Ch 194: Guide to Running a Shop in Another World

Xiao Tao got off the carriage, just as Baixiang Pavilion’s attendant stepped down from the neighboring carriage. They exchanged nods in greeting before heading toward the cinema entrance together.

However, the crowd was too large, and only seemed to be growing. It took them considerable effort to squeeze to the front just as the ad began to replay.

Both Xiao Tao and the attendant had been present during the entire filming process.

When Lu Yao replayed the footage to check the quality, they had often managed to sneak a peek. By all accounts, they should have developed some immunity to the ad.

Yet when Chen Lianlian appeared, Xiao Tao clasped her hands tightly over her chest, her eyes unable to look away.

She was simply stunning—breathtakingly beautiful.

In the ad, Chen Lianlian looked like a delicate flower petal adorned with morning dew, fresh and graceful, with an indescribable liveliness.

The editing, special effects, and background music enhanced the overall quality.

Xiao Tao felt that the Chen Lianlian on screen was even more beautiful than when she first became the pavilion’s star during last year’s Mid-Autumn Festival.

Beside her, the attendant was also captivated; Xuan Li and Wang Sheng’s performances were equally mesmerizing.

Their bearing and demeanor were like true refined gentlemen, and the post-production editing had enhanced that ethereal elegance, making it even more intense than during filming.

“The qin master’s playing is superb, and he’s so good-looking—truly talented and handsome!”

“I think the young gentleman from Jiangnan isn’t lacking either. When he’s playing chess with that girl, he’s both imposing and warm!”

“If you ask me, Chen Lianlian’s understated beauty is simply unparalleled!”

“Is she even wearing makeup? She’s dressed so plainly—how could her complexion look so clear and dewy if she were?”

“Look at her slightly flushed cheeks and glossy lips—there must be some makeup. It’s probably just very light, and maybe the hairdresser has excellent skills to achieve such a look.”

“Who could this skilled hairdresser be?”

In the crowd, a woman in a dark red dress stared at the screen, her gaze fixed on Chen Lianlian, studying her from head to toe with a gleam in her eyes.

The makeup was indeed well done—natural and translucent.

“This scenery, this person, it’s all so well done. I suddenly feel like visiting Chunxi Lou. Even if I don’t find a kindred spirit or beauty, a pot of tea upstairs would be enough to lift my spirits.”

“Hold up, brother, I also plan to visit Chunxi Lou! Let’s go together!”

“I’ve been getting tea and listening to stories at Six Joy House lately. Today, I’ll switch things up and visit Chunxi Lou!”

…

Several people who had watched the ad called out to each other as they headed to Chunxi Lou, still chatting about the ad as they walked.

Lu Yao came out from the lounge and noticed the carriages parked at the corner of the street, guessing it was Chen Lianlian and the people from Baixiang Pavilion, held back by the large crowd at the entrance.

She returned to the lounge to grab her tablet, squeezed through the crowd at the door, and ran into Xiao Tao and the attendant just as they finished listening to the audience’s comments and were ready to report back. Together, they headed toward the carriages.

Seeing Lu Yao again, Xiao Tao and the attendant looked even more thrilled than they had during the two days of filming.

The experience on set had already been novel enough, and seeing the final cut now, they felt a newfound respect and admiration for the cinema and its owner.

Xiao Tao couldn’t help but exclaim, “Young boss, that ad was amazing!”

The attendant beside her nodded repeatedly.

Chen Lianlian, hearing Xiao Tao’s voice, lifted the carriage curtain.

Lu Yao waved at her, lifting the tablet in her hand. “I realized I haven’t shown you all the final cut of the ad. Can you step out for a moment?”

Xuan Li and Wang Sheng in Baixiang Pavilion’s carriage also heard Lu Yao’s voice.

Moments later, the three of them stepped down, greeted Lu Yao, and then gathered around her.

Lu Yao tapped on the tablet, finding the saved sample video, and pressed play.

To Chen Lianlian and the others, seeing the young boss tap lightly on a book-like device and make the images start moving was like witnessing magic—something entirely beyond their comprehension.

However, having been involved in the ad shoot, they managed to keep their reactions in check, though they couldn’t hide their curiosity about the intriguing new device in Lu Yao’s hands.

Then, they watched the completed ad for Chunxi House on the small screen.

As cast members, they viewed the ad differently from ordinary onlookers.

Seeing their own images on the screen filled them with excitement, and they quickly realized that the edited visuals, content, and soundtrack far exceeded their expectations.

The segment they had worried about most was handled subtly, using metaphors that were both restrained and moving.

Chen Lianlian and Wang Sheng finally felt their nerves ease.

Xuan Li looked distantly toward the cinema, where the crowd at the entrance had yet to disperse.

He and Wang Sheng were on the large screen there, just as they had appeared on the small screen they’d watched, yet it was entirely different from their usual stage performances.

Initially, they hadn’t been too keen on collaborating with the cinema and even held some resistance. Shortly after the cinema’s opening, Baixiang Pavilion’s business had started to wane.

Lu Yao had approached them directly, and the pavilion master had instructed him to follow her request. Combined with a favorable payment offer—nearly three times what they typically earned on stage—he’d accepted the job somewhat reluctantly.

Now, looking back, he felt a mix of embarrassment and relief.

Filming an ad had indeed been an interesting experience.

Chen Lianlian’s story was different. When Lu Yao visited Jinghong Pavilion, she immediately chose Chen Lianlian. Though the madam hadn’t wanted Chen Lianlian to take on the project, Chen Lianlian had agreed after hearing Lu Yao’s explanation.

After watching the ad once, she couldn’t help but ask Lu Yao to replay it. Her cheeks turned slightly pink, her eyes glimmering as she murmured, “I love filming ads.”

Lu Yao glanced at her, then looked at Xuan Li and Wang Sheng. “This collaboration turned out very well, so be prepared.”

The three of them looked puzzled, but Lu Yao offered no further explanation, putting away the tablet and turning to leave. “The shop is opening soon.”

After taking a few steps, she looked back, “It seems you haven’t watched a movie yet? You should come by sometime—it’ll be useful as a reference for future work.”

A reference for what?

A day or two later, they began to understand what Lu Yao had meant.

The cinema’s ad for Chunxi Lou became a sensation, not only bringing crowds to Chunxi Lou but also drawing unusual attention to the three actors.

Le Han had been so excited the previous night that he only fell into a light sleep by dawn.

When he woke up, both levels of the teahouse were packed, with a line of people waiting outside. Business was booming.

Many customers specifically requested the private rooms used in the ad. The people of Great Wu didn’t yet know the term “pilgrimage site,” but they instinctively wanted to experience the atmosphere from the ad.

On the day the ad finished filming, Le Han had considered returning the decor to its original state, but Lu Yao had advised him to keep the setup and furnishings in the ad’s style.

At the time, he hadn’t understood, but now he realized that the young boss had foreseen this situation.

Le Han spent the entire morning managing the teahouse, overwhelmed by the rush of business.

Around noon, he leisurely strolled to the neighboring cinema and stood before the large screen, watching the ad’s full run for the first time.

The large screen created an impact different from the small screen in the cinema’s lounge, with every detail more vivid and striking.

After standing at the entrance for a while, Le Han finally stepped inside and noticed several familiar faces in the lounge—Manager Yang from Six Joy House, Manager Chen from Chestnut Fragrance Pavilion, and Manager Qian from Golden Abundance House…

Just then, the door to the lounge opened from the inside, and Rong Shenghua walked out with a beaming smile.

Le Han approached and greeted him, “Manager Rong, looks like there’s something to celebrate!”

Rong Shenghua laughed heartily, “I can’t compare to you, Boss Yue. Today, it seems like all the guests in Liangjing are flocking to Chunxi Lou. The excitement makes me envious!”

Le Han’s smile grew even broader, “Oh, not at all.”

Hongyu came out to relay a message, and Le Han called to her, “I have something to discuss with Boss Lu.”

Lu Yao invited the other waiting shopkeepers, along Le Yue Han, inside.

The other shopkeepers felt a bit disgruntled but had no choice.

With Chunxi Lou already collaborating with the cinema, they naturally had an advantage.

These shopkeepers had been envious of Yuguizhai’s collaboration with the cinema since Mid-Autumn Festival. Now, after seeing the Chunxi Lou ad, any doubts they had were dispelled, and they were eager to have the cinema produce ads for their shops.

However, given the lengthy production and placement cycle for ads and the limited display areas, Lu Yao wasn’t planning to take on all these projects.

Each ad would require at least a two-week interval between production and airing, and for shops unfamiliar to the cinema, a background check would be done before accepting the project.

Only shopkeepers who agreed to this schedule and collaboration method would get a chance to discuss the details with Lu Yao.

After hearing this, the shopkeepers were still eager to collaborate with the cinema, showing even more urgency.

Lu Yao had no choice but to accept their business cards, arranging a queue and schedule for further discussions.

Once the other shopkeepers had left, it was finally Le Han’s turn.

Seeing the line of shopkeepers who wanted to collaborate but had to wait their turn, Le Han felt the urgency himself and immediately extended his planned three-month ad run to six months.

Lu Yao tapped her notebook with her pen and advised, “Currently, the ad placements are only on the large screen outside the cinema and in the screening room. With time, the promotional impact will decrease, and six months might be too long. I think three months is just right. If you still want to collaborate after that, it might be better to prepare a new ad.”

After taking a moment to process Lu Yao’s reasoning, Le Han agreed that this plan made more sense.

In three months, it would be nearly New Year’s, an ideal time for a new ad to celebrate the fresh start of the year.

“Boss Lu’s suggestion is more fitting. Let’s go with three months, and please reserve the time after that for Chunxi Lou,” Le Han agreed.

…

Two days later, at Jinghong Pavilion.

Chen Lianlian was dressing in the morning when Xiao Tao relayed that Madam Xu from Rouge Pavilion was here to see her.

Rouge Pavilion was one of the finest cosmetics shops in Liangjing City. The manager, Madam Xu, was known for her clever innovations, creating powders with fine textures, vibrant colors, and excellent application effects, making her popular among the ladies.

Chen Lianlian enjoyed buying Rouge Pavilion’s blush, lip balm, and hair pomade, and she would occasionally hire Madam Xu to help her style her hair for special events. The two were well-acquainted.

As Madam Xu entered, she observed Chen Lianlian carefully.

Chen Lianlian was halfway through her makeup routine, applying blush, and their eyes met in the copper mirror. She asked, “What brings you here today, Madam Xu?”

Madam Xu got straight to the point, “Since the cinema’s ad came out, the courtesan has truly been the talk of the town, especially with that ‘Dawn Makeup.’ Many young ladies have asked me to style them and specifically requested the Dawn Makeup look. But the makeup, which seems so fresh and delicate, has proven elusive—I’ve tried many times at home but can’t achieve the same clear and dewy color. I came to ask the courtesan for guidance.”

Chen Lianlian’s attire and makeup in the ad quickly became a craze in Liangjing. Recently, many young girls dressed in white and pink skirts could be seen on the streets, and her makeup from that day was dubbed “Dawn Makeup,” with women quietly trying to replicate it.

As Madam Xu noted, many had attempted to recreate the Dawn Makeup, but none had achieved the same natural and radiant look that Chen Lianlian displayed in the ad.

Madam Xu considered that most people didn’t have Chen Lianlian’s natural beauty, which might lead to differences in the makeup’s effect, but the contrast was surprisingly pronounced.

After multiple attempts, Madam Xu could only conclude that it was a matter of skill difference between makeup artists, or perhaps the cosmetics used were unique.

Whatever the reason, she could only turn to Chen Lianlian for guidance.

Chen Lianlian paused, a hint of frustration in her expression, “The outfit and makeup that day were done by Boss Lu from the cinema, and the cosmetics she used were unlike any I’ve seen before. I’m sorry, Madam Xu, but I can’t help with this.”

These past few days, even within Jinghong Pavilion, the girls had asked her countless times about the Dawn Makeup, and even some patrons were curious.

The day she returned to Jinghong Pavilion after the shoot, Chen Lianlian had tried replicating the look herself but couldn’t achieve the same effect with her usual cosmetics.

Madam Xu was surprised to learn it was Lu Yao’s doing and asked, “Could you describe the cosmetics Boss Lu used?”

Chen Lianlian shook her head, “It’s hard to describe. They’re entirely different from any makeup products in Liangjing. They feel light and comfortable on the skin, with a pleasant scent that’s not overpowering—I really liked it. If a cosmetics shop in Liangjing could make products like that, it would be wonderful.”

Madam Xu thought she might need to inquire directly at the cinema, but she wondered if Boss Lu would reveal such information so easily.

Seeing Madam Xu’s hesitation, Chen Lianlian, who was also curious about the secret to the Dawn Makeup, mentioned she was planning to visit the cinema in a few days to watch a film, hoping she might find an opportunity to ask Lu Yao about it. She suggested Madam Xu accompany her.

Madam Xu’s eyes lit up—this would be a perfect introduction and much better than showing up unannounced, so she readily agreed.

Since it was inconvenient for someone like Chen Lianlian to go out in public, she decided to have Xiao Tao book a private room in advance.

Hearing about this, the other girls in Jinghong Pavilion wanted to go as well, and for once, the madam didn’t object.

The outing was scheduled for two days later, with Chen Lianlian, Madam Xu, and the Jinghong Pavilion girls planning to visit the cinema together.

Along with the Dawn Makeup, the outfits worn by Xuan Li and Wang Sheng in the ad had also become popular. Recently, many tailor shops had started making loose-sleeved robes, and more men in blue and white robes could be seen on the streets.

At Baixiang Pavilion, customers increasingly requested Xuan Li and Wang Sheng’s performances, and business gradually recovered.

As the ad’s popularity lingered, the youth film Lu Yao had agreed on with Chen Yutong was also set to premiere.

The original post-production team that Ji Zhixin had arranged couldn’t take on private work anymore, so Chen Yutong introduced another team, a small private team with just four members.

Once the contract was finalized, Lu Yao contacted them.

After the first collaboration, she received the trailer and was pleased with their quality and efficiency, which matched the previous team’s standards.

Once the full editing of the film was completed, Lu Yao released the trailer in the cinema.

It was a modern youth film set around the time Lu Yao herself was in high school, with a runtime of two hours and thirty minutes.

The title was Someday or One Day.

🛍️🛍️🛍️🛍️🛍️