After Transmigrating, I Joined a Dating Show with the Fake Heiress Actress - Chapter 25

Su Qingwan’s brow furrowed slightly. From Shangguan Yu’s words, she could tell that Shangguan Yu knew the rules for selecting rooms.

 

Knowing the rules and still wanting her to give up her room was, to put it mildly, unreasonable.

 

“If you feel you’re losing out, I can compensate you with money,” Shangguan Yu said, straightening her back and pulling her wallet from her handbag, her smile unwavering. “Name your price!”

 

Su Qingwan tightened her grip on her hands at her sides, her gaze shifting to Yu Meng.

 

Noticing her look, Yu Meng finally stepped forward. Just as she reached Shangguan Yu’s side, Shangguan Yu wrapped her arm around Yu Meng’s. “Mengmeng, you know how much I love rooms with scenic views. You’ll help me, right?”

 

Yu Meng was helpless against Shangguan Yu’s flattery. She looked up at Su Qingwan. “Qingwan, why don’t you pick another room? The others look nice too.”

 

Disbelief filled Su Qingwan’s eyes. If the other rooms were so nice, why was Shangguan Yu so determined to take this one?

 

Furthermore, if it hadn’t been for Shangguan Yu, Yin Xiao wouldn’t have been forced to withdraw midway. Although Director Xu was willing to owe her a favor, this went against her original intentions.

 

But when Su Qingwan recalled how Yu Meng had helped her on multiple occasions, her heart wavered again.

 

“Quite the commotion,” Bai Man remarked casually, leaning against the door.

 

She had slipped out of the room as soon as Shangguan Yu and Yu Meng entered. She chose to linger outside to observe Su Qingwan’s reaction to the situation.

 

The moment Su Qingwan hesitated, Bai Man knew the answer in her heart.

 

Had this happened earlier, she would have left immediately. After all, Su Qingwan’s affection for Yu Meng was only at 5. Moreover, Shangguan Yu’s behavior clearly showed that she considered Su Qingwan an enemy.

 

Most people, when facing an enemy, can’t resist trying to gain the upper hand and force their opponent to retreat. Therefore, similar situations were bound to recur during future filming. Even if Su Qingwan were exceptionally tolerant, repeated humiliation and mockery would inevitably cause her discomfort.

 

And this discomfort would precisely erode the remaining goodwill between Su Qingwan and Yu Meng.

 

Yet, a surge of jealousy and anger flared within her heart, precisely these emotions preventing her from simply walking away.

 

Little did she know, her words carried an entirely different weight in Su Qingwan’s ears.

 

Was she mocking me? Su Qingwan wondered. Mocking me for swallowing my pride and yielding in the face of such humiliation?

 

In that moment, she felt stripped bare, as if she were bound to a rack, utterly exposed.

 

A voice screamed in her heart: No, I won’t let this happen. I won’t let Bai Man mock me.

 

Just as she steeled her resolve to retaliate, Shangguan Yu’s voice cut through the air: “So, you’re the one who bought your way into the cast?”

 

Bai Man lifted her gaze, retorting, “What’s the difference between you and me?”

 

Yin Xiao hadn’t accompanied Su Qingwan to the airport, and her absence at this late hour suggested she’d been replaced. The only person who could have orchestrated Yin Xiao’s removal was the unfamiliar face before them.

 

The smile froze on Shangguan Yu’s lips for a fleeting moment before returning to its original composure. “How can you say there’s no difference? At least I didn’t squander my family’s life-saving funds on frivolous indulgences.”

 

With that, she strode over to the bed and sat down, turning to Su Qingwan. “Since you don’t object, this room is mine now!” A thought struck her, and she turned to Yu Meng. “Mengmeng-jie, you can stay next door or even share this room with me.”

 

The live stream exploded with comments.

 

I didn’t expect such explosive news right from the start! The fiancée and rumored girlfriend just met, and the tension is palpable.

 

Is this woman delusional? Did Wanwan even say she’d let you have it?

 

This show is getting more interesting by the minute. Based on last week’s developments, Bai Man should have already started confronting Yu Meng. Why hasn’t she acted yet? Is she losing her nerve?

 

I think the atmosphere between Bai Man and Su Qingwan is getting increasingly subtle. It’s that awkward tension you only get when couples are fighting.

 

Yu Meng, what were you thinking? What kind of trash did you pick for a fiancée?

 

Am I the only one who finds Shangguan Yu’s straightforwardness refreshing? It’s so much better than Su Qingwan’s fake sweetness.

 

To the shills in the comments: try being less obvious.

 

 

The room on the left had already been assigned, leaving only the one on the right—the room Bai Man had chosen.

 

First they steal my room, and now they want Bai Man’s too?

 

Su Qingwan clenched her fists, turning directly to Shangguan Yu, who was already sitting on the bed. “What a coincidence! I happen to love this room as well and have no intention of giving it up. If you have any objections, perhaps you should take it up with the Director?”

 

Yu Meng’s face was a mask of astonishment. Knowing Su Qingwan as she did, Yu Meng was certain that even if Su Qingwan felt reluctant, she would have put on a gracious front and yielded the room. But now…

 

There was a resemblance.

 

Could it be that Su Qingwan and Bai Man really…?

 

The thought filled her with dread.

 

Shangguan Yu hadn’t anticipated Su Qingwan’s refusal, let alone such a resolute one. A wave of humiliation and shame washed over her.

 

The only person in the room who seemed remotely pleased was Bai Man. She calmly extended her hand. “Please leave.”

 

Those two simple words, combined with her upbringing as the center of attention—where she had always gotten what she wanted—made it clear that she wouldn’t tolerate being humiliated.

 

She nodded in realization, having forgotten she hadn’t paid yet.

 

Bai Man interjected, “Miss Shangguan is so eager to buy these houses. It would be impolite of us not to accommodate her.” After a moment’s thought, she proposed, “How about this? Two houses for five million.”

 

Yu Meng roared, “Bai Man, are you money-mad?” She quickly composed herself. “Besides, these houses were provided by the Production Team. You have no authority to make such decisions.”

 

Bai Man simply said, “Oh,” and turned to face the camera. “Director Xu, I’ll make a sacrifice. We’ll split the profits three ways—I get three shares, you get one.”

 

The cameraman’s lips twitched repeatedly.

 

Director Xu, watching from downstairs, found himself tempted.

 

Yu Meng was stunned by Bai Man’s shamelessness. “You…”

 

Ignoring Yu Meng’s fury, Bai Man strolled over to Su Qingwan and, mimicking Shangguan Yu’s earlier tone, said, “You’re just reluctant to part with your money. I understand.”

 

At that moment, Su Qingwan finally understood: Bai Man was standing up for her.

 

Live stream comments:

 

I bet a bag of spicy sticks that Shangguan Yu won’t buy it.

 

Buying it would make her a total sucker, but if she doesn’t, the humiliating slap in the face might be too much for this spoiled little princess to handle. Bai Man’s move is truly ruthless.

 

Confirmed: Bai Man is a ruthless woman. I heard she’s been at her family’s factory during her time off, hosting several live streams that have been selling like crazy.

 

A bunch of useless junk, and people are actually buying it? They must be desperate.

 

Hey, watch your language! Just because you were born into privilege doesn’t give you the right to look down on the poor. What’s wrong with being poor? People buy what they need based on their budget. How does that bother you?

 

Su Qingwan and Bai Man look so good together! One’s cold and aloof, the other’s gentle and refined. Don’t tell me they’re enemies—I’m shipping them hard!

 

Me too! I love how Bai Man is ruthless and doesn’t mince words, yet she’s always so attentive to Wanwan.

 

 

Knowing Shangguan Yu’s temperament, Yu Meng repeatedly shot her warning glances, urging her to remain calm.

 

Shangguan Yu’s face burned with humiliation. She glared at Bai Man for two seconds before snatching a check from her purse and scribbling furiously on it. With her chin held high, she slapped the check onto the bed. “Take your money and get out.”

 

Bai Man glanced at the check and sneered, “My arms are too short to reach it.”

 

Shangguan Yu nodded with a mocking smile. “Short arms, huh?” She grabbed the check, climbed off the bed, and lunged at Bai Man, intending to slap it against her chest.

 

Bai Man sidestepped, leaving Shangguan Yu to stumble forward, her body hurtling toward the window.

 

“Xiaoyu!” Yu Meng cried out in alarm, rushing toward Shangguan Yu. “Bai Man, if anything happens to Xiaoyu, you’ll pay dearly!”

 

For a fleeting moment, Bai Man considered releasing her grip on Shangguan Yu’s sleeve.

 

Su Qingwan seemed to sense her hesitation. She swiftly moved to Shangguan Yu’s side, steadying her and preventing her from falling out the window.

 

Frustrated by the interruption, Bai Man withdrew her hand expressionlessly and shook it vigorously.

 

Still shaken, Shangguan Yu didn’t notice this exchange. Seeing Yu Meng approach, she shoved Su Qingwan aside and threw herself into Yu Meng’s arms. “Mengmeng-jie, I was so scared! I thought I’d never see you again!”

 

Yu Meng lovingly patted Shangguan Yu’s back, then turned to glare at Bai Man, her eyes warning, This isn’t over.

 

Bai Man ignored the threat, turning her profile to Yu Meng.

 

Sensing Yu Meng’s anger, Shangguan Yu pulled away from her embrace, wiped away the two lingering tears on her face, returned to the bedside, and wrote out a new check. She handed it to Bai Man, enunciating each word clearly, “Take your things and get out!”

 

There will be other days, she thought. I’ll have plenty of chances to avenge this humiliation.

 

Su Qingwan and the viewers watching the live stream all expected Bai Man to refuse. To their surprise, Bai Man calmly accepted the check from Shangguan Yu. As she left, she even remembered to take Su Qingwan’s suitcase with her.

 

Suppressing her shock, Su Qingwan hurried after Bai Man.

 

By the time Su Qingwan reached the door, Bai Man had already emerged from the adjacent room, pushing her own suitcase. Bai Man sidestepped Su Qingwan and walked back, saying, “This side faces the courtyard, so it might be a bit noisy.”

 

Su Qingwan shook her head. “The view of the vegetable garden through the window is nice too.” She hesitated, then looked up at Bai Man’s retreating figure. “Thank you for earlier.”

 

Bai Man shoved her suitcase forcefully into the room and turned to Su Qingwan. “Being humiliated with money and still remaining so calm? Should I praise your magnanimity or call you a useless fool?” Her voice carried a hint of exasperation as she spat out the last two words.

 

This isn’t tolerance, it’s stupidity.

 

Su Qingwan’s lips parted slightly, as if to explain.

 

But Bai Man cut her off sharply. “Don’t let me see you again, being bullied into silence. Otherwise…” She didn’t finish the sentence, but the shift in her gaze conveyed the gravity of her warning.

 

With that, she turned and strode into the room without another word.

 

Her words had been harsh, but if she hadn’t spoken so bluntly, Su Qingwan would only continue to swallow her anger.

 

Out of the camera’s view, Su Qingwan’s eyes grew slightly moist. She knew Bai Man hadn’t meant to truly insult her, but she couldn’t help feeling wronged.

 

She didn’t even give me a chance to show her! How does she know I’d just swallow my anger?

 

Su Qingwan tightened her grip on the suitcase handle. She would prove to Bai Man through her actions that she wasn’t a useless fool.

 

The live stream continued.

 

How dare Bai Man talk to our Wanwan like that! Wanwan just didn’t want to stoop to Shangguan Yu’s level.

 

I’m siding with Bai Man on this. Shangguan Yu is pushing her too far. If she keeps tolerating this, is she trying to become a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle?

 

That was terrifying! I thought Bai Man and Yu Meng were about to throw down. They didn’t say a word, but the tension was so thick you could smell the gunpowder through the screen.

 

I finally found out why Shangguan Yu acts so entitled. Turns out she’s the little princess of a Suzhou tycoon, pampered beyond belief. Rumor has it her mom and Yu Meng’s manager are besties. Strictly speaking, Yu Meng is marrying up by marrying the little princess. No wonder Yu Meng treasures her so much—she’s afraid all her years of scheming will go up in smoke.

 

“Treasures her”? Ha! In my opinion, Yu Meng is a total player. Keeping her engagement a secret is one thing, but she’s also playing the field. Take Liu Yue, for example. Yu Meng knows exactly how Liu Yue feels, yet she’s still stringing her along.

 

Wanwan, listen to Bai Man this time. Why should we let ourselves be bullied? So what if she’s rich? She just got lucky and was born with a silver spoon.

 

After that incident, the atmosphere at lunch was more awkward than awkward.

 

Fortunately, Shangguan Yu, whom everyone had labeled “the sucker,” didn’t make a scene. After finishing her meal, she immediately clung to Yu Meng, insisting they go out for a walk together.

 

Director Xu, ever the shrewd planner, wouldn’t waste a moment. He stood up, clapped his hands, and announced, “Before I even got out of the car, the owner of a nearby orchard called to invite us over. This is a perfect opportunity for everyone to discuss the upcoming tasks.”

 

Liu Heng swallowed the apple in his mouth in one gulp. “What tasks?”

 

Director Xu cleared his throat. “Here’s the deal: the orchard owner has offered his orchard to our production team. Considering Spring City is a popular tourist destination with a high volume of visitors, and to motivate our guests, we’re launching the ‘Sell, Sell, Sell’ plan.”

 

“The Production Team will provide each group of guests with 500 yuan as seed money. Within three days, each group must multiply this initial investment by at least five times,” Director Xu announced, raising his hand. “To avoid disrupting market prices, no guest can sell their products for more than 10% above the market price. Violations will result in penalties. This time, instead of eating mushrooms, those who violate the rules or fail to meet their target will have to perform on the street for an hour.”

 

Liu Heng immediately jumped up. “I’d rather eat mushrooms and drink bitter melon juice!”

 

“No, no,” Director Xu straightened his posture. “We can’t keep doing the same things. The netizens will accuse us of lacking creativity!”

 

The guests exchanged exasperated glances.

 

Half an hour later, the group stood scattered along the field ridges, gazing out over the hundreds of acres of orchards. They couldn’t help but gasp in awe.

 

As far as the eye could see, lush fruit trees stretched in every direction. The varieties were diverse: golden apricots, crimson dragon fruit, peaches larger than the palm of a hand, oval-shaped cantaloupes… nearly every common fruit found in markets could be seen here.

 

Closest to them were various types of cherries, each plump and juicy, making them irresistibly tempting.

 

“Same rules as always: eat as much as you pick. Remember, today’s free. Starting tomorrow, even a single grape will cost you,” Director Xu announced, waving his hand to signal everyone could start exploring.

 

The guests, already captivated by the orchard, scattered in all directions. Even Shangguan Yu, who had been whining about being tired and clinging to Yu Meng all the way here, now cheerfully trailed behind her, occasionally plucking a fruit to sample.

 

On the narrow path between the fields, only Su Qingwan and Bai Man remained.

 

Still harboring resentment over Bai Man calling her “useless,” Su Qingwan repeatedly glared at her without speaking.

 

Bai Man withdrew her gaze and said, “Let’s go.”

 

Su Qingwan took a step forward, then quickly retreated, stepping aside to let Bai Man pass first. She didn’t want to risk being called “stupid” again.

 

Even though she knew she wasn’t as clever as Bai Man.

 

After walking several hundred meters in silence, Su Qingwan finally couldn’t hold back any longer. “Bai Man,” she called out.

 

Bai Man immediately stopped and turned to look at her. Seeing Su Qingwan’s slightly puffed cheeks, she knew Su Qingwan was angry with her. “Good,” she said approvingly. “You’ve got some spirit now.”

 

Su Qingwan’s face flushed crimson. “Bai Man, don’t push it too far.”

 

When Bai Man started walking toward her, Su Qingwan instinctively took a step back, raising her hand slightly. “W-what do you want?”

 

“Don’t move,” Bai Man warned.

 

“Then promise you won’t hit me,” Su Qingwan insisted, struggling.

 

Wu Xi had secretly told her that Bai Man sometimes hit people when she was angry.

 

Bai Man’s lips twitched slightly. Noticing the mosquito sucking bl00d from Su Qingwan’s arm about to fly away, she immediately slapped it down.

 

The moment Bai Man’s hand struck, Su Qingwan squeezed her eyes shut, bit her lip, and held her breath.

 

But the expected pain never came. As the dull thud faded, a warmth spread across her arm.

 

She cautiously opened her eyes and saw a mangled mosquito lying in Bai Man’s palm. The red smear of bl00d on Bai Man’s palm reminded her that the mosquito had indeed sucked her bl00d.

 

So, Bai Man hadn’t been trying to hit her—she’d just been swatting the mosquito.

 

Just moments ago, she had begged Bai Man not to hit her.

 

In that instant, she lost all composure. She couldn’t count how many times she had embarrassed herself in front of Bai Man, but this time, it was before the entire internet. Her reputation was utterly ruined.

 

Live Stream Comments:

 

I knew there’d be a twist! Still, Bai Man’s demeanor was genuinely terrifying.

 

It’s all Bai Man’s fault! If there was a mosquito, just say so! Why make such a show of it? No wonder Wanwan misunderstood her.

 

Are you stupid? Any normal person would react instinctively to a mosquito, scaring it away.

 

This is hilarious! You can tell Su Qingwan was genuinely terrified. The way she was trembling, too scared to move, was just too cute!

 

Am I the only one who noticed Bai Man was constantly scanning her surroundings? She lingered on the ridge for quite a while, probably figuring out how to double that 500 yuan.

 

I think you’ve all been brainwashed by Bai Man. If she were so capable, why hasn’t she saved her own factory first? My theory is she’s just using this show to debut and cash in on the entertainment industry.

 

 

Bai Man, who had already taken several steps forward, noticed Su Qingwan hadn’t followed. With a faint sigh, she turned back and took Su Qingwan’s hand familiarly. “Director Xu usually sets up our sales locations nearby. I scouted the area on the way here—most vendors are selling fruit platters and whole fruits.”

 

Hearing about business matters, Su Qingwan’s embarrassment eased somewhat, though she still felt a little awkward. “Then you already have a plan.”

 

As soon as she said it, she was startled by her own words. She couldn’t believe she trusted Bai Man so completely.

 

Her intuition warned her this wasn’t a good sign.

 

Bai Man, oblivious to Su Qingwan’s subtle expression, focused on her footing while scanning their surroundings. “The fruits on these trees vary in quality, so the prices should vary too. We can save some money by buying tools.”

 

“But… if the quality is poor, we’ll lose customers.”

 

“We’re not selling whole fruits, so it doesn’t matter.” Bai Man released Su Qingwan’s hand, walked to a cherry tree, plucked a misshapen cherry, and popped it into her mouth.

 

After spitting out the pit, she carefully picked several more imperfect cherries and offered them to Su Qingwan, gesturing for her to try one.

 

Su Qingwan hesitated before putting one in her mouth. Contrary to her expectations, the taste wasn’t unbearably sour; it had a normal fruity tartness.

 

So, Bai Man’s idea might actually work.

 

“I’m giving you a task,” Bai Man said, already moving as she spoke. “Using this standard, pick different types of fruit. You don’t need to pick too many—just a few of each kind. Later, we’ll take these fruits to the owner and negotiate the price.”

 

To maximize profits, they needed to either raise the selling price or lower the production cost. Since Director Xu had blocked the path to raising prices, reducing costs was their only option.

 

Su Qingwan nodded and walked to a nearby tree, taking down the basket the owner had hung on a branch earlier. Following Bai Man’s instructions, she began selecting fruits.

 

Suddenly, a glint flashed in her almond-shaped eyes as she trotted over to Bai Man. “I want to use these fruits to make juice.”

 

Bai Man nodded. “Your brain’s not working too slowly.”

 

Su Qingwan: “……”

 

After picking nearly enough cherries, they moved to the apricot grove.

 

The fruits on a single tree naturally varied in quality, making it easy for Su Qingwan and Bai Man to find the substandard ones. In no time, they had gathered several.

 

“Leaving the good fruit untouched to pick these crooked melons and cracked dates reminds me of the saying, ‘Every pot has its lid.'”

 

The voice belonged to Shangguan Yu. Since childhood, she had loved apricots. After eating some cherries, she would pester Yu Meng to sit with her under the apricot tree, enjoying the scenery of the apricot grove while savoring the fruit.

 

She had noticed Bai Man and Su Qingwan’s arrival. Frustrated by the pent-up anger from earlier that morning, she saw her enemies delivering themselves right to her doorstep. Naturally, she wouldn’t miss this opportunity.

 

Bai Man remained silent, leaning against a nearby apricot tree, waiting for Su Qingwan’s reaction.

 

Su Qingwan understood her unspoken message and hesitated slightly.

 

As she lowered her gaze, Shangguan Yu approached, peering into the basket in her hand before letting out a soft laugh.

 

The silver-bell-like laughter grated on Su Qingwan’s ears.

 

She unconsciously tightened her grip on the basket handle and slowly replied, “That saying also appears in books: ‘The world itself has no inherent beauty or ugliness; beauty and ugliness exist only in the human heart.'”

 

Shangguan Yu waved her hand dismissively. “Really? Then why does everyone prefer the beautiful and shun the ugly? Are we all twisted inside, unable to distinguish right from wrong?”

 

She rested her chin in her hand, hummed softly, and continued, “Maybe I was too harsh earlier. There’s nothing wrong with liking these ‘oddballs and misfits,’ after all. They’re just basing their preferences on their own living standards. I should try to understand.” She turned to Yu Meng. “Mengmeng-jie, am I right?”

 

Yu Meng felt a headache coming on. When her peripheral vision caught sight of Bai Man, her pent-up anger finally erupted. “Xiaoyu,” she snapped, “how many times have I told you? Some things are best kept to yourself. What do you think you’re doing, putting others in such an awkward position?”

 

The news of her engagement to Shangguan Yu had cost her a third of her fans and damaged her public image. Fortunately, the brands she collaborated with hadn’t used her breach of contract as an excuse to cause trouble.

 

She knew the brands were only holding back because of the powerful conglomerate behind Shangguan Yu.

 

The company’s advice was to let things take their course. This was a desperate measure, but her earlier outburst, provoked by Bai Man, had already left a negative impression on netizens. No matter how she tried to salvage the situation, she could never fully recover her former standing.

 

Over the past two years, she had been transitioning from a celebrity influencer to a respected actress. As a result, she no longer felt the need to maintain the same cautious demeanor and meticulous image control she had practiced in her early career.

 

It wasn’t that she hadn’t considered damage control, but Bai Man’s relentless provocations had repeatedly crossed her boundaries, pushing her to her breaking point.

 

Su Qingwan’s pupils dilated as she staggered back a step, unable to believe that these words were coming from someone she had once admired.

 

She opened her mouth to ask, but hesitated, afraid that everything she had believed in had been nothing more than self-delusion.

 

Bai Man and Shangguan Yu both observed her reaction.

 

The anger in Bai Man’s heart flared anew, her voice turning cold. “Su Qingwan, have you forgotten something?”

 

Shangguan Yu tightened her grip on her hand at her side, watching Yu Meng, who still couldn’t bring herself to meet Su Qingwan’s gaze. Her suspicions had been confirmed: Su Qingwan held a special place in Mengmeng’s heart.

 

She had heard rumors that Mengmeng had intervened to help Su Qingwan on multiple occasions, and that Su Qingwan harbored unrealistic feelings for Mengmeng.

 

Determined to end any lingering thoughts about other women, she deliberately revealed her relationship with Mengmeng, leaving Mengmeng no excuse to evade their engagement.

 

Her best friend tried to comfort her with the saying, “Flies don’t land on eggs without cracks.” But to her, the situation wasn’t so simple.

 

Mengmeng didn’t reject those who threw themselves at her because she didn’t know how to refuse. That’s why she was here—to help Mengmeng distance herself from these people.

 

And the person she would use as her scalpel was Su Qingwan.

 

Suppressing her thoughts, she smiled warmly at Su Qingwan, about to speak when Su Qingwan’s voice cut through the air first.

 

“Our living standards certainly can’t compare to Miss Shangguan’s,” Su Qingwan said, spreading her hands with feigned composure. “After all, Miss Shangguan would offer five million to buy a house. I certainly can’t afford that.”

 

As she spoke, she glanced cautiously at Bai Man.

 

Having never argued with anyone since childhood—perhaps due to her generally mild temperament—Su Qingwan had rarely faced outright hostility, except for the earlier incident with “Bai Man.”

 

This direct confrontation was primarily to show Bai Man that she wasn’t a pushover.

 

Shangguan Yu’s smile froze on her lips, while Yu Meng frowned deeply, her gaze toward Su Qingwan complex and conflicted.

 

This isn’t the Su Qingwan I know, Yu Meng thought. Could it be that Su Qingwan, like me, has been wearing a mask all along?

 

No, something was wrong. Su Qingwan’s gentle and tolerant nature seemed ingrained in her very bones, not merely an act.

 

Something must have happened to cause such a drastic transformation.

 

Yu Meng turned to look at Bai Man, and when she saw the slight upward curve of Bai Man’s lips, everything clicked into place.

 

It was Bai Man.

 

Su Qingwan had ignored her warnings and fallen prey to Bai Man’s manipulations.

 

“Qingwan, are you absolutely sure about this?” Yu Meng asked patiently. “Once you take this step, there may be no turning back.” This was her final attempt to dissuade Su Qingwan. If Su Qingwan still refused to listen, Yu Meng vowed never to spare her another glance, even if Su Qingwan came begging for help later.

 

This was the price of ignoring her advice.

 

Yu Meng’s words completely shattered Shangguan Yu’s composure. She rushed back to Yu Meng’s side, nuzzling against her like a kitten. “Mengmeng-jie,” she whined, “did I say something wrong? Why is she scolding me? They’re the ones who demanded all that money!”

 

Bai Man stepped away from the apricot tree and approached Su Qingwan, casually taking the basket from her hand. “The end of self-righteousness is arrogance,” she remarked. “Look at you, acting like gods and making grand prophecies.”

 

She shook her head, her gaze sweeping over Yu Meng and Shangguan Yu, her eyes icy. “Don’t test my patience any further.”

 

The oppressive aura and overwhelming presence sent shivers down Yu Meng and Shangguan Yu’s spines.

 

Even Su Qingwan was startled by Bai Man’s ferocity, instinctively backing away. But Bai Man didn’t give her a chance to retreat, grabbing her hand and pulling her forward.

 

Su Qingwan cautiously followed, her voice trembling. “Bai… Bai Man, what’s wrong?”

 

Sensing her fear, Bai Man softened her aura slightly, her tone softening. “I can’t stand the buzzing of flies.”

 

Behind them, Shangguan Yu and Yu Meng had regained their composure.

 

Yu Meng’s eyes darkened. So what if I’ve angered her? She’s just a bankrupt heiress about to be chased down by the bank. A few subtle moves, and I’ll make her suffer.

 

As for Su Qingwan, the moment she sided with Bai Man, she became Yu Meng’s enemy.

 

Shangguan Yu glanced up, noticing Yu Meng’s tense expression. Knowing she was furious, she whispered in a voice only Yu Meng could hear, “Mengmeng, should I…?”

 

“No need. I’ll help you get your revenge.”

 

“Mengmeng, you’re so good to me. You must always, always be this good to me.”

 

 

Carrying a fruit basket, Bai Man and Su Qingwan walked ahead of the group to find the orchard owner.

 

Seeing them approach, the owner, who had been packing fruit, immediately stood up and pointed at Su Qingwan. “I recognize you! You’re that actress who played the princess,” he said, scratching his head. “Oh, I remember now—you’re Su Qingwan.”

 

He glanced around them. “Where are the others? I thought ten people were coming. Why are just the two of you here?”

 

Su Qingwan didn’t understand what the owner was saying and instinctively turned to Bai Man.

 

Bai Man pieced together the gist of his words. “They’re still in the orchard,” she said, handing him the basket. “I wanted to discuss the price of these fruits.”

 

The owner gestured to a nearby chair. “Sit down and let’s talk.” He took the basket from Bai Man and flipped through the fruit inside. “Your director told me about your mission. Honestly, if you’re going to do something, go big! Five hundred yuan is too little.”

 

He stared at the fruit in the basket, then looked at Bai Man. “Do you really want these odd-looking fruits?”

 

Bai Man nodded.

 

The owner held up his hand. “Let me make this clear: once we agree on a price, there’s no changing it later. And most importantly, you’ll have to pick the fruit yourselves.”

 

Bai Man nodded again. “That’s fine.”

 

The owner stood up from his stool. “The Director told me not to give any special treatment, so I’ll charge you market prices: five yuan per jin for cherries, and two yuan per jin for everything else.”

 

The price was roughly what Bai Man had estimated. “Thank you.”

 

Seeing them about to leave, the owner called out, “Aren’t you going to pick any more? Oh, right!” He immediately pulled out a piece of paper and a pen from his pocket and approached Su Qingwan. “Could I trouble you for an autograph? My daughter is a big fan of your TV shows. When she heard you were coming, she kept asking me to get her autograph.”

 

Su Qingwan still didn’t understand the language, but she guessed the owner’s meaning from his gestures. She quickly took the paper and pen and signed her name.

 

As she handed the paper back, the owner gestured toward Bai Man with a pout. “What about her?”

 

Bai Man took the paper and pen from Su Qingwan and smoothly signed her name.

 

Her practiced ease sent ripples through Su Qingwan’s heart. It was as if Bai Man had signed autographs thousands of times before.

 

After they left, the owner studied their signatures for a moment, gazing at Bai Man’s retreating figure. “That girl writes beautifully.”

 

After learning the prices, Bai Man and Su Qingwan returned to the orchard. They carefully examined the fruit trees around them, stopping to rest on the field ridges and enjoy the fruit from their baskets.

 

The livestream continued.

 

I was worried that using these oddly shaped fruits for juice would be a bad idea, but seeing them enjoy it so much has put my mind at ease.

 

I knew Bai Man was thinking about ways to make money when she was standing on that field ridge earlier.

 

I’m growing to hate Yu Meng more and more, especially after hearing Shangguan Yu call her “Mengmeng-jie” every other word. It gives me the creeps.

 

Suddenly, Bai Man’s temper seems pretty good. If it were me, I would have slapped Shangguan Yu and Yu Meng across the face. What kind of nonsense were they spouting?

 

Could Yu Meng and Shangguan Yu be plotting against Bai Man behind the scenes? Yu Meng’s glare at Bai Man was terrifying—pure villainous intent.

 

There’s no such thing as an absolute villain. It’s just a difference in perspective. Bai Man isn’t stupid; she must have sensed Yu Meng’s ulterior motives and taken precautions.

 

What precautions can she take? You can’t twist an arm harder than a thigh, especially when they have a powerful conglomerate backing them. I need to rush over to Bai Man’s livestream and place some orders. Even if I can’t wear the clothes myself, my mom can. And if she doesn’t want them, there’s always my grandma!

 

Me too! I’m going too…

 

 

Su Qingwan and Bai Man finished the fruit in their basket, and the other guests began to head back as well.

 

With their stomachs full, it was time to start thinking about the next task.

 

Thus, the scene unfolded: pairs of guests huddled together, whispering and discussing their sales strategies.

 

The sun quietly reappeared in the sky after the moon’s retreat.

 

As planned, Bai Man and Su Qingwan changed into the dresses Yan Tianyue had hastily made.

 

Bai Man wore a white dress with delicate floral embroidery at the cuffs and hem. Combined with her natural grace, the dress exuded both elegance and nobility.

 

Su Qingwan wore a blue dress with a fitted waist that perfectly accentuated her slender figure. Both men and women couldn’t take their eyes off her, drawn to her gentle, ethereal aura that seemed almost too pure to be touched.

 

Liu Heng rubbed his eyes. “Why do I get the feeling they’re wearing matching outfits?”

 

Prompted by his remark, the others turned their attention back to Su Qingwan, trying to get a closer look. But Bai Man suddenly stepped forward, blocking their view. “It seems everyone’s feeling quite confident about the task the Production Team has assigned us.”

 

Upon hearing about the task, Liu Heng immediately averted his gaze, grabbed the borrowed basket, and dashed outside.

 

The others followed suit, and within moments, only Bai Man, Su Qingwan, Yu Meng, and Shangguan Yu remained.

 

System 388: Warning! Detected a severe deviation from the original storyline. Host, please adapt accordingly.

 

The System’s message partially resolved Bai Man’s lingering doubts.

 

She speculated that Yu Meng and Shangguan Yu might have revealed their true, malevolent natures. This was the only explanation for the stark contrast between their current behavior and the brief descriptions in the book.

 

Suppressing her thoughts, she exchanged a glance with Su Qingwan, and the two headed toward the orchard.

 

After weighing the harvested fruit at the owner’s stall, they carried their baskets to the designated sales location specified by Director Xu.

 

To be precise, it was a street lined with local villagers on both sides. Some sold mushrooms, others vegetables, and some offered local snacks. The majority, however, were selling fruit.

 

The street wasn’t crowded with tourists, but there were still a good number of them. To avoid drawing attention, Bai Man and Su Qingwan had already put on their masks.

 

They pulled out the small wooden table provided by the Production Team, found an empty spot, and began setting up their stall.

 

Bai Man had ordered all the necessary ingredients online the previous night. By the time she returned with the bottled water, Su Qingwan had already arranged with the nearby shop owner to borrow electricity. With everything prepared, they wasted no time and started grinding fruit to make juice.

 

As soon as they had filled the first cup with freshly ground juice, a customer approached to inquire. Hearing the reasonable price, the customer immediately bought a cup.

 

One customer led to another, and soon their small stall was surrounded by a throng of tourists.

 

Suddenly, a clear, delicate voice rang out: “Mengmeng-jie, their juice is made from substandard fruit. What if it gives people stomachaches?”