Shen Qingyu said, “No need. Room Four is closer to the courtyard. Xiao Nian likes the courtyard.”

Xiao Nian immediately nodded. “I do.”

Xiao Heng added, “Brother adapted quickly to Dad’s explanation.”

Shen Qingyu: “…”

The bullet comments laughed and cried.

【Xiao Heng said the quiet part out loud.】

【Dad is being kind.】

【Barely, he says.】

【Shen Qingyu is allergic to admitting softness.】

【He gave up the better room but made an excuse.】

【This is the vicious omega? Really?】

【Then I want more vicious people like him.】

The room selection ended.

Tang Mianmian had Room Three. Shen Qingyu had Room Four. Xu Zhixia, after some hesitation, chose Room Two for Xu Xingxing. Wen Xuci chose Room Five with a smile, saying he and Nuonuo could manage.

Qin Zhao, who had ranked last but somehow escaped Room Five because Wen Xuci chose it first, looked deeply moved.

“Teacher Wen, you are a good person.”

Wen Xuci smiled. “Room Five has the best view.”

Qin Zhao whispered, “It also has the smallest bed.”

Wen Xuci said gently, “Nuonuo is small.”

Qin Zhao looked at his energetic son.

Qin Xiaochuan flexed his arms. “Dad, I’m not small.”

Qin Zhao sighed. “I know.”

The day’s recording moved toward evening, and the Room One incident, the kitchen sauce incident, and the room exchange challenge had all been captured by the cameras.

Online opinion shifted again, and this time, it shifted faster.

It was not because Shen Qingyu had defended himself with words, but because he had protected children with actions: his own child, and other people’s children too.

That was harder to smear.

The protagonist halo pressed against the edge of the scene, restless and cold.

Shen Qingyu stood in front of Room Four, watching as Lu Jingheng placed their luggage inside. The room was indeed smaller than Room Two, but it was clean, with a large window facing the courtyard and afternoon light falling warmly across the wooden floor.

Xiao Nian liked it immediately.

“Dad, I can see the tree!”

Xiao Heng inspected the bed. “The mattress firmness is acceptable.”

Lu Jingheng placed the twins’ small bags on the chair, then looked at the bed.

There was one large bed, one small child bed, and one foldable cot.

His expression became unreadable.

Shen Qingyu followed his gaze, then smiled. “President Lu, are you calculating sleeping arrangements?”

Lu Jingheng said, “The child bed is enough for one child.”

“Xiao Nian and Xiao Heng can sleep together.”

“They move when sleeping.”

“They are three.”

“They occupy unreasonable space.”

Shen Qingyu stared at him, but Lu Jingheng’s face remained serious.

Xiao Heng raised his hand. “Father’s statement is partially true. Brother does roll.”

Xiao Nian blushed. “I only roll when I dream.”

Shen Qingyu asked, “And what do you dream about?”

Xiao Nian answered softly, “Dad.”

The room quieted, and Shen Qingyu’s expression softened.

Lu Jingheng’s gaze did too.

Then Xiao Heng added, “Sometimes Brother dreams about cake.”

Xiao Nian: “…”

Shen Qingyu laughed.

Outside the room, the evening livestream camera caught the sound through the open door. The viewers did not see everything clearly, but they heard Shen Qingyu laugh.

Soft, helpless, and real.

【He laughed again.】

【Xiao Nian dreams about Dad. My heart.】

【Then Xiao Heng ruined the atmosphere with cake.】

【This family is so funny and so warm.】

【I think I’m becoming a fan.】

【Same.】

【I used to hate Shen Qingyu. Now I want to apologise.】

As night slowly approached Qingshui Village, the guests settled into their rooms.

Director Zhou stood outside Room One with the maintenance team, watching as they tested the heater again.

The machine coughed twice, then died.

His face darkened.

If Shen Qingyu had not asked for a public test…

Director Zhou did not finish that thought, because some things, once imagined, were enough to make a person cold.

He turned to the assistant. “Find out who confirmed this room as ready.”

The assistant nodded. “Yes.”

Director Zhou looked toward the row of guest rooms. The show had only entered its second filming day, but already, he had the uneasy feeling that this programme was no longer simply recording married life.

It was recording a story fighting back against another story.

And Shen Qingyu was standing at the centre of it, not as a villain, but as someone who had finally refused to follow the script.