The number of viewers in the livestream room shot up instantly, and bullet comments flooded in one after another.
A screen full of “???”
【User 3657】: Damn, what kind of super-strong beauty is this? I’m in love.
【User 132435】: Seriously, with talent like that, why stick with this flop variety show director? Wouldn’t it be better to join the wilderness adventure team next door?
【Little Angel Xuxu】: The other side is full of top-tier celebrities. As if their director would even look at her.
【Lord Clear Soup】: The show hasn’t even gained popularity yet, and fan-circle culture is already here. Try throwing more shade like that again.
【Yanjing the Unmatched】: This must be scripted. That spoon is probably a prop.
【Little Angel Xuxu】: Even if it’s not a prop, those coffee spoons can be bent by anyone with decent strength.
【Lord Clear Soup】: That’s basically a mini version of a rice spoon, and it’s very hard. Try bending one yourself?
【User 3657】: She just pinched it lightly with her thumb and index finger—shift!
Director Li’s hands trembled slightly as he lifted his coffee and took a sip.
Looking down at the list of questions—“Why did you argue with XXX in the livestream room?” “What’s your relationship with your ex-husband?”—they were all explosive topics, but also dangerously close to controversy.
He glanced subtly at the ruined spoon and wisely chose one of the few safer questions.
“Your child is called An Zhe?”
“Yes.”
“How old is he?”
“Five.”
“Is your child lively? What does he usually like to do?”
“He’s lively. He likes going to school.”
An Shijiu answered without a second of hesitation, her expression completely blank.
Director Li’s mouth twitched. “A five-year-old boy… likes going to school?”
An Zhe, who had only spoken two sentences from beginning to end yet was described as “very lively,” nodded in agreement.
“Yes, I like going to school.”
Director Li took a deep breath, put away the paper, and said, “Alright, Ms. An, let’s stop here for today. If things are finalized, I’ll contact you to sign the contract.”
As the interview came to an end, the number of viewers in the livestream room gradually decreased.
【Little Angel Xuxu】: The mother is rude, the child has no standout traits. There’s no way Director Li will choose them.
【Lord Clear Soup】: But the mother has her own traits, and the child is polite. An Shijiu’s strength alone is already a highlight.
【Yanjing the Unmatched】: Why would a kids’ variety show need that kind of talent? Bad character, low quality. If the director chooses someone like her, we Yan fans will definitely boycott this show.
After the An family mother and son left, Director Li turned off the camera and pulled up the backend data from the first broadcast.
His heart jolted in shock!
The popularity of the An family mother and son had actually surpassed that of the Ye family mother and daughter—both had exceeded ten thousand!
He had only casually mentioned filming a kids’ variety show on Weibo. There hadn’t even been an official announcement.
There was no existing fan base.
The first broadcast had started quietly without any promotion.
Under such circumstances, breaking ten thousand in popularity was an incredible surprise!
But when he saw the last bullet comment, his excitement cooled down again.
The An family mother and son indeed brought their own buzz, but the risk was also high. Should he invite them or not?
Damn it! Traffic is king—he decided to gamble!
Five days later, in a top-tier villa district in Jing City.
An agent delivered a DNA test report.
Shen Yanjing had just finished working out and showering. With one hand, he wiped his damp hair with a towel, and with the other, he took the report.
Genetic similarity: 99.99%.
An Zhe was indeed his biological son.
A dark glint flashed across his eyes. If that was the case, then what had happened six years ago must be related to An Shijiu.
“Follow this lead and investigate what happened six years ago.”
He intended to make the person who had schemed against him pay the price.
“Also, collect evidence that is unfavorable to An Shijiu regarding her care of An Zhe. Prepare to fight for custody.”
The commotion he caused was quite significant.
A few days later, after returning home from an event, Shen Yanjing saw Mother Shen sitting on the sofa in the living room.
He paused for a moment before asking, “Mom, what brings you here?”
Mother Shen looked slightly excited. She took out her phone, displaying a photo of An Zhe. “Is this my grandson?”
Shen Yanjing understood that since she had come directly, she must have already confirmed it.
He could only nod helplessly.
Madam Shen zoomed in and out of the photo, unable to put her phone down.
She had naturally also found out that this child had not been conceived under her son’s willing circumstances.
Her son did not like the child’s mother much and was already gathering information to fight for custody.
Although she did not have a good impression of that woman either, she strongly disagreed with her son’s decisive approach.
She smiled and asked, “How is the child’s relationship with his mother?”
“Fairly close.”
“And with you?”
“…Not very familiar.”
Madam Shen understood immediately, then showed clear disapproval. “If you just take him away like this, won’t the child develop a barrier against our family?”
Shen Yanjing said helplessly, “Then what do you suggest?”
“I heard that a director surnamed Li is planning a variety show with children and has already signed a contract with An Zhe’s mother.”
Shen Yanjing instantly felt something was wrong. “What do you mean?”
Mother Shen smiled kindly. “You should go too. Take the opportunity to build a relationship with your child.”
“I haven’t participated in a variety show for years!”
“So what? You may be highly experienced and have many honors, but you’re only 28. You’re still young!”
“I’m not going.”
“Go on. Coincidentally, a friend of mine is also participating. She’ll need you to look after her.”
Director Li ran around everywhere, so worried that blisters were forming on his lips.
An amateur, a washed-up host, a scandal-ridden internet celebrity, and a flop director—this combination made it far too easy to be rejected.
He simply couldn’t invite a fourth family. Did he really have to find another amateur?
Buzz~
His phone vibrated. Director Li answered impatiently. “Hello?”
“…Hello, Director Li. I am Shen Yanjing’s agent.”
An hour later, inside a certain café, the agent walked out briskly with a folder in hand.
He got into a car and left.
Inside the café, Director Li—who had just been hit by a pie falling from the sky—held the contract, his grin stretching to the back of his head.
Shen Yanjing! He actually wanted to join his variety show!!!
Although his program was a kids’ variety show, and although Shen Yanjing didn’t have a child—
It didn’t matter. He would rush back immediately to revise it! Add a new setting and invite a few more single celebrities!
With the name Shen Yanjing, it was no longer a matter of him begging others—it would be others begging him!
Ah, how the tables had turned!
Sitting in the back seat of a taxi, Director Li gradually came to his senses, and his smile suddenly froze.
Wait a second!
With Shen Yanjing joining the production team, the show gained momentum—but what did Shen Yanjing gain from it?
How could his shabby little program possibly attract Shen Yanjing?
Could it be—
Were the rumors about An Shijiu true? Was An Zhe really their son?!
Just as Director Li’s mind was racing, his phone vibrated again.
Ye Qingyin: Sorry, Director Li. I’m not sure if Yanjing has spoken to you, but his mother hopes he can join the program to look after me. I’m not very familiar with the entertainment industry rules. If he suddenly joins, will it cause you any trouble?
Director Li let out a sigh of relief. So that was the reason~
He had been wondering—no matter her social status or personal qualities, An Shijiu simply did not match Film Emperor Shen in any way.
They were people from two completely different worlds. How could they possibly have a child together for no reason?
If it were Ye Qingyin, it seemed much more reasonable.
After all, for a family like the Shen family that lacked nothing, they might value personal charm and upbringing more.
And Ye Qingyin was a teacher at a well-known international private kindergarten in Jing City. Since she could get to know Shang He, it wasn’t surprising that she had connections with Madam Shen.
He quickly typed:
No trouble at all. Thanks to you—otherwise, how would Film Emperor Shen have taken a liking to my little project?
After nearly a month of preparation, “Cute Kids Adventure” officially released its announcement trailer on Weibo.
First, the program’s official account posted the preview, then the guests reposted it.
“Cute Kids Adventure” would officially premiere on April 5.
The journey would have five stops, with 30 days of survival at each stop.
Six families were invited: @Gu Family of Three @Actor Lin Fei @Shang He @Ye Mom and Xuxu @Xing Rumei the Cutest @An Shijiu
And six managers: @Shen Yanjing @Youth Girl_He Yun’er @Qin Yize @Mo Mo Not Silent @Qi Liujin @Ji Qingyu.
The entire show would be livestreamed. Everyone was encouraged to vote for the guest they were most looking forward to!
The topic “Shen Yanjing Reality Show” immediately shot to the top of the trending list.
Comments flooded the official announcement.
【Swallow (Dave Version)】: Ahhh!!! It’s finally official!!! The marketing accounts weren’t lying—our brother is finally doing a reality show!!!
【Little Swallow Eternal Version】: To actually invite our brother to a reality show, the director must have spent a fortune.
【Jing-ge Brave Fly】: A full livestream? I love it! We get to see the real, unedited brother—I’m bowing to the production team first!
【Yanjing the Unmatched】: Seeing brother on a reality show in my lifetime—thanks to the program team. But why is @An Shijiu included?
【Yanjing Brother’s Baby】: Shameless people are invincible. Clout-chasing off our brother just to get on the show? Boycott @An Shijiu!
A flood of boycott comments followed, drowning out almost all other fandom voices.
The voting results were completely unsurprising—Shen Yanjing ranked first.
As for the most unfortunate one, An Shijiu’s voting bar was so low it looked as if no one had voted at all.