Chapter 163

Chapter 163 On the other side.

Sweat beaded on Mae’s forehead as she paused in the summer heat to check her makeup in a compact mirror. Thankfully, her waterproof cosmetics had held up against the oppressive sun.

Gentry, ever the gentleman, pretended not to notice her preoccupation but couldn’t help offering his concern, “Do you want to take a break and grab some water?”

It was a sweltering day, made all the more trying by their hike into the woods.

Mae was inwardly irked, but the presence of cameras kept her from displaying her annoyance. “We've just started out, not sure if we should...” Her words were cut short by a sudden yelp as she glanced down at her legs, hopping from one foot to the other.

Amosauito bit her. Despite her stylish shorts and rugged boots showcasing her toned legs, they had also made her an easy target for the biting pests.

Her expression crumbled, “Why are there so many mosquitoes?!”

Carter, the B&B owner leading the group, overheard her complaint and offered a solution, tinged with sympathy, “The woods are full of bugs, sorry about that. I’ve got some bug spray, want some?”

bo cpray 0 Mae was hesitant. Her assistant had already forced her, and the overwhelming smell was rivaling her own perfume which she disliked.

But the possibility of being swarmed with bites was an even worse scenario.

After a moment's hesitation, she accepted the offer with a forced smile, “Thanks.”

She quickly doused her legs and arms with the repellent, inadvertently engulfing Gentry, who stood too close and sneezed from the pungent mist.

Their pause had the others halting too, including Winnie and Kane, along with a couple who were part of the group.

The girl from the couple complained, “These mosquitoes are huge, even bug spray can’t keep them at bay.”

She then turned to Winnie, who was dressed in cargo pants and a short-sleeve top, noticing her unblemished skin, “It’s so hot, yet you barely sweat or attract any mosquitoes?”

Upon hearing this, the group and the live—stream audience were suddenly aware that while everyone else showed signs of perspiration, Winnie remained as fresh as when she’d left the B&B.

Winnie, with a hint of mystery, pulled out a folded green paper triangle and introduced It, “Insect Repellent Charm, helps keep you cool too.”

The young couple’s eyes widened in amazement, “Is that really a thing? Does it work?”

12:50 Winnie nodded and produced two more charms, “I’ve got two left, do you want them?”

The skeptical youngsters immediately agreed, “Yes!”

Kane looked on with interest, but with only two charms avallable, he refrained from asking.

The live audience was just as intrigued by the charm, with comments flying:

“Where can | get one of those charms?!”

“Suddenly witchcraft seems so practical. | want one!”

“Why didn’t you share those earlier? That's a bit selfish.”

“So what if they've got some swanky stuff? Are we all supposed to line up for a slice of it? Seriously, who does Winnie owe?”

“| can’t stand these guilt-trippers! Personally, | usually just ask where they got the charms and tell ‘em to fetch me one too!”

“It sure looks like Kane is itching to get a piece of the action too.”

Mae, overhearing the conversation, approached with curiosity. “What's all the fuss about?”

She caught the gist of the conversation and her eyes lingered enviously on Winnie's composed appearance.

Just as the girl from the couple explained the charm to Mae, Mae’s interest was piqued.

“Winnie, do you have any more charms? I'd like one too.”

Having experienced the efficacy of a Protection Charm, Mae had no doubt about these mystical. talismans. She eagerly wanted one for herself.

Winnie shook her head, “There’s no more left.”

Mae thought to herself, Winnie was still wearing one, wasn’t she?

But without an offer, she couldn’t just ask in front of the camera, feeling a mixture of pettiness and disappointment as she glanced at the couple.

Her beauty, enhanced by makeup (albeit a bit heavy), plus her fame through filtered dramas, prompted the couple’s boyfriend to give her his charm, “Here, take mine. Girls need to be careful about bug bites more than us guys.”

The moment he spoke, Mae’s face lit up with delight as she stepped forward to accept the charm, “Really?! Thank you! You're so sweet!”

She took the charm without hesitation and offered him a heart sign in gratitude.

The man blushed at the celebrity’s gesture, shyly smiling. But he didn’t notice his girlfriend’s sour face.

All of this was captured by the accompanying videographer, and the live audience didn’t miss a beat:

2/3 12:50 “Trouble brewing for that couple!”

“Bold move, giving something to another girl in front of your girlfriend.”

“Hey, it's Mael I'd do the same.”

“Guys, it’s just being considerate, isn’t it?”

“If my boyfriend did that, he’d be in for it.”

“Feels like a breakup is coming...

“Why do girls make such a big deal over these little things?”

It seemed that the girl was mindful of the fact that they were on a live stream and didn’t want to make her feelings too obvious, but as they continued walking, her demeanor towards her boyfriend had noticeably cooled. Several times she gravitated towards Winnie, leaving her boyfriend trailing behind.

Viewers in the live stream chat were quick to sound the breakup alarm.

Comments about the B&B curse were popping up again, suggesting that another couple was about to fall victim to its reputed powers.

Only Winnie seemed to be looking for clues in the girl’s expression, her eyes occasionally sweeping over the girl’s face as if trying to decipher some hidden truth beneath the surface.

When her boy friend gave Mae the charm, Winnie had distinctly noticed a change in the girl’s normally rosy demeanor, as if a faint shadow of resentment had doused her bloom.