The village chosen by the programme team was called Qingshui Village.

It was not remote enough to feel desolate, but far enough from the city for the air to carry the smell of winter grass, wood smoke, and damp earth. Low houses lined the stone road, their white walls and grey tiles softened by climbing vines. Behind the village, terraced fields stretched toward the foot of the mountain.

It was the kind of place variety shows loved most: simple enough to create hardship, pretty enough to look healing, and inconvenient enough to make celebrity guests lose their composure on camera.

The programme team had rented several village houses and renovated them lightly. Not enough to destroy the rural atmosphere, but enough to make sure no guest could accuse them of endangering children.

Director Zhou stood beneath an old locust tree at the village entrance, holding a loudspeaker.

“All families have arrived. Welcome to the second stage of The Daily Lives of Married Couples.”

The camera swept across the guests. Tang Mianmian stood with her twin daughters, Tang Tang and Yuan Yuan. Wen Xuci stood beside his niece Wen Nuonuo, one hand resting lightly on her shoulder. Qin Zhao was still checking whether his son Qin Xiaochuan had secretly packed toy cars into the snack bag. Xu Zhixia stood quietly with Xu Xingxing, looking gentle but slightly cautious. And at the far side, Shen Qingyu stood beside Lu Jingheng, with Xiao Nian and Xiao Heng in front of them.

The contrast was almost too strong. Lu Jingheng looked like someone who should be standing in a financial conference, not a village square. Shen Qingyu looked like someone who should be under studio lights, cold and untouchable, not standing beside two tiny suitcases while his sons debated luggage contamination.

But the strange thing was that they did not look out of place.

Lu Jingheng had one hand resting on Xiao Nian’s suitcase handle because Xiao Nian had said it was “a little tired.” Shen Qingyu was listening to Xiao Heng explain why rabbit stickers were an unreliable identification system while occasionally smoothing Xiao Nian’s wind-blown hair.

The picture was quiet, natural, and warm.

The bullet comments were already floating densely across the livestream.

【I swear I was here for gossip. Why does this look like a family documentary?】

【Lu Jingheng holding a rabbit suitcase has healed something in me.】

【President Lu’s hand is worth billions, and now it is transporting a rabbit suitcase.】

【Xiao Nian said the suitcase was tired. I’m gone.】

【Xiao Heng is still fighting the biscuit contamination case.】

【Shen Qingyu looks so calm today.】

【Too calm. I feel like whoever tries to provoke him will die elegantly.】

Director Zhou continued, “Today’s first group task is simple. Each family will choose a room card. The rooms are different in size, comfort, and distance from the shared kitchen. After choosing rooms, everyone will prepare lunch together using ingredients provided by the village.”

Qin Zhao immediately raised his hand. “Director Zhou, are we choosing randomly?”

Director Zhou smiled, and every guest present felt a chill.

“In principle, yes.”

Qin Zhao covered his son’s ears. “When a director says ‘in principle,’ it means someone is about to suffer.”

Tang Mianmian nodded. “Correct.”

Xiao Heng looked up. “This is a high-risk phrase.”

Xiao Nian whispered, “Does it mean the director is lying?”

Shen Qingyu gently covered Xiao Nian’s mouth.

Director Zhou: “…”

The bullet comments laughed until the screen almost shook.

【Xiao Nian, baby, you cannot say that out loud.】

【Director Zhou’s smile cracked.】

【High-risk phrase hahahahaha.】

【The twins are too dangerous for variety shows. They expose adult euphemisms.】

Director Zhou cleared his throat.

“The children will draw the room cards. Parents may not interfere.”

At once, every adult looked at the children, and the children looked back with varying levels of confidence.

Tang Tang was excited. Yuan Yuan looked nervous. Qin Xiaochuan had already begun praying for a room with a television. Wen Nuonuo quietly held Wen Xuci’s hand, while Xu Xingxing hid half behind Xu Zhixia.

Xiao Nian looked up at Shen Qingyu. “Dad, what kind of room should we choose?”

Shen Qingyu said, “Whichever you draw is fine.”

Xiao Heng added, “The outcome is random. Worrying before probability resolves has limited value.”

Xiao Nian thought for a moment. “Then I won’t worry.”

Lu Jingheng nodded. “Good.”

Shen Qingyu looked at him. “Don’t turn room selection into a boardroom.”

Lu Jingheng paused. “Understood.”

The children walked forward one by one, and Director Zhou held out a wooden box with several envelopes inside. Tang Tang drew first.

“Room Two!”

Yuan Yuan clapped and Qin Xiaochuan drew second.

“Room Five!”

Qin Zhao immediately asked, “Is Room Five good?”

Director Zhou smiled. “All rooms have their own characteristics.”

Qin Zhao covered his heart. “That means bad.”

Wen Nuonuo drew Room Three. Xu Xingxing drew Room Four. Finally, it was Xiao Nian and Xiao Heng’s turn. Xiao Nian wanted to draw, but then he looked at his brother.

“Xiao Heng, you choose. Your probability is better.”

Xiao Heng frowned. “Luck is not probability control.”

“But you look more reliable.”

Xiao Heng considered this, then accepted the box solemnly. He reached in and pulled out an envelope. The camera zoomed in, and the envelope opened.

Room One.

Director Zhou’s expression shifted very subtly. Very, very subtly. But Shen Qingyu caught it and so did Lu Jingheng.

So did the bullet comments, because variety-show viewers were detectives when they wanted to be.

【Director Zhou’s eyebrow moved.】

【Room One has a problem.】

【Definitely.】

【I bet Room One is either the best or the worst.】

【With Shen Qingyu’s luck? Worst.】

【Don’t say that. Yesterday already proved his life was scripted by suffering.】

【Why does that sound accurate but painful?】

A staff member standing near Director Zhou lowered his head and checked the room list, then glanced at Shen Qingyu’s family.

His expression changed too. It was not obvious, but it was enough.

Director Zhou frowned.

He had personally checked the room cards that morning. Room One should have been a mid-level room, not too good and not too bad. The best room was Room Three. The most difficult was Room Five. Room One should have been safe.

But now the staff member’s face said otherwise.

Director Zhou asked quietly, “What happened?”

The staff member leaned over and whispered, “Room One’s heater had a problem during the last check. Maintenance said it was fixed, but just now the village staff said it may still be unstable.”

Director Zhou’s expression darkened. “Why wasn’t this reported earlier?”

The staff member’s face paled. “I… I thought logistics had told you.”

Director Zhou looked toward Shen Qingyu.

At that exact moment, Shen Qingyu felt it: a faint, unpleasant pressure, like an invisible hand smiling as it pushed a chess piece.

The protagonist halo. It had not disappeared after yesterday. It had followed them into the village. Shen Qingyu lowered his eyes. So that was the first move.

A room problem. Not dramatic enough to look malicious, not dangerous enough to cause immediate outrage. But if the room was cold and the children caught a chill, public opinion could turn. If Shen Qingyu complained, he would be called difficult. If Lu Jingheng intervened, they would be called privileged. If they endured it and the twins became unwell, the halo would have touched his bottom line.

Shen Qingyu smiled faintly. It truly knew how to choose. The staff member responsible for guest guidance stepped forward. This staff member was young, with a soft face and a polite smile. Her name tag read Liu Xin. She looked at the room card in Xiao Heng’s hand and said gently, “Teacher Shen, you drew Room One. This room is a little farther from the shared kitchen, but it has a nice view. The children should like it.” Her tone was sweet. Too sweet. Almost rehearsed. Shen Qingyu looked at her.

“Is that all?”

Liu Xin’s smile froze for a fraction of a second.

The bullet comments reacted immediately.

【Wait.】

【Shen Qingyu noticed something.】

【Why did he ask that?】

【The staff looked guilty.】

【Is Room One bad?】

Liu Xin quickly recovered. “Yes. All rooms were prepared by the programme team in advance. Teacher Shen, please don’t worry.”

Shen Qingyu’s smile did not change.

“Then why did Director Zhou ask what happened?”

Liu Xin’s expression stiffened, and Director Zhou looked up sharply.

The bullet comments exploded.

【Ohhhhhhh.】

【He heard it.】

【Shen Qingyu’s ears are terrifying.】

【No, the staff was just careless.】

【Careless? With children’s accommodation?】

Liu Xin clasped the folder in her hands.

“Teacher Shen, there may have been a small communication issue, but it won’t affect filming.”

Shen Qingyu nodded slowly.

“A small communication issue.”

His voice was light, and Liu Xin somehow felt cold. At that moment, Shen Qingyu turned his head toward Director Zhou.

“Director Zhou, may I ask directly?”

Director Zhou knew at once that he could not smooth this over. He respected direct people. They were troublesome, but at least they did not rot quietly.

He said, “Room One’s heater may be unstable. I just found out.”

The village square fell silent. Tang Mianmian’s expression changed immediately.

“There are children staying there.”

Wen Xuci also frowned. “Has it been tested?”

The logistics staff began sweating.

Liu Xin hurriedly said, “It was repaired earlier. It may not be a serious issue. Besides, the village has extra blankets—”

Before she could finish, Xiao Heng raised his head.

“How low does the temperature drop at night?”

Liu Xin froze. “What?”

Xiao Heng’s small face was serious. “If the heater is unstable, the risk depends on outdoor temperature, room insulation, duration of exposure, and whether occupants are children or adults.”

Xiao Nian looked worried. “Will we be cold?”

Lu Jingheng’s gaze lowered, and the temperature around him seemed to fall before the actual night did.

Liu Xin instinctively took half a step back.

The bullet comments rushed across the screen.

【Xiao Heng is right.】

【He’s three and he understands risk assessment better than the staff.】

【Extra blankets are not a solution for unstable heating when children are involved.】

【Why did the staff try to hide it?】

【This is not okay.】

【Wait, why do I feel like Shen Qingyu always gets the short end of the stick?】

【Yesterday: scandal question. Today: faulty room. Coincidence?】

The halo pressed faintly against the air. It wanted something. It wanted impatience, anger, a sharp phrase that could be clipped, a cold expression that could be labelled arrogant. Shen Qingyu knew this rhythm too well, so he remained calm.He walked to Xiao Nian and crouched down, smoothing the child’s wind-ruffled hair.

“Are you scared?”

Xiao Nian shook his head, then nodded, then shook his head again.

“I’m not scared if Dad is here.”

Shen Qingyu’s eyes softened.

Xiao Heng said, “Fear is unnecessary before verification. But preventive action is necessary.”

Shen Qingyu almost laughed.

He touched Xiao Heng’s head too. “Correct.”

Then he stood. When he faced the staff again, the softness disappeared.

“Director Zhou, I don’t need a better room. I don’t need special treatment. But since this is a parent-child programme, the basic safety condition for children should not depend on luck.”

His voice was steady, not loud, not aggressive, but every word landed clearly.

“If Room One is safe, please test it publicly. If it is unsafe, then no family should live there.”

The square was quiet. Director Zhou looked at him for a second, then nodded.

“Reasonable.”

Liu Xin’s face changed. “Director Zhou, if we delay room allocation, the lunch task—”

Director Zhou turned to her. “Is lunch more important than children’s safety?”

Liu Xin stopped speaking.

The bullet comments immediately applauded.

【Good.】

【Director Zhou handled that well.】

【Shen Qingyu didn’t ask to switch rooms. He asked to test it publicly.】

【This is so reasonable.】

【If this were me, I would already be yelling.】

【He is really calm.】

【Too calm. This kind of calm is scarier.】

Qin Zhao raised his hand weakly. “Director Zhou, while we’re testing, can we also check Room Five? I have a bad feeling.”

Director Zhou looked at him. “Room Five has no heater problem.”

Qin Zhao sighed in relief.

“It only has the smallest bed.”

Qin Zhao: “…”

Tang Mianmian laughed. “Congratulations.”

Qin Xiaochuan looked up. “Dad, you can sleep on the floor.”

Qin Zhao clutched his chest. “Son, your filial piety is thin.”

Xiao Heng looked at him. “Floor sleeping may cause back pain.”

Qin Zhao immediately pointed at Xiao Heng. “See? This child cares about me more than my own son.”

Xiao Heng continued, “But if the room lacks space, floor sleeping may be the only feasible option.”

Qin Zhao: “…”

The bullet comments revived.

【Xiao Heng gives comfort then withdraws it.】

【His kindness has conditions.】

【Qin Zhao’s soul left his body.】

【This show is already worth watching.】

Because Room One needed inspection, Director Zhou decided to let the families place their luggage in the village courtyard first and begin the lunch task.

The shared kitchen was a large renovated farmhouse kitchen with two long wooden tables, several clay stoves, an induction cooker, and baskets of ingredients prepared by the villagers.

The task was simple. Each family had to make one dish. The dishes would be shared for lunch, and children had to participate.

The moment the rule was announced, all adults looked at their children with different expressions.

Tang Mianmian’s twins cheered.

Qin Xiaochuan asked if instant noodles counted. Wen Nuonuo quietly asked whether she could wash tomatoes. Xu Xingxing hid behind Xu Zhixia and whispered that she could peel garlic.