Chapter Twenty-One: So the Genius Child Can't Cook After All

Su Wan-ning crouched down to comfort her daughter, whose little face was clouded with sadness. She spoke patiently, “This isn’t your fault, Nian-nian. You didn’t know that Ming-ming couldn’t eat carrots. You just wanted to share something you thought was delicious with him, isn’t that right?”

“Yes!” Nian-nian’s eyes brimmed with tears as she nodded.

“Then it’s not your fault, just an innocent mistake. Next time, you just have to remember not to give Ming-ming carrots anymore.”

“Okay, I’ll remember!” Nian-nian’s face brightened immediately, her smile returning.

The next day, the show’s crew distributed ingredients to each family and tasked the children with preparing a meal for their mothers.

The producers specifically emphasized that all mothers were forbidden from helping, or else it would be considered a failure, with serious consequences to follow.

“Brother, let’s make noodles for Mom! Nian-nian loves noodles the most!”

Sui-sui stood quietly to the side, nodding, and opened the bag of flour for his sister.

Nian-nian’s thoughts were simple. She had seen the nanny cook before; all she had to do was add water to the white powder, just like playing with toys, and it would turn into dough, which would then become tasty noodles.

Following her memory, Nian-nian asked her brother to fetch some water, then poured it into the bowl of flour.

From her seat nearby, Su Wan-ning watched and inwardly let out a cry of dismay.

Too much water.

The two children quickly noticed the problem as well. Clever Sui-sui immediately suggested, “Let’s add more flour. It’s a bit too wet right now.”

The viewers watching the livestream melted at the sight of the two children covered in flour as they fumbled through the process.

“Sui-sui is so smart! He knows to add more flour. But why do I have a bad feeling about this?”

“Nian-nian’s little hands are as white as the flour! I’m so envious!”

Su Wan-ning’s livestream was ranking first in popularity thanks to the two children, while in another room, Feng Rui’s stream was in chaos as Ming-ming deliberately caused trouble again.

Knowing that the meal was for Feng Rui, Ming-ming was ruthless with the seasonings, pouring every mysterious-looking liquid on the table into a single bowl.

Feng Rui sat nearby, forcing a strained smile while inwardly she was full of complaints.

“Why does it look like Ming-ming is plotting to poison his stepmother with that expression?”

“Do you think Feng Rui will really eat it?”

“If she actually eats it, I’ll believe she truly loves her child!”

As the heated discussion continued, Ming-ming opened the bag of flour and dumped it straight into the bowl of seasonings.

Instantly, a bizarre black lump formed in the bowl, prompting a flood of vomiting emojis across the chat.

Feng Rui could barely restrain herself. As Ming-ming finished shaping the dough into something resembling a pile of dung, she seized the moment and spoke up, “The production team said we can visit other families for meals today. Why don’t I take you to Nian-nian’s house? Aren’t they your favorites?”

With Su Wan-ning’s recent surge in popularity, Feng Rui thought she might be able to ride the wave if she stopped by. Ming-ming, sweaty and hungry, had no desire to eat his own creation and agreed without hesitation.

When Feng Rui arrived at Su Wan-ning’s door with her son, she found Su Wan-ning preparing to go out with her children as well.

“What’s going on here?” she asked.

Su Wan-ning turned around, and following her gaze, Feng Rui spotted an enormous bowl of dough on the table.

It turned out that Nian-nian, while making the dough, kept adding flour when there was too much water, and more water when there was too much flour, until she had used up the entire bag without ever producing the noodles she’d imagined, leaving herself exhausted and sweating.

Su Wan-ning was getting ready to take the children out for a meal.

Seeing this, Feng Rui smiled suggestively. “So your two little geniuses don’t know how to cook after all.”

Su Wan-ning, unable to fathom why this woman always seemed to be picking a fight, replied with a forced smile, “That’s right, after all, they’re only three and a half. I thought Ming-ming would treat you well today and make you a feast. I was even thinking of bringing the kids to your place for a bite.”

Feng Rui immediately recalled the strange, dung-like lump Ming-ming had made, her face turning an ugly shade.

“This is gold! I love watching celebrities bicker!”

“How is Su Wan-ning so sharp-tongued?”

“But Feng Rui always speaks in that strange, passive-aggressive tone. It’s clear she has ulterior motives. Su Wan-ning, on the other hand, is always open and aboveboard.”

“She’s a master at dealing blows without leaving a trace. Su-jie is amazing!”

Forcing a smile, Feng Rui said, “Looks like all four families are going to go hungry today.”

Su Wan-ning glanced down at Ming-ming, who played with Nian-nian without a care in the world, and felt relieved. She paid no attention to Feng Rui’s words.

Unwilling to be ignored, Feng Rui suddenly had an idea and spoke as if by chance.

“By the way, I happened to hear that you made the trending search again today?”

“Oh?” Su Wan-ning lifted her brows, her face unperturbed. She was used to trending online ever since the show started.

“Here we go, Feng Rui is stirring up trouble again.”

“Which trending topic today? Su-jie’s unrivaled beauty, or something else?”

Feng Rui’s smile deepened. “You don’t know? I heard it was because you broke the rules by secretly opening a livestream and accepting gifts from viewers. But… since we’re filming a show, we should be responsible to the show and the audience. Isn’t it inappropriate to accept gifts at a time like this?”

Without waiting for Su Wan-ning’s response, she gave a mock exclamation and flashed an apologetic smile. “Just a suggestion, don’t take it to heart.”

“I actually do mind,” Su Wan-ning replied seriously, then turned away from Feng Rui and addressed the camera directly. “Have I ever accepted gifts from any of you during my livestreams?”

“Of course not! Su-jie answered my questions about love, and I even wanted to send her a token of appreciation, only to realize her livestream doesn’t even have a gift function!”

“I can testify—Su Wan-ning’s stream doesn’t accept gifts at all!”

“Feng Rui might as well write the word ‘jealous’ on her face.”

Seeing Su Wan-ning’s confident response, Feng Rui remembered the truth and regretted not biting her tongue.

“I must have misunderstood…” Feng Rui mumbled, hastily making excuses as she dragged Ming-ming away in embarrassment.

No one noticed that Sui-sui, sitting quietly in the back and watching his sister play, had listened to every word exchanged between the adults.