Ch 196: Guide to Running a Shop in Another World

Yan Jianing wore oversized black-framed glasses, her short hair reaching just below her ears. She was a quiet, reserved girl—not the prettiest, but certainly not unattractive.

Her appearance was gentle and well-behaved, with a gaze that was always calm and steady.

She rarely spoke, her academic performance was above average, and she had two friends with whom she chatted, ate lunch, and went to the restroom together.

After two months, Yan Jianing’s high school life could be described as uneventful.

She occasionally listened to her friends’ gossip about school, but she rarely offered her own opinions.

The turning point came on a Friday. Yan Jianing, as the English class representative, had taken some extra time to collect assignments, and by the time she left the office, the bell for the next class had already rung.

The following period was a multimedia class, which required switching classrooms.

Yan Jianing hurriedly gathered her books and stationery, hurrying down the corridor toward the multimedia room on the fifth floor of the experimental building. But at the corner of the stairs, she ran straight into a wall of people.

She frowned slightly; the person before her reeked of cigarette smoke.

It was likely an older student sneaking a smoke break in the boys’ restroom during the interval.

Quickly lowering her head, she muttered, “Excuse me,” and prepared to leave.

The boy blocking her path was a head taller, wearing the same autumn uniform. His face was marked with acne, and he looked her up and down with a mischievous smile, “What grade are you in?”

Two other boys beside him were also laughing.

Yan Jianing attempted to bypass them, but one of them stretched out an arm to block her.

The experimental building of Fifth High School was constructed with large panes of deep green glass, making the corridor dim and the atmosphere strangely oppressive.

In the screening room, Chen Lianlian and the others frowned, worry evident in their eyes.

A girl being cornered by several boys in an empty place—it was heartbreaking and helpless to watch.

In the neighboring screening room, Xie Wan, Sun Qinghe, Chen Minlan, and the other noble ladies twisted their handkerchiefs in anxiety, all looking concerned.

How did she end up alone?

If someone saw this, it could easily lead to rumors that would ruin her reputation.

In the main theater, viewers also felt tense for Yan Jianing.

The intentions of these boys were clearly dubious. How would this delicate girl protect herself?

The first few minutes of the film had been calm, yet somehow the audience had been drawn into Yan Jianing’s world, despite the gentle pace of the narrative.

Just then, a tall, slender boy with his hands in his pockets appeared behind Yan Jianing. His gaze swept over her and the three boys opposite, his expression unchanging. He slowly walked up to Yan Jianing and tapped her on the head. “The bell rang. Why are you still standing here?”

Yan Jianing turned to look at him, a slight surprise in her expression.

The boy was tall, even a bit taller than the older boys, with his loose school uniform hanging on his frame. His black hair was neatly tucked behind his ears, and his tone had a teasing, yet inexplicably familiar edge.

Yan Jianing didn’t know the boy.

He locked eyes with the upperclassmen across from him, his dark eyes steady, causing the other boy to look away first.

Glancing back at Yan Jianing, he offered a slight smile before starting to walk ahead. “Let’s go, good student.”

Yan Jianing took a quick, silent breath and hurried to follow him.

“Thank you,” she murmured softly as they walked through the dim corridor and up the stairs.

The boy turned to look at her, smiling as he waved it off. Just then, they reached the fifth floor, and he turned right into the multimedia classroom.

Yan Jianing turned left, heading into her own classroom for fifth period.

Cui Zhu and Qing Fei, seated on either side of Wan Baozhu, breathed a sigh of relief at seeing someone help Yan Jianing out, while also growing curious about the boy’s identity.

Other guests in the theater began whispering, speculating about the boy’s identity.

Wan Baozhu watched intently, more focused than anyone else.

While others were intrigued by this new character, her attention was drawn more to the setting of the story, especially the multimedia classroom.

Those square machines looked a lot like the ones used to sell tickets at the cinema counter.

A teacher on the podium seemed to be explaining how to use them, with students following along.

Wan Baozhu wanted to see more details about these “computers,” but the scenes always flashed by too quickly.

After the multimedia class, Yan Jianing learned the boy’s name from her friends.

His name was Duan Heng, a student in Class 8.

Handsome and athletic, he was quite popular among the students and was rumored to be dating the prettiest girl in their grade.

Afterward, Yan Jianing started noticing Duan Heng more often.

Sometimes she would see him during class breaks or in the corridor on her way back from the restroom. Their classes even had gym together once a week.

Whenever they met, they would exchange a quick glance and a nod, but never any words.

Yan Jianing’s high school life remained steady and quiet, calm and measured.

The second small turning point came during the school sports day. All the students sat on the stone steps surrounding the field, where each class was competing in various events.

Class 5 had few girls, so the teacher and the class monitor encouraged everyone to participate in an event.

Yan Jianing signed up for the 800-meter race and the relay.

She wore her sports uniform, lined up among the other runners.

At the sound of the whistle, a row of girls dashed forward.

Contrary to what others expected of her slight frame, Yan Jianing was an excellent runner, steady and fast.

Duan Heng, standing in the middle of the field, squinted as he watched Yan Jianing cross the finish line, unexpectedly securing first place.

Sensing something, Yan Jianing turned and caught Duan Heng’s smiling face. She looked away, feeling self-conscious.

Xiao Tao, overcome with excitement, stomped her feet and leaned over to whisper to Chen Lianlian, “Duan Heng must really like Jianing!”

Chen Lianlian pursed her red lips without replying, feeling a bit skeptical.

No one knew better than they did about the fickle nature of love.

In the past, she might have been moved by such a boy, but now her heart was well-guarded, immune to such charms.

After the individual track events, the relay races began. Each team consisted of three boys and two girls, with the order chosen by each class.

The rules allowed mixing, but most classes organized the boys and girls to run separately.

Yan Jianing ran the fourth leg, followed by the class monitor on the fifth.

Coincidentally, Class 8’s fifth runner was Duan Heng.

Yan Jianing ran the fourth leg fastest, overtaking the lead and handing the baton to the monitor first. As she looked up, her gaze met Duan Heng’s.

With a slight, ambiguous smirk, Duan Heng accepted the baton from his teammate and sprinted forward.

Yan Jianing couldn’t shake the feeling that his look held a hint of challenge, watching as he effortlessly passed the other runners to reach the finish line first.

After the sports day, Duan Heng cornered Yan Jianing by the sinks outside the gym restroom, asking her name.

From then on, it seemed Duan Heng appeared in her life even more frequently.

Sometimes, he would stand in line behind her in the cafeteria, lightly tugging on her sleeve.

Other times, she would see him standing at the desk of the Class 8 homeroom teacher, hands behind his back with an air of defiance.

Occasionally, outside of school, Duan Heng would be bolder, stopping to greet her.

If they happened to cross paths after evening self-study, he would even walk with her for part of the way, making sure she reached a well-lit intersection.

That year, on Christmas, Duan Heng confessed his feelings to Yan Jianing.

Yan Jianing told him she needed a few days to think.

The theater audience was stunned; they had anticipated that the two would develop feelings for each other, but they hadn’t expected Duan Heng to be so direct, nor Yan Jianing to be so noncommittal.

The audience sat up straighter, realizing that the world of this film was far more radical than they had imagined.

Surely, Yan Jianing wouldn’t agree, would she?

This was the question on everyone’s minds.

As Yan Jianing took her time considering, more about their family backgrounds began to unfold.

Yan Jianing lived with her father after her mother passed away.

Since her father worked in another city for extended periods, Yan Jianing was essentially living alone.

Duan Heng’s parents were divorced, and he lived with his mother.

With his mother often busy with work, Duan Heng was also left to his own devices since starting high school.

These two lonely souls encountered each other at the most tumultuous age, like two stars in a vast sky.

Amidst the countless twinkling stars, only each other’s presence stood out to them.

Though the answer was clear, Yan Jianing still chose to decline.

In the small screening room, the women clutched the edges of their sleeves, biting their lips as they watched Duan Heng’s silent reaction. His eyes, once dark and bright like polished jade, had lost their luster, evoking a sharp pang in their hearts.

Why didn’t she accept him?

Xiao Tao twisted her handkerchief in frustration.

Chen Lianlian’s face remained calm as she let out a slow breath, relieved that Yan Jianing hadn’t let herself be swayed by emotions.

A few minutes later, Duan Heng composed himself and quietly said to Yan Jianing, “I’ll walk you home.” Chen Lianlian’s heartbeat suddenly stuttered.

What was with this boy?

Even after being rejected, he could still be so gentle?

Chen Lianlian, having never experienced such tenderness, struggled to understand.

In the second semester, the students were reassigned to new classes.

Both Yan Jianing and Duan Heng chose the science track.

It was supposedly a random selection process, but they ended up in the same class.

To Lu Yao and Fu Chi, this twist was a classic narrative device, an expected development.

But to the citizens of Great Wu, this unfolding eased their tension, letting them root for Yan Jianing and Duan Heng’s connection to have a happy outcome.

Duan Heng remained as popular as ever and quickly made new friends.

Yan Jianing was still her quiet, reserved self.

In the second week of the semester, Duan Heng received a love letter.

It was from the class beauty next door, a former classmate from Class 8 who was bold and passionate.

Their rumored romance spread throughout the school.

One afternoon, Duan Heng invited Yan Jianing to lunch.

The classroom fell silent for a few seconds, curious glances flickering between the two.

Wasn’t the class beauty his interest?

What was this? Did Duan Heng and Yan Jianing have a close relationship?

An unexpected turn indeed.

In the screening room, Xie Xu let out a long breath, blurting out, “Scared me half to death! I thought that boy might be swayed and leave her.”

Chen Yuning took a few big gulps of cola to calm his nerves. “Duan Heng has his priorities straight. But that girl—she keeps everything to herself. It’s driving me crazy!”

On the way to the cafeteria, Yan Jianing would occasionally glance at Duan Heng. He looked over, a small smile playing at his lips, trying his best to appear serious. “Is there something on my face?”

Yan Jianing shook her head, a faint glimmer in her usually calm eyes. “Why the sudden invitation to eat together?”

Duan Heng was a little frustrated but couldn’t hold it against her. “No reason. I just wanted to eat with you—is that annoying?”

Yan Jianing looked away, shaking her head ever so slightly.

Outside, Zhu Zhu was coming back from the restroom. Passing by the screening area, she caught that line and felt a thrill, her toes curling, a smile spreading across her face.

This scene was fantastic. If she weren’t on duty, she’d buy a ticket to watch it several more times.

Ever since the trailer for Someday or One Day was released, Zhu Zhu had eagerly awaited its premiere.

Yesterday, Lu Yao noticed her looking distracted and asked about it, learning that she was looking forward to the movie.

After work, Lu Yao arranged a special early screening in the mini-theater, inviting any interested staff members to watch it.

Zhu Zhu was thrilled after the screening, so much so that she was buzzing with excitement all the way home and barely slept that night.

In Zhu Zhu’s eyes, Yan Jianing and Duan Heng were around her age, making it easy for her to relate to their story.

She understood Yan Jianing’s hesitations and was deeply moved by Duan Heng’s affection.

For Zhu Zhu, Someday or One Day had surpassed When blossoms fall.

She couldn’t pinpoint why, but after watching Someday or One Day and thinking about Yan Jianing and Duan Heng’s shared moments, her heart raced.

She felt both captivated and filled with yearning.

By their second year, Duan Heng’s affection for Yan Jianing was hardly a secret.

That year, Yan Jianing’s father suddenly returned, bringing along a woman.

The woman, in her thirties, wore a loose dress, her belly visibly round with pregnancy.

She was Yan Jianing’s stepmother, and the baby she was carrying would be Yan Jianing’s sibling.

Yan’s father had brought her back to nurture her pregnancy, and if not for this, Yan Jianing might never have known her father had remarried.

While she had imagined such a possibility, the reality came too suddenly.

She had no say in her father’s choices and life.

And now, with the unborn sibling on the way, she already felt like an outsider.

With an empty ache in her heart, she thought of Duan Heng and, for the first time, messaged him.

“I want to see you.”

Duan Heng was in an internet café with friends, headphones on, unaware of the phone lying next to him.

The camera lingered, switching between Duan Heng and his phone, building tension.

Finally, Duan Heng glanced down, saw the message, pulled off his headphones immediately, and replied, “Where are you? I’ll come find you.”

This “phone” was something many of the cinema’s regular patrons had seen Lu Yao and Fu Chi use.

Others had seen Lu Yao use it to take photos at the teahouse.

But Someday or One Day showed them that this tiny handheld device wasn’t just a camera; it allowed for instant communication, sent messages over vast distances, and let people exchange letters that arrived immediately in the other person’s hands, allowing real-time conversation.

Chen Yuning marveled, “This thing called a phone is incredibly convenient. If we had it, we wouldn’t have to send letters from across the country while traveling.”

Xie Xu added, “Not just that—imagine the advantage in warfare. Intelligence could be transmitted instantly.”

Prince Jin nodded thoughtfully. “The settings and tools in this film are so extraordinary, yet I have no doubt about their existence.”

Chen Yuning and Xie Xu paused, realizing the same. Indeed, wasn’t the cinema itself, along with Lu Yao, a constant reminder of such possibilities?

Meanwhile, the ladies on the other side of the theater were abuzz with excitement as Duan Heng set out to meet Yan Jianing. What would happen between them?

Duan Heng left the internet café and hailed a cab to Yan Jianing’s apartment building.

The four-wheeled carriage, or “car,” caught the people’s attention again, though it was only a fleeting background detail—the real focus was on the main characters’ deepening relationship.

Yan Jianing hadn’t expected him to actually come, and after her initial surprise, she felt a wave of long-suppressed hurt.

She lifted a hand to rub her eyes, her voice hoarse. “Duan Heng, can I change my answer?”

Duan Heng was momentarily stunned, unsure how to respond.

Afraid of rejection, Yan Jianing quickly added, “I’ve thought it over. I like you.”

Duan Heng took a step back. “Why?”

Feeling ashamed of her fleeting moment of vulnerability, Yan Jianing raised her hand to cover her eyes. “I’m sorry. Just pretend I didn’t say that.”

Duan Heng pulled her hand away from her face, his gaze intense and bottomless with worry. “What happened? Talk to me.”

Under the midnight streetlight, with insects buzzing around, Yan Jianing’s voice was soft and weak, yet she tried her best to express herself.

She wasn’t someone who would avoid speaking her mind, but she usually kept her emotions deeply hidden.

Duan Heng was a patient listener. After a few seconds of silence, he suddenly said, “I understand.”

Yan Jianing was puzzled. “Understand what?”

Leaning back on the bench, Duan Heng looked up through the narrow view between the buildings, gazing at the starry sky. “I heard your answer. Alright, I accept.”

Yan Jianing was stunned, whispering, “I’m sorry. I acted impulsively just now. Can we pretend that didn’t happen?”

She was just too helpless, trying to grasp onto any lifeline.

But she regretted it the moment the words left her mouth; it felt like an intrusion.

Duan Heng firmly replied, “No, you only get one chance to change your answer.”

Yan Jianing was speechless. “How is that fair? You don’t mind?”

Duan Heng looked at her, tugging at the fabric over his chest, “Honestly, it feels a bit uncomfortable.”

Yan Jianing’s heart tightened.

Reaching toward the night sky, Duan Heng continued, “Greedy people have no right to complain, even if one day they drop dead on the roadside.”

His eyes shone like stars, radiating a gentle light.

Yan Jianing’s heart stirred; she dared not look at him and lowered her head. “Maybe it’s not really greed.”

Duan Heng smiled.

Being together was just the beginning of a new journey.

That year, no one knew about the time they spent supporting each other, leaning on one another.

In the screening room, the audience felt a surge of warmth, surrounded by an invisible pink glow.

Both men and women were deeply immersed in the highs and lows of the characters’ lives.

In the typical format of angsty youth romance, this would be the moment for car accidents, terminal illness, and other tear-jerking twists.

But Lu Yao was never keen on that kind of plotline, so Someday or One Day stayed within a more balanced range of drama.

The people of Great Wu who had watched the whole film felt a pang: “Do you even have a heart?”

In their third year, Duan Heng’s mother was transferred to another city for work, and he had to transfer schools.

After much thought, Duan Heng decided to break up.

Yan Jianing showed an unprecedented level of stubbornness.

She refused.

She, too, had become greedy.

Without that star, everything around her lost its color.

But Duan Heng was even more determined than she was.

And so, Duan Heng left.

In the small screening room, a collective groan of despair rose up.

Xiao Tao slumped in her seat, eyes clouded with gray.

How could this be?

Just the previous weekend, the two of them had been having the time of their lives at the amusement park, and now they were broken up?

Beside her, Chen Lianlian suddenly raised her hand, rubbing her eyes.

Xiao Tao was startled, leaning forward to see more clearly.

Tears glistened in Chen Lianlian’s eyes as she carefully sniffled, her expression deeply sorrowful.

It wasn’t just here in Jinghong Pavilion’s theater; in the neighboring screening rooms, even in the main theater, there were plenty quietly biting their sleeves, holding back tears.

Time flew, and soon it was college entrance exam season.

During this period, Yan Jianing and Duan Heng lived separate lives, as if everything had always been this way. They hadn’t contacted each other.

On the day the college entrance exams ended, Yan Jianing messaged Duan Heng: I want to see you.

The camera zooms out as Yan Jianing sends her message and walks away alone.

The screen fades to black.

The guests in the theater were stunned: Is that it? It ends here? What happened to them?

Just as the crowd was about to “revolt,” the screen lit up again.

Yan Jianing’s phone displayed a low-battery warning, the red icon flashing. She put it away in her bag.

Before the screen dimmed, a message notification popped up: “I’ll catch the 8:50 train to come find you.”

The next morning, Yan Jianing went downstairs to take out the trash and saw Duan Heng sitting on a bench.

…

With the main story concluded, the end credits continued to roll, revealing snippets of bonus scenes.

Through the chat app logs, it was clear that Duan Heng and Yan Jianing had attended universities in different cities, but both had matured and grown stronger, giving them the confidence to continue their relationship.

The contact name in the app changed over time, from “Duan Heng” to “Cute Boyfriend” to “Husband.”

In the ninth year of knowing each other, Duan Heng and Yan Jianing registered their marriage and held a wedding ceremony in a chapel.

…

Cui Zhu, eyes brimming with tears, watched the bonus scenes and pulled a handkerchief from her sleeve, dabbing at her tears as she said, “Thank goodness, they ended up together after all.”

Qing Fei, with red-rimmed eyes and a tearful tone, chimed in, “They’re married now, right? That’s so wonderful! Oh, I hope Duan Lang never changes his heart.”

The thought alone made her tear up again. “If Duan Lang were to take a concubine, imagine how heartbroken Jianing would be.”

In their world, taking concubines was entirely normal, but the idea of Duan Heng one day marrying another made them feel deeply sorry for Yan Jianing.

Wan Baozhu, observing Qing Fei getting increasingly emotional, couldn’t help but step in, “In the world of this story, it seems there is no such thing as taking concubines. Once married, they are together for life. Let’s not worry about it.”

Qing Fei paused, “Your Highness, is that really true?”

Wan Baozhu crossed her arms, “That’s how it is in the story.”

She was now almost certain that Lu Yao’s upbringing likely resembled the world in Someday or One Day.

This only deepened her curiosity about how Lu Yao came to Great Wu. And most importantly, she still couldn’t discern Lu Yao’s true intentions.

After watching Someday or One Day, Chen Lianlian cried uncontrollably, postponing her planned conversation with Lu Yao. The ladies of Jinghong Pavilion, Xie Wan, Sun Qinghe, and others, left the theater with reddened eyes, clearly having shed their own share of tears.

Madam Xu also felt deeply moved, unable to shake off the emotions stirred by Someday or One Day, and went directly back to Yanzhi House.

The premiere of Someday or One Day was unexpectedly successful, with the story’s popularity spreading faster than When blossoms fall or The Sea Train.

Though a simple story, the atmosphere and emotions captured on screen were impossible to convey fully with words.

Many who heard the plot of Someday or One Day thought it sounded ordinary but, upon being dragged to the cinema, left with tear-streaked faces.

The storytelling, though straightforward, somehow led viewers seamlessly into the characters’ lives and emotions, making them rejoice and mourn alongside them.

Lu Yao later concluded that the reason Someday or One Day resonated so widely might lie in its gentle fulfillment of a pure, idealistic fantasy buried in people’s hearts.

Humans are beings driven by emotions.

Perhaps humanity is the only species capable of achieving redemption and healing through imagination alone.

In the days that followed, the popularity of Someday or One Day eclipsed The little chef and Seeking Immortals. People flocked to the theater daily, with many returning to watch it a second, third, or even fourth time.

Some even complained there weren’t enough showings, suggesting fewer screenings of other films.

In the break room during breakfast, Zhu Zhu, Die Qi, and Ku Bu sat around the table, eyes fixed on the tablet.

Someday or One Day was playing on the small screen yet again. It was unclear how many times they’d watched it; they couldn’t seem to get enough.

Lu Yao, already finished with breakfast, sipped her soy milk and shook her head, “You all really never get tired of it, do you?”

Sensing a hint of amusement in Lu Yao’s tone, Zhu Zhu asked, “Does the boss not like boys like Duan Heng?”

Classmate, phone, bicycle, train, school… these elements from the movie had been hot topics of discussion for days.

And “classmate” was the nickname fans had affectionately given Duan Heng.

This September, Duan Heng had become the top favorite in Great Wu’s Liangjing, practically the ancient equivalent of a “September crush.”

Lu Yao thought about it for a moment, shaking her head. “It’s not that I don’t like it, just… maybe not that dramatically.”

Ku Bu, always quick to joke, chimed in, “So, what kind of classmate would completely win over the boss? Do tell!”

Suddenly, all the staff in the break room turned their heads, eagerly awaiting Lu Yao’s answer.

Lu Yao chuckled, though, as she recalled, there hadn’t really been anyone like that.

Clearly, the staff didn’t want to miss this rare chance for gossip. Zhu Zhu leaned in, encouraging, “I’m curious too, boss! Just tell us!”

Everyone’s eyes sparkled with anticipation, almost as big and innocent as a fawn’s, as they waited for Lu Yao’s response.

Lu Yao turned her head slightly, noticing Ye Xiao. He was wearing sunglasses, so his expression was unreadable.

She paused, and a few fragmented images flashed through her mind.

There was someone, though she couldn’t quite make out his face, who always walked to her left.

And… he seemed a little clumsy.

Lu Yao put down her soy milk, rubbed her temples, and murmured thoughtfully, “Actually… there might’ve been someone like that.”

Zhu Zhu leaned in, her face brimming with curiosity. “What kind of person?”

Lu Yao shook her head, “I can’t remember.”

Ku Bu looked skeptical. “How could you forget something like that? Boss, you’re holding out on us.”

Die Qi nudged Ku Bu with an elbow and gave him a look.

Lu Yao stood up and walked outside, feeling just as puzzled.

The memories she had lost seemed far more significant than she had originally thought.

It felt as if she had forgotten someone incredibly important.

Some fleeting images had appeared, but they were vague and fleeting, impossible to fully recall.

And as she tried to grasp them, they grew fainter.

Lost in thought, she was startled by the familiar chime of the system notification.

[Congratulations! You’ve successfully premiered ten new films within four weeks, covering five distinct genres and spanning three different eras. Task completed! Reward: 100,000 popularity points, +3 screening rooms!]

[Lu Yao’s Interdimensional Cinema is a hit, now upgraded to a four-star cinema! Additional rewards: 100,000 popularity points, a special 3D screening room. Keep up the good work!]

[You have a new task! Please release three more films and identify three observable positive impacts in Great Wu resulting from these films. Reward: 300,000 popularity points, +2 3D screening rooms!]

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