Ch 238: Guide to Running a Shop in Another World

“Xiao Mei, come over to your aunt,” the young woman squatted down and greeted Xiao Mei warmly.

Xiao Mei hesitated.

Lu Yao stayed calm, squatting patiently with a gentle smile directed at Xiao Mei.

Just then, Xiao Mei’s teacher stepped out of the school gate, holding her phone. She looked up, noticed Xiao Mei standing with a young woman, and walked over to ask, “Ms. Lu Yao?”

Lu Yao stood up and nodded.

The teacher, still on the phone, spoke a few more words, then hung up and smiled at Lu Yao. “So, you’re Xiao Mei’s aunt?”

Lu Yao nodded again.

Only then did the teacher squat down to introduce Lu Yao to Xiao Mei.

The guarded look in Xiao Mei’s eyes gradually faded, and she slowly approached Lu Yao. “Hello, Auntie.”

Without prior notice from her family, being greeted by a stranger to pick her up left Xiao Mei feeling both a bit wronged and uncertain. But she could read emotions well for a child, and once she understood this stranger was indeed family, she overcame her unfamiliarity and fear to greet her.

Lu Yao noticed all this. Such a child tends to put adults at ease. But sometimes, it’s exactly this precociousness and restraint that makes adults too comfortable, overlooking her needs as she grows.

Lu Yao took Xiao Mei’s hand and bid farewell to the teacher.

Xiao Mei was quiet for most of the way.

Lu Yao looked around until she spotted a vendor at the corner. Taking Xiao Mei along, she said, “These butterfly clips are so pretty. Would you like one?”

Xiao Mei’s eyes lingered on the clips for a moment. She looked up at Lu Yao and shook her head.

Lu Yao squatted beside her. “But I really like them. Could you help me choose one?”

Xiao Mei blinked and carefully studied the clips on the stand, then pointed to a blue butterfly in the middle.

Lu Yao asked the vendor to take it down and handed it to Xiao Mei. “Would you like to put it on for me?”

Without saying a word, Xiao Mei took the clip and gently placed it in Lu Yao’s hair.

Lu Yao used her phone’s screen as a mirror and smiled. “My little niece has good taste—I love it!”

Xiao Mei’s eyes sparkled, and she smiled a little, feeling happy.

Then, Lu Yao picked up a pink-purple butterfly clip from the stand. “Since my niece chose such a beautiful clip for me, I’d like to give you one as a gift. Do you like this one?”

Xiao Mei lowered her eyes and shyly nodded.

Lu Yao fastened the pink-purple butterfly clip in Xiao Mei’s hair. “It’s beautiful.”

On the way back, Lu Yao also bought her some taiyaki and a small cake and picked up some pastries for Xiao Mei’s grandparents.

By the time they reached home, Xiao Mei still had a crumb of taiyaki at the corner of her mouth.

Lu Yao wiped it away and said goodbye at the door.

Xiao Mei looked reluctant. “Auntie, aren’t you staying with us?”

Lu Yao pointed to the door number next door. “Your aunt lives right next door. Just knock if you need anything.”

Xiao Mei finally let go of her hand.

Once inside, Xiao Mei placed the pastries on the table, explaining they were a gift from her aunt. Her grandparents, looking as if it were completely natural, didn’t react to the clip in her hair either.

This reassured Xiao Mei. Her aunt was indeed her aunt.

That afternoon, Jiajia still came over to play. Xiao Mei’s grandmother brought out two pieces of pastry, giving the larger one to Jiajia and the smaller one to Xiao Mei.

Xiao Mei and her aunt enjoyed taiyaki and a small cake outside, so she wasn’t interested in eating the pastry. Watching Jia Jia stuff a big piece into her mouth didn’t stir any feelings.

Jia Jia left after a while, and when her grandmother called her for dinner, Xiao Mei obediently went to eat.

From that day on, her aunt would come to pick her up from daycare every afternoon.

When Xiao Mei turned six and started elementary school, it was still her aunt who picked her up every day after school.

Her aunt was gentle and patient, often taking her out for snacks and listening carefully to all of Xiao Mei’s stories about her day.

Time with her aunt was always lighthearted and happy.

In no time, several years had passed, and Xiao Mei moved up to middle school.

She started living at school, coming home at least once a week.

One day, she knocked on Lu Yao’s door, standing at the threshold with a look of reluctance. “Auntie, I’m leaving for school.”

Lu Yao patted her head and took out a black plush toy from behind her. “Here’s a little toy for you, named Alfred. If you run into any trouble at school, you can talk to him.”

Xiao Mei accepted the little dragon plush and took out a box from behind her with a smile. “This is a parting gift for you, Auntie.”

Lu Yao looked a bit surprised. “This is the first time a…student has given me a gift. May I open it?”

She said the word “student” softly, and Xiao Mei didn’t quite catch it, nodding happily. “I made it with my powers. I hope Auntie doesn’t mind.”

Xiao Mei’s ability allowed her to control metal, reshaping, melting, or even suspending it.

After years of honing her skills, she could now handle metal with precision.

For her birthday that year, her parents gifted her a delicate gold chain. Xiao Mei secretly took a sizable piece from it, saved her pocket money for a rare gram of hyper-alloy, and blended it into the gold to create an intricate lotus-shaped earring.

Lu Yao’s eyes lit up. “Did you really make this? It’s so lovely.”

The tiny, detailed lotus served as a base with a fine chain dangling below, casting delicate, shimmering reflections in the sunlight.

Xiao Mei shyly smiled. “I’m glad you like it, Auntie.”

She didn’t mention where the materials came from. As long as her aunt liked it, it was all worth it.

Her aunt always wore a distinct earring on her left ear, with a material Xiao Mei couldn’t identify, but it looked rare and precious.

To achieve a similar quality, she’d had to put a lot of thought into it.

After saying goodbye, Xiao Mei prepared to leave for school.

Lu Yao hesitated for a moment, then called her back. “Xiao Mei, Auntie is planning to move.”

Xiao Mei froze.

With hands clasped, Lu Yao said seriously, “For work, I’ll be moving to another city. I thought it was important to tell you formally.”

Xiao Mei asked, “Does that mean Auntie won’t be coming back?”

Lu Yao thought for a moment and shook her head. “We’ll see each other again, but it might be a few years.”

Xiao Mei exhaled in relief. “That’s good. Auntie, I’m off to school.”

Lu Yao nodded. “If you’re ever troubled, talk to Alfred. He’s a great listener and a good teacher too.”

Xiao Mei’s first childhood session ended.

Returning to the tutoring center, Xiao Mei’s awareness merged with her session memories.

Lu Yao stood up, poured a cup of warm water, and handed it to her. “Take a moment to collect yourself.”

Xiao Mei looked up, her eyes blinking against the brightness. After a pause, she opened them and looked at the earring on the store owner’s right ear, surprised. “Were you really my aunt?”

Lu Yao sat across from her. “How do you feel?”

Reflecting on the memories, Xiao Mei smiled and nodded. “It was wonderful.”

She realized, of course, that Lu Yao couldn’t truly be her aunt. But the gift she had given her, and the little dragon plush Lu Yao had given her, were both real.

Did this mean that the treats, toys, and time spent together weren’t just a dream?

Lu Yao asked, “Originally, I thought about confirming things once more. But I’ve decided to trust you instead. Did you see him again in college?”

Xiao Mei nodded. “He pursued me. But it turned out that all those sweet words and gifts from back then felt like they had a veil of falseness over them now. They couldn’t touch my heart anymore.”

Lu Yao nodded with satisfaction. “It seems there’s no need for a second session. Congratulations on your graduation.”

Unable to hold back, Xiao Mei stood up and hugged Lu Yao. “Thank you, Auntie.”

The childhood tutoring experience was entirely different from what Xiao Mei had expected. Even though she had heard bits and pieces from Zheng Siyue, it was far more powerful to live through it herself.

Throughout the process, the store owner hadn’t imposed any values or given lectures; instead, Xiao Mei felt as though she had simply lived a few years alongside her aunt. When her aunt left, Xiao Mei started facing the world on her own. The world felt both unfamiliar and yet deeply familiar. The unfamiliarity came from having to navigate it alone, while the familiarity came from the quiet way her aunt had somehow already taught her how to approach life.

Those overlooked moments from her childhood, the unmet emotional needs, and the roots of her insecurities were all gently smoothed over by her aunt’s presence. Later, when she encountered shallow courting tricks or superficial displays of affection, they felt like mere performances, incapable of stirring her interest.

Lu Yao hugged her back. “And I really do like the earring.”

Xiao Mei couldn’t help but ask, “I thought it might disappear.”

Lu Yao just smiled mysteriously.

That dreamlike, almost real quality is likely what makes the childhood tutoring center so captivating, offering a blend of reality and imagination that maximizes the impact of the experience. If the tutoring felt merely like a dream, it would be no different from watching a movie or undergoing therapy. But with its blurred lines between reality and illusion, the childhood tutoring experience is as real as the belief the participant invests in it.

Xiao Mei emerged from the session clutching the little black dragon plush and her graduation badge, joining Zheng Siyue and the experimental subject’s chat.

An Yan turned his head toward the tutoring room.

Xiao Mei noticed and smiled. “The store owner has done two sessions in a row and went to rest.”

An Yan gently petted Erxin’s warm, smooth belly without saying anything.

The test subject murmured, “It’s fascinating. I’d love to experience childhood with the store owner too.”

An Yan’s gaze drifted downward, his thoughts in motion.

…

The weather was getting colder, and Bai Jing had been busy, not visiting the shop for nearly half a month. After parking, he immediately noticed the new sign next to the blind box store—it was a tutoring center.

Bai Yi got out of the passenger seat, brushed the dust off her small leather boots, and looked around. “A mental wellness center here? If it weren’t arranged by the family, I wouldn’t believe it.”

Bai Yi was from a branch of the Bai family, one year younger than Bai Jing, who was her cousin. When Lu Yao requested staff, the Bai family sent their best.

However, among the Bai family’s younger generation, few pursued psychology, with most focusing on clinical and traditional Chinese medicine. This left the family to choose qualified candidates from the branch families for psychology expertise.

Initially, Bai Jing selected Bai Yi and Zhong Qiusheng. Zhong, an in-law married into the Bai family, was considered a viable candidate. However, he declined immediately, stating he didn’t need the Bai family’s backing, hinting he was unimpressed with the shop.

Bai Jing, irritated by Zhong’s attitude, couldn’t help but grumble inwardly. But seeing the cooperative Bai Yi, he didn’t hide his thoughts. “If there were suitable candidates in the main family, we wouldn’t be picking from the branch families. That fool Zhong has no idea he’s missing a rare opportunity.”

Bai Yi was surprised. For Bai Jing to say this meant this opportunity was indeed extraordinary.

Bai Jing continued, “The store owner is approachable, so don’t be too formal—but don’t get overly comfortable either.”

With this advice, Bai Yi’s curiosity about the legendary store owner only deepened, and she solidified her initial guess about the opportunity’s value.

On the surface, this job seemed unremarkable, but in reality, it likely held significant hidden importance.

Bai Yi had heard bits and pieces about recent incidents among the younger generation of the Ji family, the most bizarre involving Ji Zhixin.

Here was a man who had been paralyzed for five years, unresponsive to any treatment, and yet he managed to recover in Yaoguang City. He then returned to the Ji family’s Tianji estate, leaving everyone astonished, only to return alone to Yaoguang City.

Rumors spread everywhere, yet Ji Zhixin made no effort to clear them up, only fueling people’s curiosity.

Bai Yi speculated that perhaps Ji Zhixin worked here.

Thinking this, she looked up and saw Ji Zhixin exiting a doorway near the main road. When he noticed them, he greeted them.

Bai Jing walked over. “We’re here to see the store owner.”

Ji Zhixin glanced at Bai Yi and pointed across the street. “She’s at the tutoring center. I’ll take you over.”

Bai Jing noted how Ji Zhixin’s gaze occasionally drifted toward Bai Yi, and he took the initiative to explain. “The store owner contacted me about hiring new staff, so I brought her here to apply.”

Ji Zhixin’s lips curved slightly, recalling his own early days on the street and the experiences of people like Ji Zixun.

Bai Yi felt slightly uneasy. Was that a smirk on the face of the great young master of the Ji family?

Sensing her unease, Ji Zhixin reassured her, “I was just thinking of some family idiots. It wasn’t directed at you.”

Bai Yi gave an awkward chuckle, unsure how to respond.

Ji Zhixin led Bai Jing and Bai Yi to the Childhood Tutoring Center, and upon learning that Lu Yao was still resting, they sat down to wait.

As soon as she entered the tutoring center, Bai Yi noticed something unusual and was surprised to see towering buildings and bustling crowds outside, completely different from the remote mountain road they had just traveled.

Pointing outside, Bai Yi asked Xu Xiaoxiao, “Excuse me, but where exactly is this?”

Xu Xiaoxiao gave her an odd look. “It’s Sanhua City.”

Sanhua City? Bai Yi had never heard of such a place.

She wanted to examine the surroundings more closely, but hearing Bai Jing call her over, she followed him to the shelves.

Inside the glass-walled tea room, Bai Jing sat beside a young woman who appeared even younger than Bai Yi.

Bai Yi walked over. “Are you the store owner?”

Lu Yao nodded. “You’re here to apply as a tutor?”

Bai Yi replied honestly, “My cousin said you were hiring, and that you needed someone with a psychology background.”

Lu Yao nodded. “You probably noticed on your way here that we’re quite far from the city, and the work environment is less than ideal. Think it over. If you’re interested in learning more, I’ll give you a brief job overview.”

Bai Yi glanced at Bai Jing, who offered no additional hints.

Bai Yi asked, “Could you tell me about the salary and leave policies?”

Lu Yao explained, “The pay is standard, with a six-day workweek. Any additional day worked is compensated with overtime pay.”

Stores in the street rarely closed and were essentially open year-round, so staff were allowed to take rotational days off. Bai Yi found the offer better than expected and couldn’t help but ask, “What’s going on outside? It didn’t look like that when we came in.”

Lu Yao replied, “That question is related to the work.”

Bai Jing cleared his throat.

Taking the hint, Bai Yi said, “I’d like to learn more about the job duties.”

Lu Yao stood up and took Bai Yi into the tutoring room.

After about an hour, Bai Yi emerged from the tutoring room with Lu Yao and announced, “Cousin, I signed a contract with the store owner.”

After testing, Bai Yi’s physical condition proved suitable, as she experienced no stress during short-term time travel. She also had the relevant background in psychology and showed a degree of empathy. Although she would need further training, Lu Yao was satisfied and signed her on with an employment and confidentiality contract.

Bai Jing sighed in relief.

With half of the recruitment completed and Bai Jing having no further suitable candidates, Lu Yao planned to recruit the second staff member directly from Sanhua City.

The next day, Lu Yao arrived early at the Supernatural Research Institute to pick up Hu Jiao for his second session at the tutoring center.

The receptionist at the institute examined Lu Yao’s business card for a moment, then looked up with a hint of surprise in her eyes. “Ms. Lu, I’ll take you to the third floor.”

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