Chapter 28 Mission - "Exes & Emotional Damage"
The director clapped his hands like a man who had zero survival instincts.
“Good morning, everyone! Today’s couple mission is titled…
”
He paused dramatically.
“Exes & Emotional Damage.”
The entire cast froze.
Arielle closed her eyes.
I don’t get paid enough for this.
The Mission Rules (AKA Psychological Warfare)
The director beamed.
“Each participant will be paired randomly. You must complete three tasks:
Cook a memory dish together.
Recreate a past moment.
Answer uncomfortable questions honestly.”
Zayden muttered, “This is not a mission. This is therapy.”
The staff spun a large wheel.
The wheel betrayed everyone.
Pairings:
Arielle & Lucian
Lin Yue & Lu Wei
Rhett & Serena
Darian & Clara
Emrys & Elise
Fiona & Zayden
The village collectively gasped.
Arielle stared at the sky.
If this is karma, I would like to appeal.
ROUND ONE: COOK A MEMORY
Arielle & Lucian — Kitchen of Tension
They stood side by side.
Too close.
Lucian reached for the knife at the same time she did.
Hands brushed.
Electricity.
Camera zoomed.
Lucian spoke first.
“You used to over-salt when nervous.”
Arielle blinked.
“And you used to criticize without understanding context.”
Camera crew: OOOOOOOH.
Lucian sighed.
“I misunderstood that rehearsal.”
Silence.
“I thought you were rehearsing a confession.”
Arielle turned slowly.
“I was practicing a monologue.”
Pause.
“You heard half a sentence and punished me for ten years.”
Knife.
Chop. Onion. Emotional damage.
Lucian swallowed.
“I know.”
The audience watching live?
Screaming.
Lin Yue & Lu Wei — Emotional Olympics
Lin Yue was holding a spatula like a weapon.
Lu Wei was smiling like a retired romantic villain.
“You don’t like me,” he said casually.
Lin Yue didn’t look at him.
“I don’t dislike you.
”
“You’re jealous.”
She snapped the spatula in half.
“I am NOT.”
Lu Wei leaned closer.
“You look at her like you’re afraid of losing something.
”
That hit.
Hard.
Lin Yue froze.
“…I don’t know what I’m losing.”
Lu Wei’s smile faded slightly.
“That’s worse.”
Sons’ Investigation Subplot
Meanwhile.
Rhett, Darian, Zayden, and Emrys had gathered in a corner like detectives.
Zayden had pulled up archived interviews.
Darian found old photos.
Rhett cracked his knuckles.
Emrys whispered dramatically, “We are investigating our parents’ love story.
”
Zayden pointed at a blurry university photo.
“That’s Lu Wei.”
Rhett zoomed in.
“Dad looks furious in this one.”
Darian narrowed his eyes.
“…He’s not furious.”
Emrys leaned closer.
“He’s jealous.”
Collective silence.
Oh.
OH.
Round Two: Recreate a Past Moment
The staff handed Arielle and Lucian an umbrella.
Rain machine activated.
Lucian stared at it.
“…You remember.”
She did.
The night they argued.
The misunderstanding. The moment everything shifted.
Lucian held the umbrella above her again.
Only this time—
He didn’t walk ahead.
He stood beside her.
“I should have asked,” he said quietly.
Arielle looked up at him.
“Yes. You should have.”
Rain poured dramatically.
The director wiped a tear.
“Cinema.”
Meanwhile: Lin Yue Breaks
Lu Wei recreated a library scene.
Placed a book in her hands.
Softly said, “She smiled like this when she liked someone.”
Lin Yue’s chest tightened.
“Stop.”
“You don’t want to admit it.
”
“I don’t know what I feel!”
Her voice cracked.
Silence fell.
Lu Wei looked at her gently now.
“Then figure it out before someone else does.”
ROUND THREE: Uncomfortable Questions
Everyone sat in a circle.
The host grinned.
“Lucian. Do you still love Arielle?”
The sons leaned forward.
The fiancées held their breath.
Lin Yue stared at the floor.
Lu Wei’s jaw tightened.
Lucian didn’t hesitate.
“Yes.”
Gasps.
Zayden whispered, “Well that escalated quickly.”
The host turned.
“Lu Wei. If she asked you to leave the show, would you?”
Lu Wei looked at Arielle.
“…Yes.”
DOUBLE GASP.
Rhett stood up.
“This is ridiculous.”
Emrys: “I need water.”
Clara whispered to Serena, “We are in a live soap opera.”
Arielle’s Breaking Point (Funny But Queen Mode)
The host smiled wickedly.
“Arielle. Who makes your heart race more?”
Arielle stared at the camera.
Then at Lucian.
Then at Lu Wei.
Then at her four sons.
Then at Lin Yue who looked like she might cry.
She inhaled.
“Honestly?”
Everyone leaned in.
“My blood pressure makes my heart race. This show is stress.”
The entire set burst into laughter.
Lucian actually smiled.
Lu Wei chuckled.
Lin Yue laughed through tears.
The sons relaxed slightly.
Crisis delayed.
Not solved.
Late Night: Private Conversations
Lucian & Arielle
He approached her quietly.
“I won’t pressure you.”
Pause.
“But I won’t pretend I don’t want another chance.
”
She studied him.
“You’ll have to earn it.
”
Lucian nodded.
“…I intend to.”
Lin Yue Alone
She sat outside under the lights.
Whispered softly,
“I don’t know when it changed.
”
And for the first time—
She wasn’t angry.
She was scared.
Author’s Note ????
THIS CHAPTER?
??
Reality show producers deserve jail time.
We got: ? Public confession ? Jealousy Olympics ? Sons investigating family history ? Rain scene redemption attempt ? Lin Yue emotional spiral ? Arielle choosing chaos instead of men
COMMENT: Who is in the most trouble next chapter?
VOTE: Who should make the next big move?
Lucian
Lu Wei
Lin Yue
One of the sons exposing secrets
FOLLOW ME because next chapter:
Someone overhears something they shouldn’t.
One son confronts Lucian. Lu Wei drops a memory bomb.
Lin Yue might finally admit the truth. And Arielle?
She might stop joking.
We are entering the emotional danger zone ????