Chapter 100 Milestone yayyyyy!!! Thank you for reading <3
With the photographer’s introduction, Hua Zhao, with the mentality of taking Qiqi out to see the world, arrived at the “Little Feet Big Adventure” audition site. The show’s directors were all serious looks-obsessed people. The moment they saw Pei Xu, their eyes were glued to him. Because Hua Zhao had informed them ahead of time that Pei Xu’s situation was a bit special, the audition was arranged in a cozy room.
Pei Qiqi, dressed in a little suit carefully picked out by his aunt, walked into the TV station holding her hand. The staff they met along the way were all very friendly. Pei Xu hadn’t been around so many strangers at once in a long time. For a moment, the urge to run away crossed his mind. Uncle Du had told him it was normal to want to avoid crowds. Even adults, many of them, wanted to escape to outer space or just live their own lives every day.
Some people even wanted the world to explode. Comparing it to that, Pei Qiqi felt his own thoughts weren’t so strange. Feeling the little hand in hers getting sweaty, Hua Zhao crouched down, pulled a tissue from her pocket, and wiped Qiqi’s palm.
“Qiqi, are you scared?”
Pei Qiqi shook his head. “No. My heart is just beating really fast.”
“That’s nervousness. It’s okay. We’re just going to chat with the director uncles and ask if they’ll let us be on the show with Youyou.”
Being able to go on an adventure with the little guy was a huge temptation for Pei Qiqi. When he watched the show, he had always wanted to be with Youyou. If he were there, he would never let Cen Yuankai bully Youyou when they went looking for mushrooms in the mountains. After giving himself a little pep talk, Pei Qiqi put his hand in his aunt’s and walked forward step by step.
“What’s your name, little one?”
Pei Qiqi wore a smart little suit and shiny brown leather shoes, sitting in a child-sized armchair. His uncle had custom-made it for him when he learned Qiqi was going to the audition.
“Hello, uncles and aunties. My name is Pei Xu. I’m four years old.”
He had practiced this opening line at least a dozen times at home. When he said it, he didn’t stumble at all. At the end of his introduction, he even lifted his chin slightly and curled the corner of his mouth. It was a half-smile, making him look like a confident and aloof little cool guy. Behind the cameras, all the staff members were covering their mouths, grinning like doting aunties. Oh my god, how is this kid so handsome? The stylish little clothes, that casual little glance — he looks like he should be in a high-end office, not sitting here.
“Welcome to the audition. Do you know what we do?” the director asked with a kind smile.
Pei Qiqi certainly knew. He answered word by word: “We go on adventures.” After thinking for a moment, he added, “With Youyou!”
As soon as he said this, everyone in the room stirred.
“So you’re Youyou’s little fan?”
After the second episode of the variety show aired, Su Youli’s popularity had surpassed some minor celebrities, so the director wasn’t surprised. Pei Qiqi looked at his aunt, then at the director uncle. “Mm. I’m Youyou’s fan. I really like him, and I want to go on an adventure with him.”
His logic was perfectly clear, and his intention was plainly stated. His serious, handsome little face seemed to be screaming, “Please accept me!” He looked very eager. Before coming, his uncle had told him he had to be bold and express himself. The variety show liked kids who were good for the show’s effect.
Pei Qiqi was confused: “What’s ‘show effect’?”
Pei Yi thought it over and summarized: “You have to express yourself boldly and say what’s on your mind.”
Looking at his nervous nephew, Pei Yi grinned confidently: “With our family’s legendary good looks, the audition will be a piece of cake. As long as you don’t clam up, we’re good.”
Pei Qiqi really, really tried hard to “sell” himself to the director uncle. The result, of course, was that he passed with flying colors. And that very day, he charmed all the staff members into liking him. The truth was, children this age weren’t good at keeping secrets. Pei Qiqi wanted to tell Youyou immediately the day he passed the audition.
He was going to go on an adventure with Youyou! With him around, no one would ever hurt Youyou. But for the sake of a big surprise, he held it in. When the show’s car came to pick them up, Pei Qiqi stood at his front gate and watched Youyou being carried into the car by Uncle Shen. He waved goodbye reluctantly.
“If only Brother Qiqi could come too,” the little guy thought sadly.
He really liked going on adventures with his little friend. Last time when they came back, Brother Qiqi had been especially interested in their mountain mushroom hunt and had asked him about it for a long time.
Shen Minyan comforted him: “That’s okay. Whatever fun things happen this time, you can tell Qiqi about them when we get back.”
Comforted by his father, the little guy quickly cheered up again. It was Shen Minyan who was nervous. He wasn’t naturally expressive, and he wasn’t particularly good at taking care of children either. Looking at his soft, adorable youngest son leaning against him, Shen Minyan felt a slight tremor in his heart. He hadn’t taken a single day off in all these years, let alone set aside such a long time to accompany his child on an outing.
Considering the little guy’s safety, the production team hadn’t announced the itinerary online in advance, including the fact that Shen Minyan would be the substitute parent. They kept everything under wraps. So the journey from Beicheng to the filming location went smoothly, with no fans gathering at the airport. The little guy found every plane ride fascinating. He pressed his little face against the window, licking his lips when he saw the white clouds floating in the blue sky.
“Dad, Youyou wants cotton candy,” the little guy said, turning his head with a bit of drool at the corner of his mouth.
Shen Minyan was preparing his children’s chewable tablets and noise-canceling headphones. Hearing this, he immediately agreed: “Okay. Dad will buy you some when we get off the plane.”
The plane took off. A little one in over-ear headphones had chubby cheeks and a few stray curls sticking up on his forehead.
Shen Minyan leaned in close. “Youyou, do you feel sick?”
The little guy shook his head, wiggling his short legs. “No. Thank you, Dad.”
Shen Minyan patted his head, gave an “Mm,” and placed a children’s picture book on the little tray table in front of him. Gradually, the white clouds floating in the blue sky were blown apart by the wind, revealing an endless expanse of blue. The plane gradually descended. The unique beauty of the coastal city spread out before them without reservation.
Shen Minyan pointed out the window. “Youyou, look outside.”
The little guy leaned his head toward the window, his round eyes peering down through the glass. The island was like an emerald gem, quietly embedded in the vast, azure sea — breathtakingly beautiful. This sight truly left the little guy in awe. Shen Minyan pulled out his phone, aimed the camera at his son’s little bun face, and captured every moment of his growth.
“Dad, it’s so beautiful.”
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