Chapter 31

The morning sun bathed the square in golden light as Aria Bennett and her team arrived at their designated spot, pulling a small cart laden with cherries and potted landscapes.

"This location is way too out of the way," Leo Brooks muttered, eyeing the large tree at the corner of the square with frustration.

The production crew had assigned them the farthest edge of the plaza, where only a few elderly women sat with their grandchildren, seeking shade. Nearby, other cherry vendors bustled with customers, their stalls thriving.

Aria set down the last basket of cherries and dusted her hands. "Now it's your turn."

"Us?" Mason Bell pointed at himself in surprise. "Aren’t we selling these together?"

"Of course, but this is your chance to shine." Aria winked, then lowered her voice, covering her mic. "Want more screen time? Put in the effort—audiences love watching rookies work hard."

The trainees froze. Weren’t people always saying Aria hogged the spotlight? Why was she giving them the opportunity now?

Damian Cross, standing nearby, let a faint smile touch his lips. He stepped closer to Aria. "Need help?"

"I was thinking of making something with these straw ropes." She twirled the strands in her hand. "Care to join, Damian?"

"Gladly." He settled beside her, accepting the straw she handed him.

Under the shade of the tree, the two wove baskets together, their quiet collaboration painting a serene and picturesque scene.

Meanwhile, Mason and the others were struggling.

"Ma'am, our cherries are incredibly sweet. Would you like to try one?" Eli Carter offered with a hopeful smile.

The elderly woman shook her head. "Too expensive. The stall up front sells them for five dollars less."

A full half-hour passed, and they had only sold two pounds of cherries. The potted landscapes remained untouched.

[Live comments exploded:]

[LOL, these guys look so adorably lost!]

[Why isn’t Aria helping? Just lazing around as usual.]

[Hey, don’t jump to conclusions—I saw Aria whispering something to them earlier.]

[Lip-reader here: She was teaching them how to get more screen time!]

[Wow, that’s actually really sweet of her.]

"This isn’t working," Leo groaned, running a hand through his hair. "Maybe we should ask Aria for advice."

By the time they reached the tree, Damian had just finished a small basket.

"Damian, we can’t sell anything," Elliot Hayes admitted, his expression crestfallen.

Damian glanced toward the bustling crowd. "You need to draw people in first."

"But we’ve been calling out to them for ages with no luck," Eli sighed.

Aria looked up. "Don’t you all have talents?"

"Talents?" The trainees exchanged confused looks.

"Exactly." Her eyes sparkled. "Singing, dancing—anything. Ask the crew for a speaker, and you’ll definitely attract attention."

She gestured to the woven baskets. "And you can run a promotion—buy cherries, get a handmade basket free."

The realization hit them like a lightning bolt.

"Oh!" Aria added suddenly, "Who here is good at drawing or calligraphy?"

Elliot raised his hand. "I can sketch."

"Perfect!" Aria grinned. "Use your earnings to buy some paper and pens."

[The livestream erupted again:]

[Aria’s creating opportunities for the rookies!]

[Where are the people who said she hogs the spotlight? Apologize!]

[Elliot can draw? Can’t wait to see!]

[This move is seriously winning me over.]

Mason and the others hurried off, energized by the new plan. Beneath the tree, Aria and Damian shared a quiet smile before returning to their weaving. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled patterns over them.