Chapter 66: Chapter 65: Hainan
After thinking it over, Elliana Lyle still refused Lana’s suggestion, perseverance leads to success, how could she give up halfway?
To avoid falling asleep, Elliana had several more cups of bitter coffee and turned on the TV, watching until noon, when Zane Bennett sent someone to deliver a bank card to her, which finally lifted her spirits a bit.
After getting the card, she decided to transfer 500,000 into it first, and repeat this process in a few days, which should be fine.
...
That night.
Relying on coffee to stay awake, Elliana only made it to 8 PM before collapsing into bed, utterly exhausted into a deep sleep.
The next day, when Elliana woke up, it was already 7 AM; the only thing left on the bed was the faint scent of lotus from the man, yet another morning of waking without seeing Norman Bennett.
Today, she had an endorsement shoot to go to, and after breakfast, Victor King came to pick her up.
...
By the time the endorsement ad for Shengyan was finished, it was already 3 PM. Walking out of the Shengyan Group’s entrance, she felt completely at ease with the noise of the cars outside and the natural cool breeze.
During the shoot, her face almost froze from smiling too much, and as soon as she got in the car and before she could relax with her headphones, Victor King said, "Elliana, in a few days, there is a reality show invitation that the company accepted for you."
"Elliana, take a look at this." Victor King handed the tablet he was holding to Elliana.
She received an invitation for one of the biggest reality shows in the country, "Riding the Waves Island Survival," which was set in Hainan. Looking at the guest list, there were quite a few famous male and female celebrities, including her favorite female singer, Fenny Grey!
"Okay, I got it." Elliana said as she continued to read.
She had watched the show before and was quite looking forward to it. Although it was named a survival show, it was actually more of a fun program where a group played games and experienced catching seafood by the seaside.
The car was traveling down the avenue, with the driver taking her straight back to the hotel, and coincidentally, Norman Bennett was waiting for her at the hotel entrance.
"Norman Bennett~" After a busy day, seeing the person she loved most always brought joy, and Elliana ran towards him with a bright smile.
Norman Bennett fondly patted the little girl’s head and naturally pulled her into his arms, asking, "Are you tired today?"
"Not tired at all. By the way! Norman Bennett, I’m heading to Hainan; I’ve been invited to a reality show." When Elliana mentioned this, her eyes sparkled, as she had always longed for the sea but hadn’t been there many times.
Norman Bennett looked down at her and nodded slightly, "I know, I’ll arrange more people to accompany you on that day. I’ll finish my work here and then join you; I’ll arrive a few days later."
"Huh?" Elliana was initially surprised, but then she quickly became elated and hugged the man’s waist, pouting, "Norman Bennett, you’re the best!"
...
October 17, North City Yonghe Airport.
A group of bodyguards in suits and sunglasses surrounded the two as they entered the airport, with Norman Bennett holding his little beloved’s hand, even slowing his steps.
It was deep autumn, with significant temperature differences between morning and night. Elliana wore a short beige wool sweater with a high-waisted pencil-knit skirt paired with mid-calf socks, making her appear a few centimeters taller.
But the man holding her hand was too tall, with an overwhelming aura, making her outfit’s height-enhancing effect negligible.
"Norman Bennett, I’m leaving." For some reason, she felt a sense of reluctance, pouting slightly and lowering her tone.
"Alright, be good. I’ll be there a few days later to accompany you." The man habitually tapped her nose with his index finger, though his gaze lingered on her soft red lips.
Were it not for the crowd, Elliana might not have escaped an embrace.
On the plane, Elliana appeared somewhat anxious. Without Norman Bennett and Lana, her fear of the weightlessness during takeoff intensified, tightly clutching her clothes with her delicate, jade-like hands.
During the takeoff, she couldn’t help but feel panicked, her stomach feeling like the tides were rising.
"I’d like a cup of ice water, thank you."
...
Four hours later.
Hainan Phoenix International Airport.
"Ugh~ cough, cough..."
At this time, in the restroom, three people watched Elliana vomit, including her manager, Victor King, and two assistants, Peony and Mumu.
Mumu was a young girl in her early twenties, while Peony was around Victor King’s age, a more senior professional but with greater warmth.
Seeing Elliana almost finished throwing up, Mumu quickly handed over a bottle of mineral water, "Elliana, here, rinse your mouth."
"Thanks." Elliana grabbed the bottle of mineral water, and after rinsing her mouth, she looked completely drained, weakly saying, "I swear, if I get on a plane again, I’ll be a mouse!"
The other three exchanged glances, learning for the first time that Elliana got airsick.
...
After boarding the car sent by the show, Elliana leaned on Mumu’s shoulder and fell asleep while they were heading to the hotel arranged by the crew, with the filming starting officially the day after tomorrow.
Unbeknownst to her, three hours passed as Elliana dozed in a fog until a phone call woke her up.
It was Joy Lyle on the line.
"Hello~ Sis~"
Joy’s gentle voice came from the phone, "Elliana, have you arrived in Hainan?"
"Yes, I called you this morning, but you didn’t..." Elliana answered groggily into the phone, speaking purely on instinct.
Soon after, she didn’t hear Joy’s voice but heard someone else shouting, "Joy, have you rested enough yet? We’re about to start."
"Alright, just a moment. Elliana, I have something to do, I’ll contact you later."
Beep!
The call ended.
After another hour passed, Elliana finally woke up fully, with her head facing the car window, enjoying the evening breeze following the setting sun.
The wind carried a salty tang and a mineral feel reminiscent of rocks.
The car eventually stopped at a seaside villa. The crew originally planned to stay at a hotel further away, but Norman Bennett had arranged for a luxurious seaside villa for her, enough to accommodate the entire crew.
Elliana’s room was in the center of the second floor, the one with the large balcony and swimming pool.
"Miss Lyle, we’re glad you could come. I’m the director, Heng Sheng." The director, Heng Sheng, was a man under 30, not particularly tall but noticeably shorter compared to others in the crew.
"Hello, pleased to meet you," Elliana politely shook the director’s hand, her expression faltering as she saw someone unexpected.
Among the crowd stood an unexpected figure who wasn’t on the original guest list, Eleanor Llyod.
After the director introduced everyone, Elliana learned from Victor that Ning Xiaxia had been injured and Eleanor Llyod was the last-minute replacement.
"Elliana, nice to meet you. I’m Eleanor Llyod, but you can call me Eleanor." Eleanor stepped forward to greet her with an innocent and gentle smile, her eyes adorned with blue contact lenses, making Elliana grit her teeth in anger.
Her beloved Lotus had blue eyes, and although she didn’t own Lotus in this life yet, Eleanor’s blue eyes felt like a stabbing pain.
Eleanor’s hand hung in the air, with Elliana not responding.
Elliana’s wide eyes slightly narrowed, drawing closer, her eye sockets a barely noticeable light red, and tension could be felt in her facial muscles.
"Elliana, this is Eleanor Llyod, an artist from Roland," Heng Sheng, knowing of their past grudges, hastily interjected with a smile to smooth things over.
With Heng Sheng’s words, Elliana retracted the hatred in her eyes, the anger dissipating as she plastered a smile that didn’t reach her eyes, "Yes, hello."