Soon, fans of Aaron and Jodie jumped in to defend them.
‘You’re just jealous of their close relationship.’
‘Aero is so doting on his sweet little sister.’
‘Exactly. With a sweet sister like Jodie, Aero can never dote on her enough.’
‘They are biological siblings, and some people are just projecting their negative thoughts onto them.’
‘Some people have dirty hearts, so they see everything as dirty.’
Their fans quickly leaped to their defense, while many viewers grew increasingly uncomfortable. After all, the interaction between the siblings, as depicted, seemed to be awkward and unsettling for most.
When Simone, carrying a bowl, joined the scene, she also observed Aaron and Jodie’s unusually close bond. This sight was met with a sly grin from Simone, who was not disappointed by the spectacle.
In contrast, at home, Jodie behaved like a spoiled little princess. She had a tendency to seek her brothers’ comfort, especially when feeling the slightest discomfort. At times, she would even pretend to be unwell to flaunt her need for their attention. On the other hand, Simone never experienced jealousy in similar situations, as she could never engage in such intimate actions with her sc*mbag brothers.
Jodie’s habit of seeking comfort continued when Simone entered the room, and Aaron dutifully consoled her for an extended period. The way they comforted each other was remarkably intimate, causing a shiver to run down the spines of those present and making the viewers watching the live broadcast cringe.
‘This feels more like a romance than a countryside variety show.’
‘I also feel like I’m watching a fake countryside variety show.’
‘Do you think Jojo’s boyfriend will be jealous of her close relationship with her brother in the future?’
‘Can Aaron’s girlfriend tolerate this?’
‘I might be a bit selfish, but I wouldn’t be able to accept a boyfriend closer to his sister than me.’
‘Neither would I. If I had a boyfriend like that, I’d be disgusted.’
‘Seeing the two like this, I suddenly feel like I have a boyfriend with a female best friend…’
‘I have the same feeling.’
Naturally, these comments sparked criticism from Aaron’s fans. They fervently emphasized that the two individuals were biological siblings and urged people not to jump to conclusions hastily.
Leyla quickly requested a bandage from the production team. She passed it to Aaron, who carefully applied it to Jodie’s wounded finger. Despite the injury, Jodie remained determined, focused on cooking the sauerkraut fish. She had followed the recipe steps meticulously, but the result failed to exude the same appetizing aroma as Simone’s earlier creation. This was evident to the live viewers and Leon and the others, who watched with anticipation.
Despite her hunger, Leyla wasn’t particularly eager to dig into the sauerkraut fish in her bowl.
Nevertheless, Jodie picked up several fish pieces and insisted, “Miss Morse, I made this sauerkraut fish just for you. Give it a try.”
Leyla rolled her eyes in her heart, doubting how it was specifically made for her. She didn’t dare to decline the offer. Summoning a strained smile, she replied, “Sure!” Taking a piece, she forced herself to eat it, struggling to hide her discomfort. The fishy taste was overwhelming, lacking the delightful aroma of Simone’s earlier sauerkraut fish. She instantly regretted expressing her desire for the dish.
Jodie asked persistently, “How is it?” She felt confident about her cooking skills and remembered all the steps well.
With a strained smile, Leyla replied, “It’s okay.” Then, she quickly finished the fish in her bowl. She then got up to serve herself a bowl of rice, eating it rapidly to avoid more fish offerings from Jodie.
Jodie was dissatisfied with Leyla’s response. She believed Leyla was intentionally causing trouble, even though she had prepared the dish at Leyla’s request. She then used her fork and spoon to pick up some fish and offered it to Aaron and Leon, saying, “You should give it a try as well.”
Aaron took a bite and was astonished. He couldn’t help but wonder why there was such a noticeable difference between Jodie’s dish and Simone’s. Although he hadn’t had the opportunity to taste Simone’s creation, the delightful aroma of her cooking filled the entire courtyard, raising his expectations.
As he lay in bed, his stomach growled and he yearned for a satisfying meal. Given Simone’s reputation for excellent cooking, he had every reason to believe that her dish would have been exceptional. However, the fish Jodie had prepared was overwhelmingly fishy and lacked the flavors he had anticipated. Even the texture of the meat was somewhat tough, leaving him disappointed.
Despite his true feelings, Aaron gave a supportive smile and praised Jodie, saying, “It’s very delicious.”
Upon hearing that, she offered him a few more pieces. “Aaron, you should have some more.”
‘Look at Aaron pretending it’s delicious. I’ll give it a negative review!’
‘They’ve always said he lacks acting skills, and now I believe it after seeing this.’
‘Aaron, have some fish!’
‘Haha… She’s trying to poison her own brother.’
‘It’s Leon’s turn next; it’s time for him to demonstrate his acting skills.’
Leon’s first bite of sauerkraut fish almost made him spit it out. The difference between Simone’s culinary skills 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 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. 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.
As the live stream concluded, many viewers left comments expressing genuine concern for Aaron’s health.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.