Ch 233: Guide to Running a Shop in Another World

As soon as Hu Jiao recognized the place, he suddenly squatted down, covering his mouth.

Lu Yao looked down at him.

All color had drained from the young man’s face, and beads of sweat dotted his forehead. His eyes were filled with loathing, and he spoke in a hoarse voice, “Lu Yao, I want to go back.”

Lu Yao hadn’t expected him to have such a strong reaction to this place, even experiencing severe physical discomfort.

She bent down to support him, intending to take him back to regroup.

At that moment, the elevator at the end of the corridor opened, and a family of three stepped out.

Hu Jiao glanced over and could no longer hold back the nausea he had been suppressing; he immediately began to vomit.

The man emerging from the elevator was dressed in a tailored suit, with gold-rimmed glasses and neatly combed-back hair. He held the hand of a child dressed in a matching small suit. A woman in a mustard-yellow dress, carrying a handbag, walked behind them, chatting with someone else who exited alongside them.

Upon hearing the sound, everyone stopped and looked over, their expressions filled with disdain.

Hu Jiao clutched Lu Yao’s hand tightly, unable to stop trembling, and bent over to vomit again.

Noticing the looks from the other group, Lu Yao forced a smile and explained, “He has an upset stomach. Sorry about that. We’ll clean up shortly.”

The group walked past them, and Lu Yao overheard the woman mutter, “Disgusting.”

Hu Jiao closed his eyes, leaning heavily against Lu Yao, his grip on her hand painfully tight.

Supporting him, Lu Yao glanced toward the family. They had stopped in front of door 305, where the child, with furrowed brows that looked a mix of concern and curiosity, was straining his neck to look back at them, only to be pulled inside by the man.

The door opened and shut, and Lu Yao caught a fleeting glimpse of terror and despair in the child’s expression.

The person they had been chatting with entered room 306.

After a few minutes, Hu Jiao managed to steady himself, holding onto the railing as he stood, his face pale and defeated. “I don’t think your tutoring can help me.”

Lu Yao gently patted his back. “Let’s go back for now.”

Back at the Childhood Tutoring Center, Hu Jiao rushed to the bathroom and vomited again over the toilet.

Lu Yao poured warm water and set it on the table, waiting for him to come out.

When she first met Hu Jiao, he already had a hoarse voice.

She hadn’t thought much of it then, but now she had a rough idea of the reason.

After emptying his stomach, Hu Jiao rinsed his mouth and splashed cold water on his face, staring at his pale, disheveled reflection in the mirror as a shadowy loathing surfaced from the depths of his eyes.

“Hu Jiao, feeling any better?” Lu Yao’s voice came from outside the door.

He wiped his face, opened the door, glanced at her, and gave a slight nod.

His throat felt raw after vomiting, making it difficult to speak.

Lu Yao said, “I poured you some water and brought some throat lozenges. Come over, have a drink, and take a lozenge. I’ll ask Xiao Ji to bring some food over. What do you feel like eating? Anything you want. We have a few great chefs, skilled in all kinds of flavors. If you like seafood, they can make that too. But for now, it’s best if you avoid raw foods. One of our pastry chefs makes a world-class seafood noodle dish—want to try it?”

Hu Jiao looked at her, his face cold, and his voice came out rough, like sandpaper scraping over metal, “Are you pitying me?”

The latest data had just emerged from the small silver orb, and as Lu Yao sorted through it, she shook her head. “A young person like you probably hasn’t seen much. This is just regular hospitality for a guest.”

Hu Jiao sat across from her, drank some water, and put the lozenge in his mouth. The cool, faintly sweet flavor eased the discomfort in his throat and lessened his nausea.

Hu Jiao unfolded the candy wrapper on the table, noticing it was a brand he hadn’t seen before.

Casually, he slipped the wrapper into his pocket, glancing at Lu Yao now and then. “The three people who stepped out of the elevator first were my parents and the younger me.”

Lu Yao wasn’t surprised. “I could tell. That child looked a lot like you.”

Hu Jiao propped his hand on his forehead, closing his eyes. Memories buried deep within his mind resurfaced, haunting him. “The man in the suit is actually a violent maniac. He acts refined in public, but at home, he constantly beats his wife and child, claiming it’s his way to relieve stress. His superpower can even hide injuries, leaving no evidence. The woman is weak and vain. To her, the child is just a tool to please her husband, fight for attention, and maintain appearances. Lu Yao, I don’t want to go back to the past or change myself. I can’t escape. Even though I managed to climb out of that place they called ‘home,’ I can’t live a good life. They’re like shadows that haunt me, always close behind. I can’t shake them off—I’m exhausted. Last night, it would’ve been better if you hadn’t stepped outside for fresh air.”

The fatigue and helplessness in his voice hinted at deep despair, as if a hand from hell were dragging him further into darkness.

Lu Yao skimmed through the information, highlighting key points before looking up. “You don’t need to change anything because none of it was your fault. Did you notice the younger you just now? Struggling to walk while half-lifted by his father, leaning awkwardly to one side. While others walked by indifferently, only he looked back at us with concern.”

Hu Jiao’s expression froze.

Lu Yao capped her pen and extended a hand toward him. “I have a suggestion: for this session, how about you rescue him yourself and help him escape?”

Hu Jiao was puzzled. “What do you mean?”

Lu Yao replied, “Well, this session will be different from previous ones, so we’ll need to make some adjustments. I can’t explain it fully just yet, but you’ll understand during the formal session this afternoon.”

Lu Yao then used her phone to message Zhou Su and Ji Feiming, ordering a seafood noodle dish and asking Xiao Ji to deliver it to the tutoring center.

After that, she picked up the small black dragon figurine on the table and went into the research lab.

Around twenty minutes later, Xiao Ji arrived with a fresh, steaming seafood noodle dish.

This was Hu Jiao’s first time seeing Ji Feiming. The older man, in a tailored suit with perfectly styled hair, made Hu Jiao take three steps back as if he’d seen something unpleasant.

Ji Feiming: “…”

Lu Yao came out of the lab just in time to see this scene. Noticing Ji’s confused expression, she explained, “This guest has a bit of PTSD with suits. You can go ahead now.”

Ji Feiming: “…Understood.”

“People who come for childhood tutoring all have their quirks,” he thought.

Watching the well-dressed, elite-looking delivery man show such respect to the shop owner, Hu Jiao was perplexed. “Who is he?”

Lu Yao replied, “He’s our delivery person.”

Hu Jiao: “…The delivery guy dresses that formally?”

Lu Yao: “…Yes, that’s his personal style. Just ignore it.”

Hu Jiao sat down, took a bite of the seafood noodles, and his eyes widened. “This is amazing! Can I stream this?”

Lu Yao sat across from him. “After that big scene last night, you still want to stream?”

After thinking about it, Hu Jiao reluctantly shook his head. “You’re right. With the tutoring session coming up, I don’t have the energy for it. Just a habit.”

Lu Yao asked, “By the way, will the Security Bureau be looking for you?”

Hu Jiao shrugged, looking unfazed. “Let them. I’m not scared.”

As a child, he’d called the Security Bureau to report the man’s violence, but it never led anywhere.

Initially, no one even answered. Eventually, he kept calling until two officers finally came to investigate but only asked a few questions before leaving.

The worst time, he was nearly beaten to death, yet the officers noticed nothing.

The live stream last night had a bigger impact than Lu Yao had anticipated. By ten in the morning, the store’s shelves had been emptied three times, and a line was still forming outside.

Lu Yao instructed Xiao Ji to restock and stay at the tutoring center to assist, as Xiao Xiao was overwhelmed managing inventory and attending to customers on her own.

Around noon, Lu Yao received several clients interested in childhood tutoring, registering them and scheduling sessions.

With the influx of new clients, the tutoring center urgently needed more tutors, so Lu Yao had the system post a new hiring notice at the entrance.

After lunch, she informed Xiao Xiao and Xiao Ji that once the afternoon stock was sold out, they could close up for the day without restocking.

Then, she took out her key to begin Hu Jiao’s childhood tutoring.

…

When the bright light faded, Hu Jiao opened his eyes, finding himself back in the same dark, narrow corridor.

However, something felt different about his perspective—everything seemed taller, and his field of view was lower and narrower.

He looked up to see a pair of long legs. As he slowly raised his gaze, his eyes widened. “Lu Yao, what’s going on?”

The moment he spoke, Hu Jiao immediately covered his mouth.

His voice was high-pitched and childlike, clear and bright like a young child’s.

Realizing he had somehow shrunk, he looked up at Lu Yao, who also appeared slightly different from the person he knew.

She was wearing a long trench coat with high heels, her hair styled in a low bun, holding a shiny handbag with one hand and a large suitcase handle with the other.

She looked far more mature than usual, though she still wore her signature gold lotus earring on her left ear.

Lu Yao freed a hand to gently ruffle Hu Jiao’s hair. “What Lu Yao? Call me ‘Mom’!”

Hu Jiao clutched his head, stumbling back a step, utterly baffled. “…”

What kind of bizarre role-play was this?

Lu Yao took him to move into the neighboring apartment, 306, which had recently been vacated.

The apartment wasn’t particularly large, about ninety square meters, with two bedrooms, each with its own bathroom, a small study, and a modest kitchen.

Her role was that of a thirty-year-old professional mother who had just moved to Tangerine City with her six-year-old son, Lu Hu Jiao, who was about to start primary school.

Sitting on the sofa in the living room, Hu Jiao wore a look of despair. “Is this the special tutoring plan? Making me go through elementary, middle, and university again?”

Lu Yao nodded. “You could think of it that way.”

Hu Jiao sighed. “What’s the point of growing up again with all these memories? Didn’t you say it wasn’t my fault? But in the end, you still want me to change.”

Sitting across from him, Lu Yao took out her phone, opened the selfie mode, and handed it to him. “Strictly speaking, you’re not yourself right now. You’re my child, so your appearance is also a bit different.”

On the screen, the face reflected back wasn’t the familiar young Hu Jiao but a little boy who bore a strong resemblance to Lu Yao.

As Hu Jiao stared in surprise, Lu Yao continued, “Normally, standard tutoring would seal the student’s memories, with Alfred guiding them. But your case is unique, so we decided on a special tutoring method.”

Hu Jiao snapped out of his daze. “Then what about Alfred? Won’t he be here?”

He felt a bit disappointed, as other students had Alfred as their guide, while he was left to face the shop owner daily.

Lu Yao shook her head. “Of course he’ll be here. He’ll still guide the younger version of you. But in this specific scenario, you know better than anyone that no one will come to save young Hu Jiao—except you.”

Hu Jiao’s expression tightened.

The shop owner was sometimes blunt and even harsh.

With just that one sentence, he found himself unable to reject any of her plans.

Yes, he understood.

No one would come to save him except himself.

Hu Jiao’s shoulders slumped in resignation. “What do I need to do?”

Lu Yao smiled gently. “First, try calling me ‘Mom.’”

Hu Jiao: “…”

Lu Yao stopped joking, stood up, and went to the kitchen to grab a few boxes of prepared pastries and gifts. “Since we just moved in, it’s only polite to visit our neighbors. Hu Jiao, come along with Mom for a quick trip.”

Unable to hold back, Hu Jiao rolled his eyes, slowly getting off the couch and walking to the entryway to put on his shoes.

Lu Yao waited patiently by the door, holding out her hand once he’d put on his shoes.

After a brief hesitation, Hu Jiao walked over and took her hand.

Her hand was somewhat slender but soft and warm—different from the hands of the woman in his memories.

As they stood outside, they heard the sound of a piano coming from room 305.

Lu Yao planned to visit the nearby units first to practice her conversation skills, saving 305 for last.

But just then, the piano stopped abruptly. Hu Jiao paused, took a deep breath, and looked up at Lu Yao. “It’s starting.”

It was always like this when he was young. His mother wanted him to make her proud, signing him up for multiple tutoring classes—piano, advanced math, calligraphy.

He was talented and excelled at each.

They’d even bought him an expensive piano, which he had to practice for hours every day.

But the man’s moods were unpredictable; he’d praise him when pleased and suddenly lash out when irritated, without warning.

Whenever the piano abruptly stopped, it usually meant the man was in a foul mood.

Lu Yao turned, guiding Hu Jiao as she pressed the doorbell of 305.

There was no answer, so Lu Yao pressed it a few more times and then knocked. “Excuse me, is anyone home?”

After two or three minutes, the door opened from the inside, and a well-dressed man peeked out. “Who are you?”

Lu Yao nudged the door open slightly and handed over the pastry box. “Hello, I’m Lu Yao, the new neighbor in 306. This is my son, Hu Jiao.”

The man accepted the pastries and glanced down at the small boy clinging to Lu Yao’s leg, a faint smile on his lips. “How thoughtful.”

Startled by the smile, Hu Jiao instinctively grabbed onto Lu Yao’s leg, trying to hide behind her.

Lu Yao bent down slightly, putting her arm around him, and offered an awkward smile. “This little guy is usually full of energy, but he gets shy around strangers. I heard you have a child around the same age?”

The man gave a lukewarm nod.

Lu Yao pretended not to notice his impatience and continued the conversation. “I heard piano music from your place just now. Was that your child practicing?”

The man’s brow furrowed, and he turned back, calling, “Hu Qi, come out and say hello to your aunt and brother.”

Hu Jiao’s real name was Hu Qi.

Little Hu Qi came out of the room, traces of tears still visible on his cheeks.

Noticing Lu Yao’s curious look, the man’s shoulders stiffened as he awkwardly explained, “He wasn’t focusing on his practice, just thinking about snacks, so I had to scold him a bit.”

Standing by Lu Yao’s feet, Hu Jiao met the younger Hu Qi’s gaze, a complex mix of emotions filling him.

Hu Qi looked a bit bewildered but obediently walked to his father’s side, showing no reaction to his words, and greeted softly, “Hello, Auntie.”

Lu Yao pulled out a plush doll resembling a small black dragon and handed it over. “Hello, little Hu Qi. It’s nice to meet you. Here’s a little black dragon for you—his name is Alfred. Whenever you feel troubled, you can talk to him.”

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