Xiangxiang’s appearance inherited the best features of both parents, with a pair of clear, deer-like eyes.

Although Ning Xiaoyu rarely puts effort into dressing up, her eyes are just as pure and clean.

Being stared at so intently by these two pairs of innocent eyes……

Even if he couldn’t, he had to.

There was no turning back.

Lu Jingdu had never driven a small three-wheeled vehicle before, but he assumed it couldn’t be too different from driving a car.

However, there was one key difference— driving a three-wheeler didn’t require a license, and as long as he drove slowly, there shouldn’t be any major issues.

He had driven Bugattis and Paganis before, but this was his first time driving a three-wheeler worth only a few thousand yuan.

Ling Zige instinctively asked, “You guys are taking a three-wheeler?”

Lu Jingdu gave a soft “Mm” in response before quickly walking toward Ning Xiaoyu.

Under Ning Xiaoyu’s ‘You got this’ gaze and Xiangxiang’s pure, expectant eyes, he remained silent for a few seconds before stepping onto the three-wheeler.

【This is the first time I’ve seen the movie king drive a three-wheeler!】

【This moment needs to be preserved forever!】

【I’m dying of laughter. Why does he still look like he’s driving a Maserati, even on a three-wheeler?】

After a brief test run to make sure everything was fine, the three-wheeler sputtered to life and slowly drove off.

It moved at a sluggish pace, but no matter how slow, it was still faster and more effortless than walking. Plus, it looked quite steady.

In the cargo bed sat one large and one small ‘salted fish’.

The big salted fish looked completely at ease, lounging comfortably with legs crossed, while the small salted fish, still unaccustomed to it, leaned against Ning Xiaoyu for support.

As the group watched the three-wheeler disappear into the distance, they exchanged glances for a few seconds.

Finally, Xi Rui broke the silence. “Director, do we have any more three-wheelers?”

“There’s one more, but it’s a manual-pedaled one.”

Xi Rui responded quickly, “That works too.”

A manual three-wheeler required pedaling and was more exhausting, but it was still better than walking.

Soon, the last manual three-wheeler was taken by Xi Rui’s group.

The remaining people had no choice but to walk.

Another chaotic mess ensued.

By the time they had walked 5 kilometers, blisters had already formed on Ning Yuwei’s heels. She was used to traveling by private car and hadn’t walked this much in a long time.

Every step became a burden due to the pain.

Taking advantage of a break, she called her manager, “Release some dirt on Ning Xiaoyu.”

She couldn’t stand seeing Ning Xiaoyu looking so carefree and relaxed anymore!

Why did she have to suffer walking while Ning Xiaoyu got to ride comfortably in the three-wheeler driven by Lu Jingdu?

After a moment of silence, her manager finally said, “There isn’t really any dirt on Ning Xiaoyu.”

No dirt? How could anyone in this industry have no dirt?

Even she had been accused of being a diva or unprofessional before, though those rumors had been suppressed.

Ning Yuwei took a deep breath. “How is that possible? You just didn’t look hard enough.”

Her manager sighed, her tone carrying a mix of admiration and resignation, “Ning Xiaoyu…… She has no ambition. She doesn’t have many friends in the industry and rarely attends gatherings. She doesn’t dress up or try to cozy up to investors or famous directors.

She’s been in the industry for years, yet none of the big investors even know who she is.

When she had barely any fans, she barely interacted with them. Now, even with over a million fans, she still doesn’t engage much. There are no scandals— no sugar daddy rumors, no shady transactions, nothing.”

Basically, Ning Xiaoyu was so indifferent to everything that she didn’t even have any dirt to dig up.

She was a salted fish to the extreme!

Ning Yuwei pursed her lips. “There has to be something. Maybe some ambiguous photos can imply a relationship with someone? She’s acted in so many web dramas, even if she only played minor roles, there must be group dinner photos, right?”

This time, the manager fell silent for an even longer period.

Finally, with a long sigh, she said, “There are some, but every time, she was the last to leave. She never had the chance to be in the same frame as any male celebrities. The rare times she was, she had her hands stuffed in her pockets, looking like she had eaten her fill and was just enjoying herself. Do you think releasing those photos would convince anyone they were a couple?”

A woman utterly devoid of romance— there was simply no chemistry between her and any male star.

Still unwilling to give up, Ning Yuwei asked, “What about diva behavior? Showing up late to set?”

“Diva behavior? She was a nobody back then. How could she act like a diva? As for being late, that never happened. She played minor roles with no lines. Her scenes were finished in no time.”

So, was there really no dirt on Ning Xiaoyu at all?

Ning Yuwei refused to let this go. As Ning Xiaoyu’s biological sister, there were things she couldn’t do herself. If Ning Xiaoyu was cornered and exposed their mother’s past— how she abandoned her husband and daughter to marry a rich man— then things would get ugly for everyone.

Her mother’s decade-long marriage to Ning Zhen was well-documented. If anyone really wanted to dig into the past, there was no way to hide it.

Since she couldn’t act directly, she would have to rely on her drama-loving best friend.

────ρя


Meanwhile, in the cargo bed of the three-wheeler, Ning Xiaoyu listened to the sputtering engine while fishing out a small pack of nuts from her pocket.

She glanced at Xiangxiang and said, “These are too hard for you. You’re still too young to eat them.”

Then, under Xiangxiang’s sparkling, expectant gaze, she happily ate them all by herself.

By the time she finished her snack, the 10-kilometer road had come to an end.

At the end of the road stood six fathers, each with distinct features, along with dozens of staff members from the show 《Hello Dad》.

As soon as Xiangxiang spotted Huo Cheng, she eagerly leaned forward and called out in her sweet, childish voice, “Dad!”

Huo Cheng responded with a soft “Mm” before stepping forward to lift Xiangxiang out of the cargo bed.

Xiangxiang leaned forward and gave her dear father a warm, affectionate kiss.

The other fathers immediately gathered around and asked, “Where are the others?”

Ning Xiaoyu tossed the trash into a nearby bin, dusted her hands, and said, “They’re still on the way.”

Nearly an hour later, the other guests finally arrived, albeit late.

A guesthouse was situated nearby, and the program team had already booked rooms in advance. Tonight, all the guests from both programs will be staying there.

Since this crossover event was a rare opportunity, it was naturally impossible for it to end so quickly.

Because most of the guests had arrived on foot, the program team allotted a two-hour break for them to rest.

During this time, Ning Xiaoyu lay comfortably on a lounge chair, listening to the other guests chat, but she did not join in.

At that moment, one of the fathers suddenly called her out. “Miss, you look very familiar.”

Ning Xiaoyu lifted her eyes and pointed at herself. “Me?”

The father smiled and nodded. “Yes.”

Ning Xiaoyu had no interest in joining their conversation, so she simply replied with a dry “Oh.” Usually, when someone responded with just ‘Oh’, the conversation would naturally end there.

However, upon seeing this father, she inexplicably found him somewhat familiar as well.

The love system lazily remarked, 〖Of course he looks familiar. Blood-wise, he’s your cousin^[1]elder male cousin with the same surname.〗

Cousin?

Ning Xiaoyu was momentarily surprised.

Even though she hadn’t participated in the conversation, she had gathered enough information from their discussion to understand the identities of the six fathers present.

Among them, aside from CEO Huo, who held the highest status, the most capable and wealthiest was this CEO Ning.

It was said that CEO Ning currently managed a family-owned conglomerate that had been passed down for three generations. Their family had been expanding overseas for years, and only this year did they decide to return to the country.

“A family conglomerate?”

The love system, uninterested in topics unrelated to romance, was about to drop the subject, but since this matter involved its host, it continued, 〖That’s right. The company was founded in 1902 and has existed for over a hundred years. Any corporation that can last a century is undoubtedly a major multinational conglomerate.〗

“So?”

The love system stated flatly, its tone devoid of any excitement, 〖So, if your father hadn’t fallen out with his family, you would have been a bona fide third-generation heiress of immense wealth.〗

Oh, so her father had a falling-out with his family? Well, that didn’t matter then.

The slight curiosity that had just arisen in Ning Xiaoyu quickly dissipated.

Since the ties had been severed, there was no point in considering them relatives anymore.

Seeing its host looking even more indifferent than itself, the love system suddenly became a little more interested in the topic.

〖Girl, aren’t you curious why your father cut ties with his family?〗

Ning Xiaoyu’s father had been in a coma for seven years. During those years, no one aside from her had ever visited him.

From a young age, she had known that she had no relatives from her paternal side.

Her father had never mentioned his family either.

Since he never spoke of them, there was probably no need to.

Ning Xiaoyu shrugged. “Not really. But I think I already know the answer.”

The love system was intrigued. 〖What is it?〗

“It has something to do with Ms. Zhang, doesn’t it?”

Aside from that, she couldn’t think of any other reason.

〖Correct.〗

In that case, the situation was clear.

Ms. Zhang most likely had no idea about Ning Xiaoyu’s father’s real background. Otherwise, she would have long since pushed him to reconcile with his family. Meanwhile, her father had chosen to be with Ms. Zhang, going so far as to defy his family’s wishes and cut ties with them.

She had thought her father had already sacrificed enough, but she hadn’t expected him to have such a past as well.

The love system droned, sounding utterly disinterested, 〖Your grandfather is getting old and has been worried about his youngest son. He wants to know how he’s been doing these past few years. Their family returned to the country specifically for your father.〗

Ning Xiaoyu responded with a simple “Oh”, acknowledging the information. At the end of the day, this was her father’s matter, not hers.

Whether or not to reconcile with his family was a decision that would have to wait until he woke up.

As for the love system, it cared even less.

What was the big deal about reconnecting with family? It wouldn’t get any romance out of it.

And as for the inheritance that the old man had set aside for his youngest son and his children……

It had plenty of money anyway. As long as its host put effort into completing missions, it could provide as much as she wanted.

Thus, what would have been a life-changing windfall for most people— a sudden revelation that she was actually a wealthy third-generation heiress— held absolutely no appeal for either Ning Xiaoyu or the love system.

Just like that, the matter passed without much ado.

What they didn’t know was that for the Ning family, the search for their lost relative was a matter of utmost importance.

────ρя


After the two-hour break ended, the program team assigned a task to the guests.

“Life is movement. Please demonstrate a sport you are best at, setting a good example for the children. We want them to develop a love for exercise from an early age and appreciate its benefits.”

For the guests, this task was hardly difficult.

Exercise? Who couldn’t do that?

Ling Zige was the first to demonstrate, choosing to do a short sprint.

The open space in front of the guesthouse was spacious enough for the guests to showcase their skills.

He ran 50 meters in just over ten seconds.

After finishing, he gasped for breath but still managed to face the camera and tell the kids, “Running has lots of benefits! Children can go for short runs under the supervision of their parents!”

After Ling Zige, it was Xu Cheng’s turn.

Xu Cheng performed push-ups.

Ning Yuwei stood nearby. This was the kind of exercise that best showcased a man’s strength, endurance, and stamina, so Xu Cheng naturally wouldn’t miss the chance.

Within a minute, Xu Cheng completed 50 push-ups, displaying both power and grace to perfection.

A drop of sweat slid down his forehead. He casually wiped it away and gave the camera a charming smile.

“Been too long since I last trained. I feel a bit rusty.”

【Damn, as expected, men doing push-ups are always attractive!】

【Xu Cheng’s stamina is seriously impressive!】

【Look at that core strength, look at that arm power— absolutely amazing.】

【So manly, slurp slurp! Is Xu Cheng implying he used to do even more push-ups?】

After a few male guests, it was finally Lu Jingdu’s turn.

He showcased basketball.

Basketball, being a universally known sport, was familiar to everyone.

But not everyone could make a shooting motion look so precise and elegant.

Lu Jingdu leaped lightly, his right hand flicking the ball forward.

Following a perfect arc, the ball landed precisely in the hoop.

A textbook-perfect three-pointer!

He tilted his chin slightly, his gaze fixed on the hoop. His side profile was so strikingly handsome that he seemed almost unreal.

The children clapped enthusiastically, with Xiangxiang clapping so hard that her palms turned red.

【Compared to a three-pointer, push-ups suddenly feel a bit greasy.】

【A three-pointer is way more exciting! Basketball is the GOAT!】

【No wonder so many girls love watching guys play basketball! I finally get it now!】

【Xu Cheng vs. Lu Jingdu— I’d say Movie King Lu takes the win!】

【That three-pointer was pure perfection!】

Once the male guests finished their demonstrations, it was the female guests’ turn.

The sports chosen by the female guests were more diverse, with a bit more entertainment value than standard sports.

For example, Ning Yuwei performed shuttlecock kicking.

The shuttlecock was small, with colorful feathers.

As expected, this game quickly caught the attention of the three little girls in the audience.

Ning Yuwei didn’t attempt any fancy tricks, but even with the simplest moves, she was more than capable of impressing a group of four-year-olds.

She kicked the shuttlecock high into the air and caught it. Then kicked it again and caught it once more.

These simple movements earned a series of excited gasps from the children.

After finishing, she shot a proud smile at Ning Xiaoyu.

Ning Xiaoyu noticed the smile but simply ignored it.

Unimportant people weren’t worth acknowledging.

Ning Yuwei felt as if she had punched a cotton pillow and was utterly deflated. Against someone like Ning Xiaoyu, she had nowhere to direct her energy.

Next was Mu Jiajia, who showcased hula hooping.

Having some dance background, Mu Jiajia spun the hula hoop swiftly and skillfully, keeping it steady around her waist without letting it drop even once.

After spinning for a few minutes, she finally stopped and smiled. “Hula hooping helps slim the waist. It’s a great exercise for girls. But remember, moderation is key. Too much hula hooping can do more harm than good.”

After Mu Jiajia, it was Shen Yueyue’s turn. She showcased jump rope.

The rope moved obediently in her hands, whipping through the air with rhythmic precision.

Her jumps were light and graceful, and within a short time, she had completed dozens.

Shen Yueyue smiled and added, “Jump rope is great for weight loss, but just like hula hooping, you shouldn’t overdo it. Too many jumps put a heavy strain on the knees.”

After all the female guests finished their performances, it was finally Ning Xiaoyu’s turn.

The previous guests had chosen sports that were both common and child-friendly.

For example, jump rope— many children were already skilled at it.

And basketball— most parents encouraged their sons to play from an early age.

Playing basketball even helped with height growth.

As it reached Ning Xiaoyu’s turn, both the children and the viewers eagerly watched her.

What kind of sport would she showcase? Most of the common choices had already been taken.

Perhaps rubber band skipping? It hadn’t been demonstrated yet.

But would Ning Xiaoyu do rubber band skipping? She didn’t seem like the type to enjoy that.

The viewers’ guess was correct. Ning Xiaoyu wasn’t good at rubber band skipping.

That type of movement, which required both jumping and footwork, was too complicated for her, and she had no interest in it at all.

Anyway, the sport she demonstrated wasn’t rubber band skipping.

What she showed was—

Playing with exercise balls.

Not the large exercise balls, but the small ones that elderly people liked to use to exercise their fingers.

Ning Xiaoyu held two small exercise balls in her right hand, skillfully rotating them with dexterous fingers and continuously training her hand coordination.

These hands, which were often used for cracking melon seeds and peeling walnuts, were just as adept at spinning the balls.

The audience developed a newfound respect for the agility of Ning Xiaoyu’s right hand.

Even an old man who had been playing with these balls for over a decade would probably have to admit defeat after seeing her nimble movements.

Were her fingers this flexible just from cracking melon seeds?

【……Hahaha, I’m dying! This is absolutely hilarious!】

【I have to hand it to Xiao Yu. Who would’ve thought of this? Finger exercises— yes, technically, it counts as a sport!】

【No wonder she’s the salted fish queen. She refuses to waste even a bit of extra energy. This is genius! Who could have predicted she’d showcase a sport like this?】

【The kids must be seeing this for the first time. Look at their faces, completely blank and bewildered. I’m crying from laughter!】

【Here’s a fun fact: this is a common pastime for the elderly. When they have nothing to do, or when they’re watching others play chess, some like to hold these balls and roll them around in their hands.】

【Xiao Yu is already planning recreational activities for these kids when they grow old. Who wouldn’t call that brilliant?】

【Xiao Yu is truly the best. While everyone else showcased mainstream sports, she walked an entirely different path!】

Ning Xiaoyu’s choice of sport was so unexpected that the fathers in the show, once they processed it, were left both amused and speechless.

They might forget what the other guests had performed— after all, running and push-ups were too common. Since they don’t chase stars, they wouldn’t go out of their way to remember which guest did which generic sport.

But Ning Xiaoyu’s performance? They would never forget it for the rest of their lives.

There was no helping it. She was simply too unique. This hand exercise ball routine was impossible to erase from memory, even if they wanted to.

Xiangxiang’s eyes sparkled as she said, “Big Sister, I want to try!”

But her hands were too small, so she couldn’t even hold one ball properly.

Ning Xiaoyu patted her head and reassured her, “Be good. You can play with them when you’re older.”

【When you’re old enough— literally.】

【Hahahaha, I’m done. This is too funny.】

The little interaction ended amid the audience’s laughter.

Later, when the two program teams dined together, Shen Yueyue couldn’t help but ask Ning Xiaoyu, “How did you even come up with that sport?”

Most people would immediately think of running, ball games, or jump rope when asked to demonstrate a sport. But Ning Xiaoyu always managed to think outside the box.

For this, Shen Yueyue truly admired her.

Ning Xiaoyu casually replied while eating, “Because I’m too lazy to jump or run.”

So, she had no choice but to let her fingers take on the hard work.

Realizing this, Shen Yueyue burst out laughing. “You’re something else.”

But to be fair, Ning Xiaoyu’s choice did conserve a lot of energy. She didn’t need to move around and didn’t need to leave her spot. Just a little flick of the fingers and that was it.

After all, it was an activity beloved by the elderly.

It was impressive how she came up with it just to avoid exertion.

────ρя


After dinner, the guests returned to their rooms.

The recording had gone on for a long time today, and by the time they wrapped up, it was already ten in the evening.

All six children had already fallen asleep.

But when Ning Xiaoyu was about to head back to her room, little Xiangxiang forced her sleepy eyes open and drowsily murmured, “Goodnight, Big Sister.”

Ning Xiaoyu smiled. “Goodnight, Xiangxiang.”

She had barely been in her room for a few minutes when she received a message from the program team.

The message was quite long, but in summary, since the guests had spent the whole day looking after the children and were undoubtedly exhausted, the program team had arranged for three blind massage therapists to help them relax.

The therapists were indeed blind and were all professionally trained.

Any guest who needed a massage could head to the main hall of the guesthouse.

Ning Xiaoyu had no particular reaction to this message, but the love system immediately kicked into high gear, frantically issuing a new love mission.

〖Girl, a proper future boyfriend must uphold the virtues of a gentleman!

Even if the massage therapists are blind, that doesn’t mean he should casually let them touch him! I don’t know if the germaphobic movie king would accept a massage from them, but uncertainty means there’s a possibility.

After all, today was the first time he ever drove a three-wheeler, and he was exhausted from giving you all a ride.

You can:

A. Tell the movie king that you don’t like other people touching him. （Seize your possessiveness.jpg）

B: Offer to massage his shoulders yourself if he needs it. （A little sweetness every now and then.jpg）

C: Hand him a massage hammer and let him take care of it himself. （Cold and ruthless.jpg）〗

Seeing these three options, Ning Xiaoyu couldn’t help but think, As expected of the system. Would it die if it didn’t stir up trouble for just one day?