Chapter 8

Chapter 8

After Lin Yi came out of the restroom, another group of guests arrived.

This group consisted of a father and son.

The father was named Zhou Ke, a composer who usually spoke with a slight stutter and wasn't in the best health.

The son was called Xiao Niangao, an energetic chatterbox.

As soon as Xiao Niangao saw Lin Yi, he greeted him enthusiastically: "Big brother, hello!"

Lin Yi smiled back: "Hello."

Xiao Niangao, despite his young age, was fearless and observant. He looked at Lin Yi and then at Huo Mianmian beside him, asking: "Big brother, is this your little baby?"

Lin Yi nodded: "Yes."

Although he was only Mianmian's stepfather, it was close enough to being a father.

Xiao Niangao exclaimed: "Big brother, you're so young!!"

Lin Yi glanced at Mianmian and laughed.

If he were Mianmian's biological father, he would have had Mianmian at twenty-three, which indeed would be very young.

"Haha, I agree with Xiao Niangao, Lin Yi looks too young to be a dad!"

"His face is just too youthful. I bet he could pass for a college student if he walked around a university campus."

"Indeed, good looks make all the difference."

Xiao Niangao chatted with Lin Yi for quite a while before Zhou Ke gently reminded him: "Alright, alright, don't keep this big brother waiting."

It was clear that Zhou Ke was a shy and introverted person, worried about causing any inconvenience.

Lin Yi smiled: "No worries, I'm enjoying talking with Xiao Niangao."

Zhou Ke gave Lin Yi an apologetic smile.

Then, Xiao Niangao interjected: "Oh, by the way, big brother, if you have time, can you hang out with my dad more? My dad is really nice, but he's too shy and doesn't have many friends... um..."

Before Xiao Niangao could finish, Zhou Ke covered his mouth.

Zhou Ke himself was already blushing, stuttering even more: "That's just the kid talking nonsense. Don't take it seriously."

Lin Yi smiled nonchalantly: "It's fine."

Perhaps influenced by Lin Yi's calm demeanor, Zhou Ke relaxed a bit but still kept his hand over his son's mouth, leading the talkative child away to choose a room.

He feared more awkward moments if they lingered longer.

"I see myself in Zhou Ke."

"I relate too; I dread social interactions and prefer being alone."

"Haha, Lin Yi and Zhou Ke are polar opposites—Lin Yi is cool and collected, while Zhou Ke is shy and socially anxious."

Soon, another person entered, pushing a luggage cart.

This person came alone, without a child.

He was a well-known host named Zhao Jin.

He had recently found his true love and was currently trying to conceive, so he decided to participate in this parenting show as a practice run.

Clearly experienced in handling large crowds, Zhao Jin approached Lin Yi, extending his hand confidently: "Hello, I'm Zhao Jin."

Lin Yi shook his hand, his tone as laid-back as ever: "Hello, I'm Lin Yi."

Zhao Jin, accustomed to his role as a host, smoothly transitioned into formalities.

Looking around, he said: "It seems we're only missing one last group of guests. Wonder who it will be."

He then displayed a perfectly timed expression of anticipation.

Lin Yi didn't seem particularly interested in the upcoming guest. After exchanging a few words with Zhao Jin, he called out to Mianmian: "Kid, come here for a moment."

Since arriving, Mianmian had been sitting on the sofa, holding his favorite picture book and not moving.

Now, hearing his stepfather's call, he put down the book, climbed off the sofa, and walked over to Lin Yi.

Standing in front of Lin Yi, he blinked, unsure what Lin Yi wanted.

Lin Yi took his hand and started walking outside.

Mianmian followed with his short legs.

Viewers were curious about where the pair was headed.

"Are they going to meet the last group of guests?"

"It doesn't seem like it. Didn't you notice how happy Lin Yi looks? There must be something special going on."

Everyone watched eagerly, wondering where Lin Yi was going.

After walking a bit, Lin Yi realized Mianmian was walking too slowly, so he picked him up and continued walking briskly.

The cameraman hurried to follow.

The curiosity of the live stream viewers grew even stronger.

"Can someone tell me what they're going to do?"

"Ahhh, I'm so curious!!"

Just as the viewers' curiosity reached its peak, the answer was finally revealed.

Lin Yi carried Huo Mianmian to an orange tree and said, "Mianmian, see those oranges on the tree?"

Huo Mianmian glanced at the bright red oranges on the tree and nodded.

Lin Yi smiled. "Now, I'll hold you up, and you pick two nice ones from the tree."

From inside the house, he had seen the orange tree from afar. After quickly assessing its height, he realized that with his own height, it would be just a bit too high. So, he decided to carry Huo Mianmian to help him pick the oranges.

"Hahaha, as expected of you!"

"Wow, those oranges look really big and red; they make my mouth water."

"I knew Lin Yi was excited for a reason; he must have been enticed by the delicious fruit."

"That's right, foodies like us can't resist!"

Soon, Lin Yi lifted Huo Mianmian high up.

Huo Mianmian cooperated and started selecting the prettiest oranges.

He soon found a target orange.

With both chubby hands, he grabbed the orange and pulled hard, using all his strength until it finally came off with a "snap."

After successfully picking one orange, he held it, unsure where to put it.

He tilted his head in thought and then placed the orange in the large pocket of his suspenders, making his tummy bulge.

"Ahhh, too cute!!!"

"My goodness, when Mianmian tilted his head to think, it was absolutely adorable."

"I want such a cute kid too, ughhh!!"

Soon, Huo Mianmian picked another orange and patted Lin Yi, signaling that he could be put down.

Lin Yi lowered him.

Huo Mianmian held one orange in his hand and took out the other from his suspender pocket.

He held both oranges and raised them in front of Lin Yi, indicating that Lin Yi should choose one first.

Anyone being looked at by such a soft and adorable child and asked to choose an orange would feel their heart melt.

Lin Yi felt the same way. He gently rubbed Huo Mianmian's round head and praised him without hesitation, "Mianmian, you're amazing!"

Huo Mianmian smiled sweetly, showing dimples on his cheeks.

He had been praised by his dad today.

Happy~

Then, father and son each held an orange and began peeling them to eat.

Lin Yi peeled his orange casually and popped a segment into his mouth.

In the next second, he sighed contentedly; the orange was incredibly sweet!

Freshly picked, the orange was juicy and bursting with sweetness, making it very satisfying.

Lin Yi ate more than half of it in one go.

Compared to Lin Yi, Huo Mianmian was much more meticulous, peeling the orange carefully as if it were a piece of art.

After a while, he finally finished peeling the orange and took a small bite of a segment.

Immediately, he was delighted by its sweetness, his eyes sparkling.

He then looked up at Lin Yi and said, "Sweet~"

Lin Yi smiled. "Yes, it is very sweet. If you want more, we can pick some to take home later."

Huo Mianmian nodded seriously.

He would definitely pick plenty!

At that moment, two figures appeared at the end of the country path: one tall and one small.

It seemed the last group of guests had arrived.

Their entrance was unique; they were arguing.

The taller one was Shen Feng, a wealthy young master who ventured into the entertainment industry merely out of interest. Known for his bad temper, no one dared to offend him due to his background.

The smaller one was Song Yutao, nicknamed Tao Tao, Shen Feng's nephew. Despite his young age, he had a temper as fiery as his uncle's and was equally stubborn.

Shen Feng looked down at Song Yutao angrily and said, "Song Yutao, stop complaining. Who was it that insisted on coming to this show?"

Song Yutao shouted back, "How was I supposed to know it would be in such a remote area?! I don't care, I want to go back!!"

Even Shen Feng felt the place was quite remote and didn't want to be there either. However, since he was an adult and had signed a contract, he couldn't simply leave. He tried to calm down and said, "Just try to adapt; maybe you'll get used to it in a couple of days."

Song Yutao was still making a fuss: "I don't care, I want to leave right now!!"

Shen Feng also got angry: "Then hurry up and get lost!!"

At this moment, Song Yutao couldn't actually leave immediately. After all, he was just a kid; where could he go?

Uncle and nephew, the two of them, stood there facing each other.

Meanwhile, Lin Yi and Huo Mianmian were leisurely eating oranges while enjoying the show from the best viewing spot.

"Hahaha, as a bystander, I'm thoroughly entertained."

"Watching others argue is quite interesting."

"After all, Lin Yi and Mianmian were just standing there eating oranges. Who knew two people would suddenly start arguing?"

Lin Yi was watching the commotion nonchalantly.

At this moment, Huo Mianmian tugged at his sleeve and then pointed to a nearby field.

Lin Yi looked in the direction he was pointing and saw two roosters pecking at each other, glaring fiercely after each peck.

This scene was exactly like what had just happened.

Lin Yi glanced at the roosters, then at the two men, and couldn't help but burst out laughing.

His laughter finally caught their attention.

Shen Feng only then noticed that someone was standing under the orange tree not far away. He frowned and asked, "Are you laughing at us?"

Lin Yi couldn't stop laughing. After managing to control himself a bit, he said, "You could say I'm laughing at those two roosters."

Shen Feng followed his gaze and glanced at the roosters, getting even angrier. He felt Lin Yi was comparing them to roosters and shouted, "You..."

Before he could finish, it seemed his shout startled the roosters. They stopped pecking at each other and ran straight towards Shen Feng.

Shen Feng: "!!"

Song Yutao: "!!"

Both of them were terrified!

Song Yutao reacted quickly and ran far away in a few steps.

On the other hand, Shen Feng was slower. Seeing the roosters running towards him, he jumped onto a nearby haystack in panic.

He was now stuck, with roosters in front and wet rice fields behind, both dead ends.

Shen Feng: "..."

To say the least, he was shaking. Usually fearless, he was terrified of these sharp-beaked birds, especially when there were two of them.

Shen Feng was about to call for his nephew's help, but the nephew had already run eight hundred meters away, leaving only a faint shadow.

Shen Feng: "..."

Looking at the roosters, which seemed ready to attack him, he swallowed hard and, trying to maintain his last bit of dignity, called out to Lin Yi, "Hey, come over and chase them away!!"

Accustomed to being a young master, he spoke in a commanding tone. Usually, there were plenty of people around willing to flatter him and comply with his demands.

But who was Lin Yi?

Lin Yi was someone even more fearless than Shen Feng and didn't bother with this young master at all.

Not only did he ignore Shen Feng, but he also casually looked up at the oranges, thinking about picking a few more to eat later.

Shen Feng: "??"

At this moment, the roosters moved closer again.

Shen Feng's legs went weak, and he tried to scare the roosters with the fiercest tone possible: "Y-You dare come any closer, and I'll kill you and eat you!!"

The roosters, hearing this, charged towards Shen Feng even more aggressively.

Shen Feng: "!!!"

He hurriedly called out to Lin Yi, "Q-Quickly, quickly!!"

Lin Yi looked back at him calmly and said, "Is this how you ask for help?"

Shen Feng, nearly losing his voice from fear, pleaded, "P-Please, quickly chase them away!"

Lin Yi then slowly picked up a small stone, tossed it in his hand, and threw it towards the roosters.

The roosters were instantly scared away.

Shen Feng was finally saved and collapsed onto the haystack, realizing he was drenched in cold sweat.

Looking at Lin Yi, his expression was complex, a mix of gratitude and frustration.

But Lin Yi ignored him, picked a bunch of oranges, and happily walked back with his child, seemingly having forgotten the incident entirely.

Shen Feng: "..."

Was he the only one feeling conflicted?

"Ha ha ha, Lin Yi is the man of society, tough and talkative!"

"I get it now, Lin Yi is here to settle all disputes!"

"Shen Feng is killing me with laughter!!"

Since all the guests had arrived, they began the official filming.

The director addressed all the guests: "Welcome to our variety show. To help everyone get into the spirit, let's start with a little game. We will give each child a scrambled 2x2 Rubik's Cube. The children will be responsible for solving it, and we will distribute tonight's ingredients based on how quickly they complete it. The fastest one will receive the most abundant ingredients!"

Soon, the staff handed out a Rubik's Cube to each child.

"Wow, starting off with something this difficult?"

"Even though I'm an adult, I can't solve a 2x2 Rubik's Cube."

"Looking forward to it, kids, go for it!"

Quickly, the children started twisting their Rubik's Cubes.

Among them, Huo Mianmian was the most focused. He was always dedicated in his tasks, and now he was even more concentrated, pursing his lips tightly as he continuously adjusted the cube with his small hands.

"Ahhhh, serious Mianmian is so cute!!"

"Mianmian, keep it up! Sister believes in you!!"

Apart from Mianmian, He Nian's child, Hao Hao, was also very serious.

Hao Hao was the son of He Nian's friends, who were lazy and only cared about exploiting their son. They sent Hao Hao into the entertainment industry at a young age, making him a child star to support the family.

They sent Hao Hao to this kid's show with strict orders to be the best and grab all the attention.

Therefore, Hao Hao didn't dare relax for a moment.

He Nian also wanted to take the lead in the show, aligning with Hao Hao's parents' intentions, which was why he brought Hao Hao along.

"Hao Hao is pretty fast too."

"Don't you think he's too tense? It's just a game after all."

"Poor Hao Hao, hope there's nothing sinister behind it."

"What could be sinister? He Nian is so nice, and Hao Hao is really happy being on the show with him."

Xiao Migao, considered a proactive underachiever, kept scratching his head, trying hard to figure out a solution.

But after a flurry of moves, the cube became even more scrambled than before.

Song Yutao didn't move at all.

He had just had a fight with his uncle and didn't want to bother with any stupid Rubik's Cube!!

For a moment, the atmosphere was quite tense.

However, not long after, the results were clear.

Mianmian finished first and held up the solved cube, giving Lin Yi a sweet smile.

Lin Yi immediately gave him a thumbs-up.

Mianmian smiled even wider.

Seeing this, He Nian's face darkened.

Lin Yi's child had surpassed his own?

He glanced coldly at Hao Hao.

Hao Hao was already nervous, and that look made him even more anxious, causing him to forget what to do next.

"Did you notice how scary He Nian's look was just now?"

"Yeah, Hao Hao got even more nervous because of it."

"Trying to smear He Nian? All haters, get lost!!"

"Seriously, people are smearing someone like He Nian these days? Don't forget, he's the only one who brought gifts for all the kids."

"Taking our Nian away, no arguments!"

He Nian still had many fans, so they quickly suppressed the questioning comments.

Soon, the Rubik's Cube competition ended.

Mianmian came in first, Hao Hao second.

Xiao Migao and Song Yutao tied for third, one struggling without progress, the other not moving at all.

The production team fulfilled their promise and began distributing ingredients to each group.

Lin Yi's group received the most, a large bag full of ingredients.

However...

Lin Yi couldn't cook at all!

In his previous life as a big shot in investment banking, he was so busy he barely had time to sleep, let alone cook. He either ate in the cafeteria or ordered takeout every time.

Now suddenly given a pile of fresh ingredients, he had no idea what to do.

He looked at the ingredients, then at Huo Mianmian, and with a weighty tone called out, "Son..."

Huo Mianmian, not knowing why Lin Yi called him, blinked his beautiful big eyes in confusion, and then heard Lin Yi ask, "Perhaps you know how to cook?"

Huo Mianmian: "..."

What?

He touched his small belly, feeling a faint sense of unease.