After Participating in Intern Parents Variety Show with Movie Empress Mother - Reviews

Highly recommend, very fluffy, sweet, and surprisingly not full of plot holes compared to other novels of this genre. It’s also not overly ridiculous.

**Pros:**
- The relationship is incredibly sweet; I love it.
- Antagonists are not overly exaggerated or illogical. While some of their actions can't be justified, the female antagonists aren’t portrayed as brain-dead or excessively vicious. There’s no single villain who is used to drive the plot by doing all the bad things.
- The male lead isn’t treated like the worst person in the family, but he does face his own challenges.
- The novel is reminiscent of stories where a cold-faced parent (usually a father) gradually warms up to a child, but here, the parent is a mother.
- Mental health is mentioned positively, which is a pleasant surprise. A psychologist is featured prominently, and his advice is taken seriously by the mother.
- The child is one of the reasons the mother begins to make progress, but it’s not presented as a cure-all. The parents’ relationship still requires work.
- The father is deeply in love with the protagonist and had immature moments, but he learns and grows. His feelings for her remain constant, and his interactions with the child evolve positively.
- The best friend and the father’s family are delightful.
- The antagonist mother, who initially tries to manipulate her child, gradually gives up and shows genuine care for her child, adding depth to her character.
- The online audience in the story forms their own opinions and understands the importance of protecting children from adult schemes, which is refreshing.

**Cons:**
- Despite enjoying the novel, there were some questionable parts.
- The original novel’s storyline involving dreams (where the first antagonist was the heroine and the protagonist’s mother was a minor character) felt random and disconnected.
- The father initially uses the child to win the mother’s favor, which is a bit concerning.
- The psychologist’s involvement is minimal, despite mentioning a year-long treatment.
- The parents adopt the child before fully resolving their issues, which seems irresponsible.
- The premise of an orphanage sending kids to a reality show is problematic. What if the child isn’t well-received? It feels exploitative.
- The child’s behavior is almost too perfect; she never throws tantrums or shows anger, which seems unrealistic given her background.
- The father’s promise to the child that she will be their only child is later contradicted by the possibility of the protagonist being adopted, which feels inconsistent.

*Note: I refer to the child as the main character (MC), but the story is told in third-person POV, so there isn’t a traditional MC.*

, highly recommend giving this a try. It’s a quick read and not overly long. The machine translation probably wouldn’t be too difficult, but I read the raw version.

Perhaps I am the only one to say this, but reading this light novel made me extremely uncomfortable. As I continued, there was a persistent feeling of wrongness, and I couldn't pinpoint why.

I believe it's the premise of the novel itself that disturbed me. I felt deeply uneasy for the children involved. Four-year-olds don't even have a strong sense of self; they are essentially blank canvases shaped by their surroundings. Yet, in this story, they are manipulated by adults—clearly inexperienced ones—for adult entertainment. These children are dragged across the internet, criticized for being too boring, too unlovable, too spoiled, or too childish.

The expectations and standards set for these literal kids were unrealistically high. They were supposed to be lively but not loud, playful but not disobedient, childish and innocent yet somehow mature. Any genuine expressions of emotion, like crying or throwing tantrums, were seen as nuisances.

Additionally, I couldn’t find the scenes of the main character seeking advice from a slightly older toddler to be wholesome or heartwarming.

While the novel had its cute moments that made me smile and laugh, I still can't bring myself to like it.

This show shares a similar concept with "Contrast Team" in a Dad & Baby Show, focusing on a child brought to a livestreaming show with a celebrity or entertainer.

The main character is a four-year-old girl named An An, who is believed to be an orphan (though this is not the case at first). She is sent to participate in a livestream show where new parents take care of children, which is where she meets her future parents, Mo Sui and Gu Yicheng.

I question the decision of the orphanage to send a child to such a show, as I don't think the exposure is appropriate for a young child. However, An An finds herself in this situation, and it’s where she meets her parents.

An An has dreams where things go wrong for her parents in the "original novel," and she tries to change these outcomes. Her efforts are subtle, like telling her mother not to drink or encouraging her father to pursue her mother rather than letting her ignore him. These small actions make the story quite endearing.

One of the most touching parts is how An An’s presence helps heal her mother from the pain of losing a child. Both parents want to adopt her, and it would have been a beautiful story if it had stayed that way. However, the plot takes a dramatic turn when it's revealed that An An is actually their biological daughter, who was somehow sent to the orphanage. This revelation adds a layer of complexity, though it somewhat diminishes the charm of the earlier, simpler narrative.

When the parents start searching for their biological daughter, thinking she might still be alive, I felt a bit disappointed. I was imagining a scenario where An An wasn’t their biological daughter, and they didn’t abandon her once they found their biological child. But in a perfect novel world, An An is inevitably their biological daughter.

The story includes several subplots involving family conflicts, kidnapping, and infidelity, but these are handled rather quickly, with the focus often returning to how adorable An An is. While these elements add some tension, they can feel a bit predictable and less engaging compared to the heartwarming moments with An An.

One character I particularly enjoyed is Ruan Qingqing. She also experiences dreams where she is the female lead and destined for a happy ending. However, she soon realizes that reality is more complex. Her bravery in leaving her abusive partner, Huo, to build a better life for herself and her daughter is commendable. I hope she gets a good ending, although the novel doesn’t delve deeply into her story.

Jiang Yuge is another compelling character. Her storyline is tragic, but I appreciate that the novel features strong women who stand up for themselves and what they believe is right.

, this is a pleasant, light read that focuses on childcare and the romantic reconciliation between the leads. The personalities of the main characters are well-developed and add depth to the story.

Fluffy story with realistic main characters.

Spoiler
Except for the weird stuff between the two parents of our adorable little bun. Why so much drama and no communication? Jeez.

If you want a fluffy, heartwarming story, READ THIS!!!!

Spoiler
An and An deserve the world and to be happy with their parents.

A charming and concise novel. The plot is straightforward, and fortunately, the chapters don’t drag on.

What I appreciate about this novel is that the children genuinely behave like kids—cute and playful. An'an, the main character, is shy and loves to follow her mother around. Contrary to my initial assumption that the father would be a domineering CEO, he isn’t. He’s quite playful and enjoys kissing An'an and Mama.

In one scene, poor guy! Both Mama and the baby tend to ignore him, favoring each other more. Once, Mama had to go on a shoot, and An'an wanted to follow her. However, the director was intimidating, and An'an didn’t want to be near him. She then considered that if she stayed with Dad, she would have to face her scary grandfather. Since she had to deal with a scary older man either way, she chose to stay with Mama, whom she preferred over Dad. ??

Another positive aspect is that, unlike many novels with child protagonists, An'an doesn’t have a suggested future love interest, and no other kids are portrayed as villains. The story focuses on Papa, Mama, and their little baby.

I also loved the character development of the original!FL character. Initially, she was introduced as a typical white lotus—using her daughter to please her in-laws and her scummy fiancé. However, she later began to reflect:

- Why did she allow the scumbag to trample on her dignity?
- When did she start prioritizing others over her daughter’s happiness?
- Why did she act so mindlessly in the past?

Eventually, when the scumbag proposed to her, she rejected him and left the house with her daughter, vowing never to use her daughter for financial gain and to be a perfect role model for her. She even admitted her mistakes to the main character’s mother.

"She was no longer the weak FL protagonist but the protagonist of her own life."

Her daughter, Qiqi, befriended An'an. This child is incredibly mature for her age. Seeing her mother struggle to earn money, she decided to stop dancing (though she eventually rejoined the classes). When anyone teased her for being fatherless, she proudly declared, "I might not have a father, but I have the best mother."

They both support and love each other deeply.

Unless you're looking for a guilty pleasure, I think this rating is pretty fair. The villains and netizens aren't very smart. The family is wholesome enough. The concept is unique enough to interest the reader. The way they found out about her birth was unexpected and fun.

Personally, I don't enjoy reading about reality TV shows in these novels unless there's an explicit reason for it and no other way to achieve the same plot points. I accepted the premise and enjoyed the first reality TV show because it served a purpose and was meaningful. The duration was also well-balanced. However, the author's reliance on another reality TV show for plot extension is disappointing. At this point, it makes the book mediocre to me because it's clear that this is not high-quality writing. The author seems unable to engage readers in a family, childcare, and entertainment novel without resorting to reality TV plot devices and the validation of netizen comments. It feels like a lazy way to create humor and interest. I’m tired of this trope. If my tone seems a bit harsh, it’s because the story feels a bit dumb.

Why do the lead parents feel the need to prove they sleep in the same bed to random strangers to "protect the reputation of their marriage/relationship" by going on another reality show when we know the truth will eventually come out anyway? The only reason seems to be that the author doesn’t know how to extend the novel otherwise. Is there another logical explanation? No. Moreover, it’s illogical that a previously private celebrity would willingly expose their child to public scrutiny just to give them more memorable experiences, especially when they could provide those experiences privately through vacations, adventures, or other acting opportunities. Given their wealth and connections, they could teach these lessons without millions of people watching. Do they really need this reality TV show to boost their reputation? Let's be real; that argument doesn’t hold water.

Despite these issues, I think this is a decent book with a cute family and a decent story. It could have been more logical and better written, but it’s mediocre yet wholesome in its intentions. For that, I fairly give it 3 stars and recommend it as a mediocre guilty pleasure for people who enjoy happy families with dumb villains and annoying netizens.

4 stars but it's much closer to 3.5.

Let's start with the good stuff. An An is adorably cute. She is just a perfect little protagonist, and when the author focuses on her and her interactions with her parents, the novel truly shines. Two thumbs up for all the parts where she’s being cute.

The problem is that the author didn’t have enough ideas to sustain a full novel centered around An An, and resorted to increasingly low-quality filler. Without spoiling too much, very early on, you get transmigrated into plotlines that aren’t executed well or particularly interesting. These plotlines are mainly there to fill space, provide some tension, and serve as an excuse for characters making bad or exceptionally good decisions. After that, you get generic showbiz plots that are mostly uninteresting. The showbiz framework is used to introduce a plethora of generic and mostly forgettable characters. The biggest issue is that there is far too much of this, which dilutes the main story.

Another significant problem is that the novel essentially ends around chapter 40, but it takes another 40+ chapters to realize it had already run its course. Once you reach the climax and resolution, there isn’t much left to keep you engaged. This is especially true since An An’s cuteness is much more subdued in the second half.

Bottom Line: This is a good work as it stands, but it could have been great if it had been more tightly edited.

Hands down, one of the sweetest parenting stories I've ever read in NU.

- Mo Sui and Gu Yingchen didn't burden their child with their past traumas. While her presence helped mend their wounds and estrangement, they never used the child as a tool (unlike some mothers out there and a certain douchebag Huo Family).
- Gu Yingchen is not a scum partner or dad. Their fight started from a minor quarrel but escalated due to events that occurred during the one-year gap, which were beyond their control. It wasn’t a typical misunderstanding trope. Really!
- Despite her mental stress and psychological shadows regarding children, Mo Sui still did her best to provide for An An, albeit awkwardly.
- The children in the story have distinct personalities, and their immaturity and innocence are vividly portrayed through their different circumstances. It’s heart-wrenching to see them struggle.
- When the time came and the two became a little reconciled, they didn’t sideline An An, unlike in other novels. This story prioritizes their daughter’s needs.
- Grandma Gu and Grandpa Gu are incredibly accepting of An An. Who could resist her charming charisma? Even though An An isn’t their biological granddaughter, they treat her well and entertain her.
- The relationship between Mo Sui and Gu Yingchen is so adorable! They respect each other, give each other autonomy, and tease each other within bounds.
- I was a bit hesitant to include this, but the antagonists’ actions are thankfully minor and quickly resolved. The author provides background, and while you’ll still dislike them, you might find it easier to hate the Huo Family more because they use you and your daughter for business and fame. Your insecurity, instability, and love for the other party are hurting not only you but your life with Qiqi.
- Thankfully, the author is still human. They didn’t make Mo Sui’s mother an unchanging character.

A novel with a silly best friend. She’s the most down-to-earth character here. Immature, bubbly, and a tsundere. Hey, hey, she has double standards, lmao. I relate to this!

**Cons**

- The only thing I don’t like about Gu Yingchen is when he tells his daughter she’s being a third wheel (light bulb). I really hate this in novels. Yes, she might be an obstacle in deepening his relationship with Mo Sui, but he shouldn’t say that to her. It’s especially hurtful for an ‘orphaned’ child who grew up in an orphanage. Even for those who didn’t come from an orphanage, you can’t just tell them to scram. “You’re already a big girl.” That’s basically making your kid feel unwelcome or hesitant to seek help. But that’s my only complaint because Gu Yingchen is otherwise too perfect for his daughter and wife.