Chapter 65: Chapter 65: The Little Guests’ Poetry Contest

“I’m giving her a hard time? Shouldn’t she be apologizing? Or are you saying her life isn’t even worth an apology?”

Renee Jennings was left speechless by the retort.

Chelsea Raines squeezed a few words through her teeth. “Naomi Kenway, why do you have to be so nasty…”

Naomi Kenway raised an eyebrow. “What was that? I don’t think I heard you.”

Chelsea Raines took a few deep breaths, then finally gritted her teeth and apologized. “I was being slow-witted and couldn’t think straight. Thank you for saving me. Naomi Kenway, I’ll remember this incredible kindness for the rest of my life! I’ll be indebted to you in my next life!” As she spoke, she made Jared Woods bow with her.

Jared Woods clutched his lower back. “Mommy, my back hurts!”

Chelsea Raines shot him a glare. “What do you mean it hurts!”

Naomi Kenway had to suppress a laugh. She wondered who had taught Chelsea Raines those lines.

[How do Chelsea Raines and her son manage to be so hilarious all the time? Jared Woods is always undermining his mom! You can tell the apology wasn’t sincere. Chelsea Raines was clearly furious; her face was practically green!]

[Whether it was sincere or not, seeing Chelsea Raines look so frustrated is so satisfying on Naomi Kenway’s behalf!]

[Why is this Renee Jennings everywhere? What does someone else’s apology have to do with her? She’s a C-list celebrity, so why is she so nosy? What gives her the right to force her goody-two-shoes ideas on everyone! Actually, calling her a saint is wrong. That woman is selfish to the core—she’s allowed to be selfish, but no one is allowed to take advantage of her!]

[The commenter above totally nailed it! I feel the same way. I’m liking Renee Jennings less and less. It’s true, the more perfect the persona, the easier it is for their image to crumble. After a while, even simple-minded Chelsea Raines is more likable than Renee Jennings!]

[If the commenter above doesn’t like it, they can just scroll away. What gives you the right to criticize Rachel all the time? You’re probably just a bitter person, that’s why you can’t believe someone as gentle and kind as Rachel actually exists in this world!]

…

After the apology concluded, the guide got back on track. “Welcome to the beautiful Lyrish Village! Our first task is to choose your houses. But, as you all know, there’s a catch. Now, you’ll play a game to earn the right to choose your house first!”

Margaret Jennings asked, “Is there a big difference between the houses?”

“It’s similar to the first season,” the guide replied with a smile.

At this, all the guests immediately perked up. They had to win this game, or they’d be stuck in a dilapidated house.

Naomi Kenway straightened up from her lazy slouch. ’I have to get the best house this time,’ she resolved. ’I can’t let my son suffer with me again.’

The guide announced, “Everyone, see this lake in front of me? You’ll need to row across to the other side to complete a dumpling-making task. The first guest to finish will get first pick of the houses!”

“However, before you can row, the junior guests will have to complete a little game. Lyrish Village isn’t just scenic; it also has a rich cultural heritage. The junior guests will need to complete a poetry-recitation challenge to draw for their rowing equipment!”

“The rules for the poetry challenge are simple: The junior guests will stand in a circle. Each person will recite a line of poetry, and they’ll go around in turns. If you can’t come up with one, you’re out. We’ll continue until there’s only one winner!”

Naomi Kenway was surprised that her son had to complete a task just to get their equipment. She crouched down to comfort Ian Shaw. “Don’t be nervous, Annie,” she said softly. “Just do what you normally do.”

Margaret Jennings encouraged her daughter to try her best.

Ruby Preston smiled and asked Simon Sawyer, “Son, are you feeling confident?”

“Average,” Simon Sawyer replied, his expression as calm as ever.

“What do you mean, average?”

“Average means average.”

“Oh, you kid!”

Renee Jennings breathed a sigh of relief when she heard it was a poetry recitation. She often supervised Nathan’s memorization of poetry, and his repertoire of classical poems was exceptionally large.

“Nathan, Mommy believes you can do it!”

“But what if I lose?”

Renee Jennings’s brow furrowed. She had never even considered that possibility. “Lose…” She gripped Nathan Lynch’s shoulders. “Son, you’re so well-studied. You won’t lose.”

Nathan Lynch lowered his head. “I’ll try my best.”

The most distressed of all was Chelsea Raines. She grew even more irritated as she watched Jared Woods, who was off to the side gnawing on a chicken leg. “Weren’t we told no snacks? Where did you get that chicken leg?”

Jared Woods had been trying to hide the drumstick with his chubby hand, but after being called out by Chelsea Raines, it was in plain sight.

A staff member quickly came over and confiscated Jared Woods’s drumstick. Jared resisted, but it was no use. He could only watch as his beloved drumstick was carried further and further away.

He burst into angry tears and started swatting at Chelsea Raines. “It’s all your fault! It’s all your fault! My drumstick! My drumstick!!”

“Look at you, what a mess. You’re going to inherit the family company one day; you can’t be someone who only thinks about eating.” Chelsea Raines took out a handkerchief and wiped Jared Woods’s runny nose.

Jared Woods sobbed and hiccuped, “Don’t want company… want drumstick… drum… hic… stick…”

Chelsea Raines poked him between the eyebrows in frustration. “Pathetic! Absolutely pathetic! I had a tutor teach you so many classical poems. You’d better perform well later.”

“No!” Jared Woods turned his head away. “You lost my drumstick! I’ll never forgive you, you meanie!”

“You… You eat my food and use my things, and you dare call me a meanie? What does a little kid like you know? ’Never forgive me’? I think you’ve gotten too big for your britches!”

“Let me tell you, Jared Woods, if you don’t perform well, we’ll end up in that dilapidated house with nothing to eat! Forget snacks, we might not even have a bed!”

Jared Woods’s eyes widened as he finally understood the gravity of the situation. He sniffled. “It’s okay, Mommy. We still have that blockhead Ian Shaw to be last!”

Hearing Jared Woods blurt out the insult they used for Naomi Kenway and her son in private, Chelsea Raines frantically clapped a hand over his mouth. “How many times have I told you not to think like that?” she whispered harshly. “You need to look up to people who are better than you. What’s so great about fixating on that blockh— I mean, on Ian Shaw? People strive to climb higher, just as water flows to lower ground. You can’t compare yourself to those below you! You’re going to be a CEO one day, managing a company with thousands of employees!”

Jared Woods nodded, only half-understanding.

Chelsea Raines let out a sigh of relief. She always praised Nathan Lynch for being the smartest, but what parent doesn’t hope their own child will be successful? She hoped her son, Jared, would be the smartest and most capable of all!

[Jared Woods’s drumstick! I’m dying! HAHAHA!]

[Who taught him the word ’blockhead’? A little kid like Jared Woods couldn’t have come up with that on his own, right?]

[A poetry recitation contest like this really gives Nathan an advantage. But they still have to draw for their rowing equipment, so that part will come down to luck.]

[What about Annie? He’s the youngest, so a competition that tests accumulated knowledge isn’t fair to him at all, right? The production team should really consider the practical situation.]

[Why don’t you just say it, commenter above? Slow-witted Annie is destined to be last!]

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep