Chapter 99: Luncheon Meat!

Then, the little one’s eyes lit up with a sudden sparkle, and her whole face came alive with excitement.

“Gege, this is really yummy!”

“Then eat some more.”

Bai Yun’an handed over the half piece he was holding.

Watching her cradle the half-slice of luncheon meat in both hands, taking tiny bites like it was some kind of treasure, Bai Yun’an couldn’t help but find it both adorable and a little ridiculous.

It felt like raising a scrappy little puppy who’d had a rough life. You bring her home, give her some dog food that even other dogs wouldn’t touch, and she still thinks it’s the best thing in the world.

He couldn’t help but wonder what kind of reaction she’d have if he gave her something even better.

【Would she start rubbing against my pant leg like a puppy?】

The thought popped into Bai Yun’an’s head out of nowhere.

After finishing the luncheon meat, Juanjuan gave her third brother a curious look.

Something felt… off. Like the way he was looking at her had changed somehow.

It was just a weird feeling.

Bai Yun’an met her gaze, looking into those soft, innocent round eyes. He bent down slightly and said in a low voice, “This is our little secret. You can’t tell anyone else, okay?”

“Mm!”

The little one nodded, looking every bit like a loyal puppy sidekick (at least in Bai Yun’an’s imagination).

“Alright, let’s go dig up some wild vegetables.”

In a surprisingly good mood, Bai Yun’an waved her over, ready to head out with his little tagalong.

From the initial breakdown and overwhelming sense of despair, the apocalypse big shot had now reached a point where he could calmly go foraging for wild greens.

Honestly, it wasn’t so bad.

Especially now that his space had unlocked quite a bit. There was food, water, and even more importantly—he’d discovered something very interesting: their parents were transmigrators too.

But what was really giving him a headache now was—

【I have to avoid Mom and Dad, but I also need to stay close to Juanjuan to rack up Favorability Points. Should I just… take her and run?】

Bai Yun’an nodded to himself. The more he thought about it, the more it seemed like a solid plan.

He’d be free to use the items in his space, and he could keep farming Favorability Points. Win-win.

Just as Juanjuan was happily bouncing along behind Bai Yun’an, her foot slipped.

With a whoosh, the little girl disappeared from the path.

She’d fallen into the field right next to the trail.

Bai Yun’an: ?

He looked behind him. The tiny bean that had been following him was suddenly gone.

Wait a second—where did my little sister go?

His eyes landed on the sunken field beside the path.

【Did she fall in? Seriously… that clumsy?】

Just as Juanjuan was about to climb out on her own, she heard her third brother call her clumsy.

Juanjuan: …

Suddenly, she didn’t want to get up anymore.

Even a four-year-old had pride.

And that fall just now had completely shattered hers.

Bai Yun’an crouched down and looked at his sister, who was lying motionless in the field.

“Juanjuan?” he called out.

Still no movement.

Bai Yun’an frowned slightly.

【Don’t tell me she passed out? From that low of a fall? That’s… pathetic.】

His heart skipped a beat. He rolled up his sleeves and jumped into the field.

“Juan’er?”

The little one, still lying flat on her stomach, weakly responded, “Mm…”

“Did you hurt yourself?”

Bai Yun’an let out a breath of relief.

【As long as she’s not dead.】

The little girl lifted her face and looked at him. “I… I didn’t hurt anything…”

Bai Yun’an: speechless.

“If you didn’t get hurt, then why didn’t you answer when I called you?”

Juanjuan mumbled, “Embarrassed…”

Bai Yun’an let out a snort. “So you do know what—”

Juanjuan’s little brows drooped as she tried to hide herself again.

Bai Yun’an abruptly changed his tone.

“Embarrassed? You know Dachui from next door? He tripped over his own feet and fell face-first into chicken poop. Now that’s embarrassing.”

Juanjuan’s head, which had been hanging low, perked up. “Really?”

“Really.” Bai Yun’an reached out and poked her forehead, coaxing her gently. “Come on, let’s go dig wild vegetables. You’re not trying to slack off, are you?”

“No way! Of course not!”

Juanjuan stole a glance at her third brother. Seeing that he wasn’t teasing her anymore, she quickly clapped the dirt off her hands and stood up.

“Let’s go, Third Brother!”

Then, with her short little legs, she huffed and puffed her way up the small slope and back onto the path.

Time to dig up wild vegetables!

Bai Yun’an shook his head slightly.

【Kids really are strange little creatures.】

….

For two nights in a row, everything had been peaceful. No one came to cause trouble at the house.

Not that it really mattered much to Juanjuan. Whether bad guys came at night or not didn’t affect a little kid like her much.

After breakfast, as usual, Juanjuan got ready to follow her third brother out to dig wild vegetables.

And also…

To check under that big tree to see if Immortal Granny had left her any treats.

Even though Third Brother said it was from Immortal Granny, Juanjuan knew it was actually something he secretly conjured up.

It was his secret, and she wasn’t going to tell anyone.

And because of that secret, Juanjuan felt like she and her third brother had gotten a lot closer.

Not just kids—even older ones—tend to bond more when they share a secret that’s just between the two of them.

At this point, Juanjuan had practically become Bai Yun’an’s little shadow.

And Bai Yun’an? He was more than happy with how things were going.

Why wouldn’t he be?

Those Favorability Points were steadily ticking upward like a rising tide!

Just as the two little ones were about to head out with their bamboo baskets, a figure suddenly appeared beside them and pressed a hand down on the baskets.

“When did you two get so chummy? And isn’t foraging for wild vegetables supposed to be my job?”

Bai Yunqi’s sharp eyes swept over his younger siblings.

It had already been two days. These two little runts kept beating him to it, grabbing the baskets and heading out to dig wild vegetables before he could.

He’d been stuck at home doing chores instead.

But more importantly, he had a suspicion…

“Are you two sneaking off to eat something good out there?”

He suddenly blurted it out, eyes gleaming with confidence and suspicion as he stared them down.

Bai Yun’an had been through thick and thin. He wasn’t about to be rattled by his big brother.

And Juanjuan? After keeping so many secrets lately, she’d developed a pretty good poker face.

Looking at the two of them, calm and composed, Bai Yunqi started to doubt himself.

【Did I guess wrong? That can’t be. These two never used to hang out, and lately their appetites have shrunk too.】

【Is it because Mom and Dad’s cooking is that bad? Or… have I really lost the ability to read actual children?】

“Big Brother, we’re going to dig wild vegetables! Want to come with us?”

Bai Yun’an didn’t mention the earlier accusation. He just casually invited his big brother along.

“Nah, you two go ahead.”

“Okay then. Juanjuan and I are heading out.”

Bai Yun’an gave his big brother a faint smile, then slung the basket over his back and walked off with Juanjuan.