novelraw Chapter 154: Punishment
Chapter 154: Punishment
"Shut up. Don’t make me slap you in front of the audience!"
Holly Summers instinctively glanced at Riley Perry’s hand, then quickly backed away.
Miles Ford had been chatting with Best Actor King, but he couldn’t help but glance over when he heard the commotion.
Having worked with her on set, he knew Riley Perry had some fighting skills. But that scene where Riley flew up to grab a card from a bamboo stalk? He still thought it was fake.
After all, they always used wire harnesses for fight scenes on set. Riley had never actually flown for real.
So he came to a conclusion: the show was deliberately trying to promote Riley Perry!
’Otherwise, how could she be so arrogant?!’
Because he’d had a similar experience (being shut down by Riley), he actually felt a tiny bit of pity for Holly Summers.
After Holly Summers left, Riley Perry looked at Victoria Koenig. "I’m not lending you this for free. Remember to pay me back."
Victoria Koenig was speechless. ’...Well, so much for being moved!’
"Okay, Ria. I’ll definitely pay you back."
Once everyone had returned, Director Warren finally made an appearance.
"Come on, come on. Everyone who didn’t complete the task, step up to receive your punishment."
Riley Perry was surprised. "Who else didn’t complete the task?"
’When a naive kid like that runs into someone as scheming as Holly, they’re bound to get the short end of the stick.’
’Besides Holly Summers, someone else failed the task too?’
Sure enough, Silas King stood up.
"Mr. King, how much are you short?"
Silas King smiled sheepishly. "I’m short by a lot. Don’t worry about it. I’m actually curious to see what Director Warren’s punishment is."
He was a middle-aged man, and dressed so unattractively on top of that, so no one recognized him wherever he went. When it came to performing a talent, he couldn’t just sing and dance like the younger people. So, he ended up playing chess with some old men in the park and earned just over two hundred yuan in half a day.
When the old men and women all went home after five o’clock, he found a restaurant to work at. But temporary, hourly jobs didn’t pay that well. The owner only agreed to give him two hundred yuan because he saw the large crew of staff following him with cameras.
So, he was short by too much and hadn’t planned on borrowing from anyone.
Riley Perry stood up and stuffed all of her extra money—more than three hundred yuan—into Silas King’s hands. "This is all I have. Mr. King, take it for now."
Ethan Shaw and Roxanne Fulton also rummaged through their pockets. They didn’t have much, but they managed to scrounge up a few yuan here and there. Chloe Sterling took out her extra money as well. And believe it or not, they ended up with more than enough!
Silas King looked at the result and couldn’t help but laugh.
"No way, you guys actually managed to collect enough for me. I really thought I was going to be punished today!"
Roxanne Fulton said, "We didn’t really help all that much."
Chloe Sterling grinned smugly. "We had just enough left over. It really came in handy."
Riley Perry added, "You have to pay it back, you know."
Her comment made Silas King laugh again. "Alright, alright. I’ll pay you back double, how’s that? I never realized you were such a money-grubber."
Riley Perry was satisfied. "I wouldn’t say I’m a money-grubber. It’s just that I worked hard for this money, so of course I cherish it."
"And which of your cents *didn’t* you work hard to earn?"
Riley Perry said matter-of-factly, "Every single one of them!"
The others around them burst out laughing. "And you say you’re not a money-grubber?!" they teased in unison.
Director Warren interjected, "Alright, next up is our punishment segment. Come on, bring out the props."
Holly Summers stepped forward, a fake smile on her face. For a brief moment, as she lowered her gaze, she hid the overwhelming hatred in her eyes.
’All these people look down on me and isolate me. Especially Riley Perry, who’s just sucking up to Best Actor King because he’s a big shot. And Chloe Sterling and Roxanne Fulton, they’re all cut from the same cloth!’
’Three people were supposed to be punished, but now it’s just me. Not a single person was willing to help me. Why are they treating me like this?’
[Today’s task feels a little unfair.]
[We’re all adults, why are you looking for fairness? How childish is that?]
[You think it’s unfair to Holly Summers, but was it fair to Victoria Koenig? It was clearly Victoria who earned the money, but she was forced to give half of it to that clingy pest, Holly. Have you considered Victoria’s feelings?]
[Yeah, I was watching Holly Summers’s stream today. Victoria Koenig had the worst luck imaginable running into her. Holly’s good for nothing but dragging others down.]
[Those guys got along well last episode, so what’s wrong with them helping each other out this time? Don’t tell me Holly Summers’s fans actually expect Riley Perry to help Holly, too? In your dreams!]
Just then, staff members brought out several boxes. Each was covered with a thick black cloth, making it impossible to see what was inside.
"Holly Summers, all you have to do now is choose a box, reach your hand inside, and identify the object within."
Holly Summers said in terror, "There aren’t things like scorpions or snakes in there, are there? I don’t dare."
Director Warren replied, "That depends on your luck."
Holly Summers asked, "What if I guess wrong?"
"Then you pick another box and keep guessing."
Holly Summers was speechless. ’...I just want to die.’ This time she wasn’t lying. She was genuinely afraid of those slimy little creatures, especially snakes!
Riley Perry’s beautiful eyes swept over the boxes, a knowing smile playing on her lips. ’These boxes are full of great stuff. Director Warren really outdid himself.’
Lost and helpless, Holly Summers looked around, searching for someone who might take the punishment for her. Her eyes landed on Riley Perry’s expression, and her mind started racing.
’Did that bitch Riley bribe Director Warren?’
’Are all five of these boxes filled with things I’m afraid of?’
’Damn you, Riley Perry! How could you do this?’
"Holly Summers, you can make your choice. Hurry up, we’re ending the live stream at ten."
Holly Summers gritted her teeth and walked up to the five glass boxes. She paced back and forth, but unfortunately, she couldn’t see a thing.
Seeing that everyone was about to lose their patience if she delayed any longer, she finally chose the second glass box.
There was a bowl-sized opening on top of the box. A staff member gestured for Holly Summers to reach her hand in and feel around. Her entire body tensed up, her face scrunched up in a grimace, and she hesitated to put her arm in.
[AHHHH~ I don’t like Holly Summers, but I’m genuinely nervous for her. I have no idea what’s in that box. I’m terrified of slimy things.]
[If she picked the box with the snake, I can’t even imagine the scene.]
[Don’t talk about it, don’t talk about it! I’m terrified of snakes.]
[Thinking about it now, the other guests are so cruel. Why couldn’t they just help Holly Summers?]
[Help her with what? Their lives? Is Holly Summers the only one who’s afraid of everything? You think no one else is scared, huh?]
[She has no ability herself, yet she blames others for her mistakes. Holly Summers’s fans have really opened my eyes.]
"AH~" Holly Summers finally managed to reach her hand inside, only to let out a shriek. She yanked her hand back so fast that she fell to the ground. "I touched it! It’s a snake! It’s a snake! Waaaah, that was so scary! It was really, really scary!"
Director Warren asked, "Are you sure it was a snake?"
Holly Summers sobbed, "I’m sure! I’m positive! Please just end it, I’m scared to death!"
"Incorrect answer. Holly Summers, you’ll have to choose another box."