The next step was to turn in all their electronic devices, snacks, and toys. Aside from a small incident where Jared Woods fell to the floor in tears, everything went rather smoothly.
The tour guide raised the megaphone again. "We have prepared five houses, each with a unique style, for you to choose from. Please follow me, and we'll go take a look."
The guests toured the five houses. House number one was a cozy, fence-enclosed courtyard filled with flowers and vegetables. House number two was a goat house with its own pen for the goats and a separate kitchen. House number three was the village chief's two-story modern-style house, which was fully furnished. House number four was a courtyard in the architectural style of the Republican era; it was said to be quite old but had been well-maintained. And house number five was a dilapidated mud hut. Its doorway was only loosely covered by a curtain, and it had clearly been uninhabited for a long time. Its only redeeming quality was a jujube tree in the yard, laden with red dates.
After the tour, it was time to draw lots for the houses.
All the cards were placed in a bamboo basket for the children to draw from.
Jared Woods was the most enthusiastic, running up first. He opened his card and cheered, "Yay! It's number two! We get to see the goats!" He happily tugged on Chelsea Raines's sleeve. "Mom, look! It's number two!"
Chelsea Raines clicked her tongue in disappointment. "I was hoping to stay in the modern house. I guess we're just not that lucky."
Margaret Jennings and her daughter drew house number one, the fenced courtyard. Ruby Preston and her son drew house number four, the Republican-era courtyard.
Now, only two cards remained unrevealed, corresponding to the best and worst houses.
Renee Jennings opened her card, ecstatic. "We got number three! Nathan, sweetie, you're amazing!"
Nathan Lynch was thrilled as well.
Naomi Kenway opened her card at the same time and saw the two words written in large, black script: Number Five.
Ian Shaw was terrified. He flinched reflexively, remembering that every time he failed to please his mother, the consequences were harsh rebukes and insults.
Naomi Kenway put the card away and raised her eyebrows in a pleasant surprise. "How did you know Mommy loves red dates? This is our dream house!"
Ian Shaw couldn't believe his mother's reaction. "But... the house is really run-down..."
"But our house has a date tree! Isn't that cool? None of the other houses have fresh red dates to eat."
Hearing this, the dejected look on Ian Shaw's face vanished completely.
After congratulating Renee Jennings, Chelsea Raines couldn't resist mocking Naomi Kenway. "Getting that excited over a dilapidated house... so uncultured."
But as soon as she said it, her son, Jared Woods, tugged on her sleeve. "Mom, does our house have a date tree?"
Chelsea Raines's anger flared. "You're just as hopeless! All you ever think about is food!"
[Renee is a known luck magnet, as expected. Naomi and her son have the worst luck.]
[Can anyone actually live in house number five? Are we sure this isn't a prank by the production crew?]
[Naomi is notoriously lazy. Isn't making her live in house number five basically a death sentence? I suggest she just quit the show now.]
[Naomi's attitude toward her son is actually pretty good. She's been guiding Ian so positively. Maybe she's a bit lazy and selfish, but at least she's genuinely good to her kid.]
[I wouldn't be so sure about that. Ever heard of putting on a persona? Don't forget what the tabloids exposed before.]
Naomi Kenway picked up her suitcase, ready to head to house number five with her son.
"Naomi, wait!"
Naomi Kenway turned to see Renee Jennings hurrying toward them, holding Nathan Lynch's hand.
"Naomi, house number five is too dilapidated. It's not livable. The house I drew is quite spacious. Why don't you and Ian come and stay with me in house number three?"
The cameraman's voice came from the side. "Ms. Jennings, that's against the rules."
Renee Jennings feigned surprise. "We really can't stay together?"
"I'm sorry, but no."
"Well... how about letting Ian come with me, then? Ian is too young. He definitely can't stay somewhere as crude as house number five." This was Renee Jennings's true intention. She had already established her persona as a "gentle, considerate mother." By proactively offering to care for the seemingly neglected Ian Shaw, she could solidify that image even further.
"Nathan and Ian get along so well, and Nathan really wants to play with Ian, right?" Renee Jennings prompted.
Nathan Lynch had no memory of Ian Shaw whatsoever, but he had to play along with his mother's words, forcing a well-behaved expression. "Come and play with me."
Just then, the other guests walked by and chimed in, urging Naomi to let Ian go with Renee. The conditions in house number five were too harsh, they said; the child shouldn't have to endure it.
Naomi didn't want to be separated from her son for even a second, but she still bent down to ask him, "Do you want to go with Auntie Renee?"
'In the novel's plot, Renee Jennings is the darling of this reality show,' Naomi thought. 'Everyone loves her—all the guests and their children—except for me, the villainess. My own son will probably choose to go with her. After all, you could hardly say we're close...'
Renee Jennings coaxed him, "Ian, Auntie's house has lots of toys and delicious snacks. Don't you want to come and see?"
But to everyone's surprise, Ian Shaw refused without a hint of hesitation, his small voice filled with conviction. "I just want to stay with my mom."
Renee Jennings's brow furrowed. "House number five is very run-down, and there are big bugs there."
"I just want to stay with my mom," Ian Shaw repeated.
Naomi let out a silent sigh of relief, feeling both surprised and overjoyed.
"Naomi, I think you should just let Ian come with me. You can't always resort to threats to control your child." Renee Jennings gave Naomi a look of disapproval.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Naomi narrowed her eyes at her.
"Do I really need to spell it out? If you hadn't threatened him, why would Ian possibly be willing to stay with you in house number five?"
Naomi found this ridiculous. "Are you confused about something? What on earth makes you think my son would choose a stranger over me?"
Renee Jennings now looked like a saint standing on her moral high ground. "It's because you mistreat him. You're awful to him."
"Did you see it with your own eyes?"
Naomi's casual question left Renee Jennings speechless. Of course, she hadn't seen anything. It was just that the photos circulating online all seemed to confirm Naomi's negligence and irresponsibility—but those were just online rumors.
Chelsea Raines couldn't help but jump in. "Naomi, all you do is run your mouth! You're trampling all over Renee's kindness. You'll regret this when your son is the one suffering. You're so lazy you need an assistant to feed you. You can't even take care of yourself, so how are you going to take care of a child? I'm telling you, when you come crying to us for help later, we're not going to lift a finger."
"That's none of your concern. I will take very good care of my son."
Chelsea Raines scoffed. "That house is covered in dust and doesn't have a single decent piece of furniture. I'd love to see just how you plan on taking care of Ian."
As she spoke, she put an arm around Renee Jennings's shoulder. "Renee, let's just ignore her. People like her are incapable of appreciating kindness."
Ruby Preston lingered for a moment before sighing and walking away.
[Renee is so beautiful and kind!]
[What a shame. It would've been better if Ian had gone with Renee. I'm so scared the rumors about Naomi abusing her child are true. Even with cameras around, when it's just the two of them, you can't guarantee Ian's safety.]
[Naomi has some nerve. How dare she claim she can take good care of Ian? She's a hopeless case with basically zero life skills. She probably can't even sweep a floor, right?]
[Naomi's famously lazy; she can't survive without her assistants and maids. And now she's spouting all this nonsense about taking good care of Ian? She must be joking, right?]
[Maybe Naomi already bribed her way through. I heard she bought her spot on this show. Otherwise, how could someone with such a terrible public image get on a major national program like this?]
[She's talking so big. I'm just sitting here waiting for her to eat her words!]