Chapter 134: As Mom and Dad Would Say, Is This What They Call a Slap in the Face¹?

Lunch at the private school today was steamed buns and vegetable porridge. Each child got two large buns, but for Bai Yunqi…

He wanted three.

Bai Yunxing glanced at his older brother, then silently stood guard over the buns for his younger siblings.

After spending so much time together, he wasn’t blind.

Fortunately, he didn’t have to stand guard for long before the two little ones came back.

“If you’d taken any longer, I might not have been able to protect your buns.”

Bai Yunxing handed over the food and buns to his younger brother and sister.

“Thanks, Second Brother.”

Juanjuan took the food and immediately started eating. She looked at her eldest brother, then at the two big buns in her hands.

“Big Brother, do you want one too?”

Bai Yunqi asked, “You’re giving it to me? Are you sure one is enough for you?”

Juanjuan nodded. “It’s enough.”

Bai Yun’an looked at the buns in his hands, then turned to his second brother. “Second Brother, you should have another one too. One is enough for me.”

【I’ve got Spatial Storage anyway. I can sneak a snack whenever I get the chance.】

Hearing her third brother say that, Juanjuan couldn’t help but feel a little tempted.

Her body craved it, but her mind knew better—when it came to good food, you couldn’t let others find out.

If Third Brother was willing to share, she could accept it and thank him, but she absolutely couldn’t go asking him for it.

Juanjuan lowered her head and started eating her big steamed bun.

In her heart, she was thinking about how to bring up the news to Second Brother—that their second aunt’s cousin in the Mu Family Army was coming back soon.

She didn’t really know what the Mu Family Army was like.

But hearing something related to their family, especially around here, should be a happy thing, right?

Kind of like…

Running into someone from Niantao Village at the private school—it just felt a bit closer than meeting anyone else.

Naturally, Bai Yunxing didn’t take his younger brother’s bun. The two of them were twins, the same age. He wasn’t used to “bullying” kids like that.

He was just about to go wash the dishes when he heard his little sister speak behind him:

“Second Aunt’s cousin in the Mu Family Army is coming back soon. Da Chui told me. He said we should be careful. Third Brother already knows.”

Bai Yunxing stopped in his tracks and asked, “He’s coming back?”

Juanjuan nodded and looked up at her second brother. “Mm-hmm. That’s what Da Chui said.”

Bai Yunqi waved it off. “It’s fine, don’t worry. We’ve already moved. And so what if he’s from the Mu Family Army? With Mom around, who could possibly bully us?”

【Even if I can’t help directly sometimes, if Mom gets into a fight, I can secretly use Spiritual Power to help. No one will notice.】

Bai Yun’an looked at his little sister.

【This little one really is obedient. Da Chui told her to be careful, and she’s really being careful, even going around telling every member of the family.】

Juanjuan heard her two brothers’ inner thoughts but didn’t let it bother her. She simply quieted her mind, trying to hear what Second Brother was really thinking.

But Second Brother still hadn’t said anything in his heart, and that made Juanjuan uneasy.

If she didn’t know Second Brother was connected to the General’s Manor, she wouldn’t have felt any pressure sharing this news.

But strangely, even though the outcome was the same, just knowing who Second Brother really was made her emotions shift with it.

Right now, Bai Yunxing’s heart was indeed a little conflicted.

Because…

The Mu Family Army rarely let people return home at this time of year. Usually, it was during the autumn harvest that they allowed leaves of absence.

And the distance between Niantao Village and Jingcheng wasn’t exactly short.

That cousin from the Bai family was likely still at the lowest level in the Mu Family Army. By all logic, there was no reason for him to be coming home.

【Unless, during a mission, something unexpected happened. In that case, the military would assign a squad leader to escort him back. That would give me a chance to make contact in secret.】

Juanjuan let out a quiet breath of relief. So that’s what it was.

But then she started to worry again—what if Second Brother made contact and never came back?

Still, she knew that Second Brother had already changed. Going back was only right.

But then what about the family…

If Second Brother left, and Third Brother wanted to leave too, would Big Brother leave as well?

If all her brothers left, would Mom and Dad be heartbroken?

Mom and Dad talked every day about raising the four of them right.

They worked so hard to earn money and provide for them, always saying they were the best kids in the world.

Juanjuan didn’t know what the best decision was anymore.

Whether it was her parents or her three brothers, to her, they were all mysterious and powerful.

“Whew…”

Juanjuan finished the last sip of her vegetable porridge and let out a heavy sigh.

Bai Yun’an looked at her in confusion. “Tired from eating?”

How could someone look so dejected and hopeless just from having a meal?

Juanjuan didn’t know what to say. She could only nod and admit her third brother’s guess was right.

Bai Yun’an: …

【Wait, seriously? She’s actually tired from eating? That can’t be right!】

Juanjuan lowered her eyes slightly. She wasn’t really that tired.

It was just that she really liked this home.

She liked her parents. Her brothers each had their own thoughts, but they were all good to the family and helped each other out.

It was something she never dared to dream of before. She was truly happy here.

【After school today, I need to find a chance to test Second Brother! If I sneak attack and beat him up, I’ll know whether he’s been replaced or not!】

Just moments ago, Juanjuan had been thinking about how harmonious and kind the family was…

Now: …

She looked at her third brother, her little eyes going blank.

As Mom and Dad would say, isn’t this what they call… a slap in the face?

Translator’s Notes