After Being Reborn, the Little Chick Stops Striving [Variety Show with Kids]

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After staying up and writing for three days and nights, Cen Ning died suddenly just as he typed the final period.

His only thought was how regrettable it was that he couldn't crush those foreign devils at next week's meeting.

Cen Ning was a workaholic. Or, to be precise, all three Cen siblings were.

His eldest brother had a PhD with two degrees from Harvard and was preparing to take the company public on Wall Street.

His second brother had graduated from Yale and spoke eight languages fluently, making waves in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

With his brothers as his "inspiration," Cen Ning had been raised like a little chick, always pushed to work harder.

He worked on his talents in kindergarten, his intelligence in elementary school, his grades in middle school, and his academics in university.

Now he had made it into one of the country's top research institutes, only to work himself to death.

Reborn as a three-year-old, Cen Ning swung his little legs. Workaholics die young. Lying flat is the way to happiness.

He knew his two brothers had been unhappy in their previous lives, so he absolutely couldn't let them repeat the same mistakes.

He climbed onto the lap of his aloof, arrogant eldest brother and tugged at the corners of his mouth with his little hands.

"Big Duoduo, be good and smile for Ningbao!"

He hugged his sensitive, uneasy second brother and buried his face in his chest.

"Second Duoduo, hold me! Ningbao loves you!"

Cen Ning was so sweet and soft-hearted that his actor father took him on a parenting variety show to toughen him up.

While the other kids racked their brains to earn rewards, Ningbao curled up in his father's arms and yawned.

While the other kids helped out in the kitchen, Ningbao was kicked out after helping make a mess for the umpteenth time.

While the other kids sang, danced, and showed off their talents, Ningbao clapped his chubby little hands red as part of the cheer squad.

[Is Ningbao just too laid-back? Suddenly I don't want to work so hard anymore.]

[He doesn't just take it easy himself. He even gets all the other kids to slack off with him.]

[The production crew is about to lose it. All the kids are taking it easy along with Ningbao.]

Among the kids recording the variety show was a strikingly handsome mixed-race boy.

As soon as he appeared, all the children were drawn to him and vied to be his little shadow.

They fought over who would be on his team for games, while Ningbao watched from the sidelines, eating snacks and enjoying the show.

"You can work as hard as you like, but in twenty years, he'll still be my husband."

The mixed-race boy suddenly leaned close to Ningbao's face. His lips were red, his teeth white, and he was very handsome.

"Ningbao, don't you want to play with me?"

Ningbao choked on his snack and secretly blushed to the tips of his ears.

"Then I'll work hard! What's there to be afraid of? I'll work hard just this once!"

Bonus Scene:

Twenty years later, Cen Ning stared in horror at the handsome face inches from his own.

"Wait, wait, wait... hold on, this isn't right!"

"Wait? I've waited twenty years. I'm done waiting."

Ian lifted his chin with a teasing finger, his thin lips brushing against the trembling warmth of Cen Ning's.

"Besides, you're an adult. What's wrong with it?"

"I-it... it's just wrong! The position is wrong! I'm supposed to be on top."

Cen Ning's eyes turned crimson, and his fingers nervously twisted the other man's shirt.

Ian raised an eyebrow in surprise, then immediately understood.

"Got it."

"What do you get? Let go of me, you pervert!"

Reading Guide:

1. Updates at 9 p.m. every night before VIP. Afterward, six updates a week or 10,000 words a day.

2. Childhood sweethearts, falling in love over time.

3. Quirky, healing uke versus gentle seme.

4. A sweet, healing bedtime story. Kisses!

Please add Zhuji's next entertainment-industry story to your collections. Thank you so much!

"Come On, Give Me a Smile" by Zhu Guli Tu

Top idol Bai Heng's career collapses over a "dating" scandal.

His manager kicks him into a livestream dating show to distract everyone and pass off a fake romance as real.

But there, he runs into the ex-boyfriend he broke up with years ago, the one he had never gotten over.

Just as he prepares to greet the cold-faced man with casual indifference,

he unexpectedly hears the thoughts of a certain brooding older man.

"Hmph, cheater!"

"Serves you right! Go on, keep showing off! Go flirt with some young hottie!"

Bai Heng has a blast on the dating show, treating it like a game of truth or dare.

He tests the waters again and again, keeping Chu Linfeng on edge and constantly pushing his limits.

The muttered thoughts in his ear never stop, and the more he hears, the more entertaining they are.

"Eat, eat, eat! You'll get a stomachache and die!"

"So much chocolate, and you call yourself an idol? Where's your basic professionalism?"

"Are you stupid? Why didn't you explain when someone framed you?"

"I had to clean up your messes back then, and I still have to do it now. You can't get by without me!"

Even though the two barely interacted or chose each other on the show, the viewers gradually began to notice something.

"The Hengfeng CP is so sweet. They act like they can't stand each other, but they care so much."

"Bai Heng acts all carefree, but the moment he's around Chu Linfeng, he turns into a well-behaved puppy!"

"They barely speak to each other, but they're in practically every scene together. I'm so into them!"

"Everyone, guess what I found? A few years ago, Bai Heng was photographed meeting a mysterious girlfriend at a movie theater. Doesn't that figure look a lot like Actor Chu?"

In the steamy bathroom, Chu Linfeng looked at his reflection in the full-length mirror and gave himself a gentle squeeze.

Not bad. A defined waist, shapely hips, and skin that was smooth and well cared for.

But last night in bed, while Chu Linfeng was cursing Bai Heng as he was worked over, the man on top had suddenly burst out laughing.

Was that normal? Had Bai Heng gotten bored with him again and started laughing at how ridiculous he looked?

He had seen the browsing history on Bai Heng's phone earlier. Should he buy some toys to spice things up?

The bathroom door suddenly swung open with a click.

Before Chu Linfeng could turn around, an arm wrapped firmly around him from behind.

"Baby, you're perfect. You don't need those toys. Or are you doubting my abilities?"

"?????!!!!"

Reading Guide:

1. One-on-one romance. They have always chosen each other. The romance is a misunderstanding.

2. Outwardly wild, inwardly puppy-like seme versus outwardly taciturn, inwardly jealous older uke.

3. Eight-year age gap, younger seme.

"Come On, Give This Lord a Smile" by Zhu Guli Tu

Truth or dare?

Chu Yifei chickened out and promptly chose truth.

"Why are you always picking fights with Xie Haoming? Could it be that you like him?"

"Damn it! I'd rather do a dare."

Ten minutes later, Chu Yifei lifted the chin of the first person to walk through the door.

"Why the long face? Give this lord a smile."

Xie Haoming leaned against the wall and looked down at him, his thin lips curving as he flashed a perfect set of eight teeth.

That night, Chu Yifei had nightmares until dawn.

Rising young star Chu Yifei is embroiled in a sex scandal, and everyone turns on him, eager to keep their distance.

Unexpectedly, he receives an invitation to audition for a hugely popular adaptation.

In front of everyone, the leading actor and director, Xie Haoming, corners him against a wall.

"You've been in the industry all these years, and you still can't smile? Come on, give me a smile."

Chu Yifei's back went cold. He forced a smile, feeling utterly hopeless.

"Xie Haoming, after all these years, are you done playing around?"

Chu Yifei lay on the soft bed, his clothes disheveled, his shoulders and neck partly exposed.

Xie Haoming looked down at him and raised his chin with a fingertip.

"Why the long face? Come on, give this lord a smile."

Reading Guide:

1. One-on-one romance. From the beginning to the end, it's always you. They choose each other and save each other.

2. Outwardly arrogant but inwardly timid uke versus a black-hearted fox seme.

Theme: Find a pace of life that suits you, and cherish the happiness of the present.