Chapter 108
People who were not used to doing housework, suddenly having to clean an entire house by themselves, even with the program team being lenient during the inspection, they still worked until their eyes were blurry. By the time they finished, it was almost noon.
One received a box of colored pens and cardboard, the other received a photo of a little chubby bunny.
The staff member, holding the box, his body steaming, didn’t dare to look at Shen Jianghe’s expression. But looking down, he couldn’t help but notice his sweat-soaked pants…
Cheng Feiying and Wang Qingchuan flipping the tokens in the public restrooms, privately communicating with the assistant directors, wanting to end the role-swap segment early, this morning’s events had already spread throughout the staff’s group chat.
Not liking cilantro was indeed difficult to endure, having a troublemaking younger sister was also truly not easy… But were they the ones who made Cheng Feiying cook mushrooms for Yan Yan every meal? Were they the ones who made Wang Qingchuan favor his second child? Although no one could always be right and do everything perfectly, but if they went astray and even rejected those who tried to remind them, it was a bit…
In comparison, Shen Jianghe and Wen Xiang, who had been diligently working all morning, were truly admirable.
Admirable as they were, the work still had to be done.
“Congratulations, CEO Shen, you have completed our first special task and received a special item that can be used to retrieve your baby.” The staff member said quickly, his head slightly lowered, looking at Shen Jianghe’s sweat-stained pants. “Now, CEO Shen, you can choose to either explore the item’s use and start retrieving your baby or complete the second special task to get more clues on how to properly use this special item. So, CEO Shen, would you like to start our second special task?”
“No need.” Shen Jianghe shook his head, refusing.
While the staff member was talking, he had already examined the contents of the box twice.
Putting aside the colored pens for now, those cardboard pieces…
Each piece was folded in half, about the size of Shen Jianghe’s hand when folded.
He was very familiar with both the texture and the size.
This kind of cardboard, no, it should be said, greeting cards made with this kind of cardboard, he had a whole box of them.
His birthday, every holiday, even ordinary days when he wanted to share something. From the two-year-old Shen Zilin, who could barely hold a pen and just scribbled randomly, to three, four years old, his drawings became more and more realistic, and he could even write a few simple words on them.
Like “Dad,” “Happy,” “Miss you,” “Come home”…
Then at five years old, the drawings on the cardboard started to have his own aesthetic and style, but… the words and the frequency of the cards decreased, it felt more like a perfunctory task, just going through the motions.
Shen Jianghe, in these past years, had received many cards sent from the old residence, but he didn’t go back every time. To be precise, he rarely went back, whether they sent him cards or not.
He spent several years avoiding Shen Zilin’s eyes, which were too similar to his deceased wife’s. It wasn’t until these past two years that he gradually let go, he went back more often, realizing that he needed to make an effort to bridge the gap between them.
Going home, giving money, buying gifts, taking his son out to play, participating in this parenting variety show…
Shen Zilin was still young, they had a long life ahead of them, Shen Jianghe always thought that they would gradually become closer, become a more intimate father and son. And in fact, before today, Shen Jianghe felt that after joining the show, their communication had indeed increased, they could even talk a bit about business, although there was still childishness in it, it was quite interesting.
Everything seemed to be getting better.
But it turned out… it was all an illusion…
Shen Jianghe looked at the colored pens and cardboard in the box, only today did he realize that what he should be doing wasn’t creating a future, but… mending the past.
A house without a foundation was like a castle in the air, no matter how beautiful and grand the skyscraper built on it might seem, the deep void would always exist, it would never be stable.
He didn’t need a second task to hint at how to use this item, Shen Jianghe knew exactly what he should do. And he also knew… if the babies’ task today was to play the role of their dads, then his efforts might not be able to bring back his baby.
Even if he couldn’t bring him back, he still had to do it.
Shen Jianghe tightly gripped the small box in his hand.
Around the same time, in the courtyard next door, Wen Xiang also finished cleaning and received a photo of Wei Maomao, smiling foolishly, in the envelope.
Similarly, the staff member also asked Wen Xiang if he wanted to complete the second special task to learn how to use this special item.
Wen Xiang frowned slightly, stared at the photo of Wei Maomao, her fluffy hair and happy, confident face, for a while, then drank the entire bottle of mineral water in one gulp, and shook his head. “No need, I know what to do.”
The staff member cleared his throat, trying to persuade him.
But Wen Xiang, without hesitation, left the courtyard.
And so, the staff member following Wen Xiang and the viewers in the live broadcast room watched as he rushed back to his house and took out a bulging bag.
“You guys do have things that can be exchanged for Daddy Coins today, right?” Wen Xiang asked the staff, seeking confirmation.
After receiving a positive response, Wen Xiang left with the bag, he didn’t even bother changing his clothes or wiping his sweat.
Seeing Wen Xiang’s actions, the viewers, who had been worried that he wouldn’t understand the meaning of the photo, were finally relieved.
“Wen Xiang is still somewhat intelligent, he knows he can’t just go and ask for his child back empty-handed, he even knows to bring money, quite polite.”
“Seeing Dongdong always following CEO Mao and the others, even going to their house for meals before, and combining it with this photo, it shouldn’t be difficult for Wen Xiang to figure out that Dongdong gave his most beloved child to CEO Mao. But CEO Mao doesn’t know that Dongdong is hers yet, hahaha! When Dongdong went over this morning, CEO Mao was at Yan Yan’s house, Director Wei hadn’t woken up yet, after Dongdong saw the mush cooking in the pot… he ran away, hahaha.”
“After all, Director Wei’s mush is notoriously unappetizing, who would have thought that CEO Mao would learn from him, but add so much sincerity to it?”
“Wen Xiang can’t get Dongdong back now, Dongdong and Little CEO Shen are earning money in the field.”
“Speaking of which, CEO Shen and Wen Xiang are truly working hard, those old, unmaintained houses… I don’t think I could even handle it.”
“But why did Wen Xiang ask about the things that can be exchanged for Daddy Coins? Isn’t giving money directly polite enough? Is he planning to exchange for some gifts to bring over?”
“Hahaha, that must be it, and Wen Xiang is quite smart, he doesn’t seem to be planning on bringing the things that can be exchanged for Daddy Coins, he’s using real money! The program team truly… forced the guests to create a new business model… I never thought I would see Wen Xiang selling braised food! Beibei, your business has a successor!”
…
Wang Qingbei’s previous success, as told by Wang Zhizhi and Shen Zilin, the dads had all heard about it to some extent.
Wen Xiang never thought that there would be a day when he would learn something just by hearing it and then put it into practice immediately.
But he had to admit, Wang Qingbei’s idea was truly good.
Exchange Daddy Coins for braised food and beer, sell them for real money, then go to the convenience store and buy baby snacks.
Wen Xiang followed the path laid by his predecessor, steadily and surely, he even sold the lunchbox the program team gave him.
Wei Chengli, who had just finished lunch, opened the courtyard gate after hearing a knock. He saw Wen Xiang, his hands full of bags, as if he had just returned from a snack wholesale market.
“Uh…” Wei Chengli, looking at the snacks Wen Xiang could barely hold, slowly extended his hand in friendship, then retracted it, feeling something was wrong. He finally said weakly, “Are you looking for Dongdong? He’s not here…”
Wen Xiang looked at the courtyard behind Wei Chengli, at the stone table, Wei Maomao, Cheng Tingyan, and Wen Jiangyue were all holding chopsticks, seemingly eating. There was also Wen Qiming next to them, holding a pen, writing something. There was indeed no one he wanted to see.
“I’m not looking for Dongdong, I’m looking for Maomao.” Wen Xiang said, not feeling disappointed. Overall, his heart was already at rock bottom, it was difficult for him to feel disappointed by such a minor setback.
“Oh, oh, okay.” Wei Chengli stepped aside, confused.
Wen Xiang walked straight to the stone table, glanced at the almost-empty lunchbox in front of Wei Maomao, and quietly took two steps back.
Although Wen Xiang didn’t say anything, standing there with his hands full of bags, his presence was strong.
The three little babies all stopped eating, looking at the sweaty, dusty Wen Xiang curiously.
“Well… Maomao, Uncle Wen is looking for you.” Wei Chengli, who had followed them, finally spoke, then looked at Wen Xiang. “What did you want to see her for again?”
“No rush, Maomao, finish your meal first.” Wen Xiang said, standing straight.
The commotion was a bit loud, Wen Qiming, dizzy from the math problems, looked up from the test paper, turned to Wen Xiang, then couldn’t help but chuckle. “Xiao Wen, did you go and move goods? Look at your sweat and dust, put down those things and wash your face first.”
“No need, it’s fine.” Wen Xiang refused, trying his best not to look at Wei Maomao’s lunchbox, not wanting to pressure her into eating quickly.
Wen Qiming rubbed his eyes and asked curiously, “Did you know? The babies are imitating us today. Our one is playing the role of a parent who makes their child learn the knowledge they like, what about yours?”
“… “ Wen Xiang opened his mouth slightly, hesitated, then looked at Wei Maomao. “Our one is the parent who gives away their child’s favorite thing.”
Wei Maomao, under his gaze, was confused, but she instinctively shoved the last two mouthfuls of food into her mouth.
“Then what was yours given away? We didn’t bring much, clothes? Shoes?” Wen Qiming chuckled, looking at the dusty Wen Xiang. “It can’t be facial cleanser? Body wash? Towel?”
“Child.” Wen Xiang ended the questioning concisely.
Wen Qiming: “… “ His smile froze.
Wei Chengli: “… “ He instinctively looked at the stove.
The three babies gasped in shock, their mouths agape, like three little birds waiting to be fed.
“Then… Then Uncle Wen, why are you looking for me?” Wei Maomao asked, feeling a bit guilty.
Yes, guilty.
If they traced it back, the change in the Wen family’s situation probably started on the first day of the show, when everyone first met, when she said, “My dad said that we girls have to protect our own property,” to stop Cheng Feiying from switching rooms.
Wei Maomao didn’t know if, in her previous life, under Wen Dongyu’s happiness on the show, there was unhappiness from not being able to protect his own property. And it was hard to imagine if that lack of autonomy would gradually fade away with time, or if it would eventually become an indelible mark on his life.
But in this life… because of her, Wen Dongyu spoke up to Wen Xiang.
And step by step, it had become like this…
Wei Maomao also didn’t know if, in the future, Wen Dongyu would be better off than in her previous life, or…
Anyway, although she wasn’t the root cause of the Wen family’s problems, the current situation was indeed related to her.
Facing Wen Xiang, whose child had been given away, Wei Maomao felt a bit guilty, she instinctively leaned towards Cheng Tingyan, and quickly received a reassuring squeeze on her hand.
“I’m looking for Maomao because Dongdong seems to like you a lot, he listens to you, he even calls you ‘Boss.’ I want to hear how Dongdong talked about me these past few days… And… what should I do…” Wen Xiang said, lifting the bags full of snacks and placing them on the empty space on the stone table. He looked at the surprised little chubby baby and said awkwardly, “I don’t know what you like to eat, so I just bought some random things.”
Wei Maomao: “… “
Everyone in the courtyard: “… “
The viewers in the live broadcast room were also speechless!
If he couldn’t figure out the true meaning of the photo, he should have just done the second task!
He was truly dedicated to paying tuition…
Leave a Reply