Chapter Fifty-Two: Midnight Snack

Su Wanning sat with Sui Sui and Nian Nian nestled at her side, the two children clearly frightened by the tense atmosphere. After the joyful reunion, Dahuan began to cry, clinging to Yu Xin, and together they wept in each other’s arms—a scene both touching and pitiable.

Yet, Su Wanning could only feel like laughing. She hadn’t had any means of communication while on the mountain, but the production crew had been right beside her. The director had known all along that Dahuan was with her, yet deliberately withheld that information from Yu Xin, clearly stirring up trouble on purpose.

In the live broadcast, voices denouncing Su Wanning grew louder and louder. Yin Shanshan frowned slightly, her tone worried as she spoke, “Xiaoning, this child has been with you all this time—why didn’t you notify Yu Xin? She was so scared she almost had an accident on the mountain, and she didn’t even finish the game.”

Feng Rui chimed in, “Exactly. If a child goes missing, any parent would be frantic.”

Mingming, who stood nearby, disagreed, snorting heavily, “Just now I almost got lost, and you didn’t worry at all. You’re a bad woman!”

Feng Rui’s face darkened, tinged with grievance, and she lowered her head, silent.

[Laughing—she brought this on herself.]

[I can vouch for it. Mingming ran so fast earlier, and Feng Rui didn’t look worried at all.]

[Xinxin, stop crying—she looks so scared, she’s gone pale.]

Su Wanning stood there quietly, letting the others heap their accusations upon her.

Nian Nian, her lips pursed, tugged Su Wanning’s hand and swayed it twice, speaking in a crisp, clear voice, “Mama.”

“What is it?”

“Didn’t we just do a good thing? Then why are the aunties saying you did something wrong?”

Her innocent question made Yin Shanshan’s face flush with embarrassment. Su Wanning crouched down, her tone patient, gentle, and concise, “Because the aunties aren’t as understanding as you are. You’re such a good girl, Nian Nian.”

She stroked Nian Nian’s hair softly, the irony in her words unmistakable.

Nian Nian nodded, half understanding, while Yu Xin, tears still hanging from her lashes, finally stood up.

Her voice was thick with sobs, posture humble, “Xiaoning, I don’t blame you. Please don’t be upset with them, either. Everyone was just worried about Dahuan.”

“Worried?” Su Wanning raised an eyebrow, responding bluntly, “If you were really so worried, I didn’t see any of you actually looking for the child. One after another, you just stand here crying and making sarcastic remarks.”

[Su-jie is so fierce!]

[She’s not wrong. If you’re worried, go find her. If you can’t keep track of your own kid, don’t blame someone else for finding her for you.]

Yu Xin clearly hadn’t expected Su Wanning’s straightforwardness; her face stiffened.

“I was just so scared I lost my head. I almost fell while searching for Dahuan on the mountain earlier, so I…”

“Oh, so because you almost fell, you just stopped searching? Yu Xin, if you really cared, you should have kept an eye on your child and Dahuan wouldn’t have gone missing in the first place. Instead of facing your own mistakes, you stand here blaming others. If I were you, I wouldn’t even have the face to cry.”

Without giving Yu Xin a chance to respond, Su Wanning turned and led the two children into the tent.

Outside, Yu Xin’s face flushed, her teeth nearly gritted in anger, but she could only force herself to appear aggrieved and magnanimous. “It’s my fault, Dahuan. Auntie didn’t take good care of you.”

She apologized tearfully, and the little girl, unaccustomed to such scenes, stood frozen in fear, unsure how to react.

That night, everyone retreated early into their tents, leaving only the campfire outside flickering in the darkness.

Su Wanning turned over, then sat up in the dark.

“Mama,” her daughter’s small voice called softly beside her.

“What’s wrong? Why are you still awake?” Su Wanning reached out to stroke her daughter’s head.

“I’m hungry,” Nian Nian whispered with a giggle.

Su Wanning wasn’t surprised—she’d barely eaten anything all evening, then ran up and down the mountain. By now, her stomach was empty and growling too much to sleep.

Nian Nian nudged her conspiratorially, “Mama, let’s sneak out for a midnight snack!”

Mother and daughter exchanged a knowing look, then quietly slipped out of their sleeping bags and crept toward the tent entrance.

“Where are you going?” came a calm voice from behind just as they reached the door. Su Wanning turned back with a sheepish smile.

“We’re going to have a bite to eat. Want to join us?” She directed her question to her son, her tone carrying a hint of cajolery. She couldn’t help it—this boy was always undermining her!

He merely snorted in disdain, as expected, so Su Wanning just shrugged and led her daughter outside.

But sure enough, the sound of footsteps quickly followed. Sui Sui, though his face showed reluctance, still trailed after them.

At the production team’s supply area, Su Wanning found some meat, then set up a grill beside the campfire, placing an iron rack over the flames to start roasting.

Fortunately, the crew had brought plenty of spices, and Su Wanning helped herself to some.

While waiting for the meat to cook, she started a livestream.

Having once been a food blogger, she knew that the later it got, the more viewers would tune in. Sure enough, her stream quickly filled with fans.

[Why are you streaming at this hour? And on your side account?]

[Is that barbecue? Su Wanning, you’re cruel, tempting us with food in the middle of the night!]

Most viewers in this alternate stream were loyal fans. Su Wanning faced the camera, smiling, chin in hand. “That’s right, I’m here to make you all drool.”

The aroma of meat fat sizzling over charcoal, sprinkled with cumin and chili powder, quickly drifted through the night. Another tent opened quietly, and Mingming, drawn by the scent, crawled out.

“Barbecue! Aunt Su, are you guys sneaking food?”

[Oh my, keep your voice down, don’t wake the others!]

[Mingming followed the smell like a little puppy, haha!]

“Mingming, be good—keep your voice down. Come here!” Su Wanning beckoned him over, and with just two skewers, won over a little spy.

The three children and one adult huddled around the fire, savoring their midnight feast.

“Mama, I think I hear someone crying,” Nian Nian said suddenly, startling Su Wanning.

“Sweetheart, don’t scare me. Who is it this time?” After what happened before, Su Wanning trusted her daughter’s sharp ears. Together, they went behind the farthest tent and found Dahuan, hiding and weeping alone.

[Why is it Dahuan? Where’s Yu Xin?]

“Dahuan, what’s wrong?” Nian Nian asked softly.

Dahuan shook her head, her eyes brimming with grievance.

Su Wanning understood and knelt down beside her. “Missing your mother?”

At the mention of “mother,” Dahuan’s tears burst forth like a breached dam, and she collapsed in Su Wanning’s arms, sobbing uncontrollably.

[How is it possible that every time Dahuan sneaks off to cry, Su Wanning is the one who finds her?]

[This plot twist—surely it’s scripted.]