It was Qi Yan.

His voice had always been like this, cool and distant, devoid of emotion, as weightless as drifting clouds. And right now, it was no different.

Yan An instinctively covered her eyes, discreetly activating her spiritual power while replying, “It’s fine. It will be better in a second.”

Qi Yan glanced at her briefly but said nothing more. Instead, he turned toward the production team and instructed, “Eye drops.”

The show’s director immediately sprang into action. “Does anyone have eye drops?”

As a senior figure in the company, the director was privy to certain internal secrets, such as the fact that this award-winning, nationally beloved actor was far from just an ordinary celebrity.

No one in the entire production crew could afford to offend him.

Before filming had even started, the company’s president had personally told him, “Whatever Qi Yan wants, you make sure he gets it.”

Having someone like Qi Yan on the show was a double-edged sword. Sure, he brought hype, but they also had to tread very carefully around him.

That was why, for some of the more difficult challenges, they had made adjustments to avoid upsetting him.

The chicken-catching challenge had been a calculated risk, just enough difficulty for entertainment value but not too over the top.

They had assumed Qi Yan would understand.

But now, something had gone wrong.

Yan An, the very contestant Qi Yan had personally requested to be partnered with, had an accident.

If Qi Yan took offense, the show might not survive.

Cold sweat beaded on the director’s forehead.

Fortunately, a female intern rummaged through her pocket and pulled out a half-used bottle of eye drops. “I have some.”

“Bring them over, quick,” the director urged.

The intern let out an “Oh” before dashing forward to deliver them.

Just as Qi Yan was about to take the bottle, Yan An suddenly removed her hand from her eyes, lifted her head, and blinked her now bright, sparkling eyes.

“No need,” she said. “I’m already fine.”

【Your Yan An baby has suddenly appeared! Surprised or not? Unexpected or not?】

【Thank goodness Yan An is okay. That scared me just now.】

【I just realized that Film Emperor Yan is actually quite warm-hearted. The moment something happened to Yan An, he rushed into the chicken coop faster than anyone else.】

【Our Qi Yan has always been a good person. Those rumors are just baseless gossip.】

【Tsk tsk tsk, Film Emperor Yan’s fans are trying to whitewash him again? Remember that movie two years ago? When a female co-star fell off a horse, everyone ran over to help, but Qi Yan just stood there watching coldly from a distance. That video is still online. Go check it out. His expression was completely indifferent. You can praise his acting skills all you want, but calling him a good person? Who are you trying to fool?】

【Exactly. Qi Yan has plenty of black marks on his record. It is just that no one dares to talk about them. The moment anyone does, their comments and posts get deleted. Who knows which powerful backer is supporting him? The online reputation management is top-notch.】

【That scene just happened right before your eyes, yet you refuse to believe it and instead trust those fake videos. The official statement already debunked them as doctored footage.】

【Alright, enough arguing. These people are just jealous of Qi Yan’s popularity and resources. No need to give them attention. Just report them.】

The livestream chat was in chaos, but it had no effect on the situation unfolding in reality.

Out of view of the cameras, Qi Yan’s fingers lightly rubbed the bottle of eye drops.

Tears slipped down from Yan An’s eyes, washing away the dust trapped within.

She had cried, and her eyes now looked like rain-kissed leaves, astonishingly round.

In truth, her eyes were not that round. They had a gentle almond shape, perfectly balanced.

But to Qi Yan, they appeared different.

His gaze darkened slightly. His eyes traced from hers downward, lingering briefly over her nose and lips before he withdrew his gaze and let out a faint chuckle.

Yan An suddenly felt a chill run down her spine. She shook her head and prepared to continue catching chickens.

But Qi Yan was faster.

The moment something had happened to her, he had stepped inside the coop. Now, he too stood within the circle of chickens.

His eyes swept to the side, locking onto the very rooster that had sent dust flying into Yan An’s eyes. He then strolled over as if taking a leisurely walk.

His movements were not quick, yet somehow, the once-mighty rooster failed to escape. In fact, just as Qi Yan was about to catch it, the bird seemed to surrender, folding its wings tightly against its body and crouching down, trembling.

Qi Yan did not hesitate. Without pausing, he reached out, grabbed the rooster’s wings, and effortlessly lifted it.

The rooster remained completely still, its legs stiff as it let out muffled clucks. Yan An could not be sure, but it almost sounded like its voice was shaking.

【Wait, is this the same chicken from earlier?】

【Yes! That reaction was priceless. Is Qi Yan really that terrifying?】

【This variety show is officially a comedy. Even the rooster is an acting genius. I’m laughing so hard HAHAHAHA】

【Chicken: Sorry, but I’m genuinely scared. HAHAHAHA】

Qi Yan turned back, walked over to Yan An, and handed the rooster to her. His voice was indifferent. “Take it.”

Yan An’s lips parted slightly, and she instinctively reached out.

A large rooster was shoved into her arms.

She unconsciously tightened her hold and even freed up one hand to stroke its feathers. Surprisingly, they were quite soft and felt rather nice.

Qi Yan clapped the dust off his hands without saying another word before turning around and walking away.

Yan An hesitated for a moment before obediently following behind, still hugging the rooster.

This rooster was definitely well-fed. She had not noticed its weight when she first picked it up, but after carrying it for a while, her arms were starting to feel sore.

Back in the cultivation world, where spiritual energy was abundant, lifting a giant boulder was effortless. Let alone a mere chicken.

But now, withoutt a trace of spiritual energy in the surroundings, she had to rely on the Copper Coin Grass to convert money into spiritual power. Someone like Liang Baiyu, who lacked this advantage, was no different from an ordinary human. The only exceptions were his past experiences in the cultivation world and his ability to switch between human and original form at will.

Yan An, however, had no money. Besides, using spiritual energy externally for something as trivial as carrying a chicken required at least 10,000 points…

Fine.

She let out a breath, stopped in her tracks, and adjusted her hold on the rooster to take a short break.

Sensing that the human carrying it had paused, the rooster turned its head, glanced at her, and let out a few clucks, as if mocking her.

She huffed at the bird and continued forward.

Qi Yan, walking ahead, showed no intention of helping her carry the chicken. He strolled lazily along the ridge between the fields.

【Tsk, where are the people who said Qi Yan was considerate? Is this what you call considerate? He is not even offering to help a girl.】

【His brainless fans were just trying to paint him as a warm-hearted man earlier, yet it only took a few minutes for reality to slap them in the face. I bet they feel embarrassed now!】

【You guys are being ridiculous. Who grabbed the eye drops for Yan An earlier? Qi Yan. Who caught the chicken in the end? Qi Yan. If Yan An cannot carry it, can she not just ask for help? Do you really think Qi Yan would refuse?】

【Exactly. This is not the old days. Do men always have to help women? If you need help, just say so. Why act like a victim?】

【I am speechless. Look at these delusional fans. Absolutely incredible.】

Just as the chat exploded into another heated debate, Qi Yan suddenly came to a stop.

Huffing and puffing as she carried the large rooster, Yan An instinctively looked up. Only to see him standing by a bush.

It was the very spot where she had left her two children, instructing them to stay nearby and wait for her return.

But now, Qi Yan had stopped walking.

Yan An’s mouth dropped open, her eyes widening in panic.

This was bad.

Her children were in danger!