Chapter Twenty: This One Is Sweet, Have a Taste

Everyone's gaze turned to Feng Rui. She held a bowl in one hand and a spoon in the other, her expression somewhat embarrassed, but she still spoke softly, trying to persuade Mingming beside her.

“Mingming, be good. We're in a temple, so we need to eat vegetables. Eat these first, and tomorrow we'll have meat, alright?”

Mingming's little eyes darted mischievously, as if determined to deliberately oppose her. His small legs kicked at the floor restlessly.

“I don't want it, I don't want it! I just want meat! You're mistreating me, I'm going to tell my dad!”

Feng Rui gritted her teeth in frustration, but outwardly had to maintain the appearance of a gentle stepmother. She extended the spoon toward him.

“Don't make a fuss. Look at the other children. Try it—this is delicious too.”

“If you want it, you eat it!” Mingming shouted angrily, swinging his tiny fist and striking Feng Rui's arm. The rice and vegetables spilled onto the floor, some even splattering onto her face.

For a moment, Feng Rui's expression froze. Soon, Yin Shanshan beside her handed over a tissue. Feng Rui lowered her head to wipe her face, holding back the urge to cry, and thanked her quietly.

Sitting next to Su Wan Ning, Nian Nian looked confused and whispered, “Mommy, the vegetables taste so good—why doesn't Mingming want to eat them?”

Su Wan Ning smiled, gently explaining, “Because Mingming is a little carnivore. He doesn't like these things.”

“Oh,” Nian Nian pouted.

She thought these dishes were delicious—why wouldn't Mingming like them?

Soon, a thought sparked in the little girl's mind.

“Mommy, I'll go persuade Mingming. I'll feed him. When I was little and refused to eat, it was always brother who fed me!”

[Brother, what's Mom's job then?]

[Children speak without filter; Su Wan Ning really isn't qualified!]

Nian Nian’s innocent remark instantly triggered a wave of criticism toward Su Wan Ning in the livestream comments. Anticipating such backlash, she hurriedly added with a smile,

“Nian Nian has never been a picky eater—she’s a good baby. Only when she’s sick and needs medicine does she misbehave, so Mommy sometimes has to ask her brother for help. Go ahead, Mingming’s mother needs your help now.”

“Mm!” Nian Nian happily walked over to Mingming. As another child, Mingming didn’t have much hostility toward her; in fact, he liked this cute, quiet little sister.

“Mingming, this is really tasty. Try it,” she said.

“Yes, Mingming, look! I’ve already finished a whole bowl!” Qian Qian, sitting nearby, proudly showed off her spotless bowl, prompting another round of laughter in the comments.

[Qian Qian is definitely a rice-eating champion. Such a young child, but her appetite matches mine.]

[Qian Qian is so active—running errands for her mom all day. She needs to eat more to replenish her energy!]

Both children encouraged him, and Mingming’s expression became hesitant. Seizing the opportunity, Nian Nian picked up a piece of radish and offered it to his mouth.

“Mingming, this is sweet—try it!”

Mingming, half-doubting, opened his mouth and discovered that the radish tasted far better than he’d imagined. It wasn’t inferior to meat at all.

“Mmm, it’s delicious!”

Nian Nian’s face lit up with joy.

“There’s more—this is tasty too!”

Clumsily mimicking the adults, Nian Nian fed Mingming, who sat there enjoying it, accepting whatever she offered.

[What’s Feng Rui doing? Is she really letting another family’s child take care of her son?]

[She’s such an unfit stepmother—can’t even coax her own child to eat, worse than a three-year-old.]

[I think Mingming isn’t refusing the food—he just dislikes his stepmother!]

“Mingming, let Nian Nian go eat, okay? I’ll feed you.” Feng Rui had already anticipated the barrage of criticism in the comments, so she put on a cheerful face and tried to persuade him.

“No!” Mingming rejected her without hesitation.

Feng Rui had no choice but to give up, swallowing all her grievances and resentment. Glancing aside, she saw Su Wan Ning watching with a bright smile, and her hatred toward Su Wan Ning deepened.

When the livestream ended that night and everyone was preparing to rest, there was a knock at Su Wan Ning’s door. Feng Rui appeared, eyes red and tear-streaked.

“Mingming’s mom, what’s wrong? Why are you crying?” Su Wan Ning asked, surprised.

Feng Rui sniffled, glancing furtively at the camera filming them.

Even when not live, the production crew’s camera would randomly record material for later editing. With such good footage, they wouldn’t miss it.

“Mingming had an allergic reaction—he broke out in rashes all over. He’s never had this before. I think it might be because of tonight’s meal…”

Su Wan Ning understood.

Looking at the helpless Feng Rui before her, Su Wan Ning couldn’t help but reassess her. The child was ill, yet instead of tending to him, Feng Rui came here in tears, obviously looking for trouble.

Su Wan Ning didn’t bother with pleasantries and asked directly, “Are you saying that what Nian Nian fed Mingming tonight made him sick?”

Feng Rui’s eyes flickered, “That’s not what I mean, but… Mingming only ate those things today.”

The commotion drew the two children out, and Nian Nian looked aggrieved. “Mommy, I didn’t mean to hurt Mingming.”

Su Wan Ning stroked her daughter’s head, “Mommy knows.”

Then she turned to the production team. “Could you please contact the show’s doctor and find out the cause? If it’s food poisoning, everyone ate the same dishes tonight—it could be dangerous.”

The director, hearing this, had no choice but to make a call.

“You heard it—everyone ate the same food. Why is Mingming the only one who got sick?”

“I…” Feng Rui’s gaze was evasive.

“We’ve checked! He had an allergic reaction to radish, but it’s nothing serious now.”

Su Wan Ning sneered, “Mingming is allergic to radish, and you, his mother, didn’t know? Nian Nian didn’t know, but you were right there—why didn’t you stop her? How can you blame Nian Nian for this?”

Feng Rui bit her lip, unable to refute Su Wan Ning’s blunt words.

Watching Feng Rui run off in tears, Nian Nian sighed.

“Mommy, Mingming can’t eat radish?”