The Villain Mom Awakens — Going Viral by Parenting on a Reality Show-Chapter 219: Sponsorship

Chelsea Raines figured that with Renee Jennings in trouble, she should step in to help. It would be like Renee owed her a favor. "Let me take Nathan," she said. "His mom and I are so close, and besides, Jared and Nathan get along great. They’re good buddies."

The director didn’t agree right away. He asked for Nathan Lynch’s opinion. "Nathan, what do you think about going with Aunt Chelsea?"

Nathan Lynch shook his head. "I don’t want to go with her."

Hearing this, Chelsea Raines turned her head away. ’How ungrateful,’ she thought.

"Then who do you want to go with?" the director asked.

Nathan Lynch’s gaze swept over all the guests before he answered without hesitation, "I want to go with Aunt Kenway. Can I go with Aunt Kenway?"

The director then asked Naomi Kenway, "Ms. Kenway, what are your thoughts?"

Naomi Kenway didn’t answer immediately. Instead, she asked for Ian Shaw’s opinion. "Ian, what do you think? How about we let Nathan come home with us?"

She knew Ian was a very sensitive child, so she never wanted to hurt his feelings in matters like this. All she wanted was for Ian to be happy all the time.

Ian Shaw’s eyes fell on Nathan Lynch. After a brief hesitation, he nodded.

And so, Nathan Lynch would go home with Naomi Kenway to stay for the night.

The guide’s distinctive voice rang out. He was holding a megaphone, so his voice carried a long way. "That’s a wrap for this segment of the show! Everyone, please go back and get a good rest. We’ll meet at the village entrance tomorrow morning at eight o’clock sharp to head back to Veridia. Thank you all for your cooperation!" 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

Naomi Kenway led the two children along the winding mountain path back to House No. 1, with Six accompanying them this time.

Six was very familiar with the local paths. She led Naomi and the others down a shorter route, which surprisingly cut more than ten minutes off their travel time.

They got back home at seven in the evening. Since it was summer, the sky was not yet dark.

"Fairy Sister, you all rest for a bit. I’m going to check on my mom."

Naomi replied, "Okay."

Naomi started by packing their luggage inside the house. Ian acted as her little helper, running back and forth and helping her a great deal. Nathan didn’t stay idle either. He seemed a bit clumsy as he packed, but his expression was extremely serious.

They hadn’t brought much with them to begin with, so with the help of the two boys, all the luggage was packed in about five minutes.

Ian pressed his soft, pale cheek against her and asked in a sweet, childish voice, "Can Ian get a reward?"

Naomi gave him a kiss on the cheek.

Nathan Lynch watched from the side, a hint of envy on his face. He then lowered his head, lost in thought, his expression turning a little lonely.

The next second, he felt a gentle touch on his head. He looked up to see Naomi Kenway smiling, her eyes curving into crescents. "Nathan, you worked hard, too. You and Ian were both a huge help to me."

The sudden praise left Nathan Lynch feeling overwhelmed and flattered. His face flushed bright red. "I-It’s nothing..."

Naomi glanced at the time. Six still hadn’t returned from the inner room. She decided to go to the kitchen first to wash the vegetables and wait for Six so they could cook together.

Of course, Naomi could have cooked by herself, but Six’s family used a traditional stove with a large wok that required constantly adding firewood to cook, something Naomi had little experience with.

Before heading out, Naomi told Ian and Nathan to play together.

The two boys sat on a bench facing each other, not quite sure how to start a conversation.

Just as Naomi was about to step over the threshold, she saw Six running toward her, covering her face. Six was running so fast that she crashed right into Naomi, who quickly steadied her. "Six, what’s wrong? Why are you in such a hurry?"

When Six looked up, Naomi saw that both her eyes were red and swollen. It looked like she had been crying for a long time.

Naomi’s voice was tinged with alarm as she shut the door with one hand. "What happened? Did someone bully you?"

Six came inside, tears still streaming from her eyes, which were swollen like walnuts. She choked out, "My dad... he’s back..."

"Your dad? Isn’t that a good thing? Did you not miss him?"

"No!" Six shook her head forcefully, salty tears rolling down her cheeks. "Dad said money is hard to make out there. He... he..."

At this point, her sobs grew more violent. She threw herself into Naomi’s arms as if she’d found a temporary safe harbor. "He said he’s not letting me go to school anymore! He said the money needs to be saved for my little brother’s education and for him to get a wife. He said there’s no point in a girl getting an education, that I should just do more work at home, and that if I’m diligent, someone will be willing to pay a bride price to marry me..."

"What does he think you are?" Naomi could barely contain her anger.

Knowing how persistent and hardworking Six was, Naomi felt heartbroken hearing this. The thought of Six’s excellent grades made it feel like even more of a waste.

Naomi felt a damp patch spreading on her shoulder.

"Fairy Sister, does this mean I can’t go to Veridia anymore? Am I going to be stuck in these mountains my whole life? Will I never be able to touch a textbook again...?"

*

Felix Jacobs was there at dinner. He was gaunt and scruffy, his face unshaven and his appearance unkempt. He was shirtless, revealing a withered torso as thin as a rack of ribs. Only after a reminder from Joelle Lynch did he reluctantly put on a white undershirt, his face a mask of impatience.

The meal on the table had been prepared by Naomi and Six. Felix Jacobs was the first to pick up his chopsticks, his cruel, narrow eyes staring at Naomi and the two boys. "Can’t even feed yourselves, and you’re letting others freeload."

Joelle Lynch looked like she had been crying, too; her eyes were a little red. She said, "They’re celebrities here to film the show. The associate director of the production team already paid. It’s not freeloading."

"Did I say you could speak?!"

The table jolted violently. The serving bowls on it wobbled, spilling a few drops of sauce.

A palpable hostility radiated from Felix Jacobs. "I get pushed around and mistreated by people out there, and now I have to come home and take crap from a bitch like you?!" He followed this with a few more sentences, which sounded like curses in a local dialect.

Joelle Lynch immediately lowered her head and started shoveling rice into her mouth.

Naomi frowned, her appetite completely gone. "I’d like to discuss something with you. I want to sponsor Six so she can continue her education. Her grades are so good, if she keeps studying, she’s sure to get into a good university. I was wondering what your thoughts are on this."

Joelle Lynch had absolutely no say in the matter, but a look of gratitude filled her eyes, so intense it seemed she was on the verge of tears.

Hearing this, Felix Jacobs snorted. "You can give me the money, but forget about the schooling. Six doesn’t need to go to school. This isn’t about a lack of money. The family needs a laborer, and Joelle can’t manage everything on her own. She went to school until she was ten and learned a few characters. I’d say I’ve done right by her!"

Six’s head was buried so low in her bowl it almost touched the rice, her shoulders trembling slightly.

The light in Joelle Lynch’s eyes flickered and died, leaving them dull once more.

Naomi found the rest of the meal incredibly difficult to get through.

After they finished eating and returned to their room, Six handed Naomi a written letter. She said it contained a unique specimen from their mountains, meant as a souvenir for Naomi.