The internet had exploded over the cast lineup of the new parenting variety show.
Traveling with Babies had announced a lineup that was nothing short of legendary: international award-winning pianist Ye Yao, renowned director Chang Yi, veteran actor Qu Mingshan and on top of that, popular idol Ke Jingyang would be appearing on a variety show for the first time. Even more shocking was that retired film queen Zhang Huijin was making a public appearance again after years out of the spotlight.
Zhang Huijin had been a seasoned veteran of the entertainment industry, rising to the top of Tianhao Entertainment and even winning Best Actress before retiring five years ago. Yet many of her loyal fans had never stopped supporting her. So when the show officially announced the cast, her Weibo was instantly flooded with welcome-back messages and speculation about whether this meant a full comeback.
On the other side of the topic's center, Ke Jingyang's Weibo had a rather peculiar style—
"Did the production team call the wrong person? Why is our King on a parenting reality show?!"
King was what Ke Jingyang’s fans called him. On any stage, he was always the brightest presence, born to perform, a true stage king.
"...Yeah, it's really hard to imagine King as a dad. I'm so afraid his image in my mind will be overturned."
"You're overthinking it upstairs. I think you should be worried about the safety of that ordinary child. It would be a miracle if King's bad temper could handle taking care of a child."
"Hahahaha, I can already imagine King's steel-straight-man style of taking care of a child on the show. That selected kid is really miserable."
"Kid is really miserable +1."
"Kid is really miserable +2."
"Kid is really miserable +3."
"Kid is really miserable +10086."
"..."
Ke Jingyang’s bad temper was infamous both inside and outside the industry. Now he was going to be on a parenting show? Even his fans joked that he’d probably tear the whole set down this time.
The comments under his Weibo were also mostly inclined towards shock at Ke Jingyang's participation in a parent-child reality show.
Among them, some netizens occasionally speculated that Ke Jingyang was participating in the parent-child reality show with his illegitimate daughter, that little girl in the leaked photos. However, Ke Jingyang's fans quickly and collectively retorted against this point.
The official Weibo post from the production team clearly stated that their King was just an intern dad, and that the little girl was selected from many ordinary children. Why were they spreading rumors out of nowhere?
Ke Jingyang’s female fans were not to be messed with. Anyone trying to stir the pot got shut down so fast, they didn’t dare say another word.
But then, another behind-the-scenes photo suddenly went viral, all thanks to a Weibo post:
【XiaoXiaoLovesPhotography:“Ran into King at the Sishui Ancient Town this afternoon during a shoot. The way he interacted with the two kids was so sweet~ [Picture]】
XiaoXiaoLovesPhotography was a travel blogger with over a hundred thousand followers. She usually posted photos of her and her best friend traveling to various scenic spots at home and abroad, such as the scenery and people along the way, and all kinds of delicious, fun, and interesting things. Because her photos were vivid and well-composed, many people followed her, and she had accumulated over a hundred thousand followers in less than half a year.
Longtime followers knew that she and her bestie had gone to Sishui Ancient Town that week and would usually post pictures after returning from a trip. Around 5 PM that day, a new Weibo post popped on their screen.
Just when they thought it was just an ordinary Weibo post, no different from the blogger's usual photos of traveling with her best friend, they took a closer look and realized they were completely wrong!
The people in the photo this time were not the blogger and her best friend... but Ke Jingyang?!
Xiao Xiao had initially become a fan of Ke Jingyang because of his looks and music. A few years ago, she was dragged into one of Ke Jingyang's fan clubs by her best friend, a die-hard King fan, where she met many like-minded people. Therefore, there were also some fans under her Weibo who liked Ke Jingyang as much as her.
Xiao Xiao of course didn't post a photo of her and her best friend with Ke Jingyang, but just a photo of Ke Jingyang's profile that they took before they went to get his autograph.
In the picture, he was dressed casually, holding hands with a cute little girl, head bowed as he looked at her. His eyes and expression were soft, perhaps even a little helpless which gave his sharp features a surprising gentleness. His dazzling silver-gray hair had also been dyed back to black, making him look completely different from his usual public image.
"Ahhhhhhh! What did I just see?!"
"I was wrong. I originally thought that a man like King with an unruly appearance would never match with soft and cute children. I was still hesitating whether I should watch this variety show after it aired. It's only been a few hours, and I've already been slapped in the face. It smells so good.jpg"
"Wuwuwuwuwu, King is so good-looking! He looks good in any outfit. Does anyone know when this variety show will air? I'm definitely watching it!"
"Blogger, come out! Your Weibo is on fire!! Are there any other photos? We want to see more photos of King filming the variety show, ahhhhh!"
"Sisters, am I the only one who wants to buy a plane ticket and rush to Sishui Ancient City right now?! We still have to dream of meeting our idol on the street. What if we realize it like the blogger?!"
Not long after Xiao Xiao's Weibo post was published, someone sent the photo of Ke Jingyang taking care of the children to the fan group, and then everyone in the group exploded. Seeing this photo, fans who said they were touched by the cuteness ran to XiaoXiaoLovesPhotography's Weibo to leave comments, saying they wanted to see more photos!!
The popularity of this Weibo post was still rising.
The power of Weibo’s trending list was real. Thanks to Ke Jingyang, a ton of people got to know about the parenting variety show Traveling with Babies. Even the production team hadn’t anticipated just how big a splash his involvement would make. Ke Jingyang had never appeared on any variety show before. He rarely even did interviews, so they had no idea he’d stir up this much buzz.
But to be honest, if rising star Zhu Rendong hadn’t suddenly backed out at the last minute, and if they hadn’t been scrambling for a replacement, producer Yi Zhuo probably wouldn’t have dared to let Ke Jingyang join the cast.
…
The next morning, the filming of the first episode of Traveling with Babies came to an end.
The guests got up early to cooperate with the staff to record a closing statement, and then took a group photo together before returning to their respective homes. They took the same private plane when they came to film the show, but because they were not going to the same place for the return trip, and everyone had other schedules, they were not on the same flight.
"Auntie Xiao Tang, am I allowed to go back and see Mom now?" Gu Suisui blinked her big, watery eyes and asked in an innocent tone.
Although this place was also very fun, with Big Brother and a group of little friends to play with her, but... she still wanted to see her mom.
She hadn’t seen her mom for nearly two whole days and could only borrow Auntie Tang’s phone for a few minutes at night to talk to her.
Tang Jiu squatted down, touched her hair, and said softly, "Yes, our Suisui will be able to see her mom soon."
This child in front of her was much easier to take care of than she imagined. Tang Jiu hardly had to put in any effort to take care of her.
Gu Suisui was excited when she heard the news, “Yay! That’s great!” ( /≧▽≦/)～
Gu Suisui had specially saved two pieces of the dragon's beard candy that Ke Jingyang gave her yesterday, waiting to give them to her mom, Feng Yaoqin, once she got home. She’d been thinking about it all day.
==
As soon as he got off the plane, Ke Jingyang immediately put on his sunglasses, went through the VIP channel to the underground parking lot, and got into a van parked in the corner.
"Brother Yang, how was your experience participating in the variety show?" The speaker was Ke Jingyang's assistant. Because the female fans were too crazy, Lu Yuanzhi hired male assistants for him.
Ke Jingyang looked disgusted: "..." Experience?! All I did was babysit the whole time!!
At the thought that he still had to film the second episode next week, Ke Jingyang suddenly felt like he had lost the will to live.
The assistant sitting in the passenger seat suddenly remembered something and told him about yesterday's hot search event.
It was about the photo of him taking care of two cute little kids that went viral.
After hearing this, Ke Jingyang almost couldn't catch his breath: "...??!" What to do, he felt even more suffocated!!
Ke Jingyang, who originally planned to go back to his house to rest, temporarily changed his mind and went to Manager Lu's apartment in the city center in a menacing manner.
"Ke Jingyang, you're something else. You've gotten me on the hot search again this time." Lu Yuanzhi pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses. Today, when he said this, he no longer had the same expression as before, as if he was going to clean up a mess again, but with a hint of obvious playfulness.
Hearing his gloating tone, Ke Jingyang rolled his eyes and said indignantly, "Isn't it because of this parent-child reality show that you, my manager, signed me up for?!"
He had seen the content on the Weibo hot search on the way here. In fact, yesterday at noon, when he ate the roasted sweet potato that a fan bought by taking advantage of the opportunity to take a photo with him in front of the cameraman, he thought that this day would come.
Even if those two girls who came to him for autographs didn't post this photo, the production team wouldn't let go of this great opportunity.
Damn it!
There goes my lifelong reputation!!
Looking at his expression, Lu Yuanzhi couldn't hold back his laughter anymore and laughed loudly: "Hahaha, I think your performance in this parent-child variety show is quite loving. I've known you for so many years, how come I didn't know you were so good at taking care of children."
Ke Jingyang had been a little wild devil since he was a kid. If a day passed without him causing trouble, it felt like something was missing. Lu Yuanzhi had never seen him wear that kind of exasperated yet soft expression like in the photo.
Sure enough, there really is always something that can tame even the wildest.
It seems that only an innocent child like Gu Suisui who is ignorant of the world can control this brat.