Chapter 39

As dusk painted the sky in shades of orange, Daniel Miller and the trainees swiftly set up the barbecue grill in the courtyard. Soon, wisps of smoke curled upward, carrying the mouthwatering aroma of roasting meat.

Lucy White had marinated the meat earlier and prepared a special seasoning blend—her secret recipe. Standing to the side, she guided the trainees as they took turns grilling.

The moment the meat hit the sizzling grill, its rich fragrance burst forth.

"Oh my God! This smells incredible!" Daniel couldn't resist sneaking a bite, his eyes lighting up. "This seasoning is amazing!"

Ryan Clark, flipping the meat with pride, grinned. "See, Daniel? My skills are top-notch."

"Dream on!" Daniel rolled his eyes. "It's all Lucy's seasoning doing the work."

The trainees burst into laughter, but Ryan only puffed his chest out. "Exactly! That just proves how amazing our Lucy is!"

Mid-sentence, he quickly snatched another piece and popped it into his mouth. His eyes widened. "Holy—this is unbelievably good!"

"Hey! No stealing!" Jason Wright lunged forward, wrapping an arm around Ryan's neck in mock outrage.

Lucas Young and Noah Adams immediately joined the playful scuffle, turning the courtyard into a lively battleground. Benjamin Harris and Nathan King, carrying plates of freshly grilled meat, dragged Lucy and Ethan Smith into the chaotic food fight.

Laughter echoed through the air, and even the livestream audience couldn't help but feel the infectious joy.

On the other side, Lily Green bit her lip as she watched the lively scene. She tugged at Michael Johnson's sleeve. "Michael, should we—"

"No." His reply was cold, but his gaze involuntarily trailed after Lucy.

Their trainees ate their simple meals in silence, casting envious glances toward the other group. Lily's team, in particular, had been slipping in popularity rankings—something none of them dared to voice.

At eight in the evening, a knock at the gate interrupted the courtyard's cheerful noise.

The Wu couple stood at the entrance, their child in their arms. The moment they spotted Lucy, they bowed deeply. "Miss White, Mr. Smith—thank you so much!"

The director immediately signaled the cameras to focus on the scene. This was prime content for the show.

The little boy's eyes sparkled as he reached out for Lucy. Her heart softened, and she took him into her arms before pulling out a yellow talisman folded into a triangle from her bag.

"This is a protection charm. Keep it with him."

Mrs. Wu accepted it with both hands, handling it as if it were precious. After what had happened earlier that day, she believed in its power without question.

Once the family left, Daniel sidled up to Lucy, curiosity brimming. "Lucy, you can actually make talismans?"

"I know a little," she replied modestly.

"Do they really work?" he asked, half-skeptical.

Lucy explained, "They enhance the wearer's luck and can ward off a single major disaster."

"That’s incredible!" Daniel's eyes widened, and he opened his mouth to ask for one—only for Robert Lee to subtly pull him back.

Noticing this, Lucy turned to Robert. "Mr. Lee, avoid water tomorrow."

Robert blinked, then nodded with a smile. "Got it. I'll remember."

As the night deepened, laughter and chatter filled the courtyard. No one noticed Michael's lingering gaze, fixed on Lucy's slender figure, his expression unreadable.