66 This Episode Was Coming to An End

Lin Wan didn’t object. She sat opposite to Song Jing and let her work on her face.

Li Zekai pulled Li Ze Xin to the side and whispered, “Brother, did Auntie agree to the talent show?”

While Lin Wan was putting on her makeup, Li Zexuan approached the camera. The bullet screen, which was still howling and begging for the Festival Group to set the camera, right changed their attitude when Li Zexuan came into view.

[Xuanxuan is here. Son, you’re facing the camera. Are you looking at the comments?]

[I’ll bet with two packets of spicy strips that Xuanxuan will reply.]

[Xuanxuan, did you see our comments? Please reply. Did Lin Wan abuse you?]

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“No, she didn’t.” Li Zexuan had never before replied to comments criticizing Lin Wan. When he uttered those words, Li Zexuan was surprised at himself. ‘Am I on Lin Wan’s side now?’ he wondered. He hadn’t even cared when Lin Wan was criticized so badly that she ended up in the hot search.

[Is Xuanxuan responding? Son, are you really looking at the comments?]

[Are you eating well over there? Did you sleep well? Are you in a good mood?]

[I have too many questions. In short, are you alright?]

[Xuanxuan, what are you guys doing? So mysterious. Is Lin Wan going to show off her talents later? It’s okay, we know she’s a salted fish.]

[Xuanxuan, don’t bring Lin Wan along for the next episode.]

“Everyone is fine.” Li Zexuan couldn’t help but reply.

[Quick! Please tell me that all of this is true. Is Xuanxuan really responding? He’s so cold but he’s actually reading the comments and replying to us.]

[Xuanxuan is getting warmer.]

[I also think that Xuanxuan is not as introverted and cold as before. He actually replied to the bullet screen. You know, he didn’t even do any public relations when he was misunderstood and ended up in the hot search in the past.]

[Take good care of yourself. Lin Wan and your dad are hopeless.]

Li Zexuan looked at the rapidly scrolling bullet screen. Although he didn’t have time to see every single comment, he knew most of it. Some people were worried that he was abused by Lin Wan, while others felt that he had become more cheerful than before.

Even though Lin Wan was lazy, she wasn’t a bad person. Li Zexuan refused to even entertain the thought that she was capable of abusing anyone, let alone him. As for him becoming more cheerful, Li Zexuan hadn’t realized it.

However, Li Yanchen had definitely changed. Before Lin Wan’s appearance, Li Yanchen had never cared about anything, not even his family, apart from his work. Li Zexuan had never even seen him attend a parent-teacher’s meeting at his school, but he attended a reality show with them this time.

He always remembered his father being very busy and not having the time to spend with his family. Li Zexuan didn’t know what family or home felt like.

“I’m fine,” Li Zexuan spat out the words.

[That’s good! Xuanxuan, tomorrow is the last day. I’ll see you again in the next episode. You have to take care of yourself when you get home.]

[Xuanxuan is about to finish his first year of high school. He will be in his second year soon. He’s going to be stressed about his studies. I heard that all the announcements for next year have been canceled. He’s going to focus on preparing for the college entrance examination. I’m looking forward to the return of your King.]

[Xuanxuan, are you going to stay in the school dormitory after you leave? When you have the time, post a few photos on Weibo.]

Looking at the bullet screen, Li Zexuan finally realized that this episode was coming to an end. They will be leaving the day after tomorrow.

After returning to Yun City, he and his younger brothers would live their own life. Li Yanchen would be busy with work again and Lin Wan would be home alone.

At that time, they would return to their previous way of living.

Li Zexuan’s eyes darkened as he thought about it. He was afraid that the fans would notice something was wrong. He turned his back and pretended to look in the direction of Lin Wan.

They were all going to go back to where they came from. The second semester was temporarily set for summer break, and there would be at least a month’s time in between. Li Zexuan couldn’t describe his feelings. On one hand, he hoped Lin Wan would participate in the next episode again. On the other hand, he didn’t want her to. Maybe she would refuse. She had been criticized so heavily, after all.

…

At Tutu’s House, looking at Xu Xiaoxiao getting ready for the talent show, Tutu made a face and pulled at her skirt. “It’s so ugly.”

Xu Xiaoxiao stumbled and almost fell.

Su Wei quickly grabbed the child’s hand.”Tutu, Huangmei Opera is the quintessence of Chinese culture.”

“What is”quintessence”?” asked Tutu.

“Quintessence means the essence of something. Like a symbol that represents something. For example, you love your toys and they represent what you like the most. Likewise, this is passed down by our ancestors and is very important,” Su Wei explained patiently.

Tutu raised his chubby chin and sat on his father’s lap. “But she doesn’t sing very well. It sounds like a chicken screaming.”

Tutu didn’t know what Huangmei Opera was. He thought Xu Xiaoxiao’s high-pitched singing was like the crowing of the chicken he used to hear when his grandmother took him to the countryside.

Su Wei didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Xu Xiaoxiao’s face turned red. The brat actually said that she sang like a chicken.

“Tutu.” Su Wei patted his son’s head.”Auntie Xu hasn’t changed into her costume yet. Can you at least hold back on your comment until she changes her clothes? Maybe you will like the dress.”

“I don’t want to see it. I’m going to play with my cards.” Tutu jumped down from Su Wei’s lap and went into his room. ‘Was Xu Xiaoxiao really that good? Why did my father always praise her?’ Ever since Xu Xiaoxiao had appeared in their lives, Tutu felt that his father loved him less.

[To be honest, Xu Xiaoxiao sings quite well. This little brat is really asking for a beating.]

[A good Huangmei Opera is said to sound like a chicken crowing. This child really has no filter on his mouth.]

[It’s such a blow to her self-esteem. She’s been practicing so eagerly, but now that the child has said that, is Xu Xiaoxiao going to give up?]

Su Wei comforted Xu Xiaoxiao after Tutu left.”Xiaoxiao, ignore Tutu. You sing very well.”

Xu Xiaoxiao turned around, the smile on her face disappearing. She pulled a chair and sat down.”It’s the last day tomorrow. I don’t want to participate in the next episode.”

Su Wei knew that Xu Xiaoxiao had lost face in this variety show. He had wanted to help increase Xu Xiaoxiao’s popularity through the show and announce to the public that Xu Xiaoxiao was his fiancée. However, it had turned into a disaster. His mother still disliked Xu Xiaoxiao and Tutu had humiliated her constantly on-screen.

Su Wei felt that he had been too eager. His fiancée had not gotten used to his son yet. Tutu barely had the time to get to know her, too. He had forced them both together in the show hastily.

“Okay. If you don’t want to participate, we don’t have to join the next episode. I’ll let the Festival Group know,” said Su Wei in understanding.

[Is Xu Xiaoxiao saying that she won’t be attending the next episode? If it were me, I wouldn’t participate either. She is just attracting hate for herself and getting humiliated.]

[That’s right. It’s hard to raise a child, especially as a stepmother. It’s too much effort and too much struggle.]

[That’s right. What a shame! Su Wei pulled her into the show too soon.]

Xu Xiaoxiao smiled sadly. “I want to stay at the Jinlin Garden Villa when we go back.”

“Alright,” said Su Wei. Jinlin Garden was the Su family’s other villa. His mother had objected to Xu Xiaoxiao staying there but Su Wei felt like he owed her for what he put her through. He had disobeyed his mother and let Xu Xiaoxiao move in there.