Chapter 26

On the camera screen, the dark pupils in his phoenix eyes visibly shifted, and he said quietly, sounding a little surprised, "I thought this was prep time. This..."

He hurriedly turned his head and said gently, "Yiming, sit down with Xingxing. Don't hold up the start of the show."

"Okay!" Bo Yiming immediately closed his suitcase, ushered Xingxing back to his seat, and obediently sat beside his little dad.

[No wonder they always cast actors with big eyes. Seriously, my wife's eyes are so expressive. They really can convey feelings.]

[Being jealous for the nth time that Mingzai's big dad has such a stunning beauty.]

In the vehicle, Xiao Qi hugged the little panda in his arms and turned to look behind him. "Little Uncle's ring is all sparkly. It's so pretty~"

"Really? Thank you, Xiao Qi." Wen Cishu also glanced down at the ring on his ring finger. The little cutie had noticed it.

Bo Yiming tilted his head too, smiling at Xiao Qi. "It's my two dads' wedding ring~"

Xiao Qi's mouth fell open, and he let out a soft "Oh."

His bewildered little expression was indescribably adorable, bringing a warm smile to Wen Cishu's face as he unconsciously turned and stroked the wedding ring on his ring finger.

[He didn't have it last episode. Why is he suddenly wearing a wedding ring this time?]

[Is Mingzai's big dad staking his claim?]

[How is that possible? Their kid is already nine. What claim does he need to stake?]

[With a stunning beauty whose looks are absolutely top-tier, it wouldn't be surprising at all if Mingzai's big dad felt insecure.]

[Then is Mingzai's big dad watching in front of a screen right now?]

[Hi, Mingzai's big dad. So glad we share the same wife.]

[Mingzai's big dad: Provoking me? I'll have my wife wear ten rings in episode three!]

[Hahahaha, I'm dying.]

Chapter 26

After the first episode ended, viewers had been eagerly anticipating the filming location for the second episode.

As the guests got out of the vehicle, the view gradually opened up, revealing a quaint, old-fashioned street. The group entered a rustic two-story teahouse.

While the guests were talking, the PD popped up to explain the rules for this episode.

"This time, our guests will be running this teahouse for two days. The historical costume street opens at eleven, and you'll need to attract visitors and earn your living expenses. Today's lunch will be provided by the production team. All remaining expenses will require everyone's joint effort. Your activities aren't limited to the teahouse. You may walk around the entire historical costume street and purchase anything you need."

Bo Yiming couldn't contain his anticipation. "This is more fun than last time."

Xingxing had already begun to sense the "difficulty of the mission," but hearing his big brother Yiming sound so excited, he immediately felt it wasn't that hard after all.

The PD continued, "Please take note of this episode's key rule: our four young guests will be the teahouse owners, responsible for overall planning and management. The adults may offer suggestions, but whether to accept them will be up to the four little owners."

"Them? Planning? Management?"

Zhou Xu voiced his disbelief, his tone utterly devoid of trust.

Eight big eyes on the scene immediately glared at him, including those of the shy, introverted Rongrong.

Zhou Xu silently raised his hands in surrender.

[Zhou Xu, look at you! These four kids are at least twenty-five put together!]

[The show's so popular, won't all the visitors recognize them? Won't the teahouse end up packed? Making money will be super easy, right?]

[Where is this historical costume street? I want to go be a visitor! Aaaah, I have money, I have money! I want a photo with my wife. I'm so desperate!]

Then the PD vanished.

The four little ones huddled together, chattering.

Before the adults could speak, Bo Yiming raised his watch. "Uncles and aunties, we have two hours to get ready. Let's get moving! Uncle Zhou, stop frowning! We're the bosses now."

Xiao Qi bounced beside his big brother's legs. "Daddy, Xiao Qi's a boss now~"

Zhou Xu stood at attention and bowed to the little bosses. "Yes, bosses."

Wen Cishu teased as he wheeled his suitcase along, "Mr. Zhou would be perfect for comedies."

Chu Han laughed in agreement.

They all wheeled their luggage into the back room.

When they came back out, the four little bosses took out the historical costumes prepared by the production team and handed them out to the parents.

There were two styles, one for men and one for women.

After changing, Chu Han and Zhu Wei looked at each other as though looking in a mirror.

From behind, they looked exactly like a pair of gorgeous twins.

Zhu Wei craned her neck expectantly. "Oh, why isn't Yiming's dad ready yet? I want to see him in historical costume."

Chu Han looked down, studying her outfit. "The design of these clothes is nothing special. If I'd known we were coming here, I could have put the production team in touch with some drama costume teams."

Just as she finished speaking, Wen Cishu emerged with his head lowered as he adjusted his belt, asking for help. "Sister Wei, could you give me a hand?"

Tall and slender, with an elegant bearing, he wore the plain indigo servant's outfit less like an errand boy and more like a noble young gentleman traveling incognito.

His long, ink-black hair was casually tied behind his head, matching the historical costume perfectly.

Chu Han's eyes lit up, and she went over first. "Let Sister Han do it. Sister Han's a professional when it comes to historical costumes."

Zhu Wei laughed.

Chu Han fastened the wide belt around his waist, cinching it into a slim, narrow line.

"Little Dad!" Bo Yiming rushed over, looking him up and down in surprise.

Wen Cishu brushed a finger over the tip of his nose and asked with a smile, "Don't recognize me?"

Bo Yiming hugged his little dad's arm. "You're so pretty!"

He had never seen his little dad dressed like this before.

[M-m-my beautiful historical-costume wife...]

[I'm dying. Why did Chu Han float over like she was acting in a drama?]

[Heavens, why am I not Mingzai? I want to throw myself into Little Dad's arms too.]

[Waaah, my wife really has it all: poise, presence, and beauty.]

[And hair, too. [bald clown.jpg]]

Zhou Xu appeared next. After admiring Wen Cishu, he said with great regret, "Why is it that every time I join a group, I can never take the center position on looks alone?"

Wen Cishu smiled. "You must rely on your talent, Mr. Zhou. There's no question about that."

"Of course!" Zhou Xu beamed. "Looks like Yiming inherited that way with words."

Once all four guests had changed, they dressed the little ones in their little bosses' outfits too.

Seeing his mixed-race son's face paired with historical costume, Wen Cishu felt a slight incongruity he couldn't quite put his finger on.

When Bo Yiming turned around and started bouncing wildly, waving his wide sleeves, a phrase immediately flashed through his mind: ...a monkey in a crown.

Then the eight of them sat facing each other on either side of a long table and began the day's teahouse operations.

After discussing it, the four little ones assigned Chu Han to boil water and Zhou Xu and Zhu Wei to clean the tables, floor, and other parts of the main room.

"What about me?" Wen Cishu asked. "What should I do?"

Xiao Qi happily straightened up, as though trying to snuggle against him from a distance. "Little Uncle just has to hold Xiao Qi."

Rongrong said, "Uncle, play with us~"

Xingxing said, "Uncle, how about you collect the money? Would you like that?"

"Huh?" Even Chu Han let out a surprised question. "Xingxing, you didn't ask Mommy whether she liked boiling water."

"Hey, you four bosses are playing favorites!" Zhou Xu tapped the table.

Zhu Wei propped her chin in her hand, laughing delightedly.

[Xingxing, is that your line? Doesn't that belong to your big brother Yiming?!]

[Sister Chu Han is shocked. Her son's already defected. I'm dying.]

Wen Cishu smiled and nodded. "I can collect the money. Is there an account book?"

Bo Yiming ran to the counter and fetched it. "Little Dad, it's for writing with a brush."

"Okay." Wen Cishu took it, flipped through it, and told the four little ones, "No problem. Leave it to Uncle. I won't make any mistakes."

"All right, let's get moving!" Bo Yiming urged.

Chu Han lifted her skirt and stood up, asking, "What about you?"

Rongrong had already taken Xiao Qi's hand. Pointing toward the entrance, she said obediently, "Auntie, we'll welcome customers over there."

"I see. Then Auntie will go boil water." Chu Han rubbed the two little cuties' cheeks and headed lightly toward the back room.

She had checked earlier. Basic supplies such as an electric kettle, tea leaves, and bottled water were provided, so she wouldn't actually have to light a stove to boil water.

[Wow, everyone's jobs are so clearly assigned. This is great.]

[As the big brother, Mingzai won all three little ones' trust in the first episode, so there won't be any conflicts.]

[What's so great about it? It's not great at all! I can't go there for tea. Waaah.]

Wen Cishu had already opened the inkstone and begun grinding ink when something suddenly occurred to him. He called out to his son, who was helping wipe the tables, "Yiming? You haven't set a price. How much is a cup of tea? And is there anything else?"

"Huh?" Bo Yiming looked surprised, and Xingxing happened to turn around too.

The two little ones stared wide-eyed at each other.

Zhu Wei, who was wiping a tabletop, said, "Right, hurry and discuss it. Just settle on a price."

"Um..."

Bo Yiming had never gone out specifically to drink tea. At most, he had been to the café near his school. "How about one hundred and fifty-eight a cup?"

Zhu Wei said, "That won't do. It's too expensive."

Then another thought struck her, and she said to Wen Cishu, "Oh no, these kids have no concept of money."

Holding his writing brush, Wen Cishu silently lowered his head.

[Doesn't that look in my wife's eyes seem guilty? He's so beautiful with his head lowered. Kisses~]

[Maybe our great beauty didn't realize there was anything unreasonable about Mingzai's price either.]

[I'm remembering that four-piece bedding set from the last episode! This father and son probably never have to pay for things themselves.]

[Look at our wife's hands. That's what hands that have never done housework look like, okay! Like jade-white scallions. Let me touch them~]

In the end, with the adults' suggestions, they settled on eighteen yuan per person to rest and drink tea in the teahouse.

At Xingxing's suggestion, Wen Cishu cut a piece of red paper to a suitable size, wrote the price on it with his brush, and posted it outside the teahouse.