But then, thinking it over, Can-Can realized something.

Just like Second Brother, Third Brother had already become an ordinary human. He didn’t remember her anymore.

If that was the case, then it was fine if he got to know new princesses too. She was a generous little princess! She wouldn’t blame Third Brother at all.

Just as she was comforting herself, Pei Shen’s confused voice drifted into her ears.

“Judging by your reaction… did I guess wrong? If you’re not Elsa, then you must be Snow White, Sofia, the Princess and the Pea, or maybe the Little Mermaid?”

One princess name after another fell like thunderbolts, crashing down on Can-Can.

Her round eyes widened with every hit, and she froze in place, stiff as a statue.

There were… so many princesses?

Can-Can sniffled miserably, then asked, unwilling to give up:

“Brother… do you know that many princesses?”

“This doesn’t even count as a lot,” Pei Shen said with a chuckle. “I also know Belle, Cinderella, Aurora, Ariel…”

One by one, the names piled up.

The sparkle in Can-Can’s big almond eyes gradually faded, a mist of tears clouding her gaze.

She bit her lip hard, trying to hold back the sobs— but the more names she heard, the more she couldn’t take it.

Finally, she let out a huge wail, hugged Qi Sen’s hand, and bawled.

“Uwaaaah! How could Third Brother know so many princesses?! Waaah!”

Pei Shen froze, completely dumbfounded.

He awkwardly raised his hands, debating whether to copy Qi Sen and pat her head to comfort her.

They weren’t even that familiar! But just leaving her there bawling… felt way too heartless.

Still—

What did he even do wrong??

Just because he had a good memory, because he remembered every name after reading fairy tales once— was that his fault!?

Thinking this, Pei Shen straightened his back, feeling much more confident.

He said firmly to Qi Sen:

“I just answered a question normally. I didn’t expect this situation, and I can’t handle it either. You better take care of it yourself.”

And then, like his legs had sprouted motors, he dashed away at lightning speed.

Even during the school’s 1,000-meter running test, he hadn’t run that fast.

—

In the chilly autumn breeze, Can-Can hiccupped between sobs.

“Now that he knows so many princesses… Third Brother won’t like me anymore, waaah…”

She wiped her tears miserably while crying even harder.

“Third Brother said Can-Can was the best little princess! He’s a big liar, waaaah!”

Qi Sen patted her small back to comfort her, half helpless, half amused.

He tried explaining:

“Those princesses are different from Can-Can.”

But… how were they different?

Qi Sen didn’t know how to explain.

Fairy tales created wonderful, magical worlds for children and adults alike. They were filled with hope— stories where evil was defeated and light always returned.

Qi Sen gently wiped away the tears on Can-Can’s face.

Her eyes were red, lashes still clinging with tiny teardrops, making her look like a pitiful little rabbit.

It hurt just looking at her.

“How about I show you the princesses?” Qi Sen said softly. “Our Can-Can is amazing too. You’re not any worse than those princesses.”

Can-Can sniffled, voice hoarse:

“Really… can I still see them?”

“Of course.”

—

“Elsa, run! The bad guys are coming!”

“Wow! Brother, look! She’s running on the sea! I don’t even know that spell yet!”

In the living room, Can-Can jumped off the couch excitedly, rushing into the kitchen to tug at Qi Sen’s shirt.

“Brother, brother! Elsa’s building an ice castle now! Let’s go watch!”

Qi Sen put down the sliced sausages he was preparing and smiled helplessly.

“Alright, alright. Brother will watch with you.”

This was the seventh time Can-Can had watched Frozen.

Since last night, her attitude toward Elsa had done a complete 180.

At first, it was:

“Hmph! Can-Can the Little Princess is the best!”

Now it had become:

“Elsa is just like Can-Can! We’re both magic princesses~”

Her favorite part was when Elsa built the magnificent ice castle out of snow and frost. Can-Can had watched it so many times that she could now imitate all of Elsa’s poses, pretending to cast magic spells around the house.

“Latigo~, Latigo~! %￥#@ Animo~!”

Sitting on the dining table, her little legs swinging back and forth, Can-Can sang her version of Let It Go— filling in the lyrics she didn’t know with random adorable babble.

When she finished, she tilted her head and asked expectantly:

“Second Brother, was Can-Can’s singing good?”

“Very good,” Qi Sen praised.

But—

His ears were practically numb from hearing it so many times.

Not wanting to talk about Elsa anymore, he casually changed the subject:

“Did you like the food Brother made?”

“Of course I did!” Can-Can nodded seriously, pointing at her bowl.

“And the red, red sausages! I’ve never eaten them before!”

Scooping up a small spoonful with her children’s spoon, she happily gobbled it down.

Qi Sen’s simple dish—ham, corn, and egg fried rice— was delicious beyond words for her.

While taking the second bite, Can-Can suddenly remembered something.

She put down her spoon and asked obediently:

“Brother, can we bring some food to Third Brother too?”

Even if Third Brother didn’t remember her, she still remembered him!

This morning when Qi Sen took Can-Can out grocery shopping, they had bumped into Pei Shen in the hallway.

Under Can-Can’s relentless questioning, Qi Sen found out Pei Shen lived right upstairs.

When explaining her reasoning, Can-Can was remarkably logical:

“If you don’t eat properly, you’ll starve to death! And if you starve, you won’t grow tall! We can’t let Third Brother become a tiny little dwarf!”

Qi Sen’s head throbbed.

He silently cursed whatever fool of a father forced Can-Can to memorize that ridiculous Growth Manual.

“He can order delivery,” Qi Sen said. “He’s got plenty to eat. Don’t worry about him.”

But Can-Can hugged her bowl pitifully:

“But… Can-Can really wants Third Brother to eat yummy sausages. He’d definitely love them!”

Qi Sen stared at the plate of fried rice in front of him, silent for a long time.

To be honest, he didn’t have any real feelings toward Pei Shen. In fact, he disliked him a bit.

Pei Shen treated studying too casually— always late to class, failing English, yet still enjoying the school’s favoritism.

Meanwhile for Qi Sen, the college entrance exam was a battle for survival. Only by winning it could he break free from his adoptive parents’ control, escape his cold, suffocating home.