After the interview ended, Naomi Kenway quickly packed her bags and set off on the journey with Ian Shaw and the production crew.
They boarded a bus, and in the nearly enclosed space, Ian Shaw grew even more timid. His shoulders trembled slightly, like a frightened little hedgehog.
Naomi Kenway knew Ian's fear stemmed entirely from her. She turned slightly to the side, maintaining a careful distance.
"Ian, the cameras are watching."
Sure enough, Ian's body relaxed. In his mind, as long as the cameras were on, his mother wouldn't hit or scold him.
A bitter feeling welled up in Naomi Kenway. 'I have to change the way my son sees me.'
The bus eventually stopped in Prospera Village, a remote hamlet in the outskirts of Alveria, known for its beautiful scenery and rich cultural heritage.
Naomi Kenway and Ian Shaw were the last to arrive.
My Super Mom had invited five sets of guests in total. The one with the highest standing was the renowned director, Ruby Preston, the creative force behind numerous hit series. 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 often neglected to spend time with their children. Chelsea Raines was a well-known variety show host, famous for her sharp, venomous tongue.
The final guest was the female lead of the novel, Renee Jennings. She was a Z-list actress with no real fame in the entertainment industry and had only landed a spot on this hit parenting show because she married the decorated film star, Nathaniel Lynch. However, she was a master at managing her public image. She frequently posted about her daily parenting life on social media and short-video platforms. The heartwarming clips of a gentle, doting stepmother and her well-behaved, sensible stepson quickly earned her tens of millions of followers.
At that moment, all the other guests were gathered around Renee Jennings and her stepson, Nathan Lynch, discussing parenting. Renee spoke with eloquence and confidence, gesturing from time to time, looking very much like the center of attention.
"I was just wondering who had enough clout to make the grand finale entrance. I never thought it would be you, Naomi Kenway..." a sharp voice suddenly cut in, its delicate tone laced with malice.
Chelsea Raines launched into her taunt the moment she spotted Naomi and her son. She was wearing an eye-catching red trench coat with sunglasses perched on her nose, looking less like she was on a parenting show and more like she was walking a runway. Standing beside her was a little boy decked out in designer streetwear, his neck held high in an arrogant tilt. That was her son, Jared Woods.
Naomi instantly recognized her: Chelsea Raines, her arch-nemesis in the entertainment industry. The two had started their feud on a variety show, often traded insults on social media, and had been caught by the press in infamous public altercations more than once.
But the Naomi of today had no intention of getting into a spat with her. Her mind was entirely preoccupied with how to mend her fractured relationship with her son.
Chelsea's voice drew everyone's attention, but they all maintained a tacit silence. Ruby Preston, who was known for her cheerful and easygoing temperament, even frowned at the sight of Naomi. She had never actually worked with Naomi, but her terrible reputation was common knowledge in the industry.
Margaret Jennings's daughter, Carina Sanders, was the only girl among the child guests. She was wearing a lovely princess dress, and her eyes lit up when she saw Naomi and Ian. "What a pretty lady and little boy..."
The moment she took a step forward, Margaret Jennings frantically grabbed her hand. "Carina, get back here!"
Carina looked at her, not understanding why.
Margaret Jennings realized her reaction had been a bit extreme and gave an awkward smile to the camera. "Sorry, I just..."
'She was afraid the online rumors about Naomi Kenway abusing her child were true.'
Chelsea Raines covered her mouth and let out a laugh. "Pearl, your concern is only natural."
"Everyone, let's not argue," Renee Jennings interjected, playing the peacemaker. "I think... perhaps Nina was delayed by something, which is why she's late." Her words were perfectly in line with her gentle and kind public persona.
After she finished, she crouched down to face Ian. "You must be Ian, right? I'm Aunt Renee. You poor thing, you must have suffered so much..."
She reached out, but Ian flinched away.
A hint of awkwardness appeared on Renee Jennings's face.
Chelsea Raines snorted. "He really takes after his mother. Slow, quiet... or what, are you mute? You can't even tell when someone's being nice to you. Don't tell me..."
"Shut up!" Naomi, who had been silent, suddenly snapped. She had already covered Ian's ears, and her sharp gaze fixed on Chelsea. "Has life not been going your way recently? Why else would you aim so much vitriol at a child? Oh, but how could I forget..." A smirk touched Naomi's lips. "You were just dropped as a host by Mango TV. I suppose life really isn't so pleasant for you right now."
"You..." Chelsea gritted her teeth, furious. A Mango TV variety show was what had made her famous, and the consequences of losing the network's backing were predictable. That was exactly why she had brought her son to this parenting show, desperate for a career revival.
"And another thing..." Naomi shifted her gaze to Renee. "I appreciate you trying to explain on my behalf, Ms. Jennings. However, we're still ten minutes ahead of the scheduled arrival time, so there's no question of being 'late.' It's always better to be precise with one's words. Don't you... agree?"
She arched an eyebrow, her stunning features suddenly taking on a severe edge.
Renee was pinned by her gaze, momentarily at a loss for words.
Seeing that the others had fallen silent, Naomi lowered her hand from Ian's ears and gently ruffled his soft hair. "Ian, are you tired? Let's go rest on that wooden bench up ahead."
Ian nodded, his gaze never leaving Naomi.
'When Mom covered his ears,' he thought, 'she was just like the hero who always appeared in his dreams.'
[Drama right from the start?]
[I just love how straightforward Chelsea is!]
[Renee was trying to be nice to Ian Shaw, and the little brat just gave her the cold shoulder. He's just like his mother.]
[Maybe Ian is just shy with strangers. To the person above, don't be so harsh on a little kid. What Chelsea Raines said was way too much.]
[Seems like Naomi isn't as bad as the rumors say. At least she's protective of her kid.]
[Poster above, are you part of Naomi's paid comment farm? How many cents per post?]
...
Just then, the sound of gongs and drums erupted. In the distance, a man in a garish, patterned shirt approached, driving a donkey cart. He held a megaphone to his lips. "Welcome, everyone, to Prospera Village! I'll be your guide for this trip—I'm Dalton!"
"Uncle Dalton!" the children chirped, rushing forward in a group, clearly fascinated by the donkey cart.
Director Ruby Preston's son, Simon Sawyer, was the oldest of the children. 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 and Nathan.
Naomi keenly noticed her son's curious glances. She softened her voice and asked, "Ian, want to go take a look? Have you ever seen a donkey before?"
Ian's eyelashes fluttered. He shifted his feet and asked cautiously, "Can... I?"
"Of course you can." Naomi tentatively picked him up, quietly sighing in relief only when he didn't struggle.
Nathan tugged on Renee's hand, looking ahead with longing. "Mom, I want to see the donkey, too."
"What's so great about a donkey? You'll just get your clothes all dirty. Nathan, this outfit you're wearing was custom-made, and it cost me a lot of money."
Sensing she might have been a bit harsh, Renee quickly added, "When we get back, I'll take you to an art museum. It's beautiful and educational. That's the kind of place you should be going to."
Nathan lowered his head, clearly unhappy.