After the interview, Naomi Kenway quickly packed her bags, then took Ian Shaw and followed the production crew to begin their journey.
They boarded a bus. In the nearly enclosed space, Ian grew even more timid, his shoulders trembling slightly like a frightened little hedgehog.
Naomi knew Ian's fear was entirely because of her. She turned slightly to the side, maintaining a careful distance.
"Annie, the cameras are watching," she said.
Ian immediately relaxed. In his mind, as long as the cameras were on them, his mother wouldn't dare hit or curse him.
A bitter feeling grew in Naomi's heart. 'I have to change the impression my son has of me.'
The bus eventually stopped in Prospera Village, a small, remote hamlet in Alveria, known for its beautiful scenery and rich cultural heritage.
Naomi and Ian were the last to arrive.
My Supermom had invited a total of five guest families. The biggest name was the renowned director Ruby Preston, who had numerous hit dramas to her name. Next was the award-winning actress Margaret Jennings, who had just won the Golden Dove Award for Best Actress in March, making her the talk of the town. Both Ruby and Margaret had admitted they joined the show because they usually neglected spending time with their children. Chelsea Raines was a well-known variety show host, famous for her sharp, venomous tongue.
The other guest was the original novel's protagonist, Renee Jennings. She was an obscure, D-list celebrity who had only secured a spot on this popular parenting show because she was married to the acclaimed actor Nathaniel. However, she was skilled at managing her public image, frequently posting about her daily life with her stepson on Weibo and short-video platforms. The heartwarming interactions between the gentle, considerate stepmother and her well-behaved, sensible stepson had garnered her tens of millions of fans in a short time.
At that moment, all the guests were gathered around Renee Jennings and her stepson, Nathan Lynch, discussing parenting tips. Renee spoke eloquently, gesturing from time to time, looking very much like the center of attention.
"I was wondering which big shot was making the grand finale entrance. I never expected it to be you, Naomi..." A sharp voice suddenly cut in, its delicate tone laced with malice.
The moment Chelsea Raines spotted Naomi and her son, she opened her mouth to taunt them. Dressed in a striking red trench coat with sunglasses perched on her nose, she looked more like she was on a runway than at a parenting show. A little boy stood beside her, decked out in designer brands with his chin held high. That was her son, Jared Woods.
Naomi instantly recognized her arch-nemesis in the entertainment industry, Chelsea Raines. The two had become enemies on a variety show and often traded insults on social media. The press had captured more than one of their infamous public squabbles.
But the current Naomi had no intention of bickering with her. Her mind was completely occupied with how to repair the broken relationship with her son.
Chelsea's voice drew everyone's attention, but they all tacitly remained silent. Ruby Preston was known for her cheerful and easygoing personality, yet even she frowned upon seeing Naomi. She had never actually worked with Naomi, but Naomi's terrible reputation was common knowledge in the industry.
Margaret Jennings's daughter, Carina Sanders, was the only girl among the young guests. She was wearing a beautiful princess dress, and her eyes sparkled when she saw Naomi and Ian. "What a beautiful auntie and little brother..."
The moment she took a step forward, Margaret frantically grabbed her hand. "Carina, come back here!"
Carina Sanders looked at her, confused.
Margaret realized her reaction had been a bit extreme and gave an awkward smile to the camera. "Sorry, I was just..."
She was afraid the online rumors about Naomi abusing her child were true.
Chelsea covered her mouth and chuckled. "Pearl, your concern is only natural."
"Everyone, let's not argue. I think... maybe Nina had something that held her up, which is why she was late," Renee Jennings interjected, playing her part as the gentle and kind person her audience knew her to be.
After speaking, she crouched down slightly to face Ian. "You must be Annie, right? I'm Aunt Rachel. You poor child, you must have suffered so much..."
She reached out a hand, but Ian instinctively recoiled.
An awkward expression flickered across Renee's face.
Chelsea snorted. "Just like your mother. Slow and quiet. Or what... are you a mute? You can't even tell if someone's being nice or not. Don't tell me..."
"Shut up!" Naomi, who had been unresponsive until now, suddenly spoke. She had already covered Ian's ears, and her sharp gaze shifted to Chelsea. "Having a rough time lately? Why else would you be so malicious toward a child? Oh, how could I forget..." A smirk touched Naomi's lips. "You were just dropped as a host by Mango TV a while ago. I guess things really aren't going your way."
"You..." Chelsea gritted her teeth in anger. She had been propelled to fame by a Mango TV variety show, and the consequences of losing that connection were obvious. That was precisely why she had brought her son to this parenting show, seeking a breakthrough to boost her popularity.
"Furthermore..." Naomi shifted her gaze to Renee. "I appreciate Ms. Jennings's explanation on my behalf, but we're still ten minutes away from the official arrival time, so there's no such thing as 'being late.' It's best to be precise with one's words. Don't you... agree?"
She raised an eyebrow slightly, her bright, beautiful features taking on an unexpectedly fierce edge.
Renee was taken aback by her gaze and was momentarily speechless.
Seeing that they had fallen silent, Naomi lowered her hands and gently ruffled Ian's soft hair. "Annie, are you tired? Mommy will take you to that wooden bench over there to rest."
Ian nodded, his eyes fixed on Naomi.
He thought that when his mother had covered his ears, she was just like the hero who often appeared in his dreams.
[A fight right at the start?]
[I love how straightforward Chelsea is!]
[Renee tried to be nice to Ian, but who knew the little brat would just ignore her. He's exactly like his mom.]
[Maybe Annie is just shy around strangers. Poster above, don't be so malicious toward a child. What Chelsea Raines said was really out of line.]
[Looks like Naomi isn't as bad as the rumors say. At least she's protective of her kid.]
[Is the person above one of Naomi's paid shills? How much are they paying you per comment?]
...
Just then, the sound of gongs and drums erupted. In the distance, a man in a loud, colorful shirt approached, driving a donkey cart. He held a megaphone in his hand. "Welcome, everyone, to Prospera Village! I'm your guide for this trip—Dalton!"
"Uncle Dalton!" the children chirped, surging forward together, clearly fascinated by the donkey cart.
Director Ruby Preston's son, Simon Sawyer, was the oldest of the young guests. He took on the role of the big brother, leading Carina Sanders and Jared Woods forward to get a closer look.
The only children who didn't move were Ian Shaw and Nathan Lynch.
Naomi keenly noticed her son's curious gaze. She softened her voice and asked, "Annie, want to go take a look? Have you ever seen a donkey before?"
Ian's eyelashes fluttered. He shifted his feet and asked cautiously, "Annie... can I?"
"Of course you can." Naomi tentatively picked up her son, secretly sighing in relief when he didn't struggle violently.
Nathan Lynch tugged on Renee Jennings's hand, looking longingly ahead. "Mom, I want to see the donkey, too."
"What's so interesting about a donkey? You'll just get your clothes all dirty. Mona, the outfit you're wearing was custom-made, and it cost Mommy a lot of money."
Seeming to realize her tone was a bit harsh, Renee added, "When we get back, Mommy will take you to an art museum. It's beautiful and educational. That's the kind of place you should be going to."
Nathan Lynch lowered his head, not looking very happy.