Chapter 9

Lin Yi was anxious and a bit uneasy as he finally awaited the tour guide’s announcement of the results.

The tour guide said, “Team One is Lin Yi and Nora. Team Two is Ian and Mianmian. Team Three is Qin Siyuan and Yang Bai.”

Lin Yi lowered his head, clearly unhappy.

Nora tugged at Lin Yi’s sleeve. “Brother Lin Yi, don’t you want to be on the same team as me?”

Lin Yi replied, “No.”

He just wanted to be on Qin Siyuan’s team.

Lin Yi thought to himself, since Qin Siyuan didn’t want him tagging along, maybe that was a good thing—it meant he could focus solely on himself and little Lin Yi.

If Lin Yi stayed in this world a little longer, perhaps he would understand the “fledgling syndrome”—Qin Siyuan was the first person he had truly gotten to know here.

Xie Yu nearby was a bit surprised; she had thought Xiao Yan would team up with Lin Yi. When they drew lots, she had secretly hoped for that, but perhaps heaven hadn’t heard her wish.

Ian was still intently watching the balls while muttering, “How could this happen? How am I supposed to get first now...”

When Mianmian approached, Ian suddenly became flustered.

“Mian, Mianmian little sister.”

But little Mianmian didn’t want to talk to him. In her little head, since Ian had quarreled with Sister Nora, she decided she wouldn’t like Ian anymore.

After the teams were decided, the tour guide began explaining the game rules: “Kids, do you see the three items on the long table?”

Lin Yi looked over and saw two sets of fishing rods, two bags of fish feed, and two bamboo net scoops laid out on a long table covered with light green velvet.

Clearly, the task was to catch fish.

The tour guide continued, “Each team may only choose one type of equipment. For example, if Lin Yi and Nora choose fishing rods, they cannot also select fish feed or a net scoop. The team that catches the most fish will win a large fruit and vegetable package.”

Yang Xing pondered for a moment and asked the tour guide, “Can the kids help each other?”

Since Ian and Yang Bai were on different teams, if one team obtained fish feed, they could attract the fish, meaning that regardless of whether the other team had fishing rods or nets, they would still catch fish. Of course, the best combination was fish feed plus net scoops, as the feed attracts the fish and the nets scoop them up, saving time and effort.

The tour guide clarified, “Each team will be at different fish ponds, so no cooperation between teams is allowed.”

Lin Yi looked carefully at the three types of equipment.

The fishing rods lacked bait, the fish feed would be useless for kids to catch fish by itself, and the bamboo net scoops required the children to fish directly in the pond, which was like searching for a needle in a haystack.

Qin Siyuan also noticed the problem and asked the guide, “How do you fish with a rod if there’s no bait?”

The tour guide smiled, “That’s why each child and parent will have one hour to find an additional item, but it can’t be related to fishing.”

The adults exchanged glances.

The guide suddenly clapped her head, “Now let’s play a little game. We will assign equipment to each team, but the game itself will be completed by the parents.”

The staff brought out a massage board.

Several parents immediately lost their smiles.

This show was really going all out!

[“Look at Actress Xi! I always thought she only showed expressions in movies, but when the massage board came out, her face cracked up—it was hilarious, haha!”]

[“First time seeing Nora grimace like that—I get it now, the massage board is the perfect remedy for the aloof type.”]

Zhong Qi, promoting an upcoming drama, had participated in a running variety show before and was terrified of the massage board to his core.

Zhong Qi said, “Xiao Yi, maybe I’ll just stay hungry today.”

Lin Yi glanced at him and saw his pitiful expression.

“No matter what equipment, I can win.”

Jiang Xuan and Ian stood behind them, sneering with disdain.

Jiang Xuan mocked, “Fish aren’t apples falling from trees that you can catch with 100% certainty.”

Zhong Qi suddenly picked up little Lin Yi, afraid Jiang Xuan might make a move.

Lin Yi gently patted Zhong Qi’s hair, and Zhong Qi realized that Jiang Xuan wouldn’t dare act up here on set.

Zhong Qi would never forget the day after his mother passed when Jiang Qihan brought Jiang Xuan and his son home.

Jiang Xuan was a demon who could be smiling one moment and shove him down the stairs the next.

Lin Yi looked seriously at Jiang Xuan: “I will win.”

Jiang Xuan trembled unexpectedly; Lin Yi’s gaze seemed to pierce into him.

But on closer look, Lin Yi’s eyes were calm.

Jiang Xuan thought he must be losing his mind—Lin Yi was just a child, yet his gaze unsettled him.

The tour guide announced the game rules: “Jump rope on the massage board; the team with the highest total jumps wins. The kids will pick their equipment first.”

Following the order of the numbered balls, Zhong Qi and He Tong went first.

He Tong patted Zhong Qi’s shoulder, “Teacher Zhong, this team’s counting on you—I really can’t handle the massage board.”

Zhong Qi went first. Though experienced with the massage board, he couldn’t jump rope well but managed eight jumps.

Then it was He Tong’s turn. She took a deep breath and said to Nora and Lin Yi, “If I can’t even jump one, will you blame me?”

Nora said, “No, because this is to earn food for Mom and Uncle Zhong. It’s not about us kids.”

He Tong: ...

She only managed three jumps before stepping off the board and pulling out a small mirror, checking her face left and right. “That hurt so much—was my expression too scary?”

Xie Yu pinched her cheek, “Don’t worry, you’re always beautiful.”

Team Two was Xi Lan and Jiang Xuan.

Before getting on the massage board, Xi Lan put on an oversized mask.

He Tong looked at Xi Lan’s mask and said pitifully, “Xi Jie, how can you do this?”

Xi Lan felt she might be cheating.

He Tong said, “Why didn’t I get a mask? I don’t know how many embarrassing photos the livestream has taken of me!”

Xi Lan, not good at making friends, looked to Xie Yu for help.

Xie Yu said, “Alright, alright, our little Tong is the prettiest.”

He Tong felt Xie Yu’s comfort was half-hearted.

With the mask’s help, Xi Lan jumped 18 times in a row.

Jiang Xuan wasn’t bad either, managing 22 jumps.

The last team, Yang Xing alone, jumped more than the combined total of Zhong Qi and He Tong.

Unquestionably, Zhong Qi and He Tong ranked last.

When Jiang Xuan passed by Zhong Qi, he even gave him a provocative look.

“Let’s see how you’re going to win.”

After Xie Yu finished jumping, the rankings were revealed.

Xi Lan and Jiang Xuan came in first.

The tour guide said, “Mianmian and Ian get to choose their equipment first.”

Little Mianmian touched the fishing rods and glanced at the bamboo net scoops, liking both.

Ian said, “Mianmian, let’s pick this one. It can attract lots and lots of fish!”

“But Mianmian likes hooks.”

Ian coaxed, “We don’t know how to fish; if we pick hooks, we’ll be last. Aunt Xi will go hungry.”

Torn between her favorite hooks and not letting her mom go hungry, Mianmian decisively chose the latter.

After getting two bags of fish feed, Ian felt confident he’d win this time, his head held high with pride.

Second place went to Yang Xing and Xie Yu.

Qin Siyuan and Yang Bai stood by the equipment table. Yang Bai, usually lazy, surprisingly took the initiative: “Shall we pick fishing rods?”

Qin Siyuan didn’t answer but frowned at the bamboo net scoops.

Yang Bai followed his gaze: “I don’t know how to net fish. You can’t go easy on us just because you’re close to Lin Yi.”

Among the three types of equipment, the bamboo net scoops were clearly the hardest to catch fish with.

Yang Bai picked up the two fishing rods: “We’re set.”

Lin Yi looked at the remaining bamboo net scoops and thought, hmm, not bad.

Actually, even without equipment, catching fish was easy for him.

Especially since the fish were in a fish farm, not wild—meaning they were less wary and easier to catch.

The tour guide said, “Now that you have your equipment, you can find one more item, but it can’t be fishing nets, spears, or other fishing tools.”

The kids paired up to discuss.

Yang Bai said, “We need bait. Earthworms don’t count as fishing tools.”

Qin Siyuan’s beautiful brows furrowed when he heard “earthworms.”

Yang Bai was clearly just suggesting; he didn’t want to dig for worms.

Yang Bai continued, “When I was in the countryside, my cousin used dough for bait. Shall we find some flour?”

Compared to digging for worms, Qin Siyuan preferred dough.

Ian’s team was completely led by Ian: “Mianmian, let’s borrow a basin or a small bucket. After feeding the fish, we can scoop them out directly.”

Mianmian’s big clear eyes looked at him, not understanding but knowing they needed to borrow a basin or bucket.

Mianmian said, “Let’s go!”

Nora stared at the net scoops, deep in thought.

Nora said, “Should we borrow some water-pumping equipment from the fishermen in the village?”

If they could drain the water, they could catch fish however they wanted.

Lin Yi: ...

Nora went on, “It might be a bit difficult.”

Fish feed definitely couldn’t be borrowed; it was an auxiliary fishing tool.

Nora recalled feeding bread to koi at the park; they would swim over.

She said, “Then let’s borrow some bread or steamed buns.”

Lin Yi whispered to Nora with his mic muted.

Nora’s eyes widened. “Really? We can?”

[“Who taught the kids to mute their mics? What could a noble member like me not hear?”]

[“Actually, Nora’s idea is good. There are plenty of fish in the farm pond. Using bread crumbs to attract them might work if they act fast.”]

[“I want to see what Lin Yi can do! I bet he’ll come in last!”]

The other teams had already set off to borrow things from the villagers.

Only Lin Yi and Nora remained, lounging on the show’s deck chairs, very relaxed.

[“Is Lin Yi just giving up with Nora?”]

[“So annoying! All the other kids are working hard, and he just doesn’t care. Does he think this is just a vacation?”]

[“Poor Zhong Qi, being Lin Yi’s temporary dad must be rough.”]

[“We, Zhong Qi’s fans, haven’t said anything. Who are you to pity him?”]

Zhong Qi clearly liked Lin Yi, so their fans loved him by extension.

The four kids sent to borrow items were asked to perform.

Mianmian and Ian sang a song about counting ducks, completely confusing the livestream viewers who didn’t know the words.

It brought plenty of laughter, though.

Meanwhile, Qin Siyuan and Yang Bai performed a mental arithmetic display. The villagers were stunned, some calculators practically smoking, hitting zero repeatedly.

[“Why isn’t little Lin Yi borrowing anything? I want to see his perfect apple catch again.”]

[“Who knows how he got lucky in the orchard? It might all be a fluke or a show gimmick!”]

[“I bet the footage was edited!”]

[“You haters have it tough—no real flaws to criticize, so you have to make stuff up. Maybe you’re even professional trolls. That’s tough work for the money.”]

The haters: ...

“Who says we’re just hating? Look at Lin Yi’s online reputation now; we’re making progress.”

Still, because of this show, Lin Yi’s reputation was indeed improving.

Even the haters were frustrated—making money this way wasn’t easy.