Chapter 48 The Chicken Is Plucked To Death
Finished
As the viewers watched in stunned silence, Gabrielle stomped down hard–twice–then quickly bent to inspect the scorpion. Once certain it was dead, she tossed it into her backpack without hesitation. She then plucked the medicinal herb she had spotted earlier, turned, and began climbing the cliffside, using the protruding rocks as footholds.
After only a few steps, she reached the top, swiftly coiling up the rope and stuffing it into her bag.
On her way back, a few small snakes slithered out from the underbrush–but the moment they spotted her, they abruptly turned and vanished into the foliage.
“How timid.” Gabrielle muttered, glancing at the snakes.
One of them peeked out from the underbrush, locking eyes with her for a brief second before vanishing back into the foliage.
Gabrielle turned and began her journey back. Overhead, the sky had grown heavy with dark, ominous clouds, casting a gloomy shroud across the forest.
She had no map carefully retracing her steps along the same path. By dusk, just as night began to fall, she spotted a figure in
the distance.
Nadia was pacing restlessly. “No, I can’t wait any longer. Should we go look for her?”
Gabrielle had been gone for hours with no word, and Nadia’s anxiety was building.
Jennifer turned to Brendan and asked softly, “What do you think?”
Brendan hesitated, then said in a low voice, “Let’s wait a little longer. Give it ten more minutes. If she’s still not back, we’ll go.”
Frustrated. Nadia strode forward and grabbed a chicken, roughly yanking at its feathers one by one. Her hands moved with visible irritation. As she turned her head, she suddenly noticed a figure standing behind her.
“Ah! she gasped, stumbling back a few steps with the chicken still in her grasp.
Gabrielle stood there, lips twitching in amusement. The sight of Nadia clutching the chicken was oddly entertaining. Pointing at it, she quipped. “Did you pluck it to death?”
“Huh?” Nadia blinked and looked down–sure enough, the chicken was limp in her hands.
Flustered, she tossed it aside and snapped, “So you finally decided to come back? We thought something happened to you.”
“Oh Ms. Bowman, were you worried about me?” Gabrielle teased, eyes gleaming.
Nadia turned her head with a huff, putting on a proud front. “Who said I was worried about you?”
“Ha! Guess what I brought back?” Gabrielle grinned, holding up a bundle of herbs like a trophy.
She began taking out the medicinal plants she had collected along the way–ingredients for soup.
“A few ganoderma, some pseudoginseng, fresh edible mushrooms… and even a couple of wild ginseng roots,” she announced with a satisfied smile.
Jennifer and Brendan hurried over, their eyes widening as she poured out the contents.
“You actually found them?” Brendan’s voice cracked with disbelief.
Gabrielle’s bag seemed like a magical treasure chest–it had everything.
“The forest is full of surprises. If you’re lucky, you might stumble on even more,” she said calmly, then pulled out her dagger and began cleaning it with practiced care, making sure to sterilize it properly.
Seeing Gabrielle’s haul, the others eagerly joined in–some began slaughtering chickens, while others brought over a slab of pork to wash and prep
Chapter 48 The Chicken Is Plucked To Death
The dinner was rustic but abundant, and everyone ate heartily.
Finished
“I have to finish this soup,” Brendan declared, slurping down another spoonful. “These wild mushrooms are insanely tender. Way better than the stuff they serve in restaurants.”
The man who once carried an air of aloof coolness now looked completely unguarded, immersed in the simple joy of good food–image be damned.
Nadia rubbed her belly and paced in a circle twice before groaning. I’m doomed. If my manager finds out how much I’ve eaten. I’m dead. He’s definitely going to scold me.
“You’re right, Jennifer agreed with a sigh. “I should walk it off too. I’ve eaten way too much.
The two of them began pacing back and forth, rubbing their stomachs as they walked, turning it into an impromptu workout
session
When Gabrielle stood up, she caught sight of Chloe not far away, eyes shimmering with unshed tears as she stared in her direction. Gabrielle blinked and shot Chloe a confused glance.
Chloe muttered softly, “You knew we were poisoned today, couldn’t eat a thing. Weren’t you worried something might happen to us? Yet here you are, enjoying a meal without even thinking to invite us?”
Gabrielle raised an eyebrow, giving Chloe a pointed look before turning and heading into the cave without saying a word.
Chloe stood there, her lips curving into a restrained, pleased smile. She spoke under her breath. “Hah, acting all high and mighty. You’re still going to fetch me something to eat, aren’t you?”
But before Chloe could finish speaking. Gabrielle emerged from the cave–her hands empty.
Chloe’s expression shifted in an instant, a mix of surprise and disbelief. Gabrielle looked at her coolly and then calmly suggested. “Nadia, Jennifer, let’s go take a bath.”
“Sure!” both of them replied in unison.
The girls gathered their clothes and walked away, leaving Brendan standing guard at the cave entrance, his stance firm as though warding off intruders.
He caught sight of Chloe lurking nearby and, with a trace of annoyance in his voice, said, “Ms. Seavers, this is Team B’s territory. You’d better stop hovering around.”
Chloe, irked, turned sharply on her heel and left without a word.
When the girls returned, Brendan took his turn to freshen up. Upon his return, he started a fire inside the cave, though none of them seemed to be able to fall asleep.
“We’re going back tomorrow, huh?” Nadia murmured, her voice tinged with reluctance. “We were supposed to stay here for half a month, but now we have to leave early.”
Her words hung in the air, her disappointment palpable.
Unlike previous variety show experiences where she’d leave the moment filming ended, this time felt different. Despite only spending two days with Gabrielle, Nadia realized she had grown unexpectedly attached to her, reluctant to let go of the connection they’d formed.
“Yeah, I think it’s too short too,” Jennifer said, her voice carrying a note of shared sentiment.
Brendan remained silent, his gaze lingering on Gabrielle, thoughtful yet unspoken.
The evening stretched on, and before they realized it, it was already nine. The group retreated into their tent, settling in for the night, chatting casually at first. Soon, Nadia’s breathing deepened, signaling she had fallen asleep, and Gabrielle’s eyes closed as well.
But suddenly, a sharp whistle broke the stillness of the night, making Jennifer’s body tense.
She turned toward the entrance of the cave, the sound still echoing in the air. After a moment of hesitation, she quickly got
2)
Chapter 48 The Chicken Is Plucked To Death
Finished
Gabrielle stayed quiet, her eyes thoughtful as she observed Jennifer’s retreating figure. Nadia, unable to stay still, quickly rose
100
“Gabby, what do you think? Why would she go out on her own like this, acting so mysterious? Nadia asked, her curiosity evident.
Gabrielle sat up, her hair cascading elegantly over her shoulders. She stretched her wrist slightly and answered, “Isn’t she and Ryan from the same company? They came together.”
“Right, that’s true.” Nadia nodded thoughtfully. “Was Ryan the one looking for her earlier?”
Gabrielle didn’t know much about Jennifer, but she knew Jennifer and Ryan were a team. They came together, but when Patrick assigned the groups, they got split up.
I’m not sure, Gabrielle replied with a soft chuckle.
Her gaze drifted thoughtfully toward the entrance as she watched Jennifer hurry back. When Jennifer returned, she found Nadia and Gabrielle awake, sitting quietly.
“Weren’t you guys asleep?” Jennifer asked nervously, her fingers anxiously clutching the edge of her clothes.
She seemed on edge, her entire demeanor betraying unease. The smile she forced onto her face did little to mask the guilt lurking behind it.
