Chapter 20 Underhanded Tactics and a Close Call

Chapter 20: Behind the Scenes and Dirty Tricks

After two hours of struggle, the loach-catching battle had come to an end.

The adults were fine, but the children had all turned into little mud monkeys.

Among them, Zheng Zheng and Xingxing were the messiest.

Xingxing was pushed into the mud by his own father's knee, with only the front covered in more mud, while our very own Zheng Zheng was completely smeared with mud from all angles, nearly turning into a little mud-caked kitten.

Wen Yuchen looked at the little mud monkey at his feet with a face full of resignation and exasperation.

It turned out that when Wen Yuchen was catching loaches, he was on a hot streak, which made Zheng Zheng, who was following behind him, itching to join.

So Zheng Zheng took his little shovel and dug in the mud, and this dig actually yielded results, allowing Zheng Zheng to see a loach. However, Zheng Zheng is small, and the loach is slippery. Seeing it about to escape, Zheng Zheng cried out anxiously, "Fish, Daddy, the fish is getting away!"

Wen Yuchen heard his cry and quickly turned around, only to see Zheng Zheng lifting his leg anxiously to chase after it, about to plunge into the mud. Wen Yuchen's hands were full of mud, so he stuck out a leg to try to stop him.

Zheng Zheng grabbed onto Wen Yuchen's leg, but unfortunately, it was no use. Holding onto his dad's leg, he slipped and lay down in the mud.

Wen Yuchen: .....

So he just pulled his leg back. The little one didn't cry or make a fuss, rolled over by himself, and got up.

In the end, the pesky loach that caused Zheng Zheng to be covered in mud was finally caught by Wen Yuchen and put into the bucket.

Looking at the five adults and six children covered in mud before him, Director Pan was amused and considerately arranged for them to go back to bathe and change clothes.

When the tricycle passed by the big villa, Tang Zhixiao hopped off casually, as if forgetting that he still had a nephew.

Meanwhile, Xi Xi sat as steady as an old dog next to Zheng Zheng, constantly trying to convince Xiao Zhengzheng, trying to make him call him "boss."

Wen Yuchen lightly kicked his butt and said, "Hey, you're home, why aren't you going with your uncle?"

Xi Xi pretended not to hear.

"Xiao Xiao, have you forgotten that you still have a kid?"

"Xi Xi baby, hurry back to your little uncle, stay away from Wen Hu. I don't want to contribute traffic to his live stream just to see you anymore."

"Exactly, how did Wen Hu charm our Xi Xi baby?"

"Can Wen Hu get out of the Kids' Variety Show and stay away from our Xi Xi?"

"I'm fed up, your own master doesn't look after the child, why blame others?"

"Someone's dogs are barking again, so annoying, if you don't like it, can you just leave?"

In the end, Xi Xi still followed Wen Yuchen back to the small farmyard.

Wen Yuchen thoroughly washed the mud off his baby and changed him into a milk-green outfit.

The adorable little one, still emitting a faint milky scent, with his fair and tender little face, made Wen Yuchen unable to resist kissing him a few times.

The kisses made the little one giggle.

At the field edge, the production team hadn't left yet.

Director Pan said, "Quick, weigh their catches, see who caught the most."

The staff member responded.

After weighing, he said, "Director Pan, Wen Yuchen has the most; that big yellow eel of his is quite heavy, followed by Meng Feihang's family, then Gu Jinghe, Su Yuecheng, Tang Zhixiao."

"This, so little!" Director Pan widened his eyes, "Tang Zhixiao is last?"

The staff member nodded helplessly and said, "He didn't really try, most were caught by Xi Xi."

Director Pan made a bitter face and sighed, "No, no, this is too little. Quick, find a way to make him first."

"Ah?" the staff member exclaimed, "This, isn't this cheating?"

Director Pan glared at him upon hearing this, "Do you think I want to? The investors insisted that Tang Zhixiao must be first, and Wen Yuchen last. You know who this is meant to promote."

The staff member said, "Then, what should we do?"

"What can we do? Swap in a few big ones for him. The filming crew isn't watching all the time. Just try not to let anyone notice. Swap Wen Yuchen's for a few small ones."

After everyone had cleaned up and returned.

Director Pan put on a cheerful face: "Our task this morning has ended perfectly. Next, let's weigh the catch of our guests. The first place will not only get a luxurious meal but also an exclusive small gift."

The staff began weighing. The children pursed their little mouths, expressions serious.

"Meng Feihang and Xiao Shiliu, a total of eleven jin."

"Gu Jinghe, Xingxing, and Jinjin, a total of nine jin."

"Tang Zhixiao and Xi Xi, fifteen jin."

"Su Yuecheng and Xiao Moli, eight jin."

"Wen Yuchen and Zheng Zheng, seven jin."

"Yay! Yay! Yay!" It was Xiao Zhengzheng's shout in his ear, "Daddy, we got seven!"

The little one didn't know that seven was the smallest number among them, his face red with happiness.

Wen Yuchen looked at the little one's red face, his heart sank, and picked him up.

He turned his head expressionlessly to look at Director Pan, who quickly turned away and said something to the staff.

Looking at the bucket in front of him, Wen Yuchen found it bitterly ironic. No wonder they were so kind to send them back to wash up; this was their plan all along.

Seven jin? Probably more than double that weight.

Director Pan held a beautiful small gift box and said, "Congratulations to our Tang Zhixiao and Xi Xi for achieving first place in this activity."

The small gift was a very exquisite figurine, a cute cartoon character wearing a small straw hat, holding a fishing rod with a big fish on the hook. The display stand had the words "Grow With You."

Even a little adult like Xi Xi couldn't help but smile upon seeing such a delicate gift, then he became as proud as a little rooster.

The children watched the small gift enviously, pouting their little mouths, somewhat sadly snuggling in their parents' arms.

The other participants held their own children, comforting them, and couldn't help but glance at Wen Yuchen. They saw the young man bowing his head quietly holding Zheng Zheng, while Zheng Zheng was in a daze.

They all knew that before participating in this show, they had been briefed. Even if they felt it was unfair, they couldn't say anything, after all, it's none of their business.

Wen Yuchen's reputation in the circle is terrible. Even though he has been on good behavior these past two days, who knows if it's just a new persona? Offending the Tang family for the sake of so-called fairness is not a good thing.

Thus, amidst a heavy silence, the sharp cries of a child reached everyone's ears.

Zheng Zheng was held by Wen Yuchen, crying so miserably that his little face turned red, with teardrops the size of peas rolling down his chubby cheeks.

Wen Yuchen remained silent, his heart aching with another wave of pain, followed by mounting anger.

Pan Jing, hearing the little one's cries, felt a pang of sympathy and couldn't help but look over.

Then, his eyes met Wen Yuchen's gloomy gaze.

Wen Yuchen only glanced briefly at him before turning to comfort the sobbing child who was hiccupping.

Zheng Zheng was absolutely heartbroken, utterly heartbroken. Daddy had caught so many big fish, so why didn't they come in first?

He had seen it all—the other Uncles and Aunties hadn't caught fish as big as Daddy's.

"What? How could Wen Yuchen have the least?"

"Just that big yellow eel of his must weigh a pound or two."

"Even if Wen Yuchen had less, there's no way he'd come in last."

"Hah, if anyone says live streaming is real and without manipulation from now on, I'll argue with them."

"The least likely to win first place ended up first—how boring."

"This show is trash, the director is trash. If you can't play fair, don't play at all."

As the doubts in the live chat grew increasingly vocal, Pan Jing quickly instructed the staff to deploy the paid commenters.

"I've had it. If you have no skills, just stay quiet."

"Wen Yuchen only caught one big one; the rest were small. What's the problem?"

"Trash celebrities are just no good. Get off the show already."

"Haha. Our Xiao Xiao is both beautiful and talented. Is Wen Yuchen jealous?"

The public opinion took another sharp turn. It wasn't that no one spoke up for Wen Yuchen, but their efforts were like a drop in the ocean, quickly drowned out by more aggressive comments.

Wen Yuchen had considered calling them out directly, but he lacked a large fan base and had no power or influence. Reckless accusations would only put him at a disadvantage, especially since he now had Zheng Zheng to think about. For Zheng Zheng's safety, he had to think twice about his actions.

For now, he would swallow this injustice. As the ancients said, revenge is a dish best served cold.

Wen Yuchen and Zheng Zheng were forced into last place, and accordingly, their lunch was pathetic.

Three steamed buns, a plate of pickled vegetables, and that was all they got.

Wen Yuchen looked at the food in front of him, and the anger he had just suppressed came flooding back.

Pickled vegetables were absolutely not suitable for a young child like Zheng Zheng. The only thing Zheng Zheng could eat was the steamed buns.

Fortunately, Zheng Zheng usually had formula for his meals.

The little one had stopped crying but was still hiccupping softly, his eyes red as he nestled in Wen Yuchen's arms, refusing to get down.

Wen Yuchen prepared his formula and casually took out Zheng Zheng's favorite snacks: cod sausages, mixed fruit puree, and a bag of high-calcium soft biscuits.

Zheng Zheng, exhausted and hungry from crying, took big gulps of milk as soon as it was handed to him.

After satisfying his initial craving, Zheng Zheng chewed on a soft biscuit and took another sip of milk, eating happily.

Seeing that he still had an appetite, Wen Yuchen felt relieved to see him eat and picked up a steamed bun to eat plain, washing it down with water.

Wen Yuchen never ate pickled vegetables—he was very picky.

Just then, Pan Jing came over, under the guise of humanitarian concern, and brought Zheng Zheng some pig-shaped red bean buns.

Though young, Zheng Zheng, like all felines, had an innate sensitivity and alertness. For example, at this moment, he had grown to dislike this director uncle, who gave off a bad vibe.

Pan Jing held the red bean buns out to Zheng Zheng, enduring Wen Yuchen's death glare, and said softly, "Zheng Zheng, look what Director Uncle brought for you."

"Ah—" Zheng Zheng didn't waste words, waving his little hand wildly and bursting into tears again, his red eyes filling with tears once more.

Wen Yuchen's gaze was dark, his tone ominous: "Please leave."

Pan Jing left with regret and resentment.

Of course, until the end of the Kids' Variety Show, Pan Jing never again won the affection of his favorite little one.

Lu Chenghe sat in the back seat, wondering if it was because they were getting closer to the hospital that a sudden sense of agitation welled up in his heart.

It annoyed him so much he felt like finding someone to give a good thrashing.

He frowned deeply, his eyes dark, and reached into his pocket, finding nothing. Then he remembered he had quit smoking long ago.

Yuan Hui, seeing his movement, quickly offered him a cigarette.

Lu Chenghe waved his hand, signaling him to put it away. He had promised Xiao Li he wouldn't smoke, and he intended to keep it.

In the hospital room, Lu Hong looked pale and ashen, with a nasal cannula in place.

On the surface, he only had Lu Chenghe as his son, so today only this one son came to see him.

He looked at the tall, handsome young man before him, who didn't resemble him at all but was the spitting image of his younger father. If not for his tall build and the powerful aura of an Alpha, one might mistake him for a beautiful Omega.

Lu Hong's voice was slow and hoarse: "You look just like your younger father in his youth. I wronged your younger father, but he is still your brother. If you must resent anyone, resent me. Spare them, father and son."

Lu Chenghe curled his lips into a light smile, his eyes devoid of warmth, and leaned in to whisper: "Spare them? Then twenty-two years ago, did you ever think to spare my younger father? Two years ago, did you ever think to spare my child?"

Lu Hong wheezed, a hint of anger in his tone: "You are my son, a high-quality Alpha. How could that Beta ever be worthy of you? And he dared to give birth to that little bastard."

The more he spoke, the weaker Lu Hong's voice became.

Lu Chenghe's gaze was dark, as if he might any moment bare fangs and strike a fatal blow.

But instead, Lu Chenghe took out a phone. On the screen was a photo of a man with a bruised face, handcuffed. His voice was calm, but to Lu Hong, it sounded like that of a demon.

He said: "Under your protection, he committed quite a few crimes. It took me a great effort to uncover the traces you tried to erase. Now that he's been caught, wouldn't you say I've done a public service?"

"You... you... you... cough cough cough—"

Lu Hong was too enraged to speak.

Back then, this illegitimate child, relying on being an Alpha, had committed many vile acts. Lu Hong, seeing him as the son born from his white moonlight, had often covered up for him.

Lu Chenghe added: "One will eat state-provided food for life, the other will wait for his son for life—such promising days. What do you think, Father? As his older brother, I've taken good care of them."

Lu Hong felt his vision go black, his chest heaving violently. Within less than a minute, his heart stopped.

Lu Chenghe pressed the call button.

A team of doctors and nurses rushed in, swarming around Lu Hong and wheeling him away.

Lu Chenghe stared fixedly at the operating room light.

He couldn’t forget—when he was five years old, that man showed up with a son just a few months younger than him. His biological father, unable to bear the humiliation, stormed out. The next day, he received the news of his biological father’s death—a car accident that left nothing recognizable behind.

Less than a year after his biological father’s death, Lu Hong wanted to bring his "white moonlight" and their illegitimate son into the Lu family. It was his grandmother who threatened suicide, forbidding that man from ever setting foot in the Lu household.

He still remembered his grandmother’s dying words: she said it was her failure to raise her son properly, that she was the one who harmed his biological father. She also said that man must never be allowed into the family—not a single cent of the Lu family’s wealth should go to that illegitimate son.

Lu Hong’s "white moonlight" was someone he met in college—from a poor background but hardworking and ambitious omega.

Lu Chenghe sneered. What "white moonlight"? Nothing but an utterly shameless homewrecker.

The operating room light went out. Lu Chenghe missed everything except one phrase: "My condolences."

He handed all funeral arrangements for Lu Hong over to Yuan Hui, while he contentedly planned how to win back his wife and child.