As more and more people gathered, Ning Shixue had no choice but to pick Xie Yaoyao up.
Even his pale cheeks were flushed red from the effort.
The two of them almost instantly became the focus of the crowd.
Xie Yaoyao opened his eyes wide in confusion, his soft, babyish cheeks being pinched several times by the elderly woman beside him.
The old woman had no intention of pinching the child hard, but years of farm work had left her fingertips rough.
Xie Yaoyao’s cheeks were snow-white and tender, and even a light pinch was enough to make them turn red.
“Is this your little brother?”
The elderly woman smiled so broadly her mouth nearly couldn’t close as she looked up and asked Ning Shixue.
Ning Shixue: “…”
Should he say, this is his ‘precious eldest son’?
Before he could speak, Xie Yaoyao already answered.
He sighed, cradling his chubby little face, then told the old lady,
No, this is my stepdad.
The old lady glanced at Ning Shixue in surprise.
No wonder.
Ning Shixue was only twenty-one, the youngest among all the guests.
He looked more like an older brother than a father.
Under the original setting of the novel, same-s*x marriage was already perfectly normal.
Hearing Ning Shixue’s spouse was a man didn’t surprise the old lady.
She just asked,
How old is he?
That stumped Ning Shixue.
He only knew the scum gong, Xie Hanzhou, was three years older than him, and Xie Hanzhou was the late-in-life child of Xie’s father and mother.
It was hard to say exactly how old Xie Zhaozhou was.
He could even be over a decade older than him.
He secretly poked Xie Yaoyao’s soft, plump little bottom and asked him,
How old is your big daddy?
Even though he asked very quietly, the cameraman was right behind them, and the live stream could still hear.
[??? Ridiculous.
He’s acting, right?
He doesn’t even know his own husband’s age?]
[I think he’s too old, and Ning Shixue is embarrassed to say.]
[Help, I really want to know who Ning Shixue married.
With so many entertainment reporters and marketing accounts, can’t they dig it up?
Why is there absolutely no news?]
Um, um,
Xie Yaoyao hummed and hawed for a moment, then spread his chubby little hands, using his ten fair, tender fingers to gesture.
He said proudly,
Big Daddy one hundred years old.
Actually, he didn’t know either, but he thought the bigger the number, the better, because Big Daddy was the most awesome.
Ning Shixue: “…”
Ning Shixue fell silent.
He grabbed Xie Yaoyao’s chubby little hand, pressed half the fingers down, and said,
Kid, that’s going a bit far…
Fifty is plenty…
More than that, what would that even be…
Granny, let me introduce you to someone else,
the old lady immediately frowned upon hearing this, clearly disapproving of this marriage.
She took Ning Shixue’s hand.
You like boys?
My grandson has a proper job too!
He’s a doctor at a big hospital in Yan City!
Ning Shixue hurriedly declined.
He said dryly,
It’s fine.
He treats me quite well.
The old lady’s eyes instantly held three parts pity, six parts sympathy, and one part ‘I understand you.’
She patted the back of Ning Shixue’s hand, her heart aching as she asked,
What’s so good about him?
Such a beautiful child, why couldn’t he see sense?
What’s good about an old man?
Ning Shixue struggled to hold it in, then opened his mouth and said,
‘Old men have a basic living allowance.’
What old man?
Xie Yaoyao was still adding to the chaos.
He lifted his little head and asked.
Ning Shixue covered his mouth.
Don’t ask, kid.
On the other side of the screen.
Xie Zhaozhou: “…”
Xie Zhaozhou took a deep breath and closed the live stream.
Looking at it any longer, he felt like abandoning his wife and child.
–
Ning Shixue and Xie Yaoyao finally received their eggs.
The aunties and uncles nearby enthusiastically stuffed a few pieces of tofu, a handful of greens, and several small yogurts for Xie Yaoyao into their hands.
They returned fully loaded.
They actually became the first family to complete the task.
As per usual, after each family completed a task, the director would conduct an interview.
But today’s interview was particularly stomach-churning.
The director asked with suppressed frustration,
Teacher Ning, any comments on completing this morning’s task?
Ning Shixue thought for a moment.
‘Remaining true to our original aspiration?’
Director: ???
Ning Shixue’s peach blossom eyes were exceptionally pure and innocent.
He looked utterly guileless.
‘We relied on our looks.’
[The director wakes up at midnight: Seriously, is he sick?]
[Has he gone completely crazy now?
Admitting he’s just a pretty vase himself???]
[Dammit, I really want to call him shameless, but I can’t bear to insult that face of his.]
Ning Shixue could finally lie down.
Wrapped in a small blanket, he sprawled on the sofa and continued playing his Tetris.
It wasn’t until after twelve noon that the other guests gradually returned.
Xiao Ning,
Ji Qing asked with a surprised smile,
you came back so early?
Mm.
Ning Shixue responded.
Actually, he really didn’t want to interact with the protagonist shou at all.
In the original novel, everyone was somewhat villainous.
He was a malicious cannon fodder, Xie Hanzhou was scum, and Ji Qing wasn’t much better.
Ji Qing’s parents died when he was very young.
He and his older sister relied on each other for survival.
One could say his sister, Ji Wan, raised him.
Ji Wan married in his first year of high school.
Unexpectedly, her husband was a gambler.
Even while pregnant, he desperately demanded money from her.
If she didn’t give it, he’d become violent.
She died from domestic violence, giving birth to Ji Xiao just before she passed.
Then her husband went to prison for gambling.
Ji Qing, who had just graduated from high school, had to raise Ji Xiao alone.
At first, he treated Ji Xiao very well.
But when he landed his first acting role, Ji Xiao suddenly had a high fever in the middle of the night that wouldn’t break.
Ji Qing had to ask for leave and leave the set, staying at the hospital for three days and three nights.
By the time he returned to the set, the director had already impatiently replaced him.
All his subsequent auditions failed.
It wasn’t until the filming of “Slaying the Whale” that he met Xie Hanzhou, became his kept lover, and that began his lifelong nightmare.
He couldn’t control the hatred he felt towards Ji Xiao, believing it was Ji Xiao who ruined his life.
What exactly did he owe him?!
Coming on this variety show was also to use Ji Xiao’s well-behaved persona to attract fans for himself.
Ji Xiao only knew that if he obediently listened, everyone would like him and his uncle, and his uncle would treat him as well as before, wouldn’t hit him, wouldn’t scold him.
What dish do you want to make later?
Ji Qing pursed his lips, looking very timid.
His face paled the moment he approached Ning Shixue, but he still tried to smile and ask,
‘Can I help you?’
[I feel like even Ji Qing has psychological trauma from him.
Heart aches for him.]
[Everyone probably remembers how Ning Shixue intentionally NG’d during filming, making Ji Qing, wearing thin clothes, film horseback riding and fighting scenes in the snow five or six times in a row, until his legs were rubbed raw and bleeding???]
[Why bother with him?
Being too gentle and kind-hearted is why people like Ning Shixue bully him.]
Ning Shixue looked up coldly.
In the original story, Ji Qing also often proactively asked Ning Shixue, ‘Do you need my help?’
The original host, to humiliate him, would of course agree every time.
The result was getting blacklisted on trending searches.
Everyone, including the scum gong, thought he intentionally ordered Ji Qing around.
In contrast, Ji Qing appeared utterly innocent.
‘No need, thank you,’
Ning Shixue refused.
He had no desire to become part of the main couple’s play.
Ji Qing was taken aback, gave an awkward smile, and could only say,
Then I’ll go ahead.
Once in a place the cameras couldn’t capture, his pale face instantly darkened.
–
Soon, He Lin, Tang He’an, and the others also returned.
He Lin and He Miaomiao exchanged for tomatoes, bamboo shoots, and a few mushrooms.
Tang He’an exchanged with a villager for chicken legs and pork.
Everything was taken to the kitchen.
By the time they finished lunch, it was already two in the afternoon.
Afraid the children might suffer heatstroke, the director’s team deliberately avoided this period and would announce tasks later in the day.
Daddy, I want to play ‘horse ride’!
Tang Haohao clung to Tang He’an, hugging his leg and refusing to let go.
Tang He’an didn’t spoil his child, but for something this easy to do, he wouldn’t refuse either.
He said helplessly,
Alright, alright, but only for a little while.
Saying this, he rolled up his sleeves and got down on all fours.
Tang Haohao eagerly climbed onto his back.
[The film emperor is so down-to-earth too.
Just gets down and gives a horse ride right in front of the camera.]
[Well, well.
I always thought Tang He’an was quite fierce.
Didn’t expect him to be gentle with kids too.]
Among children, whatever one does seems contagious.
If they get sleepy, they all get sleepy.
If one cries, they all start crying.
Now, seeing Tang Haohao could play ‘horse ride,’ except for Little Tangyuan, they all started pestering their own daddies.
He Lin was a complete pushover for his daughter.
Whatever his little treasure wanted, he was willing to do.
Without another word, he gave her a ride.
Xie Yaoyao hugged Ning Shixue’s arm, the baby fat on his face puffing out.
I also want, play horsey!
Ning Shixue: “…”
Ning Shixue looked down at the sheer amount of meat on his body, then at his own pale, slender arms where even the blue veins were distinctly visible.
He gave his own waist a pinch.
If you want to change stepdads, you can just say so.
‘No.’
Ning Shixue refused decisively.
Xie Yaoyao was a brat to begin with.
If acting cute didn’t work and the adult didn’t comply, he’d start making a scene.
Tears quickly pooled in his eyes as he threw a tantrum.
I want play horsey!
‘Then I want to play horsey too,’
Ning Shixue preemptively sat on the ground, kicking his legs randomly like a crying, fussy child.
‘You come give me a ride.’
Xie Yaoyao’s tears were held back in his eyes.
He stared at Ning Shixue in a daze.
How come like this?
Only, little children can play horsey,
Xie Yaoyao’s little mouth worked for a long time before finally finding words to argue.
‘Says who?’
Ning Shixue’s eyes also reddened.
His fair complexion made him look especially pitiful.
‘You can ride me, but I can’t ride you?
Isn’t that unfair?
Who says only little children can play?
Call that person over here.’
Xie Yaoyao was completely dumbfounded.
How find him?
He had no idea who said this.
‘I want to play, I want to play,’
Ning Shixue grabbed his chubby little hand.
Xie Yaoyao started to panic.
Even if Ning Shixue was thin, but, but… he was still this big.
He’d be crushed to death.
Not playing anymore,
Xie Yaoyao waved his hands nervously, his accent slipping out in his urgency.
I not play, you also not play.
He Lin and the others beside them were stunned speechless.
Ning Shixue patted the dust off his pants and stood up.
His eyes were still red, and he seemed a bit aggrieved, but he said magnanimously,
‘Fine.
Then I won’t play either.’
Xie Yaoyao finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Scared baby to death.
If You Notice any translation issues or inconsistency in names, genders, or POV etc? Let us know here in the comments or on our Discord server, and we’ll fix it in current and future chapters. Thanks for helping us to improve! 🙂