Chapter 117

Odalys pointed outside the window and said anxiously, "A figure just passed by. I'm sure it wasn't from the production team or Group A next door. It's a villager, I think. I don't know if he's just passing by, or if Odalys isn't hiding anything. If it were a dangerous person, she'd better tell us and let us be prepared."

Selah shrank back, whispering, "That person can't be just passing by. No one lives near here. Oh my god, I'm a little scared."

Kering this, Odalys murmured, "I saw someone lurking by the window tonight."

Freya's face paled. "Should we tell the production team?"

It had been a long day, and the consequences would be unimaginable if anything happened to them while they were asleep.

"It's useless to say it," Odalys scoffed. "The other party didn't peep. Besides, I might have seen it wrongly. Moreover, if someone were to peep in the middle of the night..."

Freya and Selah, seeing her expression, were less panicked.

"It's nothing serious, trust me," Odalys said reassuringly. Her words calmed them.

Odalys took a cloth from her backpack, spread it out, and hung it at the window to block the view from outside. She then checked the window lock and secured it further with a rope tied to an iron plate, which would clang if the window were opened.

"Alright, let's prepare to shower and sleep," Odalys said, stretching after finishing her preparations.

After showering, Stellan greeted them before returning to his room. After they had washed and prepared for bed, the production team remotely turned off the cameras, ending the day's live broadcast.

However, viewers who had just watched the broadcast were frightened and reluctant to sleep. Some even privately messaged the director, begging them to turn on the outdoor cameras to watch over the female celebrities.

Kenny saw these messages but ignored them. Although puzzled about the figure outside the window, he didn't care. He reasoned that if the netizens were nervous, it would pique curiosity and attract viewers the next day.

On Group A's side, the boys had finished showering. Finnian, feeling unwell, went to sleep first.

Sophia lay in bed, listening to the loud laughter from next door. "Why are they laughing so loudly? Do they think they can attract traffic like this?" she thought, feeling lonely. There were three men and one woman in her group, and the men kept their distance. Francis seemed particularly averse to interacting with her. Sophia was frustrated. She’d previously felt her lack of female company would make her the center of attention; now, it made her uncomfortable. They’re laughing…Mom will transfer the Bennett Group’s shares to me once I get the emerald pendant. Then you won’t be able to go home, she thought bitterly, closing her eyes.

She didn’t notice a figure flash past outside her window, staring at her room for a long time, seeming restless.

Later, Odalys, alone, dressed and went to the window. Following the figure she’d seen earlier, she walked to a secluded house outside the village. "A bachelor?" she mused, her eyes narrowed.

She confirmed the person was the one who had passed by the window. After ensuring he remained inside and hadn’t left, she turned and left.

The village night was strangely quiet. After the rain, aside from mosquitoes and frogs, there was little sound.

Following a scent, she reached a remote house. She saw a hundred-year-old tree and an ancient house, overflowing with an aura of history. Entering the courtyard, she saw flowers, plants, and many fabrics hung out to dry—clearly used for clothing.

"Looks like this is the place," Odalys muttered, surveying her surroundings. She didn't rush inside but quietly retreated, closing the courtyard door and walking back.

Though unsure if she was overthinking, her conversation with Evander at the Stewart reunion echoed in her mind. If he were plotting against the Stewarts, he'd need a safe retreat, somewhere far from Crownridge. This remote village, with its poor communication, was ideal for hiding. This was only a guess though. She decided to observe during the day and, ideally, interact with the inhabitants.

Returning to her residence, she changed, lay down, and fell asleep.

The next morning, a fragrant aroma woke Freya. "It smells so good," she murmured. "I want to eat it," Selah mumbled in agreement. They turned over, their eyes snapping open. Odalys’s side of the bed was empty. They quickly got up, dressed, and went outside in their slippers.

"You're up?" Odalys greeted them with a smile.

Freya and Selah, seeing her rolling up her sleeves, approached in surprise. "Odalys, why are you up so early? Didn’t you sleep last night?" Freya asked.

Stellan arrived with a bucket of water. "She got up at 5:30 this morning," he said, setting down the water. They usually fetched water from a nearby well. Stellan fetched it so they could cook.

Selah gasped, "Five-thirty in the morning! It's only past six o'clock!" Seeing Odalys's energetic demeanor, she felt embarrassed.

"Go wash. It's time to eat," Odalys said.

They went to wash as the invisible cameras, though the photographer was off-duty, switched on at five. Many who had stayed up late logged on to see Odalys at 5 a.m.

After the rain stopped, Odalys went to pick mushrooms. “[Star] is so diligent and capable!” fans gushed, wishing they could pause the screen, fearing they'd miss a moment.

Freya and the others joined her after washing. Odalys served food on a stone table. "Help yourselves. I made mushroom and carrot dishes, asparagus, and a vegetable soup with prawns from the stream," she announced. The soup was a local delicacy.