Chapter 40

That night, Ruan Xizhi slept particularly well.

Although it seemed like something was restricting her in the middle of the night, overall, it was a peaceful and sound sleep.

She planned to stretch her legs and waist, but found she couldn’t move.

Ruan Xizhi thought she was still dreaming, so she gave a little kick to whatever was holding her.

“Don’t move.”

A low and deep voice rang in her ear.

It was somewhat familiar and pleasant to hear.

Like…

Ruan Xizhi suddenly opened her eyes, and was startled to see a prominent Adam’s apple and a sharp jawline.

Looking up, she saw a man’s deep, swirling eyes, dark and somewhat carrying the irritation of just waking up.

Ruan Xizhi’s mind went blank, then immediately snapped to reality as she realized she was lying in Xing Peixuan’s arms. In an instant, her face turned red.

“I…”

Ruan Xizhi knew her sleeping posture was always bad. When she was young, her little brother tried to sleep with her, and the next morning he found himself lying on the floor, blaming her for twisting him like a worm.

But now things were different. She and Xing Peixuan were married, so what’s wrong with sleeping in his arms?

Though it was a contract marriage, it was still official.

Her mood shifted quickly from flustered to calm in less than a second.

Ruan Xizhi gently moved his hand off her, sat up, and to cover up the awkwardness, she said, “This bed is a little small.”

A bed that could fit ten people: “………”

At this moment, Xing Xiaochi pushed the door open and ran in. Seeing Ruan Xizhi still in bed, he pretended to be an adult, “The sun’s up, hurry up and get up, soon Tongtong and the others will be here.”

Since the trip to the remote village, Xing Xiaochi seemed to have miraculously kicked his habit of being lazy in bed.

Meanwhile, Ruan Xizhi seemed to be sleeping later and later, as if she was glued to the bed.

Ruan Xizhi, feeling unusually embarrassed, seized this opportunity to sneak into the bathroom.

When she finished washing up and came out, she found that only Xing Xiaochi was left in the room.

She looked around, and Xing Xiaochi seemed to understand as he said, “Don’t look, Dad went to the company.”

Ruan Xizhi let out a sigh of relief; he was finally gone, otherwise, she wouldn’t know how to face him.

After breakfast, the crew’s car arrived at the villa’s gate.

She hadn’t fully enjoyed her stay, but it was already time to hit the road again.

However, as soon as she got into the car, Ruan Xizhi noticed that apart from Su Tongtong, there was also a man.

In the cramped van, there was no room for his long legs, which were slightly bent. He wore a black tracksuit, a cap, and sunglasses, making it hard to see his face.

But Ruan Xizhi knew he was staring at her.

She had heard that Ruan Miaorui was going to be replaced because a woman who abused children didn’t deserve to be on a variety show.

But to replace her with a man…?

Was this still the mother coming back?

This was something the netizens had discussed, but no one cared whether it was a dad or mom because it was Su Yan, the male god.

Su Yan didn’t say anything, but Su Tongtong eagerly introduced him: “Uncle, this is Ruan Jie and Xing Xiaochi.”

Only then did Su Yan respond with an “Mmm.”

“You don’t have to be so cold,” Su Tongtong pouted, clearly dissatisfied, “You were asking about Ruan Jie just now, but now you’re not talking. That’s very rude.”

Su Yan: “………”

A black line appeared on his face. He shouldn’t have asked this little kid.

Ruan Xizhi was puzzled. What was he asking about her for?

Did they know each other before?

She only had fragmented memories of the original host, not a complete one.

So to be safe, Ruan Xizhi directly asked, “Do we know each other, sir?”

Su Yan looked at Ruan Xizhi’s beautiful almond-shaped eyes through his sunglasses. His previously cold voice softened by three degrees: “I know your husband.”

So, he knew Xing Peixuan.

That made sense. Yesterday, Xing Peixuan was so familiar with Su Tongtong’s father. Since Tongtong’s uncle also knew Xing Peixuan, it was probably the elders in their family who knew each other.

After forty minutes, the car finally stopped, and Ruan Xizhi got off holding Xing Xiaochi’s hand.

Song Sangyue and Zhong Qianwen were already there, and the director was waiting for them with a microphone.

When all the guests arrived, Wang Mingdong smiled widely and started announcing: “This is the recording location for ‘Chinese Painting.’ At 6 PM, we will be helping them with the opening ceremony. I believe you all received the news yesterday.”

“The lines you need to say have already been sent to the group. Also, kids, you will perform a show, so make sure you’re ready.”

Speaking of performances, Xing Xiaochi became enthusiastic: “I can sing ‘Two Tigers!'”

Su Tongtong raised her hand: “I can pull carrots.”

Gu Chengcheng: “I’m really good at being a tree.”

Lu Fei’er, as arrogant as ever: “You guys are so childish, those are outdated. This is a Chinese painting set, so of course, we should paint.”

Xing Xiaochi, for once, didn’t argue with her. He nodded: “Right, let’s paint. How about you teach us how to paint?”

Lu Fei’er, stunned by his approval, paused, “Well… it’s not impossible.”

A group of children began an art competition.

However, their drawings were quite abstract, and even they were dissatisfied with them.

The chickens didn’t look like chickens, and the ducks didn’t look like ducks.

The four children were at a loss when suddenly, Xing Xiaochi slapped his head and said, “Right, my aunt… oh no, my sister can do magic. Let her make a painting for us!”

Su Tongtong said, “Good idea, good idea.”

Gu Chengcheng hesitated, “But that wouldn’t be our drawing.”

Lu Feier snorted, “Let her teach us instead.”

Xing Xiaochi confirmed, “Yes, let my sister teach us.”

With repeated affirmations, Lu Fei’er felt that maybe Xing Xiaochi wasn’t being so childish after all.

The four children searched around but couldn’t find Ruan Xizhi. In the end, they asked the director uncle and found out that Ruan Xizhi was at the small store nearby.

When all the guests had arrived, the live broadcast started. Initially, they asked all the guests to leave the “National Painting” segment, but soon the sounds became quieter, finally overshadowed by a burst of laughter.

[This is amazing, this is how I eat spicy strips, double packs at once!]
[I can stuff three packs into my mouth!]
[Such a down-to-earth way of eating, hahaha, so satisfying.]
[While others are rehearsing lines, Ruan Xizhi is sneaking spicy strips, she must be the first person in the entertainment industry.]
[Seeing her eat spicy strips makes it so tempting, I suddenly feel like I’m 20 years younger, remembering “Chef Xiao Fuguai.”]
[Who remembers the “Saliva Chicken” from that year!]
[Don’t forget “Guoba Ya’er” that accompanied me through my entire childhood.]
[Oh my god, stop talking, I’m so hungry!]

Ruan Xizhi had never eaten spicy strips in her past life, only hearing classmates talk about them and seeing the packaging on the ground, but that was all.

Her parents really disliked these junk foods, so naturally, she didn’t dare eat them. After all, maintaining her image as the heir was crucial.

Ruan Xizhi initially planned to buy a bottle of water, but she caught sight of the neatly arranged spicy strips on the shelf. They all reminded her of her childhood.

It immediately brought back memories of her third brother, who when he was in middle school, secretly bought a big bag of spicy strips and ate them while playing games. He was so happy.

The room smelled like spicy strips, but she never tasted a single one.

Because she had to be the excellent child her parents saw, the future pillar of the family’s business.

Looking back now, she regretted it. Not eating them was a missed opportunity, and now she wanted them.

Sure enough, she still wanted them.

Mmm, so delicious.

Let’s have another pack.

When the four children found Ruan Xizhi, she was just about to flaunt her fourth pack of spicy strips, with oil all around her mouth, her cheeks puffed out like a hamster.

The group stared in surprise.

[Hahaha, I’m dying!]

[Why is there such a dramatic scene? Laughing while slamming the table.]
[I thought I was watching a kids’ show, but turns out it’s a comedy, hahaha.]
[Ruan Xizhi feels like another little kid, so cute!]

Xing Xiaochi rubbed his forehead, “What are you doing here?”

Ruan Xizhi looked like a caught child, licking her lips, “Didn’t you see?”

She didn’t want Xing Xiaochi to follow her old path of avoiding everything, always picky about food, only to end up with regrets.

That would be a waste.

She pushed the spicy strips towards him, “Come on, try some. It’s as addictive as the hotpot we ate yesterday.”

Xing Xiaochi was confused.

This… is this something he can eat?

One minute later, the four children were sitting in a row, passing a pack of spicy strips from left to right, quickly finishing it off.

Xing Xiaochi huffed, wiping his nose, “I want more.”

Su Tongtong sucked in air, her face flushed, “I want more too.”

Gu Chengcheng was still licking her fingers, “So delicious!”

Lu Feier, usually a loner, also swallowed her saliva.

The four children looked at Ruan Xizhi.

Ruan Xizhi wanted more too. She could flaunt an entire box, but thinking about the kids, she shook her head.

“No, if your moms find out, they’ll scold me. Do you want me to get scolded?”

The children shook their heads.

Ruan Xizhi smiled, “So, next time we’ll eat more.”

The children obediently agreed, but as they walked past the ice cream freezer on their way out of the store, Ruan Xizhi stopped in her tracks, staring at the colorful ice creams inside.

She craved it.

In her past life, she rarely had ice cream. Every time her brothers took it away, citing that it was bad for her health.

Xing Xiaochi saw that Ruan Xizhi wasn’t moving and walked over to pull her, “What’s wrong?”

Ruan Xizhi asked the child, “Do you want ice cream?”

Xing Xiaochi wanted it, but he held back.

He had read in a book that if you eat spicy food, you shouldn’t eat ice cream afterwards, or it could cause stomach issues and make you sick.

Xing Xiaochi frowned, seriously saying, “No, let’s go back.”

Ruan Xizhi tried to tempt him, “It’s really sweet and delicious. I’ll buy you two, okay?”

“No,” Xing Xiaochi dragged her out of the store like a little adult, chattering away.

“If you eat spicy food and ice cream, it’ll upset your stomach. We’re in an unfamiliar place, and if you get sick, I’ll have to take care of you. You want a kid to take care of you? Someone like you, who cares so much about face, definitely doesn’t want that, right? Having me, a child, take care of you would be really embarrassing.”

Xing Xiaochi lectured her earnestly, “So, do you have some common sense?”

Ruan Xizhi: “…”

Who doesn’t have common sense?