Everyone looked at the spinning wheel, finding it both amusing and intriguing, while also marveling at how Charles always managed to keep things interesting.Wendy smiled and asked, "Mr. Barker, are you bringing in another mystery guest for this episode?"The others were just as curious, glancing at Charles for an answer. The last they heard, there weren’t supposed to be any more celebrity guest appearances.Charles grinned and replied, "There is a guest joining, but I don’t know who it is yet, which is why it’s a mystery."Wendy, surprised, asked again, "What do you mean? You don’t even know who it is?"The others were equally confused.Charles, enjoying the suspense, finally revealed, "The production team has a little twist planned. You’ll be exploring the ancient city, and your task is to find a random local guest—someone who’s willing to join the show. If they agree, they’ll be the mystery guest."This was an idea pushed by the higher-ups, and Charles suspected the "random" guest
And that unlucky slot belonged to Olivia. Elric’s face immediately shifted, and he silently cursed his bad luck. Of all people, he had landed on Olivia.Olivia, on the other hand, looked surprised but was secretly delighted. Elric had always been one of her targets, and now it seemed like fate was putting them in the same team. Perhaps this meant she finally had a chance to win him over. Perfect!Elric, though, was far from thrilled. Even though he didn't want to be paired with Olivia, he had no choice but to accept the outcome. With a resigned expression, he returned to the group and, with a fake pout, leaned toward Lindsay for comfort."Linds, I must've jinxed myself before coming here today."Lindsay chuckled and reassured him, "Don’t worry, it’s just a team. Have fun with it."Elric sighed. "I guess that’s all I can do now. I just hope my next teammate lands on you."Lindsay smiled. "Let’s hope so."After Elric landed on Olivia, her name was promptly removed from the wheel t
Elric felt an instant wave of comfort. As Lindsay gently patted his head, his heart raced with a flutter of excitement.He ignored the daggers being shot his way by Alex and Justin, who had just come to stand beside Lindsay. Instead, he flashed a beaming smile. "Alright!"Reluctantly, but with a cheerful spring in his step, he slowly made his way back to his team. Olivia, who had seen the whole interaction, seethed with jealousy and silently cursed Lindsay, calling her a shameless slut. But with Elric on her team now, Olivia was determined to make the most of this opportunity.Meanwhile, the livestream audience had witnessed the entire scene.“Ahhh, Lindsay is so sweet to Elric!”“That head pat! I wish Lindsay would pat my head too!”“The couple I ship just gave me sugar—so cute!”“I can’t help but join be a support of them now. They’re just too adorable together.”“I used to want Lindsay to stay single, but now I think she and Elric make a great match.”“Yeah, her ex may be good-lo
Olivia’s eyes lit up with excitement. She had a background in ballet and could play the harp—skills she could easily rely on if needed.Charles, meanwhile, was amused. “Well, obviously,” he thought. The whole point was to challenge them; otherwise, where was the fun in watching?With a smile, he reassured them, "I believe in you all."Then, with a playful grin, he added, "And since it's already noon, we’re not going to be completely heartless. You’ll each get a starting budget of twenty dollars. Once you’re inside the ancient city, you can grab some lunch before figuring out how to earn more."The ancient city was a massive, preserved historical site, and they were still on the outskirts. Outside the city, modern conveniences like cars were available, but once they entered, all traces of modern life would disappear."Oh, and one more thing," Charles added with a mischievous twinkle. "We’ll cover your entrance fees, too. Not bad, right?"Since the city required constant upkeep and res
The group changed into their traditional outfits, with the women’s hair styled up and the men wearing wigs to match the historical theme. As they reached the gates of the ancient city, they joined the queue along with other visitors, drawing attention and getting their pictures taken. Thankfully, the production team had arranged for security, so no one disturbed the cast members.When their turn came to enter, they noticed soldiers dressed in traditional armor, holding spears, guarding both sides of the gate. Attendants handed out entry tokens to each of them. The tokens were wooden plaques, carved with the date.It was only now that the group started to feel a sense of novelty and fun. They either hung the tokens around their necks or tucked them away before stepping into the city.The streets were steeped in old-world charm, with people dressed in period costumes strolling by. Horse-drawn carriages and wooden carts occasionally rumbled along, enhancing the immersive feeling of step
After placing her order, Lindsay handed the menu to Elric. "You guys should pick a few dishes too."Elric chose one and passed the menu to Hector without acknowledging Olivia, who was in the same group. Hector picked a dish and passed it along until it reached Brandon. Brandon, with a smirk, handed the menu to Olivia. "Go ahead, Via, choose what you like. Some people just lack gentlemanly manners."This comment drew everyone's attention.Elric raised an eyebrow. "Who exactly are you talking about?"Brandon locked eyes with Elric. "Who else could it be? I’m obviously talking about you. We’re in the same group, yet you pass the menu to other ladies while ignoring Olivia. A bit rude, don’t you think?"Olivia remained silent, but inwardly she agreed. She had been irritated by Elric’s behavior earlier.Elric put on an exaggerated, mock-scared expression. "Oh, I wouldn’t dare hand it to your dear sister."After all, during the first episode, she was caught having secret meetings with Justi
Following the map and instructions from the task card, Lindsay and her group arrived at the seventh shop and stepped inside. It was a store specializing in custom-made seals, where customers could have a variety of seals engraved. As they entered, they noticed a young man in a robe speaking with the shopkeeper. From their conversation, it seemed he was there to pick up an order for a seal he'd previously commissioned.The live-stream audience quickly reacted to the sight of the man, their comments lighting up the screen."He’s cute, even from the side!""Look at him! Lindsay, invite him to be the guest!""Invite him, Lindsay, go, go, go!"It was clear that many of the viewers were drawn in by appearances alone.Noticing the man’s attire, Lindsay immediately guessed he must be the "destined" guest they were meant to find for this episode. She turned to Alex and said, "Why don’t you go ask him?"Eager to make a good impression in front of Lindsay, Alex nodded and approached the man.
The production team, of course, agreed to the man's request.Lindsay had been casually browsing the display of stamps when her gaze fell on a particular item tucked in the corner. It was an old-looking seal, carved from a gemstone with a muted green-black hue. At first glance, it appeared unremarkable—so much so that most people might find it rather unappealing.However, she noticed the faint presence of dark energy swirling around the seal. It seemed to have been formed in an environment dense with this dark aura, making it useful as a tool for divination or even as a weapon in spiritual combat. Normally, summoning dark energy was tricky—there was rarely enough in the surrounding environment to do more than minor tricks. But with this seal, it would be much easier to summon stronger forces."May I see this one?" Lindsay asked the shopkeeper, pointing to the seal.The owner nodded. "Of course, go ahead."As Lindsay examined the seal closely, she found no signs of tampering. The da
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