Chapter 188: Chapter 188: Massive Loss of Fans

Every day, there was a thirty-minute break during lunch. To ensure the guests’ rest and privacy, all cameras were turned off during this period, just like after ten o’clock at night.

The production team had explicitly forbidden mobile phones during filming. However, to boost her popularity and tailor her marketing strategy, Renee Jennings always carried a burner phone. After all, it wasn’t like the crew was going to check everyone with a metal detector.

She found a blind spot hidden from the cameras and turned on her phone, only to learn from her agent that a massive number of her fans had just unfollowed her.

The sun was shining brightly, but Renee Jennings felt a chill pierce her heart. She hastily asked what had happened.

She had gained these fans by painstakingly editing videos frame by frame. How could they just unfollow her like that…?

Renee Jennings learned the whole story from her agent. Apparently, her frequent arguments with Nathan Lynch were to blame. In a way, it had shattered her public persona, turning what was supposed to be a warm, harmonious scene into a complete mess.

Her mind in turmoil, Renee Jennings quickly began discussing a damage-control marketing strategy with her agent.

She had two great sources of confidence for being on this show: one was Christina Lynch, and the other was her massive fanbase.

’I can’t lose them. I absolutely can’t lose them…’

Halfway up the mountain path, the guests took a break, exhausted from the climb. The cameras were off during this time. Naomi Kenway took off Ian Shaw’s shirt, which was soaked with sweat.

Ian clutched his hands tightly against his chest, his big, bright eyes holding a hint of shyness. He glanced to the side, then shuffled closer to Naomi Kenway.

Naomi Kenway thought her son was absolutely adorable and couldn’t resist teasing him a little. “Our Ian is a big boy now, getting all shy!”

“Mom…” Ian’s cheeks turned even redder.

Knowing her son was genuinely thin-skinned, Naomi Kenway stopped her teasing and deftly changed Ian into a fresh set of clothes.

Ian frowned, whining in his little-kid voice, “Mommy, I’m all sweaty. It’s so uncomfortable…”

Naomi Kenway took out a handkerchief and wiped the sweat from his forehead. “Once we get to the village, Ian can take a bath. Just bear with it a little longer, sweetie.”

Naomi Kenway’s movements suddenly paused. She saw Nathan Lynch walking toward them.

Renee Jennings seemed to be extremely wary and defensive around her, keeping Nathan Lynch with her as they rested on the far west side, a long distance away from them.

Nathan Lynch looked apprehensive, licking his dry lips. “Aunt Kenway, I want some water. My stepmom disappeared somewhere, and all the water is in her backpack…”

He had taken the longest route to get to her because, out of everyone there, he trusted Aunt Kenway the most. She was always so gentle with him, and she reminded him of his own mother.

The first thing Naomi Kenway noticed was how he referred to Renee Jennings. There was no sign of Renee nearby; she had run off somewhere.

Naomi Kenway’s dislike for Renee Jennings grew. She quickly pulled an unopened bottle of water from her own backpack and, thoughtfully, twisted the cap open before handing it to him.

“Thank you…” Nathan Lynch’s eyes reddened for some reason. He tilted his head back and took a big gulp, but he drank too fast and started coughing violently.

Naomi Kenway quickly patted his back. “Drink slowly. It’s bad for your throat if you drink too fast.”

Nathan Lynch covered his mouth, his coughing gradually subsiding. He then noticed several distinct water stains on Naomi Kenway’s short-sleeved shirt, and his face instantly filled with helplessness and guilt. “I’m sorry, Aunt Kenway…”

He scurried away and ran back less than a minute later, holding out a few tissues. Only then did Naomi Kenway realize he had gone to get them for her.

“Aunt Kenway, hurry and wipe it off. It’s all my fault.”

Naomi Kenway ruffled his hair, unable to bear seeing him look so guilty. “It’s alright. The sun is so strong, it’ll dry in no time.”

Only then did Nathan Lynch’s expression ease a little.

Thinking about what had just happened, Naomi Kenway glanced around before crouching down and asking in a gentle voice, “Nathan, tell me… has… has Renee Jennings been bullying you?”

Nathan Lynch froze. He opened his mouth slightly, but in the end, he just lowered his gaze and shook his head.

Naomi Kenway had a strong feeling he was hiding something painful, but if he didn’t want to talk about it, she wouldn’t force him.

“Nathan, you have to learn to protect yourself.”

Hearing Naomi Kenway’s earnest tone, Nathan Lynch looked up, a bit stunned and confused. “Aunt Kenway, I can’t disobey my stepmom. I really can’t…”

“How about this…”

*

By the time Renee Jennings returned, the cameras were already set up again. She tried to force a smile, but when she found she couldn’t, she gave up and returned to her spot without a word.

Chelsea Raines, who was next to her, asked, “Rachel, we couldn’t find you. Where did you just go?”

Renee Jennings’s eyes darted around. “I, uh, I’m very interested in the scenery here. I just went to a spot with a good view to enjoy it for a bit.”

Chelsea Raines didn’t suspect a thing, simply sighing in admiration. “Wow, Rachel, you’re so artistic. A boor like me would never notice things like that.”

The guests weren’t spaced very far apart, so Naomi Kenway naturally heard Renee Jennings’s excuse. She let out a cold sneer, her voice slow but dripping with sarcasm. “You seem to have a lot of leisure time. Leaving your child alone for so long to go admire the scenery by yourself?”

Renee Jennings looked over, confused, wondering why Naomi Kenway was suddenly targeting her.

She cleared her throat twice. “I just went to look at the scenery. Nina, do you really have to talk to me like that?”

“Do you have any idea how many times Nathan was looking for you while you were ’looking at the scenery’? He was frantic. You took all the water with you in your backpack. Did you even consider how Nathan would feel?”

Renee Jennings was left speechless, able only to curse Naomi Kenway internally for being a busybody who had to stick her nose in everything.

She forced a stiff smile and said grudgingly, “You’re right, I was thoughtless. I overlooked that.”

After saying this, Renee Jennings whipped her head away and closed her eyes, her chest heaving with anger.

Seeing Renee Jennings practically seething, Naomi Kenway slowly turned her gaze away, her mood improving slightly.

When it was time for lunch, the guests took out the lunch boxes they had prepared in advance.

The production team had instructed them to prepare these lunch boxes before this episode’s filming. Due to the special circumstances of being stopped in the middle of a mountain path, the guests were allowed to eat the lunches they had brought.

When Renee Jennings heard the announcement over the loudspeaker, her expression suddenly turned smug. She pulled two lunch boxes from her backpack, one large and one small. They were exquisitely designed and printed with cute cartoon characters.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep