Chapter Twenty-Five: The Arrival of the Mysterious Guest

Yin Shanshan’s words were abruptly cut off by Qiqi.
“Auntie, weren’t we supposed to play games? Why are we having lessons? I don’t want to learn about gorillas, they’re ugly.”
At only five years old, Qiqi already had considerable experience in the entertainment industry. She possessed both the innocence of a child and the keen insight of a young professional, leaving Yin Shanshan at a complete loss.
[A world-class actress offering acting lessons, and someone actually refuses!]
[But honestly, Yin Shanshan is going overboard. Kids are supposed to have fun on these shows. It’s one thing for her own child to do homework, but expecting the others to attend lessons too? Who can stand that?]
After an afternoon of chaos, finally, before dinner, the production team managed to gather everyone together.
Except for Su Wannin, every adult’s face betrayed exhaustion to varying degrees.
The production arranged for the children to go play, while the four mothers were placed in a single room to share their thoughts on the afternoon.
Cameras pointed at them, and all four wore polite smiles.
Yin Shanshan cleared her throat and took the lead: “After spending the afternoon with Qiqi, I’ve realized she’s a very energetic girl.”
Sheng Ying smiled beside her. “She’s carefree and optimistic.”
“But—”
Yin Shanshan’s tone shifted, recalling her fatigue throughout the afternoon. She couldn’t help but add, “Qiqi is already five years old. If things continue like this, she’ll be too playful. I think it’s time to introduce some structured educational training—it will benefit her future.”
Sheng Ying frowned, disagreeing. “Yangyang is indeed disciplined and obedient, but he spent the entire afternoon at the desk, with no free time besides homework. For a six-year-old, that might be a bit too harsh.”
The exhaustion from caring for children all afternoon stripped away a layer of these celebrities’ facades, creating just the kind of scene the directors loved.
The fiercer their arguments, the higher the audience’s enthusiasm.
[I’m on Sheng Ying’s side this time. Yin Shanshan is too strict.]
[Kids this young should play. With all the pressure society brings later, childhood is what heals us.]
[If you don’t work hard now, you won’t even have the right to compete in the future!]
[Come on, celebrity families are loaded. Their kids start at everyone else’s finish line. What do they need to struggle for?]
…
The comment stream was ablaze with debate, and the room itself seemed to simmer with tension.
Feng Rui and Su Wannin barely spoke a word throughout.
The afternoon had seen Feng Rui as an observer, watching Su Wannin play with Nian Nian and trying, unsuccessfully, to provoke conversation about how Su Wannin managed the siblings, subtly boasting about how well she treated Ming Ming—never scolding harshly, never raising a hand. Yet the siblings ignored her entirely.

On the contrary, Su Wannin, seeing the sharp undercurrents between the two mothers, cleared her throat and interjected.
“Um—”
The moment she spoke, all eyes turned to her.
[Guess who Su Wannin will support?]
[Isn’t it obvious? They’re all actors, so Su Wannin will surely side with the best actress!]
“After all this discussion, isn’t anyone hungry?”
Su Wannin’s sincerity filled the room, and her words brought a brief silence.
[Hahaha, what do we do? She’s hilarious.]
[Who isn’t hungry? I got hungry just watching all afternoon!]
The tension eased, and Su Wannin continued seriously, “The children must be hungry too. Solving their hunger is what matters most. As for education—well, it’s an unsolvable issue. Every child is different and needs a unique approach. We can listen to others, take the best, discard the worst, all for the sake of the children.”
[Are my ears deceiving me? Such insight, coming from Su Wannin!]
[But she’s right. Every child is different, so teaching must be tailored. No need to impose on others.]
[Let’s eat, let’s eat, I’m starving!]
…
And thus, Su Wannin’s few words dissolved this war without smoke. After dinner, as they walked back, Su Wannin took the phone handed to her by Vincent.
[Why is she using her phone? Is she contacting her husband?]
[Really, really? Will the dads appear tomorrow?]
[So excited!]
The comments streamed by. Su Wannin focused on her phone, tapping the screen a few times before a satisfied smile appeared on her face.
Elsewhere, in his office, Qin Jingchen saw Su Wannin’s smile and couldn’t help but curve his lips in response.
But soon, his gaze fell on a particular comment on the screen. The smile that had just appeared faded bit by bit, eventually straightening into a tense line.
Qin Jingchen’s brows furrowed tightly.
His assistant knocked and entered, only to see the boss’s grim expression, so he spoke with extra caution. “Mr. Qin, the PR department sent someone to ask for instructions. Because the live chat is full of anti-Madam remarks, they want to expand the team and institute round-the-clock shifts to protect Madam’s reputation.”
“Heh…”

Qin Jingchen didn’t even glance at him, his eyes fixed on the phone as he let out a cold laugh.
A chill ran down the assistant’s back, goosebumps rising on his arms.
He swallowed nervously and remained silent.
“No need.” Qin Jingchen straightened, his tone full of disdain, staring down at the woman on his phone, his expression complicated.
“Yes, sir.”
“Wait—”
The assistant turned, but before he took two steps, the voice behind stopped him again.
“Forget it. Do as they suggested, hire more people.”
“Understood.”
This time, the assistant quickened his pace out the door, afraid his mercurial boss might change his mind yet again.
The next morning, the mothers gathered at the village entrance, summoned by the loudspeaker.
After last night’s live broadcast, the production team had posted an official teaser, claiming that mysterious guests would appear in today’s episode.
And so, early that morning, the live chat was jam-packed, everyone filled with curiosity.
[I’m so excited—will the dads really appear?]
[The one I’m most curious about is Su Wannin’s husband!]
[I want to see the best actor and actress together!]
“Today, four mysterious guests will appear, each representing one of our families. The first to take the stage is the guest invited by Yin Shanshan—”
The village opera stage had been temporarily repurposed as a set. As the director spoke, the camera followed his gesture to the wings of the stage, revealing the silhouette of a man.
The comments exploded.
[Oh my god, it’s my husband!]