Chapter 149

A surprise?

An An, who had been about to struggle, instantly froze when he heard those two words. He even stopped trying to push his Big Brother’s hand away.

“Big Brother, can you carry me? I’m scared I’ll fall.”

Zhou Shizhe had originally just meant to cover his eyes so he wouldn’t see anything, but he hadn’t expected this little guy to be even lazier than he thought.

“You hold me, I’ll cover my own eyes.”

“Alright.”

An An used his small hands to cover his own eyes. Even after they entered the living room, he kept them covered and asked in a soft voice:

“Big Brother, can I open them now?”

“You can.”

Standing in the living room were four people An An found a bit unfamiliar. Zhou Shizhe took the initiative to introduce them:

“Don’t you remember? These are the Big Brothers and Big Sisters from X-Change.”

When the show ended, they had all promised to stay in touch even after the filming was over. After all, they were friends.

But only half a year had passed, and they had gradually lost contact.

The real reason was that their parents were too controlling and hardly gave them any chance to use phones or computers.

Now that An An had graduated from kindergarten, Zhou Shizhe had his assistant reach out to them and brought them all here.

Not only to see each other again, but he had also bought train tickets. They were planning to return to the small village where they had filmed the show and see how things were now.

“Yay~”

An An had a good memory and still remembered the many grandpas and grandmas he liked in that village. As soon as he heard they were going back, he couldn’t wait to start packing.

The next day, they boarded a plane with their packed belongings.

Grandpa Zhou had wanted to come along too, but he had a medical check-up scheduled in a few days.

Besides, the long journey would be hard on his body, so he reminded An An to call him every day.

An An, carrying his little backpack, readily agreed and even promised to bring back some local specialties for Grandpa and Grandma. He swore he wouldn’t let them down.

He still remembered bits and pieces from a few years ago and knew that the car couldn’t drive all the way into the village. They’d have to walk a long way. Not long after they arrived, it was already getting dark.

Shortly after getting into the car, Zhou Shizhe felt a weight in his arms. Looking down, he saw An An skillfully burrowing into his embrace. He reached out to hold him close and draped his coat over the boy to keep him from catching a cold.

After sleeping for over an hour, An An sat up, rubbed his eyes, looked out the window at the scenery speeding by, and leaned against his Big Brother, asking in a muffled voice:

“Big Brother, when will we get there?”

“Soon, about half an hour.”

“Oh.”

Hearing they were almost there, An An didn’t go back to sleep.

A few years had passed, and Zong Lili had become a very famous beauty influencer online, with over a million followers.

Though she was still under twenty, her style was already very mature.

As a streamer, she didn’t want to miss out on such a great opportunity for exposure, so she immediately started a livestream.

The eye-catching X-Change from a few years ago still had many fans, especially now that all the kids who had gone from the city to the countryside were reuniting.

Zong Lili held up her filming gear, letting the viewers in the livestream see the wide, smooth cement road.

Half an hour later, the car stopped at the village entrance.

When An An was carried out of the car, his little face was full of shock.

Beneath his feet was a cement road, and all he could see were small multi-story houses. He tugged lightly at his Big Brother’s sleeve and tiptoed to whisper:

“Big Brother, did we take the wrong road?”

Although he couldn’t quite remember what the village used to look like, he was sure it didn’t look like this.

“No, this is the place.”

【Holy crap, is this really the same village where they filmed X-Change? Did they just randomly pick another village to shoot in?】

【The transformation is insane. I didn’t recognize it at all!!】

【An An has grown up too, but he’s still just as cute hehe, mommy wants to kiss him.】

【I just went back and looked at the old X-Change episodes. From the screenshots, you can tell this is definitely the same village.】

【Wow, this place looks amazing now. I can’t believe it!!!】

【I take back everything I said before. I thought it was all just for show and they’d forget about it once the filming ended. I owe Zhou Shizhe an apology.】

【+1, stuff like this has happened way too many times before.】

【You can’t even see a single mud-walled house anymore. Almost every family has a small multi-story home. I wonder how the grandpas and grandmas are doing now.】

【Same here. From the livestream just now, the transportation looks super convenient now. No more spending an entire day just to buy something!】

It wasn’t just the viewers who were curious—the other guests were too.

Back then, they had stayed in this village and wanted to help the elderly they met, but they simply didn’t have the means.

When they brought it up to their parents after returning home, they were scolded instead. Their parents accused them of caring more about strangers than their own family.

Among the four of them, only Zong Lili had earned some money and helped out the elderly living alone in the village.

Zhou Shizhe said they were here to visit, so of course everything had been prepared in advance. Behind the car they were riding in was a small truck filled with gifts he had brought for the elderly.

Together, the group went from house to house, visiting each one.

Fortunately, in the past few years, thanks to the village’s improving living conditions, none of the elderly had passed away. All the elders who were there during the filming were still alive.

As the kids were about to leave for the next house, the elderly would pull out money wrapped in cloth and stuff it into An An’s hands, telling him to buy something tasty for himself.

An An couldn’t refuse, so he had to accept it. Most of it was small bills—ten or twenty yuan—and he carefully tucked them all into his cartoon backpack.

【Sob sob, this is so wonderful. I thought for sure some of the elderly would have passed away, but they’re all still here, and they look healthy too.】

【Haha, they even gave An An money. The way he waved his hands saying no was so adorable.】

【If it were me, I’d give him money too. This village owes so much to them.】

【That grandma just now was so cute. I remember during the X-Change filming, An An really liked the little rooster she raised. He went to play with it every day, and the next day the rooster ended up in his bowl. He cried while eating it.】

【Haha I’m dying, An An, quick, say you like the grandma’s little hen this time.】

【Not only do they have small multi-story houses now, but from the furnishings inside and the cement yards, you can really tell their living conditions have improved.】

【This variety show has the best aftercare ever! Seeing the changes after all these years is amazing.】

【Everyone else is maturing, An An is growing up, and the grandpas and grandmas are getting older. Time really flies. I can’t believe X-Change aired four or five years ago.】

Zhou Shizhe, An An, and Song Feiran stayed at the Village Chief’s house, while the others also arranged to stay in the village for two nights.

In just a few short years, the village had developed rapidly.

Back when they left, many young people were already thinking of returning to the village. Now, almost all of them had come back.

At first, it was simply because they couldn’t survive in the village anymore that they decided to look elsewhere for a way to make a living.

But now, their village had gradually become more prosperous. Even just growing fruit trees and doing a bit of casual work on the side could bring in enough income. With a little frugality, they could even save money.

With young people around, life had become much easier for the elderly in the village. They no longer had to work themselves to the bone like before.

All the old tea trees had been cut down and replaced with new varieties. Thanks to the village’s unique geographical location, the freshly harvested Tea Leaves were extremely valuable.

They grew crops and vegetables to cut down on expenses, tended the tea gardens and managed the fruit trees. There was work to do all year round.

The fruit tree varieties were especially well-suited to the area. The fruits they bore were large and sweet. The young people in the village opened an online store to sell them, and business was booming.

Without middlemen taking a cut, their prices were slightly lower than the competition, while the fruit quality was even better. The store kept growing, and demand soon outpaced supply.

On top of that, the road Zhou Shizhe had promised to build was now complete. The wide, smooth concrete road meant they no longer had to worry about transportation.

With money in hand, they began renovating their homes.

This village, once remembered by all viewers as backward and impoverished, had transformed into something beautiful in just a few short years.

After spending a few days there, the massive changes were captured through Zong Lili’s camera lens, allowing everyone to witness the transformation.

On their last night before leaving, they all gathered together under the moonlight for a barbecue.

Starting in the afternoon, An An carefully skewered meat and vegetables, far more diligently than the others.

Zhou Shizhe sliced the meat and placed it on plates, while the others washed the vegetables.

An An held the skewers in his hands, carefully threading the meat and vegetables, arranging them neatly.

When it came time to grill the skewers that evening, An An was the only one seriously checking whether the skewers were cooked and ready to eat. The others were all chatting.

Zong Lili’s livestream had remained on the entire time, and they all knew it. None of them minded that the audience could hear their conversations.

Zhou Shizhe had known for years that these guests hadn’t had easy lives. Over the years, he had been trying to offer them help whenever he could.

Being a parent doesn’t require passing any test, which is why there are so many unqualified parents out there.

But that was someone else’s family business. Zhou Shizhe couldn’t criticize them. All he could do was lend a hand when they needed help.

With a little child laborer grilling skewers nearby, the rest of them drank and ate together.

The alcohol loosened their tongues, letting them say things they normally wouldn’t dare to, including their plans for the future.

Zong Lili really enjoyed her current life as a beauty influencer. At her age, she had already worked hard enough to rent her own place and live independently. She planned to continue down this path.

She knew her choices were completely different from what her parents had planned for her, but she just wanted to do what she loved.

Song Feiran really didn’t have much talent when it came to academics. Even with the good tutors Zhou Shizhe had hired for him, his grades remained average, and it was highly unlikely he’d get into college.

Back in his first year of high school, he had been scouted by an E-sports Team because of his high game rankings and joined their youth training squad. Now, he was already a full-fledged team member.

He was part of the second team of a very well-known domestic E-sports Team. The player in the same position on the first team was expected to retire after the autumn season. The coach had already contacted Song Feiran in advance, saying he would be moved up to the first team as a substitute.

If he performed well, he could become a starting player. For someone his age to have reached this point, his future was incredibly promising.

Zhao Yian, who had once been sent to X-Change for reading too many novels, started writing his own after graduating from middle school. He had gained some recognition and had already reconciled with his parents.

Sun Wushu, who had once been obsessed with chasing celebrities, wore a white dress today. She looked gentle and serene, and said she planned to become an assistant to her favorite celebrity after graduating from college.

Her affection for that celebrity had never faded. Though her parents still didn’t understand, she had long since stopped being the puppet they could manipulate at will.

Back in elementary school, she had been bullied for being pretty. That experience led to depression, and in a moment of hopelessness, she poured her heart out to her idol’s account on a social media platform.

At the time, Sun Wushu wished she could be like the older sister she admired—gentle and brave.

To her surprise, that sister actually replied with a voice message.

She patiently comforted Sun Wushu, told her it wasn’t her fault, and stayed by her side as she fought her way out of depression.

As the idol’s fame grew, replies became less frequent. But during holidays, she would still occasionally check in and ask how Sun Wushu was doing.

In the video her parents had submitted, the reason she insisted on going to the airport was because it was the only chance in years she had to see her idol in real life.

X-Change might not have succeeded in “transforming” them, but it had definitely helped them make some real friends.

【Holy crap, Song Feiran? That’s really Song Feiran?!! I’ve been following the competitions and thought this player looked good, but I never imagined it was actually Song Feiran!】

【So I already liked him years ago haha. The team members all seem to like him, and he performs well in matches. He handles pressure like a pro. I’ve got high hopes for him!】

【The first team’s player in his position is planning to retire, right? Since he’s in the second team, doesn’t that mean he has a shot at becoming a starter?】

【According to insiders, if he performs well this year, there’s a good chance!】

Song Feiran had already made a name for himself in the industry. Now that viewers were connecting him with the rebellious teenager from years ago, it added a sense of joy, like watching someone grow up.

【Raising my hand shyly—I’ve been reading Zhao Yian’s novels. It’s been years since I’ve read such a good mystery novel.】

【His web novel platform has already started promoting the author conference three months from now, and he’s on the guest list!】

【In that old video his parents submitted, he was reading a novel by the same author who’s going to be at the conference. Does that count as meeting his idol?】

Zhao Yian heard from Zong Lili that people were praising him. He covered his face and waved shyly, a little embarrassed.

Because he had spent so many years at home writing, he had developed some social anxiety and wasn’t great at interacting with people.

【Is the idol Sun Wushu mentioned Liu Huihui? (Whispering—not trying to hype the idol or anything)】

【I dug up some screenshots from old variety shows. It should be Liu Huihui. I’ve liked her for years. I originally watched X-Change because they said one of the guests was a die-hard fan of hers.】

【I was r*ped in middle school. My parents thought I brought shame on them and wanted to marry me off to the rapist. The night before I planned to kill myself, I messaged her. She asked for my contact info and called me, telling me to hang on.

She even hired a lawyer for me, helped me gather evidence, and got that man sent to prison. Later, she funded my college education. I now work at her studio!】

【Liu Huihui replied to my DMs too, haha. I’ve kept them hidden all this time, not wanting anyone to see. I didn’t expect she had replied to so many people.】

When Sun Wushu heard Zong Lili say that many people were praising her idol, she pressed her lips together and smiled.

She didn’t know if even now there were still people who thought her way of idolizing someone was too extreme, but she knew that when it came to the older sister who had pulled her out of despair, she simply couldn’t help but like her.

“I’m really grateful to her. If it weren’t for her… I don’t know what I would’ve become. She truly is an idol who deserves to be loved.”

After a few of them finished speaking, they all, as if by unspoken agreement, turned their eyes toward Zhou Shizhe.

Over the past few years, each of them had received help from Zhou Shizhe in one way or another.

Song Feiran’s parents didn’t support his decision to become a professional e-sports player. In their eyes, it was a career that relied on youth and was inherently unstable.

Back when Song Feiran was still a minor, their lack of support could have easily ruined the few years when he had the most potential.

In the end, it was Zhou Shizhe who stepped in, handled all the necessary paperwork, and helped him successfully join an e-sports team.

As for Zong Lili, the reason her career had gone so smoothly these past few years was because Zhou Shizhe had personally offered her a contract that ensured she wouldn’t have to worry about her daily needs.

The novel platform Zhao Yian signed with was backed by a friend of Zhou Shizhe.

Noticing that everyone was looking at him, Zhou Shizhe shrugged helplessly, took a bite of the freshly grilled meat skewer his little brother had just made, and finally said slowly:

“The company I founded has already gone public. I plan to keep developing it in this direction.”

“If An An wants to go down this path when he grows up, that would be ideal. But if he doesn’t, I’ll help him manage the company Grandpa left him.”

Not only the few people sitting there, but even the viewers in Zong Lili’s live stream felt a twinge of jealousy when they heard him say that.

Zong Lili picked up the filming equipment and aimed it at Xiao An’an, who was busy grilling skewers with great enthusiasm.

Wearing a mask and looking quite professional, the skewers he grilled looked genuinely appetizing.

Since that was his own little brother, Zhou Shizhe naturally mentioned a few more things.

“Grandpa doesn’t have any lofty expectations for An An. He can do whatever he wants.”

“Of course, as long as it’s legal.”

He used to love digging through trash bins for bottle caps, and now he loved grilling skewers. One had to admit, the hobbies of a Little Young Master from a wealthy family were truly unique.

After grilling for a while, Xiao An’an got tired and was scooped up into his Big Brother’s arms. Zhou Shizhe held up a skewer and fed it to him. An An squinted his eyes in delight as he enjoyed the food, happily kicking his little feet.

It was a habit he’d had since he was little—and it hadn’t changed at all.

【Four or five years have passed. It feels like so much has changed, and yet nothing has changed at all.】

【An An has grown up. He’s a bigger little kid now.】

【Everyone is heading toward a bright future. Even if it’s completely different from what their parents wanted for them, it’s still full of hope.】

【Ugh, I’m getting emotional. Grandpa and Grandma’s lives have improved, and each child now has a clear goal.】

【An An, who’s obsessed with the skewer business—well, I can only wish him success. Just promise your sister you won’t use gutter oil, okay?】

Since An An was still young, he went to bed early. Zhou Shizhe had to take care of him, so he left first. The remaining four continued chatting about their past experiences in the village and shared updates about their current lives.

In the quiet of the night, the sound of insects could still be heard, adding a touch of indescribable peace.

For them, coming to this village to film X-Change wasn’t something they had chosen willingly. But the friends they made here had truly become lifelong blessings.

With the contrast between who they were a few years ago and who they were now, and with the success of that previous season of X-Change, the show had gained a lot of viewers.

The live streaming platform that had promoted that season had now become one of the most popular platforms in the country, with a massive user base.

Taking advantage of the renewed interest, the platform dug up the old episodes of X-Change and placed them in the most prominent recommendation slots.

Since most of the participants had grown into outstanding individuals, the show even made it onto the front page of the Hot Search.

The one who benefited the most from all this was Zong Lili. Thanks to just one livestream, she gained hundreds of thousands of new followers.

Before they left, An An was still thinking about the local specialties he wanted to prepare for Grandpa and Grandma.

The Village Chief took them up the mountain to pick some of the fruits currently in season, grown right there in the village.

If one didn’t mind how valuable the gift was, it really was a perfect choice.

Zhou Shizhe sat to the side, filming a video of An An picking fruit with his own hands.

His slightly chubby body clung to the tree, a basket strapped to his waist, climbing up with surprising agility, his little butt wiggling as he went.

The moment the video was sent to Grandpa, a video call came through. As soon as it connected, Grandpa’s furious voice boomed out.

“How could you let An An climb that high?!”

Zhou Shizhe cleared his throat and tried to explain:

“An An said he wanted to pick them himself. He thought it would be more sincere if he did it with his own hands…”

Not fully understanding the situation, An An vaguely realized his Big Brother was on the phone with Grandpa. Hugging the tree trunk with one arm, he waved his other hand toward his brother and shouted:

“Grandpa, Grandpa! Look how high I climbed!”