Back to Three Years Old: Crushing Scumbags on a Parenting Reality Show 234

Chapter 234

It wasn’t Zhao Can.

It made sense.

But Zhao Tong…

Cheng Tingyan, despite the progress, didn’t feel relieved, she looked at Zhao Can, as if seeing someone else through her, she asked, her voice hesitant, “That photo of the cookie…”

“Tongtong sent it with the message. Yan Yan, are you okay? You don’t look well.” Zhao Can asked, finally noticing Cheng Tingyan’s unusual demeanor, her concern for her friend overriding her earlier awkwardness, she pulled her stool closer to Cheng Tingyan.

“I’m fine. Do you know how Zhao Tong came up with those words?” Cheng Tingyan asked, clenching her fist, trying to focus.

Zhao Can shook her head. “It’s the first time I’ve heard her say that, I’ll ask her later.”

Cheng Tingyan smiled wryly.

She had joined this show to find answers.

Now, to leave, she would have to wait even longer…

Why wasn’t there a guide to life, a shortcut?

Zhao Tong, just a year younger than her, could she be Little Cookie?

Cheng Tingyan, sleep-deprived, couldn’t think clearly.

But it was more likely that Zhao Can would lead to Zhao Tong, then to Qian Can, Qian Tong, Sun Can, Sun Tong, Li Can… an endless chain of possibilities.

Who said Little Cookie would be close to her? Perhaps she was miles away…

Disappointment, exhaustion, both recent and accumulated over the years, weighed Cheng Tingyan down.

Zhao Can, her concern for her friend overriding her awkwardness, suddenly had an idea.

“Didn’t they say we could use red strings for a family call? I can ask her when I call.”

Then she saw the light return to Cheng Tingyan’s eyes.

Cheng Tingyan turned to the camera. “I have twenty-six point two red strings, is that enough for a call? Or… a text message? And then you can tell me her reply if it doesn’t affect the show?”

The camera remained motionless.

Cheng Tingyan didn’t push it; she knew they needed time to discuss.

Time, indeed, was needed.

But not for discussion, for an argument.

Shi Hongxiao readily agreed to the request and was about to arrange it.

Then… Hua Lang stopped him.

“Is Cheng Tingyan related to Zhao Tong?”

“Can we just change the rules of a supposedly unscripted show?”

“We’ve already adjusted the schedule so she could meet Zhao Can sooner, shortening the first date. If we keep changing the rules for her, how can we control the show?”

“The viewers are saying she’s not here for romance, but to solve a mystery. If she’s calling and texting now, meeting people tomorrow, then what’s the point of the show?”

“What does my contract say? You’re the director, in charge of the visuals. I’m the assistant director, in charge of the schedule. You wanted to give Yan Yan more food, and I agreed. You said she wasn’t sleeping well, so I added a nap time and canceled the red string task. You wanted to shorten the blind selection, and I adjusted the entire schedule for you!

“We’re directors; we should also care about the show. Look at Director Shi, he watched six-year-old Yan Yan and Shen Zilin dig under the scorching sun, and the show was a success! We should work with the guests, not cater to their every whim!”

Hua Lang’s arguments, although seemingly logical, Shi Hongxiao felt they were… biased. But he had overstepped his boundaries several times, he couldn’t argue with Hua Lang.

But… Yan Yan…

Hua Lang stopped Shi Hongxiao, who wanted to give Cheng Tingyan a phone immediately. But he was a fan, he couldn’t just watch her suffer.

In the pottery studio, Cheng Tingyan didn’t have to wait long.

A staff member entered with the program team’s response.

“A family call, it’s for family.”

“If you want to make a call now, before it’s officially part of the program, two conditions: 1. No direct contact, the content will be relayed by a staff member. 2. Double the price, forty red strings.”

Cheng Tingyan looked at Zhao Can.

The Pika, with only eight red strings, looked down, her voice apologetic. “I’ll earn more red strings!”

Cheng Tingyan, looking at her sincere expression, swallowed her words of reassurance.

Forty red strings…

She looked at the date tasks on the small blackboard:

[Task 1: Make a pair of vases with at least 70% similarity to the instructor’s. (Reward: 6 red strings)]

[Task 2: Make a small portrait of your date. (Reward: 4 red strings) Receive genuine praise from your date. (Reward: 2 red strings)]

[The rewards can be distributed between the two of you.]

Cheng Tingyan stared at the tasks, Zhao Can, noticing her gaze, also looked.

“So… we can get twelve red strings in total?” Zhao Can asked, then, after a moment of calculation, she said, “We can split the rewards, if you need to ask your question urgently, I can take all the red strings, then I’ll have twenty, I’ll work hard and make that call in two days!”

“If you don’t mind, can I have them all? I’ll return them to you later.” Cheng Tingyan said softly.

“Huh?” Zhao Can asked, confused. “Don’t you want to ask Tongtong? You’re not related to her, you can’t use the family call for her, can you?”

“I’m not her relative, but I have other family.” Cheng Tingyan said, a slight smile playing on her lips.

Zhao Can’s eyes widened. “Right! How did I not think of that! They’re probably watching the live stream and asking about Tongtong now. Then take them, take all of them! You have more red strings than me, and you’re more capable, you’ll get to forty faster. By the way, can I transfer my red strings? Can I give you my eight?”

Zhao Can looked at the staff member, who shook their head firmly.

Zhao Can hummed, dissatisfied, then counted on her fingers. “Then you still have twenty-six point two, plus twelve, that’s thirty-eight point two… Just one point eight more! You’ll get there soon!”

“Yes, just one point eight more.” Cheng Tingyan said, slowly kneading the clay.

Who doubled the price for the call? It couldn’t be Shi Hongxiao.

But since she had joined this show, she had to follow the rules.

And she couldn’t just use Zhao Can then leave.

She just hoped those last one point eight red strings wouldn’t be too difficult to obtain.

Then…

“So you’re sure about giving me all the red strings from the tasks?” Cheng Tingyan asked, turning to Zhao Can.

Zhao Can nodded vigorously. “Yes, yes, take them all.”

“Thank you.” Cheng Tingyan said sincerely, then looked at the camera. “Grandma, please help me again… I’ll call you when I have forty red strings, before that, please ask Tongtong for me.”

Zhao Can added, “And to our friends watching, if you have Grandma Chen’s or my sister’s number, please give them a call and explain.”

Hua Lang, rubbing his temples, looked at the smiling Shi Hongxiao and glared at him.

“You knew about the loophole, didn’t you?”

Shi Hongxiao, his smile gone, said, “I don’t know what you’re talking about, my job is just to make sure the guests look good on camera.”

“You knew! That’s why you didn’t object when I doubled the price for the call!” Hua Lang said, smacking his leg. “I designed the reward system for the tasks to create drama! I forgot it would create a loophole. You saw it and didn’t even tell me, is this my show?!”

“I was wrong.” Shi Hongxiao said quickly, lowering his head, he had been a bit biased. “But even if she gets all the red strings, it’s still not enough. You can still get your footage.”

“Is it the same?” Hua Lang was still angry. “We have to be prepared for Yan Yan to leave at any moment. We have to film something interesting before she leaves!”

“… I was wrong, truly wrong.” Shi Hongxiao said.

He had thought that even if Yan Yan found the loophole, it wouldn’t affect Hua Lang’s plan, it would just help her get closer to forty red strings.

It was a small act of defiance against Hua Lang’s arrangements, something he didn’t regret.

On the monitoring wall, the two in the pottery studio were working on their tasks.

Their date, from the initial awkwardness to the mud-rolling incident, to now working together, it was a rollercoaster for the viewers.

“Half an hour ago, I was shipping them, now… it’s just pure teamwork.”

“I think it’s even more shippable now! ‘Take them all, I’ll give you everything!’”

“I’ve read Zhao Can’s Weibo post so many times, it’s just a chicken soup quote, why does Yan Yan care so much?”

“She probably joined the show just to ask Zhao Can that one question.”

“Definitely! She must have been trying to identify Zhao Can, narrowing it down to the Pika and the Yellow Dog, then used the red strings to confirm the Yellow Dog’s age and eliminated her! When she saw it was Zhao Can, she wasn’t surprised, but relieved, like she had finally found her target!”

“So, Detective Yan Yan, quite impressive. But why not Maomao?! This isn’t the Yan Yan we knew!”

“People change, but Yan Yan still turns to Grandma for help, just like eighteen years ago. I still remember that grandma with the osmanthus tree, so many netizens were looking for her.”

“Now many people are looking for Zhao Can’s sister, Tongtong.”

“Me! Zhao Tong is the same Zhao Tong from ‘Where’s Baby Going’ Season 2! Four people related to the show now! Like father, like son, Xiao Shi!”

“Can love blossom in this pottery studio?”

“If you want romance, go to the baking studio, the painting studio, or even the needle felting studio.”

“The needle felting studio? Seriously? This pottery studio is much more romantic.”

…

Compared to the pottery studio, delayed by half an hour, the other dates were already underway.

In the needle felting studio, Xie Dongxing and Yan Yongzhi were working on their projects, a symmetrical ox and a slightly crooked fish.

Compared to the calm Xie Dongxing, Yan Yongzhi looked utterly hopeless.

The room was quiet, only the clicking of the needles.

It hadn’t started this way. Yan Yongzhi, upon entering and seeing the needle felting kit, immediately requested a change of venue, Xie Dongxing, however, was open to trying. But it was too late to choose another venue, the program team only allowed him to randomly select another activity, which also turned out to be needle felting.

He was now poking the fabric listlessly.

The needle felting studio… not exactly romantic.

The painting studio was much better, the Yellow Dog, rejected by the Long-tailed Tit, didn’t give up, she was showering the Lamb with encouragement, which seemed to be working, Yang Yuanming was actually painting.

The viewers loved this “love can change a person” trope, the live stream filled with comments about their “chemistry.”

No one knew Yang Yuanming’s internal struggle, or why he was so obedient.

It was because Wang Zhiqing had approached him before the show, offering him resources and opportunities in exchange for his spot on “Possible Summer.”

The offer was tempting, but Yang Yuanming, cowardly, refused.

Then, a few days later, that person also joined the show… and Wang Zhiqing never contacted him again.

He thought it was over, but when he entered the painting studio, he saw Wang Zhiqing.

And she wouldn’t stop talking, “Opportunities are for those who are prepared!”, “There’s no such thing as unearned success!”, “If you want something, you have to fight for it!”, “Life is short, what’s the point if you don’t pursue your dreams!”…

If it were anyone else, it would have been simple encouragement.

But with Wang Zhiqing, Yang Yuanming felt like she was targeting him.

He knew she wouldn’t reveal his secret on live television, but… he was terrified!

If he could just shut her up, he would even eat his painting!

In the painting studio, Wang Zhiqing was getting closer to the task rewards, the viewers enjoying their “love can change a person” story.

Only Yang Yuanming suffered in silence.

The pottery studio, teamwork against the “evil” program team, fighting for a phone call. The needle felting studio, quiet and filled with resentment. The painting studio, a transformation story.

Some were romantic, some not, and some… were just cute.

The first date, everything so awkward, except…

The baking studio, Wei Maomao’s domain.

Xia Lanruo, although inexperienced in baking, she and Wei Maomao knew each other from filming “Drunken Palace” two years ago, after a few minutes of awkwardness, they started chatting.

Xia Lanruo, knowing her limitations, let Wei Maomao take the lead. But she actively helped with whatever she could.

Wei Maomao, although skilled, didn’t do everything herself, she assigned the easier tasks to Xia Lanruo.

They worked together, chatting and laughing, the atmosphere harmonious and warm.

The viewers were pleased, even forgetting their earlier bets on Maomao with other partners.

And those “other partners,” after much effort, finally finished their projects before the time limit: a pair of vases, a clay bear head, and a clay pika.

The vases, one tall, one short, one smooth, one lumpy, the returning pottery instructor, under their intense gazes, declared them both 70% similar to her example, one in form, the other in spirit.

She quickly left without another word.

Just as Zhao Can was wondering if the instructor had been scared away by her vase, a staff member entered with a… lie detector.

To test the sincerity of their upcoming compliments about each other’s portraits.

Zhao Can, looking at the decent-looking clay pika and the… pancake-like bear head, after learning that the lie detector would deliver an electric shock if they lied, pulled Cheng Tingyan aside and advised her to give up on those two red strings.

Cheng Tingyan, of course, disagreed, she put her hand on the lie detector and started praising the bear head, from its shape to its details, to its artistic merit, the lie detector remained silent.

Zhao Can, embarrassed by the praise, thought the machine must be broken!

Yes, it must be broken, she was even more certain after being shocked three times.

“Yan Yan, I truly think your pika is good! It’s the machine that’s broken!” Zhao Can said, almost in tears after the staff member refused to let her try again.

“Mmm, it’s broken. But it doesn’t matter, even with the reward, it’s still not enough for forty red strings. The next task will probably give us more.” Cheng Tingyan said, comforting her.

Zhao Can, still unwilling to accept defeat, wanted to try again, but the staff member had already left with the lie detector.

They earned eleven red strings from the date, which were all given to Cheng Tingyan, bringing her total to 37.2.

“If we have another date, and you choose me, I’ll give you all the red strings.” Zhao Can said, unable to challenge the machine again, she could only offer this promise.

Cheng Tingyan doubted there would be another date so soon, but seeing Zhao Can’s disappointment, she nodded in agreement.

“But… do you truly think that bear head is… good?” Zhao Can asked before they left, then, before Cheng Tingyan could answer, she chuckled awkwardly. “Clay is so difficult to work with, mine is so ugly… It must be the machine.”

“It’s truly good.” Cheng Tingyan said sincerely, having eliminated Zhao Can as a suspect, she was grateful for the red strings. “You helped me, you gave me all the red strings, you’re a good person, and as they say, beautiful people create beautiful things, I think your little bear head is very cute, I truly like it.”

Zhao Can: “…“

Ah, that familiar feeling…

She had to resist!

But…

A little bear head? Zhao Can looked at the pancake-like thing, was Yan Yan’s filter a bit too thick?

The guests were sent back to their rooms.

Soon, the small cupcakes made by the Long-tailed Tit and the Tiger were delivered with lunch, the first date officially over.

Cheng Tingyan looked at the cupcake, a palm-sized treat, decorated with a cute tiger and a little chubby bird…

So they went baking.

Xia Lanruo, she had acted with Maomao in “Drunken Palace,” a kind, gentle, and slightly shy girl.

And now, they made cupcakes together, even decorating them with cute drawings, Maomao must be… happy?

Cheng Tingyan stared at the cupcake, lost in thought, until a new message appeared on the screen.

[At 2:00 PM, the next “Let’s Date” segment will begin.]

[The date location will be random, and your date will be determined by the audience’s red string votes (voting ended at 6:00 PM yesterday).]

[You can use the lunch break to write a letter to your new date or buy them a gift (the gift list will be delivered in five minutes).]

[A new date, will it be someone new, or someone familiar~~~]

Cheng Tingyan held her breath, her heart pounding.

How could they…

Do this…