Chapter 274


    “Xan.”


    Orion gripped her slender waist firmly, his jaw scraping against her curly hair. Xanthea mustered all her


    strength to push him away. When she caught a glimpse of his face, obsessed and intense, her heart


    skipped a beat.,


    Why did he look a bit off today?


    Or was he really that smitten with her?


    A blush crept over her porcin skin, making her look even more delicate. Before she could speak, he


    offered her a bottle of water.


    “Thirsty?”


    Còntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    “Yeah!”


    She was parched, and his thoughtfulness was just overwhelming!


    Xanthea nodded vigorously, about to take the bottle from him when the cameraman, busy shooting


    Martin by the shore, seemed to hear something and slowly turned the camera towards her.


    The air filled with awkwardness. She hesitated, her hand frozen mid–air, not sure whether to take the


    bottle or retract it.


    Taking it would mean breaking the show’s rules and facing online bacsh. Retracting it would seem


    like she was guilty of something–still a reason for online bacsh.


    As she scrambled for a way out, Orion suddenly twisted off the cap and poured the water over her


    hands.


    “Xanthea, what are you waiting for? Weren’t you going to wash your hands?”


    “Ah, right, right.”


    Xanthea quickly rubbed her hands together. The rules only stated they couldn’t ask the instructor for


    drinking water, not that they couldn’t get help washing their hands!


    Her actions, perfectly timed, made it look like she was just washing her hands–a wless solution. He


    was so clever!


    “Thanks, Instructor!”


    After she finished, her smile was radiant, though a hint of disappointment flickered in her eyes.


    Orion looked up, his gaze sharp and piercing as he looked toward the cameraman, who nearly jumped


    into the water from fright. What was with Mr. Lockwood’s intense look? It was almost as if he was ready


    to pounce.


    “Miss, the reeds are collected!”


    “Xan, got the empty bottle and the lighter!”


    “The sand’s ready too, found it clean by the shore!”


    Soon, everyone had gathered the materials Xanthea needed. They watched curiously as she set to


    work on the water purification device. Xanthea lit the reeds, gathered some charcoal powder, and


    layered it with sand in the bottle, repeating the process several times. She then poured the murky river


    water filled with debris into it. Shortly, water began to drip slowly from the small hole in the bottle,


    collecting on arge lotus leaf. The once impure water was visibly clearer, and after two or three


    filtrations, it looked just like tap water! “It really purified!”


    Nelson watched in awe, his eyes wide with excitement. “Xan, can I have a sip?”


    “Of course.”


    Without hesitation, he scooped up water with the lotus leaf and drank it down. Rachel was skeptical at


    first, but seeing Nelson refreshed as if rejuvenated, she couldn’t resist and scooped some water for


    herself.


    “Wow! The river water isn’t foul at all, there’s even a slight sweetness. Is it because of the lotuses?”


    Xanthea replied, “No, it’s because good quality river water contains sweet–tasting minerals and trace


    elements.”


    ‘Miss, you know so much, no wonder my dad always tells me to learn from you!” Rachel shared some


    water with Isabe. “Isabe, try this, It’s really good!”


    Cool and refreshingly sweet! Water truly is the source of life. I feel like I’ve been