Ch 174: Guide to Running a Shop in Another World

The cinema’s main entrance was wide open, but the lobby was empty.

As Zhu Zhu and the others entered, they noticed that an additional set of shelves had been added against the right wall of the lounge area overnight, covered with a dark green mesh, with a white sign in the center reading: Under construction, please do not enter.

Gouzi had recently been learning to read from Wen Jian, but starting from scratch was proving challenging.

He stared at the white plastic sign for a long time, recognizing only the characters for “inside” and “enter,” and nudged Wen Jian with his elbow, asking quietly, “Brother Wen, what does it say?”

Wen Jian’s gaze moved from the uniformly structured cylindrical metal pipes to the green mesh, and finally to the sign posted in front. “It’s a notice that this area is under renovation, so we shouldn’t enter.”

Zhuzhu looked excited. “Could it be another screening room like before?”

She’d often heard Lu Yao mention that the limited screening rooms made it hard to schedule all the films, so this immediately came to her mind.

Wen Jian nodded. “It’s likely. This wall is close to the Rongxi Bookstore, so the shopkeeper must have worked something out with Manager Rong.”

There was barely a foot’s width of space between the bookstore and the cinema, and expanding the screening room would require knocking through both walls.

The three of them watched for a while but didn’t dare to touch anything.

Just then, Ku Ba came out of the break room, yawning with a hand over his mouth, his eyes still moist from lingering sleepiness.

Since he hadn’t been able to get back to his place before the curfew, he’d stayed in the break room overnight.

He had expected to sleep poorly, but surprisingly, he slept so soundly that he hadn’t even noticed when the shopkeepers left.

“Whoa!” Gouzi stared at Ku Ba, eyes widening with surprise and a touch of amazement.

Zhu Zhu and Wen Jian turned to look at Ku Ba, their expressions even more exaggerated than Gouzi’s.

“Ku Ba, what happened to your hair?” Zhu Zhu walked over, looking up at him and then moving around to his back. “Last night, it wasn’t this short.”

Last night, Ku Ba had only trimmed a small section of hair over his forehead.

But now, most of his hair had been cut, almost as short as Fu Chi’s from the front.

While the manager kept his hair neatly combed, giving off a steady and reliable impression, Ku Ba’s hair fell messily over his forehead and around his ears, accentuating his youthful and mischievous look.

Amid the black hair, streaks of purple stood out, some light, some dark.

The remaining longer hair at the back had also been partially dyed, braided together with the black hair into a small ponytail.

Zhu Zhu and the others couldn’t take their eyes off him. Ku Ba’s habit of dressing haphazardly rivaled the shopkeeper’s, and now with his short purple hair and small braid, he exuded a roguish and bold air.

It was hard to describe, but somehow, with this look, Ku Ba would undoubtedly be the first to catch anyone’s attention in a crowd.

A classic young villain.

That’s how Lu Yao had described him last night after finishing his hairstyle.

Ku Ba reached up to touch the slightly upturned ends of his hair, still feeling a bit unfamiliar, and murmured, “My head feels a lot lighter.”

Zhu Zhu circled him twice, reaching out to pinch his little braid. “It looks really good.”

Ku Ba raised an eyebrow. “You really think it looks good?”

Zhuzhu nodded. “Aren’t you happy with it?”

Ku Ba shook his head. “Not exactly… it’s just… a bit unfamiliar.”

Initially, he hadn’t planned to cut off so much, but after seeing his reflection with the dye, he finally understood why the shopkeeper had him choose a hairstyle first.

His long hair had been heavily bleached, a stark contrast to the purple-haired youth in the ad.

The boy in the ad looked younger and wore traditional robes, his purple hair appearing light and vibrant.

In comparison, Ku Ba felt his own look didn’t quite come together.

The shopkeeper explained that the boy in the ad had a face like a comic book character, with a distinct aura that made the style work differently.

Not understanding the term “comic book character” and feeling unsure about his ability to pull off the chosen style, Ku Ba asked the shopkeeper to find a solution, leading to his current look.

When the shopkeeper trimmed his hair the second time, she showed no hesitation.

The original hair color was a uniform light purple. She adjusted the dye, covering part of the light purple and deepening the shade, resulting in varied tones.

Ku Ba had to admit, the young shopkeeper had an eye for style and knew more about dyeing than he did.

He was pleased with the outcome but couldn’t help wanting to hear what others thought.

Wen Jian circled around him, saying, “To be honest, I thought it was odd that you wanted to dye your hair, but it doesn’t look half bad.”

Gouzi nodded. “Ku Ba looks good.”

The anxiety in Ku Ba’s heart faded, and he straightened his shoulders. “I couldn’t get back before the curfew last night, so I’ll head back to change.”

Zhu Zhu asked, “Are the shopkeepers still in the break room?”

Ku Ba shook his head. “They were there last night, but they were gone when I woke up. I don’t know where they went.”

The others had arrived early, before the usual opening time.

But the shopkeeper was never late, so they let Ku Ba go change while the three of them started cleaning and preparing.

Then they discovered that a new screening room had been added in the hallway, with two additional expansion areas marked with signs.

…

The street food stalls on Song’an Street were as lively as ever, and Ku Ba, flaunting his new purple short hair, drew plenty of attention as he strolled through.

Xie Xu, Chen Yuning, and Prince Jin were eating duck blood vermicelli at Aunt Zhu’s stall and noticed Ku Ba walking by.

Chen Yuning craned his neck, staring in amazement. “That looks like one of the cinema staff, doesn’t it?”

Prince Jin nodded. “With hair like that, I’m surprised you recognized him.”

Xie Xu added, “Cinema staff all dress like that. That hairdo must’ve been done by the young shopkeeper.”

Chen Yuning took a big bite of vermicelli and sighed, “Little Chef didn’t exaggerate. There really are incredible flavors on these streets.”

Aunt Zhu overheard and couldn’t resist saying, “Our duck blood vermicelli was improved with some pointers from the young shopkeeper of the cinema. Regulars say it tastes even better now.”

Chen Yuning was intrigued to hear about Lu Yao here. “The young shopkeeper at the cinema knows cooking too?”

After visiting the cinema, Aunt Zhu had developed a favorable impression, abandoning her idea of asking Zhu Zhu to quit. Grateful for Lu Yao’s advice, she eagerly shared, “The young shopkeeper tried my duck blood vermicelli once. She had just arrived in Liangjing that morning, and her unusual attire attracted a lot of attention. I invited her for a bowl, and later, my daughter found a job at the cinema. When Little Chef was showing, I went to see it. That Xiao Chef was truly amazing! I praised her to my daughter, and I think the shopkeeper heard, because she quietly passed me a recipe for the broth. When I tried it at home, it tasted even better.”

This was news to the three of them. Exchanging glances, they continued chatting with Aunt Zhu.

…

Qin Sanwei awoke early, hastily ate some stale mantou from the previous day, and sat by the window to copy books.

But he couldn’t focus, kept making mistakes, and his mind frequently drifted to what he’d seen the night before.

Yesterday evening, after delivering his copied books to the Rongxi Bookstore, he realized that the much-discussed cinema was right next door.

The young worker at the bookstore had talked about the cinema with a beaming smile, his words filled with praise.

Qin Sanwei traded his books for money, picked up a few new commissions, and stood outside the cinema for a long time before leaving.

He saw moving shadows on the cinema’s transparent wall and glimpsed clips from When Blossoms Fall. He also caught sight of a group surrounding a young man inside, seemingly preparing to shave his hair.

He didn’t understand why anyone would want their head shaved, and, feeling slightly unnerved as darkness approached, he left in a hurry.

After returning home, Qin Sanwei’s thoughts were chaotic, and he didn’t sleep well.

In the morning, his mind was still occupied with thoughts about the cinema.

At one moment, he thought about When Blossoms Fall, and the next, he recalled the words of the person he’d overheard outside the cinema yesterday. His restlessness grew, and after pacing around his room, he finally stopped, grabbed his coin pouch, and went out.

He didn’t actually intend to buy a ticket—just to take a look from outside.

He was also curious about what had happened to the young man he’d seen shaving his head last night.

Building up his courage, Qin Sanwei stepped out from the area surrounding Yong’an Temple and slowly made his way to the street, where the hustle and bustle grew around him.

After nearly half an hour of walking, he finally reached Song’an Street in the Eastern Market, slightly out of breath from the brisk pace.

Suddenly, he saw a young man with short purple hair walking briskly in his direction.

The young man didn’t notice him.

As they passed each other, Qin Sanwei turned to look back, his eyes wide with surprise. That young man… he looked like the one he’d seen at the cinema last night.

He couldn’t remember Ku Ba’s face clearly, but he distinctly remembered the clothes he wore.

Through the transparent wall, he’d seen several men wearing similar clothes.

The only man dressed differently, just like Ku Ba now, had strikingly short hair—a unique look.

With a little thought, Qin Sanwei recognized Ku Ba.

So, it turned out he hadn’t shaved his head to become a monk but simply to look like that short-haired man.

Qin Sanwei couldn’t understand Ku Ba’s reasoning, and his apprehension toward the cinema deepened.

“Hurry up! I heard people are already queuing up in the morning. We might not get tickets if we’re late!”

“What’s the rush? If we miss the first showing, we can wait for the next one.”

“Oh, come on, brother! I don’t want to wait. They say When Blossoms Fall is amazing, even better than The World’s Greatest and Little Chef!”

A brother and sister hurriedly walked by, chatting excitedly as they headed toward the cinema.

Watching them disappear into the distance, Qin Sanwei slowly followed.

…

After finishing Ku Ba’s hair dye, Lu Yao returned to the shopping district. It was late, and the nail salon, blind box shop, and pet cafe had already closed.

As usual, she went to check on the snack shop, ensuring everything was in order, before heading back to the nail salon to rest.

Fu Chi had accompanied her back to the shopping district, watching her enter the snack shop. He wanted to ask about Qi Chen but couldn’t find the right moment.

Noticing the time, he decided not to go home and settled into his car for the night.

In the middle of the night, his alarm went off.

Fu Chi opened his eyes groggily, only to see a dark shadow reflected in the car window. His heart clenched as memories of Qi Chen’s tragic end, entwined with his darkest fears, constructed a nightmarish vision.

He opened his mouth to scream but couldn’t make a sound. Worse still, his body trembled uncontrollably, frozen in terror.

It was as if he’d fallen back into a recurring nightmare.

“Fu?” Lu Yao’s voice came from outside.

Fu Chi, pale as a sheet, lowered the car window.

Lu Yao held a stack of instant noodles, smiling sheepishly. “I saw your car still here and figured you hadn’t gone back, so I thought I’d check on you. Sorry if I startled you.”

Fu Chi, still drained, leaned back against the seat and exhaled slowly. “It’s fine.”

Lu Yao looked at him carefully. “You look pale. Why don’t you rest a bit longer? You can come in the morning.”

Fu Chi threw on his coat and got out of the car. “I can’t sleep now. I’ll go with you.”

At the cinema entrance, Fu Chi took a deep breath and called out, “Shopkeeper.”

Lu Yao didn’t turn around. “Yes?”

“… I forgot to mention yesterday—after you left, several people came for interviews. I did a preliminary screening, and the qualified ones will return today.” Fu Chi clenched his fists, unable to ask the question that weighed on his mind.

Lu Yao nodded. “Thank you.”

“Shopkeeper.”

“Yes, anything else?”

“… After dawn, my assistant will bring some clothes. Do they need special permission to enter here?” He covered his face, realizing he’d missed another chance.

Lu Yao replied, “If it’s just to deliver clothes, that’s fine.”

As they entered the cinema, Fu Chi still had more to say.

The ticket counter already had a long line, and the lounge area was nearly full.

The cinema wasn’t yet open, so everyone was simply waiting.

When Lu Yao and Fu Chi suddenly appeared, the crowd’s eyes shifted to the instant noodles in Lu Yao’s hands, curious expressions on their faces.

Lu Yao thought to herself that people in the Great Wu Dynasty were such early risers, and she hurried to the break room. “Quick, quick—let’s go have breakfast.”

Dyeing Ku Ba’s hair last night had taken longer than expected, and they’d gotten hungry halfway through. While waiting, Lu Yao had brought out some instant noodles.

Ku Ba was shocked by the concept of noodles that could be ready in just three minutes with hot water. Initially doubtful, he ate three bowls in a row before he began to accept it and even suggested having instant noodles for breakfast.

Since they had run out, Lu Yao had secretly grabbed some from Harold and Si Jin’s stash at the nail salon, figuring she’d deal with Harold’s complaints later.

In the lounge, Hongyu was seated at the best vantage point and stood up the moment she saw Lu Yao and Fu Chi approaching.

Although she couldn’t see clearly from that distance, the two were easily recognizable by their distinctive attire.

Lu Yao heard someone approach and turned to look at Hongyu. “And you are?”

“My name is Hongyu. I heard you’re hiring. I was here yesterday,” Hongyu said quietly, keeping her gaze down to avoid eye contact.

Fu Chi recognized her as well. “One of the applicants who passed the initial screening yesterday—she can read and write and has experience as a maid for a wealthy family.”

Lu Yao handed the instant noodles to Fu Chi, asking him to take them to the others for breakfast, then pulled Hongyu aside for a private conversation.

She opened the system. “What’s her background?”

Clearly, this was the same female guard who had disguised herself as a man yesterday. Her return in women’s clothing was suspicious.

System: “Unknown.”

Lu Yao: “???”

System: “Exploring other worlds is part of the shopkeeper’s duty, and I have no authority to interfere.”

Lu Yao: “Let’s hope you never need my help.”

The system shivered: “….”

Ignoring the system, Lu Yao paused, glancing back at Hongyu. “Your eyes…?”

Hongyu’s heart skipped a beat. Could she have noticed something?

She thought her eye condition had remained hidden in her brief interaction yesterday.

Sensing Hongyu’s unease, Lu Yao raised a hand to reassure her. “Relax; I was just asking casually.”

After a brief interview, Lu Yao announced, “You’re hired. We have a seven-day trial period here. If you complete the training successfully, you’ll be officially employed. If not, you’ll still be paid for the trial.”

Hongyu exhaled in relief and lowered her head respectfully. “Thank you, Shopkeeper.”

With the interview concluded, Lu Yao led her to the break room and handed her the last cup of noodles on the table. “Here, have some breakfast.”

Ku Ba had already returned in fresh clothes, seated with Zhu Zhu and the others, slurping noodles. He paused to remind her, “Shopkeeper, that was your portion.”

Lu Yao chuckled. “I’m not hungry yet. This is Hongyu, our new hire.”

Hongyu felt something being placed in her hands and instinctively leaned in to see it better but held back, worried her eyesight issues might be exposed. She hugged the cup to her chest, looking up to greet everyone.

Wen Jian, Zhu Zhu, and Gouzi, already won over by the flavor of the noodles, greeted her politely before quickly returning to their noodles.

Not only could they be ready in a single cup of hot water, but the noodles were surprisingly springy, with a savory broth that was indescribably delicious!

Hongyu’s vision was poor, but her senses had been honed from years of martial arts, allowing her to sense the people around her based on their energy. The young man who’d spoken moments ago was formidable—likely someone of her caliber.

The man in green on the far right had some martial skill, but the others were ordinary, with relaxed postures and heavy breathing, full of openings.

Even the two people her princess was most wary of were ordinary, showing no signs of martial training.

Seeing Hongyu appear a bit dazed, Lu Yao waved a hand in front of her eyes. “Are you having trouble seeing?”

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