The Step-mom's Daily Life of Raising Kids in a Wealthy Family

Ye Zhenzhen was born beautiful, from a happy family, and had excellent grades, only to die of cancer just after graduating from college.

She closed her eyes and opened them again, finding her...

73? Exploding in popularity

73 went viral

Today is the day "Let's Go Travel" airs. All the major TV stations have been occupied with galas during the Spring Festival holiday. Li Meng, a film and television content creator and a fan of "Let's Go Travel", is eagerly waiting for the latest episode. She opened C station before the broadcast time to watch the live broadcast.

At the beginning of the show, she still had the leisure to send a few bullet comments.

[Another time-travel story! This time it's ancient times! Director Jiang really knows how to have fun!]

[I can't wait to see the guests in their period costumes! I didn't get enough of the Flaming Mountain look last time.]

When Ye Zhenzhen appeared after finishing her makeup, she immediately lost her composure.

I expected to see a stunningly beautiful woman in ancient costume, but instead she was completely bare-faced and dressed in men's clothing!

The key is her appearance! Her face is as bright as the Mid-Autumn Festival moon, and her complexion is as beautiful as the flowers of spring dawn.

He looks just like my beloved Jia Baoyu from the Yihong Palace...

She is a fan of Dream of the Red Chamber and a staunch supporter of the Bao-Dai faction.

In recent years, several TV stations have remade Dream of the Red Chamber, but the casting was terrible and the costumes and props were outrageous. She was heartbroken and released several videos to complain about it, which resonated with countless fans of Dream of the Red Chamber.

Is it really that difficult for the domestic fisheries to even find an actor who can play Jia Baoyu?!

Now, I never expected to see such a perfect Bao Yu in a travel variety show!

She suddenly understood those directors who had cast Ye Zhenzhen in their films; her face was truly amazing!

Not only were the women's clothes exquisite and elegant, but the men's clothes were also surprisingly handsome and dashing.

It's like God is constantly feeding us...

Before she could even finish her reflections, the plot on the screen was progressing at an unexpectedly fast pace, leaving her no time to type.

First, bandits appeared, and Liu Wei cried out for justice. On the way to suppress the bandits, he met Wang Liqing's family and traveled together. However, when they went up the mountain, they found that the bandit's den had been wiped out by Zhang Siqing.

She was guessing that she might want to become the king of this mountain village, travel around and enjoy the scenery, which would fit the theme of her trip.

They nearly set the kitchen on fire because they didn't know how to cook.

He then decisively descended the mountain, leading a group of bandits into the city to report to the authorities.

The camera then pans to reveal an ancient and imposing city gate, with the words "Luodu" written in clerical script on the plaque.

What Li Meng saw in the city afterwards made her eyes widen even more.

This group of people, acting as plaintiffs, watched the trial process in the government office. The prefect pronounced the verdict in court, sending the bandits to prison.

Li Meng initially thought the production team had rented a film studio for filming, and secretly thought that Jiang Wei was being a bit of a cheat, what kind of trip is it to go to a film studio!

Last time we went abroad, at least we visited real castles and manors with beautiful scenery. This time it was a bit too perfunctory.

As it turned out, they were quickly proven wrong.

That old fox Jiang Wei used a long shot from the moment this group of people entered the city.

Without any editing or camera transitions, it's a simple, technically impressive one-shot film that encompasses streets, shops, restaurants, government offices, and even prisons.

The buildings and people the camera pans across are incredibly realistic. You can even see the steaming heat rising from the steamed bun shops on the street, groups of children riding bamboo horses, and hear the clanging of the blacksmith's hammer around the corner. People in simple clothes weave through the alleys, carrying bamboo baskets and calling out their wares in ancient, melodious voices...

It's as if there really is an ancient city called Luodu.

The production team actually traveled back in time and recorded everything on camera.

This episode ended quickly, and the plot was as exciting as a hit drama, but no one was in the mood to discuss the storyline at that moment.

Countless netizens flooded the comments section, frantically tagging the production team.

They only wanted to know one thing—where exactly was this Luodu?!

Jiang Wei, you're crazy! You didn't actually build a city just to film a TV show, did you?!

---

The hashtag #Luodu# immediately trended on social media after the latest episode ended.

The entire internet was searching for this ancient city that suddenly became an internet sensation. Soon, resourceful netizens discovered the location of Luodu, and then more and more people came out with their own stories, with seemingly true and false information flying around.

I visited this place last year; it's in Heluo Town in northeastern Yuzhou, but it wasn't built yet and was quite desolate. I didn't expect it to change so much.

A relative of mine was involved in the design process; apparently, they consulted many experts on ancient culture, and the design was modeled after an ancient city from a certain dynasty.

At the beginning of this year, our company received tickets to this scenic spot and went to visit it once. It was built quite well, but there weren't many people, and it was rather deserted. I didn't expect it to develop so well now.

[Is this just a photo trick? It looks very traditional, but it's actually just a business using the guise of an ancient town. Aren't there many ancient streets like this in China?]

[I only realized how close it is to my house after reading the comments, so I'm heading out now! Let me scout it out for you all!]

[What kind of scenic spot doesn't even have an official promotional account? Don't waste this huge amount of attention, come out and introduce yourself!!]

As the discussion grew, the official Weibo account of "Travel," which had been silent for a long time, finally posted an article.

Here you go, the official account of Luodu @LuoduPrefecturalGovernment.

A link to a website called Luodu Forum was also provided later.

Immediately afterwards, all the guests of "Travel", as well as the official accounts of Ye's Group, Gu's Group, Taoyao, Fengming, and others, forwarded and tagged this newly registered account.

When Li Meng clicked into the Luodu Forum, she was immediately drawn to the promotional video prominently displayed on the homepage.

Amidst the clear chirping of birds, the camera pans down from the clouds to the ground, revealing an ancient city nestled among mountains and forests.

The camera then flies over the crowd queuing at the city gate and enters the market. Pedestrians come and go on the bluestone road, with vendors hawking their wares, farmers pushing carts, and travelers leading horses all busy on their way.

A clear river flows through the city, and red koi carp disappear from sight with a flick of their tails in the turquoise water.

The camera follows the stream, passing earthen walls and thatched houses, bustling streets, and ornately decorated mansions, before arriving at the solemn government office.

The Prefect sat upright behind his desk, with his advisors seated on either side, discussing something.

One of them was writing at his desk. After finishing, he got up and presented the yellow paper to the prefect. After the prefect nodded, he rolled up the paper, left the yamen, and pasted it on the screen wall opposite the yamen.

Immediately, someone stepped forward and read aloud, “Luoyang is newly built, with fertile soil and abundant water. All industries are waiting to flourish, and there is an urgent need for people to settle here to develop the land’s resources. Therefore, this imperial decree is hereby issued to attract refugees, farmers, artisans, and others from all directions. Anyone wishing to relocate to the new city may register at the government office. At the time of registration, one must truthfully declare one’s place of origin, age, and the number of family members accompanying them. Farmers who register can apply for land and housing and be exempt from taxes. Artisans and merchants who register can receive assistance from the government office to open shops and be exempt from three months’ worth of transit tax. However, after relocating, one must abide by national laws and local regulations, and conduct business peacefully. Theft, fighting, market manipulation, spreading rumors, and other illegal activities are strictly prohibited. Anyone who violates these rules, regardless of whether they are a new or old resident, will be severely punished according to the law without leniency! We hope that people from all directions will hear this proclamation and quickly bring their families to join us in building the new city…”

The video had just finished playing when no one was left at the table.

Li Meng rushed into the guest room, pulled out her suitcase, and began packing her things, especially her precious filming equipment.

She had a feeling that Luodu would be a treasure trove!

— — —

Because of the addition of the Luodu development project midway through the filming, Jiang Wei extended the originally planned week-long shoot by a few days.

Everyone watched the episode that aired in the middle and was very satisfied. There were no objections to extending the filming.

By the time filming wrapped up, it was almost the Lantern Festival.

The children are about to start school, and although they really don't want to leave, they have to go with their parents.

On their last night before leaving, without the camera, the three of them finally stayed together.

The courtyard where the show was filmed has been rented by Zhou Haitao. Ye Zhenzhen also has a small courtyard she likes in the west of the city. She plans to bring both sets of parents over for a relaxing vacation after it's all set up.

The Luoyang city plan includes a hotel with all the necessary facilities, though the decor is somewhat basic. A hotel brand under the Gu Group has already secured a partnership and will soon move in for renovations.

Ye Zhenzhen simply booked a suite at the official inn, and the family of three moved in with their luggage.

"Mom, when are you coming home?" Gu Sinan, who is not usually clingy, lay on the bed and hugged Ye Zhenzhen's arm affectionately.

"It'll probably be another week, right?" Ye Zhenzhen kissed the top of his fluffy head. "You and Dad go back first. School starts soon, and you need to go back to prepare. Didn't you have enough fun? We can come back to play on weekends or holidays later."

"Can I take all the toys with me?"

"Of course! The pottery you made yesterday wasn't completely dry, so I'll bring it back for you once it's fired. You can also invite your friends over to play when you get home."

In an effort to recreate authentic ancient life, a recruitment notice was posted on the Luodu Forum, which actually attracted quite a few artisans.

Handmade spinning tops, Luban locks with mortise and tenon joints, bamboo horses with two wheels that can be ridden, straw-woven insects, clay figurines, pottery, and small wooden carvings are just some of the little gadgets that keep the children entertained.

The two chatted on and on until Gu Sinan fell into a deep sleep.

Ye Zhenzhen carefully pulled her arm away, returned to the large bed in the outer room, and rolled into the man's arms.

"Aren't you done yet?" she yawned, muttering softly, secretly slipping her cold feet under the man's trousers and pressing them against his warm calves. Her two cool paws also quietly touched the man's abs, stroking them back and forth, as if she couldn't put them down.

She squinted her eyes, warmed by the man's body temperature, and snuggled against him, clinging to him like an octopus.

My beloved fireplace is finally back! I'm so happy!

Gu Tingshen paused for a moment, then decisively closed his email, placed the laptop on the cabinet next to him, and turned to embrace the unsuspecting little peach blossom who was attracting his attention.

He mimicked her actions, reaching his hand inside her pajamas, grasping her slender, supple waist, and pulling her sharply into his arms.

He had only meant to tease her, but the sensation was so wonderful that his hands seemed to have a mind of their own, caressing her back.

Having grown accustomed to sleeping with her in his arms at night, the sudden separation left him experiencing insomnia for the first time in his life.

The sweet fragrance of flowers and fruits filled his lungs, and Gu Tingshen buried his face in her neck, breathing deeply, becoming increasingly reluctant to let go.

"Haha, no, it tickles..." Ye Zhenzhen's waist was very sensitive, and she twisted around because she was ticklish. Afraid of waking Gu Sinan inside the bed, she lowered her voice and hid in his arms, which made the culprit even more happy.

"Why are you so ticklish?" Gu Tingshen chuckled in her ear, and she trembled slightly, her ear tips turning red.

As if bewitched, he lowered his head and kissed the pitiful and adorable earlobe, his kiss gliding down the ruby-red earlobe.

"Hmm..." Caught off guard, Ye Zhenzhen let out a soft moan, her breathing quickened instantly, and her neck flushed red.

Gu Tingshen was suddenly ignited.

His breathing was heavier, and his domineering kiss was nothing like his usual gentleness. Ye Zhenzhen even had the illusion that the man on top of her wanted to devour her whole.

That's going too far.

Amidst a flurry of kisses, she clung desperately to the man's broad, powerful shoulders, her breath hot and ragged. Wherever his large hands touched, it felt as if they carried a faint electric current, clouding her mind and making her lose all sense of time.

Through two thin layers of fabric, feeling that soft body gradually soften, Gu Tingshen closed his eyes and used all his willpower to stop his movements. His hands, with bulging veins, pressed on the bed, trying to ignore his body's reaction and prop himself up.

Under the warm yellow light, Ye Zhenzhen's fair skin flushed crimson. She slowly opened her eyes, her eyelashes glistening with tiny drops of water. Her rosy lips were slightly parted, and her expression held an innocent yet alluring charm that she was unaware of.

Gu Tingshen gritted his teeth, his mind in turmoil. His innate possessiveness stirred within him, urging him to follow his heart, to possess her, to make this beloved girl his woman; yet another voice reminded him that she was still innocent, a child was sleeping next door, and he was leaving tomorrow—this was not the right time, the perfect place!

Ye Zhenzhen hadn't quite come to her senses when her watery eyes met his. She licked her lips slightly, a hint of grievance in her voice, and blushed, unconsciously pouting, "You've hurt my lips..."

"I'm sorry, baby," Gu Tingshen coaxed in a low, husky voice, then lowered his head to gently suckle, as if to comfort him, with utmost tenderness, "It's my fault, I'll be gentler next time."

Seeing the man back down, she became even more unreasonable, pulling up her pajamas and demanding he massage her lower back, displaying a somewhat spoiled and arrogant attitude, "My back hurts too..."

The man glanced at it, his eyes darkening even more.

I was too excited just now, and I probably used too much force. I didn't expect her skin to be so delicate, and it left a mark so easily.

On her fair, jade-like skin, a few red marks, like red plum blossoms in the snow, were so beautiful they evoked pity, yet made one want to leave more...

He pulled the blanket up to cover the oblivious girl, his increasingly dark eyes fixed on her. "Baby, if you tease me any more, you won't be able to get out of bed tomorrow..."

"...Let's go to sleep! We have to get up early tomorrow." Ye Zhenzhen finally belatedly realized the danger. "Um, are you cold? Do you want another blanket?"

"You go to sleep first, I'm going to take a shower." The man kissed her forehead and turned to go to the bathroom.

Left wrapped up like a silkworm cocoon, Ye Zhenzhen stood there stunned for a moment, then a rush of heat shot to her head, turning her whole body bright red...