Chapter 22: Eat Meat to Grow Strong, Skip Meat and You’ll Wither Away

Yang Chengze watched the soft and adorable Tuan Tuan, his mouth twitching. The scene was incredibly awkward, and even Yang Jinchuan, who had just pushed open the door, was stunned by the little girl's strength.

Yang Jinchuan had intended to sleep, but the more he thought about it, the more he felt a chill, and the commotion at the door made it impossible for him to rest. Who would have expected that upon coming out, he would see Tuan Tuan effortlessly taking down the clock?

Yang Jinchuan stepped forward, gathered the little cub into his arms, and rubbed her tiny hands. Looking up, he directed a soul-searching question at Yang Chengze: "Chengze, you couldn't even take down a clock? Did you have to tire out your younger sister?"

Yang Chengze held his forehead; he felt that Yang Jinchuan was just standing there talking without feeling the pain. This clock was far too strange! Under normal circumstances, let alone an adult man, even an ordinary woman could have easily taken the clock down. But this clock was truly problematic.

As Yang Chengze took the clock from the little milk bun's hands, he heard her milky, piping voice: "There's something in here!"

Yang Jinchuan and Yang Chengze carried the little milk bun back to her room, fearing they might wake others or alert the culprit. The three sat down in the room with the clock placed before them. Inside, there was a talisman. Yang Chengze’s brows knit tightly, his suspicions once again pointing toward Ai Xin. She had gifted the clock, so she must have placed the talisman as well! What on earth was this woman trying to do? Yang Chengze absolutely did not believe she had good intentions.

As Yang Chengze reached out to grab the talisman, the little milk bun spoke up just in time. "Big Brother, wait." She grabbed Yang Chengze’s hand, stopping his action. Before Yang Chengze could ask why, Tuan Tuan reached out and pulled the talisman from the back of the clock.

Following it came a mass of black mist. It was thick and dense; Yang Jinchuan and Yang Chengze could not see it, but they could feel the air suddenly turn dark and icy. The little milk bun reached out and grabbed it, twisting and turning the black mist before tossing it into her pendant to feed Xiao Mei.

Yang Jinchuan & Yang Chengze: "?" Did the little milk bun just catch a ghost with her bare hands? What exactly was the pendant she wore? Was it capable of catching ghosts?

"Daddy, Big Brother, don't be afraid. I've caught the ghost aura."

Only then did Yang Jinchuan and Yang Chengze realize the sinister chill had vanished. Looking at the harmless, soft, and sweet little bun, Yang Jinchuan found it hard to believe she could actually catch ghosts.

"Tuan Tuan, was there a spirit hiding inside the talisman?" Yang Chengze’s thoughts were complex. He truly needed to investigate Ai Xin’s past.

"Yes. Xiao Mei once said that this kind of ghost aura makes people feel physically and mentally exhausted, and prone to restlessness, as if they were sick."

Every point the little milk bun mentioned sounded exactly like the former Yang Jinchuan. He himself had suspected that his poor health was the work of some ghostly influence. Over the years, due to the double blow of losing his wife and his daughter going missing, Yang Jinchuan’s health had collapsed completely, and he had become prone to fits of temper. Every time Ai Xin visited and used the incense she crafted herself, his body would feel slightly better.

Yang Jinchuan and Yang Chengze simultaneously thought of Ai Xin. It seemed the one providing the cure was the one who had administered the poison! This Ai Xin could no longer be allowed to stay at the Yang family estate!

Yang Jinchuan held his daughter, his brow furrowed. "Ze, you go and investigate first. I'll stay here and sleep with Tuan Tuan."

Yang Chengze: "..."

"Dad, you aren't actually scared and just want Tuan Tuan to keep you company, are you?"

Yang Jinchuan’s expression froze, and he feigned strength: "What nonsense are you spouting? A real man bleeds but doesn't cry—what would I have to be afraid of? I'm just worried that Tuan Tuan is scared and I want to keep her company."

With the talisman removed, the ghost aura brought by the clock was destroyed. Yang Jinchuan was a victim, and the little milk bun could deeply feel his inner anxiety. She hugged Yang Jinchuan and said in a milky voice: "Tuan Tuan is scared, I want Daddy to stay with me."

The little milk bun provided her father with a graceful way to back down, and Yang Jinchuan naturally took it. "Tuan Tuan isn't afraid; Daddy will protect you."

Yang Jinchuan carried the little milk bun to bed, with Yang Chengze watching from the side, seeing through it all but saying nothing. Since Yang Jinchuan needed company, he decided to let his little sister stay with him for a while.

As Yang Jinchuan held Tuan Tuan to sleep, he even told her a bedtime story. Listening to the little milk bun’s steady breathing, he looked at the small person beside him. Since arriving at the Yang home, the little girl’s complexion had improved significantly; she had gained some weight, her face was soft, pink, and white, and her eyelashes were long and curled. She was so milky and obedient that Yang Jinchuan couldn't help but poke his daughter's cheek. She was indeed very soft to the touch.

Thinking of today’s events, his mood was affected, but he looked at his precious daughter with a firm gaze and whispered to himself: "Tuan Tuan, Daddy will definitely protect you."

...

When Yang Yu woke up, his four older brothers were standing by his bedside. The boy was so startled that he bolted upright, wrapping himself tightly in the quilt. "What do you want!"

The fifth brother, Yang Junjie, scoffed and said unhappily: "Little Six, I heard you didn't welcome our little sister back? You claimed that if she stays, you leave? You’ve got some nerve, daring to compare yourself to our little sister."

The fourth brother, Yang Boyu, also looked at him sternly: "I heard our little sister saved you last night? I really admire you, Little Six—you actually let your little sister protect you. Aren't you embarrassed?"

Yang Qixiu sat by the bed, staring at Yang Yu's face, and said softly: "Little Six, what exactly happened last night?"

Yang Chengze sat to one side, silent, his sharp gaze making Yang Yu tremble. Yang Yu angrily retorted: "Hmph, are you guys still my biological brothers? You're helping that kid instead of me! Are we even brothers anymore?"

Yang Junjie chuckled: "How can a brother be as precious as a little sister? You don't know how adorable our little sister is—she's ten thousand times cuter than Beibei!"

Beibei: "..." Are you being polite?

Yang Yu lifted his chin haughtily: "Hmph, I don't acknowledge her as my sister. I ran into a ghost last night; she must have brought it!"

Except for Yang Chengze, the other three brothers were shocked. They had briefly opened their "third eyes" on the mountain in Xiaoxigou, so they had seen those terrifying spirits. But! It was impossible for Tuan Tuan to harm Yang Yu! Yang Chengze was now one hundred percent certain that this matter had to do with Ai Xin.

Thinking of last night, Yang Yu felt lingering fear and panic: "You don't know, that shovel kept following me—it was so scary!"

At this moment, a fuzzy little head poked in from the doorway. Hearing this, the little milk bun felt a bit guilty. Wasn't that the digging spirit Xiao Mei helped her find? Did Yang Yu not see the spirit, but only the shovel last night? Was Yang Yu scared by the ugly spirit?

The little milk bun felt increasingly guilty, not knowing whether to back away or admit her mistake. Just then, Yang Yu spotted the hesitant little girl.

She grinned, revealing her little white teeth, and waved her arms sweetly: "Good morning, brothers! Daddy is calling you down for breakfast~"

As soon as her milky voice sounded, the brothers all walked toward her. Yang Qixiu bent down to pick Tuan Tuan up and walked out with long strides: "Let's eat. Tuan Tuan needs to eat more meat."

The little milk bun giggled: "Eat meat to grow, don't eat meat and you'll stay thin~"

The brothers followed Tuan Tuan downstairs. As for the grumpy Little Six hiding in bed, no one paid him any mind.

*Gurgle...*

His stomach let out a hungry sound, and the embarrassment made Yang Yu’s face turn bright red. Thankfully, no one saw it, or it would have been so humiliating! But just then, the little milk bun poked her head back in and gave Yang Yu a sweet smile: "Sixth Brother, come eat quickly~"

Yang Yu: "!!" Did he have no dignity at all?