At this moment, Sima Xiaowen drove to the Ding Family Garden Villa.

It’s often said that a cunning hare has three burrows, and Chu Chengfeng indeed has three houses.

Liu Ling currently lives in one of them, there’s also a matrimonial home, and then this Ding Family Garden Villa, which seems upscale when talking about it, but in reality, it’s quite desolate.

Originally, when the real estate developer invested here, they hastily tried to secure the land, believing there would be a national highway, but it took a turn and bypassed this area, and later funding issues arose, leaving this as unfinished buildings, although half were completed and half were not.

The surrounding facilities didn’t keep up either, making it somewhat bleak, although every year during Spring Festival, they gather here, though not in Chu Chengfeng’s villa.

Chu Chengfeng’s villa is a small unit on the edge of the complex, unfortunately of the unfinished type, but having spent money, he owns the property rights nonetheless.

Once, Chu Chengfeng and Xiaowen planned to set off fireworks here.

Since this place is indeed the safest and falls within the fireworks zone.

However, this place seemed forgotten by Chu Chengfeng, possibly due to traces of Sima Xiaowen here.

But it’s just as well, Sima Xiaowen can now do her own thing in peace.

The fireworks were all placed on the rooftop.

A total of ninety-nine.

Chu Chengfeng truly didn’t spare any expense.

Sima Xiaowen went up to the rooftop; by now, the night was deep, scattered stars flickered faintly at the edge of the sky, the new moon hid behind clouds, not revealing any light, much like Sima Xiaowen’s current mood.

To Sima Xiaowen, setting off fireworks was as easy as could be.

She carefully placed all the fireworks on the rooftop floor.

Checking the time, it was precisely the agreed time between her and Chu Chengfeng, 9:09 PM.

Sima Xiaowen smiled wryly to herself; what a coincidence.

Even as someone from the Mystic Sect, she didn’t know why Chu Chengfeng chose these particular numbers back then; now she thought maybe then, Chu Chengfeng was wishing for them to be together for eternity, hence everything related to fireworks involved the number 9.

But unfortunately, things didn’t go as planned, and they are now strangers to each other.

Sima Xiaowen sported a faint smile as she summoned her Fire Phoenix, which flew out and communicated with her briefly, happily flapping its wings as it soared around her.

The Fire Phoenix was really excited, its Spiritual Sense had grown stronger than before, filled with curiosity about the world; it had never set off fireworks before, and it seemed really fun.

Sima Xiaowen established a Barrier for the Fire Phoenix; though this place was dark, certain villas still had lights shining.

Not far away was a residential area, brightly lit with almost every household hanging red lanterns swaying gently in the night wind, as many houses here were bungalows complete with yards.

The red lanterns had special poles, tall and graceful; from this direction, it seemed quite beautiful and mysterious, mixing with the red light and the warm glow of street lamps. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

Lighthearted from the Fire Phoenix’s joy infecting her, under Xiaowen’s guidance, the Fire Phoenix precisely spat a flame at the fireworks’ fuses.

Then they began to ignite rapidly, with a loud bang, in a matter of moments, the dark night sky exploded with a magnificent display of fireworks, weaving white and gold together like blooming September chrysanthemums.

The Fire Phoenix was jubilant, spitting out another flame to light the second, followed by the third and fourth, lighting them effortlessly like playing a game.

Indeed, while others crouched in front of the fireworks tubes to light them before running away, the Fire Phoenix merely had to spit a flame, casual and easy, pulling off such moves with panache.

Watching the fireworks blossom in the night sky, Sima Xiaowen’s lips finally curved into a contented smile; the fireworks were truly beautiful.

Meanwhile, in another part of the city, Chu Chengfeng sat in the party private room, introducing Liu Ling to his friends, yet Qin Yize and Gu Qiaoqiao hadn’t arrived, dampening his mood.

Liu Ling, however, didn’t mind, as she really didn’t want to see Gu Qiaoqiao, which made Liu Ling quite pleased.

Unlike others who feel privileged to meet these wealthy scions, she actually looked down on them internally, finding them inferior even to her little finger, but alas, Sima Xiaowen flourishes in the Imperial Capital, so naturally, Liu Ling couldn’t be too far off, mingling easily with the girls there.

For someone like Liu Ling, befriending these girls was effortless.

Despite lacking knowledge in fashion, she spoke eloquently about traditional cultural heritage, quickly warming up the conversation with them.

Chu Chengfeng was meanwhile drinking with the others.

Yet, after drinking for a while, he felt uneasy, took a pack of cigarettes, stood up, and said to the others, "You all have fun, I’m stepping out for a smoke..."

"...Weren’t you quitting smoking? Why are you picking it up again?" a friend asked with curiosity.

Additionally, Du Tian and An Xiaotong weren’t present today; they were celebrating the New Year at the An Family.

Chu Chengfeng chuckled nonchalantly, "Quitting smoking isn’t that easy; you old smokers know this. Forget about me; enjoy your time, I’ll be right back."

With that, Chu Chengfeng briskly exited the private room.

A feeling within his heart was urging him to step outside, so he stood at the front plaza of the KTV.

Lighting a cigarette, he subconsciously gazed at the northwestern night sky, unaware of why he suddenly lifted his head.

Just at this moment, from the direction of the Ding Family Garden Villa, one after another, fireworks exploded.

A sudden pang of pain hit Chu Chengfeng’s heart.

Even he didn’t realize tears silently streaming from his eyes, cigarette steadily burning between his fingers, yet he continued gazing at the night sky.

In this instant, he felt his soul detach from his body, traveling to another place.

He knew the situation with these fireworks too well; aware of the arrangement with the manufacturer, yet he hadn’t received a call, assuming Sima Xiaowen returned them, and he dared not seek her out to verify.

Thus, he carelessly let the matter slide; regardless if the fireworks could be delivered to the Imperial Capital or not, it made no difference to the manufacturer, as he had settled the full payment in advance.