Ch 172: Guide to Running a Shop in Another World

Lu Yao comforted Zhu Zhu, then prepared to head to the little pet cafe. Before leaving, she called out to Ku Ba, “Don’t rush off after work. I’ll come back and dye your hair.”

Ku Ba stood by the ticket booth, eyes red and head bowed, waving his hand to signal, “Got it.”

The emotional impact of When Blossoms Fall was intense, with a lingering effect, so even the thought of dyeing his hair couldn’t lift Ku Ba’s spirits.

He, too, was an assassin, with a childhood not unlike Hua Shi’s.

If the old pavilion master hadn’t taken him in at Ling Xiao Pavilion, he would’ve died during that famine-stricken year as a child.

Over the years, Ling Xiao Pavilion had developed well, so they hadn’t fallen to the same fate as Hua Shi. Yet, seeing her made it hard not to empathize deeply.

Zhu Zhu leaned against the wall, sobbing. When Blossoms Fall struck her harder than The World’s Greatest.

This story had multiple threads, with hidden plotlines beneath the comedic and heartwarming romance. The lighter the tone was in the beginning, the more desolate and sorrowful the ending felt.

The initial events painted each character’s personality and experiences so vividly and realistically that the final choices both characters made were heartbreakingly logical, brimming with resolute determination.

The most wrenching scene was the ending.

Zhu Zhu couldn’t quite explain her sadness, but just thinking of Hua Shi and Shen Xiangjun made her heart feel unbearably heavy and sore.

She slid down against the wall, squatting and stifling her sobs.

Ku Ba, who had just managed to pull himself together to resume work, found his emotions resurfacing as he joined Zhu Zhu, silently crouching beside her.

The two looked like a pair of puppies, wiping their tears in the corner.

Fu Chi stood nearby: “…”

When Blossoms Fall wasn’t his film, but he had invested in it.

It seemed Lu Yao still didn’t know that this movie had been purchased from his company.

Fu Chi’s feelings were somewhat complicated. Initially, he hadn’t understood why Lu Yao chose this film among so many historical dramas. The body-swapping concept was fresh, but it lacked supernatural elements and involved political struggles—a heavy theme that he doubted the common people would easily grasp.

Yet, seeing the reactions of the guests and staff, he started to understand.

Wan Baozhu left the screening room and went to the restroom.

Dressed in men’s clothing, she waited for the hallway to clear before slipping into the women’s restroom.

At the sink, Cuizhu dampened a handkerchief with cold water to wipe her eyes; she had cried herself out in the screening room.

When Blossoms Fall was deceivingly light-hearted at first, making her fully believe that the two would marry in the end.

But she never anticipated that Lord Shen would see reason, and Hua Shi even more so.

When the dust settled, they each chose their separate paths.

Cuizhu could understand Hua Shi.

Ever since entering the palace as a maid, her sole goal was survival—to live as long as possible.

Later, assigned as the personal attendant to Princess Deyi, she gave up any thoughts of marriage, accepting that the best outcome would be serving the princess until old age, then tying her own hair in solitude.

When Blossoms Fall portrayed a love both restrained and pure. The two were always together—they quarreled, laughed, and embraced, yet there was never a kiss, no confession, only their gazes, carrying the weight of feelings that almost burst forth.

Subtle, yet intense.

Cuizhu knew she would never experience such a connection herself, yet she couldn’t stop herself from crying for them.

Wan Baozhu finished washing her hands and dried them under a hand dryer nearby. The warm air quickly whisked away the moisture. “These little gadgets may look unremarkable, but they’re cheap and practical.”

Cuizhu lowered her head, still sounding choked up. “You’re right, miss.”

Wan Baozhu hadn’t shed a tear. While the theater was awash with crying by the end, she only raised an eyebrow slightly, maintaining her composure, and now spoke with a hint of amusement, “You were reluctant to come before, and now you’re crying so hard. Perhaps it’s best to let Qingfei accompany me in the future.”

Cuizhu suddenly looked up, her eyes rimmed red, and hurriedly replied, “Miss, let me do it. Qingfei is carefree and would be better off staying in the manor with Zisu.”

The smile in Wan Baozhu’s eyes deepened as she dried her hands and clasped them behind her back. “Let’s go. Let’s find the young shopkeeper for a chat.”

Initially, she hadn’t planned to befriend Lu Yao so soon, but the increasingly interesting things this cinema offered—and the stunning film When Blossoms Fall—had changed her mind.

Unfortunately, the timing was off, and Wan Baozhu couldn’t meet Lu Yao.

A man in peculiar attire informed her that the shopkeeper had left on business and wouldn’t be back until evening.

Leaving the screening room, Wan Baozhu noticed a hiring notice at the cinema’s entrance and thought, “Finally, an opportunity.”

…

Lu Yao returned to the shopping street before dawn.

Since Fu Chi joined the cinema, he’d started working midnight shifts like her, seeming to adapt well.

With only two hours left until sunrise, other shops would soon be open.

Lu Yao didn’t return to the nail salon but headed straight to the fishing room in the pet cafe to catch up on sleep, hugging a soft, plump seal plushie.

At 7 a.m., Harold came in and found her after a brief search, speaking in a somewhat disgruntled tone, “Why are you sleeping here?”

Lu Yao woke instantly, relaxing upon seeing the small black dragon. “You’re here early.”

Harold sat cross-legged on the floor, irritated. “Weren’t we going out?”

“Yes,” she replied, seeing there was still time and lying back down. She nuzzled the plush seal’s soft belly and closed her eyes. “It’s still early. Let’s eat first before heading out. Are you annoyed?”

Harold glanced nonchalantly at the seal in her arms. “The world you’re going to this time is a low-magic world. I tried to pinpoint it several times but couldn’t succeed.”

Low-magic worlds are hard to pinpoint, and even when located, teleportation remains challenging, which has made him anxious lately.

“So that’s the issue. But Fu Chi’s there now, so there shouldn’t be a problem,” Lu Yao reassured him.

Harold frowned. “That human is even more fragile than you. If something happens, he won’t be able to protect you.”

Lu Yao rolled herself up more comfortably in the blanket. “No need to worry. That world has no magic, no advanced technology. No one can harm me right now.”

Harold turned his back, still sulking.

Lu Yao marked every world she visited so that, if something happened, Harold could arrive in time. His failed attempts at locating her world left him uneasy, fearing she might be in danger in a place he couldn’t reach.

At 8 a.m., Zhou Su also arrived at the shop, pleasantly surprised to see Lu Yao.

Lu Yao had been dedicating so much time to the cinema lately that she had little left for her other shops. Zhou Su, mostly in the kitchen, felt it had been ages since she’d seen the shopkeeper.

“Would you like to try my new signature seafood noodles?” Zhou Su asked enthusiastically.

Lu Yao nodded. “I’d love to.”

Ever since Zhou Su joined the pet cafe, she worked with only the freshest, top-quality ingredients daily.

The seafood was excellent, with high-grade monster meat and vegetables sourced from the continent of Alexander, and occasionally, Jiu Hua brought rare, unique ingredients from Night Light City. Zhou Su enjoyed experimenting with new dishes and sometimes had Uncle Ming deliver samples to other stores for staff feedback.

As Zhou Su prepared the noodles, a rich aroma wafted through the air.

When the noodles were served, Lu Yao took a bite, her eyes lighting up.

The broth was intensely savory and rich, the noodles chewy and smooth—a flavor that was full-bodied but still refreshing.

The ingredients were abundant and hearty, and starting the day with a bowl of these noodles felt uplifting.

After multiple recipe tweaks, the taste and texture of these noodles were now perfect.

Recently added to the menu at the pet cafe, they’d been a hit with customers.

The only regret was that this dish could only be prepared to perfection here in the shopping street. Even with similar high-quality ingredients, replicating the flavor at home fell noticeably short.

This steaming bowl of seafood noodles nearly melted away all of Lu Yao’s accumulated exhaustion and stress. She even drank the broth to the last drop.

Putting down the bowl, she felt completely refreshed. “Let Xiao Ji know in the group that everyone’s having seafood noodles from the pet cafe this morning. Thanks for the hard work, Susu.”

Feeling a sense of accomplishment, Zhou Su turned back to the kitchen with a smile, “No need to say that. I’ll go make more broth.”

After breakfast, Lu Yao, Harold, and Lei Lei, the captain of the seal guard squad, headed to Night Light City.

This time, Lei Lei came ashore with Lu Yao, the plump little seal with a square silver chest secured around his neck.

The pet cafe’s recent operations had been steady, but only after expanding the ghost phone system did they gain a stable income in Yor Coins, totaling in the hundreds of thousands.

That amount wasn’t quite enough to purchase film rights, so the little seal carried a treasure chest to provide financial support for Lu Yao.

The waterdrop seals knew Lu Yao loved pearls. During patrols, they’d mark any they found and retrieve them when needed.

Recently, the seal squad discovered an ancient shipwreck deep in a trench, hauling up several chests of old gold coins and jewels, all given to Lu Yao.

Though these treasures were invaluable, Lu Yao decided not to use them rashly, leaving them under the guard of the seal squad.

For this trip, Lei Lei brought a treasure chest full of pearls, all nearly identical in size, round and lustrous.

Their plan was to first meet the producer introduced by Wen Jingyi, negotiate the price, and then go to the jewelry store recommended by Jiu Hua to sell the pearls and use the money to buy the rights.

A slightly roundabout process, but the most economical plan for now.

Arriving at the Night Light City coast, Lu Yao and Harold went ashore, then turned to watch Lei Lei.

The little seal had told Lu Yao he’d transform into human form once on land.

What would a fluffy, chubby seal look like in human form?

Neither Lu Yao nor the little black dragon had ever seen it before.

They were… quite curious.

Using his round belly and stubby fins for support, Lei Lei puffed and huffed his way up the shore.

As the tip of his tail left the water, the pearl necklace around his neck emitted a warm golden glow. Lei Lei’s body began to change, soft fur receding as his fins and tail transformed into limbs.

After about ten seconds, a chubby little boy stood in front of Lu Yao and Harold.

He only came up to Lu Yao’s shoulder, with soft hair, long lashes, large, dark eyes with barely any whites, and short, fluffy brows above them. Both his face and hair were white.

Lu Yao: “Lei Lei?”

The white-haired boy nodded. “It’s me.”

His voice was clear and innocent, incredibly cute.

In human form, Lei Lei was still round and squishy, like a freshly steamed bun, soft and adorable, with the chest secured in front of him, giving him a slightly clumsy look.

Due to his nearly pupil-only eyes, a prolonged gaze carried a slight eerie vibe.

Looking closely, Lu Yao could still make out the little seal’s round shape in his face. She took his hand and said, “Let’s go, we’ll take you to explore the city.”

Harold frowned, muttering under his breath, “Little chubby.”

Lei Lei retorted, “I’m just right like this.”

For the waterdrop seals, fullness is beauty; their fat is a testament to their strength and hunting ability.

Thin figures like Harold and Lu Yao are seen by them as completely uncompetitive.

Waterdrop seals are also a long-lived species, and as divine messengers, their lifespan has become essentially limitless.

Lei Lei, having lived nearly a thousand years, was very excited to be on land for the first time, finding everything fascinating and couldn’t resist reaching out to touch things.

They first went to Night Light City to meet Wen Jingyi, who then led them to meet Zheng Xinsheng.

The meeting took place at Zheng Xinsheng’s company. Wen Jingyi had already made an appointment, and Zheng Xinsheng had freed up his schedule in advance.

Zheng Xinsheng, in his forties, had graying hair and deep nasolabial folds, giving him a very stern appearance.

After a brief introduction and polite small talk, Lu Yao got straight to the point.

Zheng Xinsheng was already aware of Lu Yao’s identity when Wen Jingyi contacted him.

He had heard countless tales about the mysterious underwater pet cafe and had gathered all the information he could find online, though he had yet to visit the pet cafe himself.

Zheng Xinsheng was cooperative and agreed to expedite the contract process. However, when quoting the final price, he made a request.

“Regarding the films you’re interested in purchasing, could we possibly avoid a Yor Coin transaction?” Zheng Xinsheng asked.

Lu Yao paused for a moment, then returned the question, “What method of payment does Mr. Zheng have in mind?”

Zheng Xinsheng clasped his hands, gaze falling to the pearl bracelet on Lu Yao’s wrist, and said quietly, “I once saw an illustration online depicting a group of people and sea creatures battling underwater, where the prize for the winning side was the legendary ‘Tear of the Goddess.’ When Wen contacted me, she mentioned your identity. I have a bold request: I’m willing to offer all my wealth and connections in exchange for a ‘Tear of the Goddess.’”

The request was surprising, as pearls imbued with the deep-sea goddess’s power were far more valuable than ordinary pearls.

Lu Yao glanced at Lei Lei, who looked at her blankly, showing no reaction.

“Why do you want a ‘Tear of the Goddess,’ Mr. Zheng?” Lu Yao asked.

Zheng Xinsheng, having married late due to his career, had just had a child.

His wife, an older mother, gave birth prematurely. Their child’s organs were underdeveloped and in constant danger, still incubated in the hospital.

Having lost hope, Zheng Xinsheng had stumbled across the legend of the “Tear of the Goddess” online.

After confirming the story wasn’t baseless, he tracked down someone who had obtained a Tear of the Goddess from the deep sea, offering a high price.

However, no matter how much he offered, the other party refused.

The people of this land were devout followers of the deep-sea goddess and were understandably unwilling to part with an artifact imbued with the goddess’s essence.

Sinking back into despair, Zheng Xinsheng tried various means to reach the mysterious shop underwater, all to no avail.

Then, he suddenly received a message from Wen Jingyi.

His wish was simple—to seek the goddess’s blessing so his premature child might grow up safely.

Lu Yao found this request reasonable. After all, Deep Sea Goddess protected the people of this world.

Hearing such a plea, the goddess herself would surely grant it without hesitation.

The Tear of the Goddess was, after all, a divine tear with the power to heal those drowned at sea.

Lu Yao touched the pearl bracelet on her wrist, and the black pearl suddenly glowed faintly gold.

Feeling a shift within, Lu Yao said, “The Lord of Eden sea has heard your wish. Let’s proceed with your requested form of payment.”

Zheng Xinsheng’s expression froze, tears welling up in his eyes. He repeatedly thanked her, “Thank you, thank you so much!”

Lu Yao retrieved a Tear of the Goddess from her storage, swiftly threading it onto a necklace with golden divine power, and handed it over, saying, “No need to thank me; this is the will of Lord Emerald Star. But please keep today’s events confidential.”

Zheng Xinsheng accepted the necklace carefully and vowed, “I swear by Mother Goddess that I will not disclose today’s events.”

In the end, without selling any of the pearls in the chest, Lu Yao acquired the rights to three films in Night Light City.

She clarified that the Tear of the Goddess was only in exchange for the rights to these three films, without any additional payment.

Unable to part with his wealth, Zheng Xinsheng promised that if the pet cafe ever needed help purchasing rights or other support, the Zheng family would do everything possible to assist.

On the way back, the little seal was feeling down, thinking he hadn’t been helpful to Lu Yao since the pearls weren’t sold.

Everything had gone smoothly, and it was still early in the day.

Lu Yao decided to take him to a jewelry store.

Lei Lei wanted to sell the entire chest of pearls, and the shopkeeper looked at him with a wry smile.

Natural deep-sea pearls, perfectly round and flawless, each over fifteen millimeters in diameter, with a beautiful pink luster and impeccable quality.

Most stores couldn’t afford to take an entire chest of them, but the pearls’ quality made them impossible for jewelers to resist. The jewelry store owner finally gritted his teeth and bought a hundred pearls for six million Yor Coins.

Selling just a handful of pearls lifted Lei Lei’s spirits.

Passing a snack shop on the roadside, Lei Lei couldn’t help glancing over with longing eyes.

Lu Yao noticed this; the little seal wanted to try some, and the little black dragon was curious too.

Since they’d just made six million, and it was rare for Lei Lei to come ashore, why not indulge?

Lu Yao bought some for Lei Lei and the little black dragon, then decided to pack up a few dozen portions to take back to the shop for the other staff to try.

…

At the foot of Yong’an Temple in the Great Wu Dynasty.

Qin Sanwei was drawing water from the well to wash the clothes he’d worn the previous night.

He was a scholar who had come to the capital three years ago to take the imperial exams but failed, so he’d been living at the foot of the temple ever since.

The house, owned by Yong’an Temple, had a minimal rent and was specifically reserved for poor students to lease.

Qin Sanwei was determined to gain official rank and vowed not to return home without passing the exam.

After failing, he made a modest living by copying books, living a poor and bleak life.

Outside his courtyard, a commotion was brewing, as if many people were debating something.

One downside of the cheap rent was the poor sound insulation, so even slight noise from neighbors disturbed his concentration.

Qin Sanwei had long harbored resentment towards his noisy neighbors, who often disrupted his studies.

Ignoring the racket outside, he continued washing his clothes.

His robe, worn for three years, was faded, with sleeves and hem patched in crooked stitches.

After washing, he planned to go back to copying books, as the deadline for his current batch was approaching.

The people outside were still talking even as he finished hanging his clothes, and their voices grew louder.

As he hung his laundry, he caught snippets of their conversation.

“May we all rise like Shen Xiangjun, ascending to high office and returning home in glory someday.”

“Brother Liang, is this Shen Xiangjun really that amazing?”

“No point in asking a hundred times. You won’t get it unless you see it for yourself at the cinema.”

“The cinema? You mean the new place on Song’an Street? Isn’t the shopkeeper rumored to keep a demon that preys on women?”

“That rumor is ancient history—it was cleared up ages ago. The ‘demon’ is just someone in elaborate clothing.”

“They say cinema tickets are expensive. The storyteller at Four Joys Tower tells the same stories, and it costs less than half the price to hear a whole tale there.”

The man called “Brother Liang” shook his head, “Living in this secluded place, your information is outdated. I used to think the storyteller at Four Joys Tower was about the same as the cinema. Today, I planned to go there to hear the rest of Little Chef, but I ran into Shen Quzhi on the way. He insisted I go to the cinema with him to watch a newly released movie called When Blossoms Fall. The ticket was indeed pricey—thirty-five wen each. But after watching it, I only have one word: ‘worth it!’”

Hearing the ticket price was thirty-five wen, the impoverished scholars living here, whose curiosity had just been piqued, immediately lost interest again.

The others asked, “Brother Liang, what is When Blossoms Fall about? Tell us in detail.”

They were clearly trying to get the story for free.

Brother Liang felt defeated; after such a passionate recommendation, he hadn’t convinced a single person to go see it.

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to share—explaining it was just too hard.

Hearing about it and watching it firsthand were entirely different experiences. It even had the power to shake one’s entire worldview and life experience.

After watching When Blossoms Fall with Shen Quzhi, they went straight to a tavern to drink, passionately discussing scenes from the movie until their mouths were dry, nearly exhausting the topic.

But as soon as he returned home, the excitement bubbled up again, making him want to talk about it with someone else.

Unfortunately, none of his neighbors had seen Blossoms Fall, leaving him without anyone to share his enthusiasm.

Brother Liang waved his hand, turning away in disappointment, “I really can’t explain it in a few words. You need to experience it yourself to understand. Anyway, I’m heading back.”

Shortly after Brother Liang left, the other people dispersed too, and peace was finally restored outside the courtyard.

Qin Sanwei finished hanging his clothes and returned inside.

He propped open the window, letting light flood the room, then sat at the low table beneath it to continue copying his books.

Thirty-five wen for a single ticket, just to watch a play.

Earning money from fools really was easy.

Qin Sanwei took a deep breath, clearing his mind, and settled into his book copying.

After an hour, he finally completed the last part of his work.

Selling these copies would buy him another two weeks’ worth of food.

Packing the manuscripts into a bundle, he set off to make his delivery.

…

Lu Yao, Harold, and the chubby seal returned to the pet cafe, where business was running as usual.

Ji Zhixin heard Lu Yao was back and came down to find her in the fishing room.

Lu Yao placed the food she’d brought back in the kitchen, then met him with a smile. “I needed to speak with you too.”

Ji Zhixin replied, “Go ahead.”

Lu Yao briefly explained the purchase of the film rights in Night Light City and shared the coordinates and contact info for Zheng Xinsheng’s company, which could be reached through the ghost phone. She entrusted Ji Zhixin with the entire matter, almost forgetting his original role had been as a phone operator.

“What did you need to discuss?”

Ji Zhixin said, “That xianxia drama we couldn’t close on before—they’re now willing to meet our conditions. Do you want to take it?”

Lu Yao thought for a moment. “Negotiate a bit more, then go ahead and sign if it’s reasonable.”

This meant she wanted the price to be pushed down a little further. Ji Zhixin picked up on one thing: the shopkeeper might be even tighter on funds than before.

Unaware of his thoughts, Lu Yao added, “We’ll need to purchase another batch of films for the cinema. I’ll give you the details tonight. It’ll be a busy period again.”

Ji Zhixin eagerly said, “No worries, Cinderella loves working!”

Lu Yao: “…Yes, thank you.”

After handling the pet cafe’s matters, Lu Yao did her usual rounds, checking that each shop was operating smoothly, then returned to the nail salon to gather hair dye materials and tools.

She’d delayed this for long enough. It was time to fulfill her promise.

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