After Transmigrating, I Joined a Dating Show with the Fake Heiress Actress - Chapter 26

The customers gathered around the stall turned to look at Shangguan Yu, who had spoken, and Yu Meng standing beside her.

 

Man Man and Su Qingwan followed suit. Shangguan Yu and Yu Meng were standing about ten meters away, at another stall. Beside Yu Meng, a small table was being filled with freshly picked fruit by a farmer. Judging by the farmer’s crates, there were about seventy or eighty pounds of fruit, mostly dragon fruit, each one plump and perfectly round, clearly carefully selected.

 

Noticing their gaze, Shangguan Yu lifted her chin slightly, as if to say, “Let’s see how you sell your juice now.”

 

Shangguan Yu’s smugness lasted only a moment before being crushed by the customers’ chatter.

 

“At least they’re showing us exactly what fruit they’re using—freshly squeezed, right in front of us. They might not look pretty, but the taste is good.”

 

“Exactly! I was worried at first that these odd-looking fruits wouldn’t taste good when juiced. But I tried the samples they put out, and the flavor is surprisingly good.”

 

“What’s wrong with your eyes? You might be blind, but we’re not. These fruits are perfectly fresh and clean, despite their odd shapes. More importantly, not a single drop of water has been added to the juice. Where else can you find such pure, fresh juice? I’ve never tasted anything like it outside my own home.”

 

“I can’t believe they’re so brazenly trying to steal business. I’m truly impressed.”

 

“You look familiar… Wait, aren’t you that notorious scummy woman Yu Meng?”

 

“It really is Yu Meng!” The girl stopped in her tracks, tilting her head to study Su Qingwan, who was wearing a mask. “Then you must be Su Qingwan, right?”

 

Being recognized left Su Qingwan utterly embarrassed.

 

But the girl’s words sparked a frenzy. Other customers immediately began clamoring for photos and autographs.

 

Su Qingwan knew she couldn’t give in to these requests, or the situation would quickly spiral out of control. Yet the crowd around them continued to swell, with most people holding up their phones, cameras pointed directly at her and Man Man.

 

To minimize the impact, Man Man took a step back, climbed the steps, and raised her voice as much as possible. “There are no celebrities here today, just juice vendors.” The unspoken message was clear: no autographs, no photos.

 

Hearing that autographs and photos were off the table, some people lost interest and turned their attention back to Yu Meng’s group.

 

Yu Meng, pulling the pale-faced Shangguan Yu backward, patiently explained, “This is a public space. It wouldn’d be right if my presence disrupted everyone’s business. If you truly like me, I’ll post a hundred signed photos on Weibo later. That way, not only those here today but also fans watching the livestream will have a chance to get one.”

 

Director Xu, alerted by the commotion, rushed over with a friendly smile. “Please understand, everyone. This is just a segment of our show. As our viewers know, if they fail to complete their tasks, they face a penalty.”

 

Someone nearby casually asked, “What kind of penalty?”

 

“The losing team has to perform in a public space for an hour.”

 

“When does your mission end, and where’s the final checkpoint?”

 

Director Xu, as if anticipating this question, waved dismissively at the curious tourists and smoothly guided them away.

 

Livestream Chat:

 

I want to teleport there right now and “accidentally” bump into Wanwan.

 

Am I the only one who wants to slap Shangguan Yu into orbit? If she hadn’t been so nosy, none of this drama would have happened!

 

LOL, I’m dying! Shangguan Yu jumped to conclusions and started worrying for nothing. She deserved to get roasted by the tourists.

 

Seriously, I can’t believe her. She pretends to care about the tourists’ stomachs, but she’s just jealous that Man Man and Su Qingwan’s juice is selling so well.

 

Exactly! They picked the best fruit and hired people to carry it all here. How could they possibly make a profit with only 500 yuan?

 

They definitely won’t! If they don’t sell all that fruit today, they’re screwed!

 

Ugh, Yu Meng is so annoying. She never misses a chance to promote herself, calling herself a “talented actress.” But what talented actress focuses on self-promotion? Shouldn’t they be honing their skills and staying low-key?

 

 

The remaining tourists, mostly not fans of the stars, stood in an orderly queue.

 

Seeing that more than half of the two baskets of fruit had already been sold, Su Qingwan lowered her voice and asked, “Should I go pick some more?”

 

Man Man, rapidly separating cherry pulp from its pits, replied, “No need. We’ll pack up once we’re sold out.”

 

After the Hengjie Garment Factory incident, Su Qingwan no longer dared to question Man Man’s business strategies. She nodded, carefully poured the freshly squeezed juice from the juicer into bottles, and handed them to the waiting customers one by one.

 

Noticing more tourists joining the queue, she quickly announced, “We don’t have much fruit left today and plan to close up once we’re sold out. If you’re interested, please come back tomorrow.”

 

Just as the tourists who had decided to wait were about to leave, a voice boomed, “No need to wait till tomorrow!”

 

Everyone turned to see the fruit orchard owner, his beer belly protruding, nimbly carrying a large basket of freshly washed fruit. “These are ready to eat!” he declared.

 

He turned to the tourists, raising his voice, “These were picked right here in the orchard! We have all kinds of varieties, and it’s just a ten-minute drive away. The prices are very reasonable!”

 

Su Qingwan stared at the overflowing basket of fruit, lost in thought.

 

Livestream Chat

 

I bet Man Man is feeling like a million alpacas are stampeding through her mind right now.

 

That orchard owner isn’t just giving Man Man fruit; he’s clearly using this as a chance to promote his orchard. Look, he’s already leading a bunch of tourists there!

 

To be fair, the fruit in that orchard looks incredibly juicy and fresh. If I lived closer, I’d definitely go pick some myself.

 

I’m craving that fruit too! @Production Team, can we order it online?

 

@Production Team, I want some too! Tell the owner to drop a link ASAP!

 

Uh, am I the only one who noticed how stunning Man Man and Su Qingwan’s dresses are today? I looked closely—they’re not from a major brand, probably a niche label. At first glance, they seem simple, but they’re so captivating! They look absolutely divine on both of them.

 

Rumor has it, someone saw Man Man’s parents scouting storefronts yesterday. I heard they recently hired a fashion designer. Considering today’s dresses, I suspect Man Man might be planning to launch her own clothing brand.

 

If every piece is as captivating as these, I’m definitely buying!

 

Me too! Me too…

 

 

Su Qingwan sensed Man Man’s reluctance. Glancing at the ever-lengthening queue behind them, she swallowed hard and reassured her, “Just hang in there a little longer. Once we get through this rush, I bet it’ll quiet down.”

 

Man Man didn’t reply. She pushed the cut fruit platter toward Su Qingwan. “I’ll be right back,” she said, already striding away.

 

The photographer, who had been lurking in the corner, rose to watch her retreating figure. After a moment’s hesitation, he decided to remain stationed there.

 

True to her word, Man Man returned within ten minutes, carrying two large juicers and accompanied by two girls in their early twenties.

 

Noticing Su Qingwan’s gaze, the girls flashed her sweet smiles. After donning disposable gloves, they swiftly began peeling and coring the fruit.

 

Meanwhile, Man Man borrowed a bottle of boiling water and a table from the shop owner. After sterilizing the juicers inside and out with the hot water, she set them up on the table.

 

The girls’ speed, combined with the juicers’ large capacity, dramatically increased juice production efficiency, shortening wait times for customers and attracting those who had been hesitant to wait.

 

The bustling energy on this side stood in stark contrast to the quiet chill on Yu Meng’s side.

 

Since Yu Meng had chosen only choice fruit, her prices were higher. To make a profit, she had to charge more.

 

Across from them, Song Jie and Liu Heng had set up their own stall, selling the same types of fruit but at lower prices.

 

Tourists weren’t fools. After comparing the two stalls and finding the taste comparable, they decisively chose the cheaper option. As a result, Song Jie and Liu Heng had sold over half their fruit, while Yu Meng and her partner had only sold a few.

 

After another busy hour, Man Man’s fruit supply finally dwindled to nothing.

 

To prevent the orchard owner from sending more fruit, Man Man quickly packed up her table, practically stamping “Closed for the Day” on her forehead.

 

Exhausted, Su Qingwan barely had the strength to speak. Bending slightly at the waist, she told approaching tourists, “We’re closed for today. Please come back tomorrow!”

 

“They’re closed, but we’re open! We’re open!” Liu Heng called out, running over and waving his hand at the tourists glancing their way. “Fresh juice! Fresh juice!”

 

After speaking, Liu Heng turned to Man Man, who was settling wages with the two girls, and scratched his head. “Ms. Man, could I ask you something? Could I borrow your juicer?” Fearing she might refuse, he quickly added, “I’m willing to rent it too.”

 

Man Man handed the money to the girls and watched them leave before turning to Liu Heng. “Ten yuan per hour.”

 

“No problem,” Liu Heng said, pulling out his phone and scanning the QR code Man Man hadn’t yet retracted. “Sixty yuan has been sent.” He glanced at the wooden table nearby and swallowed hard. “Ms. Man, could I also borrow your table and cups? I’ll return the table in perfect condition after I close up shop. As for the cups, I’ll order some right now, and they’ll be here tomorrow.”

 

Man Man hummed in acknowledgment, returned the borrowed table to the shop owner, and paid the agreed-upon ten yuan. She then borrowed a stool from the shop owner.

 

Carrying the stool, she walked over to Su Qingwan and bent down to place it behind her. “Sit here and rest for a while.”

 

Su Qingwan looked bewildered. “Aren’t we going back?”

 

“Sit here for a bit. We’ll go back together when I get back,” Man Man said, striding away.

 

Meanwhile, Liu Heng and Song Jie’s juice stall was finally taking shape. At first, Song Jie was clumsy at peeling fruit, wasting a lot of the flesh. But after peeling a few, he mastered the technique, becoming faster and preserving as much fruit as possible.

 

Livestream Chat:

 

What’s Man Man up to now? She keeps disappearing.

 

Look how tired our Wanwan is! It’s all that orchard owner’s fault for sending so much fruit.

 

Just switched from Yu Meng’s stream. Their faces look terrible, just standing there like dummies without even calling out to customers. No wonder they’re not selling anything.

 

Did anyone else notice the real vendors nearby kept glancing over here when our stall was swamped? I have a bad feeling about this.

 

I think Yu Meng and Shangguan Yu are doomed. The other two groups might not be selling much, but at least they don’t have delivery costs to worry about.

 

 

As netizens continued to share their opinions, Man Man rode her bicycle back.

 

Su Qingwan’s eyes widened at the sight of the bicycle beneath her.

 

Man Man turned the bicycle around and urged, “Get on, I’ll take you home.”

 

Did she go find a bicycle just for me?

 

Realizing this, Su Qingwan felt her ears grow warm and her heart race. She hurriedly got up, returned the stool to the shop owner, and hesitantly approached Man Man.

 

Gathering her skirt, she sat sideways on the bicycle. Her hand hovered in mid-air, wanting to hold onto Man Man’s waist but lacking the courage.

 

Man Man glanced back, released the handlebars, and firmly grasped Su Qingwan’s hesitant hand, placing it around her waist. “Hold on tight if you don’t want to fall off.”

 

Hearing this, Su Qingwan instinctively tightened her grip.

 

Man Man seemed pleased with her reaction, a faint smile curving her lips. She gripped the handlebars again, pushed off with her feet, and steered through the crowd toward their courtyard house.

 

Within minutes, they had ridden out of the bustling street and onto a four-lane road.

 

Man Man rode slowly along the roadside, the gentle breeze lifting her casually tied-up long, straight hair and Su Qingwan’s skirt.

 

Strands of hair occasionally brushed against Su Qingwan’s face, like a soft caress on her cheek, completely disrupting her thoughts.

 

She tentatively asked, “Where… where did you get this bike?”

 

“I passed by the two girls’ house. They knew I was going to collect shared bikes and lent me theirs,” Man Man replied calmly. Only she knew how her heart was racing from the hand around her waist.

 

She repeatedly reminded herself that this was just a character from a book, that none of this was real.

 

Su Qingwan gazed up at Man Man’s elegant back, her thick lashes trembling slightly. The walls of caution she had erected in her heart were crumbling bit by bit, her mind filled with images of Man Man protecting and caring for her.

 

The ride from the four-lane road to the narrow alley took only five minutes.

 

When the bike stopped, Su Qingwan belatedly snapped out of her confused thoughts. She slowly released her grip on Man Man’s waist and stepped off the bike.

 

“Go back and rest first,” Man Man instructed, turning the bike around.

 

“What about you?”

 

“A bicycle,” Man Man said, her foot returning to the pedal as she gradually disappeared from Su Qingwan’s sight.

 

Livestream Chat:

 

I can’t believe the usually stern Man Man would be so thoughtful! She noticed Wanwan was tired and immediately went to borrow a bicycle. Ugh, I want a girlfriend like that too!

 

After all this, I refuse to believe Man Man doesn’t have feelings for Su Qingwan.

 

Did you see how Su Qingwan kept sneaking glances at Man Man the whole way? I’m certain she’s crushing hard. It’s understandable, though. Who wouldn’t fall for someone so quietly kind and effortlessly amazing?

 

Wanwan, stay strong! Don’t let Man Man bewitch you! What if it’s all part of her plan?

 

What did I miss? I just checked out Yu Meng’s livestream. Yu Meng and Shangguan Yu are finally panicking! They’re trying to recruit customers while desperately clinging to their pride. It’s hilarious!

 

I’ve been watching all the streams, and Su Qingwan and Man Man are by far the most captivating. Forget the drama—the real draw is the constant, unexpected sweetness. Like that sudden sugar rush just now! It’s so addictive! Don’t tell me they’re enemies; in my heart, they’re already a couple.

 

 

Man Man had no idea that netizens were once again labeling her as having feelings for Su Qingwan. After returning her bicycle, she walked to the spot where the fruit stall had been set up earlier and picked up the fruit orchard owner’s baskets and crates.

 

When Liu Heng saw her, he quickly put down his work and rushed over. “Ms. Man, are you heading back to the orchard?” he asked, scratching his head awkwardly. “Could you ask the owner to deliver some more fruit?”

 

Man Man glanced at their nearly empty baskets and gave a soft hum of agreement.

 

Having braced himself for rejection, Liu Heng jumped for joy at her acceptance. If Song Jie hadn’t urged him on, he probably would have spun around in circles.

 

Man Man arrived at the orchard, found the owner, and relayed Liu Heng’s request. The owner readily agreed, but requested a 50 yuan delivery fee.

 

Finding the request reasonable, she nodded in agreement. To her surprise, the owner continued to stare at her. She had no choice but to pull out her phone and cover the fee for Liu Heng first.

 

Seeing the money credited to his account, the owner beamed, “Business is booming today! How much fruit do you want tomorrow? I’ll have my workers pick it.”

 

“I need to confirm a few things first. I’ll call you later.”

 

“Alright,” the owner said, turning to grab a business card from the table and handing it to her. “Just call me if you need anything. Delivery fee applies.”

 

Remembering the basket of fruit the owner had delivered earlier, Man Man paid an extra 50 yuan before leaving.

 

By the time she returned, nearly two hours had passed since she’d taken Su Qingwan back to the courtyard house. Her weary body reminded her she needed to rest.

 

The other guests were still selling fruit. Apart from Director Xu, the only other person in the courtyard house was Su Qingwan, who remained out of sight.

 

Just as Man Man pulled up a chair to lie down, Su Qingwan’s gentle voice drifted over, “You’re finally back! I boiled some water for you to soak your feet.”

 

Following the sound, Man Man saw Su Qingwan struggling to carry a bucket of water toward her.

 

She immediately stood up. “Put that down. I’ll take it.”

 

Su Qingwan obediently set the bucket down, watching as Man Man effortlessly lifted it onto the chair. In that instant, her insecurity resurfaced, overwhelming her once more. The idea to sell fruit juice had been Man Man’s, and she had always been the one responsible for peeling, removing pits, and preparing the fruit. Su Qingwan’s only tasks were to press the juicer’s button and pour the juice into cups.

 

She felt exhausted, and now she was making Man Man go out of her way to bring her back. Even something as simple as carrying a bucket of hot water for Man Man’s foot soak felt beyond her capabilities. She felt utterly useless.

 

Noticing her distress, Man Man turned to look at her. “There’s a bit too much water in the bucket. That’s why it’s so heavy for you,” she said, her back to the camera as she smoothed her skirt and placed her feet into the bucket. The water already reached past her calves. “A little extra water makes it more comfortable.”

 

Her words dispelled some of Su Qingwan’s gloom.

 

Seeing Su Qingwan’s expression brighten slightly, Man Man inwardly breathed a sigh of relief. “Go rest in your room for a while,” she instructed. “I’ll call you when everyone’s back.”

 

“After you soak your feet, remember to rest in your room for a while,” Su Qingwan said, not wanting to push herself. The “Sell, Sell, Sell!” task had a three-day deadline, meaning they still had two tough days ahead.

 

Though her help was limited, she didn’t want to hold Man Man back.

 

After taking a few steps, she stopped and turned back to Man Man. “Let’s get more fruit tomorrow. That way we can finish the task sooner.”

 

Man Man swallowed the words that were on the tip of her tongue—”Selling juice alone isn’t working anymore”—when she saw the hopeful look in Su Qingwan’s eyes. “I’ll think about it,” she replied.

 

Satisfied with the answer, Su Qingwan finally went upstairs.

 

As the sun slowly sank into the clouds, dusk quietly descended. The guests gathered in the courtyard, sharing bizarre stories from their fruit-selling experiences.

 

Liu Yue, who had been trying to keep a low profile since the second episode began filming, hesitated before approaching Man Man. “Ms. Man, could you mentor Song Sizhe and me? Don’t worry, we’ll follow your instructions. If you tell me to go east, I’ll never go west.”

 

Though Song Sizhe felt a bit embarrassed, he nodded in agreement with Liu Yue’s suggestion.

 

Liu Heng, who was standing just over a meter away from Man Man, immediately rose from his chair. “Count us in too! I’ve always admired your business acumen. When we temporarily replaced you, we exceeded our planned targets. It was truly remarkable.”

 

Man Man’s lips twitched slightly. If she didn’t already know Liu Heng’s personality, she might have suspected he was showing off.

 

She tilted her head slightly. “Are you serious about collaborating?”

 

Liu Yue, Song Sizhe, and Liu Heng all nodded eagerly. Song Jie didn’t nod, but the way he looked at Man Man clearly indicated his support for Liu Heng’s decision.

 

Unbeknownst to them, their eagerness played right into Man Man’s plan. “I have a project that requires everyone’s help. If we coordinate well, we can all achieve our assigned tasks.”

 

“Then what are we waiting for? Tell us what you need us to do!” Liu Heng asked impatiently, glancing up to see Zhang Jiale craning his neck to eavesdrop. He waved him off. “Go away! Don’t try to eavesdrop on our strategic planning!”

 

Zhang Jiale immediately rushed over. “Sister Man, do you need anyone else? I… I want to join too.” As he spoke, he kept glancing at Wen Yi, signaling him to come over quickly.

 

If Yin Xiao hadn’t been there, he wouldn’t have wanted to team up with Wen Yi, that silent clam.

 

Before Man Man could reply, Shangguan Yu’s bell-like voice rang out. “Mengmeng, can you believe how foolish some people are? They’re actually collaborating with their competitors, not even worried about getting stabbed in the back.”

 

She stood up from her chaise lounge and continued, “Don’t be fooled by her juice sales today. After deducting the cost of the juicer, she’ll be lucky to keep that 500 yuan. If you want to follow her lead, go ahead and beg her to collaborate.”

 

“So what if she’s just breaking even? At least Sister Man earned three machines,” Zhang Jiale retorted.

 

Liu Heng nodded in agreement. “I couldn’t agree more. With so many of us here, none of us thought of selling juice. What does that tell you? It proves Ms. Man’s mind is sharper than ours.”

 

Shangguan Yu feigned realization. “Oh, really? So even someone with a sharp mind can’t figure out what to do with their family’s bankrupt garment factory?”

 

Yu Meng, who had been sitting silently, stood up. “Xiaoyu, don’t waste your breath on them. They’ll regret it when they hit a wall.”

 

Su Qingwan couldn’t take it anymore. She rose angrily. “Never speak in absolutes. I remember you saying that yourself once.”

 

Her words landed like a slap across Yu Meng’s face.

 

Before Yu Meng could react, Shangguan Yu spoke first. “True, we shouldn’t jump to conclusions about uncertain matters. But the fact that we’re so confident in our judgment proves you’re simply not up to the task.”

 

Being doused with cold water before even starting ignited the group’s anger.

 

Liu Heng, never one to hide his feelings, retorted, “Then just wait until we prove you wrong!”

 

“Mengmeng-jie, should we remind the Director to find a bigger stage? What if they can’t all fit?”

 

“The Director will handle the arrangements.” As she spoke, Yu Meng affectionately took Shangguan Yu’s hand, and they disappeared from the crowd’s sight.

 

Liu Heng scratched his head in frustration. “How can people like that exist? No way I’m swallowing this! I’m going to make them eat their words!”

 

Zhang Jiale chimed in, “I want to too.”

 

Song Jie tapped Liu Heng’s hand. “Alright, let’s hear what Man Man has to say.”

 

“Now’s your last chance to back out,” Man Man reminded them, not wanting to waste time arguing.

 

Liu Yue took over. “Ms. Man, what kind of people do you think we are? Even if we fail to complete the task, we’d never complain about you.” She winked at the others as she spoke.

 

The group nodded in agreement, echoing Liu Yue’s sentiment.

 

With their commitment secured, Man Man pulled out her phone and showed them a fruit preparation method she’d found while soaking her feet. She’d carefully organized the steps, prioritizing simplicity to minimize time investment. Even beginners could master it with a couple of practice runs.

 

Liu Heng immediately took the phone and reviewed the method with Song Jie. After they finished, they passed it to the next person.

 

Song Jie pondered aloud, “You’re aiming to seize the early advantage and cash in quickly. This fruit preparation method seems a bit more complex than juicing, but it’s actually quite easy to replicate. If we divide the work and scale up production, even selling for just one day could yield substantial profits.”

 

Man Man nodded. “You’re right. We just need to seize the market advantage.”

 

“Then what are we waiting for? Let’s get to work!” Zhang Jiale rubbed his hands together, his eyes brimming with anticipation.

 

Standing on the sidelines, Su Qingwan wanted to join in but couldn’t find an opening. She tried to speak several times, but the others were too engrossed in surrounding Man Man, their eyes shining with excitement and admiration.

 

The realization that Song Jie and Man Man’s ideas aligned so perfectly filled her heart with a pang of bitterness.

 

Unbeknownst to her, the moment she lowered her gaze, Man Man’s eyes had shifted to her. Seeing her dejection, Man Man frowned slightly.

 

Man Man quickly explained the plan to everyone, then efficiently gathered the group’s funds and assigned tasks. Zhang Jiale and Wen Yi, responsible for purchasing supplies, had already left to buy yogurt and other ingredients.

 

The freezer was even simpler. There was a refrigerator in the courtyard. Song Jie and Liu Heng emptied the freezer, filled it with ice, and planned to rent a truck to move it outside the next day.

 

Liu Yue and Song Siya were in charge of cutting the fruit, while Man Man and Su Qingwan precisely prepared the jelly and sago needed for the fruit salad. Everyone participated in the final assembly.

 

After organizing everything, Man Man walked over to Su Qingwan, who was standing by the vegetable garden, gazing up at the night sky.

 

In the night sky, bright stars twinkled brilliantly against the vast, hazy expanse, creating a mesmerizing spectacle.

 

The moment Man Man stopped beside her, Su Qingwan knew she was there, and the lingering sense of loneliness in her heart began to dissipate. “The night sky is beautiful tonight,” she murmured.

 

Man Man hummed in agreement. “It is quite lovely.” She turned to Su Qingwan and explained, “Today, while we were selling juice, some nearby vendors lingered to watch. As expected, tomorrow there will be another fresh juice stall on that street. I didn’t tell you earlier because I hadn’t made up my mind this afternoon.”

 

Su Qingwan remained silent, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t guess what Man Man was implying. She must be inwardly resenting her for suddenly changing plans without warning.

 

Man Man’s words were like a small pebble, sending ripples through Su Qingwan’s heart.

 

So Man Man had known all along.

 

For a fleeting moment, Su Qingwan felt a pang of resentment that Man Man had kept everything from her. But remembering that Man Man likely had her own reasons for this arrangement, she quickly let go of her frustration.

 

“Alright, get some rest. Tomorrow will be even more tiring than today. But if things go smoothly, we might even get a day off,” Man Man said, turning to leave.

 

Noticing Su Qingwan hadn’t moved, Man Man turned back, naturally taking her hand and leading her upstairs.

 

Liu Heng, who had just finished organizing the freezer, turned to witness this scene. He curled his lip and muttered under his breath, “They say enemies can become lovers, but this is sickeningly sweet. Even a cow would sigh and say, ‘I can’t take it anymore.'”

 

Song Jie slapped him on the head. “Stop talking nonsense and go to bed after you’re done cleaning up.”

 

Liu Heng scratched his head, looking aggrieved. “Okay!”

 

The stars hid themselves as dawn crept in.

 

The guests had barely finished the breakfast provided by the Production Team when the fruit delivery arrived.

 

After Song Jie and Liu Heng handed the washed fruit to Liu Yue and Wen Yi, they went to the freezer to chop ice.

 

Just then, Man Man and Su Qingwan brought out the sago pearls they had been cooking since early morning.

 

Su Qingwan took a glass, scooped a spoonful of the translucent sago pearls into it, and poured in freshly squeezed watermelon juice. She added a few ice cubes, sealed the lid, shook it vigorously, and handed it to Man Man, gesturing with her eyes for her to try it.

 

Man Man took a sip and commented, “Needs a bit more sugar.”

 

“I’ll add some next time,” Su Qingwan replied. Suddenly remembering something, she rushed to the kitchen. “Oh no! I forgot to put the jelly in the fridge!”

 

This jelly was something she and Man Man had woken up early to make, after two failed attempts.

 

Man Man quickly reassured her, “Don’t worry, I remember there’s a fan upstairs. I’ll grab it and cool it down for a while.”

 

Hearing this, Su Qingwan finally relaxed. She didn’t want her carelessness to disrupt everyone’s plans.

 

Seeing that three bowls of cut fruit were already prepared and the ice cubes had been divided into larger pieces, Man Man glanced at the time. It was almost eleven o’clock, and tourists were already up and strolling through the streets.

 

She gave Zhang Jiale a look, and the male guests worked together to lift the ice chest onto Zhang Jiale’s rented pedal tricycle. Apart from Liu Yue and Wen Yi, the other guests set off for the street.

 

From a distance, they could see a crowd gathered ahead. Liu Heng, whose curiosity was unmatched, immediately ran over to investigate.

 

He returned with his head drooping, sheepishly explaining, “Yu Meng and Shangguan Yu set up a ring toss game. One yuan per ring, minimum five rings. Whatever fruit you land a ring on, you win that fruit.”

 

“They’re doing ring toss, we’re selling fruit platters. We’re not interfering with each other. What’s wrong with that?” Song Jie responded.

 

“But they’re…”

 

“Who was talking about ‘slapping their faces’ last night? Don’t boost their morale while undermining our own,” Zhang Jiale interrupted, rolling up his sleeves, eager for the challenge ahead.

 

Liu Heng smacked his lips, then, urged on by Zhang Jiale, began hawking loudly, “Come one, come all! Delicious and affordable fruit salads, fruit sago, and fruit yogurt—we’ve got it all!”

 

After just two calls, tourists began flocking to the stall.

 

The tourists glanced at the price list, found the prices reasonable, and immediately ordered two items.

 

The pattern repeated with subsequent customers, and within minutes, the fruit stall was swarming with people.

 

Fortunately, they had enough people to barely manage the crowd.

 

To conserve energy, Man Man suggested they take turns making the fruit platters.

 

Su Qingwan was relieved and began to survey their surroundings. As Man Man had predicted, there were indeed three other fresh juice stalls on the street.

 

Compared to simple fresh juice, tourists overwhelmingly preferred the multi-textured fruit platters, drawing most of the crowd to their stall.

 

She turned to Man Man, who had also been relieved, and said, “You called it.” When Man Man didn’t respond, Su Qingwan turned to see her blinking rapidly. She quickly stepped closer. “Did you get sand in your eye?”

 

Man Man nodded slightly, the foreign object causing her discomfort. She raised her hand to rub her eye, but Su Qingwan stopped her. “Don’t rub it. Let me take a look.”

 

As she spoke, Su Qingwan leaned closer, gently widening Man Man’s round eyes with her fingers. Man Man’s pupils dilated instantly, their dark, luminous depths reflecting Su Qingwan’s entire image.

 

Su Qingwan lowered her gaze, and Man Man’s cherry-like lips once again filled her vision.

 

Don’t look. There are plenty of cherries in the bowl; just grab one if you want to eat.

 

This one must be sweeter than the others.

 

Su Qingwan, snap out of it! Everyone’s watching. Don’t let lust cloud your judgment.

 

Forcing herself to ignore her racing heartbeat, Su Qingwan focused on Man Man’s eyes. While searching for the foreign object, she gently blew on Man Man’s eyes, hoping to ease her discomfort.

 

Little did she know, her breath sent shockwaves through Man Man’s heart, causing her steadfast resolve to waver.

 

Before she could fully process what was happening, a soft sensation pressed against her eyes.