The next step was to hand over all electronic devices, snacks, and toys. Aside from a brief episode where Jared Woods threw himself on the ground and cried, it all went rather smoothly.
The tour guide raised the megaphone again. "We've prepared five houses for you to choose from, all in different styles. If you'll please follow me, we'll go take a look at them."
The guests toured the five houses. House Number One was a cozy little courtyard with a picket fence, filled with flowers and vegetables. House Number Two was a goat house that came with penned goats and a separate kitchen. House Number Three was the village chief's two-story modern house, fully furnished. House Number Four was a courtyard with Republican-era architecture; it was said to be quite old but had been well-maintained. Finally, House Number Five was a dilapidated earthen hut. A simple curtain hung in the doorway, and it was clear no one had lived there for a very long time. Its only upside was a jujube tree in the yard, laden with ripe, red fruit.
After the tour, it was time to draw lots for the houses.
All the cards were placed in a bamboo basket for the children to draw.
Jared Woods ran up most excitedly. He opened his card and cheered, "Yeah! Number Two! We can see the goats!" He happily tugged on Chelsea Raines's sleeve. "Mom, look! It's Number Two!"
Chelsea Raines clicked her tongue in disappointment. "I was hoping to stay in the modern house. Looks like we're not so lucky."
Margaret Jennings and her daughter drew Number One, the picket-fence courtyard. Ruby Preston and her son drew Number Four, the Republican-era courtyard.
Now, only two cards had yet to be revealed, corresponding to the best and worst-case scenarios.
Renee Jennings opened her card, ecstatic. "We got Number Three! Nathan, sweetie, you're the best!"
Nathan Lynch was overjoyed too.
At the same time, Naomi Kenway opened her card and saw the two large, black words written on it: Number Five.
Ian Shaw was terrified. He flinched reflexively, remembering that every time he failed to please his mother, the consequences were scolding and verbal abuse.
Naomi Kenway put the card away and raised her eyebrows in pleasant surprise. "How did you know Mommy loves jujubes? This is practically our dream house!"
Ian Shaw couldn't believe Naomi Kenway's attitude. "But... the house is so run-down..."
"But our house has a jujube tree! That's pretty cool, right? None of the other houses have fresh jujubes to eat."
After hearing that, the dejected look on Ian Shaw's face vanished.
After congratulating Renee Jennings, Chelsea Raines couldn't resist mocking Naomi Kenway. 'Getting so happy over a broken-down house. She clearly hasn't seen much of the world.'
But as soon as the words were out of her mouth, her son, Jared Woods, tugged her sleeve. "Mom, does our house have a jujube tree?"
Chelsea Raines's anger flared. "You're hopeless! All you ever think about is food!"
[Renee truly is Lady Luck, just as they say. Naomi and her son, on the other hand, are so unlucky.]
[Can anyone actually live in Number Five? Are we sure this isn't a prank by the production team?]
[Naomi is famously lazy. Won't living in House Number Five be the death of her? She should just quit the show.]
[Naomi's attitude toward her son is pretty good. She's always guiding Annie with positivity. She might be a bit lazy and selfish, but at least she's genuinely good to her kid.]
[The person above isn't necessarily right. There's a word for that: 'persona.' Don't forget the entertainment reporter's exposé from before.]
Naomi Kenway picked up her suitcase, ready to take her son to House Number Five.
"Naomi, wait!"
Naomi Kenway turned to see Renee Jennings hurrying over, holding Nathan Lynch's hand.
"Naomi, House Number Five is too run-down to live in. The house I drew has plenty of space. Why don't you two come and stay with me in House Number Three?"
The photographer's voice came from the side. "Ms. Jennings, that's against the rules."
Renee Jennings put on a surprised expression. "We really can't stay together?"
"I'm sorry, you can't."
"Well... how about you let Annie come back with me? Annie is too young. He definitely can't stay in a place as basic as House Number Five." This was Renee Jennings's true goal. She had already established her persona as a "gentle and considerate good mother." If she took the initiative to care for Ian Shaw, who everyone thought was neglected, this persona would be even more solidified.
"Nathan and Annie get along so well. Nathan wants to play with Annie, don't you?" Renee Jennings prompted.
Nathan Lynch didn't remember Ian Shaw at all, but he could only go along with his mother's lead. He forced a well-behaved look onto his face and said, "Come play with me."
At that moment, the other guests passed by and chimed in, urging Naomi to let Annie go back with Renee Jennings. The conditions in House Number Five were too harsh; the child shouldn't have to suffer.
Naomi Kenway didn't want to be separated from her son for even a second, but she still bent down and asked, "Do you want to go with Aunt Jennings?"
'In the novel's plot, Renee Jennings is the 'it girl' of the parenting show. Everyone, guests and children alike, adores her—everyone except me, the token villainess. My own son will probably choose to go with her, too. After all, our relationship isn't exactly close...'
Renee Jennings coaxed, "Annie, Auntie's house has lots of toys and yummy snacks. Don't you want to come and see?"
But to everyone's surprise, Ian Shaw refused without the slightest hesitation. His small, childish voice was firm: "I just want to stay with my mom."
Renee Jennings frowned. "House Number Five is very run-down, and there are big bugs, you know."
"I just want to stay with my mom," Ian Shaw repeated.
Naomi Kenway breathed a sigh of relief, both surprised and delighted.
"Naomi, I think it's better if you let Annie come with me. You shouldn't always resort to threats with your child," Renee Jennings said, looking at Naomi Kenway with disapproval.
"What are you trying to say?" Naomi Kenway narrowed her eyes at her.
"Do I really need to spell it out? If you hadn't threatened Annie, why would he possibly be willing to stay with you in House Number Five?"
Naomi Kenway found this laughable. "Are you confused about something? What makes you think my son would abandon me to choose a stranger like you?"
At this moment, Renee Jennings was like a saint on her moral high horse. "That's because you abuse him. You're terrible to him."
"You saw this?"
Naomi Kenway's casual question left Renee Jennings at a loss for words. Of course, she had never seen it herself; it was just that the photos circulating online all seemed to confirm Naomi Kenway's negligence and irresponsibility. But those were just online rumors.
Chelsea Raines couldn't help but chime in: "Naomi, you're all talk. Renee is being kind-hearted and you're just throwing it back in her face. You'll regret it when your child starts to suffer. You're lazy as hell—you need an assistant to feed you. You can't even take care of yourself, so how are you going to take care of a child? Let me tell you, when you come crying to us for help later, we're not going to lift a finger."
"You don't need to worry about that. I will take very good care of my son."
Chelsea Raines scoffed. "That house is covered in dust and doesn't have a single piece of decent furniture. I'd like to see how you manage to take care of Annie."
As she spoke, she put her arm around Renee Jennings's shoulder. "Renee, let's just ignore her. People like her never appreciate kindness."
Ruby Preston lingered for a moment, then finally left with a sigh.
[Renee is so beautiful and kind!]
[It's a shame. It would have been better if Annie went with Renee. I'm so scared the online rumors about Naomi abusing her child are true. Even with cameras around, when Naomi and Annie are alone, you still can't guarantee Annie's safety.]
[Naomi is so full of herself. How dare she claim she can take good care of Annie? She's a hopeless case with zero life skills; she probably doesn't even know how to sweep the floor.]
[Naomi is famously lazy; she can't survive without her assistants and maids. And now she has the nerve to claim she'll take good care of Annie? Is she joking?]
[Maybe Naomi already bribed her way through. I heard she bought her spot on this show. Otherwise, how could someone with such a terrible reputation get on a hit national variety show like this?]
[She's talking so big. I'm just waiting for her to eat her words!]