Ch 219: Guide to Running a Shop in Another World

Lu Yao paused, then quickly stepped aside, offering a seat. “Mr. Xiao, why don’t you come in for a bit?”

The system couldn’t hold back: [Did you crash? You haven’t even awakened an ability yet, so what are you going to show him?]

Lu Yao replied calmly, “This isn’t a crash.”

[?]

“This is a customer actively seeking help.”

The system didn’t understand.

Lu Yao led Xiao Ze to the glass tea room, prepared some tea, and added new snacks to the tray. Erxin circled around her, meowing persistently for treats.

The plump cat was sly; it knew the shopkeeper was busy and seized the opportunity to beg.

Lu Yao handed a small fish treat to Erxin before turning to Xiao Ze. “You seem uneasy.”

Since entering, Xiao Ze had been observing the shopkeeper. She was calm, unfazed by his request, yet didn’t immediately respond either. This ease threw him off and intensified his suspicion.

Xiao Ze lowered his gaze to the teacup, the soothing aroma calming his nerves a bit. “Your ability is unique—definitely different from my own ability, which only lets my fingers glow faintly. I was just curious.”

Lu Yao shook her head. “Your expression tells me it’s more than that. After using the bubble solution, you felt its effects but doubted its ease. Then you began suspecting I had ulterior motives for stopping you that night.”

Under the table, Xiao Ze’s hands clenched in surprise, his brow furrowed.

Lu Yao continued, “No need to be so startled; this isn’t an ability. It’s simply an observation of your state.”

A person who once considered ending their life may appear normal, but there are often signs of inner unrest.

Psychological states can manifest outwardly in subtle ways, some noticeable, others not. Xiao Ze’s signs were skepticism and an overly cautious demeanor.

Lu Yao pointed to a piece of cake in the center of the snack tray. “I made this today; try it and see if you feel anything different.”

Recently, Lu Yao had been practicing high-level illusions. To hone this skill, she sometimes helped the staff at the snack shop shape desserts with certain sentiments. She had made extra today and sent some to both the pet cafe and the cinema, and kept a few at the tutoring center.

Xiao Ze picked up the soft, white pastry, covered in what looked like shredded coconut. It had a faint aroma of coconut milk and tasted like a pleasant dessert. But after a moment, his eyes widened as he looked at her.

“What did you see?” Lu Yao asked.

Xiao Ze replied, “Sunshine, the beach, a swim ring, iced watermelon juice—having fun with friends.”

Lu Yao nodded with satisfaction. “That’s another application of my ability.”

Xiao Ze lowered his gaze. “I’m sorry.”

So it was true—she was a unique type.

Lu Yao shook her head with a smile. “Mr. Xiao, did you see a doctor after that day?”

It took him a moment to catch her meaning, and he shook his head. “It’s not really an illness.”

Lu Yao hesitated briefly before speaking. “You may laugh, but the original purpose of this shop wasn’t just to sell bubble solutions and candy. The Childhood Tutoring Center aims to help customers burdened by childhood regrets find peace. Would you like to try a simple childhood test?”

Though Xiao Ze felt reluctant, he couldn’t deny the slight guilt from probing the shopkeeper earlier. Reluctantly, he nodded.

Lu Yao took out a prepared notebook and pen from beneath the table, sliding them over. “Just fill out this form.”

The test was simple, asking only for a name, contact information, and one of the earliest memories of childhood.

Xiao Ze found himself a bit annoyed at first, but upon seeing the simplicity, he held back his complaints. About twenty minutes later, he handed the test back, stood, and left quickly, muttering, “It’s getting late; I should be going.”

He wasn’t really curious about the test results.

To him, childhood felt distant and untouchable.

Some regrets, once the moment has passed, can never be mended.

Or rather, perhaps all regrets are like this.

Until now, he hadn’t fully understood the true intent behind the “Childhood Tutoring Center.”

In a way, a shop focused on restoring lost childhood memories, set up in a so-called death zone, felt like some hellish joke.

The so-called “tutoring childhood” that the shopkeeper mentioned was probably just a form of therapy.

Typically, it involves listening, followed by encouraging the person to let go of their obsessions.

He’d heard his fill of empty words.

Whatever the shopkeeper was planning, it was simply a method of coaxing their hearts with words.

Lu Yao watched Xiao Ze leave, then lowered her gaze to the test sheet.

Though he had reluctantly agreed to the test, he’d filled out each field thoroughly, with a description of his earliest childhood memory that was both clear and meticulous—showing that he remembered it well.

From his handwriting and the details, Lu Yao could see that, at heart, Xiao Ze was someone very conscientious.

After she’d read it over, Lu Yao filed the sheet away, hung the “Closed” sign on the shop’s door, and made her way over to the snack shop on the street.

The system was confused. [Why did you close the shop?]

Lu Yao replied, “There’s something I need to ask the Demon God.”

She put on her illusion ring and entered the park.

Two hours later, she emerged and headed to the pet cafe, where she requested that Lei Lei take her to the goddess slumbering in the deep-sea palace.

Later that evening, Lu Yao returned to the nail salon and sought out Harold. “Hey, little black dragon, come here.”

Harold was reading the latest manga with Si Jin, but reluctantly got up, his eyes and thoughts still lingering on the page. “What is it?”

Lu Yao reached into her pocket, pulling out a few of his scales. “I’d like to use your scales to make a tool. Would that be okay?”

Harold blinked in surprise before snapping to attention. “If you’re using them, go right ahead. I already gave them to you.”

Dragons shed their old scales over time to grow new, stronger ones.

Harold had already gifted Lu Yao his hardest scale as a hair clip, while the rest were less durable and used as basic materials, which he didn’t mind.

Lu Yao blinked at him, staying silent.

Harold’s expression soured. “Are you making something for someone else with my scales?”

His tone was already rising, sounding both annoyed and a little hurt.

Curious glances turned their way as the twins hovered, eager for any drama involving the “bully” black dragon.

Lu Yao glanced around at the curious eyes, then pulled Harold aside and whispered, “I’m making a—”

Harold’s eyes widened. “Can you actually make it?”

Lu Yao nodded. “I’ve done the research, and theoretically, it’s possible. But to make this tool, I need very rare materials. Out of everyone I know—human or otherwise—your scales are likely the only ones that will work.”

Harold straightened up, resisting the urge to wag his tail. Noticing everyone watching, he sighed dramatically. “Fine, you can use them.”

Lu Yao pulled out a handful of sweets from her pouch, slipped them into Harold’s hands, and returned to the research lab.

Si Jin asked, “What does she need your scales for?”

The twins darted over, eyes coveting Harold’s candy.

Harold quickly hid the candy in his shirt pocket, looking proud. “Lu Yao said she’s making a time machine. You know, like that one the blue guy has in the manga.”

Everyone in the nail salon was a manga fan, so they understood right away.

Seeing Harold preen, Si Jin couldn’t resist remarking, “Well, if the boss gets her time machine, then she won’t need you jumping across dimensions for protection anymore, right?”

Harold: “!!”

Merulu added fuel to the fire: “Once she finishes making it, Puxiu and I can take the machine to find her. We can protect her too.”

Harold: “…”

…

Lu Yao had received some useful pointers from the Demon god and the Deep Sea Goddess. She’d also paid special attention to the structure of the Time and Space Key the last time she used it, finding it particularly intriguing.

Though she hadn’t initially planned to make a time machine, the unique construct of the Time and Space Key sparked her curiosity.

After a week of countless experiments, she finally managed to create a prototype. Another week was spent on trials, adjustments, and refinements, ensuring it was fully operational.

During the testing phase, Lu Yao attempted to go back into her own past. However, due to the limitations imposed by the Stargate, she found she couldn’t return to her personal past.

Similarly, the shop staff and the animals on the shopping street couldn’t use the machine either.

Once she’d successfully tested it with a few stray cats around Sanhua City, confirming it worked as intended, Lu Yao contacted Xiao Ze.

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