Chapter 46

Chapter 46

The inside of the airport was spacious and bright.

Lin Yi led Huo Mianmian in and casually found a row of chairs to sit down.

The flight still had over an hour before departure, so they could rest for a while.

Naturally, Shen Feng sat right next to Lin Yi.

After sitting down, he crossed his legs, took out his phone, and said to Lin Yi, "Quick, quick, quick, let's play a game before the plane takes off."

Lin Yi replied, "I don't want to play with you."

Shen Feng frowned immediately, "Why?"

Lin Yi said disdainfully, "Because your gaming skills are terrible."

During the last program recording, he had seen Shen Feng playing games. This guy was the typical type who was bad but addicted, dying more than ten times in a single match.

Shen Feng didn’t expect to be despised by Lin Yi and quickly defended himself, "I’m the spokesperson for this game, you know? Do you know how many people want to play with me?"

And yet, when he invited Lin Yi, Lin Yi wasn’t interested?

Lin Yi glanced at him lightly, "No matter how many people want to play with you, it has nothing to do with me. I’m not one of them."

Shen Feng: "..."

He was speechless for a moment, but playing alone was no fun, so he continued to pester Lin Yi, "Just play a couple of rounds with me. Otherwise, sitting here waiting is boring too, isn’t it?"

Lin Yi responded calmly, "I’m not bored."

Shen Feng: "..."

Unable to win the argument, Shen Feng started to act childish, "I don’t care. If you don’t play with me, I’ll keep talking in your ear until you can’t stand it!"

This time, it was Lin Yi’s turn to be speechless.

What kind of grudge was this?

With no other choice, Lin Yi took out his phone, "Fine, let’s play."

Shen Feng instantly became excited, "Quick, quick, quick, log into the game. I’ll add you."

In this game, besides Lin Yi and Shen Feng, there were three strangers. Once the five of them were assembled, the game began.

Once the game started, Shen Feng understood why Lin Yi had been so dismissive earlier.

Lin Yi’s gaming skills were truly exceptional. At least compared to the other four players, he was like a god.

The key was that Lin Yi remained calm throughout, controlling the game interface nonchalantly without any of the anxiety or agitation shown by others.

In the end, Lin Yi successfully led the four of them to victory, and it was a spectacular win.

Shen Feng was stunned and turned to look at Lin Yi, "Why are your gaming skills so good?"

Lin Yi raised an eyebrow, "Playing every day, how could my skills be bad? I even have a dedicated gaming room at home."

A gaming room?

Probably every guy would be envious upon hearing about a gaming room.

Shen Feng was no exception. He immediately asked Lin Yi, "Can I visit your place then? In exchange, you can come to mine too!"

Lin Yi refused, "No."

Shen Feng couldn’t believe he was rejected again and jumped up, "Why?"

Lin Yi explained, "Because I don’t want to go to your place, so there’s no exchange."

Shen Feng: "..."

Such powerful logic; he couldn’t think of a counterargument.

After a brief conversation, they started the second round.

This time, Shen Feng recorded the screen from the beginning. He planned to post the video of him and Lin Yi playing games on Weibo.

On one hand, it showed that as the game’s spokesperson, he wasn’t slacking off and was practicing whenever possible. On the other hand, it also demonstrated that he and Lin Yi had a good relationship and enjoyed playing games together.

Soon after, Shen Feng posted the video he had just recorded on Weibo and tagged Lin Yi.

Shen Feng had a large number of followers on Weibo. Despite his temperamental personality, many people liked him, which is why they followed him.

However, Shen Feng’s fans were unique. They often loved him while simultaneously criticizing him, making him a special case within the circle.

Therefore, as soon as Shen Feng posted on Weibo, numerous comments popped up.

"Is Shen Feng playing games with Lin Yi?"

"Wow, their relationship has really improved since the program. They’re even playing games together."

"Ahhh, my two favorites interacting! Double happiness for a fan."

"Lin Yi’s skills are amazing. He completely outclasses Shen Feng."

"I’m curious too. Shen Feng’s gaming skills are so poor, yet someone is willing to play with him. Lin Yi is truly an angel."

"Shen Feng: You fake fans, unfollow me!"

"Hahaha, sorry, we were wrong. We'll do it again next time."

"Why are these two suddenly playing games together? Could it be that the kids' show is about to start filming?!"

"Replying to the previous commenter: Yes, the second season is about to start filming. The show's official Weibo account has already announced it."

"Aaaaaah, I'm going to camp out in the live stream!!"

Inside the airport.

Another guest from this city arrived.

It was He Nian.

He Nian, as always, maintained his innocent persona, holding Hao Hao's hand and smiling as he walked into the airport.

Seeing Lin Yi and Shen Feng, he was taken aback. Why were these two hanging out together? Did they make plans ahead of time? When did their relationship become so good?

Numerous thoughts flashed through He Nian's mind, but he didn't show it. Instead, he walked over to them with a smile.

After reaching the two who were playing games, He Nian greeted Shen Feng first, but Shen Feng didn't even look up, merely giving a perfunctory "Hmm."

Shen Feng couldn't stand people like He Nian, who acted insincerely, wearing a mask. It was no surprise he wouldn't bother with him.

Feeling slightly awkward, He Nian quickly adjusted his fake persona and greeted Lin Yi as if nothing happened: "Cousin."

Lin Yi replied indifferently, "Hmm, you're here."

He Nian smiled, "Yes, I got held up on the way and almost missed the time."

Lin Yi didn't say anything else.

After all, he didn't want to talk much with He Nian.

At this moment, He Nian looked around and then asked Lin Yi pointedly, "Cousin, did you and Mianmian come alone? Who dropped you off?"

He hoped it was the person he had been thinking about.

Although he really didn't want to approach Huo Jihan through Lin Yi, it seemed there was no other way.

Last time, he mustered the courage to wait outside the Huo Group building. After a long wait, he finally saw Huo Jihan coming out of the building.

At that time, Huo Jihan wasn't alone; many executives followed behind him.

But at that moment, He Nian's entire focus was on Huo Jihan. He stepped forward and called out, "Mr. Huo."

Huo Jihan turned his head upon hearing the voice.

At that moment, He Nian's breath nearly stopped.

Unfortunately, Huo Jihan only gave him a cold glance, not even lingering for a second before turning away, as if ignoring his very existence.

He Nian didn't expect that he hadn't left any impression on Huo Jihan, despite having met him a few times before.

Just as He Nian was about to step closer, Huo Jihan had already walked away with the executives, leaving him with only a cold back view.

He Nian felt defeated.

But soon, he rallied himself and comforted himself that a man of Huo Jihan's caliber required more effort. He was willing to try again and again.

Thinking of this, He Nian continued asking Lin Yi, "Cousin, did Mr. Huo drop you off?"

He wanted to bring up the topic of Huo Jihan.

Unfortunately, while playing the game, Lin Yi glanced at him indifferently and said, "Does it matter to you?"

He Nian was taken aback and waved his hand, "Of course not, but we are family after all, so I can't help but care a bit more."

Lin Yi replied indifferently, "Oh."

With just that one word, there was no further conversation.

He Nian still hoped to get more information about Huo Jihan from Lin Yi, but how could he continue when Lin Yi stopped talking?

"Cousin..." He Nian was about to bring up the topic again.

At this moment, Shen Feng, on the other side, impatiently clicked his tongue, "Are you annoying or what? Can't you see we're playing a game? Do you have so many questions?"

Shen Feng had always been this kind of person, never bottling up his displeasure, especially since he couldn't stand He Nian.

He Nian was taken aback by Shen Feng's rebuke.

Unfortunately, Shen Feng came from a good family and was a carefree young master, so He Nian didn't dare provoke him. He swallowed his anger and sat down in an empty seat nearby.

At that moment, several fans nearby pointed their cameras at them, snapping pictures frantically.

Seeing this, He Nian felt a sense of relief.

No matter what, his current status in the industry was still solid, making him a high-profile celebrity.

Just this point alone put him far ahead of Lin Yi.

Lin Yi might be temporarily in the spotlight, but eventually, he would be under He Nian's feet again, just as it had been for the past twenty years, right?

Although he didn't know what had gotten into his useless cousin, who now seemed less easy to deal with, he wouldn't allow Lin Yi to surpass him.

Thinking of this, He Nian felt even more confident.

He quickly adjusted his clothes and found the best angle, hoping the fans would capture his most perfect photo.

At this moment, one of the fans was blocked from filming and put down her camera, then said to He Nian, "Sorry, could you please move a little? I need to film Linlin."

He Nian’s face instantly turned red.

She wanted to film Lin Yi?

Was this fan blind?

Not filming him but going for Lin Yi instead?

He Nian thought about how he had just adjusted his pose, making himself look like a clown, and suddenly found it hard to breathe.

However, he always maintained an image of being kind and good-tempered in public, so even though he cursed inwardly, he still smiled and made way for the fan.

As soon as He Nian moved aside, the fans started snapping photos frantically, capturing many pictures of Lin Yi and some group shots with Shen Feng as well.

When these photos were uploaded online, they immediately drew a lot of attention.

"Ahhh, Lin Yi is still breathtakingly handsome!!"

"Those eyebrows, that nose, those lips—did Nuwa favor him too much when she created humans??"

"I finally understand why people say he looks good in anything. Look at Linlin here; he’s wearing a simple white T-shirt but stands out in the crowd."

"Seeing so many people share my taste in beauty makes me feel relieved."

"What is Lin Yi doing? Playing games with Shen Feng?"

"It seems so. Didn’t Shen Feng just mention they were playing games together?"

"By the way, these two look great sitting together. I’ve already come up with a couple name for them: ‘Crazy Together’!!"

"Hahaha, ‘Crazy Together,’ nice!!"

"What game are they playing? I want to play it too!!"

"Where’s the official game account? This is such a good opportunity for promotion!"

"I think the game company will jump on this soon."

An hour later.

Lin Yi and the others boarded the plane, which took off.

After a glide, the plane ascended higher and higher.

Lin Yi sat next to Huo Mianmian.

This was Huo Mianmian’s first time on a plane, and feeling the aircraft ascending, his eyes widened.

Lin Yi kept observing his reaction and asked, "Mianmian, how are you feeling? Are you uncomfortable anywhere?"

Huo Mianmian shook his head and looked at Lin Yi with wonder in his eyes. "Dad, we’re flying!"

Lin Yi smiled. "Yes, we’ll go even higher soon, close to the blue sky and clouds."

Huo Mianmian tilted his small head innocently. "Does that mean we have wings like birds now?"

Lin Yi chuckled at Huo Mianmian’s innocent question. "You can feel your back and see if you have wings."

Following this, Huo Mianmian really reached out his small hand to touch his back and then said to Lin Yi, "I don’t seem to have any."

Lin Yi burst into laughter. "Hahaha!"

After laughing enough, he said to Huo Mianmian, "Then you need to keep trying, Mianmian!"

Huo Mianmian nodded vigorously. "Okay!"

With this father-son conversation, the plane flew all the way to their destination.

They first landed at an airport and then took a car arranged by the show’s production team to the desert.

The moment they got off the plane, the live stream of the show began, marking the start of this recording session.

As soon as the live stream opened, a large number of netizens who had been waiting eagerly rushed in, and the number kept growing.

"Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!!"

"Ahhhh!! Finally, it was worth the wait!!"

"Lin Yi! Mianmian! I’m here!!"

"Wah, seeing my wife and son is so touching."

"Finally, I can watch the live stream with everyone again. So happy!!"

"My favorite show to watch while eating."

"I heard they’re going to the desert? Can’t wait!"

"I’ve never been to the desert before. This time, I’ll experience it through my wife Lin Yi!!"

Lin Yi held Huo Mianmian’s hand and walked down from the plane.

Huo Mianmian had taken a short nap near the end of the flight, so he was still a bit drowsy.

He followed Lin Yi, rubbing his eyes with his small hands.

Wearing a white bunny costume with a hat, only his round face was visible. As he rubbed his eyes, he truly looked like a cute little rabbit.

The netizens were instantly charmed, squealing with delight.

"Really want to hug little Mianmian!"

"Being this cute is against the rules."

"I don't know which one of this father-son duo to envy more."

After Lin Yi and the others got off the plane, they met Zhou Ke and Zhao Jin. These two had arrived on an earlier flight and had been waiting for half an hour.

Zhou Ke was still as socially anxious as ever. Seeing Lin Yi and the others, he wished he could hide, but of course, he couldn't actually do that. He had to grit his teeth and stammer out a greeting: "H-hi, everyone."

Zhao Jin, the intern dad, was getting more adept at his role.

This time, he came prepared with a large lollipop for each child.

Those lollipops were really big; when held up, they could cover a child's face.

Huo Mianmian received his lollipop and politely said to Zhao Jin, "Thank you, Uncle."

Though his voice was soft, he did speak.

Zhao Jin was instantly moved. "Wow! Mianmian spoke to me on his own?"

In the previous episode, Huo Mianmian never initiated conversation with him. Even if Zhao Jin asked him something, Huo Mianmian would only nod or shake his head in response.

Lin Yi looked down at Huo Mianmian and smiled.

Their Mianmian had made great progress.

He had watched Huo Mianmian become more outgoing step by step.

Lin Yi had learned from the Steward that Huo Mianmian wasn't always so quiet. Something had happened later that affected him, leading to his silence and introversion, which was psychological in nature.

The Steward either didn't know or didn't want to say what specifically had happened to Huo Mianmian. Naturally, Lin Yi didn't press further.

However, he was determined to take Huo Mianmian out more and expose him to the world, helping him become more outgoing.

Since it wasn't a congenital issue but a psychological one, it could be changed.

At this moment, all the guests had gathered, and the director began speaking: "Hello everyone, welcome to the second episode of our show. This time, we'll be living in the desert for a while. I hope you have fun!"

Soon, the guests boarded the show's vehicles and headed to the desert.

The scenery outside the window kept changing. At first, there were tall green trees, then gradually, sparse and low shrubs appeared...

When they arrived at their destination and got out of the car, everyone was struck by the breathtaking view.

It was a sight difficult to describe in words.

Endless desert, undulating sand dunes smoothed by the wind, evoking awe at nature's wonders.

Such beauty could only be truly appreciated firsthand, stirring excitement and wonder.

Lin Yi, who had never been to a desert, stood there admiring the view for quite some time.

Huo Mianmian also opened his big round eyes, looking around curiously.

Just then, he spotted a cactus.

He tugged on Lin Yi's clothes and said, "Dad, a cactus."

Lin Yi followed Huo Mianmian's gaze and saw a green cactus.

Cacti were amazing plants, able to thrive in the scorching, dry desert, showcasing their resilience.

Huo Mianmian walked a few steps forward and squatted down to examine the cactus closely.

He had only seen cacti in drawing books before, so his beautiful eyes were filled with curiosity.

The other children, seeing this, joined Huo Mianmian to observe.

"Is this a cactus? It looks flat."

"I saw in cartoons that cacti can bloom."

"Can you eat a cactus?"

"I wouldn't dare eat it; it has so many thorns. I'm afraid it might hurt my mouth!"

The netizens burst into laughter.

"Hahaha, these kids are hilarious."

"No worries, go ahead and try eating it (devilish whisper)."

"Kids are indeed the most heartwarming."

Huo Mianmian continued to observe the cactus. After a while, he reached out to touch it.

Lin Yi reminded him, "Be careful, it has thorns."

Hearing this, Huo Mianmian became even more cautious, gently touching a part of the cactus without thorns.

After touching it, his eyes lit up, seemingly delighted by the tactile experience.

The other children also took turns touching it.

Xiao Niangao, unlike his father Zhou Ke, was very outgoing. After touching the cactus, he exclaimed dramatically, "It's really prickly!"

After saying that, he dramatically covered the hand he had just touched the cactus with.

The expression and the action were so convincing that he deserved a little golden statue.

But at this moment, Lin Yi said quietly, "This cactus is growing well here. If any of you kids misbehave in the next few days, I'll prick you with it."

All the children: "…"

They froze for a second before collectively started trembling.

Lin Yi: "Hahaha!"

Teasing the kids was really fun.

"Haha, is Lin Yi a devil?"

"The kids love you so much, is this really okay?"

"If it were me, I'd perform an on-the-spot cry to see what Lin Yi would do."

"Lin Yi would probably say: Cry harder, and I'll prick you harder!"

"Hahaha, the sister upstairs knows Lin Yi well."

After briefly familiarizing themselves with the environment, everyone arrived at their accommodation for the next few days.

The production team had already set up several tents where the guests would stay.

Lin Yi led Huo Mianmian into their own tent and observed its interior.

This tent was spacious enough for the two of them to live comfortably.

Inside, there was a particularly soft bed with two quilts laid out, ensuring warmth even if the temperature dropped at night.

Apart from the bed, there was also a table set up inside the tent.

The table had some daily necessities available for the guests to use.

Time quickly passed until evening.

Unlike the city, once it got dark in the desert, it was pitch black except for some temporary lights provided by the production team.

Moreover, the temperature in the desert dropped significantly at night. The guests had just arrived and weren't prepared, so their filming would start in full swing only from the next day.

Tonight, they would just make do.

The production team had prepared dinner for the guests in advance.

It was a simple tomato and egg noodle dish with some vegetables.

Since everyone was hungry, they quickly finished their meal and then returned to their respective tents.

After returning to their tent, Lin Yi and Huo Mianmian quickly washed up and climbed into the warm bed.

Once they settled into the warm bed, they relaxed.

Lin Yi leaned comfortably against the headboard, while Huo Mianmian nestled beside him obediently.

A small lamp hung beside their bed, emitting a warm yellow light.

Father and son lay close together, creating an exceptionally cozy atmosphere.

It was only a little past eight o'clock, still early for sleeping.

There was a transparent small window in the tent through which they could look outside.

From their angle, they could see the starry night sky.

The desert night was quiet, and the view was exceptionally clear.

They could almost see every twinkling star and the bright full moon.

Lin Yi gazed quietly at the night sky, letting his mind wander.

At this moment, Huo Mianmian suddenly called out to him, "Dad."

Lin Yi came back to his senses and looked down at Huo Mianmian beside him. "What's wrong?"

Huo Mianmian pointed at the full moon in the sky and asked in a childlike voice, "Why are there some dark spots on the moon?"

Lin Yi began to weave a story to entertain the child. "That's because Chang'e and the Jade Rabbit live there."

Huo Mianmian looked even more curious, his eyes sparkling under the light. "Are there really people up there?"

Lin Yi spoke calmly, as if it were true. "Of course, and there are quite a few. They can hear us talking."

Upon hearing this, Huo Mianmian immediately covered his little mouth.

He needed to be careful not to let the people above hear him.

Seeing Huo Mianmian cover his mouth, Lin Yi held back a laugh. "Don't worry, as long as we speak softly, they won't hear us."

Huo Mianmian listened and really lowered his voice, whispering to Lin Yi, "Dad, what do those people do every day? Do they live like us?"

Huo Mianmian's lowered voice and cautious manner made him even cuter.

Lin Yi couldn't help but be charmed and continued to entertain the child. "Probably. They must eat and sleep too."

Huo Mianmian's eyes remained bright. "So that's how it is. Can we hear them talk too?"

Lin Yi: "Give it a try and listen."

Huo Mianmian held his breath, then tilted his ear and listened attentively.

However, at this moment, there was no sound outside the tent, only the howling wind.

After listening for a while, Huo Mianmian said to Lin Yi, "Dad, I can't hear anything."

Lin Yi smiled and said, "Maybe those people in the sky are speaking in hushed tones too; they don't want us to hear them..."

Then, the father and son continued talking in low voices.

The atmosphere was particularly cozy and warm.

Until at some point, they fell asleep without realizing it, still smiling at the corners of their mouths.

They had a good night's sleep.