Chapter 83

Chapter 83

Lin Yi and Huo Mianmian successfully rowed their boat forward.

Father and son worked together, rowing steadily as the small boat glided smoothly ahead.

However, the other three teams were not as fortunate.

First was Shen Feng and Song Yutao's team.

It was unclear how these uncle and nephew managed to capsize their boat, causing both of them to fall into the river one after another.

Fortunately, the production team had prepared lifeguards in advance, who immediately pulled them out of the water.

Back on shore, the uncle and nephew were drenched like drowned rats.

Shen Feng, who always liked to look cool, now looked ridiculous in his wet clothes, and he was in no good mood.

He yelled at Song Yutao, "Do you even know how to row? What were you doing just now?!"

Song Yutao retorted just as loudly, "What does it have to do with me? It's all because you're useless, you adult!!"

Shen Feng fumed, "I'll send you back to your mother sooner or later!"

Song Yutao was undeterred, "Fine, then send me back. I don't want to stay with an uncle like you anyway."

"Hahaha, these two really know how to argue, like two fighting roosters."

"Fighting roosters, that's quite apt."

"Stop arguing and just fight it out."

"The commenter above must be a fake fan."

Zhou Ke and Xiao Niangao's team also didn't fare well.

Xiao Niangao suddenly had a whimsical idea and decided to paddle with his hand. He held onto the side of the boat with one hand while splashing water joyfully with the other, saying to Zhou Ke, "Dad, look how fun this is!"

Zhou Ke smiled helplessly but did not stop him.

"Zhou Ke is so gentle."

"Yes, no matter how mischievous Xiao Niangao gets, he always smiles. He seems to have such a good temper."

Finally, there was Zhao Jin's team.

Without a child, he rowed alone, feeling lonely and dejected.

As he rowed, he said, "Sigh, being alone like this really saps my motivation."

He even pretended to wipe away tears.

Being a host, he was used to creating drama.

Sure enough, the comments section erupted in laughter.

"The editing team should add a 'falling leaves' effect."

"What a pitiful man."

"Don't worry, Zhao Jin, your wife's baby will be born soon, and then you'll have company."

At this point, Lin Yi and Huo Mianmian, who were in the lead, had already reached the finish line.

They docked their boat and walked ashore.

After waiting for a while, the others arrived one by one.

Once all the guests had gathered, the director announced, "There are rewards for this boat race."

A competition?

Everyone was taken aback.

They hadn't been informed beforehand.

Shen Feng was the first to voice his dissatisfaction, "Why didn't you tell us this was a competition earlier?"

He hadn't taken it seriously and even fell into the river right at the start.

The director wiped his sweat and said, "If I had told you beforehand, would you have taken it seriously?"

Knowing how Shen Feng usually disregarded the show's rules and did whatever he wanted, it was hard to believe he would have competed seriously.

Caught off guard, Shen Feng refused to admit it and arrogantly retorted, "Who cares if I took it seriously or not? The problem is that you didn't inform us."

The director tried to reason, "We wanted to surprise everyone."

Shen Feng sneered, "Who wants this kind of surprise?"

The director was speechless.

Someone, get him some blood pressure medication.

But then, Shen Feng changed his tone and asked, "So who came in first?"

The director paused before answering, "Lin Yi's team."

Upon hearing this, Shen Feng's expression changed, "Of course they deserve a reward. Indeed, very surprising. Good job!"

It was as if the one who had just doubted wasn't him.

Director: "…"

Heaven above, please take this demon Shen Feng away.

"Hahaha, damn, is Shen Feng learning how to change faces?"

"I heard that Lin Yi's team came in first, so he's not angry anymore."

"If Shen Feng were a temperamental little dog, he would definitely be sincere towards Lin Yi."

Lin Yi hadn't expected things to develop this way.

But winning first place was still pretty good; who doesn't like coming in first?

At this moment, the staff member walked out with the prize.

The prize Lin Yi's team received was a large pile of ingredients, which they could use to cook lunch.

As for the remaining three teams, they had to complete a physical labor task before they could eat lunch.

Shen Feng had no complaints and even cooperated, saying, "What's the big deal about physical labor? I'll do it. Young people should exercise more anyway."

Director: "…"

Thank you.

Even Shen Feng said that, so Zhou Ke and Zhao Jin, who had good tempers, didn't need to say much more. As they followed the program's staff to the work site, they joked with Lin Yi, "Don't eat it all; save some for us."

They had a good relationship with Lin Yi and knew he could handle jokes, so they spoke very casually.

Lin Yi waved at them. "Go ahead; I'll save some for you."

Thus, the guests split into two groups.

Shen Feng and the others went to work.

Lin Yi, on the other hand, carried a bag of ingredients and led Huo Mianmian, walking leisurely back to their residence.

Halfway there, they were attracted by a scent.

Father and son looked over and saw a stall making roujiamo.

With such a good place around, they couldn't miss it.

Lin Yi immediately led Huo Mianmian over and said to the shop owner, "Could we have two roujiamo, please?"

"Sure thing!"

The owner responded cheerfully and started making roujiamo.

This shop had been around for quite some time and was a well-known establishment. The owner's skills were particularly refined.

He first picked up a large piece of meat from a pot of braised meat.

The meat had been braised for quite a while, and its color showed it was very flavorful. Most importantly, it was half fatty and half lean, the best part of the pork.

The owner placed the meat on a cutting board, picked up two knives, and chopped it skillfully and precisely.

Just watching this scene made one's mouth water.

Soon, the owner finished chopping the meat and added scallions, cilantro, and other seasonings, stuffing everything into the bun. A full and delicious roujiamo was ready.

In the end, Lin Yi and Huo Mianmian each held a roujiamo, eating as they walked back.

The roujiamo tasted fantastic. With every bite, there was the aroma of meat and the fragrance of the bread, delicious and not greasy at all. It was truly excellent.

Both Lin Yi and Huo Mianmian were very satisfied.

The comments were filled with lamentations.

"Ahhh, I'm hungry again."

"Since watching this show, I've gained several pounds. Who would believe it?"

"I believe it because I've gained weight too."

"Stop tempting me!"

"Haha, this father-son duo is eating slowly, while the other teams are huffing and puffing, moving heavy objects."

"This stark contrast."

"It's okay; Shen Feng is working like he's on steroids, doing the work of two people. They should finish soon."

Lin Yi and Huo Mianmian strolled leisurely and returned to their residence.

By then, they had finished their roujiamo and could officially start preparing lunch.

Lin Yi carried the bag to the courtyard.

He opened the bag and checked the ingredients inside, finding a wide variety.

There was meat and vegetables, but most importantly, there were a few large crabs.

These crabs were plump and succulent, looking incredibly appetizing.

Since participating in the show, Lin Yi had also learned many cooking techniques.

He thought for a moment and decided to steam the crabs.

So he got up and went into the kitchen to search for a large basin and a brush, intending to clean the crabs thoroughly.

However, as he left, one of the crabs managed to break free from its bindings and started to escape.

Huo Mianmian had been squatting beside the ingredients, watching them, when he saw the crab flip out of the bag and scuttle away quickly.

Huo Mianmian: "!!"

Huo Mianmian instantly stood up, staring at the escaping crab.

"Mianmian, stop the crab! Your lunch is running away!"

"Hahaha, did little Mianmian get scared?"

"Rub the baby's hair, don't be afraid!"

Huo Mianmian looked at the crab that had already run far away, then glanced towards the kitchen.

When he realized Lin Yi wasn't coming out anytime soon, he decided to catch the crab himself.

But crabs can pinch, so he couldn't grab it with his bare hands.

Huo Mianmian's mind raced, and he began searching the yard for tools. He eventually found an iron clamp.

However, by the time he returned with the clamp, the crab had vanished.

Huo Mianmian's eyes widened in shock.

Oh no, this is bad!

Where did that crab go?

If he didn't catch the escaping crab, what if someone accidentally got pinched?

Feeling a sense of responsibility, Huo Mianmian took the iron clamp and started searching the yard with his short legs.

At this moment, Lin Yi also found the large basin and brush.

As he walked out of the kitchen, he saw Huo Mianmian, the little one, holding the iron clamp and tiptoeing around the yard, bending down and searching intently with wide eyes, afraid of missing anything.

Lin Yi asked curiously, "Mianmian, what are you doing?"

Huo Mianmian, afraid of scaring the crab away, whispered, "I'm looking for the crab. One of them ran away."

His voice was soft and childlike, and whispering made it sound even more innocent.

Lin Yi also lowered his voice, "Okay, good job, Mianmian. Make sure you find it."

Huo Mianmian nodded vigorously, "Okay."

His expression showed determination, making him look particularly cute.

Lin Yi couldn't help but smile, watched Huo Mianmian search for a while, and then went to a faucet in the yard to wash the remaining crabs.

Meanwhile, Huo Mianmian continued searching diligently.

Like a little detective, he searched meticulously, not missing any corner.

"Aah, little Mianmian is so great."

"This focused and serious look is too adorable."

"I wish I could jump into the screen and help Mianmian search!"

"I advise the crab to come out on its own; don't make Mianmian keep searching."

Huo Mianmian patiently searched and finally found the crab between two stone slabs.

He immediately grabbed it with the clamp.

Then, he happily ran towards Lin Yi, "Dad, I found the crab!"

Lin Yi gave him a thumbs up, "Great job, Mianmian!"

The comments were full of praise.

"Aah, Mianmian is amazing!"

"How can such a cute little treasure not belong to me (going crazy)?"

"He actually found it; Mianmian is truly impressive."

Next, Lin Yi carefully washed the crabs.

Huo Mianmian continued to squat beside him, watching his actions and occasionally helping by passing things, acting like a caring little helper.

After Lin Yi finished washing all the crabs, he carried them to the kitchen to steam them.

Huo Mianmian followed Lin Yi like a little tail, naturally joining him in the kitchen.

The scene of father and son together was heartwarming.

However, this warmth was suddenly interrupted by a scream.

"Ah—"

A sharp male scream suddenly echoed at the kitchen door.

Lin Yi was placing crabs into the steamer when he heard a sudden noise. He frowned and looked towards the kitchen door.

Who is it, scaring people like this.

Lin Yi turned to see a stranger, a man with a child in tow. This must be the new guest.

Over here.

Zhuang Che covered his chest, looking terrified. With a trembling voice, he asked Lin Yi, "What are you doing?"

Lin Yi replied inexplicably, "Steaming crabs, can't you tell?"

Zhuang Che took a while to recover before saying, "That's so cruel."

Lin Yi: "??"

Lin Yi ignored him and continued placing the remaining crabs into the steamer.

Zhuang Che: "..."

Was he being ignored?

Someone actually dared to ignore him?!

The reason Zhuang Che was so surprised was because of his background.

His family owned a film company, renowned throughout the entertainment industry. As the only son, he had grown up with everything going his way.

With all the adoration he received since childhood, he naturally developed a spoiled and arrogant personality. He even created a persona for himself — an innocent and clumsy beauty. How genuine this persona was, no one knew.

He came to participate in the parenting show purely out of boredom.

His parents, having him late in life, always indulged him. They let him do whatever he wanted and even helped him find a child to bring along.

Now, standing at the kitchen door, Zhuang Che felt utterly unacceptable that Lin Yi was ignoring him.

No one had ever dared to ignore him before.

Zhuang Che stomped his foot and walked angrily towards Lin Yi, "Hey, can't you see me?"

Lin Yi continued silently with his work, not acknowledging him at all.

Zhuang Che: "..."

Is this reasonable?

Someone actually ignored him?

To regain some presence, Zhuang Che kept moving around Lin Yi, mumbling, "I didn't say anything wrong. Steaming crabs like this is just cruel."

Lin Yi finally glanced at him, "You don't want to eat them?"

Zhuang Che, confident in his stance, even puffed out his chest, "Of course not. I love crabs; how could I eat them?"

Crabs were among his favorite animals. He also loved penguins but couldn't visit Antarctica often.

Lin Yi casually said, "Oh, I respect your choice."

Hearing Lin Yi's words, Zhuang Che stared at him without blinking, waiting for his next move.

Lin Yi: "??"

He asked Zhuang Che, "Why are you staring at me?"

Zhuang Che urged, "Then don't eat the crabs either. Turn off the fire."

Lin Yi: "...That might not be possible."

After all the effort he put into cleaning the crabs, how could he not eat them?

When Zhuang Che didn't get his way, he threw a tantrum.

He stomped his foot hard and muttered, "Turn off the fire!"

Not only did Lin Yi not turn off the fire, but he also put on headphones, clearly not wanting to hear him anymore.

Zhuang Che: "..."

Seeing that he couldn't persuade Lin Yi, he turned and left angrily.

But he walked too fast and accidentally bumped into the door frame.

There was a loud "clang," and the next moment, Zhuang Che held his forehead, tears welling up.

Lin Yi, hearing the commotion: "..."

Is this guy really stupid or just pretending?

"Haha, Lin Yi is indeed good at dealing with all kinds of nonsense."

"Indeed, our Lin Yi never spoils anyone."

"I can't tell if Zhuang Che's clumsy beauty persona is real or not."

"Still, despite being self-centered sometimes, Zhuang Che can be quite amusing."

"In fact, I kind of like Zhuang Che, haha."

After the crabs were steamed, Zhuang Che had already taken his child back to their room.

Lin Yi also cooked a pot of spicy hot pot and steamed a pot of white rice during this process, and then they were ready to eat.

He and Huo Mianmian sat down at the table, each picking up a bowl of steaming white rice and eating the spicy hot pot.

This spicy hot pot was incredibly tempting. Because it had hot pot base, the entire broth was red, spicy and numbing, topped with chopped green onions and cilantro, making it a feast for all senses.

The ingredients inside were also abundant, including thousand-layer tripe, hot pot balls, pork loin, and some green vegetables.

In short, one bowl of spicy hot pot could easily go with three bowls of rice.

Lin Yi and Huo Mianmian held their bowls of rice, taking bites of the spicy hot pot, thoroughly enjoying themselves.

At one point, Huo Mianmian felt a bit too much heat, stuck out his tongue, and quickly grabbed the milk beside him, gulping it down.

Lin Yi reminded him, "Mianmian, if it's too spicy, don't eat it. There's still clear soup in the pot."

Huo Mianmian, while exhaling, said, "A-although it's spicy, it's so delicious."

His face, usually pale, now turned rosy, like a juicy peach.

Lin Yi couldn't help but smile at the sight.

However, fun as it was, he didn't let Huo Mianmian eat too much and brought over another bowl of clear soup.

Father and son finished their bowls of rice and then picked up the crabs to eat.

Now the crabs had cooled down a bit and weren't too hot to handle.

Lin Yi took a crab, broke it open, and indeed, the meat inside was plump and succulent, with an abundance of roe, indicating high quality.

He placed the crab in front of Huo Mianmian and taught him how to eat it.

Huo Mianmian listened obediently, nodded, and started eating the crab.

He even figured out on his own how to break off the crab legs and tried to extract the meat from them.

But he found that using just his hands wasn't enough to get the meat out of the crab legs.

He tilted his head in thought, then picked up a small spoon from the table. He flipped the spoon over and used the handle to poke into the crab leg, digging out the meat.

Lin Yi watched Huo Mianmian's actions and couldn't help but smile with satisfaction.

His little one was indeed very smart.

"Mianmian is both adorable and clever. When I first ate crab, I had no idea what to do with the legs."

"Truly my adopted son, he's amazing. I want to hug and kiss him."

"I've decided, I'm going to the supermarket this afternoon to buy some crabs and try eating them the way Mianmian does."

Meanwhile, Lin Yi and his son were contentedly enjoying their meal.

On the other hand, the newly arrived Zhuang Che and the child he brought, Haotian, were starving.

They had traveled a long distance and were already hungry, but there was no food available yet.

The staff suggested, "Why don't you join Lin Yi and the others for a meal?"

Zhuang Che pouted, "I won't go! He's eating crab, how unfair!"

As he shouted, his forehead started hurting where he had hit it earlier, now swollen with a big bump.

Zhuang Che touched his forehead, tears welling up, and muttered to himself, "Did I really hit myself silly?"

"You're already silly enough."

"Haha, after watching Zhuang Che's antics, I've gotten used to it."

"I... I've seen some of his shows before; he's just a silly person."

In the kitchen.

After finishing lunch, Lin Yi and Huo Mianmian, both full, went outside to the lounge chairs in the courtyard, lying down to bask in the sun.

Father and son were like carbon copies of each other, lazy and relaxed, like a big cat and a little cat basking in the sunlight, occasionally turning over lazily.

Soon, the little cat found his toy.

He pulled two foxtail grass stalks from the crevice beside the lounge chair, waving them around and giving them cute voices.

The two foxtail grass stalks put on quite a show.

Lin Yi lay on the lounge chair, eyes closed, feeling the warm afternoon sun.

Suddenly, his phone beeped.

A text message came in.

He opened his eyes, reached for his phone, and checked the camera angle.

When he confirmed the camera couldn't capture his screen, he unlocked his phone and read the message.

It was from Huo Jihan, just a few words: "What are you doing?"

Lin Yi replied truthfully, "Basking in the sun. What's up?"

Shortly after, Huo Jihan sent another message.

"Nothing much, just that I've been thinking about you."

Lin Yi looked at the text message, and it was as if he could really hear Huo Jihan's deep, magnetic voice earnestly telling him these words.

He felt that he must have smiled; otherwise, why would he feel so good?

It was like floating in soft, fluffy clouds, with his entire being feeling light and weightless.

This state was also akin to carbonated water, with bubbles bursting one after another, each burst like a grand fireworks display.

Lin Yi closed his phone and leaned back into the recliner in a more comfortable position, then looked up at the sky.

Was it an illusion?

Even the sunlight seemed different, becoming more brilliant and romantic.

"Can anyone tell me why Lin Yi suddenly smiled?"

"Who knows? All I know is that his smile made my heart race."

"Maybe it's because of love?"

"I think the person above hit the nail on the head."