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Fans know Ethan hates me,so he’s blunt: “Perfect,one for Chloe,one for Ryan.”
Both wave it off—meat buns filled them,who wants bread?
Lily sighs, “Not eating?Then...”
I lunge,covering her mouth: “I’ll have a piece!Who said no?”
Lily’s smugness turns to fury,then shock.She breaks free: “You ate meat buns?”
“Yeah...so?”
She storms off,mad Pearl got meat buns while she’s stuck with just bread.
"Hey! Give me a piece!"
She speeds up.
We three wander with our reward—a bag of pickles.
Ryan scratches his head: “Pickles aren’t dinner alone.”
He and Chloe debate.I try suggesting begging,but can’t cut in their conversation.
A steamy,fragrant burst wafts from a shop.
I sprint over—it’s the same as Lily's bread.
Bread..
A middle-aged woman hustles.
Crowds gather around,some picking up large orders.
I jump in,holding bags,moving stuff, sneaking a peak into the ovens...
When she’s done,she eyes me: “You’re not my new helper,are you?”
I shake my head,pointing at the bread,then my stomach: “Hungry.”
She’s suspicious,ready to call cops,but the breakfast owner vouches for me.
She lets me stay,promising food.
When Ryan and Chloe find me,I’m begging, “Just two more slices?My friend Chloe eats seven or eight a meal.”
Chloe,overhearing,looks like she’s about to faint—her reputation!
But she forgives me.
We squat by a bridge,eating pickles with bread,content.
Comments:[This show’s legit.Only starvation makes the pauper’s meal taste like a feast.]
[Pearl saying Chloe eats so much?How’s she so serious when talking absolute nonsense!]
[Stars eating same meal as me.]
[Don’t laugh,but watching them eat made me hungry.Gotta go cook dinner now.]
Day three,a hot-shot idol joins to promote his tv show.
The crew changes the schedule,keeping the small-town market setting.
No food worries today.
No need for crew to prompt,Ethan and Lily,hot as a couple on the screen,pair up.
Ryan,Chloe,and I form the Eat-Eat-Eat trio.
Thanks to yesterday,the breakfast owner shoves us a clue—a corner of a framed map—into my hands.
The crew fumes: “Boss,set a tough challenge first, give them the clue afterwards!”
“Oh!”The owner grabs his son: “Have this guy tutor my kid.”
“That’s a challenge?”
He offers a plate of buns: “How about eating five of ‘em in ten minutes?”
I cheer, “Teah, sure!”
Suggesting, “Can I trade one bun for two of those sesame balls?”
Chloe and Ryan muzzle the director.I gulp down all the buns,winning the clue fair and square.
We move on.A fishing guy by the river screams he’s placed there by the crew.
Ethan’s team and ours arrive together.
Task:catch ten fish for a clue.
Ethan steps up.
Ryan moves,but I block him.
Water...fish...pelican BUFF maxed!
Ethan runs his finger through his hair,sneering, “Fair fight.Since you insist,I’ll spare you three fish.”
I chuckle,diving headfirst into the water,body flat on the bank.
Everyone’s stunned by the bizarre sight.