Ch 114: Guide to Running a Shop in Another World

Jing Yuxi sat cross-legged on the floor, gazing through the transparent membrane at the fish swimming outside, feeling a surreal, dreamlike sensation.

Deep-sea fish that she’d only ever seen on TV now drifted leisurely right in front of her. Occasionally, one fish that had fallen behind the others would briefly meet her gaze before abruptly turning away and darting off.

Outside the shop lay a flat seabed, where vibrant, beautiful corals sprawled like a carpet, stretching from the dark depths all the way to the shop’s entrance. Fish with intricate, exotic patterns swam among them.

This place was a world of its own, untouched by the outside, tranquil and steady, like a hidden paradise.

Jing Yuxi’s shoulders instinctively relaxed as she let out a long exhale. Her weary heart seemed to revive, beating with new energy.

Even she was surprised—turns out, she really did need a break.

She had always believed she was fine, focused, and disciplined. As long as she followed her plan step-by-step, she would reach the pinnacle of the classical music world.

She poured all her energy into preparing, never daring to relax, but her condition only worsened over time, and inexplicable things began to happen.

Her doctor had urged her to relax, but she didn’t believe there was anything wrong with her.

Sitting in this ethereal jellyfish-like pet shop, she oddly found herself genuinely relaxing.

“Meow~”

A soft, lazy sound drifted up as her hand brushed against something fluffy. Looking down, she found a small tabby kitten pawing at the fringes of her denim shorts.

She rarely interacted with animals, not because she didn’t like them, but because they could easily consume her attention, leaving her completely captivated.

Ordinarily, she’d try to avoid them, not letting herself be drawn in.

But this kitten was just too adorable, with big, watery eyes and a fluffy, soft coat that easily won her affection.

She reached out to pet it, her eyebrows lifting slightly in delight. It felt like a freshly steamed red bean bun—plump, soft, and warm.

Bai Jing gave a gentle flick of a cat teaser with a bell on it, and Sugar’s attention was immediately caught. The cat hopped lightly, batting at the colorful feathers dangling from the string.

“This is Sugar. He’s the most affectionate one. There’s also a little tabby with a perpetual ‘grumpy face’ in the cat bed over there—also incredibly cute.”

Jing Yuxi glanced over at Tape, nestled in the bed, her heart practically melting.

Its fluffy fur puffed up, a round little face with a scrunched-up nose, looking perpetually grumpy and adorable.

She scooted over to pet Tape, then looked up at Bai Jing. “You seem to know this place pretty well.”

“Yeah, whenever I’m not working, I’m almost always here. Being here clears my mind, relaxes me, like recharging,” Bai Jing admitted.

Jing Yuxi observed him carefully, then suddenly remarked, “You’ve changed a lot.”

He was completely different from his younger self, as if all his sharp edges had softened, leaving a warm, calm presence.

Bai Jing braced his hands behind him, letting Sugar climb around on his legs. “Time leaves something behind in everyone.”

Qingmei emerged from the kitchen, carrying a plate of seafood sashimi with fresh sweet shrimp, thick-cut tuna, sea urchin, and translucent, jade-like slices of raw fish, along with a plate of stir-fried crab, seafood dipping sauce, cut lemons, and a glass of chilled sour plum juice.

Jing Yuxi, with her recent stomach discomfort, didn’t intend to eat the sashimi. She picked up half a crab instead.

The crab was incredibly fresh, fried to perfection.

Meanwhile, Bai Jing was eating piece after piece of sashimi, even feeding bits of raw fish to Sugar and Tape. Unable to resist, she tried a bite of sweet shrimp.

Freshly caught from the tank, cleaned, and chilled, it was sweet and tender, reaching a level of flavor and texture that was indescribably exquisite.

Jing Yuxi couldn’t resist grabbing a piece of sea urchin, squeezing a few drops of lemon on it, and lightly dipping it in wasabi soy sauce. The rich sweetness and delicate texture filled her senses, so satisfying it seemed to open every pore. “This is incredible! It’s a hundred times fresher than the seafood I had on the coast of Lancia!”

She went on to try the thick-cut tuna and the raw fish slices, each one incredibly fresh, practically making her eyebrows lift in delight. Finally, she took a small sip of the chilled sour plum juice, which bloomed like a taste of summer on her tongue.

One word: bliss!

The nervous gastritis that had been troubling her recently had uncharacteristically not flared up; in fact, the more she ate, the more delicious it seemed.

Seeing her eating with such gusto, Bai Jing picked up a sweet shrimp, tore it into smaller pieces, and offered one to her. “Want to try feeding the cats? They’re adorable when they eat.”

Curious, Jing Yuxi took a piece of shrimp and fed it to the eagerly begging Tape.

The little kitten chewed slowly, making little “smack-smack” sounds, savoring each bite. After finishing, it even licked the spot on her palm where the shrimp had been.

Watching the fish, petting cats, eating seafood—it felt like time stood still.

Bai Jing chatted with Jing Yuxi for a while, then laid back with Sugar in his arms, reclining in the corner and gradually closing his eyes.

Tape curled up by Jing Yuxi’s feet, drifting to sleep. But she felt no urge to rest; instead, she leaned slightly forward, pressing her hands against the transparent wall, utterly captivated by the fish swimming around the shop.

Time flew by, and as the sun began to set, the deep sea outside grew darker, and the customers left one by one.

The three guard cats, exhausted, hid under a low table, unwilling to move.

Lu Yao emerged from the kitchen, holding Erxin in her arms, and found Bai Jing and Jing Yuxi still there.

Sugar lay sprawled out, sleeping soundly in Dr. Bai’s arms, both human and cat in blissful slumber.

Miss Jing was holding Tape, taking tiny steps along the wall, trying to keep up with the fish outside.

Tape’s tiny eyes were filled with serious concentration.

Seeing how much fun they were having, Lu Yao didn’t have the heart to ask them to leave.

Erxin slipped out of Lu Yao’s arms, lazily stretching as she landed.

She had napped from noon till dusk, and Queen Erxin had enjoyed a truly refreshing sleep.

When Jing Yuxi noticed Lu Yao, she smiled and said, “It’s so relaxing here; I could sit and watch the fish all day without getting tired. They seem so carefree and unbothered.”

Seeing a customer enjoy the shop brought Lu Yao joy.

When she first came here, she felt the same way; the fish led such peaceful lives.

But as she dived deeper, she grew more familiar with this underwater world, and her perspective shifted.

Not far away, a tattered-looking piece of something floated, swaying with the current.

Lu Yao immediately leaned against the wall, pointing outside, and softly called Jing Yuxi over, “Look over there.”

Jing Yuxi, not understanding, followed Lu Yao’s pointed finger.

A piece of light brown seaweed was drifting with the current, resembling a rag.

What’s so interesting about that?

In the next second, a slender white fish curiously approached the seaweed, only to be swiftly ensnared. After a brief struggle, it flipped belly-up.

Jing Yuxi was speechless.

Lu Yao’s eyes lit up. “That’s a weedy scorpionfish. It lives on the seafloor, mimicking seaweed to lure in prey for an ambush.”

“Oh…” Jing Yuxi was a bit at a loss, her good mood momentarily jolted.

Lu Yao pointed to a cluster of pink and white coral not far off, brimming with enthusiasm. “That coral is home to a pygmy seahorse. To camouflage itself, it matches its skin color to the coral and even develops matching calcified nodules all over to blend in.”

“That sounds adorable.” Jing Yuxi’s curiosity was piqued.

Lu Yao took out her phone, pulled up a video, and showed her. “It took me hours to capture this.”

In the middle of the pink and white branch-like coral, a tiny seahorse curled its tail around a coral branch.

Its round belly and hairdryer-shaped mouth made it blend seamlessly with the surrounding coral.

Jing Yuxi stared for a while before spotting it. “It really is cute.”

Then, the shop owner gently extended her index finger, carefully supporting the pygmy seahorse from below.

Jing Yuxi was stunned to see that the tiny seahorse was only the size of the shop owner’s fingernail.

It was so mini; no wonder it was called a pygmy seahorse.

Lu Yao said, “After a pygmy seahorse is born, it chooses a coral to reside on, gradually synchronizing its skin color with it. It may stay on that coral for its entire life.”

Jing Yuxi blinked, falling into thought.

Lu Yao continued, “Aren’t deep-sea fish beautiful? Their markings and colors are stunning, but all that vibrancy and patterning evolved to avoid predators and intimidate those who prey on them.”

“Fish aren’t like sea beasts, who have sharp minds, teeth, or flawless hunting skills. To survive, they’ve developed camouflage, symbiotic relationships, or even sacrificed some bodily functions to dive into the deep sea.”

“The underwater world is just like our own lives—busy and dangerous, anything but calm. Yet, why do these fish look so carefree?” Lu Yao looked down and scratched Daijiaobo’s head. “Maybe because fish are too simple-minded. They don’t dwell on the past or worry about the future like people do.”

Jing Yuxi felt a pang in her heart, suddenly recalling something that had happened before her health began to decline.

About a year ago, while preparing for an international competition, she attended a concert with friends. It happened to be the debut of a young musical prodigy.

The performer was only seventeen, playing Liszt’s works with breathtaking skill and emotion, leaving the audience in awe.

Even after returning home, the melodies kept echoing in her mind.

To drive away this strange feeling, she increased her practice time, filling every spare moment. Soon, she began to suffer from insomnia, loss of appetite, and a series of misfortunes.

Covering her face, Jing Yuxi couldn’t help but laugh.

She had nearly driven herself to the brink over something so simple.

Lu Yao took Tape from her, then turned to place each kitten into a carrier, saying casually, “It’s getting dark, and the cats are afraid. I need to take them out. What about you two?”

Jing Yuxi stepped forward, “Shop owner, I’d like to get a membership card for the Little Pet Cafe.”

Though she’d pinpointed her issue, it was hard to let go of this incredible world.

The cats were so soft and sweet, and the fish were so resilient.

Meeting them only once would be too much of a shame.

Bai Jing slowly woke up, and Jing Yuxi had already exchanged contact information with Lu Yao, arranging to pick up her card in five days.

She would soon own a bracelet engraved with the shop owner’s name.

After watching Bai and Jing leave, Lu Yao returned inside to pick up the pet carriers.

【You have successfully hosted 100 guests. Task complete! Awarded 20,000 popularity points and an A-grade skill: Telepathy (Animal Version)!】

【The popularity of Lu Yao’s Little Pet Cafe has surged, upgrading to a two-star shop. Awarded 10,000 popularity points. Keep up the good work, shop owner!】

【New task! Help 100 guests leave the Garbage Sea. Rewards: 100,000 popularity points and a free shop upgrade!】

Without realizing it, the Little Pet Cafe had already served 100 guests, and the next task was even more challenging.

Helping guests leave the Garbage sea… They certainly couldn’t stay here forever.

But she’d worry about that tomorrow.

For now, she was more interested in the animal telepathy skill she’d just acquired.

A black skill card had appeared in her storage with a description on it.

【A-grade skill card: Telepathy (Animal Version). In worlds with a Stargate, touching a small animal enables you to hear its thoughts.】

As soon as Lu Yao finished reading the skill description, the card dissolved into light and disappeared from her fingertips.

System: 【The shop owner has successfully acquired the A-grade skill, Telepathy (Animal Version).】

Eager to test it out, Lu Yao couldn’t wait to try this on the cats and see what was on their minds. She was genuinely curious.

But, at that moment, the Garbage sea had grown pitch black, and the cats in the carrier were getting anxious, meowing nervously.

Left with no choice, she picked them up and took them to the nail salon.

Meanwhile, the snack shop was just about to start serving its late-night menu.

The Little Pet Cafe had gathered a fair amount of fresh seafood recently, and Lu Yao had originally planned to deliver some to the snack shop today.

She’d forgotten during the busy afternoon while Xiao Ji was away.

After settling the cats, she hurried back to the Little Pet Cafe, grabbed the seafood, and brought it to the snack bar.

The snack shop was bustling as usual, with night service in full swing.

Tonight, Xingzi, Xiao Qie, Bai Ming, and Quan Shengju were on duty, while Meng Qin and Ning Yun were also there.

They’d clocked out but couldn’t resist the allure of the night menu.

In exchange for a free late-night snack, they pitched in, helping welcome guests.

“Shop owner!” Xiao Qie spotted Lu Yao and squeezed through the crowd to reach her. “What brings you here at this hour?”

The purple-haired boy was openly delighted, his voice loud and bright.

The guests all turned to look and greeted Lu Yao one after another.

“Shop owner! Long time no see!”

“Hey, shop owner, could you help me with a ‘soul return’ dish? I think I’ve found the meal I miss most.”

“Shop owner, I’d like to request one too!”

A “soul return” dish had to be prepared by the shop owner herself. After eating it, there was a chance the guest could pass on peacefully.

Ever since the first time someone achieved a soul return in the shop, guests frequently requested Lu Yao’s help with it.

It wasn’t a difficult task. Lu Yao would usually set aside a specific time to cook for these guests.

Xingzi quickly stepped up to help, asking guests who needed a soul return meal to register at the counter and schedule an appointment.

Meanwhile, Bai Ming took Lu Yao into the kitchen. “Shop owner, why are you here at this time?”

Lu Yao pulled out two large baskets of seafood from her personal storage: sea urchins, sweet shrimp, snapper, small octopus, and a half-fat tuna.

“The newly opened shop is near the coast, so it’s been easy to gather seafood. I forgot to bring it over earlier, so I thought I’d deliver it now. Anyone interested?”

Ning Yun returned from the main hall, eyes widening as he took in the scene, barely able to hold back his excitement. “I never thought I’d get to eat sashimi in my life—shop owner, you’re amazing! You’re like my blue, round hero!”

Xiao Qie couldn’t help but interject, “Blue and round? The shop owner isn’t round at all.”

Ning Yun, caught between joy and surprise, grinned at Xiao Qie, eyes sparkling with excitement. “Oh, so your world doesn’t have a blue, round hero? In short, the shop owner is like a god to me!”

Lu Yao felt a chill, her face crinkling. “…Where did you even pick up such a ‘tacky’ phrase?”

Could it be something he learned from one of the Park players?

Ning Yun explained, “It’s from that computer you put on the fourth floor. It’s better than ours and has a lot of fun things to watch.”

Ah, that explained it.

Lu Yao had originally bought four new computers—two went to the Blind Box Shop for system use, and the remaining two were left in Dreamland and the nail salon.

“You have internet access?” Lu Yao was surprised.

Ning Yun nodded, then shook his head. “Yes, but not entirely.”

Lu Yao: “…”

It was clear that Ning Yun had spent quite some time online.

Xiao Qie, not understanding, frowned as if an elderly man on the subway watching a young person’s phone.

Guests in the main hall, hearing about the exclusive seafood menu tonight, were ecstatic.

“Sea urchin! Shop owner, I want some sea urchin!”

“Sweet, tender shrimp—I’m craving it!”

“Do you have oysters? I’ll take a plate of steamed oysters!”

“Garlic oysters are the best! No arguments!”

Unfortunately, the pet shop hadn’t yet connected with an “oyster supplier,” but the fresh shrimp, sashimi, tuna, and sea urchins were more than enough to delight the guests.

No longer bound by life and death, they didn’t need to worry about their health anymore.

The unique texture and sweetness of the seafood provided them with a fresh taste experience once again.

It was another night of culinary delight at the snack bar.

The next morning, other employees and NPCs from the neighboring stores, hearing about last night’s seafood party, beat their chests in regret. Qing, learning from Bai Ming that they’d had sashimi, seafood barbecue, and sea urchin rice, fell silent for a long time.

Yesterday was his first day off after working two weeks straight, and of all nights, the shop owner had chosen that night to surprise them.

He wanted to eat seafood too!

But Chi hadn’t made it either, and he was even more disappointed.

When Lu Yao returned to the nail salon late that night, she quickly washed up and fell into bed, completely forgetting about her new “telepathy” skill.

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