Chapter 76: Nan Zhi’s Store Opening Diary?

Chapter 76: Chapter 76: Nan Zhi’s Store Opening Diary?

This move was so unexpected that not even the production crew saw it coming, let alone the audience!

Xu Lin, who was hiding nearby, stared wide-eyed.

"W-What?"

The other crew members grew anxious, like ants in their pants.

"What do we do, Director Xu? Are we really going to let them team up?"

"Nan Zhi and Fu Chao partnering up last time was already outside our plan. And now this again?"

"I think it’s fine. At least the results were great last time, weren’t they?"

"Yeah, and our rules never said they couldn’t team up. It’s good to let the guests have some freedom!"

"But this completely betrays the original purpose of our show! We’re *Cub Observation Diary*! Not *The Nan Zhi Opens a Shop Diary*! This is a show about kids, not a food show!"

"*The Nan Zhi Opens a Shop Diary* sounds pretty good, though..."

"..."

The guests over there hadn’t even settled their argument, and the production crew over here was already starting to bicker.

Amid the chaos, Xu Lin’s face was grim as he mulled it over for a long time.

"...That’s enough!"

As soon as Xu Lin spoke, everyone else fell silent.

They all looked to the man in charge, waiting for his decision.

But Xu Lin said confidently:

"They’re just talking about it for now. It’s not like they’re actually finalizing a partnership. It’s not that easy, is it?"

Hearing Xu Lin say this, the others let out a collective sigh of relief.

"That’s true. Four groups of guests, four different ideas. It really won’t be that easy for them to cooperate."

"We don’t even need to intervene. They’ll give up on their own in the end."

"Maybe they were just talking off the cuff."

"Ah, well I’m a little disappointed. I was bummed for ages after Nan Zhi’s fried rice stall closed down. I thought I’d finally get to taste her cooking again... Look how delicious that box of pastries was!"

"...Just shut up, will you!"

"..."

Just as the production crew was optimistically waiting for the outcome they had predicted...

On camera, the endlessly arguing trio of Fu Chao, Qi Pei’er, and Xie Yu were finally stopped by Nan Zhi.

The moment Nan Zhi spoke, the other three immediately went quiet.

Even the four Cubs obediently shut their mouths, waiting for Nan Zhi to speak—

"I understand what you’re all thinking. I have a plan, would you like to hear it?"

Fu Chao said impatiently:

"Tell us, tell us! Whatever the plan is, I’m in!"

’I have to be the first to show my loyalty!’

’Qi Pei’er and Xie Yu are no match for me! Hmph!’

Nan Zhi glanced at Fu Chao with amusement before she spoke.

"Why don’t the four of us just work together?"

Fu Chao: "Huh?"

Qi Pei’er: "Hmm."

Xie Yu: "Not bad."

The production crew: "W-What?!"

Nan Zhi said unhurriedly:

"I’ve heard the information on your identity cards. Our tasks don’t conflict with each other; in fact, our roles are complementary. And based on our experience last time, our respective filming locations should be close enough to walk between... so working together is the best option."

After Nan Zhi pointed this out, everyone had a sudden realization.

’It seems she’s right!’

Even the most reluctant of them, Fu Chao, had to admit it—

Nan Zhi’s decision was their best choice right now.

The live comments also exploded with activity:

[Wow, that sounds so interesting!]

[So are they all going to open a shop together? What kind? A breakfast place?]

[Whatever it is, I’d love to watch it, haha!]

[Oh, Brother Fu... Sigh.]

[Fans, shut up. Can’t you see your boy is as happy as a fool?]

[Say no more, after watching *Cub Observation Diary*, my image of Fu Chao as a heartthrob is completely shattered! He’s a total goofball!]

...

The only ones who were probably unhappy were the production crew.

What was the synopsis for their show, *Cub Observation Diary*?

’Celebrity guests and their Cubs experience the lives of ordinary people. By overcoming harsh environments and difficult realities, the show displays parent-child interactions, as well as the Cubs’ reactions and growth...’

Where was the harsh environment?

Where was the difficult reality?

If they all worked together, what difficulty would be left?

Just then, someone had a flash of inspiration.

"Wait a minute. Where there are people, there’s conflict. When the four groups partner up, they’ll have disagreements and start fighting. Their respective fans will tear each other apart in the live chat... Controversy! Traffic! Discussion! Won’t all of that just come to us?"

A colleague immediately retorted righteously:

"What do you take our show for? One of those variety shows that relies on stirring up drama for views?"

"And why can’t we be?"

’We could.’

’And the idea is... kinda tempting.’

Looking at the history of variety shows, countless blockbusters began their rise to fame when arguments made them go viral.

If they could do it, why couldn’t *Cub Observation Diary*?

Xu Lin’s eyes flickered, likely weighing the pros and cons.

Finally, he made a decision and said meaningfully:

"Since the purpose of our show is to ’showcase the guests’ genuine reactions,’ then whatever the guests want to do, we should respect it, shouldn’t we?"

"...Yes."

Very good. The final obstacle had disappeared.

So now, everyone was actually looking forward to seeing how Nan Zhi and the others planned to cooperate!

Would conflict erupt before their collaboration even began?

The thought was actually a little exciting.

Nan Zhi and the others were obviously unaware of the production crew’s malicious gazes.

After unanimously agreeing to Nan Zhi’s proposal, they decided to first check out their respective filming locations.

The first stop they came to was the breakfast stall Xie Yu had mentioned.

Although it was called a breakfast stall, his setup was much, much better than Nan Zhi’s fried rice stall from last time!

It had a fixed location, a rain canopy, and even tables, chairs, pots, pans, and bowls...

It may have been small, but it had everything. It could practically be called a small breakfast shop!

Even his living quarters, unlike Nan Zhi’s in a squalid shantytown, were in a residential building not far from the breakfast stall—a simple but cozy one-bedroom apartment.

Xie Yu’s identity card read:

[Your life is stable thanks to your breakfast stall. Your greatest wish is to live happily with your child. Please spend a pleasant time together with your child!]

[Savings: 500 yuan.]

With the identity card Xie Yu had drawn, even if he didn’t run the breakfast stall, 500 yuan was enough for the father and daughter to live on for two weeks.

Next, they went to Qi Pei’er’s filming location.

Qi Pei’er’s identity card was probably the best one this time.

She was the owner of a dessert shop. The shop was large, bright and airy, with a beautiful interior.

Its location was even close to Nan Zhi’s shop, with only two storefronts in between. They could totally link up and operate it like a branch location!

Qi Pei’er’s living quarters were also the best among the four groups. It was a spacious, three-bedroom apartment of over 100 square meters in a residential complex less than a 200-meter walk away. Among all the houses shown so far, it was practically a mansion!

Her task was equally simple:

[After graduating from college, you inherited your parents’ dessert shop. Unfortunately, your skills don’t compare to theirs, and you’re barely breaking even. Life is cozy and simple. However, your child seems to have some worries lately. Please find out what they are and fulfill his little wish!]

[Living expenses: 1,000 yuan.]