CHAPTER 68: HAVING FUN

Mu Yansheng was sitting with his arms crossed over his chest, chin raised haughtily, his eyes half-lidded with bored arrogance. A posture so lofty that even an adult CEO would applaud it.

He acted like sitting on the same bus with mortal children was an insult to his noble bloodline.

Yuanying couldn’t stop glaring over.

Lingzhi whispered, "He’s such a stuck-up guy."

Yuanying whispered back, "Just like my dad."

Huaijin didn’t even bother looking at the kid. If he wanted to pretend to be the Crown Prince of Planet Arrogance, let him. She had more fun things to do, like poking Yuanying’s cheek while Su Mingtong giggled.

Then came the moment of doom.

While the kids were mid-talk, Mu Yansheng finally snapped his head toward them, scoffing loudly.

"You’re so noisy."

Huaijin blinked.

Su Mingtong jumped like a frightened rabbit.

Yuanying clicked her tongue. "Nobody asked your opinion."

The brat lifted his chin proudly. "I wasn’t talking to you. I was talking to—"

His eyes flicked to Huaijin.

"—her."

Huaijin sighed in a grandmotherly way. "Oh dear. Another tsundere child."

Yuanying instantly coughed to hide her laughter.

The cameraman’s hand shook.

It didn’t take long for the guy to understand what she said before Mu Yansheng’s ears went red.

"H-hey! Who’s a tsundere?!"

"Mm-hm," Huaijin hummed wisely, "classic denial."

"I’m not—!!"

The bullet screen of the livestream, which had been trickling with mild comments earlier, suddenly exploded like fireworks.

[LittleShengBabyMomFan001]: OMG, my baby is so handsome when he’s angry!

[ShengQueen99]: Don’t bully Yansheng!!!!

[CatGirlHater04]: This Chi kid is totally being fake cute for the camera. Stealing attention, tsk!

[NeutralViewer]: ...It’s literally the boy who picked the fight??

[MomOfThree]: I want to adopt Su Mingtong, he’s SO PRECIOUS!!!

[DramaLover]: The first ship battle of season one has begun.

Meanwhile, Huaijin couldn’t care less.

She continued chatting with the other kids, completely unbothered by the digital chaos.

Mu Yansheng kept glancing over every 15 seconds, expecting, hoping?

The little girl will definitely try talking to him again, which will give him a chance to reassert his pride.

But Huaijin?

She simply didn’t acknowledge him.

Instead, she was enthusiastically listening to Su Mingtong’s explanation of his notebook-filled sketches.

"...and then the cat monster evolves into a tiger dragon when it eats too many spicy chips—"

"No way, that’s so cool!" Huaijin gasped dramatically.

Mingtong beamed.

The camera immediately caught the wholesome scene.

Bullet screen:

[ShengFansAssemble]: Why is this Chi girl stealing all the camera time???

[LogicalViewer]: She’s... literally sitting still and listening??

[MingtongProtectionSquad]: Look at my shy boy smiling ahhhhh!!!

[HuaijinSupporter]: OUR GIRL HAS GRANDMOTHER ENERGY. LET HER BE.

Every time the camera panned to Mu Yansheng, he looked more aggravated. As if the universe was personally insulting him.

He tried again.

"Hmph! What’s so great about your scribbles anyway?"

Su Mingtong shrank.

Before anyone could intervene, Huaijin slowly lifted her gaze.

"Mu Yansheng," she said calmly, "are you hungry?"

He blinked. "What?"

"Because you’re craving snacks really badly."

The entire bus went silent.

The camera crew silently high-fived in spirit.

Yuanying slapped her thigh, laughing.

Lingzhi whispered, "I’m going to worship her."

Mu Yansheng made a choking noise that could only be described as an injured peacock scream. "You—you! I don’t want attention from you!"

"Good," Huaijin nodded. "Because I’m busy. You can wait in line."

Absolute annihilation.

Bullet screen:

[ChaosEnjoyer]: LMFAOOO SHE DESTROYED HIM!!!

[ShengAntiArmy]: SHE’S BULLYING HIM!!!!!!!

[HuaijinCultOfficial]: Our queen does not bow to children.

Not far away in a black business van...Yuanfeng was watching the livestream on three screens simultaneously.

"How dare that brat raise his voice at my daughter?" he muttered, gripping his coffee violently.

Secretary Zhao, exhausted beyond human limits, whispered, "...Sir, please don’t declare war on an eight-year-old."

"Is he a corporate enemy? Should I buy out his family?" Yuanfeng asked, completely serious.

"NO."

"Then blacklist them?"

"ALSO NO."

Yuanfeng sulked as dramatically as a disappointed husband."She’s so cute. Why are they picking fights with my baby?"

"Sir, she’s handling it better than you."

"...I know. That’s why I’m proud."

.

.

.

The argument fizzled out quickly because, despite his tiny emperor tantrum, Mu Yansheng wasn’t actually malicious, just spoiled and socially awkward.

He glared out the window, sulking.

But when he thought the cameras weren’t watching, he subtly peeked at Huaijin and Mingtong again...and again...and again.

He didn’t understand why he felt an unfamiliar sensation in his chest.

Not admiration, jealousy, no dislike either.

It was the strange, uncomfortable feeling of someone not being dazzled by him for the first time in his life.

’Annoying,’ he decided.

But also... interesting.

And the cameras captured all of it.

The bus soon filled with warm chatter again.

Yuanying leaned on Huaijin. "That boy is choking on his pride."

"Let him," Huaijin said. "He’ll digest it eventually."

Lingzhi covered her mouth, giggling.

Su Mingtong glanced between them with big, round eyes. "Is... that how friendship works?"

Huaijin patted his head. "You’ll understand when you’re older."

He nodded solemnly, as if receiving sage wisdom from an immortal.

The other two boys who were already waiting in the set introduced themselves, too.

Xu Zhen was the quiet, disciplined, straight-A student type, while Chen Mo was a mischievous, loud, and definitely going to get them in trouble at least twice a day

Soon, the group of eight children (plus one sulking mini-tyrant) was happily exchanging stories.

The set was filled with laughter, silly arguments, candy trades, and doodles passed back and forth, and the sound of the cameramen suppressing laughter to keep the footage stable.

The atmosphere transformed from chaos to wholesome fun.

Even Mu Yansheng eventually gave up pretending to sleep and subtly angled his ear towards their conversations.

Just listening.

Pretending he didn’t care.

An eight-year-old tsundere at maximum power.

By the time the bus rolled into the filming location, the group had already formed their early alliances and impressions.

The boys thought Huaijin was "funny but terrifying."

The girls thought she was "cool but grandma-ish."

Su Mingtong thought she was "the safest person ever."