Back to Three Years Old: Crushing Scumbags on a Parenting Reality Show 267

Chapter 267: Extra 3

“Stay here! Don’t go back to the old house! No one can control you there!” Zhang Shilan said, her face dark, as she rummaged through the cabinets in He Rongzheng’s room.

He Rongzheng, being scolded by his daughter, lay in bed obediently.

“Honey, isn’t this a bit much? Would Dad really hide snacks in his closet…?” Wei Chengli asked softly, stopping Zhang Shilan. “The children are here, give him some face.”

Zhang Shilan, pulling a bag out of the closet, held it up to Wei Chengli’s face and sneered. “Face?”

Wei Chengli, staring at the large bag of chocolates, turned to He Rongzheng in disbelief.

“Ahem… that’s from last month, I barely had any.” He Rongzheng said weakly. “And it’s dark chocolate, not sweet.”

“With your blood sugar, you’re eating chocolate?!” Wei Chengli said, raising his voice, he went to the bed and checked underneath.

A minute later, he pulled out a small basin filled with snacks.

He Rongzheng: “…“

The terrifying Sherlock Holmes couple!

He Rongzheng couldn’t handle their relentless nagging, but he was too embarrassed to ask the two younger ones for help.

It was his fault, his sweet tooth, ruining their honeymoon… they had to cut it short because of his hospitalization.

Health was important.

Wei Maomao also felt bad for her grandpa, but it was necessary, she wouldn’t intervene, she even held Cheng Tingyan’s hand to prevent her from doing so.

After ten minutes of lecturing, He Rongzheng, seeing no help coming, gave them his repeated assurances, and they finally relented.

“It’s late, let Dad rest.” Wei Chengli said, patting his still-fuming wife, he looked at He Rongzheng and sighed. “Dad, be careful, you’re in a Mercury retrograde period, you can’t be too careful.”

He Rongzheng: “…“ Making a film about astrology and now promoting superstition? He had so many complaints, but seeing his daughter’s expression, he kept quiet.

Wei Chengli, leading his wife to the door, glanced at Cheng Tingyan. “Yan Yan, you be careful too, we’re all in Mercury retrograde.”

“Okay, Dad, I will.” Cheng Tingyan said sincerely, having learned from Wei Chengli.

Wei Chengli nodded approvingly, then glanced at He Rongzheng, dissatisfied.

“What? Do you expect me to say that too?” He Rongzheng asked, raising an eyebrow.

“No… Dad, just rest.” Wei Chengli said and left quickly.

He Rongzheng, waving them away, after a moment of thought, asked Wei Maomao to stay.

Age was unforgiving, just a few snacks, and he ended up in the hospital… although he was fine now, he felt it was time for a serious talk.

The talk… it took a while.

Wei Maomao didn’t return to Cheng Tingyan’s apartment until past midnight.

Although she tried to be quiet, Cheng Tingyan, in bed, woke up.

“You’re back? What did Grandpa talk about for so long?” she asked, yawning, she had dozed off while waiting.

“Some work stuff.” Wei Maomao said, pulling the blanket up and tucking Cheng Tingyan in. “Go back to sleep, I’ll be back after washing up.”

Grandpa He had hired several professional managers, he often taught Maomao about delegating tasks, Cheng Tingyan, hearing this, didn’t suspect anything, she mumbled, “Hurry up,” and closed her eyes.

Wei Maomao, standing up, looked at the sleeping figure, her expression complex, then she went to the bathroom.

It was too late; she would let Yan Yan sleep, she would tell her about Cheng Rongrong tomorrow.

The night deepened.

The sleeping figure, lost in dreams, or perhaps… something more.

Zhang Shilan was startled awake by the sound of crying, someone sobbing in her dream.

And even after waking up, she could still hear it!

She turned on the bedside lamp and saw Wei Chengli, tears streaming down his face, his teeth sinking into the pillowcase, he was mumbling incoherently.

“What’s wrong?” she asked, shaking him gently, then, realizing he was still asleep, his body tense, she shook him harder. “Wake up, it’s just a dream.”

He finally woke up, his eyes bloodshot.

“It’s okay, it was just a dream.” Zhang Shilan said, looking at his tears, she instinctively reached for something to wipe his face, but there was only… the pillowcase.

Wei Chengli, his face covered by the pillowcase, didn’t struggle, he just clutched her hand tightly.

Zhang Shilan, her wrist hurting from his grip, didn’t pull away.

After wiping his face, he… was still crying. This wasn’t normal…

“You’re awake now, it was just a dream, don’t be afraid. Tell me, what did you dream about?” she asked softly.

“I… I dreamt that I owed a lot of money…” he said, his voice hoarse, he continued, as if in a trance.

Scams, debts, betrayal, a chaotic life, a mental breakdown… and…

“I was taking medicine, my mind was getting clearer, I could think again, Maomao, she worked so hard, getting me medicine, I was about to start working again, I wanted to adapt her book into a film, I wanted to send her back to school… why… why did someone push me down the stairs?! Maomao made me such delicious noodles that day, I hadn’t even done anything for her… why…?” Wei Chengli said, his voice breaking, he hugged his wife, sobbing uncontrollably.

Zhang Shilan, at first, she hadn’t thought it was just a dream about debt, but now… she had a bad feeling.

But… dreams weren’t always logical, right?

She waited patiently for him to finish, then wiped his face and patted his back. “Did you… dream about me?” she asked cautiously.

His sobs intensified, and Zhang Shilan’s eyes also reddened.

Then there was a knock on the door.

He Rongzheng, hearing the cries, his heart pounding, opened the door. “What’s going on? I could hear it all the way…”

Under the dim light, his usually cheerful son-in-law, sobbing uncontrollably, his face… swollen?

“Lanlan…” he said, looking at his daughter, whose eyes were also red, he wheeled himself closer. “What happened… bad news?”

He couldn’t have been… beaten up by his daughter, could he?

“He…” Zhang Shilan began, then Wei Chengli cried out even louder.

“Dad, Daddy… no Daddy…” He reached out and pulled He Rongzheng onto the bed, hugging him tightly.

In his dream, his wife had no father, he had no father either, everyone was so miserable!

He Rongzheng, almost suffocating, tried to push him away, then he was hugged even tighter.

He Rongzheng: “…”

His son-in-law, haunted by a vivid, almost real dream, his cries echoing through the villa.

Although the sound didn’t reach the next-door villa, perhaps because of their shared “Mercury retrograde,” the sleeping figure there also stirred, her brow furrowed in pain.

Cheng Tingyan didn’t know what was happening.

Like… a ghost watching another version of herself?

She called this other self… Yan Two.

Watching Yan Two’s life at double speed, Cheng Tingyan was surprised to find their first major divergence was… at age four?

In this world, Cheng Feiying and Liu Qiongfang also divorced when Yan Two was less than two, and at four, she also participated in “Where’s Baby Going” Season 1.

Then the divergence: after the show, Cheng Tingyan’s custody was given to Cheng Feiying, but Yan Two’s… remained with Liu Qiongfang.

Cheng Tingyan, unable to intervene, watched as Yan Two’s life unfolded.

She watched as Liu Qiongfang used Yan Two to manipulate Cheng Feiying, forcing her to fake illnesses, to lie, although she disapproved, Liu Qiongfang’s emotional outbursts and threats always worked on the young Yan Two.

Those tactics, they were effective everywhere.

But Yan Two did have some good fortune Cheng Tingyan didn’t.

Staying with Liu Qiongfang, she went to a different kindergarten, where she met a kind teacher who patiently listened to her, taught her singing and dancing, giving her a respite from her mother’s manipulations.

Cheng Tingyan hadn’t realized she had a talent for singing.

Then Liu Qiongfang moved, and Yan Two met a kind elderly neighbor, who, during Liu Qiongfang’s frantic episodes, offered her a safe haven, teaching her about plants and gardening.

Yes, a temporary haven, then she still had to return to that suffocating home.

Liu Qiongfang’s outbursts, when Cheng Feiying didn’t visit, and when he did…

Cheng Tingyan watched as Yan Two, caught between her mother’s madness and fake affection, became increasingly withdrawn.

In her past life, although she didn’t have to face Liu Qiongfang every day, she was ignored and bullied by Cheng Feiying’s new family…

And here, although Yan Two didn’t have to face that family, she had to endure her mother’s emotional rollercoaster…

Which was worse?

Cheng Tingyan couldn’t say.

Yan Two’s turning point, also “Where’s Baby Going,” but in this world, Cheng Rongrong didn’t participate, neither did Maomao or Zhizhi, the director was still Shi Dingshan, but many things were different.

To pay for Liu Qiongfang’s medical expenses, Yan Two played the part of the loving daughter perfectly, either because her acting was too convincing, or because Qin Sichao saw her potential, Cheng Feiying, seeing the opportunity for profit, started visiting them more often, he even left Bai Lei and Cheng Rongrong and remarried Liu Qiongfang.

Cheng Tingyan, seeing this, she… didn’t know what to say.

But Liu Qiongfang became more… normal, and Yan Two’s life improved.

Director Qin’s film was Yan Two’s breakthrough.

Films, dramas, variety shows, commercials, endorsements…

Cheng Tingyan watched as the young Yan Two became a money-making machine, she was even a bit… impressed.

Compared to her… she wasn’t as hardworking.

Yan Two’s efforts were evident, Cheng Feiying was completely dependent on her now, and when Bai Lei tried to expose Liu Qiongfang, Yan Two easily shut her down.

Cheng Tingyan, after seeing Liu Qiongfang’s “normal” behavior for a few years, understood why Yan Two didn’t object to their remarriage, she even approved of it, that cheating scumbag and that crazy woman, they deserved each other, as long as they stayed away from her.

Yan Two grew up, and Cheng Tingyan saw no affection for her parents in her eyes, only a cold indifference, using money to solve problems, Cheng Tingyan thought… it was good.

In Yan Two’s world, Wen Dongyu, Shen Zilin, and she, they were the money-making trio, no time for romance.

Three cobblers, half a Zhuge Liang.

Wen Dongyu, at a young age, started modeling, secretly saving money, renting an apartment, hiding his treasures and his pet cat there… after turning eighteen, he left home, treating his family’s house like a hotel, only visiting during holidays, leaving nothing personal behind.

Shen Zilin and his father’s relationship remained strained, but he wasn’t as… drastic as Wen Dongyu, he would still inherit the company, but his father…

And Yan Two… after turning eighteen, she legally reclaimed the money she earned as a child, from her parents, her wealth her only security.

And Zhizhi, in this world, he hadn’t interacted much with Yan Two, based on the occasional news articles, he was similar to the Zhizhi in Cheng Tingyan’s past life… Cheng Tingyan missed him, the one they raised together, the one who shared his success with them, the one who was happy, who wanted them to be happy.

Yan Two’s career was even more successful than Cheng Tingyan’s, both lifetimes combined.

Up to this point, Yan Two’s life, although different, was… good.

But… you couldn’t just lose things without gaining something in return, an unbalanced life created new problems.

Yan Two’s career grew, so did her dosage of antidepressants.

And she wasn’t alone, Wen Dongyu also…

Cheng Tingyan, accompanying Yan Two to a TV station, saw Wen Jiangyue, now a host, being lectured by Wen Qiming, she couldn’t help but retort, “Did I even want to do this?!” Cheng Tingyan felt uneasy.

And when Yan Two, instead of intervening, pulled a staff member aside and sent him on a wild goose chase, Cheng Tingyan felt even worse.

Yan Two… Wen Jiangyue… and the others, they could have…

Then she heard Maomao calling her.

“Yan Yan.”

Once, then again.

She missed Maomao, she wanted to be with Maomao, she didn’t want to stay in this increasingly bleak world.

But… she couldn’t leave Yan Two.

She watched as Yan Two worked tirelessly, took her medicine religiously… a successful career on the surface, behind the scenes, either relying on medication to sleep, or drinking with Wen Dongyu until dawn.

Some people spent their entire lives healing from their childhood.

Cheng Tingyan could imagine the ending, but she couldn’t bear to watch.

But…

Out of fifty, Heaven calculates forty-nine.

That was when Cheng Tingyan saw Maomao, for the first time in Yan Two’s world.

The little girl, holding a cotton candy, gave a small piece to the elderly man in the wheelchair, then stepped back, giggling. “Grandpa, just this much, or Mom will scold me.”

“Bad baby.” He Rongzheng said, then, seeing Yan Two, he grinned mischievously. “Bad baby, look, that person you like, the one who insisted on sponsoring my show, she’s looking at you.”

Little Maomao, her face red, her eyes sparkling, fumbling with the cotton candy and her autograph book…

“Here, let me hold that for you, baby.” He Rongzheng said.

Cheng Tingyan also smiled, grandpas were the same everywhere, always wanting a piece of the sweet treat.

And Little Maomao, not falling for it, continued struggling.

Cheng Tingyan moved.

Or rather, Yan Two moved, taking Cheng Tingyan’s perspective with her.

“I’ll hold it for you.” She said, taking the cotton candy.

Cheng Tingyan, looking at Little Maomao’s blushing face, decided to call her… Mao Two.

But she didn’t see more of Yan Two and Mao Two’s story, because Mao One finally called her back.

“What’s wrong with you, sleeping so soundly?! You scared me!” Wei Maomao said, her eyes red with worry, she couldn’t wake Cheng Tingyan up.

“I’m awake, I’m awake.” Cheng Tingyan said, sitting up quickly, she looked at the worried little one. “Why did you wake me up? Did you want to…”

“Want what?!” Wei Maomao said, still annoyed, swatting her hand away. “You were frowning and sighing in your sleep, I couldn’t wake you up, you scared me!”

“Sorry, I must have had a… vivid dream.” Cheng Tingyan said, smiling wryly, she patted Wei Maomao’s back.

This time, Wei Maomao didn’t push her away. “You’ve never done that before, what did you dream about?”

Dream about…

Cheng Tingyan glanced at the clock, 1:12 AM.

It was too late, she would tell Maomao tomorrow.

“What are you thinking about?” Wei Maomao asked, seeing her looking away.

“Thinking about… telling Yueyue that… losing hair isn’t because of math.” Cheng Tingyan said, surprised by her own words.

Wei Maomao: “…”

Cheng Tingyan, amused by her speechless expression, pulled her onto the bed. “Just a bad dream, let’s sleep.”

“You’re lying, you were smiling at the end.” Wei Maomao said, refusing to be fooled.

“Because I dreamt about you, happy ending.” Cheng Tingyan said, she gently took Wei Maomao’s hand and kissed it, smiling softly. “Maomao, I’m so glad I met you.”

In every life, in every world, I have to meet you.

<The End>