Chapter 7

Chapter 7

The four parents quickly discussed and decided to move their luggage into the cabins first.

Since the show's producers hadn’t set any specific rules and the cabins were identical, they quickly chose their cabins.

Wen Cishu and Bao Yiming’s large suitcases were impossible to miss.

Xiao Qi couldn’t help staring wide-eyed.

The child seemed curious about everything, as if he could see right through the suitcases.

Zhou Xu teased, “Yiming's dad, did you guys bring half your home with you?”

Bao Yiming, pushing the suitcase ahead of his father, seriously explained, “My father doesn't travel often, so we had to bring his pillow and blanket, otherwise he gets uncomfortable sleeping.”

Wen Cishu felt slightly embarrassed but nodded in agreement. “That’s right. Yi Ming didn’t bring much—most of it is mine.”

That's when everyone understood, all talking about how lucky they were that the show didn’t make things difficult for the guests when it came to sleeping arrangements.

“What Ming Zai’s saying is, he has trouble sleeping in a new place, right? I can’t sleep well when I switch beds either.”

“The gorgeous dad obviously doesn’t get out much. The skin peeking out from under his shirt is so fair, soft, and delicate.”

“Huh?! Hey, where are you looking?!”

Zhu Wei was the oldest parent there.

She suggested, “Let’s tidy up quickly and gather in the courtyard to plan lunch and everything else. Sound good?”

Everyone agreed and went to their own cabins.

The interior of the sloped-roof cabin resembled a hotel suite, with a large mattress on the carpet that could comfortably fit two adults.

Floor-to-ceiling windows on both sides offered views—one facing the courtyard, the other overlooking lush greenery outside.

Bao Yiming bounced around exploring, making excited little sounds.

“Papa, look—there’s a bathroom!”

“Wow, the bathtub is so tiny and cute! Papa, come look!”

Wen Cishu walked over and leaned against the bathroom doorframe to take a look inside.

The bathroom was compact, with a white, cube-shaped bathtub just big enough to sit with your knees bent—like an oversized ceramic building block.

Wen Cishu agreed with his son’s assessment. “Yes, it is cute.”

He tousled his son’s hair. “Want to try bathing in this cute tub tonight?”

“Yes!” Yiming beamed.

He was already thinking about how much fun it would be to figure out how to soak in such a small bathtub.

“What’s so cute? What are you guys talking about?”

“Just a guess: With that gorgeous dad’s whole vibe, I bet Ming Zai’s family is loaded.”

“Right! I think so too! Anyone wanna break down their outfits?”

"Is Ming Zai's dad really this nice? He actually went to check out a tiny bathtub?"

"A dad who doesn't spoil the fun is such a plus! (I swear, I'm not just blinded by his looks!)"

"Ming Zai's big handsome dad is clearly super gentle—I can't take it! I want to take him home with me, ughhh!"

Hearing some noise outside, Wen Cishu slipped an arm around his son's shoulders. "Come on, let's go find everyone else."

When they entered the kitchen, everyone was already there, figuring out lunch.

Zhu Wei said, "I checked the kitchen—there's only rice, flour, oil, and seasonings. The fridge's practically empty."

Zhou Xu, still holding his son, frowned. "Wait—we've got rice but nothing to go with it?"

Bao Yiming, who had just arrived, suddenly looked excited. "So lunch is just... plain rice?"

The adults all laughed.

Zhou Xu teased, "Yiming, why are you so pumped about this?"

Bao Yiming scratched his head.

Huh? This is awesome though!

"Ming Zai, look at your face—you look like you won the lottery. Does that even make sense?"

"Kids' brains are wired differently, I swear."

"Ming Zai, you kinda look like him but… I'm starting to wonder if you're even the gentle big beauty's real kid!"

"These two are total opposites—one's calm as a monk, the other's bouncing off the walls."

While checking out the water jugs on the kitchen floor, Wen Cishu noticed a card resting on top.

"There's a message from the production team here."

He handed it to his son, who came running over.

Bao Yiming read aloud from the card: "Hey everyone, keep your eyes peeled—anything you can see is yours to use."

Everyone followed the view through the huge windows to the greenery beyond, their eyes passing over vegetable patches and a lake.

Rong Rong gently tugged her mother's sleeve, bubbling with excitement. "Mom! Mom! Look over there—there are geese and roosters!"

Xing Xing noticed the rainbow-painted boat and a small hut by the lake.

Bao Yiming's gaze also landed on the hut. "Pops, I'm gonna go look!"

Wen Cishu warned, "Yiming, stay away from the lake."

"Got it~!" Yiming took off running.

Xing Xing didn't say a word but silently sprinted after him.

Chu Han shouted after them, "Xing Xing, be careful! Stick with Yiming!"

Before Xing Xing could reply, Bao Yiming—who had come running back—grabbed his hand and pulled him along.

Bao Yiming: "I'll take you with me, little bro!"

Xing Xing glanced at his hand being pulled, too stunned to react, and got dragged along. His bangs fluttered in the wind.

Chu Han, seeing this, said softly to Wen Cishu, "Your Yi Ming is really something—he gets even Xing Xing fired up."

Wen Cishu smiled faintly. "Sometimes that kid's got too much energy for his own good."

Just as the parents finished speaking, the two boys in the distance suddenly stopped.

Bao Yiming ran back alone.

Chu Han stepped forward and asked, "Everything okay?"

"Oh!"

Bao Yiming panted, looking up with slightly messy hair, which made his fine features look even more striking.

Under the sunlight, his amber eyes shone with sincerity as he spoke earnestly and politely, "Auntie, my dad isn’t feeling well. Could you keep an eye on him for me?"

Wen Cishu, who had been leaning to the side, quickly straightened up and said gently, "I'm alright, buddy."

Chu Han looked at the sensible young boy and nodded. "No problem. You go play with your little brother—Auntie will help take care of your dad."

Wen Cishu had a slender frame and almost translucent complexion, clearly not the most robust type. But lately, he didn’t look sickly anymore.

At this moment, Wen Cishu gazed at the boy looking up at him, feeling a sudden lump in his throat.

Bao Yiming grinned at his little dad.

Reassured, he ran back and grabbed Xing Xing, who was waiting in place. "C’mon, let’s go explore!"

The quiet Xing Xing didn’t understand why this older brother was always so excited.

"Is the beauty not in good health? What to do, he’s even more charming now (not really)"

"Aww, poor beautiful dad, come here, let me hug you"

"? Smooth move!"

"My nine-year-old brother would get beaten by his sister—why is Ming Zai so mature?"

"He takes care of his dad and plays with his little brother too—perfect. Might be a new family, but it can’t do without Ming Zai!"

Wen Cishu said softly to Chu Han, "I’m tougher than I look. I can help out a little too."

Looking at the vegetable basket on the ground, he asked, "Mind if I check the garden?"

Xiao Qi, hearing this, perked up instantly and reached out with his small hand. "Uncle! Me too!"

The new title sounded nice—Wen Cishu liked how that sounded.

"Alright, let’s go together."

Zhou Xu also picked up a basket. "Come on, let’s go get some veggies. I’ll whip up something special at noon."

Zhu Wei chimed in. "Then I’ll get the rice going. I’ll also mix up some dough and see about baking something."

Zhou Xu teased, "Looks like Wei-jie’s got some kitchen skills too."

Zhu Wei rolled up her sleeves. "Hey, I *am* a mom, you know."

Wen Cishu, holding a bamboo basket, noticed Rong Rong trailing behind her like a little shadow—she seemed to be watching him closely. He bent down and asked gently, "Wanna come with us, Rong Rong?"

Zhu Wei looked down at her shy daughter.

"Do you want to go? If you do, just go ahead. Mommy’s just gonna be in the kitchen, right here."

Rong Rong clutched the hem of her mother's clothes, pursing her little lips.

She bit her lip, torn between hesitation and excitement.

Seeing this, Zhu Wei explained to Wen Cishu, "I just feel like Rong Rong’s a little too shy. I brought her on the show hoping she’d gain a bit of confidence. But maybe she’s still adjusting."

Wen Cishu nodded understandingly. "She’s only five. It’s perfectly normal."

Noticing how much Rong Rong wanted to go, he lifted his shirt hem and smiled as he crouched down. "How about you hold onto Uncle’s shirt like Mommy’s? Okay?"

Zhu Wei had expected him to say something like waiting until Rong Rong got used to playing together—but now she was curious about her daughter’s reaction.

Suddenly, she felt excited too.

"Rong Rong, sweetie, go ahead and reach out!"

"Wow, I’m suddenly feeling nervous. What’s going on?"

"I can tell Rong Rong wants to go too. Basically, I’m on the same wavelength as this hottie, lol."

With the grown-ups and viewers holding their breath, Rong Rong timidly lifted her face and met the gentle smile in the uncle’s eyes.

Slowly, she let go of her mother’s clothes and lightly grasped the hem of Wen Cishu’s shirt, whispering softly, "Uncle, I want to go play in the vegetable garden."

Zhu Wei’s jaw dropped. No way.

Her kid just spoke her mind—out loud.

The livestream screen exploded with lines of "OMGGGGG!!"

"OMG DILF ALERT!! I—I—I’m *deceased*!!!"

Wen Cishu’s heart melted—she *trusted* him. "Off we go!"

"Mm-hmm~" Rong Rong went from being her mother’s little shadow to Wen Cishu’s.

He grabbed a tiny basket—just her size. "Wanna hold this basket, Rong Rong?"

"Okay~" Rong Rong happily took it. Before stepping away, she shot one last look at her mom.

Zhu Wei grinned and gave a thumbs-up, eyes saying *Go for it!*

"This shouldn’t be a big deal, but lowkey… my heart?"

"Nah, this is Rong Rong trusting Papa Ming ‘cause he’s sweet. So pure."

"I want to hold onto the pretty and kind grown-up's clothes and go play too, Waaah..."

Rong Rong walked half a step behind her uncle, occasionally glancing up at him. That's when she noticed something beneath the brim of his hat... hair?

Just like when Mom puts her hair up and hides it under a hat.

Was her eyes playing tricks?

Rong Rong pouted in confusion.

Chu Han waved her hand. "Yi Ming's dad, come over here! Zhou Xu said we can grab some potatoes. He went over there to check the chicken coop."

As soon as she finished speaking, a loud burst of chicken squawks erupted from the distant chicken coop.

Wen Cishu and Rong Rong turned around at the same time to look.

Under the clear sky, a thin figure was scrambling around inside the coop, while several chickens flapped their wings wildly in panic.

Bao Yiming had somehow followed them into the chicken coop and was yelling and waving his arms at the chickens and ducks.

Meanwhile, Zhou Xu held up an egg triumphantly. "OK, got it! Yi Ming, retreat now!"

"Ack!" Bao Yiming took off running with feathers flying all around him. "Ahhh, don't chase me!"

"Hahaha, why is this so much fun?"

"Ming Zai was amazing helping Zhou Xu get the eggs~ We should have extra eggs for lunch today~"

"This show kinda sucks without close-up filming!"

"But this way the kids' reactions are more genuine. They'd feel awkward if there were cameras right there."

"The sound is really clear though, and the atmosphere is actually great!"

Not far from the chicken coop, Xingxing watched Bao Yiming running around frantically looking worried and muttered, "What a goofball."

He had been told to take care of Zhou Xu's kid, so he couldn't go into the chicken coop.

At that moment, Xiao Qi lifted his little face and glared at him angrily. "Don't say bad things about Yi Ming gege! He's helping Daddy get the eggs!"

Xingxing looked down surprised at the little firecracker. "Since when do you talk so much?"

His face showed complete confusion. "Aren't you only... four years old?"

"Hmph!"

Xiao Qi, even more upset by the doubt, shook off Xingxing's hand and stormed off on his short legs toward his dad.

"Hahaha, this is hilarious! Is this really Xingxing's personality?"

"Pfft, a seven-year-old questioning a four-year-old's language skills?"

"Xiao Qi whispering: Xingxing gege is mean!"

"Xingxing calling Ming Zai a dumb brother is kinda sweet actually! Such a tough-acting little bro!"

Zhou Xu was going to pick up his son, so he handed the basket of eggs to Bao Yiming.

The little boy ran over to his Papa, holding up the basket proudly. "Papa! Did I do good?"

Wen Cishu reached out, plucking the chicken feather from his head and pinching his cheek. "Yeah, I'm proud of you, kiddo."

"Wow!" Bao Yiming, praised by his dad, bounced excitedly.

"? I don’t get your family’s pride standards, but I’m seriously jealous."

"Um… does the gorgeous man still need a daughter? A 250-month-old one… (twiddles fingers)"

Behind Wen Cishu, Rong Rong stood on tiptoe to peek into the basket of eggs.

Noticing this, Bao Yiming set it down on the ground: "Take a look, Rong Rong."

Rong Rong bent over, poking at the freshly laid eggs with curious delight. She tugged at her uncle’s sleeve and shook it gently. "Uncle, the eggs are warm."

"Probably laid by the hen just now."

Wen Cishu watched the innocent, amusing child and couldn’t help smiling.

He pointed toward the kitchen. "Yi Ming, take these eggs inside and give them to Rong Rong’s mom. Dad and Rong Rong will dig up potatoes here."

"Okay!" Bao Yiming grabbed the basket one-handed and was about to leave when a small hand reached out and gripped the handle too.

It was Xingxing.

Wen Cishu looked at the quiet, introverted child in surprise and smiled. "Xingxing is helping his brother. That’s great."

Xingxing didn’t know how to respond at first, so he simply nodded and glanced up at his taller brother.

"Let’s go," said Bao Yiming, giving the basket a little tug before casually asking, "By the way, Brother Xingxing, what’s your full name?"

Wen Cishu chuckled inwardly, wondering whose side of the family this little one’s “instant friendliness” came from.

Just as he was about to show Rong Rong how to dig up potatoes, he heard Xingxing’s voice.

"My full name is Chu Heng."

Wen Cishu went completely still, slowly turning to face the boy who was slightly shorter than his son. His dark eyes widened in shock.

Chu Heng?

The protagonist *gong* from the original novel?

Bao Yiming’s future... romantic rival?