Don't Mess with the Girl with Candy novel Chapter 28

He found her playing on her phone, a faint smile gracing her lips. She seemed to be in a good mood.

"Why do you like mango candies so much?" Shanley asked softly, handing her a bag filled with them. "These are all for you."

It was a collection he had amassed—some from the local store, some imported from Australis. He had been keeping them in the car, waiting for a 'chance encounter' to win the girl over.

Juniper blinked, looking at the bag of candies and trying to decipher his intentions.

"I was in a rush last time and didn't get to thank you properly, Ms. Payne," Shanley explained, his voice gentle and persuasive as he watched her. "It's just a small token."

"Alright." Juniper studied his face for a few seconds, then raised an eyebrow. "Thanks, Mr. Schwartz."

"You're welcome," Shanley said, smoothly pulling out his phone. "Let's exchange contact info. When you run out of candy, I can bring you more."

"More?" Juniper lifted her gaze, her clear eyes meeting his chiseled features.

Tsk. A handsome face really was a pleasant sight to behold. She opened her phone's contact sharing page. A soft chime confirmed the connection.

"Be safe on your way." They had arrived at her destination. Shanley watched Juniper until her figure disappeared from view before looking away.

"Ms. Payne seems to be in a good mood today," Flint remarked, surprised. She hadn't even given his boss the cold shoulder.

Looking at her contact on his phone, Shanley's lips curved into a smile. It turned out the girl wasn't so hard to please after all. He just hadn't been using the right method.

...

"Right? She's amazing!" Hearing that Juniper was also a fan of her idol, Queenie's face lit up. "I just hope I don't embarrass her on stage."

During her darkest times, it was Lunar's dances that had gotten her through. To her, Lunar was not just a dance mentor, but a spiritual pillar.

"Do you want to win?" Juniper tilted her head, a playful smile on her lips.

"I can't," Queenie said with a self-deprecating laugh. "Master Lunar's dances are really difficult. There are several moves where I just can't find the right point of leverage. And this costume... I'll be a laughingstock the moment I step on stage."

While she had the foundation, her resources were lacking. She'd heard the costume Yolanda had prepared was worth a small fortune.

"You can." Juniper tossed her empty cup into the trash can, her tone light but firm. "If I say you can win, you will win."