Ch 8: Guide to Running a Shop in Another World

Returning to the shop, Lu Yao’s heart was still racing a little. The man she had encountered earlier seemed strange. When she looked up, she saw Bai Ming sitting by the windowsill. He must have heard the door open, as he was now turning to look at her.

Lu Yao calmed her nerves and asked, “Why are you here so early?”

Bai Ming had a glass of strawberry soda beside him, with a thick layer of jam and several fresh strawberries, leftovers from the afternoon’s stock. He discreetly pushed the glass to the side and casually replied, “It’s boring at home, so I came early.”

He always felt at ease here.

Lu Yao pushed the cart straight into the kitchen, and Bai Ming followed, his eyes full of curiosity. “What did you buy?”

Not paying attention to his choice of words, Lu Yao unloaded the cart. “Some seafood and side dishes, along with a few seasonings for tonight. I plan to livestream the dinner. Do you mind being on camera? You don’t have to show your face.”

She had earned quite a few gifts during her morning stream, accumulating enough popularity points to hold another one that evening. Lu Yao was eager to unlock all thirteen regions as quickly as possible to achieve the “widespread fame” goal.

Recently, the shop’s business had been booming, with increasing daily expenses. Since the income couldn’t be converted into real money, she could only hope that in the next world, she could start earning real currency.

Bai Ming had no objections, so Lu Yao scheduled the livestream to start at 5:30 p.m. with the system.

It was just after 5:00, so there was a bit of time. Lu Yao took out a set of pink dinnerware with peach blossom patterns, washed them at the sink, and prepared them for the evening. Meanwhile, the system sent out a livestream announcement to the cinemas in areas A, B, and D.

–

After Du An and Chen Jiang left the shop, they took the subway back to D District, Qing Mountain Amusement Park. On the way, the food’s aroma drifted from the boxes, drawing the curiosity of passersby, who inquired about the contents. Du An generously recommended Lu Yao’s snack shop to them.

Chen Jiang added that sometimes the snack shop hosted livestreams, and people could check them out at nearby cinemas before deciding whether to try it.

When they arrived at the subway station, the two friends parted ways. Du An carefully carried the two food boxes home.

Once home, Du An knocked on his brother’s bedroom door. After a few minutes, a tired voice responded, “What is it?”

Excitedly, Du An replied, “Brother, Chen Jiang and I went to that snack shop, and the food there is really delicious. I brought some for you. The owner even made a special bowl of wonton soup that’s not on the menu yet. Why don’t you get up and try some?”

Du Chen turned over in bed, his voice listless. “Just leave it; I’m not hungry.”

Du An, a bit anxious, said, “Please, just take a look. This food isn’t like the fake stuff conjured with illusions. It’s warm, it smells good, and it tastes real. I’m sure you’ll like it.”

People with soul-loss syndrome gradually lose interest in everything around them. They become withdrawn, stop speaking, avoid leaving their homes, and eventually disappear, never to be found again.

Du Chen’s condition had become severe. Once an outgoing and energetic amusement park guard, he was known for his enthusiasm in taking on high-difficulty games. Du An remembered a time when Du Chen obsessively participated in intense, restricted games for about six months. Then, all of a sudden, Du Chen resigned from his position and locked himself in his room, avoiding all contact with the outside world.

Realizing that his brother was showing signs of early-stage soul-loss syndrome, Du An had sought advice from others and tried many methods, but Du Chen’s condition only worsened by the day.

Soul-loss syndrome was considered a terminal illness in this world. Many had tried to find a cure, but no one had succeeded in the past nine hundred years.

After standing outside the door for ten minutes, knocking periodically, Du An finally gave up. His brother didn’t want to talk to him anymore.

Feeling defeated, Du An returned to the living room and placed the two boxes of food from A District on the table. He opened the sweet soup and the spicy grilled wings, inhaling the tantalizing aroma, which helped ease the tension inside him a little. Still lost in thought, he returned to his room, trying to figure out how to get his brother to try the food from the snack shop.

In the living room, the uncovered food was steaming, and the unique aroma of cooked food began to spread throughout the room.

Du Chen lay weakly on his bed, feeling irritable and unwilling to move. His brow was furrowed, but his breathing was light. A strange yet pleasant scent tickled his nose, faint but distinct.

Du Chen thought he was hallucinating, but he could actually smell the aroma of food.

The scent grew stronger, seemingly coming from just outside his room. With his heightened senses, especially as a former guard, Du Chen’s smell was much more sensitive than that of an ordinary person.

He realized the food aroma was real. His memory was foggy, but he recalled that Du An had returned earlier and knocked on his door.

What had he said again?

Du Chen couldn’t remember, but the scent outside his room kept tempting him. Still, he resisted getting up.

After about five minutes, the aroma began to fade. Unable to bear it any longer, Du Chen struggled to get out of bed.

For the first time in two months, he stepped out of his room.

The living room was empty, but on the table sat boxes emitting a delightful aroma.

Slowly, Du Chen remembered that Du An had mentioned visiting a snack shop in A District and bringing back some food for him.

The two boxes with open lids were no longer steaming. Du Chen grabbed one of the spicy grilled wings and took a casual bite. His previously cloudy eyes slowly cleared as he sat down and began devouring the food.

One set of spicy wings barely satisfied his appetite. After finishing them in a few bites, he reached for the bowl of sweet glutinous rice balls.

He sniffed the bowl, his eyes involuntarily softening.

Sweet!

Du Chen loved sweet things, and just the nostalgic scent of sweet rice wine made his mouth water.

Even though it had cooled, he didn’t mind. He savored each bite, eating it slowly and with great care.

After finishing the sweet glutinous rice balls, Du Chen noticed another box that was still warm to the touch. Guessing it held more delicious food, he eagerly picked up the largest one and opened it. The sharp, peppery aroma of white pepper mixed with the fresh scent of green onions instantly filled the air. It was a bowl of wonton soup.

The wontons were accompanied by a side of chili oil dipping sauce. The chili seemed to have been lightly toasted in oil and then crushed, giving it an especially enticing fragrance.

With this hot bowl of wontons, he thought, how could anyone not feel like they’re in heaven?

Du Chen lifted the bowl and took a sip of the broth. The white pepper and salt added a perfect base flavor—neither too bland nor too overwhelming, just the right amount of spice and saltiness. He could feel the warmth of the broth as it flowed down his throat, heating him from the inside out, spreading through his stomach and making his whole body feel light and cozy.

Suddenly, there was a rapid knocking at the door. Du Chen paused but had no intention of getting up. Instead, he picked up his chopsticks and began eating the wontons.

The wontons hadn’t turned soggy in the broth and were still as plump and tender as when they’d first been served. The translucent skin revealed the juicy red filling inside.

The white wonton skin coated in a layer of bright red chili oil was irresistible.

Du Chen opened his mouth and swallowed one whole. The skin was just the right thickness—not too thin to be non-existent but not too tough to interfere with the texture. The meat filling was bouncy and smooth, so delicious that it made him want to stomp his feet in delight.

The knocking continued, and after a while, Chen Jiang’s voice came from outside, “Du An? Are you home?”

Du An had been asleep in his room but quickly woke up at the sound. He rushed out and, to his surprise, saw his brother sitting at the table. His eyes filled with joy as he exclaimed, “Brother, you’re up!”

“Mm.”

Du Chen slurped up the wontons, only sparing a second of his attention for his brother. Casually, he opened the box containing the chive and egg pie and the roasted pig’s trotter. The delicious aroma hit his nose, and he fully entered a frenzied eating mode.

Du An didn’t mind. Overjoyed, he ran to the door and eagerly shared the news with his friend. “Chen Jiang, Chen Jiang! Look, my brother is up!”

Chen Jiang, pulled into the house, was surprised to see Du Chen eating. He thought to himself that this snack shop was indeed amazing, able to tempt even someone with soul-loss syndrome.

Though the takeout boxes seemed full, it wasn’t much food for people like them.

Du Chen felt like the food was gone in no time. Disappointed, he patted his stomach and looked at his brother across the table. “Where did you buy this?”

“At a snack shop next to the amusement park on the ninety-ninth floor of A District,” Du An replied, his heart brimming with happiness at seeing the light return to his brother’s eyes.

Du Chen stood up, ready to leave. “I’m not full. I want to go there. Are you coming?”

He hadn’t had enough to eat. He needed at least three more days and nights of feasting to feel satisfied.

Chen Jiang interrupted, “It’s closed. Even if you go now, you won’t be able to get anything.”

Du Chen frowned. “So early?”

Du An explained, “The place is incredibly popular. They limit what they sell, and it always sells out quickly.”

Chen Jiang then remembered why he had come looking for Du An and said, “But I just saw another ad at the cinema, those scrolling words at the bottom of the screen. The snack shop owner will start a livestream again at 5:30 today, this time cooking dinner.”

Du An explained the snack shop’s livestream to his brother, telling him how it had drawn him to A District. Then, full of anticipation, he asked, “Brother, how about we watch the livestream together?”

Even if they couldn’t get food, watching the shop owner cook was a treat in itself.

Having just eaten, Du Chen’s mind was still full of the delicious food. Though he couldn’t eat more right away, he was curious about the livestream.

As far as he knew, each cinema corresponded to a neighboring amusement park, and they only broadcast live streams of the games being played in that park.

He had never seen a live stream from A District being broadcast in D District’s cinema, and what’s more, this snack shop wasn’t even part of the amusement park.

Perhaps something interesting was happening in this world.

Du Chen felt the vitality he had lost over the past few months slowly returning to his body. His mind, once empty and void, now had a new goal.

He nodded. “Let’s go take a look.”

Du An turned to Chen Jiang, and both of them were filled with disbelief.

They had only hoped to try something, but Du Chen’s condition had genuinely improved, and he was even willing to leave the house.

This was nothing short of a miracle. Overjoyed, Du An silently thanked Lu Yao and her snack shop. He quickly got ready to leave, worried his brother might change his mind at any moment.

…

At 5:30 in the afternoon, Lu Yao began her livestream right on time. She even gave it a new name: “Midnight Diner.”

As soon as she entered the livestream room, she noticed there were already more than 300 viewers.

Compared to major internet celebrities in her world, this wasn’t a lot. But compared to her own morning stream, it was a big step forward.

Having some livestream experience now, Lu Yao was more relaxed. She greeted the viewers as she entered, “Hello, everyone. Welcome to Lu Yao’s snack shop, the Midnight Diner. Today is little brother Bai Ming’s official first day on the job, so to celebrate, I’m cooking a big dinner with him and big sister Xingzi.”

At the sink, Bai Ming, who was gutting a fish, lifted his head. His ruby-red eyes gleamed. “Celebrating for me?”

Lu Yao was washing vegetables nearby and nodded lightly. “Of course. Did I forget to mention it?”

Bai Ming skillfully cut open the fish’s belly and removed the innards. His mood was already good, but knowing that dinner was specifically being prepared to celebrate him made him even more enthusiastic. “Boss, whatever else you need me to do, just let me know.”

Xingzi was peeling shrimp and, hearing their conversation, looked enviously at Lu Yao. “Boss, do I get a dinner celebration when I officially start?”

Lu Yao nodded. “Of course. When you officially join, we’ll have a big meal.”

This made Xingzi happy as she quickly finished peeling the shrimp in just a few swift motions.

Lu Yao handed other ingredients to Xingzi and Bai Ming while she carried the cleaned fish to the grill.

“I’ll start prepping the grilled fish.”

Over 500 viewers were now watching the livestream, and the screen was flooded with comments.

“They’re celebrating an employee’s first day? Sign me up! Is the shop hiring?”

“The boss is too nice! So jealous of the new guy today!”

“What flavor is the grilled fish?”

Lu Yao expertly clamped the fish between a metal grill and placed it over the fire, flipping it occasionally. She glanced at the comments and replied, “We are indeed hiring! Looking for chefs and servers—if anyone’s interested, feel free to apply. As for the fish, I’m making it with pickled chili flavor, and we’re also frying some potato strips and rice cakes later.”

“Potato strips AND rice cakes? I want to eat that right now!”

“Pickled chili grilled fish? Sounds amazing! I’m drooling!”

“I’m literally salivating at the thought of potato strips!”

Lu Yao worked quickly, grilling the fish to a perfect crispy exterior. She then moved it to the side to keep warm while she stir-fried some vegetables.

Around twenty minutes later, dinner was ready.

She placed two small charcoal boxes on the table, one to keep the grilled fish warm, and the other for oysters, shrimp skewers, meat skewers, and grilled vegetables.

Xingzi brought over two bottles of wine, while Lu Yao grabbed a bottle of juice.

The moon was high in the sky, and the stars sparkled like jewels against the night. The three of them sat by the window, chatting and eating.

As soon as the grilled fish was served, it became the center of attention. Both Bai Ming and Xingzi’s eyes sparkled, but they refrained from eating, politely waiting for Lu Yao to start.

Lu Yao picked up her chopsticks and said, “Let’s eat!”

At her cue, Bai Ming and Xingzi eagerly dug into the fragrant grilled fish.

Lu Yao, craving oysters, picked up a large steamed one first, dipping the tender meat in a little wasabi and soy sauce.

The oyster was soft and plump, and though the wasabi brought tears to her eyes, she couldn’t stop eating.

Bai Ming, noticing her enjoyment, imitated her by dipping his oyster in a thick layer of wasabi. It made him tear up immediately, his ruby-red eyes shimmering like stars. He shook his head slightly, but seemed to enjoy the fiery sensation.

Xingzi was sipping wine as she ate her fish, alongside garlic-butter oysters, scallops, and beef skewers. Before long, her cheeks were flushed with heat.

Watching the feast, the livestream audience was losing it.

“I’m dying for those oysters! Is that wasabi they’re using? I miss that flavor so much!”

“The boss is evil! Why am I watching this at night?!”

“That grilled fish looks way too good! Just one bite, please!”

At the cinema in Qingshan Amusement Park, Du An and Chen Jiang stared at the screen, their mouths watering. Their shirts were already wet with drool as they watched the grilled fish, oysters, shrimp, garlic scallops, and grilled tofu.

Beside them, Du Chen’s eyes were fixed on Lu Yao, as well as the night scene outside the window, which looked eerily real.

A challenger from another world—someone like her was rare and intriguing.

That night, Midnight Diner became an instant hit across A, B, and D Districts. Meanwhile, Lu Yao had drunk too much, and after filling her belly, she slumped over and fell asleep at the table.

In the middle of the night, she vaguely heard someone knocking urgently at the door. Feeling annoyed, the noise eventually faded, and she drifted back to sleep.

The next morning, Lu Yao woke up in the shop with a thick blanket draped over her. The place was spotless, clearly tidied up by Bai Ming and Xingzi before they left. Her two employees were really reliable.

After freshening up, she checked the ingredients for the day, opened the door, and suddenly stepped back in shock—something was blocking the entrance.

Moments later, the door was pushed open from the outside, and standing there was the man in a tailored suit.

Lu Yao glanced around and confirmed she was still in the other world. The man, however, looked very familiar. She rubbed her temples, thinking for a moment, and then remembered—it was the same man who had stopped her to ask for directions yesterday afternoon.

But yesterday, they had met in the real world.

The man seemed just as confused. He appeared disoriented, like he had just woken up, and asked, “How did I end up here?”

🛍️🛍️🛍️🛍️🛍️

Thingyan: I’m starting to feel Bai Ming is not the ML 🤨