Chapter 472

With three older brothers helping to pick out the fish bones, Jane soon had her tiny belly stuffed full. At that moment, she blinked her big, sparkling eyes and turned her gaze toward Director Xing and the crew members, who had been eyeing the food with barely concealed longing. Like a cunning little fox, she toddled over on her short legs and stopped in front of Xing Chao. "Uncle Xing, we have a lot of grilled fish left. Do you want some?" she asked sweetly. Director Xing had been waiting for this moment. Any pretense of adult restraint flew out the window as he nodded eagerly, like a chicken pecking at rice. "Yes, yes! Thank you, Jane!" He reached out to grab some, but the little girl swiftly blocked his path, her tiny hands clasped behind her back. Tilting her head up, she fixed him with a serious expression. "But Uncle Xing, what will you give us in return?" Her bright, dewy eyes curved into crescents, gleaming with mischief. Earlier that afternoon, while the guests had been stuck with plain bread and water, Uncle Xing and the crew had been slurping down instant noodles—complete with thick chunks of canned beef. She had to perform *"Don’t Be Afraid"* just to trade for a single bowl of noodles for her injured brother, Frederick. If she just handed over the fish for free this time, wouldn’t that make her seem like an easy pushover? The live chat exploded with laughter. *"Hahaha! Director Xing was so smug at lunch, making our Jane perform for a bowl of beef noodles. Now look at him, drooling on the sidelines!"* *"That’s my girl! Payback’s a dish best served grilled!"* *"..."* Xing Chao inhaled deeply, the rich aroma of the grilled fish making his mouth water. He had no idea how Jane had seasoned it—just salt and some random leaves and herbs—but the result was even more fragrant than restaurant-quality fish. It was downright torturous. He crouched down with a warm smile and asked Jane, "So what would you like to trade with us, kiddo?" He expected the child to ask for supplies or something practical. To his surprise, Jane blinked her big eyes and declared with utmost seriousness, "At lunchtime, I had to sing and dance for Uncle Xing to earn a bowl of beef noodles. So now, Uncle Xing should sing and dance for me if he wants this grilled fish!" Xing Chao: "..." He glanced down at his broad waistline and the slight paunch protruding beneath his shirt. Sing and dance? His gaze drifted longingly toward the sizzling grilled fish, and he swallowed hard. Maybe he should just tough it out and pass on the meal... But while he was willing to endure, the rest of the crew had other ideas. "Come on, Xing Chao! Hurry up and put on a show—we're all waiting for that fish!" "Xing Chao, stop dawdling! What kind of man hesitates over a little performance?" Meanwhile, the live chat exploded— "HAHAHA, Director Xing dancing... I'm already picturing a bear trying to boogie!" "Absolute gold! I thought the kid would ask for instant noodles or canned food, but no—she's out here securing entertainment for the audience!" "LOL, Jane, you savage!" "Everyone, spam the chat—'MAKE XING DANCE!'" I've got my popcorn ready, just waiting for Director Xing to bust a move! Come on, Director, don't be such a wuss—what kind of man hesitates like this? ... Director Xing wore an expression of utter misery, trapped between a rock and a hard place. He awkwardly turned to Jane and said, "But Uncle doesn’t know how to sing or dance!" Jane just kept beaming. "Uncle can learn! Teacher says we should love learning and keep studying even when we’re old. Ariana sings really well, and Hazel dances super good—they can teach you!" Ariana and Hazel immediately flanked Jane in solidarity. "Yeah, yeah! Uncle Xing, we’ll teach you! We won’t even make fun of you for being slow!" Xing Chao gritted his teeth in resignation. "Fine. Teach me, then." Ariana nodded seriously. "Okay, Uncle Xing, I’ll teach you an easy one—*The Little Painter*." *"I am a little painter, painting with great skill..."* Ariana’s sweet, babyish voice was as soft as cotton candy, while Hazel wiggled her little butt, pretending to paint walls, tap her nose, and gasp in exaggerated surprise—simple dance moves that matched the lyrics. It wasn’t exactly a breathtaking performance, but the two little dumplings were so adorable it made hearts melt. After watching, Director Xing clenched his face like he was constipated, then awkwardly thrust out his big rear and mimicked Hazel’s painting motions with his chubby hands. When he opened his mouth, his voice cracked like a strangled duck, turning a cute children’s song into a dramatic poetry recital. Instantly, the screen flooded with waves of *"HAHAHA"* and *"GOOSE NOISES."* *"LMAO, I thought Tony from *Adventures with Cute Kids* had it bad—but nope, there’s always someone worse off!"* *"OMG I’m wheezing like a goose—Director Xing performing for snacks is the funniest thing ever!"* Honestly, we won't even comment on Director Xing's dancing skills, but turning a children's song into dramatic poetry recitation? Now that's some next-level talent! Hahaha, it's like watching a real-life bear trying to dance. Sweetie, you're really putting Director Xing—all 180 pounds of him—through the wringer here. Director Xing, after this show wraps, maybe hit up a yoga studio. Might not shed the pounds, but at least you'll become a more agile big guy! ... Jane clutched her round little belly, giggling like a frog until tears streamed down her face. Once she caught her breath, she solemnly gave Director Xing a thumbs-up. "Uncle Xing, your singing and dancing are amazing!" Xing Chao, who had been visibly flustered by the audience's laughter, instantly perked up. With a proud flick of the few remaining strands of hair on his head, he beamed, "Really? And what do you think of my looks, Jane? Not too shabby, right?" Jane: "Uh..." She'd only complimented him out of guilt for putting him on the spot, but now this... After a thoughtful pause, she raised another thumbs-up and nodded emphatically, her tiny face the picture of earnestness. "Mhm! Uncle Xing is super handsome too!" Director Xing's round face lit up like a blooming sunflower. "Jane, how about this—after we wrap, I'll audition for *Ride the Wind and Waves, Brothers* or *Chasing the Light, Brothers* and debut in a boy band. What do you think?" Jane: "..." She managed a pained nod. "I... guess that could work?" Meanwhile, the live chat exploded: "Director Xing, here, have some peanuts. Don't just drink on an empty stomach." The sight of my girl being forced to play along... LOL... Poor thing, having to lie through her teeth just to protect some greasy old man’s fragile ego. Hey, show some respect! Director Xing: "I’m greasy by nature, not by choice!" ... While Xing Chao squatted by the pond, utterly absorbed in admiring his own "divine beauty," Jane had already gone off with Ariana and Hazel to fetch grilled fish for the crew. Meanwhile, Mina quietly approached Director Xing with a skewer of grilled fish in hand and said in a deadpan tone, "Uncle Xing, maybe you should eat something. Otherwise, you might get drunk on your own... enthusiasm." Director Xing took the fish from her, chewing enthusiastically as he declared, "Mina, just imagine—if I lost some weight, hit the gym, built some muscle, got a facelift, and had my eye bags removed, I’d totally be on par with those *Chasing Light* brothers! "Let me tell you, back in my youth, I was practically campus heartthrob material..." He sighed dramatically. "Ah, but time is a cruel butcher." Wallace Mina shot him a pitying look and gave his shoulder a solemn pat. "Uncle Xing, just focus on enjoying the fish, okay? "Don’t you dare take Jane’s nonsense seriously! "Losing weight? Let’s just... keep that as a nice thought, alright? No need to act on it." With that, she clasped her hands behind her back and wandered off, sighing. Honestly! Jane really was a troublemaker. If Mina hadn’t stepped in to talk some sense into Director Xing, who knows what would’ve happened if he actually signed up for a talent show? The sheer greasiness would’ve blinded the entire audience!