Ch 178: Guide to Running a Shop in Another World

Bai Jin finished Zhou Su’s health check, while Bai Zheng continued with the checks for the two members of the Ji family, though both of them already had family doctors and were mainly participating out of courtesy to the shop owner’s request.

There weren’t many people to examine, which was quite different from what Bai Jin had expected. Bored, she began counting the shop signs on the street opposite, and asked curiously, “Doesn’t the snack shop need health checks?”

Bai Jing shook his head, “Lu Yao only mentioned starting with the nail salon; that shop doesn’t need it.”

Watching her cousin Bai Zhen’s embarrassment, Bai Jin tempered her words, asking, “Brother, how did you get to know the owner here?”

Bai Jing, sitting nearby with his legs crossed, glanced at Ji Feiming, who was getting his blood drawn, and with a smirk said, “Oh, it’s all thanks to a certain ‘divine envoy.’”

Ji Feiming heard the teasing tone, and replied smoothly, “The deity has fallen; there is no divine envoy now. I’m just a deliveryman on this rundown old street.”

Bai Zhen was stunned. That tone… Did it mean what he thought?

He turned around after removing the needle, looking at Bai Jing for confirmation.

With a slight smile, Bai Jing gently admonished, “Since you seem so well-versed in the Ji family’s secrets, why are you asking me?”

Ji Zhixin looked up at the mention, “Secrets?”

Bai Zhen flushed with embarrassment, vigorously shaking his head, “No, no, just a misunderstanding.”

What was going on with this street? Why were the two most formidable figures in the Ji family content to stay here?

Ji Zhixin, ever perceptive, sensed something in the exchange, his gaze darkening as he stared directly at Bai Zhen.

Feeling the intense pressure, Bai Zhen almost didn’t dare look up.

Ji Feiming stood, placed a hand on Ji Zhixin’s shoulder, and gave a subtle shake of his head.

The remaining tests proceeded in a tense silence, and as soon as they finished, Zhou Su wheeled Ji Zhixin back to the pet cafe.

Bai Jing got up, chair in hand, and prepared to head to the pet cafe as well. “You two head over to the cinema—it’s not crowded. When you’re done, come find me here, and don’t forget to get the entry pass from the owner.”

Bai Zhen & Bai Jin: “…”

With one foot on the threshold, Bai Jing turned back, adding, “By the way, there’s someone familiar at the cinema. Try not to be too startled.”

Bai Zhen and Bai Jin exchanged glances, both showing that “want to run, but no way out” look.

The cinema was right next door to the pet cafe, just a few steps away, so moving the equipment wasn’t too difficult.

Ji Feiming led the way, offering a helpful reminder: “Bai Jing must have some expectations for you both if he brought you here. To give you a heads-up, this is no ordinary shopping street, so whatever you see inside, try not to be too surprised.”

Bai Zhen had already resigned himself to it all and figured that, no matter what strange things he encountered today, it wouldn’t faze him anymore. Bai Jin, thinking the Ji family duo was trying to spook them, felt less nervous than at the start.

Following Ji Feiming up the concrete steps, they entered through the glass doors.

In an instant, their ears filled with countless sounds.

Bai Zhen tilted his head, frowning as the voices only grew louder. Slowly, he turned, his head moving as if in slow motion, eyes and mouth widening with shock. Tugging on Bai Jin’s sleeve, he choked out, “Am I dreaming, Bai Jin?”

Bai Jin was equally stunned, her head shaking mechanically, echoing, “Weren’t we going into the cinema? This is… where?”

“This is the cinema.” Lu Yao pulled their collars gently, dragging them aside to clear the doorway, “Don’t block the other customers.”

Still frozen like statues, Bai Zhen and Bai Jin stood rigidly for a long while.

Lu Yao let go. “We just had a screening, so there’s a crowd—take a moment to get used to it. Health checks start in twenty minutes.”

The citizens of Da Wu were leaving the screening hall, noticing the two frozen in awe with their faces pressed against the glass wall, and casting sympathetic looks in their direction.

Outside the glass window, the street view and people were vividly real, and Bai Jin’s mind finally began to function again. Reluctantly, she asked, “Is this Hengdian Studio?”

Bai Zhen, having given up on understanding, shook his head dumbly. “I don’t know.”

Lu Yao approached them once more, speaking quietly. “It’s not Hengdian. This is Great Wu.”

Bai Jin: “Great Wu?”

Lu Yao: “That’s not important. Don’t forget the main purpose of your visit today.”

Taking advantage of the quiet time during the film screening, Lu Yao called the staff to gather in the lounge for their health checks in small groups. The exams included routine measurements of height, weight, blood pressure, vision, hearing, lung capacity, and a simplified blood draw.

The first few tests went smoothly, but when it came time for the blood draw, the staff from Great Wu were very hesitant. The new employee, Li Chunhua, even burst into tears.

Lu Yao waved it off. “Forget it; we’ll skip the blood test. The other checks will do.”

Relieved, Li Chunhua quickly put down her arm and stepped back. Standing behind her, Hongyu also sighed in relief.

Bai Jin called her over. “Your turn.”

After quickly completing height, weight, blood pressure, and other checks, only the vision test remained. Hongyu grew nervous, as she had seen Li Chunhua and Zhao Jinxiang go through this process and knew it involved examining her eyes.

She hadn’t anticipated that Lu Yao would include this in the tests, and there was no hiding her eye condition now.

Bai Jin began with a basic vision test, asking casually, “When did you start having trouble seeing?”

Hongyu was filled with mixed emotions. On one hand, she felt she had failed Wan Baozhu by struggling with such a simple task; on the other, she was gripped by despair, knowing her vision was deteriorating and that she might eventually go completely blind. Someone like her, she thought, was no longer fit to serve Her Highness.

She had avoided facing this reality, but now she had no choice. Voice choked, she replied, “About three years ago. It started with blurry vision, and now everything close looks like a vague blur.”

Bai Jin nodded, handing her an object. “Put these on, then look at the wall and answer my questions.”

Confused, Hongyu accepted the item and realized it looked like the peculiar accessory the assistant manager often wore on his face. She had assumed it was merely decorative, but when she put it on, her vision in her right eye suddenly became clear.

“What is this?” she stammered, her voice trembling in shock.

Bai Jin tapped on the wall. “Can you read this row of symbols?”

Hongyu nodded.

“Tell me the direction each symbol points.”

…

When the vision test was over, Bai Jin couldn’t resist teasing her. “I thought it might be something serious. It’s just nearsightedness. Left eye at 275, right eye at 300—not too high. Your glasses will be ready in an hour; just find Lu Yao to pick them up.”

The whole time she was testing Hongyu’s sight, this woman had looked distraught, her eyes brimming with tears, shifting from despair to sudden relief, which had made Bai Jin hesitate to ask more questions.

Hongyu was wiping her eyes but paused upon hearing Bai Jin’s words, not fully understanding.

Bai Jin tried to explain but quickly realized that Hongyu had no medical knowledge, so her attempts to clarify only made her more confused.

As the health checks for Great Wu’s staff were wrapping up, Fu Chi emerged from the lounge and sat before Bai Zhen, slowly rolling up his sleeve to reveal his arm.

Bai Zhen had lost count of how many times he’d been shocked that day.

When his older brother mentioned that there would be familiar faces at the cinema, he had speculated a bit but would never have expected to see him here.

It wasn’t a secret that Fu Chi had been kidnapped abroad and returned almost crippled. His condition had been terrible, and despite being transferred to the Bai family’s hospital, nothing had helped. Recently, rumors had spread that the Fu family had spent millions to put him in a private overseas clinic, essentially leaving him to his fate.

Fu Chi raised his arm slightly, silently urging him to proceed.

Bai Zheng snapped back to reality and smiled awkwardly, unable to resist asking, “Brother Chi, how did you end up here too?”

Fu Chi answered nonchalantly, “I work here.”

Bai Zhen was speechless.

You work here?

Weren’t you supposed to be in rehab abroad?

Bai Jin was also surprised and couldn’t help but move closer. “People outside say you’re overseas. Was this arrangement by our older brother?”

Fu Chi nodded. “I didn’t expect it either. I came here for treatment, and somehow the boss roped me into working.”

Unable to hold back, Bai Jin looked over at Lu Yao, wondering about her background.

Lu Yao was listening to Gouzi explain the warehouse’s missing stock. Sensing Bai Jin’s gaze, she glanced over with a smile.

Fu Chi underwent the complete check-up, including the blood test, without hesitation. Gouzi, Chen Xiaoliu, and Ku Ba watched the blood draw in horror, with only Ku Ba remaining calm while the others looked ready to faint.

Bai Zhen checked the list and noticed one name still unaccounted for. He called out loudly, “Who is Ye Xiao?”

Silence.

“…Where is Ye Xiao?”

Lu Yao pointed towards the door. “The one in black over there.”

Ye Xiao shifted slightly, his voice low. “I’m not doing it.”

Bai Zhen looked at Lu Yao, who waved it off. “Let him be.”

Everyone else was left with a feeling that something was off, though they couldn’t quite pinpoint what it was.

With the check-up completed, Bai Zhen and Bai Jin were reluctant to leave and wanted to watch a movie. Lu Yao, citing a lack of available seating, turned them down. As compensation, she gave each of them a temporary staff pass and suggested they visit the Furry Little Shop next door.

Both of them weren’t big fans of animals, and they suspected they might have offended Lu Yao. Resigned, they left the theater with heavy hearts and entered the Furry Little Shop.

Surprisingly, they ended up staying until closing time, unwilling to leave, and had to be forcibly dragged out by Bai Jing. The next day, they returned to the shopping district first thing in the morning to get monthly passes for the Little Pet Cafe.

…

In the afternoon, Lu Yao received two pairs of custom-made glasses.

She called Hong Yu to the lounge first and handed her a paper bag. “Open it and see.”

Hongyu took out a pair of glasses with red frames, staring blankly. “Boss, what is this?”

“Try them on.” Lu Yao nodded calmly.

Hongyu tried to recall how Fu Chi wore his glasses and clumsily opened the earpieces before carefully putting them on.

As in the earlier test, the tool known as “glasses” instantly sharpened her previously blurred vision. She instinctively took a few steps, then leaned against the wall, slightly dizzy. “It’s a bit disorienting.”

Lu Yao explained, “That’s normal. The glasses are yours to keep. Just wear them as you move around; you’ll adjust in time.”

Emotionally conflicted, Hongyu wrestled with her thoughts before bowing respectfully. “Thank you, Boss. How much for the glasses? Please deduct it from my pay.”

Lu Yao shook her head, her tone gentle. “Money is valuable, but some things in this world can’t be bought with it. Wouldn’t you agree?”

Hongyu’s face turned pale.

Lu Yao stood up, still holding another paper bag, and passed by her.

Ye Xiao was leaning lazily against a wall, facing the street, his eyes covered with a black cloth. No one could tell what he was thinking.

Lu Yao stopped about two meters from him and tossed the paper bag his way.

He caught it and turned his head slightly in her direction.

Lu Yao walked over. “This is better than the cloth, and it’s also black.”

Ye Xiao held onto the bag without moving. Sighing, Lu Yao took out the glasses case and opened it.

Inside was a pair of large black sunglasses, resembling the ones he had once worn when he was Chi Jin.

Lu Yao handed the sunglasses to him, offering them silently.

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