Ch 192: Guide to Running a Shop in Another World

Fu Chi wanted some usual footage from Chunxi Lou for reference; some of this material might also make it into the final ad. Lu Yao had Ku Ba and Die Qi set up multiple cameras early in the morning at Chunxi Tower’s entrance, main hall, and upstairs for multi-angle shooting.

To gather enough material, she even set up a camera in Chunxi Lou’s kitchen. When the head chef and assistants heard it was the cinema’s filming, they gathered around the machine to watch. Under the dim lighting with flickering candle flames, they could still see the kitchen scene on the small screen, and it made them a bit self-conscious. Not out of dislike, just unfamiliarity—especially after hearing that the footage might play on the big screen in front of the cinema, just like Yuguizhai’s ad during Mid-Autumn Festival. The head chefs couldn’t help but put on their best performance.

The assistants scrambled to fetch water, scrub stoves and tools, and clean ingredients more vigorously than usual.

Lu Yao chuckled and reassured them, “No need to be too tense, just act like usual.”

But as soon as she said that, they became even stiffer. It felt like a public lesson in school, where both teachers and students stayed on edge. Even if they kept telling themselves to act naturally, it was hard to truly relax.

From another perspective, though, this also showed a kind of authenticity. After all, it was their first time encountering such a piece of modern equipment up close. Lu Yao didn’t press further; she adjusted a few camera angles and left the kitchen to check the hall’s setup.

This ad was a project she planned with Fu Chi, though he couldn’t physically be there. Lu Yao controlled the entire filming process, with footage to be reviewed and adjusted by Fu Chi later, or retakes arranged if needed. To prepare, Lu Yao and her digital team received an intensive crash course from Director Fu himself.

Set design, lighting, camera movement, directing actors… there was much to cover, and the training only scratched the surface. But Lu Yao’s determination was strong, and the newly trained crew members were eager to jump into filming. The digital trio was even more excited than she was, leaving Fu Chi worried yet unable to dissuade them.

Just as the first light of dawn broke, two horse-drawn carriages rolled down the cobblestone path. The lead carriage bore a green curtain with a “Baixiang Garden” sign and a green tassel swaying as it moved. The more lavish carriage behind had a woven silk curtain, a scented pink tassel with “Jinghong Pavilion” embroidered in gold thread, and a fragrant breeze trailing behind it.

Both carriages pulled up in front of Chunxi Lou, causing passersby to glance their way. Was it not unusual for the performers from Baixiang Garden and the ladies from Jinghong Pavilion to arrive so early for tea?

Inside the green-curtained carriage sat two men and a young attendant. The man in green robes had a tall, slender figure and a delicate face, with a gentle expression in his eyes—his name was Xuan Li, a performer from Baixiang Garden. Beside him sat a man in white, with a refined face, bright eyes, and a subtle charm from his upturned eyes. This was Wang Sheng, another performer from Baixiang Garden.

Two days ago, Lu Yao, the cinema’s boss, visited Baixiang Garden and chose Xuan Li and Wang Sheng from among all the performers, inviting them to star in Chunxi Lou’s advertisement. They didn’t fully understand what an ad was but were told it was similar to acting, so they didn’t think much of it.

Once the carriage stopped, neither man was in a hurry to get out.

Xuan Li lifted a corner of the carriage curtain and quietly observed Chunxi Lou. Wang Sheng leaned over, noticing a small crowd gathered near the entrance, with faint murmurs in the air. He grew suspicious, saying, “This stage seems a bit small, and they won’t even let us get dressed up—are they toying with us?”

Xuan Li gave him a look. “The master said to follow Boss Lu’s instructions today.”

Wang Sheng lowered his head, suppressing his irritation. “I didn’t say much; you don’t need to bring the master into everything.”

Behind Baixiang Garden’s carriage was the Jinghong Pavilion’s carriage, where the courtesan Chen Lianlian sat. Though only fifteen, she was as lovely as a flower; even without makeup, her delicate face evoked sympathy at a glance.

The maid, Xiaotao, lifted the carriage curtain to look outside. “We’ve arrived at Chunxi Lou, but Baixiang Garden’s carriage is in front.”

Chen Lianlian held a round fan, her expression lazy. “Boss Lu didn’t allow us to put on makeup. I’m hardly presentable like this. Let them go first.”

Die Qi, noticing the carriages at the entrance, informed Lu Yao, who sent Ku Ba to greet the guests.

Xuan Li and Wang Sheng stepped down from the carriage one after the other, with Xuan Li carrying a qin as he walked in front. Wang Sheng followed unhurriedly, moving gracefully, his pace making passersby blush.

Lu Yao, waiting on the second floor, greeted them. “Please rest in Yun Room for a bit; I’ll be there shortly to do your makeup.”

Having met Lu Yao previously at Baixiang Garden, Xuan Li and Wang Sheng understood from her words that they would indeed be getting dressed up at Chunxi Lou.

Entering Yun Room, Xuan Li carefully placed his qin on the table and looked around.

It was just a typical tearoom with no trace of makeup powders, eyebrow pencils, or even a mirror in sight. He wondered how they would get ready.

Wang Sheng walked to the window and saw the cinema next door, his eyes widening slightly. “So that’s the cinema. I didn’t know it looked like that.”

Baixiang Garden was the best opera house in Liangjing, located in the tea district on the west side, several streets away from the cinema. But recently, guests frequently mentioned the East Market cinema, piquing the curiosity of Baixiang Garden’s performers.

Ever since the cinema opened, Baixiang Garden’s business had declined, and it only seemed to worsen by the day. Only the master had visited the cinema, as the performers were always busy practicing and had yet to venture to the East Market themselves. But yesterday, Boss Lu had proposed a collaboration, which the master immediately accepted.

Xuan Li came over as well, noticing figures moving on the cinema’s glass screen. Although he couldn’t see the details from this distance, he recalled Boss Lu mentioning that a short video would be displayed on the cinema’s screen. Could that be it?

Wang Sheng, gripping the windowsill with both hands and almost leaning halfway out, said, “There’s a line outside the door. Is the show at the cinema really that good? I want to watch it too.”

…

In the adjacent Shuang Room, Die Qi ushered Chen Lianlian and Xiaotao inside.

Lu Yao was already waiting, sitting in a chair, and stood up as soon as they entered.

Chen Lianlian kept her head lowered, using the fan to shield her face. Once the door closed, she gently lowered the fan and bowed to Lu Yao. “Lianlian greets the boss.”

Lu Yao thought to herself, No wonder she’s the pavilion’s top courtesan—such grace, beauty, and elegance; a true classical beauty.

She stepped forward, gently helping Chen Lianlian up. “Please call me Director Lu today.”

Not only was she the director, but she was also the writer, makeup artist, lighting director, and cinematographer. In short, Director Lu had many tasks.

Chen Lianlian, though slightly puzzled, complied softly, addressing her as “Director Lu.”

Lu Yao looked her over. “Head to the inner room to change, and I’ll do your makeup once you’re ready.”

The ad was designed to promote Chunxi Lou, so it needed to be visually refined yet aligned with the setting. Although the courtesan had come in her plainest attire, it was still a bit too colorful, so Lu Yao had prepared simpler garments and accessories.

When Chen Lianlian entered the inner room, she saw that the young boss had prepared a pink and white dress for her. The design was simple and fresh, but the fabric was excellent—smooth satin with subtle, delicate patterns upon closer inspection.

Xiaotao, her maid, looked at it with some dissatisfaction. “I think the courtesan’s regular clothes are much prettier. This one’s too plain and doesn’t do justice to her beauty.”

Chen Lianlian, however, touched the dress with a hint of delight on her face. “I think it’s lovely—elegant and understated.”

Xiaotao helped Chen Lianlian change into the dress. When they came out, they saw many unfamiliar items arranged on the table, with Lu Yao sitting and arranging hairpieces.

Chen Lianlian walked over quickly. “Bo—Director Lu, what are these?”

Lu Yao stood up and gestured to the chair in front of her. “Come, sit. I’ll do your hair first, and then we’ll start on your makeup.”

Once seated, Chen Lianlian noticed the oval object in front of her was a mirror, but unlike the bronze mirrors they usually used, it was clear and bright, reflecting every detail.

Chen Lianlian’s hair was thick, shiny, and soft. Lu Yao combed it gently, teasing, “It’s a shame not to use this hair in a shampoo commercial.”

Chen Lianlian was puzzled. “What’s shampoo?”

Lu Yao explained, “It’s something for washing hair, like soapnut or wood ash, but it makes your hair even softer and cleaner, leaving it with a pleasant fragrance.”

Xiaotao couldn’t help but add, “Our lady doesn’t use soapnut or wood ash. She uses the best hair pomade from the Rouge House, which is why her hair is so well-nourished.”

Chen Lianlian shot Xiaotao a glance, making her shrink back without another word.

Lu Yao paid no attention and focused on arranging Chen Lianlian’s hair. With her naturally thick hair, she didn’t need extensions, just a few small hair pads to give volume, finishing with two pearl hairpins.

“It’s done,” Lu Yao announced.

Chen Lianlian touched her hair cautiously. “Isn’t it a bit too simple?”

Lu Yao turned her slightly, picking up a mist bottle and shaking it lightly. “With your natural beauty, this is more than enough. Now close your eyes—I’m starting your makeup.”

The cool mist lightly sprayed onto her face, making Chen Lianlian shiver slightly.

“Alright, open your eyes.”

Chen Lianlian opened her eyes and saw Lu Yao holding a bottle. She pressed the black cap, and a clear, almost watery substance dispensed from a small opening.

Seeing her curiosity, Lu Yao offered, “This is a primer, a type of face product used before makeup to moisturize and smoothen the skin.”

Chen Lianlian was unfamiliar with this concept, but the primer had a light, pleasant scent, completely different from the strong perfumes she was used to.

After the primer came a series of products she had never seen—foundation, concealer, sunscreen, powder, eyeshadow, contour, highlighter, eyebrow powder, blush, and lipstick. While some names sounded similar to her regular cosmetics, the texture and feel were indescribably better.

The foundation, for instance, felt light and natural on her skin, unlike the pearl powder she used, which could feel dry and tight.

Lu Yao applied makeup skillfully, finishing the look in under thirty minutes. She adjusted the mirror so Chen Lianlian could see. “Take a look.”

Chen Lianlian gazed into the mirror and lifted her hand as if to touch her face, stopping just short. “Is this…really me?”

In the reflection, she saw a young woman with flawless, porcelain-like skin, her lips delicately colored, her brows softly arched, and her eyes bright and full of life. She looked like a sweet, pampered village girl raised lovingly by her parents.

Xiaotao leaned in, her eyes wide with amazement. “My lady, you look just like a young girl. And… it’s truly beautiful.”

As Lu Yao packed her supplies, she remarked, “True beauty doesn’t need heavy makeup. You can sit here for a while; I’ll head next door to do Xuan Li and Wang Sheng’s makeup.”

As the door opened and closed behind Lu Yao, Chen Lianlian sat quietly for a moment before standing. The small mirror and all those delightful cosmetics had gone with the young boss, and with no bronze mirror in the room, she poured herself a cup of cool water. Leaning close, she studied her reflection in the water, unable to get enough of it.

Xiaotao watched from the side, feeling a touch of envy.

The cosmetics smelled pleasant and were highly effective, plus the young boss was skilled in makeup. Such a simple and delicate style complemented the courtesan’s beauty, making her look even more ethereal.

Next door in Yun Jian, Lu Yao began with makeup for Xuan Li.

Wang Sheng sat nearby, his eyes drifting to the scattered cosmetics on the table. He couldn’t resist picking up an open eyeshadow palette, dipping his finger into the soft, buttery color, and applying it to the back of his hand. The shade spread easily into a beautiful wash of color.

“Where did you get this makeup, young boss?” Wang Sheng’s excitement was evident as he tried several colors in succession. “The colors are vibrant and blend effortlessly.”

“You won’t find it around here.” Lu Yao continued applying makeup with swift, steady hands.

The men’s makeup was straightforward, focusing on a flawless base, defined brows, and refined lips. Xuan Li and Wang Sheng, chosen from Bai Xiang Yuan for their refined features and graceful manner, both had naturally good skin.

After finishing Xuan Li’s makeup, Lu Yao handed him a mirror to check himself and turned to apply makeup on Wang Sheng.

Xuan Li observed his reflection. As a performer, he was used to being a mere source of entertainment, but today, his makeup transformed him into someone almost otherworldly.

“Done.” With the final touch of lip color, Lu Yao stepped back, nodded in satisfaction, and said, “Perfect, just like that.”

Wang Sheng quickly grabbed the mirror to inspect his appearance. Xuan Li glanced at him, momentarily stunned by what he saw.

Wang Sheng, too, was surprised by his own reflection. His facial features, already handsome and refined, had a natural allure with slightly upturned eyes that usually hinted at playfulness. But with Lu Yao’s touch, his face took on a clean, dignified look, replacing any hint of flirtation with a strikingly elegant beauty.

Lu Yao packed up, glanced at her watch, and realized that they had already spent quite a bit of time. She headed toward the door. “Let’s go; the set is in Hua Jian, where the lighting is ideal.”

Chen Lianlian, Xuan Li, and Wang Sheng each emerged from their rooms, meeting in the hallway. Upon seeing each other, all three exchanged looks of mutual admiration.

Despite their humble backgrounds, their delicate makeup and subtle outfits made them appear ethereal and refined.

The set in Hua Jian was already prepared. Ku Ba handled the lighting, Die Qi stood by with the makeup bag for touch-ups, and Ye Xiao managed the camera. Lu Yao, juggling her roles as both cinematographer and director, also took charge of keeping the actors’ energy in check.

Le Han was also present. As Lu Yao entered, he was about to speak but paused upon seeing Xuan Li, Wang Sheng, and Chen Lianlian. “Who are these three?”

Lu Yao gave him a quick glance and introduced them, “Xuan Li and Wang Sheng from Bai Xiang Yuan, and Chen Lianlian from Jing Hong Pavilion.”

Le Han was familiar with them; he’d often visited Bai Xiang Yuan before the cinema was established and occasionally enjoyed drinks on Jing Hong Pavilion’s riverboat. Yet today, seeing them like this, he was taken aback—they all looked strikingly different.

It seemed that anything that passed through the cinema’s hands was transformed into something entirely fresh and captivating.

The ad would highlight Chunxi Lou, focusing on the themes of close friends and romantic encounters, aiming for an elegant yet imaginative tone.

First Scene: Wang Sheng played a wealthy young gentleman from Jiangnan, well-versed in music. While visiting the capital, he’s captivated by the sound of the qin drifting from a teahouse. Following the music upstairs, he meets a lifelong friend.

Xuan Li, as the qin master, wore simple, pinned-up hair and radiated an ethereal beauty as the melody flowed gracefully from his fingertips, calm and resonant.

With the wind gently lifting the curtains, a friend follows the music and enters.

A qin, a pot of tea, a soulmate—no regrets in this life.

…

Second Scene: Chen Lianlian plays a scholar’s daughter who sneaks into the capital in search of her family and stops at a teahouse to rest. There, she stumbles upon a group discussing a chess game. After observing for a moment, she solves the puzzle, catching the attention of a wealthy young gentleman on the second floor, who invites her for a match.

The filming progressed smoothly at first, but as they reached the latter part—where the young lady and the gentleman begin to develop feelings for each other during the game—both Chen Lianlian and Wang Sheng seemed stiff in their performances.

Lu Yao watched several takes, unsatisfied, and finally got up to help them find the right tone.

She sat beside Chen Lianlian and coached her, “For this part, your gaze should show a bit of surprise mixed with delight, a hint of shyness, and a subtle, unconscious sense of hope. Let it feel pure and sincere without any trace of nervousness.”

Chen Lianlian cradled her head in her hands, clearly frustrated. “Director Lu, I don’t understand.”

Surprise, delight, shyness, hope—all in one look? Was it even possible for so many emotions to exist in a single gaze?

Lu Yao pulled her up, took her place on the cushion, and said, “Go over to the camera and watch. I’ll play out the scene with Wang Sheng, so pay attention to the emotional shifts.”

Lu Yao and Wang Sheng played through the scene, placing and exchanging glances, where subtle affection began to bloom between them.

Through the camera, Chen Lianlian watched Lu Yao’s expressions change and was amazed that she could indeed read all those emotions in her gaze.

Meanwhile, in front of the camera, Wang Sheng’s ears were turning red, his hand trembling slightly as he placed each piece.

Lu Yao raised her hand to call for a stop and looked at Wang Sheng, “You’re showing hesitation.”

Wang Sheng looked even more uncomfortable, his brow furrowed, and his cheeks beginning to flush. “Boss, the gaze… it’s too intense.”

Lu Yao was speechless. It was just a straightforward look—why were they reacting this way?

She called Xuan Li over to try, but even he couldn’t handle it.

The normally composed gentleman became stiff and withdrawn in front of Lu Yao, unable to perform naturally.

After multiple retakes with no improvement, Lu Yao reluctantly turned to Ku Ba for help.

Ku Ba shook his head and backed away. “Boss, I can’t do it either.”

Lu Yao: “…”

She hadn’t expected to be stuck on this small scene. At a loss, her gaze fell on Ye Xiao, standing behind the camera, and an idea struck her. “Ye Xiao, want to give it a try?”

Ku Ba thought Lu Yao must have lost it—she was even calling on the blind!

Xiao Jiu had been unable to see since childhood, though his other senses were more sensitive than most.

But without even a line of sight, how could he perform with her?

Ye Xiao, however, didn’t hesitate and walked straight to the table, taking his seat precisely. The oversized black sunglasses he wore made him look even more out of place.

Lu Yao asked directly, “Can you take off your glasses?”

Ye Xiao slowly lifted his hand.

Die Qi and Ku Ba blinked and edged closer.

No one had ever seen Xiao Jiu’s eyes since he started covering them, first with black cloth, and then with the sunglasses given by the manager. No one had seen his true face.

What lay beneath those dark glasses?

Instinctively, Die Qi and Ku Ba leaned in, getting a little closer.

When the glasses came off, the young man’s eyes were shut.

Die Qi & Ku Ba: “…”

Was this just for nothing?

In the next second, Ye Xiao opened his eyes, revealing pale gray irises.

Ku Ba leaned forward, peering closely and murmuring, “No light… so he really can’t see.”

Lu Yao let out a quiet sigh of relief. He didn’t look like the man she’d seen in the deep sea, not even the color of his eyes matched. But when he blinked, a faint, almost imperceptible red ring appeared around his pupils, so subtle that it would be hard to notice without paying close attention.

Lu Yao was sure—this person had to be A, just in disguise.

She waved a hand in front of Ye Xiao’s eyes.

No reaction. A perfect act.

Suddenly, her wrist was caught. Ye Xiao’s gray eyes looked directly at her. “boss?”

Lu Yao withdrew her hand, sitting back on the cushion calmly. “Listen to the sound and align your gaze accordingly. Let’s try it with the feeling I mentioned earlier.”

Starting from the chess game, they picked up their pieces and began to play.

Lu Yao’s fingers tapped the chess piece lightly, and each tap prompted Ye Xiao to adjust his gaze.

Though his eyes were dim and sightless, through the lens, it appeared as if he was making direct eye contact with her.

His calm, refined features, straight but relaxed posture, and the restrained emotions hidden in his cool gaze created a captivating effect.

Chen Lianlian couldn’t help covering her face, feeling a bit flustered.

Lu Yao raised her hand and called, “Cut! Wang Sheng, aim for this feeling. If you’re unsure, consult Teacher Ye Xiao here.”

Teacher Ye Xiao: “…”

After some adjustments, Wang Sheng and Chen Lianlian still showed slight stiffness in their expressions, so Lu Yao decided to proceed with the third scene and reshoot the previous parts the next day.

The scenes were interconnected, and in the final scene, the young lady and the nobleman share tea and encounter the musician. The young lady, recognizing the tea-making technique, suspects that the musician may be her long-lost brother. Eventually, the two siblings reunite.

The filming continued all day. Lu Yao took the footage back to let Fu Chi review it for any scenes requiring retakes, including the yet-to-be-completed second scene.

When Fu Chi watched Lu Yao and Ye Xiao’s improvised take, he squinted thoughtfully, thinking that, in a pinch, they could use it. However, Lu Yao disagreed, and even confiscated the rehearsal footage.

After a full night’s practice and diving deeper into the roles, Chen Lianlian and Wang Sheng began fully embodying their characters. The next day’s shoot went much smoother, producing results that satisfied Lu Yao with only minor adjustments.

For Fu Chi’s final tweaks, a few more shots were needed, taking another half-day. By evening, they wrapped up all filming.

Now, editing and post-production were needed. Since footage couldn’t be taken from the cinema to the real world, Fu Chi would handle editing in the cinema’s studio, a process estimated to take three to five days.

Fu Chi suggested that, for future commercial ads, it would be ideal to have an in-house post-production team at the cinema.

Lu Yao had considered this, as both the snack shop and Little Pet Cafe had skilled editors, though communication was challenging. For professional support, she would likely need to hire locally.

Lu Yao messaged Ji Zhixin, asking if the editing team he previously recommended might be willing to work on location, with a required confidentiality contract.

Since Ji Zhixin hadn’t replied yet, she pocketed her phone after a brief wait.

Just as the cinema closed and she planned to help out at Little Pet Cafe, a notification appeared:

Lu Yao’s Interdimensional Cinema is now a three-star venue, with booming popularity! Popularity Points +3000, new screening rooms +3, new entertainment equipment +1. Keep up the good work!

The upgrade came as a pleasant surprise—more screening rooms at last!

She opened her storage and found that the additional entertainment item was a claw machine. It seemed like a nice addition, something to integrate with movie-themed merch and add a fun touch to the theater.

Lu Yao summoned the system. “This time, let’s upgrade the new screening rooms upstairs.”

The system, sounding a bit weary, replied, “Moving upstairs already? Isn’t it a bit soon?”

Lu Yao explained, “Expanding the internal space further will only draw more attention. Expanding to the second floor is more discreet. Besides, the first floor is already well-utilized.”

The ground floor had two main screening areas, a snack bar, a lounge, and two large advertising screens. Adding a claw machine would be a tight fit.

After a bit of reluctance, the system replied, “Alright, the second-floor upgrade is available. It will cost 500,000 Popularity Points.”

Lu Yao, for once, didn’t haggle with the system and readily agreed. She added, “Set up the new screening rooms as three mid-sized theaters for forty people and one smaller theater for thirty. Let’s handle the upgrades tonight, but keep the new floor closed for now. Put up ‘Under Expansion, No Entry’ signs. Once the mission is fully complete, we’ll open the upstairs section.”

The system knew it wasn’t getting off that easy, but with the points already collected—and with a desire to avoid further disputes with her—it couldn’t complain. Compared to previous upgrades, the expansion plan this time was actually reasonable.

After handling tasks at Little Pet Cafe, Lu Yao returned to the nail salon to catch up on some sleep. At 5:30 p.m., Fu Chi came by to wake her.

Lu Yao had a dinner appointment with Shen Sisi at seven, and since driving from the shopping district would take some time, they decided to leave a bit early to avoid traffic.

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