Yang Qianye and his daughter were oblivious to the storm in the bullet comments.
They had no idea they had provoked public fury. After their dismissive response to Ji Xiu, they ignored him completely, gazing into the distance as if the father and son didn't exist. Every detail of their posture radiated arrogance.
Ji Xiu watched them, his eyes deepening, a faint curve on his thin lips. Very well. It seems my temper has been too good, leading people to think they can look down on me. In the previous life, the original owner had arrived with a high-and-mighty, expressionless demeanor. His cold aura had intimidated the other four guests so much that no one dared challenge him. Even the arrogant Yangs, who bullied other guests in secret, hadn't dared to be flamboyant in front of him.
In this life, Ji Xiu was determined to change his image. Using the excuse of returning to family life, he had shifted from a cold, straight man to a "warm dad." The effect was good—Xu Yun and Ji Xiaocong were getting closer to him—but he had forgotten that not everyone around him was rational.
Meeting oddities like the Yangs would be his challenge for the foreseeable future. However, he always preferred to convince people with reason. He couldn't strike back directly in front of the cameras while they were "mouth-stabbing" him.
The filming would last three days and two nights; he had plenty of time to deal with them.
Ji Xiu composed himself and stopped trying to talk to the Yangs. He led Xiaocong to wait under the shade of a tree. Xiaocong followed, hugging his father's leg dependently. At home, he was definitely closer to Xu Yun and hostile toward Ji Xiu, but out here among strangers, Ji Xiu was his only anchor. Little sprout, Ji Xiu thought as he glanced at his son, no matter how much you dislike me, once we're outside, you still have to rely on me. In the live broadcast room, the audience’s anger reached a boiling point. They didn't know Ji Xiu’s inner thoughts; they only saw him "enduring" and avoiding Yang Qianye, taking the child to the side. Even the cute baby looked scared of the Yangs, clinging to his father’s leg.
This was the idol’s son! Loving the house meant loving the crow; they felt deep pity for Xiaocong, and by extension, their disgust for the Yangs skyrocketed.
【What a joke! A washed-up star bullying a Triple Gold Film Emperor just because he’s older? Is this world a fantasy?】
【The Yang kid is seven years old and doesn't know basic manners. She won't even greet her elders properly. Where is the upbringing?】
【Why did the director invite him? He’s been out of the spotlight for over a decade.】
【I'm so mad! Ji Xiu is a Triple Gold Film Emperor! We fans can criticize him, but you cannot disrespect him!】
【Exactly! We can say things, but you can't be disrespectful! +1!】
The bullet comments were unprecedentedly united in defending their idol.
…
As time passed, the other three guests arrived.
Zhou Qian, the "Love Song Prince" of the nineties, whose husky, melancholic voice defined an era in the music industry. He was joined by his daughter, Zhou Meng, nicknamed Dudu, aged four.
Lin Zhichun, a literary film director who won the Golden Bear at Cannes. He was a rare talent who could win awards and carry the box office, though he had been quiet lately to care for his family. He brought his son, Lin Musen, nicknamed Sensen, aged eight.
Liu Wenbo, twenty-eight, single, a leading figure among the new generation of actors. He had no major awards but several high-rating dramas and had once collaborated with Ji Xiu. He was paired with the "non-celebrity" child, Zhong Yuchen, nicknamed Chenchen, aged five.
It seemed that after Ji Xiu refused the original role in this life, Director Wang still wanted the star-and-non-celebrity combo and found Liu Wenbo to take the spot with the protagonist, Zhong Yuchen.
The arrival of these three made the scene lively.
"Sorry, sorry! Traffic was a mess, we're late!" Liu Wenbo, the most energetic of the bunch, apologized while running toward the group with his suitcase and "fake" son, Zhong Yuchen.
Zhou Qian followed. "The three of us got stuck in the same jam. Sorry for making you wait."
Lin Zhichun, a man of few words, simply looked apologetic.
Yang Qianye snorted impatiently. "If you know you made us wait, why linger? And Director, when is filming starting? Time is money!"
The others were stunned. Filming? Hadn't it already started? Ji Xiu realized the man hadn't been targeting him because he looked weak, but because he misunderstood the format. Ji Xiu stepped out from the tree shade with Xiaocong and said flatly, "Filming has already started. Ever since the crew entered our homes, we've been live-streaming on the internet."
"What do you mean by 'live-stream'?" Yang Qianye frowned.
Liu Wenbo was so shocked he raised his voice: "You don't know what a live-stream is?" He couldn't help a cheeky jab: "Do you know that the Qing Dynasty has fallen?"
【Hahahaha! Nice burn!】
【Yang Qianye: 'What? The Qing Dynasty fell?'】
Yang Qianye’s face turned sallow. Even if he didn't quite get the slang, he knew he was being mocked. Zhou Qian stepped in to smooth things over. "Let's not stand here talking; the audience is watching. Let's go in; the director is calling us to start."
Ji Xiu nodded, a slight smile on his lips. "Right. Director is calling. Wenbo, let’s go."
Liu Wenbo respected Ji Xiu immensely and immediately shut up to follow him. "Brother Ji, when I saw the news on the way here that you were joining, I couldn't believe it..."
The group gathered toward the director. Left behind, Yang Qianye squatted down to ask his daughter, "What is this 'live-stream' they're talking about?"
Yang Zhenzhen looked at him with disdain. "Dad, how do you not even know that?" She pouted and explained it to him.
After hearing it, Yang Qianye frowned at the camera following him, a bad premonition rising. Had everything he just said and done been seen by everyone? He was an arrogant man stuck in his past glory, hostile toward the new era. He didn't have a manager, and when he signed the contract, he hadn't read the clauses carefully, assuming it was a standard variety show. He felt he knew the ropes because he had done Hong Kong shows in his prime.
He was annoyed and wanted to throw a tantrum, but he didn't want to lose the money. Reality shows paid stars very well, and even an arrogant man with a family to support had to bow for "five bushels of rice."
…
Following the old rules of the first season, they first had to hand over electronic devices, snacks, and toys. The scene was filled with the sound of children crying.
Even Ji Xiaocong was affected by the other kids. He hugged his snacks, his eyes watering, refusing to give them up. Ji Xiu had a headache but felt relieved he’d left the boy's favorite Tuzki plush at home. He comforted him patiently: "Congcong, be good. We'll eat these on the way home. Kids shouldn't eat too many snacks anyway. Daddy will cook for you later."
Upon hearing "Daddy will cook," Xiaocong wailed even louder.
Ji Xiu: "..."
What is that supposed to mean? Do you have that little faith in my cooking?
The viewers, unaware of the impending culinary disaster, were excited.
【He earns money, he’s handsome, and he can cook? He’s the perfect ten!】
【Brother Ji is so gentle. It’s the first time I’ve seen him so patient.】
Among all the crying children, the only one who didn't cry was the protagonist, Zhong Yuchen. He was the first to hand over everything, standing by Liu Wenbo with his empty backpack and a calm expression on his chubby face.
After ten minutes of coaxing, all the children surrendered their items.
The next task: a race to choose houses. It was a two-legged race. Ji Xiu, driven by his natural competitive streak, took first place with Xiaocong. Zhong Yuchen and Liu Wenbo came in second. The Yangs came in last.
Yang Zhenzhen had been willful, complaining about the pain and slowing them down until they eventually tripped. For the arrogant pair, this was a resounding slap to the face. Because of their earlier attitude, none of the other guests went over to comfort them, making the atmosphere even more awkward.
Ji Xiu didn't care. He chose his house based on a photo that showed a corner of a swing. Xiaocong had looked at it with sparkling eyes, so Ji Xiu picked it for him. It was a farm courtyard with chickens and flowers—the second-best house objectively, but perfect for his son.
The best house, a two-story small building, went to Zhong Yuchen. The worst house, naturally, fell to the Yangs.
Ji Xiu walked past the Yangs, smiling pleasantly—looking entirely gentle, polite, and harmless.
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