PCMWF Chapter 126

Everyone enjoyed a hearty lunch together. The scene was warm and harmonious. Su Youli, still a bit under the weather, was fed by his father, spoonful by spoonful. Although he insisted he could eat by himself, his father still fed him. Because he knew his father had prepared the fish that day, the little guy ate with extra relish.

When Shen Minyan got up to get him some water, the little guy leaned over to Brother Qiqi and whispered, “Brother Qiqi, my dad can clean fish. He cleaned all of these fish.”

Pei Qiqi played along, nodding and saying, “Uncle Shen is amazing.”

Hearing his best friend praise his father, Su Youli’s little feet swung in the air. After lunch, the children were taken for a walk outside the villa. Su Youli was led by his father around the villa grounds. Half an hour later, after digesting his meal, the little guy yawned, his eyes glistening with tears. He looked up at his father and reached out his arms. The moment Shen Minyan held him, the little guy fell asleep, his head resting on his father’s shoulder. While he slept, the medical team came to check on him, measuring his vitals. Apart from his height being below average, all his other indicators were normal. He was a healthy little one, recovering quickly.

Soon, the doctor packed up his medical kit. Shen Minyan pressed him for an answer: “How is he?”

“He’s almost fully recovered. You should get some rest too.”

The doctor thought Shen Minyan, who looked exhausted, was the one who really needed rest. Hearing the doctor’s positive assessment, Shen Minyan relaxed. He saw the doctor out, washed up, and lay down for a nap beside his son. The island’s midday sun was bright, the sky clear and cloudless. Outside the window, the waves rolled, and the ocean stretched to the horizon. In a half-asleep state, Shen Minyan heard the little guy whimpering.

He sat up reflexively, quickly looking down at the little one beside him. The little guy was sleeping soundly, his little hands clenched into fists beside his face, his little mouth pouted, mumbling something in his sleep. Shen Minyan leaned in close.

“Dad… want Dad.”

Shen Minyan was certain the little guy wasn’t calling for him. He was calling for Qin Kun and Su Siwen.

That afternoon, A Ming and his friends arrived at the villa on time. The earlier interview had been well-received. The Haicheng city government had contacted the production team, and they had agreed to collaborate on an island promotional video. The children’s task was simple: just play on the beach. The adults had more complex roles. Du Ze and Mi Huan needed to go underwater to film the island’s diving activities. Hua Zhao was to make traditional clothing with the village women.

As for Shen Minyan, his task was to stay by Su Youli’s side. No one dared to assign him a job, and the little one, still recovering, was very clingy. His father couldn’t leave him for even a moment without him losing focus and turning back to check that he was still there. Once all the children were assembled, the makeup artists began their work. The children were dressed in beautiful clothes and given light makeup.

“All four of you are tourists visiting the island. When they film you looking at the sea, make sure to smile and try to say something nice.”

The ‘Treasure Hunt Team’ sat in a row, listening to the director explain their “script.” It was all quite confusing, and they didn’t really understand. Filming a promotional video was different from filming the variety show. The show was about capturing real moments, while the video was more like an advertisement, with a bit of a “script.” The director went over it several times patiently, teaching the children how to move and pose. By the end, the four little ones were all sprawled out, their heads bent over the makeup artist’s suitcase.

“What’s this, sister?”

“Foundation. I’ll put a little base on you.”

“What’s a base?”

The makeup artist looked up and met four pairs of curious eyes, seeing their fascination with something new.

“Sister, what’s this? It’s so pretty!” Niu Niu pointed at the palette of shimmery eyeshadow.

The makeup artist opened the palette and held it out to her. “This is an eyeshadow palette. Which color do you like? I can put a little on you.”

Niu Niu shyly pointed at the pink shadow. The other parents were absent, so Shen Minyan naturally took charge of dressing the three boys. They were already well-behaved. With his brother gone, Mi Le was especially good, quickly getting dressed on his own.

“Dad!” The little guy wore a shirt with a green banana print, a black-and-white crossbody bag slung diagonally across his chest, and black shorts that ended just above his knees, making him look even more playful and lively.

Shen Minyan lifted him onto his lap, put a small straw hat on his head, and the little guy grinned, jumped down, and ran to the mirror to admire himself. The cameraman Da Mo followed closely, taking photos of the little guy from every angle. Mi Le and Qiqi also changed into different floral shirts and shorts. As soon as they stepped out of the changing room, they were surrounded by the production team for photos. Mi Le posed generously, striking all sorts of poses: jumping, twisting his hips, making a gun with his fingers under his chin. Compared to him, Pei Qiqi looked much more reserved. The production team knew the children’s personalities well and understood that Pei Qiqi was a cool kid who didn’t smile much. But that only made them want to tease him more. They showered him with compliments.

“Qiqi, you look so handsome today! You’re the most handsome little boy I’ve ever seen!”

The director assigned to Pei Qiqi used exaggerated tones and expressions, speaking loudly.

Pei Qiqi pursed his lips. After a long moment, he squeezed out a “Thank you.”

Then, a flood of compliments rained down on him. Surrounded by over a dozen staff members, Pei Qiqi’s ears were red, and his usually pale cheeks glowed pink. He stayed close to Youyou, feeling like he was floating on air. Though everyone was talking to him, they didn’t touch him much. Pei Yi and Hua Zhao had already communicated with the production team: Qiqi had had negative experiences in kindergarten, and he could be reactive to harsh language and aggressive behavior.

Thankfully, after a period of treatment, Qiqi was doing much better. A soft little fist was suddenly placed into his cold hand. Pei Qiqi blinked and saw Youyou smiling at him, his head tilted. The little guy’s chubby cheeks looked soft, and when he smiled, he really did look like a sticky rice ball.