Chapter 22

It wasn't just Lesley and Angie; Janet and Karen also found it hard to accept the condition of the place, especially Karen. Karen had always lived a privileged life. Back home, if she saw a spider or cockroach, she'd scream for ages and then explode in a fury, docking the housekeeper's pay and firing them on the spot! Now, even before they stepped inside, they could see spiderwebs clinging to the eaves from the doorstep, some with spiders on them. Karen struggled to hold back from screaming on live camera, instinctively moving closer to her daughter. Janet, a seasoned actress who'd seen it all, was much calmer. She showed no distress. "Mom, don't be scared. Everything's fine," she reassured Karen. In the livestream, Janet's fans saw her calm reaction and immediately felt proud, flooding the chat with praise for their idol.

At last, there were Rebecca and Charlie. Rebecca got out of the car and looked at the houses with a calm expression. Before finding her birth parents, she had often wondered if they might be living in poverty, perhaps so poor they couldn't afford to raise her. Her longing for her biological family made her let go of her fear of poverty and hardship. She had come to terms with the possibility of such houses and families, thinking that as long as her real parents wanted her, she could accept it no matter how poor they were. Although it was a surprise to find that her biological parents and family were so outstanding, it hadn't diminished her empathy for those less fortunate.

"Director, are we staying here tonight?" Charlie quickly asked, looking at Ben behind the live-stream camera. Ben chuckled, "Yep, we sure are!"

Karen's eyes widened in disbelief. 'Stay in this place? How could we? This is not a place for anyone to live!' she thought. But Janet held her back. Karen understood her daughter's intent and forced herself to stay calm.

10:45 Fri, 19 Jul

Chapter 22

"Everyone, let's head inside," the director said brightly. "The villagers should have dinner ready. You've all had a long day, so let's eat first." Everyone was led into the house. It was an old-style house with a courtyard just inside the entrance. Three small tables were set up in the courtyard.

"Hello everyone, I am Terry. This is my wife, Beatrice. Come on in and have a seat," an elderly man greeted them warmly, inviting them to sit. "Thank you," Rebecca said. Charlie followed Terry in, and Rebecca followed closely. Everyone else trailed behind them, entering the courtyard together. Terry invited everyone to sit, and soon, his wife Beatrice came out from the kitchen with plate after plate of local delicacies. They filled three tables with the feast. Though the village seemed poor, the dishes contained meat, fish, and vegetables, and they smelled delicious.

"Help yourselves! We raised all these chickens, ducks, and fish ourselves. The livestock were fed only grass, so they taste wonderful. Give them a try!" Beatrice said happily as she served the last dish.

While everyone was talking, Charlie quietly picked up a bowl and quickly filled it with pumpkin soup for Rebecca. His sister had given birth just a few months ago and still needed to nourish her body. "Becky, try some of this. It's really good!" Charlie filled the bowl and eagerly handed it to Rebecca, lowering his voice. Then, Charlie looked up at Terry and his wife. He pulled out the seat next to him and called out, "Sir, Ma'am, come sit with us!"

The elderly couple immediately said with a wave of their hands, "No, no, you eat!" Without a word, Charlie grabbed two bowls, filled them with pumpkin soup, and brought them to Terry and Beatrice. "Here you go. If you're not comfortable on camera, you can eat over there. Don't worry about us, and whatever you eat, the director will pay for it later!"

As soon as Charlie said this, the livestream fans burst into laughter, especially his longtime followers!

[That's our Chuck! Still the same. He hasn't changed a bit!]

10:48 Fri, 19 Jul

Chapter 22

[Wonder if Ben will have the guts to invite Chuck on his show again? LOL!] [Ben thought, "Dude, spend your own money."]

Not only were the livestream viewers amused, but all the guests in the courtyard were also laughing. Everyone invited Terry and Beatrice to eat and told them not to worry about the cost. Jayden chimed in, "Don't worry about running out of food! We've got a whole table full, and you're welcome to join us anytime!" Terry and Beatrice chuckled. They couldn't refuse their kindness and accepted their invitation.

Noticing they were short of two sets of utensils, Charlie went to the kitchen to get them. Phoebe noticed this and quickly followed to lend a hand. Once everyone had their utensils, they all sat down to eat together. The meal was very satisfying. Even Karen, who had initially turned her nose up at the place, found the food delicious. The chicken, duck, and fish were just as Terry had said—home-raised, with no additives or hormones, making them exceptionally tasty!

By the time everyone had eaten their fill, night had fallen. It was time to arrange for the rooms. There were many houses in the village, and the production team had already arranged everything. Everyone drew lots to see where they would stay. Charlie was lucky enough to draw the lot for Terry and Beatrice's house. They showed them to their room. The room was very dark, even with the lights on, but it seemed fine to sleep in. Charlie was very attentive. He helped Rebecca make the bed again, ensuring it was clean and free of cockroaches. Only then did he feel at ease. However, Charlie's attentiveness made his fans in the livestream feel something was off.

[When Chuck was joking about the director, he was the same old Chuck I knew. But when he's alone with Becky, he feels like a different person.] [Did someone swap out our Chuck for a body double or what?] [If I knew Chuck could be this nice to his fans, I would've done anything to be the lucky one, ugh.]

10:46 Fri 19 Jul

Chapter 22

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[Chuck definitely hasn't been swapped. Did you see him at dinner? He made sure Becky had her soup before the elders. He totally spoils her!] [I know! I'm so jealous. He's such a sweetheart to her.]

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