Chapter 391

Just one?

When I went to look, they were sold out. How did you manage to buy one?

And those stores have raised their prices. A fan costs two hundred dollars now.”

Alarieka looked over and asked quietly: “Is that so?”

Jaylene said: “Yeah, I just went to look too. There was no way I’d let those stores rip me off, so I turned around and left.”

Shi Yao’s face stiffened for a moment, and he said stiffly: “I happened to run into a kind shop owner who sold it to me. What’s the problem?”

It would be strange if that were really the case.

When he went to the stores or street vendors, the small fans were long sold out. He had to buy from a tourist who had already bought one.

That tourist asked for an exorbitant price, saying he wanted five hundred dollars for it.

Shi Yao swore he only agreed to pay five hundred dollars for a fan worth thirty because he saw Alarieka was about to get heatstroke. It definitely wasn’t for any other reason.

Jaylene was still suspicious: “Is that so? I don’t think that’s right…”

Shi Yao frowned; “Let’s not dwell on this. Where are we going later?”

Jaylene looked at him with a penetrating gaze: “Mr. Shi, something’s off with you, isn’t it? Why did you only buy one? Forget about buying just one. It’s so hot, and you don’t use it yourself? You only gave it to Alarieka?”

Shi Yao scowled: “I’m not hot. It’s just that Alarieka was so restless and about to faint from the heat, so I gave her the fan.”

Jaylene stared intently at Shi Yao, focusing on his earlobes.

Shi Yao’s earlobes reddened easily, easily betraying his thoughts.

Shi Yao frowned, about to tell Jaylene to stop looking, when Alarieka abruptly said: “Alright, let’s head back for now. It’s too hot, I can’t walk anymore. And I’m worried about my grandmother being alone at the hotel.”

At the mention of her grandmother, Jaylene finally pulled her gaze away from Shi Yao’s earlobes: “Okay, let’s hurry back.”

Shi Yao quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

As the group passed in front of him, he looked up when Alarieka walked by.

He saw Alarieka wave the electric fan in her hand and say in a voice only the two of them could hear: “Thanks.”

With that, Alarieka walked off without stopping to wait for him.

Shi Yao chuckled.

Why did this girl even say thanks like it was a challenge?

After laughing, he immediately quickened his pace to catch up with Alarieka.

Jaylene asked over her shoulder as she walked: “Alarieka, you’ve got some time before school starts. Want to go traveling somewhere?”

Alarieka shook her head: “No time.”

Jaylene was surprised: “How come? It’s only July now. You’ve got two months before school starts.”

Alarieka smiled: “I’ve got things to do.”

“What things?”

Jaylene, Shi Yao, Nie Guanyu, and Tamika all looked over.

Alarieka gave a light laugh: “It’s not just me. You all have things to do too.”

“What’s all the mystery?”

“Let’s start a business?”

The playground suddenly fell into a tranquil silence, everyone staring at Alarieka.

Alarieka smiled. “So? Partners, care to hear about my project?”

Later, Jaylene would reflect that Alarieka likely never imagined how vividly her confident, bold smile during that pitch would etch itself into memory–lingering so long.

Five years had passed.

Alarieka had just woken when Yao dragged her up, thrusting a toothbrush loaded with paste into her hand.

“Sis, Alarieka, wake up already?”

Before her eyes fully opened, Yao half-dragged her into the bathroom, guiding the brush into her mouth.