Chapter 101: Did the Favorability Points Drop Again???

No way. Third Brother got into that fight on purpose just to impress her, and ended up getting hurt.

“Third Brother.”

Bai Yun’an turned toward his sister, who had suddenly called out to him.

He was secretly pleased: 【Was it because I looked so cool just now? Did I win her favor?】

Juanjuan looked at her brother. “Can you not fight next time?”

Bai Yun’an frowned slightly: 【Wait, that’s not the reaction I was expecting!】

【System, Favorability Points!】

Watching the numbers on the screen fluctuate again, only to ultimately drop by two points, Bai Yun’an felt like his mental state was being messed with all over again.

Then, right before his eyes, the Favorability Points dropped by another point.

Juanjuan knew this time it was Third Brother who started the fight.

She had run off earlier because she felt a little guilty.

There was no need for a fight just now. Third Brother didn’t have to bleed. But…

Juanjuan couldn’t quite explain the feeling.

All she knew was, Third Brother didn’t need to go picking fights or scheming just to win her over and end up bleeding for it.

She wasn’t sure whether she was upset because Third Brother tried to manipulate others to please her, or because he intentionally got hurt and bled.

Even as clever as she was, Juanjuan couldn’t untangle the mess of emotions inside her. These were things she’d never experienced before.

Bai Yun’an looked at the declining Favorability Points, then at his little sister, who was now checking his wound with her head lowered.

His feelings were complicated.

Even though she was tending to his injury and had immediately noticed he was bleeding—clearly showing concern—

Still…

【Why the hell are the Favorability Points still dropping! They’ve gone all the way back down to 47!】

…

“Mom! We’re back!”

Bai Yunqi bounced in cheerfully, full of energy.

Jiang Dai looked at her noisy, always-happy eldest son and couldn’t help but shake her head.

It was good. As long as he was happy every day, that was enough.

Her gaze shifted slightly and landed on her third son and little daughter walking in behind him.

One tall, one small, walking one after the other. The distance between them wasn’t too close, but not too far either.

Yet Jiang Dai felt there was an invisible wall between the two.

She could’ve sworn that just a few days ago, the two little ones had gotten much closer. They’d been going out together every day, laughing and smiling.

So what was this now…?

Jiang Dai quietly pulled her eldest son aside. “Did the two of them have a fight?”

Bai Yunqi thought for a moment. “Probably.”

He told his mother about what had happened with Hua Ni’er earlier that day.

Bai Yunqi yawned, waved his hand casually, and said with great composure, “Don’t worry, Mom. Kids get over things fast.”

Jiang Dai: …

You say that like you’re not a kid yourself!

“You’re calling them kids? Aren’t you a kid too?”

Bai Yunqi: …

Watching his mother turn to hang the laundry, Bai Yunqi thought to himself: 【I’m still a kid? Back in the day, I could’ve outlived you through several reincarnations!】

But now, looking down at his tiny hands, he sighed. Fine. A real man doesn’t dwell on past glories.

Dongqu came out of the kitchen and called everyone to eat.

In the countryside, adults usually took a short nap in the afternoon.

Technically, kids were supposed to nap too.

But usually, only the younger ones could be coaxed into a proper nap.

Even four-year-old Juanjuan didn’t really want to sleep.

The little one lay in bed, tossing and turning, thinking about what had happened that morning.

Jiang Dai yawned and placed a hand on her squirming daughter to keep her still.

“Juanjuan, is something bothering you? You can tell Mommy.”

Juanjuan, suddenly pinned down by her mom: ?

Jiang Dai was actually pretty sleepy, her whole body radiating a lazy, sun-drenched warmth that made Juanjuan relax without even realizing it.

Juanjuan thought for a bit, then slowly said, “Third Brother walked with me today. Hua Ni’er came to show off her Osmanthus Cake, and when we were leaving, Third Brother gave her a push.”

Jiang Dai said, “Well, she came to show off on purpose. Third Brother probably got mad.”

“No, that’s not it.” Juanjuan looked conflicted, her fingers unconsciously twisting the bedsheet. “Third Brother wanted Hua Ni’er to bully me, so he could protect me and make me like him…”

Jiang Dai: ???!!!

【Wait a minute! Why does this sound so wrong?】

【Wasn’t Yun’an the most innocent and adorable one? No, that’s just his appearance. That little Third is the best actor of them all. I see it now!】

Juanjuan: ?

She didn’t think she’d said anything that surprising…

Why was Mom reading so much into it?

…

The village was quiet in the afternoon. Even the usually alert guard dog lay lazily in the sun, only flicking its tail from time to time.

After coaxing her mother to sleep, Juanjuan tiptoed out of bed, slipped out of the inner room, and crept toward the side room door.

Inside, four males were napping. Except for the oldest, Bai Tian, the rest had all sensed Little Juanjuan’s presence.

But none of them moved. They were all curious—what was their little sister doing here at this hour?

With a soft creak, the door opened.

A little head with two pigtails peeked inside.

Juanjuan looked at her brothers and father all lying in bed. She thought about what she had decided to do. Just as she was about to step in carefully—

Big Brother: 【What’s this little rascal sneaking around for? Is she up to no good?】

Second Brother: 【Juanjuan’s not napping? What’s she doing here?】

Third Brother: 【Hah! No way she’s here to apologize, right?】

【She’d better be here to apologize. She got mad just because I gave Hua Ni’er a little push? Did she forget how Hua Ni’er used to bully her before I even transmigrated here?】

【All I did was give her a nudge, and she’s mad at me? Hua Ni’er’s pushed her who knows how many times before!】

【Forget it. The more I think about it, the angrier I get. Such a softie!】

Juanjuan had just stepped one foot into the room when she froze awkwardly at the door.

She looked at her brothers lying motionless in bed, clearly pretending to be asleep.

So… they were all awake?

Maybe she should just leave?

Sometimes, the little one could be quite timid.

The foot she had just stepped in with slowly retreated, and she was about to quietly close the door.

Bai Yunqi couldn’t hold it in anymore. He lifted his head and called out softly, “Juanjuan?”

Outside the door, Juanjuan: !

With a loud “bang,” the door slammed shut.

Bai Tian, who had just been drifting off into a deep sleep, was startled awake by the noise. He blinked groggily and looked around in confusion.

“Huh? What happened? What’s going on?”

Bai Yun’an yawned and reached out to pat his father. “It’s nothing, Dad. Go back to sleep.”

Bai Tian: “Really nothing?”

Bai Yun’an: “Really.”

He even gently closed his father’s eyes for him.

Still half-asleep and not fully rested, Bai Tian fell back asleep almost instantly.

Bai Yunxing, who had witnessed the whole scene from the side: …

Sometimes, being in this family really makes you feel helpless.