Chapter 20

The production crew watched the monitors, their grins stretching ear to ear. Today’s explosive moments were coming one after another—ratings were bound to skyrocket.

Sure enough, the live comments erupted instantly.

[Michael was kind enough to invite her, and she refused? How ungrateful!]

[What’s with the hard-to-get act? Who does she think she is?]

[A nobody trying to act like a diva? Pathetic!]

Lucy’s fans fired back just as fast.

[Like our Lucy needs your pity? Hilarious!]

[Some fans really think they own the place. Lucy’s better off staying away!]

[First, you accuse her of riding on clout, now you bash her for saying no? Hypocrites!]

Bystanders, utterly confused, scrambled to catch up on the drama. After piecing things together, they shook their heads.

[Michael’s fans are way too aggressive.]

[Poor Lucy. Damned if she does, damned if she doesn’t.]

Just as the comment war raged on, Ethan Smith suddenly approached Lucy.

"Want to team up?" His voice was gentle, his gaze sincere.

Lucy blinked in surprise, then smiled. "It’d be an honor to work with you, Mr. Smith."

They exchanged a look and shook hands, their chemistry undeniable.

[Aww, my king is so sweet!]

[Ethan’s such a gentleman!]

Haters wasted no time jumping in.

[Oh, so she’s just aiming higher? How predictable.]

[Gold-digger confirmed!]

But Ethan’s fans remained uncharacteristically calm.

[He offered first. Don’t twist it.]

[We’re not falling for this bait.]

Nearby, Lily Green stood rigid, her nails digging into her palms. Forcing a smile, she sidled up to Michael Johnson. "Mr. Johnson, shall we pair up?"

Michael’s eyes lingered on Lucy before he gave an absentminded nod.

[Lily’s such an angel!]

[Hope Michael doesn’t let her down!]

The other guests quickly formed their teams. Robert Lee joked, "Looks like we’re all on our own tonight."

Then the director dropped the bombshell. "Just a reminder—you’ll be cooking your own meals tonight. No outside help."

"What?!" The group groaned in unison.

Daniel Miller whined, "Director, that’s just cruel!"

Ethan chuckled. "Don’t worry. I’ll gather extra ingredients so Lucy can show off her skills."

[Ethan’s so protective!]

[This pairing has my heart!]

Once the others had scattered, Lucy suddenly paused. She scanned the area, her gaze settling on a pile of straw in the corner.

"Mr. Smith, could you wait for me?" She flashed a playful grin. "Just a minute."

Though puzzled, Ethan agreed easily. "Of course."

Viewers were baffled.

[Why isn’t she gathering ingredients?]

[What’s she scheming now?]

The camera lingered on Lucy’s enigmatic smile, leaving everyone wondering—

What is she up to?