Outside Store Three, screams and cheers erupted.
Li Le was putting on a show.
Two fruit knives flew up and down in his hands, their blades flashing.
He sliced melon with his left hand, then swept the cut pieces across the chopping board with his right, sending them arcing neatly into the takeout containers below.
Beside him, the part-time student assistant Li Fengying had assigned him deftly snapped on lids and packed the containers.
The whole process flowed so smoothly it was dazzling to watch.
The kid had come up with another new trick.
The girls watching burst into thunderous applause.
Li Le's hair had been gelled until it shone, every strand sticking straight up. Beneath his transparent mask, his features looked sharply defined. Paired with his dark skin, he actually looked rather handsome.
"Black Horse Prince! Give me a three-fruit combo! Watermelon, cantaloupe, and pomelo!" a girl shouted at the top of her lungs.
Black Horse Prince?
Wang Xiaoliang nearly burst out laughing.
You know what? That really does fit.
Li Le grinned, revealing a mouthful of big white teeth, and gave the girl an emphatic nod, clearly quite pleased with his new nickname.
"Coming right up!"
Watching the bustling scene, Wang Xiaoliang felt thoroughly satisfied.
Just as he was basking in it, the phone in his pocket began buzzing.
He pulled it out and checked. Li Xiaoman.
He stepped aside to a quieter spot and answered.
"Hey, Xiaoman."
"Xiaoliang, what are you up to?"
"Watching a show!" Wang Xiaoliang joked.
"Look at you! Everyone else is running themselves ragged at this hour, and you're the only one taking it easy. Guess marrying a good wife really is the key!"
Something about that rubbed Wang Xiaoliang the wrong way. Was Li Xiaoman saying he was living off his wife?