Chapter Two: Clearing One’s Name?

Mo Yani was Sang Yijia’s agent. Seeing Sang Yijia’s expression just now, her heart skipped a beat as she hurriedly tried to figure out what had gone wrong.

"Jiajia, the traffic was really bad, that's why I was late," Mo Yani explained. She knew Sang Yijia’s background well—her family ran a modest business and their roots weren't deep, but they owned more than a dozen buildings for rent and managed several large produce markets.

Sang Yijia’s entry into the entertainment industry was like throwing money around for fun. Mo Yani couldn't help but envy her; who wouldn’t want such a quietly affluent family?

“It’s fine,” Sang Yijia said. She remembered that the original Sang Yijia was a brash, unreasonable person who could rant for half an hour over the smallest thing, but that didn’t suit her own temperament.

After getting in the car, Sang Yijia leaned back against the seat and closed her eyes to rest.

It was only then that Mo Yani noticed how Sang Yijia looked after removing her makeup and washing her face—her fair, delicate features stood out. Mo Yani pressed her lips together, feeling that Sang Yijia was more approachable now, and couldn’t help saying, “Jiajia, you look really nice even without makeup.”

“This time, for the variety show, if you go on without makeup, Shen Jin might just be moved,” Mo Yani had mentioned this before, but Sang Yijia always thought she was being tricked. She believed that not wearing makeup meant not looking good, and how could you win someone’s heart if you weren’t attractive?

Mo Yani dared not bring it up again, and now, when she did, she was careful, afraid that Sang Yijia would throw a fit. Thinking about it, Mo Yani wished she could slap herself—why bring it up again without reason?

“If it’s not necessary, I won’t wear makeup anymore,” Sang Yijia replied. She disliked having her face covered in powder; it felt sticky and stifling, and simple skincare was enough.

“Huh?” Mo Yani was stunned, thinking she must have misheard. “No makeup?”

“I can wear lipstick,” Sang Yijia said, drawing her final line.

Mo Yani could hardly believe it, awkwardly replying, “Alright, whatever you say.” She discreetly glanced at Sang Yijia several times, wondering who had provoked her—how could she suddenly decide not to wear makeup?

The car fell quiet. Seeing Sang Yijia close her eyes again, Mo Yani didn’t want to disturb her and sat quietly.

After a while, the phone notification sounded.

Sang Yijia felt her phone vibrate, opened her eyes, and saw a reply in the group chat.

[Mother Sang: Come home for dinner tonight.]

Then, a private message, still from Mother Sang.

[Mother Sang: A father and daughter never hold grudges overnight. Come home tonight and talk properly—your father won’t be angry anymore.]

Sang Yijia thought for a moment and replied, “Okay.” That was the end of it.

“I’ll go home for dinner tonight. Stop at the nearest mall,” Sang Yijia said. Since she was going home, she couldn’t go empty-handed—she needed to buy some fruit.

Mo Yani’s eyes widened with excitement. Before signing the variety show, Mrs. Sang had insisted that Sang Yijia had to return home, and now that she heard Sang Yijia say she’d go back, Mo Yani almost wanted to spin around in delight. “Alright, I’ll arrange it right away.”

Afterward, Mo Yani glanced at Sang Yijia’s face and said anxiously, “Jiajia, your mother invested quite a lot in this variety show so you could join.”

“Yes, I know.” Sang Yijia responded lightly, her hand habitually searching for something to hold, but the original wore nothing on her wrist, so she pinched the handle of her small handbag.

Mo Yani didn’t dare say more.

—

The supermarket was crowded. Sang Yijia was somewhat infamous, so before getting out of the car she prepared thoroughly: mask, bucket hat, and a pair of non-prescription glasses.

Even so, she was recognized.

While browsing the fruit section, Sang Yijia suddenly noticed fresh hawthorn berries and instinctively walked over, oblivious to the person beside her who was livestreaming.

The streaming host hadn’t expected to run into Sang Yijia, only realizing it when viewers pointed it out.

The host turned and saw the person next to her intently selecting hawthorn berries. The girl wore a mask and bucket hat, most of her face hidden, but her exposed dark eyes were strikingly clear.

The host took a few seconds to react. “Hello.”

“Is there something you need?” Sang Yijia’s response surprised the viewers.

[Her attitude is so nice!]
[There’s no way that’s Sang Yijia.]
[Is this a joke? Would Sang Yijia really show up in a supermarket?]

“It’s nothing,” the host said, pointing to her phone. “I’m livestreaming—do you mind?”

Sang Yijia glanced at the phone, thinking her disguise was solid enough, so she nodded. “It’s fine.”

Relieved, the host said, “Let me tell you, this is how you pick hawthorn berries.” She reached out, demonstrating, “Pinch them to check how firm they are.”

“If they’re too soft, don’t take them—they’re not fresh.”

Sang Yijia listened carefully. “Thank you.”

“And hawthorn berries can be male or female. Look here,” the host pointed to the bottom of the fruit, “these are double-lobed, these are single.”

“Generally, the female ones taste better and have no gritty texture, while the male ones are a bit more sour and astringent.” After explaining, the host couldn’t help but ask Sang Yijia, “Are you planning to make candied fruit or syrup?”

“I’ll just eat them as they are,” Sang Yijia replied.

The host was dumbfounded. “Eat them raw? They’re very sour and astringent—a single bite will make you feel awful.”

“I like that feeling,” Sang Yijia said, lifting her bag of selected hawthorn berries. She estimated it weighed three or four pounds—enough for herself.

Seeing the host’s incredulous expression, Sang Yijia curved her lips into a faint smile, her eyes tinged with gentle amusement. “Thank you.”

“Oh… alright…” The host was still stunned, unable to believe someone would eat them raw.

Some viewers had never tasted hawthorn berries, and seeing their resemblance to small green apples, doubted they could be as unpleasant as the host described.

The host, sensing the viewers’ disbelief, grabbed several pounds of hawthorn berries and declared, “Since you don’t believe me, I’ll buy all these and send them to you!”

“Message me later and let me know just how awful they really are!”

—

Besides hawthorn berries, Sang Yijia also bought melon, strawberries, grapes, blueberries, and cherries—she picked a bit of everything she liked before heading to the checkout.

As dinnertime approached, the checkout lanes were crowded. Sang Yijia decided to queue at the self-service counters.

Unexpectedly, the host she’d seen earlier was now queued diagonally across from her.

Sang Yijia paid no attention and removed her mask while paying—just as the camera caught her face.

Suddenly, the host’s livestream exploded.

[Did you see that!]
[It’s really Sang Yijia!]
[When did she become so easygoing?]

The host saw this too and checked the comments, only to find people beginning to question her.

[Are you two working together to clean up her reputation?]
[The host is just cashing in! Unsubscribed!]
[Disgusting, I thought the host was serious about her videos. Turns out she’s been bought!]