Chapter 34 Not Used To It
Leon’s first bite of sauerkraut fish almost made him spit it out. The difference between Simone’s culinary skliis and Jodie’s cooking was stark; Jodie’s dish was simply unappetizing. However, he forced himself to swallow the fish to protect her reputation.
“It’s… okay,” he stammered, struggling to convey the deliciousness of the sauerkraut fish.
She was relieved to hear their approval and encouraged, “Feel free to have more if you like it. Taking a piece for herself, she bit into it, but her expression quickly turned grim. The fish was excessively fishy despite her meticulous adherence to the recipe she had learned. She couldn’t afford to spit it out during the live broadcast. So, she gave most of the fish to Aaron, fully aware that he would eat it. She also served Leyla and Leon smaller portions, keeping the rest for herself.
Aaron struggled with indescribable bitterness as he saw the brimming bowl of fish meat. However, he had no choice but to consume it, all while yearning for Simone’s cooking.
Leyla reluctantly accepted the fish, not wanting to eat it but compelled by Jodie’s insistence. She discreetly choked it down and continued with her plain rice.
Leon, too, put on an act, savoring the dish with feigned delight. The only reason they pretended was to avoid exposing Jodie’s culinary shortcomings. Although the contrast with the other group was evident, it remained subtle enough not to draw attention. However, it was apparent to everyone that he even struggled to eat the sauerkraut fish.
‘Leon is indeed the best actor. Even if it’s bad, he can still eat it with a delicious expression.‘
‘If it weren’t for Jojo giving him so much, I doubt he would eat more than three pieces!
From this, we can see that Leon spoils Jojo.”
Their relationship must not be simple. Jojo really knows how to make Aaron and Leon orbit around her.
The
“The most miserable one is Aaron. After eating such a large bowl, I wonder if he’ll have diarrhea tonight.”
‘If he doesn’t eat a big bowl, how can he show his love for his sister?”
After reading these comments, Leon’s and Aaron’s fans weren’t too pleased. Surprisingly, this time, they chose not to retaliate.
They were also curious about the dynamics between Aaron and Jodie. Aaron’s fans were somewhat. disheartened as they could discern his reluctance while eating. Their sympathy for him grew after enduring a day of stomach trouble and such misery. This marked the first instance when they found Jodie’s actions somewhat insensitive.
On the other side, Simone and her group called the village head and went to the home of the shadow puppetry inheritor.
The elderly man in his sixties lived alone with his grandson as his son and daughter–in–law sadly. passed away. Delighted upon hearing Simone’s group’s intentions, the old man wholeheartedly agreed.
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Chapter 34 Not Used To It
He proudly displayed his cherished shadow puppet dolls for Simone and her group.
After deliberation, Simone and her group decided to perform a shadow puppetry rendition of “Journey to the West. The old man possessed a set of shadow puppet dolls depicting the master and three disciples, but additional characters needed to be created.
Simone’s group decided to assist daily, showcasing the process of crafting shadow puppet dolls for the viewers. This was a meaningful gesture appreciated by the elderly man, who eagerly shared the history of shadow puppetry with them. They attentively listened, interjecting with questions from time to time.
When they returned to the courtyard, it was well past 8.00PM. After their return, they heard Aaron vomiting. This time, it was not just diarrhea; he was also experiencing bouts of vomiting.
Simone couldn’t help but sigh, remarking. “It’s true love indeed.” She felt Aaron deserved the discomfort, given his insistence on consuming the food despite his known stomach issues.
Zac acknowledged, “This brother’s love runs deep. He added, “I reminded him in the evening when I went to the kitchen, but unfortunately, he didn’t appreciate it.”
Keira couldn’t help but feel a bit of schadenfreude. “Aaron is truly miserable.”
During the live stream, Aaron’s fans were left heartbroken. Their disappointment had turned into anger directed at Jodie. And, of course, some were quick to blame Simone.
Aaron had previously asked for her help in finding medicine, but she had declined. As a result, she was also held accountable by his fans.
Simone’s fans, however, swiftly came to her defense. They pointed out that she didn’t owe anything to Aaron and questioned why she should have to follow his orders. Furthermore, they argued that the blame, if any, should be placed on the man himself. After all, he had known about his stomach issues and still insisted on eating the food prepared by Jodie. In essence, he had brought the trouble upon himself.
Ast the live stream concluded, many viewers left comments expressing genuine concern for Aaron’s health.
Back at the Gray Family, Steven had gone on a business trip, leaving Salma and her four sons to watch the live stream.
She couldn’t help but feel worried about Aaron’s health. Aaron has always had stomach problems. Now that he’s vomiting and experiencing diarrhea in a remote village, who knows what might happen,” she expressed her concern, her face reflecting a hint of disappointment. “Simone is ruthless. She’s ignoring Aaron this time.”
In the past, when Aaron fell ill, Simone would take the initiative to care for him. However, this time, even when he showed weakness and asked for Simone’s help finding herbs for medicinal
soup, she refused coldly.
Salma had become somewhat unaccustomed to the change
since Simone had left home decisively.
Simone used to care for her mother’s health diligently, monitoring her blood pressure daily and ensuring she took her medicine. She even provided special massages to help her sleep peacefully at
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Chapter 34 Not Used To It
night. With Sunone absent recently, there was no one to care for her this way, leading to a decline in her sleep quality
Previously, Selma hadn’t thought much of it. After all, Simone was her biological daughter, and she was expected to be kind and caring toward her mother and family. However, she found it hard to accept that her considerate biological daughter appeared cold toward her brother.
Salma said, “Could she not want to acknowledge us?” She found this especially difficult to accept. Reuben frowned and said, “She’s probably still holding a grudge against Aaron.”
Titus chimed in, “Aaron is pushing himself too hard. He shouldn’t eat when he’s unwell.”
“And Simone is being ignorant. They are biological siblings, but she’s intentionally creating a tense atmosphere on the show, making us look bad,” Reuben added.
Titus agreed, “Indeed, Simone is becoming increasingly unruly,” He continued, “I had already cultivated an image for Jo as a sophisticated lady. Logically, she should stand out. However, Simone insisted on participating in this variety show, creating a stark contrast with Jo. Now, Jo’s recent reputation isn’t favorable.”
Initially, he had planned for Jo and Simone to have contrasting images to demonstrate that Jo, who grew up in their family, was much more exceptional than Simone, who grew up outside their family. Additionally, he aimed to make Simone understand that without his support and guidance as her agent, she wouldn’t succeed in the industry.
However, unexpectedly, things had taken a different turn. If this continued, it wouldn’t be beneficial for Jodie. To alleviate the situation, Titus had already hired internet trolls to manage comments. Still, due to Aaron’s health issues during the livestream, some fans expressed dissatisfaction with Jodie. Titus also noticed that many viewers were distorting the relationship between Aaron and Jodie, which added to his concerns. This situation was causing him a great deal of stress.
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