Chapter 78: There’s Really Nothing to Be Afraid Of

Bai Yun’an was lost in thought, but his gaze had drifted to Little Juanjuan in the small kitchen.

【Now that not just Second Brother but even Mom and Dad have started learning to cook, will Little Juanjuan be deeply affected by this?】

【Honestly, there’s no need to worry about things like that. Even I can tell that Mom and Dad are now kind and sincere people—at least when it comes to the four of us, they’re responsible and caring.】

【Back when Juanjuan used to cook, the old family never treated her well anyway. So it’s not about whether she cooks or not—it’s about the kind of people they are! She’s still too young to really understand that.】

【Even if she doesn’t cook or isn’t particularly capable, in Mom and Dad’s eyes, as long as she’s not out committing crimes, she’s a good kid! Too bad… I’m not like that anymore…】

In the small kitchen, Juanjuan was distracted by her third brother’s light, drifting voice. Her attention slipped, and as she reached for the flatbread, her hand accidentally brushed against the scorching rim of the pan.

“Hiss!”

The child sucked in a sharp breath.

“Did you burn yourself? Quick, rinse it with cold water!”

Jiang Dai didn’t even care about the flatbread in the pan anymore. She grabbed a bowl of cold water and gently dipped Juanjuan’s burned fingers into it to cool them down.

“It should be fine. I don’t see any blisters,”

Bai Tian said as he came over to inspect Juanjuan’s fingers carefully.

Juanjuan was still thinking about what her third brother had just said.

She looked at her mom and dad, who were now fussing over her just because she’d burned her hand.

So…

Is it really okay not to be afraid?

…

After the meal, Chunlai and Dongqu took the initiative to wash the dishes, scrub the pans, and tidy up the kitchen.

Jiang Dai went to lay out bedding for the two of them.

She wasn’t treating them like servants, but she wasn’t treating them like guests either.

Back in the modern world, when her friends came over for hotpot, this was how it went—everyone pitched in to clean up!

Juanjuan had gone out to play again, dragged away by Wang Dachui.

Jiang Dai, a little curious, asked her eldest son beside her, “Why aren’t you playing with Wang Dachui?”

Bai Yunqi, who was currently preoccupied with thoughts of Marrow Cleansing and Meridian Washing, replied without hesitation, “Who’d want to play with that Wang Dachui? Only an idiot would want to play with him!”

Jiang Dai: …

She smacked her eldest son on the back.

Jiang Dai said, “Bai Goudan, listen to yourself!”

Bai Yunqi replied, “Mom, did you hear what you just called me?”

Jiang Dai: …

“Fine, speak properly and I won’t call you Goudan anymore.”

Bai Yunqi said, “I never said Juanjuan was an idiot. I just meant that if I played with Wang Dachui, then I’d be the idiot!”

Jiang Dai: …

As expected, Bai Tian was right—her eldest son really was like a rock in a latrine: stubborn and stinky.

“Mom, can I talk to you about something…?”

A soft, slightly childish voice came timidly from the doorway.

Jiang Dai looked up and saw a small figure clinging to the doorframe, peeking in with wide, innocent eyes. No need to guess—it was definitely her third son.

Even though the family had a pair of twins, they were easy to tell apart.

Bai Yunxing had the air of an older brother—calm and well-mannered, even at a young age.

Bai Yun’an, on the other hand, was all sunshine and innocence, sweet and adorable.

Jiang Dai finished making the bed and waved the child inside.

“Come in, tell Mama—what’s the matter?”

Bai Yun’an tilted his head and tugged at his mother’s sleeve. “Um… can Big Brother leave first?”

Bai Yunqi, lost in thoughts about the importance of Marrow Cleansing and Meridian Washing, didn’t question it at all and turned to leave without a word.

“What is it? What’s so secret you need to tell Mama alone?”

Jiang Dai smiled at her pure-hearted third son.

“I heard Sister was upset today.”

“Juanjuan? Why was she upset?”

“She saw Second Brother learning how to cook, and she’s scared that if she doesn’t cook anymore, Mom and Dad won’t like her.”

Jiang Dai’s brows furrowed slightly.

But Bai Yun’an continued, “It’s like she thinks she has to work hard, or else you and Dad won’t love her.”

“She really said that? Yun’an, are you sure?”

Bai Yun’an nodded. “Yeah, I heard! Juanjuan asked Wang Dachui in secret, and I just happened to overhear.”

After saying that, he even put on a serious face and asked cautiously, “Mama wouldn’t stop liking Juanjuan just because she doesn’t help with chores… right?”

“Of course not! Not to mention Juanjuan—even if you and Yunxing didn’t help out, I still wouldn’t be upset with you. Besides, you’ll both be heading to town for school soon.”

“At your age, just being able to take care of yourselves is already impressive. The most important thing now is learning to read and study.”

Jiang Dai raised her hand and gave her third son a gentle pat on the shoulder. Then she said, “Thank you, An’an, for telling me this.”

A sweet, harmless smile appeared once again on Bai Yun’an’s face.

There was nothing he could do—this kind of thing really wasn’t something he could handle directly.

Better to leave it to Mama and Papa.

Sigh…

Just this once, he’d be an anonymous good guy.

When Juanjuan came back from outside, she saw her third brother sitting at the doorway. He smiled when he saw her.

“Third Brother.”

Juanjuan greeted him politely.

Then she heard something from his heart that left her stunned.

【I told Mama everything. She should be able to put Juanjuan’s mind at ease, help her understand that even if she doesn’t help with chores, Mama and Papa will still love her.】

Bai Yun’an turned and slowly walked back toward his room.

But in his heart, he was still thinking.

【Words like that are best said by Mama herself. That way, Juanjuan will feel more secure.】

【Sigh… I just don’t know when my Favorability Points will finally go up.】

【Wait! Why are they fluctuating again?! What the heck!!! Is the System messing with me again? I swear—】

As Third Brother entered the side room, the voice in Juanjuan’s head grew fainter and fainter.

Even though his figure had already disappeared from view, Juanjuan kept staring in that direction.

She hadn’t expected her third brother to tell Mama so directly about the thing she’d been worrying over.

Even though he’d said Mama would still love her and wouldn’t care whether she helped out or not…

Still…

Juanjuan felt a little embarrassed, a little ashamed that Mama now knew she’d been worried about something like that.

“Juanjuan? You’re back!”

The door opened, and Jiang Dai looked down at her little daughter, her voice unconsciously softening.

Jiang Dai had heard Juanjuan’s voice outside and had mentally rehearsed what she wanted to say before opening the door a little later than usual.

If Juanjuan didn’t know that her third brother had told her, she wouldn’t be nervous.

But now that she did, she couldn’t help but feel a little anxious.

Worried about what Mama might say. Worried that Mama might not like her anymore.

“Come on, Mama will help you get cleaned up.”

To Juanjuan’s surprise, Mama didn’t mention the matter at all.

She simply took her hand and led her to wash her face.

Under the moonlight, Mama rolled up her sleeves for her, gently wiping the dust from her face. Then she loosened her tied-up hair and slowly combed it smooth with a wooden comb, stroke by stroke.

“Did you have fun playing with Wang Dachui?” Jiang Dai asked softly.