The production crew arrived at Shen Yuan’s house early in the morning and pressed the video doorbell.
A soft ding-dong sounded, and a small, high-pitched voice came from the screen: “Who’s there?”
Instantly, they recognized him and replied warmly, “We’re from the TV crew. Are you Little Peanut?”
The little boy didn’t budge. “Please show me your ID. I’ll check before opening the door.”
The crew was momentarily stunned—Shen Qiaosheng already had a little system in place. They quickly pulled out their credentials.
The boy made an approving “Hmm~” sound, as if judging them: “Not bad. Looks like you really are TV uncles.”
The crew: “……”
Before they could say anything further, Little Peanut was scooped up with a squeal, “Ah!”
The door opened.
Shen Yuan held Little Peanut at the entrance, blushing. “Sorry, I didn’t expect you to arrive earlier than scheduled. This kid was guarding the door and got to you first.”
The crew: “No, no, it’s fine.”
Little Peanut greeted them politely. “Hello, uncles and aunties.”
Crew: “Hello, Little Peanut.”
Little Peanut turned to Shen Yuan. “Daddy, put me down. I’ll show the uncles and aunties around.”
Shen Yuan gently set him on the floor. “Alright, today you’re the little host and tour guide. Go ahead.”
Knowing he would be on TV, Little Peanut was over the moon. His little mouth moved non-stop: “Uncles and aunties, wait! I’ll get slippers for you first!”
He ran around handing out guest slippers, knowing to give blue or brown to the men and pink to the women, carefully keeping them organized.
With everyone’s slippers on, he chatted while leading them through the house:
“I’ve seen your shows before, I know how it goes. Today you’re introducing my home, right? After my dad opened his studio in the country, we moved here. I go to the kindergarten nearby. This is the living room. The flowers on the table were cut from our yard by Daddy. The painting on the wall was bought by Daddy—I don’t think it’s pretty, but he insists it is.”
“This is my Daddy, Shen Yuan. That is also my Daddy, Qiao Hailou. They’re both my daddies—I have two daddies!”
“Over there is the kitchen. Aunt Zhang cooks for us every day. Her food is delicious. Because I’m going on a trip, Daddy made me a table full of my favorite foods yesterday. I even got candied bananas, which I’m usually not allowed to have because of cavities. But thanks to you guys, I got some!”
“I’ll take you upstairs to my room. We need to film me packing, right? I already thought about what to bring but haven’t packed yet. I’ll go pack now.”
“Oh!” He paused, scratching his head. “Please speak quietly—my sister is still sleeping. She needs to sleep more to grow up faster. Sigh, she’s already one and a half, but still tiny. It’s not easy.”
The crew wanted to say something, but… “We didn’t say anything! You’re the noisy one!”
They had never seen such a talkative child.
Qiao Hailou smiled politely. “He’s just a little lively.”
Both he and Shen Yuan were often exhausted by Little Peanut’s non-stop chatter, but today, seeing him keep others busy brought them joy.
“Hmm… Huh?” The camera followed Little Peanut’s gaze and caught a figure darting behind a wall. He zipped over and pulled out a shy middle-aged white man. Little Peanut introduced excitedly:
“This is my godfather, John. When my dads had to work at night, my godfather would stay and sleep with me.”
Crew: “Work… at night? What kind of work??”
Qiao Hailou, who had been smirking just moments before, suddenly coughed awkwardly. “Cough… let’s cut that last part.”
He scooped up Little Peanut. “Give your godfather a break—he doesn’t like being filmed. Come on, go pack your things.”
Little Peanut shifted topics instantly. Qiao Hailou asked, “Do you want Daddy to help?”
Little Peanut puffed his chest. “No, I can do it myself.”
He dragged out his little suitcase, opened it, and pulled out a notebook listing everything he planned to bring. The camera caught his notes—some written neatly, others drawn as pictures when he couldn’t write the words.
He went item by item, placing each thing in the suitcase and ticking it off as he went.
Crew: “Did your dad teach you this?”
Little Peanut was folding clothes with a mini folding board neatly. “Yes, I learned from Daddy. This way I won’t forget anything. I’m still little, my brain can’t remember so much, so Daddy says to write it down if I forget.”
Although he spoke like a tiny adult, his suitcase was full of a chaotic mix—aside from two outfits and two pairs of shoes, mostly plush toys and two storybooks. He proudly added, “I know! No snacks! They’d be confiscated!”
He zipped the suitcase, sat down to catch his breath, and frowned at his checklist.
The crew wondered: Did he forget something?
Little Peanut looked up at Qiao Hailou. “Daddy, really no bringing my sister?”
Qiao Hailou: “I told you—she’s too small.”
Little Peanut sighed. “I’ll be gone so long… she’ll miss me and cry. Can’t we take her? I’ll take care of her.”
Qiao Hailou: “How would you take care of her? Don’t just play and forget her.”
Little Peanut: “I won’t.” He grabbed an empty backpack. “I tried it—I can fit her inside and carry her on my back. I checked—it fits perfectly.”
Qiao Hailou: “…………No.”
Little Peanut gave up. “Has my sister woken up? Then I’ll go see her, alright?”
“Uncles and aunties, I’ll take you to see my sister.”
Little Rice Cake, now one year and seven months old, had just woken up. Shen Yuan had washed her face, brushed her teeth, changed her clothes, and combed her hair. She was clinging to Shen Yuan when her brother knocked and entered. Seeing him, she happily bounced in his arms, calling out: “Brother!”
Little Peanut greeted her as if they’d been apart forever. “Sister!”
Little Rice Cake smiled briefly at him, then suddenly froze—so many unfamiliar adults startled her. She went rigid, staring at the crew in disbelief.
Little Peanut introduced her: “This is my sister, Little Rice Cake. She’s the cutest baby in the world!”
Her face instantly flushed red. She hid in Shen Yuan’s arms, burying her face.
Little Peanut: “Oh! My sister’s so shy. You scared her! Go away, go away.”
Crew: “……” You’re the one who brought us to see her.
After over an hour of chaos, it was finally time to leave.
Shen Yuan, reluctant, reminded the pair: “Be careful on the way.”
Little Peanut hugged Shen Yuan’s neck and planted a kiss on his cheek. “Bye, Daddy! You and Little Rice Cake behave while I’m gone.”
Shen Yuan: “……” That sounded oddly familiar. When did he learn that?
Little Peanut and Qiao Hailou took a plane to the filming location—the tickets were arranged by the show.
It was Little Peanut’s first commercial flight. He was amazed. “Daddy, why are there so many strangers on this plane?”
Qiao Hailou whispered: “It’s not our plane, it belongs to other people.”
Little Peanut scratched his head. “Why not use our own plane?”
Qiao Hailou: “Because we’re going to film a TV show.”
Little Peanut’s eyes lit up: “Oh!”
The crew sitting nearby quietly sighed—capitalism at its finest.
The shoot was in a remote ethnic village. After landing, it would be another two-hour drive to reach the location.
Little Peanut fell asleep in his car seat during the ride. Upon arrival, Qiao Hailou woke him.
He proudly dragged his suitcase along. They were the last to arrive; everyone else was waiting.
Little Peanut greeted cheerfully: “Hello!”
Other kids politely responded.
Without hesitation, Little Peanut opened his suitcase and handed out toys to each child, counting as he went. “These are gifts for you. I have one too, it’s a pair.”
After a short rest, adults and kids introduced themselves.
Then came the show segment: a treasure hunt. Each child drew a card, then followed clues to find props, leading to the house they would “live” in—purely luck-based.
Little Peanut drew his card, bouncing with excitement: “Daddy, let’s go!”
He dashed off before Qiao Hailou could respond. “Slow down, or you’ll fall!”
But before the words finished leaving his mouth, Little Peanut slipped: “Ah, Daddy, I fell!”
Qiao Hailou: “……”
Before he could reach him—
Little Peanut picked himself up, dusted off, and grinned sheepishly. “Haha, Daddy! I got up by myself!”