Chapter 1

That year, the most popular online sensation was a life-swapping reality show.

Children from the city and left-behind children from rural villages exchanged lives for fifteen days. The program’s warm and healing segments captured the subtle growth and changes in the kids, touching the hearts of every viewer during that brief fortnight.

Now, the second season was in preparation. To offer viewers a more immersive experience, the production team launched a new wave of interactive elements, handing the power of selecting contestants directly to the online audience, thus nipping any speculation about scripted outcomes in the bud.

The show was still in its early stages; the contestant auditions had just begun. Most netizens entered the livestream room through official social media links, so the room’s popularity was still modest.

As the livestream began, the camera revealed the scenic beauty of Yongrui Village on the outskirts of the southern city, like a picturesque landscape painting.

“Starting off with a sunset bombshell—what a beautiful shot, I’m back in the comfort zone of this show…”

“So beautiful, city kids really love nature—definitely watching this season!”

During the contestant auditions, the pace was slow, complemented by gentle background music, as if taking the audience on a genuine tour of this charming mountain village.

Yongrui Village was remote, nestled deep in a valley, untouched and picturesque, yet economically underdeveloped. Most able-bodied adults had left to work elsewhere, leaving behind mostly elders and children, with a few left-behind women who hurried past the camera before pausing curiously to observe.

The crew had brought gifts for the children.

The trunk was piled high with presents. The staff had coordinated with village officials in advance, and under adult supervision, the children lined up—but still eagerly jostled for position.

The camera casually swept through every corner of the village.

Suddenly, it paused on a small, round-eyed child.

A group of kids bounced around the filming equipment, scrambling for the gifts, sorting through them, their voices a chaotic jumble.

Among so many children, only the little one standing in the corner was completely quiet.

She was smaller than the others, her fine, unkempt hair standing up like a sprig of wild grass.

Her clear, almond-shaped eyes were like black grapes; her face soft and cherubic, yet her clothes were ill-fitting, old, and dirty.

This little round-faced girl listened best to the staff, neither pushing nor making a sound.

She quietly waited, standing on tiptoe, her eyes shining with anticipation.

The production team had clearly underestimated the number of left-behind children in the village and hadn’t brought enough toys.

When it was this little girl’s turn, the staff apologized softly.

“Sorry, there’s nothing left.”

The girl tilted her head and glanced at the storage box.

It was completely empty.

“Nothing left…” she repeated in a soft, childlike voice.

“Aww, the baby’s so cute!”

“Such a good kid, not even crying!”

“Give her a toy! Right now!”

“I can’t stand to see a child disappointed. Send me the address; I’ll have a delivery guy bring her one immediately.”

“Zhu Zhu!” a sharp voice called out.

Zhu Zhu turned anxiously, her short legs pattering as she ran back.

“Wait a moment,” the gentle staff member waved, smiling, “Come back first.”

Zhu Zhu stopped.

On camera, her worn clothes hung loosely on her slender shoulders.

She looked back, lifting her small face to find the source of the voice among the adults.

Finally, her eyes rested on the plush rabbit held by the staff member.

It was a keychain the staff had taken from her own backpack.

“Your name is Zhu Zhu, right?”

“This is for you.”

Suddenly, a soft little keychain was placed into Zhu Zhu’s hands.

She blinked, clearly surprised and delighted.

The woman who had called her over approached.

Qin Meilan had heard early that the production team would be here today, so she had dressed up neatly.

“You must be the hosts from the big TV station, right?” Qin Meilan arched an eyebrow, eyeing the toy in Zhu Zhu’s hands. “Can you get a toy car for my son too?”

Her gaze locked on the open trunk of the crew’s car; seeing the empty box inside, her flattering smile stiffened and her brow furrowed.

The little round-faced girl still stood nearby, clutching her fluffy doll.

Comments flooded the livestream chat.

The staff had no immediate reply, and Qin Meilan suddenly looked enlightened.

“Those who understand, understand. We’re not greedy. Let me trade you this for a toy car for my son.” She reached out abruptly to snatch the keychain from Zhu Zhu.

The staff instinctively shielded the child, raising a hand to block the woman and explaining to her.

All along, Zhu Zhu hugged her new plush companion tightly as if it were her most treasured friend.

“I told you to hurry back and get a toy car for your brother,” Qin Meilan muttered under her breath, displeased. “Tsk, can’t even handle such a small task.”

But since it was all on camera, Zhu Zhu’s rabbit keychain was never taken away.

She seemed accustomed to it, covering the rabbit’s ears with her small hands.

It’s okay, it’ll be fine soon.

“Aww, my baby!”

“Can someone get the little girl’s contact information? I want to sponsor her clothes, toys, and school supplies.”

“Come on, I’ve seen families like hers before. Will the donations really reach her? Probably just her brother will take advantage of it all.”

“The child is so pretty, she even reminds me a bit of Ning Ning. Just showed a picture to my mom, and she agreed.”

“Which Ning Ning?”

“Has the internet gotten a new crowd? They don’t even know about the former child star Ji Ning!”

...

For some younger viewers in the livestream, the name “Ji Ning” was unfamiliar, prompting others to enthusiastically explain.

Twenty years ago, Ji Ning was the most well-known child star.

At only five years old, she performed with natural talent and charm, and her sweet, well-mannered interviews made her beloved by all. She was considered the nation’s darling daughter. Having left behind many iconic works, Ji Ning attracted massive attention, and even after stepping away from the spotlight for several years, people still fondly recalled her name whenever child stars were mentioned.

Over the years, as the internet flourished, occasional rumors about Ji Ning’s current situation surfaced on forums and social media.

When Ji Ning left the industry, it was amid a scandal: the family had verbally agreed to her next role, but suddenly demanded exorbitant fees, causing a huge dispute. The director accused them of short-sightedness and cutting off the child’s future.

In the end, the role fell through, and Ji Ning vanished without a trace.

Now grown, the former child star had become an ordinary person, bearing the brunt of harsh criticism.

A simple search of her name yielded endless negative comments and mockery.

Some claimed Ji Ning came from a complicated family background, which bred an insecure and petty personality, and that her once-beautiful face had long since faded—so much so that no one would recognize her if they saw her on the street.

A fleeting star, now lost among the crowd.

“My neighbor was in the same class as her. Everyone says her family treated her like a cash cow—squeezed dry and then abandoned, with no real effort to nurture her.”

“Talking about Ji Ning, it’s really a pity.”

“She just missed her time. If she were still active onscreen, those childhood roles alone would have supported her for life.”

“Who cares? She’s long been washed out, no need to romanticize the past or summon ghosts. This career isn’t for everyone.”

“No matter what Ji Ning is like now, to me, she’ll always have that childhood glow.”

...

North City International Airport.

The plane landed, and Ji Ning emerged from the arrivals hall, pulling a suitcase with one hand.

Her personal assistant was sweating nervously, unsure how to explain to the Ji family.

Four years ago, the heiress of the prestigious Ji family in North City had rebelled against an arranged marriage with a series of acts considered scandalous by the family.

The assistant still remembered the day the prospective groom’s family came to the Ji residence.

Ji Ning descended the spiral staircase, cheeky and teasing, and dropped a bombshell.

The Ji household was thrown into chaos. For the first time, the elegant and composed matriarch of the Ji family lost her composure.

Ji Ning, on the other hand, seemed carefree, enjoying a peaceful pregnancy.

When the child was born, no one but Ji Ning herself knew the identity of the father.

The assistant had been stunned by the drama surrounding the Ji heiress.

Wasn’t this a classic “pregnant and running” story?

Yet reality proved even more dramatic. After the birth, Ji Ning was involved in a severe car accident, and the newborn went missing. When Ji Ning woke up in the hospital, she had amnesia.

Though mentally an adult, most of her memories stopped in early childhood. She forgot that chaotic chapter of her life.

It was almost like a story from an old-fashioned novel.

The Ji matriarch calmed down.

In her lifetime, she had never made a misstep—except for Ji Ning. The family’s daughter had to follow rules and be a true lady of the elite. Now that Ji Ning was “spoiled,” they would start over.

To prevent domestic gossip from reaching Ji Ning’s ears, the matriarch sent her abroad.

She was closely monitored, with even her social and personal circles carefully tailored.

Yet now, she had suddenly returned.

It felt like a chapter from a classic novel.

Chapter One: The return of the pure and shining light.

“Madam might not be pleased with your sudden return…”

Ji Ning stepped out of the airport, trailing behind alone, every step so familiar.

Lately, she had felt something was off.

As if trapped in an equation, she was following a predetermined path, but the life she was living wasn’t truly hers.

Even her smile had a fixed, regulated curve.

A gentle smile, a soft smile, a poised and tender smile…

Ji Ning furrowed her brow.

This was not how it should be.

The assistant stopped.

After all these years, many things had settled, yet the truth remained buried. She had witnessed the once rebellious and carefree eldest daughter of the Ji family never smile freely again, transformed into a proper high-society lady, obedient and restrained.

The assistant turned back. “Your car is ready—”

Her words caught in her throat. She froze for a long moment, her expression turning to one of horror.

Ji Ning practiced smiling earnestly.

She gritted her teeth, smiling hard for a long while, trying to activate every muscle in her face.

Still grinning…

The assistant: ?

Miss, what are you doing with your beautiful face?!