The people on the sofa seemed taken aback by the director’s cold-bloodedness, their jaws practically dropping. So this show was their trial by fire?
The livestream’s popularity had already skyrocketed, with around five thousand viewers and the numbers still climbing. Seeing this, the audience joined in with playful banter.
“The guests thought they were here to get a taste of parenting life early, but it turns out they’re here to endure both mental and physical torment, hahaha. Their stunned expressions are hilarious.”
“Taking care of kids is already exhausting enough, but having to go hungry on top of that? Anyone would go crazy.”
“Yan Jiaojiao’s glare at the production team looks like she’s ready to murder someone. I can read it in her eyes: ‘You’re cold, heartless, shameless, and ungrateful!’”
“Xu Mo’s eyes are practically rolling to the back of his head. Does this guy even remember he’s a boy band member? He should at least try to keep up some idol image!”
“…”
They still wanted to negotiate for a bit more living expenses, but the director simply blew his whistle, pressed the calculator, and announced, “Begin!”
Yan Jiaojiao walked at the back. The photo she held was of a slide, and after searching for about a minute, she spotted something similar. As she approached, she noticed a camera filming nearby and excitedly ran over.
Inside the slide sat a little boy, his head bowed as he drew. He looked about five or six years old, with fair skin devoid of baby fat or any trace of excess weight. He was thin and small, his chin pointed, and he sat quietly at the end of the slide, drawing without expression.
“Hello there, little one.”
The boy glanced up at her. His amber eyes held a calmness that seemed beyond his years, and after a brief look, he lowered his head and continued drawing. His cool demeanor, even if slightly impolite, made it hard to get angry at him.
Especially for a looks-obsessed person like Yan Jiaojiao. She crouched down to examine him. “You’re actually kind of handsome. How old are you?”
The boy still ignored her, seemingly annoyed by her chatter, and shifted his body slightly away.
It was the first time Yan Jiaojiao had encountered someone who didn’t respond to her name. Her crouched stance nearly faltered. “Hey, kid, I’m talking to you!”
“…”
The air remained silent. Yan Jiaojiao pouted, already dreading the thought of having to spend the next few days with this little brat!
She softened her tone and tried to negotiate. “How about this? Come back with me, okay? I have some delicious flavored beans at my place. I’ll give you a pack.”
The boy still didn’t react. Yan Jiaojiao gritted her teeth. “Two packs… three packs, that’s my final offer.”
She had only hidden five packs in total and was already being this generous, but the little boy remained silent.
Yan Jiaojiao swore to herself that she would never like children in her entire life!
As another five minutes passed, Yan Jiaojiao’s temper flared. She snatched his sketchbook away, and the boy looked up, reaching out for it.
Yan Jiaojiao simply grabbed his hand, scooped him into her arms, and dashed toward “Hope Home.” The camera crew was left dumbfounded, stunned by Yan Jiaojiao’s bold move of essentially kidnapping the child. Was this even allowed?
Yan Jiaojiao didn’t care about coaxing or reasoning. Since this little brat was so uncooperative, if gentle methods didn’t work, she’d resort to force. After all, she had no intention of going hungry.
The moment she picked him up, the little boy struggled fiercely. Instead of crying, he bit the back of her hand when he couldn’t break free—his temper was even worse than Yan Jiaojiao’s.
Yan Jiaojiao winced in pain. “Ouch, you little brat, that’s not fair! If you bite me again, I’ll spank your bottom!”
The boy acted as if he hadn’t heard her, only letting go after receiving a real slap on his bottom. A faint blush spread across his cheeks.Yan Jiaojiao was the second to arrive at “Hope Home.” She placed the little boy on the sofa, rubbed the back of her hand while staring at the two bite marks, and felt anger surging within her. She had actually been bullied by a little brat!
Yan Jiaojiao looked at the little boy, who hung his head low. His long eyelashes resembled tiny fans, and his quiet, handsome appearance now seemed harmless.
Yan Jiaojiao clenched her fists. Sooner or later, she’d make him understand how harsh the world could be!
Xu Mo brought a mixed-race girl named Mia, whose big blue eyes sparkled. She smiled like a little angel, and he managed to coax her back with just a few words.
Shortly after sitting down, he saw Yan Jiaojiao running back frantically with a child in her arms and asked in surprise, “You’re already carrying him?”
“No choice. When a child doesn’t listen, you have to use some tough methods.”
“What’s his name?”
Yan Jiaojiao fell silent for two seconds. “I don’t know.”
Xu Mo: “You don’t know?”
“Yeah.” Yan Jiaojiao poked the little boy’s cheek, and he turned his head away. “If you still don’t tell me your name, I’ll call you ‘Don’t Know’ from now on!”
The little boy’s delicate brows furrowed, and after a long pause, he mumbled, “Ling Yi.”
Yan Jiaojiao: “So your name is Ling Yi. Call me ‘sister’.”
Liu Jinzi heard this as soon as she entered. Seeing the little boy remain silent and Yan Jiaojiao’s face turning pale with anger, she smiled triumphantly.
She had previously investigated the children participating in the show and knew that this Ling Yi had a unique personality. She had specifically asked the production team to assign him to Yan Jiaojiao.
Just as she expected, their first meeting was far from friendly. Wasn’t Yan Jiaojiao supposed to be capable? She’d be crying soon enough.
Liu Jinzi was the third to arrive, earning only 50 points. The little girl she led was very well-behaved, holding a rabbit plushie and greeting everyone softly, “Hello, everyone. My name is… Nana.”
Lin Qingfeng and Zhong Qing arrived shortly after, each leading one of a pair of twins who looked strikingly similar. It was unclear whether this was intentionally arranged by the production team.
This scene sparked another round of teasing from everyone.
Lin Qingfeng laughed and said, “Alright, let the children introduce themselves.”
The two children entered hand in hand, their faces chubby and their voices soft and sweet. “I’m Xiao Hu, the older brother. I’m six years old.”
“I’m Xiao Hu, and I love Ultraman the most. Pew, pew, pew…”
Zhong Qing couldn’t help but chuckle at his adorable antics. “I’m with Xiao Hu, but they look so alike, and their builds are similar too. It’s hard to tell who’s who.”
Lin Qingfeng: “The older brother seems a bit steadier, while the younger one is probably more mischievous.”
Xu Mo: “Either way, it doesn’t matter which of you takes care of whom.”
The two laughed it off without responding, leaving the rest of the time for everyone to get to know the children.
Yan Jiaojiao tried hard to strike up a conversation with Ling Yi, but he seemed to have a short circuit in his communication skills, keeping his head down and refusing to speak.
She watched the other groups chatting and laughing happily, then looked back at her own situation. For the first time, she felt a sense of loneliness, as if isolated from the world…
Seriously, what was this kid trying to prove by acting so deep at such a young age? He was just as infuriating as that scoundrel of a man. Was his mouth sealed shut or made of gold?
Liu Jinzi fetched some water for Nana to drink and noticed Yan Jiaojiao’s group standing out from the others. “Jiaojiao, why aren’t you and Ling Yi talking?”
Yan Jiaojiao was already sulking, and upon hearing this, she completely ignored her.
Liu Jinzi’s expression stiffened for a second, a subtle reaction captured by the cameras.”Yan Jiaojiao has such a terrible temper, why won’t she respond to anyone?”
“Liu Jinzi tried to start a conversation and was completely ignored. What kind of attitude is that from Yan Jiaojiao? No wonder Ling Yi doesn’t like her.”
“What do you mean ‘doesn’t like her’? Have you ever seen Ling Yi pay attention to anyone? Maybe that’s just his personality.”
“But Yan Jiaojiao still shouldn’t ignore people like that. Who does she think she’s scowling at?”
“Who owes Yan Jiaojiao money? Her face is so sour. I actually feel bad for Liu Jinzi looking at her expression.”
“…”