Chapter 56: A Journey of the Mind?

Chapter 56: A Journey of the Mind?

A pen appeared on the tablet screen. Little Zhu Zhu recognized it but couldn't recall its full name. It was only after the staff reminded her that she realized it was a ballpoint pen.

The words "round" and "pig" popped into her mind, which were easy to act out. Xiao Tuanzi accidentally stumbled upon the trick of the game and quickly grasped its essence.

In this round of "You Act, I Guess," the parents and Little Zhu Zhu worked seamlessly together, scoring a precious point right from the start. Thanks to this strong beginning, the amateur group was brimming with confidence. In the following matches, they seemed unstoppable, crushing their opponents effortlessly.

As for the other celebrity guests, by the time they caught on, they had to speed up to catch up.

Brother Zhouzhou was also quite clever and never held the team back. He could interpret some phrases in his own unique way. After all, they were all children, and their thinking was wildly imaginative. Several times, before the celebrity group could react, the amateur group had already risen to the challenge.

Ji Ning seemed to have found her calling in this game, dominating without holding back. She was quick to react, often answering before her opponents could even think. Ideas kept popping into her head, one after another. Even if she didn't guess correctly, she made sure to throw the other celebrity guests off track.

At this point, Mr. Jiang started to play along with her. She provided the quirky answers, while he was better at the more straightforward ones. Combined with the baby's vivid acting, the amateur group was already far ahead.

"Now, a new question," the staff said, switching the image on the tablet. "Please look at the 'question board,' kids."

The new question was a four-character phrase.

The image came with a text hint. To avoid any misunderstandings, the staff, as with previous questions, whispered the four characters into the ears of Brother Zhouzhou and Little Zhu Zhu.

"I know these words," Brother Zhouzhou said.

Little Zhu Zhu nodded in agreement.

The baby was recognizing more and more words, and these four characters were no challenge for her.

"Four characters, right?" Jiang Cheng said. "Let's begin."

The celebrity group, the sibling duo, and the lone wolf group were all scratching their heads in frustration over the children's performance.

Meanwhile, the amateur group was in full combat mode, striving for the top spot.

"The amateur group has no idea what the first-place prize is, but they are determined to win it!"

"Amateur group: Who else is there? (fighting.jpg)"

"The two kids are getting better and better, but what's going on with the adults? Are their brains rusty?"

In every round, the amateur group delivered moments that left their opponents gasping in awe.

But as the saying goes, a true hero doesn't dwell on past glories. They left their brilliance in the past and continued to move forward.

The celebrity guests and netizens alike turned their attention to Little Zhu Zhu's face.

This question was a bit tricky. Little Zhu Zhu acted for a long time, but no one could figure out what she was doing.

In situations like this, Jiang Cheng and Ji Ning would usually look to Brother Zhouzhou for some divergent thinking.

Both children were busy, their little hands and feet never stopping.

This time, it seemed like they were acting out a concrete scenario. After a series of intense actions, the celebrity guests were met with a long silence.

The sibling duo glanced at the amateur group.

Luckily, the amateur group was also silent, or else they would have looked like fools.

"Continue," Jiang Cheng said.

The two kids kept moving.

"Cute baby?" Ji Ning asked.

They shook their heads hard, eager to speak, but at the staff's reminder, they pressed their little lips together tightly.

After a moment of thought, they had the same idea.

They stretched out their arms and threw a big bear hug through the air.

Zhu Zhu pointed at Ji Ning, her eyes brimming with excitement.

"Are they acting as me?" Ji Ning wondered.

After thinking for a bit, she raised her hand high and said, "Pretty mom!"

"That's right!" the staff said, "The amateur group gets another point."

Jiang Cheng laughed: "Who calls themselves a pretty mom?"

"Mr. Jiang's just jealous," Ji Ning said, squinting, "If Zhu Zhu had pointed at you, it would've been 'goofy dad.'"

"Hahahaha pretty mom! That's spot on!"

"So that's why the kids are so busy—they're acting out their mom's image."

"Pretty mom and goofy dad—am I the only one who thinks they're a perfect match?"

"Seriously, where does Mr. Jiang look like a goofy dad!"

"I came across an interesting fact the other day: when a girl calls you handsome, it doesn't mean much, but if she says you're so dumb and cute, she probably has a crush on you."

It was another abstract question, and surprisingly, the amateur group got it right again.

At this moment, the celebrity guests were discussing the heartfelt performance by the children, recalling how accurate it actually was.

Zhu Zhu blinked her big eyes, her hands kept pointing to her soft, cute face.

She was portraying her beautiful mother.

Brother Zhouzhou raised his hand, pretending to cook with a spatula, and then gently stroked his forehead, imitating how his mother gently soothed him to sleep.

The final two big bear hugs were the children's desire to be held in their mother's warm arms.

"Sister Muyun, do you usually put Brother Zhouzhou to sleep like this?" Tong Zhile asked with a smile.

Due to her own childhood experiences, Tong Zhile empathized deeply with Brother Zhouzhou's situation.

When she came to the new family formed by her mother and stepfather as a child, she occasionally felt like an outsider. The little girl built a defensive wall around herself, hoping to protect herself. Now, Brother Zhouzhou must be the same; his mind is more mature than his peers, fully aware that he has no blood relation with his adoptive parents. The little boy's thick protective shell isn't meant to harm anyone; he's just seeking a sense of security.

"No," Ding Muyun said with a tone of regret. "I thought children of his age don't need to be coaxed to sleep anymore."

"Children in the welfare home have a fixed time to watch cartoons every week. Brother Zhouzhou must have seen mothers on TV coaxing children to sleep and remembered it," Xiang Xinghui said.

This test of mutual understanding was a total win for the amateur group.

Therefore, when the production team called a halt to the game, the other celebrity guests all breathed a long sigh of relief.

Just now, the baby stretched out her short arms asking for a hug, and now, her mother finally came to embrace her.

Ji Ning gave her a kiss on the cheek: "You're amazing!"

Ding Muyun also walked towards Zhouzhou.

The boy was slim and small, yet he stood very straight. His attention was always drawn to Zhu Zhu and Ji Ning, and he kept his eyes on them for quite a while.

"Will we win first place?"

"We already won first place!"

"Do we get a prize for winning?"

Ji Ning silently conveyed the child's question to Director Tao with a look.

She received a smiling head shake in response. It was just a small game, with no rewards or penalties.

"Sure, Zhu Zhu can have a lollipop as a treat." As Ji Ning finished speaking, she noticed Zhouzhou's gaze and smiled, "Zhouzhou gets one too. What flavor do you like?"

Zhouzhou bit his lip thoughtfully.

After a pause, he softly said, "Strawberry."

Ji Ning quickly turned around, searching for someone she knew.

The young lady was back to hand out more tasks.

Jiang Cheng nodded, saying, "I’ll grab it."

Encouraged by her husband and Tong Zhile, Ding Muyun approached Zhouzhou.

She knelt down and wrapped the boy in a soft hug.

The boy froze for a second, his body tensing up a bit.

"Exactly, that’s the vibe! Boys and girls are different—boys are more like little sticks, not as cuddly!"

"Zhouzhou finally got a hug from his mom."

"It’s obvious Zhouzhou has a good bond with his adoptive dad and deeply desires a mother’s love. Now it’s the actress’s turn to step up."

"Ding Muyun’s acting skills are always on point. I remember the director saying in an interview that she’s super empathetic and nails every role. But this isn’t acting. Can she really be a mom?"

"Still, let’s not guilt-trip her..."

"LOL, guilt-tripping? Nobody forced her to adopt Zhouzhou from the orphanage. She chose this herself—shouldn’t she own it?"

There was a small shop nearby. Jiang Cheng bought the lollipops and brought them over to the two children.

Strawberry-flavored lollipops, one for each.

Zhu Zhu held hers up and clinked it with Zhouzhou's.

The voices of the two children were tender and adorable.

"Cheers!"

The celebrity guests once again wore doting smiles.

Not a toast—let’s call it a candy clink!

The third day of the program ended at the usual time.

On a cold night, the bus made its way to the resort, passing a shabby cabin before coming to a slow stop.

It was clear that the water pipes still hadn't been fixed.

By now, everyone had reached their limit. Without waiting for the actress's family to say anything, they immediately started addressing the issue.

"Director Tao, this is really too much."

"Sister Muyun and her family have already spent two nights here."

"Every time you say it'll be fixed soon, but it never happens. We've been out all day—have you even been checking on the progress?"

Director Tao kept apologizing: "We're still trying to figure out the problem. We fixed one spot, but then another leak popped up. I'm really sorry, but there's not much we can do."

The celebrity guests laid down an ultimatum for Director Tao.

If it's not fixed by tomorrow, he'll have to do it himself and make sure all the leaks are properly sealed.

"Exactly, deadlines are the best motivator!"

"Honestly, the married couple has been really patient, putting up with this broken cabin for two days without a word, especially given the actress's status. If it were other actors, they'd probably be throwing a fit by now."

"Director Tao, did you catch that? The guests are calling you out."

"The netizens are watching you too (staring.jpg)."

The others spoke up for the married couple, but in the end, it was Xiang Xinghui who stepped in to back up Director Tao.

"The production team doesn't want this either. But let's try to nudge them a little more. We don't have many days left. We adults can handle it, but the kids need their rest."

The bus doors opened, and the actress's family headed toward the shabby cabin.

The guests pointed and whispered. Luckily, the live broadcast had already ended; otherwise, seeing their pitiful backs, Director Tao would've been roasted by netizens.

"We're almost there," Director Tao urged the bus driver, "Step on it!"

Finally, after getting everyone back, he wiped the sweat off his forehead in the cold and vented to the assistant director.

"They're really a handful."

The luxury cabin and the shabby cabin are worlds apart.

As they opened the door, the guests were greeted by warmth, as if they'd finally come home.

All their gear could finally be taken off.

Little Zhu Zhu, with one hand, pulled off her little red hat, took off her thick, furry socks, and ran barefoot on the warm wooden floor.

Jiang Cheng followed behind her.

First, he picked up a small glove, and not long after, he found another one, followed by the little jacket that netizens called the "evil fleece."

It's heartwarming to see the children letting loose.

But shouldn't we also teach the kids to keep track of their stuff?

Jiang Cheng was about to talk things over with Ji Ning.

Turning around, he caught sight of her casually tossing her scarf onto the sofa.

"What’s up?" Ji Ning asked.

"..." Jiang Cheng caught her scarf, paused, and said, "Nothing."

In the small cabin, all the guests were focused on Ji Ning and Zhu Zhu.

Their personalities on and off camera weren’t that different, but since they could be judged by public opinion at any time, they had to be careful in every aspect. Now that the day's live broadcast was over, they could finally relax. Tong Zhiqi plopped down on the sofa, and Tong Zhile also lay down on the floor.

Scarves and hats flying around made for a beautiful yet messy scene.

Lying flat on the floor? So much fun!

Little Zhu Zhu copied her and lay down next to Sister Lele.

Jiang Cheng: ...

Wouldn’t it be comfier to lie down in the room?

"Are you guys hungry?" Zhang Yanxi said with a smile, "Let me make some late-night bites for everyone."

Tong Zhiqi remembered the indulgence during the hotpot meal earlier.

They’d already eaten, so one more meal wouldn’t hurt.

"What’s on the menu?" he asked.

"Hotpot?" Zhang Yanxi teased.

Tong Zhile burst out laughing, "Pfft!"

Tong Zhiqi: ?

"This morning, I spotted some ingredients in the fridge and whipped up a few braised dishes," Zhang Yanxi said, "They’ve been braising all day, so they should be perfectly seasoned now. Just need to slice them. Lele, wanna give me a hand?"

"Coming," Tong Zhile followed him into the kitchen.

Tong Zhiqi leaned on the back of the sofa, quietly watching them go, his mind filled with thoughts of the braised dishes.

Before the show, he’d been hitting the gym nonstop, sticking to a strict diet, just to present himself in the best condition. Netizens always urged male artists to push themselves harder, and he had done enough, but just the mention of braised dishes made his eyes light up.

"Mr. Jiang," Tong Zhiqi said, "What do you say to doing some push-ups together?"

Jiang Cheng: ?

What’s with the sudden push-ups?

"Should I eat or not..." Tong Zhiqi stared at the ceiling.

"Eat," Ji Ning said, "Today is a holiday."

"You said the same thing yesterday during the barbecue," Tong Zhiqi whined.

The adults prepared a late-night snack session, but they didn’t include Zhu Zhu.

It's bedtime for the children now; not sleeping will stunt the baby’s growth.

Ji Ning took Zhu Zhu back to the room.

Along the way, she answered the endless questions that popped up in the child's mind.

"Mom, what is braised food?"

"Something yucky."

"Why do adults eat yucky things?"

"Exactly," Ji Ning said. "Why do they, huh?"

They chatted excitedly, their figures slowly disappearing into the distance.

Jiang Cheng was puzzled. Why could Ji Ning brush off Zhu Zhu's questions so easily, but when he tried, the sharp kid saw right through him?

"Did you even check out the guide we gave you?"

After Ji Ning and Zhu Zhu had walked away, Tong Zhiqi slapped Jiang Cheng on the shoulder.

That battle guide was something he and his sister had put together overnight—no small effort. But why hadn't Jiang Cheng used it yet?

"I did look at it."

Jiang Cheng hadn’t just read the battle guide—he’d studied it carefully, even jotting down notes under key points.

Like playing it humble, staying close, and grabbing every chance to impress... He was learning, trying to put it into practice, and giving it his all.

"Does she even have a clue what you’re thinking?"

"It feels like she’s totally clueless..."

Before Jiang Cheng could answer, Tong Zhiqi, with his years of dating experience, had already figured it out.

Just as the netizens had noticed, Jiang Cheng was quietly making his move, but Ji Ning was completely oblivious.

"I think..." Tong Zhiqi said, "Maybe we should go all in?"

"No. She’d just run away."

If she felt too much pressure, she’d bolt without a second thought—and it wouldn’t be the first time.

"It’s better to just let things be."

Take it slow, give her all the time she needs.

He’d waited for years already. What’s a little more time?

"Is there a softer approach?"

"Let me think..."

"Actually, you’ve missed a ton of hints I’ve dropped these past couple days."

"What hints?"

Tong Zhiqi began his lesson again.

"Let's skip the distant past; I can't recall it clearly," he said seriously. "Just like earlier, I suggested you do push-ups. What a perfect chance to show off—take off your jacket, let those muscles peek through, and maybe even carry your daughter to really flex your fitness."

Tong Zhiqi recalled scenes from idol dramas, trying to help create highlights and romantic moments.

Jiang Cheng pondered deeply.

"Like a camel?" he asked.

Tong Zhiqi: ...

If you say it like that, it’s not cool at all.

...

Tong Zhiqi thought for a long time.

Until more than half an hour passed, the braised dishes were heated and served, and Ji Ning had also comforted Little Zhu Zhu, coming out of the room.

"What a golden opportunity," Tong Zhiqi said enthusiastically. "Let’s have a little drink!"

At that moment, waiting for the late-night snack to begin, were all young people who usually hung out together.

Everyone instantly agreed when they heard Tong Zhiqi’s idea.

"Can Lele handle her drink?" Zhang Yanxi asked.

Tong Zhile extended one finger.

Ji Ning: "One drink and she’s out?"

She shook her finger: "She can drink a thousand cups and still stay sober."

The kitchen wine cabinet was fully stocked. Tong Zhiqi opened the freezer, grabbed some ice cubes, and five glasses.

The plan he was crafting for Mr. Jiang was coming together nicely.

At this moment, the kitchen door closed, and he continued his teaching: "First off, we’ve got to be thoughtful. We’ll serve them, the first four glasses—don’t skimp on the ice. But when it’s Ji Ning’s turn, hold back a bit."

Mr. Jiang had never paid this much attention, not even in school lectures.

He nodded sincerely and asked, "What’s next?"

"You just snatch her ice cubes away," Tong Zhiqi instructed earnestly. "Tell her, ladies shouldn’t have cold drinks. Remember, keep your voice deep, your expression cool, or blank, just like you’re doing now. Stick with it. Then, ignore whatever she says and just hand her a glass of room-temperature wine. That’s what we call the domineering CEO move."

Jiang Cheng shook his head: "I think you’re full of it."

From the dining table outside the kitchen, Ji Ning’s voice came.

"Bring more ice, or it’ll taste flat," she said.

"Just tell me if you trust me or not!" Tong Zhiqi said.

Mr. Jiang insisted: "I’m not following your advice."

Tong Zhiqi: ...

I told you to act like a domineering CEO, not to boss me around!

A table laden with braised dishes, their colors enticing and aromas rich.

Perfect as a snack to go with drinks.

As he filled the cups with ice, Tong Zhiqi winked at Jiang Cheng.

Jiang Cheng ignored him.

Clearly, Mr. Jiang was skeptical of him!

"Ahem—" Tong Zhiqi took the cup from his sister and poured all the ice into his own, "You'll drink it at room temperature."

Ji Ning and Tong Zhile exchanged puzzled looks.

"Why should girls drink something so cold?" Tong Zhiqi's actions were meant to embody the domineering CEO persona for Jiang Cheng.

Immediately, Ji Ning and Tong Zhile exchanged knowing looks.

"Tong Zhiqi," Tong Zhile snatched the cup, "Stop acting like a know-it-all dad all the time!"

The top male idol was caught off guard, and both female guests told him to quit his whining...

So, where did things go wrong?

"How is it?" Zhang Yanxi asked.

"The chicken wings are really flavorful, just not spicy enough," Tong Zhile said.

"Why eat something so spicy?" Tong Zhiqi retorted.

A sharp glance from his sister silenced him.

Zhang Yanxi smiled, "Next time, I'll add more chili."

Ji Ning watched the scene unfold with amusement.

A sip of cold beer went down refreshingly.

Mr. Jiang also observed the scene with interest.

I told you, the strategy isn't reliable.

...

On the fourth morning of the show, the celebrity guests in the luxury cabin were roused by the sound of repairmen hammering away.

Tao Shaorong's promise remained unfulfilled, yet he was quite active throughout the day.

Last night's 'drinking session,' intended to be a small toast, turned out to be just a sip, leaving no one truly satisfied.

They agreed to have another big session, but first, they needed to check the show's schedule for the next few days, as they would surely need to catch up on sleep afterward.

Ji Ning was tasked with inquiring about the schedule.

She and Zhu Zhu strolled hand in hand, passing by Tao Shaorong.

"Tao Shaorong, what's on the agenda for today?"

"A soul-searching journey."

According to the original plan, after Ji Ning asked about today's activities, it would be Little Zhu Zhu's turn to inquire about tomorrow's arrangements.

But now, with Director Tao's announcement, both of them were instantly drawn to the "Soul Journey."

"Hahaha, Ningning and Zhu Zhu were instantly hyped. What’s the Soul Journey? Sounds super intriguing!"

"The production team loves to keep things mysterious. I bet the Soul Journey is actually rime drifting."

"Rime drifting? Nah! It’s beautiful and photogenic, but super cold. Your hat’s gonna fly off for sure!"

"Rime drifting is such a tourist trap. Locals wouldn’t dare try it. Forget the hat, your head might fly off too (just kidding)."

Just then, the award-winning actress’s family showed up at the meeting point.

"Soul Journey?" Ding Muyun asked, "Is it psychological counseling?"

Director Tao was trying to keep it under wraps, but Ding Muyun saw right through it.

Netizens recalled that at the end of the last episode, the production team had already teased that the show’s segments weren’t just thrown together. The first stage had the guests making tough moves toward their partners, while the later challenges would be all about heart-to-heart talks.

"Is it a shrink? I think they mentioned that last time."

"Are we getting into the deep stuff now?"

"Any tear-jerkers coming up? It’s been ages since we had a good cry. Can’t wait!"

"Today’s theme is the Soul Journey. Everything we do will tie into that," Director Tao explained. "The crew’s already headed to the airport to grab our guest. Ms. Xia should be here in about an hour."

The celebs didn’t have to pick task cards this morning. The first task for everyone was to team up and set up a counseling room.

The staff led the guests to an empty room.

This room was next to the reading room and originally had a big conference table for company team-building stuff. During the cabin tour, someone griped that team-building was bad enough, and now they had to sit through meetings too.

Now, the table and chairs were gone, swapped out for two comfy sofas. The sofas were brought in yesterday while everyone was out feeding the deer. Plus, the sharp-eyed guests noticed the new curtains, soft and warm, with better light-blocking.

But the room was pretty big, and as a counseling room, it felt kinda empty.

So, the first task for the guests today was to deck out the room however they wanted and make it feel warm and cozy.

Zhu Zhu had no clue what counseling was.

But she got what warmth meant—like a cozy home. So, she had her own ideas.

The room was too big, so Xiang Xinghui hit up the crew for extra curtains to split the space.

The sibling duo hauled in the living room carpet. It looked light but was a beast to lift. Zhang Yanxi jumped in to help.

"Lele, there are a few more cushions over there," Zhang Yanxi said.

Tong Zhile was responsible for fetching the cushions from the sofa.

"Honestly, the award-winning actor’s a real gentleman. Tong Zhiqi didn’t even notice the carpet was too heavy for his sis."

"The top male idol is such a straight guy."

"Hahaha, the sister is also a straight shooter. Pot calling the kettle black."

"Not really, the young miss clearly feels that the new guest is treating her very well. She was even humming a tune while fetching the cushions."

So far in the show, Zhang Yanxi has always been in a solo group. According to the production team, today's spiritual journey includes many games, all of which have to be done solo, which always feels a bit off.

When he made it to the snowy mountain's summit, he picked a group card.

The rule of the group card is that you can join any group of your choice.

Right then, Zhang Yanxi pulled out the card: "Can I use this now?"

He suddenly pulled out this card, and the production team didn't have time to add the card-reveal effects like last time.

Without any hesitation, Zhang Yanxi joined the sibling duo.

Tong Zhile was a bit surprised.

Zhang Yanxi smiled and said, "Please take care of me."

"Great," the top male idol said, high-fiving Zhang Yanxi, "Our sibling duo just got another strong member; we're definitely winning all the games today!"

"Bro, don't high-five; it's so cringe!"

"Can't believe the top male idol is still blissfully clueless."

"If I recall, Mr. Jiang still has a rebound card he hasn't used, right?"

"Waiting on the rebound card!"

Jiang Cheng and Ji Ning selected some tea sets, brewed a pot of hot tea, and carried it on a tray to the counseling room.

The two sofas faced each other. Ji Ning sat down on one; it was very soft.

"Should we get two more blankets?" Ji Ning asked.

"I'll grab them."

Jiang Cheng brought two blankets and placed them on the sofas.

"I think we need some soft lighting too," Ji Ning said, "There's a small desk lamp in Zhu Zhu's and my room."

Jiang Cheng went to get the small desk lamp.

"How about adding a scented candle? Do we have any?"

"Yes, we do."

"Hahaha, several trips in a row, Mr. Jiang really is like an AI, never showing any impatience."

"Just like the young miss and her family's laborer!"

"Mr. Jiang: If you say that, I might not be happy."

"And—" Ji Ning said, "Let's add some green plants, like the small potted plants from the terrace garden?"

Since we're all in the same group, we can't just let others do all the work.

Ji Ning said, "I'll go get them this time."

As soon as she turned around, Mr. Jiang was already following her.

"The potted plant is pretty heavy," he said.

The camera followed them all the way.

On the terrace garden, Ji Ning approached the small potted plant.

"It doesn't smell nice," she sniffed, "Come and take a sniff too."

As Jiang Cheng leaned down, a breeze lifted her hair, brushing past his cheek.

He was momentarily caught off guard.

Before he could raise his hand, Ji Ning had already smoothed her hair away.

She leaned closer to the plant, wrinkling her nose: "This is crazy, it stinks?!"

"Flower Flower with hands on hips: 'Who said I stink!'"

"Wow, such synchronized silhouettes of them."

"Baby Zhu Zhu, where have you gone? Mom and dad are having a date without you!"

At some point, Zhu Zhu and Brother Zhouzhou had naturally formed the children's team.

For this outing, Zhu Zhu brought her doll and small rabbit doll, along with a LEGO car carefully chosen by her dad.

Brother Zhouzhou accompanied her back to the room to get them.

While walking up the stairs, Brother Zhouzhou sprinted ahead a few steps, then turned back and said, "Why are you so slow?"

Zhu Zhu's chubby little body pressed against the wall, moving up at a steady pace: "I'm not slow!"

"Just like a turtle, you're," Brother Zhouzhou said.

Little Tuanzi tilted her head: "And a snail."

The little snail was very safety-conscious, dawdling as it made its way upstairs.

Setting up the counseling room was originally a task set by the production team for the adults, and no one expected much from the two children.

Fortunately, the two children did not disappoint the production team.

They sat on the floor of the room, with their short legs crossed, and started playing.

Zhu Zhu held a doll in her hand, kindly lent the small rabbit doll to Brother Zhouzhou to play with.

The palm-sized LEGO car, complete with wheels, could actually drive.

Little Tuanzi placed one foot of the doll on the car, squeezing it in with the LEGO figure.

"Let's go," Zhu Zhu said in a childlike voice, "Brother Zhouzhou, I'll pick you up."

Playing house, the two children had no age difference at all.

They were like two professional little drivers, driving a mountain off-roader, passing through many places.

Everywhere they went, the car would stop for a while.

New passengers are about to hop on.

Things like small bottle caps, hairpins, and sticky notes...

The LEGO car can't hold so many things, but they can stack them up high, so they slow down and gently push the car forward.

The two kids are crouching lower and lower on the floor.

Worried that the "passengers" might topple over if they're not careful.

"Haha, kids, this is an off-roader, not a bus."

"Little Zhu Bao: Scrap collecting time, all useless junk, hop on!"

"Kids really love collecting scraps the most. The other day, I had bamboo rice at home, and my kid asked if he could keep the bamboo tube."

"Brother Zhouzhou, where to next?"

"Let's head home!"

Heading home means they can gather even more treasures.

The off-roader morphs into a bus, and now, in a flash, into a moving truck. Little Zhu Zhu is most eager to bring back her swing and climbing frame from home.

When it's Brother Zhouzhou's turn, he ponders for a moment.

"I want to bring my Transformers to play in the snow."

"Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Ultra Magnus, Arcee... you know, the Transformers."

"What show is this from?"

"Zhu Zhu is clueless about it."

Brother Zhouzhou then launches into his explanation.

"They all have the power to transform."

"Optimus Prime is awesome, but Megatron is my top pick."

"High five, Brother Zhouzhou, I'm a Megatron fan too! He's a dangerously charming villain, totally magnetic!"

"Brother Zhouzhou has a bunch of Transformer models, which aren't cheap—did his previous family buy them?"

"If that's the case, his previous family must have cared for him well, so why was he returned to the welfare home?"

"Will the kids be included in the therapy session later? The show should make that happen."

"The Decepticons will always have your back!"

"Wait, is a Decepticon some kind of tiger?"

"That's the Autobot organization!"

"Brother Zhouzhou: The dignity of Transformers must not be violated (holding head in frustration)."

"Baby: Is Optimus Prime a pillar?"