7th Post, OP: Here are some photos of the kids [pic][pic][pic]
8th Post, Anonymous: Even though Little Peanut is a regular kid participating, he’s definitely the cutest baby in this season. In all previous seasons, even if not number one in looks, he’d be top three at least, right?
9th Post, Anonymous: Who do you think Little Peanut looks more like—Shen Yuan or Qiao Hailou? This “father-child puzzle” has been going around a lot lately [pic][pic]
10th Post, Shen Qiaosheng’s mother-in-law: I think he looks like both. Little Peanut inherited the best features from both dads. Any feature you pick from either of them would turn out great. When he grows up, he’s definitely going to be a little handsome guy.
11th Post, Anonymous: Even though it didn’t air on the show, staff revealed that Qiao Hailou tattooed Shen Yuan’s name on his chest… that’s way too swoon-worthy!
12th Post, Anonymous: He’s only four and already looks like this… probably won’t look as good when he grows up, just like child stars whose features spread out and look less cute as they get older.
13th Post, Anonymous: Haters really run fast, even targeting kids? Did you hop in a time machine twenty years into the future? You can’t know Little Peanut will grow ugly. Both dads’ looks are right there—how could he turn out badly? He’s just a regular kid, not joining the entertainment industry. Looks don’t matter.
14th Post, Anonymous, reply to 13: You guys started talking about looks first, okay? If you’re on a show, people will naturally discuss it. I didn’t say anything extreme, just a rational discussion. No need to be salty—do you expect us only to praise him? Then why be on TV at all?
… (A long back-and-forth over whether Little Peanut will grow up unattractive)
323rd Post, Anonymous: Wow, Little Peanut’s popularity this season is insane. Tons of fans and haters alike, while the other kids barely have any recognition.
324th Post, Anonymous: Off-topic, does anyone know if the bracelet Little Peanut wore is sold? [pic]
325th Post, Anonymous, reply to 324: Yes! This was part of Shen Yuan’s studio’s first collection after opening in China. The series is called “Yi Sheng,” specially created for Little Peanut. They already promoted it in their dedicated thread—real materials, beautiful designs, meaningful symbolism, affordable prices. I have a few other favorites, let me find pics.
326th Post, Anonymous: [pic][pic][pic]
327th Post, Anonymous: Wow, Qiao Hailou and Shen Yuan are so clever. Qiao Hailou is officially sponsoring, even blurring other branded items like water bottles, but Little Peanut’s bracelet is fully shown, close-ups included. Isn’t that a bit much? Couldn’t they spend a little sponsorship on the wife too?
328th Post, Anonymous: They’re a couple, what’s wrong with a little favor?
329th Post, Anonymous: There are a few pendants I really like too, so cute [pic][pic][pic]
330th Post, Anonymous: @Coupon Bunny, how many posts has it been? When are you going to issue coupons? If there’s a coupon, I’ll buy the bracelet.
331st Post, Coupon Bunny: Shen Yuan’s studio doesn’t offer coupons. Qiao Hailou’s baby product line does. Want one?
332nd Post, Anonymous, reply to 331: Yes! Send it quickly!
333rd Post, Anonymous: By the way, Qiao Hailou’s baby products are really good. My baby’s never had a rash using their diapers. They’re thin yet absorbent.
… (A long discussion on Qiao Hailou and Shen Yuan’s company products and parenting tips)
845th Post, Anonymous: I heard next episode Shen Yuan will bring Little Rice Cake to the show. He appears less on camera than Qiao Hailou… I really hope he goes.
846th Post, Anonymous: That’s sponsored by Qiao Hailou. If Shen Yuan goes, he can sponsor it himself, right?
847th Post, Anonymous: Compared to Shen Yuan, I’d rather see Little Rice Cake and Little Peanut together. Little Rice Cake barely has any videos—she’s so cute. Doesn’t matter which dad takes her (:з」∠)
848th Post, Anonymous: I also want to see Little Rice Cake on the show! Producers, I know you’re in SJ, please take a look!
…
With these “topic kids” added, this season’s ratings shot up compared to last season.
After airing, Qiao Hailou’s baby products saw a clear sales increase. Little Peanut casually showing off the small gold bracelet his dad made caused the same item to sell out online in just a couple of days, leaving only limited offline stock. Other products from the series also saw sales increase.
That night, the money-making couple sat in their study, going over their accounts. Shen Yuan sighed: “All those marketing campaigns I spent a fortune on, even hiring celebrity endorsements, didn’t sell as well as Little Peanut casually rolling up his sleeve and waving his hand…”
Qiao Hailou said: “The target audience is nailed. Chinese consumers aren’t willing to buy everything. What gets them to spend without restraint? Children.”
Shen Yuan mentally calculated how much more money they could make. The thought warmed him: “Stock’s almost gone. I need the craftsmen to make another batch, probably another sales wave coming.”
He wasn’t aiming for a mysterious high-end niche line. He wanted visibility. The high-end line could be expensive and unique, but the lower-end line needed to be slightly pricey yet affordable for regular families willing to stretch a little.
Qiao Hailou appeared on four episodes in a row. Sales of the “Peanut Baby” products soared within a month. His company played it safe, using no celebrity endorsements—only Little Peanut’s childhood photos for promotion. For the new launch, he was considering whether to include Little Rice Cake’s photos.
As a rich second-generation, Qiao Hailou knew many families with family-run businesses. Some parents liked putting their kids’ photos on product packaging because no image rights consent was needed. He knew one elder selling condiments who put his high school daughter’s art photos on packaging—she didn’t know. Returning from studying abroad, she found the shelves full of her photos and got angry at her dad.
That elder complained to friends: “She thinks the photo isn’t good, but I thought it was beautiful. Isn’t my daughter more beautiful than many actresses?”
Everyone agreed.
Qiao Hailou privately judged that kind of over-filtering. If it were him, he wouldn’t do that. Back then, he didn’t even think he’d have kids.
Now he had kids and even put Little Peanut’s precious photos on packaging, planning to do the same with his daughter’s photos. But he felt theirs was different—they were fair and just. Little Peanut and Little Rice Cake were genuinely adorable, world’s top-tier cute.
No hired model could surpass them. So no need to look.
Qiao Hailou was ready to print Little Rice Cake’s photos on baby products, calculating that once she appeared on the show, sales would likely be excellent.
Episode Five
Shen Yuan brought Little Rice Cake to participate.
Little Peanut, of course, was there too.
Shen Yuan had the challenging task of handling both kids alone.
Even the early promo clips went viral, showing Shen Yuan frazzled while taking care of both children, including a shot of Little Rice Cake crying. Little Peanut stood by saying, “Sorry, Daddy,” creating a tense atmosphere.
But Shen Yuan thought the situation was manageable.
Little Rice Cake, being a naturally shy, introverted little girl, clung to Shen Yuan silently. She didn’t need to talk much; Little Peanut never left her side, holding her hand and even lifting her over small ditches.
Excited, Little Peanut introduced his sister to the other kids: “This is my sister! I told you she’s the cutest baby in the world. I wasn’t lying! Sister, introduce yourself—don’t be shy, they’re all good kids.”
Little Rice Cake hid slightly behind her brother, whispering: “I… I’m Little Rice Cake.”
Little Peanut laughed: “That’s just her nickname. Silly you! Her real name is Shen Qiaozheng, nickname Little Rice Cake. She’s not really silly—she’s just young and innocent.”
The adults chuckled. A four-year-old explaining a two-year-old’s innocence.
Little Rice Cake was too young to participate in most activities—she was essentially a mascot.
Older kids took good care of her; she hadn’t started kindergarten yet, meeting children other than her brother for the first time.
During the noon nap, Little Rice Cake fell asleep. Shen Yuan fanned her a bit, intending to fetch cold water to wipe her face. Stepping away briefly, he reminded Little Peanut: “Watch your sister while I go get some water.”
Little Peanut saluted: “Yes, Daddy.”
Barely two minutes after Shen Yuan left, Little Rice Cake awoke groggily. Seeing Shen Yuan absent, she panicked: “Where’s Daddy?”
Little Peanut reassured her: “Daddy went to get water. Wait a moment.”
Little Rice Cake grew anxious, asking repeatedly: “Why hasn’t Daddy come back yet?… Where’s Daddy?… Hasn’t he returned yet?… It’s been so long, why isn’t he back?”
She asked: “Brother, can you take me to find Daddy?”
Little Peanut scratched his head: “Alright, let’s go.”
He jumped down from the high bed first, catching Little Rice Cake safely below.
They set off in pajamas, but soon faced a challenge—a high threshold at the door.
Little Peanut stepped over it: “This is a bit high. Lift your legs high to cross.”
Little Rice Cake bravely tried, but her legs were too short. She tumbled with a thud, stunned and crying: “Ah, brother, I fell!”
Shen Yuan returned with a basin of water to find Little Rice Cake sitting at the door crying: “…”