Ch 200: Guide to Running a Shop in Another World

When Lu Yao arrived at Chunxi Lou, a young attendant quickly approached with a smile. “Little Shopkeeper, let me take you upstairs.”

Lu Yao was there for tea right next door, and it was already past lunchtime, so she headed out alone in the afternoon.

Chen Lianlian and Madam Xu had reserved a private room at Chunxi Lou after arranging to meet Lu Yao, and Xiao Tao had run back to the cinema to let her know. The private room featured in the tea house’s advertisement was always in high demand, with guests lining up daily to sit there, making even the adjacent tea rooms rather bustling.

Wanting a quiet place to discuss things, Chen Lianlian and Madam Xu had reserved the tea room farthest from the “sanctuary” of the advertised room. But it was still on the upper floor with street-facing windows, giving it a view similar to that of the popular room next door.

When Lu Yao arrived, Chen Lianlian and Madam Xu were already waiting, with Xiao Tao preparing tea. Upon seeing Lu Yao, they both got up to greet her.

Lu Yao quickly walked over, setting down a case on the floor. “Sorry I’m a bit late.”

Chen Lianlian shook her head. “We know you’re busy, and you’re not late at all.”

Madam Xu chimed in playfully, “Both of us are just eager by nature and came early, craving Chunxi Lou’s new tea.”

Madam Xu, around thirty years old, wore her hair up with a red ribbon tied around it, a silver hairpin with a short pearl tassel tucked into her hair. Dressed in a light autumn-colored skirt, she was a cheerful person who spoke with a smile.

As they sipped tea and chatted, Lu Yao mentioned that she had often passed by Madam Xu’s Rouge House while wandering the streets, so she had some idea of its location. That morning, when they had arranged their meeting, Lu Yao expressed interest in seeing the products at Rouge House, so Madam Xu had brought over a few of her best-sellers.

Though she was quite curious to see what the cinema had to offer, she could tell Lu Yao was genuinely interested, so she first brought out her own products.

Madam Xu’s best-selling rouge was packed in a round-bellied white porcelain jar. Lu Yao opened it, dabbed a bit on her fingertip, and applied it to the back of her hand. The color was vibrant—a bright red. However, the texture was somewhat coarse, making it difficult to spread evenly.

Madam Xu explained that the rouge was also popular as a lip tint and was loved by many clients.

Afterward, Lu Yao sampled each item in turn, including a stone eyebrow powder, osmanthus oil for hair care, a facial powder, and scented powders. The various bottles and jars took up half the table, and Lu Yao tried them all.

Overall, she found that Great Wu Dynasty’s cosmetics were more diverse and practical than she had expected. Madam Xu mentioned that most of their products were handmade by her and her daughter. Each batch took two to three months to prepare. Certain ingredients, like peach blossoms, osmanthus, and plum blossoms, could only be harvested in specific seasons, requiring great skill and patience, and each batch was limited in quantity, often selling out quickly.

Over time, she had earned a place in the Liangjing market through her skills alone.

It was only after chatting with her that Lu Yao learned about Madam Xu’s difficult past. Her husband had passed away less than three years into their marriage due to poor health, and her in-laws had looked down on her for having a daughter, especially one with a frail constitution similar to her late husband’s, making her difficult to raise. A year after her husband’s death, her in-laws had thrown her and her daughter out of the house.

With no family left on her side, all Madam Xu had was a family recipe for making rouge that had been passed down through the women in her family. She had never revealed her talent in this area before, as she had been solely focused on taking care of her husband.

Once she was out on her own, Madam Xu used her skills to start a business, making her way from a small town to Liangjing, where she had finally found stability.

After patiently letting Lu Yao try all her products, Madam Xu noticed Lu Yao’s composed expression. Though Lu Yao had praised the products from Rouge House, her gaze held appreciation rather than amazement. Madam Xu had a feeling that she was about to witness something remarkable.

Lu Yao leaned over, picked up her makeup case from the floor, and opened the latch, revealing neatly organized bottles, jars, and brushes stacked across five layers.

Madam Xu was stunned. “All of these are for face application?”

Lu Yao nodded, then shook her head. “Most of them are, though a few are perfumes, and there are some accessories.”

Chen Lianlian hadn’t seen Lu Yao bring so much before; during her previous visit, Lu Yao had already decided on their looks and only brought the essentials. Even Xiao Tao, standing behind Chen Lianlian, stretched her neck to get a better look.

Lu Yao pushed the case toward them. “Feel free to look through it and try things out as you like; it’s no problem.”

Madam Xu picked up a six-shade eyeshadow palette, her breath growing a bit heavier as she opened it. White, ivory, brown, teal, light brown, and pale gold—there were so many colors.

She instinctively swallowed, carefully reaching out to pick up a bit of the color, and, imitating Lu Yao’s earlier motion, she swiped it across the back of her hand. The texture felt smooth and delicate beneath her fingertips, leaving a faint yet vibrant mark on her skin.

The powder was fine, the colors rich and blendable. That pale gold shade even sparkled with tiny, subtle flecks, leaving Madam Xu momentarily speechless in amazement.

This tiny palette was more impressive than everything in her Rouge House combined. Once people tried it, other cosmetics might feel inadequate. And this was only a six-shade palette—there were also ones with eighteen and even twenty-four shades.

Chen Lianlian, meanwhile, had noticed the rows of small compartments on the inside lid, each holding a little round or square tube. She remembered seeing them before. “Are all of these lip colors? How are there so many?”

Madam Xu looked over with curiosity. “Are these all lip colors?”

Lu Yao nodded and picked up one of the tubes, a matte lipstick perfect for autumn and winter. She opened the cap, twisted it up a bit, and gently swiped it across the back of Madam Xu’s hand.

Madam Xu’s eyes lit up. “What a beautiful color!”

She was equally fascinated by the clever packaging. This small tube could be twisted up when in use and tucked back down with a cap, making it portable.

Lu Yao smiled. “There are many more shades to try.”

After about fifteen minutes, Madam Xu and Chen Lianlian finally pulled themselves out of the frenzy of trying different products. There were so many intriguing items, and they had only sampled a fraction, but already both their arms were covered, and their lips had gone through several colors.

Lu Yao had brought clean lip brushes for them, along with cotton pads and makeup remover. The remover especially caught their attention, as it effortlessly lifted away the stubborn color from Rouge House’s own rouge with a single swipe. Unlike the soap they usually used, it was much more effective. Even though it looked oily, it rinsed away with plain water without leaving any greasy residue—a mystery in itself.

If they could, they would have tried every single item in the box. But, not losing sight of their main purpose, they soon composed themselves.

Madam Xu was now fully certain she wanted to collaborate with the cinema. With these marvelous cosmetics, she felt she could create any look imaginable, making her former goal of mastering the “Dawn Makeup” seem almost redundant.

Direct and practical, Madam Xu got straight to the point. She didn’t ask to purchase supplies from the cinema directly; instead, she inquired if Lu Yao could share any insights on producing makeup of similar quality, willing to pay the corresponding price for technical support.

Lu Yao couldn’t help but smile. “Madam Xu, your approach is refreshing. But to be honest, I’m not entirely sure how these items are made to be like this.”

Madam Xu looked slightly disappointed, but after taking a deep breath, she relaxed. “Even so, thank you, Shopkeeper Lu. Today, I’ve experienced things I’d never even imagined. To be frank, I used to feel quite proud of Rouge House. But now, I realize that Rouge House still has a long way to go.”

Lu Yao had anticipated this. She opened a small drawer from the side of her makeup case, pulled out a tablet, tapped on a video, and handed it over. “I don’t know the exact techniques, but here are some reference videos. Feel free to take a look.”

With the tablet propped up on the table, Madam Xu, Chen Lianlian, and Xiao Tao huddled together, eyes glued to the screen.

When Lu Yao was preparing for the last ad shoot, she gathered a few tutorial videos, including makeup tutorials, product usage guides, and some high-end beauty brand ads, which she had saved in her gallery. During their earlier conversation, she used some popularity points to have the system translate the video language for ease of understanding.

While they watched, Lu Yao began considering Madam Xu’s proposal. Partnering with Rouge House seemed promising, and she had ideas for potential collaborative products, such as launching a few co-branded items with the cinema. There was no need to aim for advanced cosmetic standards immediately—it would be unrealistic to expect rapid progress.

Instead, as long as the new products were an improvement over Great Wu dynasty’s current offerings, that would already be a significant step forward.

Lu Yao typed into the system: “If Rouge House releases products that exceed the current world’s technological standards, would that count as a measurable positive impact?”

System: “The products must be produced within Great Wu dynasty, with techniques visibly exceeding the current technological level, to qualify as a successful outcome.”

Lu Yao lowered her head to hide a hint of excitement, thinking that this offered quite a bit of room for creativity.

The video content was hard for those without prior knowledge to grasp fully, even though Lu Yao had given a preliminary explanation. Madam Xu watched intently, and though she didn’t fully understand, her desire to collaborate with the cinema grew stronger. She wanted to make products resembling those from the cinema and elevate Rouge House, ensuring a future for her daughter.

Chen Lianlian, too, was deeply affected. Having risen to the top in her profession, she understood how critical beauty was to maintaining her status. Her keen sense of aesthetics drew her to the makeup styles, color schemes, and themes showcased in the videos. How wonderful it would be if such products were readily available in Great Wu dynasty.

When the video ended, Lu Yao shared the collaboration proposal she had just drafted: the cinema would provide Rouge House with certain ingredients and technical support. They would start by co-developing a line of co-branded lip products, followed by a set of makeup tools, including a mirror and brushes. If the feedback was promising, they could discuss further steps.

Madam Xu was overjoyed, though a flicker of hesitation crossed her mind. “But Shopkeeper Lu, didn’t you just say you weren’t familiar with how to make these cosmetics?”

Lu Yao replied nonchalantly, “Then I’ll learn. I’ll look up some resources; I’m sure progress will come quickly.” She hadn’t planned to buy pre-made cosmetics wholesale—it was expensive and wouldn’t significantly advance her task.

In fact, DIY kits for making lipstick were available online. Lu Yao planned to study the basic processes and ingredients for making modern lip products and then adapt as needed. If necessary, she didn’t mind using a bit of hextech to enhance it.

Ultimately, her goal was to spend as little as possible to create high-quality products and complete the system’s mission along the way.

Hearing this, Madam Xu was astonished, feeling a sudden realization wash over her.

“Learning if you don’t know—such a simple concept.”

Her family’s secret recipe for rouge didn’t always exist as it does now. It was refined over generations through trials and improvements until it became a treasured formula. Over the years, she had grown attached to it, making products by following it precisely, forgetting to keep innovating and refining.

Thinking back on it now, she truly felt like a frog at the bottom of a well, only able to see a sliver of sky above.

Upon hearing about the collaboration plan, Chen Lianlian immediately expressed her desire to invest and even volunteered to act in the lip products and makeup brush advertisements. Lu Yao laughed at her forward thinking, saying the project had only just been established, and yet she was already considering promotional aspects.

No matter the enthusiasm, the afternoon tea session concluded on a positive note, with all three parties leaving satisfied with their plans for cooperation.

Following that, Chen Lianlian and Madam Xu accompanied Lu Yao back to the cinema to sign a three-party cooperation contract, including confidentiality clauses, thus formally initiating the partnership between the cinema and Rouge House.

…

Jiang Residence, North District

After returning from the cinema at noon, Jiang Yudie and Jiang Cheng retired to their respective quarters, each looking dispirited. Meanwhile, the head steward sat under a yellow fruit tree in a secluded courtyard, contemplating how best to report back to Jiangnan.

The Elder had entrusted this mission in Liangjing to him, resolved to see it through. Given that the current family head remained in Jiangnan, the Elder’s most capable steward was responsible for handling the matter efficiently. But events had gone beyond anyone’s predictions, due in part to the steward’s oversight in failing to research the cinema owner’s personality beforehand, which led to major missteps on this trip.

Unsure whether to withdraw entirely or send an intelligence report back to Jiangnan and request further instructions, he mulled over the impressive yet inexplicable experience of watching the film at the cinema earlier. In contrast, the production of hygiene paper seemed somewhat comprehensible, given he recognized familiar steps like pulp processing and sheet pressing. But the mechanized precision and speed of the paper-making tools disturbed him, as he couldn’t grasp how they operated.

Having decided, the head steward went inside to quickly write a letter and ordered it to be sent back to Jiangnan by express courier. With the letter dispatched, he felt a wave of relief. For now, he would leave the matter to the Elder and family head. Instead of waiting idly at the residence, which wasn’t his style, he tidied his attire, took his money pouch, and decided to explore the city.

In her own courtyard, Jiang Yudie was restless, her thoughts returning repeatedly to the cinema. After a time, she exhaled deeply and wrote two short letters, instructing her most trusted maid to deliver them. Though Jiang Yudie seldom visited Liangjing, as the daughter of Jiangnan’s wealthiest family, she was well-connected with influential socialites in the capital. Determined to quell her frustrations and await further news, she resolved not to let her journey to Liangjing end so easily.

…

Madam Xu returned to Rouge House in high spirits, holding a woven basket she’d taken out earlier. She bypassed the shopfront and took the side entrance into the backyard. The Rouge House, a residential building with an attached storefront, featured a spacious backyard with a well. After purchasing it, Madam Xu had converted the front into a cosmetics shop and used the back as both her residence and the workspace for crafting her products. To protect her secret recipes, she handled all the production herself, hiring no additional help.

As she stepped through the gate, she noticed Su Su spreading materials out in the courtyard. Hearing the creak of the wooden door, Su Su looked up, “Mother, where did you go?” Then, after a pause, she added, “Did something good happen?”

Since entering, Madam Xu had been smiling non-stop. More accurately, the smile had been plastered on her face ever since leaving the cinema.

Madam Xu eagerly walked over to Su Su, moved a nearby basket out of the way, pulled up a stool, and uncovered the soft cloth on her basket with excitement. “Su Su, I met a remarkable person today who gifted me some wonderful things. I’m sure you’ll love them.”

Upon hearing this, Su Su’s expression shifted, “Mother, did you go to see a matchmaker again?”

Su Su had been weak since childhood, often needing medicine and care. With her father passing early, she and her widowed mother lived together, though they were financially secure, her reputation had suffered. Now at seventeen, she still hadn’t found a suitable match.

For the past two years, Madam Xu had been deeply troubled by this, often crying in secret late at night and spending a significant amount on matchmakers to introduce potential suitors, but without success.

This matter somehow became gossip among their neighbors, turning into a bit of a joke. Su Su, disheartened, began to avoid going out and grew pessimistic about marriage.

Seeing Madam Xu so cheerful, Su Su couldn’t help feeling anxious—it reminded her of the time a year ago when a matchmaker had mentioned an interested scholar, only for it to end disappointingly. But then she reasoned that whenever Madam Xu sought a matchmaker, she would lavishly spend on gifts and perfumes but never brought back any actual treasures.

Moreover, the men these matchmakers introduced were rarely decent, or else they wouldn’t have turned into gossip fodder.

Madam Xu pulled each item from the basket like a treasure, saying, “Let’s not worry about that now; first, take a look at these beauty products. They’re even better than ours at Rouge House.”

After signing the collaboration contract, Lu Yao had gifted Madam Xu and Chen Lianlian a small set of basic makeup products, including foundation, an eyeshadow palette, blush, lipstick, brow pencil, loose powder, makeup remover, a seven-piece makeup brush set, cotton pads, and three small Q-perfumes.

Madam Xu and Chen Lianlian were overjoyed; whether they could achieve a stunning look was one thing, but just seeing these little items lifted their spirits immensely. To say it plainly, these two makeup sets were now the finest cosmetics in all of Great Wu. Not even the palace ladies likely had anything this exquisite.

Su Su glanced at the strange boxes and bottles scattered across the table, initially skeptical. But as Madam Xu began to open each one, Su Su’s expression changed. “Mother, which shop’s products are these? How could they be made so…so…”

Reaching over to take the eyeshadow palette from Madam Xu’s hands, Su Su dabbed a little powder onto her wrist to feel it—smooth, finely textured, and fragrant. It was the perfect makeup.

Madam Xu, slightly distressed, urged, “Take it easy! Once it’s gone, it’s gone. I’d be embarrassed to ask for more.”

Su Su looked up, her eyes bright and eager, “Mother, tell me, where is this shop?”

Madam Xu recounted her visit with Lu Yao, the cinema owner, that afternoon.

Su Su was stunned, “The cinema?”

Madam Xu nodded, “Yes, the same cinema that everyone’s been talking about lately. I tried to get you to come with me, but you were too stubborn. There are all sorts of wonderful things there, and the owner is a delightful person.”

Su Su fell silent, then replied, “Forget the cinema, but today you should’ve taken me with you.”

Madam Xu sighed, “If I had, you’d have sulked the entire time. Besides, the courtesan lady discreetly reminded me that Lu Yao is unique and should be approached carefully. How would I know if you’d be willing to meet her or if you’d throw a fit halfway through tea?”

Su Su pretended not to hear, focusing intently on the products in front of her.

After trying each item, she finally picked up the pale pink Q-perfume, brought it close to her nose, and murmured, “This smells amazing.”

Madam Xu held out her wrist, “Here, smell this—I sprayed some earlier, and it smells even better now.”

Su Su nodded, “It’s true. The scent has deepened.”

Madam Xu frowned thoughtfully, “According to Boss Lu, it’s something about blending with body heat; the scent becomes softer and sweeter in its later notes.”

Su Su pondered, “This fragrance is in a liquid form that doesn’t dissipate, yet is so clear—it’s truly remarkable.”

Among all the products, Su Su’s favorite was the foundation, which, when applied, felt completely different from the powders they typically used. It was lightweight and blended seamlessly with her skin. Madam Xu, however, was most impressed by the cleansing oil, which left her skin feeling soft and smooth without the redness or irritation typical after removing makeup.

Finally, Madam Xu shared the news about signing a cooperation contract with the cinema to start making lipsticks, makeup brushes, and mirrors together.

Su Su paused, surprised. “When will that happen?”

Madam Xu replied, “Boss Lu said she’d need some time to research. Once she makes progress, she’ll let me know. We agreed to prepare in advance, and she’ll likely send someone over in about a week.”

Su Su hesitated, “Mother, our family’s rouge recipe…”

With a slight, resigned smile, Madam Xu reassured her, “Don’t worry; she wouldn’t be interested.”

Su Su looked down at the products on the table and silently agreed.

…

After Madam Xu and Chen Lianlian left, Lu Yao took some time to draft a detailed preliminary plan for the beauty product line and then began researching. As she expected, making lipstick wasn’t complicated.

In a world with surplus production like hers, the challenge was creating brand reputation, but in Great Wu, it was a completely untapped market. To mass-produce lipstick in Great Wu, Lu Yao focused on hygiene equipment, with technical challenges centered on color blending and consistency.

For mirrors, Lu Yao had an idea as well. Great Wu’s people primarily used bronze mirrors, which were heavy, expensive, and didn’t reflect clear images. Simple makeup and hand mirrors could have a viable market here. Her cinema guests often lingered by the washroom mirrors to adjust their appearance, reluctant to leave.

Ordinary mirror production is straightforward: transparent glass paired with reflective material. Historically, the first mirrors were made by bonding tin foil with mercury to form an alloy that adhered tightly to glass. Today, aluminum mirrors are more common, while silver, though pricier, is also used for its reflective quality.

Since glass was not yet available in Great Wu, mirrors would be a later project, likely taking a few months. For makeup brushes, Lu Yao considered seeking out brush-makers skilled in calligraphy brush crafting; the techniques were likely similar.

Once she completed the beauty product line proposal, she shared it with Fu Chi for feedback.

Fu Chi looked over the plan, surprised, “Aren’t we a cinema?”

Lu Yao nodded, “It’s a side venture.”

After reviewing the proposal, Fu Chi seemed to understand her vision. “It seems solid to me.”

Lu Yao marked a red star on the corner of the document. “Then, it’s settled. About the two films you mentioned at noon—let me watch the trailers.”

With the beauty line plans underway, her focus shifted back to the cinema’s operations, particularly the 3D theater set to open soon. Fu Chi and Ji Zhixin had chosen two films: one was a time-travel sci-fi, while the other was an intense disaster film.

After watching the trailers and reading reviews, she could roughly guess the plotlines, both of which were films she’d personally enjoy. However, she preferred the time-travel concept over the highly intense disaster movie.

Yet both films’ advanced concepts, with deep philosophical elements, might be challenging for Great Wu’s audience to fully grasp. For the cinema’s first 3D film, Lu Yao wanted something innovative for the people of Great Wu, thought-provoking yet more accessible and rich with human connections.

“It doesn’t have to be the most polished, profound, or technically advanced work, but it should be eye-catching, fun, and full of imagination.

Of course, another big reason for not choosing these two films is the cost—they’re both new and really expensive!

Currently, if she stretched her funds to the limit, she could afford one, but then there’d be no budget left for any follow-ups.

Lu Yao set down the tablet and looked up, saying, ‘Let’s pick a film that has something to do with the moon.’

Fu Chi was taken aback. He had liked the time-travel film and assumed Lu Yao would buy it. Feeling a bit deflated, he asked, ‘Is it because we don’t have enough money?’

Lu Yao glanced away, vaguely shaking her head. ‘Not really. It just feels… too ahead of its time.’

Fu Chi looked at her silently, his expression as if to say, ‘If anyone here is ahead of their time, it’s you! Admit it, it’s the budget—you know I can help with that.’

Lu Yao stood up. ‘You and Zhixin keep working on this. I just remembered I need to ask Jiu Hua something next door.’

And with that, the owner made her escape, leaving Fu Chi feeling annoyed.

Not long after Lu Yao left, Wan Baozhu came looking for her at the cinema. Hearing she was out, she waited in the lounge for about half an hour before leaving disappointed.

Standing near the entrance to the screening room, Hong Yu hesitated to approach but kept an eye on the princess, a bit concerned. The princess seemed to have some urgent matter to discuss with the owner, and Hong Yu, now able to see her expressions from afar thanks to her new glasses, sensed Baozhu’s restlessness.

The longer she stayed at the cinema, the more uneasy Hong Yu felt. As the princess’s guard, she shouldn’t be having these thoughts, but after spending so much time with Lu Yao, she couldn’t help but hope that if nothing suspicious was discovered, the princess wouldn’t make things difficult for her.

…

Lu Yao’s reason for seeking out Jiu Hua wasn’t just an excuse. When she left the cinema, it was still morning at the pet cafe.

As she walked in, she noticed some familiar faces—Bai Jing’s cousins, Bai Zhen and Bai Jin, along with the young actor Luo Huan, were seated together in the dining area.

Bai Jin spotted her first and waved enthusiastically. “Lu Yao! Long time no see!”

Lu Yao walked over, and even before she could sit, a seal brought over a drink and a platter of sashimi. Since the system upgrade, Lu Yao had gotten used to monitoring her stores via the map’s live-feed function, so she rarely visited each shop herself.

It seemed the little seals missed seeing the owner and was particularly affectionate, gazing up at her with its dark, grape-like eyes. Unable to say no, she petted its head and sat down, chatting with the three as she ate. “How’d you all end up together?”

Bai Jin shrugged. “We came in through the same door and kept running into each other, so we got acquainted. By the way, Lu Yao, I heard that Young Master Ji’s leg has healed. How did that happen?”

Lu Yao replied nonchalantly, “It just… healed.”

Bai Jin looked wounded, giving her a look as if to say, ‘I thought we were friends, but you’re brushing me off?’

Lu Yao sighed internally. “…”

Bai Zhen laughed, pulling Bai Jin back, and explained to Lu Yao, “She’s just curious. Some of our elders diagnosed Young Master Ji’s leg condition years ago and determined it couldn’t heal. Now, years later, it’s suddenly fine without any aftereffects. We’re all quite surprised.”

Lu Yao nodded, showing she understood. “I’ve heard the same. As for Zhixin’s leg, I’m honestly not all that informed. The important thing is that he’s well now, so why dwell on it?”

Bai Jin wasn’t actually clueless. When she realized her playful persistence wouldn’t get Lu Yao to spill any secrets, she let it go and changed the topic. “Boss, when can we visit the cinema?”

Luo Huan’s interest was piqued, too. “What’s it like? Can we visit?”

Bai Jin, with a smug look of someone who’s been there, replied, “Zhen-ge and I were lucky enough to go once. It’s nothing like this place—totally unique and super fun.”

Luo Huan turned to Lu Yao. “What kinds of movies do they show? Can we watch too?”

Almost forgetting her purpose, Lu Yao waved for the little seal to call Jiu Hua while she replied absent-mindedly, “Mostly old movies. I doubt you’d be interested.”

Bai Zhen, looking serious, said, “Honestly, just sitting with the patrons there is exciting. The movies themselves don’t even matter.”

Seemingly willing to set aside his pride for the chance to visit, Bai Zhen’s eagerness made Luo Huan subtly scoot away, patting his arm as he did so.

Bai Zhen, noticing, looked bewildered. “Hey, why are you scooting away?”

Luo Huan shook his head calmly. “No reason, no reason. Carry on.”

At that moment, Jiu Hua arrived.

“Boss, you called?” Her hair had grown a bit longer, tied back in a high ponytail, giving her a spirited, confident air.

Lu Yao motioned to the seat beside her, patting it. “Come, have a seat.”

Jiu Hua sat down, picking up the little Seal that had come with her, resting her chin on its head. “What’s up?”

Lu Yao asked Jiu Hua how much it would cost to create a high-tech, futuristic ad screen like the ones in Night Light City and if it was possible to install it semi-automatically.

Understanding that Lu Yao wanted an ad screen custom-made for the cinema, Jiu Hua explained, “I’m not sure about the exact cost, but I’m sure you can afford it. The little seals have saved up enough pearls to fill several sea trenches—they patrol daily and won’t allow a single pearl to go missing.”

Lu Yao chuckled, looking at the little Seal in Jiu Hua’s arms. “Next time I come by, I’ll bring you some goodies.”

The little one let out a happy “woop woop,” clearly committing the promise to memory.

Behind them, Bai Jin nudged Bai Zhen, mouthing, “What are they talking about? I don’t get it.”

Bai Zhen shook his head, equally clueless.

Jiu Hua continued, “As for semi-automated installation, doing it all on your own might be technically tricky. I’d suggest using magic.”

Behind them, Bai Jin blinked rapidly, mouthing, “Magic? What’s that?”

Bai Zhen shrugged, whispering, “No… idea…”

Luo Huan just kept eating, seemingly unfazed.

Lu Yao had initially considered this idea herself. She didn’t want to spend a million popularity points on custom screens when they’d be difficult to install in this world. In terms of both functionality and affordability, buying screens from Night Light City and inscribing a magic array to power them with energy crystals seemed best. That would certainly last until the mission was completed.

“All right, I’ll leave it to you, then.”

She handed over the detailed blueprints she’d prepared. Jiu Hua took a quick look and seemed to understand right away.

They chatted a bit more about the cinema, and Lu Yao shared some recent feedback on The Sea Train and the patrons’ first reactions to the claw machines, mentioning that a new 3D cinema had opened and she was still hunting for the right film.

Jiu Hua was surprised. “3D? Isn’t that tech from like thirty years ago? Haven’t you upgraded to Z-series theaters yet?”

Z-series theaters?

Lu Yao kept her face neutral as she secretly typed into the system, What’s that?

System: It’s essentially a holographic cinema.

Lu Yao was taken aback. “Holographic cinema?” she asked, glancing at Jiu Hua. “Never heard of it. What’s it like?”

Jiu Hua proceeded to explain in detail. Their culture had origins in the technology of the Deep Sea Goddess’s home planet, Cuihuang, where magic and technology intertwined, creating what could be described as a real-life manifestation of Hextech.

As time passed, the number of people able to use magic dwindled, and magic gradually faded from human history. However, one of the remnants of that magical era, the “Z-series technology,” remained preserved. One application of this technology is in “Z-series cinemas.”

The experience of watching a movie in a “Z-series cinema” is fascinating. It feels as if the audience is standing right in the middle of the story’s world, with all the surrounding visuals seeming as real as reality itself.

Lu Yao wanted to shout, “Wait, isn’t this just like a holographic cinema?”

Meanwhile, at the other table, Bai Jin and the others began to lose their composure. Was this really a conversation they were meant to overhear? What could they do?

Listening to a conversation that sounded like an exchange between two overzealous fantasy enthusiasts, they cringed at the absurdity, but found themselves weirdly addicted.

The system sensed Lu Yao’s excitement and couldn’t help but ask, “What’s up with you?”

Lu Yao replied, “Do you think our cinema could adopt ‘Z-series technology’?”

The system sighed, knowing that once she asked something like this, it meant she was going to try it regardless of its answer.

“…It’s very expensive,” it replied in a last-ditch effort.

Lu Yao retorted, “I heard I have deep-sea pearls filling a few ocean trenches.”

The system grumbled irritably, “Then why are you asking me!!!”

If she managed to get her hands on holographic technology, her mission back in the Great Wu Dynasty would likely be smooth sailing.

With a sudden decision to check out the “Z-series cinema” in Night Light City, Lu Yao informed Fu Chi to close the shop at the usual time, then headed out with Harold and the leader of the Seal Guards, Lei Lei.

Bai Jin and the others watched as the boss, the ponytailed youth, and the plump little seal passed effortlessly through the transparent barrier that they couldn’t breach, heading off into the deep sea. They all wore different expressions.

After a silent pause, Bai Zhen couldn’t hold back any longer and asked sheepishly, “Did they really just go watch a movie? A holographic one?”

Bai Jin rolled her eyes. “You’re asking me? How would I know?”

But they couldn’t deny their curiosity. If Lu Yao really managed to bring holographic tech back, they’d be first in line at the cinema.

Luo Huan, a bit more composed than the other two, remarked, “We’ll find out once she returns.”

Bai Jin & Bai Zheng

: “Why are you so calm?”

Luo Huan replied, “I’m used to it.”

After a pause, he leaned in and whispered, “In fact, I’d say you two are the odd ones here. Given everything we’ve seen, isn’t it perfectly reasonable to assume she might know magic, have superpowers, or even be able to pilot a mecha?”

After all, to her, time travel practically seemed like a passive skill by now.

Bai Jin and Bai Zhen froze. He had a point.

Their experiences in the little pet cafe weren’t something they could talk about outside. And with everyone there acting as if the shop’s existence was completely ordinary, it was easy to forget just how extraordinary it really was to even be able to visit it.

…

Lu Yao, her small black dragon, and lei lei swam to the coastline, where Lei Lei transformed into a humanoid form—a chubby little boy with a cheerful face.

Harold, who rarely got to go out with Lu Yao, was thrilled but felt slightly annoyed by the extra “third wheel.” However, Lu Yao adored Lei Lei, who was even better at being cute than Mu Mu.

To be precise, Lei Lei didn’t even need to act cute to be naturally lovable.

Harold found him insufferable, casting a critical look over him and sneering, “Did you get even fatter?”

When Lei Lei was in his seal form, it was hard to tell if he had put on weight; he was just a chubby ball. But in human form, it was quite obvious. His face and belly had both rounded out a bit, making him look even softer.

Thinking Harold was complimenting him, Lei Lei happily flexed his arms and tried to lower his voice. “That’s right, I’ve gotten stronger!”

The waterdrop seals valued fullness as a sign of strength, and Lei Lei was very pleased with his current shape.

Harold snapped irritably, “I wasn’t complimenting you!”

Lu Yao circled around Lei Lei, giving his squishy belly a squeeze, looking a bit worried. “He really has put on weight. I wonder if it’s healthy. Being chubby is cute, but too much isn’t good. I’ll tell Susu to start reducing your meals a bit.”

Lei Lei’s world nearly crumbled at the thought of reduced meals, and he wailed, “No, Lu Yao, please don’t! For us seals, I’m just right like this!”

Lu Yao shook her head, unusually firm. “Nope, can’t have that.”

Lei Lei’s face fell in pure distress.

Meanwhile, Harold secretly reveled in his misfortune.

The trio entered Night Light City, and after asking around, they soon found a “Z-series cinema.” Contrary to Lu Yao’s expectations, the theater was nearly empty, and even the ticket seller looked half-asleep.

Lu Yao wondered if they’d found the wrong place, but a quick confirmation proved they hadn’t. It was indeed a Z-series cinema, though currently only showing three films.

One was a disaster survival film, the second a horror mystery, and the last a romantic love story.

She glanced between the dragon and the seal for their preference. Lei Lei’s shiny black eyes were fixed on the romance movie poster, while Harold raised his chin, pointing at the horror mystery.

Lu Yao nodded, indicating she understood, and turned to the staff member. “Three tickets for ‘End of the World Escape,’ please.”

Harold & Lei Lei: “…”

🛍️🛍️🛍️🛍️🛍️