Chapter 29

Chapter 29

Lin Jiyao ended up as the fourth player in a game of mahjong and wound up losing everything.

He remained calm while transferring the money, but Wen Zhi, who had suggested the game, felt a bit embarrassed. After accepting the payment, she sincerely advised, "Little Lin, it's fine when we girls play together, but never gamble outside. Gambling’s no good."

Lin Jiyao's face darkened: *Who's Little Lin? And who are you calling 'sister'?*

He didn’t even know the rules—he must have lost his mind to sit down at the table.

Only an idiot would play this!

He then transferred money to Liu Yiru.

Liu Yiru chuckled as she accepted the payment. "Ji Yao, you’re hilarious at mahjong."

Lin Jiyao: *Hilarious? I’ve never been this humiliated!*

When he approached Wen Bingchun, she hesitated and said, "Let’s just call it even? It was just for fun anyway."

Lin Jiyao: "I don’t leave debts unpaid."

After transferring the amount, he turned and left without even remembering to take his kid sister with him.

As the door closed, the three women inside broke into laughter.

After a few seconds, Wen Bingchun’s laughter gradually faded. She turned to Wen Zhi and said, "It’s late. Xiao Zhi, get some rest. I’m going to bed too." For a moment, she’d forgotten her reservations, laughing too carefreely.

With that, she hurriedly pulled Wen Xiaowen away.

Liu Yiru also bid farewell, taking Sen Sen with her.

Only the sweet little Xiao Xiao and the mother-son pair were left staring at each other.

Wen Zhi pulled out her phone and typed: "Your sister—abandoning her now?"

Lin Jiyao replied instantly: "Didn’t you say you wanted a sister before? Keep her."

Wen Zhi: "..."

*Didn’t take him for the petty type.*

Putting her phone away, Wen Zhi asked Xiao Xiao, who was looking up at her hopefully, "Do you want to go to your brother? I can take you there if you do."

Xiao Xiao lay on the sofa, her round eyes blinking, and asked in a soft, sweet voice, "Pretty sister, can I sleep with you?" As she spoke, her little pigtails bouncing, making her look utterly adorable.

Wen Zhi was powerless to refuse: "...Sure, why not?"

Xiao Xiao’s eyes immediately curved into happy crescents as she sprang up. "Yay! I knew pretty sister was the best!"

Mu Mu, looking awkward, stammered with a red face, "But... Mom, she’s a girl." Xiao Hei barked twice in agreement—both the boy and the dog cluelessly mirrored each other.

Wen Zhi was amused and was about to respond when the doorbell rang again.

She had barely opened the door when Lin Jiyao blew in like a storm, grabbed his squirming sister, and left.

Before Wen Zhi could react, the door clicked shut again.

She laughed softly, walked over, and took the iPad from Mu Mu’s hands. "Well, no more overthinking tonight. Let’s sleep—we’ve got an early day tomorrow."

Soon, the room fell into darkness as the moon outside slowly climbed to its zenith.

On the night the first episode of *Baby! 2* aired, the ratings kept soaring. After the show ended, searches for Wen Zhi and Mu Mu on Baidu skyrocketed rapidly.

The hashtags #WenZhiAncientHouse# and #WenZhiLandlady#, which had just cooled down, were pushed back to the trending list again.

Wen Zhi's Weibo followers were also quietly growing.

Early the next morning, the guests boarded the same flight to the destination city. By the time they landed, it was nearly noon, and fans who had gotten the news early were already waiting at the airport. Liu Yiru and Lin Jiyao greeted the fans with their children, and the screams at the airport grew louder and louder.

Wen Zhi looked around and was surprised to see a crowd holding bright red fan signs with chili peppers and gardenias printed on them, cheering for her, "Ahhhh, Sister Zhi, Mu Mu, look this way, ahhhh!"

The moment she glanced their way, the fans' cheers grew even louder. As the group exited the airport, fans kept pushing closer. A young round-faced girl waved a pastel pink fan sign at Wen Bingchun, rushing over for an autograph.

The crowd was too chaotic, and the girl was knocked over. Wen Bingchun reached out to help but found it too far and simply walked away.

The girl's excited eyes dimmed with disappointment. Just then, a hand reached out from the side to help her up, asking gently, "Are you okay?"

Blushing at Wen Zhi's smile, the girl stammered, "I'm fine," before clutching her fan sign and running off.

Wen Zhi didn’t mind and led Mu Mu out of the airport. After lunch, the guests boarded a bus to their destination.

As soon as they got on the bus, filming officially began, and the live stream was flooded with viewers, the chat moving so fast it was hard to see.

Fans who squeezed in were as lively like it was a festival.

"Ahhhh, Sister Zhi, I'm here!"

"Ahhhh, I came to see proper little Mu Mu!"

"Our Ji Yao is so handsome, and his sister is so cute!"

"The Ice Queen is so gentle, so nice!"

"Step back, our Movie Queen Liu is the best!"

"Where are we heading this time?"

The four groups of guests filed past the cameras one by one to board the bus, making the fans watching up close even more excited.

Wen Bingchun asked upon boarding, "Does anyone get carsick? I brought motion sickness patches." Liu Yiru took one, smiling, "Bingchun is very well-prepared."

Wen Bingchun smiled modestly, "Force of habit. I always bring these when traveling with family. I also have motion sickness pills, mosquito repellent patches, and peppermint candies. Let me know if you need any."

Liu Yiru nodded in thanks.

She glanced at Wen Zhi, who was resting with her eyes closed, but said nothing and just found seats with Wen Xiaowen.

As the bus started moving, Xiao Xiao peered over the seat and asked, "Miss Assistant, where are we going this time? Are we picking lotus seedpods in a village again?"

Sen Sen and Wen Xiaowen also watched eagerly at the crew, and even the usually composed Mu Mu craned his neck, listening intently.

The assistant replied, "This time, we're going to the famous traditional-style vacation island—Peach Blossom Island. It’ll take a morning by bus, so if you’re bored, you can take a nap. We’ll be there soon."

"Peach Blossom Island?" Xiao Xiao widened her round eyes curiously. "Are there lots of peach blossoms there? Is it very pretty?"

Sen Sen chimed in, "Is Peach Blossom Island in the sea? Will we take a boat to get there?"

Wen Xiaowen, who was initially happy, immediately made a face upon hearing about taking a boat: "I don't want to go by boat, I get seasick. Can't we take a submarine instead?"

The assistant explained with a smile: "No need for a boat. Peach Blossom Island isn’t on the sea—it’s a hidden paradise built on a mountain. Due to its unique geographical location, the island enjoys year-round spring with pleasant weather. While peach blossoms elsewhere bloom only once a year, there, they bloom twice a year, and the flowering period is especially long."

Xiao Xiao’s eyes sparkled: "So, does the island have lots of peaches?"

The assistant replied: "No, the peach trees on Peach Blossom Island are specially cultivated—they only bloom and don’t bear fruit."

"Huh?" Xiao Xiao was disappointed, pouting: "I really wanted to eat peaches."

Mu Mu, Sen Sen, and Wen Xiaowen were excited too.

Viewers in the chat were confused.

"Last night, after the first episode ended, the preview didn’t mention Peach Blossom Island. Why the sudden change?"

"Hahaha, the first episode is always a mess. The production team must be scared now. They probably opted for a fancy resort to avoid any mishaps."

"I’ve been to Peach Blossom Island—it’s old-school charming, and many crews film there. Movie Queen Liu filmed one of her dramas there years ago."

"Looked it up online—so excited!"

After the first episode wrapped, the production team considered several locations, with Peach Blossom Island being their top choice. However, it was peak travel season, and the island’s manager blew them off, ignoring their inquiries.

So, they chose another location.

But last night, after the first episode aired, the manager suddenly called, letting them use the place for free and covering all expenses on the island.

Turns out, the manager was a devoted fan of *Baby!*.

Director Fang was thrilled and immediately sent part of the crew to get things ready overnight.

Xiao Xiao slouched in her seat, still muttering about peaches. Lin Jiyao, tired of her whining, changed the subject: "Xiao Xiao, where’s the gift you prepared? Didn’t you say you’d give it to the brothers as soon as we got on the bus?"

Xiao Xiao lit up immediately, pointing at the backpack on the luggage rack and bouncing excitedly: "It’s up there! Brother, get it down for me!"

The other three kids, hearing about the gifts, quickly started rummaging for their own presents.

Xiao Xiao dug out a pink transparent box from her pink backpack, containing four bracelets. She handed one to Mu Mu first, proudly saying: "My family grows magic grass that produces lots of beads. Mom says they’re bodhi seeds. I picked and strung them myself, and my brother even carved your name on them, Mu Mu. It’ll keep you safe!"

She then handed the other two bracelets to Sen Sen and Wen Xiaowen.

Sen Sen, holding the bodhi bracelet, exclaimed excitedly: "It really has my name! The beads are so pretty—thank you, little sister!"

"Mine has my name too!" Wen Xiaowen wouldn’t let go of it.

Mu Mu gently touched the bracelet, grinning but trying not to show it: "Thank you, little sister. I love it."

Viewers in the chat kept asking:

"Magic grass? How can such tiny beads be bodhi seeds?"

"You’ve never seen these? These were common in rural areas back in the day. Old-timers call them 'bed-wetting seeds,' also known as wish-fulfilling beads or bodhi seeds. They make lovely bracelets and bead curtains."

"Thanks for the info—I’m going home to plant some!"

"Wow, Xiao Xiao is so thoughtful, growing bracelets for her friends!"

Seeing how much they liked her gifts, Xiao Xiao happily held out her tiny hand and asked: "What’d you get me?"

Wen Xiaowen immediately took out the prepared Ultraman figures, saying with affection and pride, "These are all collector's edition Ultraman figures."

Sen Sen and Mu Mu happily accepted them. Although Xiao Xiao wasn't very fond of Ultraman, her brother had told her not to dislike gifts from other children.

After receiving it, she held out her hands to Sen Sen and Mu Mu again.

After consulting his mother, Sen Sen had prepared a pink Barbie doll for Xiao Xiao, a little black collar with bells for Mu Mu, and a set of rare Ultraman cards for Wen Xiaowen.

The live stream viewers gushed—truly the son raised by Movie Queen Liu, with such high emotional intelligence, giving gifts that hit the right spot.

Especially the little black collar with colorful bells, which strutted around proudly in the bus, clearly very happy.

Finally, only Mu Mu was left.

Xiao Xiao, Sen Sen, and Xiao Wen all looked expectantly at Mu Mu's backpack, and the live stream viewers were also curious about what the serious little guy would give.

Liu Yiru elbowed Wen Zhi and whispered, "What did Mu Mu prepare?"

Wen Zhi shook her head. "I don’t know. He prepared it himself and said no peeking before he gave them away."

"So mysterious?" Liu Yiru looked up curiously.

Mu Mu opened his small backpack and took out three miniature wooden dolls, saying shyly, "I carved these myself."

Xiao Xiao exclaimed, "This looks just like me!" She took the wooden doll and examined it closely. The doll had a round face, two little pigtails, and big round eyes—adorable.

Sen Sen and Wen Xiaowen also realized that the wooden dolls in their hands looked exactly like them, and they looked at him in awe.

"Mu Mu, you're amazing! How did you learn to carve these?"

Mu Mu smiled bashfully.

As the live stream viewers gushed, some couldn’t help but feel a little jealous.

"Am I the only one who noticed the dolls are carved from golden phoebe wood?"

"A chunk of phoebe wood that big must be worth at least five figures, right?"

"Whoa, this kid’s loaded, do you need more good friends?"

"Get real, you’re a grown-up. How can you be friends with kids? My child is just starting kindergarten—let them handle it, hahaha."

The bus rolled down the endless highway, with distant green mountains and white clouds. At first, the children were excited, but as time passed, they got bored and sleepy.

Wen Zhi was already out cold, eye mask and all.

Wen Bingchun volunteered to tell the children a story, and they all cheered and gathered around her.

She told the story with such flair, full of expressive gestures and animated movements. The four children were captivated, cracking up at her performance.

Outside the window, the sunlight was bright, and a gentle breeze brushed her face, making her look extra kind and wise. Even the live stream viewers were mesmerized.

The viewers couldn’t help but sigh: "The Ice Queen’s actually so sweet."

"She’s got the patience of a saint with these kids."

"Hahaha, she’s totally teacher material. Not like Sister Zhi, who dozes off mid-story."

"Hahaha, you tryna laugh me to death and take over my Huabei bills?"

"It feels like Wen Bingchun has been sucking up to Wen Zhi since the show started, while Wen Zhi gives her the cold shoulder. Wen Zhi follows Liu Yiru and Lin Jiyao but hasn’t followed her. Is there beef between these two sisters?"

According to what Wen Bingchun said earlier, it was to keep up appearances. Now that everyone knows their relationship, why do they still seem distant?

"Hahaha, must be frenemies. Who can understand rich people drama? Some dirty laundry is normal."

"Hahaha, I just want to see them throw down."

"Hahaha, y’all are savage!"

"Why watch sisters throw down when you can enjoy cute kiddos?"

After a few stories, the kids had already started calling Wen Bingchun "Sister Bing" instead of "Auntie," except for Mu Mu, who kept insisting on "Auntie."

Because Wen Bingchun *is* her aunt!

By dusk, the car arrived at their destination.

The guests and children got out of the car.

A tall, transparent glass bridge arched over the distant mountains and clouds, with ancient architecture peeking through the mist and blushing peach trees on the other side.

The second he hopped out, Wen Xiaowen yelled, "Wow, it’s so beautiful here!"

He grabbed Wen Bingchun’s hand and bolted ahead, yelling, "Let’s go! The other side looks even more fun!"

Sen Sen followed closely, holding his mother’s hand.

Xiao Xiao stood at the edge of the glass bridge, too scared to take a step, her voice trembling, "Brother, it’s so high down there… What if I fall?"

Wen Xiaowen stopped in the middle of the bridge, even jumping once before turning back to make a face. "Chicken, it’s totally safe." He’d been on glass bridges before and wasn’t afraid at all.

"I’m not a chicken!" Xiao Xiao fumed, clinging to Lin Jiyao’s leg, tears welling up in her round eyes.

Lin Jiyao sighed—this again.

"Let go, I’ll carry you across!" He reached for her, but Xiao Xiao shook her head frantically. "No! I won’t! It’s too high, I’ll fall and die!"

Several tourists stopped to watch the commotion.

Xiao Xiao sniffled, then suddenly froze at the sound of a blood-curdling shriek behind her. She turned to see Wen Zhi clinging even more exaggeratedly to the bridge’s railing, refusing to let go, shaking like a leaf.

She was even more terrified than Xiao Xiao.

Xiao Xiao stared, momentarily forgetting her own fear.

The audience lost it laughing at her expression.

"Hahaha, Xiao Xiao must be thinking, ‘Wow, someone’s even more scared than a three-year-old? At least I’m not the most embarrassing one here!’"

"Seriously, Wen Zhi’s scream almost gave me a heart attack! So dramatic! She was so calm in the first episode."

"Wen Zhi is clearly afraid of heights—I am too. I’d never dare walk on a glass bridge like this."

"What’s with rich people and their weird issues? First hangry episodes, now acrophobia—typical rich people problems."

Mu Mu patted Wen Zhi’s hand like a tiny grown-up. "Mom, don’t be scared. I’ll hold you. You won’t fall."

Little Black desperately herded her forward, nudging her heels with his head.

The bridge beneath her feet was terrifyingly transparent. Wen Zhi couldn’t even control her legs at the thought of walking on it. This fear reminded her of the time when she was still a young woman and was tricked into climbing the Stargazer Tower, only to be hung outside the building several stories high for an entire night.

She knew all too well that beneath her lay an abyss—one misstep, and she would plunge to her death.

Beads of sweat formed on her temples, and her whole body trembled under the sunlight. The sheer terror in her eyes startled even the cameraman following her.

Several crew members rushed forward to support her, only to find her hands and feet ice-cold.

Director Fang hurried over and asked, "Wen Zhi, are you okay?"

Liu Yiru and Wen Bingchun, who were ahead, also stopped and turned to look at her, calling across the long glass bridge, "Xiao Zhi, are you alright?"

Lin Jiyao frowned slightly and was about to go help when Wen Zhi suddenly struck the back of her own neck. The next moment, she collapsed dazedly, unconscious.

The move mirrored how she had once knocked out Lin Jiyao.

After a stunned silence, everyone frantically carried her toward Peach Blossom Island. Director Fang shouted, "Quick, get her to the island! There’s a doctor there!"

At the same time, he couldn’t help but curse under his breath: *Could we really be this unlucky? The second episode just started, and we’re already facing an accident?*

Security swiftly picked Wen Zhi up and ran, with Mu Mu following in panic. Lin Jiyao, not caring about anything else, scooped up his stunned sister and sprinted after them.

The group rushed frantically to the other side, only for Wen Zhi to wake up moments later. She glanced back at the glass bridge and immediately perked up considerably. Trembling, she stood up, clutching Mu Mu’s hand, and sighed, "Good thing I knocked myself out."

Everyone: "..."

After processing what had happened, the live stream viewers erupted in keyboard-smashing reactions.

"OMG, Sister Zhi even stabs herself when she’s desperate!"

"So back when Lin Jiyao had mushroom poisoning, she didn’t knock him out—she used a needle?"

"First time seeing someone cross a bridge by passing out. Legendary!!"

"Noted. Next time, I’ll just faint."

– Med Student

"Just rewatched the clip. Wen Zhi’s needle technique is professional. I seriously suspect she graduated from medical school."

With that comment, viewers began digging into her past.

"Actually, that makes sense. Remember when Wen Zhi took the kids foraging for wild herbs? She mentioned studying *Shennong’s Classic of Herbal Medicine*. Did she study both Chinese and Western medicine?"

"She walks like a crab!" Wen Zhi was still shaking as she walked, and I'm dying laughing.

The live stream viewers quickly shifted their attention back to the broadcast.

On screen, Wen Zhi held Mu Mu's hand, staggering with every step as if she might collapse at any moment. Liu Yiru, Wen Bingchun, and Lin Jiyao followed nervously behind her, terrified she might collapse again any second.

Wen Xiaowen couldn’t help but burst into laughter until Mu Mu glared at him into silence.

After crossing the glass bridge, everyone immediately noticed the temperature had dropped noticeably.

Wen Xiaowen exclaimed, "It's way cooler here!"

Further ahead, at the entrance stood a three-meter-tall stone tablet, engraved with the ancient-style characters "Peach Blossom Island" in bold calligraphy.

A white-haired man in ancient-style robes blocked their path, stroking his beard and smiling. "To enter Peach Blossom Island, everyone must wear traditional costumes." He pointed to a stack of wooden plaques behind him. "See these? Each plaque has a clothing design and a matching couplet. If you can match the couplet correctly, you can exchange the plaque for an outfit at the Peach Blossom Inn."

A task right at the start?

Group costumes—the production team sure knew how to play.

The parents and kids glanced around at the wooden plaques behind the old man. Wen Bingchun asked first, "Do the children have to answer on their own?"

The old man replied, "The little ones can try, but if they can't, the parents can help. Otherwise, you're stuck outside."

Riddles and poems were manageable, but matching couplets—such an old-school challenge—total overkill.

The production team was clearly trying to force them to seek outside help for buzz or strand guests.

The other three groups looked troubled, but Wen Zhi snapped impatiently, "Enough talk, just flip the plaques already." Leaning on the table, she was about to collapse if she didn’t rest soon.

Mu Mu quickly pulled out a chocolate bar and stuffed it into her mouth. Chewing it, Wen Zhi finally seemed a bit better.

The viewers were cracking up.

"Hahaha, the crew is savage! They know Sister Zhi’s legs are shaking and still set up this challenge."

"LOL, I used to think Wen Zhi was untouchable given her background, but now I just laugh every time I see her on the show—she’s unexpectedly hilarious."

"Don’t worry, our Sister Zhi carries energy snacks. Food heals all!"

With a gong strike, the wooden plaques flipped to reveal the couplets. The parents huddled around to read them, while Xiao Xiao, too short to see, tugged at Lin Jiyao’s pants in frustration.

Wen Xiaowen squeezed to the front, squinting at the plaques. Sen Sen and Mu Mu also crowded in for a look.

The camera zoomed in, and the viewers were ready to riot.

"Damn, the production team is definitely stirring trouble."

"Matching couplets requires equal characters, symmetrical structure, proper tones, matching parts of speech—it’s hard without solid literary skills. And the couplets they chose are obscure, some even with rare characters!"

"They’re wearing out Sister Zhi!"

"Let’s not waste time—just phone a friend already."

The parents and kids stood frozen before the plaques while the crew looked on, amused. Director Fang crossed his arms and whispered to his assistant, "Who do you think Lin Jiyao will call for help? Haha, the producers killed it—this is ratings gold."

As everyone waited, Wen Bingchun picked up a plaque, read the first line, paused for three beats, then ventured the second line.

The old man was slightly surprised and clapped his hands, saying, "Well done! Although the second half isn't particularly outstanding, it's neat and rhymes well—it works as a proper pair."

Lin Jiyao raised an eyebrow slightly, and Liu Yiru also looked at her with surprise: "Bingchun’s got skills!"

Wen Bingchun smiled shyly: "At A University, I majored in philosophy and minored in classical Chinese literature. I participated in several Mid-Autumn poetry competitions at school, so I know my way around couplets."

"Holy crap, A University? That’s one of the top universities in the country. Wen Bingchun has such a high education?"

"Are you living under a rock? Our Sister Bing graduated with a double degree from A University and even studied abroad as an exchange student. She’s no ditzy pretty face."

"High education, seemingly good family background, pretty, and so gentle. I’m warming up to Wen Bingchun. Pretending not to know Wen Zhi earlier must’ve just been to protect her."

"Hahaha, Ice Beauty takes the crown! Unlike some trophy wife with no brains, among the guests, no one’s knowledge surpasses hers, right? When it comes to couplets, Ice Beauty is definitely No.1!"

Other fans weren’t having it.

"Overkill much? Who knows if her education is even real. Just matching a couplet and she’s already flexing."

"Yeah, our Movie Queen Liu has played a talented scholar before—her cultural knowledge isn’t bad either."

"She’s smart, but could still mess up? Is this another attempt to whitewash herself with the 'smart-girl act'?"

"Our Sister Zhi’s legs gave out, otherwise she’d answer in seconds."

Fans of Bingchun mocked.

"Talk is cheap. There’s no way someone like Wen Zhi could answer this."

"Exactly. If she can answer this, I’ll eat my hat."

At this moment, Wen Zhi was shaky and lightheaded—let alone answering, she could barely even read the questions.

But she had Mu Mu. Her Mu Mu excelled in poetry, etiquette, and everything else—couplets were child’s play.

She poked the little one, who was craning his neck, and frowned, "Can’t you decide?"

Mu Mu looked conflicted: "No, it’s just that Mom would rock so many of these. I’m struggling to choose which one to match."

Everyone: "..."

Live stream viewers—all talk, no action!

Wen Zhi: "Just take the one at the top."

The old man reminded her: "The one at the top is the hardest."

Wen Zhi directly snatched the plaque and handed it to Mu Mu, who glanced at it and answered instantly.

The old man’s eyes widened in surprise, then delight, as he examined Mu Mu closely: "Wow, a tiny genius! This second half nailed it perfectly." The old man was a couplet enthusiast who loved creating and solving them. These plaques were the result of his blood, sweat, and tears, yet this five-year-old child came up with even better second halves. Excited, he said, "Come, come, little one, how about this one? Can you do it?"

Mu Mu obediently matched each couplet, and the old man’s eyes sparkled brighter with each answer.

As Mu Mu neared the end, Director Fang kept signaling the old man from the side, but the old man completely ignored him, practically gushing over Mu Mu.

Is this kid from ancient times? Why is he so good at couplets?

After the last couplet was matched, Liu Yiru started clapping first, and many onlooking tourists joined in. Sen Sen, Xiao Xiao, and Wen Xiaowen all looked at him with shining eyes.

Lin Jiyao: "Seems like... scratch the lifeline."

Director Fang and the planning team wanted to cry.

The live stream viewers froze for two seconds before joining in the applause.

"Grinding hard pays off—this 5-year-old just left us shook!!"

"With Mu Mu standing there, I immediately thought of a refined young lord. Couplets? Piece of cake."

"Ugh, Wen Zhi flexing on us again."

"Hahaha, where are the hat-eaters now?"

Wen Bingchun’s fans backpedaled hard.

"We said Wen Zhi couldn’t answer, but Mu Mu’s skills don’t count as hers, right?"

A random viewer fired back.

"How doesn’t it count? With a son this amazing, she’s hit the jackpot."

In front of Mu Mu, Wen Bingchun’s earlier sense of superiority vanished completely.

As Wen Zhi was about to leave with Mu Mu, the old man grabbed Mu Mu and pulled out a dog-eared book from behind him, beaming like a used-car salesman. "Little one, Grandpa sees your extraordinary talent. Here’s a copy of *Ancient Couplets Encyclopedia*—would you like to become my disciple?"

The crew facepalmed.

"No," Mu Mu replied, pulling his hand back and frowning. "Mom said these things are just scams for kids." With that, he quickly followed Wen Zhi toward the Peach Blossom Inn.

"Hahaha, peak Peach Blossom Island vibes—I thought he was gonna pull out a martial arts manual!"

"These NPCs the crew dug up are all so weird. They scared the kid."

The old man shook his head regretfully, then turned to the remaining three groups of guests. "Take your pick of the leftovers."

Liu Yiru laughed. "Well, we all owe it to Mu Mu. I’ll go first, then."

The three groups chose their outfits and headed together toward the Peach Blossom Inn.

The path to the inn was lined with an antique market, scattered stalls selling woodwork, pouches, and dough figurines, all run by vendors in ancient attire. The occasional passing tourists were also dressed in period clothing without exception.

The kids dawdled and gawked, taking a good ten minutes to finally reach the inn.

The inn stood at the heart of Peach Blossom Island, enclosed by a large courtyard. The wooden fence was overgrown with lush vines, and a few short peach trees were scattered inside. At this time of year, peach trees outside the island had already borne fruit, but here, the blossoms remained vibrantly red, fluttering down with the breeze—a straight-up magical sight.

Further in, a weathered carved plaque hung above the inn’s entrance, the words "Peach Blossom Inn" written in bold, powerful strokes. The doors were wide open, and footsteps approached from inside. The camera zoomed in as a stunning beauty in a white dress with red accents gracefully appeared, toying with a black silk fan in her delicate hand. She leaned against the doorframe, sizing them up through half-lidded eyes.

The beauty had fox-like brows, a porcelain nose, and vermilion lips, her face as radiant as peach blossoms. Half of her raven hair cascaded over her shoulders, the other half loosely tied with a peachwood hairpin. As the light shifted, her flowing skirts swayed—she looked every bit like a storybook siren.

Everyone was gobsmacked.

Then the beauty suddenly spoke, her voice sugar-slow and sleep-thick. "What took you so long? Can we assign rooms now?"

The live stream viewers, who had been staring in awe, snapped back to reality.

"Holy *bleep*, Wen Zhi in ancient attire—ancient paintings just got fact-checked."

"Elegance incarnate, glowing like moonbeams—utterly stunning."

"Damn, save some eloquence for the rest of us. Ugh, Sister Zhi owns my whole heart."

"Awwww, just for this beauty, I'll be a fan for life. As long as sis keeps her looks, her fandom will never crumble."

Director Fang coughed lightly, finally collecting himself: "Everyone, please come inside first."

Wen Zhi turned and walked toward the inn, with the others following. Upon entering, they saw Mu Mu, dressed in a long robe with a green sash, jade-like in purity and cuteness, carrying a pot of tea.

Everyone's eyes lit up again: the mother-son duo were born to wear period costumes, naturally exuding an air of nobility, like immortal figures stepping out of an ancient painting into the modern world.

Liu Yiru was the first to step forward, sweeping Mu Mu up in her arms: "Wow, our Mu Mu is so adorable!"

Mu Mu's little face flushed with embarrassment as he squirmed slightly: "Auntie, put me down. Mom wants her tea."

Liu Yiru didn’t let go but took the teapot from the little one and handed it to Wen Zhi, smiling as she asked, "Mu Mu, how were you so amazing earlier? How did you know all those couplets?"

Mu Mu, who had never been praised so directly before, blushed shyly and murmured, "...It's nothing special..." Back at the palace, many princes knew this.

Xiao Xiao edged closer to him and earnestly praised, "Brother Mu Mu is really amazing. Even my brother says so, right?" The little girl turned to look at Lin Jiyao, who nodded, "Yeah, seriously impressive."

The little girl immediately beamed: "See? See? Even my brother says you're amazing."

Sen Sen chimed in, "Yeah, you're amazing, even better than my classical literature teacher. Teach me how to match couplets tonight, okay?"

Wen Xiaowen boasted under his breath from the side, "Of course, he's my big nephew."

The staff in the inn couldn’t help but laugh.

"Earlier, Wen Zhi said Mu Mu studied traditional Chinese culture and was versed in classics, poetry, and decorum. I didn’t believe it then, but now I do."

"Few people nowadays take the time to learn couplets. Mu Mu is drowning in compliments."

"As expected of the centuries-old Wen family—raising children who are neither arrogant nor impatient, refined and cultured."

Mu Mu was drowning in compliments until the antifans couldn’t take it anymore and started mocking.

"Pfft, first they called him a little stick-in-the-mud, and now he’s cultured? Some people are just brown-nosing Wen Zhi because she’s rich. Gross."

"Gardenias, wake up. Wen Zhi’s money won’t trickle down to you. Why fawn over her everywhere?"

The moment the antifans appeared, they were immediately countered by fans of Gardenia, Liu Yiru, and Lin Jiyao.

"Would it kill you to admit someone’s talented? Can you match a couplet or show half the manners this kid has? All you do is talk trash."

"Lol, even the ‘Ice Beauty’s diehard antifans’ have ghosted everyone, yet these nobodies keep hopping around. Disgusting."

This time, the Gardenias overwhelmingly crushed the antifans, driving them out of the livestream. The antifans whined for a while before scurrying under ‘Ice Beauty’s diehard antifans’ for comfort. But this once-prominent antifan leader ghosted everyone, refusing to engage.

Antifans: We're leaderless now. So tired, wanna switch sides.

When the other guests changed into their ancient attire, these antifans slid back into the livestream—this time wisely keeping quiet.

Wen Zhi wore a crimson outer robe, Liu Yiru a jade-green one, Aunt Bingchun an apricot-yellow, and Lin Jiyao a jet-black robe. The three little boys all wore matching green jade sashes, while the program team specially tailored a pink outfit for Xiao Xiao, making her look picture-perfect in pink.

After admiring his own ancient attire, Wen Xiaowen’s gaze lingered on Mu Mu. Scratching his head, he asked, "People say nephews resemble their uncles. We’re wearing the same clothes, so why don’t we look alike at all?"

Everyone’s eyes shifted between the two little ones: not even remotely similar.

From height to facial features—no resemblance whatsoever.

Mu Mu saw nothing unusual: "Siblings not looking alike isn’t weird. Aunt Bingchun and Mother don't look alike either." Back at the palace, many princes and princesses didn’t resemble each other.

Wen Xiaowen glanced between Wen Bingchun and Wen Zhi before finally relaxing. "They don't look that similar. Your mom's a little prettier than my sister."

Everyone burst into laughter, not paying much mind to the kid's comment. After all, no one stands a chance next to Wen Zhi.

Wen Bingchun's smile froze. This feeling reminded her of her childhood, when everyone around her compared her to Wen Zhi, always saying she came up short.

Director Fang finally stepped in to ease her discomfort.

Director Fang chuckled and said, "Peach Blossom Inn's got a martial arts theme. The outfits you’ve chosen represent your roles here." He pointed at each guest as he introduced them. "For example, Wen Zhi’s outfit is the innkeeper’s, Yiru is the accountant, Ji Yao is the guqin player, Bingchun is the cook, and the four little ones are the inn’s little helpers."

"During the recording, we'll have some missions, and everyone should follow the innkeeper’s arrangements."

Lin Jiyao asked, "What instrument? A piano in the inn?"

Director Fang shook his head. "Of course not a piano—a guqin. I remember you learned the guqin for a previous role, didn’t you?"

Lin Jiyao replied, "Yeah, but I'm no expert." For his last role, his character used a guqin as a weapon. He had practiced hard for a month and could play a few pieces, but he was far from mastering it.

Director Fang said, "As long as you can play, that’s fine."

Wen Bingchun hesitated before asking, "Director Fang, does the cook have to stay in the kitchen the whole time?" Wouldn’t that mean no screen time?

Director Fang explained, "No, no, it’s just a title. No cooking required, Teacher Bing."

The kids looked bummed. Wen Xiaowen pouted. "So do we get to welcome guests?"

Director Fang smiled mysteriously. "There will be guests—you’ll find out later. It’s too late today, so let’s assign rooms first. After that, a fancy dinner's waiting, and then you can all explore freely with your little ones. The tasks officially start tomorrow."

Director Fang brought out a bamboo tube. "Same deal as last time. There are four lots here: Heaven, Earth, Mystic, and Yellow. The ‘Heaven’ lot is the best. Parents, come pick your lots."

Wen Xiaowen, recalling the floor he slept on last time, immediately protested. "No, don’t let the parents draw! My sister's always unlucky. I want to pick myself!"

Wen Bingchun laughed awkwardly. "My luck really is terrible. Let the kids pick instead."

Director Fang agreed. "Alright then, little ones, come pick your lots!"

Xiao Xiao, Sen Sen, and Mu Mu quickly ran over, eyes glued to the bamboo tube. Wen Xiaowen didn’t hesitate—he grabbed a lot first. Xiao Xiao, anxious, reached for one next, followed by Sen Sen.

Kids can't keep quiet. As soon as they got their lots, they announced them loudly.

Xiao Xiao: "I got ‘Earth’!"

Sen Sen said calmly, "I got ‘Mystic’."

Wen Xiaowen raised his lot and shouted excitedly to Wen Bingchun, "Sister, I got ‘Heaven’!"

Wen Bingchun’s face lit up instantly. If they got ‘Heaven,’ that meant Wen Zhi’s group would get ‘Yellow’—the worst room.

Finally, the shoe was on the other foot. Would Wen Zhi end up sleeping on the floor this time?

But the next second, Wen Xiaowen handed his lot directly to Mu Mu, announcing grandly, "Here, respect your elders and care for the young. You’re my nephew—this is for you."

Mu Mu shook his head, refusing, but Wen Xiaowen grew annoyed and forced the lot into his hand, putting on his dad's business voice. "If you don’t take it, you’re looking down on me!"

Mu Mu: "..."

Wen Bingchun's jaw dropped. And then, as if that wasn't bad enough, Wen Xiaowen proudly tugged at her sleeve and said, "Sister, you taught me about Kong Rong yielding the bigger pear. You’d let your mom have the better room too, right?"

Wen Bingchun: "..."

She had nothing left to say. This little brother of hers had been nothing but trouble since the day he was born!