Jiang Shunnian was caught off guard by this massive surprise, struggling to process it.
Meanwhile, Jiang Yunnuo in his arms held up his lollipop and poked his head out to peer closely. “Baby Travel Plan. Uncle, does ‘baby’ mean little kids?”
Pei Qingyi looked at Nono in astonishment. “You can read?”
“A little,” Jiang Yunnuo replied shyly yet with a hint of pride. “But not a lot. I still need to keep learning.”
Pei Qingyi’s gaze brightened as he regarded Jiang Yunnuo. In his eyes, this kid had massive potential to go viral. Even setting aside everything else, that face alone was eye-catching enough—and at just three years old, he could already read. Calling him a prodigy wasn’t an overstatement.
He spoke directly to Jiang Yunnuo. “This variety show requires you and your dad to participate together. You’ll travel to different places, experience local customs and cultures. Interested?”
Jiang Yunnuo furrowed his little brow, trying hard to understand Pei Qingyi’s words. The moment he heard he could go with Daddy, he lit up with joy—but he quickly calmed down and asked cautiously, “Uncle, do we have to pay to join this trip?”
He had traveled with Daddy before, and it cost money.
Though he really wanted to travel with Daddy, he didn’t want to spend money.
Pei Qingyi chuckled at Nono’s innocent words. “No, you don’t pay. In fact, you can make money from it.”
Make money?
Jiang Yunnuo’s little ears perked up, his eyes sparkling. “Can I make money too?”
“Of course. If you join the show, you’ll get paid too.”
Jiang Yunnuo beamed even brighter and looked up at his dad with pure expectation. He wanted to go!
As he listened to their exchange, Jiang Shunnian weighed whether to accept the show.
Nono had trended unexpectedly last time, but it had been pulled quickly, and most comments came from supportive fans. Jiang Shunnian hadn’t seen much negativity. Still, he worried that full public exposure might invite malicious attacks.
After all, in the first season last year, one kid had started off a bit spoiled and got flamed by netizens for ages. Only after the production team adjusted the editing did the perception turn around.
So if they joined, the team had to treat them fairly—no biased editing that turned them into a foil for others.
This show was a great exposure opportunity for him, but Nono’s mental and emotional well-being came first.
Jiang Shunnian didn’t commit right away. “President Pei, can I discuss it with Nono first and give you a reply later?”
“Of course.”
Once they were out, Nono asked Jiang Shunnian puzzledly, “Daddy, why didn’t you say yes to Uncle? I want to make money to support you.”
Nono’s wishes were simple: stay with Daddy and work hard to earn money.
Jiang Shunnian knew Nono was precocious and sensible, so he spoke gently. “Nono, joining a variety show means showing your life to everyone. Some people will like you, but others might not. Some might even say mean things about you. Can you handle that?”
Nono blinked up at him. “Will Daddy stop liking me if they say bad things?”
“How could I? Daddy loves his baby most of all, no matter what Nono is like. Daddy loves you.”
Nono was the love of his life—irreplaceable.
Jiang Yunnuo’s eyes crinkled into happy crescents. “Me too! I love Daddy most of all! Daddy, let’s do it. It doesn’t matter if they don’t like me. We can make money first!”
Jiang Shunnian: “…”
He started to wonder if his own rush to earn money had rubbed off on Nono, turning the kid into a little money-grubber.
Because of Nono’s insistence, Jiang Shunnian ultimately accepted the show and signed with Huazhen Media on an A-level contract.
Pei Qingyi even signed Nono too, under Jiang Shunnian’s guardianship, with very lenient terms to facilitate the show contract.
Just like that, he and Nono became colleagues.
Pei Qingyi had just taken over Huazhen and fired a bunch of agents, leaving them short-staffed. He was training new ones, so for now, Yu Yanchen and Jiang Shunnian shared the same agent: Zhao Yuanzhou. He wasn’t flashy in skills or resources but was upright, respected artists’ opinions, and helped them make smart choices.
Zhao Yuanzhou was nearing forty, slim-framed, with black-rimmed glasses. He looked more like a mild-mannered university professor than an agent.
He met with Jiang Shunnian, discussed his current situation and future plans. Since Jiang Shunnian had the variety show coming up, Zhao suggested waiting for it to air and gauge his popularity surge before taking acting gigs—that way, better roles would come.
It matched Jiang Shunnian’s thinking perfectly.
“We’ll also assign you an assistant. Anyone in mind?”
Jiang Shunnian shook his head. As an orphan, he didn’t have family connections like Yu Yanchen’s cousin.
Four years ago, he’d had an assistant, but that one had colluded with his old agent to sabotage him. He’d cut them all off long ago.
“Then we’ll handle it from the company side. Male or female assistant?”
“Female, please.”
Jiang Shunnian figured a woman would be gentler and more attentive—perfect since he had Nono.
Zhao Yuanzhou agreed.
The company provided housing options, and Jiang Shunnian picked the same complex as Yu Yanchen without hesitation.
It had great privacy, wasn’t too remote, and featured a renowned international school from kindergarten through high school, with internal recommendations for overseas universities.
Tuition was steep—300,000 a year. With his savings, Jiang Shunnian could cover just one year without income.
But as a parent, he wanted the best for his child. He resolved to hustle for roles, make money, and get Nono into the top school.
Over the next two weeks, Jiang Shunnian busied himself with the move. He secured a place right below Yu Yanchen’s—super convenient.
His assistant was a fresh college grad named Li Hehe, foreign languages major. She hadn’t grinded hard enough in school for a top job, so she pivoted to celebrity assisting.
Round-faced and cute, she flashed a brilliant smile, bubbly personality. The moment she saw Jiang Shunnian, her eyes lit up. “Brother Jiang, is this face for real?!”
Spotting Jiang Yunnuo sent her into full meltdown mode.
Jiang Shunnian studied her eyes—pure and genuine admiration, real fondness for Nono. He hired her on the spot.
Nono took to his new big sis right away.
Li Hehe’s workload was light for now; Jiang Shunnian cooked, and aside from the upcoming show, he had no other gigs. The company gave her time off, but she insisted she’d be on call anytime, then bounced off happily.
Nine Heavens Palace wrapped filming and entered post-production, slated for year-end release. Starlight Bestowed on You, being a modern drama with simple approvals and no heavy effects, would hit platforms in two or three months—prime summer slot, backed by investors for its fresh concept.
Once everything settled, the agent relayed that Huazhen had nearly finalized with the TV station. Jiang Shunnian just needed to bring Nono for a meet-and-greet with the production team to sign.
Riding the first season’s massive success, the team was fully prepped—only artists and kids left to lock in.
Jiang Shunnian and Nono donned matching parent-child outfits and headed to the station with Zhao Yuanzhou.
Nono refused a carry, toddling like a little shadow at Jiang Shunnian’s heels, curiously eyeing the surroundings without being disruptive—just plain adorable.
Xie Hualiang, the show’s chief producer and director, grinned the instant he saw Nono. “Teacher Jiang, your kid is too good-looking.”
Fair, soft skin; huge eyes, pupils shimmering with a golden hue under the lights like a comic effect—mysterious, striking. Peak visual impact baby.
Jiang Yunnuo knew it was a compliment and replied softly, “Thank you, Uncle.”
The first season’s hit stemmed from factors like “dad-with-kid just surviving” for rough humor, plus kids’ personalities: some fiery and funny, others spoiled but polite.
Kids couldn’t carry personas, so casting avoided duplicates from the start—or it’d be chaotic overload or dead boring, missing the mark.
Nono’s calm, mature vibe was perfect; no similar types this season.
Xie Hualiang asked about Nono’s talents or lessons. Jiang Shunnian tensed. Oops. He thought Nono was too young for classes, prioritizing playtime—no hobby enrollments. And Nono’s self-taught level? He had no clue!
Jiang Shunnian clenched his fists. Reciting an ancient poem should wow them anyway.
But Nono said, “Director Uncle, I know some foreign languages.”
Xie Hualiang perked up. “Care to show us?”
To Jiang Shunnian’s shock, Nono rattled off fluent, accent-perfect English—a self-introduction, from what he half-caught.
Afterward, Nono bashfully added, “Director Uncle, I haven’t learned many Chinese characters—some strokes are tricky. But English is simpler, so I learned more.”
Jiang Shunnian: “…”
He vaguely recalled: at one or two, Nono devoured cartoons, domestic and foreign—with original audio. Among learning toys he’d bought was a reading machine.
Confirmed—Nono’s smarts didn’t come from him. Must be from the other dad.
The novel showed Nono’s brilliance too; without scumbag Qin Huan’s sabotage, he’d have aced top uni, not some mid-tier via pranks.
Maybe the author just loved tormenting prodigies.
Jiang Shunnian lowered his gaze, hiding the hatred in his eyes.
After chatting English with Nono, Xie Hualiang grinned wider, praising Jiang Shunnian. “Teacher Jiang, you’re great at raising kids. Our shoot includes overseas spots—Nono will shine.”
Jiang Shunnian smiled guiltily, mumbling nothing. He couldn’t claim credit; it was all Nono’s self-study.
That misunderstanding snowballed: Xie later live-streamed them “English chatting,” only for Jiang Shunnian to blank on Nono’s words. Nono translated and coached his replies—hilarious contrast, nearly turning him into a comedian.
In the end, after the meeting, Jiang Shunnian and Jiang Yunnuo officially joined Baby Travel Plan. Filming for the first episode kicked off in ten days.
