CHAPTER 73: HUAIJIN’S WIN

But Huaijin didn’t feel like entertaining any male tsunderes, not when she had Yuanying clinging to her sleeve like a jealous kitten and Su Mingtong asking constant questions with sparkling eyes.

She had priorities.

And boys weren’t part of it.

Director Tang noticed something else, too:

She didn’t act flirtatiously or daintily in front of any of the boys, nor did she try to create CP dynamics.

She stayed platonically attached to the girls and the youngest child.

It was rare and refreshing.

"She’s not trying to appeal," Director Tang murmured, pleased.

"She’s just being herself. Kids like her. Audiences will love her. This... this is genuine charm."

When the tea session ended, the children wandered the pavilion, exploring its corners or poking lotus leaves with sticks. But half of them ended up returning to stand near Huaijin, no matter how far they walked.

Yuanying planted herself practically glued to Huaijin’s side again, face red but expression pretending to be annoyed.

"I-it’s because the wind is strong here! I’m not staying because of you!"

"Mhm," Huaijin said, patting her like a pet.

Yuanying turned even redder.

Su Mingtong sat literally at her feet like a baby chick.

Liang Lingzhi circled them with curiosity.

Even the two older boys hovered awkwardly around.

Director Tang watched this natural grouping form like an anthropologist discovering a new species.

His assistant whispered, "Director... the other children are all following her."

Tang nodded slowly, his voice was almost reverent.

"It’s not forced. She’s a social gravitational center. If we nurture this dynamic well, we’ll get a phenomenon, not just a show."

Eventually, they settled down on the pavilion steps, staring at the serene lotus pond. Huaijin sat with the calm of a Buddha statue, while Yuanying leaned against her shoulder.

Su Mingtong rested his chin on the railing like a puppy.

Liang Lingzhi sighed dramatically, "It’s so pretty..."

Mu Yansheng joined them, sitting the furthest away but clearly wanting to belong.

Director Tang pointed at the group and whispered to a cameraman:

"....Film that. That would be perfect for the poster shot."

The cameraman nodded.

"Director, they look like the cast of a drama."

"No," Tang corrected softly.

"They look like a family being built from scratch."

And indeed, the image was lovely.

It was everything viewers loved yet couldn’t fake.

Genuine, natural, and heartwarming.

And at the center of this was Chi Huaijin, enjoying the lotus breeze while thinking:

"This life... I’m finally being allowed to smile; everything is mine to design."

Little did she know that outside the set, Director Tang was already planning the next episode around her.

The first night in the dormitories began with a deceptively peaceful atmosphere.

The production crew expected chaos, kids crying for their parents, kids refusing to sleep, kids fighting over beds, but all was well. However, the children unpacked their clothes, arranged their toothbrushes, sighed about missing their mothers (except Yuanying, who acted tough), and admired the tiny glowing night-lights hung by staff around the room.

Everything was going smoothly.

Director Tang should have known something was coming.

He only realized the impending disaster when he entered the dorm with a stack of textbook packets and cheerful doom in his voice.

"Alright, kids! Time for homework!"

The temperature in the room dropped ten degrees.

The children’s expressions were identical to those of little lambs being told they were heading to the slaughterhouse.

"Homework...?"

"...Here?"

"Director Tang, are you serious?"

"We’re on TV... TV doesn’t need homework!"

"My mom said shooting is like a vacation!"

"I thought vacations didn’t have math!!"

The complaint chorus rose like a tragic opera.

Director Tang cleared his throat.

"Well, technically, yes, you’re on a small vacation. But vacations can’t erase school responsibilities, right? We’re educating the next generation of good future citizens!"

Six small faces stared at him like he was trying to convince them to donate organs.

Even Su Mingtong, normally sweet as a lamb, looked betrayed.

But Director Tang was iron-hearted when needed.

"All of you start doing your homework. Now."

And so, the children gathered around the big table in the common room, the camera capturing every miserable move.

The homework books were spread open like enemies. Pencils were clattered, erasers bounced on the table.

And soon...

War broke out.

Not a serious war.

Petty, childish, giggly war.

"Your pencil rolled on my side!"

"No—! It rolled there by itself!"

"You pushed it!"

"I’m doing English homework, don’t disturb me!"

"You wrote your name wrong!"

"No, I didn’t!"

"Ye,s you did!!"

Mu Yansheng, the small young master, finished his math with pride, lifted it to the camera, and announced:

"Look. I’m almost done."

And three people simultaneously said:

"But your answers are wrong."

Mu Yansheng choked.

Even the cameraman couldn’t hold back a snort.

Meanwhile, Huaijin worked calmly and silently, finishing her sheets faster than anyone else while the chaos unfolded around her. She wrote with the elegance of a person signing calligraphy, her posture straight, her expression serene.

She didn’t panic, whine, or complain.

The other children were in awe.

"Jie, you already finished?" Su Mingtong stared as if she were a deity.

"Yes."

"How??"

"I used my brain."

"..."

That hurt more than it should have.

But boredom eventually set in even for her. Watching the others struggle like worms on hot pavement, she sighed and took pity on them.

So she helped them.

And that helped the time pass.

Soon, everyone was laughing again, poking each other with erasers, competing to see who could finish a question faster, and throwing paper balls when the director wasn’t looking.

The bullet screen exploded:

[THE HOMEWORK GROUP IS HILARIOUS!]

[Why is Mu Yansheng getting bullied academically?]

[Look at Su Mingtong copying Huaijin like a tiny chicken following its mother]

[Yuanying pretends not to need help but keeps peeking at Huaijin’s notebook]

[Lingzhi is the only one quietly finishing everything like a true scholar]

[This is the most realistic homework session I’ve ever seen]

Even the parents watching secretly were laughing themselves silly.

But then—

Director Tang invoked the ultimate ancient power.

A bribe.

Director Tang clapped loudly.

"Alright! Anyone who finishes their homework will earn EXTRA SNACKS tonight!"

The room erupted like fireworks.

"Snacks??"

"EXTRA snacks?!"

"REAL snacks?!"

"Uncle Tang, I love you!!"

Children who were previously struggling to drag their pencils as if they weighed 10kg instantly transformed into Olympic-level scholars.

Even Mu Yansheng worked so hard his cheeks puffed up with determination.

"Quick!! Do the math! Do the math!"

"Hurry! I want the chocolate pudding!"

"Finish the English first! That one is longer!"

The bribe worked perfectly.

Except... for one child.

One unmovable mountain, an immovable pillar of calm.

Chi Huaijin.

She finished her homework early and didn’t care about extra snacks. She sat peacefully, humming, legs swinging, watching her chaotic roommates with a serene smile.

Director Tang approached suspiciously.

"...You don’t want extra snacks?"

"No."

"...Not even the premium strawberry mochi?"

"No."

"The imported chocolate bars?"

"No."

"The mini potato chips?"

"No."

Director Tang broke into a cold sweat.

"...Child, what do you want?"

Huaijin blinked up at him with her calm, ancient-soul eyes.

"Peace and Daddy."

Director Tang nearly fainted.

The rest of the children stared in disbelief.

"Jie... you don’t want snacks?"

"Not even one?"

"Not even a tiny one?!"

"You’re not human, are you?"

Huaijin tilted her head.

"I came here to experience the show, not eat."

The production team nearly cried at how wholesome that sounded.

Netizens were slain instantly.

[WHAT KIND OF SIX-YEAR-OLD SAYS THIS?!]

[She’s like a retired grandmother living on a pension]

[Her soul is 150 years old at minimum]

[Director Tang cannot control her HAHAHA]

Director Tang was sweating buckets; every child could be bribed except this one.

A final boss like Tiny Philosopher, who rejected earthly pleasures.

And Director Tang, a grown adult, a respected producer, was on the verge of tears because a six-year-old refused to accept his snack diplomacy.

"Chi Huaijin... are you really not tempted?" he whispered hopefully.

"No."

She paused, then added:

"I prefer fruit more than snacks."

Director Tang froze.

Fruit.

Something healthy.

He wanted to kneel and thank the heavens.

"You— you shall have fruit tomorrow morning! I will send a whole basket!"

"Okay."

She smiled.

And the production team collectively exhaled.

When homework ended at last, everyone was exhausted.

They changed into pajamas, washed their faces, brushed their teeth, and climbed into their designated beds. The dorm lights dimmed to a soft golden glow.

Yuanying dragged her blanket next to Huaijin’s bed.

"I’m sleeping beside you."

"But your bed is over there."

"No. I’m scared."

"You weren’t scared last night."

"I’m scared today!"

Huaijin sighed and patted the bed beside her.

Yuanying immediately snuggled close, cheeks pink.

Su Mingtong looked tempted to join but tucked himself obediently into his own bed after Huaijin gave him a firm glance.

Liang Lingzhi whispered a soft goodnight.

The two older boys pretended they weren’t scared of the dark, staring at the ceiling too intently.