Chapter 64 “Run!”

Chapter 64 "Run!"

"Little Zhu Bao, stop looking, mommy's head is still there."

"Getting so angry you lose your head feels like something out of a horror movie..."

"Her head's still on, but she's so embarrassed she could dig a three-bedroom apartment with her toes."

"Mr. Jiang, a three-bedroom apartment? That's nothing—our Ningning could dig out a whole villa!"

The celebrity guests spared Ji Ning's feelings, not laughing at the same thing twice. Even if they wanted to laugh, they held it in, stifling giggles behind pursed lips, especially Tong Zhiqi and Tong Zhile, laughing so hard their chests trembled. Meeting Ji Ning's angry gaze, they held each other's shoulders.

"Stop laughing!"

"You too!"

After lunch, everyone from the show was set to leave the resort cabin for the next destination. As per the show's task card, they'd draw lots to form groups and pick their mode of transport.

"How are we grouping?" asked Tong Zhiqi, "Like Yanxi here?"

"Probably not—I joined your group using a grouping card," said Zhang Yanxi.

By now, nearing the show's end, Zhang Yanxi stopped guessing who his partner would be, unlike when he first arrived. Like now, hanging out with the sibling duo was just as fun—letting go of worries and finding joy in the little things. That's what travel's all about.

"This is our first proper group reshuffle," the staff shook the drawing bucket. "Maybe new travel buddies will spark something different."

The guests didn't dawdle during the drawing session.

They stepped forward, each drawing a card, looking for the corresponding pattern on their cards to complete the grouping.

"Do food-themed cards mean we're in the same group?" said Ji Ning, "My card has a watermelon."

"Yuck, coffee!" Zhu Zhu raised her card high.

Ding Muyun: "I have shrimp dumplings."

"Zhouzhou's card shows white rice," Tong Zhile took a look for Zhouzhou.

Ji Ning and Ding Muyun were assigned the two kids, with the show providing a driver.

Meanwhile, Zhu Zhu climbed into a real off-road vehicle. Before they set off, Tao Shaorong gave a rundown of its features, like how it handles snowy roads and more.

"Whoa, first product placement I've seen on this show!"

"Our show's really stepping up its game!"

"Did anyone else notice brother-in-law originally drew the white rice card? Looks like he swapped with Zhouzhou on the sly."

"Guess brother-in-law wanted the actress and Zhouzhou to bond more. She's been great lately, and you can tell Zhouzhou's warming up to her."

"Not buying the actress's image rehab—the privileged adoption of Zhouzhou isn't settled yet. The public deserves answers."

The off-road vehicle's back seats were roomy. With the staff's help, two safety seats were installed—Zhouzhou and Zhu Zhu on either side, Ji Ning in the middle.

Ding Muyun hesitated, "Actually, I can sit in the back. You take the front seat."

"It's fine," Ji Ning replied. "They said it's a long ride—you'll rest better up front."

It was obvious Ding Muyun looked worn out.

She looked worn out and spoke less, clearly not having gotten enough rest.

Seeing Ji Ning insist, Ding Muyun stopped refusing, smiling and nodding in thanks before taking the front seat.

The crew set up fixed cameras in the car, and with the driver, there were exactly five people, leaving no space for a photographer. Any additional passenger would have exceeded the capacity.

The other five guests were grouped based on the patterns on their drawn cards.

The sibling duo and Zhang Yanxi ended up in the same group again.

Before hopping in the car, Zhang Yanxi joked, "Looks like I'm stuck with your group."

"Think of yourself as a permanent member of the sibling duo," Tong Zhiqi said. "Two brothers and one sister."

"Top male idol, your brain must be fried. I’ve given up on Tong Zhiqi figuring it out. Let him stay clueless; it’ll drive him nuts later."

"Tong Zhile has one real brother, one brother on the family register, and a half-sister. That’s plenty; she doesn’t need another brother from the show."

"Faded movie star: I’ve got enough sisters, thanks."

"Seriously, don’t you think calling him a 'faded movie star' is harsh? It’s like pouring salt on the wound every time."

"Well, he is past his prime, after all."

The draw was random, but the production team had prearranged the number of guests in each group based on the vehicles.

Xiang Xinghui and Jiang Cheng were paired up, sitting in the back with the driver and a photographer in the front.

Xiang Xinghui wanted to help out the crew and said, "Mr. Jiang and I can take turns driving. We don’t need a local driver. We could squeeze in two PDs and head out together."

The crew politely turned down Xiang Xinghui’s offer.

The snowy roads were slick, the trip was long, and the destination was out of the way, so hiring a local driver was the safer bet.

"Slippery roads?" Jiang Cheng gave the SUV a quick look.

"Even though the roads are slick in the snow and conditions can shift, this car can handle snowy roads no problem!" Director Tao added quickly, "Snow, wind, or fog—it’s all good."

Director Tao walked over to the car and started talking up the snow tires’ great grip and the anti-slip chains that boosted the car’s stability.

"Director Tao: Whoops, I almost botched the ad."

"Mr. Jiang is the real MVP!"

"After all, he’s the show’s biggest investor. Besides chasing his wife, Mr. Jiang’s got business to handle (doge)."

"So, is Mr. Jiang cashing in on the show now that it’s a hit? I totally forgot about that."

"What do you think? Dad and Grandpa are both hustling for our little Zhu Bao."

"Out of all the guys, Mr. Jiang and the brother-in-law barely talk. Won’t the trip be boring?"

"Don’t worry, the brother-in-law’s a talker; he’ll keep the conversation going."

This show’s been called a travel ad for a while, but even though netizens have seen tons of gorgeous views lately, they were still blown away by the snowy mountain road.

The twisty mountain road was frosty, and Zhu Zhu and Brother Zhouzhou pressed their faces to the window, staring out at the view.

Before she realized it, the baby noticed that her breath had fogged up the car window.

She raised her little hand, her chubby, short fingers acting like a paintbrush, "painting" on the window.

"Mom, this is a little picture frame," said Zhu Zhu.

"Capturing the scenery in a small frame, it's like a painting," said Ji Ning. "Is our baby a little artist?"

The little artist Zhu Zhu continued to draw on the car window, her small hand sketching the shape of snowflakes, adding more detail to the scenery painting.

Ji Ning still remembered the lollipops and little strawberries she had saved from last night.

As soon as she took them out, she heard the baby's surprised little voice.

"Wow! It's something delicious!"

Brother Zhouzhou heard the noise and turned his head.

His little sister was snuggling with her mom, her little head rubbing against her mom's shoulder, causing the seatbelt to shift.

Her mom adjusted the seatbelt for her, smiling and gently patting her face.

"What does the lollipop taste like?"

"Take a guess, Zhu Zhu."

"It's lychee, green apple, grape, orange, and watermelon flavor!"

"Zhu Zhu, I suspect you're trying to convince me to buy a whole box of lollipops."

Xiao Tuanzi's eyes sparkled at the thought.

A whole box of lollipops!

"No way, don't think you can trick me!"

"Mom, what does 'trick' mean?"

Brother Zhouzhou clenched his hands together.

People online had noticed that whenever the child felt unsure, he would clench his two thin little hands tightly, as if he could find some strength that way. The car was warm, and the left and right safety seats ensured their travel safety. The two children were well taken care of, but it was clear to the discerning eye that their moods were different. Zhu Zhu and Brother Zhouzhou had both been little troublemakers, but Brother Zhouzhou had grown old enough to understand. His protective shell had grown thicker, so thick that it would take a lot of love to break through.

"Brother Zhouzhou, which one do you want to eat?" asked Zhu Zhu.

Brother Zhouzhou was taken aback.

He turned his head in surprise, looking at his sister with astonishment, feeling a bit overwhelmed, his hands clenching even tighter.

Sharing strawberries was tricky, and lollipops were no easier.

Zhu Zhu gave the choice to Brother Zhouzhou, letting him pick his favorite.

The principles taught by their parents were quietly ingrained in the baby's heart. Xiao Tuanzi was sharing, but this sharing wasn't a sacrifice or a burden.

"I..." Brother Zhouzhou hesitated.

"This one?" Zhu Zhu handed the lollipop to him, then opened her palm to show the little strawberry. "Or this one?"

Ji Ning waited with a smile for them to make their own decision.

She used to be always in a rush, but perhaps it was Little Zhu Zhu who taught her to be more patient.

After some time, Brother Zhouzhou took the small strawberry from Zhu Zhu's hand.

He took a bite of the strawberry tip, savoring it carefully.

The sweet, fruity flavor lingered in his mouth.

"Thank you," Brother Zhouzhou whispered.

"You're welcome!"

"Keep it down," Ji Ning gestured with a 'shush' at her lips, "Auntie is asleep."

Ding Muyun, behind the wheel, slid her sunglasses up to her hairline and turned back with a grin, "No, I'm awake."

"Didn't Sister Muyun get much sleep last night?"

"I pulled an all-nighter working on a statement with Xinghui and the team."

The car was moving slowly on the snowy road.

The expansive wilderness outside the window whizzed by, with Little Zhu Zhu gasping in awe, while Brother Zhouzhou quietly looked down.

...

Every live-streaming "small room" had a decent number of viewers.

Netizens were hopping around, giving equal attention to each stream, stopping to stay for a while when they found something interesting.

Since Mr. Jiang had been sleeping on the floor in the room for the past two days, taking on a large part of the baby care duties, Ji Ning had more time to scroll through her phone, catching up online.

Ding Muyun had been facing criticism since the start of this episode. Many haters were eagerly waiting for the actress to slip up, and finally, they got their chance. Talks about the celebrity leveraging her status to adopt Brother Zhouzhou were heating up. The adoption law shouldn't just be for show, and it was only fair for the public to expect an explanation from the actress.

"The statement is due out soon," Ding Muyun glanced at the time, "It's scheduled for noon at twelve."

Right then, the sibling duo and Zhang Yanxi's live stream were buzzing with laughter.

Tong Zhiqi led the way, sitting with Zhang Yanxi in the back seat, occasionally tapping the sister in front on the shoulder, urging her to join in the fun.

"This trip's dragging on; let's find something fun to pass the time."

"You see how the old folks on tours sing and put on shows on the bus."

"I don't want to sing," Tong Zhile said, "I'm no good at it."

"How about a game of rock-paper-scissors?" Tong Zhiqi suggested.

The sister shook her head, "That's too childish!"

"Then let's play some brain games," Tong Zhiqi went on, "Like twenty-one."

Tong Zhile and Zhang Yanxi chimed in together—"It's twenty-four!"

The car was filled with joy, even the driver couldn't help but laugh.

"I enjoy having passengers like you, always chatting and keeping things lively."

"Otherwise, driving on such a long mountain road might make you drowsy."

"Driver, you can't get drowsy," Zhang Yanxi said. "Otherwise, how will you get back after dropping us off?"

As he spoke, he took out a few coffee candies from his pocket and handed them over: "Here, have these to stay awake later."

Zhang Yanxi thought he could pass the coffee candies to the center console, but he couldn't reach it.

Tong Zhile turned around, opened her palm, and took the candies: "Let me do it."

The driver quickly thanked them.

"The faded movie star is still quite nice, isn't he? He's worried that the driver might get fatigued driving back alone later."

"I'm sold on these coffee candies! Has any girl tried them? Waiting for some feedback."

"I've had these coffee candies before. They have a strong coffee aroma, but don't expect them to keep you awake—they're pretty much useless for that."

Tong Zhiqi suggested playing the 24-point game, and his sister opened a small app to generate the questions directly.

The three of them started playing, and even the driver seemed to get into it, his brain working at full speed.

"Tong Zhile, can't you solve such an easy question?" the top male idol said unhappily. "Don't go easy on me, hurry up."

"I'm worried you won't get a single one right and lose followers," his sister said. "So I'll leave this easy one for you, and I'll tackle the harder ones later."

Zhang Yanxi burst out laughing: "That's so condescending of you."

"Totally condescending!" The top male idol quickly solved the problem, full of fighting spirit. "Let's see who the 24-point champion will be by the end of this trip."

The siblings were like rivals, and though the two-hour journey didn't settle the game, their livestream was voted the noisiest by netizens, earning them a kind of championship.

By the second half of the trip, even the driver felt his head spinning.

Earlier, he thought they were great, talkative and lively... Now, he really wished they would chill out for a bit.

Compared to their group, the livestream setup next door with Jiang Cheng and Xiang Xinghui was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

The actress's studio had already released a statement.

The team had no intention of letting the statement gain too much attention, but Ding Muyun's popularity was too high, and fans organically pushed the topic to the top of the trending list.

The public's focus remained on the child adoption procedures, but unexpectedly, the statement from the studio dispelled all the speculation.

It was a bold move.

"Jiang Cheng," Xiang Xinghui asked, "did you sleep well last night?"

Jiang Cheng had slept well.

He and Ji Ning had 'met' their childhood selves, using imaginative fantasies to make up for childhood regrets. They had no idea how long they talked, but when the room fell silent and he heard her steady breathing, he finally drifted off peacefully.

"Yes," Jiang Cheng said.

Jiang Cheng had been quiet since getting in the car.

The photographer, carrying the camera, was on the verge of cringing, filming their faces like this—didn't it feel like a long, silent play?

Except for Xiang Xinghui, no one in the car was aware of the online drama.

It was also when Xiang Xinghui started his chatterbox mode, talking about his family background, that Jiang Cheng realized he wanted to use this live broadcast room to clarify something to the public.

"When I was young, my family was quite well-off. My parents left the state-owned enterprise and seized a good opportunity to open a printing factory. They were quite busy, so they didn't have much time to take care of me and my elder brother."

"My brother is eight years older than me. Cooking, bathing, and picking me up after school were basically all taken care of by him. As the old saying goes, the elder brother—"

Xiang Xinghui waited for Mr. Jiang to respond.

Seeing that Jiang Cheng didn't respond for a while, he awkwardly smiled and said, "An elder brother is like a father."

"Our brotherly relationship is very good. In a childhood lacking parental companionship, it's not an exaggeration to say we relied on each other."

"Later, when the family business stabilized and more factories were opened, we managed them together. However, due to tough economic times, several factories closed down in the past few years. At that time, I wanted to invest money, but my brother said, 'If you have money, keep it for yourself, don't throw it into this financial black hole.'"

"Those without siblings might find it hard to understand the bond between brothers... To me, my brother is very dear, and his importance in my heart is even equal to that of Muyun. So, when my brother asked me to help take care of his child, I agreed without hesitation."

Jiang Cheng: ...

Here we go.

The statement issued by the actress's team was not as emotionally charged as Xiang Xinghui's confession, but more concise.

"Here comes the spokesperson! Brother Zhouzhou was never a child from the welfare home. Actually, this child is the son from a previous relationship of my brother-in-law's elder brother. The family was in turmoil because of this child's existence. My brother-in-law kindly 'adopted' him home and fabricated an identity for him in front of the actress."

"The actress is busy with work, and the so-called adoption procedures have always been handled by my brother-in-law. Not long ago, he brought the child back and told him not to let the cat out of the bag."

"Netizens are quite savvy. My brother-in-law knew he couldn't hide it anymore, so he confessed to the actress last night, hoping for her forgiveness."

"To be honest, if you originally wanted to adopt a child, does it matter whose child it is? The actress is too controlling, and my brother-in-law was just thinking about his family. There's nothing to blame."

"For twenty years, my brother-in-law has been quietly supporting the actress behind her back. Even if he deceived her this time, it was for the sake of his elder brother who treated him like a father and brother since childhood. It's understandable."

Netizens were baffled by the whole situation.

The only humorous moment in the entire live broadcast room was actually on Mr. Jiang.

In the back seat of the car, on the left and right, Xiang Xinghui was wholeheartedly opening up about his feelings, sincere and heartfelt.

And Mr. Jiang, with an expression of unwilling to get involved in others' family matters.

As if four big words were carved on his forehead.

No gossip, please.

...

Around three in the afternoon, three cars arrived one after another, bringing the celebrity participants to the destination.

Other staff members were still on the bus and hadn't arrived yet. As soon as Jiang Cheng got out of the car, he saw Little Zhu Zhu running up to him.

"Be careful, it's slippery," Ji Ning reminded from behind, "Don't fall—"

With a "plop," Zhu Zhu fell on the snowy ground.

She was bundled up, and falling on the soft snow didn't hurt at all. She even thought it was fun and lay there for a while.

Jiang Cheng picked up his daughter and patted the snow off her.

"Daddy, it's been so long!"

Ji Ning: ...

It's only been a little over two hours, but it feels like forever?

It's hard to imagine how much the child will miss Daddy when the show ends.

Ding Muyun also opened the car door and helped Brother Zhouzhou out of the car.

"Mom," Brother Zhouzhou called cautiously.

She paused to help him tighten his coat and said, "Did Uncle Jiang buy you two balloons at the amusement park yesterday?"

Brother Zhouzhou nodded.

Early yesterday morning, as soon as they arrived at the amusement park, Jiang Cheng bought him two balloons.

No child can resist the appeal of high-flying balloons. Brother Zhouzhou held one balloon in each hand, constantly looking up as he ran around the park.

However, playing with two balloons was actually awkward. He didn’t have a small backpack, and unlike Zhu Zhu, he couldn’t tie the balloons to his hair. After a few rides, he realized his balloons were gone.

"I think they must have been left behind during the roller coaster ride," Ding Muyun said. "Why didn’t you tell us, sweetheart?"

"Were you afraid to tell us?"

Ding Muyun thought of her own childhood.

Her parents never seemed to know how to speak gently. Whether she broke a bowl, lost a homework book, or even had a blunt pencil sharpener, she would be scolded. They were always strict, using criticism to vent their frustrations, and she grew increasingly cautious, pushing herself harder, until she became the "model child" in the neighbors' eyes.

Ding Muyun had always excelled since she was a child. As she grew older, her happy marriage, fame, and career achievements made her parents truly proud.

She was strong-willed, capable of supporting both her parents’ home and her own small family... but now, as she looked at Brother Zhouzhou’s cautious expression, she realized the intense emotions in her heart weren’t just maternal love—they were empathy.

Ding Muyun saw her younger self reflected in the child’s anxious eyes.

"If you’d told me yesterday that the balloons were lost, I would’ve gotten you new ones," she said. "Then you wouldn’t have had to feel jealous of your sister’s balloons on the bus ride home."

"But it’s not too late," Ding Muyun added. "We can get balloons anywhere."

Brother Zhouzhou looked into Ding Muyun's eyes.

He was too young to explain clearly, but he could see a mix of emotions in her eyes.

Sadness, yet determination.

Ding Muyun said a lot.

Over the past few days, Jiang Cheng had bought Brother Zhouzhou balloons and ice cream, Tong Zhiqi taught him songs, and Tong Zhile always looked out for his feelings. Ji Ning always made sure Zhu Zhu called Brother Zhouzhou to play together...

"Brother Zhouzhou, you don’t have to be afraid of adults," Ding Muyun said gently. "And don’t push away our kindness, okay?"

The camera was still rolling, and even though it was in front of the lens, netizens could believe that every word the actress said came from the heart.

"Wuwuwu, the child's eyes are so clear."

"I used to think Brother Zhouzhou was hostile to many people around him, but maybe it's just a defense mechanism a weak child uses to protect himself."

"Brother Zhouzhou also wants to be accepted, but first, he needs to accept this gentle world himself."

"Not trying to argue, just asking, so has the actress forgiven her brother-in-law?"

"I want a balloon," Zhouzhou said softly, looking down.

"Just one?"

Zhouzhou bit his lip.

After a moment, he asked, "Can I have two?"

"No problem."

Ding Muyun placed her hand on Zhouzhou's shoulder and joined the group.

"Are we really going to get balloons?"

"I said so," Ding Muyun said gently, "You can trust me."

Last night, Xiang Xinghui and Ding Muyun talked for a long time, and Zhouzhou, who was still awake, heard everything clearly.

Dad wasn't telling the truth.

Kids shouldn't lie.

But what about adults?

"Mom, should adults be honest?" Zhouzhou asked.

"Of course."

"Let's go, we don't want to keep them waiting."

Ding Muyun held Zhouzhou's hand and walked towards the other guests.

Zhu Zhu was being carried by her dad, her little legs dangling.

She wanted to get down and roll in the snow, but her dad didn't let her.

"Zhu Zhu feels heavier," Jiang Cheng said.

Xiao Tuanzi tilted her head, "I'm getting bigger!"

Every day, Zai Zai grows a bit more.

That day, Mom said that the baby's face was looking more like a tangyuan.

"Speaking of which, Winter Solstice is almost here," Tong Zhile sighed, "Year after year, time flies..."

Xiang Xinghui laughed, "You're so young, yet you sound like an old person, talking about how fast time flies."

Zhu Zhu knew Winter Solstice was an important holiday.

In Yongrui Village, during the Winter Solstice, her brother's mother and grandmother would cook small tangyuan.

Tangyuan are hard to digest, so her brother eats slowly and can't have too much. His mom and grandma would watch him, smiling.

They said that after eating tangyuan, her brother would grow another year older.

Zhu Zhu could also have a bowl of tangyuan.

Hearing that, she ate more quickly.

She wanted to grow up quickly, thinking that eating one tangyuan would make her one year older, and eating many would make her many years older.

But unfortunately, Zhu Zhu once ate so fast she almost choked...

When she woke up, she was still just a little kid.

"Tangyuan these days come in so many flavors," said Tong Zhiqi. "Like purple sweet potato, strawberry, pistachio sesame..."

Ji Ning: "And durian!"

"How did the celebrity guests know I’ve been into tangyuan lately! I’ve been loving small tangyuan, throwing them into my homemade milk tea after cooking—it’s the perfect add-in."

"I’ve got something to say about this. A few days ago, there were constant ads on short videos, so I bought a bag of 'Fortune and Treasure' tangyuan, with the gimmick being golden ingots printed with auspicious characters like wealth, happiness, and treasure... Guess what happened? After boiling them for just a minute, the characters vanished! It was practically a scam!"

"That girl is like family to me! I just ate the golden ingot tangyuan yesterday, and when the characters disappeared, I was so mad I could’ve eaten a bellyful of air."

"Honestly, the pistachio sesame filling is still pretty tasty."

Zhu Zhu heard her dad say that this year, he’d eat tangyuan with her.

Then, her parents started talking about tangyuan flavors.

"Do you like sweet or savory tangyuan?"

"Savory, obviously."

"How can you go for savory? Sweet is the way to go!"

Netizens: ...

Here we go again with the sweet vs. savory debate!

...

There’s only a day and a half left on this trip.

It wasn’t until today that the celebrity guests finally checked into a real hotel.

The hotel wasn’t as cozy as the homestays, but it had better facilities.

The hotel’s snowfield hot spring was a perk, and its remote location meant fewer people. Plus, the show booked a private pool, so the guests didn’t have to ‘dumpling drop’ into the hot spring on live stream—what a relief!

"Aww, I was hoping to see them dumpling drop!"

"On this trip, I’ve got two main goals: first, to check out the top male idol’s fitness progress, and second, to see how Mr. Jiang’s been doing."

"What about the brother-in-law?"

"Not interested in the brother-in-law, and the faded movie star is take-it-or-leave-it—let him do his thing."

"Haha, wishful thinking! No way they’d live stream in the hot spring, right?!"

"!!!"

The celebrity guests were on the upper floors, and when they took the elevator up, a receptionist gave them a rundown of the hotel’s amenities.

"The buffet breakfast is on the second floor, available daily from 7 to 9:30 AM, or you can call the front desk to have it delivered to your room."

"There are themed hot spring pools, like herbal, kids’, and spa pools... Kids can hang out in the indoor playground, and the forest cabin is a must-see."

"Our hotel also arranges tea and snacks during afternoon tea time. If you want a more immersive experience, you can make a reservation in advance for a cozy tea brewing experience by the fireplace."

The reception staff explained the hotel's features clearly.

Zhu Zhu kept forgetting what was said, her mind preoccupied with just one thought.

This is so much fun!

"Wait a minute," Ding Muyun suddenly said, "I forgot my swimsuit."

The hotel staff smiled and said, "There's a shop on the first floor of our hotel. Guests can buy swimsuits there if they forgot theirs."

Tong Zhile stepped forward, "I'll come with you, Sister Muyun."

"Okay," Ding Muyun nodded, "What about Ningning? Did she bring hers?"

In the morning, Ji Ning, still unpacking, was worn out from tidying her room. She came out for a glass of water and saw the other celebrity guests sitting cross-legged by the fireplace, chatting and laughing, not very considerate.

Now, it was finally her turn to shine.

"I brought mine!"

"Haha, I bet Ningning looked up the Snow Ridge guide beforehand. It's no big deal to pack an extra swimsuit, better safe than sorry."

"I'm going to get mad! The hotel swimsuits are probably super ugly!"

"It's okay, it's just for the hot springs, not a fashion show. As long as the female guests are comfortable."

"What does Ningning's carefully chosen swimsuit look like? Show us!"

All the celebrity guests were quite pleased with their hotel suites.

The bellhop took the luggage upstairs, while the camera crew set up their equipment in the rooms.

They waited a while, but no one hurried them.

It felt like just yesterday they were saying goodbye in the last episode, and now, in the blink of an eye, it was their last night on the show.

Soon after, viewers saw a little orange-clad baby emerge.

Zhu Zhu was about to enjoy the hot springs, not really knowing how, just splashing around.

The little orange-yellow swimsuit Mom picked out for the baby, with cartoon patterns of small oranges, made Xiao Tuanzi's belly look even rounder, like she'd eaten too many oranges.

Xiao Tuanzi skipped cheerfully out of the hotel room, heading towards her destination.

Even though she didn't know where she was going, she just charged ahead.

Ji Ning called after her, "Don't run!"

Jiang Cheng, always good at making his presence known in parenting, said, "Don't run."

The laughter and chatter of the other celebrity guests drowned out the parents' calls.

Zhu Zhu only heard the last two words.

"Run! Run!"

The little one ran wildly to the rhythm of the show's background music—

Goodbye, Mom, I'm off on an adventure tonight!