I Sat Down for Dinner—and Got Recruited as the Final Boss

The filming location chosen by the program team wasn’t far from Yan City, situated in a poverty-stricken village in the nearby mountainous area.

The drive took about three hours.

Ning Shixue fell asleep within minutes of getting in the car.
Xie Yaoyao, however, kept wriggling his little bottom, constantly looking around.
The director even coaxed him into singing a few children’s songs.

Praised with “good baby” and “you’re so great” by the director, Xie Yaoyao was left utterly disoriented with delight.

By the time his soft, chubby cheeks were flushed red from exhaustion, he finally waved his little hands.
Baby, baby no sing anymore.

Then he rubbed his eyes, unable to resist the drowsiness, and also fell asleep leaning against Ning Shixue.

A staff member, worried they might be cold, walked over with a blanket.
Just one step closer, and Ning Shixue’s eyes abruptly opened.
The air conditioning in the car was strong.
His face was pale, only his lips a thin red.
Those eyes were like a lake covered in deep winter snow.

The staff member froze, then nervously lowered his head.
A blanket for you, Teacher Ning.

Ning Shixue’s eyelashes fluttered.
It seemed like it had all been a hallucination.
The corners of his eyes curved as he reached out to take it.
Thank you.

This time, the program team arranged for them to stay with local villagers.
When Ning Shixue and Xie Yaoyao got off the car and dragged their luggage over, another group of guests had just arrived.

It was a tall, well-built man with thick eyebrows, a high nose bridge, and very handsome features.
Beside him was a chubby little boy who looked a year or two older than Xie Yaoyao.

Teacher Tang.
The director waved.

This was the film emperor, Tang He’an, in his thirties, a specialist in tough-guy roles who had starred in many police and gangster films.

He worked as a stunt double for three years after his debut until a director with a keen eye discovered him and pulled him into a martial arts film.
With solid line delivery and exhilarating fight scenes, the film was a massive box office hit, directly becoming the Lunar New Year champion.
Tang He’an rose to the A-list with this movie and his star had shone brightly ever since.

Ning Shixue stepped forward as well.
Teacher Tang.

Tang He’an didn’t give him a cold shoulder, but he didn’t say much either, just nodded slightly.
Then he called to his son,
Haohao, go say hello to the little brother.

Ning Shixue wasn’t surprised.

Tang He’an had a special appearance in “Slaying the Whale,” playing the martial uncle of Xie Hanzhou and the original host.

Back then, during a scene with Tang He’an, the original host had stubbornly refused to use a wire, forcing Tang He’an to soak in cold water for three hours straight.
Of course, Tang He’an wouldn’t be fond of him.

His son was named Tang Hao, five years old.
Compared to Xie Yaoyao’s soft plumpness, he was genuinely chubby.

And quite bold.
He walked up and shook Xie Yaoyao’s little hand.
Ni hao, I called Haohao.

Before Xie Yaoyao could speak, a father-daughter pair emerged from a sheep pen, having apparently just returned from visiting the villagers with a guide.

The little girl spotted Ning Shixue and the others first.
She let out a ‘wow’ and ran over to them.

She extended a little hand towards Xie Yaoyao and the others.
I’m He Miao.
You can call me Sister Miaomiao.

He Miao was lovely as jade and snow, wearing a little princess puff dress.
She was the oldest child among the guests this time, also five, but one month older than Tang Hao.

I called Xie Yaoxing,
Xie Yaoyao, He Miao, and Haohao, the three little ones, circled around holding hands.
‘You can call me Yaoyao.’

Yaoyao didi,
He Miao called him, then her big, round eyes fixed on Ning Shixue.
Is this your older brother?

Xie Yaoyao sighed.
‘This is my stepdad.’

Ning Shixue: “…”

Ning Shixue didn’t even get a chance to interject.

In the original novel, Xie Yaoyao also told people on the parenting show that the original host was his stepdad.
The original host immediately pulled a long face.

He didn’t want to marry Xie Zhaozhou, but Xie Yaoyao blurted out ‘stepdad’—wasn’t that just inviting others to laugh at him?

Ning Shixue didn’t care.

Like this ah,
He Miao, however, said something shocking.
She looked up at Ning Shixue.
Gege, can you be my stepdad too?

Ning Shixue: ???

Finally, He Miao’s father couldn’t stand by any longer.
He hurried over and shook Ning Shixue’s hand.
Hello, I’m He Lin.

Ning Shixue was surprised.

He hadn’t expected He Lin to initiate conversation with him.

The name He Lin was legendary in the industry.
He was a director.
His very first film at twenty, “Snow Ridge,” won an award at the Tokyo International Film Festival.

Hailed as a genius director.

He himself was quite handsome, reportedly of mixed heritage.
Both he and He Miao had extremely fair skin.

Hello, Ning Shixue.
Ning Shixue shook his hand as well.

Only then did He Lin look down to ask He Miao,
Miaomiao, why do you want this gege to be your stepdad?

He Miao’s face showed conflict.
She held onto Ning Shixue’s hand reluctantly.
‘Because gege is good-looking.’

But she couldn’t bear to part with her real dad either.

So she could only let Ning Shixue be the stepdad.

‘…That probably can’t be done,’
He Lin expressed his refusal.

He Miao had to ask,
Daddy, can you change your face?

He Lin shed bitter tears.

Truly his little cotton-padded jacket—full of leaks.

[Dying of laughter.
Miaomiao is playing me.]

[Who isn’t looks-oriented?
What’s wrong with wanting a beautiful wife! Shouting.jpg]

Previously, with separate live streams, each guest had their own room.
The bullet comments in Ning Shixue’s stream were still relatively harmonious.

But now that the guests had met, the director’s team opened a combined live stream for all guests.

Fans of various celebrities flooded in, and for a moment, the bullet comments surged.

[Has Ning Shixue already whitewashed himself?
Has everyone forgotten he caused Brother Tang to run a high fever and get IV drips in the middle of the night on set?
Unprofessional and disrespectful to seniors.
Why does someone like him deserve to be on a parenting show?!
I firmly oppose!!!]

[This is absurd.
The program team is shameless for the sake of buzz, aren’t they afraid he’ll corrupt the children???]

[My heart aches for my Film Emperor Tang, having to deal with him.]

[Director He is too polite to him.
A real gentleman, actually shaking hands with him.]

[Where’s Qingqing?
Why haven’t I seen Qingqing?]

Tang He’an also spoke up, asking He Lin,
Where’s Ji Qing?
Everyone’s here now.
Shall we go to the village head’s house?

It was completely dark.
No tasks were scheduled for the evening.
They could go to the village head’s house for a meal, then come back to sleep.

Teacher Ji has already gone,
the director quickly said.
You can set off now.

Ning Shixue and Tang He’an each took their little ones to drop off their luggage.

After all, it was the first episode.
The director’s team didn’t make things too difficult for the guests.
This time, they didn’t make them compete for houses but simply assigned them.
Each family got an adobe house with similar conditions.

Ning Shixue pushed the door open.
Inside was just a traditional brick bed, a square table.
On the table were the new washbasins prepared by the program team, along with essentials like towels and soap.

The walls were covered in many layers of newspaper.
The quilts had several patches but looked clean.

Let’s go eat.
Ning Shixue waited for Xie Yaoyao to find his bib, then reached out a hand to him.

Xie Yaoyao didn’t want to hold his hand.
His fair, tender face puffed up, and he hmphed.
I can walk myself.

‘I don’t know the way.
What if I get lost?’
Ning Shixue copied him, planting his hands on his hips, speaking with full confidence.

He felt an itch in his hands and finally couldn’t resist poking Xie Yaoyao’s soft, white cheek.
Sure enough, the texture was as good as imagined, leaving a soft little dimple.

Although the program’s staff and cameramen would follow them, being in an unfamiliar place, Ning Shixue was still a bit worried Xie Yaoyao might get lost.

Xie Yaoyao pouted.
Not allowed poke me.

He felt troubled.
He didn’t want to hold Ning Shixue’s hand, but Ning Shixue was the one he brought out to play.
If Ning Shixue got lost, Big Daddy would definitely spank his little bottom.

His soft little bottom.

Then you have to be good and follow me,
he had no choice but to reluctantly grab a few of Ning Shixue’s fingers.
Otherwise I not care about you anymore!

Ning Shixue: “…”

Don’t steal my lines.

–

When they arrived at the village head’s house, Ji Qing and his nephew were already in the yard, each holding a small basin, helping to pick vegetables.

Ji Qing’s nephew was also three and a half, named Ji Xiao.

He Lin and He Miao arrived earliest.
They had already met.
He Miao held Haohao’s hand with her left and Xie Yaoyao’s with her right, walking over to introduce them in her milky voice.
‘This is Little Tangyuan.’

Ji Xiao was a bit shy.
He tugged at Ji Qing’s clothes, hiding behind him, not daring to speak.

Ji Qing pulled him forward and asked gently,
Xiaoxiao, what did uncle tell you at home?
Shouldn’t you greet other children when you meet them?

Only then did Ji Xiao speak softly.
‘Ni hao.’

[So Ji Qing came early with his kid to help?]

[Dammit, how did I just get bewitched by Ning Shixue and his little chubby kid?
Can’t take it, I’m already starting to feel bad for Ji Qing.
He’s been tormented by Ning Shixue on set, and now even on a variety show, he still can’t escape.]

[Little Tangyuan is truly well-behaved.
I was just in Ji Qing’s live stream.
He washed a whole basin of vegetables by himself.]

For a moment, the bullet comments were filled with sympathy.

Not just Ji Qing’s fans—many people knew he had a nephew.
His parents passed away early, and his sister was gone too.
He had been raising Ji Xiao since high school.
They could be said to rely on each other.

Ji Xiao was also shyer and more sensible than kids his age.

Xiao Ning.
Ji Qing wiped the water off his hands, stood up, and greeted Ning Shixue with a smile.

He had delicate, pleasant features.
Individually, his facial features weren’t extraordinarily refined, but combined, they held an indescribable quality.

It made people want to get close to him.

Ning Shixue also shook his hand.

In contrast, Ning Shixue’s face was like a rose that grew colder and more vivid in the night, forcibly blended with his sickly pallor, creating an aggressively beautiful effect.

Wherever he was, it seemed spotlights would instinctively turn towards him.

Ji Qing’s fingers curled slightly.

[Ji Qing really does have a good temper.
If it were me, I’d hate Ning Shixue to death now and wouldn’t say another word to him.]

[What can he do?
It’s a variety show after all.
Aside from a madman like Ning Shixue, who would openly give someone the cold shoulder?]

[Whatever.
He’s married to some old man now anyway.
Isn’t that karma?
Just thinking about it feels good.]

Xie Hanzhou and Ji Qing hadn’t publicly admitted to being in a relationship.
It was, after all, just a kept arrangement, and Xie Hanzhou didn’t just keep Ji Qing.

But they had been photographed by paparazzi going to a hotel together before.

Xie Hanzhou hadn’t explained either.

Frankly, he didn’t care about Ji Qing’s reputation.
Shouldn’t being slept with by him warrant gratitude?
He provided the promised money and resources.
He didn’t feel he owed Ji Qing anything.

Fans didn’t see it that way.

Ning Shixue had been called a ‘seductive homewrecker’ and ‘male homewrecker’ for the three years since his debut.

The village head had prepared their dinner in advance.
Seeing everyone had arrived, he warmly invited them to sit.
Teachers, please wait a moment.
The food will be served soon.

The guests thanked him one after another and went to sit down.

Hearing that a film crew was shooting a variety show in the village and having dinner at the village head’s house, many children from the village came over to play.

The director didn’t stop them.
After all, it was a parenting show.

And once filming started, they would arrange for some children to interact with the guests’ kids anyway.
Consider this getting familiar in advance.

Tang He’an was discussing film matters with He Lin.
He Lin called Ji Qing over as well.
It seemed the three of them had some collaboration.

The universally disliked Ning Shixue could only lower his head and play with his phone.

Xie Yaoyao was still a bit reserved at first, but Tang Hao and He Miao were lively.
Soon, they were playing together, each holding an Ultraman card.

Little Tang Hao’s chubby hand clenched into a fist, which he raised vigorously.
‘I am Tiga!’

I am Zero!
Xie Yaoyao got excited too.

He Miaomiao wasn’t to be outdone.
‘Then I am Ultraman’s Mother!’

Ning Shixue: “…”

Help, are you all going to become light?

He Miao seemed to genuinely like Ning Shixue.
She turned her head, placed a little hand on Ning Shixue’s knee, and asked puzzledly,
Gege, why aren’t you playing with my daddy and the others?

As soon as the words fell, before Ning Shixue could feel awkward, He Lin and the others were quite embarrassed.

Ning Shixue wished He Miao would say more.

Yes, just like that.
Let everyone dislike him, let the director kick him out, then he wouldn’t have to pay the penalty fee!

[Even little kids know he’s annoying.]

[Children’s words carry no harm, children’s words carry no harm.]

[Can’t fans with their grudges stop fighting in the bullet comments?
I’m here to watch a parenting show.
Besides, didn’t Miaomiao and the others seem to like Ning Shixue?]

Tang Haohao spoke up first.
He grabbed Ning Shixue.
Gege, come play with us.

Unable to remain a salted fish and finding it hard to decline their enthusiasm, Ning Shixue had no choice but to go over and squat with them.

Xie Yaoyao shared a stack of Ultraman cards with him.

“…”
Ning Shixue humbly sought guidance.
‘How do you play?’

The three little ones all propped their chubby cheeks, pondering.
They didn’t need any extra Ultramen.

Then you can be the little monster,
Xie Yaoyao said, making a reluctant concession.
But his clenched little fist and sparkling eyes betrayed him.
We come hit you!

Ning Shixue: “…”

Thank you.
Don’t make me die of filial piety.