Sylvaniah lowered her hand, letting the smartphone rest against her lap as the line went completely dead. The lingering echo of the producer's overly enthusiastic voice seemed to hover in the quiet dressing room.
She stared down at the dark glass of the screen, watching her blurred reflection blink back at her. The title Back to the Countryside was not entirely unfamiliar, even with her fragmented memories of this vibrant entertainment industry.
It was widely considered the highest-rated reality television program in the country, infamous for swinging public opinion to extreme ends. Celebrities either managed to redeem their ruined public image through honest physical labor or found themselves exposed to endless nationwide mockery.
This opportunity could be my only salvation or my absolute ruin, she thought, leaning back into the leather makeup chair. She squeezed her eyelids shut for a moment, letting the quiet hum of the room settle her swirling thoughts.
A single misstep on a live broadcast would permanently solidify her status as the nation's most hated villainess. With a light swipe of her thumb, she unlocked the screen and typed the program's official title into the search engine.
The program's main landing page loaded instantly, displaying bold white typography framed by a vibrant rural aesthetic. Three strict rules were highlighted directly at the center of the screen in clear formatting.
Rule number one explicitly stated that every participating celebrity was required to bring one immediate family member along.
Rule number two emphasized that these family pairs would share living quarters continuously for the full duration of filming.
The final condition was even more strict, plainly banning any last-minute substitutions once the broadcast officially commenced.
Sylvaniah felt a light tension form between her eyebrows as she read the conditions a second time. She tapped her slender fingers against the aluminum casing of her phone in quiet consideration.
A family member, she pondered, thoughtfully tapping her index finger against her lower lip. Her mind began sifting through the sparse personal history she had inherited.
Her thoughts raced through the maze of inherited memories, searching for anyone who fit the broadcast criteria. The condition sounded simple enough on paper, yet her current social circumstances made it exceedingly complicated.
She searched deeper into the original owner's mind, uncovering the long history of the Dreraye family lineage. They had once belonged to the highest tier of prominent nobility, holding vast estates across the southern regions.
Though their political influence had gradually faded over the decades, their high social standing and immense personal wealth remained intact.
Yet despite their elevated position, severe personal tragedy had relentlessly picked away at their household over the years. Unfortunate circumstances had taken her parents early, leaving behind a remarkably small family circle.
The once expansive Dreraye bloodline had eventually shrunk down to just two living individuals. There was Sylvaniah herself, and there was her beloved grandfather. A comforting memory suddenly surfaced in her mind, bringing a gentle warmth to her chest.
She envisioned an elderly gentleman with neatly combed silver hair sitting beneath the sprawling branches of a large camphor tree. The old man was smiling kindly at a younger version of Sylvaniah, who was clinging affectionately to his soft linen sleeve.
Grandpa, she whispered inwardly, feeling an unexpected tightness form deep within her chest. A small, genuine smile touched her lips as the memory played out behind her eyes.
Unlike the calculating figures in the television industry, the old patriarch had never cared about network ratings or media gossip.
Whenever the original Sylvaniah returned home weeping over cruel online comments, he would quietly prepare her favorite soup and remind her that home was always a safe sanctuary. He was the single person in this unfamiliar world who truly cared about her emotional well-being.
However, reality quickly dispersed the comforting memory before it could bloom any further into hope. Sylvaniah shook her head gently, letting out a quiet sigh into the quiet dressing room space.
Her grandfather was currently eighty-two years old and required steady resting schedules to manage his fragile joints.
Asking an elderly man of his age to toil in muddy vegetable gardens under the relentless summer heat was impossible. His delicate health simply could not withstand the physical demands of agricultural labor.
Grandpa is completely out of the question, she thought, crossing his name off her list of choices. She could never bring herself to put an elderly man through such physical exhaustion for a television contract.
Quietness settled back over the brightly lit vanity table, broken only by the steady hum of the overhead lights. She tilted her chin upward, watching tiny specks of dust float through the bright beams of illumination.
Then, another sudden realization struck her mind like a quiet drop of water falling into a calm pond. She was not entirely alone in this world, because she technically possessed a legally bound partner.
Stephen, his name echoed quietly through her thoughts. She paused, letting the realization sink in as she considered the possibility.
The thought of her hidden husband caused her eyebrow to twitch with complicated emotion. She opened her device's contact list, scrolling past dozens of talent agents, vanity stylists, and high-profile journalists.
Near the very top of the contact directory, a single straightforward label caught her attention. It simply read: Husband.
She remained completely still for nearly a full minute, her eyes fixed on those seven letters. The original owner of this body had almost never initiated contact with this man throughout their entire two-year union.
According to her inherited memories, Stephen spent almost the entire year overseas on business. Sometimes he disappeared into foreign cities for months, sending only brief messages to let her know he was safe. Whatever work he did, it kept him constantly away from home.
Their marriage resembled a cold legal agreement drawn up by corporate attorneys rather than a romantic partnership. There was no shared warmth between them, no domestic comfort, and certainly no mutual affection.
Curiosity prompted her to open their text message archive, eager to examine their past interactions. The entire message history spanning twenty-four months comprised fewer than twenty brief exchanges.
Every single conversation was shockingly concise and completely devoid of personal feeling. The dialogue read more like automated corporate notifications than messages exchanged between a married couple.
[Stephen: Business trip. Returning next month.]
[Sylvaniah: Okay.]
[Stephen: Happy Birthday.]
[Sylvaniah: Thank you.]
[Stephen: The housekeeper will deliver groceries tomorrow morning.]
[Sylvaniah: Understood.]
She scrolled all the way back to the beginning, finding not a single cheerful emoji or affection. There were no warm morning greetings, no peaceful evening check-ins, and not even a single photo shared between them. It was an astonishingly distant dynamic that seemed almost comical in its formality.
What an extraordinarily distant relationship, she thought, raising an eyebrow at the screen. She shook her head in sheer disbelief at how two married people could act like absolute strangers.
The idea of asking such an aloof individual to appear on a national television program felt ridiculous.
Yet, as her thumb hovered over the phone icon, she considered the little possibility for a second. Perhaps she could at least make a brief attempt to ask him before abandoning the idea completely.
Before her finger could touch the glass surface, another sudden memory surfaced to halt her movement.
Stephen was currently attending a major international trade summit held in western Europe. The significant time difference alone meant he was likely in the middle of crucial boardroom negotiations.
Furthermore, the mental picture of a high-powered corporate executive holding a shovel in a muddy garden was absurd.
He would undoubtedly dismiss her sudden request as an uncharacteristic prank and end the call instantly. She could already imagine his cold, quiet dismissal echoing through the phone speaker.
I don't think so, she thought, drawing her thumb back from the glowing screen. She closed the text exchange with a soft tap, deciding not to bother him.
Just as she prepared to exit the application, a neighboring contact entry lower on the list caught her eye. The label belonged to Evanesse Spencer, written out in clean font.
Sylvaniah blinked slowly, letting her mind retrieve the relevant background information regarding the person.
Evanesse was Stephen's younger sister, making her Sylvaniah's sister-in-law by law. Unlike her quiet and distant brother, Evanesse was known for her bright energy and unexpected visits to the main residence.
She frequently dropped by with colorful boxes of gourmet pastries, checking on Sylvaniah with vibrant enthusiasm. The original owner, despite her naturally difficult personality, had always found it hard to act dismissive toward the younger woman.
Evanesse was one of the few individuals in high society who never judged her based on internet rumors. Sylvaniah stared at the contact entry, holding her breath as she pondered her final remaining option. She gently tapped the edge of the glass, debating whether to reach out.
Would it be awkward if I reached out to her for this show? she wondered, resting her chin on her hand. After all, they had not exchanged a single message in several months.
They had not spoken directly in over three months due to Sylvaniah's chaotic filming schedule. Still, given her total lack of alternative candidates, this was her absolute final option. She pressed the contact button, holding the phone against her ear as the line began to connect.
The dial tone rang once, then twice, before the audio snapped open with abrupt clarity. A sudden wave of static gave way to a bright voice.
"Sister-in-law!" a cheerful, high-pitched voice exploded through the phone speaker. "I was literally just sitting here thinking about giving you a call!"
The girl declared her excitement without waiting for a formal greeting. Sylvaniah blinked in surprise, her hand twitching slightly at the sudden energy.
Sylvaniah instinctively pulled the device an inch away from her head to shield her ear from the sudden noise. The girl's natural energy was remarkably intense, completely filling the quiet dressing room space. She took a quiet breath to steady herself before responding.
"Hello, Evanesse," Sylvaniah spoke softly, easing her shoulders back into the leather chair. She smiled despite herself, charmed by the girl's enthusiasm.
"Are you busy right now? Have you eaten lunch yet? Are you getting enough proper sleep?" Evanesse asked in a single rapid breath. "Wait, your voice sounds a bit quiet. Did that director make you work through the night again?"
The sudden volley of energetic questions left Sylvaniah momentarily silent, unable to find an immediate gap to reply. She let out a soft breath before finally finding her voice. Her lips curled upward into a relaxed expression.
"I am doing alright," Sylvaniah reassured her, speaking in a calm cadence. "Thank you for asking about me."
"That is good to hear," Evanesse replied, her bustling tone shifting into something much softer. She paused for a brief second to hear her sister-in-law out.
There was a brief moment of silence on the line before the younger girl spoke again with authentic concern.
"You almost never call me first, so did something happen on set?" Sylvaniah felt a wave of gratitude as she recognized the complete lack of malice in the girl's inquiry.
"I actually need to ask you for a favor," Sylvaniah admitted, tightening her hold on the sleek phone. She took a deep breath before laying out the situation.
"Just tell me what it is!" Evanesse promised instantly, without a single second of hesitation. "I am all ears!"
Sylvaniah could not suppress a quiet chuckle at how rapidly the agreement had come.
"I have recently been invited to join a popular farming reality show." She paused briefly, letting the news sink in.
"Oh, congratulations!" Evanesse cheered, her genuine enthusiasm radiating clearly through the receiver. She sounded genuinely excited for her sister-in-law.
"The production team requires every participating guest to bring one family member along," Sylvaniah explained. She rested her arm on the vanity counter, waiting for the girl's response.
"Ah, I understand," Evanesse murmured, her voice taking on a thoughtful cadence. "That makes sense."
"My grandfather is simply too old to handle that kind of grueling physical effort," Sylvaniah continued smoothly. "I could never ask him to endure that."
"Of course, Grandpa Dreraye needs to protect his health," Evanesse agreed without hesitation. "He shouldn't be doing heavy farm work."
"I thought about asking Stephen, but he is currently stuck overseas on business," Sylvaniah added. She kept her tone light and casual.
A short pause fell over the line before Evanesse broke into a light, knowing laugh.
"My big brother probably does not even know how to use a basic garden hoe." Sylvaniah rested a hand against her lips to muffle a sudden giggle.
"I was thinking the exact same thing," Sylvaniah confessed, her tone playful. "It would be a complete disaster."
"So..." Evanesse's voice suddenly rose in pitch, practically humming with growing realization. "Are you asking me to go with you?"
The excitement in her voice was completely unhidden and infectious.
Sylvaniah gave a firm nod before remembering that her sister-in-law could not observe the physical gesture.
"Yes, I am asking you." She hesitated for a moment before adding a polite out for the younger girl. "I know you must have your own busy schedule, so if you cannot make it work--"
She did not want to put her under pressure.
"I will definitely do it!" Evanesse cut in loudly, interrupting her sister-in-law mid-sentence. "There is no need to finish that sentence!"
Sylvaniah blinked in mild astonishment, bringing the speaker closer. "You really will?"
"Without a single second thought!" Evanesse promised, her tone radiating pure delight. "I've been worried about you for months, Sister-in-law. Every time I asked Brother about you, he'd only say you were busy filming. Now I finally have an excuse to spend time with you."
She sounded as though she had just won a prized reward.
"Besides, I have built up weeks of unused vacation days at the office," Evanesse added with a giggle. "This gives me the ultimate reason to finally take a break."
Sylvaniah listened with a light heart, feeling the lingering stress in her neck slowly fade away.
"You truly do not mind the physical labor involved in farming?" Sylvaniah asked, making sure to double-check. She wanted to ensure Evanesse knew what she was agreeing to.
"Mind it?" Evanesse laughed playfully at the question. "Sister-in-law, I have spent two whole years trying to convince you to take a real vacation with me. Now you are inviting me on one, even if we have to pull weeds, so why would I ever refuse?"
For the second time since arriving in this strange new body, a comforting wave of warmth spread through Sylvaniah's chest. The quiet isolation of her former life seemed to dissolve just a little under the girl's bright presence. She leaned back against her chair, letting out a long, contented breath.
Perhaps this family is not as distant as I assumed, she reflected softly to herself. The thought brought an unexpected feeling of relief to her heart.
"I am really glad to hear that," Sylvaniah admitted, her voice genuinely soft and calm. "Thank you, Evanesse."
"So am I!" Evanesse chirped, her cheerful mood spilling over the digital connection.
Sylvaniah could easily envision the girl bouncing on her toes with a wide grin. The enthusiasm was unmistakable and wonderfully refreshing.
"I am going to start packing my bags right this instant," Evanesse announced as faint rustling noises began echoing over the speaker.
She sounded as though she was already running toward her closet.
"I will be at your house tomorrow morning, Sister-in-law!" Evanesse declared happily before ending the call with a quick click.
Sylvaniah lowered her phone, a genuine smile remaining on her face.