Ch 119: Guide to Running a Shop in Another World

Seeing the couple in their pajamas, backs against the transparent membrane and looking a bit downcast, Lu Yao called for Xiao Ji to bring over a small foldable table and set it up against the wall.

After setting down the food, she looked up and said, “Most guests here come alone. This is the first time we’ve had a pair, especially as seahorses.”

Zhao Rou frowned. “What’s so special about seahorses?”

Lu Yao explained, “Seahorses are the only species in nature where males carry and nurture offspring. Male seahorses have a brood pouch where the embryos develop, and after about 50 to 60 days, the young seahorses are born.”

Her simple, factual tone made Xie Minghua’s face pale.

He couldn’t help but imagine the human context, feeling a deep sense of horror.

Child-rearing was ingrained as a maternal duty, encompassing not just birth but the nurturing and education of children, with the mother’s presence throughout.

Zhao Rou noticed his uneasy expression and exhaled with a chuckle, “Well, that’s something new.”

Lu Yao’s gaze lingered on their clasped hands before she continued, “What I find even more interesting is the seahorse’s life habits. Their lifespan is about three to four years, and from birth, they face harsh survival challenges. Depending on the species, a male seahorse can release hundreds or even thousands of young at once, but only a few may survive to adulthood.

“Seahorses lack fins, so they swim slowly, spending most of their lives hidden in dense coral thickets, wrapping their tails around coral branches, drifting with the currents, and waiting for food to come to them. After surviving their perilous early life, they spend a long time searching for a mate. They only have one mate for life.

“Sometimes, you’ll see a lone seahorse trailing its long tail, drifting in a slow, forlorn way. But once, I saw a pair swimming side by side in the coral after the male had successfully courted the female. They can be lively together when bonding.”

Diving regularly, Lu Yao often encountered different marine creatures and, over time, grew curious, researching and observing them. Now and then, she couldn’t resist sharing these insights with her guests.

The deep sea was far from tranquil, and each marine species had its unique survival strategy.

The seahorse, so tiny and unremarkable in the vast ocean, still added an undeniable charm to the underwater world with its peculiar way of life.

Xie Minghua and Zhao Rou exchanged glances, falling into a contemplative silence.

“The eel rice here is a limited-time dish, tender and rich with flavor. Please enjoy.” Lu Yao, realizing she might have gone overboard with her storytelling, quickly excused herself, leaving the couple to their meal.

Xie Minghua pushed the eel rice towards Zhao Rou. “This eel is excellent—fresh, plump, perfectly grilled with a thick, flavorful sauce. Try it.”

Zhao Rou had loved eel rice in the past, though it had been years since she’d last had any.

It wasn’t for lack of desire; a good eel rice dish was simply too expensive.

Sometimes, she’d think about it, but the cost of a few hundred yuan felt unjustifiable for a single meal.

If it weren’t for the chance encounter here, even Xie Minghua might have forgotten about it.

Though he was a chef by trade, he rarely cooked at home.

Zhao Rou divided the eel and rice into two portions with her chopsticks. “The eel is really tender. You should have some too.”

She took a bite of the rich, succulent eel, soft and savory, melting in her mouth with a gentle press of her tongue. The sauce, coating the tender fish, was devoid of any fishy taste, rapidly surpassing all her past memories of eel rice.

This was the best-grilled eel she had ever tasted.

Without pause, she scooped up a spoonful of sauce-soaked rice, topped it with a piece of eel, and added a bit of pickled vegetable for flavor.

Each mouthful was so delicious that it felt soul-stirring.

Xie Minghua watched her, stunned, realizing it had been ages since he’d seen such a lively expression on her face.

To make her happy, all it took was a bowl of eel rice.

“What are you looking at? Eat up! It’s no wonder we’re in the deep sea—this sashimi is so fresh, and the sea urchin is absolutely amazing.” Zhao Rou was fully immersed in the joy of the meal.

“Mm.” Xie Minghua nodded slightly, picked up his chopsticks, and tried a piece of tuna sashimi, relaxing his brow. “It’s really delicious.”

“The shopkeeper has such a creative mind. Who would think of opening a cat café under the sea? Let’s go pet some cats after we finish eating.” Zhao Rou seemed to have fully embraced the cozy, fluffy atmosphere of the shop.

Xie Minghua took a few bites and put down his chopsticks, his gaze drifting to the world outside the membrane, his mind replaying the shopkeeper’s words.

The life of a seahorse seemed to mirror the life he and Zhao Rou were living.

But they weren’t seahorses—they could make other choices.

With just a little courage, taking that first step, they could change things.

After finishing the eel rice, a bit of sashimi, and ending with takoyaki, Zhao Rou’s eyes lit up as she bit into the springy, fresh half-octopus leg inside the batter. “There’s actual octopus in here—not just batter and cabbage! It’s so good.”

Xie Minghua wanted to say something, but in the end, he stayed silent.

Once they were full, they joined the crowd in the main area and petted the cats for a while.

The fluffy cats were so popular among guests that there was no time to be picky—they had to “stealth pet” cats wherever they could.

They managed to pet White Socks, Erxin, and Boxers.

Erxin was practically the shop’s superstar; everyone loved her. Newcomers barely got a chance to pet her before the self-proclaimed “sea urchin collector and Erxin’s caretaker” shooed them away.

Nearby, a guest got up, announcing he was off to collect sea urchins.

Xie Minghua immediately pulled Zhao Rou over, remembering he had agreed with some friends to join them.

But as seahorses, they moved too slowly. After only a few minutes outside the shop, they were already left behind.

Lost near an unfamiliar seabed, they decided to rest by a cluster of coral, wrapping their tails around coral branches, swaying with the current.

Neither of them spoke until a pair of wild seahorses, their tails entwined, floated by in front of them.

Xie Minghua looked at Zhao Rou, who was also turning to look at him.

As seahorses, they couldn’t make expressions, but they both felt the other was probably smiling.

“Ring ring—”

The alarm went off, and Xie Minghua opened his eyes, sitting up, feeling light as air.

He scratched his head, realizing he’d had a very unusual dream last night.

Zhao Rou woke up too, glancing at him and frowning as she ran a hand through her hair.

She’d also had a strangely unreal dream, though she couldn’t quite recall what it was about.

She got up and headed to the bathroom, saying, “Let’s have noodles this morning. I’ll make your favorite with shredded potatoes and pork.”

Xie Minghua got up as well, following her inside. “I can take Da Bao to school later.”

Zhao Rou looked back at him, “Are you sure you have time?”

He chuckled, “Yeah, if I leave a bit earlier and walk, it won’t take long.”

Traffic was heavy in the mornings, and walking would be faster than driving.

Although a bit concerned, Zhao Rou thought it would be nice if her husband took Da Bao to school, freeing her up to finish breakfast, tidy up the house, and care for Er Bao.

“Let’s do it, then.” Xie Minghua confirmed with a finality.

…

Yaoguang City, Yunting Royal View Luxury Villas.

Jing Yuxi sat at a black piano, dressed in a deep red backless evening gown, her fingers dancing over the keys, weaving an alluring and intensely personal melody.

As the last note faded, applause erupted.

Fang Ru walked over first, admiration shining in her eyes. “Yuxi, your piano playing has completely transformed—it’s nothing like it was a year ago.”

Jing Yuxi lifted her skirt as she stood, a faint smile on her face. “Thank you, Auntie.”

These family gatherings were something she’d rarely attended in the past, being too busy. But since it was her little cousin’s birthday and she happened to be in Yaoguang City, it wouldn’t have looked good to skip, so she made an appearance.

Only then did she realize that her recent low mood had become a topic of gossip among relatives. Everyone who greeted her felt the need to make some insincere, teasing remark.

Some people wouldn’t let it go, and while Jing Yuxi wasn’t one to tolerate such jabs, starting a scene wasn’t her style either. Conveniently, there was a piano set up in the middle of the hall, so she played a piece.

After that visit to the Little Pet Cafe, the issue troubling her had finally been resolved.

Though staying in Yaoguang City, she still visited the shop regularly, enjoying the cats. It wasn’t just about relaxation; lying under the sea and looking up brought a calmness that clarified her thoughts, sparking endless inspiration.

Ignoring the curious glances around her, Fang Ru pulled Jing Yuxi into a corner. “It looks like you’ve completely recovered.”

With her mind clear now, Jing Yuxi responded calmly, “Yes, I’d just gotten myself stuck in a rut.”

A hint of surprise flashed quickly across Fang Ru’s face. For the first time, she truly believed that Jing Yuxi had completely transformed.

“Which doctor did you go to? You’ve only been back less than a month, and you’re already well.”

Jing Yuxi blinked, sensing that Fang Ru had a request. Normally, she would just mention a name and pass along a contact. But since her recovery hadn’t involved a hospital, she’d need to ask the shopkeeper before recommending anyone.

Recalling that Bai Jing had introduced her to the shop, Jing Yuxi didn’t refuse outright and said, “Auntie, just say what’s on your mind.”

Fang Ru leaned in close, lowering her voice. “It’s like this…”

…

Since the Little Pet Cafe launched its eel rice and takoyaki, the task progress had sped up considerably.

In just half a day, more than ten customers had left the Garbage Sea.

Lu Yao checked the task records in the system’s backend—only three more guests, and the task would be complete.

She had already drawn up the blueprint for the shop upgrade. Opportunities to leverage the system were rare, so she planned to make a big move as soon as the task was complete.

But now, it was time to dive again and collect more “treasures.”

As she stepped out of the kitchen, she noticed an unusually large crowd of customers, nearly filling the main hall.

People often came to pet the cats, but today was different; they were packed in like sardines.

“What’s going on?” Lu Yao found Qingmei and asked.

Qingmei, who had been watching the commotion, turned around and pointed outside. “Shopkeeper, there’s a shark outside, and people are too scared to go out, so they came here to take refuge.”

Lu Yao glanced outside, and sure enough, there was a shark.

But on the shark’s forehead was a large, unmistakable cross-shaped scar—a solitary fish.

“That’s a person—what’s there to be afraid of?”

Qingmei explained, “Just now, a jellyfish got into a fight with the shark, and someone passing by got stung.”

Lu Yao: “…Pfft.”

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