Chapter 326: Lens Reform

"I think, what I think, sister, you said I can!"

Guoguo played all day today, was very excited, and was full of anticipation for the homework.

"Come with me!"

Su Yu took Guoguo to the room.

Su Yu took out the kindergarten workbook that Su Xi had given her before, and then found another kindergarten teaching material.

"These are all, should I have someone help you move them home?"

"Why do we need to move them home?"

"Let your dad teach you, then do the homework. Anyway, whether you go to school or come home, you still have to do homework."

Guoguo thought Sister Xiao Yu's words made sense!

"Alright!"

Guoguo excitedly had Su Yu direct the servants to move the books home. Shi Xu, who had just soothed Jiu Jiu, looked at the scene with puzzlement.

"Guoguo, where did your books come from?"

"Sister Xiao Yu gave them!"

"What books?"

Guoguo didn't answer, but raised another question, "Dad, Sister Xiao Yu has a study, I want one too!"

Shi Xu agreed, "Sure, tomorrow I'll have someone set up a study for you."

There are few people in the house, so two studies can be arranged, one for each sister.

"Dad, then will you teach me tomorrow?"

Without a study, learning seems inconvenient!

"Learning, what to learn?"

The topic jumped too fast, Shi Xu couldn't keep up.

"Learn from kindergarten books, then teach me to do homework! Sister Xiao Yu gave me a lot of homework!"

Since Guoguo wanted to learn, Shi Xu was enthusiastic and took Guoguo into his own study to teach her.

Before teaching, Shi Xu had a smile at the corner of his mouth!

After teaching, Shi Xu was thrilled!

His daughter is also a little prodigy!

"Dad, after we finish the textbook, we can do the homework, right?"

"Right, sweetheart, you write, and after you finish I'll grade it for you!"

Shi Xu selected the workbook that corresponded to what he had just explained and gave it to Guoguo to write.

Ten minutes later, Guoguo handed in the workbook, "Dad, I finished everything!"

Shi Xu looked at his proud daughter, a smile just like hers appearing on his face, and graded her homework.

Shi Xu's hand stiffened while his smile froze.

Meanwhile, Su Yi came home and ran into the returning servant.

"Why did you go next door?"

"Miss Xiao Yu delivered textbooks and a workbook to Miss Guoguo."

"Oh?"

Su Yi raised an eyebrow, it seemed Shi Xu was in for trouble!

"Is Shi Xu teaching now?"

"Probably, before I left, Mr. Shi was leading Miss Guoguo to the study!"

Su Yi quickly went upstairs, reported to Ji Yan, then rushed to the next door to watch the commotion!

Next door, Shi Xu was trying to explain the meaning of the problem to his daughter.

"Sweetie, it's an arithmetic problem, not a life problem! It just wants you to calculate one plus two minus one, not really ask how many jin of flour and water after mixing!"

Shi Xu sincerely thought the workbook's author was giving parents a brain teaser to trouble them.

The question is: one jin of flour plus two jin of water, then discard one jin of water, equals how many jin?

Guoguo's answer was: I don't know, because the flour and water might ferment.

Shi Xu thought the answer was correct; if the flour and water have no leavening, it should be two jin. But if the flour contains its own leavening, after adding water and fermenting, it could be more than two jin.

But the arithmetic problem Guoguo was supposed to write had the answer of two jin.

"Can't it just ask what one plus two minus one equals?"

Shi Xu also wondered why it didn't ask directly.

Skipping that big math application question, Shi Xu switched to the Three Character Classic.

Su Yi and Su Yu, who had followed, saw Shi Xu's expression was really grim and leaned in to look.

Su Yu nodded seriously, and Su Yi burst out laughing!

"Guoguo, hahaha, why does 'At the beginning of man, nature is good' mean that people are changeable at first?"

Su Yi thought, Shi Xu must have explained it! Guoguo also heard it, though maybe only half of it stuck?

Guoguo, puzzled, frowned, "When my little sister was just born she was changeable. She cries one moment, fusses the next, then sleeps quietly. When she gets older she smiles, then cries; if that's not changeable, what is?"

Heh heh heh!

Su Yi laughed so hard he whistled!

Mingmeng received Ji Yan's message, came over to see Guoguo's homework and fell silent. She thought teaching children is a tough battle that might not be won.

What the kid said, damn, makes sense!

Jiu Jiu really is changeable!

The adult was thinking how to explain to the child, but Su Yu hit the nail on the head.

"You wrote it wrong, no points, so the teacher won't give a reward."

No points means no reward, which means no snack!

Just now the smug Guoguo lowered his head and said, "Sister Xiao Yu, how can I get a reward?"

"Write according to the answer; when you grow up, you can customize the answer you want."

The premise is that Guoguo has the ability and the guts!

Not knowing how hard customizing an answer is, Guoguo readily agreed, "Alright!"

Without Shi Xu saying anything, Guoguo obediently changed the answer.

Mingmeng's eyes brightened; the situation didn't seem that bad! The child was still obedient!

Shi Xu, who had taught Guoguo, felt a bad omen. He thought, later he'll ask Su Xi and the others which teacher is better; he wants to hire several tutors for his daughter.

Father‑daughter affection still needs daily nurturing; entrusting homework and such to professionals is more appropriate.

"Sweetie, you haven't finished learning yet; tomorrow your study will be repaired, then we can resume proper study, okay?"

Guoguo nodded under Shi Xu's expectant gaze.

Shi Xu let out a sigh of relief.

Luckily, they agreed!

Having escaped disaster, Shi Xu hurriedly dragged Guoguo downstairs, "Let's go eat. Su Yi, aren't you going back to eat? Sister Xiao Yu, will you stay to eat?"

Shi Xu was cold toward Su Yi but gave Su Yu a gentle smile, making Su Yi want to hit him!

"What, do you look down on people?"

"Not really; it's just that the two of us have nothing to say for now, and you just laughed a goose‑like honk!"

Shi Xu was annoyed by Su Yi's spectating. Su Yu at least spoke up in support; she is Su Xi's beloved little rascal. Since Shi Xu needed Su Xi's favor, he naturally treated Su Yu well.

Su Yi: "…Seems indeed I was a bit over the line!"

Su Yi scooped up Su Yu and ran, "Let's go home for dinner!"

"Dad, why did you have to bring me along when you go home for dinner?!" …

【You yourself are annoying and still won't let me be a guest?】

Su Yi ignored, muttering like a monk, took Su Yu back to their villa, then went to complain to Ji Yan!

The daughter actually doesn't want to go home for dinner; she must be planning to eat random stuff outside!

After Su Yu finished dinner, she went upstairs to find Ji Yan, while Su Yi kept muttering.

"Dad, Grandpa is back; he's looking for you!"

Su Yi was skeptical, "Really?"

This little girl occasionally uses her Maternal Grandparents as a pretext to trick him! Su Yi's reasons for being fooled each time are never consistent.

This time the excuse was so ordinary that he thought he couldn't be duped.

"Mm‑hmm, yes, Grandpa's looking for you!"

Su Yi went downstairs; Ji Yan pressed Su Yu onto the chair, "Sweetie, don't develop a habit of lying."

The older Su Yu gets, the more she lies. Her acting improves, gradually surpassing Ji Yan and Su Yi.

Su Yu doesn't lie to Ji Yan, but she loves to lie to Su Yi.

"But Dad hates it!"

He always magnifies her flaws infinitely, making everyone angry! She just responds in another way!

Ji Yan, accustomed to the father‑daughter quarrels, knew this time wouldn't be resolved, and asked, "What are you coming to Mom for?"

Now should be Su Yu's homework time; how do you have time to look for her?

"Mom, I heard we need to change the lens?"

"Right, the new lens jointly developed by your Grandpa and Uncle. We've already used this lens in the short drama, and we plan to offer a free trial in the neighborhood after the drama goes live. All residents can enjoy the new lens's photo effect."

This lens is more realistic than traditional ones. Tests show that people captured by it are virtually identical to the original, resembling what the human eye sees.

The notion of looking ten pounds heavier on camera doesn't exist. Whatever you look like, that's how you appear in photos!

Ji Yan, having watched the short drama, noticed that compared to earlier ones, some people's looks have truly improved a lot! It's pleasing and gives viewers a sense that they're progressing!

"Mom, should we enter the entertainment industry?"

"Definitely. Without entering the entertainment world, the development costs are hard to recoup."

This lens has been patented. Whoever uses it must pay.

Who's buying it if not anyone?

"So should we produce more short dramas?"

Su Yu felt a bit regretful; such a unique patent couldn't earn a bit more. She thought, now that others lack the lens, we could seize market share!

Ji Yan didn't quite agree, "If there are too many videos, quality can't be guaranteed and it might backfire."

The real breakout might be just one drama!

If they chase quantity, the staff will be overloaded with too many productions and actors, and mistakes will happen. An error here, an oversight there, the overall performance suffers.

Fans are all sensitive.

If a drama errs, they will point it out seriously and switch to the next. If all contemporaries err, they will unfollow, leading to a loss.

"Then use the lens to film fan meetings for those already famous bloggers?"

How the lens looks, fans will naturally see.

Ji Yan was surprised, "Sweetie, why are you so concerned about this lens?"

Shouldn't her dad and Su Xi be the ones eager to promote the lens's effect? Why is Su Yu more nervous?

【Who let the entertainment industry collectively marginalize you? I want to cause a massive earthquake in the entertainment world!】

When the news about this camera spreads, the entertainment industry's good actors who aren't very camera‑friendly will definitely turn to Ji Yan.

Ji Yan's studio uses only internal‑test versions of the camera, obtained before any outside companies. Moreover, whether other production crews can use them is another matter!

The new technology has never been cheap!

"I want Mom's studio to be better! The camera needs a lot of promotion!"

"The promotion is probably enough."

Ji Yan doesn't want her daughter to worry about this, "The residential complex is already full; if everyone just talks about it online, this can get on Hot Search for free."

"Yay!"

Su Yu is very happy!

【Wulongcha, please keep an eye on this for a while!】

【No problem!】

Wulongcha is very proactive! Now its main income has become the rent from Yan Le Yuan. Wulongcha is also becoming more invested in Yan Le Yuan.

If the brilliance of this residential complex can continue, Su Yu will never worry about money for Draw card in the future.

"Knock knock, may I come in?"

"Please come in!"

Ji Yan looks up, "Meng Meng, why did you come?"

"Dream Aunt!"

【Why didn't you go take care of Guo Guo and Jiu Jiu? Not teaching Guo Guo to study?】

"I want to ride your tailwind and promote my own program a bit."

Mingmeng hasn't given up; the money she wants to invest is her private funds.

"That project really easily loses money!"

Su Yu, puzzled, 【What project?】

"No, I switched to another one. Previously wasn't the trend of dads taking care of kids? Now I'm preparing this. When the time comes, I'll have Shi Xu on the show."

"Okay, then will you promote it that day?"

Mingmeng looks at Ji Yan with a hint of grievance, "You really aren't investing? Because it's not all female?"

"More or less."

Ji Yan neither shook nor nodded her head, giving an ambiguous answer.

She exclaimed, "Why are you so keen on an all‑female crew?"

Mingmeng glanced at Ji Yan's studio data; it's basically all women.

"Issues with women are more controllable."

Female scandals are roughly only those few types; as long as people live together in the studio, any problem that arises can be quickly spotted by the responsible lifestyle Agent, who can then guide the contracted staff.

Male internet celebrities are too variable, easily causing uncontrollable studio issues that ruin the studio's reputation.

This is something Ji Yan cannot tolerate!

Ji Yan showed Mingmeng some data on male stars. After looking, Mingmeng said, "Sure enough, I want to smash some people's dog heads!"

If Mingmeng had seen such data earlier, she wouldn't have brought this up repeatedly.

Switching the entire crew to women gives Mingmeng even more work!

"How about you give me some advice? Switching to an all‑female cast, how to do it? No contrast means no traffic."

No traffic means no viewers, which leads to losses! Compared with moms taking care of kids, people prefer to watch dads taking care of kids. If a child falls and dies, those people might get even more agitated, rushing online like devouring blood‑filled buns to post press releases.

"The contrast is simple: in the first scene, you can film a career woman preparing for work, showing what she needs—makeup, clothing, accessories, etc."

The first scene is a refined beauty or a wealthy idle, however stylish they appear.

"In the second scene, you can film how such a refined person changes after having a child. At that point the child appears. In the production, the child's parents or teachers have the authority to discipline a rascal kid."

In fact, at this time, the more mischievous the kid, the better!

The more mischievous, the more evident the opposition in the film!

Mingmeng, excited, "How much money?"

Ji Yan also doesn't know the budget.

"We can first make a plan, then see the implementation challenges later."

If it's too difficult, switch to another project!

Ji Yan has been weathered by reality and looks somewhat world‑weary!

Before anything is confirmed, she dares not invest much, fearing infeasibility; the earlier investments went down the drain!

"Sure, let's make the plan together!"

Ji Yan and Mingmeng excitedly draft the plan, while Su Yu, bored, goes looking for fun.

Thanks to the darlings for casting their votes~

The kindergarten topic is weaving.

Actually I've always been curious: if someone looks unflattering on camera, why change the person instead of the camera? If they appear ten pounds heavier on camera, isn't that a camera problem? Why not try to fix the camera's flaws? It may be hard, but things are changed that way; when dealing with a keypad phone, making a touchscreen phone is also difficult.

Good night, darlings~