Chapter 81

Chapter 81

Lin Yi led Huo Mianmian into the airport.

Both father and son were incredibly handsome, turning every head, and some people even recognized them, snapping photos frantically.

Meanwhile, Shen Feng was sitting on a chair, bored out of his mind, waiting for Lin Yi. When he saw Lin Yi enter, his eyes lit up.

But then he thought about how long it took Lin Yi to come in, wondering what kind of farewell he had with Huo Jihan, and a slight pang of jealousy hit him.

However, he quickly reassured himself that even if he didn't have a deeper relationship with Lin Yi, they were still friends, and he aimed to be Lin Yi's best friend.

So when Lin Yi approached, Shen Feng immediately asked, "By the way, we haven't seen each other for so long; you haven't made any new friends, right?"

Lin Yi: "??"

Shen Feng continued arrogantly, "Even if you did make new friends, I should still be the most special one."

Lin Yi: "..."

What kind of kindergarten-level lines were these?

Seeing Lin Yi not responding, Shen Feng panicked, "You didn't actually make new friends and forget about me, did you?"

Lin Yi: "..."

He sighed, "Can we be a bit less childish?"

He didn't know how to respond to Shen Feng's questions.

Shen Feng retorted, "Okay, we've just met up, and you're already calling me childish. You must have found another dog out there!!"

Wait, did he just insult himself too?

He wasn't a dog.

Lin Yi: "..."

He didn't bother arguing with Shen Feng and simply pulled out a bread from his bag and shoved it into Shen Feng's mouth.

Shen Feng: "Mmm mmm mmm..."

His voice was muffled by the bread.

Lin Yi finally got some peace and checked the notification from the production team on his phone.

Once again, five teams would participate in the show, but He Nian was missing, replaced by a new artist.

He Nian's last incident was too severe—he had engaged in illegal activities under the guise of hiring artists and was subsequently blacklisted online.

The production team naturally couldn't risk using such a disreputable artist.

It remained to be seen what kind of person the new artist would be.

But Lin Yi didn't care much about that. He scrolled down to check the location for this trip.

Sure enough, as Shen Feng had mentioned earlier, they were going to Jiang Nan.

Upon seeing the words "Jiang Nan," a line of poetry came to Lin Yi's mind—

"Jiang Nan is beautiful, its scenery familiar and dear."

Calculating it, Lin Yi realized he hadn't specifically visited Jiang Nan before, so this trip would be a good opportunity to experience the local culture and scenery.

At around twelve, the flight took off, carrying Lin Yi and the others to their filming location—the water towns of Jiang Nan.

After several hours, the plane landed at its destination.

Lin Yi and Huo Mianmian disembarked.

Today, Lin Yi wore a simple white short-sleeved shirt and a stylish pair of cargo pants, looking casual yet fashionable.

Having just woken up from a nap on the plane, his peach blossom eyes were slightly drowsy, adding a touch of allure.

Huo Mianmian, as always, was dressed adorably in a yellow teddy bear jacket, looking cute and cuddly.

Without exaggeration, the moment they stepped off the plane, they became the center of attention.

At this time, the live stream opened.

Millions of netizens flooded into the live stream.

"Ahhhhhhh!!! I'm here!!!!"

"Heaven knows how long I've been waiting for this kids' variety show. I've been counting the days, and finally, it's here!!!!"

"Ahhhhhhh, I see Lin Yi and Mianmian!!!!!!"

"Lin Yi, my darling, I've missed you so much!!!!"

"Mianmian, my little cutie, you're still so soft and adorable. My heart is melting!!!!"

"My wife and son are still so popular!!!!"

"The filming location is the water towns of Jiang Nan! Looking forward to it!!!!"

"As a Northerner, I'm officially envious."

"It's actually Jiang Nan? It feels like you need to screenshot every moment."

"The camera captures beautiful scenery at every turn."

There's a well-known saying: "Above is paradise, below are Suzhou and Hangzhou."

Only after Lin Yi arrived at his destination did he fully understand how apt this description was.

After leaving the airport, they boarded a car and drove to the edge of a lake.

Getting out of the car, Lin Yi stood by the lake, gazing at the surrounding scenery.

The view was so beautiful it resembled an ink painting.

Willows lined the riverbank, their slender branches swaying gently in the breeze.

The lake's surface was a deep emerald green, with lotus leaves stretching as far as the eye could see, creating a vast sea of green. Occasionally, a graceful lotus flower would emerge, its delicate beauty rendering one speechless.

Seeing this scene, Lin Yi felt a sense of calm wash over him.

In such a place, time seemed to slow down and stretch out.

People living here strolled leisurely or sipped tea slowly, unhurried and uncompetitive.

It truly was a paradise on earth.

"Wow, it's so beautiful I forgot to breathe."

"So this is Jiang Nan? Adding it to my must-visit list."

"My Chinese textbook wasn't lying; Jiang Nan is like a painting!"

"I want to live here permanently."

"Ahh, didn't you notice? Lin Yi's wife looks perfect standing here, like a person from the painting."

"Highly attractive people can stand anywhere and still be the center of attention."

"This scene looks like a promotional video. Shouldn't we consider having Lin Yi's wife do an ad?"

"That's a great idea!"

After admiring the view for a while, Lin Yi decided he needed to buy a camera.

Such beautiful scenery deserved to be captured properly.

Soon, Zhao Jin and Zhou Ke arrived as well.

Everyone exchanged pleasantries, having grown closer after filming two episodes together.

At that moment, the director took the microphone and spoke, "Welcome to our beautiful Jiang Nan water town. Here, we can experience unique earthly beauty. I hope this journey brings everyone joy."

Everyone applauded.

Then the director continued, "There's another announcement. One of our previous guests can't join us due to some issues. Therefore, the production team has invited a new guest to accompany us on this journey. However, this new guest will arrive tomorrow. Let's look forward to their arrival."

The group applauded again.

Online discussions were lively.

"Thank goodness, that annoying artist is finally gone."

"He Nian really brought it upon himself. If he had stayed in the show, he could have maintained his popularity, but he ruined it."

"Who's the new guest?"

"Don't know, but they probably just want to ride the show's popularity."

"Can't deny it, our kid variety show is really taking off. I saw several related ads the other day."

"When I went shopping, I saw many ads for this show and even merchandise."

"Wishing this show greater success!"

After the director finished speaking, the guests officially began their journey.

They first needed to board a sightseeing boat to reach their destination.

The boat was beautifully designed, entirely made of solid wood, with pointed ends that made it easy to navigate through the water.

Its main body was tall and wide, with curtains that could be lifted to enter.

Lin Yi carried Huo Mianmian onto the boat.

The director immediately instructed the cameraman to follow closely.

Lin Yi was now the most popular figure on the show, and no moment with him could be missed.

With Lin Yi, their ratings were guaranteed.

Lin Yi carried Huo Mianmian into the boat.

The interior of the boat was open, allowing clear views through the carved openings, perfect for enjoying the scenery outside.

There were also small windows that could be opened.

Inside, the seats were long benches along both sides of the boat.

Lin Yi placed Huo Mianmian on one of the benches and sat down himself, lazily crossing his legs and turning to gaze at the scenery outside.

Huo Mianmian obviously liked this place very much.

He turned and knelt on the long bench, then used his small hands to open the window.

Next, he lay on the windowsill, staring intently at the scenery outside, his beautiful eyes filled with curiosity.

"Ahhhh, my Mianmian is so cute!!"

"Only adorable people can do anything and still be adorable."

"That's true. Even if Mianmian does nothing, I could stare at his chubby little face all day."

Apart from Huo Mianmian, there were two other children on this trip: Xiaonian'gao and Song Yutao.

Both of them enjoyed playing with Huo Mianmian. Seeing him lying by the window, they came over as well.

Xiaonian'gao was enthusiastic and outgoing. He greeted Huo Mianmian first: "Mianmian, hello! This time, I brought you some delicious treats."

As he spoke, he took out a box from the bag behind him and opened it. "Look!"

Inside the box were some round, bite-sized pastries.

Huo Mianmian looked at the pastries and said politely, "Thank you."

Xiaonian'gao smiled warmly. "You're welcome. We're good friends, after all."

Song Yutao had also brought a gift for Huo Mianmian, but since Xiaonian'gao mentioned it first, he felt embarrassed to say anything, as if he was trying to vie for attention.

He didn't want to compete for attention; he wanted to be Huo Mianmian's best friend.

"Hahaha, who did Song Yutao inherit his proud personality from? He clearly took out his gift right after getting off the plane, but now he won't take it out."

"You should ask Shen Feng about that."

"Shen Feng: Get lost! What does my nephew's personality have to do with me?!"

"Hahaha, sister upstairs, how can you send voice messages?"

Next, Xiaonian'gao shared his pastries with Huo Mianmian.

Song Yutao sat alone on the side.

Xiaonian'gao, being very enthusiastic, glanced at Song Yutao and asked, "Do you want to eat some too?"

Song Yutao replied stiffly, "No."

At that moment, a gentle breeze blew, carrying the sweet scent of the pastries into his nose.

Song Yutao: "..."

Even if they smelled delicious, he wouldn't eat them.

However, three minutes later, Song Yutao finally succumbed to his hunger and joined the group eating pastries.

"Hahaha, actions speak louder than words."

"The law of 'it's delicious' never fails."

"Who can resist delicious pastries? No one!"

The three children lay by the window, munching on the pastries together, creating a particularly amusing scene.

At this moment, Xiaonian'gao looked at the emerald green lake and said, "This water looks so deep. Could there be treasures inside?"

Huo Mianmian, while slowly eating a pastry, answered confidently, "Yes, there's a treasure sword inside."

A treasure sword?!

Xiaonian'gao and Song Yutao immediately turned to look at Huo Mianmian in unison. "How do you know?"

The netizens watching the live stream were curious as well.

How could Huo Mianmian be so certain about the treasure sword in the water?

And he didn't seem to be lying.

Under everyone's gaze, Huo Mianmian said with a serious expression, "My dad told me a story a few days ago. A person sitting on a wooden boat accidentally dropped his treasure sword into the river. Although he marked the spot on the boat, hoping to retrieve the sword later, he never found it. The sword remains buried at the bottom of the river forever."

Huo Mianmian rarely spoke so much at once, but everyone listened attentively because his voice was sweet and soothing, making their moods lighten.

The two children listening to the story had an enlightened look on their faces.

The netizens burst out laughing.

"Hahaha, maybe this story is called 'Marking the Boat to Retrieve the Sword'?"

"I know the same story as Mianmian (dog emoji)."

"Mianmian telling stories seriously is so cute. Come here, let me give you a kiss."

Next, the three children even seriously discussed the possibility of going down to the river to retrieve the sword, causing the netizens to melt with affection.

On the other hand, the adults stood at the bow of the boat, enjoying the breeze.

Since they had come all this way, they naturally wanted to take in all the beautiful scenery.

The cruise boat continued moving forward.

Everywhere it passed, the scenery was like a picturesque ink painting.

The emerald river, lush aquatic grasses, and the willow branches hanging by the riverside... everything was just right, making one marvel at the wonders of nature.

After the pleasure boat traveled a bit further, mist began to rise from the river.

From a distance, the mist lingered, creating a hazy, dreamlike scene, as if they had entered a fairyland.

Lin Yi stood at the bow of the boat, enjoying the scenery with a pleasant mood.

Soon, he also saw other people on the river.

Amidst the mist, there was a small boat with two people on it. One was rowing, while the other stood straight at the bow, wearing a straw raincoat and a bamboo hat.

Before long, the small boat drifted farther away until it disappeared into the mist.

Anyone who witnessed this mysterious scene would be unable not to marvel at it.

Lin Yi exclaimed, "So this is Jiang Nan? There are actually hermits here?"

Shen Feng, standing nearby, nodded in agreement.

Even though he usually found fault with everything, he couldn't find any faults with Jiang Nan.

Perhaps being here brought peace to one's heart.

The pleasure boat traveled a bit further, and after turning a bend, the scenery suddenly changed, catching everyone's eye.

In front of them lay an ancient town.

The town was built along the river, with green tiles and blue bricks. Lanterns and flower lanterns hung in front of each house, looking incredibly beautiful.

The boat sailed down the river, allowing the passengers to admire the scenery on both sides.

This ancient town was filled with historical traces, from every house, every stone arch bridge, to every brick... some places even had faint patches of moss growing.

Time seemed to have stopped here.

No matter how restless one's mind might be, coming here would bring tranquility and leisure.

"I declare, this is my dream hometown."

"In my lifetime, I must visit here once."

"Living here should extend one's life, right?"

"Jiang Nan truly lives up to its reputation; every scene touches my heart."

When the pleasure boat reached a dock, it stopped.

Lin Yi called for Huo Mianmian and then led him off the boat.

It was already past six in the evening.

Every household had their lights on, and the various colors of light reflected in the river, resembling a galaxy on earth.

The guests disembarked and went to have dinner first.

They found a local signature restaurant and walked in.

The staff warmly welcomed them and led them to a window seat.

It was dinnertime, and the aroma of food filled the air, making their mouths water.

After ordering their dishes, the waitstaff soon brought them out.

There were over a dozen dishes, including Dongpo Pork and Lotus Root Stewed with Pork Ribs, which were the most distinctive.

Lin Yi picked up his rice bowl and took a piece of Dongpo Pork, eating it with rice.

The Dongpo Pork lived up to its reputation as the restaurant's specialty—it was truly delicious, fatty but not greasy, soft and tender, with rich flavors that made it impossible to stop eating.

He quickly picked up a second piece.

Huo Mianmian held his own bowl and ate the cold dish in front of him with great concentration.

The cold dish was a mix of lotus root slices, wood ear mushrooms, and some spicy pickled peppers, tangy and spicy, refreshing and appetizing.

Huo Mianmian held his small bowl and ate a lot of rice in one go.

Not only did he eat himself, but he was also keen on sharing with Lin Yi.

He picked up a serving of the cold dish and placed it in Lin Yi's bowl.

Lin Yi looked at the added dish in his bowl, paused, and then looked at Huo Mianmian.

Huo Mianmian explained, "Dad, this is really good. Try a little."

Lin Yi was deeply moved, "Ah, our Mianmian is so considerate!"

Huo Mianmian smiled happily.

"Aaah, where can I find such a caring little treasure?"

"Back upstairs, nowhere to find."

"Mianmian is one of a kind, no duplicates."

Seeing this scene, Xiao Nian Gao also enthusiastically learned from Huo Mianmian and served some food to his father.

Zhou Ke, feeling a bit shy in front of the camera, buried himself in eating.

Seeing this, Little Nian Gao said very maturely to the camera, "My dad is just too shy, but he's really nice."

Hearing Little Nian Gao's words, Zhou Ke wished he could hide under the table.

The comments were filled with laughter.

Seeing the other two kids serving their dads, Song Yutao glanced at his uncle.

Shen Feng caught his gaze and immediately moved his bowl away, saying, "Don't serve me anything! Just eat your own!"

Song Yutao: "..."

He replied in the same stiff tone, "As if I wanted to serve you anything! I wasn't planning to anyway!!"

"Hahaha, why does this pair always have a different vibe from the others?"

"Another day of watching the uncle and nephew bicker!!"

All three pairs at the table had companions, except for Zhao Jin, the intern dad, who could only watch the others' children with envy.

His child was still in his wife's belly, and he didn't know when it would be born.

After finishing dinner, everyone left the restaurant, feeling satisfied.

It was already seven o'clock in the evening, and the lights around them were all lit up, colorful and bright as day.

Lin Yi and the others strolled along the stone-paved roads of the ancient town.

A gentle evening breeze blew, cool and comfortable.

The ancient town had a unique charm at night.

The red bricks and green tiles that looked rustic during the day now seemed bustling with various lights, making one feel as if they had traveled back to a prosperous town in ancient times.

The breeze blew, causing the lights to sway slightly, and their reflections in the water rippled, creating a beautiful, starry scene everywhere.

The guests continued walking, lost in the beauty of the scenery.

However, as they walked, light rain began to fall.

The misty drizzle was so fine that umbrellas weren't even needed.

Lin Yi looked up at the raindrops.

Soon, tiny droplets of water adorned his hair and eyelashes, adding a unique charm to him.

If his usual eyes were captivating and flirtatious, now, standing quietly in the mist, his gaze was distant and serene, like a figure in a painting.

"Ahhh, who understands this moment? It leaves me speechless!"

"Lin Yi's looks are truly amazing!!"

"Holy crap! I can't even describe how I feel right now; my heart skipped a beat."

"Who's frantically screenshotting? That's me!!"

After enjoying the rain for a while, Lin Yi took a few steps forward and entered a shop to buy a small raincoat and a pair of rain boots for Huo Mianmian.

After all, it was said that there was often a light drizzle here.

The adults could handle it, but the children might not be able to.

Soon, Huo Mianmian put on the raincoat and rain boots.

Now, he wasn't afraid of the rain anymore.

With his new gear, Huo Mianmian felt braver.

Wearing his rain boots, he could even splash in puddles.

He found a shallow puddle and happily splashed in it.

Lin Yi stood nearby, smiling at the sight.

Huo Mianmian's yellow raincoat left only his white, chubby face exposed outside the hood, which reached down to his knees, and below were red rain boots.

He played joyfully, splashing in the puddles, like a little mushroom playing in the water.

Every time he splashed, pretty water droplets flew up, making the little mushroom even happier, and he continued splashing...

This cycle repeated, bringing endless joy.