Where had she “hit” anyone?

Can-Can wasn’t scheming anything. She had simply remembered what Daddy had once told her— that swords were scary, and if you touched them, you could bleed.

After all, children were natural-born drama queens. They screamed when they were happy, howled when they were sad, completely unfamiliar with the concept of “restraint.”

Can-Can was no exception.

Director Liu’s face darkened.

“Xu Zhen, come to my office tomorrow.”

Even a fair and upright official found it hard to settle family disputes. This was the most he could do.

After a few words of comfort to Can-Can, Director Liu left slowly.

—

After that incident, Xu Zhen didn’t dare act up anymore.

But she was still seething inside.

While tidying the living room, she muttered bitterly under her breath, loud enough for everyone to hear— complaining that the house had no money, no food, moaning about how hard her life was, how difficult it was to deal with the older one, and now there was a little princess to serve too.

—

Can-Can sat on a small stool in Qi Sen’s room, her little face all scrunched up.

So this was Second Brother’s tribulation…

No food to eat, and even worse, a mean Mommy.

Wait.

This didn’t seem like Second Brother’s real Mommy.

She thought back to the long days spent waiting for her brothers to come home. She vaguely remembered hearing from Yuanling Immortal Lord that— Big Brother had become a top star in the entertainment world, Second Brother was the child of a wealthy family, and Third Brother was a genius scholar.

She didn’t really understand what “top star” or “genius scholar” meant, but the words “wealthy family” were deeply etched into money-loving Can-Can’s little brain.

Of all their fates, she remembered Second Brother’s the clearest.

—

Sliding down from the stool, Can-Can scurried over to the dazed Qi Sen, grinning brightly:

“Second Brother, let’s run away from home!”

Qi Sen didn’t react for a moment.

“Let’s go find Daddy and Mommy who have gold and silver treasures!”

Chapter 4: Can-Can

After all, Qi Sen was just a high school student. No matter how steady he seemed, he couldn’t help feeling a surge of emotion hearing about his biological parents.

Can-Can puffed out her chest proudly:

“Of course! We immortals know everything! I even peeked at Second Brother’s Book of Life and Death!”

But at the mention of the Book of Life and Death, her face immediately drooped.

“But… I couldn’t read any of the words.”

Her innocent words fell like a stone into the dead-calm lake of Qi Sen’s life, stirring faint ripples.

But only ripples.

He didn’t believe in fantasy things like Books of Life and Death, or immortals. Yet when Can-Can spoke, her tone and expression were so natural, so pure, it was hard to think she was making it up.

After a long silence, Qi Sen finally softened his voice, rubbed Can-Can’s soft hair, and comforted her:

“It doesn’t matter. Eat more rice, grow up faster. Once you grow up, you’ll be able to read.”

“But Daddy and Mommy don’t want me to grow up. They don’t want me to learn to read either. Every time I secretly followed Third Brother to school, Daddy and Mommy would only tell me one thing.”

“What?” Qi Sen asked.

Can-Can coughed twice like a little grown-up, imitating her father’s solemn tone. She even patted her hair dramatically:

“Can-Baby, literacy is nothing good. Learning to read means growing up, and growing up means suffering more. I know you don’t understand, so from today on, just remember four words: ‘Never strive for success.'”

Qi Sen thought he had heard wrong.

“Your dad told you not to strive for success?”

Can-Can nodded seriously.

Qi Sen was speechless.

This father… was truly one of a kind.

—

While Qi Sen was still sighing inwardly, outside the door, Xu Zhen, who had finished resting, began shouting again.

Can-Can’s little head started throbbing from the noise.

She didn’t know where Second Brother’s real Daddy and Mommy were, but her Master knew!

Thinking of King Yama, Can-Can instinctively curled into a ball, tiny hands trembling, her little face full of fear.

From head to toe, she practically had “scared” written all over her.

King Yama had been found by her Daddy when she was a hundred years old. At that time, Can-Can had been spoiled rotten— a little tyrant who cried and threw tantrums if things didn’t go her way, ignoring everyone.

Then came her destined nemesis— King Yama.

—

Can-Can clenched her small fists to pump herself up.

It’s okay. Master might be scary, but—

His Book of Life and Death didn’t just record people’s lifespans. It detailed every major and minor event in their lives.

It was even better than Yuanling’s Book of Fate.

Surely, surely, Master would know where her Daddy and Mommy with gold and silver were!

For Second Brother’s glorious future, she had to be brave.

Brave Can-Can! Not afraid of King Yama!

She pulled out her small cloth pouch, carefully took out the two immortal peaches and set them aside, then dug around inside.

After a few moments, she pulled out a small porcelain bottle— and smashed it decisively on the floor.

Standing upright, arms spread wide to shield Qi Sen, Can-Can puffed up her chest, her little face serious and determined.

“Second Brother, don’t be afraid! When Master gets here, Can-Can will protect you!” she promised earnestly, her voice soft and full of confidence.

“I’m really very brave!”

—

However, in the next second—

A breeze blew through the room.

Immediately, Can-Can pressed both hands to her chest, bowed deeply, and lowered her little head until it was almost touching the floor.

In the sweetest, softest little voice, she said:

“Hello, Master.”

Qi Sen was silent.

So this was what she called being “brave.”

—

Out of Qi Sen’s sight, King Yama appeared, holding a crab expressionlessly.

He stood there, looking down at Can-Can, who was still bowing stiffly.

Can-Can sneaked peeks at him with her big, round eyes.

“You brought the glass bottle during your tribulation too?” King Yama asked.

He was dressed in all white, hair and beard both snowy white. He didn’t look like the cold, grim reaper people imagined— more like a kindly old star god from the Ninth Heaven.

The glass bottle was Can-Can’s only way of summoning him.

If she smashed it, the wind chimes in King Yama’s palace would ring, making it impossible for him to ignore her.

“It was Yuanling who gave it to me,” Can-Can muttered.

King Yama snorted:

“That guy has a soft heart. Even willing to help you during tribulation.”

Can-Can swallowed nervously.

She had wanted to speak— but when she caught sight of the crab in King Yama’s hand, the words stuck in her throat.

Crabs… Crabs were terrifying.

They moved fast, their long pincers wriggling like evil spirits. She still remembered vividly how one had once pinched her bottom so hard it hurt for days.

Ever since then, she had been scarred for life.

Daddy and Third Brother had always warned her:

“The underworld is full of thousands of crabs. If naughty children misbehave, they’ll be dragged down there to get their butts pinched.”