Chapter 175 One-Seven-Five-Two Combination
One hundred and seventy-five:
When Mu Shaowu returned after dropping Zeng Chong off, Ye Qingxi immediately approached him and asked curiously, "Dad, what was that uncle talking about, 'Look the Daddy'?"
Mu Shaowu was surprised that he remembered it, after all, Zeng Chong had only said it once.
However, upon further reflection, he realized that Ye Qingxi was always very intelligent and had a good memory. Remembering a program name was naturally a piece of cake and not worth mentioning. As expected of his son! He was truly amazing!
"It's a parent-child interactive variety show," Mu Shaowu explained.
Ye Qingxi tilted her head, "What is a parent-child interactive variety show?"
Good question!
Mu Shaowu pondered, "It's like a baby going on a trip with his father, and then all sorts of things happening on the trip are recorded and shown on TV as a travel program."
Upon hearing this, Ye Qingxi's eyes lit up, and she quickly raised her little hand, "Then can I go on a trip with Daddy?"
Mu Shaowu smiled and pressed his small hand down, "You can't go."
"Why?" Ye Qing asked, puzzled.
Of course, it's not that simple!
Mu Shaowu took his hand and walked to the sofa, explaining to him, "Because this isn't just a simple trip with your dad. There will be unfamiliar uncles and aunts with you, and unfamiliar children too. If you argue or fight with other children, people will talk about you. Even if you haven't done anything, people will still talk about you."
"It's not good for you," Mu Shaowu concluded.
Ye Qingxi puffed out his cheeks, feeling that his father had really underestimated him.
“I’m not going to argue,” he said. “And I’m not going to fight either.”
Mu Shaowu: ? ? ?
Mu Shaowu raised an eyebrow and looked down at him, "Who was it that got their parents called in by the teacher for getting into a group fight right after entering first grade? Was it your Ye Pei Zhong Kang Little F4?"
Ye Qingxi: ...
Ye Qingxi quickly defended herself, "They're just being unreasonable, saying I stepped on him, but I didn't step on him, and we didn't hit him on our own initiative!"
“Yeah.” Mu Shaowu patted his little head. “When we get to the show, there might be kids like that. Do you think all babies in the world are as well-behaved, smart, and cute as you? There are plenty of naughty kids. So, this kind of show isn’t very interesting. If you want to go out and play, Dad will take you out when you have your vacation. If you want to record it, Dad will hire a film crew to film just the two of us. We’ll call it ‘Look at This Father and Son.’”
Ye Qingxi: ...
What could Ye Qingxi possibly say?
His dad is quite thoughtful!
This was completely unexpected!
But now is not the time for him to be so thoughtful!
Under the current circumstances, they have to participate in this variety show in order to prevent He Yao from gaining fans and becoming famous. Otherwise, if He Yao becomes famous and affects Mu Shaowu, that would be bad!
Ye Qingxi sighed.
This was his biological father before. He didn't want the other party to make money off him, but the other party wanted him to film whatever made money.
Now, his adoptive father wants to go on a variety show with him. Making money is a small matter; preventing the main character from becoming famous is the big priority. But his father completely ignores him and doesn't care about such trivial matters at all.
This is truly distressing.
Ye Qingxi had no choice but to rest her chin on her hand and think of another solution.
He quickly came up with an idea.
That evening, Ye Qingxi specially found a parent-child variety show and sat in her bedroom to watch it.
While watching, he deliberately let out occasional giggles.
He didn't believe his dad couldn't hear him.
Won't they come closer out of curiosity?
Sure enough, it wasn't long before Mu Shaowu, who was working, was attracted by his cheerful laughter.
Mu Shaowu put down the mouse, stood up, walked out of the study, and walked to Ye Qingxi's side. He saw Ye Qingxi holding a tablet, watching a clip from a parent-child variety show that he had found somewhere.
The moment he looked over, the child who had just been running fast with something in his hand on the screen suddenly fell to the ground with a "thud." The next second, the child looked up and burst into tears.
He didn't stand up, but lay on the ground, crying and rolling around.
Ye Qingxi laughed heartily.
Mu Shaowu: ...
Mu Shaowu already felt sorry for the child.
Ye Qingxi seemed to only notice him then, and looked up to ask, "Dad, what brings you here?"
"Of course I was drawn in by your laughter, so I came to see what you were laughing at."
Ye Qingxi knew it, and he generously said, "This video is so interesting, Dad, do you want to watch it together?"
Mu Shaowu refused, "You should see for yourself."
"Huh?" Ye Qingxi blinked, looking innocent. "Dad, don't you think it's fun?"
Fun?
Mu Shaowu wondered to himself, "Where is the fun?"
If it were Ye Qingxi who fell, he would not only feel sorry for her, but his father would also throw her to the ground when they got back.
If Ye Qingxi gets another scrape or bruise, he can wash his neck clean and wait for his dad to come back so he can braise it and have it as a snack with his drinks.
So he would never participate in any parent-child variety shows, even if you beat him to death.
This is not only bad for Ye Qingxi, but even worse for him.
What you expect from a parent-child reality show: the heartwarming interaction between him and his beloved son.
The reality of parent-child reality shows: His dad is always watching TV, and if his precious grandson gets hurt even slightly, he, as the son, can expect to be torn to pieces!
It benefits the production team but harms no one in their family, especially him and his son.
Therefore, parent-child variety shows are impossible, absolutely impossible in this lifetime!
"Baby, look for yourself. Daddy still has some work to finish," Mu Shaowu said gently.
Ye Qingxi: ...Do I want to see it myself?
I need you to take me there!
Let's go on a parent-child reality show together, you know what I mean?!
However, his father clearly understood but was unwilling to accept it.
Left with no other option, Ye Qingxi had to come up with a new plan.
He came up with another idea in a short time.
The next day, Ye Qingxi ran to Mu Shaoting's bedroom, took her hand, and asked, "Auntie, would you like to go on a parent-child reality show with me?"
Mu Shaoting: ? ? ?
"Me?" Mu Shaoting exclaimed in shock, "Baby, you want me to take you on a parent-child reality show?"
Ye Qingxi nodded, "Mhm."
His father will definitely disagree and will say that he is the father and that he should take him!
That way, he can successfully provoke his father!
Ye Qingxi thought to herself, "I'll use this provocation tactic. I don't believe Mu Shaowu won't fall for it!"
However, Mu Shaoting refused, saying, "I dare not."
Ye Qingxi: ? ? ?
Ye Qingxi didn't understand, "What are you afraid of? Are you afraid of my father?"
Surely not?
He noticed that his aunt wasn't usually this afraid of his father.
“What’s so scary about your dad? I’m not afraid of my dad,” Mu Shaoting said. “Let’s not even talk about whether your grandpa will allow you to film a variety show with me. Zhang Sao can’t come along during the filming, right? If Zhang Sao can’t come along, who will cook? Who will do the laundry? Who will clean the house? I can make do with instant noodles, but do you think I’d dare let you eat instant noodles with me? If your grandpa sees this, I won’t be allowed to enter the house anymore. I’ll just have to get out of this house.”
Ye Qingxi: ...
Ye Qingxi belatedly realized that what she said made a lot of sense.
Mu Feng might be able to accept that Mu Shaowu just eats whatever he wants and makes do with what he has—after all, Mu Shaowu is an adult.
Mu Feng absolutely could not accept him eating whatever he wanted and just getting by—if he came back, his father would probably be practically a living dead.
"So you should talk to your father about this," Mu Shaoting said. "But I don't think your father will work either; he's afraid of his own father."
Mu Shaoting patted her little nephew on the shoulder, "Forget it, baby. These parent-child variety shows are really just so-so. If you like them, we can just put one together at home. Anyway, we have a lot of family members. If you think there aren't enough kids, then you can invite Pei Liang and the others, and have them invite their dads too. Then you'll all be together, four kids and four dads. Auntie will find you a photography team to edit it, and Auntie will even sing a theme song for you. Isn't that the same thing?"
Ye Qingxi: Thank you so much! You even sang the theme song for us! You're even more creative than your brother!
Ye Qingxi returned to his bedroom helplessly, feeling that his parent-child reality show journey was already coming to an end before it even began.
No way! Ye Qingxi sprang to her feet; she couldn't give up like this!
The variety show is not yet a success; Xiao Xi still needs to work hard!
"Dad~" Ye Qingxi ran up to Mu Shaowu.
Mu Shaowu quickly looked up from the computer and at his beloved son, "What's wrong?"
"I want to be on that parent-child reality show." Ye Qingxi pouted.
Mu Shaowu was shocked, "You still remember that?"
It's been two days already!
Ye Qingxi nodded, looked at Mu Shaowu, took his hand, and shook it, saying, "Please? Please?"
Mu Shaowu: ...
Mu Shaowu said with some helplessness, "The main problem is that this variety show isn't very good."
Ye Qingxi blinked pitifully, "Just once~"
Mu Shaowu: ...
"Daddy~" Ye Qingxi's eyes became even more pitiful.
Mu Shaowu was at his wit's end. "Baby, why do you want to go so badly? Do you just want to travel and have fun with Daddy?"
Ye Qingxi shook his head and said, "I've never been before, but I want to try it~"
Mu Shaowu: ...
Mu Shaowu felt he understood.
To put it bluntly, it's just the child's curiosity at play.
Ye Qingxi was only five years old. He didn't understand the troubles that would come with recording a variety show. He only knew that there was such a variety show, and that he could go on it. He had never been on one before, so he wanted to go.
Straightforward and simple.
Looking at his expectant eyes, Mu Shaowu couldn't bear it. "You really want to go?"
Ye Qingxi nodded quickly, "I really, really want to."
"Aren't you afraid of encountering bad adults and bad kids?"
Ye Qingxi shook her head, "Don't be afraid, Daddy will protect me~"
Mu Shaowu laughed when he heard his natural and confident words.
"Okay," he thought. "Since Ye Qingxi wants to go so much, it's not a bad idea for her to go."
Anyway, just like Ye Qingxi said, he will protect him, and he will definitely not let him suffer!
Moreover, given his popularity, he has plenty of leverage to negotiate with the production team. By having a proper discussion and nipping any potential problems in the bud, he should be able to avoid any negative impact on his adorable son.
The only thing to worry about is how to get his father, who completely disdains the entertainment industry, to agree to this.
Mu Shaowu felt a headache coming on.
"Please, Dad?" Ye Qingxi asked softly. "Please."
Since he's already said that, what could Mu Shaowu say?!
Mu Shaowu could only nod, "Alright! Since you want to go, then go!"
"Dad, you agreed?" Ye Qingxi asked in surprise.
You agreed just like that?
Mu Shaowu chuckled, "Since you're so eager to go, how could Dad refuse?"
Ye Qingxi was delighted, "Thank you, Dad!"
"You're welcome~" Mu Shaowu pinched his little face.
"Should we tell our agent right away?"
Ye Qingxi reminded him that if the production team finalized the cast by the end, wouldn't all his efforts have been in vain?
"No rush," Mu Shaowu said.
Zeng Chong's situation is relatively easy to handle; the difficult one is his father.
"Let Dad think of a way to get Grandpa to agree first."
Ye Qingxi: ...
Ye Qingxi felt that this was indeed a big problem.
"Or, should I go and talk to Grandpa?" Ye Qingxi suggested.
Mu Shaowu shook his head, "That's not necessary. Since Dad has already agreed, then it's naturally Dad's turn to talk to him."
Ye Qingxi: ...It's not that he's worried, but rather, Dad, are you really okay?
If you're gone, who's going to take me on variety shows?!
"Go, Dad!" Ye Qingxi cheered him on. "You can do it, Dad!"
Mu Shaowu: ...This is something that is both impossible and necessary!
Mu Shaowu sighed silently in his heart. A true warrior dares to face his cold-hearted father, a true warrior dares to confront his ruthless father.
Go, Mu Shaowu!
Save your life!
come on!
Mu Shaowu glanced at his beloved son, stood up, and walked towards his father's study.
Mu Feng is on the phone with Mu Zheng.
"I heard Shao Yan has been busy opening a steamed bun shop lately?" Mu Zheng asked in surprise. "Why would he suddenly want to open a steamed bun shop?"
"His classmate Duan Yi comes from a poor family, so Shao Yan thought he would help him. It just so happens that Duan Yi's mother makes pretty good steamed buns, and Xiao Xi suggested that they could open a steamed bun shop. So, after a few discussions, they decided to open a steamed bun shop."
Mu Zheng nodded, "I happen to have a few good shops on hand, which I can give to them."
“No need,” Mu Feng said. “They’ve already found a suitable shop.”
“It’s rare for Shao Yan to have this idea. You don’t need to worry about it. Let him do it himself. Whatever the outcome, that’s what matters. If he makes a profit, that’s great. If he loses, he’ll know where he went wrong and what to avoid when starting a business in the future. That will be good for his future.”
Upon hearing this, Mu Zheng smiled and said, "It seems you are quite supportive of this matter."
"That's right." Mu Feng didn't hide anything from him. "I'm not afraid that you brothers and sisters are ambitious. I'm afraid that you brothers and sisters are not ambitious. Shao Yan can think about opening a steamed bun shop now. Maybe he will want to open other companies in the future. It's rare that you have a brother who doesn't want to act or sing. If I don't support him, am I supposed to support your other younger brothers and sisters?"
Mu Zheng: ...
Mu Zheng had no choice but to speak up for his younger brother, saying, "Shao Wu has been helping me handle things within the group for the past six months. He's actually been working very hard during this time."
“I know,” Mu Feng said. “That’s why I’m not satisfied. If he didn’t have the ability and could only act, I would accept it. But he clearly has the ability, yet he doesn’t stay in the company properly and insists on acting. What kind of acting is that? Is it watchable? He would be better off spending his time in the company, at least he could help you share some of the pressure.”
Mu Zheng: ...
"Actually, I'm fine," Mu Zheng said. "It's not as hard as you think, Dad."
Mu Fengcai didn't believe him.
He might be able to fool others with this, but he himself came down from that position. How could he not know how hard it is for the people who sit there?
He was about to speak when he heard a knock on the door. The next second, he saw his good-for-nothing son, whom he had just been muttering about, walk in.
Why are you calling me so late at night? Is something wrong?
"Your brother is looking for me, I'll hang up now."
After Mu Feng finished speaking, he hung up the phone.
Mu Shaowu then realized, "You were on the phone with your older brother?"
"Hmm." Mu Feng looked at him. "What's up?"
Mu Shaowu: ...
Mu Shaowu instantly felt guilty.
He glanced at his elderly father and, seeing that he seemed to be in a good mood, tentatively said, "It's just... there's something that might require your approval."
"explain."
Mu Shaowu carefully chose his words, "It's like this, Xiaoxi saw clips of other children participating in parent-child variety shows these past few days, so he wants to participate too. I couldn't bear to refuse him, so I agreed. What do you think...?"
Mu Feng: ?
Mu Feng: !!!
"I disagree." Mu Feng said without hesitation, "If you want to be on variety shows, go for it yourself! Don't bring my grandson along! How old is Xiao Xi? Do you think it's appropriate for him to be exposed to the camera so frequently?!"
"Of course it's not suitable." Mu Shaowu thought so too. "That's why I initially refused, but Xiao Xi insisted on going. She's been pestering me for two days now. What can I do?"
Mu Feng: ...
Mu Feng felt that he was still to blame for this!
“If you weren’t an actor, he would only ever think about it. But now that you’re providing him with this opportunity, he’s definitely going to give it a try.”
Mu Shaowu: ...
Mu Shaowu thought that made sense, but the problem was, "I can't just retire from acting right now, so I still have to take him with me, right?"
Mu Feng: ...
Mu Shaowu: ...
The two looked at each other.
Finally, Mu Feng spoke first, "Does he really want to go?"
"That's unusual! They've been telling me this for two days already!"
"So which variety show are you planning to take him to?"
"Like that show on Lemon TV called 'Look the Daddy'."
"Send me the content of this variety show when you get back later."
Mu Shaowu: ? ? ?
"You mean... you're going to conduct the assessment overnight?"
"Otherwise what?" Mu Feng said speechlessly. "I have to see if this is suitable for him, and whether it poses any danger to him?"
"That's right, that's right." Mu Shaowu nodded. "I'll send it to you when I get back."
Mu Feng nodded and waved to indicate that he could leave.
Mu Shaowu quickly withdrew from his sight.
As soon as he left the house, he saw Ye Qingxi waiting in the corridor outside. Her eyes lit up instantly when she saw him come out.
"Well, did Grandpa agree?" Ye Qingxi asked expectantly.
"Your grandfather said he wants to give him a test."
"Assessment?"
"Let me send him the content of the variety show, and he'll have to see if it suits you."
Ye Qingxi: ...
His grandfather was really strict!
So, that evening, sixty-year-old Mu Feng frowned as he watched "Look the Daddy," a show previously aired on Lemon TV. The more he watched, the deeper his frown became.
What kind of unreliable father is this?!
They even have the nerve to call it "Look the Daddy"?! What's so interesting about this daddy?!
He deserves a beating!
After finally finishing watching one episode, Mu Feng felt utterly exhausted.
The thought that Ye Qingxi and Mu Shaowu might end up like that—no, given Mu Shaowu's level of self-care, there's an absolute certainty that they will!
Mu Feng felt a wave of dizziness wash over him. He could almost picture Ye Qingxi eating meager rations and struggling to make ends meet with Mu Shaowu. Forget about food being delicious and appealing; she was lucky to even survive without food poisoning!
No! Absolutely not!
Mu Shaowu can get food poisoning, but Ye Qingxi can't!
Mu Feng has made up his mind. If he really wants to appear on this variety show, then Mu Shaowu will have to undergo training first! He will have to pass his assessment!
but……
Mu Feng still didn't understand what was so good about this variety show, and why Ye Qingxi was so infatuated with it that she insisted on recording it.
He doesn't look that great!
Or is it that what Ye Qingxi actually wants is not to film a variety show, but to be with her father?
Mu Feng leans more towards the latter.
The following evening, after dinner, he said to Mu Shaowu, "I've almost finished watching that variety show you sent me last night."
Ye Qingxi immediately turned to look at him.
Mu Shaoting and Mu Shaoyan asked in confusion, "What variety show?"
“A parent-child variety show,” Mu Shaowu said.
"A parent-child reality show?" Mu Shaoyan was shocked. "Brother, you're going to take Xiaoxi on a parent-child reality show?!"
Mu Shaoting: ...
Her nephew is really persistent!
She didn't agree, but he actually went to find his father!
Mu Shaoting suddenly felt a little guilty. After all, Ye Qingxi had always been very good to her, but she had rejected him.
Mu Shaoting was conflicted again. Should she actually agree to his proposal?
"Hmm." Mu Shaowu replied to Mu Shaoyan, "I do have this idea, but we still need to wait for Dad's opinion, right?"
“You can go if you want,” Mu Feng said.
Ye Qingxi was overjoyed. This is wonderful!
"Thank you, Grandpa," Ye Qingxi said happily.
Mu Shaowu quickly replied, "Thank you, Dad."
Mu Feng looked at his son and said, "Don't thank me yet, there are conditions."
Ye Qingxi: ? ? ? Huh?
Mu Shaowu: Huh? ? ?
"What are the conditions?" Mu Shaowu asked, puzzled.
"Xiao Zhang," Mu Feng called out.
Aunt Zhang immediately came over. "What's wrong?"
“Starting today, you will be responsible for teaching Shaowu how to cook, do laundry, and clean. Make sure he is trained to be able to take care of Xiaoxi independently, and ensure that Xiaoxi has at least four dishes and a soup for every meal when she is with him, with a balanced diet. Make sure Xiaoxi doesn't get hot, cold, hungry, or dirty because she is with him, understand?”
Aunt Zhang: ? ? ?
Aunt Zhang was puzzled. "Shaowu is moving out with Xiaoxi?"
No! She can't bear to part with their young master!
Mu Shaowu: Really? Is he going to live alone with his son? Why is he making him learn these things?
"He wouldn't dare!" Mu Feng glared at Mu Shaowu.
Mu Shaowu: ??? It wasn't Dad, and it wasn't me who said I was going to move out with Xiaoxi! Why are you glaring at me?!
Mu Shaowu felt utterly wronged!
After glaring at her, Mu Feng took out a USB drive from his pocket and handed it to Aunt Zhang. "Take a look yourself. They're going to record this program. Only Shao Wu and Xiao Xi will be there. You should teach Shao Wu according to the program's requirements. I'll check on you in a month."
"If you pass the inspection, you two can naturally go and film this parent-child reality show. If you fail the inspection..."
Mu Feng looked at Ye Qingxi, "Xiaoxi, then Grandpa will hire a photography team for you, and you can record at home. Perfect, we have actors and singers in our family, and the setup is no worse than that of the TV station. Your aunt will sing the theme song for you, and your dad will record with you. If you feel there's no host, that's easy. Did you like the host of that singing competition you participated in before? If you did, Grandpa will have him host it. What do you think?"
Ye Qingxi: …………
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