Chapter 56 Mom, It’s Me

Shen Xingsui's gaze was still innocent, tinged with confusion as he looked at Fu Jinxiao.

Fu Jinxiao met that gaze, and he sighed inwardly with a hint of exasperation. Finally, he spoke with a voice that held more fondness than reproach, “You're all grown up, yet you tear up so easily. It's like you're a little damsel. Aren't you afraid of your fans making fun of you?”

Already embarrassed, Shen Xingsui retorted with a defensive hum, “That's not true! I don't tear up easily. I only got emotional because…”

Fu Jinxiao raised an eyebrow, intrigued, “Because of what?”

Shen Xingsui lowered his head, trying to distract himself with the accounting book he held. However, feeling the weight of the gaze beside him, he murmured, “I felt you were working too hard and...”

As he spoke, he grew more bashful, his voice dwindling to a whisper.

Fu Jinxiao, seeing the honest boy in front of him, chuckled lightly, “So you felt sorry for me?”

He completed the sentence for him.

Shen Xingsui felt exposed, but at the same time, being understood brought him joy. He gave a gentle nod.

Fu Jinxiao sat across him, scanning the young man whose skin was reddened from the sun. A thin layer of sweat covered his forehead due to the heat and his hurried approach. Usually, he maintained a poised demeanor, but now, he seemed to sag from exhaustion.

“Why don't you take care of yourself?” Fu Jinxiao poured a glass of water from a jug and handed it to him. “Filming doesn't require you to work yourself to the bone. With this heat, ask the production team for some sunscreen. Or after shooting, you'll end up at the hospital for sunburns.”

Shen Xingsui, processing the advice, uttered, “Huh?”

“What do you mean 'huh'?”

Fu Jinxiao settled back into his chair, casually opening the meal Shen Xingsui had brought him. He remarked playfully, “You're so worn out, yet you don't care for yourself. Good thing I don't cry as easily as you. Otherwise, seeing you like this, I'd be sitting here, shedding tears into my food, right?”

His jest made Shen Xingsui burst out laughing.

But as the laughter faded, a realization dawned on him: Was the illustrious actor Fu hinting that he was worried about him?

Could it be true?

Maybe it was just a casual remark, merely a metaphor.

Shen Xingsui's mind whirled, torn between hope and skepticism. Meanwhile, online viewers of their livestream were getting excited:

“I ship them so hard!”

“Our Xingsui always seems to consider others first.”

“The sad part is, not many consider him.”

“There is someone! Fu cares about him, hehe.”

“I'm so touched. Thank you, Fu, for looking out for our Xingsui.”

“They're such a cute pair. I stan!”

As the morning wore on, many got word that there were idols selling fruits at the local market. Some of them were fans, with a fair bit of disposable income.

Before lunch break was over, a girl in a yellow dress approached the stall, asking, "How much are these fruits, sir?"

Shen Xingsui hurriedly stepped forward to inform her of the prices.

The girl in the yellow dress was extravagantly generous, declaring, "Alright, give me ten pounds of each kind!"

Shen Xingsui was taken aback, "I'm truly grateful for your support, but are you sure you can consume all of this?"

The girl glanced shyly at Fu Jinxiao standing behind and said, "Don't worry about that. If you truly want to show gratitude, perhaps you could consider a little gift?"

They had heard of the show's rules, which prohibited transactions due to celebrity involvement. The mature fans of the actor chose a roundabout way to seek benefits.

Shen Xingsui pondered, struggling to think of an appropriate gift, "Well, we could... perhaps..."

As he hesitated, Fu Jinxiao's voice emanated from behind, "A gift, you say? No problem at all."

Shen Xingsui turned to him.

Fu Jinxiao instructed, "Let Shen Xingchen return to assist you in packing the fruits. I'll be back shortly."

Shen Xingsui didn't question his intentions, merely nodding in acknowledgment before messaging Shen Xingchen. They then started selecting fruits for the customer.

It wasn't long before Fu Jinxiao returned.

Holding a set of calligraphy equipment he'd procured from a nearby store, Fu Jinxiao spread the paper and dipped the brush in ink. With a fluid and masterful stroke, he penned the words "万事如意" (Everything Goes Well). His motions were graceful, and the characters powerful and clear.

The waiting fans gasped in admiration.

Setting down the brush, Fu Jinxiao looked up with a smile, "Will this gift suffice?"

"Absolutely!" The fan nearly nodded her head off in excitement, stuttering, "Really? This is for me?"

With his customary warm smile, Fu Jinxiao graciously replied, "Thank you for supporting us. It's much appreciated."

His words had a dual meaning.

Firstly, for purchasing such a vast quantity of fruits and, secondly, for traveling to this remote town to support them.

The girl in the yellow dress was on the brink of tears, still seeking reassurance, "It's no trouble at all. Is this truly for me?"

With his iconic smile, the dashing man, even in his modest work attire, looked magnificent, "Indeed."

The young girl gasped in elation, drawing the attention of Shen Xingsui and others nearby.

Shen Xingsui, witnessing Fu Jinxiao's calligraphy for the first time, remarked, "Since when has Teacher Fu been such an exquisite calligrapher?"

"Haven't you heard about the Fu family's lineage? The Fu patriarch is a renowned scholar, and their family has been steeped in literary traditions for generations. You remember the charity auction hosted by the Fu family? A piece of calligraphy by the patriarch fetched eighty million. As for Fu Jinxiao, he rarely displays his writing. Yet, a couple of years ago, a piece of his was auctioned for thirty million," Shen Xingchen whispered.

Shen Xingsui's eyes widened in astonishment.

Now he understood the fan's exhilaration. Buying a few dozens of pounds of fruit in exchange for such a valuable gift? It was like hitting the jackpot overnight.

The live stream audience grew excited.

"How did I miss out on such good luck?"

"Peach Blossom Town, right? I'll head there overnight."

"Did this fan sister save the Milky Way in her past life?"

"That's the elder brother's top fan! She won't sell it, her family is quite affluent to begin with."

Initially, there were plenty of fruits on the stall, but after a significant amount were sold, little remained. Despite that, a long line persisted behind. Some had been queuing from the crack of dawn. Under the blazing sun, the temperature in Peach Blossom Town soared. Queuing was sweltering, and it's quite pitiable that when it was their turn, nothing was left.

Li Xuan proposed, "I just got in touch with Teacher Li and Ranran. They still have a few flowers unsold."

After hearing this, Shen Xingchen had an idea, "Why don't we buy some flowers and give them to the customers who have been in line for ages and haven't gotten anything? Otherwise, it seems quite unfair."

Both turned their gaze to Fu Jinxiao after speaking.

He's the one truly in charge of finances. Without his approval, everything else is just talk.

Fu Jinxiao sat at the table tallying up the day's earnings, then remarked, "We priced our fruits based on the market rate. You both made several errors in the accounts today. When it's about earning, you aren’t attentive, but now you're eager to spend?"

Li Xuan choked up. He was one of the culprits.

Shen Xingchen felt stifled too, scratching his head and turning to Shen Xingsui for advice.

Shen Xingsui glanced behind him, noticing the long queue. They looked exhausted, some even had sweat-drenched backs from standing for too long, using their bags to shield themselves from the relentless sun.

Hesitantly, Shen Xingsui suggested, "If Teacher Li's remaining flowers aren’t selling, they might let them go for a bit less. We don't have to buy many, just enough for those who've been waiting the longest. It would be only proper..."

Li Xuan sighed.

He was about to say, "What's the point of what you said? I had the same idea and Fu rejected it. Will your words even matter?" Just as he was approaching Shen Xingsui, intending to console him, he noticed Fu Jinxiao, who was not far away and engrossed in his accounts, looking up with a surprisingly gentle expression, nodding in approval, "You make a valid point."

Li Xuan: "…?"

Setting his accounts aside, Fu Jinxiao said leisurely, "Then let’s proceed as you suggested. We'll stay here and clean up the stall, while you and Xingchen visit Teacher Li and fetch some flowers."

A smile spread across Shen Xingsui's face, "Really?"

Fu Jinxiao nodded affirmatively.

Shen Xingchen, filled with excitement, clenched his fists and hopped around, "Yay! Let’s head out now!"

Shen Xingsui was equally thrilled. Both, innocent at heart, quickly went to borrow a vehicle from the production crew, leaving a flustered Li Xuan behind.

The live stream audience burst into laughter:

"Hahaha, look at Li Xuan's face! He's having an existential crisis."

"Fu, is it really okay for you to do this?"

"When it's your own child's suggestion, it's always sensible!"

"I'm laughing to tears."

On Shen Xingsui's end, he was negotiating with the production team about borrowing a small tricycle. The team was reluctant to lend it for free, setting the condition: "50 yuan for half an hour."

Shen Xingsui exclaimed, "Why is it so expensive?"

Meanwhile, Shen Xingchen, who had been pampered since childhood, seemed unbothered, already thinking of scanning the QR code to pay.

Shen Xingsui stopped him, turning to the production team, "This is way too expensive. I once rode a shared bike for only 4 yuan an hour. Why is this electric tricycle 50?"

The director, with gravity in his voice, responded, "Resources are scarce these days. That's our rate. If you find it expensive, there's another option – a non-electric tricycle for just 10 yuan."

Shen Xingsui glanced to the side and saw the old-fashioned tricycle.

If he wanted to be practical, this was the choice. After a moment of hesitation, he nodded, "I'll take that one."

Shen Xingchen was taken aback, blocking his brother, "I can't ride this type of tricycle."

"It's fine, I can." Shen Xingsui got his brother seated, placed his feet on the pedals, and asked, "Are you ready?"

The young master, who had always been seated in luxury cars, now found himself on a small bench on a tricycle. He scrunched up and shouted, "I'm ready!"

Shen Xingsui pedaled forward, "Let's go!"

Despite appearing mild-mannered, viewers were surprised by his stamina. Carrying Shen Xingchen, they sped to the bookstore, arriving sweaty and panting.

As soon as they entered, Shen Xingchen announced, "Mr. Li, we're here to buy flowers!"

Mr. Li emerged, amused to see familiar faces as customers, "How many do you want? They're 10 yuan each."

Shen Xingchen remarked, "These flowers look lovely."

"Of course! Freshly picked and beautifully wrapped," Mr. Li boasted, "Let Ranran show you around."

Shen Xingchen had never been frugal, nor did he have a clear concept of money. He had never bought flowers and thus was unsure about the prices.

An Ran energetically introduced, "This variety of rose is 10 yuan each, and this one's a bit pricier at 15."

Shen Xingsui, joining in, whispered, "Ranran, let's get the regular ones. We want fifty stems. Can you give us a discount?"

An Ran was flabbergasted, "This price isn't high."

"We're buying in bulk," Shen Xingsui haggled like he was in a market, examining the flowers, "Look, this one's a bit wilted. Shouldn't we get a discount for that? And this one here, it's visibly smaller than the others. Isn't it unfair to charge the same?"

Left speechless by his negotiations, An Ran finally conceded, "Alright, alright, I'll give you a slight discount."

Only then did Shen Xingsui break into a satisfied smile, "Thank you."

After arranging the flowers, seeing Shen Xingsui so exhausted from pedaling the tricycle that his sweat-soaked shirt hadn’t dried, Shen Xingchen said, "Let me pedal. I've got this."

Shen Xingsui hesitated, looking at him, "Are you sure you can?"

"Don't underestimate me!" Shen Xingchen patted his chest confidently, "What can possibly defeat me?"

As it turned out, while Shen Xingchen might sometimes come across as a bit naive, his ability to quickly pick up new skills was commendable. He managed to grasp how to pedal the tricycle. By the time they returned with the flowers, both of them were so tired they could hardly stand straight.

The audience had varied opinions about Shen Xingsui's actions:

"Such a penny-pincher."

"So miserly."

"He's nowhere as generous as An Ran."

"Are they really that broke?"

"Making Xingchen work so hard even after earning a decent amount today. A little splurge wouldn’t hurt."

Once the flowers were distributed, nearly all the fruits at the stall had been sold. The group packed up the stall and then went to sum up the day with the elderly grandfather. The old man could hardly believe all his fruits had sold out in just a day. Seeing the empty stall, he felt as if he was dreaming.

Fu Jinxiao handed over the accounts to him, mentioning, "Today, we earned a total of 6,213 yuan. Please keep these records safe. Our crew will later withdraw the cash from the bank and bring it to you."

"So much? Truly?" The old man's hands, rough and tanned from years of labor, trembled slightly as he accepted the account book, "Thank you, thank you. This is too much. You helped me sell the fruits. I should share half with you..."

Shen Xingchen smiled, "It's alright, Grandpa. We volunteered, and we were just fulfilling our task for the show. You lending us the fruits to sell was help enough."

The grandfather didn't quite understand what a "show" or "task" meant.

From his pocket, he took out an old piece of cloth, looking worn with time. Unfolding the cloth layers, he revealed money inside - a couple of hundred yuan bills and some folded smaller denominations alongside coins.

He handed the two hundred yuan notes to Fu Jinxiao and tried to give the smaller notes too, his voice sincere, "This is my savings from selling fruits and recycling. You take this first, and when today's earnings arrive, I'll give you more..."

The old man didn't have much saved up, and this was nearly all the cash he had.

To many, this amount might represent the cost of a casual meal or an in-game purchase. But to the old man, it represented long hours under the sun and days' worth of labor.

Shen Xingsui gently returned the money, saying, "Don't worry about it. We'll be paid by the show. You've already compensated us."

The grandfather, still puzzled, asked, "Have you already received the money?"

Fu Jinxiao smiled, "Yes, so the money you have is rightfully yours. Don't stress over us."

"Exactly," Shen Xingsui carefully refolded the cloth around the money and handed it back, "It's quite hot these days. Perhaps you should consider wearing a sun hat. There's a shop nearby selling them at a discount; only 20 yuan each. And your shoes, they look quite worn. Maybe consider getting a new pair."

The old man listened attentively. With his children working in the city and rarely visiting, hearing the young man's thoughtful advice touched his heart deeply. As he nodded, tears glistened in his eyes. His hunched figure, standing under the sun, looked both lonely and pitiful.

The live stream's viewers were deeply moved:

"There's so much hardship in this world."

"Enough with the 'stingy' remarks; the money he saves isn't for himself, it's all for his grandfather."

"Only those who've truly endured hardships can understand."

"He simply wanted to save a bit so his grandfather could afford more, yet he's criticized for being petty. Please, show the kid some kindness."

"Perhaps his new family is going through some tough times..."

...

The Next Day

Everyone gathered early in the courtyard. The production team started reviewing the achievements from the previous day. In the end, the team of Fu Jinxiao and Shen Xingsui, along with their two partners, triumphed over another team by a margin of five hundred yuan.

Members of the production team brought forward three lockboxes, saying, "Congratulations on completing yesterday's task on time and meeting the goals. Clues about the killer and your next task are in these lockboxes. Open them to get the task cards."

Receiving a box, Shen Xingchen asked, "What's the code?"

The director playfully responded, "The code is based on the number of breakfast items on your table yesterday morning. It's a four-digit code, combining the counts from both you and your teammate."

"???"

It was as if three gigantic question marks lingered in their minds, leaving everyone staring at the production team in disbelief.

After pausing for a moment, Shen Xingchen managed to say, "Director, are you pulling my leg?"

The live stream's viewership numbers surged:

"Hahahaha!"

"I knew there was a catch when they unexpectedly gave us breakfast!"

"Oh my God, I'm rolling on the floor laughing."

"They've got the task cards, but it's as if they don't."

Amidst everyone's stunned expressions, Shen Xingsui quietly stepped forward, "I think I remember."

All eyes turned to him.

A bit sheepishly, Shen Xingsui smiled, "I have a decent memory. Yesterday, due to my indecisiveness, I went through all the breakfast items. So, I remember the count, mine was 12, right?"

A crew member from the production team nodded, "Correct."

"!!!"

The others were even more taken aback.

Shen Xingchen leaned in, "But remembering only yours doesn't help. It needs to be a combination of yours and Fu's breakfast count."

Fu Jinxiao responded, "Mine should be 16."

The staff member nodded promptly, "Correct."

Shen Xingchen: "...?"

The production team handed over two lockboxes to Fu Jinxiao, Shen Xingsui's partner, saying, "Congratulations on passing the test, these two boxes are yours now."

Beside them, Shen Xingchen stood agape. It seemed as though he wanted to shout out loud, "Did you two get a script ahead of everyone else? This is just unreal! Why on earth were you counting breakfast items early in the morning? That's against the rules!"

The live stream audience was even more entertained seeing his reaction:

"What a gem of a show, hahaha!"

"Fu and Sui are just too good!"

"Hang in there, dear Xingchen!"

It seemed the production team couldn't bear it anymore and decided to offer a chance, "Even if you truly forgot, it's alright. Since you've completed the sales task today, we can make an exception and unlock the task cards for you."

Just as Shen Xingchen was about to breathe a sigh of relief, the director continued, "However, since you didn't remember, you won't be getting breakfast today."

His relief got stuck in his throat, almost choking him.

Members from the other group started to mock relentlessly:

"Xingchen, just be grateful. At least you have an extra box."

"Exactly! We're not getting breakfast either."

"Let's be hungry together, comrade!"

Just as Shen Xingchen was about to protest, the director produced a cell phone, "But no worries. We have an additional challenge. It's 5:30 a.m. now. Call your family and ask if they're willing to deliver breakfast to Taohua Town. If they agree, you'll get the breakfast we provide. If not, you'll go hungry."

"..."

Crafty production team.

Everyone's faces bore expressions of disbelief and resignation.

But some remained hopeful. Teacher Li said, "Alright, challenge accepted. It's worth a shot, better than not having any option."

Shen Xingchen felt the same way and said, "Sure, director. Give me the phone now."

The staff, accustomed to this young master's ways, hastily handed him the phone, reiterating, "It has to be a member of your own family."

Shen Xingchen nodded, "Don't worry!"

With evident confidence, he dialed Shen Minglang's number. After a few rings, it was picked up, and a groggy voice answered, "Hello?"

Shen Xingchen spoke rapidly, "Hey, brother, it's Xingchen."

Shen Minglang responded, "What's up?"

"I'm on this show, remember? I'm just asking if you'd come over and bring me breakfast?" Shen Xingchen's face was alight with a smile.

There was a prolonged silence from Shen Minglang. When he finally spoke, his voice was dark and chilling, "I worked all night on a proposal and only managed to get less than an hour of sleep just now. Shen Xingchen, are you looking for trouble?"

Shen Xingchen: "Ah..."

The call abruptly ended.

A cold wind swept through the courtyard, leaving behind an eerie desolation.

The other guests couldn't help but laugh out loud. Shen Xingchen turned to the director, "Director, that doesn't count, right? Can I make another call, please?"

The director dared not refuse.

If this young master threw a tantrum, no one could hold him back.

Without delay, Shen Xingchen dialed the number of his most amiable family member - his mother. After a short while, Xu Enzhen's gentle voice slowly answered from the other end, "Hello?"

Shen Xingchen responded, "Mom, it's me, Xingchen."

"Shen Xingchen?" The moment Xu Enzhen recognized her son's voice, her tone took on a feisty edge, "What are you doing up at five in the morning? Don't tell me you had another nightmare!"

Shen Xingchen: "...No, I'm on a show. Can you come and bring me breakfast?"

Half-asleep, Xu Enzhen instinctively quipped, "Breakfast? How about I deliver a slap instead?"

On the brink of tears, Shen Xingchen replied, "Mom, I'm being serious here!"

However, the live stream audience found it hilarious:

"Hahaha, this is too funny!"

"Is everyone in the young master's family this entertaining?"

"But they do care about him. His brother, despite his all-nighter, still answered his call. And his sleepy mom didn't hang up even after the breakfast topic was raised."

"Absolutely! It's genuinely enviable."

After some back and forth with Xu Enzhen, she finally, albeit reluctantly, agreed to deliver breakfast. Shen Xingchen had narrowly passed the challenge.

The production team then turned their attention to Shen Xingsui and others, asking, "Would any of you like to make a call?"

Shen Xingsui seemed slightly surprised, "Can we? Haven't we already cleared the challenge by cracking the code to the lockbox?"

"In the interest of fairness, everyone gets a chance," the director, often a just figure, explained, "If you clear the call challenge, you'll earn an opportunity to seek help from our crew later on."

After hearing this, Fu Jinxiao nodded, "Might as well give it a try."

Shen Xingsui hesitated for a moment but eventually agreed.

Handing his phone to Shen Xingsui, Shen Xingchen remarked, "Here, call mom. Don't bother brother right now; he's in a foul mood."

Many in attendance, including the online viewers, were unaware of which family Shen Xingsui had identified with. They were all curious. Hearing Shen Xingchen's words added to the mystery. But as Shen Xingsui prepared to dial, the atmosphere became electric with anticipation, as if a veil of secrecy was about to be lifted.

The netizens were buzzing with gossip and excitement:

"Can't wait to find out who they really are!"

"Remember how the Zhang couple never showed up in 'Starlight' no matter what?"

"Poor Xingsui."

"I hope his new parents treat him well!"

On-site, Shen Xingsui took the phone, hesitated momentarily, and dialed the same number. After a brief wait, an annoyed voice, belonging to Xu Enzhen, responded, "Didn't we just discuss this? Why are you calling again, Shen Xingchen? What time do you think it is? Even if I bring breakfast, it'll have to wait till daylight..."

Pausing for a beat, Shen Xingsui delicately spoke up, "Mom, it's me."

"... "

A surprised silence ensued on the other end.

The entire studio, including the production crew, went silent, while the live-stream chat exploded:

"What's going on?"

"Did he dial the wrong number?"

"Oh my God, did he just call her 'mom'? Did I hear that right?"

"Guys, I can't handle this excitement!"

"Who needs sleep now? I'm wide awake!"