The Villain Mom Awakens — Going Viral by Parenting on a Reality Show-Chapter 128: Letters from Fans

"I went to do the task today, so..."

"That’s not an excuse, Nathan."

Perhaps Renee Jennings’s tone was too harsh, as a nearby cameraman couldn’t help but try to smooth things over. "It’s true," he said. "The children all had to complete their tasks, so they didn’t have time to study."

With someone else saying so, Renee Jennings couldn’t press the issue. She just offered a slight smile. "Oh, is that so? It’s fine. You can just make up for it when we get back."

Nathan mumbled a reply, suddenly listless.

He glanced back wistfully. He loved these carefree, happy days, free from the crushing weight of endless schoolwork. But it was so hard to have them, because everyone around him had such "high hopes" for him.

He really envied Ian. No matter what Ian did, Aunt Kenway always loved him.

With that in mind, he voiced his question. "Mom, Ian never studies, so why is Aunt Kenway always so good to him? Why do I have to do so much homework just for people to like me...?"

Renee Jennings’s heart skipped a beat. She never expected Nathan to be so perceptive and sensitive.

"Because..." Renee paused. A sudden realization hit her, and cold sweat beaded on her forehead. "Mommy loves you. Mommy and Daddy both love you. We just have slightly higher expectations for you. Mommy and Daddy hope you’ll grow up to be a capable person."

Renee bent down and asked, "Nathan, you don’t want to grow up to be a good-for-nothing, do you?"

Nathan nodded. "I don’t want to be a good-for-nothing."

Renee breathed a sigh of relief and took Nathan’s hand, continuing to walk forward.

[This kind of love is so selfish. They’re holding their kids hostage in the name of ’what’s best for them’.]

[This is so suffocating to listen to. But I grew up in this kind of environment. I feel for Nathan, and I feel for my younger self.]

[Renee isn’t wrong. Kids are like little saplings; you have to keep correcting them so they grow up strong. They’re too young to know any better. Once they’re successful, they’ll understand their parents were right.]

[I still hope Renee Jennings lets Nathan take a break. This much studying isn’t necessarily a good thing. A person’s growth isn’t just about grades. Raising a child isn’t like guarding a prisoner; you have to enrich their spirit too.]

...

*

Naomi Kenway was up early the next morning. The production crew had sent a notice telling the guests to handle their own breakfast. They still had plenty of food at home, which gave Naomi more options for what to make.

Perhaps because of the hot weather, Ian’s appetite hadn’t been great lately. While making breakfast, Naomi tried to shape the rice to look like Ultraman. Lacking any artistic talent, she messed up a few times. Naomi didn’t waste the failed attempts, though; she ate them herself.

Uncle Warren had given them a lot of fruit when they were doing their task yesterday, so Naomi sliced up some apples and strawberries to make a fruit tea.

Ian Shaw came running over on his short legs, PITTER-PATTER. He stood on his tiptoes to look at the breakfast on the table, his eyes shining brightly.

Naomi chuckled and lifted him onto the stool.

"Look, Ian, it’s your favorite, Ultraman!"

"Thank you, Mommy! You worked so hard to make me breakfast~"

Naomi shook her head. ’In that moment, all her hard work felt worth it.’

Ian Shaw suddenly opened his arms, motioning for Naomi to come closer.

"What is it, sweetie?"

The moment Naomi bent down to hear what he had to say, Ian planted a big SMOOCH on her cheek.

"When Ian grows up, I’m going to cook for Mommy too."

Naomi’s eyes curved into crescents as she teased him, "Oh, really?"

"Uh-huh, uh-huh." Ian Shaw nodded eagerly and held out his pinky. "Pinky promise."

After they finished breakfast, a staff member came over with a task card.

Please proceed to the Residential Plaza at 136 Warren Isle at 10:00 AM.

—The ’My Super Mom’ Production Team

Naomi glanced at the clock on the wall. They still had plenty of time.

Ian helped Naomi put the dishes in the sink. Then, Naomi placed him on a stool, and he stood on it to start washing them.

This was already their familiar routine: Naomi would cook, and Ian would wash the dishes.

However, because Ian was so young, Naomi still leaned against the doorframe to watch over him.

After putting a hat and a sun-protection shirt on Ian and making sure his delicate skin wouldn’t be exposed to the harsh sun, Naomi finally led him out the door.

*

Naomi and her son were the first pair of guests to arrive. They strolled around the square for a while. Everything from the verdant green fields to the wildflowers growing stubbornly in the cracks between stones was a fascinating sight for Ian Shaw.

Naomi didn’t know the names of some of the wildflowers, so she asked the nearby cameraman.

From a distance, she saw Margaret Jennings waving, and the second group of guests arrived at the square.

Margaret Jennings was holding a parasol, tilting it toward Carina Sanders. She walked over with a smile. "Nina, you two got here so early."

Naomi smiled back. "We didn’t have anything else to do, so we just came over. It’s a bit sunny here. Let’s go wait in the shade."

With that, the two of them walked toward the shade of a tree where, as it happened, there was a bench.

"They said there’d be an off-site guest, but there’s no sign of anyone yet. The production team is being pretty mysterious. They’re doing a great job keeping it under wraps," Margaret Jennings said, closing her parasol.

Naomi nodded. "They are being mysterious."

Within a few minutes, all the guests had arrived, and the tour guide appeared with a megaphone.

"Everyone’s so quick."

"Before we begin the task, we have a little bonus activity for you."

Hearing the word "bonus," all the guests’ eyes lit up.

Chelsea Raines couldn’t hold back. "What is it? Tell us, tell us!"

The guide smiled, a hint of emotion in his eyes. "Before we knew it, we’ve already reached the fourth episode of our show. Since it first aired, we’ve gathered a huge number of fans. The fans who have been following you all this time have a lot they want to say to you..."

A staff member beside him was carefully holding a wooden tray with a stack of envelopes on it.

"This is our little bonus—letters from your fans. I’m sure you’re all just as curious as I am about what’s written inside..."

The staff distributed the envelopes. Each guest received about five or six letters.

Margaret Jennings opened one with an emotional expression. "To receive such a precious, handwritten letter in this fast-paced era... we’re truly lucky..."

Naomi gently opened an envelope. Ian, beside her, leaned in, wanting to see too. Naomi knew he could recognize many words and would have no trouble reading a letter. However, Naomi was also well aware of her massive number of anti-fans. Some of the more extreme ones would even attack her family. She didn’t want her son to see such hurtful letters.

She quickly skimmed through them. Unexpectedly, all the letters expressed love and support for her and Ian. Some fans had even included pretty little doodles—chibi versions of Naomi and Ian. Perhaps knowing that Ian liked the color green, the stationery for all five letters was a fresh, light green.