Chapter 7

Chapter 7

In a flash, Mu Mu braced his hands on the suitcase, kicked his legs up in a handstand, and sent the toy gun flying. The toy gun flew back precisely along its original path, hitting the chubby boy square in the face with a loud clang.

The boy shrieked and fell flat on his back.

Everyone stared in shock at the tiny figure of Mu Mu. The terminal fell silent for a few seconds until Wen Bingchun’s frantic cries snapped the crew back to reality. They rushed over to check on the chubby boy.

“Holy shit, what just happened? Did my eyes deceive me? Did Mu Mu just fly?”

“Holy fucking shit, the little serious one knows kung fu! That inverted kick—our national soccer team has hope now!”

“Whoa, I’m blown away. Since when do five-year-olds have skills like this?”

“Aaaah, I’m stanning him now!”

“Is nobody else worried about the chubby kid? He didn’t mean to throw the toy gun. Was it really necessary to retaliate so harshly by smacking him in the face?”

“Pfft, spare us the saint act. In a crisis, reacting that fast is impressive enough. Stop with the conspiracy theories.”

Chaos erupted on-site. Blood gushed from the chubby boy's nose as he clutched it, wailing. The crew quickly tilted his head back and wiped his nose with tissues.

Wen Bingchun crouched beside him, feigning concern. “Xiao Wen, does it hurt badly? Maybe we should take you to the hospital.”

Her assigned director hurriedly interjected, “But the flight is about to take off.”

Wen Bingchun, ever the perfect older sister, replied, “My brother’s health comes first. The show doesn’t matter.”

Upon hearing he might miss the program, Xiao Wen immediately stopped crying. Nose pinched, eyes watering, he looked up at her and said, “I—I’m fine.”

“Don’t tough it out, Xiao Wen,” she said. (If not for their parents, she wouldn’t have brought her brother along in the first place.)

Xiao Wen shoved her aside and stood up, pushing through the crowd. He stomped over to Mu Mu and snapped, “You hit me! Apologize!”

The crew was stunned. Wen Bingchun only froze for a second before quickly stepping forward, playing the gracious sister. “Xiao Wen, he didn’t mean to. You can’t act like this.”

Xiao Wen, used to being coddled at home, was accustomed to getting apologies the moment he cried. Why should this brat get away with hitting him?

“No! I want him to say sorry!”

Mu Mu batted his eyes innocently at him for two seconds. Just as Xiao Wen thought he was about to apologize, Mu Mu turned away disdainfully and said, “Mom, he’s such a weakling. I only used 30% of my strength, and he still couldn’t catch it.”

Yep, total weakling,” Wen Zhi agreed bluntly.

Xiao Wen’s face burned with humiliation, forgetting all about the apology. “Where am I weak?!”

Mu Mu ignored him and took the suitcase from Wen Zhi, tugging stubbornly at it as he followed the staff to check it in. Xiao Wen, still carrying his backpack, stubbornly chased after him, demanding, “Where am I weak? Where? Where? Where?!”

The two toddlers dashed off, one after the other, the earlier tension dissolving into nothingness.

The chat exploded with laughter.

“HAHAHAHA, the chubby kid’s nose is still stuffed with tissues, and he’s already throwing a tantrum.”

“Kid fights are the best. Xiao Wen really is kinda weak—like a spoiled rich kid. The contrast with Wen Bingchun is huge.”

“Honestly, if Mu Mu weren’t so serious all the time, he’d be really likable. Smart, skilled in martial arts, filial, and good-looking to boot.”

“Nah, forget it. I’m here for cute kids, and this Mu Mu is not cute at all.”

The livestream was getting rowdy.

Through the noise, Wen Bingchun walked toward Wen Zhi and stood opposite her, holding out her hand with a bright smile. "Hello, I'm Wen Bingchun, Wen Xiaowen's sister."

This was the second time she pretended not to know her.

Wen Zhi left her hanging, instead pulling down her sunglasses to give her an amused once-over. "Wen—Bing—Chun? What a pure-sounding name. Was it changed later?"

Wen Bingchun's smile went rigid—her name had indeed been changed five years ago.

Wen Zhi didn't wait for an answer. She put her sunglasses back on and strode away.

The staff on-site felt awkward, and Wen Bingchun resentfully withdrew her hand, making excuses for Wen Zhi. "Miss Wen's just...quirky like that. Let’s go."

Wen Bingchun had been thinking for days and finally came to a realization: Wen Zhi used to have everyone eating out of her hand, but now, without her parents, she was just a middle-school graduate with a love child.

Even if she joined the show, she couldn’t steal the spotlight. No matter how pretty she was, she’d only play second fiddle.

If she wanted to be on the show, so be it.

The boarding announcement echoed through the airport just in time, and the group hurried to board.

Viewers went wild over Wen Zhi’s behavior.

"This Wen Zhi is so rude! Our Ice Princess took the initiative to greet her, and she came back with that snark!"

"Rude +1. I would’ve told her off—I felt so awkward for Wen Bingchun."

"Exactly! She’s just a nobody with a pretty face. What kind of attitude is that?"

"Pfft—'Ice Queen' my ass. More like a giant ice lotus. Only the name sounds pure, hahahaha."

The chat was going nuclear, and they cut to black as the guests boarded.

With no live broadcast possible on the plane, the segment director instructed the cameraman to record footage for later editing into the main episode. The show went all out, booking first-class seats. Wen Bingchun, being the biggest star, sat in the front row with Wen Xiaowen, while Wen Zhi and Mu Mu sat behind them.

Mu Mu had fallen asleep on the private jet last time, so now he was curious about everything. The little boy sat upright, his big dark eyes darting around, taking in everything until the plane soared into the sky. Unable to resist, he smeared his face against the window to look outside.

The earth below seemed so small, the sky vast and blue, with layers of white clouds surrounding the plane—soft and clean, like giant scoops of cotton candy.

Mu Mu’s big dark eyes shone with wonder, and he couldn’t help but exclaim, "Wow!" Turning back excitedly, he asked, "Mom, is this the sky?"

"So this is what the sky looks like?"

"Why aren’t there any celestial palaces or immortals?"

The normally poised little prince finally showed a childlike side, his eyes slightly curved with joy. Wen Zhi felt soft and relaxed, smiling as she explained.

Wen Xiaowen climbed up and peered over the seatback, looking down at Mu Mu with disdain. "You hick, you’ve never even been on a plane before? There are no celestial palaces or immortals in the sky—only Superman and Ultraman!"

"You probably don’t know Ultraman either, do you? He could wipe the floor with you—one punch kills monsters!" Still holding a grudge over being called weak, Wen Xiaowen boasted about his vast knowledge. "Ultraman flies way faster than a plane, and when he transforms, he’s even bigger than one! We’re tight!"

"And Superman—"

He was practically bouncing out of his seat. At first, Mu Mu ignored him, but he wouldn't shut up.

Just as Wen Xiaowen reached the peak of his excitement, Mu Mu suddenly said, "Pride invites loss; humility reaps benefit. A true gentleman keeps an open mind."

"Huh?" Wen Xiaowen faltered.

"What kind of... gentleman?" The little chubby boy scratched his head, glancing at the cameraman, then at his sister, before finally glaring at Mu Mu and snapping, "Are you insulting me?"

Mu Mu shook his head earnestly. "No, just telling you to read more."

Xiao Wen flushed red to his ears, and the filming crew on the plane burst into laughter.

The little boy, now sulking, sat quietly and refused to engage further.

They’d started filming properly by the time they disembarked.

Director Fang explained to the group that there were too many crew and too much baggage, and with many fans waiting outside, they had to split into two groups. He asked who wanted to go first.

To show off her magnanimity, Wen Bingchun immediately said, "Wen Zhi and Mu Mu can go first. I don’t mind waiting."

Before Xiao Wen could speak, Wen Zhi took Mu Mu and strode off without a backward glance.

Xiao Wen froze for a moment before throwing a tantrum, tugging at Wen Bingchun and whining tearfully, "Waaah, I wanna go first! I wanna go first!"

Wen Bingchun crouched down to soothe him patiently. "Xiao Wen, didn’t I just read you Kong Rong’s story about yielding the bigger pear yesterday? It’s no big deal if we go later. They’ll wait for us before heading out together."

Xiao Wen still wasn’t convinced. "But... what if... what if there’s yummy food and they eat it all before we get there?"

Wen Bingchun reassured him, "I’ll get you some."

"What if we’re late and get punished?"

Wen Bingchun patted his head. "Whatever the punishment is, I’ll take it for you."

Xiao Wen finally quieted down.

The crew was touched and praised, "Ms. Bingchun, you’re so kind."

Wen Bingchun smiled. "Don’t mention it." Indeed, having a foil just made her kindness shine brighter.

Meanwhile, the live chat was already roasting her.

*“Wen Zhi is so selfish! *Ice Beauty* offered to let her go first, and she actually took it.”

"Yeah, so rude!"

"You’re weird. *Ice Beauty* volunteered—should Wen Zhi have refused too? Were they supposed to keep politely refusing in the waiting area? It’s not like receiving red envelopes during New Year!"

"Exactly! The producers set it up this way so they’d have to choose. If *Ice Beauty* wants to build her image, why should Wen Zhi have to fight for it?"

"Aww, our *Ice Beauty’s* an angel. Good people get good karma."

However, upon arriving at the hotel, Wen Bingchun was stunned: Director Fang announced that the last family to arrive would face a penalty.

Wen Bingchun: "..."

The staff placed wasabi-filled tarts and raw bitter melon in front of her. "Teacher Bingchun, this is your penalty."

She scanned the lounge. Aside from the other two groups of guests, Wen Zhi was kicking back on the sofa, watching her.

"Wait, the show never said the last to arrive would be punished." The joy of her earlier generosity had turned into regret.

Director Fang explained, "This is a hidden segment. None of the guests were informed. Whoever arrived last was simply fate."

From the sofa, Wen Zhi smiled sweetly. "Oh, come on, don’t call it fate. If it weren’t for Sister Bing, Mu Mu and I would’ve been punished instead. Mu Mu, say thank you to Auntie."

Mu Mu obediently said, "Thank you, Aunt."

Wen Bingchun's smile stiffened as she forced out, "No need... to be polite."

Under the watchful eyes of everyone in the lounge, she braced herself and swallowed the mustard-filled egg tart in one bite. The sharp, pungent taste rushed straight to her head, making her gag from the heat.

Once the worst of it passed, she looked down to see Wen Xiaowen holding a plate of bitter melon, staring intently at her: "Sister, eat the bitter melon."

Wen Bingchun recalled her earlier promise: *No matter the punishment, I’ll take it for you.*

*Ugh, why did I have to open my big mouth?!*

"HAHAHA, what a sincere little chubster!"

"HAHAHA, you made your bed, now lie in it!"

"Who was it that said good people get rewarded? HAHAHA, I’m dying laughing—ice fans, don’t @ me."

"Aww, poor Ice Beauty—my heart hurts for her!"