Ch 12: Guide to Running a Shop in Another World

Lu Yao opened the map and selected Zone C, adjacent to Zone B, along with Zone M, which bordered Zone A, and Zone E, near Zone D. This unlocked the livestream coverage for Zones A, B, C, D, E, and M.

Bai Ming, Xingzi, Xiao Qie, and Qi Shen had already taken their seats by the window, waiting for Lu Yao. After confirming the new zones for the livestream signal, she joined them, saying, “No need to wait for me, go ahead and eat.”

Meanwhile, in Zones C, E, and M, a rolling text advertisement appeared in all cinemas currently broadcasting game livestreams, directing viewers to Lu Yao Snack Shop’s livestream.

In the Cake Shop Amusement Park in Zone C, Guard Qing had just come out of a game, still smelling of blood.

Chi rushed in with a cup of water, his eyes filled with excitement. “Qing, we have the snack shop livestream in Zone C now! The ticket seller just told me that a new screening room popped up in the cinema, streaming an afternoon tea from a snack shop. I’m heading over, are you coming?”

Chi often skipped work to visit the snack shop and had heard from other diners that the livestreamed food was different from what was sold in the store—more luxurious and delicious, which made him eager to try it.

Qing had been about to take a bath, but after hearing this, he just cleaned off the blood, changed clothes, and went to the cinema with Chi.

He had been entering games frequently lately and hadn’t visited the snack shop in some time. Chi had mentioned that the shop regularly introduced new items, and while they might not be able to taste them now, just watching would be relaxing.

Chi glanced at Qing, feeling a bit worried. Qing was entering games too often, and every time he came out, he was covered in blood and rarely spoke. Chi had heard that a guard from Zone D once showed early symptoms of soul-loss syndrome and had acted much like Qing did now. Six months later, the guard could no longer work due to the syndrome and resigned to “rest”—a rest from which he never returned.

They all knew that not everyone who died reached Dreamland, and those who did were not immortal. Though they were free from time and worldly rules, one day they would still face true death. Those with soul-loss syndrome would die, their spirits obliterated.

Qing suddenly stopped, frowning slightly. “What’s wrong?”

Chi, startled, said, “Huh?”

Qing replied, “Your expression… is gross.”

Chi quickly brushed it off. “It’s nothing.”

The two pushed open the door to the screening room, where it was packed. Even the ticket seller and ushers were present, all glued to the screen.

Outside the window on-screen, a pale blue sky stretched out, occasionally crossed by a bird. On a small wooden table sat a few cups of coffee and some brightly colored, delicious-looking pastries.

A purple-haired boy carefully scooped up a small bite of mousse with a little spoon, showing a mouthful of sharp shark teeth as he gently savored it. He propped his head on his hand and squinted in delight. “It melts in your mouth—so fragrant and sweet! Boss, can we have this again tomorrow?”

Given their natural bite strength, it wasn’t just the small cake that could easily be crushed—even the metal spoon in the boy’s hand could be bitten through effortlessly.

The boy’s restrained eating manner only made the audience believe the cake was even more delicious, as he cherished each bite.

Lu Yao’s face showed a hint of pain as she replied, “Hmm, I’ll think about it.”

Bai Ming tasted the dessert and instantly noticed it was even better than yesterday’s. His ruby-red eyes gleamed with a watery sheen, and he accidentally bit through his spoon.

Lu Yao: “…”

Stay calm.

Meanwhile, Xingzi sipped her coffee in tiny mouthfuls, clearly addicted despite the bitterness, her lips coated with a ring of white cream. Qi Shen, on the other hand, was much more elegant, gracefully enjoying his dessert, which he had loved even when he was alive. Strangely, it tasted even better now.

In the screening room, the sound of people swallowing their saliva filled the air. Someone asked, “Is it true that this snack shop is in Zone A, like the chat says?”

“No idea. I’ve never heard of it. Aren’t all snack shops fake?”

“Let’s go check it out! This stuff looks way too good.”

“Should we go?”

“Let’s do it!”

Chi’s eyes reddened as he watched the screen.

All those delicious things weren’t even on the menu in the shop yet, and hearing that little purple-haired kid talk, it seemed like they got to eat such tasty food every day. Chi was so jealous.

Qing stood there for a while, then turned to leave.

Chi called after him, “Aren’t you going to keep watching?”

Qing replied, “No, I’m going to re-enter the game.”

Chi, sensing something was wrong, quickly caught up, skipping the rest of the livestream. “You’ve been pushing yourself too hard lately. How about taking a break tomorrow and we go to the snack shop together?”

Qing shook his head, declining, “Not for the next few days. You go ahead.”

Chi stood at the cinema entrance, watching Qing head back into the amusement park, feeling a heavy weight settle over his heart.

…

In Zone E, there was a top-tier amusement park adjacent to a sanatorium, specifically designed to care for patients suffering from soul-loss syndrome.

Since its establishment, the sanatorium had taken in nearly a thousand patients from all thirteen districts of Dreamland, dedicated to caring for and researching treatments for those with the syndrome.

A caregiver stepped out of a ward, his face expressionless and numb, and reported to the director, who was busy writing a report. “Patients in rooms 307, beds 11 and 13, and in rooms 412, beds 6, 7, and 9, have been confirmed soul-broken.”

Sanatorium Director Shui Ninghua looked up. “Five deaths? Haven’t they been sent to the amusement park recently?”

The caregiver replied, “Patients in beds 11, 13, and 6 refused to go to the amusement park. Patients in beds 7 and 9 had been making regular trips, but their symptoms showed no significant improvement. All five died during their afternoon nap today. When we checked their rooms afterward, the beds were empty.”

When residents of Dreamland died, their souls dissipated, leaving nothing behind.

Shui Ninghua lowered her head. “I see. I recall there’s a guard in District D suffering from soul-loss syndrome. Now that we have vacant beds, we can bring him in.”

The caregiver responded, “We’ve checked multiple times. The guard named Du has already resigned from the amusement park, and he has no desire to come to the sanatorium.”

Shui Ninghua closed the file and stood up, saying, “I’ll go check on him personally.”

She brought two caregivers with her to District D. At the main gate of the sanatorium, they ran into another group of caregivers returning from the cinema with five patients. This group seemed a bit different from the others.

Shui Ninghua paused to observe them. There was something unusual in their eyes.

Most patients with soul-loss syndrome had vacant, tired expressions, but this group seemed more lively, as if there was a spark in their eyes.

One of the caregivers leading the group saw Shui Ninghua and greeted her. “Director, are you heading out?”

“Hmm, going to pick up a patient,” Shui Ninghua replied, still looking at the group of patients. “Have they gotten better?”

The caregiver nodded eagerly, “Yes! We watched a different kind of livestream today—a strange food show. They seemed to really enjoy it, and even after it ended, they didn’t want to leave.”

Shui Ninghua thought that the stimulus must have been effective, convinced that her treatment plan was working. She didn’t pay attention to the mention of a “food show” and waved off the caregiver’s further explanation. “I’ll read your report later. For now, take them back.”

…

In District D’s Qingshan Amusement Park.

Chen Jiang, Du An, and Du Chen left the cinema. Chen Jiang was still thinking about the desserts from the snack shop, his face full of longing. “The boss said they’d release limited-time coffee and desserts. I want to go—how about you two?”

Du An also wanted to go but looked at Du Chen first. “Brother, do you want to go?”

Du Chen nodded. “Yeah, I’d like to have some coffee.”

Du An, now excited, nodded enthusiastically. “Then let’s all go tomorrow.”

Ever since eating at Lu Yao’s snack shop, Du Chen’s soul-loss syndrome seemed to have improved.

Du An only dared to secretly observe his brother’s condition and never dared to ask directly. Soul-loss syndrome was an incurable disease, and Du An feared that asking might remind Du Chen of it.

As long as his brother was happy now, that was enough.

Halfway through their walk, Du Chen suddenly said, “I need to head to the amusement park for something.”

Du An immediately replied, “I’ll go with you.”

Du An had been with Du Chen since he woke up in this world. Du Chen claimed to be his brother, and he obediently called him that. They had lived together since Dreamland was just a barren void, relying on each other.

In the past few centuries, things like subways and planes started to appear in this world, followed by the amusement parks.

After becoming a park guard, Du Chen’s personality changed somewhat, and it was at the park that he developed soul-loss syndrome. Du An was worried that his brother might want to return to being a guard.

Du Chen patted his shoulder, his gaze calm. “Don’t worry, I’m fine now.”

Du An asked, “Then why are you going to the amusement park?”

Du Chen replied, “The day we went to the snack shop, there was a really skilled staff member there. He used to be a guard at the amusement park next door.”

Du An looked confused, not quite understanding.

Du Chen explained more directly, “He became a staff member, which means that amusement park is now short a guard.”

“Brother, do you want to become a guard at the amusement park on the 99th floor?”

“The 99th-floor park has one of the strictest assessments in the country. I want to give it a try, but there’s no guarantee I’ll be transferred.” Du Chen spoke, though his eyes gleamed with determination. “I’m going to ask when their next assessment is.”

Du An knew he couldn’t stop his brother, but the idea of working near the snack shop gave him some peace of mind, so he said, “I’ll go with you.”

They said goodbye to Chen Jiang and headed toward the amusement park together.

At the park entrance, Shui Ninghua was asking a guard about Du Chen’s whereabouts. The guard looked up, spotted Du Chen and Du An approaching, rubbed his eyes as if in disbelief, and said hesitantly, “Du Chen, you’re back?”

Shui Ninghua turned and saw Du Chen, whose eyes were clear and sharp, in excellent condition. She was puzzled. “Du Chen? You’re the guard with soul-loss syndrome?”

The guard at the gate straightened up and said, “Yes, this is the guard you were looking for. Du Chen, this is Director Shui from the sanatorium in District E.”

Du Chen raised an eyebrow slightly and spoke calmly, “What do you need?”

Shui Ninghua quickly explained her purpose in coming, but Du Chen interrupted halfway through. “No need. I’m already cured.”

“What?” Shui Ninghua was confused, and the two caregivers behind her were equally shocked.

Over the years, they had dealt with hundreds, if not thousands, of soul-loss syndrome patients, and none had ever been cured. However, Du Chen’s current state didn’t resemble that of a patient at all—his eyes were bright, and his soul power was strong.

Shui Ninghua turned to the gate guard for confirmation. “Is he really that guard?”

The guard nodded firmly. “Yes, he’s Du Chen.”

Du An peeked out from behind Du Chen, eagerly asking Shui Ninghua, “Are you the director of the sanatorium? Can you tell if my brother is really better?”

Shui Ninghua carefully examined Du Chen. “Where were you two just now?”

Du An replied, “We came from the cinema. We just watched a livestream.”

After talking with Du An about Du Chen’s recent condition, Shui Ninghua had no choice but to accept that he had indeed recovered.

Unable to help herself, she asked, “Mr. Du, would you mind sharing how you recovered?”

Du Chen thought for a moment and said, “Sorry, I’ve got something to do today. My recovery process was quite simple, and we’re actually heading there tomorrow. If you’re free, you’re welcome to join us.”

Shui Ninghua asked, “Where are you going?”

Du Chen replied, “To a little shop that cured my soul-loss syndrome.”

Shui Ninghua felt skeptical. If such a place really existed, she would have found it long ago. But she had no other leads, so she reluctantly agreed to go check it out. “Alright, what time tomorrow?”

Du Chen arranged a time and meeting place with her, then left with Du An.

Du An beamed like a flower in full bloom, thrilled that his brother was truly better.

One of the caregivers next to Shui Ninghua muttered, “That guard’s temper is so bad, he doesn’t seem like someone who had soul-loss syndrome. Could he be trying to trick us?”

The other, a tall, thin caregiver, replied, “If he really had soul-loss syndrome, his current state is the best proof of recovery. I think it’s fine for the director to go and check it out.”

Shui Ninghua thought the same. Whether it was true or not, they’d know once they saw it. Still, she didn’t hold out much hope.

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