Just when everyone was wondering whether Viviana would leave the show or not, the protagonist of their worry came out from the changing room and entered the field. And it would not be a lie to say that Viviana was getting more attention than she ever had.
Everyone's eyes were fixed on her. This was not because of what just happened. But because the Viviana who had just entered the field of crowd, was a Viviana that the public had not seen before.
With all the foundation, concealer, contours, highlight and shadows off her face, they could now see the bare face of the actress. And it was a sight to see.
A Viviana with full makeup was pretty. Charming and Seductive. With glam in her every step. But such beauty drew in envy, hatred and troubles, as much as it brought attention to her.
But the woman before them, who was standing in front of them, was a beauty who would be admired by all. Young and old. Boy or girl.
This was her beauty. Her unpainted face.
…
The recording of the show carried on. Lyra, who was already in a bad mood was thrown into a gloomier state when she saw the makeup less Viviana appeared before her.
"She'd always looked this good without makeup? Why doesn't her company make this her trademark?" She heard Rou Xuan thought out loud.
"Must be because of her roles." Daniel answered.
"The company's blind."
The actress said as she looked at Agent Yan. Then her eyes glided to where Lyra stood. And intentionally or unintentionally, she raised her voice.
"Yup!!! Blind."
Lyra clenched her fist tight. She knew that she was being mocked. Ever since she had been compared with Viviana, this was the first time that someone so openly mocked her like this.
She gave her agent a wronged look, as if complaining to him why he let Viviana appear bareface, the man just gave her a stern look while moving his head from side to side. Warning her not to make trouble anymore.
With Agent Yan knowing Viviana's intention of quitting the industry, he feared of pushing a person who had nothing to lose to the edge. So, he warned Lyra to quit her scheming.
'What if she pulls us down along with herself?'
After the quiz round came multiple games such as musical chair, ring toss, whisper games, etc. For the rest of the day, Lyra did not bother Viviana, which the latter was thankful for.
And maybe because of the talk she had with Agent Yan, Viviana's presence in the rest of the episode became more and more visibly lesser. She did not even say a word when she was asked questions. Just nodded yes or no.
Everyone just assumed that she was in a bad mood after the water pouring event. But later when the episode was aired, the actress would be receiving unnecessary hate from people who believe that she was showing attitudes and having a princess syndrome.
In the meantime, Lyra was trying to make her presence known. Trying her best to 'lead' the team and gain points. She wanted to earn the reputation she had lost in the first round of the game. But it turned out that the little miss was not as capable as she believed.
At least not against the experienced variety Kings and Queens of the Blue Team. Her eagerness led her to make more mistakes and eventually affected the overall performance of the whole Red Team.
The rest of the Red Team, at first, helped her in her pitiful state. But as she began to make more and more mistakes, even if they comfort her and help her outwardly, at the back of their mind, they had some complaints regarding the girl. And also, for Viviana, who was not active at all. It was as if she was a dead log decoration for the Red Team.
Since the two girls of the Red team were similar to not participating at all, it was like a 3 vs 5 challenge against the fully functioning Blue team. At the end of the day, the Blue team had defeated the Red team by 10 points, earning them the right to choose their lodging.
"So. Mr. Daniel. Have you discussed with your teammates on which to choose?"
"We've decided to choose the villa." Daniel addressed the wish of the Blue Team.
It was obvious that the winning team would choose the villa. Whether it was the Blue Team or the Red Team. But the problem was that there were only three tents outside. And there were five people.
The best arrangement would be to make two pairs to share two tents and leave the remaining tents for the last member.
"I can share a tent with brother Bryson." Na Yun, who had spent the whole day running around with the older man, became close to him.
"I don't mind that either." Bryson shares the same thought.
But everyone's eyes were not focused on the two. But elsewhere. Their eyes never left the two odd pairs of the Red Team. The two females of the team.
'How do we ask these two to share a tent?' Tucker thought. 'One's acting as though she's just an ornament of the group. While the other acts as though her whole world has fallen down.'
The director was both worried and excited. He looked around for their agent. But the man was nowhere to be seen. Although he wanted to capture some conflict, he didn't want to indulge too much into the matter and create a pit for the show to fall into.
With how Viviana was acting, it was as if she was just being there just for the sake of being there. When he invited Lyra, he thought he would capture the difference between an unruly girl and a kind and gentle girl.
'How did it turn out to be a white lotus* and an ice queen?'
(*white lotus_ girls who are innocent looking but with an evil heart)
Lyra knew that her performance remained awful throughout the recording. But with the little break she had, she got her shits together and went back to her original intentions.
"Then… Sister Vivi and I can share a tent." Lyra put up her hands as she said that.
But she was thrown off by the weird looks the rest of the guests were giving her. Especially Viviana.
Her eyes were undoubtedly screaming at her.
'Seriously?'
Viviana thought that there was no medicine for shamelessness. She didn't hide her disgust for Lyra when she rolled her eyes and asked the staff on the side.
"We'll be provided sleeping bags, right?"
"…"
The woman who was suddenly asked this question took a few seconds to register that the actress was talking to her.
"Please give me a moment."
Saying that she walked away to use the walkie talkie. And soon she came back with the answer from the director.
"Yes. The team who will be using the tents will be provided with sleeping bags."
Viviana who received her answer turned to Daniel and asked,
"Would your team mind if I use the couch in the living room?" She then turned to Lyra for a second before turning back to the man and continue,
"I don't want to catch an illness overnight."
"Ppfff" Bryson and Rou Xuan could not hold themselves. While Na Yun had a very concerned look which seemed to be asking, 'Is this okay to say?'
Daniel had a gentle smile on his face. But inwardly, he was cracking like the rest of the group.
"You!" Lyra almost forgot to keep her persona. But she quickly recovered.
"Sister Vivi… You…" She called out in a very pitiful voice. "I'm sorry I embarrassed you this morning… I did not mean to… I really didn't know…"
"No." Viviana responded. "As I said in the beginning. I was ready for a bath when I took that seat. You just proved me right. That's it."
Lyra clenched her fist. She sometimes hated that Viviana did not care about her image. It was as if all she had done was for naught. As though she was punching a cloud.
But she continued with her pitiful act. She had already gotten the news of Viviana's desire of discontinuing the contract with the company. But she feared that she would rise up in another company. So why not ruin her image even more before she leaves so that no other company would be willing to take her in.
"Then… Why are you not willing to stay with me? You just…"
"Girl… You've been giving too much importance to yourself. I don't want to stay in the tent, not because of you. But because my period usually comes at this time of a month. And I don't want to stay outside since it's inconvenient for me if it does."
Viviana almost sounded like she fed up Lyra. No. She is fed up with the other girl's antics. It's just that it was the first time Lyra had been ridiculed by her in front of many outsiders like this. Not to mention the cameras.
As a young talent of the industry, Lyra's eyes teared up. But before it could leave the barrier of her lower lashes, she turned her head away from the camera and rushed away.
"I need to use the washroom for a minute."
Tang Tang wanted to follow her friend, but she was not yet done with her work.