Ch 24: Guide to Running a Shop in Another World

After eating that bowl of beef noodles in the morning, Bai Jian felt restless for the entire day.

The noodles were perfectly chewy and smooth, soaked in rich red-oil bone broth. One slurp into his mouth, and the flavors exploded—spicy and fragrant. The beef, with just the right balance of fat and lean, was cooked to perfection. The lean parts weren’t dry, and the fatty bits were soft and tender, making each bite melt in his mouth and burst with flavor.

The snack shop had been open by the amusement park entrance for so long, yet only today did Bai Jian discover how delicious the food was.

The problem was, the feud between him and the shop was already established (at least from his side). Even though he really wanted to visit the snack shop, he just couldn’t bring himself to lower his pride and go there on his own.

If the beef noodles alone were that good, he could only imagine how amazing the other dishes must be—he often saw the trio, Paopao, Dudu, and Dongdong, along with other amusement park employees, sneaking over to the shop and coming out with different-sized boxes. He wondered how delicious those dishes were.

Bai Jian’s desk was now full of illusionary beef noodles—wide noodles, round noodles, large bowls, small bowls, and even dry stir-fried beef noodles on plates. The colors were rich, the details abundant, all crafted by him throughout the morning.

But unfortunately, these noodles had no warmth, and when bitten into, they would burst apart—no aroma, no texture.

With his hands behind his back, Bai Jian paced around his office. He had to find an excuse to go to the snack shop; the craving was driving him mad.

Suddenly, a few voices, deliberately hushed, came from outside. With his strong soul force, Bai Jian’s senses were sharper than most other guards.

He walked over, pressed his ear to the door, and listened.

“Night shift today. Let’s line up at the snack shop once we’re off.”

“The snack shop just released new desserts. I really want to try them.”

“When was this? What desserts?”

“Cream puffs and coffee pudding. I just saw Guard Qing secretly eating them in his office. You could smell the sweetness all the way from the hallway.”

Bai Jian: “!!!”

Cream puffs, coffee pudding—just hearing the names made them sound delicious. And Qing was eating them all by himself!

The head guard could take no more. He turned the door handle and quietly poked his head out, staring down the hallway at the three chatting figures.

Paopao, Dudu, and Dongdong turned at the faint sound and immediately greeted him respectfully, “Chief.”

Bai Jian stepped out, trying to appear approachable, his brows relaxing. “You were talking about the snack—”

“We’re sorry, Chief! We were wrong!”

“We were just saying how seriously we should handle the challengers during our night shift!”

“The snack shop? Ugh, the food’s awful. Who’d even want to wait in line to eat there?”

The trio bowed as they shuffled along the wall, quickly skirting around the Head Guard and heading downstairs without looking back. “Oh, time to get ready for work! Chief, we’ll be off now.”

Bai Jian: “…”

He just wanted to join the conversation, chat a bit about the snack shop, and maybe tag along with them…

The whole day, Bai Jian ran into one obstacle after another. The moment he showed up at the employee offices, the staff who had been eagerly discussing the snack shop would scatter like birds and beasts, not giving him a chance to speak.

Feeling dejected, Bai Jian thought back on how he had once taken pride in his authority, but now it felt like a trap he had laid for himself.

Was he really that terrifying?

Wandering aimlessly, Bai Jian ended up at Qing’s office door. The door wasn’t closed, but he still knocked.

Qing didn’t even look up. “Come in.”

This guy sure was steady. Despite his obsession with the snack shop, Qing was still highly capable, serious about his work, and undoubtedly a valuable talent.

Bai Jian stepped inside, a bit reluctant, but remembering the unforgettable taste of the beef noodles, he awkwardly asked, “Qing, want to go to the snack shop after work?”

The Head Guard was tired of all the indirect approaches and decided to be straightforward, hoping to avoid people running away again.

Qing lifted his head, surprise flashing in his eyes, as if he was momentarily stunned. He finally snapped back to reality and said, “No.”

“…” Bai Jian pulled a chair over and sat across from him. “Why not?”

“Aren’t you the one who loves that shop the most?”

“If you love it so much, how could you not go every day?”

Qing seemed slightly helpless, explaining slowly, “The snack shop usually closes in the afternoon; it doesn’t open at night.”

Bai Jian: “…”

So what did Paopao and the others mean when they said they’d line up after their night shift?

There were people camping outside the snack shop almost day and night, so Bai Jian had always assumed it was open 24/7.

It turns out that once you’ve had a taste, no one can resist the shop’s allure.

Qing lowered his head to hide the smile tugging at his lips and said seriously, “Chief, if you want to visit the snack shop, it’s best to go earlier. Just today, Bai Ming mentioned the shop owner is preparing new items. I want to try my luck as well. Shall I come get you later?”

Bai Jian was secretly pleased, but outwardly he wore a face of reluctant grace, as if saying, “Since you’re insisting, I suppose I could go just this once.” He nodded, “Fine.”

In the middle of the night, there was a knock on the Head Guard’s office door. Bai Jian rose from his chair. “Come in.”

Qing didn’t enter but stood at the door, speaking softly, “Chief, it’s time to head out.”

Bai Jian glanced at the time—it was 3 a.m. Surely, the snack shop wouldn’t be open yet?

When they left the amusement park and saw the long line outside, Bai Jian kept his face calm, but inside, he was stunned. Were all these people really waiting for the snack shop to open?

This is ridiculous. Even when the amusement park was at its busiest, they’d never had this many people camping outside.

Qing led the Head Guard through the familiar path to the end of the line. Bored while waiting, he started explaining to Bai Jian the history of Lu Yao’s snack shop.

As the snack shop’s very first customer, Qing spoke with a hint of pride. He recounted how he had originally come to the amusement park to study, and upon stepping out of the elevator, had immediately noticed something unique about the snack shop.

He described the intense spice of the Hellfire Chicken Wings, the savory roasted pig trotters, the sticky sweetness of the rice wine glutinous balls, and then mentioned the chive and egg pancakes, coffee, and the dishes he had tasted that very morning—noodles, cream puffs, and coffee pudding. Finally, he even brought up the train conductor Gao Yang, who had done an ad for the snack shop.

Bai Jian had never heard Qing talk so much, and certainly not with such enthusiasm. His detailed descriptions of the food had Bai Jian silently swallowing his own saliva multiple times. Thankfully, the darkness hid his embarrassment.

But it wasn’t just the Head Guard—people standing in line before and after them were all unknowingly drawn in by Qing’s descriptions, with many quietly swallowing their own saliva.

At dawn, when the amusement park NPCs finished their shifts and came out to line up, they spotted Bai Jian standing in the middle of the queue and were momentarily terrified.

Was the Head Guard planning to personally destroy the snack shop?

After all, he had once entertained that idea.

They waited for hours, and by the time the snack shop finally opened, the line slowly moved forward. When it was Bai Jian and Qing’s turn, it was almost 11 a.m.

Xingzi spotted Bai Jian and was visibly surprised, pausing for a moment before regaining her composure.

Bai Jian kept a neutral expression as he ordered three things according to the rules: a bowl of beef noodles, a pair of Hellfire Chicken Wings, and a bowl of rice wine glutinous balls.

They were lucky—a table in the far left corner by the window had just been vacated, so Qing immediately led Bai Jian over to sit.

Bai Jian noticed the succulent plants on the windowsill. His pupils trembled slightly as he reached out, cautiously touching one with his finger.

The plump, green succulent visibly withered and turned black before crumbling into dust in the small flowerpot.

A sharp-eyed customer at the next table immediately raised their hand and exclaimed, “Whoa! That guy just killed the succulent with a touch!”

All the customers dining in the shop turned to look, and the staff downstairs silently watched as well. The thin layer of ash left on the windowsill was undeniable.

Bai Jian: “…”

He hadn’t meant any harm. He was just curious and couldn’t resist, but he never expected the plant to be so fragile.

Xingzi had never encountered such a situation before. It would’ve been easy to handle with a regular customer, but things were more complicated with the Head Guard.

The succulent had withered and died because the Head Guard’s soul force was too powerful, overwhelming the small plant’s life force and directly draining its vitality.

The atmosphere in the shop turned eerily quiet. Several customers hurriedly finished their food and left, while some, not even bothering to finish, hastily packed their meals into takeout boxes and fled.

That man was terrifying.

Xingzi quickly found Lu Yao to explain the situation.

Lu Yao came out with the beef noodles and Hellfire Chicken Wings, saw the empty planter on the windowsill, set down the tray, and casually crafted a plump, fresh succulent with her illusion magic, placing it in the pot. She even pressed the soil down a bit and smiled at the somewhat stunned Bai Jian, saying, “Sorry, this succulent wasn’t crafted well, it must have startled you.”

The newly arrived customers, hearing Lu Yao’s explanation, withdrew their curious gazes and resumed ordering, waiting comfortably for their food.

Bai Jian watched Lu Yao return to the kitchen, then shifted his gaze back to the beef noodles and spicy wings on the table in front of him.

Qing commented, “You’re quite lucky. This bowl of noodles was made by the boss herself.”

Bai Jian, snapping back to reality, asked, “What’s the difference between hers and someone else’s?”

Qing didn’t directly answer but said, “You’ll understand if you get the chance to taste food made by the other staff.”

After a few more visits, you could easily tell the difference between Lu Yao’s cooking and the others’. However, since the boss was busy, it was impossible for her to cook everything herself.

For most people, the most important thing was that the shop continued to exist.

Any minor flaws were overlooked.

Before starting to eat, Bai Jian glanced once more at the newly crafted succulent on the windowsill. His eyes flickered, and in a low voice, he asked, “Why did she say that?”

Up until yesterday, he had hated the snack shop, and naturally, he had hated Lu Yao, the owner.

He had even plotted to destroy her shop multiple times, though she had no idea. Her actions, however, had deeply unsettled him.

In comparison, her ability to use illusion magic didn’t surprise him as much anymore.

Qing shook his head. “I don’t know. If you’re curious, why not ask her yourself?”

Bai Jian: “…”

He suspected Qing was subtly mocking him.

The Head Guard remained silent for a long time until Qing reminded him that the noodles would lose their flavor if he waited too long. Bai Jian finally picked up his chopsticks.

With the first slurp, he immediately understood Qing’s earlier words.

The bowl of noodles he had in the morning wasn’t made by Lu Yao. Though this bowl looked no different from the one he had before, the one made by Lu Yao was more fragrant, warmer, and more comforting.

“If only Bai Jue could have tasted this bowl of noodles,” Bai Jian murmured quietly as he finished his meal, staring out the window.

Qing paused slightly but then continued eating.

Bai Jue had been the previous Head Guard of the amusement park on the 99th floor.

In the late stages of Soul Loss Syndrome, he entered the highest-level game and chose to surrender. He was torn to pieces by the challengers and never came out again.

The amusement park’s space was special to them. Inside, they could materialize, grow a heart, and have weaknesses—thus, they could experience a sense of reality.

Ordinarily, challengers could never touch their weaknesses, unless they voluntarily exposed them.

That’s what Bai Jue did, choosing the most tragic way to end it all.

After Bai Jue’s death, the current Head Guard sank into a long period of depression, rarely leaving the amusement park.

The last time he went out was to find a new guard.

That young guard he found now works peacefully as a staff member in the snack shop.

Bai Ming brought over a white porcelain plate and set it in front of Bai Jian. “The boss made some new snacks. You should try them.”

Although Bai Ming had been resolute when he resigned, deep down, he still had great respect for the Head Guard. The Head Guard was stronger than any of them.

On the porcelain plate were four small jelly treats skewered on bamboo sticks. They were plump and round, looking very much like the succulent Bai Jian had just accidentally killed.

Qing was the first to reach for one, biting half of it in one go. His eyes lit up. “Delicious! What are these called?”

Bai Ming said, “The boss calls them bo zai gao.”

Bai Jian picked up a red bean-flavored one and took a bite. It looked soft but had a chewy texture that was sticky yet firm, with a subtle sweetness that wasn’t overwhelming—it was indeed delicious.

At that moment, Gao Yang came down from the second floor and found Lu Yao. “What did you want to talk to me about?”

His dedicated table was on the second floor, and Lu Yao had even hung a nameplate for him, making it a prestigious spot.

Recently, Gao Yang had been making time to stop by the shop daily.

In his office, no one had been interested in the snack shop project before. Now, everyone was vying to enjoy Gao Yang’s exclusive perks, but he didn’t bring anyone along—not even Xiao Qi or Ren Min.

Lu Yao brought out a plate of bo zai gao for him and pulled him to sit down. “Conductor, you’ve seen a lot in your time. I wanted to ask if you know where the Demon God is?”

“You want to meet the Demon God?” Gao Yang found her request curious—she was quite bold.

Lu Yao nodded. “Yes.”

Bai Jian, with his heightened senses, noticed she was speaking in his direction. He could read lips, and he saw that she was inquiring about the Demon God.

Gao Yang didn’t confirm or deny it. Instead, he asked, “Why?”

Lu Yao couldn’t say it was to complete a mission, so she quickly thought of an excuse. Remembering the invitation, she said, “I’d like to invite the Demon God to my shop for a meal.”

“A meal?” Gao Yang couldn’t help but laugh. He hadn’t expected that answer. “Sorry, I don’t know where the Demon God is. As far as I know, He’s not here.”

Lu Yao was surprised. “Not here? How could that be? Isn’t the Demon God the source of this world’s existence?”

Gao Yang replied, “That’s true, but He’s not here. If anyone would know the whereabouts of the Demon God, it would likely be the guards of the amusement park.”

The guards of the amusement park were originally the Demon God’s personal guards. After the Demon God vanished, they scattered across the regions, becoming ordinary park guards.

Bai Ming had already inquired, but Qing didn’t know the Demon God’s location. Earlier that morning, Du Chen had said the same.

Lu Yao realized this mission was more complicated than expected. Without finding the Demon God, she couldn’t deliver the invitation, and she had no idea what the next task would be. On top of that, there was a time limit.

Since Gao Yang didn’t have any useful information, Lu Yao chatted with him briefly before parting ways.

Qi Shen came downstairs and found Lu Yao deep in thought in the kitchen, looking a bit anxious. “Boss, I need a favor.”

“What is it?”

“I’ve been experimenting with the matcha crepe recipe these past few days, but it’s still not quite right. Could you help me buy a sample from that one shop? I’d like to taste it again.”

Lu Yao, her mind tangled with the unsolvable problem of finding the Demon God, figured a walk might clear her head. She stood up, grabbed her phone, and headed out the door. “Sure, I’ll go get it.”

As Lu Yao reached the door, Bai Ming stopped her and handed her something.

“Where did this come from?” Lu Yao looked at the black, ominous ring in his hand, feeling a chill.

Zhao Yuqing had mentioned that only people near death could see this ring. Why was Bai Ming giving it to her? Was this a sign that she was close to death?

But she had just extended her lifespan by 2,000 years—surely it couldn’t be that unreliable?

Bai Ming frowned slightly. “Chief asked me to give it to you.”

The Head Guard?

Now things were even stranger. She wasn’t close to the Head Guard at all, so why would he give her this?

Lu Yao had already learned about the illusionary rings from Qi Shen.

The black ones were the most dangerous, not only pulling the wearer into the highest-level games but also signaling that failure in the game would lead to a gruesome death.

Qi Shen had mentioned that his ring was also black. Thinking back to his tragic end, Lu Yao felt a chill run through her. Was she really going to die?

Bai Ming seemed to notice her anxiety and reassured her. “Don’t worry, nothing will happen to you. If this ring were truly yours, it wouldn’t be handed over by us—it would appear somewhere you’d naturally find it.”

His words were a clear indication that they knew everything, but simply hadn’t revealed it.

Lu Yao: “…”

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