"Ah, I'm truly blessed with good fortune," Chen Tianming said with relish as he emerged from the studio.
"Director, we thought you'd be holed up in the studio forever," Cui Mantong teased. "Even though you're the director, you can't slack off."
"Nonsense, I have plenty to do," Chen Tianming replied with a straight face. "I strategize and I supervise all of you."
"Hahaha," Cui Mantong chuckled, handing the large lobster to Chen Tianming. "Alright, to thank the director for his guidance, we'll give the biggest lobster to the director."
Chen Tianming took the lobster without hesitation, though he mumbled, "I don't deserve it, I don't deserve it."
"You say you don't deserve it, but you're faster than anyone to grab it."
"Everyone, dig in and taste the culinary skills of our Miao Miao."
As soon as the words fell, the staff swarmed out.
They started eating, each person grabbing a portion with their chopsticks.
"Wow, Teacher Fang, your cooking is amazing!" exclaimed a female staff member who ate first, her eyes widening after a bite. "Oily but not greasy, so delicious."
"This dipping sauce with the shrimp is absolutely divine."
Meanwhile, on the other side.
Watching the staff happily eating in the yard, the tantalizing aroma constantly tempting their taste buds, Chen Jiabao's eyes turned red. "I want to eat too."
Normally, Shen Jiani would have comforted Chen Jiabao immediately, but she was preoccupied with the phone call she just received and had no energy to console him.
Seeing no one paying attention to him, Chen Jiabao couldn't contain his anger. He clenched his fist and struck Shen Jiani.
Shen Jiani felt a sharp pain on her face. She came back to her senses and saw Chen Jiabao glaring at her furiously. "Jiabao, what are you doing?"
"I want to eat, I want to eat seafood, go get it for me," Chen Jiabao commanded as if it were his right.
If Shen Jiani had been more capable, why would he be starving now? Since that was the case, she should go get him food, wasn't that only natural?
Shen Jiani's expression soured at being hit by her own son in front of so many people, but she had no choice but to suppress her displeasure and comfort Chen Jiabao. "Be good, your father will be here soon. Shall we go back to the hotel for a seafood feast?"
"I don't want to, I want to eat now."
"Jiabao, be obedient."
Chen Jiabao ignored her and turned to Chen Panpan. "You, go get it for me."
Chen Panpan turned away. She absolutely refused. If it weren't for Jiabao, she would have been enjoying the seafood feast with everyone else right now. Having to beg for something in front of so many people, she refused. It was too embarrassing.
"Chen Panpan."
The argument quickly drew the attention of those eating.
But no one paid much mind. Seriously, the director had already hinted that new guests would be arriving later.
Would they be out of their minds to abandon their delicious food to deal with those two ill-mannered children?
"Miao Miao, I've made arrangements. The substitute guests will arrive at the program team first thing tomorrow morning."
Fang Miaomiao's lips curved into a half-smile as she looked at Chen Tianming. "Director, have you made a decision?"
Chen Tianming chuckled awkwardly. "Everyone makes mistakes sometimes. However, I don't think those two will let you off easily. As for Fang Yan Huan..."
He had heard some gossip about Fang Yan Huan and Fang Miaomiao, but seeing Fang Yan Huan's demure appearance, she probably wouldn't do anything outrageous. Furthermore, she was someone the investors explicitly wanted to keep. Even if he had the ability, he couldn't directly fall out with the investors.
"What about Fang Yan Huan?"
"Fang Yan Huan might not be able to leave," Chen Tianming guaranteed. "However, she's quite well-behaved, and you can rest assured that the substitute guests I've vetted have impeccable character."
"The director's preparation work is quite thorough," Fang Miaomiao said with a meaningful smile.
"Of course."
Chen Tianming said proudly.
Ever since Wen Zhiyan called him, he had a premonition that things would develop in an unpredictable direction. Therefore, at that moment, he decided to stand with Wen Zhiyan, or rather, Fang Miaomiao.
If he didn't cling to the Wen family's powerful influence now, when would he?
"I told you to get me something, do you hear me?"
Chen Jiabao was furious.
Back then, at home, he could have whatever he wanted, rain or shine. No one dared to interfere with him or bully him.
Now, after just participating in a show, not only were outsiders bullying him, but his own mother wasn't siding with him, and even his sister, who usually listened to him, was ignoring him.
Why? Why? Grandma clearly told him he was the boss, and everyone had to obey him.
"Chen Panpan, how dare you disobey me? I'll beat you to death."
As his words fell, everyone froze.
A seven-year-old child? Swearing now?
"Chen Jiabao, what did you just say? Say it to me again."
A roar of fury came from outside the yard.
Everyone subconsciously turned their heads to look. A middle-aged man, about 1.7 meters tall, with a protruding belly and dressed in a black suit, stood at the yard entrance with a dark expression.
"Old... Old husband, you're here," Shen Jiani stood up from her seat and habitually pulled Chen Jiabao behind her. "You, how did you get here so quickly?"
"Damn it." The middle-aged man strode forward and slapped Shen Jiani in front of everyone. "Shen Jiani, look what you've turned my son into! 'My son' this and 'my son' that, is this the result of your upbringing?"
"Husband, it's not like that," Shen Jiani ignored the burning pain on her cheek. "Hear me out."
"Explain, explain what? Shen Jiani, we'll settle some scores when we get home."
Damn it, if this woman hadn't been so incapable of raising their child, he wouldn't have been woken up by countless phone calls while enjoying himself.
Thinking about how his assistant told him that a project they had been following for half a year was snatched away by someone else, he still didn't know that Shen Jiani and their son had caused a huge mess outside.
However, his most important task now wasn't to settle scores with this wretched woman, but to make amends.
With this thought, the middle-aged man forcibly suppressed his inner anger, tidied his clothes, and walked towards Fang Miaomiao and the others with a polite smile.
"Greetings, Madam Fang."
Fang Miaomiao raised an eyebrow slightly. "Hello, may I ask who you are?"
"My surname is Chen, and I am indeed the father of this brainless Chen Jiabao. I am mainly here to ask Madam Fang, considering Jiabao is still young, to let him off this time. I guarantee I will discipline him properly when we get back."
"This... this should be Mr. Chen's family affair. As an outsider, I shouldn't interfere."
"No, no, no, this is entirely my child's fault. It is only right for Madam Fang to teach him a lesson."
Fang Miaomiao's eyes turned a little colder.