Chapter 197, 1972 (Many comments)

197:

Viewers in the live stream, seeing this, complained: "If He Yao hadn't spilled Yang Jin's water, Yang Jin wouldn't have fallen behind by even a minute, and she wouldn't be in last place at all."

He Yao's fans commented in his defense: "But He Yao's own water is leaking too!"

[So what? Did Yang Jin do it?] A viewer countered: [He Yao's water leak wasn't caused by Yang Jin, but Yang Jin's spilled water was caused by He Yao bumping into her!]

[Exactly, He Yao should compensate Yang Jin with half a bucket!]

If he were to think about compensation, he wouldn't be himself.

Honestly, Yang Jin shouldn't have come in last place.

[I told you He Yao was annoying! He's the most annoying person of all!]

He Yao's fans were furious when they saw this. They typed furiously, but they were no match for the audience in the live stream and had to shut down their microphones.

The host announced: "Mu Shaowu and Ye Qingxi get six points, Zhang Ye and Zhang Ning get five points, Hu Kai and Huo Zinan get four points, Tao Rui and Tao Tao get three points, He Yao and He Lei get two points, and Yang Jin and Yang Shu get one point."

He Yao:......

He Yao was suffocating. After two rounds, he only had four points, while Mu Shaowu already had twelve!

In the final round of the competition, even if he won first place, he would only have ten points in total, which was far from enough to beat Mu Shaowu.

He Yao didn't want to compete anymore.

He wanted to withdraw from the competition right now, to avoid embarrassing himself when the total score was calculated later.

However, leaving is impossible.

The host quickly announced, "Now let's begin the final round of the game—Big Hand Holding Little Hand."

"In this round of the game, dads and babies must hold hands the whole time and walk from here to the village store. After buying the designated items, they must carry them back. During this time, dads and babies cannot let go of each other's hands. Once they let go, the game is over. The pair of dads and babies who hold hands the longest will be the winner!"

"It's so easy!" Tao Tao couldn't help but exclaim.

Zhang Ning also thought, "This is very simple."

Ye Qingxi, however, does not think so.

The simpler things are, the easier they are to overlook. Maybe the father and baby will see something or encounter something that makes them unconsciously let go of each other's hands.

The host didn't even say "the one who carries the things back in the shortest time is the first place winner," but instead said "the one whose father and baby hold hands for the longest time is the first place winner."

This proves that holding hands the whole time is significantly more difficult than going to the convenience store to buy something, so much so that the production team didn't even dare to require them to hold hands to go and return, but only to compare the length of time they held hands.

He glanced silently at Mu Shaowu's hand, then looked at his own small hand.

No matter what, he wouldn't let go of Mu Shaowu's hand.

This time, the games won't be played all at once, but rather in groups.

Therefore, the production team still used a lottery method to determine the order of events.

After the draw, the host took the fathers to the convenience store.

"Has everyone memorized the route?" he asked the fathers.

"Of course," Zhang Ye replied without hesitation.

The host then returned with them to the open space where they had gathered earlier and announced, "Next, the first group of fathers and babies, please get ready."

Tao Tao and Tao Rui immediately went to his side.

The rest of the people sat down on chairs under the shade of the trees and waited for them to return.

"Let's go!" the host shouted.

Tao Tao and Tao Rui walked out hand in hand.

Ye Qingxi took a sip of water, wondering how long they would have to wait after their departure.

However, to his surprise, Tao Tao and Tao Rui returned much faster than he had expected.

They had nothing in their hands, clearly indicating that the two had let go of each other before even reaching the convenience store, ending the game.

Ye Qingxi: ...What's going on?

Just as Ye Qingxi was about to ask Tao Tao, she saw the host arrange for them to sit under the shade of a tree opposite.

"Before the race ends, fathers and babies who have not yet started cannot communicate with fathers and babies who have already started."

Ye Qingxi: ? ? ?

There's a problem!

There's definitely something wrong!

He turned his gaze to Hu Kai and Huo Zinan, the father and son who were in the second group to set off.

To Ye Qingxi's surprise, Hu Kai and Huo Zinan returned even faster than Tao Tao and Tao Rui!

The two were also placed under the shade of a tree opposite, and were some distance away from Tao Tao and Tao Rui, which clearly indicated that the production team did not want them to interact.

What's going on?

Ye Qingxi rested her small face on her hand.

The baby is so cute!

What is the baby thinking about?

Has the baby discovered something?

[Probably not, Xiaoxi is still so young.]

But the baby is very smart!

【Go, baby! I hope you can get first place this time too!】Viewers in the live stream kept sending messages.

A short while later, Yang Jin and his daughter Yang Shu, who had set off in the third group, also returned.

Ye Qingxi silently estimated their time in her mind, which was about the same as Hu Kai and Huo Zinan's.

Did they let go of each other at roughly the same time?

Why?

Did something happen?

He guessed to himself.

"Alright, now let's welcome our fourth father-son pair, Mu Shaowu and Ye Qingxi, to set off!" the host announced.

Mu Shaowu and Ye Qingxi quickly stood up and walked to his side.

"These are the things you and Xiaoxi want to buy." The host handed Mu Shaowu a card and a hundred yuan.

Mu Shaowu glanced at it and stuffed it into his pocket.

"Set off!"

As the host called out, Mu Shaowu took Ye Qingxi's hand and stepped out.

However, not long after they stepped out of the open space, Mu Shaowu and Ye Qingxi encountered a woman holding a child.

The woman was comforting the child in her arms.

Seeing them pass by, the woman quickly walked over and handed the child to Mu Shaowu, saying, "Could you hold the child for me? I need to go to the toilet urgently, but I don't have a free hand."

As she spoke, she gave Mu Shaowu a meaningful glance.

Mu Shaowu followed her gaze and saw that there was indeed a public toilet not far away.

The woman pleaded anxiously, "I know you're here to film a show. You're all big stars, good people, and you certainly wouldn't hurt my baby. Please hold my child for a while, I beg you."

"No need, no need." Mu Shaowu quickly said when he heard that she was pleading, "I'll carry it for you, you go ahead."

As he spoke, he released Ye Qingxi's hand, which he had been holding, and went to pick up the child.

However, he did not raise his hand—Ye Qingxi held his hand tightly.

Mu Shaowu: ? ? ?

Ye Qingxi looked at the woman in front of her.

She acted quite well, but not as well as him.

"Dad, have you forgotten me? We have to hold hands and can't let go?" Ye Qingxi looked up at him innocently.

Mu Shaowu: !!!

Yes!

They're still playing a game right now!

If Ye Qingxi hadn't been holding his hand so tightly, their hands would have let go!

"Auntie, my dad and I are playing a game right now, and we can't separate our hands, so my dad might not be able to help you hold the baby. I'm so sorry," Ye Qingxi said apologetically.

Seeing this, the woman nodded, "Alright then."

“Auntie, if you’re in a hurry, you can walk forward. The acting village chief is there. You can ask him to hold the child, and then you can go to the toilet. There’s a toilet over there,” he said sincerely.

[Hahaha, as expected of Xiaoxi!] Viewers in the live stream couldn't help but praise her. [She didn't let go of her dad's hand and even offered helpful advice to her aunt. Xiaoxi, you're such a smart and kind baby!]

[I must say, the aunt's acting was really good; no wonder she was able to fool Yang Jin and Hu Kai.]

[Isn't that right? Those two really got stuck here as soon as they came out, hilarious.]

[Mu Shaowu actually believed it all and even wanted to hold the child, but thankfully Xiao Xi didn't let him let go and held him tightly.]

[After all, the auntie looked really anxious [facepalm]]

[Xiao Xi really remembered the game rules perfectly, she's so smart!]

Looks like we're counting on you this time, Xiao Xi!

I hope Xiaoxi and Mu Shaowu can walk a few more steps. I don't even dare to hope they reach the convenience store; just walking a few more steps would be a victory.

That's definitely a win [doge emoji]

"Okay," the woman said with a smile. "Thank you, little one."

"You're welcome," Ye Qingxi replied with a smile.

He pulled Mu Shaowu along and continued walking forward.

Mu Shaowu felt a lingering fear when he thought about how he had almost lost his son's hand.

"Goodness, could this be a test deliberately arranged by the production team?" he guessed.

"It's obvious," Ye Qingxi thought to herself.

He had been wondering why Hu Kai and his group returned around the same time as Yang Shu.

Even if you accidentally let go, you shouldn't do it at roughly the same time.

unless……

Someone deliberately made them catch off guard at a certain point in time.

really!

"Dad, next time you have to hold my hand tightly, okay? Don't let go again," Ye Qingxi reminded him.

Mu Shaowu nodded, "That's right, Dad will definitely hold your hand tightly."

As he spoke, he grabbed Ye Qingxi's hand and stuffed it directly into his pocket.

Live stream viewer: [?? Does he think he can keep it from letting go if he hides?]

[Haha, Mu Shaowu is actually quite cute.]

[They're quite clever; they figured out so quickly that this was a test arranged by the production team.]

[Since we already guessed it, we shouldn't fall for it anymore, right?]

That's not necessarily true; you might forget it if you're not careful.

Yes, holding hands is something that really does happen very easily.

[Go Xiaoxi! Auntie believes in you!]

The two walked forward, and soon they saw two men chasing each other.

Mu Shaowu quickly pulled Ye Qingxi behind him, letting her run past him.

But after walking a few steps, as they passed a house, another mineral water bottle fell from the building and landed not far in front of them.

Ye Qingxi stopped in her tracks instantly, but did not let go of her hand.

What happened next was even more outrageous; they even encountered a sudden, massive crowd.

After the two walked hand in hand through the crowd, the convenience store finally came into view.

Mu Shaowu: ...This production team really went to great lengths!

Ye Qingxi: We've finally arrived.

Mu Shaowu went inside, told the host what they had asked him to take back, and then took out a hundred yuan from his pocket and gave it to the shopkeeper.

The shopkeeper gave him change and helped him put the items into a bag.

"Here you go." The shopkeeper handed him four plastic bags in pairs.

Mu Shaowu instinctively reached out his hands to catch it, his hands almost letting go, but he quickly clenched them again.

Honestly, I almost let my guard down!

He took all four plastic bags with his free hand.

Ye Qingxi offered, "Dad, let me help you carry it."

"No need, it's not heavy," Mu Shaowu said.

That's true. The show's producers asked him to buy snacks. Puffed foods take up a lot of space, so they need a lot of plastic bags, but they don't weigh much.

Mu Shaowu carried snacks in one hand and pulled his son out of the convenience store with the other.

Viewers in the live stream exclaimed in amazement: "They actually went to the convenience store! And they even bought something!"

[It wasn't easy, but finally one group managed to complete the task!]

I thought Xiaoxi and Shaowu would also let go of each other before reaching the convenience store, since none of the first three groups made it there!

[The main reason is that Xiaoxi held on tightly; otherwise, they would have ended the game like Yang Shu and the others when they first met Auntie.]

[That's right, just now, Mu Shaowu almost let go again.]

That's right, but this time he reacted quickly; he only loosened his grip slightly, not letting go.

[So it turns out our little Xi is the most reliable. He really didn't let go even once, even when so many people walked past him, he held on tightly to Mu Shaowu.]

[As expected of our little Xi, not only is she smart and cute, but she's also very reliable!]

[That's right, from the first round of the game until now, our little Xi baby has always been the most reliable one!]

[Your quick thinking in the first round, your ability to fix the hole in the water tank in the second round, and now you're holding onto your dad tightly! Xiao Xi, you deserve to be number one!]

【First? 】

[Calculate the total score! They're definitely in first place!]

Even disregarding the total score, the worst result we've achieved so far is third place, haha.

Mu Shaowu thought so too; by now, they must have already surpassed Tao Rui, Hu Kai, and Yang Jin in terms of age.

Adding their scores from the first two rounds, they are definitely in first place.

Thinking of this, he felt happy and couldn't help but shake his clasped hands with Ye Qingxi's.

Feeling his movements, Ye Qingxi looked down and saw that her small hand was being firmly held by Mu Shaowu's large hand.

His hands were large and hot, and he gripped them tightly. Under the summer sun, both of their palms were already sweaty and sticky.

But Ye Qingxi still held on tightly.

At that moment, a phrase suddenly came to mind: "Holding your hand, we grow old together."

This statement doesn't seem to suit the two of them very well.

However, looking at their hands clasped together, Ye Qingxi wondered, if this phrase was originally about camaraderie in battle, but could later be described as love, then why couldn't it become familial affection, or father-son affection, in his case?

Lovers may not necessarily be able to hold each other's hands and grow old together, but he was willing to hold Mu Shaowu's hand, go through a long period of time with him, and finally stay by Mu Shaowu's side in his old age.

He was willing to stay with him for a lifetime.

He can stay with him for a lifetime.

From that moment on, his hand was tightly held in Mu Shaowu's hand, and in the end, his hand remained firmly wrapped around Mu Shaowu's hand.

They can hold hands forever.

When he was little, he was that little hand.

When he grew up, Mu Shaowu grew old, and his hands became wrinkled and no longer looked like they do now. Mu Shaowu's hands then became small hands in comparison to his own.

The journey from where they started to the convenience store wasn't long.

But they have a long life ahead of them.

Ye Qingxi wanted to hold his hand tightly.

Whether now or in the future.

He wanted to, and would always, hold his hand tightly.