{“I kind of miss living in Ohio.” 3}

Shen Qiyue: “You must never say something like that again. If Mom hears, she will be unhappy.”

“What would make me unhappy?”

Before the person appeared, the voice was already heard.

Her mother, Cheng Shuangyi, was walking toward them, her steps light and almost silent. In the past, she had always been elegant and unapproachable, but now she was back with them. What more could they possibly want?

Shen Qiyue quickly responded, “I was talking about how my brother wants to secretly play with the computer.”

Shen Qinian, following his sister’s lead, said, “Yes, Mom, I thought maybe I could try learning some programming.”

“You know programming?” Cheng Shuangyi asked, not having done much research herself, speaking half-understandingly. “You mean writing code?”

Shen Qinian nodded stiffly.

“Just like your father’s good son,” Cheng Shuangyi replied, “I’ll hire a tutor for you tomorrow to learn it.” However, she didn’t forget to add a warning while arranging for the tutor. “But, I hope you use what you learn to repay me, alright? Don’t get involved with any strange people.”

The moonlight, filtering through the sheer curtains, didn’t bring the warmth they had imagined. Instead, it remained cold and distant.

Under the cold light, the two children exchanged a glance, and without saying a word, they both felt uneasy.

—

There was a sense of fatigue.

Repeatedly being put in difficult situations, the unmeasured intrusions—they were all things Qian Xu had expected. She understood that it was the nature of fate, that the old saying “a leopard cannot change its spots” applied here. Yet, it was hard to shake off the family’s usual high-handed ways and self-righteous approach to everything.

Their punishment had only just begun.

Through Bi Xin, Qian Xu met a host from the radio station named Zhao, and this host wasn’t just casually connected to their cultural projects—her husband happened to be the host of a very popular parent-child reality show.

“Teacher Zhao, hello.”

“Miss Qian, it’s nice to meet you. I didn’t expect someone as young as you to already be managing a company. I look forward to seeing your impressive achievements in the future.” Zhao Wen noticed something though—aside from Qian Xu’s other qualities, her striking beauty was enough to capture the attention of most people, and she couldn’t help but think of another angle.

Of course, it wasn’t just her looks. The public loved more than just appearances.

“Miss Qian, do you have time in the near future?” Zhao Wen smiled slightly. “I think we might be able to have a chat.”

The two discussed the daily happenings at the station, but eventually, the conversation turned to Zhao Wen’s husband and the recent season of the parent-child variety show he hosted.

Bi Xin, who had been listening in, widened her eyes in surprise and exclaimed, “So that’s how it is?”

“Yes, my husband isn’t just one of the hosts of that show. He’s also one of the major investors behind it,” Zhao Wen explained calmly. She spoke about the impressive ratings the show had received last season and mentioned her husband’s role in it. “I don’t have any other intentions. I just think it would be a shame if we missed the opportunity to have someone like you on the show.”

As expected, Zhao Wen extended an olive branch to Qian Xu.

This parent-child reality show not only featured four pairs of real mothers and children but also included new guests and randomly selected children to simulate mother-daughter and mother-son interactions, in order to create more buzz for the program.

With China’s relatively low birthrate at the moment, the show aimed to promote positive interactions between young people and children. This type of program just happened to fit well with the themes assigned by higher authorities.

But Zhao Wen likely had another reason for seeking out Qian Xu.

Qian Xu didn’t immediately agree or refuse. Instead, she said she was still considering it, but it would depend on the company’s schedule.

As she left the radio station, she heard Bi Xin, who was visibly nervous, ask, “Xu Xu, are you serious about agreeing to this? You’re not joking, right?”

It was clear to anyone paying attention.

Bi Xin spoke up boldly: “I don’t think Zhao Wen is really that bad, but she’s definitely thinking about the show’s ratings. It’s not like she’s desperate for you specifically—”

“I think,” Bi Xin continued, somewhat frustrated, “she probably knows about the connection between you and Cheng Shuangyi through people in the industry. She’s trying to stir up conflict to get higher ratings.”

Qian Xu didn’t stay silent. She nodded and responded, “Hmm.”

“You knew from the beginning?” Bi Xin was puzzled. “Then why are you considering joining this show? Isn’t that playing right into their hands?”