The next morning, Lin Xiao Yan woke up in her frilly bed, stretching her tiny arms with a yawn. Her mind was already working overtime. Surviving a wild boar had been impressive, but the real challenge was gaining complete control over the show and protecting her mother, Hua Yichen, from humiliation—and from Chen Zehao.
"Step one, get the fans on my side. Step two… find out everything about that scumbag," she muttered, her little brow furrowed.
Hua Yichen entered the room, carrying a cup of milk. "Xiao Yan, you were amazing yesterday! The viewers are obsessed with you!" she gushed.
Xiao Yan blinked innocently, letting her tiny voice tremble just slightly. "Sniff… Mommy, I was scared…"
Hua Yichen cooed, completely unaware of the cunning behind Xiao Yan's act. The mother-daughter duo was already trending online: #StrongLoliXiaoYan was skyrocketing.
At breakfast, Xiao Yan opened her tiny laptop and logged onto Weibo. The comments were a mix of shock and admiration:
"This little girl is insane… dragging a wild boar at five years old??"
"I want to be her friend! So cute yet strong!"
"Give her more episodes, please!"
Xiao Yan's eyes gleamed. "Perfect. First part of the plan is working. Mommy's popularity is skyrocketing, and the show can't fail now."
But Xiao Yan had bigger things in mind. She had already begun investigating Chen Zehao, the man who had hurt her mother. Using the variety show as a cover, she could gather intelligence, manipulate situations, and eventually bring him down.
The producers announced the next challenge: "Today, kids will perform a series of talent games! Creativity and teamwork are key!"
Other children panicked, running to their parents for guidance. Xiao Yan's tiny mind, however, was already planning her strategy.
When it was her turn, she walked onto the stage holding her props with exaggerated innocence, smiling sweetly at the camera. But her eyes were sharp, calculating. She observed the cameramen, the audience, even the producers. Everything was a chessboard.
The first task was a simple obstacle course. Xiao Yan struggled "playfully," letting the cameras capture every slip, every scared squeak. The audience laughed and gasped, and social media exploded again:
"OMG, Xiao Yan is too cute!"
"She's so scared but still doing it… what a hero!"
By the time she reached the final obstacle, Xiao Yan grabbed the rope hanging from the ceiling—not with fear, but precision. With a small leap, she swung across, landing perfectly. The crowd erupted in applause.
Hua Yichen rushed forward, tears in her eyes. "Xiao Yan! You're amazing!"
Xiao Yan bowed elegantly. "Sniff… just doing my best for Mommy."
Behind the scenes, Xiao Yan quietly gathered intel. A producer whispered something about a mysterious man who had visited the studio in the past, leaving behind a jade pendant. Xiao Yan's heart skipped a beat—it had to be Chen Zehao.
"Interesting," she murmured. "Step two is about to begin."
Over the next few weeks, Xiao Yan continued her double act: adorable child on-screen, cunning strategist off-screen. She manipulated the show to give herself more screen time, subtly influencing games to make her the center of attention. Viewers adored her. Critics praised her creativity and bravery. Her mother's reputation began to recover.
And then came the twist—Xiao Yan noticed something strange about the jade pendant Chen Zehao had left. It was identical to the one around her father, Liang Zhiwei's, neck. Her little heart raced. Could it be… connected to the truth about her family?
Late at night, Xiao Yan sat in her room, holding the pendant, thinking. She could feel the faint pulse of another soul—the twin she hadn't realized existed—within her. A power that was hers alone. And now, she understood: her destiny was bigger than saving the show or even protecting her mother. She had to reunite her family and reclaim what was stolen from them.
"Chen Zehao," Xiao Yan whispered, a sly smile crossing her face, "you've messed with the wrong little girl. Xiao Yan is coming for you."
And somewhere in the distance, the cameras kept rolling. Millions of viewers didn't yet realize it, but the little girl they adored… wasn't just cute. She was dangerous, clever, and unstoppable.
The Strong Loli had struck back.