Ch 19: Guide to Running a Shop in Another World

Gao Yang stepped off the subway, following the flow of people ahead. Remarkably, all the passengers seemed to have the same destination—Ninety-Ninth Floor.

The most famous attraction on the Ninety-Ninth Floor was the amusement park, so Gao Yang figured these people were likely headed there for some fun or to watch a live stream.

As he thought this, a few people hurried past him, urging their companions, “Hurry up! If we’re too late, we might miss out on the food!”

The one being rushed quickened their pace but still complained, “The boss always announces new items so suddenly. I should’ve stayed on the Ninety-Ninth Floor last night.”

Another person chimed in, “No use regretting now, hurry up!”

Falling behind, Gao Yang watched as the group of soul-loss patients boarded the elevator heading straight to the Ninety-Ninth Floor. He queued up for the next one, overhearing some nearby young men chatting.

“That braised beef noodles looked so good! Just seeing it made my mouth water.”

“I can’t believe we went to another amusement park and missed the new menu launch at the snack shop.”

“The spicy pork noodles looked incredible too, all tender and steamy, mixed with bean sprouts and minced meat… Ugh, first thing I’m doing up there is ordering a bowl!”

Last night, Lu Yao’s snack shop had undergone maintenance and upgrades. This morning, she had livestreamed to showcase the updated shop and announced the launch of her new noodle dishes. It seemed these people had caught the live stream in another amusement park and rushed over immediately.

Gao Yang finally understood: they were all heading to the snack shop.

Not only that, he realized everyone in line for the elevator was also talking about the snack shop, all eager to go there.

Gao Yang had traveled across all thirteen districts of the Dreamland. Every well-known location had seen his footprints.

Each time, he had left with high expectations, only to feel let down upon arrival, realizing that despite their differences, these places were ultimately all the same. Even the ones dressed up with illusions to look beautiful couldn’t hide the emptiness within.

Even his train was like that—no matter how real it seemed, it could never take him to a truly distant place.

But now, seeing so many people eagerly discussing and rushing toward the same destination, Gao Yang couldn’t help but feel a spark of anticipation.

This snack shop seemed like an intriguing place.

He figured he’d probably still end up disappointed, but that sense of expectation before reaching the destination was something he hadn’t felt in a long time.

As the elevator arrived, people surged inside as if their lives depended on it.

In this world, elevators wouldn’t overload, so people kept cramming in until there wasn’t an inch of space left. Everyone seemed desperate.

When the elevator doors opened on the Ninety-Ninth Floor, people poured out like fish from a packed jar, but they all stopped in their tracks at the entrance.

Someone exclaimed, “The snack shop has turned into a two-story building!”

“It looks so beautiful! Doesn’t it seem brand new? It’s really eye-catching.”

“Stop talking, let’s get in line first!”

Gao Yang stepped out and noticed, not far away, a two-story building with a large sign. He raised an eyebrow. Was this the snack shop?

The Ninety-Ninth Floor wasn’t just a single large building; its area was hundreds of times larger than an ordinary structure, and with illusions, it could be expanded and elevated infinitely. It was more like a massive flat-topped mountain.

The amusement park and cinemas built on this “mountain” were supposed to be the main attractions, yet now, the small building in the center was drawing all the attention.

Just as someone had commented, the shop looked brand new. Its bright colors immediately caught the eye.

The building was mainly white, with blue accents along the edges. Dark and light blues alternated, creating a layered effect that highlighted the enormous blue sign in the center—Lu Yao’s Snack Shop.

The line stretched from the entrance of the snack shop all the way to the middle of the square, and Gao Yang silently joined the back of the queue.

He noticed that the soul-loss patients who had arrived earlier entered the shop from a side entrance, but no one else in the line seemed upset about it.

After nearly an hour of waiting, it was finally Gao Yang’s turn.

Upon stepping inside, he barely glanced around before the rich aroma of food completely captured his attention.

He turned to look at Xingzi, who was standing behind the counter with a menu displayed in front of her.

The word “noodles,” which he’d heard countless times today, immediately caught his eye.

Noticing that Gao Yang was a first-time visitor, Xingzi introduced, “Today, we’re featuring new noodle dishes—braised beef noodles, spicy minced pork noodles, pickled vegetable and shredded pork noodles, braised pork noodles, and three-flavor noodles. Over here are our regular snacks. What would you like?”

Gao Yang was surprised that the menu only had one word, “noodles,” yet it encompassed so many varieties. With an array of snacks and drinks as well, he found himself overwhelmed with choices and asked, “Can I order everything on the menu?”

Xingzi nodded, “Yes, you can.”

After some thought, Gao Yang decided not to order everything. “I’ll have a bowl of braised beef noodles, a bowl of spicy minced pork noodles, and all the snacks.”

During the shop’s recent upgrade, Lu Yao had relocated the downstairs counter to the second floor.

The space where the long glass display case had once stood was converted into an expanded dining area, now with more tables and chairs to accommodate a larger number of customers.

When Gao Yang entered, there were still seats available, though the window spots, which he preferred, were already taken. He settled into a row across the aisle from the window, craning his neck to catch glimpses of the view outside.

The server had mentioned that the scenery outside the window was an illusion created by magic, but despite all the places Gao Yang had visited, he had never seen a view as vibrant and mesmerizing as this one.

This was not a scene that could exist in this world!

Curious, he leaned closer for a better look, catching a glimpse of deep pink, like budding flowers on a tree.

The customer sitting by the window glanced back at him, forcing Gao Yang to withdraw his gaze.

Just then, his food arrived.

The spicy roasted chicken wings and roasted pig’s trotters filled the air with their intense, mouthwatering aroma. Warm rice wine dumplings emitted a sweet fragrance. Gao Yang, struggling to control his increasing appetite, finally turned his attention to the two bowls of noodles.

The braised beef noodles were served in a soup. White, fresh noodles lay in a white ceramic bowl, topped with several large chunks of beef, both lean and sinewy. Red chili slices floated on top, along with chopped scallions and cilantro.

As he picked up the noodles with his chopsticks, the rich red oil coated the strands, slowly dripping back into the bowl. The thick, fragrant beef broth, sealed under a layer of oil, released a deep, robust aroma as if bursting out of a balloon.

Unable to resist any longer, Gao Yang slurped a mouthful of noodles. The noodles were smooth and the broth rich without being greasy, full of flavor. He alternated between devouring the noodles and biting into the beef.

The beef, tender and soft, especially the sinewy portions, had a slight creamy taste when chewed.

This bowl of noodles was pure satisfaction!

Gao Yang polished off the bowl in just a few bites.

It was more like drinking the noodles—after that first taste, his hunger hit him hard, and he ate so fast he barely had time to chew.

Thankfully, the other customers were equally absorbed in their meals, paying no attention to anything else.

He lifted the bowl, tilted it back, and downed the remaining broth, even scooping up the chili slices at the bottom to eat.

Setting the empty bowl aside, his attention turned to the spicy minced pork noodles.

This was a dry noodle dish. The noodles sat in the bowl under a generous scoop of bright red minced meat sauce and soft yellow peas, topped with a large handful of fresh green scallions.

Though he preferred soupy noodles, Gao Yang had been intrigued by the description he overheard earlier, so he decided to give it a try.

He mixed the meat sauce and peas into the noodles. The peas, soft and tender, crumbled as he stirred, coating the noodles. The fragrance was irresistible.

When he finally tasted the noodles, Gao Yang paused for a moment, then quickly scooped up another mouthful.

Despite looking dry, the noodles were surprisingly rich and flavorful, quite different from the soup noodles.

The bottom of the bowl was lined with blanched bean sprouts, adding a crisp, fresh texture to the dish and cutting through the richness.

Gao Yang finished all the dishes with the delight of opening mystery boxes, leaning back in his chair and patting his stomach in satisfaction.

So this was the famous snack shop—it was no wonder so many people flocked to it.

Suddenly, a group of people came down from the second floor, carrying takeout boxes he hadn’t seen before.

Without asking, Gao Yang stood up and headed upstairs.

It turned out that the second floor was also in operation, offering a different menu than the first floor.

The layout on the second floor was identical to the first, with a transparent open kitchen and five tables by the window, offering the same picturesque view as below.

The kitchen now featured a large oven, a freezer, and some beautifully crafted ceramic tableware. The counter and display case from the first floor had been moved upstairs, slightly expanded to hold more ingredients and tools.

The second floor had been completely transformed into a café, serving coffee, tea, and desserts, with Qi Chen in charge of the customers there.

Gao Yang ordered an iced Americano and a plate of butter cookies, sharing a table with a soul-loss patient, finally securing a coveted spot by the window.

He realized that all the soul-loss patients he had seen earlier were now dining on the second floor.

To his surprise, they looked completely different from when he had seen them on the train. Their expressions were lively, their eyes alert, and the air of death that had surrounded them was gone.

The caretaker who had spoken to him earlier recognized him and greeted him, “Did you get a chance to try the food here?”

Gao Yang nodded. “Yes, I had the noodles and snacks. They were delicious. You were right; this place is amazing.”

The caretaker gently ran her fingers along the patterned glass of her cup, a smile playing on her lips. “We’re so lucky to have found this snack shop! Our director says that soon, the entire sanatorium will be empty. We’ve found true eternal life.”

Gao Yang looked out the window and finally took in the scenery.

Indeed, flower trees lined the riverbank, and it wouldn’t be long before they bloomed fully. When that happened, the petals would scatter into the river and be carried far away by the current.

He lightly tapped the edge of his cup and said with a note of joy in his voice, “Because of this place, eternal life now has meaning. This is the best destination.”

…

Lu Yao was in the kitchen on the first floor, checking stock. The newly hired chef, Quan Shengju, was skilled and responsible, so she no longer had to worry about the stove.

She now spent most of her time developing new dishes, organizing inventory, and keeping an eye on her task progress.

Xiao Qie came in from outside and called out, “Boss, a customer wants to meet you.”

Lu Yao put down the order list, took off her apron, washed her hands, and went out.

Gao Yang turned around to see a young woman with dark hair and pale skin, with delicate features. She looked much younger than he had imagined.

Lu Yao stopped and looked up at him, “Hello, how can I help you?”

Gao Yang snapped out of his thoughts, his hand at his side flexing nervously. “Hello, my name is Gao Yang, but you can also call me the Train Conductor.”

Lu Yao was stunned to learn that he was the one who had created the trains using magic and laid down the subway lines throughout this world.

He was truly the Train Conductor!

But she still didn’t know why he wanted to see her. Could it be that he wasn’t satisfied with the food and wanted to complain in person?

Gao Yang gathered his thoughts before speaking, “I wanted to thank you for opening this snack shop. The food is delicious, and the scenery is enchanting. This place is the destination I’ve been searching for. To express my gratitude, I’d like to shoot a commercial for your shop and play it on all of my trains.”

Lu Yao: “…Was this the kind of video advertisement that would normally cost a fortune to air in the real world’s subways?”

Gao Yang nodded. “Yes, exactly that kind of ad. Once it’s filmed, I’ll run it for free on every subway line in all 13 districts. Even in areas without open parks or live broadcasts, people will see your shop on the trains.”

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