Finn stepped in to start the clean-up, with Wyneth following suit to get a cloth, only to have Derek snatch it up before she could lay a hand on it. The two men wasted no time diving into the kitchen's disarray.Giada stood off to the side, a shocked look plastered across her face. 'Is it my imagination or are these two guys competing to do Wyneth's chores?' she grumbled silently, resentment building. 'Why, though?'Despite the kitchen being attended to, Wyneth was not just standing around idle. She waited until Finn cleared a bit of space, then ventured in to assess the surviving ingredients. 'Due to the weather, we don't store much food, and fresh ingredients are usually just enough for the day. Giada has wasted so much... What's left...' Wyneth mulled over it for a moment before turning to the others. "Ever had aglio e olio? How about we have that for lunch?" The remaining ingredients were hardly enough for a full meal. If they attempted to cook, the resulting portions would be pi
Finn and Derek had already gone outside, and she did not want to stay here anymore."Fine, go ahead."After Giada had left, Wyneth set to work, neatly dicing up the pancetta. She was about to heat up some oil and commence cooking when she noticed some garlic cloves set aside had not been peeled or minced. Closer examination revealed some still ensconced in its papery shell, not at all ready for the pan. A silent sigh passed through her. She collected the garlic without uttering a complaint, dutifully beginning the task of peeling and mincing. It was no issue in her mind; these culinary skills were not innately acquired. They were learned, honed over time. No one springs forth from birth with a chef's knife in hand.Outside, Derek and Finn were chatting. Even though Derek had lost the previous game, he had the audacity to pull out his phone and propose to Finn, "Hey Finn, how about we follow each other on Facebook?"Hearing this, Finn cast him a contemptuous glance."If I remember
By the time the aromatic scent hit, Giada could not help but feel her stomach rumble, and her cheeks heated up in response. But both Finn and Derek seemed to be unconcerned. Neither of them even looked her way. As a result, she felt an unexpected sense of being ignored.When Wyneth brought out the aglio e olio, Giada had to force herself to swallow the saliva that had formed at the smell. 'How could it smell this amazing? It must be an illusion! Why else would I find the aroma of such a common dish so tantalizing?' she thought, as she had always looked down on it before. 'Wyneth must've sneaked in some secret seasoning. It probably won't even taste good.'For hygiene's sake, Wyneth brought the food outside to serve it. The ingredients were scarce, but the spaghetti was abundant. Giada saw the amount Wyneth was serving her and immediately protested, "I-I don't want that much, a little will be enough." At her words, all three of them turned to look at her. Giada laughed awkwardly. "I d
At least, her beauty was less infuriating now."I'll take care of the clean-up today." Derek began gathering the dishes. It was not a lot, and Wyneth seemed exhausted, so she simply nodded in agreement.Seeing Wyneth's worn-out state, Finn decided to check in on her. "Tired, huh? Want to take a nap?"Wyneth did feel a wave of fatigue wash over her. But as she glanced around, she could not spot any suitable spots for her to rest."There is..." Giada pointed at a room nearby. "When I lost my way earlier, I stumbled upon it. There's a little bed and a blanket inside, should be good for a rest. Not the cleanest, though."Wyneth looked at Giada with a touch of surprise. 'An illusion? She doesn't seem as hostile now?' She replied, "I'll take a look." Wyneth got up and walked toward the room Giada had pointed out. Upon opening the door, she found a small bed and blanket, likely a resting spot for the workers. It was more than just unclean; it was downright filthy. But then again, she was
By afternoon, Giada had joined the rest in the toil of the day. After messing up in the morning, she would have no chance of redeeming herself if she dared to slack off in the afternoon. By the time they returned in the evening, she was dog-tired, collapsing on the oxcart like a spent hound.Finn, as usual, was using the rechargeable fan to cool Wyneth down."You can stop," Wyneth abruptly said."Huh?""The wind is picking up." Wyneth leaned back, her gaze fixed on the distant sunset.Following her gaze, Finn took in the fiery sunset. The sun was nearly swallowed by the horizon, and at last, a breeze began to sweep away the day's relentless heat. In these peaceful fields, the twilight hour was always extraordinarily serene.Wyneth closed her eyes, relishing the cool breeze. Strands of her soft, dark hair danced with the wind, and her face, illuminated by the setting sun, appeared even more tranquil.Finn had always been a stickler for cleanliness. These past few days, enduring t
"I know," Lauren replied.Soon after, Wyneth pulled up the covers and lay down. Staring at the ceiling above, she mused, 'Tomorrow, this filming will end. Time sure flies. I suppose I'm genuinely stepping into this circle now, right?' Just as sleep was about to claim her, she was jolted by Lauren's voice."Wyneth..."Turning toward the sound, Wyneth saw Lauren biting her lower lip, looking at her with a troubled expression."Can I ask you something?"Wyneth rolled to her side to face her. "Shoot."Taking a deep breath to steady herself, Lauren asked, "Why... why didn't you ask me?""Ask what?"Lauren's face twisted even more with uncertainty. "Why I switched teams." After the words tumbled out, she exhaled, as if a weight had been lifted."Why did you switch teams?" Wyneth returned, prompting a slight nod from Lauren. After pondering for a moment, Wyneth chuckled lightly. "Is there a need to ask?"Lauren opened and closed her mouth, words caught in her throat. 'So there's no
When dawn kissed the sky, everyone began to rise, packing their belongings.Lauren's spirits were high as she meticulously folded the sheets that Wyneth had given her, a picture of precise neatness. When Wyneth awoke, Lauren beamed at her. "These sheets, I'll definitely take them with me if I ever get invited to other shows. I'll use them at home too."Wyneth chuckled at the sentiment. "There's no need for that; they're just an ordinary set of sheets.""No! This represents friendship." Lauren carefully stowed them into her luggage with reverent hands. After they exchanged contact information, they finished their packing and ventured out together.This was the final day of the show, a free day, meant for dining and chatting. The meals were prepared by the farm's hosts, Mason and Bella, with the others lending a helping hand. When Wyneth emerged, the hosts were already busying themselves with food preparations, while the rest of the teams were still dusting off their sleep. Wyneth st
In the throes of her dilemma, Giada was torn between joining Finn at his side or settling in to savor the enticingly aromatic braised short ribs. 'The ribs look... utterly divine, but then again, sitting with a top-tier star like Finn will definitely mean more camera time,' she thought. But her feet had a mind of their own, not complying with her calculations. By the time she snapped back to the present, she was already seated right in front of the braised short ribs. A wave of embarrassment washed over her. 'When did I become such a foodie? How mortifying!'"Are you all leaving right after lunch?" Mason's wife, Bella, asked."Yeah, that's the plan. The production crew arranged it. Plus, we've got work lined up this afternoon." As the team leader, Derek was the first to answer. His voice was steady, instilling a sense of calm."So quickly back to work? No time to rest after wrapping up the show?""Well, everything's pre-planned.""Same here," Lauren lamented, cradling her head in