Chapter 15

Damian Cross, the youngest Best Actor winner in the entertainment industry, was a versatile superstar excelling in both singing and dancing.

Though this variety show was decent, someone of Damian's caliber shouldn't have been here at all.

What was even more surprising was why this reclusive actor, who never participated in reality shows, had suddenly joined.

Caleb Monroe, who had worked with Damian on a film before, was somewhat familiar with him. He stepped forward with a smile. "I never expected the mystery guest to be you, Damian."

The others nodded in agreement—this was an absolute dream come true.

Damian wasn’t just an acclaimed actor; he was the pinnacle of A-list celebrities. With him on board, the ratings were guaranteed to skyrocket.

Damian gave a faint smile. "I’ve had no work lately, so I thought I’d relax here."

Everyone knew he’d been in a car accident the previous week, so the excuse made perfect sense.

The other guests quickly stood to greet him, introducing themselves one by one.

Aria Bennett was slightly taken aback. In her past life, the original guest hadn’t dropped out—why had he been replaced?

Still, she had a good impression of Damian. He was definitely better than the difficult guest they were supposed to have.

She rose as well and gave a brief introduction.

When Serena Blake saw Damian, her eyes instantly lit up. Even before her transmigration, he had been her idol and ultimate crush.

The man who had once been unreachable was now standing right in front of her. She had to seize this opportunity!

She was the last to speak, her voice dripping with sweetness. "Damian, I’m your biggest fan! I’ve watched all your movies—I adore them!"

It was the truth. She used to fantasize about being in a relationship with him.

Now that she was stunningly beautiful and effortlessly charming, maybe she could actually win him over.

Not only would it fulfill her dream, but she could also leverage his connections to skyrocket to fame.

She played the role of an adoring fan so well that no one suspected a thing.

Damian remained distant. "Thank you."

He had a sharp eye for people. Beneath Serena’s enthusiastic facade, he could see the calculation in her gaze. Someone like her—he’d keep his distance.

The live comments exploded:

[OMG, it’s Damian!!]

[This is a once-in-a-lifetime moment!]

[His visuals are insane!]

[The production team is legendary!]

The director grinned ear to ear as the viewer count surged. He had no idea why Damian had volunteered to join, but this was an absolute windfall!

[Is Serena really a fan?]

[Feels a bit forced.]

[She’s the least famous here—this act is weird.]

[First she made Aria switch seats, now this? Total green tea vibes.]

Serena’s fans immediately fired back:

[Serena is an angel!]

[She’s the sweetest and most genuine!]

But everyone’s attention was on Damian, and the argument was quickly ignored.

Once all eight guests had arrived, the director announced the rules:

"This episode’s theme is rural living—you’ll be self-sufficient."

"We’ll provide ingredients for lunch, but you have to cook it yourselves."

"In the afternoon, you’ll work in the village to earn money for dinner."

"Whether you eat well or go hungry depends entirely on you."

Jonah Pierce groaned, "I knew there’d be a catch!"

Caleb chuckled. "Of course we’d have to work."

The director grinned. "That’s what makes it fun!" Then he and the crew promptly left.

As the eldest, Caleb took charge. "Who can cook? I can make a few basic dishes, but nothing special."

The show prided itself on authenticity, so the theme had been kept secret. Everyone had expected something talent-related—no one was prepared for a farm experience.

Now, they’d have to improvise.