Chapter 2 A Slap In The Face
The show “Life Swap” sent wealthy kids to the impoverished area while letting the poor kids experience luxury living—aiming to give them a taste of each other’s lives.
Jessica arrived at the Sanchez residence in a crew van. The mansion, sprawling over ten acres and standing three stories tall, was surrounded by mountains. It boasted stunning views of both a golf course and the ocean.
As soon as Jessica stepped out of the van, she felt overwhelmed by the sheer luxury of the place, and so did the viewers.
[Holy cow, this mansion is so stunning!]
[Wow, this lucky girl must’ve hit the jackpot with this opportunity. I’m so jealous!]
Just then, a middle-aged man in a black suit approached Jessica. “Hello, Ms. Leach, I’m Francis. Mr. and Mrs. Sanchez are not home right now. Please, make yourself comfortable.”
[Is this the butler? I can’t believe I can see a real-life butler like in the movies!]
[This feels like a dream come true!]
In contrast to the excited views, Jessica felt a bit let down. She had a plan to win the Sanchez couple over, but they weren’t home.
Francis handed her a paper bag with the CHANEL logo. “This is a welcome gift from Mr. and Mrs. Sanchez.”
Jessica paused for a moment, forcing herself to stay calm. “Thank you. Please let Mr. and Mrs. Sanchez know I really appreciate it.”
[Wow, Jessica is so composed! How is she not freaking out?] The comments were full of admiration.
Francis seemed unfazed, figuring the poor kid might not recognize luxury brands. He led Jessica inside, and the sheer luxury of the house took the viewers’ breath away instantly.
[Jessica is going to live here? It’s just like being a princess! I can’t imagine how Xavier feels moving from this castle to a run-down place—now that’s a real test of survival!] the online audience chimed in.
Meanwhile, the camera switched to Xavier’s perspective. The scene shook slightly before settling on a shabby shack. It looked barely standing, half-collapsed and propped up by wooden beams. In the pouring rain, it looked even more precarious.
[This is a real survival situation…]
[Jessica’s family is this struggling? That’s so sad.]
The focus shifted back to Xavier, who stared in disbelief. “Seriously? This dump? This horrible place?”
[Xavier really can’t handle this,] the comments concluded.
Suddenly, Xavier squatted down, bringing himself eye-level with Yasmine. A crew member held an umbrella overhead, shielding them from the rain.
“This is your home? You live in a place like this?” Xavier frowned, his expression tight.
[Who is Xavier talking to?]
The camera panned down, revealing a small, shivering Yasmine, bundled up in a fancy coat. She nodded gently, her brows and eyes glistening with moisture, looking particularly stunning.
Viewers gasped.
[What a cute kid! Who is she? How did Xavier end up here?]
[Isn’t that Yasmine, the one who lies, has no manners, and steals?]
[Is she wearing Xavier’s coat?]
[Oh no, Xavier, don’t talk to her. She’s just a con artist. Watch out, she might take your stuff!]
“Do you want to come in for some water?” Yasmine asked, looking up at Xavier. Her voice was soft and slow, carrying a soothing tone.
Xavier managed a tight smile. Honestly, he didn’t even want to step into this rundown place, but when he met Yasmine’s bright gaze, he couldn’t bring himself to say it.
“Now that she’s home now. Maybe we should head back?” a crew member suggested.
Xavier’s rebellious spirit flared up. He placed a hand on Yasmine’s back, gently nudging her forward. “Come on, let’s go inside.”
Yasmine stepped in cautiously, while Xavier marched forward and crashed the threshold, making the already battered house look even worse.
Xavier froze on the spot, and after a long while, he sighed, “Don’t worry. I’ll cover whatever I accidentally break.”
Just then, a furious voice erupted from inside the house. “You little brat, you’re finally home? Trying to freeze me to death out there?”
The voice was rough and carried a heavy accent. Xavier didn’t quite catch what was being said.
Yasmine did, but she just sniffled lightly before stepping inside. She quickly gathered some wood to start a fire and fetched water from a large pot, boiling it while putting two potatoes on top to cook. Once the water was ready, they’d have something warm to eat and drink.
Xavier hurried in after her and asked, “Who was that?”
“That’s my grandpa,” Yasmine replied.
‘Her grandpa? Why does he sound so harsh?’ Xavier frowned. Then his eyes landed on something. “What’s this?”
Yasmine took a moment to reply, “Getting hot water.”
Xavier pointed at the shapeless mound of dirt. “I mean, what is that thing?”
“That’s the stove.”
‘She calls that a stove?’ Xavier was speechless.
He quickly glanced around. The house had mud walls, broken tiles, and a thatched roof. There was no light inside, only holes in the walls letting light in. No TV, no couch, no coffee table—nothing.
Nearby, a piece of tarp hung down, and Xavier could vaguely see a figure lying behind it. He assumed that must be Yasmine’s grandpa.
‘This place is a disaster. It’s downright pitiful!’ Xavier stood there, dumbfounded.
Yasmine had boiled the water. She poured a steaming bowl of hot water into a simple mug and handed it to Xavier.
“Here you are,” she said, holding the mug carefully. Her fingertips were red from the heat, while her wrist had a pale, cold hue—frostbitten from the chill.
[Wow, this kid really knows how to play her cards right. Is she trying to win over Xavier?]
[Don’t drink that! It’s dirty! This place is a mess!]
While everyone online was reacting dramatically, Xavier just felt his eyelids twitch. He grabbed the mug and slammed it onto the stove, his voice icy. “It’s not time for water.”
[Yes! Xavier didn’t drink it!]
[Just a typical poor kid with no skills. Who would want anything touched by those dirty hands?]
Just then, Xavier scooped Yasmine up and held her close. He turned to the crew members, looking serious. “Where can she take a hot shower? She’s freezing.”
Even so, she was still pouring him water. Xavier paused, muttering under his breath, “I thought she’d have a nice bathtub at home. What kind of place is this? It’s just a thatched hut! Even a hut would be better than this.”
The harsh comments online disappeared instantly as the viewers fell silent, their faces burning with embarrassment.
