Ch 232: Guide to Running a Shop in Another World

Xiao Ze stood in place, hesitating to move forward.

Alfred flew up to him and gently patted him. “What’s wrong?”

Xiao Ze shook his head.

The young man on the bench, sensing something, turned around. Upon seeing Xiao Ze and Alfred, he immediately stood up and walked toward them with long strides.

The young man looked exactly like Xiao Ze, but his expression was entirely different.

His soft face bore a faint, gentle smile, and his eyes were bright with spirit. Without hesitation, he walked up and embraced the small, plump dragon, his voice filled with joy. “Mr. Alfred!”

Alfred let him nuzzle his face, but when the young man wouldn’t let go for a while, Alfred firmly pushed him away, pointing to Xiao Ze, who stood nearby, stiff and tense. “He’s the one.”

Xiao Ze’s hands, hanging by his sides, clenched suddenly as he struggled to control his trembling.

Although he’d suspected the truth, he had clung to a sliver of hope out of trust in the shop owner and Alfred.

But hearing Alfred’s blunt declaration felt like the shattering of a dream.

It was as if he was sinking back into the quagmire of his childhood, feeling weighed down, unable to bring himself to look at the young man’s expression across from him.

He must be disappointed.

Yet, the young man looked at Xiao Ze without a trace of surprise, reaching out his hand slowly. “Hello, twenty-two-year-old me.”

Xiao Ze instinctively looked up, his pupils narrowing. “You knew it was me?”

The young man clasped his hand, his smile still gentle. “I guessed.”

The young man led Xiao Ze and Alfred back to the bench, where he once again held Alfred in his arms, speaking in a soft, nostalgic tone. “Until I was eighteen, your letters kept pushing me forward. More accurate than any prophecy, they predicted every problem I would face, patiently offering solutions. But when I turned eighteen, I started to wonder—besides myself, who else would care for me with such dedication? One day, while writing a prescription for a patient, I noticed my handwriting matched the letters exactly. So, it was clear who this ‘special person’ Mr. Alfred mentioned really was.”

Xiao Ze looked at him, realizing he seemed like an entirely different person.

His mannerisms, his personality, his profession, his thoughts—none of it matched his own.

Xiao Ze’s emotions were so tangled he couldn’t sort them out, unsure whether to feel relieved or saddened. “Aren’t you disappointed?”

The young man handed him a handkerchief, smiling and shaking his head. “I’m actually very happy. The twenty-two-year-old me didn’t forget the five-year-old version of me, and he even went out of his way to bring Mr. Alfred back to help me. The treasure I searched the world for and could never find was finally delivered to me through Mr. Alfred. Thank you for not giving up on me. Thank you for loving me so deeply.”

Xiao Ze bent forward, elbows on his knees, pressing his left hand firmly over his eyes.

If he hadn’t been lucky that night and happened to meet Lu Yao, he would’ve already given up.

Grief and shame churned within him, making it impossible to speak to this young man.

He was just too good.

Gentle, steady, thoughtful, and bright, he’d grown into a strength Xiao Ze hadn’t dared to dream of.

The young man and Alfred remained silent, their gazes drifting to the river’s surface, and they shared a knowing smile.

After a long while, Xiao Ze’s emotions began to settle, though his ears and eyes were still red.

Feeling both embarrassed and aware of the rare opportunity, he finally spoke up. “You’re a doctor now?”

The young man’s warm gaze fell on him, and he nodded gently. Extending his right hand, he activated his superpower, and a small light that had once been confined to his fingers gradually permeated through his skin, solidifying into a sharp, golden blade. “My power went through a second awakening. Initially, my fingers could only emit light, but with training, I gradually learned to manipulate it to create solid forms. By the time I took the professional exams, I could wield this light blade to perform some precise surgeries. So, now I’m a doctor.”

Xiao Ze was deeply moved, staring in disbelief and fascination at the young man’s fingertips. He murmured, “I thought my ability was one of the lowest, unworthy of even a power test. Yet, it actually awakened a second time.”

The young man nodded with complete understanding. “I know what you’re feeling; after all, I am you. Over ten years ago, Mr. Alfred brought me your letters and left a book. Inside the front cover was a passage that inspired me to break past the accepted limits, leading to my second awakening at fifteen. Mr. Alfred didn’t lie to me.”

Xiao Ze looked down at Alfred, who spread his paws proudly, a smug expression on his face.

The young man gently petted Alfred’s wings, then pulled out a stack of letters with a book underneath. “These are my replies, starting from the year I entered boarding school. Now, they’re finally in your hands. And here’s Mr. Alfred’s book—I think you’ll find it interesting.”

Xiao Ze’s brows twitched slightly, and after a pause, he reached out to take them.

The young man stood up, patted Xiao Ze’s shoulder, and smiled. “Thank you for giving me seventeen years that were unlike any other.”

He slowly leaned closer to Xiao Ze, his smile as light and relaxed as a drifting cloud, his form becoming hazy like a shadow until he disappeared entirely.

Xiao Ze stood up in a panic, looking around. “Where did he go?”

Alfred flew up, extended a paw, and gently tapped Xiao Ze’s chest. “He’s right here.”

Xiao Ze collapsed back onto the bench, looking lost.

Alfred landed beside him, his short, stout paw lightly patting Xiao Ze’s arm. “Don’t look so gloomy. There’s a saying by a man named Albert Camus: ‘Not being loved is just bad luck, but not knowing how to love is a great misfortune.’ You see, whether it’s loving others or oneself, the power of ‘love’ doesn’t fade. The one you love dearly hasn’t disappeared; he’s just returned to your heart as a spark. Usually, when a person learns to ‘love’ themselves, love from others naturally follows. Xiao Ze, congratulations on completing your tutoring!”

Xiao Ze remained silent.

Alfred, respecting his need for space, quietly sat with him, staying by his side as the sun rose, peaked, and began to set.

Finally, Xiao Ze gathered his emotions, clutching the letters and book as he stood up. “Mr. Alfred, let’s go back.”

Alfred flew up to catch up with him, his short paw giving Xiao Ze’s head a light pat. “Alright.”

When Xiao Ze and Lu Yao returned to the tutoring center, only three minutes had passed.

Hu Jiao had just come back from outside with an armful of snacks. Seeing the two appear suddenly, he was no longer surprised and glanced at the table, noting that the small black dragon and silver orb had returned as well.

Xiao Ze’s eyes were still red, and he felt a bit self-conscious in front of Hu Jiao. He handed the letters and book to Lu Yao before heading to the bathroom to collect himself.

Lu Yao took out a specially crafted box, intending to place the letters and book inside so Xiao Ze could take them home later.

Curious, Hu Jiao leaned over, eyes fixed on the purple cover. “What book is that? Can I take a look?”

Lu Yao replied, “This is Xiao Ze’s book. You can ask him later.”

A few minutes later, Xiao Ze emerged from the bathroom.

Hu Jiao immediately called out, “Senior, can I see that book?”

Xiao Ze paused mid-step. “Senior?”

Hu Jiao replied, “We’re both tutoring students, and you were here first, so I thought it’d be okay to call you that.”

Xiao Ze scratched his head. “How old are you?”

Hu Jiao answered, “I’ll be seventeen in two months.”

Xiao Ze: “So, you just graduated recently. Was your career assessment result ‘freelance’?”

Hu Jiao shook his head. “I didn’t finish college. I dropped out in my second year. I ran away from home, couldn’t find a suitable job, and ended up becoming a live-streamer.”

Xiao Ze looked a bit embarrassed. “Sorry about that.”

Hu Jiao waved it off casually. “No worries, bro. Can I take a look at that book?”

It had been a while since he’d actually sat down to read a book, and he found himself somewhat interested.

There were still many customers outside, so after packing Xiao Ze’s items, Lu Yao went out to help.

Xiao Ze walked to the table and saw the letters and book neatly placed in a bright orange square box, with a small white velvet box on top of the book.

He picked it up and opened it, revealing an oval-shaped golden badge, about the size of an adult’s thumb. At the bottom of the badge was a line of small text: “Childhood Tutoring Center Graduation Commemoration.”

The polished, delicate badge gleamed against the white velvet lining.

This was a keepsake given to every graduate of the Childhood Tutoring Center.

Xiao Ze gently touched it before placing it back, then picked up the book beneath it, pulled up a chair, and sat down. “I haven’t read it either. Want to read together?”

Hu Jiao, who usually felt uncomfortable around adults, felt a bit hesitant.

Meanwhile, Xiao Ze had already opened to the first page.

Hu Jiao’s gaze followed naturally, his pupils trembling slightly.

The room fell into silence as their eyes met the words on the pale yellow pages, a message he’d never seen anywhere else.

As the rush of customers eased, Lu Yao called Xiao Xiao to have breakfast.

With the glass tea rooms occupied by customers, Xiao Xiao had to eat in the tutoring room.

She entered with her meal, noticing Xiao Ze and Hu Jiao reading together, and greeted them, “So, your last tutoring session is over?”

Both had arrived in the morning, and Xiao Ze knew Xiao Xiao had switched jobs.

Considering their past interactions, meeting again had been a bit awkward.

Especially after the tutoring, with a change in mindset, Xiao Ze couldn’t help but reflect on their earlier days. They both had their share of mistakes.

However, seeing her calm and unaffected expression, he adjusted his own and nodded, “Yes, just finished today. The shop owner even gave me a commemorative badge.”

Xiao Xiao sat at another table, opened her lunchbox, and smiled. “That badge is adorable—I have one too. Is that book also part of the graduation gift?”

Xiao Ze nodded. “Yes, a gift from Mr. Alfred.”

Xiao Xiao smiled warmly. “I got a similar gift.”

For her, that piece of news had been the best gift.

She couldn’t resist adding, “Mr. Alfred is truly adorable.”

Hu Jiao, feeling left out of the conversation, interjected, “Where’s Lu Yao? When does my tutoring start?”

He, too, wanted to meet the legendary Alfred.

Xiao Xiao replied, “Once I finish eating, I’ll cover for her. But tutoring takes a lot of energy, so the shop owner needs rest. Don’t rush her.”

Seeing the store bustling, Xiao Ze got ready to leave, clutching his belongings. As he left, he offered to lend the book to Hu Jiao.

Hu Jiao waved it off.

It was a good book, but it already bore Xiao Ze’s personal mark.

A quiet sense of longing rose in Hu Jiao’s heart—he, too, wanted a unique gift, one that was entirely his own, with no conditions attached.

He just didn’t know whom to ask.

When Lu Yao came in, she saw Hu Jiao lost in thought. She walked straight to the drawer and retrieved his psychic key and documents. “Hu Jiao, it’s your turn.”

Hu Jiao snapped out of his thoughts. “Xiao Xiao said you needed to rest.”

Lu Yao shook her head. “It’s fine. I want to take a quick look at the situation. The formal tutoring starts in the afternoon.”

Based on the memories she’d glimpsed last night, Hu Jiao’s circumstances were somewhat different from Xiao Ze’s and Xiao Xiao’s, so this session would likely require more effort.

Hu Jiao activated his time key, bringing Lu Yao along with the younger version of himself back to his childhood.

They opened their eyes and found themselves standing in a dark, narrow corridor.

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