Chapter 43: Evolution Means Becoming Human from a Beast

Jiang Chengyan saw her kicking her legs and gently set her down.

Bai Yan pointed in the direction where Zhao had just left, and whispered, "That was a puppy, and it looks like it won't survive." As she spoke, there was a trace of sadness in her eyes.

When Jiang Chengyan looked down, he saw Bai Yan staring in a daze at her own hands. Her slender fingers were so beautiful that, for a moment, he wanted to bring her a piano right then and there. Such lovely hands, wasted on gathering firewood... No, not playing the piano would truly be a shame.

"What are you looking at?" Jiang Chengyan asked, resting his right hand lightly atop her head.

Bai Yan kept her head bowed, repeatedly examining her hands, and asked, "Why do I really have no magic?"

"You merely need to evolve a little," Jiang Chengyan replied, curling his lips into a smile.

The word "evolve" was unfamiliar to Bai Yan, so she asked curiously, "Husband, what does 'evolve' mean?"

Jiang Chengyan took a lock of her hair between his long fingers and replied in a calm, serious tone, "Evolution is when an animal becomes a human."

Bai Yan: "???" That sounded suspiciously like an insult.

"I won't play with you anymore. I'm going to find Mother," Bai Yan huffed, thinking her husband had a knack for saying unpleasant things. She turned and marched toward the courtyard to look for Zhao.

Seeing his little wife storm off in a huff, Jiang Chengyan reached out and gently tugged her hair, pulling her back.

"Zhao Chuju bought some apples for you. Would you like to try them?" Jiang Chengyan had just woken up and gone to fetch them.

Bai Yan sniffed the air, glanced down, and saw that Jiang Chengyan was holding a small basket brimming with modest-sized apples.

She picked one, wiped it on Jiang Chengyan’s sleeve, and took a hearty bite.

"Is it sweet?" Jiang Chengyan looked down at his wife, her cheeks bulging as she munched the apple.

Bai Yan took another two bites, but instead of confirming, she spat it out and stuffed the remaining half into Jiang Chengyan’s hand.

He took the half-eaten apple and bit into it without hesitation. By his standards, it was sweet enough.

"See, not sweet! Husband, let me show you which fruits are really sweet, which wild vegetables taste best, and where the coziest rabbit burrows are," Bai Yan boasted.

Hearing her mention rabbit burrows, Jiang Chengyan drew her into his arms, squeezed her plump hand, and asked, "So, how many burrows do you have?"

Bai Yan happily raised her hand and replied, "Actually, I have two. One is under the big tree, and the other is in the grass behind the small slope. That one's extra comfy, though sometimes I see snakes."

Jiang Chengyan was charmed by her childish tone, and, stroking her head, he laughed, "Only two burrows? Looks like you're a silly bunny."

"Why? You're the silly one!" Bai Yan began bumping her head against Jiang Chengyan's chin.

"Because clever rabbits have three burrows, and you only have two. Isn't that silly?"

Bai Yan was utterly confused. Three burrows for a clever rabbit?

"Don't get it?" Jiang Chengyan raised an eyebrow.

Bai Yan nodded.

"That's why reading is important. If you don't read, you'll be as foolish as you are now." With that, his tall figure gently led her into the courtyard.