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Chapter 19
Xing Xiaochi nodded frantically at Ruan Xizhi, as if confirming her translation.
To prove that it really was delicious, he stuffed another piece into his mouth.
His cheeks puffed up like a little hamster.
Ruan Xizhi walked over and took away his plate of durian. “Kids shouldn’t eat too much durian—it’s easy to get heaty. But adults don’t have that problem.”
With that, she popped a piece into her mouth. The soft, creamy flesh melted on her tongue, the rich sweetness sinking into her very soul, making her squint in satisfaction.
Xing Xiaochi rolled his eyes and complained inwardly—this stepmother was stealing his food again!
First, it was the orange. Then the peach. Then the pineapple!
The little one pouted angrily while the older one squinted in delight.
The scene was so comical that the audience burst into laughter.
[Comments from the livestream:]
Since this was a family variety show, Ruan Xizhi naturally had to use the kids to attract traffic. This was also a perfect opportunity for them to practice their skills.
Especially someone like Xing Xiaochi, who loved performing—she was giving him the perfect stage.
The three little ones were simply too cute, and the viewer count skyrocketed. With her goal achieved, it was time to move on to the main event.
Ruan Xizhi stood up leisurely and walked to the front. “That was just the warm-up. Now, let’s welcome our first fruit performer, Su Tongtong, who will sing ‘Pineapple Pineapple Honey’ for us.”
Su Tongtong squatted in front of a giant jackfruit, holding it like a microphone. She started singing in her soft, sweet voice.
Her chubby cheeks, paired with her wobbly head movements and baby-like pronunciation, made her look just like an unripe little jackfruit.
Toward the end, she forgot the lyrics and just kept repeating:
“Pineapple Pineapple Honey, Pineapple Pineapple Honey…”
“Pineapple Pineapple Honey, so fragrant and sweet, Pineapple Pineapple Honey~”
The livestream audience was completely smitten.
While everyone in the comments was hyping it up, an auntie in the livestream asked in confusion, “Can you really sell fruit this way? Feels like a game. Other livestreams are all about shouting and hyping things up. I’ve never seen a kid sell anything before.”
Before she could finish, the village chief interrupted in excitement, “Your jackfruits are all sold out! No, wait, our entire village’s jackfruits are sold out!”
“What?!”
“All of them? That’s at least 1,000 jackfruits!”
The village chief was overjoyed. “If we had another 1,000, they’d be gone too!”
The villagers exchanged bewildered glances.
Was it really that crazy?
They had tried livestreaming before, shouting their lungs out, but barely made any sales. Yet now, a little girl sang a song, and suddenly, over 1,000 jackfruits were gone?!
Maybe they should all start singing about jackfruits too?
Ruan Xizhi had expected this outcome, though it was happening even faster than she had planned.
As Su Tongtong finished her song, Ruan Xizhi resumed her role as host.
“Next, we have Gu Chengcheng, who will tell us a story—‘My Mom.’”
Gu Chengcheng was shy. He stood up front, head lowered, fingers twisting the hem of his shirt. He was visibly nervous.
Xing Xiaochi and Su Tongtong walked over and held his hands. Startled at first, he glanced at them before mustering the courage to speak.
“I… I have a mom. Her name is Song Sangyue. She’s an actress. She has a fiery temper, so people call her ‘Mother Tiger.’ Her tomato and egg stir-fry is terrible. She smokes, drinks, and orders takeout behind my back, but she won’t let me have any, saying it’s unhealthy. But if it’s unhealthy, why are YOU eating it, Mom?”
As Gu Chengcheng continued, he gradually became more confident. His voice grew stronger, and his expressions became more animated, drawing the audience in.
“But… she works really hard. Her temper is just a front, because she wants to protect me. She doesn’t want me to get bullied. So please… don’t call my mom ‘Mother Tiger.’”
“Tomato scrambled eggs taste terrible, but I always finish them because Mom makes them for me. Later on, she learned to cook lots of things I love. When I grow up, I’ll cook lots of good food for Mom too.”
“Smoking and drinking aren’t healthy, but I asked my teacher, and she said sometimes adults do it to relieve stress. Mom must be really tired from raising me alone, so she must be very stressed. I’m sorry, Mom.”
“Takeout isn’t always clean, but every time Mom eats, she saves me a little drumstick. I’m a lucky kid. My mom isn’t perfect, but she loves me.”
Gu Chengcheng’s story wasn’t long. It was a jumble of thoughts, just everyday moments, but it made the entire livestream audience cry.
【Can I have a dozen kids like this?!】
【Who’s crying? Oh, it’s me. Baby, you’re still so young. You shouldn’t understand so much.】
【Adults think they can hide things from kids, but kids see everything.】
【Children are so sensitive. If you treat them well, even a little, they will remember it forever.】
【Now I suddenly want a baby too. I need a sweet child like this!】
Gu Chengcheng didn’t step down right away. He stood there, biting his lip as if he had more to say.
Ruan Xizhi encouraged him, “It’s okay. Just say everything you want to.”
Children like him were the most sensitive.
And also the most heartbreaking.
Unlike Xing Xiaochi, who was carefree and never considered others’ feelings, Gu Chengcheng cared too much.
Gu Chengcheng lifted his gaze again. His eyes were now red, but they were filled with sincerity as he looked into the camera. “I… I also want to find a good uncle for my mom. I really don’t mind. I just want my mom to be loved too.”
The villagers nearby teared up.
“This kid is too well-behaved. It makes my heart ache.”
“Come here, child. Granny will give you some candy.”
Meanwhile, netizens were crying rivers.
【Is this child an angel sent by heaven?】
【We’ll take care of your mom for you!】
【Forget choosing—let’s spoil them both!】
This wave of emotions immediately led to the sale of 30,000 watermelons.
Many viewers complained that it wasn’t enough and demanded more purchase links.
After finishing his speech, Gu Chengcheng returned to his usual shy self, running over to the side—where he was instantly surrounded by villagers patting his head and pinching his cheeks.
Ruan Xizhi captured the moment with a photo and smiled.
Suddenly, a loud voice interrupted.
“It’s my turn now!”
Xing Xiaochi was clearly displeased that everyone’s attention had been on Gu Chengcheng.
Ruan Xizhi sighed, “Yes, yes, it’s your turn.”
She moved the camera to Xing Xiaochi. “Go ahead.”
Xing Xiaochi pouted. “Aren’t you the host? You have to introduce me properly! Say ‘Now presenting performer Xing Xiaochi, performing…’”
Before the livestream, Ruan Xizhi had talked to the kids and asked what they wanted to perform.
Su Tongtong loved singing, so she sang. Gu Chengcheng liked books, so he told a story.
As for Xing Xiaochi…
Ruan Xizhi felt that children should at least learn something useful.
Otherwise, it would be embarrassing.
But this particular child didn’t care at all—he was excited and eager to perform.
“Now, let’s welcome our performer, Xing Xiaochi, who will be presenting…” Ruan Xizhi hesitated before continuing, “…’Eating Fruit.'”
The audience was still emotionally recovering from Gu Chengcheng’s heartfelt story. But upon hearing this, they couldn’t hold back.
【??? What kind of performance is this?】
【Is it a song? A dance?】
【Or maybe a poem?】
While everyone was guessing, Xing Xiaochi walked into the frame with a basket of freshly washed fruit.
He picked up a peach and said, “First, I will perform eating a peach.”
And then, the very next second—chomp chomp chomp—he started devouring the peach like a woodpecker.
After finishing the peach, he grabbed a dragon fruit. “Next, I will perform eating this.”
It was a red-fleshed dragon fruit.
The moment he took a big bite, his entire face was stained bright red.
The villagers and the livestream audience were stunned.
【…The ‘eating fruit’ I imagined is completely different from Xing Xiaochi’s ‘eating fruit.’】
【HAHAHAHAHA I’m losing it! He’s literally just eating fruit!】
【The world of children is amazing. Should I perform eating rice next?】
【Xing Xiaochi, you are no longer the cool kid I once knew. 😂】
【He’s eating so aggressively that he’s dyed his whole face red! 😂】