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
Justin almost gagged after taking a bite of Olivia's fish. Comparing her cooking to Lindsay's, Olivia's attempt was downright terrible. However, to avoid embarrassing Olivia, he swallowed the fish.“The taste is okay,” he said, unable to muster a genuine compliment.Relieved by their reactions, Olivia smiled. “Great, if you like it, have some more.”She took a bite herself, and her expression froze. The fishy taste was overwhelming. She had followed the tutorial perfectly, so why did it taste so bad? On the live stream, she couldn’t spit it out, so she gave more fish to Alex, knowing he would eat it no matter how bad it was. She also gave more to Sharon and Justin, keeping a smaller portion for herself.Alex stared at the mound of fish on his plate, feeling a pang of resignation. What could he do but eat it?At that moment, he longed for his biological sister’s cooking.Sharon didn't want to eat any more but felt compelled by Olivia's repeated claims that she made it because Sharon w
Elric commented, "Indeed, this brother's love runs deep. I even reminded him in the kitchen earlier, but he didn't listen."Wendy couldn't help but feel a bit gleeful, though she sighed and said, "Poor Alex, really."In the live chat, Alex's fans were extremely worried about him. Some even started to blame Olivia, and a few directed their anger at Lindsay for not helping Alex when he asked for medicine. However, Lindsay's fans quickly defended her, pointing out that she didn't owe Alex anything and that he was responsible for his own actions. After all, he knew he had a sensitive stomach yet still ate the food to please his sister.As the livestream ended, many viewers left comments expressing concern for Alex's health.At the Harper family home, Richard was away on a business trip, but Grace and the other four brothers were watching the livestream. Grace was worried about Alex's condition. "His stomach has always been sensitive. Now he's vomiting and having diarrhea in that remote v
Grace's face darkened upon hearing her son's words. "So, what should we do? Via has been pampered since she was little. She worked so hard to learn how to do chores and cook just to be on this show. It's not easy for her." After thinking for a moment, she suggested, "Why don't we let Alex and Via quit the show? That way, they won't have to suffer anymore, and they can avoid further conflict with Lindsay."Oliver immediately rejected the idea. "No, we can't do that. If they were to quit now, it would damage their reputation. Plus, it would look like they're giving in to Lindsay." He added, "Via has always wanted to make a name for herself in the entertainment industry. If we make her give up now, she'll be heartbroken."Grace asked, "Then what should we do?"Oliver's eyes lit up with an idea. "Mom, why don't you call Lindsay and ask her to quit instead?"Grace hesitated. "You mean, ask her to come back?"Oliver nodded. "Yes, she was so concerned about your health before. Just tell her
Grace didn’t expect Lindsay to see through their intentions so clearly. However, she didn’t directly admit it."I watched the livestream. Via performed very well and was excellent. Oliver said if you come back, he'd get you some good offers. Brandon mentioned you could have a second lead role in his new show."She sounded like they were doing her a great favor.Lindsay scoffed, "Well, I really appreciate that. I wouldn't dare to take Oliver's so-called offers. He's probably laid traps for me to fall into. I've been burned before, and I won't be fooled again. And in Brandon's new show, the first lead is Olivia, right? So, you still want me to make her shine by giving me the supporting role?”Grace had her phone on speaker as well.Brandon, who had a fiery temper, couldn't hold back when he heard Lindsay's sarcasm. He shouted, "Lindsay, don't be ungrateful. If you weren’t our biological sister, we wouldn't bother with you at all. What's wrong with supporting Olivia? Why do you always ha
Hearing the knock on the door, Wendy got up to answer it. When she opened it, she found Justin standing at the entrance."Mr. Ford, is there something you need?" Wendy asked.Justin glanced inside the room. "I'm here to see Lindsay."Lindsay walked over. "What do you want?""Alex can't stop vomiting and feels terrible. He wants to see you.”Lindsay raised an eyebrow. "He's not dying with some last words to share, so why should I go see him?"Justin looked at her in disbelief. "How can you say that?"Lindsay's tone remained cold. "What else should I say? I'm not interested in seeing him. That's it."She reached out to close the door, but Justin quickly pushed it back open. "Lindsay, regardless of the issues between you two, now is not the time to be stubborn. Alex said you know how to get the right herbs. He's really suffering. Please, help him."Lindsay scoffed. "It's already dark. You expect me to go up the mountain to find herbs now? Even if I could see in the dark, it's dangerous. I
But now, she truly seemed to have severed all ties with him and her siblings. How did it come to this?Justin observed Alex's disappointment and inability to accept the situation, feeling a pang of discomfort himself. He couldn't help but wonder if Lindsay would help him if he were the one suffering and needed herbs for medicine. He used to be confident she wouldn't abandon him, but now he wasn't so sure.As Alex began to feel sick again and rushed out to vomit, Justin suggested, "Let me ask the crew to take you to the village clinic."At that moment, Olivia walked in with a cup of hot water. "Yes, brother, let’s go to the clinic.”She knew Justin had asked Lindsay for help with gathering herbs. Though she didn't openly oppose it, fearing it would seem like she didn't want her brother to get better, she secretly hoped Lindsay wouldn't help. And indeed, Lindsay stayed indifferent, ignoring Alex's suffering.This realization brought a mix of relief and bitterness. If Lindsay didn't care
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