A Second Life, A New Power

Benedict, watching intently from his screen, was livid.
"Why do these people always assume the worst about others? Ms. Demi climbed to the mountaintop that day, which proves she's in great shape.
How does that make her attention-seeking?"
"Mr. West Senior, should I turn off the comment section for you?" Sean asked quickly.
Benedict had a weak heart, and Sean didn't want him getting too worked up.
"Turn it off! Turn it off! These comments are distracting me from watching Ms. Demi at work," Benedict huffed, his frustration boiling over.
It was a classic case of being "old but childlike".
At nearly 90 years old, Benedict carried an air of authority that made everyone around him tread lightly. But moments like these revealed a more
playful, almost endearing side to his personality.
It wasn't just Matt who was stunned, every contestant, the four mountain porters, and everyone else present were equally surprised.
"Demi, it's better for female contestants to choose a basket," Matt stepped forward and gently reminded her in a low voice.
He figured she might not have been paying attention earlier—probably distracted, thinking about her schoolwork with the semester starting soon.
"I'd like to try the shoulder yoke," Demi replied with a calm smile.
She wasn't trying to show off, nor was she seeking attention. Her real concern was that if Thomas ranked high, he might choose her as his partner.
She had noticed Thomas sneaking glances at her earlier.
Pairing up with Thomas was the last thing Demi wanted, but she couldn't exactly ask Matt to change the rules, could she?
To play it safe, Demi decided to stick with the shoulder yoke.

The basket wouldn't hold much weight or volume, which could put her at a disadvantage.
Even though George and Chad seemed eager to pick her as a partner, there were no guarantees. What if, in the end, they found it more convenient
or comfortable to team up with another male contestant?
It was better to take control of the situation herself.

Matt fell silent.
He didn't try to persuade her any further.
The other contestants, however, approached her one by one, trying to convince her to choose a basket instead. Demi thanked each of them politely
but stood her ground, she would use the shoulder yoke.
Next came the task of selecting the cargo.
A scale had been set up nearby so contestants could weigh their loads and decide how much they wanted to carry.
Though Demi avoided making direct eye contact with Thomas, she kept an eye on the weight he chose.
Her goal wasn't to win first place, she just needed to rank higher than Thomas.
On average, mountain porters carried about 150 pounds of goods, though the particularly strong ones could manage up to 200 pounds.
George cut that weight nearly in half, choosing to carry 80 pounds.
Not wanting to appear weak, the other male contestants quickly followed suit. Both Thomas and Chad selected 70 pounds, while Nigel, playing it
safe, opted for 60 pounds.
As for the female contestants, they all chose 30 pounds without any prior discussion.
So, Demi chose 75 pounds.
Her decision sent shockwaves through the group, and everyone immediately tried to persuade her to reconsider.
"Is Demi crazy? She picked more weight than Thomas and Chad!"
"See? I told you, she's just trying to show off! There's no way she'll carry something that heavy to the top. She'll probably ditch it halfway through just

to get attention."
"I don't think Demi's that kind of person. Based on last week's episode, she's not like that at all. She completed her task perfectly."
"Last week's task relied more on skill. This time, it's all about strength, isn't it? I refuse to believe she's stronger than the three male contestants."
"Why did Ms. Demi choose something so heavy? She won't be able to carry that much," Benedict said anxiously as he watched from his screen.

A Second Life, A New Power
Chapter 47 Showboating or True Skill?
Love Beyond Reach
Chapter 27
Love's Second Chance
Chapter 15
"Don't worry, Mr. West Senior. The program crew wouldn't force a young lady to carry that much weight up the mountain. They'll probably arrange for
someone to help," Sean reassured him.
...
In the end, Demi stood by her decision.
"Now that everyone has decided on their weights, let me add one more thing before we begin. Weight is the primary factor in determining your rank,
but speed also matters.
"For every extra 10 pounds you carry, you're allowed to be up to half an hour slower than someone carrying less weight.
"If you take longer than that, the other person wins. The same principle applies to all cases. Does everyone understand?" Matt announced.
"Yes, we understand," the group replied in unison.
"Let's go!"
With Matt's signal, George took the lead, his expression determined and confident, as though he was destined to win.
Demi, however, didn't rush. She maintained a steady, deliberate pace behind the male contestants.
Maria, trailing behind her, looked concerned. "Demi, are you sure you can handle this?"
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