Is This Something I Can Watch for Free?!
“Ladies and gentlemen, our flight is scheduled to arrive at Silver Wing Airport on Pearl Island, Country T, in thirty minutes.
The ground temperature is 28 degrees Celsius, humidity is 90%, and the local time is 3:30 PM…
Please put away your tray tables, open your window shades, adjust your seat backs, and fasten your seatbelts…”
Chu Xingxing was woken up by the gentle and friendly voice of the flight attendant making the announcement.
Experiencing business class on her very first flight—there was no doubt she was lucky.
Throughout the journey, Chu Xingxing was well taken care of by the flight attendants.
At first, she was still worried about the “old babies,” but it turned out the grandmas were being looked after even better by the crew.
Chu Xingxing: Business class is just so nice!
For now, still a poor girl at heart, Chu Xingxing felt even more determined to stick to her ultimate life goals: earn money and live well. She also got to experience firsthand that you get what you pay for.
Chances are, expensive things really do have their reasons for being expensive.
And if something’s too pricey, it’s not the product’s problem—it’s mine.
Of course, the economy-class passengers at the back of the plane weren’t nearly as comfortable.
If there’s one place in the world with the strictest class divide, it’s on an airplane.
Economy, business, first class—separated by just a small curtain, yet creating a gap that feels impossible to cross.
The economy-class seats on their plane were compact, with very little room for adjustment.
Even though they were designed to recline slightly, leaning back even a little meant the passenger behind had almost no space to move.
So, most passengers sat upright at a rigid 90-degree angle throughout the flight, not wanting to inconvenience anyone else.
As luck would have it, the area where the guests of Let’s Travel Together were seated happened to be near seven or eight families traveling with “wild kids.”
The flight lasted over six hours—an absolute nightmare.
The Let’s Travel Together guests barely got any rest.
All they heard the entire flight were the screams, cries, and roughhousing of those wild kids, one after another.
The unluckiest ones were Jiang Chang’an and Tian Mengtong.
Behind them sat a chubby six-year-old and his four-year-old mini version.
The two boys spent the whole flight kicking the seats in front of them, giving Jiang Chang’an and Tian Mengtong an unwanted “massage” service.
When they tried reasoning with the parents, the parents just smiled apologetically and said they couldn’t control the kids—kids that age just don’t listen.
A few more reminders, and the parents started getting upset, shouting that the celebrities were bullying them and cursing them to never have kids of their own.
Tian Mengtong was so upset she cried.
Little Cookie was sitting diagonally across from them.
From Cookie’s perspective, the curse of “never having kids” wasn’t even a curse—it was exactly what she wanted.
She really, truly hated kids!
Let someone else have them; she definitely wasn’t going to!
Even Xiao Xiong, the rapper who was usually the best at dishing out sarcastic comebacks, gave up. These parents had worn him down so much he felt helpless.
It wasn’t like he could actually hit the kids, right?
Even though he really wanted to…
——-
Half an hour later, the plane landed safely at their destination.
Business-class passengers had priority to disembark.
As Chu Xingxing got off the plane, she helped the grandmas seated near her with their luggage.
The group walked down the plane stairs together.
It was around 4 PM local time on Pearl Island. On tropical islands, it usually gets dark by a little after five.
By 4 PM, the sun was already starting to set.
The airport was on the eastern side of Pearl Island.
With the sun no longer directly overhead, the sea breeze carried less heat and felt more pleasantly warm.
Once on solid ground, Chu Xingxing looked around the unfamiliar scenery with curiosity.
The dark-skinned ground crew greeted them warmly, pressing their palms together in a local welcome gesture and presenting everyone from the Flower Grandmas cast with a garland of plumeria flowers.
The air here was different from the dry, crisp cold of the capital—it was humid, warm, yet lacking the smell of the sea.
Finally being on solid ground gave Chu Xingxing a sense of reality.
Chu Xingxing: So this is what traveling feels like. It’s really nice!
——-
A small electric cart arrived to pick up the business-class passengers first.
Since the grandmas had quite a bit of luggage, Chu Xingxing and Wen Han stayed behind to wait for the second cart, letting the “babies” go ahead first. The two of them acted as “porters” with the bags.
Chu Xingxing could barely contain her excitement. She took a deep breath, closed her eyes for a moment, and let the sea breeze wash over her.
The wind brushed past her hair and ears, leaving a faint trace of moisture behind—it felt magical.
The smell of the wind, the air itself—it was all so different from the capital.
From the bottom of her heart, Chu Xingxing felt incredibly grateful to be living in a time of peace, able to travel and see different parts of the world.
She dared not think back to the apocalypse anymore; it felt like a distant, hazy dream.
Wen Han tilted his head as he grabbed the luggage, using the motion to glance at the girl beside him.
The sea breeze tousled her thick, slightly wavy hair, carrying a faint scent of fruit.
Small beads of moisture had formed on the tip of her delicate nose—her skin still adjusting to the tropical humidity.
Her lips were curved into a lovely smile, her thick lashes hiding her eyes. The expression on her face was that of a happy, carefree child.
Adorable, and genuine.
Wen Han felt a sudden urge to ruffle her hair, gently pinch her nose like a playful tease, the way one would with a little niece.
In the end, he only thought about it. He knew he shouldn’t actually do it.
Chu Xingxing heard the sound of brakes—their shuttle must have arrived.
Opening her eyes, she casually gathered her wind-tangled hair and bent down to pick up her luggage. Just then, her gaze met Wen Han’s gentle eyes.
“Is there something on my face?” she asked instinctively, touching her cheek.
“No. I was just noticing how much you look like a kid enjoying the summer,” Wen Han said with a soft smile. He paused, then asked quietly, “Do you really like tropical islands?”
“I love it! This is my first time on an island, my first trip ever—I’ve made so many plans!” Her voice was full of excitement.
She wasn’t entirely sure what the meaning of travel was yet, but her body had already taken the first step onto the path.
Noticing Wen Han seemed lost in thought, she asked back, “Do you like it?”
“To be honest, I didn’t used to. The sugar content in tropical fruit is too high, there’s too much rich, high-cholesterol, high-fat food for someone into fitness, and the year-round humidity isn’t great for health…”
He lowered his head slightly, smiling as he met her gaze. “But that was then. Now, I like it too.”
As soon as he said it, Wen Han regretted it a little.
His words seemed to carry an underlying meaning.
“That’s great! The babies are really looking forward to this island trip, though.”
Chu Xingxing easily lifted two suitcases into the small electric cart. She hadn’t picked up on any “hidden meaning” at all.
Settling into the cart, she turned back and winked at Wen Han, who was loading the remaining bags. “Especially your mom, Ms. Wen Xuelan. She’s been super excited about this trip.”
Before the trip, Wen Xuelan had been very active in the “Rich Lady Travel Club” group chat, much more enthusiastic than her three best friends.
From the conversations Chu Xingxing had seen, she sensed that this trip held some special meaning for Wen Xuelan.
But since she hadn’t heard it directly from Wen Xuelan, she didn’t know the reason.
“Oh?” Wen Han raised an eyebrow, shaking his head with a wry smile. “I didn’t know that.”
Chu Xingxing shrugged. “See? That just proves you don’t know your own baby well enough. You should spend more time with her. Maybe you can find the answer through this trip.”
“You sure know how to keep people guessing,” Wen Han said as he finished loading the luggage and sat down beside her.
At 188 cm tall and a fitness enthusiast often called a “double-door refrigerator,” Wen Han was a very large presence. Even though he was being gentlemanly, sitting together made the two seats feel cramped.
[Ahhh! The vibe between them earlier was so nice!]
[I don’t know if it’s just me, but did Wen Han seem a little struck when he turned to talk to Xingxing?]
[In those few seconds when Xingxing closed her eyes, I mean, even I, as a girl, totally had a crush! She’s so beautiful and sweet, how can anyone be this adorable? I just want to spoil her!]
[Chu Xingxing has such a great personality. Being friends with a big beauty can feel intimidating, but with her, it wouldn’t be. She seems so easy to get along with.]
[Maybe Wen Han feels the same way as me, wants to be good friends with Xingxing, like sisters? doge/]
[Hahaha, sorry everyone, but I’m totally shipping “Sparkling Star”! These two have such great chemistry!]
[Honestly, I used to like Wen Han a lot, but now I just want to get rid of him so I can be Xingxing’s CP!]
——-
Silver Wing Airport on Pearl Island was a very small international airport.
Getting visas on arrival, going through customs, and picking up luggage all happened in one tiny area. It wasn’t even fully enclosed and had no air conditioning.
A few ceiling fans spun lazily under the high, dark-brown timber roof, providing a breeze that was hardly cool.
As H-Airline Diamond members, Chu Xingxing and Wen Han had a dedicated guide to help them with the visa-on-arrival process.
The same rule applied: one person could bring two friends or family members.
So, it took the group of six less than half an hour to complete their entry procedures.
Just as Chu Xingxing was about to go through customs, she noticed the main group from Let’s Travel Together had gathered in the arrivals hall.
Suddenly, she heard a commotion coming from behind her.
The voices were loud and familiar.
Xiao Xiong was complaining dramatically: “Whoa! Is this a robbery? They’re charging 500 local bucks per person for the fast-track visa, which is like 100 RMB. Our budget is already super tight. Spending 100 per person means we might not even have enough to eat in the last few days.”
The production team for Let’s Travel Together had given the guests a very strict travel budget. They were not allowed to use their own money for the five-day trip and could only spend the funds provided.
It roughly worked out to about 800 RMB per person.
That amount also had to cover the hostel for the night on Pearl Island and the boat tickets to the uninhabited island the next day.
Su Wei started arguing with Xiao Xiong again: “I seriously can’t take this anymore. If we don’t take the fast track, we’ll be stuck in line for at least two hours. We’re already abroad, why do we have to queue everywhere? Spending a little money to save time seems fine to me?”
Chunzhen, a member of the WE boy band, whined softly: “I think it’s too expensive, not worth it. Let’s just wait. We don’t have anything else planned today anyway.”
“I’m already about to break my back from sitting! Wait more? No way! Just pay for it!”
A veteran actor, exhausted from being cooped up in economy for over six hours, was on the verge of losing his temper.
[Even though the production team is purposely making things tough and tiring everyone out, having such a loud, public argument really is embarrassing for us as Chinese people, isn’t it?]
[Exactly. They could discuss things calmly without being so loud.]
[It’s so cringey. Is this just scripted drama for the show? If they’re going to use a script, they should make it better. This is so embarrassing on an international level.]
[All this fighting is so boring. I watch shows to relax and have fun. Let’s Travel Together has been a huge letdown. Grandma’s Journey is much more appealing. See you guys! I’m switching over!]
[I can’t watch this anymore, everyone. I’m out. Here I come, grandmas!]
[Me too! Isn’t it better to watch the old babies and Xingxing getting along so well? Plus, there’s Wen Han. I’m waiting for him to take his shirt off and hit the pool. I’ve heard his body is really impressive, everyone who’s seen it says so (not really).]
Cookie didn’t join the argument. She quietly stayed out of the way, not daring to speak up.
Little Cookie thought: Boohoo, all the adults are fighting so fiercely!
As the youngest in the group, she had no say. She just hoped the older guys, sisters, uncles, and aunties would decide on the plan soon.
Tian Mengtong’s gaze wandered. She didn’t join the “battle” immediately this time, instead looking around until she spotted Jiang Chang’an.
She remembered that in her past life, they had argued about this issue too. Eventually, they voted, and the “pay” side had more people. They ended up using the fast track for their visas.
Even though their budget got really tight—so much so that some guests went hungry the last two days—Tian Mengtong herself didn’t suffer.
Because after the live stream ended, Jiang Chang’an, the “crown prince” of CBM Entertainment, had secretly provided her with extra food without even her roommate Chu Xingxing noticing.
This time, since Chu Xingxing wasn’t traveling with her, things should go more smoothly, right?
Just as she was thinking that, her phone buzzed.
Opening WeChat, she saw a message from Jiang Chang’an.
[Changan: I’ll propose a vote. You vote yes for the fast track.]
Tian Mengtong smiled and quickly replied with [Okay].
——-
Over an hour later.
Even though they paid and used the fast track, it still took the group of eleven from Let’s Travel Together a fair amount of time.
When they finally came out, all they saw were two uncovered open-air trucks waiting for them.
The three Alpha minivans that had been there specifically for the Grandma’s Journey crew were long gone—not even a trace of exhaust remained.
It was already dusk now.
It wasn’t safe to go to the island at night, nor could they set up camp.
Everyone from Let’s Travel Together needed to check into the hostel first, then go to a supermarket to buy enough supplies and necessities.
Early the next morning, the production team would take them to the Pearl Island pier to catch a boat to the neighboring uninhabited island.
“Is there a supermarket near the hostel? We should go to a big one for better prices. Convenience stores are probably more expensive, right?”
Su Wei, who had a lot of life experience, shouted over the noise.
Cookie, jostled around, looked at her phone: “I checked. The hostel is in the commercial center of Pearl Island. There’s a Tesco nearby—a big supermarket. We could go there? Looks like there’s a night market around too!”
The others, tired and bothered, just nodded in agreement without bothering to check any details.
——-
Meanwhile, on the west coast of Pearl Island.
Three white Alpha minivans pulled up in front of a modern beachfront villa.
Their driver was a local who spoke a little Mandarin.
He parked quickly, gestured for colleagues to watch the luggage, and urged Chu Xingxing’s group to follow him towards the beach.
His voice was soft, with the long-drawn-out tones typical of the local accent: “Come on! Quick, come see the sunset! We’re lucky today—it’s very, very beautiful! Any later and you’ll miss it!”
Chu Xingxing didn’t dare run too fast.
She held Sheng Shuwen’s hand with one and Wen Xuelan’s with the other, constantly looking back to make sure Jiang Yao and Emily were following.
Wen Han waved to them from a distance: “Go ahead, I’ll watch the bags.”
Reassured, Chu Xingxing led the “babies” forward.
Everyone followed the driver up to the villa’s viewing platform.
Looking at the vast, unobstructed ocean before her, Chu Xingxing’s breath almost caught in her throat.
The orange-red sun was like a vibrant, dancing flame, boldly casting a brilliant golden-red ribbon across the sea’s horizon.
She had imagined the sea as a bright, clear blue, but the water before her was tinted a soft gold by the setting sun.
Seagulls circled overhead, gentle waves lapped softly, and the colors of the sky and sea began to shift.
It was as if the sunset clouds had gotten happily drunk and accidentally knocked over a palette of warm oranges and reds.
Chu Xingxing’s mouth fell open slightly, her chest heaving. She was too moved to speak, just holding Grandma Sheng’s hand tightly.
This was a beauty beyond anything she could have dreamed of.
For a moment, she almost felt as if the twenty years of the apocalypse—the endless yellow dust, the gloomy, dark lower levels of the base—had just been a dream.
“Little sweetie, isn’t it beautiful?”
Perhaps it was because of her age, making her more sentimental, but Sheng Shuwen’s eyes grew a little teary.
Emily leaned on the railing, gazing into the distance, and softly murmured, “The setting sun is infinitely lovely, but the dusk is near.”
“Why so gloomy?” Wen Xuelan was busy taking selfies, finding angles. She deliberately showed off a unique-looking ring on her finger, grinning. “If you ask me, it’s more like: The setting sun is lovely, and we have everything we want!”
“I really hate it when older people are compared to dusk. That ‘sunset glow’ stuff, I don’t like it at all.” With that, Jiang Yao shouted into the distance: “I really wish I could live another five hundred years!”
That made everyone laugh.
Chu Xingxing laughed too. Grandma Xiao Jiang had just said what was in her heart.
“Thank you, all my dear babies, for bringing me here to see such a beautiful sunset.”
Her cheeks flushed by the sunset’s glow, Chu Xingxing couldn’t think of any other words to say except thank you.
[Wow! So beautiful! So beautiful!]
[Oh my gosh! Watching the sunset at the beach really is such a romantic thing!]
[Sob sob sob, so beautiful it makes me want to cry. I haven’t traveled in so long.]
[Really, it’s been too long since I traveled. Thank you, Grandma’s Journey crew, for taking us on a virtual trip!]
[I’m just so moved by this beach sunset! Moved by Xingxing! Moved by the grandmas! How can everyone be so beautiful!]
[The camera work, sob sob sob, I’m recording this. Every frame could be a wallpaper! The cameraman deserves a raise!]
——-
The driver bid them a brief farewell.
The production team left one Alpha minivan for them to use to go to the more bustling part of town.
Both Wen Han and Chu Xingxing had obtained their international driver’s licenses in advance, so they could drive on the island.
With such a beautiful seaside sunset, the grandmas naturally wanted a “photo shoot” session.
Chu Xingxing naturally became the photographer for the old babies.
Since she’d done her homework, she had forty-nine different ways to photograph silk scarves memorized.
The four grandmas uniformly pulled out their sunglasses, and each pulled seven or eight silk scarves from their bags.
Sunglasses on, they were in their own world.
“Imagine you’re among flowers, yes, yes, that’s beautiful!”
Chu Xingxing adjusted the angle, giving directions: “Grandma Sheng, bend your hand just a little more? Yes, yes, perfect!”
“Grandma Xiao Jiang, point your toes, stretch your right foot forward a bit more… good, good!”
“Hands on your hips, yes, yes, show me that attitude!”
“Babies, let’s take one group shot! All four of you turn your heads and wave. One, two, three, turn!”
[Hahaha, so cute!]
[The colorful scarves are such a classic, hahaha.]
[How is it that grandmas across the whole country have the same uniform of scarves and sunglasses?]
[Xingxing really knows what she’s doing! She must have prepared. She makes the grandmas look so stylish while still satisfying their scarf requirements.]
[Chu Xingxing is really sincere. It’s not fake. I love every single one of them!]
Most of the comments were harmonious.
However, some “geniuses” (or rather, idiots) always pop up in the comments, trying to get attention.
[Huh? Why are these Chinese aunties everywhere? It’s really embarrassing!]
[These aunties are so annoying. It’s hilarious watching them, always with scarves and sunglasses, wearing bright colors, completely unaware of their image.]
[Why don’t these aunties climb a tree too? Can’t we recreate the famous scene of aunties hanging from trees? /covering face]
Although the Grandma’s Journey livestream had fewer viewers than Let’s Travel Together, they were all genuine fans.
Plus, some enthusiastic commenters had come over from the other show, so the viewership was now over ten thousand.
More importantly, the audience who enjoyed this no-drama, unscripted, slow-paced travel show were mostly thoughtful, kind, and gentle young people.
They were fiercely protective and wouldn’t let these “geniuses” cause trouble here.
The grandmas’ comment section was under their protection—
[Wait, do people actually think they won’t get old?]
[I suggest you go read up on the era these grandmas were born in and what they went through. Those colorful silk scarves are for fulfilling their girlhood dreams. The sunglasses and hats are to hide wrinkles and gray hair. Who doesn’t want to look beautiful? I’m asking you: when you post a selfie, do you edit it or not? When you post a full-body shot, do you lengthen your legs? Would you dare post your photos without editing?]
[As long as they’re not disturbing others, they should wear what makes them happy. These grandmas have great manners, unlike you, who come here just to disgust people.]
[Honestly, I think the grandmas’ poses are very elegant, and the group shots Xingxing set up for them are really stylish. I almost want to take photos like that with my girlfriends!]
——-
After the group shots, Chu Xingxing took solo photos for the grandmas. Wen Xuelan was last.
After the other grandmas finished, they went to check out the villa.
Only Chu Xingxing and Wen Xuelan were left on the beach.
Wen Xuelan took off a dark gray diamond ring and waved it at her. “Xingbao, see if you can get a shot that really shows this ring clearly?”
“Let me think…”
Chu Xingxing visualized it for a moment and found an angle. “Hmm, maybe from this angle. The background will be clean, and the sunset light will make the diamond sparkle more. But you’ll really be more of a background in the shot.”
Wen Xuelan nodded and posed as instructed, her tone still light. “Alright, I just want a keepsake. I’ll print it out and put it in a frame. It’ll fulfill my old man’s last wish too.”
Even though Chu Xingxing calmly took many photos, her heart still skipped a beat.
[Ah, this suddenly feels a bit sad…]
[Grandma Wen has never mentioned her husband passing away before. This feels sudden…]
[I’ve never heard Wen Han mention his father’s death in interviews either. Shocking!]
[But the way Grandma Wen says it, it sounds like such an ordinary thing?]
Chu Xingxing knew that Wen Xuelan’s husband had passed away two years ago because Grandma Wen was always open about it in their group chat.
She couldn’t help but wonder: was this why Wen Xuelan was so excited about this trip?
Was it to fulfill her late husband’s wish? Or was there another reason?
In Chu Xingxing’s eyes, this ring didn’t look as valuable as the other jewelry Wen Xuelan usually wore.
The diamond itself seemed a bit cloudy, not very brilliant.
It was strange that Grandma Wen Xuelan, who usually loved sparkling jewelry and elegant clothes, would specifically wear this ring as an accessory.
“Xingbao, take a walk with me?” Wen Xuelan put the ring back on and patted her shoulder.
Chu Xingxing agreed readily. “Okay!”
“Take off your shoes. Come on, let’s go over there!” Grandma Wen Xuelan kicked off her shoes cheerfully, wiggling her toes in the sand.
Chu Xingxing took hers off too, feeling the warm, fine sand under her bare feet for the first time.
It was her first time touching a beach, and she squinted in contentment.
Wen Xuelan: “You must have a lot of questions, right? Curious why I wanted a photo of this ring?”
“Can’t hide anything from you. Is it okay if you tell me?” Chu Xingxing stuck out her tongue, a little embarrassed.
“Haha, of course! You’re not a stranger.”
Wen Xuelan laughed heartily, touched the ring, and said calmly: “It’s a ring made from my late husband’s ashes. Three years ago, we were about to leave for Hawaii to see the ocean the next day. But he suddenly had a heart attack in the middle of the night and passed away.
My old man loved the sea the most, his favorite song was ‘The Sea,’ and he even had ‘sea’ in his name.
He’d never been to Pearl Island, so I thought, since he hasn’t, I’ll bring him to see it. Take a picture as a keepsake, so he doesn’t get bored up there.”
“So this is a diamond made from ashes?” Chu Xingxing looked at the ring on Wen Xuelan’s finger with a newfound respect.
Wen Xuelan: “Haha, don’t be scared, Xingbao. I don’t wear it every day. Wearing it all the time, day and night, would be a bit creepy, wouldn’t it?”
“Pfft, no, not really…” Chu Xingxing laughed too.
She was surprised to find that talking about death with sixty-eight-year-old Wen Xuelan felt so easy.
But what Wen Xuelan said next surprised her even more.
“I’ve never been one for those tragic, devoted widow stories. I’m single now, you know. Available. No matter what, the living are definitely more important than the dead. So Xingbao, enjoy life while you’re young.”
Wen Xuelan paused and pulled Chu Xingxing along as they walked back slowly: “I was with my old man for over forty years. He was family a long time ago. Wearing this ring is like taking my old buddy out for a walk, letting that workaholic see a bit more of the world now that he’s gone. If I happen to find another old man someday, I probably won’t have as many chances to take him out to see things.”
[Wow! Grandma Wen is so cool!]
[I’m in awe of her free-spirited attitude. That line ‘the living are definitely more important than the dead’ gave me goosebumps.]
[Grandma Wen’s words are a bit rough, but the meaning is right. She’s a loyal and strong woman!]
[I also really love Grandma Wen’s state of mind. Her husband passed away, and life goes into a new chapter. Why do women have to remain widows to be praised? She’s brave for stepping into a new life!]
Chu Xingxing was a blank slate when it came to emotions.
After living through the apocalypse for twenty years, her only goal seemed to be finding food to survive.
She couldn’t make any judgment on Grandma Wen.
In the realm of feelings, she was like a toddler who could barely even talk.
She just listened quietly, nodding slowly.
“By the way, Xingbao, are you single?” Wen Xuelan asked with a smile.
Chu Xingxing didn’t hesitate: “Yes, I am.”
“Have you ever been in a relationship?” Wen Xuelan seemed thoughtful.
“No.” Chu Xingxing shook her head.
Wen Xuelan patted Chu Xingxing’s hand, speaking earnestly: “That’s a shame! Girls should date more. Only by dating more will you learn what you like and what you want. Don’t be afraid of making mistakes. Don’t worry about what others say. The most important thing is that you enjoy yourself!”
The most important thing is that you enjoy yourself…
Chu Xingxing thought about it. What Grandma Wen said… seemed to make sense?
“Then… I’ll give it a try when I have a chance?” Chu Xingxing hesitated for a moment before nodding seriously.
[Pfft! Grandma Wen Xuelan is so cute! Hahaha, the most important thing is you enjoy yourself!]
[Oh my god! Hahaha! Xingxing seems so clueless about love! She’s so adorably innocent!]
[It looks like our Xingbao has been fooled by Ms. Wen Xuelan! Hahaha!]
[Oh no, I’ve become a fan of Ms. Wen Xuelan. If she were my mother-in-law, I’d never get a divorce!]
[I really love Grandma Wen’s vibe, so relaxed and confident. No wonder she was a triple crown-winning actress thirty years ago. She still has that spark!]
[Honestly, I can’t imagine how Wen Han, who is so gentle and gentlemanly, was raised by such a strong mom?]
[The three Wen brothers are the classic wealthy family setup. The eldest married early, has kids, and took over the family business. The second is child-free and does scientific research. The youngest was let loose to pursue his dream in entertainment.]
“That’s right. Girls need to build their careers, and not just do it, but make it a priority. But you shouldn’t neglect relationships either. After all, the dopamine from love can make you really happy. You should experience more of the things that make you happy. You need to focus on both. Both are important.”
Wen Xuelan’s tone changed as she spoke, unconsciously picking up a hint of disdain: “Don’t be like Wen Han, who’s never even had a girlfriend.”
“Hmm?” Chu Xingxing’s mental question mark grew.
[Wait! Ears perked up!]
[Here comes the gossip!]
[Oh my gosh! A mom exposing her son’s big secret!]
Wen Xuelan: “Sometimes I think it must be extreme opposites. Wen Han looks the most like me of the three brothers, but he didn’t inherit my personality at all. When he was in middle school, I hinted he could start dating. But by the time he was in university, he’d never brought a girl home.
Sigh, it’s not like I’m an old fuddy-duddy. Society is very open now, right? Boys can like boys, girls can like girls…”
Chu Xingxing suppressed a smile and nodded. “Mm-hmm, mm-hmm…”
Wen Xuelan looked frustrated and slapped her thigh. “After he graduated, I thought maybe he was afraid to come out. So I had a serious talk with him, told him it was fine to get a boyfriend. You know what he did? He got angry at me!”
“Pfft…” Chu Xingxing couldn’t hold it in anymore and laughed, covering her mouth.
Ms. Wen Xuelan was seriously trying to “force” her son to learn about love.
Having completely forgotten about the live camera, Wen Xuelan treated Chu Xingxing like her best friend.
She pulled her close and whispered conspiratorially: “Oh, I’m so worried! The other day, I called and asked Wen Han’s second brother. They’re close; he tells him everything. From what his second brother said, Wen Han is twenty-seven now and still a…”
Chu Xingxing: …
The comment section exploded instantly—
[Is this something I can watch for free?!]
[OMG, this is amazing!!! Spread the word! Wen Han is twenty-seven and still a V!]
[Xingxing’s expression is priceless! Hahaha, she looks so conflicted!]
[Chu Xingxing: You might as well delete me…]
[Wen Han: I should be under the car…]
[Xingxing: Who am I? Where am I? What am I supposed to do???]
[Wow, Wen Han is so clean! I’m kind of impressed! But I have a question… for a guy who’s twenty-seven, wouldn’t being a V be bad for his health???]
Before Chu Xingxing could fully process the bombshell information Ms. Wen Xuelan had just shared, she heard a familiar voice near the villa’s viewing platform.
“Mom! You and Xingxing, come up for a minute. We need to figure out the room assignments. It’s getting late, and we still need to go shopping.”
Wen Han had changed into light-colored linen pants and a shirt, and was barefoot. He looked fresh and handsome.
“Coming! My boy!” Ms. Wen Xuelan trotted over happily.
Chu Xingxing grabbed her shoes, her head lowered in awkwardness.
It seemed she couldn’t look at Wen Han the same way for a while…
——-
The seaside villa prepared by the production crew was well-equipped, with minimalist modern decor.
It had its own viewing platform, an outdoor infinity pool, an indoor heated pool, a sauna, jacuzzi, gym, and more.
The first floor had four spacious rooms, each with a private bathroom.
The second floor had two smaller rooms, each with a private bathroom, but there was a connecting door between them.
It was probably designed as a family suite.
Wen Xuelan offered to take the upstairs room with Wen Han, but Chu Xingxing said no.
There was no elevator, and it would be inconvenient for an older lady to climb up and down.
Also, the stairs were made of marble with glass railings, which made Chu Xingxing worry.
Chu Xingxing: “The upstairs rooms are clearly meant for us ‘porters.’ Wen Han and I will take those.”
Since there was a door between the two upstairs rooms, Chu Xingxing wasn’t worried at all.
First, she trusted Wen Han’s character and Ms. Wen Xuelan’s upbringing.
Second, in terms of physical ability, Wen Han was no match for her anyway.
Even if a whole special forces team came through the door, Chu Xingxing could handle them in the dark.
——-
Villa Living Room.
Chu Xingxing and Wen Han helped the old babies move their luggage into their rooms and gave them some time to rest.
It was dinner time, but everyone had eaten on the plane.
Now, too excited to be hungry.
Wen Han suggested resting for half an hour, then driving to the commercial center of Pearl Island to find a large supermarket to buy breakfast ingredients for the week.
Chu Xingxing typed something into Google Maps and showed it to everyone. “I found a big Tesco, it’s like a hypermarket, sells everything.
It’s a fifteen-minute drive at most, with a large parking lot. Next to the supermarket is a commercial street with lots of restaurants and bars. And a three-minute walk away is the biggest night market on Pearl Island.
How about we go there, do our shopping, and by then everyone will be hungry, so we can have dinner nearby?”
The grandmas’ eyes lit up at the mention of restaurants, bars, and a night market.
Jiang Yao rested her chin on her hands, excited: “Sweetie, do you have any recommendations for local specialty restaurants?”
Sheng Shuwen, a dedicated seafood lover, asked: “Xingxing, do the restaurants near there have black pepper crab, prawns as thick as an arm, and raw marinated big-headed shrimp?”
“Xingxing, is there a bar where customers can sing?” Emily was clearly interested in belting out a tune.
“Xingbao, tell us more about these restaurants and bars.” Wen Xuelan was also intrigued.
“Babies, one at a time.” Chu Xingxing pulled out her notebook.
She had done her homework thoroughly, so this small request from the old babies was no problem at all.
Chu Xingxing: “First, for Grandma Xiao Jiang, I’ve compiled a list of nearby specialty restaurants with ratings and signature dishes. Bingo! I’ve sent it to the group chat.”
Chu Xingxing: “Next, for Grandma Sheng, black pepper crab, big prawns, and raw marinated shrimp—most seafood restaurants with good reviews have them. No reservations needed.”
Chu Xingxing: “Now for Grandma Ai, yes, there are several. I’ve sent them to the group chat too. But I just checked, and our villa also has karaoke, so the babies can sing wherever they prefer.”
Chu Xingxing: “Finally, regarding Grandma Wen’s request, I have a few restaurants and bars I personally think are interesting. I’ll introduce them, and if you’re interested, just say stop, okay?”
“Okay!” The old babies sat in a row and answered in unison.
[Wow! Xingxing isn’t just a ‘porter,’ she’s basically a tour guide!]
[I’m really impressed with Chu Xingxing. She’s so good at handling the grandmas. She must have done a lot of research beforehand.]
[Ahhh! Raw marinated shrimp! Huge prawns! Black pepper crab! Sob sob sob, I’m so hungry!]
[Nights on the island are for hitting the night markets! I’ve been to Pearl Island’s night market. There’s a coconut milk pudding ice cream there that’s amazing!]
[Xingxing is so serious and sincere. I really like her!]
Chu Xingxing started introducing them one by one: “The first one is a popular local seafood restaurant specializing in crabs with roe, huge prawns with roe, swimming crabs, small lobsters, cuttlefish roe, grouper, and more. You can choose Chinese-style cooking. They also have seafood congee.
The second is the most famous honey-glazed pork rib restaurant on Pearl Island. The sides are creamy mashed potatoes and grilled corn. Great reviews.
The third is a Western restaurant focusing on Mediterranean flavors. Signature dishes include buttery pan-seared scallops, squid ink rice, garlic langoustines, various Italian paninis, stone-oven pizza…
The fourth is a local-style seafood hotpot. You blanch fresh seafood in a clear broth and dip it in sauces. The flavors are generally on the lighter side…”
Chu Xingxing paused, but the old babies didn’t seem to want her to stop.
Time for the big reveal!
“Ahem…” Clearing her throat, Chu Xingxing continued: “The fifth one. Their food is mainly local cuisine—seafood, meat—it’s above average, but maybe not as good as the others. The advantage is they have a wide variety, a bit of everything.
But, this place has a special feature.
There are one hundred and one local male trainees working there. Netizens call it the ‘Idol 101’ restaurant. At 8:30 PM, they have a fully mic’d live singing and dancing stage performance. At 9:30 PM, there’s a pool party…”
Ms. Wen Xuelan’s eyes widened like saucers: “STOP!!!”
Jiang Yao couldn’t wait to ask: “What’s the pool party like?”
“It’s, um, lots and lots of different male trainees… playing… in a ball pit pool? Apparently, it’s to motivate them to stay in shape. Anyone who loses their six-pack or V-line gets penalized. It’s a harsh but effective method…”
Deciding she wasn’t explaining it well, Chu Xingxing simply pulled up photos on Google Maps and showed them.
The cameraman, being considerate, zoomed in on Chu Xingxing’s phone screen.
As Xingxing’s slender fingers scrolled through the photos, the comment section went wild—
[Nice! I saw several types I like right away!]
[What kind of company is this? Please copy this exactly and bring it over here!]
[Whoa! This is the kind of company the entertainment industry needs to whip idol trainees into shape!]
[Tagging CBM Entertainment here.]
[Please! Idols are supposed to be pleasant to look at! It’s so annoying seeing all these ugly guys with no physique management!]
[Please, please, quickly round up all those untalented, ugly, out-of-shape entertainers in the industry and send them to this ‘boot camp’ (not really).]
“We have to go! We have to go!” Ms. Wen Xuelan’s eyes sparkled.
Ms. Jiang Yao nodded vigorously. “Yes, yes, I’m in!”
“This place has a good variety, seafood and meat, and it’s local cuisine. It seems pretty good. I vote for it.”
Ms. Emily adjusted her reading glasses, trying not to let her excitement show.
The big sister, Ms. Sheng Shuwen, stepped in with a perfectly straight face to make the final decision: “Since everyone agrees, let’s decide on… the ‘Idol 101’ restaurant.”
Chu Xingxing: Yay!!!
Wen Han: ???
