Chapter 39: The System stared at the brother who had stripped off his clothes; how miserable.

Lin Ya gently took the little girl’s hand and strolled into the kitchen to the side. Behind the kitchen was a small, hidden room.

Jiang Xiaxia was full of curiosity, her dark, round eyes darting around to examine the tiny space. She discovered that this room was connected to the stove in the kitchen; as soon as a fire was lit in the front, heat would travel through a narrow passage, keeping the small room warm and cozy.

Seeing the little girl tilting her head and staring unblinkingly at the slightly soot-stained passage above, Lin Ya couldn't help but smile tenderly and ask softly, "Xiaxia, have you never seen a room like this before?"

Jiang Xiaxia shook her head quickly, pointing her tiny hand at the passage, and asked in a milky voice, "Who made it?"

Just then, Jiang Zhiqing walked in carrying hot water and, having overheard the little girl, replied gently, "Big Uncle made it! They say that after Big Aunt became pregnant, he was worried she would catch a cold while washing up, so he specifically built this warm place for her."

Jiang Xiaxia blinked her big, watery eyes at Jiang Zhiqing, who was patiently explaining things to her, and called out crisply, "Sister?"

Jiang Zhiqing answered immediately, looking at the little girl—who was staring at her with wide, unblinking eyes—with confusion, and couldn't help but ask, "What is it, Xiaxia?"

Jiang Xiaxia scratched her messy little yellow hair, suddenly pulled her hand away from Lin Ya, and nimbly climbed onto the small wooden partition used for privacy in the room. Her eyes were fixed squarely on the brothers, Jiang Zhiming and Jiang Zhien, who had just taken off their outer garments.

"Jiang Xiaxia!"

Jiang Zhien, quick-witted, grabbed a piece of clothing from the side to cover himself, and also managed to cover Jiang Zhiming. Jiang Zhiming’s loud shout startled the mother and daughter standing stunned in the next room.

Lin Ya hurried forward in a panic to lift the little girl down, while Jiang Zhiqing quickly spoke up, "Second Brother, don't be angry. Xiaxia is still small—look, seeing it doesn't really matter!"

Jiang Zhiming was already red with anger. Upon hearing his sister’s words, he nearly jumped up in a fury: "She didn't see anything!"

"Right, she didn't see anything; we still had our pants on!" Jiang Zhien added with a naive explanation.

At the mention of the word "pants," the dazed look in Jiang Xiaxia’s eyes finally faded, and she nodded quickly: "White ones! Anything else, didn't see!"

"Jiang Xiaxia!"

Jiang Zhiming, who had just decided to let it go, jumped up and rushed toward her, but Jiang Zhien was fast enough to pin him down. Lin Ya, however, burst into a giggle, drawing curious glances from both little girls.

"I haven't seen your little brother this lively in a long time!" Lin Ya looked at her daughter, a flash of warmth and worry crossing her eyes. "I don't know why, but lately, your little brother hasn't been as energetic as he used to be. I was worried he would stay like that forever."

Jiang Xiaxia nodded her little head. Of course he wouldn't be lively anymore. She had just seen it—her sister was beaten to death, her older brother was wearing a small vest with his head shaved, and her younger brother was in the corner of a small room, holding a knife!

But—how did she suddenly see that in a trance? Could it be that she had "refreshed" a new level with her little uncle, and the "system" had added some new features?

After thinking about it for a long time, Jiang Xiaxia couldn't find a reason, so she cast the matter aside. Rubbing her little hands together, she sighed, "Uncle is good!" She wondered what the "system" would be able to pull out next time.

Hearing the little girl suddenly praise their third brother, Lin Ya laughed. "You like your little uncle that much?"

Lin Ya, who had been slightly suspicious of the little girl’s identity, watched her nod and casually asked, "Then how does he compare to your mom and dad?"

"Dead!" The answer came in a crisp, clear voice, with a hint of impatience.

Jiang Xiaxia looked at the stunned Lin Ya and Jiang Zhiqing, scratched her head, and pointed at herself: "Only one!"

Lin Ya had initially assumed she was her eldest brother’s child, but hearing this and seeing how ignorant and unbothered she looked, she was taken aback. Jiang Zhiqing asked directly, "Are... are you not sad?"

Jiang Xiaxia actually wanted to shake her head because she didn't know who her parents were, but seeing both of them looking at her with such shock, she remembered human emotions toward family and explained in a low voice, "Have Grandma, not sad!"

Lin Ya immediately filled in the blanks: she figured the child must have been too young when she lost her parents to have any real attachment, and after meeting her grandmother, she had come to see her as her only kin. Thinking of this, Lin Ya couldn't help but think of her own parents and her eldest brother’s children. Her brother had married later than she did, and his children should be about the same age as Xiaxia. Considering the current situation of her family, Lin Ya’s eyes dimmed instantly, and a heart full of sorrow left her unable to speak.

For a moment, the cramped shower room was so quiet one could hear a pin drop, as if all emotions were muffled by the silence.

Jiang Xiaxia sat hunched in the wooden tub, looking at Jiang Zhiqing, who was huddled there with her. She reached out with her small hand and squeezed her arm, which was thin and lacked strength. *So weak, no wonder they got beaten to death!*

Recalling how happy her grandmother was to see them on the ride back, Jiang Xiaxia felt worried. If something happened to them, her grandmother would definitely be sad.

But she didn't seem to have any of those serums from the apocalypse that could improve human physical fitness! She wondered if "refreshing" her little uncle a few more times would yield something else for her sister.

Carrying this worry, Jiang Xiaxia was already drowsy by the time Lin Ya carried her back to the room. In the small room, the bed was divided into two sides: the brothers on one side, Jiang Zhiqing sleeping with her parents, and she was sleeping on the inner side tonight. Before drifting off, she forced her eyes open to scan her surroundings. Her ears twitched, and upon sensing her grandmother’s presence not far away, she finally felt at ease.

She didn't know how long she had slept when she heard soft footsteps.

"Is everyone asleep?"

Jiang Cheng, his voice deliberately lowered, remembered his younger brother’s warning and couldn't help but glance at the sleeping little girl. Seeing she didn't stir, he shook his head with a faint smile. He had been stunned by the "trick" the little girl had performed that afternoon, and after his younger brother mentioned she was "special," he couldn't help but magnify that uniqueness in his mind.

Now, seeing her sleeping with rosy cheeks just like his own daughter, Jiang Cheng reached out to pat the heads of the little ones, then checked on his two sleeping sons.

Seeing that the children were all asleep, he sat down beside his wife, took her hand, and comforted her in a low voice, "Don't worry. I’ve already sent someone to inquire about your parents. Our third brother is back now, and he has wide connections; I’ll ask him to help when the time comes."

"Cheng, you must not get involved in this," Lin Ya’s voice trembled, choked with unspeakable sobs, tears welling in her eyes. "Han Dahong’s niece was right—even high school teachers are being sent down for 're-education.' My parents’ situation must be even worse. With my current status, if I get linked to the Jiang family, it will only drag you all down!"

Jiang Cheng furrowed his brows slightly, looking at Lin Ya with a firm gaze. He gripped her hand tightly, the veins on the back of his hand bulging slightly as if conveying unquestionable strength. "When I remarried you, I said it clearly: even if you find out later that your feelings for me aren't romantic, I will never let you go!"

Jiang Cheng’s voice rose slightly as he said this. Seeing Lin Ya’s nervous expression, he gently turned her wrist, held her hand firmly, and kissed it softly.

He leaned closer, his warm breath brushing against her ear, and whispered, "Leave this matter to me, alright? Don't fret over it; I will handle it perfectly."

Lin Ya looked up at Jiang Cheng, her eyes filled with deep emotion and reddened with tears. She felt a sense of security and reliance in his firm gaze, and for a moment, a thousand words were lost in their deep, affectionate stare.

"Remarried... why?"