Chapter 143

Cynthia stepped out of the helicopter in a plain white shirt and loose-fitting jeans—a casual outfit anyone could wear. But as the camera panned upward, focusing on her stunningly beautiful face, viewers were captivated. With barely noticeable makeup, her dark brown eyes instantly drew everyone's attention.

Her beauty was breathtaking. Even without makeup, her charm was undeniable, making her casual outfit seem high-fashion, as if she’d just finished a magazine photoshoot.

[She is gorgeous! Any picture of hers would make a great screensaver.] [Okay, I admit I was a bit too excited. The production team knows how to appeal to those who appreciate pretty faces.] [You don't know Cynthia? She's not very well-known here, but she just won the Golden Pinnacle Award in fashion design in Pillere.] [So what? She's a fake heiress who stole someone else's place. She should go to hell.] [What are you talking about? It's not her fault she was switched at birth. How could a newborn baby be blamed for that?] [Cynthia, go to hell!]

Today, Cynthia dressed casually, hoping to avoid attention. She didn't expect the live stream to become a sensation because of her.

She remained on the beach for a while. A second helicopter landed, and a tall figure emerged. The man, wearing a white polo shirt, black cargo pants, and sunglasses, exuded a cool aura. He didn't greet Cynthia; he simply nodded and stood to the side, appearing aloof. The live room went wild.

[Wow! Wow! Wow!] [It's Ethan! Really him! The show's team is incredible. This is Ethan's variety show debut.] [Totally freaking out! Ethan, I love you so much!] [Is Jessie really going to be here?]

Ethan's presence was announced. Cynthia and Ethan stood on the beach, maintaining a distance. Neither spoke. Cynthia's first impression was that he was difficult.

Five minutes later, a third helicopter landed. A girl in a charming dress stepped out; the wind blew off her straw hat. She exclaimed innocently, "Oh, my hat!" Meanwhile, the viewers buzzed with excitement.

[It's Abby! Abby's fans assemble!] [Abby is making huge progress, leaving her influencer days behind to become a star. Go, Abby! We'll always support you!] [This show is confusing. There's a movie star and an influencer!] [Abby isn't just any influencer. How many influencers have millions of fans? Don't underestimate them; they often earn more than celebrities.]

Abby walked between Cynthia and Ethan. She glanced at Cynthia, then turned to Ethan. "Mr. Summers, I didn't expect to see you here. I'm a fan of yours."

Ethan, still wearing sunglasses, seemed to glance at Abby and nodded, stepping aside to maintain distance. His aloofness disappointed Abby.

The fourth and fifth helicopters arrived almost simultaneously. Two more people emerged, sending the live room into a frenzy.

[Jessie! It's really Jessie! I'm impressed!] [Don't forget, the production team said this is a dating show. Could Ethan and Jessie be dating? If so, congratulations!] [An austere male idol and a cool goddess—the perfect match!] [Hey, don't forget Alex! He's the top handsome man in period dramas. His looks rival Ethan's.]

After disembarking, Jessie glanced at everyone and approached Ethan. They spoke; they were old friends who had worked together often.

Alex greeted everyone with a bright smile. He was very handsome, but something about him remained mysterious.

Five of the eight guests had arrived, all far more famous than Cynthia. She remembered Freddie mentioning ordinary people participating but hadn't specified who.

While Cynthia pondered, the sixth helicopter landed. As she caught sight of a white figure, her vision blurred momentarily.

She thought, 'Preston! How could it be him?'

With a big smile, Preston sprinted over. His introduction appeared in the live room:

[Preston, 21 years old, international student from Friyx, part-time model]

Viewers weren't particularly interested, though some complimented his sunny, handsome look.

Preston rushed to Cynthia. "Cynthia, do you think you can get away from me? Even if you go to the ends of the earth, I'll catch up with you." He shyly scratched his head after his confession.

This caught Abby and Alex's attention. Abby asked, "Do you two know each other?"

Preston said, "Yes, we do!" Cynthia said, "No, we don't!"

They spoke simultaneously. Cynthia rubbed her forehead, feeling a headache coming on.

Preston, in good spirits, said, "I'm pursuing her, but she hasn't said yes yet." His words caused a stir in the live room.

[A college student and a career woman I like them already.] [Preston is so cute. He looks clean, huggable, and probably smells nice too.] [His voice made me dizzy.] [I'm starting to understand why men like young girls.]

Finally, the last two helicopters arrived simultaneously. Everyone wondered who the last two guests would be.

Two people emerged; their introductions appeared in the live room:

[Nina, 20 years old, celebrity] [Jonathan, 28 years old, CEO of BJ Group]

The live room fell silent for a moment, then erupted again.

[To the show team and Jason, I offer my deepest respect. This is the strongest lineup in the history of variety shows, bar none.] [Isn't this a bit exaggerated? It's just a starlet and a CEO. Many CEOs appear on variety shows nowadays.] [Are you mad? You may not know Mr. Bennett, but haven't you heard of him? He's the son of the wealthiest man, the sole heir to the Bennett Group, and the most powerful man in Betrico.] [Isn't this guy who sponsors the show?] [Didn't you notice Nina got off Mr. Bennett's plane? Wow! What's their relationship?] [Nina isn't just anyone, either. The Bennett, Sexton, Sullivan, and Xenos families are the four grand families of Betrico. Nina's a wealthy heiress of the Sullivan family. She's not like Preston; she's upper class, he's not. That's life.] [Leaving aside Mr. Bennett's status, don't you think his face is extraordinarily handsome?]