By the time Ye Qingxi had digested some of the fruit he’d eaten, Tao Rui and Tao Tao arrived.
Mu Shaowu cooked dinner, and the four of them ate together while chatting.
Ye Qingxi had thought today’s tasks were over and he could just relax from then on.
Unexpectedly, around 8:00 PM, the production team handed them two more task cards.
Both task cards were for the kids and were handed to him and Tao Bang respectively.
Ye Qingxi looked down and saw the following written on them: [Hidden treasure in a cave has been discovered nearby. Kids, hurry up and go find the treasure!]
“What’s this character?” Tao Tao asked Ye Qingxi, holding up the task card. “I don’t know it.”
Ye Qingxi glanced at it and said, ” Hide (‘藏’ – cáng) as in hide-and-seek (‘捉迷藏 ‘- zhuō mí cáng).”
Tao Tao was surprised. “So that’s how it’s written. What about this one?”
“Seek (‘寻’ – xún), as in search for (‘寻找’- xúnzhǎo).”
Tao Tao nodded and praised, “Xiaoxi, you really know so many characters.”
Ye Qingxi smiled. “I guess so.”
“So this mission is for them to complete on their own?” Mu Shaowu asked the filming director. “The dads aren’t participating?”
“That’s right,” The filming director replied.
Mu Shaowu: …I guess so.
“Let’s go.” Ye Qingxi stood up and waved to Mu Shaowu. “I’ll be back in a bit, Dad~”
“Okay.” Mu Shaowu replied.
Ye Qingxi pulled Tao Tao along, and the two of them walked out the door hand in hand.
Just as they left, the director following Mu Shaowu and Tao Rui handed them a new task card.
Mu Shaowu: ???
Mu Shaowu took it and saw that it read: [Watch the baby search for treasure.]
Mu Shaowu: !!!
“What are we waiting for?” Mu Shaowu exclaimed excitedly. “Let’s go right now.”
With that he stood up and followed the staff members out.
Ye Qingxi and Tao Tao, led by the staff, soon arrived at the entrance of the treasure cave.
The host was already waiting for them at the cave entrance.
Besides him, Yang Shu and Zhang Ning has already arrived.
He Lei and Huo Zinan arrived a little later.
As soon as Huo Zinan saw Tao Tao and Ye Qingxi standing together, he felt a bit displeased. Why is he always hanging out with Tao Tao? What was so great about that fat guy?
“Babies, good evening~” The host greeted with a smile. “You’ve all heard about the treasure cave, which is why you’re here, right?”
Tao Tao and Zhang Ning nodded in agreement.
“Alright, let’s go down. Hold hands and head into the cave together to search for treasure! A friendly reminder: it might be a little dangerous in there, so any kids who are scared should definitely hold hands with a kid who isn’t scared, okay~”
“Okay.” He Lei nodded vigorously.
“Are there any kids who are really, really scared and don’t dare to go in?” The host asked with concern.
Huo Zinan: …
Huo Zinan was actually quite scared.
But seeing that no one raised their hand, he was too embarrassed to raise his own.
Seeing this, the host assumed they were just fearless young children and said goodbye. “Alright, everyone, go on in. I’ll be waiting for you outside. If any of you are really scared, you can ask the older brothers and sisters who’ve been following you for help — they’ll bring you back out.”
“Okay,” Everyone chorused.
After speaking, He Lei took the initiative to run to Ye Qingxi’s side and hold his hand.
Tao Tao also took Ye Qingxi’s other hand.
Huo Zinan: !!!
Whose hand should he hold?!
The cave is so scary, he doesn’t want to go alone!
However, Huo Zinan didn’t want to hold anyone else’s hand either. He’d just made up his mind about Ye Qingxi, and all he could think about was being friends with him.
Huo Zinan had a sudden inspiration. “Let’s hold hands in order of age.”
That way, he could hold Ye Qingxi’s hand! That chubby Tao Tao had only ever held his hand, humph!
“Sounds good,” Zhang Ning agreed.
He turned around and took Yang Shu’s hand. Yang Shu looked at Ye Qingxi, whose hands were both being held…
He Lei quickly let go of Ye Qingxi’s hand and ran over to Tao Tao, taking his hand.
Huo Zinan, smug, walked over with his hands in his pockets. But just as he reached them, Ye Qingxi turned to Tao Tao and said, “Tao Tao, you and Huo Zinan hold hands. Lei Lei is too young, it’s not safe for her to walk alone at the back. I’ll walk behind her.”
Tao Tao nodded, “Okay.”
He let go of He Lei’s hand and reached for Huo Zinan’s.
Huo Zinan: ???
Huo Zinan watched as Ye Qingxi walked to the back of the group, holding hands with with He Lei.
This wasn’t what he wanted. He certainly didn’t want to hold hands with Tao Tao!
But Tao Tao’s chubby little hand had already grabbed Huo Zinan’s.
Huo Zinan: …
Huo Zinan had no choice but to hold Tao Tao’s with one hand and Yang Shu’s with the other.
He Lei turned her head and looked at Ye Qingxi, and sweetly said, “Thank you, big brother~”
“You’re welcome,” Ye Qingxi replied warmly.
He Lei’s mom fans in the livestream were moved once again. [Xiaoxi — you’re the one who cares about Lei Lei the most in the entire program!]
[Enough said, starting today, I’m also a mom fan of Xiaoxi!]
[How could there be such a wonderful baby as Xiaoxi? I’m bawling my eyes out!]
[Xiaoxi really embodies the ‘big brother’ vibe to the fullest! He’s such a source of comfort!]
[Which direction do I need to pray to in order to have a baby like Xiaoxi? Urgent! Waiting online!]
Meanwhile, the fathers who had already sat down in front of the monitor to watch the little ones’ adventure nodded in agreement after seeing this scene.
“Xiaoxi’s personality is truly wonderful,” Zhang Ye said.
“You bet,” Tao Rui chimed in immediately. “It’s just too good.”
“Teacher Mu, how do you usually raise him at home?” Zhang Ye asked, looking at Mu Shaowu. “I’d like Zhang Ning to be more considerate, just like Xiaoxi.”
Mu Shaowu’s tail instantly wagged. “I haven’t really taught him much. It’s mainly because Xiaoxi was born this way. As his father, I haven’t really done anything.”
“Teacher Mu is too modest. Like father, like son — it must be because of your good teaching that Xiaoxi is so well behaved.”
“No, really, it’s just that our Xiaoxi is so well behaved on his own.” Mu Shaowu laughed.
“Xiao He,” Zhang Ye suddenly addressed He Yao. “Teacher Mu’s son is helping your daughter. Aren’t you going to thank him?”
He Yao: …
Feeling all eyes in the room suddenly focused on him, He Yao could only helplessly turn his head toward Mu Shaowu with a sigh. Even though he was reluctant deep down, he said aloud, “Thank you very much, Xiaoxi.”
He thanked Xiaoxi, He Yao bitterly thought to himself. Not Mu Shaowu!
Mu Shaowu chuckled lightly. “No need to be so polite, Xiaoxi is always happy to help.”
He Yao turned his head away and didn’t say anything more.
They watched the babies, while the livestream viewers were once again speechless:
[What’s with He Yao’s attitude? He seems so reluctant.]
[Xiaoxi is so considerate of Lei Lei, as her intern dad, is it too much for him to say thank you?]
[Saying thank you to Mu Shaowu, wouldn’t that be the death of He Yao?]
[Hahaha, but he still has to say it, didn’t he just say it a moment ago?]
[He Yao must be feeling pretty unhappy inside.]
[Seeing him unhappy makes me happy, hehe~]
The kids held hands and walked cautiously into the cave.
The cave was pitch black, but Zhang Ning had a flashlight that the host had given him just before they entered.
Zhang Ning shone the flashlight to light the path, leading the younger kids forward.
However, there were too many of them, and as they walked, the children’s hands inevitably let go.
Ye Qingxi held He Lei’s hand and kept an eye on the flashlight’s beam up ahead guiding the way.
As they approached a bend in the cave, Yang Shu, with her sharp eyes, asked, “What’s that?”
Zhang Ning quickly shone the flashlight in that direction and saw a black object. Curiously, he walked over and picked it up. “It’s a flashlight.”
He then pressed the switch, and to his surprise, it actually worked.
“Xiaoxi,” He called out immediately.
Ye Qingxi pulled He Lei over. Zhang Ning handed the flashlight over, saying, “You’re bringing up the rear, so you take it.”
“Okay,” Ye Qingxi took it.
He noticed that Zhang Ning had given him the flashlight the host had given him originally, while Zhang Ning himself was holding the dusty flashlight he’d just picked up.
Ye Qingxi pulled out a handkerchief and handed it to Zhang Ning. “Here, wipe it first.”
Zhang Ning took it and wiped his hands and the flashlight. Everyone continued walking forward. After turning the corner, the cave grew noticeably narrower. Ye Qingxi spoke up, “Everyone, follow the order in which you held hands, one person right behind the other. Don’t wander off.”
Tao Tao nodded cooperatively. Huo Zinan obediently fell back into line behind Yang Shu. As for He Lei, she had been walking quietly ahead of Ye Qingxi the whole time.
Just as they were walking, a soft singing voice suddenly drifted out.
Huo Zinan froze in his tracks.
Zhang Ning exclaimed, “Who’s singing?”
“Is it a ghost?” Huo Zinan asked fearfully.
The other children: !!!
He Lei even took a step back.
“There’s no ghost~” Ye Qingxi said, “My grandpa says there are no ghosts in this world, only those with a guilty conscience.”
“Does she want us to sing with her?” Ye Qingxi tried to divert their attention and steer their thoughts so they wouldn’t be so scared. “Then let’s sing along with her!”
“But what should we sing?” Yang Shu asked.
“Under the big bridge in front of the gate, a flock of ducks swims by. Hurry, hurry, come and count them – two, four, six, seven, eight~” Ye Qingxi blurted out.
Yang Shu immediately joined in.
Soon, the others started singing along too.
In an instant, the cave was filled with cheerful children’s voices. Even He Lei was busy swaying her head and singing along, forgetting her fear.
Except for Huo Zinan, who was still afraid.
After leading them through singing the nursery rhyme «Counting Ducks», and Ye Qingxi then started singing «Going to School». But when they reached the line ‘I’m going to school,’ Tao Tao asked in confusion, “Isn’t it supposed to be ‘I’m going to blow up the school’?”
“It’s ‘going to school,’” Zhang Ning said.
“My dad has a video on his phone where he sings about blowing up the school.”
“That’s just him singing nonsense. But blowing the school up works too,” Zhang Ning nodded. “Then let’s blow up the school.”
So, he started blowing up the school with Tao Tao.
Ye Qingxi: …
The viewers in the livestream couldn’t help but laugh.
[I used to sing the ‘blow up the school’ version when I was a kid, too.]
[Who didn’t want to blow up their school when they were little!]
[Blowing up the school – every student’s dream (doge emoji)]
The fathers in the monitoring room also laughed. “These two kids.”
“But Xiaoxi is so smart, he immediately distracted the children.”
“That’s right. Now, none of them are scared anymore.”
“Xiaoxi may be young, but he’s quite the little genius!”
Mu Shaowu listened, nodding repeatedly: Keep going, don’t stop, just keep praising my son.
Meanwhile, Huo Zinan bent down to tie his shoelaces while singing. Tao Tao stopped behind him, wanting to wait for him.
Huo Zinan said, “You go first, I’ll be there in a bit.”
Only then did Tao Tao step forward.
Huo Zinan watched him walk past him, and then as He Lei approached him, he instantly stood up, and pretending to be casual, walked over to Ye Qingxi’s side.
Ye Qingxi: ???
Ye Qingxi was puzzled, “Why didn’t you…”
“You sang quite well~” Suddenly a soft female voice rang out again.
Huo Zinan: !!!
Startled, Huo Zinan instantly wrapped his arms tightly around Ye Qingxi’s arm.
Ye Qingxi: …
He felt like he understood. So it turns out Huo Zinan was scared, that’s why they didn’t dare go ahead. He should have said so earlier! What a mess!
“Who are you?” Zhang Ning asked curiously.
Tao Tao turned his little head, “Where is she?”
He Lei silently clutched Ye Qingxi’s hand. Yang Shu quietly studied the walls around her.
They were, after all, just kids. Aside from Huo Zinan and He Lei, they were all somewhat naive, still unfamiliar with the world, and thus unaware of what fear was.
“I’m the Cave Immortal here. You’re here to find the treasure, right? I can let you continue, but you must pass my test~”
“What kind of test?” Zhang Ning asked.
“A singing test, of course,” said the Cave Immortal. “I like little animals, so each of you must sing me a song that includes a little animal~”
He Lei knew one. She opened her mouth and began to sing: “Little swallow, brightly dressed~”
“Not bad,” the Cave Immortal said after patiently listening to the end. “This little one has passed.”
“Thank you!” He Lei bowed politely to her.
Zhang Ning raised his hand and quickly sang the «Going to School» song again.
Tao Tao sang «Counting Ducks» again.
Yang Shu had already though of what to sing and sang «Two Tigers».
That left only Ye Qingxi and Huo Zinan.
“What are you going to sing?” Ye Qingxi asked Huo Zinan.
Huo Zinan: …
He was already a little nervous, and now that everyone else had sung everything he could think of, he became even more anxious, and his mind went completely blank.
“You should sing «Good Little Bunny», ” Ye Qingxi suggested to him.
Huo Zinan: !!!
Huo Zinan quickly started singing.
After he finished, Ye Qingxi calmly sang, “I have a little donkey and I never ride it~”
Listening to this, the viewers in the livestream couldn’t help but comment: [He’s young, but he sings pretty well.]
[Yeah, his voice is so clear.]
[I thought Xiaoxi sang «Counting Ducks» very well!]
[I can’t help but fell that Xiaoxi’s singing sounds a bit familiar.]
[Not only does he sing well, but he’s quick on his feet too. He even reminded Huo Zinan to sing «Good Little Bunny».]
[Hahaha, is Huo Zinan scared? Why is he still hugging Xiaoxi’s arm?]
[I was about to burst out laughing earlier! He almost jumped out of his skin when he heard the Cave Immortal speak.]
[Could it be that Nan Nan is afraid of ghosts?]
[I think so!}
{So, Nan Nan, when are you planning to let go of Xiaoxi?]
Huo Zinan: …
Huo Zinan silently released Ye Qingxi’s arm.
Ye Qingxi: …Finally let go.
The next second, he noticed someone had sneakily grabbed his hand.
Ye Qingxi: ???
Ye Qingxi looked at the person next to him.
Huo Zinan: !!!
Huo Zinan quickly turned his head and awkwardly said, “Since you just helped me, I’ll reluctantly join you.”
Ye Qingxi: ???
Ye Qingxi: …
If only your hands weren’t so sweaty, I would believe you!
Author’s note:
Xiaoxi: Someone’s afraid of ghosts!
Huo Zinan: Shut… shut up, who’s afraid of ghosts?
Xiaoxi silently blows air into Huo Zinan’s ear.
Huo Zinan: !!! Ah—!
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