The employees turned their gazes away from the mysterious box to focus on the stunning woman in their midst. Aria had a captivating figure, slender legs, and a radiant smile."It's indeed ominous." Aria handed the rhabdomancy sticks to Keith.Keith was fuming when he saw what was written on the sticks. "This is a hoax!"There was no way Aria was a jinx. Since her return, she had saved the company hotel and even improved the layout of the Carver residence. Plus, Warren would likely be in the ICU if it weren't for Aria. She had saved him multiple times.She had also rescued Jeffrey from the cellar. So, Keith was baffled by the message on the rhabdomancy sticks.Keith turned to his men. "Investigate where these rhabdomancy sticks came from!"Aria tucked the wooden box away. "I can handle the investigation. Mr. Watson, you just need to protect Grandpa.""Don't worry about the prediction. In the past decade, the best thing that happened to Mr. Carver Senior was having you back." Keit
In the past, Warren would never utter such heartwarming words. However, Aria's return had prompted a change in his approach. He'd become rather soft-hearted, openly expressing his concerns—the fear of his grandsons being harmed gnawed at him.Despite being over the phone, all the grandsons could feel Warren's deep affection for them.Celebrity Carver: "Grandpa, I'm currently filming a variety show in the suburbs. I'll head back once I'm done with the filming."Right after Leon finished texting, the director ordered them to keep their phones away.Thus, he missed out on the message Percy sent. "If you have too many haters, I can sue them for you."Leon was stubborn and disliked relying on family. Being a top celebrity meant having many fans as well as haters. Anything he did would be magnified.Just as Leon stood up, Clary introduced a new face. "This is your new assistant, Evelyn Charters.""My new assistant?" Leon's warmth was only reserved for family. On set, his demeanor and
High-definition drones buzzed discreetly overhead in the suburban filming location.What was supposed to be a simple costume fitting and walk-through turned out to be the start of the actual filming.The country's hottest variety show, "Survival of the Fittest", had captivated audiences since its debut season. Its blend of grounded, bizarre content had sparked endless online discussions. Naturally, news of its second season went viral.This season, the show broke from tradition by beginning filming immediately after notifying the celebrities, aiming to capture pure, unscripted moments.Leon, having just finished his shot, was about to head out when a voice called, "Mr. Carver, hold on a minute. Here's your mission card."Leon's eyebrows shot up. His striking blue hair accentuated his already captivating features on camera. The on-set director simply nodded.As Leon reached for the card, a line of real-time subtitles materialized on the screen. "Congratulations, you've been chosen
"I'd like to see if Leon will be as arrogant as he is now during the mission," a viewer commented.One of the biggest draws of "Survival of the Fittest" was its missions. Participants had to choose a non-celebrity partner to complete challenges in locations like ancient castles or schools. Each area had a backstory that participants had to unravel.The first location remained a mystery, and the participants would find out simultaneously with the audience, which made it extra exciting."I can't wait to see how the participants react!" someone commented."Who will be this season's MVP?" another asked.As online buzz grew, concerns surfaced. Lulu, a highly popular star for the past two years, was anxious. Recently hospitalized due to poor health, the "Survival of the Fittest" crew advised her to recover and return for the next season. However, Lulu was determined to participate and eager to dispel rumors. She could not let the world know she had been pregnant. Lulu clenched her f
Aria removed her helmet and noticed a camera overhead. Her eyebrows shot up in surprise. Sam hadn't mentioned this was a filming set.While Sam remained excited, Aria considered approaching the crew members. The directors and audience watched as Aria perched atop her motorcycle. Her one foot casually braced the ground, the other resting easy on the bike's belly. Her grip on the handlebar was a casual command while her free hand danced effortlessly across the phone screen, seemingly texting someone. Not receiving a reply, her fingers drummed impatiently on the handlebar. Her profile appeared flawless under the lights. She was stunning, with an indifferent allure. Her dark, depthless eyes and a small mole beneath one eye added to her mystique.She was a masterpiece of casual seduction, a femme fatale on two wheels. The camera refused to pan away from her. When she looked up, the comments section buzzed."I want to know everything about her, now!""Is she a new celebrity fro
The season's celebrities were scattered across different areas of the set, blindfolded until they arrived. The non-celebrity guest participants, however, were guided in without any blindfolds by the production assistants.Evelyn's eyes widened at the filming location. Lily had been right—the first challenge this season was set in an abandoned children's hospital! Although Evelyn was from Janovin, she had never known such a hospital existed in the suburbs.The dilapidated building and overgrown grass suggested it had been abandoned for years.While the show used real locations, the hospital's interior had been refurbished. However, the exterior remained untouched, giving the building a haunting, time-frozen appearance.Lavender Erikson, an award-winning actress, was the first celebrity to arrive. Removing her blindfold, she surveyed the building with a teasing remark, "Are they trying to scare off the newbies before we even start?"Chandler Lucson, standing beside her with a confid
"One of the audience members commented, "It's finally time for them to choose their partners!"While the production claimed the non-celebrity partners were chosen randomly, the director had actually hand picked them. The background stories for each episode were complex, often tweaked from actual incidents, making it challenging for the celebrities to piece together the original stories. Some even required professional knowledge, so the crew included non-celeb participants with medical backgrounds.Viewers were already speculating about the chosen candidates for this season."Ladies and gentlemen, there are five people in front of you," announced the director. "Only those who successfully match will form a pair for the upcoming challenge. The candidates' information is displayed on the screen. Two have medical backgrounds, while the others bring diverse skill sets. Please carefully consider your needs and choose a partner who can complement your abilities."Everyone's expressions
The third non-celeb participant displayed on the screen was a middle-aged surgeon named Alistair Whitman. He wore glasses, looked ordinary, and was of average height. However, his medical experience was exceptional.A viewer commented, "The second and third non-celeb participants seem to be the best options."The fourth guest participant was Evelyn, and she majored in media studies. She appeared normal until she shouted, "Leon, choose me! I know how to make you win!"Her words brought Leon into the spotlight.Anthony mocked, "Mr. Carver, your fans are quite enthusiastic. Not everyone gets a chance to be on this show, you know."His comment made it seem like the show's crew was favoring Leon.Leon's haters pounced. "Dumb pretty boys shouldn't be on variety shows. Their fans are crazy, and it's unfair to the other participants. He's just embarrassing himself!"Amidst the ongoing conversation about Leon, the fifth participant was introduced. Everyone was surprised to discover tha
Those who witnessed the situation all said that Yonah pampered Philip. On the surface, it seemed like he had truly been "spoiled" by Yonah throughout his life.Yonah never pressured him to be like Kenny. He was free to do whatever he wanted, and his studies didn't matter. But wasn't this just another form of neglect? To Yonah, he was expendable.That was why Philip was so drawn to bars and street racing—anything that offered a thrill. Since Kenny was the exceptional one, he figured Kenny could take charge. He would just play the flashy second-generation heir, hoping Yonah would feel more at ease with him.Why was Philip like this? Because, at times, he still felt warmth from Yonah. But recently, that warmth had completely disappeared. And then, there was the incident he witnessed this time.Certain memories surfaced from the deepest corners of his mind, repeating themselves over and over. He couldn't even tell if they were memories anymore.Every night, he had the same dream. The
Philip looked tortured, his hands clutching his head, his eyes red and swollen.Perhaps it had something to do with his broken family and losing his mother too early. Because of this, Philip placed immense value on his family.Growing up, Kenny was always better than him. Jack had always been proud of Kenny. Only Yonah treated him with unconditional kindness.When he was a child, Yonah often said, "My good grandson, you don't need to be exceptional—just be healthy in the future."Philip vividly remembered a time when he had a high fever. Jack wouldn't even bother to care for him, and the household staff kept their distance. The doctor recommended isolation because the fever was caused by a highly contagious and dangerous bacterial infection.But Yonah stayed with him the entire time, patting his shoulder and telling him stories."My good grandson, don't be afraid. I'm here with you. You'll be fine. You'll get better. Tell me what you want to eat."Philip couldn't believe that su
They only believed others were worth helping if there was something to gain.The last time, the crow and Landon witnessed an elderly man fall. A passing student helped him up, even calling an ambulance, concerned for his well-being.However, when the elderly man's family arrived, they insisted the student stay, demanding to know if the man had fallen because he was bumped into. The student initially believed that everything would be cleared up once the old man regained consciousness.But no one expected that when the man opened his eyes, he nodded and firmly claimed that someone had indeed bumped into him, causing him to fall.As a result, the student not only lost his time but also had to prove that he wasn't responsible for the fall. The complexity of the situation was beyond imagination.They said that heaven was blind, but perhaps it wasn't—maybe heaven's eyes were open, and human actions shaped the world. Eventually, even heaven might grow disappointed.The crow flapped its
"Oh?" Landon's expression remained indifferent, clearly unconvinced by Aria's words.Her credibility with him was low. Back on the mountain, she had claimed she wasn't interested in the sect across from them, yet in the end, she still ended up in his backyard.Landon knew he shouldn't carry that kind of emotion with him, but sometimes, it was inevitable. As his past memories grew clearer, he found himself wanting her to look at him—and only him.A man like Landon was like lava flowing from a mountain—calm on the surface, but beneath, a constant simmer. His deep eyes, impeccably tailored suit, and red rosary bracelet on his wrist drew attention, projecting a cold, ascetic aura. No one could guess what he was thinking.But the truth was, someone as burdened with karma as he was couldn't escape being affected by those he cared about. Once he became attached, his possessiveness grew stronger than anyone else's.Simon could sense the change in him. Upon meeting Landon for the first t
If Percy were here, his reactions would have been even more exaggerated.Everyone in the family had a protective streak when it came to Aria. Even Stephen, who wasn't keen on seeing her marry so early, believed that a man like Landon was indeed worthy of Aria."Ms. Carver specifically mentioned to me that Mr. York's stomach handles noodles better," Stephen said warmly as he placed a bowl of chicken noodle soup in front of Landon.Aria, mid-bite of her braised pork, froze momentarily upon hearing this.Landon turned his gaze toward her, his voice calm but probing. "You specifically told Mr. Warsaw that?"Aria glanced between Stephen and Landon before nodding. "Of course, I mentioned it." Whether or not it was "specific" was up for interpretation, and she decided to let Stephen manage that narrative.A faint smile tugged at the corners of Landon's lips, and he murmured just loud enough for her to hear, "At least you still have some heart."Stephen chuckled knowingly. He understood
Aria didn't notice the subtle shift in Philip's expression. The influx of information was overwhelming, and she needed a moment to sort through it.Philip being possessed wasn't a surprise to her, but Ashton's behavior left her unsettled and full of questions."Leon, contact Ignatius and let him know you're taking me to visit the Furler family," she instructed.Philip immediately grasped her intent. He lowered his head, appearing calm, yet a shadow of unease lingered as though he was hiding something."Now or tonight?" Leon asked.Aria wanted to go right away but noticed Philip's apprehension. "Tonight is fine," she conceded.Assuming Philip was still shaken, Leon instructed, "Mr. Warsaw, arrange for Philip to get some rest."Stephen entered the room carrying a tray of tea. "Leon, no need to worry. Mr. Wagner's room has already been prepared; it's right next to yours."Turning to Aria, Stephen added, "Ms. Carver, you've been busy all day. Please, have some tea. The kitchen has
Tobias had always said Aria was a once-in-a-millennium prodigy in spiritual cultivation, but Leon's ability to effortlessly channel the power of the Five Emperor Coins was both baffling and unsettling.Although Aria had marked the coin with her imprint to serve as a protective charm for Leon, the outcome had far surpassed her expectations.Because he was her relative, Aria had attempted to deduce more about him based on his facial features, but nothing came to her.As she touched the now-charred coin, the lingering heat revealed the intensity of the force that had been exerted upon it.No one knew what exactly had happened.Aria didn't believe Leon was lying to her. He truly didn't understand these matters and had his own dreams and ambitions. Perhaps it was from his past life unless the Leon in this life had tapped into the power of the Five Emperor Coins.Ever since her experience in the manifestation, Aria had been driven by an urge to uncover more about the Carver family's
Philip added, "Aria had warned me to be careful because of my constitution. That's why I didn't reveal myself. I pretended not to notice anything. If Ignatius hadn't been hogging the bathroom, I wouldn't have had to use the restroom in the Furler residence's family hall."The strange thing was that it wasn't even very late, but there wasn't a single servant in sight at the Furler residence. It was as if they had all been deliberately sent away. I was already uneasy, but after I finished in the restroom and came out, I saw that scene."The memory of that moment was seared into Philip's mind.He had tiptoed back, heart pounding as though it might burst, terrified of being discovered.When he returned, he immediately asked Ignatius if Ashton had been acting strangely lately.Ignatius, still engrossed in his game, barely looked up. "What could be strange about my grandpa? The old man just keeps nagging me to hang out more with the Carvers boys. Do you think I'm cut out for that? Oh, r
At that moment, it felt as though something had seared his hand.Philip's eyes flickered wildly with disbelief as he stared at Leon, the one who had thrown the copper coin."How could this ordinary man—mediocre in both fortune and fate, even marked for a short life—know how to wield the power of the Five Emperor Coins?" he thought.The black mist clouding Philip's gaze retreated swiftly, recoiling in fear. He realized that the Five Emperor Coins would incinerate him beyond recovery if he lingered even a second longer.It had been years since he had endured such agony.This wasn't just any force. It was unlike anything he had ever encountered before. Not even the Dracotigris Order had delivered a power so unrelenting, so consuming. If he stayed, he wouldn't merely suffer—he would be obliterated.The Carvers weren't as straightforward as they seemed.Even someone he thought he understood, someone as seemingly inconspicuous as Leon, could wield the Five Emperor Coins.Leon, who ap