Chapter 204: Performative Personality, Peacock in Full Display, and…

Before Juanjuan could figure out what to do next, Eldest Brother grabbed her and pulled her to the side.

“Come on, Juanjuan, watch Eldest Brother perform a sword dance. It’s super cool!”

Juanjuan had to admit, Eldest Brother really did look amazing when he danced with the sword. His usual lazy, unreliable demeanor vanished, replaced by a spirited and confident energy.

【Performative personality, peacock in full display^[1], dung beetle rolling a poop ball^[2]…】

Third Brother’s internal commentary drifted into her mind.

Juanjuan: ?

She didn’t quite understand those terms, but somehow, they didn’t sound like compliments!

Bai Yun’an glanced at his little sister, then turned and walked away as if he’d made a decision.

Juanjuan watched him leave and couldn’t help feeling a little worried. She was just about to follow when she heard his inner thoughts.

【What was I thinking, trying to compete with Bai Goudan for attention? Doing something this childish and undignified…】

【I must be out of my mind. I need to go cool off.】

Juanjuan: …

That scared her. For a moment, she thought Third Brother was going to run away from home and never come back.

“Eldest Brother… I think Third Brother’s upset.”

Juanjuan carefully reminded Eldest Brother.

Bai Yunqi sheathed his sword and looked in the direction Bai Yun’an had gone. “Really? That fragile?”

【Alright, I won’t provoke him next time. Is he really that sensitive?】

Juanjuan said, “Then I’ll go check on Third Brother?”

Bai Yunqi nodded, set the small wooden sword on the stone table, and took her hand. “Let’s go together!”

As the three Bai siblings headed out, a hidden dark guard from the Mu Manor, concealed in a corner, finally shook his head and sighed.

“The Bai Family really is full of hidden talents. Even the youngest girl is this diligent. And that eldest son, such incredible talent. That sword dance was truly stunning.”

During breakfast, Juanjuan made a point to sit next to Third Brother.

“Third Brother, eat more.”

Bai Yun’an turned to look at the little one trying to please him. Though he didn’t show much on the surface, he was secretly quite pleased.

Seeing him glance her way, the little girl naturally gave him a bright smile. Her eyes curved like crescent moons, utterly charming.

【She really does like me. Tsk!】

Juanjuan’s eyes lit up. That’s right, she liked Third Brother!

Third Brother was so capable and kind. He even secretly helped out the family. How could she not like him?

After breakfast, Juanjuan headed off to study with Mu Zhaoyao.

She carried a small cloth bag filled with the characters she had practiced the day before, ready for Mu Zhaoyao to check.

Before leaving, seeing her parents also about to head out, Juanjuan said, “Daddy, Mommy, don’t work too hard while making money. I’m going to learn to read so I can help you earn money when I grow up.”

Jiang Dai and Bai Tian exchanged a glance, feeling overwhelmed by how adorable their little girl was.

Jiang Dai: 【That’s the most sincere promise I’ve ever heard. With a little one like this, I just want to give her everything.】

Bai Tian: 【I wish I could take this little one back to the modern world. My mom would absolutely love her!】

Hearing her parents praise her, Juanjuan gave a shy smile, then turned and skipped away.

“Bye, brothers!”

As she passed through the courtyard, Juanjuan cheerfully waved to her brothers.

Now that she was out, her brothers and parents could talk freely without having to hide their little secrets from her.

Watching their little sister skip off, Bai Yunqi stretched lazily and was the first to head back into the house.

“Let’s go.”

Bai Yunxing and Bai Yun’an followed him inside.

With the Bai Family’s true little cub gone, the adults’ meeting officially began.

“I took a stroll last night. Guess whose business that Wenlan Studio belongs to?”

Since he said it was an old acquaintance, Jiang Dai blurted out almost immediately, “The Kang Family?”

Bai Yunqi snapped his fingers with flair. “Bingo. It’s the Kang Family. The one related to Kang An, who died in Songyuan County.”

“I figured it was them! Only they would know to copy storybooks from a remote place like Songyuan County and bring them to Jingcheng.”

Jiang Dai then looked at Bai Tian. “But the Kang Family seems pretty wealthy and influential in Jingcheng. Should we maybe…”

Before Bai Tian could respond, Bai Yunqi slammed the table.

He looked at his slightly worried mother, eyes full of resolve and reassurance. “Mom, don’t worry. The richer they are, the more I like them!”

Bai Yunqi was fiercely protective. After spending so much time with Jiang Dai and Bai Tian, he had already brought them under his wing.

Now that his mom was worried, it was time for this powerful son to step up and share his parents’ burdens.

Besides, he was quite tempted by the Kang Family’s “little spiritual energy sources.”

Jiang Dai waved her hand. “Take it easy for now. Even though I don’t cultivate, our family suddenly has so many transmigrators, and you’re basically defying the heavens. If we make too much noise, something might happen.”

She hadn’t believed in this stuff before, but now she preferred to err on the side of caution.

“Gold and jade, your father and I will earn those for you first. Once we have enough, we’ll travel and look for gold and jade mines. Those are unclaimed resources. You can absorb them freely, and the karmic consequences should be minimal.”

Bai Yunqi nodded. “Alright, that works.”

He was a little afraid too. What if a bolt of lightning came down and zapped him out of existence again?