Chapter 32

Chapter 32

Peach Blossom Island's security was usually tight, and the security guards never expected a thief to sneak into such a high-end tourist destination, much less steal in broad daylight. As a result, they didn't react immediately.

When someone initially shouted "Thief!", no one reacted right away. It wasn’t until they saw a figure darting away that chaos erupted—people hurriedly dodged and checked their bags.

By the time Wen Zhi steadied herself and looked toward the victims, she stared in shock.

The woman running toward her looked remarkably similar to her mother, especially in the expression between her brows—so much that Wen Zhi almost thought it was her.

Without hesitation, Wen Zhi gave chase, shouting as she ran, "Mu Mu, pin him down!"

The cameraman barely had time to process what was happening before Mu Mu obediently turned and sprinted after the thief. Xiao Hei bolted out, swiftly biting onto the thief’s leg and refusing to let go. The thief had just let out a startled cry when Mu Mu tackled him from behind.

Mu Mu straddled the thief, pummeling his small fists on the man’s head as he yelled, "That'll teach you to steal!"

The surrounding tourists, after their initial shock, burst into applause.

Wen Zhi ran over and smashed the vase against the thief’s head, knocking him silly. She fumed, "Daring to rob in broad daylight—do you think this is ancient times where you can act lawlessly?" She snatched the stolen bag from the thief’s hands and returned it to the middle-aged couple who had chased after them.

The couple repeatedly thanked her in broken Chinese, saying, "Thank goodness, thank goodness. Our passports and IDs were inside—losing them would’ve been a disaster."

Wen Zhi was surprised. "You’re not from China?"

The middle-aged woman shook her head. "We’re French-Chinese. Our ancestors were Chinese. My husband and I came to visit, but we didn’t expect something like this to happen." She then looked at Wen Zhi and Mu Mu, giving them thumbs-up. "Chinese martial arts—impressive!"

Wen Zhi smiled.

When the woman offered to express her gratitude, Wen Zhi's eyes lit up. "If you really want to thank me, could we take a selfie together?"

Lin Jiyao was stunned, and so were the live stream viewers.

"Wen Zhi seems to really like this French-Chinese woman?"

"Haha, the wealthy woman asking for a selfie—why don’t I have such luck?"

"Did anyone notice Wen Zhi and this middle-aged woman look somewhat alike, especially in their facial structure and eyes?"

"Now that you mention it, they do. Didn’t they say Wen Zhi’s mother passed away years ago? Maybe Wen Zhi chased the thief because this woman reminded her of her mom?"

"Ugh, this hits me right in the feels. Wanting to care for parents who are gone... nothing in this world is sadder than that."

The middle-aged woman noticed Wen Zhi looking at her with strange tenderness. Though puzzled by the request, she readily agreed. Wen Zhi handed her phone to Lin Jiyao to take the photo. In the photo, Wen Zhi was beaming like a teenager.

The moment the picture was taken, Wen Zhi leaned her head and rested it on the woman’s shoulder.

Lin Jiyao stared at the image for a couple of seconds before awkwardly returning the phone to Wen Zhi.

Before leaving, the woman offered her contact information, hoping Wen Zhi would send her the photo.

Wen Zhi happily agreed.

After Peach Blossom Island’s security guards took the thief away, Mu Mu tugged at Wen Zhi’s sleeve and whispered, "Mom, were you missing Grandma? That lady looked a lot like her." He had seen photos of his grandmother in the old family albums—the resemblance was striking.

Wen Zhi patted his head but didn’t answer. Mu Mu tilted his head up, thinking hard.

The four of them set off again to find Liu Yiru and the others. After about ten minutes, they heard Sen Sen and Wen Xiaowen’s voices from afar.

Wen Zhi looked up and saw Wen Bingchun and Liu Yiru carrying a large table forward, with Sen Sen and Wen Xiaowen dragging chairs behind them. All four were sweating buckets, but hadn't gotten far with the table.

Little Black and Mu Mu hurried over first. When the four women saw Mu Mu, they quickly stopped what they were doing and looked back. As Wen Zhi and Lin Jiya approached, they asked, "Did you find it?"

Wen Zhi nodded and inquired, "No one to help with the table?"

Liu Yiru gave a bitter smile and shook her head. "When we drew the table and chairs, I thought we got lucky. We found them within minutes, but the producers threw us a curveball—we had to figure out how to haul them back ourselves."

She patted the table, frustrated. "This thing is solid wood, weighs a ton. Bingchun and I dragged it for over an hour just to get it from the end of the street to here. Sen Sen and Xiao Wen are so exhausted they’ve worked off two pounds."

Viewers in the livestream burst into laughter seeing the four of them red-faced and sweaty.

"Hahaha, thought it was a puzzle, turned out to be a workout!"

"Honestly, Wen Zhi’s side was way tougher, but compared to this, I’d take hers any day. A solid wood table? Two women and two kids—how’re they gonna manage?"

Xiao Wen dragged a chair, grumbling. "It’s almost noon. We’re gonna starve!"

Sen Sen’s stomach growled loud enough to hear.

Xiao Xiao and Mu Mu hurried over to help pull the remaining two chairs, seriously saying, "Sen Sen, Xiao Wen, we’ll help you!"

Lin Jiya let out a relieved sigh, placed the rabbit cage on the wooden table, and went to help pull.

Even with three adults and four kids working together, they were barely making progress.

Wen Zhi bit her lip, standing still and looking around.

The cameraman and viewers wondered what she was doing.

"No way, is Wen Zhi really bailing? Even the kids are helping!"

"Hahaha, wouldn’t put it past her. Wen Zhi’s all about comfort—no way she’d break a sweat."

"Sure, she’s a fragile beauty, but just standing there? Not cool!"

Just as the trolls started piping up, Wen Zhi, who had been just standing there, suddenly walked away.

The parents and kids were confused, and the audience even more so.

Five minutes later, Wen Zhi returned with a donkey-drawn cart.

Another five minutes later, she sat atop the donkey, dangling a carrot on a stick as she urged, "Come on, everyone push! Victory is just ahead!"

Behind the cart, Lin Jiya, Liu Yiru, Wen Bingchun, and the four kids pushed with all their might, faces red, straining hard. Once they got the cart up the slope, Wen Zhi and the donkey sped off, disappearing in a flash.

Lin Jiya, pushing too hard, tumbled forward with the rabbit cage. The four kids piled on him like a human sandwich, and the cage fell open, releasing three rabbits hopping around him.

Xiao Wen, finding it hilarious, jumped up and slammed back down, laughing uncontrollably. Sen Sen followed suit. Mu Mu got up, looked, and for the first time, found this "childish" game genuinely fun.

Xiao Xiao pressed down with her hands, giggling, "So fun! Hahaha, so fun!"

Beneath the pile, Lin Jiya groaned, pale-faced. "Fun my foot—this is murder!"

Liu Yiru and Wen Bingchun stopped in their tracks, glancing at where Wen Zhi had disappeared, then at the chaotic kids, utterly bewildered.

The audience was in stitches.

"Hahaha, Wen Zhi always finds a way to kill me with laughter!"

"She looks so serious but has this hidden comedy talent. Is Sister Zhi aiming for stand-up?"

"Hahaha, although our Ji-ge is so pitiful, I still can't help laughing. How many times has he been tricked by Wen Zhi? I bet he never wants to see her again."

"Lin Jiyao may look cold and aloof, but he's actually quite easygoing. The kids were playing like that and even pulling his hair, yet he didn’t get angry. That time he hit the paparazzi must have been because they went too far."

Lin Jiyao, nearly flattened, never expected that his reputation for being short-tempered and irritable would be completely overturned without him realizing it.

"Hahaha, my kids used to love playing like this when they were little, always piling on their dad until he howled."

"Let’s look on the bright side—at least Good-for-Nothing Wen got the tables and chairs moved. And that donkey cost 400 bucks to rent, so not bad."

"True, no one’s as big-hearted as Sister Zhi. Look how happy the little ones are playing."

"Hahaha, I’m going to die laughing in the comments."

By the time Lin Jiyao, Liu Yiru, Wen Bingchun, and the four kids arrived at the inn, Wen Zhi had already changed clothes and was sitting leisurely at the arranged table, sipping tea and fanning herself, looking utterly relaxed.

Seeing the disheveled Lin Jiyao, she asked in surprise, "Oh my, what happened?"

Lin Jiyao, noticing her about to stand up, took two steps back in alarm, his voice rising an octave like a piano key slammed wrong, and shouted, "Stay away!!" His stance made it clear—if she dared come closer, they’d both going down.

He had made up his mind: whether Wen Zhi was the Nuan Nuan from back then or not, he was keeping his distance from now on.

Forget ‘white moonlight’—staying alive mattered more.

The others in the room bit back laughs as Wen Zhi plopped back down, embarrassed, and turned to Mu Mu. "Go wash your hands. Uncle Director said there’s delicious food today, along with peach blossom cakes and wine."

The kids cheered and tore off to wash up.

During the meal, Lin Jiyao kept far away from Wen Zhi, not even daring to sit across from her. If her chopsticks hovered over a dish, he made sure not to extend his at the same time, much to Liu Yiru’s amusement.

Wen Zhi rolled her eyes. "Do I eat people or something?"

Lin Jiyao: She might not eat people, but she was bad luck personified!

After a hectic morning, the adults crashed for naps. The kids, however, were full of energy, running around the yard with the rabbits and Xiao Hei.

A gentle breeze carried the scent of peach blossoms—everything was peaceful.

The live camera zoomed in on the sleeping guests’ backs, and a line of text slowly scrolled across the screen: *This is a paradise, where parents and little ones can fully embrace its beauty…*

Before the audience could sigh in admiration, a loud crash startled Wen Zhi awake from the *Chaise Lounge*.

The kids screamed outside. Wen Zhi bolted up, rushed to the window, and peered out, spotting Xiao Xiao under the peach tree. "What’s wrong?" she called.

The viewers were equally curious, spamming the chat with ‘???’.

Xiao Xiao stomped and gestured frantically but couldn’t articulate clearly. Wen Zhi shoved the door open just as Liu Yiru, Wen Bingchun, and Lin Jiyao emerged from their rooms.

As the three reached the staircase, another thunderous crash echoed—the inn’s front door split in half and crashed to the ground.

Two goon-looking guys appeared at the entrance, followed by two others in long robes. Their sharp gazes locked onto Wen Zhi on the second-floor landing. "Here to wreck the place!" they declared.

The four adults were baffled. The kids ran in from outside, snitching, "These weird people kicked the outer gate down, then broke the main door! Brother Mu Mu told them not to come in, but they forced their way. They’re bad guys!"

The middle-aged man in the lead exclaimed, "My bad!" and called outside, "Fang Dao, we kicked the door too hard—it’s broken."

Fang Dao, also in a robe, hurried over and inspected the damage. "No sweat, we’ll fix it later." Then he explained to the adults upstairs, "Well, this is a wuxia-themed inn, right? No need for regular guests. From now on, various martial artists will come daily to challenge you all. Today’s guest is Master Duan Chengsi."

Duan Chengsi, a short-haired “master” whose entire outfit screamed modern, cupped his hands in salute toward Proprietress Wen and the others. "Well met. This humble Duan is here today to challenge Proprietress Wen to a game of chess."

"Me? My chess skills?" Wen Zhi looked him up and down, finally recalling, "Duan, Duan Chengsi? The one who visited the old house before?"

Duan Chengsi pretended to wipe away tears. "Miss Wen finally remembers me."

"I'm that @MissWen who got ignored, got my DMs blocked, and was muted when I tried to speak—Duan Chengsi from the National Chess Association."

The whole exchange was equal parts serious and ridiculous.

The audience was laughing their heads off.

"Hahaha, is the production team serious? They actually sent Duan Chengsi to challenge her?"

"Duan Chengsi? The Chinese chess grandmaster, world chess champion Duan Chengsi? Damn, they don’t call him ‘chess obsessive’ for nothing—he even chased her onto the show!"

"Aww, it pays to have friends. I want to meet Brother Ji Yao too!"

"Ugh, just wondering, how are the challengers chosen? Can viewers sign up?"

Wen Zhi let out an "Oh," then turned to Director Fang. "Do I have to accept the challenge?"

Director Fang: "No way—he wasn’t letting her back out after bringing him here."

Liu Yiru quickly followed up, "What’s the penalty for losing? What do we get for winning?"

Director Fang: "If you win, you can make one request of the opponent. If you lose, they can make one request of you."

Wen Zhi: "That won’t do. What if I lose and they demand Ji Yao marry into their family?"

The staff burst out laughing. Lin Jiyao’s face turned bright red before he finally managed, "I thought you were some chess prodigy?"

Wen Zhi blinked innocently. "Even pros slip up. Better safe than sorry."

Wen Bingchun’s eyes lit up. "Then let the challenger make the request."

Wen Zhi frowned. "No way! What if I lose and they demand all my money?"

Duan Chengsi was speechless. What kind of chess player goes in expecting to lose?

Director Fang reminded her, "Uh, we’re not running a scam here."

The audience was in hysterics.

Only then did Wen Zhi saunter downstairs. A young man accompanying Duan Chengsi quickly set up the table and brought out the chessboard.

The moment they sat down, the air crackled with tension.

The others stood behind them, silently watching.

Duan Chengsi’s strategy was solid and aggressive, while Wen Zhi, unlike her usual slow and cautious play in Wheatfield Village, adopted a sneaky and hard-to-read approach.

After a grueling half-hour match, neither could gain an edge.

Viewers who understood chess were biting their nails; those who didn’t were totally lost.

"Someone explain! What’s going on?"

"Who’s winning—Wen Zhi or Duan Chengsi?"

"How long is this gonna take? Xiao Xiao’s nodding off!"

Looks like Wen Zhi’s about to win. She’s been cool as a cucumber the whole time, while Duan Chengsi's frown keeps deepening—it’s practically knotted by now.

If he loses, it’ll be downright humiliating. The China National Chess Association, coming on a show just to get schooled by an amateur? That’d be a joke.

Duan Chengsi frowned again at Wen Zhi. Just ten minutes into the game, he’d realized she was a master. No matter how hard he racked his brain, he couldn’t beat her.

Half an hour in, he was breaking a sweat, while she stayed ice-cool.

After forty minutes, the game was leaning toward a draw.

An hour later, Wen Zhi placed a piece and smiled. "Draw."

The onlookers in the inn were stunned. All that time, and it’s a tie?

"Seriously, are they screwing with us? Are they gonna play another round?"

"Wen Zhi’s barely breaking a sweat."

Duan Chengsi tossed his piece aside and chuckled. "You’re pretty slick for a young innkeeper. You could’ve won but forced a draw." He shook his head disapprovingly. "Chess is all about wins and losses. Giving it your all is the ultimate respect. Let’s go again."

Wen Zhi raised an eyebrow. "You sure?"

Duan Chengsi’s expression turned stern.

Catching his drift, Wen Zhi reset the board.

This time, within an hour, Duan Chengsi got swept three straight games.

Duan Chengsi: "Innkeeper Wen, ever heard of ‘respect your elders’?"

Wen Zhi threw his words back at him: "Giving it your all is the ultimate respect."

Duan Chengsi’s stern face suddenly broke into laughter. He spun in place and declared to everyone present and the millions of live viewers: "Well, the apprentice’s outshone the master! Miss Wen outclasses all my students—she’s one of the best I’ve seen in years. Any interest in joining the National Chess Association?"

After a pause, he added, "We’ve got killer benefits. Certificates, social insurance, paid leave, year-end bonuses, even subsidized vacations."

"If Miss Wen joins, I can apply for a state stipend for her—maternity leave, marriage leave, retirement benefits, the full nine yards!"

His over-the-top sales spiel reminded everyone of an insurance agent.

The abrupt shift in tone had the live audience floored.

"Hahaha, was Duan Chengsi actually here to recruit her?"

"Damn, I thought he was really here to challenge her. Turns out he was playing the long game—sneaky bastard!"

"LOL, Sister Zhi’s got it made with her rent checks. Those benefits? Give them to me instead!"

Turns out Duan Chengsi had reached out to Director Fang, claiming he just wanted a challenge. Director Fang, thrilled at the idea of featuring a chess grandmaster, agreed without hesitation.

Who knew Duan Chengsi would have the balls to start poaching talent right in front of the production team?

The audience might tolerate it, but Director Fang couldn’t.

"Uh, Master Duan? We’re still rolling here. You lost, so by the rules, Wen Zhi gets to set the terms—not you."

Everyone stared at Duan Chengsi, who blinked and glanced at the director, then back at Wen Zhi. "Ah, right, we’re still rolling. Well, I lost. Innkeeper Wen, name your terms."

A staff member held up a sign behind Duan Chengsi’s back as Director Fang frantically mouthed: "Boot him out now!"

Wen Zhi looked puzzled, blinking several times, while Liu Yiru and the others struggled to suppress their laughter.

The live-stream audience erupted in uproarious laughter.

"Hahaha, Director Fang shot himself in the foot—he's panicking now!"

"The production team must be desperate for Duan Chengsi to get lost at this point. They won't even make him pay for the door!"

"Hahaha, if he doesn’t leave soon, they’ll probably kick him out."

The adults held back their words, but the children didn’t bother with restraint.

Xiao Xiao glanced at the sign and read aloud in her childish voice, "M-make him leave."

She turned her head and asked Mu Mu curiously, "Brother Mu Mu, who does Uncle Director want to leave?"

Wen Xiaowen chimed in, "Silly, of course it's this weird uncle. He wants Mu Mu’s mom to leave here and work for him. My dad says stuff like that all the time when he’s recruiting people."

Sen Sen muttered, "Does Uncle Director not want Mu Mu’s mom to leave and wants the weird uncle to go instead?"

The "weird" Duan Chengsi turned around, only to lock eyes awkwardly with the production staff holding up the sign. Director Fang forced a laugh and said, "Uh, well, you never mentioned you were here to recruit someone when you came!" As public employees of the National Chess Association, members couldn’t appear on shows without leadership approval—contracts could be terminated outright.

Wen Zhi and Mu Mu were currently the show’s biggest draws—they couldn't do without them!

Duan Chengsi said apologetically, "Don’t worry, even if Wen Zhi joins the National Chess Association, she can still participate in the show. The association is always flexible with talented members."

Wen Zhi herself gave a small cough, drawing everyone’s attention.

"Um…" She dug in her pocket and pulled out two packs of spicy jerky, handing them over.

Everyone on-site looked baffled. Duan Chengsi stared at the spicy jerky, then at her, confused. "What’s this?"

Wen Zhi: "You came all this way—have some spicy jerky."

Duan Chengsi asked uncertainly, "Your condition is for me to eat a pack of spicy jerky?"

Wen Zhi explained, "Strictly speaking, it’s a taste-test. I bought these earlier, heard they’re super spicy, and never dared try them. Since you lost…"

Duan Chengsi was torn between laughter and tears—here he was, at his age, taste-testing spicy jerky for someone.

Compared to other humiliating conditions, this was at least letting him off easy.

Duan Chengsi took the spicy jerky and tore open the package…

Lin Jiyao had a feeling it wasn’t that simple…

The live-stream audience watched Duan Chengsi without blinking.

When he took the first bite, his expression remained calm. But as he chewed, he started frowning. By the time he swallowed, his face twisted slightly, though he tried to maintain his dignified composure.

Wen Zhi asked curiously, "Is it spicy?"

Duan Chengsi gritted his teeth. "Not bad." It was extremely spicy—he’d never tasted anything so hot. One bite, and his mouth was on fire, his throat burning, his scalp tingling.

This wasn’t an out—it was throwing him to the wolves!

Wen Zhi: "Oh, since it’s open, might as well finish what you started."

Duan Chengsi: "The kids should have this." He was about to hand the rest to his disciple when Wen Zhi, being thoughtful, handed him another pack. "Don't stand on ceremony—I’ve got plenty more," she added cheerfully.

Duan Chengsi: "..."

He finished the pack of spicy strips in pained contortions, left completely spaced out by the end.

The audience cringed watching him, then couldn't help but pound the table in laughter.

"Hahahaha, knew Wen Zhi was up to no good!"

"Handing out spicy strips right when they meet—Duan Chengsi probably has PTSD now."

"That's our Sister Zhi - never disappoints! Where'd you get these spicy strips? I wanna get some for the person I hate most, hahahaha!"

Seeing Duan Chengsi dying from the spice, Director Fang quickly handed him a bottle of water.

Mu Mu watched him chug it desperately and said very seriously to Wen Zhi, "Mom, seems like these spicy strips are really hot. You shouldn’t eat them."

Wen Zhi made a pitying noise and said, "Maybe I should bring down another pack from my room for Master Duan."

He sputtered, nearly choking to death as he drank water, and waved his hands desperately in refusal.

As if she hadn’t heard, Wen Zhi enthusiastically urged Mu Mu to go upstairs and fetch the spicy strips. Seeing Mu Mu actually about to go, Duan Chengsi didn’t even have time to screw the cap back on his bottle. Dragging his disciple along, he made a break for it while yelling, "Uh, never mind, never mind! We’ll talk about joining the National Go Association another time. We’ve got things to do, so we’ll take our leave!"

The two were gone in a flash. Director Fang breathed a quiet sigh of relief—Wen Zhi was truly formidable, subduing the enemy without even fighting.

The crew began cleaning up the broken door panel. Lin Jiyao glanced silently at Wen Zhi, while Liu Yiru gave her a thumbs-up.

After a pause, Wen Bingchun hesitantly spoke up, "...Xiao Zhi, isn’t this a bit too much? Duan Chengsi is, after all, a coach from the National Go Association, and he came personally to invite you..."

Wen Zhi shot her a look and pointed at the fallen door. "If you’re so free, go help fix the door." Then she shoved the pack of spicy strips Mu Mu had brought into Wen Bingchun’s hands. "Less talking, more eating."

Wen Zhi sauntered upstairs with Mu Mu in tow. Liu Yiru shot Wen Bingchun a look before following them up.

Wen Bingchun stood frozen, clutching the spicy strips, utterly humiliated. She turned to Lin Jiyao, her voice full of hurt. "I didn’t even say anything... Xiao Zhi..."

Lin Jiyao casually handed her a bottle of water, then picked up his little sister and left.

"?" Wen Bingchun stood stiffly in place.

Wen Xiaowen scratched his head and sidled over. "Sister, why did Ji Yao give you water? Was he afraid the spicy strips would burn you? Sister, are you gonna eat them now? This kid's got zero social awareness—can I have one too?" The little chubster kept badgering, eager to try just how spicy they really were.

The crew fixing the door stifled their laughter before quickly lowering their heads to focus on their work.

Wen Bingchun gritted her teeth, dying to smack the spicy strips right into her brother’s face.

This was the worst!

She was Wen Zhi’s cousin, after all—to get shown up like this in public...

"Secondhand embarrassment for Wen Bingchun. Just find a hole to crawl into already!"

"LOL, this kid's got zero social awareness. Just keeps asking and asking."

"That's what the fake nice girl gets. These fake sisters clearly don’t get along."

Some of Wen Bingchun’s fans couldn’t take it anymore.

"Does no one else think Wen Zhi went too far? Duan Chengsi went out of his way multiple times, even coming to the show, and she just messed with him. Where’s the respect?"

"Exactly! Our Ice Queen hardly got a word in, and as her cousin, Wen Zhi immediately shot her down. So rude!"

As soon as the Bingfen supporters spoke up, the Gardenia supporters immediately defended her.

"What's so excessive about it? Our Sister Zhi didn’t respond to Duan Chengsi precisely because she didn’t want to join the National Chess Society. He came chasing after her, and she still accepted his challenge and took it seriously, with the condition that any request could be made. Compared to the production team, our Sister Zhi was already being very polite."

"Exactly! Duan Chengsi couldn’t handle the spiciness and ran off with his teammate—how is that Sister Zhi’s fault?"

"As for Wen Bingchun, the only pure thing about her is her name. She’s so fake, acting all innocent. Even though she’s supposedly Sister Zhi’s cousin, our Sister Zhi doesn’t even acknowledge her. Not telling her to shut up outright was already generous."

The two groups started bickering again.

At dinner, Wen Bingchun made an excuse, saying she wasn’t feeling well, and didn’t come out to eat. Liu Yiru went to check on her and came back saying she was asleep.

Viewers wondered: *Did Wen Bingchun actually eat the spicy snacks?*

After dinner, Wen Xiaowen was playing by the door when Mu Mu slipped him a small cake. He whispered, "This is from my mom’s snacks. Take it to your sister."

Wen Xiaowen, caught up in playing, wasn’t too keen. "Mom said if sister doesn’t eat, it means she’s not hungry. No need to bother her."

Mu Mu said seriously, "If you don’t eat, you’ll go hungry. My mom got stomach problems from starving. When she was hungry, she must have wished someone would bring her food. Your sister probably feels the same way."

Wen Xiaowen hesitated for a few seconds before reluctantly nodding. "Fine, I’ll take it to her."

Bathed in the sunset’s glow, Mu Mu looked almost radiant, his delicate hair strands softening hearts.

Fans gushed, *"Aww, Mu Mu is so sweet! Has he always been this caring since he was little?"*

*"Wen Zhi is actually really kind to let Mu Mu share his snacks like this."*

*"Has anyone noticed that the chubby kid has been completely won over by Mu Mu? Before, he used to act all aggressive whenever he saw him."*

*"Yeah, he used to be so rude, but he’s changed a lot now."*

*"Aw, this is what a good role model does."*

*"Has Wen Bingchun’s livestream started yet? I want to see her eat the love-filled cake."*

*"Seems not. She wasn’t feeling well and fell asleep. Her livestream was turned off during dinner."*

Fans groaned in disappointment.

Wen Xiaowen carried the small cake to the room, calling out twice after entering but getting no response. He placed the cake on the table, felt around for the light switch to turn on the light, and looked toward the bed.

Wen Bingchun was curled under the covers, seemed to be sound asleep.

Just as he was about to call her, the phone on the bedside table rang. He walked over and saw it was his mom calling. Excited, he answered.

Zhou Li had been ready to scold someone, but hearing her son’s voice, her tone did a complete 180. She cheerfully asked, "Xiao Wen, did you eat well? Is Peach Blossom Island fun? Tell me about all the fun things you did today."

"It’s so fun, really fun!" Wen Xiaowen babbling excitedly once he started talking. "Mu Mu’s mom is so amazing! She got a donkey cart and carried our table away. She’s also really good at chess—she beat a really tough opponent..."

Zhou Li on the other end grew impatient. "Amazing? Pfft, what’s so amazing? Mu Mu’s mom didn’t even finish middle school. At least I graduated high school! She’s just pulling tricks. Wait till you get to middle school—you’ll understand. If she were so smart, she wouldn’t have gotten duped into having a kid before even getting married..."

Wen Xiaowen stood there, stunned. After hanging up, he was left in disbelief.

*Mu Mu’s mom didn’t finish middle school?*

His teacher said that children who go to school will have a future, and it’s best to go to college—otherwise, it’s hard to find good jobs. Quitting school is even worse; people will laugh at you.

*Did Mu Mu’s mom really not finish middle school?*

He turned his head and met Wen Bingchun's gaze. After a moment of surprise, he scratched his head and asked, "Big Sis, did Mu Mu's mom hate studying when she was little? Did she really not finish junior high?"

Wen Bingchun's eyes flickered, and after a few seconds, she replied, "Yeah, Mu Mu's mom dropped out in the first year of junior high... She must have suffered from not getting an education, which is why Mu Mu studies so hard. So you should learn from Mu Mu and aim to get into a good university in the future."

She shoved the books on the table into her brother's hands and gently pushed him forward, smiling. "Aren't you supposed to go study with Mu Mu tonight? Go ahead. I'll eat the cake myself. You can do it!"

Wen Xiaowen, deep in thought, hugged the books and headed toward Room Number One.

When he arrived, Xiao Xiao and Sen Sen were already there and greeted him cheerfully.

This time, Mu Mu wasn't playing games but was studying with them.

As time passed, Wen Xiaowen kept glancing behind the beaded curtain. Once he confirmed Wen Zhi was asleep, he quietly tapped Mu Mu with his pen cap and whispered, "Mu Mu, can I ask you something?"

Mu Mu looked puzzled. "What is it?"

Xiao Xiao and Sen Sen curiously leaned in, and the live-stream audience also listened intently.

Wen Xiaowen's face turned red, and after stammering for a while, he finally asked, "Mu Mu, did your dad convince your mom to have a baby because she dropped out in the first year of junior high?" He had always admired Mu Mu's mom, and this had been eating at him.

Author's Note:

Wen Zhi: Don't blame me if you're asking for trouble.