Chapter 15

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Chapter 15: Title

"Traditional rickshaw rides—an exclusive, immersive experience!"

Under the bright sun, a young woman in an elegant long dress called out enthusiastically, her voice clear and bright.

Beside her, a young man in a long shirt waved energetically. "Anyone up for a ride?"

They were An Xin and Liu Tian.

From the start, the two had agreed that if they wanted to make money, their rickshaw needed a unique selling point. After some discussion, they decided to dress in historical costumes to attract tourists.

Both were naturally good-looking, and the moment they stepped out in their period outfits, they turned heads. A small crowd quickly formed around them.

But while many paused to take pictures, some even stepping forward to snap selfies, few were willing to pay for a ride. The problem was clear—most of the onlookers were casual passersby, not fans. And with the fare set at twice the usual price, hesitation was inevitable.

For ten minutes, the two called out tirelessly.

[I feel so bad for Liu Tian—it’s so hot, and his clothes are drenched in sweat. ]

[I wish I were there! I’d pay double just to ride!]

[An Xin is giving it her all—keep going! ]

[They’re both working so hard! Let’s cheer them on!]

At last, they landed their first customer—a young woman who was clearly a fan of Liu Tian. She kept her phone up, snapping pictures of him nonstop.

"Alright, miss, off we go!" Liu Tian said brightly, setting off with renewed energy.

Meanwhile, inside a restaurant at the scenic area…

The owner—a warm, middle-aged woman—grinned at the two young celebrities before her. "Sure! No problem!"

Shen Xi and Zhong Yueli had taken a different approach. Rather than immediately attracting tourists, they had spent time strategizing before seeking out the owner of a local restaurant.

"We’re filming a variety show competition," Zhong Yueli explained. "The challenge involves rickshaw pulling, and we were hoping to collaborate with your restaurant on a special promotion."

The moment she heard the words on TV and got a good look at Zhong Yueli, the owner agreed without hesitation. "Great! I’m in!"

Zhong Yueli blinked. "…I haven’t even explained the details yet."

The owner chuckled. "I don’t need to hear them. A feature on TV is free advertising—I can’t lose. Besides, with your looks, I’m sure you won’t let me down."

Shen Xi, who had been quietly listening, burst into laughter. "Boss, you have a great eye! After the show airs, your place is bound to get even more popular."

Only then did the owner glance at Shen Xi, taking a second look. "Wait a second… Have I seen you on TV before?"

As it turned out, Shen Xi—having sung theme songs for multiple dramas—was often invited to perform on variety shows and gala events. The owner, though unfamiliar with Zhong Yueli, recognized Shen Xi immediately.

Even more coincidentally, after asking Zhong Yueli’s name, she realized her daughter was a huge fan of his.

Grinning, she excitedly asked for their autographs. "You know what? I’ll back you guys no matter what. Even if it means taking a loss!" She then insisted they come back for a meal on the house.

After some back-and-forth, the three finally settled on a promotion: customers who bought a rickshaw ticket would receive a 50% discount voucher for a two-person meal.

Though their rickshaw fare was nearly double the usual price, when combined with the meal deal, it was an irresistible offer for tourists. Plus, the vouchers were valid for a week, giving customers flexibility.

[Haha! The restaurant owner is too real—she’s willing to take a loss for this! ]

[Smart move! After the show airs, people will definitely come here to check in.]

[Wait… is the owner secretly a marketing genius?]

[Isn’t this similar to another group’s business collaboration idea?]

[Wait, which group? I just switched streams.]

Elsewhere, Song Yutian and Gu Feng had officially begun drawing in tourists.

Since they had already secured advertising revenue, they didn’t need to raise ticket prices. Their fare remained at the standard 81 yuan.

Before they could even start calling out, two high school-aged girls approached.

One of them, clearly smitten, kept stealing glances at Gu Feng. The other focused on Song Yutian and asked boldly, "Sister, you’re so pretty! Are you filming a show?"

Song Yutian nodded. "Yes. Want a ride? Eighty-one yuan."

The two girls whispered to each other for a moment before nodding in agreement.

Song Yutian took their payment and helped them into the rickshaw.

The program had preassigned each team’s route. Gu Feng, who was in good shape, pulled the rickshaw with ease. Song Yutian followed behind in a production staff vehicle.

The livestream alternated between the bright, youthful faces of the passengers and the charming Republic of China–era street scenery.

Everything seemed to be going smoothly.

And then, just as the rickshaw rounded a corner—

A familiar pair of figures appeared.

"Wait… is that them?"

On another street, Wei Yao was reluctantly carrying out Gong Yu’s "beauty pulls the rickshaw" plan.

After much insistence from her teammate, she had finally caved.

She had found a restroom, changed out of her dress, and swapped into the sports pants provided by the program.

While she took her time changing, Gong Yu paced impatiently outside, checking his watch.

The moment Wei Yao stepped out, he rushed over with a bright smile.

"Yao Yao, you look great in anything! But I still prefer you in a dress."

Wei Yao shot him a glance but said nothing.

She moved past him, stepped between the rickshaw’s handles, and took a deep breath before lifting it. She managed a few steps forward.

Not as bad as she had imagined. Doable.

"Yao Yao is amazing!" Gong Yu called out dramatically. "Who says women can’t do what men do?"

Having achieved his goal, he lost interest in her and turned his attention to the passersby.

"Beautiful celebrity pulling a rickshaw! Just 200 yuan! First come, first served!"

The typical rickshaw fare for the scenic area was 80 yuan for a 15-minute ride. Gong Yu had more than doubled it.

For a moment, his enthusiastic calls drew curiosity, but few people actually stepped forward.

Gong Yu kept walking back and forth, repeating his pitch.

Wei Yao stood still, gripping the rickshaw handles, listening to his voice rise and fall as he moved further and closer. A knot tightened in her stomach.

She had always told herself that as a female artist, she needed to be adaptable—especially on variety shows. No burdens, no complaints.

That was why, despite her discomfort, she had given in to Gong Yu’s persistent persuasion.

She had been in the industry for four years, faced countless cold shoulders, and thought she had grown a thick enough skin.

But now, standing there, hearing "beautiful celebrity" and "first come, first served," feeling the curious and ambiguous gazes of tourists—

For the first time, she felt truly helpless.

If only… someone could help her.