trouble."

Could you please not send me away...?

Nie Shuyi looked completely bewildered. "I'm not angry."

His little one is so sweet; he wanted to share the burden by sneaking out on his own. It's all that damned snake's fault for being so blind and hurting people, even him.

Nie Shuyi suddenly exclaimed "Oh!" as she realized another layer of meaning. She then muttered to herself, "It sounds like she's trying to distance herself from me. Is this what they mean by wanting to separate now that the kids are grown up?"

Nie Shuyi panicked at the thought; it was too dangerous outside. His own cub was so beautiful; he couldn't let other spirit beasts covet it.

"Son, you stay here with me and behave yourself. You can't run off on your own anymore, understand?"

Bai Fengming was overjoyed; it was good that he could stay.

So he nodded obediently and replied, "I know..."

Nie Shuyi was delighted; his son was obedient and sensible.

"I'm your father, remember that?"

Bai Fengming stared in astonishment, then hurriedly shook his head in refusal.

"No...you can't be my father."

Nie Shuyi was indignant when he heard this, and slammed his palm on the ground, causing the ground to crack.

"Why should I? I hatched you, so even if you're not my biological child, I still raised you."

Bai Fengming trembled at the commotion; Nie Shuyi had never been so agitated before. Back when he was still a little phoenix, Nie Shuyi would always shield his ears from the slightest noise.

Is he so angry because he won't be his son? But he doesn't want to be his son. Or is it because he doesn't like his current appearance? But he can only communicate in human form.

Nie Shuyi forgot about what had just happened, quickly wiped his hands on his clothes, gently patted Bai Fengming's back, and whispered comforting words.

"Baby, don't be afraid."

Bai Fengming's lips trembled for a long time before she finally mustered up the courage to say, "I...I have a father."

"Huh?" Nie Shuyi was dumbfounded. He had brought this little guy back before it even hatched, so how could it still remember who its biological father was?

I recalled the crimson pattern on Bai Fengming's back when he was putting on his clothes; it looked like some kind of divine bird.

Yes, it's the phoenix enshrined in the peacock's cave.

Is that baby a real phoenix, or does it just look like one?

Bai Fengming hesitated for a moment before her soft, sweet voice rang out.

"If I don't acknowledge you as my father, will you abandon me?"

Nie Shuyi replied without hesitation, "I want it! Then what else would I be but your father?"

When the question was asked, neither of them could find a suitable answer for a moment.

The silence made Nie Shuyi very uncomfortable, so he tried to make conversation.

"Son, where is your father now? How about I name you?"

“My father is no longer in this world. I have a name, Bai Fengming.”

Dad's dead? That's good, at least no one's going to fight him for the kids.

Bai Fengming is a good name! Um, Fengming...

Nie Shuyi was shocked. How did those two scruffy peacocks manage to pick up that divine bird? And they even used such a shabby nest.

Those two scruffy peacocks are supposed to be worshipping a phoenix, aren't they? They're so enthusiastic about worshipping the fake god statues and images, while the real phoenix, left in its nest, just runs away without hatching.

"You really are a little phoenix?"

Bai Fengming looked completely innocent. "I never said I was a peacock."

"..." Nie Shuyi thought to himself, "I can't understand any of that chattering. I think you're prettier than a peacock, but I never expected you to be a phoenix."

Nie Shuyi asked in disbelief, "The Phoenix?"

"It seems I'll still die eventually, otherwise I wouldn't be in the egg."

"Oh oh."

Thinking about it, Nie Shuyi realized that he might indeed not be qualified to be the little one's father.

It's not too late to become a father when I've transformed into a dragon myself.

How do you usually call out to them?

No matter what, I'm still much bigger than the other person, even if it lasts forever.

Calling me "brother" doesn't feel right; I still want to be a father...

After hesitating for a long time, Nie Shuyi finally managed to say, "Feng Ming... how about I be your godfather?"

"Godfather?" Bai Fengming looked bewildered.

It was clearly a rhetorical question, but Nie Shuyi didn't realize it.

"Hey, good boy." After saying that, Nie Shuyi was afraid that Bai Fengming would not acknowledge him as his godfather, so he immediately pinched a fruit and pressed it to Bai Fengming's lips.

Bai Fengming's eyes widened slightly, but with the fruit pressing against his mouth, he had no choice but to open his mouth and bite it.

While chewing the fruit, Bai Fengming felt he couldn't just let it go like this.

Mustering immense courage, I spoke up, "I don't want to be your son..."

Nie Shuyi pretended not to hear, "Fengming, eat more fruit. If it's not enough, your godfather will pick more for you."

After saying that, he chuckled a few times like an idiot.

Bai Fengming could no longer bring himself to refuse. If Nie Shuyi would be happy about this, then he was happy to have brought her joy.

What kind of identity one has doesn't seem to matter, as long as one can stay by Nie Shuyi's side.

Bai Fengming, who had been thinking things through, smiled, while Nie Shuyi, the one who had forcibly taken over as her godfather, stared blankly in disbelief.

Coming to her senses, she clicked her tongue. Her own cub was a little too good-looking; wasn't it even prettier than those females whose males kept hidden from everyone?

There's definitely no female more beautiful than his own cub! Even if there were, he wouldn't admit it; in Nie Shuyi's eyes, his own cub is the most beautiful!

After Bai Fengming transformed into human form, he took on the responsibility of cooking. Now Nie Shuyi finally understood what delicious food was. What a miserable life he had lived before!

Bowl after bowl, Nie Shuyi ate with tears in her eyes.

What a lucky baby! He's pleasing to the eye, obedient, filial, and most importantly, an amazing cook.

After eating and drinking his fill, Nie Shuyi picked up Bai Fengming, who was preparing to clear the dishes, and lifted him high in the air.

In his confusion, Bai Fengming met Nie Shuyi's gaze, whose eyes were filled with undisguised happiness.

Bai Fengming suddenly calmed down. Even though he was lifted up and suspended in mid-air, he felt at ease when he saw Nie Shuyi's face.

"Fengming, I love you to death."

Upon hearing this, Bai Fengming smiled shyly, her eyebrows curving upwards.

Nie Shuyi waited for a long time but received no response.

With malicious intent, they toss the person up in the air, hear a short scream, and then catch them.

Then I caught it again and put it in my arms.

Looking down at the still-frightened little one, she felt a bit embarrassed after doing something naughty.

"Why aren't you saying anything? Don't you love me? You can't dislike your godfather. I may be a bad cook, but I'll pick lots and lots of fruit for you!"

“I’ve never looked down on you. You’ve been very good to me, and I know that.” As Bai Fengming said these words, his fair skin flushed pink.

Nie Shuyi was still not satisfied. He had already said that he loved the other person, so why didn't she say so?

"Then do you love me?"

"……Um."

Still oblivious, Nie Shuyi continued to press, "What does 'um' mean?"

Bai Fengming was too embarrassed to speak, but he didn't want to disappoint the other party.

After a long while, she finally spoke in a voice barely audible, "Godfather, I love you."

"Hehe, I knew it! The child I raised is the most filial child in the entire Spirit Realm!"