Chapter 322
While Leo was still reeling from confusion, the show’s host strolled over with a spring in his step. “Looks like our surprise guest is truly spooked,” the host said, sporting a headset and glancing at the live stream’s chat feed.
Leo gave the host a cool expressionless look. “Wasn’t the call time at ten?” His words carried a tinge of grinding teeth.
Clearing his throat, the host handed him an earpiece and managed to keep a straight face as he said, “Well, you could think of it as us just tweaking the cameras right now.”
Leo was lost for words.
The host then turned his attention to Mirabella, his eyes twinkling with unmistakable mischief, “Miss, maybe you could take off your mask…”
Mirabella shot him down. “Nope.”
The host was visibly choked up by the rejection. He turned to the camera with a look of exaggerated regret, “Even I can’t glimpse this lady’s face, so folks, don’t get your hopes up.”
The live chat went wild.
[LOL, I can feel Juztin’s deep despair through the screen.]
[Host, you’re getting cheeky.]
[The girl looks super cool and heartless.]
[Not showing her face on the live stream, are we playing the mystery card?]
[Probably not a celeb, but who cares, with her brother’s good looks in the frame.]
[Ah, a big hug to Juztin, all set up by the crew.]
Once Mirabella and Leo were geared up with their earpieces, they followed the host deeper into the venue.
The recording location the crew had chosen was picturesque, with a quaint bed & breakfast, a farm, a pasture, and a little village dotting the way–a perfect reflection of the show’s pastoral life theme.
Mirabella was pleasantly surprised.
“You nervous?” Leo whispered, his voice laced with concern. After all, they were the focus of multiple cameras.
Mirabella adjusted her mask, her demeanor unfazed, “Not at all.”
“Oh.” And with that. Leo didn’t press further.
Soon, the group arrived at a B&B in the village, where the other three guest teams had been
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Chapter 322
waiting for about half an hour.
The live stream had actually started at nine, and the reason Mirabella and Leo thought it was at ten was all part of the crew’s deliberate staging.
Leo, hyped as the grand mystery guest in the show’s promotions, was meant to make a surprising entrance to drive up the excitement.
The other three guest teams were Hans, Heather, and Gabriel. Unlike Leo, these three were titans of the film industry. Hans was a veteran actor with years of fame, Heather had snagged the Best Actress award the previous year, and Gabriel was a heartthrob idol, having amassed a legion of fans with a hit fantasy series.
Leo, a chart–topping music sensation with a fanbase in the millions, had never appeared on a variety show before, so his arrival took everyone by surprise. They knew the crew had invited a mystery team but had no clue who it might be, and none had checked their phones for the live stream beforehand.
Heather, snapping out of her shock, exclaimed, “It’s Juztin, the lead of Neon Paradox! What a surprise!”
“Hmm, looks like Walker’s really gone all out,” mused Hans, stroking his chin before stepping forward to greet Leo. Then, noticing Mirabella with her mask, he inquired, “Oh, who’s this?”
Leo nodded politely and introduced her, “My sister.” He paused, casting a glance at the camera, “She’s a bit on the shy side.”
