Chapter 36

"Aria, save us!"

Jonah Pierce clutched Aria Bennett’s sleeve with pleading eyes, his hair disheveled. Behind him, the trainees looked utterly defeated, like wilted greens after a frost.

Caleb Monroe added miserably, "We haven’t eaten lunch—just two cold buns."

Aria glanced at the piles of potatoes and sweet potatoes on their stall and frowned. The situation was worse than she’d expected.

"Maybe... we could perform?" one trainee suggested weakly.

"No," Aria shook her head. "The market crowd isn’t here for entertainment."

Her gaze landed on a nearby stall packing up for the day, and her eyes lit up.

"I’ve got an idea!"

Ten minutes later, the stall reopened. Aria tied on an apron and demonstrated with swift precision.

"Peel and steam the sweet potatoes, mix with glutinous rice flour, knead into dough..."

The trainees watched intently, mesmerized. Jonah couldn’t resist sneaking a taste of the half-finished mixture—his eyes widened in shock.

"This is amazing!"

As the oil sizzled, golden-brown fritters tumbled out, filling the market with a mouthwatering aroma.

"Freshly fried fritters! Get them while they’re hot!"

The trainees called out eagerly, quickly drawing their first customers.

[Damn, this is genius!]

[Aria is a goddess—even street food becomes gourmet in her hands.]

[Me, eating instant noodles, crying with envy.]

Business boomed beyond expectations. But Aria suddenly called a halt. "This isn’t sustainable."

She pointed at the nearly empty oil pot. "We need to expand."

And so, an unbelievable sight unfolded—top-tier celebrity Jonah Pierce, holding a paper tray, chased after passersby. "Ma’am, try our fritters!"

[LMAO, Jonah, where’s your idol dignity?]

[Peak entertainment right here.]

By evening, Aria and her procurement team returned laden with supplies. Damian Cross naturally took the heaviest bag from her hands.

"What do you want for dinner?" Aria asked.

Damian’s gaze softened. "Anything you make."

The trainees cheered, "BBQ!"

"Alright," Aria agreed with a laugh, oblivious to Serena Blake’s dark expression in the corner.

Meanwhile, in the kitchen of a high-end restaurant—

"Why does the fish taste off today?" the head chef demanded.

A server whispered, "It’s from Ms. Blake’s supplier..."

The chef’s face paled. "Pull it all—now!"

Unaware, Serena had no idea her "good fortune" was brewing a storm. Back at the farmhouse, the BBQ coals glowed, illuminating Aria’s radiant smile.