Chapter 5 Should We Join the Kids’ Variety Show?

Chapter 5: Should We Join the Kids' Variety Show?

Xiao Zhengzheng ate well and slept soundly.

Wen Yuchen had just tucked him in when his phone vibrated in his pocket.

Ugh, it was that agent again.

As Wen Yuchen was somewhat known as an internet pariah, maintaining contact with this agent was a necessary evil.

He didn’t want Zheng Zheng’s future to be marred by the bad reputation left by the body’s previous occupant.

Wen Yuchen wasn’t interested in the entertainment industry, but he was certain he wouldn’t find a decent job anytime soon—no major company would hire someone with such a tarnished reputation, even for motion capture.

He didn’t need to become wildly famous, but at least he needed to clear his name.

Afraid of waking Zheng Zheng, Wen Yuchen left the door ajar and sat on the living room sofa.

As soon as he answered the call, an irritated male voice erupted: “Wen Yuchen, if I don’t keep an eye on you for even a day, you’re asking for trouble, huh? Arguing with netizens! How dare you! Now, delete those posts and apologize.”

“I thought it was someone important, but it’s just another bastard yapping,” Wen Yuchen retorted. He wasn’t one to take insults lying down; in fact, he couldn’t stand being taken advantage of or disrespected.

Hearing Wen Yuchen call him a bastard, Li Xiao was momentarily stunned. How dare this coward insult him? He exclaimed in disbelief, “Wen Yuchen, you actually called me a bastard!”

Wen Yuchen scoffed. “I didn’t insult you; I was praising you.”

“You...”

“Since you seem to accept the idea of being called a bastard without retorting, it must mean you quite like the nickname. How about I call you ‘Bastard Li’ from now on?” Wen Yuchen didn’t give him a chance to respond, hanging up immediately after his retort.

In a high-end apartment, Li Xiao, seated on a leather sofa, cursed loudly. Only after venting did he realize Wen Yuchen had already hung up.

Fuming, his face flushed and chest heaving, Li Xiao remembered the task assigned by the company. After taking a few deep breaths, he dialed Wen Yuchen’s number again.

Half a minute later, Wen Yuchen’s phone rang once more. Li Xiao had guessed right.

This time, Wen Yuchen answered and preemptively said, “If you’re still going on about deleting posts and apologizing, I suggest you take a nap instead.”

Suppressing his anger, Li Xiao snorted coldly. “Do whatever you want. Whether you delete or apologize, it doesn’t matter. One more won't matter for someone as hated as you. I’m calling about something more important.”

That statement wasn’t entirely wrong. Wen Yuchen didn’t bother arguing and asked, “What’s the important matter?”

Li Xiao replied, “I’ve lined up a job for you—a live variety show. The director is Pan Jing, Director Pan. You should know his reputation. Everyone who appears on his shows becomes popular. This time, it’s a kids' variety show. Since you have a child, I recommended you to the higher-ups.”

Wen Yuchen was skeptical. “Why would such a good opportunity come to me? There must be a catch. Just say it—what are the conditions?”

Li Xiao didn’t beat around the bush. “Hmph, you’re not entirely clueless. Many D-list celebrities are scrambling to get on Director Pan’s show. Tang Zhixiao will also be participating with his nephew.”

Wen Yuchen understood. “Oh~, so I’m there to be the foil, to make Tang Zhixiao look better.”

Li Xiao sneered. “He’s already a popular star, but you’re not wrong. The company wants you as the foil to help Tang Zhixiao reach new heights.”

Wen Yuchen considered his options. He had his own thoughts about joining the show, but he also wanted to annoy Li Xiao. “What if I refuse?”

Li Xiao was caught off guard for a moment. In the past, Wen Yuchen would obsessively compete with Tang Zhixiao. Had he changed?

He replied, “The company has already signed the contract for you. If you don’t go, you’ll have to pay a penalty—four million yuan. Your choice!”

Wen Yuchen had never been an internet pariah before, and no one had taught him whether such company practices were acceptable.

But he couldn’t back down now.

Wen Yuchen retorted, “Huh? The contract was signed without my involvement? Your company is really crossing the line!”

Li Xiao felt a twinge of guilt. The company was indeed in the wrong here. But given that Wen Yuchen was widely disliked, the company hadn’t blacklisted him and was even finding him work—shouldn’t he be grateful?

Emboldened by this thought, Li Xiao said, “You should be thankful the company is offering you work.”

“Hmph, dream on,” Wen Yuchen muttered.

Xiao Zhengzheng was starting to wake up, so Wen Yuchen got straight to the point. “What’s the pay?”

The sudden question about money caught Li Xiao off guard.

Li Xiao replied, “600,000 yuan per episode, over two weeks. The company takes 40%, you get 60%. After taxes, you’ll pocket over 300,000 yuan.”

“Deal,” Wen Yuchen said promptly and hung up.

“Are you going or not?” Li Xiao asked impatiently, only to hear the dial tone—Wen Yuchen had hung up again. Li Xiao was so angry he nearly threw his phone.

“Pee pee, gotta pee pee.”

As Wen Yuchen reached the bedroom door, Xiao Zhengzheng had already slid down from bed.

Clutching his stuffed toy kitten, still drowsy, he wobbled over to Wen Yuchen, hugged his leg, and mumbled, “Gotta... pee pee.”

“Okay,” Wen Yuchen picked up Zheng Zheng. “Let’s take Zheng Zheng to the bathroom.”

After using the toilet, Zheng Zheng sat in Wen Yuchen’s lap, watching “Little Bear, Don’t Run!” while holding his water bottle and sipping slowly.

Wen Yuchen checked the weather on his phone. The temperature had been fluctuating lately—yesterday it was 19°C, but today it had already reached 28°C in the afternoon.

The weather was nice, the sun was bright, the trees were budding, and the flowers were in full bloom.

Zheng Zheng had been watching TV for half an hour. Too much screen time wasn’t good for his eyes, so Wen Yuchen decided to make him eat carrots for dinner.

An episode of “Little Bear” had just ended.

Wen Yuchen bounced Zheng Zheng gently and asked, “Zheng Zheng, want to go out? To the little park?”

At the mention of the park, Zheng Zheng’s eyes lit up. He held out his water bottle to Wen Yuchen. “Empty! Refill for Zheng Zheng. Little park!”

Zheng Zheng still struggled with full sentences and often mixed up his words, but the little one was eager to express himself.

Wen Yuchen, a natural at fatherhood, understood him almost instantly.

He refilled Zheng Zheng’s water bottle with warm water, helped him put it on, and slung his own Dad backpack (chosen by Zheng Zheng) over his shoulder.

The Dad backpack contained snacks like hawthorn sticks and mini biscuits, as well as sunscreen, tissues, wet wipes, and other miscellaneous items.

Zheng Zheng picked out a white bucket hat with a light green brim, embroidered with a chubby capybara holding a carrot.

After putting the hat on Zheng Zheng, the little one toddled into the bedroom.

“Zheng Zheng, we’re heading out. What are you in there for?”

Zheng Zheng came pattering out, clutching his toy cat in his arms. He lifted the cat toward Wen Yuchen's face: "Kitty, go."

"Kitty isn't going." Wen Yuchen took the little cat from him, about to toss it onto the sofa.

"Go! Kitty go," Zheng Zheng said, hugging Wen Yuchen, his small chin pressing against Wen Yuchen's thigh, his big eyes glistening as he looked up at him.

Resigned, Wen Yuchen stuffed the kitty into the dad bag and said, "Alright, Kitty's coming with us. Can we go now?"

Zheng Zheng happily stepped onto his scooter: "Okay!"

Basking in the warm April afternoon sun, Zheng Zheng slowly rode his little scooter out of the building's entrance.

Wen Yuchen, carrying the backpack, wearing a black baseball cap, and holding a bright green small bucket, walked unhurriedly beside Zheng Zheng.