Chapter 322 - 321

Sometimes, when a person is left speechless, they just have to laugh. Joanna Kennedy did just that, raising an eyebrow with a smile. "What was that?"

Susan Lee thought she hadn’t heard clearly and repeated herself. This time, Joanna didn’t smile. She stared quietly at her. "You want Julius?"

It was so direct, hitting the nail right on the head and exposing Susan Lee’s petty intentions.

Cheryl Chaney and Sophia were a little surprised, instinctively glancing at Susan Lee.

Their strange looks made a flicker of panic cross Susan Lee’s face, but she quickly composed herself and raised her voice to cover it up. "Hahaha, Jojo, what are you talking about? I don’t understand a thing you’re saying."

"I was just making a casual comment. If you’re not willing, Jojo, then forget it."

"Oh."

Susan Lee: "..."

She had just shot herself in the foot. Susan Lee was regretting it immensely. ’If I’d known, I never would have brought it up. Besides, it’s a one-in-four chance; it won’t necessarily be Joanna Kennedy anyway.’

"Ah... hahaha, maybe Julius will draw one of the two guys," Cheryl Chaney said, trying to ease the tension. "Let’s not overthink it."

"Yeah, and just because he’s quiet doesn’t mean he has a bad personality," Sophia said softly.

She actually thought Julius and that guy Dunley were both pretty nice. Henry Hughes didn’t put on any airs either. If anything, it was Miles Sutton who seemed too preoccupied with his image.

The smile on Susan Lee’s face nearly slipped. She had just finished saying Julius had a bad personality, and now Sophia came out with a comment like that. ’Is she doing this on purpose, just to spite me?’

Susan Lee’s mind was racing with schemes, but Sophia was completely oblivious. After saying her piece, she went back to being quiet.

When a sensitive overthinker meets someone with superhuman obliviousness, all they can do is sulk in silence.

Because of Joanna Kennedy’s lukewarm "oh," Susan Lee didn’t cause any more trouble for the next ten-plus minutes.

After getting out of the car and collecting their room keys, they headed upstairs, led by two staff members from the production team.

The elevator doors closed before any of the male cast members arrived. They had left at the same time in two separate cars. Joanna Kennedy asked nonchalantly, "Aren’t we staying in the same hotel as the other guests?"

"All of the show’s cast members are staying on the fifth floor," a staff member explained. "We’re on the third floor. If you need anything, Ms. Joanna, feel free to message us."

’The cast is on one floor, the staff is on the third... so the fourth floor in between must be for high-ranking personnel like directors and producers.’

The arrangement was quite reasonable, but Joanna Kennedy didn’t really care. Hearing this, she just nodded to show she understood. "Thank you."

"You’re welcome." The elevator doors opened. The staff member continued, "The first floor has a buffet restaurant, and the second floor has a gym. You’re free to use them. We won’t disturb you any further. Please get some rest."

A buffet restaurant, a gym... ’The production team booked the entire hotel. So extravagant. Just what you’d expect from a Sinclair Group investment.’

Joanna Kennedy narrowed her eyes, a cold glint flashing in their depths.

Swiping her key card and opening the door, Joanna Kennedy’s gaze immediately fell on a duffel bag sitting on the TV stand. A note was taped to it— "Welcome to Escape. Please collect your equipment, player."

"..."

’They’ve got a real sense of humor.’

She unzipped the duffel bag. There wasn’t much inside: a small flashlight, sunglasses, a magnifying glass, rubber gloves, a black pen, and a notebook. They were probably items they would need during the show.

’They’re making it all seem so official. It’s clear the director genuinely wants to make this show good. Unfortunately, with the Sinclair Group sticking their oar in, there’s bound to be plenty of trouble.’

Putting the flashlight back in the bag, Joanna Kennedy started to change the bedsheets. Seeing the neatly folded sheets and duvet cover in her suitcase, her anger flared up again.

’She’d never met a better actor than Simon Lockwood!’

Calming down, Joanna Kennedy began to ponder a more important question—under what identity had Simon Lockwood joined this show?

Why was someone calling him Julius? Did the Sinclair Family know?

Joanna Kennedy had so many questions, but she couldn’t come up with a single reasonable explanation. And the one person who could clear the fog for her was currently "playing dead," not having sent her a single message since they met.

In the gym, Dunley, having changed into workout clothes, was about to sling a friendly arm around the shoulder of the man next to him, but a cold, indifferent glare made him shrink his hand back.

"Jules, do you have to be so cold?" Dunley said, frustrated. "They say Celestrians are as passionate as fire. Looks like that’s all a lie."

Faced with his indignation, Simon Lockwood’s expression didn’t change. His tone was faint. "Mm."

Dunley: "..."

Seeing Henry Hughes and Miles Sutton walking toward them, Dunley’s eyes lit up. He muttered, "If you won’t hang out with me, I’ll find someone else," then went up to greet them like he’d just found his long-lost family.

"Hey, bro!" Dunley was incredibly chummy. "You guys here to work out too?"

"Yeah," Henry Hughes replied lazily. "What a coincidence."

He glanced at the quiet-faced man and raised an eyebrow. "Little brother Julius is here too."

The cast introduction cards listed their ages, and Julius was the youngest of the group. Henry Hughes had been a bit surprised when he first saw it, since this non-celebrity named Julius seemed so composed.

’You can’t judge a book by its cover’ really applies everywhere. Henry Hughes asked, "Wanna join us?"

He had the most star power here, so hearing him say that, Miles Sutton and Dunley naturally had no objections. That just left "Julius."

"Julius" showed no obvious emotion on his face. "Okay."

He actually agreed. Henry Hughes was a little surprised, but he didn’t overthink it. He kind of liked this non-celebrity; he had a certain intensity to him. Interesting.

Meanwhile, Miles Sutton, standing to the side, looked disdainful. If you looked closely, you could see jealousy simmering beneath the disdain.

He had schemed and pulled strings to get on this show, all to gain fans and boost his popularity. But now some non-celebrity had shown up who was better than him in both looks and charisma. How could he possibly accept that?

’He thought that idiot Henry Hughes would continue to pick on Julius, but instead he actually invited him to join them. So utterly stupid!’

Miles Sutton was seething inside, but on the surface, he had to maintain his gentle and peaceful persona. He took the initiative to ask, "So, little brother Julius, what do you do in real life?"

Hearing that form of address for the second time, "Julius" frowned slightly. His voice was flat. "Just call me Julius."

"Alright, Julius."

’Nitpicking over a simple form of address. Still just a wet-behind-the-ears kid, after all.’ Miles Sutton’s smile didn’t falter. His gaze paused on the man’s ear, and his smile widened. "That’s a pretty unique earpiece."

The silver hearing aid glinted with a cold light. It looked similar to an earpiece; if you didn’t look closely, you might really mistake it for one.

Miles Sutton’s smile was broad, but there was little real mirth in his eyes. He clearly knew what it was.

To know and still ask like that showed immense malice. The gym was filled with cameras that could clearly capture a person’s expression. Miles Sutton slowly waited for the man’s face to darken.

But several seconds passed, and forget his face darkening, the man didn’t even spare him a single glance.