Chapter 950: Extra 23: Parent-Child Variety Show 1

When Cheng Zhirang arrived at the filming location holding Xixi, Li Yang was already waiting by the roadside.

This was a newly accepted parent-child variety show.

Originally, he wasn’t going to accept any more variety shows, but many segments of this show were designed by Mu Qiu, and the regular guests also included Li Yang and Guan Yu. There was a high demand online for their reunion, with viewers repeatedly asking the program team, “Have Cheng Zhirang participate in the show with his daughter” and such.

Friends in the circle also persuaded him, and Chen Song said he should give it a try.

The program team also had the same thought, so they paid a hefty fee to invite Cheng Zhirang to participate with his daughter for an episode.

Mu Qiu didn’t stop him; she waved them off to make money, comfortably staying home and eating whatever she wanted.

Cheng Zhirang got off the car holding Xixi with one hand and pushing a suitcase with the other.

Once Li Yang rushed over, he handed Xixi over to him. Li Yang held her and, unable to resist, kissed her on the cheek seeing her adorable big eyes.

“Xixi, do you remember Brother Yang?”

A group of people who had followed them gathered around, and Guan Yu, standing at the side, gave him an eye-roll of disdain: “Have some dignity, you’re clearly an uncle, not a young guy.”

After speaking, she clapped her hands at Xixi: “Xixi, does Sister Guan Yu want to hold you?”

Li Yang: “…” Who’s lacking dignity now?!

Xixi looked at her, extended her arms, and said in her cute voice, “Auntie, Mommy said to let Auntie help me meet people.”

That meant introducing some unfamiliar uncles, aunts, and little kids; although Shu Ran, a socialite, was not around, Guan Yu had already mastered the skill, willingly taking on the task of introductions.

“Okay, Xixi, let’s get to know everyone.”

There were six regular guests on this show, all being childless artists who appear frequently on variety shows. The kids are children of other artists. The format involves the guests looking after the kids, and after each episode is edited, recording interviews of the kids’ parents reviewing that episode’s guests and kids, before finally airing.

The focus is still on the segments involving caring for the kids, but many interaction highlights between guests and kids during filming will include necessary parent reactions, making it more of a buzz.

Besides, every episode features a new special guest. The special guest is usually a dad joining with their child, since they at least have some child-caring experience and can often assist some regular guests.

Moreover, each special guest is only required for one episode, saving the program’s budget substantially, allowing them to really “face challenges” when selecting special guests.

For example, managing to get hard-necked Cheng Zhirang involved.

The show is recorded and aired simultaneously, so when the first episode aired, they were actually filming the fourth episode, which is the one Cheng Zhirang appeared in.

This special guest carried significant weight; with him, they didn’t have to worry about getting clicks, so the director was pleased with letting them find their own rhythm.

Guan Yu took Xixi around introducing everyone. Besides her and Li Yang, among the remaining four regular guests, there were two young actors who were neither popular nor obscure, one newcomer pushed by a brand into modeling, and one high-ranking contestant from some song-dance show.

Three girls and three boys, with Li Yang and Guan Yu, along with a model… it’s hard not to see this as mimicking “Different Variety Show.”

As for the kids, there were only three, because more than that would be too overwhelming for them to handle.

One was the daughter of a director and an actress.

“Xixi, this is Sister Yin Tian.”

Another was the son of a seasoned actor and an outsider.

“This is Brother Zi’an.”

The last was the son of a host and a renowned industry photographer.

“This is Brother Zhan Lin, he’s only a few days younger than you.”

Xixi greeted each person from the adult’s arms, calling uncle and auntie very enthusiastically; however, when greeting the three little companions, she wasn’t as serious, failing to remember any names, and just called them “Brother,” “Sister,” and “Brother.”

Everyone else warmly greeted Cheng Zhirang, who was following behind with a suitcase and a calm demeanor. Li Yang helped carry a bag, not sure what was inside, sticking close to Guan Yu while entertaining Xixi.

The kids were in awe, staring at Cheng Zhirang, except for one, the only little girl among the three, who shyly hid behind one of the female guests, peeking out bashfully.

“What’re you looking at, little Tiantian?” Guan Yu teased.

The little girl, blushing, said, “This uncle is very handsome.”

Everyone burst out laughing.

Cheng Zhirang laughed along, saying to Xixi in Guan Yu’s arms, “Xixi, do you want to come down and walk with everyone else? It’s impolite to be the only one being carried.”

Xixi nodded like a chick pecking at rice, struggling to get down from Guan Yu’s arms.

Guan Yu put her down on the ground, clicking her tongue, “Genes are truly a wondrous thing. Xixi nods just like Mu Qiu.”

Cheng Zhirang chuckled, “When both of them nod together, then they really look alike.”

Others chimed in.

“Brother Cheng, will Xixi be alright without her mom around?”

“Xixi is very pretty and adorable, especially her eyes, they look just like yours and Mu Qiu’s.”

“There’s a task coming up, did Xixi have breakfast?”

The questions were somewhat awkward, clearly just finding something to say.

But Cheng Zhirang wasn’t one to put on airs, and with Guan Yu mediating, the conversations were relatively smooth.

Adults talked to adults, while kids chatted among themselves.

Xixi mingled with the small group of three kids, initially engaging only in basic exchanges like, “What’s your name?” “How old are you?” “Is that your dad?” but then puffed up her apple-like face to play with her new watch, when suddenly Brother Zi’an tilted his head and asked her:

“Since your name is Xixi, does that mean there’s someone named Dongdong in your family?”

Xixi was puzzled, unsure how to answer, so she turned to look for her dad.

Cheng Zhirang quickly saw her gaze and came over to ask, “What’s wrong, Xixi?”

“Dad, is there someone named Dongdong in our family?”

Cheng Zhirang: “…”

Guan Yu: “Pfft—There is! Your mom is called Dongdong, your dad is Nannan, and that doll Uncle Shi gave you is called Beibei.”

Xixi’s mouth dropped in shock, her soft little face went wide with eyes like black grapes, and her red chubby mouth opened a tiny bit to reveal her shiny white milk teeth.

“Really?”

Guan Yu started laughing again. Cheng Zhirang patted her little pigtail on top of her head, smiling, “Auntie is teasing you.”

Only then did Xixi close her mouth and nod solemnly, saying in her baby voice, “Mommy is clearly Qiuqiu.”

The adults laughed again.

Xixi didn’t understand what they found funny, so she turned to the boy and said, “There’s no Dongdong in my family.”

The little boy made an “oh” sound, reaching out to try and poke her soft cheek but was dodged away.

Xixi stared at him with big eyes, “solving the matter” seriously.

“Daddy says good kids shouldn’t poke girls’ cheeks casually!”

Zi’an quickly withdrew his hand, mumbling, blushing, “Sorry, but you look just like Sister Tiantian’s doll.”