Episode 12
879 Words
"So, you're interested in Ryan Thompson?"
The live chat in Ryan Thompson's streaming room was erupting into chaos.
[I knew those trending topics weren't baseless. Sophia Miller really wants to be the other woman!]
[Sophia Miller accused Jacob Collins of harassment, but what about her? Groping Nicholas Anderson during the three-legged race—disgusting.]
[They were only tied at the ankles with half a meter between them. How exactly was she groping him?]
[Didn't you see her steadying Nicholas Anderson?]
[All I saw was her punching him!]
[Still physical contact! She did it deliberately. The whole hundred-meter race was just an excuse for her to touch him. Bet she loved every second.]
[Exactly! The other teams were halfway through the course while they were still at the starting line. Obviously Sophia Miller was stalling to spend more time with Nicholas Anderson. As women ourselves, we can all see through that ploy.]
[Wasn't it Nicholas Anderson who gave the wrong instructions about which foot to move, nearly making Sophia Miller fall? Why are we being so harsh on the woman here?]
The viewers determined to vilify Sophia Miller weren't interested in such details, continuing to flood the chat with accusations about her harassing Nicholas Anderson.
Then, without warning, the livestream took an unexpected turn.
Sophia Miller suddenly crouched down, hands on the ground, rear end raised, assuming a sprinter's position.
Nicholas Anderson barely had time to furrow his brow before Sophia took off like a racehorse, instantly dragging him along. He tilted sideways and was practically airborne.
His eyes rolled back in his head.
[Holy s**t!!!]
[Sophia Miller, you crazy woman, what are you doing?!]
Sophia's limbs pumped like pistons, dust rising in her wake. Nicholas Anderson had been reduced to a human appendage being dragged along the ground, his head repeatedly bouncing off the dirt as his eyes rolled back.
Who was that waving at him?
Ah, it was his grandmother.
"Nicholas—Anderson—"
The staff members were screaming desperately.
"Why is everyone just standing there? Someone save him!"
"I'm too scared! Sophia is terrifying!"
"Nicholas Anderson is calling for help!"
"Nicholas Anderson is coughing up blood!!"
"Nicholas Anderson passed out!!!"
Sophia Miller leaped across the finish line, securing first place.
Sunlight bathed her as she flashed a victorious smile.
"With no man in my heart, my sword strikes true!"
Behind her, staff members swarmed around Nicholas Anderson as he was carried away on a stretcher.
[......]
[Who dares say Sophia Miller was harassing Nicholas Anderson now?]
[After seeing that, you think she likes Nicholas Anderson? If she likes him, I'll eat my shoe!]
[Be careful what you promise.]
[I seriously doubt the rumors I've been hearing. The show's paused—time to reassess.]
#NoManInMyHeart #SwordStrikesTrue#
This hashtag successfully pushed the original #SophiaMillerHomeWrecker# trend down the rankings.
Skeptical viewers went back to investigate and discovered that, apart from the initial photo of Sophia and Nicholas together found on her phone, there was no other evidence of a relationship between them.
All the rumors about Sophia being obsessed with Nicholas or being a homewrecker were merely extrapolations pushed by shipping fans.
One person told ten, ten told a hundred, and eventually, fiction became accepted as fact.
[BurningChestHair]: Looking at it now, did I misjudge Sophia Miller again?
[PuppyLunchbox]: Suddenly feeling sorry for Sophia Miller. She was baselessly slandered, stabbed in the back, and driven to madness. No wonder she snapped.
[NotGirlyBoy]: I'm starting to adore her.
[SpongeBaby]: So Sophia Miller's reputation is cleared? Great, because I've been secretly shipping Sophia Miller and Ethan Parker!
[DoYouLikeCarrots]: Is no one concerned about injured Nicholas Anderson? Don't you think Sophia Miller went too far?
[WhiteRabbitHeatResistant]: Emma and Ethan Parker are injured too!
No one expected that a simple three-legged race would result in three injured contestants.
Nicholas Anderson suffered the worst, obviously.
Ethan Parker and Emma Frost were unfortunate casualties as well. Their lack of coordination caused them to fall midway through the race, both twisting their ankles.
"Ethan Parker is okay, but Emma's injury is more serious. She's in quite a bit of pain," Sophia overheard a staff member saying.
She pondered this thoughtfully.
Although the groupings had changed, the falling incident still happened—only the people involved were different. Instead of falling and accidentally kissing as in the original storyline, Emma and Ethan both ended up injured.
Interesting.
Due to the injuries, the production team allowed half a day for recovery.
Recording resumed at six in the evening.
"Please, each contestant wear one of these watches," the assistant director instructed, presenting six watches.
"These are heart rate monitors that will track your pulse in real-time. When your heart rate exceeds 120 beats per minute, an alarm will sound."
"This is our show's most distinctive feature," Director Bob explained proudly. "Wearing these watches means your feelings cannot be hidden. When someone makes your heart race, the alarm will expose your true emotions."
[This is a fascinating twist!]
[There's no faking it now—if you like someone, it's right there for everyone to see!]
[I wonder whose alarm will go off first...]
"Now, everyone please check your current heart rate!"
After Bob's instruction, Sophia Miller activated her watch. For a healthy adult, the normal resting heart rate is typically...
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