Olivia felt a pang of jealousy watching Elric flaunt the mushroom soup. Why was he so harsh with her but eager to show Lindsay off? The more she thought about it, the more unfair it seemed. She couldn't make delicious mushroom soup, but she knew how to fry eggs and make salads.She turned to Alex and Justin. "Do you guys want some eggs and salads with chives?”Their group didn't have any meat left from yesterday; they only had some eggs and chives remaining.Alex, wanting to support her, said, "Sure, I love eggs and salads with chives."Justin nodded. "Sounds good."Olivia cheerfully said, "I'll make them for you right now."Alex wrapped an arm around Olivia's shoulders. "My sister is so capable."Olivia habitually leaned into Alex, rubbing her head against his chest. "Just wait and see, you'll love them."Seeing this, Wendy couldn't help but roll her eyes. The gestures between these fake siblings were too intimate, almost like a couple. It made her question their relationship, casti
Alex noticed his sister's red eyes, realizing she felt insulted. Annoyed, he looked at Sharon and said, "Via's been busy all morning, so you shouldn't be picky. You haven't done anything, so be grateful there's food to eat. Besides, my sister's cooking is delicious."To prove his point, Alex took another mouthful and forced himself to eat it, trying to support his sister. This made Sharon feel wrong, as she hadn’t even said anything but was now labeled as lazy and picky by the siblings.Just as Sharon was about to speak, Justin cut her off. "The food tastes good. Thanks for your hard work, Olivia!"Olivia smiled sweetly and waved her hand. "It was no trouble at all. I'm happy to help everyone."Sharon, unable to get a word in, found herself further criticized by Alex and Olivia's fans in the live comments, accusing her of being ungrateful and spoiled, ruining their beloved angel's efforts.At that moment, Elric finished washing the dishes and overheard the conversation. He couldn't he
Olivia was fuming. Alex and Justin both thought Elric was incredibly rude. Only Sharon, sitting quietly, felt secretly delighted. She realized that a sharp-tongued guy like Elric was exactly what a manipulative girl like Olivia needed—a true expert at dealing with her type.Seeing Olivia's pale, angry face, Alex felt deeply concerned. "Via, ignore him. The breakfast you made is delicious, much better than those mushroom soups. I love them." To prove his point, he forced himself to eat a few more bites, pretending they were delicious.The viewers reacted quickly:"Alex's acting is hard to watch.""It looks like he's swallowing poison, not enjoying delicious food.""The real enjoyment was from Elric's group during breakfast. They made me hungry!""Watching this group makes me lose my appetite.""Alex dotes on his sister too much. I wonder if he’ll ever get married.""Why criticize him for spoiling his sister? Our Lex is a rare gem of a brother.""Exactly, spoiling your sister is what
Elric turned to the others and said, "This is just his way of showing love for his sister."Wendy chimed in, "Alex is in such bad shape from eating her breakfast. Why hasn't his sister come to take care of him?"Since discovering the relationship between Alex, Olivia, and Lindsay, Wendy felt uneasy. It also seemed odd that despite Alex's obvious affection for his sister and the fact that it was Olivia's breakfast that made him sick, she wasn't there to help.Elric shrugged. "Who knows, maybe he’s just one-sidedly doting on her while she doesn’t even care."He then changed the subject, "Aren't the students supposed to arrive soon?"Lindsay nodded. "Yes, Mr. Warren called earlier. There will be about a dozen kids coming to learn today."Elric, who had never taught before, was excited. "Let's get ready then."The four of them started preparing for the children's arrival.Alex's fans initially criticized Lindsay for being cold-hearted and Elric for being indifferent. However, they soon sw
Lindsay finished helping the teenager with his questions and continued to assist two more children, patiently answering each one. Everyone else was doing a great job with their teaching as well. The village children cherished this rare learning opportunity and studied diligently. Of course, there were a few funny moments during the lessons, most of them thanks to Elric.After two hours, the children left the courtyard. Soon after, they returned with various meats, vegetables, and fruits their families had prepared, which they presented to Lindsay and the others. Holding a basket of fresh herbs given to her by the teenager's grandmother, Lindsay suggested, "How about we have lemon herb baked fish for dinner tonight?"Elric, Leslie, and Wendy eagerly agreed. Lindsay headed to the kitchen to prepare the lemon herb baked fish. Both men offered to help clean the fish but fumbled with the task. Lindsay didn’t mind, and once they finished, Wendy washed the fish and Lindsay skillfully s
“Your angel sure is impressive; meanwhile, her brother is still stuck in the bathroom.”The fans of Alex and Olivia were momentarily silenced.On the other side, Justin and his team walked in, seeing Elric and the others seated in the courtyard, deeply engrossed in their meal. Lindsay was eating leisurely, while the other three seemed unable to stop devouring their food.Wendy, looking utterly satisfied, said, "This lemon herb baked fish is amazing."Elric looked up and added, "This is the best lemon herb baked fish I've ever had." He gave Lindsay a thumb-up. "Better than what any chef could make."Leslie, who rarely enjoyed fish, nodded in agreement. "I usually don't like fish, but I can't stop eating this."They hadn't expected Lindsay's cooking skills to be this impressive.Lindsay smiled. "I'm glad you all like it."In the live chat comments:"I can imagine how good it is. Even Elric, with his picky taste, can't stop eating.""Leslie usually doesn't like fish, but now he couldn’t
Justin, ever the gentleman, took the fish and vegetables into the kitchen himself, not letting Olivia carry them. Olivia tried to muster some courage and handle the fish herself, but she found it too difficult. Seeing her struggle, Justin stepped in to help.Meanwhile, Alex, who had been feeling better after taking the medication provided by the show, joined them in the kitchen despite his lingering weakness. Olivia immediately gave him a superficial but seemingly concerned greeting, which still made Alex feel content."I've never had the chance to try your lemon herb baked fish, Via. I'll make sure to eat plenty tonight.”Elric, carrying a tray into the kitchen, overheard and couldn't resist commenting. "You might want to ask the show to prepare an extra box of medicine for you."Alex glared at him. "Why do you have to involve yourself in everything?"Elric shrugged. "Just looking out for you.""Well, thanks a lot!" Alex responded sarcastically.Olivia was fuming at Elric's remarks.
Seeing Lindsay come in, Olivia deliberately sought comfort from Alex, looking pitiful. Alex, feeling sorry for her, comforted her for a while. Their affectionate gestures, with Olivia leaning in and Alex holding her close, were overly intimate. This made everyone present feel uncomfortable and gave the viewers goosebumps."Is this really a rural reality show and not a dating show?""I feel like I'm watching a fake rural reality show.""Do you think Olivia's future boyfriend will get jealous seeing her so close to her brother?""Can Alex's girlfriend tolerate this?""Maybe it's just me, but I couldn't accept my boyfriend being closer to his sister than to me.""Same here. If my boyfriend were like this, I'd feel really uneasy.""Seeing them now, it feels like having a boyfriend who has a female best friend.""I get that feeling too."Of course, these comments were quickly countered by Alex's fans, who emphasized that the two were siblings and urged people not to overthink it.Sharon
In the vibrant district of the historic town, the streets were lined with vintage boutiques and various artisan stalls. Lindsay's group visited the town’s administration office and rented a temporary booth.Alex and Justin eagerly borrowed a table and chairs, setting up the booth. Following Lindsay's instructions, they also bought a piece of white fabric and worked together to create a simple sign. The production team provided markers and other supplies.Lindsay glanced over at Benedict and said, "Benedict, I’ll let you handle writing the banner."She was eager to observe his writing and the energy he gave off while doing it.Benedict sighed inwardly—this girl was constantly trying to test him. After a moment’s thought, he nodded. "Alright, I’ll write it."He grabbed a marker, uncapped it, and wrote in bold letters across the white fabric: “Fortune Telling, Divination, and Tarot Readings.”Lindsay watched him closely, noticing the fluidity of his movements as he wrote, his posture exud
Justin added, "My mom’s been trying to get me to help Olivia and distance myself from Lindsay. She’s also said plenty of nasty things about Lindsay. This time, not only did I ignore her, but I even pushed back. It probably pissed her off, and now she’s taking it out on Lindsay."Alex, clearly upset, said, "You should talk to her and tell her to stop fixating on Lindsay. Lindsay hasn’t done anything to provoke her. It’s ridiculous."He was frustrated that Justin’s mom had been stirring up trouble, making Grace even more difficult to deal with.Justin nodded. "Alright, after the show is over, I’ll have a talk with her."He also felt his mom was acting out of line. Back when he liked Lindsay, her disapproval at least made sense. But now that Lindsay had kicked him to the curb, his mom’s continued obsession was baffling.Although they were speaking softly, Lindsay and Benedict, walking ahead, heard every word.Lindsay found the situation with Abby baffling as well. A woman who fawned over
After Lindsay left, the other guests quickly followed, leaving only Alex standing there awkwardly. He spoke briefly to the production staff, and they soon shifted the cameras away from that area. Alex then walked over to Grace, saying, "Mom, since Lindsay won’t lend it, let’s just drop it."Grace shot him a cold glare, her expression dark. "How can you be so heartless? The one lying in bed is your fourth brother. Are you hanging around Lindsay all the time just to learn how to be cold and ruthless?"Unable to contain her frustration toward Lindsay, Grace directed it at Alex instead.Alex sighed in exasperation. "Even if we need help, it has to be something she’s willing to do! We’ve wronged Lindsay enough as it is, so why do you keep trying to guilt-trip her? Brandon’s situation isn’t Lindsay’s fault. Why don’t you go find Olivia? She’s the one who caused all this, maybe she can fix it. After all, whoever’s behind her is no easy target."Right now, all Alex felt toward Lindsay was gui
Grace held back her anger and said, "It'll only take a few minutes. I have something important to discuss with you."Lindsay sat back down in her seat. "Fine, go ahead."The livestream was on, and Lindsay was fully aware of it—she was doing this on purpose.Grace was about to speak when her assistant whispered something in her ear. Her expression changed, and she subtly shifted her body to turn away from the camera.Then she looked at Lindsay. "Can we talk outside?"In her rush to find Lindsay, she had almost forgotten that this was a live-streamed variety show. She didn’t want to be on camera, much less discuss such personal matters in front of an audience.Lindsay, however, refused. "If it's important, say it here. If not, then don’t say anything."Grace’s expression darkened. "It’s because it’s important that we need to talk privately."She emphasized, "It’s not appropriate in front of the camera."Lindsay just smiled. "Unless it's something shady, what’s wrong with saying it on cam
Lindsay thought about it for a while and figured that if Grace was coming to find her, it was probably for Brandon. The only thing she could want would be the artifact in her possession.Alex saw her reply and couldn’t help but smile wryly. His sister was indeed sharp and saw right through it.He sent a voice message, repeating what the head of the Divination Association had told them. "Mom just wants to borrow the artifact from you to suppress Brandon’s condition."Lindsay replied, "Tell her not to waste her energy."Seeing that message, Alex knew right away that she wouldn’t lend it out. It didn’t surprise him—his sister could be ruthless when she wanted to be."We can’t convince her otherwise, not even Dad can stop her... sigh," Alex added. When their mom’s temper flared, she wouldn’t listen to anyone.Lindsay didn’t seem to care. "Then let her come. I’m not going to do her any favors."Alex recalled the conversation between their parents at the hospital and decided to warn her, "M
Recently, Grace had been spending more time with Abby, often meeting up for outings. Over time, Richard noticed that Grace's anger towards their biological daughter had deepened. Abby had always disliked Lindsay and showed more favoritism towards Olivia. She must have been stirring up trouble and egging Grace on whenever they met. With time, Grace was bound to be influenced.Grace, clearly annoyed, said, "You even want to control who I make friends with? Aren't you going too far? What's wrong with me getting along with Mrs. Ford and spending more time with her?"Richard felt cornered. "I just think there's something off about her. Her intentions in getting close to you don't seem good. That's why I'm trying to give you a heads-up."Grace didn't believe him at all. "I think you're overthinking it. We’ve always had a decent relationship. We’re just closer now, that’s all.""What do you men know about women’s matters? Don't interfere." She now had plenty to talk about with Abby. Jenny wa
Richard glanced at Grace with clear disapproval. “This whole mess was caused by Olivia and Brandon. What does any of it have to do with Lindsay?”He could tell that recent events, and the embarrassment caused by their sons, had left his wife feeling bitter. It seemed she had begun to project that frustration onto Lindsay, despite the situation having little to do with her.Grace crossed her arms defensively. “If it wasn’t for her ongoing fight with Olivia, Brandon wouldn’t have gotten involved. He’s her brother. Doesn’t she owe him some consideration now that he’s in this condition?”Richard frowned. “What exactly are you trying to say?”Valarie, who had been quietly listening, finally spoke up, her displeasure clear. “I see it differently. It’s Olivia and your son who started the trouble, and all Lindsay did was defend herself. Are you really looking to embarrass yourselves even more?”Grace shifted uncomfortably, feeling the sting of her mother-in-law’s words. “I’m just thinking abou
Given the Harper family's persistence, there was no way the Divination Association could avoid a thorough investigation. Seeing that Randolph wouldn’t back down, the official left, courteously escorted out by Randolph, who, for the moment, had ceased his protests.Valarie carefully placed the multicolored stone inside a small protective pouch before securing it around Brandon's neck. Though he felt a slight relief after putting it on, the bad luck continued. As the official had warned, his misfortune was too severe for one artifact to fully contain.Randolph tried every connection he had, attempting to borrow a second artifact, but came up empty-handed. Time slipped by, and evening approached before they could find any further solutions.By the time Richard and Grace arrived at the hospital, they were met with the weary faces of their parents. Feeling guilty for everything his father had gone through, Richard bowed his head. "Dad, Mom, I'm so sorry you had to go through this today."
Hearing their words, the hope that had briefly flickered in Brandon’s eyes quickly faded, leaving him more devastated than before. "Grandfather, I know I was wrong," he muttered, finally realizing the truth. His foster sister had been nothing but trouble—far from trustworthy, she had been a constant source of harm. Meanwhile, his real sister, though harsh and distant, had proven to be far more reliable. Regret gnawed at him deeply.Randolph sighed, his voice heavy with disappointment. “Knowing you’re wrong doesn’t change anything. It’s too late now.”Turning back to the two mystics, Randolph asked, “If you can’t break the curse directly, could you at least help suppress his misfortune? Maybe with a protective charm or some kind of mystical object?”Despite his frustration with his grandson’s foolishness, he couldn’t just leave him to suffer.Both mystics exchanged uneasy glances. “We don’t have the ability to suppress his bad luck with charms.”“For something like that, you’d need t