The Darling of Heaven Owns a Rip-off Shop

”All right then!” Huang Shiyuan clenched her fist. ”As long as Tianmiao’s with me, I’m not afraid of anything.”

”Do we need to bring our own diving gear?” Han Ting asked.

”Nope, just bring the swimsuits you like, they’ve got everything over there. You can use my skincare and sunscreen too—travel light and just have fun. You can play for as long as you want.” Tianmiao said with a squinty smile.

”Hooray!” Han Ting and Huang Shiyuan were so happy they started hopping around. Knowing Tianmiao, and actually becoming besties with her, felt like the luckiest thing ever!

That summer vacation, Han Ting and Huang Shiyuan spent a week on Tianmiao’s island, then another week on Chen Jinglou’s island together with Tianmiao.

Under the blue sky lay the blue ocean. The pier built on the island looked straight down into crystal-clear water, where you could see all kinds of fish swimming back and forth. The soft beach was dotted with lounge chairs and sun umbrellas. Barefoot on the sand, every step left a footprint, only for the next wave to rush up and wash them all away.

Huang Shiyuan walked ahead, laughing, and Han Ting followed behind, deliberately stepping into Huang Shiyuan’s footprints. The two of them walked forward, leaving a string of prints. After a while, they looked back at Tianmiao—she was also smiling, following behind them, stepping into their footprints as she walked.

”Oh, a hermit crab!” Huang Shiyuan suddenly squatted down with a little cry.

”This is so cute.” Han Ting squatted down too.

Tianmiao walked over and reached out her hand to touch the hermit crab.

”Don’t, it might pinch you!” Han Ting and Huang Shiyuan hurriedly stopped her.

Tianmiao said, ”It won’t.”

As soon as she finished, under Han Ting and Huang Shiyuan’s stunned gaze, the hermit crab neatly pulled in both its claws and climbed onto Tianmiao’s hand. Then it stood there on her palm, waving its little pincers at Han Ting and Huang Shiyuan, almost like it was saying hello.

”Wow, that’s amazing. Is it really greeting us?” Han Ting exclaimed.

”I think it is! I’m gonna take a picture—wait, Tianmiao, don’t move.” Huang Shiyuan hurriedly lifted her phone, which was in a waterproof pouch hanging around her neck.

Not far away, under a coconut tree, Chen Jinglou was wearing swim trunks and lying back on a beach chair, sipping an icy drink. With sunglasses on, he watched Tianmiao and the girls. When Tianmiao looked over, he waved at her, then pointed at the drinks on the small table, signaling that the drinks had been delivered and they could come over.

”Let’s go have something to drink. After lunch, we’ll go sea fishing this afternoon.” Tianmiao waved back at Jinglou and said to Han Ting and the others.

Tianmiao walked in front, while Han Ting and Huang Shiyuan followed behind. Han Ting lowered her voice and said to Huang Shiyuan, ”You know, that Chen Boss—he’s really famous but super mysterious. He just gives off this ’keep your distance, totally out of your league’ vibe. I’ve only ever seen him a few times at charity events. He makes tons of money, but when it comes to charity he’s honestly number one in the industry. But every time he shows up, he just donates and leaves, he absolutely never goes up on stage to give speeches or anything.”

”Whoa.” Huang Shiyuan sighed after listening.

”This afternoon, your ’totally out of your league’ Chen Boss is personally driving the boat to take us out sea fishing.” Tianmiao suddenly turned back with a squinty smile and dropped that line.

”Ah—!” Han Ting let out a shriek. She was doomed, totally doomed! If her parents found out that Chen Boss was actually taking her out on his boat, she had no idea how they’d react. And if all those society ladies who idolized Chen Boss heard about it, would they just eat her alive?

In the afternoon, when they went sea fishing, Tianmiao sat off to the side eating little cakes and fruit, watching them fish.