After a while, she said, “Director Zhou confirmed the protection measures. The livestream has a delay system. If the children are distressed, you can signal the staff.”

“Good.”

“The first day is mainly arrival and settling in. The other guests will arrive around the same time.”

“Mn.”

Fang Yao hesitated before she said, “Shen Jianing is on the guest list.”

Shen Qingyu’s hand paused on Xiao Chen’s small jacket. In the room, Lu Jingheng looked over immediately, and the twins also became quiet.

Shen Qingyu’s expression did not change. “With whose child?”

“His eldest brother’s son. The official reason is that his brother and sister-in-law are busy, so he is helping bring the child for a family-observation theme.”

“How thoughtful.”

Fang Yao heard the faint coldness in his voice. “Did you know?”

“I guessed.”

“Director Zhou said the guest list was finalised before your confirmation.”

“I believe him.”

“You do?”

“I believe the timing is inconvenient for him too.”

Fang Yao sighed. That was true. From a director’s perspective, putting Shen Qingyu and Shen Jianing on the same show meant explosive traffic, but also explosive risk. If handled badly, the entire show would become a battlefield.

Shen Qingyu lowered his eyes and zipped Xiao Chen’s jacket into the suitcase.

“Teacher Fang.”

“Mn?”

“You don’t need to worry.”

Fang Yao almost laughed from anger. “I am your agent. Worrying is my job.”

“Then worry less.”

“Impossible.”

Shen Qingyu smiled. “Then worry usefully.”

Fang Yao paused. This was exactly the Shen Qingyu she knew: calm, sharp, infuriating, and still able to cut people while standing in the middle of a storm.

She finally said, “Fine. I’ll worry usefully. Be careful around Shen Jianing.”

“I know.”

“Don’t let him lead your rhythm.”

“He can’t.”

“Don’t underestimate him.”

“I won’t.”

“Don’t overreact.”

Shen Qingyu looked at the children. Xiao Heng was checking luggage labels, Xiao Nian was attempting to hide a small dinosaur toy inside Xiao Chen’s baby supply case, and Xiao Chen was sitting on the carpet, clapping at nothing.

Shen Qingyu’s voice softened. “I’m not going for him.”

Fang Yao understood. He was going for the children.

That made him calmer, and more dangerous.

Before leaving, Lu Jingheng checked the luggage one final time.

The villa entrance had become a small logistics centre. There were three large suitcases, two children’s suitcases, one baby supply case, one medical case, one snack bag, one insulated food bag, and one folder of legal documents that Shen Qingyu had explicitly said was unnecessary for a parenting variety show.

Lu Jingheng said, “In case.”

Shen Qingyu looked at him. “In case of what? The village chief requests a merger agreement?”

Lu Jingheng said, “Rumour evidence.”

Shen Qingyu paused.

The folder contained records preserved from the school incident, public posts made by Zhou Cheng’s mother, screenshots of malicious accounts involving the children, and legal notices ready but not yet sent.

He said nothing for a moment. Then he reached out and straightened Lu Jingheng’s collar.

The movement was natural, and the butler and assistants nearby immediately lowered their eyes with professional blindness.

Lu Jingheng stood still. Shen Qingyu’s fingers were cool against his throat.

“Thank you,” Shen Qingyu said softly.

Lu Jingheng looked at him. “You don’t need to thank me.”

“I know.”

“Then why?”

“Because I want to.”

Lu Jingheng fell silent. His gaze lowered slightly, landing on Shen Qingyu’s lips before moving away.

The children were present. The staff were present. The doorway was not the place.

Therefore, Lu Jingheng only raised his hand and gently touched Shen Qingyu’s hair, smoothing a loose strand behind his ear.

It was a small gesture, but to anyone watching, it would have been impossible to mistake. This was not a cold sponsor and a dependent Omega, not an old wealthy man and a decorative spouse, and not a miserable hidden marriage. This was habit, the kind formed through years of mornings, nights, fevers, pregnancies, children, arguments, reconciliations, and shared rooms.

Shen Qingyu’s expression softened.

Xiao Heng looked at them and said calmly, “Estimated departure delay: three minutes.”

Xiao Nian added, “If Father and Dad continue looking at each other, five minutes.”

Shen Qingyu turned his head. “Lu Yinian.”

Xiao Nian smiled sweetly. “I am helping with time management.”

Lu Jingheng picked up Xiao Chen, who had crawled dangerously close to a suitcase wheel. Xiao Chen immediately grabbed his tie.

“Ba!”

Lu Jingheng lowered his head. “Mn.”

Xiao Chen pulled the tie toward his mouth.

Lu Jingheng stopped him with one finger. “No.”

Xiao Chen stared, and then his eyes slowly filled with tears.

Xiao Nian whispered, “Emotional attack incoming.”

Xiao Heng nodded. “Father’s success probability is low.”

Lu Jingheng looked at the baby. Xiao Chen looked back with trembling lips.

Three seconds later, Lu Jingheng removed a clean teething toy from the baby bag and placed it in Xiao Chen’s hand.

Xiao Chen accepted the substitute and stopped crying immediately.

Xiao Heng said, “Successful defence.”

Xiao Nian said, “Barely.”

Shen Qingyu laughed and walked toward the car.

The morning sun fell over the villa entrance. For a brief moment, everything looked ordinary: a family leaving for a trip, parents checking luggage, children arguing about snacks, and a baby chewing a toy.

There were no hot searches, no old rumours, and no waiting audience. There was only home.

Then Shen Qingyu stepped into the car, and the ordinary morning began moving toward the camera.

The drive to Qinghe Village took nearly three hours.

At first, Xiao Chen was excited. He sat in his child safety seat, holding a soft rabbit toy and babbling at the window as trees, buildings, and cars moved past.

After twenty minutes, he became sleepy. After thirty minutes, he became angry at being sleepy. After thirty-five minutes, he began calling for Shen Qingyu.

“Da… Da…”

Shen Qingyu reached over and held his small hand. “I’m here.”

Xiao Chen sniffed.

Lu Jingheng, seated beside Shen Qingyu, adjusted the baby blanket.

Xiao Heng sat in the back row with his tablet, reading the show rules again. Xiao Nian leaned beside him, pretending to read, though he was actually studying the snack bag.

Xiao Heng said without looking up, “Dad said snacks after arrival.”

Xiao Nian sighed. “Brother, your surveillance ability is excessive.”

“You stared at the bag for eleven seconds.”

“I was appreciating the packaging.”

“The packaging is transparent.”

Xiao Nian smiled. “Then I appreciated the contents.”

Shen Qingyu closed his eyes and leaned back.

Lu Jingheng looked at him. “Tired?”

“A little.”

“Sleep.”

“We’ll arrive soon.”

“Two hours.”

“That is not soon.”

“Enough to sleep.”

Shen Qingyu turned his head and looked at him. Lu Jingheng had already taken out a small blanket.

Shen Qingyu was silent for two seconds. “Did you pack that for me?”

“Yes.”

“How many blankets did you pack?”

Lu Jingheng did not answer immediately.

Xiao Heng raised his head. “Three.”

Xiao Nian corrected him. “Four. One is in the snack bag.”

Lu Jingheng: “…”

Shen Qingyu laughed softly. “President Lu, anxiety with textiles.”

Lu Jingheng placed the blanket over him. “Preparation.”

Shen Qingyu did not argue this time.

The car moved steadily along the road. Xiao Chen’s fingers curled around his, while Lu Jingheng’s pheromones remained restrained and calm beside him.

For a while, Shen Qingyu really slept. It was not deep, but it was enough.

When he woke, the scenery outside had changed. Tall buildings had disappeared, the road had narrowed, green hills rose in the distance, and fields stretched out beneath the pale afternoon sky. Qinghe Village sat beside a river, with old houses and grey roofs scattered along the water, while faint smoke rose from a few chimneys.

The production team’s cars were parked near the village entrance. Staff members moved equipment between vans, and a large banner hung near the entrance.

Our Little Home — Qinghe Village Filming Location

The moment their car approached, cameras turned.

They were not the livestream cameras yet, only filming crew, preview material, and staff documentation, but Shen Qingyu still felt the shift. The air outside the car had changed.

The camera had a temperature: cold, sharp, and expectant.

He had not faced one like this in five years.

Lu Jingheng looked at him, his voice low. “I’m here.”

Shen Qingyu glanced at him, then smiled. “I know.”

Lu Jingheng would not appear in the first village filming unless necessary. This part of the show focused on the celebrity parent bringing children to the location, while he would stay behind or appear through calls depending on the production arrangement.

Shen Qingyu knew what he meant. Not physically in front of the camera, but behind him, at the boundary, at home, in every prepared suitcase, every legal document, every warm cup of milk, and every child who knew they were loved.

The car stopped.

Outside, a staff member hurried forward. Fang Yao was already waiting near the entrance, wearing sunglasses and an expression that said she had scolded at least three people before noon.

When Shen Qingyu stepped out, the wind lifted the edge of his coat. The cameras caught him instantly.

He wore a simple light-coloured sweater beneath a long coat, with his black hair falling softly over his forehead. His face was still as beautiful as the public remembered, but less distant than five years ago. There was a maturity to him now, a quiet steadiness carved from years of private life.

Then the twins got out.

Xiao Heng came first, his small face calm, posture straight, and eyes scanning the surroundings with silent assessment.

Xiao Nian came second, sweet-faced and smiling, one hand holding a small backpack, his bright curiosity somehow making the nearest staff member straighten instinctively.

Finally, Shen Qingyu bent into the car and lifted Xiao Chen out.

The baby had just woken up. His soft hair was slightly messy, one cheek was flushed from sleep, and his little hands immediately wrapped around Shen Qingyu’s neck.

“Da…”

Shen Qingyu adjusted the baby’s small hat. “I’m here.”

The scene was quiet for half a second, and even the staff seemed to pause.

Then Fang Yao walked over and lowered her voice. “Ready?”

Shen Qingyu looked toward the village entrance. Behind the main camera, a monitor showed the livestream-preview room. The full livestream had not officially started, but the arrival preview had opened.

Bullet comments were already rolling.

【He’s here!】
【Finally. Let’s see how fake this is.】
【The kids look expensive.】
【Of course they do. Lu family heirs.】
【Shen Qingyu really brought three children…】
【That baby is cute though.】
【Don’t be fooled. Cute children can still be badly raised.】
【The cold twin looks exactly like the one in the school video.】
【The smiling one is more suspicious.】
【Shen Qingyu still looks arrogant.】
【He just got out of the car. What arrogance did you see?】
【His face.】
【Hahaha anti-fans are now attacking facial structure.】
【I’m waiting for him to collapse.】
【Same.】
【Same.】

Shen Qingyu could not see the comments. He did not need to.

He had lived under that gaze before, and he knew its shape.

He held Xiao Chen securely in one arm and reached his other hand toward the twins. Xiao Heng naturally took two fingers, while Xiao Nian took the edge of his coat instead, then looked up with a sweet smile.

“Dad.”

“Mn?”

“Are they watching?”

Shen Qingyu lowered his eyes. “Yes.”

Xiao Nian’s smile became brighter. “Then we should be polite.”

Xiao Heng said calmly, “Polite does not mean inaccurate.”

Shen Qingyu looked at the two of them, then laughed softly.

“No,” he said. “It does not.”

Fang Yao exhaled, though not from relief. It was from the realisation that the first battlefield had officially opened.

Shen Qingyu lifted his gaze and walked toward Qinghe Village with his three children. Behind him, the car door closed. In front of him, the cameras waited.

The whole internet had come to watch him fall.

Shen Qingyu stepped into the frame calmly, as if he had only come to take his children on a trip.