Su Huan stood frozen in place as if struck by lightning, her face pale, her gaze fixed on the nearly healed wound on her collarbone.
Countless thoughts flashed through her mind, ultimately all settling into stillness.
Just as she had said, she wouldn't do anything to make things difficult for Shen Xiaoyu. Even if something had happened between the two of them, she would pretend she hadn't seen it.
As long as she didn't see it, she could pretend nothing had happened. She could interact naturally with Shen Xiaoyu without wanting to drag her into her lair and tear her apart.
She warned herself internally—pretend it never happened, don't ask, don't listen, don't try to understand.
This is what an ordinary friend should do, isn't it?
Thinking this way, her expression finally returned to normal, though her complexion was still quite poor.
[Villain corruption value -10]
Shen Xiaoyu met her gaze, understanding that she had misunderstood, but had no intention of explaining. She just beckoned to Shen Nian'an.
Shen Nian'an immediately got down from her arms and skipped over.
Shi Qiubai put on an ordinary smile and warmly greeted Su Huan.
"Senior Su, please sit for a while until An'an finishes packing her things. An'an brought back quite a lot from this trip. Though she video-called several times a day, Senior Su should have seen it all. I didn't want to spoil it, but I imagine Senior Su has already seen everything in advance."
Su Huan's sinister eyes shot directly at her, her beautiful face slightly raised, showing obvious disdain.
"Thank you for helping me take care of my daughter. I'll have someone transfer the expenses for their mother and daughter to your card. The extra money can be considered payment for your hard work these past few days."
Following her words, Shi Qiubai's phone chimed with a payment notification. The amount was more than double what they had spent on the trip.
[Villain corruption value +2]
Shi Qiubai's smile faded slightly as she looked straight at Su Huan, raising her eyebrows slightly, a cold flash of light shooting from her eyes.
She had underestimated her.
She thought she would still be the same as before, stupidly charging forward.
This hospitalization seemed to have opened her meridians, raising her intelligence and making her know to use gentle tactics to win back sister.
[Villain corruption value +2]
[Villain corruption value +3]
[Villain corruption value +5]
Shen Xiaoyu in the room was full of question marks. [System, what's happening? Why are there so many message notifications?]
[Host should go see for herself.] The system had an attitude of watching the show.
Shen Xiaoyu quickened her packing speed.
Shi Qiubai immediately became interested, waving her phone. "Then thank you, Senior Su, for contributing to our sweet time together. Next time there's such a good opportunity, we'll notify Senior Su again."
"Then pray—pray that you'll still have such opportunities in the future." Su Huan smiled sweetly, her eyes showing undisguised provocation.
[Villain corruption value +10]
Shi Qiubai ground her teeth. Hearing the sound from behind, she turned her head and said to Shen Xiaoyu who was coming out, with an exaggerated expression while holding her phone: "Sister, Senior Su reimbursed us for this trip's expenses! When we have free time, we can go on another trip."
She showed Shen Xiaoyu the payment notification on her phone, grinning happily like a fool.
Shen Xiaoyu: ...
So what exactly were they up to? Why were these values bouncing up and down?
Shen Xiaoyu looked at Su Huan with a confused expression, her eyes questioning why.
Su Huan's pale, sickly face showed a smile as she put on a polite demeanor: "I never have time to take An'an out. Thank you so much for this trip, Qiubai. I don't have anything to thank you with, so I can only express my gratitude this way. Besides, you put so much thought into their mother and daughter relationship, I couldn't let you spend your own money."
The reason was reasonable and proper, leaving Shen Xiaoyu and Shi Qiubai unable to refuse, but the amount was really too much.
But thinking about it again, Su Huan could earn ten times this amount from one variety show appearance. Refusing would seem ungrateful.
"If I had known Senior Su was so generous, I would have abducted An'an earlier." Shi Qiubai said, bending down to pinch An'an's little cheeks. "You're really my precious little treasure. When you move into my house in the future, you must bless me to make lots of money!"
Shen Nian'an rolled her eyes at her and pulled her suitcase to Su Huan's side. "Mommy, let's go!"
Before leaving, the little girl turned to wave at them. "Goodbye, Mama~" She paused, then said emotionlessly, "Goodbye, bad auntie."
"Bye bye." Shi Qiubai waved both hands.
"Goodbye." Shen Xiaoyu walked them to the elevator, watching the elevator doors close, feeling somewhat empty inside.
No wonder parents don't want their children to go too far from them. This feeling was indeed uncomfortable.
She wondered how her mother was doing in the other world, whether her disappearance would make her mother afraid and worried.
Shen Xiaoyu sighed slightly. Turning around, she met Shi Qiubai's thoughtful gaze.
"If Sister can't bear to part with An'an, we could let An'an stay here a bit longer. We could have Senior Su pick her up the day before the variety show starts filming."
Shen Xiaoyu shook her head. "Forget it, let's pack our things first. Also, I need to ask you about the variety show. I have no experience at all."
She spoke while walking into the house.
In the underground parking garage, Shen Nian'an followed Su Huan into the car.
She could see that Su Huan was in a bad mood, so she held her hand and asked, "Mommy, are you unhappy?"
Su Huan came back to her senses and smiled. "No, why do you ask?"
Shen Nian'an stared at her face for a while, then said gloomily, "I just feel like you're not very happy. Is it because I went out to play with Mama and her?"
"Of course not. Why would you think that?"
Shen Nian'an couldn't really explain it. She just felt that Mommy wasn't very happy, but looking at her expression, she didn't seem very sad either.
The little girl couldn't figure it out, her small face scrunching up in confusion.
Su Huan pressed her lips together and changed the subject: "By the way, do you know how your mama got that wound on her neck?"
Speaking of this, Shen Nian'an felt a bit guilty and said vaguely, "Probably bumped into something."
"How did she bump into it?"
Shen Nian'an hesitated, but finally told Mommy about how she had gotten angry and hit Shi Qiubai with a banana, causing Shi Qiubai to fall onto Mama and bump her collarbone.
"So that's how it was." Su Huan murmured meaningfully, her lips slowly curving into a smile, her mood improving accordingly.
What was Shi Qiubai so proud of?
Did she think a little bump would make her dreams come true?
Shen Nian'an rested her chin on her hand and sighed deeply. "I heard Aunt Shi say that Mama is going to participate in a variety show. Is it the variety show that Mommy mentioned to me?"
"'Flowers Growing Up'?"
"Yes, I heard Aunt Shi say they would also participate. Are we going too?"
Su Huan nodded. "Do you want to go? If you don't want to—"
"I want to go!" Shen Nian'an immediately said. "I want to go to the variety show with Mama!"
"Alright, but you must keep it secret. You can't tell Mama about this. We'll tell her after the show's publicity comes out, okay?" Su Huan gently stroked her little head.
"A surprise?" Shen Nian'an nodded. "I'll keep it secret. I definitely won't tell Mama!"
"Now can you tell Mommy how this week's trip was?"
Su Huan smiled as she listened to her daughter's soft voice, carefully thinking about the variety show arrangements.
Time flew by, and soon "Flowers Growing Up" entered its publicity phase.
The guest announcements started with silhouette posters, revealing one family each week.
The first two announced were civilian families. Since they were assumed to be supporting cast, they didn't cause much of a splash. The third-to-last group was a female actress from the entertainment industry who had faded from the spotlight after having a child. As soon as her silhouette was released, it immediately hit the trending topics, with everyone guessing who it was.
Two weeks before the premiere, the second-to-last family's silhouette was revealed. Due to a distinctive hand gesture, Shi Qiubai's name immediately shot to the top of trending topics.
[I knew from the earlier publicity that Shi Qiubai would definitely be on the show, and I finally got to see it!]
[Holy crap, Shi Qiubai is only the second-to-last group? Then who's the last group? It can't be what I'm thinking, right?]
[There were rumors earlier about Su Huan, but she hasn't participated in variety shows for years, and she never mentions her daughter in public, so...]
[This isn't impossible. Wasn't there that leaked photo last time? I'm cautiously optimistic~]
Various discussions dominated the internet for a week before the final poster was released. This time, instead of a silhouette, it was a direct photo of Su Huan and Shen Nian'an.
The mother and daughter wore matching outfits while sitting on the sofa at home, warm and gentle.
The internet was left with only exclamations.
Shen Xiaoyu, who was also following the announcements, was stunned.
Su Huan was going on the show?!
Why didn't she mention it before?
Shi Qiubai smiled (gritted her teeth): "Senior Su must have been afraid that if Sister knew, she wouldn't participate in the variety show, so she didn't tell Sister right away. Now that the contracts are signed, even if you want to back out, it's useless."
Shen Xiaoyu looked at the evening's news, pursing her lips tightly without speaking.
She sent a message to Shen Nian'an, asking about their participation in the variety show.
Soon, Shen Nian'an called back with a voice message, explaining that it was because Su Huan had signed a confidentiality agreement, so she couldn't tell her.
There was indeed such a clause in the signing contract, but Shen Xiaoyu had no friends, and the only person around her, Shi Qiubai, was also a guest on the same show, so there was no need for confidentiality. Thus, she had completely forgotten about that clause.
She never expected that clause would come into play at this moment.
Shen Xiaoyu's feelings were indescribably complex.
However, the situation was already set. Changing it would require paying ten times the penalty fee.
It didn't seem worth it. It was just recording a variety show.
However, another person who saw the online news was so angry she directly smashed her phone.
"She's participating in a variety show? She's actually taking the child to participate in a variety show together? Why would she participate in a variety show?"
In the exquisite room, Tang Tang sat on the soft big bed, her eyes blazing with fury as she murmured quietly.
Su Huan never went on variety shows, but now she was actually taking her child on a variety show together?
Suddenly, a flash of inspiration crossed her mind. She thought of something and picked up her phone again to check Weibo messages. In the previous "Flowers Growing Up" publicity silhouette of a single mother, she saw a familiar shadow.
Shen Xiaoyu!
She wasn't wrong. This shadow was definitely Shen Xiaoyu's!
Shen Xiaoyu could actually participate in this variety show, and it was obviously Su Huan's arrangement!
Thinking of the setback she had suffered at Su Huan's hands before, Tang Tang was filled with rage.
Why could they live so freely, participating in variety shows everywhere, traveling everywhere, while she was trapped like a bird in this beautiful cage?
She glanced toward the door, vaguely seeing shadows moving under the door.
These people were all arranged by Ning Yu to watch over her and ensure the child in her belly grew properly.
The child...
Just a parasite that would only drain her nutrients!
If she hadn't been discovered, this parasite wouldn't have survived until now. She had no chance to get rid of the child now, and the system wouldn't agree to let her kill this so-called future female protagonist.
Moreover, according to what the correction system said, people in this world wouldn't cause them any substantial harm.
But what if it wasn't someone from this world?
Tang Tang suddenly thought of Shen Xiaoyu. If she could change Su Huan's fate, she could definitely change her own fate too!
Suddenly, the hum of a car engine came from outside. She walked to the window and saw Ning Yu getting out of the car.
Her eyes rolled, and she turned back to find videos of the first season of "Flowers Growing Up." When Ning Yu came upstairs, she happened to see a certain celebrity's little daughter laughing as she threw herself into her mother's arms.
Tang Tang heard the sound and turned back with feigned panic. Seeing the person behind her, she showed a timid expression.
"You, you're back."
She hurriedly stood up and quickly approached, wearing an obedient smile on her face.
Ning Yu was very satisfied with her performance. One hand wrapped around her shoulders while the other caressed her protruding belly. "How was today? Did our daughter give you any trouble?"
"No." She smiled and sat down on the bedside with Ning Yu.
Ning Yu glanced at the tablet in front of her. The screen showed several children interacting harmoniously with their parents, with the "Flowers Growing Up" logo prominently displayed in the upper left corner.
She withdrew her gaze indifferently and asked the housekeeper about Tang Tang's diet and activities for the day.
She never avoided Tang Tang when discussing these matters, wanting to tell her that this villa was the most perfect cage she had built, and Tang Tang shouldn't dream of escaping.
Tang Tang kept her eyes lowered submissively, pretending that it wasn't her privacy being disclosed.
But then again, given her current state, what privacy did she have left?
After Ning Yu finished inquiring, she frowned slightly. "You haven't been eating much lately. Are you feeling unwell? Let's have the doctor take a look."
Seeing her about to call someone, Tang Tang immediately stopped her. "I'm fine. Maybe it's because I don't get enough exercise, so my appetite is small. Didn't the doctor say I shouldn't just rest all the time, that I should also get some activity? Preferably outdoors to get some fresh air."
Tang Tang said, picking up the tablet. "Maybe it's from watching too many children that I'm starting to look forward to our daughter's birth. But Ah-Yu, I'm a bit worried. I'm afraid I won't be a good mother. Every time I see these children throwing tantrums, I feel helpless, afraid I'll mess things up."
"It would be great if I could learn from mothers with parenting experience, but I can only stay on the balcony at home every day without this opportunity."
After speaking, she sighed slightly, placing the tablet where Ning Yu could see it. While feigning melancholy, she didn't forget to carefully observe Ning Yu's reaction.
She had figured it out—Ning Yu was someone who responded to softness, not force.
If she wanted Ning Yu to agree to let her participate in the variety show, she could only show weakness.
"You want to go on this variety show?" Ning Yu asked directly.
The show's marketing was very effective. While announcing Su Huan, all major platforms began releasing announcements, directly maximizing the show's popularity.
As a company executive, Ning Yu naturally knew about her partner's work arrangements for the coming period.
She crossed her legs, scrutinizing Tang Tang as if trying to see right through her. "Still thinking about Su Huan? Think you can rekindle things by going on a variety show together?"
"Of course not!" Tang Tang bit her lip, looking aggrieved. "I do want to participate in the variety show, but I just want to interact with the children and get into the role of a mother early. I'm the one carrying this child for ten months. My feelings for this child won't be any less than yours!"
She stood up aggrievedly and sat on the sofa, her face pale and thin, showing a look of sorrow and melancholy.
This angle made her look the most pitiful. If Ning Yu truly loved her, she wouldn't remain unmoved.
Sure enough, the next second Ning Yu also sat beside her. "I didn't say I disagreed. It's just that you're still pregnant, and going on shows inevitably involves some danger."
Tang Tang said nothing, just quietly looking at her.
Ning Yu thought for a moment. "How about this—if your checkup values are all in the normal range at next week's prenatal exam, I'll agree to let you participate in the show. But if your values are still low, then you'll continue staying at home."
"Alright!" She agreed immediately.
Tang Tang lowered her head to caress her protruding belly, feeling her heartbeat accelerating, her breathing becoming heavier, and her blood circulation speeding up.
No matter what, she had to participate in this variety show!
This was her only chance. If she missed it, she would be doomed forever!
A week later, the show released another promotional image.
This time there were no silhouettes, but a nine-grid photo officially announcing all the adult and child guests.
#FlowersGrowingUp# climbed to the peak again.
[??????? Holy shit! The show really knows how to stir things up!]
[Shen Xiaoyu, Su Huan, Tang Tang, Shi Qiubai... the drama quartet! Just pick any two of them and you've got a trending topic. This show actually gathered all four of them. The director is truly a genius!]
[Hahahaha I just want to know how this show is going to be filmed. Is it really "Flowers Growing Up" or "Drama Development Ground"? Can't wait to see]
[I love the comment above! I really want to see "Drama Development Ground"—just thinking about it is exciting]
[So when exactly will filming start? I can't wait anymore!]
[To be honest, can't they just start recording today? Just do a live broadcast. Having to wait until next week to start recording—my membership is about to expire]
The official "Flowers Growing Up" blog replied to netizens: Congratulations, you've won! This season boldly adopts a live broadcast format. Next Saturday at 9 AM, see you in the "Flowers Growing Up" live stream~ [flying kiss][flying kiss]
Netizens: ???
Someone's stirring up trouble! But without evidence, they could only use a microscope to watch the live stream and verify their suspicions.
Soon a week passed, and the show officially premiered on Saturday morning at nine o'clock.
On the winding mountain road, Shen Xiaoyu was climbing uphill while dragging a suitcase.
The filming location for the sixth season of "Flowers Growing Up" was in a village called Shuiyu in H Province. Because it was quite far away, Shen Xiaoyu could only fly to the nearest airport, then transfer with the crew, and finally take the crew's vehicle into Shuiyu Village.
The reason she wasn't traveling with Shi Qiubai was because the production team wouldn't allow it—they deliberately bought them tickets at different times.
The announcements were already finished, yet she didn't know what they were hiding here.
Shen Xiaoyu dragged her suitcase while complaining internally.
After a long day of bumpy travel and quite a bit of waiting, the car she was in finally slowly entered the village.
But there was still a stretch of road from the village entrance to the filming location. She had originally thought it would go smoothly, but forgot that the area was surrounded by mountains, so the roads weren't easy to navigate.
She struggled quite a bit to pull her suitcase up, then saw the red carpet laid out by the production team, and also—
Cameras.
Although she was mentally prepared, seeing rows of cameras after getting out of the car still startled her. Then she summoned her current influencer skills, smiling as she dragged her suitcase into the camera frame.
The woman standing in front of the cameras with cue cards smiled and approached her. "Oh my, speak of the devil! Our final 'parent' has finally arrived. Could our new friend introduce herself to our live stream audience?"
So it really was a live stream.
Shen Xiaoyu's smile became even brighter as she skillfully greeted the camera. "Hello, Village Chief Qiao. Hello to all our audience friends. I'm Shen Xiaoyu."
After speaking, she bowed, the entire sequence flowing smoothly as if she had done it countless times.
In places she couldn't see, the live stream chat was frantically scrolling.
[She's here! She's here! She's walking over with trending topics!]
[What methods did she use to make three women pine for her? Finally, we're going to uncover the mystery of this enigmatic woman in a children's variety show!]
[Hmph, just seeking attention. On a variety show today, probably going to start acting tomorrow. Really desperate for fame.]
[I really don't want to see this woman. Sisters, I'm switching rooms. Follow me.]
[Can the cameraman see the chat? Could you ask Shen Xiaoyu if she gives courses? I really want to know how she managed to hook up with the Best Actress and even got her to have a daughter for her?]
[Holy crap! I want to know too!]
[First you need to... then you need to... finally you just...]
[Listening to your words is like listening to words.]
Various types of comments emerged endlessly, but unfortunately these voices couldn't reach Shen Xiaoyu's ears, or she would only feel embarrassed.
However, after introducing her, the host directly brought out everyone else.
Whether intentionally or not, Shen Xiaoyu and the two children stood together in a line, like they were being scolded.
She hadn't felt anything before, but now Shen Xiaoyu inexplicably felt like she had been caught cheating.
Shen Xiaoyu racked her brains but couldn't figure out where this feeling came from.
It couldn't possibly be because there was one child's mother on the left, a 'girlfriend' on the right, and another child's mother who was also a rumored romantic interest just one person away, right?
Shen Xiaoyu realized belatedly that participating in this variety show might not have been a good idea.
She could foresee that for the foreseeable future, her name would be on trending topics every day.
She closed her eyes and silently prayed, hoping these three people would all have some sense of boundaries.