The Bigshot's Superstar Wife - Chapter 147

Chapter 147: Gossip
The morning started with a faint chill in the air as the villagers began to gather near the small wooden houses.

The scent of damp earth lingered after the storm, and smoke curled from chimneys as the villagers prepared their morning meals.

Despite the gloomy weather, the people greeted the arriving celebrities with warm smiles and cheerful voices.

Athena’s group stood quietly as the village elder, a bent old man with silver hair and a face deeply lined with age, introduced each celebrity to their assigned households.

Athena, Lisa, Darren, and Marco were grouped together, assigned to a small yet sturdy wooden house on the outskirts of the village.

Their task for the week was simple, help the family they stayed with by clearing weeds from the overgrown field beside the house and planting seeds to prepare for the upcoming planting season.

The elder explained that this was not only a chance for the celebrities to experience farm life but also to help the village recover from a particularly harsh winter.

The family they stayed with was a quiet but kind couple named Mr. and Mrs. Yao. Mr. Yao was a weathered man in his sixties who barely spoke a word unless necessary.

Mrs. Yao, on the other hand, was lively and talkative, frequently sharing stories about her younger days as she set plates of food on the table.

Despite her warmth, Athena noticed Mrs. Yao’s nervous glances toward the darkened tree line surrounding the village.

The group spent most of the morning pulling stubborn weeds from the rocky soil.

The rain from the night before made the ground slick, and their boots sank deep into the mud with every step.

Darren muttered complaints under his breath as he struggled to uproot a particularly large weed, while Lisa anxiously glanced around the fields as if expecting something to emerge from the shadows.

“I just hope this isn’t another nightmare,” Lisa whispered as she knelt beside Athena, yanking weeds from the ground. “After everything we’ve been through, I was hoping for some peace.”

Athena paused, her hand still gripping a stubborn weed. She didn’t want to admit it, but she had the same concern. The previous night’s eerie cry still echoed in her mind.

As the group continued working, some of the villagers paused to chat.

Most of the conversations were lighthearted, they spoke about the upcoming harvest season, shared gossip about other villagers, and laughed at jokes.

Yet, when one of the younger celebrities mentioned hearing a faint voice crying for help the night before, the mood shifted.

The villagers exchanged uncertain glances before one man, a sturdy farmer named Liu, shook his head firmly.

“You must have heard the wind,” Liu said with forced calmness. “It howls fiercely around these parts when the storms hit.”

Another villager, a woman with a scarf tied tightly around her hair, chimed in. “Yes, no one calls for help here in the middle of the night. It’s too dangerous to wander alone.”

Athena felt an uneasy knot form in her stomach. The villagers were too quick to dismiss it, and their nervous glances betrayed their words. But rather than argue, she remained silent.

Lisa wasn’t as composed. “I know what I heard,” she said, her voice trembling. “It didn’t sound like the wind.”

The woman with the scarf gave a tight smile. “Best not to think too much about it,” she said before walking away. That evening, the rain returned, heavier than before.

Water streamed down the narrow dirt paths between the houses, and the dim lanterns barely illuminated the surrounding darkness.

Athena’s group gathered inside their assigned house, sipping tea around the wooden table.

Mrs. Yao bustled about the kitchen while Mr. Yao silently carved a piece of wood by the fireplace.

“I don’t like this,” Lisa muttered, her fingers tapping nervously on the table. “That woman knew something, I’m sure of it.”

“She’s just being cautious,” Darren replied, though his voice lacked conviction.

Marco rubbed his tired eyes. “We’re overthinking it. We’re just tired after what happened in the forest.”

Athena wasn’t so sure. The way the villagers acted, the uneasy glances, the rushed explanations, reminded her too much of the fear she had seen before disasters struck.

Later that night, after the Yao family had gone to bed, Athena sat near the window and watched the rain lash against the glass.

The air felt colder, sharper, as if something heavy lingered just beyond the trees. A sudden noise broke the silence, a faint knock at the door.

Athena froze, her breath catching in her throat. For a moment, she wondered if she had imagined it. But then the knock came again, soft yet insistent.

“Did you hear that?” Lisa whispered from her bed.

Athena stood slowly and crept toward the door. “Who’s there?” she asked, her voice low.

No answer.

She glanced back at Lisa, Marco, and Darren, who were all watching her anxiously. Athena clenched her fists, then reached for the latch.

The door creaked open, revealing a figure standing in the rain, a young boy, drenched and shivering. His wide eyes were filled with panic.

“Please,” the boy stammered. “Help me… my sister… she’s still out there.”

Athena’s heart pounded in her chest. The boy’s clothes were torn, and his face was streaked with mud.

“Where is she?” Athena demanded.

The boy pointed toward the forest. “We… we got lost. She’s still out there… please…”

“We can’t just go out in this storm,” Darren said, rising from his bed.

Athena ignored him, grabbing her coat and boots. “I’ll go.”

“I’m coming too,” Lisa insisted, pulling on her jacket.

The boy led them through the muddy paths, his small steps uncertain and hurried. The rain blurred their vision, and the cold wind bit through their clothes.

Finally, they reached the edge of the trees. The boy stopped, pointing deeper into the dark woods.

“She’s in there,” he gasped.

Athena hesitated. Something about this felt wrong, too sudden, too convenient. But before she could speak, the boy darted into the forest.

“Wait!” Lisa shouted, but the boy disappeared into the shadows.

“Stay close,” Athena warned as they followed.