Mom's Back. The Villain Triplets Are in Trouble.

Chapter 27: Chapter 27: Bizarre Tacit Understanding

As soon as Happy Family started broadcasting, it shot to the top of several trending topics.

#HuoXinghaisRealMom

#YoungestMomOnline

#GuQingyinsSkincareSecrets

Many casual viewers followed the trending topics to the livestream, and the director, watching the numbers skyrocket behind the scenes, was grinning from ear to ear.

In comparison, the entrances of the other two families were far more ordinary—what netizens would call ”normal.” If forced to pick the best of a mediocre bunch, only Huo Xinghai’s arch-rival offered some potential for drama.

Fu Zimo’s family was well-off. His mother was decked out in jewels, with dignified and gentle features. She had a fuller figure, which made her look a bit heavy on camera.

The livestream audience was mostly composed of Fu Zimo’s fans, so instead of finding fault, they were quick to shower him with praise.

They praised Mrs. Fu for being kind and loving, without any of the airs of a wealthy socialite, calling her incredibly down-to-earth. They praised the villa’s decor as understated, luxurious, and tasteful. They praised Fu Zimo for being authentic and unpretentious, insisting he had gotten where he was today purely through his own talent, with no need to rely on his family’s influence.

After returning from his morning run, Fu Zimo put on a show of a loving mother and a filial son with Mrs. Fu in the living room. Then he went upstairs and, using the excuse of taking a shower, checked the online comments.

He was very satisfied with his recent performance, genuinely believing it would win him a wave of new fans. But when he opened Weibo, he found he had been completely upstaged by Huo Xinghai.

Fu Zimo couldn’t help but sneer after watching the clip. ’Huo Xinghai hired some random woman to play his mom, and he’s being so damn conspicuous about it. He’s really digging his own grave.’

Before meeting Huo Xinghai, Fu Zimo had never experienced a single proper setback in his life. He was always the center of attention, and whether people genuinely liked him or not, they would all plaster on smiles and flatter him.

But after meeting Huo Xinghai, he was thwarted time and again.

Huo Xinghai had zero tolerance for people he disliked. Every time Fu Zimo tried to stir up trouble, he would get shut down so hard it made him want to spit blood. But Fu Zimo was stubborn; the more he failed, the more determined he became, constantly fantasizing about grinding Huo Xinghai under his heel.

Over time, it became a habit. If he saw Huo Xinghai and didn’t throw a few jabs, he’d feel antsy all over.

At first, it was just Fu Zimo chasing after Huo Xinghai to stir up trouble. But after being provoked so many times, Huo Xinghai couldn’t help but get fed up.

The two of them schemed and fought, both openly and in secret. It was a classic case of mutually assured destruction—injuring the enemy by a thousand while losing eight hundred yourself. They would rather suffer than let the other have an easy time, and they were known across the entire internet as arch-rivals.

So when it was revealed that the two would be on the same show, netizens were rubbing their hands in gleeful anticipation, hoping they would clash sooner rather than later.

As his rival, Fu Zimo knew Huo Xinghai’s situation very well. He had secretly dug into Huo Xinghai’s background several times, especially after their rivalry became public.

Huo Xinghai had grown up without a mother. This was no secret—everyone he’d ever gone to school with knew.

Fu Zimo tossed his phone aside, turned on the shower, and suppressed the urge to expose Huo Xinghai’s lie right away.

’I’ll wait until the hype gets bigger. Wait until even more people are fans of Huo Xinghai and Gu Qingyin...’

Fu Zimo narrowed his eyes, concealing the malice within them.

’This time,’ he thought, ’I’m going to crush Huo Xinghai completely.’

「The Huo Family’s ancestral home.」

The mother and son were having breakfast together. In front of Gu Qingyin was a Chinese-style meal of soy milk, fried dough sticks, and a boiled egg, while Huo Xinghai had a Western-style sandwich, coffee, and mashed potatoes.

Da Hai’s eyes lit up. ”Mr. Huo and Mrs. Huo, your tastes are quite different! Do you often eat together?” he asked.

Huo Xinghai put down his coffee cup, but before he could answer, Gu Qingyin spoke up, her tone puzzled. ”Eating together occasionally is fine, isn’t it? Adults need their freedom. Don’t tell me you go home to eat with your parents every single day?” A hint of disdain touched Gu Qingyin’s expression. ”Don’t be so clingy.”

Da Hai was momentarily speechless and gave a strained laugh. ”Well, for the times you do eat together, whose preference do you usually cater to?”

Gu Qingyin looked at him as if he were an idiot. ”You just make whatever you want to eat. There’s no rule saying Chinese and Western food can’t be on the same table.” ’Isn’t the example right in front of him obvious enough?’

Da Hai chuckled. ”Mrs. Huo, you’re really one of a kind.”

[So jealous! When will I ever achieve food freedom!]

[Who gets it! A parent who doesn’t force their kids to eat things they hate? Who wouldn’t love that!]

[URGENT! How do I get a mom just like Haibao’er’s? Waiting online for answers!]

[Da Hai: Guess I’m the unworthy one here.]

[Our Haibao’er is so lucky!]

A smile touched Huo Xinghai’s eyes as he said proudly, ”Of course my mom is one of a kind.”

After breakfast, under the film crew’s supervision, the mother and son returned to their respective rooms to pack their luggage.

They were heading to an island, so a swimsuit and sunscreen were essential. She packed a few changes of clothes, tossed her small shoulder bag into her suitcase, and she was done.

She packed so little that her 18-inch suitcase wasn’t even full.

Da Hai couldn’t resist asking, ”Mrs. Huo, do you normally not wear any makeup?”

Gu Qingyin’s voice was flat yet confident. ”I’m a natural beauty. I don’t need it.”

Da Hai was speechless. In the course of a single morning, he had already felt the urge to go back for professional development several times. He was starting to feel like his hosting skills just weren’t up to snuff.

Rarely, as if struck by a pang of conscience, Gu Qingyin looked up at him and asked uncertainly, ”Will I look really ugly on camera without any makeup?”

Da Hai started to nod instinctively but stopped himself halfway. ’With a face like Gu Qingyin’s, how ugly could she possibly look? It’s true that beautiful people can get away with anything,’ he thought.

After some careful consideration, Gu Qingyin decided she should probably pack a few things. ’I don’t really care for myself,’ she thought, ’but I can’t embarrass my son.’

”Just a second.” Gu Qingyin stood up and went to Huo Xinghai’s room. She found her son packing in the walk-in closet and asked point-blank, ”Where’s that tone-up cream you recommended to me the other day?”

Huo Xinghai looked surprised. ”Didn’t you say it was too much trouble to put on?” He turned and rummaged through the things on the vanity, found an unopened bottle, and grabbed two boxes of new face masks to hand to her as well.

Gu Qingyin took them. ”Well, we’re on a show. I have to be a little mindful.” Returning the favor, she offered, ”Need any help?”

Huo Xinghai shook his head. ”I’m almost done.” He was packing slowly because he was interacting with his fans.

Gu Qingyin nodded and left. She didn’t let it show on her face, but deep down, she felt a little disappointed.

’I haven’t even gotten to experience the joy of raising a child, and he’s already grown up,’ she thought. ’There aren’t many things he needs his mom for anymore.’

Gu Qingyin secretly resolved to cherish every opportunity she had to spend time with her son. ’Once he gets married,’ she mused, ’I might only get to see him once a year, or maybe even less.’

Five minutes later, the livestream was temporarily closed. Huo Xinghai and Gu Qingyin got into the production crew’s car, headed to the airport, and boarded a plane bound for the island.

「Four hours later.」

The livestream started up again, revealing a scene of azure waters and a white sandy beach.

The three families stood on the beach under the scorching sun, suitcases in hand, their expressions full of misery.

”Can’t we just go to the hotel and drop off our bags first?” the only girl among the three families said, her tone a mix of complaint and playful whining. ”This little fairy is going to melt.”

The screen was instantly flooded with bullet comments from viewers feeling sorry for Tian Tian and condemning the production crew.

The director, acting as if he hadn’t seen a thing, stuck firmly to his plan. ”Since the three families don’t know each other well yet, let’s start with a little icebreaker game.”

Hearing this, Huo Xinghai and Fu Zimo glanced at each other, and almost simultaneously, they both put on fake smiles before turning away and rolling their eyes.

The bullet comments instantly exploded with ”HAHAHAHA.”

Such bizarrely perfect synchronization! They clearly knew each other all too well.