Chapter 2

I glanced at Yvonne, who was curled up beside me.

Poor Yvonne had been trembling since he came into existence, calming only slightly upon hearing Emely mention the ice serpent.

Not wanting to deal with the ice serpent and Emely, I led Yvonne outside.

"Wanxing, do you really want me?" Yvonne asked timidly.

I reached out to touch Yvonne's head, but he instinctively shrank back, his face filled with fear.

"Wanxing, I didn't mean it. Please don't hit me, " he pleaded, trying hard to control his trembling body as he offered his head to me.

"Yvonne, what's wrong? Why would I hit you?"

I realized that Yvonne had been reborn as well.

"Yvonne, did she-"

"Don't mention her, don't mention her... "

Yvonne seemed agitated by my words, curling into a ball in pain, his eyes filled with painful tears.

Seeing him like this, I understood that it must have been my sister who mistreated Yvonne.

I pulled him into my arms, gently patting his wings.

"It's okay, it's okay."

Under my soothing touch, Yvonne gradually calmed down.

"Yvonne, let's go home. But my home is quite far, and there's no easy way to get there, so we'll have to walk a bit, " I said apologetically.

Financially, I was worlds apart from my sister.

She forced our parents to spend all their money on buying her a house and a car, while I could only afford to rent.

Yvonne blinked and hesitantly offered, "Wanxing, if you don't mind, I can take you home."

He bent down, gesturing for me to climb onto his back.

Feeling a bit embarrassed, I hesitated.

"Wanxing, it's okay. Just climb on, and I'll fly us home, " Yvonne insisted warmly, leaving me no choice but to climb onto his back.

"Yvonne, I'll tell you where to fly."

"No need, Wanxing. I know where you live."

I was curious, just about to ask how he knew, when Yvonne suddenly said, "Wanxing, we're home."

"Already?" I was amazed at Yvonne's flying speed.

"Faster than any plane I've ever seen."

"A plane is nothing; I'm from the Phoenix lineage, " Yvonne said proudly, lifting his face. For the first time, I took a good look at Yvonne.

He appeared innocent and naive, with the youthful bewilderment of a teenager.

Unlike the ice serpent, whose eyes were dark and sinister.

"Wanxing, aren't you going to praise me?"

Yvonne's eyes held a hint of expectation.

I sighed, "Yvonne, you're so obedient. How could she treat you like that?"

As soon as I spoke, I realized I'd made a mistake.

Sure enough, when I looked at Yvonne again, the light in his eyes had dimmed.

I hurriedly apologized, "I'm sorry, Little Fire, I didn't mean to bring it up."

Yvonne smiled self-deprecatingly, "Little Fire, huh? That's a nice name. Wanxing, do you think I'm just a burden?"

Before I could respond, he continued, "Wanxing, Emely said I'm useless, that I only make her hotter, unlike the ice serpent. She blamed me for her suffering, tormenting me in unimaginable ways, and finally snapping my wings before throwing me out to fend for myself. Am I really that bad compared to the ice serpent? Wanxing, why did you bring me back? I'm just a useless phoenix."

I had suspected Emely of mistreating Yvonne, but I hadn't realized she was so cruel.

It was her choice to select Yvonne, and no one could have predicted the apocalyptic heatwave. Why blame Yvonne for everything?

"No, Little Fire, listen to me. It's not like she says. You're wonderful, much better than the ice serpent."

"Wanxing, I know you're comforting me, but it's okay.

I'm feeling better, " Yvonne forced a smile, not wanting me to worry.

"Little Fire, I'm not just comforting you. You really are a thousand times better than the ice serpent. Let me tell you a secret-I'm also reborn."