Chapter 1765 - 1764: Still a Long Way Off

"By the time I return, these two kids should be learning to walk."

"No rush, the children are developing normally, and taking their time isn’t a bad thing."

Gu Qiaoqiao said with understanding.

Becoming a mother is truly different, she knows much more than before.

The two chatted for a while longer, but it was mealtime for Xiao Bao and Xiao Bei, so reluctantly, they hung up the phone.

The days passed neither quickly nor slowly, yet in the blink of an eye, a month’s time quietly went by.

The location of the Beef Noodle Shop chain in the city center has been confirmed, and the contract signed. Chu Chengfeng has also contacted a construction team and chosen a good day to start the interior renovation.

Although it’s winter now, interior renovations can proceed. This property is quite good, though it hasn’t been purchased. While buying it would cost a fortune, everyone can see the rapid changes occurring, and the property’s value is bound to increase.

Especially since storefronts like theirs in the city center are rare and hard to come by; they are only sold in extraordinary circumstances. Chu Chengfeng exerted significant effort to acquire it, partly due to the Chu Family’s connections.

However, this is a commercial space, and the exterior doesn’t require renovation. When it opens in the spring, a simple touch-up will suffice inside. Since it used to be a hotel with poor business, the previous owner discontinued operations.

After a quick survey, Chu Chengfeng understood why this hotel failed to survive; in the city center, even average hotels wouldn’t lose money.

However, this place was simply too filthy. Although the bed linens had been removed, everywhere he looked—the window sills, glass corners, and furniture—was unbearable.

Nowadays, hotels are popping up like mushrooms after rain; making money relies on service quality and hygiene. Lacking both, bankruptcy was inevitable.

The construction team has a lot of work ahead: removing the flooring, refurbishing ceilings and walls. Liu Ling, with some free time, came to take a look.

The place was truly a mess, dirty everywhere, and filled with rumbling noise, making it hard to find a place to step.

Liu Ling looked at Chu Chengfeng, wearing a safety helmet, mud all over his face, directing the workers, feeling he was increasingly different from the Mo Li she remembered.

The Mo Li in her memory, while not always in bright circumstances, possessed distinctive grace and pride, unlike anything he’d do before. She couldn’t understand why he was working so hard now.

When the Divine Land opens, the treasures belonging to the Phoenix Clan are countless, and many are exclusively for the Clan Leader; any of them would sustain him for a lifetime. She couldn’t comprehend the purpose of his actions.

Liu Ling, feeling a bit repulsed, blocked her own breath.

This place truly was too filthy.

Yet, she didn’t come to see how Chu Chengfeng was starting his venture, so Liu Ling donned a gentle smile and waved at Chu Chengfeng.

Chu Chengfeng noticed her immediately, glanced around, and quickly walked towards Liu Ling, wiping his face, "Why are you here when it’s so messy and dirty?"

"I came to check on Mo Li brother, you’re working too hard."

"It’s fine, I’m used to it now." Chu Chengfeng said indifferently.

"Aren’t you the boss? Why are you working alongside them?"

Liu Ling hesitantly asked, her voice tinged with concern.

Chu Chengfeng explained, "I’m not working with them, but I am supervising. If any part doesn’t meet the standards, it’ll be troublesome to tear it down and redo it later."

"It’s just a beef noodle shop, why invest so much energy?"

Liu Ling probed gently, noticing Chu Chengfeng’s furrowed brows and slightly darkened expression, realizing he didn’t like the question. Instead of explaining, she continued softly, "Mo Li brother, I mean no harm, just worried for you. I want to find the Divine Land soon because I’ve stored many things there; any of them could let Mo Li brother do whatever he wants."

"I know you have good things, but I cannot take them." Chu Chengfeng refused without hesitation.

"Why, Mo Li brother? My things are yours; why distinguish so clearly, it hurts my feelings."

With that, Liu Ling bowed her head, genuinely looking distressed.

Seeing Liu Ling like this, Chu Chengfeng quickly explained, "I didn’t mean it that way, it’s just, I’m a man, how can I use a woman’s things?"

"But this woman isn’t just anyone, she’s your fiancée."

Fiancée?

Hearing these three words, Chu Chengfeng paused, looking at Liu Ling, he said gloomily, "Precisely because of that, I can’t use them more."

Then continued, "Besides, I don’t need them."

"If you don’t need them, then why work so hard on this noodle shop?"

Liu Ling asked, confused.

Chu Chengfeng faltered momentarily, slipping into confusion; previously, his hard work was to provide the best life for Sima Xiaowen, to fulfill their dreams, and to prove his worth. But now that everything has appeared, is it necessary?

He is the Phoenix Clan’s Clan Leader, possessing Divine blood, mana, the Divine Land, family base, and he won’t stay in the Imperial Capital forever, he will leave one day.

His assets are already abundant; truthfully, even if the Phoenix Clan’s people weren’t doing well, he could support them fully.

So, he lacks a reason to work so hard.

Being a wealthy young master and the Phoenix Clan’s Clan Leader, making himself work so hard, what’s the reason?

It really doesn’t make sense.

Thinking of this, Chu Chengfeng felt somewhat agitated, looked at Liu Ling, and in a hoarse voice said, "... Don’t worry about my matters for now."

Then asked, "How’s your stay at the apartment? Is it boring? Want to go somewhere? I’ll take you."

"I do want to go, do you have time?" Liu Ling asked softly.

Glancing behind him, Chu Chengfeng nodded, "Of course I have time, things are mostly in place here; now it’s about following my plan. Ling Ling, where do you want to go?"

"West Suburb Ski Resort, I want to go skiing there."

When she was a foster daughter of the Qi Family, at her workplace, there was a young girl who always boasted to her.

Her most mentioned place was the West Suburb Ski Resort, so Liu Ling remembered it. As for other places, given her complete memories, none of those she knows can compare.