Chapter 178: Anticipating Encounters

As the hustle and bustle of the orchard subsided, the crew granted Mariana and Simon a moment of respite before their next venture to the market. Daphne approached Mariana with a knowing look. "Just a heads up, Mariana. You might encounter some enthusiastic fans of Simon at the market. They can be...intense." Mariana nodded, a flicker of uncertainty crossing her features. She had heard about Simon's devoted fan base but wasn't sure what to expect. "Thanks for the warning, Daphne. I'll keep that in mind." Meanwhile, Hailey found herself in a delicate position as she approached Simon. "Hey, Simon, can we talk for a sec?" Simon turned towards her, his expression curious. "Sure, Hailey. What's up?" Hailey hesitated, choosing her words carefully. "I just wanted to, you know, make sure everything's cool with you and Mariana. I mean, you're being pretty...attentive." Simon's brow furrowed in confusion. "Attentive? What do you mean?" Hailey fought the urge to roll her eyes. "You know, ca