Chapter 78: I Am an Unlucky Star

Chapter 78: Chapter 78: I Am an Unlucky Star

Qi Zhang, not having experienced the misfortunes from the book, was also a super optimist.

He bounced around, shouting:

"This place is super pretty! I love it here! Auntie, Auntie, can we please live here?"

Qing Xi nodded in agreement, his eyes sparkling:

"This place is like a mysterious cave... Let’s play treasure hunt!"

The suggestion was met with the children’s immediate and unanimous approval.

Even Nan Yi, who had barely spoken since they came in, pursed his lips and gave a reluctant nod.

After a cheer, the four children scattered, kicking up clouds of dust as they ran.

The four adults were left standing in place, staring at one another.

[Kids are so simple. To them, a place full of junk is a treasure chest!]

[I was getting depressed looking at this awful environment, but I never thought the kids would cheer me right up!]

[It’s true, your life is what you make of it. Even a run-down shack can be a castle if you have the right attitude!]

[Bwahahaha, have you seen the twisted looks on the adults’ faces though?]

[This is the kind of stuff that earns you a spanking!]

[All that dust... what if they’re ruined? Guess you just have to throw the kids away now, right?]

...

Qing Xi, who had been rummaging through the junk pile, held up a music box.

"I found it!"

The other three children rushed over.

Qi Zhang raised his arms and cheered as if he were looking at a hero. "It’s treasure!"

Xie An’an’s little face was full of envy. "Wow! I want to find a treasure, too!"

Nan Yi, more aloof than the others, was still competitive. He huffed, "I’ll find one any second now!"

Qing Xi paid them no mind, cradling the dusty music box in his arms like a precious treasure.

He didn’t forget to turn and show it off to Fu Chao.

"Uncle, look!"

He broke into a wide grin, revealing his small, snow-white teeth.

Sweat trickled down from his temples, leaving several distinct trails on his face.

...He was the spitting image of a little dirt monkey!

Fu Chao’s palm was already itching for a slap.

Nan Zhi, standing beside him, cleared her throat and reminded him in a low voice,

"We’re filming."

Fu Chao inhaled and exhaled a few times before finally managing to suppress his anger.

[Sorry, but we all heard that!]

[If my kid did that, my blood pressure would have skyrocketed on the spot!]

[Exactly! I make the exact same face as Fu Chao when my kid jumps in mud puddles. It’s uncanny!]

[Mr. Fu’s perfect heartthrob image is crumbling again and again... Haha, it just makes him even more hilarious!]

...

Fu Chao couldn’t care less about his image.

He beckoned with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.

"Qing Xi, get over here."

Oblivious, Qing Xi clutched his music box and scampered over.

"What’s wrong, Uncle? If you have something to say, say it fast!"

His face clearly screamed, ’I’m busy, don’t bother me.’

Fu Chao practically bit his tongue, resisting the urge to discipline the child on camera.

Just then, Nan Zhi handed him a pack of tissues.

Fu Chao’s irritation was strangely soothed. He took the tissues and began to gently wipe Qing Xi’s face clean.

’He’s already filthy anyway...’

Qing Xi urged him on,

"Hurry up, Uncle!"

Fu Chao froze.

’...So, I really should just throw him away.’

Just then, Xie Yu rolled up his sleeves.

"The kids are already filthy, and they’ll have to change anyway. Why don’t we adults join in?"

Fu Chao looked back at him, a strange expression on his face.

"You want to go on a treasure hunt, too?"

His expression was... something else.

Fu Chao’s train of thought left Xie Yu speechless for a couple of seconds.

Finally, he said, "What I mean is, we should clean this place up. Even if Nan Zhi and Nan Yi don’t end up staying here, it could serve as a temporary break room."

That gave Qi Pei’er an idea.

"Oh, right! Who knows, we might even find something useful."

Fu Chao finally understood and nodded in agreement.

Even Nan Zhi thought it was a good idea.

In the end, all the adults threw themselves into the battle against the second-floor junk.

And the energetic little ones became the best helpers, eagerly doing whatever they were told.

To a child, everything is a novelty.

Even cleaning is fun!

And this attic is awesome!

「Two hours later.」

The completely transformed second-floor attic was finally up to a livable standard.

Aside from essential furniture like a small bed, a wardrobe, a coffee table, and a sofa, they also discovered several large dining tables.

It seemed Xie Yu’s guess was right—this place used to be a restaurant. It was unclear whether it had gone out of business or simply moved, but the dining tables had been left behind. They would be incredibly useful and save the production a huge expense!

But it all came at a price.

Fu Chao, who was a bit of a neat freak, could barely stand how filthy and smelly he had become.

He spoke faster, saying impatiently,

"It’s almost lunchtime. Why don’t we all go to our respective places to wash up first!"

’One more second and I’m going to lose it!’

Fortunately, the others felt pretty much the same way.

Fu Chao turned to Nan Zhi and asked,

"So, are you going to...?"

Qi Pei’er jumped in with an enthusiastic invitation.

"Come stay with us! Come on! It’ll be so much fun if we live together!"

Nan Zhi was just about to nod.

But out of the corner of her eye, she caught Nan Yi secretly pouting.

Her thoughts shifted, and she abruptly shook her head.

"No, that’s alright. Since we drew this place, we should stay here. We have to respect the rules of the show."

The production team, long forgotten in a corner: Thank you for remembering we exist!

Qi Pei’er, greatly disappointed, tried to persuade her a few more times.

Even Fu Chao joined in, trying to change her mind.

Only Xie Yu remained silent.

Nan Zhi remained firm, insisting that she and Nan Yi would stay.

They had no choice but to give up.

Soon, the others had left.

Nan Zhi took Nan Yi’s grubby little hand.

"Are you unhappy?"

Nan Yi puffed out his cheeks but shook his head.

How could Nan Zhi not see that he was being dishonest?

So she pretended to be angry.

"Are you keeping secrets from Mommy?"

"N-No! I’m not, Mommy!"

Nan Yi hastily defended himself.

He looked up and saw the playful smile in Nan Zhi’s eyes, only then realizing his mom was teasing him.

He felt a little flicker of annoyance and wrinkled his nose.

But his anger quickly deflated. He hung his head and asked,

"Mommy, did I draw the worst identity card?"

Nan Zhi paused.

"Why would you say that?"

Nan Yi mumbled,

"I can tell! Their houses are all better than ours! And their shops, too!"

’I’m so unlucky.’

’I’m a jinx.’

’And I’m dragging Mommy down with me.’

Nan Yi felt dejected and miserable.

But most of all, he was afraid that Nan Zhi would be angry and disappointed in him.

So he couldn’t help but sneak glances at Nan Zhi’s expression.

But Nan Zhi was merely surprised.

Then, a smile of realization spread across her face.

"How could that be, Yiyi! There’s no such thing as a best or worst identity card. A life is what you make of it. Do you think our last identity card was bad? But were we happy in the end?"

There are countless examples of people who start with a good hand and squander it, just as there are people who start with a bad hand and manage to turn everything around.

Life is just like that.

Nan Yi... he was beginning to understand.