Amelia Lockhart had actually returned once before the task was announced, but seeing Ethan Quinn sleeping so soundly, she quietly slipped out again.
"Where's Ethan Quinn?" The director gave the one-person team a surprised look. 'I haven't received any news of him quitting, have I?'
Amelia Lockhart, however, said nonchalantly, "It's fine. I'll see how hard this morning's task is."
The production team: ...
The other six people: ...
Iris Yates was the first to burst out laughing. "Amelia, your boyfriend energy is off the charts!"
[Hahaha! So if the task isn't hard, she plans to go it alone?]
[She's letting our boy get some more sleep. I love it! I love it!]
The director could only clear his throat and say, "Alright, I will now announce this morning's task—Item Trading. You will choose one of four boxes to get your starting item. Then, you'll use the final item you acquire through trades to create a gourmet dish.
You will have two hours for trading. The production team will provide basic kitchen equipment.
The villagers will taste and score your food. The final scores will determine how luxurious your lunch will be!"
When she heard they had to create a gourmet dish, Iris Yates's eyes lit up. As a food blogger, she was extremely confident in her cooking abilities!
However, when she received her starting item, Iris Yates couldn't help but laugh. "Now I finally understand the saying, 'Even the most skilled housewife can't cook without rice.' What can I possibly get in exchange for a single peanut?"
Who would have thought that inside such a large box, there would only be a single peanut?
[Hahaha! When it comes to this show's tasks, no peanut is innocent!]
[I love this unlucky couple so much! I'm shipping them forever!]
Anna Summers got incredibly lucky, drawing a four-color eyeshadow palette. Ruby Sawyer's item was pretty good too: a small, white handkerchief.
Although Amelia Lockhart hadn't expected to get anything great when she opened her box, she still fell silent for a moment upon seeing that it was completely empty.
[Hahaha! An empty box!]
[I thought the peanut was as bad as it could get, but I never expected an empty box! The production team is so cruel!]
Just as the live comments exploded with laughter, Amelia Lockhart suddenly reached into the box and plucked an embroidery needle from a corner!
Amelia Lockhart and the embroidery needle in her hand stared at each other, at a loss for words.
[Hahaha! The super-strong girl and her tiny embroidery needle!]
[Hahaha! That embroidery needle is killing me!]
Iris Yates looked at the embroidery needle in Amelia Lockhart's hand, then down at the peanut in her own. Feeling a sense of camaraderie in their shared misfortune, Iris reached out and patted Amelia's shoulder.
After being comforted, Amelia Lockhart went silent for a few seconds before speaking. "Your peanut is worse than my embroidery needle. At least I can sew with mine."
Iris Yates: ...
'We're both clearly in a sorry state. Is there really a need to kick each other while we're down?'
After saying this, Amelia Lockhart held the embroidery needle out to Iris Yates. "Here, you can have it. It's not much, but it's better than nothing."
Iris Yates was stunned. "Then what will you do?"
Amelia Lockhart smiled at her. "I'm strong. I can help the villagers with manual labor to trade for something. Here, take it, and be careful not to prick yourself. I'm off to start the task."
Amelia Lockhart placed the needle in her palm and strode away coolly, leaving so quickly that even Rhett Reynolds didn't have time to react.
Iris Yates couldn't help but exclaim, "I suddenly get how Ethan Quinn feels. It's so nice to be taken care of! I declare that from this day forward, I am Amelia Lockhart's number one fan!"
[Ahhh! Not gonna lie, I'm actually starting to ship them!]
Guided by the staff, the belated "Sleeping Beauty," Ethan Quinn, finally found Amelia Lockhart in a rice paddy.
The spring sun shone down on the land. It was the peak of the farming season, and Amelia Lockhart was in the middle of a group of villagers, helping them plant rice seedlings.
Her back was bent as she worked. Her pant legs were rolled up to her thighs, with the lower half of her legs submerged in the muddy water, revealing a sliver of fair, slender skin.
Wearing a tattered straw hat, she was diligently planting seedlings alongside the others. Her movements were swift. Whenever she got tired, she would straighten up to catch her breath for a moment before getting back to it.
During one of her short breaks, Amelia Lockhart spotted the late-arriving Ethan Quinn. She gave him a wave before resuming her work. Perhaps because she was getting more and more proficient, she finished planting her designated section ahead of schedule.
Her task complete, Amelia Lockhart waded toward the edge of the paddy. The ridge here was rather high, and just as she was about to use her hands and feet to clamber up, a clean, slender hand appeared in front of her.
Amelia Lockhart glanced up at the hand's owner in surprise, not having expected Ethan Quinn to actually come over.
"Oh, don't worry about it. I asked the production team, we can wash up later. My hands are filthy..." They were caked in mud, and dirt was packed under her fingernails.
But Ethan Quinn acted as if he hadn't heard her or seen her filthy hands. He bent down slightly, grasped her hand, and pulled her up with a firm tug.
Amelia Lockhart was completely caught off guard.
She made it up onto the ridge, but she also stumbled directly into Ethan Quinn's arms.
Her nose was filled with the pleasant scent of cedarwood—a steady, crisp fragrance with a hint of coolness.
A nearby camera quickly zoomed in on the pair. How could they miss such an intimate moment during a live broadcast of a romance show?
[How much longer are they going to hug? Our boy was just trying to be nice and help her up, but that green tea Amelia took advantage of the situation!]
[As a fan who's already jumped ship, I think this scene is absolutely beautiful!]
Amelia Lockhart tried to pull away, but Ethan Quinn was already holding her hand and leading her off. He pulled her all the way to a water hose the staff had prepared, then aimed the stream of water at her feet.
His face was completely expressionless, as if he was disgusted by how dirty she was.
The cool water gushed out. After Amelia Lockhart silently rinsed her legs and feet, she watched as Ethan Quinn began to slowly and methodically wash his hands.
He washed them three or four times.
'He really must be disgusted.'
But Amelia Lockhart didn't mind one bit, because in the process, she had accidentally completed today's task from The Immortal Pool: hold hands with Ethan Quinn for three seconds!
'Time for the draw!'
"You have received one Beauty Hair Card."
'Finally, not another "Thanks for Playing"!' Amelia Lockhart was so moved she could have cried. She immediately checked the effect of the Beauty Hair Card.
Beauty Hair Card: Upon use, you will receive a beautiful hairstyle.
'Is something like this really useful? The Lord of Fate's items really are strange.'
"Isn't the task item trading? Why were you... planting rice seedlings?" A question from Ethan Quinn snapped her out of her thoughts. Amelia Lockhart quickly grabbed the large bag she had left with the production team. "Look! My haul!"
[Hahaha! It's not just showing off, I can feel her doting on him! It's like, "Behold, this is the kingdom I have conquered for you!"]
Ethan Quinn glanced into the large bag. It was filled with fresh radishes still caked with dirt, crisp green vegetables, plump tomatoes, and he could even make out a few eggs.
The sheer amount of food in the bag was more than he had expected.