Chapter 2

Shen Qingqing had a bad reputation, often making headlines for being difficult on set. The crew assigned to her were nervous, fearing she’d make their job hard. They reassured themselves that she had joined the show to clear her name—surely she wouldn’t be too difficult.

As the program began, the live broadcast was split into five screens, each featuring one of the five guest families. Shen Qingqing’s reputation was so poor that her viewership ranked the lowest, even below the amateur participants. Most of her viewers were haters waiting for her to mess up.

The most-watched guest was the esteemed film actress Xie Bing, appearing for the first time as a mother.

Shen Linyan, who had built a positive public image over time, had the second-highest viewership, just below Xie Bing.

As the program crew’s vehicle approached the Zhou family estate, the audience was in for a visual treat.

Unlike luxury villas in exclusive neighborhoods, Zhou Yexuan had purchased land surrounded by mountains and rivers, hiring a renowned architect to design a vast private manor. The modern structure, with its geometric elegance, was surrounded by meticulously landscaped gardens, an equestrian facility, and a tennis court.

When the crew’s camera captured the grand estate, viewers were stunned.

[I thought Shen Linyan’s villa was impressive. This is on another level.]

[Just when you think you’ve seen the peak of luxury, there’s always someone richer.]

[Can we focus on Shen Qingqing’s attempt to fix her image?]

[She’ll probably pretend to be a caring stepmother, but it won’t last.]

[Not all stepmothers have a good relationship with their stepchildren like Shen Linyan.]

[Shen Qingqing must have seen Shen Linyan gaining fans from this show and decided to copy her.]

[Gross! Shen Linyan is genuinely close to her son. Meanwhile, Shen Qingqing was caught by paparazzi ignoring hers.]

Despite the heated discussions online, the filming continued.

When the crew arrived, a middle-aged woman in a white uniform greeted them with a polite smile. “Welcome. You must be from Almighty Mom.”

As the door opened, the camera revealed the sleek and modern interior—elegant yet understated.

Then, as they turned to the living room, they were met with an unexpected sight: Shen Qingqing standing helplessly while Zhou Jiayan, teary-eyed, looked up at her.

No one had anticipated this scene.

[Did Shen Qingqing seriously scold her stepson during a live broadcast?!]

[That little boy is adorable! Seeing him cry breaks my heart.]

[How could she be so cruel?]

[Hold on, there’s no proof she did anything.]

[Are you kidding? Who else is in the room?]

Shen Qingqing, however, remained calm. She knew people would assume the worst.

But she wasn’t worried. None of this was her fault. The system was to blame for this disaster.

If this mess led to her being kicked off the show, all the better—early retirement sounded great.

Turning to the camera, she flashed the perfect celebrity smile she had practiced countless times. “So sorry for the delay. I’ll be right there.”

Shen Qingqing was already beautiful. Even with light makeup, her striking features—rosy lips, peach blossom eyes, a delicate nose, and an oval face—stood out. Her bone structure was sharp and defined, giving her a three-dimensional appearance similar to that of Westerners.

However, her former self often wore a stern expression, making her seem unapproachable. This overshadowed her beauty, causing people to overlook her looks.

Her smile now stunned the live-stream audience. It was the kind of charm that made heads turn instantly.

[Oh my god, I always knew Shen Qingqing was pretty, but not this stunning.]

[She only used foundation and drew her eyebrows. I can’t achieve this effect even with full makeup!]

[Nong Yan ^[1]nickname meaning “natural beauty”. is truly amazing!]

[This is like Nuwa’s graduation project ^[2]phrase used to describe someone so perfectly created, as if molded by the goddess Nuwa.. I’m crying!]

[If it weren’t for those rumors about Shen Qingqing, I’d be a fan just for her looks.]

Despite some compliments, most viewers were her detractors, and criticism soon drowned out the praise.

[Is her problem her looks? No! It’s her bad character. She’s a femme fatale!]

[Enough of this cover-up. A child was crying—who knows what she did!]

[Stop judging people based on their appearance. It’s disgusting.]

[The child is crying so much, yet she can still smile? Unbelievable.]

When Zhou Jiayan saw the show’s crew arrive, it felt like a bolt from the blue. Though only five, he was precocious and understood what live streaming was. Seeing the camera, he realized his crying had been caught on film.

As someone who prided himself on being a “little man,” Zhou Jiayan felt humiliated. Crying in front of so many people was unacceptable!

It was all his stepmother’s fault. She didn’t warn him the crew would arrive soon. Trying to save face, he wiped his tears with his short chubby hands. But the more he wiped, the more aggrieved he felt, and his tears kept falling, soaking his little suit.

Shen Qingqing sighed. “This little fool, doesn’t he know to use a tissue?”

She picked up a napkin, squatted down, and wiped his face. Zhou Jiayan, determined to maintain his dignity, didn’t resist and forced himself to stop crying.

After a few minutes, he composed himself, regaining his noble, reserved demeanor. However, his red eyes and cheeks betrayed his earlier breakdown.

Shen Qingqing knew she needed to address the situation for the audience but also wanted to protect Zhou Jiayan’s privacy. She gave an awkward yet polite smile. “Yanyan had a little issue just now, but it’s nothing serious. Don’t worry.”

The audience wasn’t satisfied and kept pressing for answers.

[What kind of “small issue” makes a kid cry like that?]

[Do they think we’re fools?]

[Come on, kid, tell us what happened! We’ll help you scold her!]

[Speak up, tell the truth!]

Though encouraged to “expose” Shen Qingqing, viewers knew a five-year-old might struggle to express himself clearly.

Zhou Jiayan pursed his lips. His stepmother’s excuse was too vague—even a child wouldn’t believe it! But admitting he cried over a broken model was embarrassing. He needed a better explanation.

So, he turned to the camera and said, “I cried because sand accidentally got in my eyes. But I’m fine now.”

Then, he let out a small snot bubble.