Shen Xingsui seemed a bit dazed as he spoke.

Fu Jinxiao, observing his bewildered expression, saw those round eyes fixed on him. Shen's pale face was tinged with a faint blush under the sun. Innocently approaching him without any guard, Shen looked like a tender, clean, utterly adorable rabbit.

He seemed not to grasp what he was saying.

The sight of Shen's naive demeanor melted any lingering irritation in Fu Jinxiao's heart. Smiling slightly, he picked up a paper and said, "Once we get to the farmer's market, no matter what I say, you keep quiet."

Shen Xingsui nodded.

Fu Jinxiao, a little surprised, asked, "You won't ask why?"

Glancing at him, a gentle laugh danced in Shen Xingsui's eyes, luminous and radiant. He whispered, "No need to ask. I trust you."

Fu Jinxiao's deep eyes flickered.

Throughout his life, he had achieved much, becoming the company's linchpin, the family heir, and an idol to fans. Perhaps he had always been in the limelight, perhaps many had pinned high hopes on him. Yet, never before had someone caused his heart to race with such intensity as in this moment.

Fu Jinxiao quirked a smile, teasingly suggesting, "What if I sold you off?"

"Huh?!" Shen Xingsui, appearing genuinely startled, blinked in confusion and mumbled, "I, I, I'm not worth much, am I?"

Fu Jinxiao couldn't help but chuckle under his breath.

The live stream audience also burst into laughter:

"Who is this angelic boy?"

"My dear Xingsui is too adorable!"

"LOL, I wanna pinch him!"

"Now I get Fu's joy!"

"Just kidding," seeing Shen Xingsui's flustered look, Fu Jinxiao's heart softened. As they reached the market and he stepped out of the car, he said with a smirk, "I'd never have the heart to sell you."

Shen Xingsui froze in his seat.

The autumn sunlight was warm and comforting, matching the warmth blossoming in his heart.

A few steps away, Fu Jinxiao turned and called out, "Daydreaming? Come on."

Snapping out of his daze, Shen Xingsui nodded and quickly jogged over, his steps light and eyes shining with mirth. Despite the demanding nature of the show and the challenges ahead, his steps were always accompanied by a joyous smile.

In the past, faced with a grim destiny, he felt like he was plunging into darkness, torn between giving up and persevering without hope. But now, he felt renewed courage and hope.

because

Ahead of him was Fu Jinxiao.

His guiding light.

...

The Farmers' Market:

A bustling place with all sorts of vendors. To secure a good spot to sell fruit, location was key. Fu Jinxiao zeroed in on a spot with heavy foot traffic. However, they learned it was being monopolized by the neighboring antique shop owner at a steep price.

The two exchanged a glance and entered the shop.

After briefly explaining their intentions, the shop owner, not recognizing them due to their sunglasses, promptly declined, "No way. Two hundred a day? That's too low. Absolutely not."

Fu Jinxiao, appearing troubled, queried, "Can't we negotiate?"

"At least a thousand," the owner stated firmly. "Not a penny less, or no deal."

Fu Jinxiao nodded slowly, murmuring, "That's a bit difficult then..."

Shen Xingsui felt puzzled. Subtracting their fruit expenses, they still had over a thousand left. For Fu Jinxiao to haggle down to two hundred was already commendable. This location was indeed prime, but a usual day's rent might only be six to seven hundred. The shop owner was clearly trying to overcharge.

The owner smirked smugly, confident in his position.

Coincidentally, at that moment, two female tourists walked into the store, their attention caught by an exquisitely beautiful peach blossom bowl.

The shopkeeper eagerly remarked, "Such discerning eyes you ladies have! This bowl has a history dating back to the Western Zhou dynasty..."

As the shopkeeper painted a colorful history, just when it seemed the tourists were about to make a purchase, their attention was diverted to Fu Jinxiao and Shen Xingsui standing nearby. Curiously, they asked, "Are you here to shop as well?"

Some individuals exude an aura that's hard to ignore, even behind sunglasses. Their broad shoulders, slender waists, and the refined elegance about them tend to draw attention.

With a deep, magnetic voice, Fu Jinxiao replied, "Just browsing."

The young ladies nodded and asked tentatively, "Are you also interested in this Western Zhou bowl?"

Fu Jinxiao responded leisurely, "Not particularly."

"Moreover..." He paused, a faint smirk on his lips, and looking down slightly, remarked, "From my estimation, this isn't from the Western Zhou but rather the earlier Zhou dynasty."

A hushed silence fell over the store.

An infuriated shopkeeper retorted, "What do you know? Everything in my store is authentic!"

Fu Jinxiao raised an eyebrow, "Is it?"

Sensing the shopkeeper's discomfort, Fu Jinxiao casually pointed to a vase in the distance, describing, "A Ming dynasty Yongle blue-and-white porcelain vase, featuring a rounded lid, a brocade-patterned body, and celebrated for its intricate craftsmanship and natural, aesthetic prints."

Seeing Fu Jinxiao's expertise, the shopkeeper proudly chimed in, "You seem knowledgeable. This vase is the gem of my collection."

Fu Jinxiao, arching an eyebrow, approached the vase, giving it a quick scan. "Unfortunately, it's a counterfeit. Ming dynasty blue-and-white porcelain had a characteristic feature due to the technical constraints at the time. When firing the porcelain..."

Fu Jinxiao rattled off a string of technical jargon, leaving the listeners in dazed confusion.

Sensing something amiss, the two tourists promptly decided against their purchase.

Stunned, the shopkeeper, although wanting to refute, sensed he might be dealing with a true connoisseur. He exclaimed, "How dare you sabotage my business? You want to rent a stall, right? Two hundred a day is too low! Fine, six hundred a day. Just stop causing trouble!"

Fu Jinxiao smiled, "Three hundred."

The shopkeeper retorted, exasperated, "Three hundred? Are you trying to rob me?!"

As Fu Jinxiao began to walk out, he calmly remarked, "If we can't come to an agreement, perhaps I should inspect the stall outside. Is that yours as well?"

"...Fine, you win. Five hundred."

Fu Jinxiao raised an eyebrow, "Two hundred and fifty."

The shopkeeper, in disbelief, exclaimed, "You're slashing another fifty off? No way, five hundred at least."

Fu Jinxiao, undeterred, countered, "Two hundred."

Exasperated, the shopkeeper finally relented, "Alright, alright, three hundred it is!"

Fu Jinxiao smiled faintly, "Deal."

Shen Xingsui was absolutely dumbfounded by the business negotiation. There were several moments he wanted to speak up but thankfully refrained, potentially preventing a mishap. What was originally a six to seven hundred booth, especially in such a prime location, was astonishingly secured for just three hundred!

After stepping out, Shen Xingsui couldn't hold back any longer: "Mr. Fu, that was incredible! How did you discern at a glance that the vase was counterfeit, and even state your reasons?"

Fu Jinxiao hooked a corner of his lips, "From that distance? How could I possibly tell at a glance?"

Shen Xingsui blinked, "Wait, then you..."

"I was bluffing him," Fu Jinxiao said nonchalantly, continuing to walk forward. "As for the criteria I mentioned, I made those up on the spot. He was already feeling guilty, so of course he didn't object."

"..."

Shen Xingsui was silent.

The viewers in the live stream were roaring with laughter:

"That's some impressive play!"

"You're devilishly cunning."

"Such a wicked man, but I adore him!"

After questioning his life choices for a moment, Shen Xingsui finally spoke up: "Regardless, we did get an amazing deal!"

As Fu Jinxiao signaled Shen Xingchen to bring over the harvested fruits, he asked, "Do you think the owner suffered a loss?"

After some thought, Shen Xingsui shook his head.

To Fu Jinxiao's surprise, he took his eyes off his phone and inquired, "Why is that?"

"Well, it's evident that this isn't his first rodeo with such dealings. He's made a fair amount of dishonest profit in the past. Although many antique shops mix real and fake items nowadays, the money he's earned is not entirely ethical," Shen Xingsui continued, "By doing business here today, it's actually good karma for him."

Fu Jinxiao chuckled, "Little Shen has become quite perceptive."

Shen Xingsui choked up, feeling as if he was being praised like a child. He wasn't that young, after all!

Meanwhile, the netizens in the live stream were also sharing their thoughts:

"The owner won't be at a loss."

"In the future, fans will visit as a check-in point."

"Lol, but with everyone watching now, he won't dare anymore."

"Forced into legitimate business? Hahaha."

The fruits harvested by Shen Xingchen and his group arrived swiftly. By the time Fu Jinxiao and Shen Xingsui had almost finished setting up their stall, it was nearing noon. Yet everyone was brimming with energy, with hardly anyone complaining of fatigue or hunger.

Once the stall was set up, people began inquiring about the prices and wanted to make purchases.

After Shen Xingchen announced the price, he attempted to help a customer weigh their purchase, but was stumped by the digital scale. He turned to Li Xuan'an, bewildered, "Do you know how to use this?"

Li Xuan'an shook his head, "I've never used one before."

It seemed everyone present was a bit out of their element, as most weren't accustomed to using digital scales for transactions. Just as confusion was setting in, Shen Xingsui stepped forward, saying, "I know how."

Taking the bag, he packed the items with ease, weighed them on the scale, and then cheerfully told the buyer, "That'll be 15.3, but 15 will do. We hope to see you again!"

The customer, pleased to receive even a small discount, smiled warmly and said, "Thank you very much!"

Their payment code had been recently printed, allowing for quick and easy transactions.

The moment their first earnings came in, the phone on their stall chimed with a notification from Alipay. It was just 15 yuan, but it unexpectedly lifted everyone's spirits, filling the team with excitement.

Shen Xingchen broke into a smile, "We made a sale!"

"We actually pulled off a business deal!" exclaimed Shen Xingchen, wiping sweat from his brow. "Xingsui, you're quite something – who knew you were skilled with a scale? Impressive!"

A modest grin appeared on Shen Xingsui's face, "I used to work as a cashier before."

Shen Xingchen praised, "Impressive!"

Getting a closer look through the camera lens, viewers could see the stains on Mr. Shen's face from fruit picking. Despite the intense ultraviolet rays and high temperatures in Taohua Town that left his skin slightly sunburned, the lively lad remained undeterred, energetically calling out to potential customers: "Fruits for sale! Fresh and tasty! Want some? No pressure to buy – feel free to just take a look!"

Shen Xingsui was equally engaged, as he constantly addressed remarks like:

"This peach seems soft; I don't want it."

"Can you give a better price?"

"Hurry up, young man! I'm in a rush!"

Shen Xingsui responded to each one diligently, actively communicating with customers and assuring them when they had concerns: "Not a problem! Let me weigh that for you. Sure thing, have this on the house!"

The weather in Taohua Town was blistering.

Standing there, Shen Xingsui spoke non-stop, always on the move. His back drenched in sweat, he had always been a reserved figure on the show. However, for the team's mission and to assist the villagers, he took initiative, working tirelessly without uttering a single word of complaint, even when his fair skin turned pink from the sun.

Beads of sweat dotted Shen Xingsui's forehead. Without fussing about his appearance, he quickly wiped his face with a towel and dove back into work. His refined face showed determination, and when dealing with customers, his gentle eyes always held a hint of a smile. His slightly grown-out hair gave him a sunny, vibrant appearance.

The live stream viewers were deeply moved:

"He's working so hard."

"Poor Xingsui, he's really giving it his all."

"I never cared for him before, thought he was bland, but now I truly see his charm!"

"Such a darling!"

Gradually, even the viewers began to notice the subtle changes in Shen Xingsui.

The stifling atmosphere that once prevailed has faded away. Ever since "Stellar Radiance" began airing, he seems to gradually merge with the group, blossoming like a flower revealing its beauty to all. This transformation is delightful, evoking a profound sense of satisfaction that has entranced the viewers.

Shen Xingchen remarked, "We've brought some fruits, sugarcane from over there, and a few pineapples. They're from fellow villagers' homes. They entrusted us to sell them. Some customers seem to want them peeled."

Shen Xingsui looked troubled. "I'm not good with a knife," he confessed.

Li Xu'an hesitated before admitting, "I know a bit about it, but I've never tried."

Fu Jinxiao, always in charge of the cash and stall setup, responded, "I'll handle it."

Everyone was astonished. Could such a renowned actor really handle this task? Yet, in reality, there seemed nothing beyond Fu Jinxiao's capabilities. Rolling up his sleeves, he grabbed a pineapple and began to expertly peel it—first removing the crown, then slowly peeling the skin, trimming any unsightly parts, dicing it, and packing it—all in one fluid motion.

Onlookers were left agape, full of admiration.

Watching, Shen Xingchen mused aloud, "How come all of you have such unique talents?"

After packing the fruits for a customer, Fu Jinxiao cast a glance at him and quipped, "You're not too shabby yourself, with your own set of skills."

"Really?" Shen Xingchen asked curiously. "What unique skill do I possess?"

With a teasing smirk, Fu Jinxiao replied, "Does being especially naive count?"

Shen Xingchen stamped his foot in feigned anger. Clinging to his younger brother's arm, he playfully wailed, "Xingsui, he insulted me! Avenge your brother!"

Shen Xingsui simply sighed, "..."

He was torn between laughter and exasperation.

Meanwhile, online viewers were thoroughly entertained by their antics:

"Xingsui: Don't look at me. I can't stand up to him either."

"LOL! Tattling to your younger brother? Classic move."

"So he finally realized Xingsui holds a higher position in Fu Jinxiao's eyes."

"ROFL, xswl."

As the afternoon antics continued, hunger eventually struck. But someone needed to watch the stall. As the elder, Fu Jinxiao took responsibility and told the younger ones to eat, assuring them he'd look after the stall.

Shen Xingsui followed his brother to a nearby street vendor. Once there, Shen Xingchen gulped down water, gasping, "I'm dying of thirst!"

All the while, Li Xu'an tried to caution him, "Slow down, will you? Don't choke."

"None of your business," Shen Xingchen snapped back without restraint. "How could I possibly choke... cough... cough..."

The very next moment after his bold statement, he was indeed choking.

With a resigned sigh, Shen Xingsui patted his back, "Brother, slow down."

Once he caught his breath, Shen Xingchen shot Li Xu'an an accusing glare, "This is all because of your jinxing mouth."

Li Xuan: “...”

They approached the counter to order. Among the items, a seaweed rice was particularly popular. Shen Xingchen immediately said, “No seaweed, please. My brother is allergic to it.”

After ordering, Shen Xingchen noticed a variety of snacks available for sale on the front desk. He bought a few and handed one to Shen Xingsui, commenting, “It’s been a while since I saw this. Surprising to find it in this small town. Have some.”

Shen Xingsui seemed momentarily taken aback.

Having taken several bites already, Shen Xingchen looked at him curiously, “Aren’t you eating? Haven’t you tried this before? This was sold in school canteens when we were kids.”

A strange expression crossed Shen Xingsui's face, but he honestly replied, “I’ve had it before.”

Shen Xingchen laughed, “See? Back in the day, my friends and I used to chip in to buy these. When someone ran out of pocket money, we’d all contribute to get one pack. You have no idea; whenever I wanted something, all my pals would rush to get it. Can you imagine how influential I was?”

Shen Xingsui shook his head.

Shen Xingchen gestured dismissively, “Just picture one friend offering you snacks, then amplify that by many friends. That’s the image.”

Shen Xingsui still seemed lost in thought.

Slightly frustrated, Shen Xingchen blurted out, “You can't even imagine that, can you? Has nobody ever treated you?”

He hit a nerve.

Holding the snack in his hand, Shen Xingsui hesitated for a moment, then admitted, “There were a few times…”

Just as Shen Xingchen was about to say something, Shen Xingsui gave him a gentle smile and whispered, “You just did.”

“...”

Shen Xingchen was left speechless.

The normally slow-to-react elder brother suddenly felt a surge of protective anger towards his seemingly naive younger sibling, questioning with a hint of anger, “Were your school friends that stingy?”

Shen Xingsui unwrapped one of the snacks, saying softly, “I used to treat them with my allowance. But when I ran out, they wouldn't really invite me. Maybe they knew about my situation and didn’t want to embarrass me.”

“...”

That’s just using you!

Shen Xingchen exclaimed, “Those aren’t friends. They weren’t being considerate at all!”

This simple lunch incident made the live chat in their stream explode with comments:

“I relate so much. No one ever treated me to anything as a kid.”

“Poor Xingsui.”

“Didn’t people on social media claim he bullied his classmates before?”

"Are you still on 2G? An Ran already confirmed it's false."

Originally, the topic had cooled down, but now it has reignited among netizens.

"An Ran really never offered a sincere apology afterwards."

"During the recording of 'Starlight', they even served seaweed cakes. Knowing full well Sui Sui is allergic!"

"He's genuinely malicious."

"Can those above be kinder? Back then, An Ran did apologize on Weibo. Isn't it Shen Xing Sui who refused to accept? Who's to blame?"

At first, everyone was just voicing their opinions. But with the sudden and fierce defense from An Ran's fans, it provoked those who couldn't stand their comments.

"Does an apology always have to be accepted?"

"Blaming the victim?"

"If An Ran is truly a good person, why doesn't anyone in the group hang out with him?"

The chat in the live stream turned chaotic, yet the participants of the show remained unaware of the situation.

Shen Xing Sui finished his meal quickly, soon packing a portion to return to the stall. By midday, there were fewer customers. He briskly ran over, spotting Fu Jin Xiao, who was settling accounts, and greeted with a smile, "Teacher Fu, I'm back!"

Fu Jin Xiao looked up, seeing the sweat on his forehead, commented, "Why the rush? No one's competing with you for food."

Shen Xing Sui sat down, replying, "I didn't want you to go hungry."

Taking the food container, Fu Jin Xiao remarked, "This is nothing. Normally, when busy with filming or attending events, I might not eat all day. Outdoor shoots are even more exhausting."

Listening, Shen Xing Sui felt the weight of his hardship.

As he was contemplating, while handing over the chopsticks, he glanced and noticed Fu Jin Xiao's reddened palms, with a blister that seemed burst.

Unable to hold back, he inquired, "What happened to your hand?"

Fu Jin Xiao, a bit surprised he noticed, played it down, "I got burnt cooking yesterday. It's no big deal. The production team provided ointment last night, it's almost healed now."

Silence ensued.

He was sugar-coating it, Shen Xing Sui realized.

He remembered that during lunch, Fu Jin Xiao was constantly cutting pineapples and sugarcane for guests. The coarse texture of these fruits would be painful against the blister. Injuries to the hands are the most painful. Seeing them now made Shen Xing Sui's heart ache.

Yet, if he hadn't seen it today, Fu Jin Xiao might've never mentioned it.

Noticing the silence, Fu Jin Xiao looked up to see Shen Xing Sui's teary eyes, making him chuckle, "What's wrong? Who upset you?"

"You..." Taking a deep breath, Shen Xing Sui began, but tears streamed down, "Why didn't you tell me you were hurt?"

Seeing him cry, Fu Jin Xiao was instantly filled with concern.

To be honest, after traveling extensively for so many years, Film Emperor Fu had seldom encountered a challenge, and he'd never feared anyone. But he never anticipated that facing a younger man's tears would evoke in him an unprecedented sense of helplessness.

Fu Jinxiao quickly offered a tissue, asking, "What's the matter?"

Realizing he was crying, Shen Xingsui felt embarrassed. He never intended to cry. Taking the tissue, he shook his head and choked out, "It's nothing."

Fu Jinxiao looked at him with a wry smile, "I haven't even shed a tear, yet you're crying on my behalf."

Shen Xingsui, initially somber, was now laughing through his tears due to Fu Jinxiao's jest. He felt a bit embarrassed, especially because they were on a live stream, fearing the audience might mock him.

Fu Jinxiao leaned in closer, patting Shen Xingsui's shoulder with a softer tone, "It's really okay. I've been through worse traveling around all these years. Just stop crying, or else..."

Shen Xingsui stopped wiping his tears and looked up at him, expectantly.

The young man's fair face was flushed, his dark eyes slightly red from the tears. His gaze was pure and captivating as he stared intently at Fu Jinxiao, voice husky with emotion, "Or else what?"

...

Inwardly cursing, Film Emperor Fu realized that these eyes were even more beautiful when filled with tears.

If he really needed to cry, perhaps they could find a more private setting next time.