Chapter 279 It’s Double Standard
The group changed into traditional attire, adjusting their clothes and makeup accordingly.
Women tied up their hair while the men donned wigs.
They strolled toward Cubilis gate, where a queue was forming to enter the city, and they followed suit.
This spectacle attracted numerous onlookers and photographers, but the production team had taken security measures, preventing anyone from approaching or harassing the guests.
When their turn arrived, they noticed soldiers in traditional attire, clad in armor and wielding spears, guarding both sides of the gate.
Individuals were also assigned to distribute entrance-tokens.
Upon receiving these tokens, they discovered that the wooden pieces were engraved with the date.
At this point, a sense of novelty and amusement finally settled upon them.
Tokens were either hung on their clothes or stowed away as the group entered the city.
What met their eyes were ancient, picturesque streets filled with people adorned in traditional attire. Occasionally, horse-drawn carriages and ox-wagons, designed to resemble ancient times, carried passengers.
It felt like a journey back in time, hundreds of years ago.
Unlike modern tourist attractions, these horse-drawn carriages and ox-wagon were authentic.
It charged according to the distance, with fares starting at 3 dollars.
Reluctant to spend, the guests hesitated to use them.
Zac turned to Simone, suggesting, “Simone, how about we team up to earn some money?” His intention was not to take advantage but rather to spend time with her.
However, a staff member reminded them, “No, after Jonah assigned you to different groups, only members within the same group can work together. You can’t form new groups.
Otherwise, the grouping would be meaningless.
Upon hearing this, Simone proposed, “Let’s work separately. We can meet at a certain place
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for meals or rest.”
Disappointed but understanding, Zac nodded, “Alright, let’s stay in touch in a group chat and plan a meal together.”
He sought confirmation from the staff member, asking, “Can we use the money we earn to treat each other to a meal?” The staff member agreed.
In another group, Eric suggested, “We’ll work hard to earn money and treat you all to a meal.”
The other three agreed as well.
Then, the staff member suggested, “You can split up and work separately now.”
Zac suggested, “Let’s not split up for now. Let’s have a meal together. We each have 15 dollars, so let’s find a restaurant and eat together before we go our separate ways.”
Zac desired to share this first meal in Cubilis with Simone.
Upon thinking this way, he cursed himself again for his bad luck.
Others in the group agreed and said, “Yes, let’s have a good meal together.”
“Let’s enjoy a good meal together, and we’ll split the bill later.” Normally, they wouldn’t want to eat with Andrew, Jodie, Aaron, and Leon.
But since they were all assigned to the same group this time, they had no choice but to share. a meal together.
Aaron responded enthusiastically, “Sure, let’s eat together.”
It would help improve the relationship with everyone, so Leon nodded and said, “Sharing sounds good!”
He was willing to do anything as long as he could be with Simone.
Upon following the majority rules, Jodie, who wanted to object, could only remain silent.
Andrew, still indifferent to variety shows, was indifferent to this suggestion.
So, the group found a restaurant and booked a private room that could accommodate eleven people.
The menu and dishes had an antique style, and the utensils were all traditional.
Zac handed the menu to Simone and said, “Ladies, take a look and see what you’d like to cat”
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Andrew’s eye-rolling response was prompted by this gesture. He certainly knows how to be
attentive.
It was a trait that both Leon and Aaron observed, as Zac seemed overly focused on Simone. It became apparent why he was always trailing her.
Simone took the menu, perusing it alongside Tina and Keira. They didn’t order much, opting for just one dish each. Jodie felt completely ignored, causing her eyes to turn red with a sense of injustice.
Simone and the others seemed to go too far, excluding her even during a meal.
After placing their orders, Simone handed the menu to Zac, saying, “You should also order something.”
Zac ordered a dish but didn’t extend the menu to Jodie, who was in the same group.
Instead, he passed it to Brandon, then Andrew, who taunted Jodie with, “Jo, see what you’d like to eat. Some people just lack gentlemanly manners.”
This drew everyone’s attention.
Zac raised an eyebrow, asking, “Who are you referring to?” Andrew looked at Zac. “Of course, it’s you. We are in the same group, and you don’t pass the menu to Jo but offer it to female. guests from other groups. Isn’t that lacking gentlemanly manners?
Jodie didn’t say anything, but she strongly agreed in her heart.
She was truly provoked by Zac just now.
Zac put on a feigned scared expression. “I wouldn’t dare to give it to your precious sister. After all, in the first season, she was exposed for having a secret meeting and being flirtatious with Leon. And she was hugging and cuddling with Aaron. In the second season, she sat directly on Luca’s lap and was caught being intimate with her agent, Titus, at a bar, cuddling closely together. For this last season, I don’t want any scandals with your sister trending on social media.”
He bluntly emphasized, “So I have to keep my distance and stay away from her.”
Every time Jodie saw him, it was like a dog seeing a bone.
He didn’t want to have any relationship with her.
Even if he was grouped with her because of his bad luck, he wouldn’t have any interaction with her
No one, whether present or watching the live stream, expected Zac to say such things.
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But thinking about it, Jodie did have a lot of previous offenses.
If they were to get entangled, the biggest scandal of this season would probably be between Zac and Jodie.
Jodie felt unfairly targeted and resentfully bit her lip.
How can he look at me like that? And to say these things in public as if I am promiscuous. It is really unfair.
Upon seeing this, Andrew addressed Zac, “If you want to maintain your distance, then do so! I notice how attentive you are toward Simone. Why don’t you keep your distance from her?”
Leon and Aaron also agreed with these sentiments. Why doesn’t he keep his distance from Simone?
Zac retorted, “Can Simone be compared to her?”
He shrugged. “And please refrain from comparing Jodie to Simone, as they are completely different.”
Despite it being a livestream, he remained unconcerned.
Jodie didn’t possess the qualifications to be compared to Simone in the first place.
Andrew was at a loss. “Why is it different now? Aren’t they both female celebrities?”
“You’re being hypocritical.”
Confidently, Zac stated, “Yes, I am being hypocritical. What can you do about it?”
Andrew was speechless. He truly couldn’t do anything about it.
How can someone be so arrogant? After all, this is being live-streamed.
Jodie felt genuinely wronged this time and was on the verge of tears.
Do I seem so far behind Simone? There must be something wrong with Zac’s eyes.
The more Zac behaved this way, the more determined she became to win him over.
She seemed to compromise and, in a somewhat resigned manner, pulled Andrew’s arm. “Andrew, let’s order some food.”
Andrew’s words couldn’t be as cutting as Zac’s.
So, it was better not to say anything, or else she would be implicated again.
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Moreover, this allowed Zac to see how considerate and tactful she could be.
Andrew was truly at a loss on how to counter Zac’s retort.
He immediately followed up on what Jodie said. “Alright, you go ahead and order.”
Jodie took the opportunity to place an order.
This meant each person ordered one dish.
The portions at the restaurant were not substantial, so everyone finished almost all eleven dishes without any waste.
After the meal, the three groups went their separate ways, with the other two groups heading to earn money while Simone’s group sought someone.
