TRSBPASO 11

After Huo Mianmian finished wiping Lin Yi’s face, he turned and trotted back toward the rice field ridge with his short little legs.

Meanwhile, Lin Yi continued planting rice seedlings.

At one point, just as he was planting a sprout into the mud, his hand brushed against something strange in the soil. He straightened up and clicked his tongue. “Tsk.”

Shen Feng happened to be right beside him. Hearing the sound, he looked up immediately. “What’s wrong?”

He looked obviously curious about everything Lin Yi did.

Lin Yi replied slowly, “I think I just touched something weird. Kind of like…”

Before Lin Yi could finish, Shen Feng took a big step over. “Don’t move! Let me check!”

Lin Yi: “??”

Dude, aren’t you a little too excited?

Shen Feng had already crouched down.

Maybe he still minded what Lin Yi said earlier about him being afraid to get into the field, so now he was trying to prove himself. As soon as he got there, he plunged his hand into the same patch of mud Lin Yi had touched.

The next second, he yanked his hand out and jumped three feet back, screaming, “What the hell is that?! It’s slimy and hairy!!”

Lin Yi, who hadn’t had time to stop him: “……”

By now, the commotion had attracted the attention of the other guests. Everyone stopped what they were doing and looked over.

Zhao Jin was the first to speak. “What happened?”

Shen Feng pointed at the spot in the mud, face pale. “There’s a monster in there!!”

Lin Yi: “??”

Lin Yi: “Actually—”

Before he could finish, Zhao Jin strode over and said, “Let me take a look.”

As he spoke, he reached his hand into the mud.

As a seasoned host, he was used to handling unexpected moments during filming.

But within moments, he pulled his hand back too and said, “Whatever that is has a mouth. Feels like it might bite!”

Though calmer than Shen Feng, he also looked a bit startled.

Seeing this, Zhou Ke and He Nian quickly walked over as well.

Now all the guests were gathered in one spot, staring at the patch of mud with serious faces.

Lin Yi, who had discovered it in the first place: “……”

【Oh god, this is starting to sound creepy.】

【Slimy, hairy, and with a mouth? Just hearing that gives me chills!!】

Just as the scene was about to freeze in awkward tension, Lin Yi calmly reached his hand back into the mud.

Shen Feng’s eyes went wide. He shouted in alarm, “What are you doing?! What if it bites?!”

Lin Yi didn’t even pause, continuing to feel around.

The other guests watched with bated breath.

Lin Yi grabbed hold of something and pulled it up.

He looked at everyone, half exasperated, and said, “It’s just a stuffed dog toy. What are you all freaking out about?”

Everyone: “??”

A stuffed dog?!

They looked closely. Sure enough, what Lin Yi was holding was a plush toy dog, now soaked with mud and sticky all over.

So all that fuss… over a toy?

Shen Feng, who had screamed the loudest just moments ago: “……”

Damn. That’s embarrassing.

【Hahahahaha Lin Yi’s deadpan face has me laughing for a year!!】

【It had fur, it had a mouth, and it was… a toy dog.】

【Why is this whole situation so funny??】

【Only Lin Yi could stay this calm and unbothered.】

【Decision made. I’m following Lin Yi from now on.】

The atmosphere turned slightly awkward.

Well, awkward for everyone else.

Lin Yi calmly held up the muddy toy and asked the kids up on the ridge, “Whose is this?”

When Xiao Niangao saw the toy dog, he suddenly remembered something. His expression turned sheepish, and he raised his hand. “Mine.”

He had accidentally thrown it while playing earlier and forgot to go look for it in the excitement.

Who knew a lost toy would cause such a panic?

【Mystery solved.】

【Moral of the story: don’t throw your stuffed dog into the rice field or you’ll scare the life out of people.】

【Shen Feng: Stop, I’ve already lost face in front of all the viewers.】

【It’s fine, there’s still time to move to a different planet.】

With that little incident over, the guests got back to planting rice and soon finished the rest of the task.

Afterward, Lin Yi brought Huo Mianmian up from the field to a nearby stream to wash off.

They were both covered in mud.

Lin Yi washed fast, squatting by the stream and scrubbing himself clean in a couple of minutes.

He even splashed his face with water, refreshing himself completely.

He had always been good-looking, but now his damp hair framed his features with a few glistening drops of water still clinging to his skin. His eyes were bright and clear, like mountain springs.

【Ahhh! Why is my husband so handsome?!】

【This is my man! No one touch him!】

After he finished, Lin Yi casually sat down on the nearby grass, then looked over at Mianmian.

Mianmian was still crouched at the stream, carefully washing his little hands.

He was being very thorough, washing each finger one by one like he was afraid of missing a spot.

He already looked like a soft little dumpling, and now crouching there with his head down while quietly scrubbing away, he looked straight out of an animated movie.

It was the very definition of healing to watch.

Lin Yi didn’t interrupt, just watched with a smile. When he saw Mianmian finally slowing down, he said, “Looks like our Mianmian is a little clean freak.”

Mianmian tilted his head at Lin Yi.

What’s a clean freak?

He didn’t understand the term, but he knew one thing. He had to be squeaky clean.

【A clean freak baby? Even more adorable!】

【I feel like I can smell how fresh Mianmian must be through the screen.】

【Our Mianmian is the king of cleanliness!!】

Once Mianmian finished washing, he waddled over and plopped down beside Lin Yi on the grass.

He was so soft and round that when he sat down, he bounced like a little rice ball.

Lin Yi was lounging lazily on the grass, leaning back with both hands and squinting up at the Sky while soaking in the sunlight and cool breeze.

Mianmian watched him for a bit, then mimicked his pose, lying back to enjoy the sun too.

He spread out his chubby hands and feet and gave them a little wiggle, just like a baby kitten basking in the sun.

【Ahhhh let me join in! That scene needs one more person—me!】

【This father-son pair is way too envy-inducing.】

【This is what carefree, idyllic life looks like. I feel it in my soul.】

Half an hour later, Lin Yi and Mianmian returned to the farmhouse.

When they passed by the orange tree, Lin Yi suddenly stopped and called, “Zai…”

The viewers didn’t understand why he suddenly called out to Mianmian.

But Mianmian instinctively stretched out his hands, asking to be picked up.

Lin Yi raised his eyebrows with a smile and scooped Mianmian up, lifting him to reach the orange tree.

Mianmian was already an expert. He reached out, pulled a branch down, and quickly picked several oranges.

Lin Yi set him down again, and the two of them walked back towards the house, each carrying a bunch of oranges.

The whole thing took less than two minutes.

【???】

【Hahaha, now that’s what I call teamwork!】

【I’m speechless. That was pure telepathy.】

【Can I have an orange too, please?】

【Just give me one wedge. I’m not greedy.】

【Forget the orange, I’ll take the peel.】

【Wow, even orange peel is getting competitive now??】

Back at the farmhouse, it was time for lunch.

The show had provided each family with a bunch of fresh and organic vegetables.

All of them were homegrown by the farmhouse owner, rare and high-quality stuff.

Lin Yi looked through the ingredients. There were potatoes, chicken, leafy greens, and more.

Then he checked the fridge and found a box of curry cubes.

Curry cubes were amazing—just toss one into the pot and you didn’t even need to season anything.

Amazed by his own creativity, Lin Yi muttered, “Looks like I really do have a knack for cooking. What if I accidentally become a master chef one day?”

He even frowned seriously for two seconds, as if considering the possibility.

【Hahaha, are you seriously worried about that?】

【Don’t stress over things that will never happen!】

【Lin Yi: So you all really don’t believe in me?】

【Viewers: Nope. Not even a little.】

Lin Yi decided to go with a simple curry rice dish using potatoes, onions, carrots, and chicken—everything simmered together.

He found a spot to start peeling the potatoes and said to Mianmian, “Let’s divide the work. I’ll peel, you wash.”

Mianmian nodded obediently and went off to fill a basin with water.

Soon, he waddled back, carrying a basin full of water.

Lin Yi praised him, “Good job.”

Mianmian smiled, clearly pleased by the compliment.

Lin Yi tossed the peeled potatoes into the basin. “Wash them.”

Mianmian looked at the big potato, blinking in confusion.

It was huge.

He tried to pick it up, but his little hands were too small. It slipped right out.

Mianmian blinked again and then decided to try a new method.

He began pushing the potato around, making it spin in the water.

Watching the potato swirl, he suddenly looked delighted and turned his pretty little face to Lin Yi. “Xiao Ba.”

Lin Yi looked over. “What is it?”

Mianmian pointed to the potato and said in his soft, milky voice, “Look, the potato is swimming~”

Then he gave it another push, sending it twirling again.

【Oh my god, kids really live in a different world!】

【“The potato is swimming”—I can’t! He’s too cute!!】

【I want a Mianmian too, please please!!】

Lin Yi chuckled at his imagination and asked, “If the potato is swimming, should Mianmian learn to swim too?”

Mianmian shook his head instantly. “No.”

He thought water was scary.

Lin Yi teased him, “If you don’t learn to swim, I’ll have to spank your little butt.”

Mianmian’s eyes widened, and he quickly covered his bottom with both hands.

That sounded terrifying!

【Hahaha don’t scare our baby!】

【I’ve heard kids really do learn to swim faster, though.】

【Is that true? I’m taking my nephew to the pool ASAP.】

【Nephew: …Thanks, I guess?】

Soon, Lin Yi had all the ingredients chopped and ready. He stir-fried them, added water, then tossed in the curry cubes.

Now all that was left was to cover the pot and wait for it to finish cooking.

Once it was done, they’d have hot curry over rice. A perfect meal.

Lin Yi sighed again. Maybe he really was on his way to becoming a culinary master.

【Hahaha, you’re dreaming.】

【Shocking! Someone actually believes they’re becoming a chef just like that. Confidence unmatched.】

While waiting for lunch to finish, Lin Yi spotted a plate of bubble gum on the coffee table.

He picked up two pieces, popped one in his mouth, and handed the other to Mianmian. “Zai, want some bubble gum?”

Mianmian nodded and took it.

Lin Yi leaned back on the sofa while lazily chewing.

Mianmian had been sitting upright, but after seeing Lin Yi’s posture, he mimicked it and flopped back too.

He looked like a little seal sprawled out with his belly up.

【Help! What am I seeing?? Mianmian has this side too?】

【Hahaha, why does Mianmian copy everything his stepdad does?】

【To be fair, flopping on the couch like that is peak comfort.】

At one point, Lin Yi chewed the gum for a bit, then blew a large bubble.

He popped it and kept chewing like a pro.

Mianmian watched and tried to copy him.

He puffed his cheeks and managed to blow a bubble too… only for it to pop and splatter all over his face.

Mianmian: “……”

Eh?

Lin Yi turned to see what happened—Mianmian’s mouth was surrounded by a sticky white mess.

And the boy, still blinking in confusion, looked at him with wide innocent eyes.

Lin Yi: “Pfft—HAHAHAHAHA!!”

He was laughing uncontrollably, not even pretending to hold back.

Mianmian: “……”

QAQ!

【Hahahahahahahahaha!!!】

【I’m crying, this is too funny!!!】

【Stop laughing already! Doesn’t our Mianmian deserve a little dignity?!】