126: Chapter 125

She glanced back at the "Conan" and "Ran" who were chasing her closer and closer, seemingly making up her mind. With gloved fingers, she clumsily dug out a small popper and—threw it hard at the ground in front of them!

"Pop!" came a crackling sound, not loud, but crisp enough.

"Wah!" Kim Chaewon, who was rushing in front, was startled and instinctively jumped to the side, almost bumping into Hitomi. Hitomi also gasped and stopped in her tracks. The two looked at the tiny, exploded red popper paper scraps on the ground, then looked at the "Little Blackie" in front, who was smugly shaking her head with a wicked grin, and were speechless.

"You... you actually used a popper!" Kim Chaewon (Conan) pointed at her, her tone carrying "condemnation" and an accusation of "why aren't you playing by the rules."

"Nyah nyah nyah~" "Little Blackie" Jo Yuri let out a muffled provocative sound, turned around, and wanted to run again.

But just then, the three of them saw, almost simultaneously, a very conspicuous pancake stall next to the park entrance, with a banner that read [XX Brand Delicious Pancake, Energy Refill Station]. The auntie running the stall was looking at them expectantly, holding three freshly made, steaming hot pancakes sprinkled with sesame seeds and powdered sugar.

The production team's instruction sign (held by an assistant) lit up quickly: [Ad Slot No. 1: Pancakes! Stop, thank, take pancake, continue chase!]

The three of them stopped in their tracks simultaneously.

Kim Chaewon and Hitomi exchanged a glance, then looked at the "Little Blackie" who had also stopped in front. The air was silent for a second.

The next second, the three of them turned around almost at the same time, their faces instantly switching to incomparably bright (and stiff) business smiles, and they rushed to the pancake stall in unison.

"Thank you, Auntie! (Korean)" "It looks so delicious! (Japanese)" "Energy refill! (muffled sound from the mask)"

They took the pancakes as quickly as possible, showed an expression of "Wow, what a surprise, so grateful" to the camera (with the VJ following closely), took a big bite (grimacing from the heat), and then, while chewing, turned around and continued running into the park!

"Don't run, thief!" Kim Chaewon yelled incoherently with her mouth full of pancake, holding half a pancake in her hand.

"Conan-kun, be careful, it's hot!" Hitomi also held a pancake, blowing on it with small breaths, not forgetting her role.

"Mmm mmm mmm! (Chew chew)" This was "Little Blackie" Jo Yuri; she held the pancake in one hand and gripped that "stolen goods" Snickers in the other, running in a wobbly manner.

The sweetness of the pancake temporarily relieved the fatigue and shame of running, but it also made this chase become even more... absurd.

Not long after running into the park, the second "checkpoint" appeared.

On a bench by the side of the road, several production staff members were gathered together, with a pile of things in front of them: two large watermelons that had just been cut open with red flesh and black seeds, a big bunch of yellow bananas, several bags of [XX Brand Potato Chips], several bottles of [YY Brand Juice], several bars of [ZZ Brand Soap], several bags of [AA Brand Preserved Fruit], and even half a vacuum-packed [BB Brand Roast Duck], several boxes of [Haidilao Self-heating Hot Pot], and several cups of [CC Brand Coffee] with straws inserted.

They were eating (and drinking) with great gusto, watermelon juice flowing everywhere, and banana peels were casually thrown into a plastic bag nearby (but clearly just peeled).

Seeing the three run closer, a staff member immediately held up a sign: [Ad Slot Collection! Get Props — Fresh Fruit Peels! And Various Product Displays!]

Then, under the dumbfounded gaze of the three, the staff members quickly ate the watermelons until only a thin layer of red flesh remained (revealing the more complete melon rind specially prepared underneath), ate the bananas quickly, and then shoved the freshly made watermelon rinds (cut into a size suitable for throwing), even with some pulp and juice still on them, and the complete banana peels into their hands without question. At the same time, they stuffed products like potato chips, juice, soap, preserved fruit, roast duck, self-heating hot pot, coffee, etc., into their arms or hung them on their bodies.

Kim Chaewon held a few wet watermelon rinds and a bunch of banana peels, while clutching a huge bag of potato chips and a bottle of juice in her arms, her glasses almost crooked.

Hitomi held banana peels and a bar of soap, a bag of preserved fruit was hung around her neck, and she was holding a cup of coffee (some spilled out) in her hand.

"Little Blackie" Jo Yuri's situation was even more "miserable"; she had a Snickers in one hand and a pancake in the other, and now she was stuffed with watermelon rinds and banana peels, while still clutching that half roast duck and a box of Haidilao Self-heating Hot Pot in her arms, and breathing under the mask must have been difficult.

The three looked at the "fresh" fruit peels in their hands, then looked at the group of staff members who had finished eating the fruit and were wiping their mouths with satisfaction, and roared inwardly in unison: 'Actually, we could have eaten too!!! (Especially the roast duck and hot pot!)'

But now was not the time to complain. The production team's instruction sign lit up ruthlessly again: [Prop Usage Time! Throw at each other! Pay attention to brand exposure!]

"Little Blackie" Jo Yuri seemed to be the first to "grasp" the essence; she struggled to adjust the roast duck and hot pot in her arms, and then, using the hand holding the watermelon rind, she turned toward Kim Chaewon—

"Take this! Watermelon rind attack!" she shouted muffledly, throwing a piece of watermelon rind over, while trying hard to face the front of the roast duck packaging towards the camera.

Kim Chaewon hurriedly dodged, and the watermelon rind landed with a "splat" at her feet, red juice splashing out. She was also angry (acting): "How dare you use a watermelon rind! Take this—Banana peel slide!" She threw a banana peel, while quickly aiming the juice bottle label in her arms at the camera, and "accidentally" exposed the front of the potato chip bag as well.

The banana peel drew an arc in the air.

Hitomi exclaimed: "Conan-kun, look out!" She tried to "help" by throwing the soap in her hand (carefully not hitting anyone), the soap flipping in the air with the brand logo clearly visible. "Purify you with soap!"

"Little Blackie" nimbly (relatively speaking) jumped away from the banana peel, but was startled by the flying soap, the Haidilao Hot Pot box in her arms almost falling to the ground; she quickly hugged it tight, while holding the preserved fruit bag high: "Sweet seal of the preserved fruit!"

Kim Chaewon threw another watermelon rind: "Vitality spray of the juice!" (Juice bottle shaking)

Hitomi threw the coffee cup (empty): "Awakening strike of caffeine!" (Close-up of the coffee cup logo)

"Little Blackie" threw the roast duck: "Greasy binding of the roast duck!" (Close-up of vacuum-packed roast duck)

Melon rinds, banana peels, potato chip bags, juice bottles, soap, preserved fruit, roast duck, hot pot boxes, coffee cups... all kinds of "props" flew across the air (or on the ground), accompanied by the three girls letting themselves go more and more, making up nonsense move names, and trying hard to display brand close-ups. Passersby in the park were already stunned, but the children were cheering excitedly.

The scene was chaotic, filled with the fresh scent of fruit (and the precursor to rot), the aroma of food, and a strong flavor of advertising. In this absurd "brand prop melee," the three completely forgot their shame, leaving only the professional instinct of "must throw/hold the product nicely" and the strong desire of "really want to eat roast duck and hot pot."

And all of this was faithfully recorded by multiple camera angles. Producer Jiang Zhi Yu monitored the footage remotely, revealing a satisfied smile, like an old farmer seeing a bountiful harvest.

Group B's TikTok challenge was sprinting towards becoming the "most hardcore, most nonsensical, and most insanely advertising-filled street chase comedy in history"!

** (Continuing with Group C's market sales line) **

Amidst the noisy crowds and mixed smells of the traditional market, the three members of Group C—Miyawaki Sakura, Jang Wonyoung, and Kim Minju—were trying hard to adapt to their roles as "one-day salespeople." They carried baskets filled with sundries like gloves, socks, and small kitchen tools, wearing the sweet smiles they had practiced countless times, trying to sell products to the passing ajummas and ajusshis. However, progress was slow; most passersby just curiously took two looks at these exceptionally pretty girls, or were "intimidated" by the idol aura they carried that was so out of place in the vegetable market, and hurried past.

What distracted them even more was the steaming hot rice cake ball stall next to them, wafting with the aroma of sweet chili sauce, and the man behind the stall who was rolling balls with a "kind" expression on his face, but who was actually whispering "demonic" things non-stop — Producer Jiang Zhi Yu.

"Come, come, come! Take a look! 'Love and Justice Sakura Kill' special rice cake balls! Eat them and feel energized, evil spirits begone!" Producer Jiang Zhi Yu shouted with extra enthusiasm, while his eyes glanced from time to time at the three who were working hard to sell miscellaneous goods, especially Miyawaki Sakura.

Miyawaki Sakura felt the hair on the back of her neck stand up. Every time Jiang Zhiyu shouted "Sakura Kill," she wished she could disappear on the spot. She could only try harder to sell anti-slip gloves to an uncle, attempting to use the product's practicality to cover up her inner breakdown.

Just as Jang Wonyoung finally mustered up the courage and successfully sold a pair of children's socks to an old lady with her grandson, and was just starting to breathe a sigh of relief, Jiang Zhiyu's voice, like a demonic sound piercing her ears, targeted her accurately once again.

"Wonyoung! Come here for a second!"

Jang Wonyoung's scalp went numb, and she had an ominous premonition. Miyawaki Sakura and Kim Minju also looked over with concern.

Jiang Zhiyu was seen pulling out a... transparent plastic device from under his stall (heaven knows how he managed to stuff so many strange things under that small stall). The main body of that thing was a spring coil, with an empty but brand-new labeled mineral water bottle fixed on top, with the words "Natural Mineral Water" on the bottle standing out prominently. Both ends of the spring coil were connected to an adjustable elastic cord.

"Producer Jiang Zhi Yu... what is this now...?" Jang Wonyoung retreated half a step vigilantly.

"Don't be afraid, it's a good thing!" Jiang Zhiyu smiled brilliantly, holding up that device, "Look, Wonyoung, you are an aquarius, right? You are a 'Star Spring Guide', right?"

"Yeah... I guess..." Jang Wonyoung felt like she was being trapped.

"That's right!" Jiang Zhiyu slapped his thigh, as if he had discovered a universal truth, "Constellations and skills must fit reality to exert maximum power! Therefore, as the aquarius Saintess, your basic version of your destined weapon should naturally be a 'water bottle'!"

He shook the mineral water bottle connected to the elastic spring, and the spring made a "boing-boing" sound.

"Now, this Producer will 'equip' it for you! This is an upgradeable version! In the future, it can be replaced with a larger capacity, cooler-looking water bottle!" As Jiang Zhiyu said this, without waiting for Jang Wonyoung to react, he moved with lightning speed, placing the spring coil on top of Jang Wonyoung's head, then pulled down the elastic cord and put it directly on her chin, quickly adjusting the tightness to fix it in place!

The whole process was smooth and fluid, taking no more than five seconds.

Jang Wonyoung only felt a weight on top of her head; a cold, hard plastic bottle bottom was pressing against the Baihui acupoint on her head, while her chin was constricted by an elastic cord. Although it wasn't too tight, its presence was extremely strong. She subconsciously wanted to shake her head, and the mineral water bottle on her head immediately trembled "da-da" with the expansion and contraction of the spring, while the air inside made a faint "buzzing" sound.

"Producer Jiang Zhi Yu!!!!" Jang Wonyoung finally reacted, letting out a scream mixed with shame, anger, and breakdown, for who knows how many times today. She wanted to pull off that ridiculous device, but as soon as her fingers touched the spring, the bottle shook even more violently.

"Don't move, don't move!" Jiang Zhiyu quickly stopped her, his face showing a sincere expression of "I'm doing this for your own good," and he even winked cutely, "Look, how fitting! Because Wonyoung is the aquarius Saintess, it's normal to wear a water bottle, right? This logic is completely flawless! Besides, this can also train your sense of balance and core strength, which will be helpful for stage performances!"

"Although I am the aquarius Saintess, I don't actually have to carry a mineral water bottle on my head!!!" Jang Wonyoung was on the verge of tears. Balancing a water bottle that could "da-da" tremble or even fall off at any moment due to excessive movement, she felt like a monkey in a circus about to perform an acrobatics act of balancing bowls, and a low-end mineral water bottle version at that! Idol image? At this moment, it had shattered into nothing.

Kim Minju, who was standing nearby, was originally stunned by this operation, but looking at Jang Wonyoung balancing a mineral water bottle, her chin constricted, and her face looking completely lifeless, combined with the twin tails she had tied for convenience to run around the market today, a strange sense of comedy arose spontaneously. She couldn't help but "pfft" and laugh out loud, quickly covering her mouth, but her eyes had already curved into crescent moons:

"Wonyoung... I'm sorry... but... pfft... it feels... it feels like you have a talent for acrobatics!" She tried to use a compliment (?) to comfort her, but the effect was counterproductive.

Miyawaki Sakura looked at Jang Wonyoung's "miserable state" and couldn't laugh at all. She only felt a chill rushing from the soles of her feet to the top of her head, feeling completely like a rabbit grieving for the dead fox. Jiang Zhiyu's "creativity" had absolutely no bottom line! If he could put a water bottle on Wonyoung's head today, could he stick rice cake balls on her back tomorrow? She seemed to have already seen her future with a string of "Sakura Kill" balls on her head, like a walking tanghulu stand, and her face instantly turned gray.

Just at this moment, the playful smile on Jiang Zhiyu's face suddenly faded, replaced by a kind of deliberately created seriousness and urgency. He looked around (although there were only curious aunties and uncles buying groceries nearby), lowered his voice, and spoke in a tone as if he were passing on classified intelligence:

"Children, quiet! I have just received an emergency transmission from the 'Star Council'!"

The three: "..." (Here we go again?)

"The detestable Star Demons Claws have already smelled your active presence in the mortal world!" Jiang Zhiyu's expression was grave, "They are lurking in the shadows of the market, coveting your yet-to-be-awakened powers! For the safety of the team, and to protect this world (and its market order), you must pass the trial as soon as possible, unlock your constellation skills, and be able to resist the darkness!"

He looked at Jang Wonyoung, who was dazed and balancing the water bottle, with eyes like torches (in his own opinion).

"Next, please let our 'Star Spring Guide' — Jang Wonyoung-xi, begin the breakthrough trial first!"

Jang Wonyoung: "...Trial?" She had a strong premonition that she was about to be further set up.

"That's right!" Jiang Zhiyu pointed to the water bottle on her head, "Your trial is closely related to your 'destined weapon'! Trial Name: 'Star Spring Unwavering · The Balance of the Water Bottle'!"

"Trial Content: Without using your hands or any external assistance, maintain the balance of the mineral water bottle on your head and complete the following three tasks —"

"The first task: 'Devout Prayer' — Keep the water bottle from falling, successfully sell a piece of miscellaneous goods to at least five passersby, and at the moment the transaction is completed, whisper the skill name 'Star Spring Guidance~'!"

"The second task: 'Swift Passage' — With the water bottle on your head, at the fastest speed (but it must be stable!), pass through the 'Fresh Food Passage' in front that is crowded with people and stalls and has a slippery ground, and arrive at the dry goods area on the opposite side. If the water bottle falls or you need to hold it with your hands during the journey, you must start over!"

"The third task: 'Dance of World Purification' — In the small open space of the dry goods area, while balancing the water bottle on your head, perform an impromptu dance of no less than 30 seconds (style not limited). When the dance ends, the water bottle must be steadily standing on your head! During this process, you must clearly show the water bottle's brand logo to the camera at least three times!"

Jiang Zhiyu finished speaking in one breath, looking at Jang Wonyoung, who was completely petrified, with only the water bottle on her head making a "da-da" sound due to her body's slight trembling, and added: "Successfully completing the three tasks is considered passing the trial. Not only will you win 'Support Points' for the team, but you yourself will also preliminarily perceive and master the prototype of the 'Star Spring Guidance' skill, and obtain the honorary title of 'Acrobatic Idol' (fake)!"

Jang Wonyoung: "..."

She looked at Jiang Zhiyu's face, which was full of "I'm doing this for your own good" and "This is very reasonable," looked at Kim Minju, who was standing nearby wanting to laugh but not daring to, and looking sympathetic, and then looked at Miyawaki Sakura, who already had dead eyes and seemed to see her own future destiny...

Finally, she felt the heavy, cool, and uncertain fate of the mineral water bottle on her head.

Forget it.

Let it all be destroyed.

Hurry up.