Sludge suction system

It turns out that Xia Zhi, Fang Xiaobei's best friend, has come looking for her.

Sunlight streamed into the bustling market as Xia Zhi struggled through the crowd, her eyes filled with anxiety and worry. She called out loudly, "Xiao Bei! Xiao Bei, where are you?" as she looked around, trying to find her friend's familiar figure in the throng.

Today, she and Fang Xiaobei had arranged to come to the market together to search for rare spices, a long-standing hobby and unspoken agreement between them. The market was bustling with people, and every stall was surrounded by people haggling over prices. When they first entered the market, the two were holding hands, excitedly discussing their potential finds, but in the blink of an eye, the surging crowd mercilessly separated them.

"Host, Xia Zhi, the female lead Fang Xiaobei's friend, has arrived. You should go out and meet her! I'm going to go invisible now." After saying that, Xiao Zha disappeared into Ruan Quan's sleeve.

In the market, Xia Zhi hurried through the crowd. Tall and slender, she stood out. Her oval face had soft, flowing lines; her wheat-colored skin glowed with a subtle sheen; her eyebrows arched sharply towards her temples; her eyes were bright and spirited, like twinkling stars in the night sky; her lips, beneath her high nose, were clearly defined, with a slight upturn at the corners, exuding confidence and ease. Her long, glossy black hair was tied high in a ponytail, swaying gently with her movements. Dressed in a martial outfit, a short sword hung at her waist, showcasing her boldness and exceptional skill.

Suddenly, her gaze locked onto a petite figure ahead. A surge of joy filled her heart, and she quickly called out, "Xiao Bei!" Fang Xiao Bei turned around at the call. She was petite and delicate, with a fair and jade-like face, bright and intelligent eyes, and almond-shaped eyes as clear as spring water. Her long, curled eyelashes fluttered with lively thoughts. Below her delicate nose, her naturally red lips revealed two shallow dimples when she smiled, making her sweet and playful. Her black hair cascaded smoothly down her back, with a few strands falling on either side of her cheeks, adding to her charm. She wore a simple yet elegant dress in fresh, light colors, with a delicate ribbon tied around her waist, gently outlining her slender figure.

Xia Zhi rushed over and grabbed Fang Xiaobei's hand tightly, scolding, "I've finally found you! This market was terrifyingly crowded!" Fang Xiaobei was slightly out of breath, a relieved smile on her face: "Yes, I almost thought I wouldn't find you. I was pushed to the spice stall over there, and it was a struggle to get back." The two held hands, and the surrounding noise seemed to fade away, leaving only the relief after the earlier panic and the joy of reunion.

Xia Zhi pulled Fang Xiaobei to a big tree by the market and said with a slightly anxious expression, "Xiaobei, have you noticed lately that Ye Keke seems like a different person?"

Fang Xiaobei blinked, looking at Xia Zhi with a puzzled expression: "What's wrong?"

Xia Zhi pouted and said with some dissatisfaction, "She's been clinging to Gao He lately. You know how you feel about Gao He, but what's with her acting like this? When the three of us were together before, she never showed any special feelings for Gao He."

Upon hearing this, Fang Xiaobei's heart tightened, and a trace of melancholy appeared on her face: "Maybe...maybe she just sees Gao He as an ordinary friend." Despite saying this, her eyes revealed a hint of unease and doubt.

Xia Zhi gently patted Xiao Bei's shoulder and raised her voice: "Ordinary friends wouldn't do this, would they? I've seen it several times. She deliberately talks to Gao He and even gives him small gifts. Xiao Bei, you can't be too naive, you have to open your eyes wider."

Fang Xiaobei lowered her head, her hands tightly clasped together, and said in a low voice, "I understand, Xia Zhi. I just don't want to ruin things with Keke over this, after all, we've been friends for so many years."

Xia Zhi sighed helplessly: "I understand your thoughts, but if she really does something to hurt you, you can't be soft-hearted. Let's see what she's up to first. If she really doesn't care about your friendship, then we don't need to show any mercy either."

Fang Xiaobei nodded gently, a hint of determination flashing in her eyes: "Yes, I will."

Xia Zhi clenched her fists tightly, her eyes sparkling with excitement and anticipation: "Xiao Bei, this is our first time participating in a culinary competition, so we must give it our all! This is a golden opportunity for us to make a name for ourselves in the world of lemongrass cuisine."

Fang Xiaobei nodded slightly, her expression showing a hint of nervousness, but more so determination: "Yes, I understand. Although it's the first time, we've prepared for so long, and I believe that with our spice blend and your culinary skills, we'll definitely be able to create an amazing dish."

Fang Xiaobei gently bit her lip and said with some worry, "But, is it too difficult to stand out in the first competition? The other families' contestants must be very experienced."

Xia Zhi confidently raised her chin: "Experience is certainly important, but our innovation and hard work should not be underestimated. Think about it, your unique spice recipes are something many people would love to have. As long as we work together seamlessly and perfect every detail of the dishes, we have a chance to become famous overnight."

Fang Xiaobei took a deep breath and straightened her back: "Okay, let's hurry up and select the spices. We must find the best and most suitable ones so that our dishes can shine in the competition."

After saying that, the two walked hand in hand into the depths of the market, weaving through the dazzling array of spice stalls, carefully selecting and choosing their products.

Just as Fang Xiaobei and Xia Zhi were intently selecting suitable spices at a spice stall, a familiar laugh suddenly rang out from the crowd. Fang Xiaobei froze, instinctively turning her head to see Ye Keke gracefully following Gao He. Today, she wore a light pink silk dress that perfectly accentuated her slender waist. Her eyes were full of affection, her lips slightly parted, and every movement exuded an indescribable tenderness.

Upon seeing Fang Xiaobei and Xia Zhi, Ye Keke's eyes flashed with a fleeting, almost imperceptible panic, but it vanished in an instant, replaced by a pitiful expression that evoked sympathy.

Upon seeing Fang Xiaobei, Gao He visibly paused, a hint of embarrassment on his face. He quickly glanced at Ye Keke first, then hurriedly looked at Fang Xiaobei, his eyes filled with conflict and contradiction.

Before Gao He could speak, Ye Keke spoke first, her voice soft and gentle, with a hint of grievance: "Xiao Bei, Zhizhi, I know you may have some misunderstandings about me, but I really just want to perform well in the competition, and my conversation with Gao He was only about the spices."

Xia Zhi snorted coldly: "Does exchanging spices require such intimacy?"

Tears welled in Ye Keke's eyes. She bit her lower lip, seemingly burdened with a thousand grievances she couldn't express. Suddenly, her body swayed slightly, one hand lightly supporting her forehead, her brows furrowed, and a look of pain crossed her face. Then, her legs gave way, and she collapsed slowly towards Gao He like a withering flower petal. Her eyes were half-closed, her long eyelashes trembling, and she uttered weak moans, as if she had exhausted all her strength to support herself.

Seeing this, Gao He hurriedly reached out to support Ye Keke, his face full of anxiety, and shouted loudly, "Keke! Keke, what's wrong with you?" He gently patted Ye Keke's cheek, his voice trembling slightly, "Keke, wake up, don't scare me!" But Ye Keke kept her eyes tightly closed, her face as pale as paper, and she did not respond.

Gao He turned his head and said to Fang Xiaobei and Xia Zhi with a somewhat flustered expression, "Xiaobei, I'll take Keke back first. I'm really worried about her like this. I'll explain to you when she wakes up." Without waiting for Fang Xiaobei's reply, he picked up Ye Keke and hurriedly walked out of the market.

Fang Xiaobei watched Gao He's departing figure, her eyes filled with disappointment and heartbreak. Xia Zhi stomped her feet angrily and said through gritted teeth, "That Ye Keke is such a good actress. Gao He is such a brainless idiot, she's completely fooling him. Xiaobei, don't be sad, he's not worth your tears."

“Okay, let’s continue selecting spices!” Fang Xiaobei responded.

However, Ruan Quan silently complained to himself, "I wonder if I can handle Ye Keke's green tea tactics."

Xiao Zha was also inside the sleeve and witnessed everything.