Back to Three Years Old: Crushing Scumbags on a Parenting Reality Show 154

Chapter 154

Life is full of ups and downs.

Shi Dingshan silently watched his own drama unfold on the monitoring wall, he pushed away the person next to him, who was laughing so hard that he almost fell and even slapped his thigh by accident.

“Hahaha, help! I thought your variety show was already hilarious, but I never thought it would be even funnier after knowing your original plans, hahahahaha!” Qin Sichao said, laughing uncontrollably, he couldn’t even stop after being pushed away. “I’m dying of laughter, hahaha, quickly tell me, what were your original plans for the tasks before I came? They definitely weren’t what I saw in the videos later, right?”

Shi Dingshan: “… “

“Oh my, why so serious, Lao Shan? Although they didn’t follow your plans, it’s truly interesting!” Qin Sichao said, taking out his phone, he quickly opened the live broadcast page and showed it to Shi Dingshan. “Look, the viewers in the live broadcast room are all laughing, ‘666’! Oh, I almost forgot, the live broadcast is a few minutes behind our monitoring feed! They haven’t even seen the funniest part yet!”

Shi Dingshan: “… “

“I envy them! I also want to have a pair of eyes that can see three minutes into the past! Truly, the first time watching is the funniest, hahaha…” Qin Sichao said, slapping his leg again as he stared at his phone, chuckling, he couldn’t put it down.

Shi Dingshan glanced at his old friend, who was watching the same scene they just saw on the monitoring feed on the live broadcast, and sighed deeply. Was the first time watching truly the funniest? Looking at him, laughing so hard that he was almost falling off his chair, it didn’t seem like it!

It was funny, quite funny.

If he wasn’t the head director of this show…

Honestly, even after everything that had happened, Shi Dingshan still didn’t know what went wrong.

Weren’t they smoothly passing the Pig Lair level? That question Wang Qingchuan insisted on adding, although unnecessary, it wasn’t problematic… And Wang Zhizhi’s answer, it was also quite normal, it just showed that CEO Shen was quite charismatic, he had become a role model for the other babies.

Things, up to that point, were… still normal, right?

It was just that Wang Qingchuan didn’t follow the plan, after each baby shouted their answer, he was supposed to signal the staff member behind the door to control the crumbling speed of the rock. But it didn’t matter, he could just give instructions through the earpiece.

But after that, things started to get out of hand…

The Silver Pig deviated from the script, he started questioning Wang Zhizhi about why he admired Shen Zilin’s dad the most.

Wang Zhizhi covered his mouth with both hands, shaking his head vigorously, refusing to say a word.

The Golden Pig reached out to stop the Silver Pig, but he dodged and continued to press Wang Zhizhi.

Wang Zhizhi, dodging and running, turned back.

The Silver Pig chased after him, the Golden Pig was a step slower, but he quickly caught up, the other babies were confused, a few of them were about to follow when they saw Wang Zhizhi, who hadn’t run far, seemingly stumble.

The Golden Pig turned into a flying pig, surpassing the Silver Pig, he caught Wang Zhizhi before he fell, then…

Shen Zilin watched as his golden pig-headed father, after catching Wang Zhizhi, put him on his shoulder and ran away… While Wang Zhizhi’s silver pig-headed father continued chasing after them…

Okay.

“What should we do now?” Wen Jiangyue asked, looking at the pigs running away, then at the large rock blocking the door.

“The monsters took Zhizhi away…” Wen Dongyu said, staring at the chasing figures in the distance. “So scary…”

“Don’t be afraid, Brother Wen, they’re not monsters, they’re the staff members we know.” Cheng Rongrong said softly, comforting him.

Shen Zilin glanced at the rock by the door. “Let’s continue, let’s clear this level quickly and rescue Dad and Zhizhi.”

After saying that, Shen Zilin walked straight to the rock, reached out, and broke off a piece of foam.

“Brother Shen, that’s not how you do it!” Cheng Rongrong said, stepping forward to stop him. “The Silver Pig King said earlier…”

Cheng Rongrong truly suspected that Shudian was cursed, everything had been going wrong since they arrived, and these children seemed to dislike playing with her more and more. This was a live broadcast, even though she didn’t care about them, she still had to actively participate to avoid looking like an outsider. Although choosing to be the ostracized, pitiful one could also gain sympathy, but there was a saying, “There must be a reason why someone is pitiful,” Cheng Rongrong still hoped to avoid that kind of persona if possible.

“Didn’t you say they’re staff members?” Shen Zilin asked, not even turning his head, he broke off another piece of foam, completely oblivious to Cheng Rongrong’s frustration.

Although he knew who those two were, he knew why Zhizhi refused to answer and ran away, he knew why his dad went to protect Zhizhi, but! Shen Zilin was still a bit unhappy.

Breaking this rock was quite stress-relieving.

Shen Zilin’s actions scared the staff member inside, who was holding the fishing lines, he quickly opened the door a crack, trying to stop him.

“Shen Zilin, stop breaking the rock! Golden Pig, the good pig, is about to be caught by the bad pig!” Wen Dongyu shouted, grabbing Shen Zilin’s arm and shaking him vigorously, he pulled him away. “Hurry! Let’s go save Zhizhi!”

“That’s…” Shen Zilin said, before he could finish his sentence, he was dragged away. How should he put it, as expected of someone who often played tug-of-war with Wen Xixi, he was so strong!

Wen Jiangyue looked at Cheng Tingyan and Wei Maomao.

“Let’s go too!” Wei Maomao said, making a fist.

Cheng Tingyan: “Okay…”

The little babies stepped over the stone steps, ran across the path, and chased after the pigs on the lawn.

The staff member who had just opened the door a crack was left standing amidst the foam debris, bewildered.

The two chasing pigs were running in circles, not far away, the little babies quickly caught up.

But just then, a familiar giant frog and a familiar slime monster rushed over from another path.

The slime monster scooped up Wen Jiangyue, the giant frog grabbed one little bunny with each paw.

“Yan Yan!” Wei Maomao reached out to Cheng Tingyan, who was still on the ground.

“It’s me, Dad, the downstairs apartment is empty.” Wei Chengli said, having just secured the little rascal in his arms and recited the code words to prevent her from struggling, he was about to reach for Cheng Tingyan when… He had misjudged her!

The giant frog, holding two babies, the slime monster, carrying one, urged the three remaining babies on the ground to join the chase…

What kind of monster-kidnapping scene was this! This nonsensical, plotless… How could it be so funny!

The viewers in the live broadcast room, unaware of the plan, were amused by this sudden, bizarre plot twist, let alone Qin Sichao, who was in on it.

Everyone was happy, except for Shi Dingshan, who was still confused and trying to salvage the situation, and… Shen Jianghe, who only picked up Wang Zhizhi because he was afraid he would fall, and then ran a few steps away, wanting to secretly turn off their microphones. Heaven knew, he only intended to run a short distance with Wang Zhizhi to turn off their microphones and make up an excuse about admiration to appease the seemingly crazed Wang Qingchuan. Then the child in his arms tugged at his pig costume collar, urging him to run. Thinking about Wang Zhizhi crying last night, and how he was also trying to protect him by keeping his secret, Shen Jianghe couldn’t bear to stop.

But what was this long line of people chasing after them…

The babies’ journey west, after completing two levels, turned into a chaotic monster brawl.

The righteous monsters helped the babies defeat the evil monsters, the evil monsters dropped enough soul fragments to save the dads… Then the babies used the soul fragments to turn their dads, who had been turned into monsters, back to normal.

How should he put it? Shi Dingshan had truly done his best!

The babies’ journey west to rescue their fathers, originally planned to last for most of the day, ended before lunch.

Shi Dingshan waited and waited, he finally made it to lunch time, then nap time, when the cameras and microphones were turned off, he rushed over to the guests’ villa.

“It’s all my fault, I just wanted to make it more fun, I didn’t expect it to get out of hand. I apologize for the trouble I’ve caused.” Shen Jianghe said sincerely, not revealing the real reason. He took full responsibility for any resulting issues.

Hearing this, even though Shi Dingshan felt something wasn’t right, he couldn’t press further.

Then, it was…

Wang Qingchuan, under Shi Dingshan’s intense gaze, stiffened. “Zhizhi always says he admires me the most at home, I just wanted to ask him what happened this time. Maybe I got a bit carried away.”

Shi Dingshan: “… “ Okay, case closed, so that’s why he insisted on adding this pointless segment last night, even though it was late. It turned out to be truly pointless. He didn’t even consider his relationship with his son and still expected to be admired, not running away was already Zhizhi being polite.

Shi Dingshan didn’t comment on Wang Qingchuan’s misplaced arrogance, he looked at the other two. “You also rushed over just for fun?”

After smoothly completing the first two levels, they were about to go and remove their makeup, to become hostages again, and they just rushed over and caused chaos!

“Oh, I didn’t. I saw everyone running, I thought something had happened.” Wen Qiming, the Slime Monster, said frankly.

Shi Dingshan was taken aback, he looked at Wei Chengli, who nodded slightly.

Okay… So that’s how it was…

Then Shi Dingshan had nothing more to say. It was his fault for his poor judgment, for making the guests feel unsafe…

With a stomach full of questions going in, and a stomach full of speechlessness coming out, Shi Dingshan, finally understanding the truth, returned to the staff villa and slumped onto the sofa, dejected.

“Watermelon.” Qin Sichao said, placing a plate of watermelon on the coffee table. “Eat.”

“They saw everyone running, they thought something happened, so they rushed over to protect the children.” Shi Dingshan said with a sigh. “I truly…”

“Okay, okay, it’s nap time, the live broadcast is off, relax. The morning schedule was a bit short, but the effect was quite good, think positively. You can rest more this afternoon, you won’t be so tired when we go to the next location.” Qin Sichao said, patting Shi Dingshan’s shoulder. “I think it’s quite good, you should watch the edited clips later, sometimes unexpected things aren’t as bad as we imagine, they might even turn out well.”

Shi Dingshan sighed, not responding to Qin Sichao’s words of comfort.

In another city, another person momentarily shared Qin Sichao’s sentiments.

It was a warm summer afternoon, the air conditioner was off, only the electric fan was running, airing out the lingering smell of lunch.

Liu Qiongfang, after washing her face in the bathroom, wheeled herself out, she could still smell the strong aroma of fried lotus root cakes when passing by the kitchen.

Lunch was fried lotus root cakes with tomato and egg soup, made by Chen Sujuan, it tasted just like it used to.

Liu Qiongfang already felt awkward facing her mother after all these years, and with Zhang Jin and Jiang Heye also staying for lunch, she had even less appetite.

She initially just wanted to maintain a semblance of family “harmony” in front of outsiders, so she took a sip of the soup and a bite of the cake, just to be polite.

But… it was truly delicious.

It was the taste of her memories, a taste that had accompanied her for most of her life.

Liu Qiongfang had to force herself to appear nonchalant as she put down her chopsticks, after having seven or eight lotus root cakes, and her spoon, after finishing a large bowl of soup.

Thankfully, Zhang Jin and Jiang Heye left after lunch.

Now it was just her and…

Liu Qiongfang maneuvered her wheelchair to a spot in the living room where she could see the bedroom.

Inside, Chen Sujuan, wearing her reading glasses, was looking through the medical records from the past few years that she had given her…

Liu Qiongfang hadn’t dared to imagine what it would be like to see Chen Sujuan again, especially in her current state.

But now that the day had come, it didn’t seem so bad.

“Where are the IOUs(I owe you) you signed for them? Let me see.” Chen Sujuan said, looking up after hearing the sound of the wheelchair, she pushed up her glasses.

Liu Qiongfang: “…“ Okay, it was still quite bad.

Some people’s thoughts synced in an instant.

Others’…

“Maomao, when your dad came running over in his frog costume, what did you mean by ‘the downstairs apartment is empty’?” Cheng Tingyan asked, stroking the little chubby bunny’s clean face after her shower.

“Dad was completely covered by the frog costume, he was probably afraid I wouldn’t recognize him.” Wei Maomao said, lying spread-eagle on the bed, she was getting used to being petted. “It’s the code words we discussed before leaving.”

She hesitated, then hesitated again.

Although she didn’t want to say anything before confirming that the downstairs apartment was still empty, the thought of the possibility, the boundless anticipation and excitement, bubbled up inside her, she couldn’t hold it in anymore. She did a somersault, turning to face Cheng Tingyan.

“Yan Yan, I asked Dad if there were any vacant apartments near our house. He said that the apartments above and below ours are both rented out. He also said he saw the people downstairs moving out before we came here!” Wei Maomao said, her eyes shining, rubbing her paws together excitedly, she then clasped her hands together. “Hopefully, no one has moved in yet! Yan Yan, our apartment is on the second floor, so the one below is on the first floor. It would be very convenient for your mom with her wheelchair. There’s a big courtyard too, your grandma can plant an osmanthus tree there! Wouldn’t it be amazing…?”

Wei Maomao, after her enthusiastic outburst, finally noticed Cheng Tingyan’s silence.

“Yan Yan, you don’t want to live downstairs from us?” The words slipped out before Wei Maomao could even think.

“No,” Cheng Tingyan replied, a small smile playing on her lips. She gently stroked the little chubby bunny’s head.

How should she put it? It was a lie, but also not entirely a lie.

Because Cheng Tingyan suspected someone had been reborn before her, and Wei Chengli was still a prime suspect. After all, she wasn’t truly six, and with her family’s current situation, she needed some space. She wanted to live closer, but to be cautious, not that close, like living right above or below them.

But…

The sweet and thoughtful little chubby bunny was truly…

Every word, every thought, was for her, for her family.

It was impossible to refuse her heartlessly!

How could there be such an adorable baby in the world? Her heart melted just looking at her.

As long as she was careful, living just a floor away, it should be fine, right?

Cheng Tingyan made up her mind quickly, thinking a three-year-old wouldn’t notice her momentary hesitation.

Unfortunately, she didn’t realize that this wasn’t just any three-year-old.

“I… I was just casually asking Dad. We’ve been gone for many days, someone must be living there now. We can look at other places when we go back.” Wei Maomao said, clenching her fists regretfully. She berated herself for getting too close to Yan Yan these past few days, she had become complacent and overstepped her boundaries, forgetting that Yan Yan might prefer some distance.

Right, even close friends needed their space.

If they had a good relationship, the distance wouldn’t matter.

Logically, Wei Maomao knew she had overstepped, but the inexplicable pang of sadness made her rationalize it.

The little bunny, in just a few seconds, changed her tune.

Cheng Tingyan almost didn’t react in time, until she saw the little bunny’s tightly clenched paws, her heart skipping a beat.

“Ah, someone is living there… What should we do? I want to live upstairs or downstairs from Maomao.” Cheng Tingyan said, feigning disappointment, her lips drooping.

Wei Maomao: “…“

Just now, when she asked if Yan Yan didn’t want to live downstairs, her response was a casual, almost indifferent “No.”

Had she misread it?

The little bunny’s small, fair face was clearly confused.

“Then what about upstairs? Will the people living upstairs from you move out?” Cheng Tingyan asked, continuing to coax her. She took the little chubby paw, gently unfurling the tightly clenched fist, and rubbed her palm.

“Mmm?” Wei Maomao asked, stunned. “Dad didn’t say.”

“I want to live upstairs or downstairs from Maomao. If there are people living there when we go back, we’ll find them a bigger and better apartment and exchange with them.” Cheng Tingyan said softly.

It was coaxing, but not a lie.

Cheng Tingyan was no longer the clueless six-year-old. Not to mention the payment from Qin Sichao, which wasn’t finalized, the money from the two variety shows and the commercials was more than enough to cover Liu Qiongfang’s past medical and living expenses. It wasn’t like buying a house, just offering some money to see if they were willing to move, she could afford it.

Money was important in this world.

But there were things more important than money…

Cheng Tingyan gently squeezed the warm little paw in her hand. She had one right here, didn’t she?

Her words turned into a concrete plan, the anticipation and sincerity unmistakable.

Wei Maomao, her hopes reignited, blinked. Mmm, it seemed she had indeed overthought it. Yan Yan didn’t mind living downstairs, she was just thinking earlier, that’s why her response was a bit indifferent.

Ah, why was she being so sensitive! Wei Maomao mentally berated herself.

“Downstairs is good, downstairs is convenient!” Wei Maomao said, holding Cheng Tingyan’s hand tightly. “The courtyard on the first floor has a separate entrance, it’s very convenient for wheelchairs. And there’s space for your grandma to plant things, your mom can also bask in the sun in the courtyard…”

The little bunny, her face beaming with unreserved joy, her eyes sparkling with happiness.

“Mmm, I’ll listen to Maomao, everything Maomao says is right.” Cheng Tingyan said, her heart melting, completely charmed by the sweetness of the world’s best baby, she nodded repeatedly, then couldn’t resist lifting the little chubby paw.

She kissed the back of the hand.

Wei Maomao, who was still excitedly counting the benefits of living on the first floor on her fingers, was caught off guard by the kiss, she instantly froze.

“… Maomao?” Cheng Tingyan asked softly, poking the frozen little chubby bunny.

In the next second, the frozen bunny turned bright pink and rolled out of her arms, all the way to the edge of the bed.

Cheng Tingyan, startled, quickly reached out and grabbed… mmm, a chubby roll, was this the waist the little chubby bunny had pointed out before?

“Don’t roll around like that, the bed has no railings, it’s dangerous.” Cheng Tingyan said seriously, lecturing the three-year-old bunny.

Wei Maomao: “…“

Was it the lack of railings that was dangerous, or was it you who was dangerous…?

“Yan Yan, you… you, you, you… You can’t kiss me!” Wei Maomao said, deciding to voice her demands loudly. She didn’t want it to become a habit, like the constant face-touching and hair-pulling.

Heaven knew, she wasn’t truly a three-year-old child! Being patted on the head was fine, but being kissed was…

Too embarrassing! Especially by Cheng Tingyan, even if it was the six-year-old Yan Yan, even if it was just the back of her hand, it was still like a god descending from the heavens to kiss a mortal.

“I can’t?” Cheng Tingyan asked, a bit disappointed.

The little one was so cute, like a little dumpling, her chubby paws like marshmallows, she couldn’t kiss them?

“No!” Wei Maomao said firmly, her face serious. “We’re friends, do you want me to kiss you?”

“Yes.” Cheng Tingyan nodded.

The little one was so cute, what was wrong with a kiss?

Just like with cute kittens, she kissed kittens, kittens kissed her, she and kittens were friends.

Wei Maomao: “…“

“Okay, okay, I won’t kiss you anymore.” Cheng Tingyan said, rubbing the little chubby bunny’s soft, messy hair.

She just couldn’t resist, the little one was so cute when she was earnestly saying those thoughtful words. Since the little chubby bunny said no, she wouldn’t do it again.

Wei Maomao: “…“

Although she was easily persuaded, something still felt wrong.