TRSBPASO 9

Lin Yi and Mianmian squatted on the ground while staring at the pile of fresh ingredients before them, wide eyes meeting round ones.

So… how exactly were they going to deal with dinner?

Just then, He Nian received the ingredients meant for him and Haohao.

He was actually a little unhappy that Haohao had lost to Mianmian earlier, but for now, he carried the ingredients in one hand and patted Haohao’s head with the other, pretending to praise, “Good job, Haohao. Second place is still great.”

Haohao flinched slightly at the touch.

He still remembered the cold and disappointed look He Nian had given him earlier.

After patting him, He Nian carried the ingredients into the kitchen.

When he saw Lin Yi’s group squatting there, he muttered mockingly to himself, “Looks like my cousin’s gonna have trouble with dinner. Not surprising, he was pampered by his parents since childhood. It’s normal that he doesn’t know how to cook but Mianmian is so little, he can’t go hungry…”

【Wuwuwu, our Nian Nian is so kind, thinking of the child.】

【See? Lin Yi was totally spoiled by his family.】

【Lin Yi really can’t compare to our Nian Nian at all.】

He Nian was hoping to shine during the cooking segment, so once in the kitchen, he got straight to work.

He didn’t actually know how to cook, but he had guessed this kind of segment would appear and crammed a few recipes before the show. Now was the time to use them.

On the other side…

Lin Yi stared at the fresh ingredients in the bag for a while, then suddenly had a flash of inspiration.

Since they had all these ready-to-use ingredients, why not have hotpot?

Hotpot was dead simple and anyone with hands could make it.

With that thought, Lin Yi immediately said to Mianmian, “Mianmian, how about hotpot for dinner? I’ll have spicy broth, and you can have tomato.”

Mianmian wasn’t particularly excited about food, but seeing Lin Yi so pumped up, he nodded obediently, “Hotpot!”

Seeing how cooperative he was, Lin Yi reached out and squished his chubby cheek. “Alright, I’ll go find a pot and hotpot base. Can you help wash the veggies?”

Huo Mianmian pressed his lips together and nodded seriously, even clenching his little fists to show he could do it.

【Aaaaah Mianmian is too cute.】

【I wanna squish his little cheeks toooo!】

Lin Yi soon brought over a basin of water for Mianmian to start washing vegetables.

He himself went off to the kitchen to find a pot and soup base.

In the living room, Mianmian sat on a little stool, rolled up his sleeves, and got ready to wash the veggies.

He looked ready, but immediately ran into trouble, he stared at the vegetables in the bag and tilted his head.

How do you wash veggies?

After thinking for a few seconds, he made an effort to pull out a big head of cabbage.

He held it for a long time… then put it back.

Nope, too heavy. It was tiring just holding it.

He dug around the bag again and finally found something easier—a box of cherry tomatoes.

That cheered him up. He began washing the cherry tomatoes.

He picked one up, dropped it into the water, and rubbed it with his tiny hands.

The scene was unbearably cute.

Mianmian was already delicate and adorable, with soft fluffy hair and snow-white cheeks. Add in the overalls he was wearing today, and he looked extra cuddly.

The way he bowed his head and scrubbed the tomato was enough to melt anyone.

【Aaaaah I just wanna kiss Mianmian on the forehead~】

【I could watch him wash cherry tomatoes all day.】

【Human cubs are the cure to everything!!】

【Haha does Mianmian have a bit of OCD? He’s washing one tomato to death, it’s about to fall apart.】

After carefully scrubbing for a while, Mianmian deemed the first tomato spotless and placed it gently in a clean dish.

Then he began washing the second one.

Through it all, he remained quiet and patient, not a single sign of frustration.

Meanwhile, Lin Yi had found a pot—a divided hotpot, perfect for spicy and tomato broth.

He set it on the table in the living room, then went back to the kitchen for soup base.

As he passed Mianmian, he spotted the clean tomato sitting in the dish and casually popped it into his mouth before heading off.

Mianmian didn’t even notice his little dad had stolen the fruit.

When he finished washing the second tomato and turned to place it in the dish, he blinked in confusion.

Huh? Where’d the first one go?

Why was the plate empty?

【Hahahahaha I’m dying!!!】

【Mianmian, your dad stole your tomato!】

Mianmian was a little confused but didn’t dwell on it, thinking he must have remembered wrong.

So he placed the second tomato in the dish and started on the third.

Soon, Lin Yi came back out with two packets of soup base.

Seeing another freshly washed tomato in the dish, he grabbed it and ate it again.

They really were tasty, sweet and tangy. The crew said they were organic, and that seemed true enough.

By the time Mianmian finished washing the third one and turned around, he was stunned.

The plate was empty again!

Where did his second tomato go?!

He definitely remembered putting it there!

He stared at the empty plate, blinking in confusion and completely baffled.

【Hahahaha this is killing me!】

【Lin Yi, stop stealing from your child!】

【My daily dose of joy, right here.】

Mianmian carefully placed the third tomato in the dish.

This time, he was smart. While washing the fourth, he kept an eye on the plate.

Then, out of the corner of his eye, he saw a hand reaching toward his tomato.

Mianmian perked up immediately.

Gotcha!!

He turned his head and locked eyes with Lin Yi.

Mianmian blinked blankly.

So it was his little dad all along?

Lin Yi didn’t know what had just gone through Mianmian’s head. He asked, “What’s up?”

Mianmian shook his head, then handed over the fourth tomato with a soft little voice, “Xiao ba, eat~”

Lin Yi happily took it. “Thanks, baby Mianmian!”

Being called “baby” made Mianmian smile, dimples blooming sweetly.

He decided to wash lots and lots of tomatoes and give them all to his little dad.

【RIP me!!】

【Mianmian is the ultimate baby angel!】

【So warm and sweet, I’m crying.】

【Okay but where can I sign up for a kid like this?!】

Lin Yi and Mianmian eventually finished washing the rest of the vegetables and sat down to enjoy their hotpot.

By then, the soup was boiling away with bubbles rising rapidly.

One side was bright red and spicy, the other light and fragrant with tomatoes.

Their ingredients were plentiful—thin beef slices, tenderloin, fish, vermicelli, lettuce, potatoes… not quite your standard hotpot lineup, but close enough.

Lin Yi, already impatient, tossed ingredients into both broths, then told Mianmian, “Just a bit longer, baby. Almost ready!”

Mianmian held his little bowl and nodded seriously, waiting for Lin Yi to serve him.

Compared to the lively, delicious scene at Lin Yi’s table, the other groups were much more miserable.

First, Zhou Ke and Xiao Niangao.

Zhou Ke could cook, but they came in third place and barely got any ingredients—a bit of greens, some scallions, and a few eggs. How could that make a meal?

Same for Shen Feng and Song Yutao, who were also third. But those two had been arguing since they arrived and hadn’t even thought about dinner.

Not that they could cook even if they wanted to.

As for Zhao Jin, the practice dad who didn’t even have a kid, he got no ingredients at all. He was seriously considering drinking water to fill his belly.

So when the smell of hotpot wafted over from Lin Yi’s table, everyone turned their heads in unison and swallowed hard.

【Hahaha I hereby declare Lin Yi the kitchen god!】

【He might not know how to cook, but he sure knows how to problem-solve! Hotpot saves the day.】

【Can I please join the hotpot party too?!】

By now, the food in the pot was cooked.

Lin Yi first filled Mianmian’s bowl, then grabbed a slice of beef from the spicy broth, dipped it in sauce, and popped it into his mouth.

The next second, he let out a satisfied groan.

Hotpot is life!

As he was thoroughly enjoying himself, Xiao Niangao came over and asked eagerly, “Brother Lin Yi, can my dad and I join you for hotpot? We can share our ingredients too.”

He held up what little they had.

Lin Yi nodded casually, “Sure.”

They had plenty and it was enough for five or six people.

Xiao Niangao thanked him politely, then ran to fetch his dad.

Zhou Ke, the opposite of his son, blushed as he was pulled over and stammered, “S-sorry for b-bothering you…”

Lin Yi waved him off carefreely, “No worries, it’s nothing.”

Zhou Ke looked at Lin Yi with a mix of gratitude and admiration, he could never be that relaxed.

Soon after, Zhao Jin showed up with a bowl in hand. “Mind if I join too?”

Lin Yi nodded again.

Before long, the table was buzzing with warmth and laughter.

Only Shen Feng and Song Yutao were left out.

Shen Feng watched the cheerful hotpot party and huffed to himself, no way was he going to beg to join.

He, the proud heir of the Shen family, asked to share a meal? No way.

He grabbed a bottle of water and chugged half of it. Drinking more meant less hunger, right?

【Hahaha this is what “too proud for your own good” looks like!】

【Shen Feng needs to learn the power of “I told you so.”】

【Go join them already—there won’t be anything left soon!】

Though Shen Feng was only casually involved in showbiz, his wealthy background and bold personality had earned him a decent fanbase.

His fans loved and roasted him in equal measure.

A few minutes later, Shen Feng couldn’t take it anymore and his stomach was rumbling loud.

Even his cheap nephew gave in to hunger, temporarily forgetting their fight. “I’m starving. Think of something!”

Shen Feng glared, “What do you want me to do?”

After a few more agonizing minutes, Shen Feng finally stomped over to Lin Yi’s table with a sour face.

He stood nearby, puffing out his chest and glancing around dramatically, as if waiting for Lin Yi to notice and invite him over.

But Lin Yi was too busy enjoying his food to care.

Shen Feng: “…”

He coughed loudly, pretending to clear his throat.

Lin Yi finally looked up.

Shen Feng met his gaze with a pouty glare, obviously waiting for Lin Yi to offer a seat.

But Lin Yi just looked away and kept eating.

Shen Feng: “…”

Come on, the hint couldn’t be more obvious!

He knew Lin Yi got the message—he just didn’t care!!

【Hahahaha these two are killing me!】

【Lin Yi really is the ultimate “take-no-crap” kind of guy.】

【Ladies, I think I’m falling for Lin Yi…】

【Same! He’s nothing like before—so charming now!】

Lin Yi continued to enjoy his meal at a leisurely pace.

Shen Feng sat beside him, sulking.

Host Zhao Jin stepped in to smooth things over.

He asked, “Should we let Shen Feng and his nephew eat too? Looks like they haven’t eaten anything.”

Lin Yi swallowed before saying, “They haven’t said anything. How would I know if they want to?”

Zhao Jin looked at Shen Feng.

Shen Feng didn’t want to say it but now that he had a chance to save face, he forced himself to speak: “Can… can we have some?”

Lin Yi finally nodded generously, “Sure. Trade me your ingredients.”

Shen Feng: “…”

This guy really never misses a chance to profit!

Still, hunger won out. After a moment, Shen Feng and his nephew handed over their few ingredients and finally got their first taste of food that night.

It was so good, they almost cried.

Best hotpot they’d ever had.

Meanwhile, in the kitchen, He Nian was still at it.

He had studied some recipes before the show, but not very well. Trying to show off for the camera, he spent almost half an hour slicing potatoes.

Hearing laughter from the living room, he looked out and saw the crowd happily eating hotpot around Lin Yi.

Everyone was talking to him, clearly, Lin Yi had become the center of attention.

He Nian hadn’t expected this outcome.

He turned back to his still-uncooked ingredients and suddenly felt deflated.

In the end, he barely managed to make a dish of stir-fried potatoes and tomato egg soup but the potatoes were burned.

Still, he forced a cheerful expression and urged Haohao to eat. “Come on, eat up. We’ve got another task after this.”

Haohao didn’t want to eat it, but seeing He Nian’s face, he stayed quiet and picked up his chopsticks.

He Nian even asked him how it tasted.

Haohao could only nod. “It’s good.”

【Uhh, those burnt potatoes don’t look very edible…】

【Why does Haohao seem so uneasy around He Nian?】

【And He Nian was talking like Lin Yi couldn’t cook, he’s not doing much better.】

【He Nian was trying his best, okay? Haters back off!】

【He cut those potatoes so carefully, how could you be this mean?】

【Protect our precious Nian Nian!】

Anyway, everyone eventually finished dinner.

Then the show announced a new task.

The adults had to go fetch blankets and covers from the nearby road. They would be needed for sleeping.

The kids had their own challenge, finding little presents hidden around the farm.

Lin Yi told Mianmian he was heading out, then grabbed a flashlight and stepped outside.

It was completely dark by now.

The farm was in the countryside, and there were no lights around so it was pitch black.

Lin Yi stood still for a moment, then was about to leave when Shen Feng walked up beside him, hands in pockets, chin lifted smugly. “Scared?”

Lin Yi raised a brow. “Of what?”

Shen Feng said arrogantly, “I know it gets real quiet out here. If you’re scared, I suppose I could team up with you to carry the stuff.”

Then he quickly added, “Don’t get the wrong idea. I’m only offering because I ate your hotpot. You’re lucky I’m giving you this chance.”

Lin Yi: “??”

He looked at Shen Feng and gave a slow smile. Then he said, “Have you heard the stories about this area?”

Shen Feng scoffed, “What stories?”

Lin Yi lowered his voice like he was afraid of something. “I heard this place gets kinda haunted at night…”

He sounded very convincing.

Shen Feng immediately felt uneasy but forced himself to scoff, “W-who believes that?”

Lin Yi continued, “Don’t be so sure. Listen carefully. Don’t you hear… strange noises?”

Shen Feng actually tilted his head and listened.

The wind rustled. The trees swayed in the distance.

The more you thought about it, the creepier it felt.

Then Lin Yi suddenly pointed at a shadow in the distance and gasped, “Look! What is that?”

Shen Feng nearly jumped out of his skin, his face turning pale. “M-maybe we should wait till morning?”

At that moment, Lin Yi burst out laughing.

“You actually believed me? Oh my god, you’re hilarious! Hahahaha!!”

Shen Feng: “…”

Damn it!!!

If he ever believed Lin Yi again, he was a pig!!

【HAHAHAHA Shen Feng’s face turned white!】

【Only Lin Yi could put someone like Shen Feng in his place.】

【Why am I low-key shipping these two?! One calm, one hot-headed puppy!】

【No lie—they’re kinda shippable!】

In the end, the two of them went together to fetch the bedding. After all, no blankets meant no sleep.

But on the way back, Shen Feng stuck very close to Lin Yi, almost pushing him into the rice paddies.

Lin Yi glanced at his pale face and asked, “Seriously? You’re still scared?”

Shen Feng snapped, “You’re the one who scared me! Hurry up, let’s get this done!”

When they reached the stack of bedding, Lin Yi was about to pick some up, but Shen Feng grabbed enough for both of them.

Lin Yi raised a brow, confused. “What are you doing?”

Shen Feng played it cool. “You’d just slow us down. Never mind, let’s go.”

He figured Lin Yi looked tall and slender but weak, probably couldn’t carry much.

He worked out regularly, so it wasn’t a big deal to carry more.

Lin Yi didn’t mind—one less task. He just held the flashlight and lit the way.

But Shen Feng was sticking so close, he nearly shoved Lin Yi into the fields.

Lin Yi said helplessly, “How scared are you? Can you back off a little?”

Shen Feng muttered, “You’re the one who spooked me. You asked for this!”

Lin Yi: “…”

Why did this feel like dealing with a moody teenager?

【Hahaha Lin Yi really looks like a tired dad right now.】

【First time I’ve seen this sassy side of Shen Feng—amazing!】

【He’s always been the cold, arrogant rich kid—but now he’s finally met his match.】

【I can’t wait to see more of their dynamic!!】

Meanwhile, the kids were searching for their hidden gifts.

They searched all over the courtyard but couldn’t find anything.

Xiao Niangao, ever the extrovert, ran to a staff member and asked, “Uncle, where are the gifts?”

The staff replied, “You have to find them yourselves. Good luck!”

Xiao Niangao pouted. “Okay…”

Mianmian was getting tired and sat down on a pile of hay, only to feel something poke his little bottom.

He stood up in confusion, shone his flashlight on the hay, and pushed some aside.

Sure enough, he uncovered several tiny gift bags.

His eyes lit up instantly.

【Wow, our Mianmian is a little lucky star!】

【Haha, bet the crew didn’t expect that to be how they’d get found.】

【Lucky koi Mianmian, I wanna smooch you!】

Mianmian handed the gifts out to the others.

The other kids were amazed and gathered around him.

“Mianmian, you’re amazing!”

“Thanks, Mianmian!”

“…”

Mianmian shook his head like it was nothing, then looked off in the direction Lin Yi had gone.

Why wasn’t little dad back yet?

He wanted to share his gift with him.

By 10 p.m., all the guests had returned to their rooms.

Filming for the day was over.

Viewers were reluctant to part.

【Aww, it’s over already? I wasn’t done watching!】

【Stream resumes at 9 a.m. tomorrow, right? Don’t miss it!】

【See you all tomorrow!!】

In Lin Yi and Huo Mianmian’s room—

After washing up, Lin Yi lazily flopped onto the bed.

Then Mianmian came over with a red gift bag.

Lin Yi smiled as he took it. “Is this a gift you found, Mianmian?”

Mianmian nodded. “Mm. It’s for you.”

Lin Yi lit up. “Wow, Mianmian’s the best!”

Turns out raising a kid did have perks, like getting random presents.

He opened the bag and found colorful candies that looked super tasty.

He patted Mianmian’s head. “Thank you, Mianmian. I love it!”

Mianmian smiled and climbed into bed beside him.

He was wearing dinosaur pajamas, looking soft, cute, and cozy. He snuggled up close with his big dark eyes gazing at Lin Yi.

At first Lin Yi didn’t get it. But after being stared at for a while, he finally realized, “Ohhh, you want a bedtime story again?”

Mianmian clutched the blanket with both hands like a tiny kitten and nodded with sparkly eyes.

Ever since that first night, he’d fallen in love with bedtime stories.

Lin Yi pulled out his phone and found one to read. “Once upon a time, there was a fox who wanted to eat meat…”

The more Mianmian listened, the more energized he got. He tugged Lin Yi’s sleeve. “Xiao Ba, one more!”

Lin Yi glanced at the time—it was already eleven. Way past bedtime.

He said firmly, “Only one story per night.”

Mianmian tilted his head in confusion, voice soft and milky, “Why?”

Without blinking, Lin Yi calmly lied, “Because every kid only gets one bedtime story. If you listen to more, some other kid won’t get theirs.”

Mianmian: “…”

Eh?

Is that how it works?

Well then, he better not listen to another.

He had to leave it for another child!