Chapter 59

Gu Chen covered An An’s ear with one hand. The bewildered An An, realizing what his father meant, instinctively covered his other ear with his own small hand. His big eyes blinked repeatedly, as if asking his father if he was doing it right.

The male actor, having had too much to drink, spoke without restraint. But that didn’t mean the alcohol had truly clouded his judgment. The moment he recalled Gu Chen’s current status in the entertainment industry and caught sight of the cameras filming the scene, he quickly sobered up.

“I’m so sorry, really sorry, An An. I spoke without thinking. I shouldn’t have said that. I sincerely apologize.”

As he spoke, he began rummaging through his belongings, trying to find something suitable as an apology gift. After searching for a while, he found nothing appropriate, and his nervousness only made his face burn with embarrassment.

“No need. Don’t say things like that in front of An An.”

Gu Chen stopped him from continuing his search. His expression was no longer as cold as before, and he gently reminded him,

“An An is still young. I don’t want him to be affected by these matters. You’re a father too, so I’m sure you understand my thoughts.”

By now, the man was completely sober and repeatedly nodded with an apologetic smile.

“Yes, yes, of course. Don’t worry.”

While covering one ear, An An didn’t forget to grab a chicken wing with his other hand and stuff it into his mouth. Seeing his son’s greedy expression, Gu Chen added a piece of cabbage to his plate—something An An didn’t particularly like.

Gu Chen didn’t believe that just because a child was young, small details could be ignored. Painful memories could last a long time, lingering in one’s mind even into adulthood.

He didn’t intend to hide the truth from An An, but he also didn’t plan to tell him just yet. At the very least, not now.

He would wait until An An was older—old enough to bear the potential hurt life might bring—before granting him the right to know the truth.

No matter what others said about Su Ling’s faults, Gu Chen knew in his heart that she was not as terrible as they claimed.

An An didn’t like cabbage. Even when it was placed right in front of him, he wouldn’t so much as glance at it. But now that it was already in his bowl, after a moment of hesitation, he picked it up and put it into his mouth.

After taking a bite, he shut his eyes tightly, chewed, swallowed, and then, as if nothing had happened, moved on to gnawing another chicken wing.

The people around them, even if they weren’t the most agreeable, weren’t entirely lacking in emotional intelligence. They quickly shifted the topic, and the atmosphere became lively again, as if the previous awkward moment had never happened.

Gu Chen wasn’t someone who struggled with social interactions. He knew exactly how to handle situations like these.

If he had continued harping on the issue, the one who would have seemed unreasonable in the eyes of others would have been him. He might have even been labeled as petty—despite the fact that his son had been the real victim.

In this world, it was inevitable to be troubled by intangible burdens. If Gu Chen wanted to take his career to the next level, he had no choice but to follow the “unspoken rules” of social interactions.

After finishing their meal, everyone returned to their respective accommodations to rest.

Gu Chen noticed that the other man’s son was still wearing An An’s clothes. His dark eyes remained unreadable.

Gu Chen knew how to take care of An An and was aware that thick jackets didn’t dry easily in this kind of weather. That’s why he had prepared extra in advance. But the other fathers didn’t have this habit.

When they realized their children didn’t have anything to wear, they shamelessly came to him for help.

Had he known this would happen, he would never have agreed. He would have rather let his own little clean freak change into another set of clothes.

On their way back, neither father nor son spoke. Gu Chen, worried that An An might trip in the dark, let him hold the flashlight while carrying him in his arms.

Just as they were about to reach home, An An wrapped his arms around his father’s neck and gave him a kiss.

“Daddy, are you unhappy?”

“No.”

Gu Chen shook his head in denial. He was the last person who would want to let his emotions affect An An. His response was so quick that it made An An pout in dissatisfaction.

“Is it because Uncle mentioned Mommy?”

“Don’t let that little brain of yours overthink things. Once we finish filming, we can go home. Isn’t that exciting?”

His clumsy attempt to change the subject didn’t fool even a three-year-old. An An let out a soft humph and continued following his own train of thought.

“Daddy, I’m not sad.”

A nearby house still had its lights on, the glow reflecting in An An’s eyes. His candid and persistent expression left Gu Chen unable to pretend he hadn’t heard.

From the very beginning, he had never treated An An as a mere extension of himself but rather as his equal—a beloved treasure.

“Let’s talk about it when we get home, okay?”

Gu Chen subtly signaled toward the camera crew still following them. An An nodded and lowered his voice.

“This is a secret between me and Daddy.”

“Yes, a little secret.”

Just as An An was about to say something even more startling, Gu Chen quickly stopped him. Meanwhile, the live chat exploded.

【What kind of secret is so important that us esteemed VIP users aren’t allowed to hear?】

【Why didn’t they let An An continue? He was abandoned by his own mother at just three years old—he must feel so wronged.】

【My heart aches for An An. His mother is just too cruel.】

【Honestly, I think Gu Chen’s approach to parenting is great. Adults shouldn’t vent their grievances onto their children. You can see he’s a good father, always trying his best to provide a good environment for An An to grow up in.】

【What’s there to hide? Haha, wasn’t he just a simp back then? Maybe even Gu Chen himself finds it embarrassing now.】

The livestream chat was a chaotic mix of different voices—not everyone was reasonable. Besides haters, there were also paid trolls stirring up drama, instantly driving the discussion to absurd extremes.

【The thought of Gu Chen being a simp back then makes me laugh. How do people even stan a simp? Do they want to be one themselves?】

【If I were Gu Chen, I wouldn’t have raised that kid at all. I’d have abandoned him.】

【Are we even sure this kid is actually his? What if he got cuckolded?】

【That child looks like trouble. I wonder if he learned it from his mother or from Gu Chen himself.】

Many bystanders were successfully swayed. In the eyes of many, idols were supposed to shine brightly—how could a star in the sky ever be dim and dull?

He could have a bad temper, and he might not be exceptionally talented, but he absolutely could not be so humble as to willingly raise another man’s child.

As the situation spiraled out of control, Gu Chen’s team took notice and quickly deployed internet commenters to steer the discussion.

【If your eyes are failing, go see a doctor. Anyone with working eyes can see how much they look alike!】

【Even the tear mole at the corner of their eyes is identical. Who would doubt their blood relationship when they’re side by side? Stop trying to manipulate the narrative.】

【I really don’t get what’s going on nowadays. Being affectionate, gentle, and caring is now considered simping? Please, stop treating being a scumbag as something to be proud of, okay?】

【There’s nothing wrong with being deeply devoted. The real problem is people who trample on genuine affection.】

【How could Gu Chen possibly treat the child so well without a paternity test? Some people refuse to believe his statement that they’ve long lost contact, preferring to indulge in their own fantasies of lingering affection.】

【Cursing at a little kid? That’s just shameless. Try accumulating some virtue instead!】

【Oh, right, you must think you’re as sharp as Erlang Shen or something.】

Gu Chen’s PR team was exceptionally skilled, and since the opposition’s argument lacked merit to begin with, their attempts at stirring controversy ultimately fell apart. The hired commenters had no choice but to retreat in disgrace.

The paparazzi stationed outside his home shut off their cameras—filming for the first episode was officially over.

The staff members were itching with curiosity, wanting to follow Gu Chen inside to see what would happen next. They knew that the upcoming father-son conversation would be something the audience would be deeply interested in, but the show’s contract explicitly forbade them from doing so.

Back home, Gu Chen first boiled a kettle of hot water, replacing the water in An An’s small thermos to keep his hands warm before preparing water for washing up.

An An stuck to Gu Chen like a little shadow, occasionally chatting away.

After spending days with his uncle, he was desperate for some company.

Once he was washed up, changed into pajamas, and lying in bed, An An was still preoccupied with that matter. Seeing the curiosity in his eyes, Gu Chen knew he couldn’t hide the truth any longer. With a helpless sigh, he asked:

“Is this really that important to you?”

He had thought he’d done a good enough job—not to the extent that An An would always be thinking about his mother. But it seemed he had been wrong.

Perhaps he had made a mistake from the very beginning. No matter how well he did, he could never replace a mother in An An’s heart.

“Daddy, I’m not sad. You don’t have to hide it from me.”

An An wrapped his arms and legs around Gu Chen’s arm like a little koala, his fluffy head just within Gu Chen’s line of sight.

Maybe it was the warm atmosphere, or maybe it was because An An was simply too well-behaved, but Gu Chen finally decided to explain things clearly so An An wouldn’t dwell on them.

“You’re really not sad?”

“Mm.”

An An nodded firmly. Gu Chen, seeing his determined expression, could only sigh and say softly:

“How could you not be sad?”

Most young children have a skewed perception of the world, believing themselves to be the center of everything.

Gu Chen could understand Su Ling’s actions, but because the one who was hurt was An An, he found it difficult to accept.

To Su Ling, An An had been nothing more than a commodity—one with a clearly marked price of five million yuan.

A living, breathing child had been treated as a mere transaction. No matter how many times An An insisted he was fine, Gu Chen knew he was just putting on a brave face.

The only fortunate thing was that, after years of hard work, Gu Chen had gained the ability to afford that price.

“I have Daddy, so I’m not sad.”

An An repeated himself, murmuring softly to reassure his father in his own way.

“Mommy was busy. I barely saw her. Grandma was the one who took care of me. If it meant saving Grandma, I’m happy. Mommy is happy, and since I have Daddy, I’m happy too.”

Gu Chen lowered his head and kissed An An’s forehead. The little boy had considered his grandmother, his mother, and even Gu Chen himself—but he had never thought about himself. He was so well-behaved and understanding that it made Gu Chen’s heart ache.

“Baby, you have to be happy for yourself. Not just because someone else is happy.”

This concept was a bit too complex for An An. He pondered it for a long time but still felt confused. In the end, he simply buried his head in his father’s chest and mumbled:

“Daddy, I really don’t feel sad, no matter what others say.”

An An was good at convincing himself. If anyone dared to speak too harshly, he would just think they were jealous that he had such a great dad.

“I know everything. Mommy sold me to you. I’m not sad—I’m really happy that I was sold to Daddy!”

As he spoke, his voice grew softer and softer. Gu Chen initially thought An An had stopped because he was too sad to continue, afraid he might cry. But when he leaned in for a closer look, he found that the boy had already fallen asleep.

Thinking back to how anxious and cautious he had been earlier, Gu Chen couldn’t help but feel a mix of amusement and relief.

Given Gu Chen’s current status, after the first episode wrapped, Brother Li had arranged other work for him before the second episode’s filming. An An was sent back home to be taken care of by the nanny.

This variety show wasn’t just a bold experiment by the production team, live-streaming the recording process for audiences. It was also Gu Chen’s first time participating in a program like this.

Brother Li, being responsible for An An’s well-being, had kept a close eye on things from start to finish. Naturally, he didn’t miss Yu Honghui’s occasional targeting of Gu Chen and An An.

During filming, Gu Chen couldn’t make a fuss over minor slights, nor could he react too strongly to arrangements made by the production team. He had to overlook many things.

But Brother Li was different. He had encountered far more people and had seen the darker sides of human nature. He never underestimated how malicious people could be.

After sending An An back home, Brother Li had someone thoroughly investigate everything again. Apart from the film they had worked on together, there were no prior connections between Gu Chen and Yu Honghui.

Yet, based on what Gu Chen had described, it was clear that even though this was their first meeting, Yu Honghui had shown open hostility toward him from the very start.

Brother Li even pulled some strings to track down the stranger who initially contacted Su Ling. It turned out that this person was related to an assistant who had previously worked for Yu Honghui but had since resigned and returned home.

This assistant, who originally wasn’t well-off, and his relative had both recently built new houses in their hometown.

It had already been confirmed that Yu Honghui was behind this incident, but Brother Li still couldn’t understand what kind of deep-seated grudge he held.

To find the real answer, he even re-investigated Gu Chen’s entire past, from childhood to the present.

The more he failed to uncover a reason, the more desperate Brother Li became to find the truth.

During the variety show filming, Gu Chen hadn’t been aware of how neglectful Yu Honghui was toward An An during the “Dad Swap” segment. The production team likely feared that if Gu Chen knew, he would feel too heartbroken to cooperate with the show.

After watching the footage that Brother Li had specifically saved for him, Gu Chen’s expression darkened like ink spreading through water.

“I still can’t find a concrete reason. What kind of grudge could justify him treating you like this?”

Gu Chen leaned back against the car seat, eyes closed, trying to rest. He was on his way to the next filming location when a traffic accident up ahead caused congestion, forcing them to stop.

As the delay dragged on and his impatience grew, he happened to glance out the window.

And then—through the reflection in the glass—his chaotic thoughts seemed to piece themselves together in an instant.

“Brother Li… there’s something I don’t know how to tell you.”

“Hm?”

Gu Chen might hesitate to speak about certain things in front of others, but never with Brother Li. Their bond was so close that calling them blood brothers wouldn’t be an exaggeration.

“Brother Li, I’ve looked into the background information you gathered on Yu Honghui. Director Wang has mentioned to me multiple times that the person who displayed incredible talent during the audition seemed like a completely different person compared to the one on set, who was as dull as wood.”

This wasn’t just something Gu Chen had heard—Brother Li had also come across this sentiment a few times.

“I’m not trying to act superior, but do you really think Yu Honghui himself came up with such a unique interpretation of the role?”

If it had been his own original approach, he wouldn’t have performed it so awkwardly.

Unless… that performance had never belonged to Yu Honghui in the first place.

Gu Chen was a talent that their company intended to nurture. When his schedule wasn’t packed, he had regular specialized acting classes every week.

Yu Honghui, on the other hand, wasn’t valued by his company, had no outstanding mentors, and if he were truly a genius, he wouldn’t have only recently started showing improvement.

“Brother Li, I’ve been thinking about my connection to him. I’m certain I’ve never done anything to offend him, yet he’s been fixated on me.”

“It’s possible that something happened without my knowledge, but in elementary and middle school, I was focused on getting into a good high school. In high school, I just wanted to get into a good university. In college, I only aimed for a good job. Even if I somehow unknowingly offended him, it wouldn’t be to the extent that he’d hold such a deep grudge.”

Before entering the entertainment industry, Gu Chen was just an ordinary kid from a regular family. His biggest dream was to own a home in the bustling city, and he had always been cautious, fearing to offend people he couldn’t afford to.

“If there’s no unknown grudge, then the most likely explanation is… he sees me as an imaginary rival. My existence threatens his path upward.”

Brother Li parted his lips, about to argue that if this were the case, Yu Honghui wouldn’t need to go to such extremes. But before he could voice his thoughts, Gu Chen continued:

“When would someone be afraid of another person’s existence?”

Yu Honghui’s behavior wasn’t just about feeling threatened by competition. It was as if he desperately wished for Gu Chen to disappear completely.

“He’s guilty.”

During the minutes stuck in traffic, Gu Chen’s thoughts became clearer and clearer. The reason he had wanted to consult Yu Honghui in the first place was that he had found his performance strikingly similar to the techniques he had been researching. Thinking he had encountered a kindred spirit, he had wanted to exchange insights.

“Brother Li, I just realized… his performance style back then was very similar to what my teacher taught me.”

Gu Chen’s acting mentor was one of the most respected veteran actors in the industry. He had repeatedly emphasized that an actor must develop their own distinctive style, and Gu Chen had been working toward that goal.

As he spoke, a revelation dawned on him.

“Maybe he found a way to know what would happen in the future. In the world he remembers, the person originally meant to play that role—was me.”

Brother Li had often suggested that Gu Chen should audition for leading roles. Taking the third male lead had been a last-minute decision.

Gu Chen’s theory sounded utterly absurd—like something out of a fantasy. Brother Li had heard plenty of bizarre rumors in the entertainment industry, but he had never imagined something like this could actually happen to them.

It took him a long time to process everything. A cold sweat had broken out on his back, yet Gu Chen continued his analysis as if nothing was wrong.

“In his memories, I was very successful. He must have learned about this right around the time Su Ling was contacted, which is why he tried to push me out of the industry and take my place.”

As ridiculous as Gu Chen’s words sounded, if this theory were true, it would explain why Yu Honghui was so determined to target him—to the extent of spending five million just to force him out.

With this perspective in mind, Brother Li suddenly recalled something he had forgotten.

“I just remembered… Yu Honghui once handed me his résumé, hoping I’d become his manager. But I was too busy at the time and turned him down.”

The more they talked, the more everything seemed to fall into place. As the traffic cleared and the car started moving again, Gu Chen said softly:

“When we film the next episode, I’ll test him.”

Now that he had a lead, figuring out the rest would be much easier. If Gu Chen’s theory was correct, then his success must have been closely tied to Brother Li’s help, which was why Yu Honghui had tried to recruit him.

“Alright. But until then, don’t make any rash moves. If he really came back from the future… could he know any of your secrets?”

Brother Li instinctively wanted to prepare in advance, just in case things spiraled out of control.

Gu Chen, who knew Brother Li’s personality well, seriously considered his words before shaking his head and replying with absolute certainty:

“I couldn’t possibly have any scandals. I’ve already decided to remain unmarried for life—what kind of dirt could I even have?”

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that there wasn’t a single actor in the entire entertainment industry more dedicated than Gu Chen.

“Maybe that’s exactly why he resorted to such vicious means against you,” Brother Li remarked offhandedly. He had never seen an artist like Gu Chen—someone who had never even been in a relationship since entering the industry, let alone entertained the idea of marriage, all for the sake of his career.

No arrogance, no sense of entitlement as a celebrity—just treating acting as a job and being completely dedicated to it.

“I think so too,” Gu Chen agreed with a nod. He was no longer the naive college graduate he once was. While the realization saddened him, it wasn’t enough to shake him.

Besides, everything Yu Honghui had done only proved that Gu Chen’s future achievements were indeed extraordinary.

Now that he knew his path led to great success, every effort he made felt like it had a purpose. Even when filming a commercial late into the night, he didn’t show a hint of impatience.

After wrapping up, he sat in his van and casually took off his jacket, placing it beside him. Just as the car door remained open, he glanced outside and happened to catch a photographer packing up his gear after a long day of work.

The photographer, spotting this candid moment, instinctively pressed the shutter.

Inside the vehicle, Gu Chen had shed his usual work seriousness and appeared more relaxed, brimming with confidence and vitality.

“Uh… sorry, can I keep this one?” the photographer asked hesitantly. He really didn’t want to delete such a stunning shot, so he approached Brother Li for permission.

Brother Li glanced at the photo, saw that it wasn’t unflattering, and nodded.

“Today’s collaboration was great. Hope we get to work together again.”

“Definitely,” the photographer replied enthusiastically.

Before leaving, he even sent a copy of the photo to Brother Li, who then got into the car and playfully showed it to Gu Chen.

“Why do you look so much more energetic lately?”

“I just find work fun,” Gu Chen replied.

The real reason was hard to put into words. In the past, no matter how confident he appeared outwardly, he had his moments of doubt. Late at night, when faced with waves of negative online comments about himself, he had questioned whether his perseverance was even worth it.

The criticism felt like a cage—one designed to trap him inside and mold him into the person they claimed he was.

But now, Yu Honghui had unknowingly provided him with a solid answer. Knowing for certain that success awaited him, Gu Chen felt as if he had been infused with new life—radiant, unstoppable.

“These are just our speculations,” Brother Li reminded him. “Even if it’s true, what Yu Honghui saw was a version of you who worked hard to get there.”

Hearing that, Gu Chen smiled, but Brother Li didn’t want him to get too complacent. He didn’t want him celebrating before actually achieving success, so he added a little warning.

“Don’t worry, Brother Li. I know what I’m doing,” Gu Chen reassured him. He was happy, but he hadn’t lost sight of himself. He understood that people who got carried away never made it far.

“It’s late—An’an should be asleep by now.”

As he spoke, he pulled out his phone to check. Sure enough, the nanny had already sent him a video of An’an sound asleep.

Perhaps because they had spent every day together during the show’s filming, An’an had trouble adjusting to their separation. Even in his sleep, he clutched a piece of Gu Chen’s clothing.

Children’s unconscious gestures always had a way of tugging at the heartstrings. Gu Chen took a deep breath, but it wasn’t enough to suppress the wave of emotions surging inside him. He fought back the urge to rush home and hold his son.

“Brother Li… in the world Yu Honghui knew, Su Ling’s mother wasn’t saved.”

Gu Chen didn’t know why he suddenly thought of this, but based on what Su Ling had confided in him, she had no idea she would end up struggling in the entertainment industry until that person sought her out.

Without Gu Chen’s support, she never would have been able to afford the expensive medical bills. If her mother had passed away, An’an would have ended up living with her.

Balancing work and raising a child alone… As Gu Chen thought about it, the last trace of resentment he had toward Su Ling completely dissolved.

Su Ling was An’an’s mother, but she was also her own mother’s daughter.

—

These past few days, An’an had been feeling down. He missed his dad terribly and wished he could shrink to the size of his favorite toy and hide in his dad’s pocket, so he could go wherever Gu Chen went.

Fortunately, after the show wrapped, Cheng Yingying continued to chat with him often. The two kids had plenty of shared interests, and Cheng Yingying, with her outgoing and lively personality, had many friends and knew all sorts of fascinating things.

To An’an, her stories of the world’s mysteries were incredibly intriguing.

When the nanny mentioned that An’an had been spending a lot of time on the phone with Cheng Yingying lately, Gu Chen immediately understood why his son wasn’t looking for him as frequently as before.

The slight sense of loss was inevitable, but he didn’t take it to heart.

To Gu Chen, being a father meant holding An’an’s hand and guiding him toward a broader world—introducing him to new friends, new knowledge, and a future filled with hope.

Besides, his busy work schedule sometimes left him feeling guilty for not spending more time with his son.

But as long as he found time to call, An’an would excitedly chatter away like a little sparrow, telling him all about his day.

Meanwhile, the production team had reached out to each guest’s manager to confirm the next filming schedule. Once Brother Li finalized Gu Chen’s work arrangements, he booked their tickets to the next recording location.

Because Gu Chen had back-to-back projects, he couldn’t go home to pick up An’an like last time. Instead, they agreed to meet directly at the airport.

Dressed in a denim jacket, a baseball cap, and sunglasses, An’an sat obediently in his seat, clutching his small backpack in his arms.

The moment he heard a familiar voice, his little head instinctively turned, eagerly searching for its source.

Once it was confirmed that it was really his dad, the little backpack was thrown into the arms of a nearby assistant, and like a bird returning to its nest, An An pounced forward.

“Daddy!!”

Gu Chen was still carrying something in one hand. When An An rushed over, he instinctively caught him, effortlessly lifting him up with one arm and planting a kiss on An An’s cheek.

“I missed Daddy so much.”

An An hugged his dad’s neck tightly and rubbed against him, mimicking Gu Chen’s words as he repeated:

“I missed An An so much too!”

“Let’s go.”

An An’s luggage had been packed by the nanny. Although she was always very attentive in taking care of him, since it wasn’t prepared by himself, Gu Chen still felt a little uneasy. Just in case, he had Brother Li buy a few extra items.

If anything had been left out, they would have a backup. If not, it wouldn’t matter—his adorable son could never have too many outfits.

Their next filming location was another small city, a place with stunning scenery and a peach blossom forest stretching for miles. Right now, it was peak bloom season.

Because the area was somewhat remote, such breathtaking beauty remained largely unseen. The director had carefully scouted and ultimately chosen this place.

As soon as they got off the plane, the program crew started filming. When An An spotted the familiar black camera, he even waved at the lens and naturally introduced himself.

“Hello, I’m An An~ This is An An’s daddy~”

Hearing this, Gu Chen glanced at the camera and gently rubbed his chin against An An’s cheek.

He didn’t speak or greet the audience, but that small gesture was enough to show the depth of their bond.

The new filming location was truly beautiful. All along the way, An An kept exclaiming in awe and, with practiced ease, pulled out his dad’s phone to take pictures, clicking away nonstop.

In this season of blooming peach blossoms, the small city looked like a paradise.

Worried that An An’s wrist might not handle the weight of the phone, Gu Chen helped him hold it steady and leaned in to whisper:

“Hurry up and take more, we have to hand it in soon.”

“Okay.”

At the village entrance, the familiar routine of surrendering electronic devices and toys awaited them. Remembering his lesson from last time, An An knew that even if he brought toys, he wouldn’t be able to play with them. So, he simply didn’t bring anything at all.

The director had originally planned to capture the scene of kids wailing and crying as they gave up their toys, but An An had nothing to hand over. With a wave of his hand, the director let them wait aside.

All five families had arrived together. The explosive popularity of the first episode on the streaming platform made the agencies of these otherwise mid-tier entertainers take notice. They had all arrived at the city’s hotel a day in advance to rest.

Once everyone was present, the director had the crew bring out five types of liquor, instructing the fathers to taste them and rank them from least to most expensive.

The one who ranked them most accurately would get the first choice of accommodations, and so on in descending order.

Since the show had gained traction, the production team had received plenty of sponsorship offers. However, staying true to his original vision, the director only accepted the funding necessary to keep the show running and instead reached out to local businesses struggling with sales due to geographic constraints.

The peach blossom wine placed before them was the first product he selected—a quality liquor that had remained obscure, known only to the locals.

Gu Chen wasn’t skilled in wine tasting, so he simply relied on intuition to arrange his ranking. In the end, he placed third, meaning he had to wait until the others had chosen their accommodations before making his pick.

Though not as nice as their previous lodgings, all the houses here had great views. An An, in particular, was delighted with the swing beneath the peach blossom tree at their new home. Grabbing his small suitcase, he dashed over.

Gu Chen quickly followed, smiling as he watched An An’s tiny legs working so hard.

The stone-paved path provided good traction, and An An’s shoes had decent grip, so Gu Chen let him run freely.

The landlord of this house was an elderly man who, upon seeing An An, praised him.

“What a handsome little lad.”

An An didn’t quite understand but had a vague sense that it was a compliment. He set down his suitcase and immediately hopped onto the swing, gripping the rope with one hand and waving at his dad with the other.

“Daddy, push me!”

As the swing moved beneath the peach blossom tree, countless petals drifted down, creating an enchanting scene.

The production team’s high-quality cameras captured the moment perfectly.

【This is so beautiful, I wish I could swap places with An An.】

【Son, get off and let Mom have a turn!】

【The house might not be the best, but this swing is stunning. It’s so picturesque! I took a few random screenshots, and they all look amazing!】

While An An was happily playing, the assistant carried their luggage into the room. The show had already made arrangements with the landlord, ensuring that An An could enjoy himself without worry.

With the weather warming up, An An played so hard that his forehead glistened with sweat, and a rosy flush spread across his porcelain-like skin.

A healthy, lively child paired with breathtaking scenery—anyone would find it a joy to watch.

On the first day, the director didn’t plan to make things difficult. This time, they had even hired a better chef to prepare dinner, ensuring that all the guests were satisfied. Even An An ate two full bowls, his belly round with fullness.

If Gu Chen hadn’t stopped him out of concern that he’d overeat, An An would have definitely gone for another bowl.

The next morning, they changed into the outfits provided by the show and gathered at the meeting point. The director announced the first task—picking peach blossoms, specifically collecting only the petals. Each person was given a small, delicate basket.

In variety shows, winning or losing the games didn’t matter as much as earning audience favor.

Three of the fathers only realized after the first season aired that the director had taken such a bold approach. Unlike before, when they let their real personalities show without restraint, they now played the role of doting fathers more consciously.

Gu Chen didn’t think about these things. His focus was on holding An An up so he could reach the petals—his priority was simply making sure his son had fun.

An An carefully plucked the flower petals and placed them in the basket. He was slow, but fortunately, his father didn’t rush him. They leisurely completed the task and, at lunchtime, only earned two cups of instant noodles—but father and son still enjoyed their meal.

On the way back to rest, they passed by a fish pond. The water was green, and occasionally, fish could be seen swimming inside. Since it was a rural area, there were no safety railings, making the edge look somewhat dangerous. An An instinctively took half a step back.

At that moment, there were no cameramen around. Gu Chen held An An’s hand as they walked home, the air filled with the scent of peach blossoms.

Just then, Yu Honghui approached from the opposite direction. Gu Chen wasn’t surprised to see him. He had asked Brother Li to make things a little difficult for Yu Honghui—one of the scripts he was negotiating for had been taken away. It would’ve been odd if he didn’t come looking for him.

Yu Honghui’s expression was unpleasant. In his past life, he remembered that the literary film he had wanted had become a massive hit and later won several awards. He had put in an immense amount of effort, attending countless social events to convince the director. Yet, in the end, he still didn’t get the role.

If he had lost it due to a lack of skill, he could have accepted it. But that wasn’t the case—it was Gu Chen who had interfered.

“Gu Chen, I admit I wasn’t good at taking care of children, but I did my best at the time. Do you really need to go this far over something so trivial?”

“You work in the entertainment industry too. I refuse to believe you don’t understand how important this opportunity was for me.”

For the first time since his rebirth, Yu Honghui truly realized the vast gap between himself and Gu Chen. Before he could grow stronger, Gu Chen could effortlessly strip away any opportunity from him.

The simplest method? He had gone directly to the director and recommended himself. When compared to Gu Chen, he had no advantage. Any renowned director would prioritize Gu Chen, not only because of his immense popularity but also because of his solid acting skills.

Even if Gu Chen wasn’t the best fit for the role, he could still recommend someone better suited.

Bringing up this matter only made Gu Chen angrier.

He could say that he wasn’t good at taking care of children, but he shouldn’t have just stood there, indifferent, when An An said he was thirsty and wanted hot water—too focused on explaining himself to do anything.

Just thinking about how many times An An had cried when he wasn’t around made Gu Chen’s heart ache.

Ever since An An came to his side, he had never once treated him so cruelly.

“You’re overthinking this. How could I possibly do something like that? Maybe there’s a misunderstanding between us?”

Yu Honghui argued with Gu Chen repeatedly, just waiting for him to say that he wouldn’t target him anymore. But Gu Chen simply kept dodging the issue, playing Tai Chi with his words—just like how Yu Honghui had treated An An that day.

In the end, Yu Honghui grew impatient, his brows furrowing tightly.

“Fine, I did do it on purpose. I apologize.”

The moment those words left his mouth, Gu Chen glanced around to confirm that no one was nearby—then kicked him straight into the fish pond.

By the time Yu Honghui struggled to climb out, just as he was about to shout for help, Gu Chen crouched in front of him, lowered his voice, and said:

“You’re someone who came back from the future, aren’t you?”