Ch 17: Guide to Running a Shop in Another World

Just as Xu Qinghe was thinking, the patient at the table in front of him had already picked up his bowl, tentatively using his chopsticks to grab a piece of meat covered in a rich orange sauce. After chewing it a couple of times, he suddenly froze, his eyes widening.

After a brief pause, the patient began shoveling rice into his mouth, alternating between bites of food and sips of soup, tears and snot streaming down his face as he ate.

Eventually, he let out a loud sob, took a brief pause, and then continued stuffing rice into his mouth.

Xu Qinghe: “…”

Behind him, someone held out a bowl and cautiously asked, “Boss, could I get some more rice?”

Immediately, another patient chimed in, “Me too!”

It was the patient sitting in front of Xu Qinghe, who had already finished his meal within a minute of it being served.

Xu Qinghe lightly picked up his chopsticks, looking down at the meal in front of him. It really did seem delicious.

He started with a small corner dish—thin white radish strips mixed with red and green chili flakes and spring onions, with a hint of sesame oil. The cool, crunchy, spicy flavor had a slight sweetness—it was a cold radish salad.

Xu Qinghe took a bite of rice with the radish, and the dullness in his eyes seemed to brighten just a bit.

The simplest of side dishes, salty and spicy, perfectly complemented the rice, stimulating his appetite.

His gaze shifted to the stir-fried lettuce beside the radish. The lettuce was crisp, with just a few seasonings, retaining its fresh vegetable taste. The crunch as he bit into it was refreshing, the flavor homely and comforting, making it hard to stop eating.

After three servings of lettuce, Xu Qinghe finally turned to the dish that had caught his attention from the start. He had forced himself to begin with the side dishes, but now it was time for the main event.

In a small square porcelain bowl, brightly colored meat chunks had been fried and paired with diamond-shaped carrot and red pepper pieces. A few green peppers were scattered throughout for contrast, all coated in a sticky, deep orange sauce. The smell of sweet and sour filled the air, making his mouth water.

Xu Qinghe poked around in the bowl, picking up what looked like a piece of ginger. He bit into it, his eyes lighting up—it was pineapple!

The fruit was slightly tart, but the sauce clinging to its surface perfectly balanced the sourness. The stir-fried pineapple had softened along the edges, while the inside retained a slight firmness, bursting with its unique fruity aroma with each bite.

Xu Qinghe loved this sweet and sour flavor. It was appetizing and refreshing.

After eating two pieces of pineapple, he finally picked up a piece of the fried meat coated in sweet and sour sauce. The texture was completely different from the vegetables, but just as delicious!

He scooped some extra sauce from the bottom of the bowl onto his rice, mixing it thoroughly before taking big bites, just like the patient in front of him had done. The darkness in his eyes was entirely replaced with light—the food was amazing!

This dish of sweet and sour pork with pineapple completely opened up Xu Qinghe’s appetite. The heavy weight on his shoulders gradually lifted, and the annoyance he had felt on the way here dissipated.

Before he knew it, his bowl was scraped clean. He was about to raise his hand to ask for more rice when he noticed the bowl of soup next to the sweet and sour pork.

The soup had delicate yellow bamboo shoots floating in it, along with thin slices of mushrooms and meat, sprinkled with white pepper and green scallions. It smelled fresh and light.

Xu Qinghe lowered his hand, scooped half a bowl of soup, and took a sip. The fresh flavor filled his mouth, and little by little, it seeped down his throat, nourishing his parched soul.

He opened his eyes and suddenly noticed the view outside the window.

The sky was blue, the clouds were light, and the river was calm.

The flowering trees along the riverbank were covered in pink buds, and the breath of spring seemed to drift from the shore all the way to his table, carried in the bowl of soup before him. The bamboo shoots were tender and crisp, the mushrooms soft, and the meat smooth and flavorful. Each sip of warm soup felt like taking in a taste of spring itself.

It’s so good to be alive, and even better to be able to feel!

After finishing the half-bowl of soup, the gloom in Xu Qinghe’s eyes was completely gone. He was fully revitalized.

And it wasn’t just him—the other four patients who had come with him also had a light in their eyes, completely different from the lifeless state they had been in when they arrived.

“Boss, more rice, please!”

“Boss, could we have more food too? The sweet and sour pork is just too delicious!”

“Boss, boss, can I get another plate of the radish strips?”

“Is there any more of the bamboo shoot soup? It was so delicious, I didn’t get enough!”

Shui Ninghua and Hong Chun exchanged glances, finally feeling relieved.

In the kitchen, Lu Yao had started a livestream while cooking.

There were still enough ingredients for the set meals, so she prepared an extra serving for the patients.

Bai Ming and Xiao Qie were watching eagerly, occasionally slurping as if they could taste the food through the air, their longing so palpable it seemed almost tangible.

Lu Yao chuckled at the sight and, while plating the dishes, whispered, “I set aside extra ingredients—we’re having the same meal for the staff today!”

Xiao Qie instantly transformed from a pitiful figure to a lively boy. “Boss, you’re the best!”

Bai Ming also sighed in relief, turning to check the fridge, where he indeed found the pre-prepared ingredients.

He had been craving that dish of fruit, vegetables, and meat stir-fried together. Earlier, when Lu Yao had been plating the food, he had secretly dipped his fingertip into the sauce. It was sweet and sour, just the way he liked it.

Seeing how eager they were, Lu Yao finished cooking the patients’ extra servings and then started making the staff lunch.

Qi Chen and Xingzi were outside watching over the customers, unconsciously swallowing as the kitchen continued to bustle. The aroma of the food was irresistible today.

Shui Ninghua and the two caretakers sat together, drinking coffee and eating cookies.

It was Chen Li’s first time in the snack shop, and she had been struck by the unique view outside the window. By the time she tasted the coffee, she was at a loss for words.

No wonder the director said this place could cure soul-loss syndrome. She only drank a cup of coffee and ate a butter cookie, and she already felt an overwhelming sense of happiness. What must it feel like for those patients who got to eat the special meals?

Suddenly, she felt a bit envious of them.

Shui Ninghua and Hong Chun sipped their coffee absentmindedly, their eyes occasionally drifting toward the kitchen. Was the boss making lunch for the staff? They wondered if they might be able to join in. Even though they hadn’t tried the shop’s regular menu, the staff meals were definitely delicious.

Xiao Qie, ever perceptive, noticed the gazes directed their way and tugged at Bai Ming’s sleeve. “They’re eyeing our food again.”

Bai Ming nodded slightly, then stepped outside to quietly speak with Xingzi before returning at a leisurely pace.

Once the patients finished their meals, Xiao Qie and Bai Ming quickly cleared the tables.

Xingzi approached Shui Ninghua and politely mentioned that the shop would be closing for a short break before reopening in the afternoon.

Originally, the shop was scheduled to close from noon to 3 p.m. for a break. But to accommodate the group of soul-loss patients, Lu Yao had stayed busy, and now it was almost 2 p.m.

Feeling a bit awkward, Shui Ninghua immediately stood up, paid the bill, and prepared to leave with the patients.

Lu Yao came out of the kitchen and handed over a box, smiling. “I heard from Hong that some patients didn’t want to leave their rooms, so I prepared a little treat. It’s not much, but you can share it with them.”

Inside the box were simple fruit candies, but there were plenty—enough for every person at the sanatorium to have at least two pieces.

Lu Yao had learned from Hong Chun that it took a lot of effort to bring the patients out due to their mental state. They were unwilling to leave their rooms or interact with others because of their illness. After preparing the first round of meals, Lu Yao had made a quick trip to a nearby supermarket to buy the candy.

Holding the box, Shui Ninghua’s face flushed slightly. “Thank you, boss.”

When the five patients had entered the shop, they had seemed like walking corpses. But now, their eyes were bright, and their expressions animated. They looked like they could be discharged as soon as they left the shop.

Standing in a line at the door, they loudly thanked Lu Yao before turning to express their gratitude to Shui Ninghua and the two caretakers.

After the sanatorium group left, Lu Yao checked the accounts and was surprised. She called for Xingzi. “Why did the sanatorium pay twenty years’ worth of fees for this meal? Did the director make a mistake?”

Xingzi shook her head. “No, she said she’s very grateful to you and wanted to apologize for yesterday’s offense.”

Bai Ming added, “Twenty years’ worth isn’t a big deal, Boss. Don’t worry about it, just accept it.”

Lu Yao: “…”

Is it really not a big deal?

Xiao Qie, standing by, urged, “Boss, hungry! Food, please!”

The staff meal had been ready for a while, kept warm in containers created by Lu Yao’s illusion magic. All she had to do was serve it.

The livestream was still running, and during the short time she hadn’t been paying attention, the number of viewers had surged to 20,000. The system even rewarded her with extra popularity points.

As the staff prepared to eat lunch, the chat became especially lively.

“We’re at the painful part where we can watch but not eat!”

“Sweet and sour pork with pineapple—my favorite dish!”

“That bamboo shoot soup looks so fresh and delicious. I want some!”

“Why is this just for the staff? Boss, please add it to the menu, I’m begging you!!!”

“Set meals? I want one too! I’ll write in blood to get the boss to add this to the menu!!!”

…

More viewers started sending gifts, and the number of viewers continued to climb.

[Lu Yao’s Snack Shop has reached over 100,000 popularity points, upgrading to a four-star shop. Two new dishes have been unlocked, with 1,000 additional popularity points, and livestream coverage has expanded to three new regions. Please keep up the good work!]

After receiving the system’s notification, Lu Yao immediately opened the map and extended the livestream coverage to Regions F, G, and H. Only four regions remained to unlock, and once completed, she would be able to tackle the final task.

As she ate, Lu Yao interacted with the viewers for a bit. Noticing it was getting late, she ended the livestream and told the staff, “I have some errands to run this afternoon, so you guys take care of the shop.”

The four staff members were too engrossed in their meal, nodding enthusiastically. The sweet and sour pork with pineapple was simply too delicious.

After thinking for a moment, Lu Yao added, “In a few days, I’ll be adding two new dishes to the menu. One of them will be sweet and sour pork with pineapple, and I’ll figure out the other one.”

Sweet and sour pork with pineapple was a quick dish to make, but it didn’t taste good once cold. However, the world had unique preservation methods that could keep dishes warm for long periods, making them taste just as fresh as when they were served.

Lu Yao considered making the dish in advance so she wouldn’t have to cook it to order.

The staff, cheeks puffed with food, nodded vigorously. This dish was sure to be a hit!

…

At 3:10 p.m., Lu Yao left the snack shop and returned to her apartment. Shortly after, her scheduled client arrived.

The 4:00 p.m. appointment was a first-time customer named Zhao Yuqing, who looked to be in her early twenties and appeared quite young.

Zhao Yuqing had slightly wavy long hair and delicate, pleasant features.

However, she seemed to be in poor condition. Despite her heavy makeup, the dark circles under her eyes were still visible, and she looked both exhausted and slightly frightened.

Lu Yao showed her some samples of her previous nail designs and asked about her preferred style.

Zhao Yuqing glanced at the samples briefly before setting them aside and extending her hand. “No need to choose. I want the most expensive option.”

Such a straightforward request—Lu Yao liked that.

She pulled out her tools and began filing Zhao Yuqing’s nails, already envisioning a new design in her mind.

During their conversation, Lu Yao learned that Zhao Yuqing was a third-year student at A University, the same university Lu Yao had attended.

When Zhao Yuqing heard that Lu Yao was also a student at A University, she was surprised.

Curious, she asked, “Senior, you’ve been doing nails for the past few months instead of looking for a job?”

Lu Yao thought for a moment but didn’t mention the snack shop. She simply nodded, “More or less.”

Zhao Yuqing’s eyes flickered as she lowered her gaze, no longer initiating conversation with Lu Yao.

Two hours later, Zhao Yuqing’s nails were finished.

She raised her hands and inspected them carefully. Each nail featured a unique design, all hand-painted by Lu Yao. The gold and purple combination looked luxurious and refined, with small, beautiful rhinestones adding a touch of elegance and opulence.

Zhao Yuqing was quite satisfied and asked, “How much?”

Lu Yao calculated and gave her a small discount: “Two thousand.”

Zhao Yuqing’s expression changed. “Isn’t it usually just a few hundred?”

Lu Yao: “…”

She had a bad feeling.

Sure enough, in the next second, Zhao Yuqing’s face paled as she said, “I only have five hundred on me.”

Lu Yao took a deep breath, calming herself. “There are options that cost a few hundred, but what you had done is different.”

Zhao Yuqing, with a distressed expression, said, “This is my first time getting my nails done. I had no idea it could be this expensive. Senior, could you make it cheaper?”

Lu Yao regretted not being more cautious. She had quoted the price earlier, but Zhao Yuqing insisted on getting the most expensive option without hesitation.

Thinking that this client was referred by Shen Sisi, she didn’t expect any issues. Since Zhao Yuqing was a student and a fellow alumna, Lu Yao had already applied a discount.

After thinking for a moment, Lu Yao said, “Eighteen hundred—would you prefer to pay by transfer or cash?”

Zhao Yuqing’s expression was still sour, but she didn’t argue further. She angrily grabbed her bag, opened her wallet, and started searching for money.

As she rummaged, a small object fell from her bag and rolled onto the floor.

Lu Yao bent down to pick it up. It was a black ring.

The object had made no sound when it hit the floor. If Lu Yao hadn’t seen it drop, it might have been left behind.

Lu Yao noticed something strange about the ring’s texture and examined it closely.

Zhao Yuqing looked up and, upon seeing the ring in Lu Yao’s hand, her expression changed. She quickly snatched it back and tightly gripped it in her hand. After a moment’s hesitation, she opened her palm and asked, “You can see this ring?”

Lu Yao nodded. “Yeah, it’s a bit special—when it fell, it didn’t make a sound.”

Zhao Yuqing suddenly said, “Do you want to buy it? It’s cheap—just eighteen hundred.”

Lu Yao: “?”

Zhao Yuqing continued, “It seems you don’t know anything about this. This ring is called a phantom ring. They say only people near death can see it.”

Lu Yao: “…So, you’re saying you’re about to die?”

Zhao Yuqing nodded. “Yes, I’m close to death, so I wanted to do all the things I never dared to do before. Yesterday, I saw Shen Sisi post pictures of her nails in her Moments, and I decided to come to you.”

Lu Yao’s gaze dropped to the phantom ring in Zhao Yuqing’s hand. “What does the ring do? Why are you trying to sell it to me?”

Zhao Yuqing explained, “I heard that whoever owns this ring can enter a game. If you survive in the game, your life will be extended, and your death will be delayed. Since you can see it, that means you’re close to death too. You could use it to save yourself.”

“…” The ring seemed more and more familiar to Lu Yao, but she couldn’t recall where she had seen it before. “Why don’t you keep it for yourself?”

Zhao Yuqing hesitated before answering, “I’m not interested in the game, and I don’t want to fight for survival anymore. So, do you want it for eighteen hundred?”

Lu Yao shook her head. “I don’t need it. Will you be paying by cash or transfer?”

Zhao Yuqing: “…”

Zhao Yuqing used up all of her living expenses to pay for the nail service and, as she left, swore never to come back.

She had been tormented in the game, and after getting her nails done, she was so angry she felt like she might have a brief burst of energy before dying.

Her phone suddenly pinged with a new friend request.

Zhao Yuqing accepted it.

[Hello, is the phantom ring for sale?]

Zhao Yuqing blinked. She had just posted a picture of her freshly done nails on social media.

Even though she was furious, she still couldn’t resist showing off.

The photos she took at Lu Yao’s place must have included the ring, which had been next to her at the time.

Ordinary people wouldn’t be able to see the ring in the picture. Only someone like her, who had entered the game, would notice it.

Zhao Yuqing replied, “How much are you offering?”

[50,000.]

Fifty thousand?

Zhao Yuqing immediately responded, “Deal. Where do you want to meet?”

The person interested in buying the phantom ring was also in Yaoguang City and requested to meet in person. Since Zhao Yuqing was out of money, she arranged to meet at a nearby location.

Lu Yao, unaware of all of this, spent the evening serving another client and received two more appointments for the following days.

Every day brought in some income, barely enough to cover the shop’s expenses, which eased Lu Yao’s anxiety a bit.

That night, just as she was preparing to rest, a sudden thought flashed through her mind—she finally remembered why the ring from earlier seemed so strange.

It looked as though it had been made using illusion magic, and its name was also phantom ring. Could it have come from Dreamland?

She quickly sat up, eager to test if she could replicate the ring she saw that afternoon.

She tried for a long time, but nothing appeared in her hands—her illusion magic only seemed to work in that other world.

So, what was the deal with that phantom ring?

Lu Yao decided she would try making it in the shop the next day.

…

Late at night, at the Golden Rose Museum.

Zhuang Liang had just emerged from a game when his phone rang. He stared at the screen for a moment before answering, “Hello.”

The person on the other end was excited, “Mr. Zhuang, we just purchased a phantom ring, and we’d like you to take a look.”

“What quality?”

“Black.”

Zhuang Liang’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Alright, bring it over.”

After hanging up, Zhuang Liang returned to his residence to take a shower and change clothes. The games always left him in a mess.

By the time he came downstairs, the person delivering the ring was already seated in the living room.

Upon seeing Zhuang Liang, the man stood up respectfully, “Mr. Zhuang.”

Zhuang Liang said nothing, his gaze falling on the black box on the table. Inside the box was a pure black ring with intricate, ancient patterns.

He picked it up and examined it for a while, “How much did you pay?”

“Fifty thousand.”

“Who did you buy it from?”

“A female university student.”

Zhuang Liang placed the ring back in the box and pushed it across the table. “This ring has been used, and only has one use left.”

The man took the ring and stood up, “Thank you, Mr. Zhuang.”

Phantom rings come in three grades, with black being the highest quality. A black ring can only be used three times, and surviving a game adds ten years to one’s life.

A gray phantom ring is of medium quality, allowing five uses. Each successful game adds one month of life.

A white phantom ring is the lowest quality, allowing seven uses. Each successful game adds one day of life.

These are rules all Dreamland players know, but there are also hidden rules that only experienced players are aware of—such as being able to determine how many times a ring has been used based on its appearance.

The person who sold the ring might think they’ve earned an extra twenty years of life and a nice sum of money.

If a ring hasn’t been used, selling it doesn’t matter.

But selling a used ring? That’s when things start to get complicated.

The girl who sold the ring probably doesn’t have much time left.

Zhuang Liang poured himself a glass of wine, swirling it as he headed upstairs.

Before bed, as part of his routine, he logged into the exclusive Dreamland forum for players. Several fresh posts floated to the top of the homepage, and Zhuang Liang clicked on a few.

All of them were discussing being robbed by NPCs. Most of these players were newbies—first-timers who had foolishly placed cash in their inventory bags. Zhuang Liang couldn’t understand it.

But since more than one person mentioned it, he furrowed his brow. Could the rules of Dreamland really have changed?

That night, even more posts about NPCs robbing players started popping up on the forum.

“You scammers!!! I actually believed your nonsense and put cash in my bag, only to get killed the moment I entered the game…”

“Me too, me too! I’m devastated! Luckily, I was in a white ring domain, so dying was quick and painless.”

“But I brought money in and actually made it out! I even got a special reward—my life was extended by six months.”

“!!! What kind of money did you bring? What denomination?”

“100-yuan notes of Renminbi.”

“I also brought 100-yuan Renminbi and wasn’t killed; I even gained half a day of life… My friend brought 50-yuan notes and got killed instantly.”

At 5 a.m., after a long night in the game, Master Bai, Master An, and Master Qie emerged, each holding a small stack of red Renminbi bills.

This time, they had precisely targeted their search, wasting no time.

However, most players who brought money into the game were newbies, and the games they entered weren’t particularly difficult. Over the years, these naive players had become rarer, so even after a whole night of jumping into games, they had only collected a small amount, slightly more than what they’d gathered the previous day.

Qie squatted on the ground, looking dejected. “Making money is so hard. The boss is really too good to us.”

Making money was this tough, and yet the boss still paid out of her own pocket every day to make them delicious meals.

Qie liked Lu Yao even more.

Xingzi added, “This can’t go on. It’s too inefficient. We need to come up with another method.”

Bai Ming said, “Let’s give her this first, then think of another way.”

Xingzi hesitated, “Will it scare her?”

Bai Ming shrugged, “Let Qi Chen give it to her.”

…

Lu Yao was craving noodles, so early in the morning, she went to the market and bought five pounds of fresh noodles, along with two pounds of pork (three parts fat, seven parts lean), and brought them back to the snack shop.

She had barely stepped into the shop when the delivery boy from the market arrived with more ingredients.

The delivery boy typically came by every two days, bringing meat, vegetables, and seasonings from various vendors that Lu Yao had ordered.

He unloaded the ingredients at the shop entrance, while Lu Yao used a small cart to move everything inside.

The delivery boy, without saying a word, finished the job and left. After walking a considerable distance, he couldn’t help but turn around to glance at the snack shop.

Does anyone actually eat at this place in such a rundown area?

He’d delivered here many times but had never entered the shop or seen any customers, making the whole situation feel strange.

Back in the kitchen, Lu Yao unpacked the supplies and began preparing the freshly bought meat while casually starting her livestream.

Even though it was early, the number of viewers quickly exceeded 10,000.

“Wow, it’s so early! What are we having today?”

Lu Yao cleaned the meat, first cutting it into thick slices, then into strips, and finally finely chopping it into ground meat. She glanced at the comments and responded slowly, “Meat sauce noodles.”

“I really want some noodles. Will this be on the menu, or is it for the staff?”

Lu Yao: “I’m considering adding it to the menu.”

“!! Boss, look at me, I want pickled vegetable and pork noodles!”

“Green pepper and shredded potato noodles!”

“One vote for braised beef noodles!”

“Even plain noodles with eggs would be great!”

…

Lu Yao finished preparing the meat and casually added, “Tomorrow we’ll add sweet and sour pork with pineapple to the menu. For those who like it, come and give it a try.”

“!!! Sweet and sour pork with pineapple, my favorite!”

“Ahhh, I’m lining up at midnight tomorrow!”

“I’ll be there this afternoon!”

“Boss, please consider opening a branch in District F. I’m craving it so bad, but I live too far away.”

“We in District H would also warmly welcome the boss!”

Lu Yao mixed the meat filling, heated oil in the pan, and began frying the meat sauce while chatting with her viewers. “There’s only this one shop. No branches, no moving locations.”

“Constantly envious of people living in District A.”

“I’m thinking of moving to District A too.”

“Raise your hand if you’re from District A! I often can’t get anything either; it’s been three days since I last got to eat the wontons.”

Lu Yao took the opportunity to recruit. “If anyone here is good at cooking, we’re hiring a chef at the shop.”

By the time the staff arrived, Lu Yao had already finished cooking the meat sauce, fried some eggs, and had a pot of water boiling, ready for the noodles.

As soon as Xiao Qie entered, he smelled the unfamiliar aroma of the food and ran over like the wind. “Boss, what’s for breakfast?”

Lu Yao dropped the noodles into the pot. “Meat sauce noodles.”

“Awesome!”

Lu Yao had bought five pounds of noodles. She ate one bowl, Qi Chen had one and a half, and the rest was divided among Bai Ming, Xingzi, and Qie.

After breakfast, Lu Yao closed the flying livestream device and prepared to open for business.

Bai Ming and Qie were in the kitchen prepping, while Xingzi was called over to help organize the shelves.

Qi Chen pulled Lu Yao to a corner of the bar and, with a blank expression, pulled out a stack of red Renminbi bills from his pocket. “Here, for you.”

Lu Yao’s eyes widened in surprise. She didn’t reach out to take it and hesitantly asked, “Is this real?”

Qi Chen nodded solemnly.

Lu Yao: “…Where did it come from?”

Qi Chen closed his eyes, surrendering to the absurdity, and said, “It appeared on my pillow when I woke up this morning… Maybe my parents burned it for me?”

Lu Yao: “I get the idea, but why would it be Renminbi?”

Qi Chen also found it ridiculous. Why did they think Lu Yao would believe such a lame excuse?

All three of them had threatened him, telling him to figure out how to get Lu Yao to accept the money, or else they’d throw him back into Dreamland. The one place Qi Chen never wanted to return to.

In the kitchen, Bai Ming, Xingzi, and Qie were pressing their faces against the glass, coldly observing the situation.

Qi Chen felt a chill on his scalp as he shoved the money into Lu Yao’s hands. “Just take it and don’t ask questions.”

Lu Yao pushed it back. “I won’t accept it unless you explain it clearly.”

Qie and Xingzi bared their sharp, tightly packed teeth, silently threatening him.

Qi Chen: !

He leaned closer to Lu Yao and whispered, “The money is fine, really. Please, just take it! I’m begging you!”

Sweat dotted Qi Chen’s forehead—he was sure that if Lu Yao didn’t accept the money, he wouldn’t survive the day.

After a moment, Lu Yao leaned in and whispered back, “Answer one question, and I’ll take it.”

“Ask away,” Qi Chen said, feeling a glimmer of hope.

“What is a phantom ring?” Lu Yao stared intently at Qi Chen, not wanting to miss even the slightest change in his expression.

Qi Chen knew Lu Yao had never entered the game, but he had always been curious about how she managed to run such an extraordinary snack shop in such a strange world.

In a low voice, Qi Chen shared everything he knew.

When he finished, Lu Yao accepted the money and placed it in the kitchen with the other dry goods.

Facing three pairs of dark, inquiring eyes, Qi Chen forced himself to remain calm. “She took it.”

…

Meanwhile, in the park, the guard assessment had concluded.

Twenty-nine strong, young guards had been paired off to duel in the highest-level games. The winners advanced to new rounds, continuing the brutal battles until only two remained—both exhausted from fighting for a long time.

The recording footage showed the two guards collapsing simultaneously.

In such cases, the decision of who stayed in the elite Ninth-Nine Floor park rested with two examiners and Chief Guard Bai Jian, whose vote became crucial as the examiners had each chosen different candidates, leaving the score tied 1-1.

Bai Jian stood before the recording footage, conflicted. The two finalists were Qing and Du Chen.

He knew both of them well—they were equally strong and certainly capable of being guards.

But he could only choose one.

After a minute of hesitation, Bai Jian stepped forward and cast the deciding vote.

The examiners then announced the result—Qing, the guard previously stationed at the C-District Cake Shop Dreamland, was to be transferred immediately to the Ninth-Nine Floor Dreamland in District A.

When Qing emerged from the game, he glanced triumphantly at Du Chen, who was still lying on the ground.

This time, he had won.

Bai Jian waited for Qing at the door, pleased with his decision to select such a capable and resilient guard. The best part? Qing had no interest in the snack shop next door, greatly increasing Bai Jian’s fondness for him.

—As long as you don’t like the snack shop, we can be good friends.

After receiving his new guard badge, Qing took a shower in the park facilities, changed into his new uniform, and prepared to return to C-District to complete his handover. But before that, he decided to treat himself at the snack shop.

The defeated guards had already left, and Bai Jian’s impression of Qing was growing fonder by the moment—until he saw Qing walking out of park, heading toward the snack shop.

???

Bai Jian couldn’t hold back. “Qing, where are you going?”

Qing turned around. “To the snack shop. I haven’t been there in a while because of the guard assessment, and I miss the food.”

Bai Jian: “…Why did you want to join the Ninth-Nine Floor park?”

Given the unusually high number of candidates for the assessment, Bai Jian had assumed it was because of the patk’s elite status.

But facing Qing’s warm smile, which carried a hint of anticipation, Bai Jian suddenly wasn’t so sure.

Qing: “Of course, it’s because I want to eat at the snack shop. District C is too far away. Even if I get there early, I have to wait in line for ages, and I never get the new dishes. I heard the staff meals are amazing, and being closer, maybe I’ll have a chance to try them.”

In all the years Bai Jian had known Qing, he had never heard him say such a long sentence: “…”

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