Ch 252: Guide to Running a Shop in Another World

Lu Yao noticed Mumu slumped in the corner of the sofa, looking listless, and walked over to poke him.

“What’s wrong?”

Mumu lowered his head, a bit embarrassed. “Budu looks a lot like you.”

Unlike him, Lu Yao had said that Budu was her child.

Lu Yao patted Mumu’s smooth forehead and sat beside him.

Not far away, Budu was sandwiched between Harold and Si Jin, reading a comic together. Harold had quickly accepted the role of “uncle” much better than Lu Yao had expected, which made her think a little deeper about things.

Lu Yao took the torn photograph from her pocket and handed it to Mumu. “This is what Budu originally looked like. I still don’t know where he came from. But he’s gentle and cute, just like Mumu. Today, he came from far away, called me ‘Mother,’ and said he would protect me. It reminded me of the day I first met you.”

Mumu’s round eyes filled with a sheen of moisture, bright and glistening as he looked at Lu Yao.

Seeing her smiling back at him, Mumu hesitantly reached out, tugged at her sleeve, and rubbed against her. “If Lu Yao likes Budu, Mumu will like Budu too.”

Slimes really were the most soothing creatures.

Lu Yao picked up Mumu and cuddled him, laughing. “Lu Yao likes Mumu, and Budu will like Mumu too.”

Ambrose, sitting nearby, watched the scene play out, even nudging Edward.

Edward shook his head, resigned.

This human had everything thought out; he didn’t even feel like meddling anymore.

But, after all, she was just a human, with a fleeting lifespan of around a century.

For beings like them, favoring a human was just a momentary diversion in their long existence.

As the night deepened, the other non-human staff members went upstairs to rest. Budu was arranged to stay on the first floor.

Lu Yao called Harold into the break room for a talk, first asking about his studies.

As an independent young dragon, Harold had no issues with his coursework.

Lu Yao also wanted to discuss Budu with Harold. Seeing Mumu’s reaction had made her thoughtful.

After listening to Lu Yao’s explanation, Harold’s tail was secretly wagging with joy, though he maintained a mature demeanor. “Lu Yao, I’m not a kid anymore. Budu is less than ten months old. As his uncle, I’ll take good care of him.”

Having spent nearly a century alone, the little black dragon had found something he never dared hope for through this human: treasures and companionship.

He was no longer alone, and his world had expanded.

He was a dragon, born to be strong.

He cherished this human and was willing to protect all that she wanted to keep safe.

Lu Yao looked at Harold in surprise. This guy had really grown up.

Is this what made raising someone rewarding?

But Lu Yao’s evident care and attention still made Harold feel bashful yet delighted.

A human’s strength was never in raw power but in a heart and mind full of warmth and intelligence.

With Lu Yao’s warm and approving gaze fixed on him, Harold’s ears grew hot. Feeling like he couldn’t sit any longer without wagging his tail, he abruptly stood and waved stiffly. “I’m going to bed. You should rest too.”

“Alright. Goodnight.” Lu Yao returned to her room in good spirits, washed up, and fell peacefully asleep.

In the adjacent room, Lu Budu sat on the floor with his back against the door, knees bent and eyes downcast, with a persistent, dark glow shimmering in his bright red eyes.

He, too, wanted to be a tool useful to his mother.

…

At the intersection of No. 66 Safflower Road, diagonally across from the “Childhood Tutoring Center,” was a café named “Happiness Café,” run by a young man in his thirties named Qin Xing.

Recently, Qin Xing found himself unconsciously glancing at the tutoring center across the street. Initially, it was out of a peculiar curiosity, wondering how long that shop in the so-called “death zone” would last. Gradually, it turned into a habit—something he would check on now and then.

Since that live stream, the tutoring center had started gaining attention, even benefiting nearby stores with increasing business.

The café was busy around eight in the morning, mostly with customers ordering take-out.

Qin Xing and his staff bustled about, making coffee and packing orders.

By nine-thirty, he could finally take a breather.

Qin Xing made himself an Americano, picked up his breakfast, and sat by the window. This spot was popular among customers, and he wouldn’t usually occupy it for himself.

But ever since the tutoring center opened, its owner would often sit in a wicker chair with a chubby cat, basking in the sun, occasionally sharing pastries with her staff, looking entirely at ease.

Qin Xing had seen it many times and couldn’t help but try it himself. It soon became a ritual.

After all, weekday mornings between nine-thirty and eleven-thirty were slow.

As he sipped his coffee and nibbled on his breakfast, Qin Xing glanced up and noticed a peculiar white van parked in front of the tutoring center.

New visitors?

The van bore the distinctive logo of the Supernatural Research Institute. Rumors had been circulating online that the institute was interested in collaborating with the tutoring center, but nothing concrete had come of it.

Could it be true that a test subject was being brought to the tutoring center for treatment?

While Qin Xing was lost in thought, the van had already left.

He saw two people entering the tutoring center, one after the other, and began to question his theory. If the research institute was indeed collaborating with the center, why would the van leave after dropping off just two people?

Besides, one of them looked familiar, possibly a tutor from the center.

Qin Xing’s thoughts spun in circles, and he wasn’t sure why he even cared.

At the tutoring center, Xie Molin led Subject 444 straight into the tutoring room.

They had arrived at just the right time, as Lu Yao had just finished a session with another student.

That student’s initial tutoring session had gone well. After receiving the memory of the session, the student felt mentally exhausted and was sitting aside, drinking tea and having snacks to regain energy.

Hu Jiao was taking photos and conducting a brief interview to gather material.

Feedback like this was essential for managing the official account, but most students were reluctant to reveal much about their private experiences. Hu Jiao’s material-gathering efforts were thus restrained, with interviews remaining text-based, and materials were not posted immediately.

Subject 444 sat nearby, curiously watching the scene.

Once the student left, Lu Yao came over to greet Xie Molin and Subject 444.

Subject 444 had changed out of the hospital gown from the rehabilitation center and wore casual clothes. However, he still looked terribly thin, even more so now than when he wore the hospital attire.

Lu Yao greeted him and gestured for him to sit down. “You came overnight—have you had breakfast?”

Subject 444’s jacket pocket held a droplet-shaped seal pup plush. While Lu Yao spoke, his fingers lightly squeezed the plush’s body, nodding stiffly.

Lu Yao checked the time; the morning’s appointments were over, leaving a window of free time. She continued, “First time in Sanhua City?”

Subject 444 didn’t know what the owner’s plan was and felt anxious, eager to skip the small talk and start the tutoring session. He lowered his eyes, nodded twice, and kept touching the plush, wondering if she wanted to check his experiment records first.

Lu Yao stood up and said, “How about we take a stroll around town? After the morning rush, I’m a bit hungry. There are some nice snack shops on this street, and it’s a good time with fewer people around.”

Subject 444 and Xie Molin were both taken aback, but before they could respond, Lu Yao turned to the quietly seated Budu. “Can you come with me?”

The other residents of the shopping street couldn’t cross into the other world, nor could the people from the other world enter the shopping street.

Lu Yao had considered why Budu had appeared so suddenly. If, as he said, he existed to protect her, then he must possess some special permissions.

Lu Budu, suddenly called upon, jumped off the table with joy. “Yes, I can go anywhere with Mother.”

As expected.

Lu Yao smiled softly, adjusting Budu’s scarf and putting a hat on him before holding his hand and preparing to leave. “Bai Bai, Xiao Xiao, please watch the store for me. We’re heading out for a bit.”

Xie Molin and Subject 444 exchanged glances, puzzled by what the owner was planning but not stopping her.

Sanhua City was also in winter, but it rarely snowed; instead, it was dry and windy, with a biting chill.

Lu Yao led Budu by the hand and turned to call back to the two lagging behind. “There’s an old man selling roasted sweet potatoes up ahead. Want some?”

Budu had never tasted roasted sweet potatoes, but he could already smell the sweet aroma from afar.

Xie Molin hadn’t eaten a roasted sweet potato in years and found the idea of eating one out on the street a bit embarrassing.

444 had eaten them when he was very young, but after years of being a test subject, his sense of smell and taste had dulled. He couldn’t remember the taste anymore and felt indifferent.

Lu Yao had already made up her mind, pulling Budu along faster.

When they reached the sweet potato stand, she handed Budu some money and showed him how to buy them.

By the time Xie Molin and 444 caught up, the sweet potatoes had been purchased.

Wrapped in sturdy paper bags, the soft and piping hot sweet potatoes radiated warmth through the bag into their hands. Holding one end, a gentle break revealed a sweet, fragrant aroma that filled the air.

Xie Molin, despite his initial reluctance, found himself swallowing involuntarily.

Lu Yao handed the last roasted sweet potato to 444, calling out to him before he could take a bite. “Hold on, let me cast a spell to make it taste even better.”

444 paused, glancing at Xie Molin, whose eyes clearly said, Is your boss serious?

From the first time he saw Lu Yao, 444 had felt something odd about her. The more they interacted, the more his intuition seemed correct.

Ignoring their reactions, Lu Yao drew a silver-white magic circle in the air and gently pushed it toward 444.

The others couldn’t see the magic circle and assumed the owner was just playing around. Only Budu saw the silver circle shrink and float into 444’s mouth.

It was a light magic, imbued with healing power.

As long as they weren’t in a place like the shopping street, where magic was completely cut off, Lu Yao’s healing magic would work, with the only difference being the degree of its effect.

This world was low on magic, but that didn’t mean magic was ineffective.

As 444 bent down to take a bite of the golden, soft sweet potato, a sweet, mellow flavor blossomed on his tongue, and his expression softened.

Xie Molin noticed. “What’s wrong? Did you burn your tongue?”

444 shook his head in a daze and slowly said, “The sweet potato… really does taste good.”

Xie Molin was speechless. “…”

There was no need to exaggerate so much.

444 saw that Xie Molin didn’t believe him and couldn’t help but explain, “I lost my sense of taste a long time ago, but this sweet potato tastes sweet.”

Xie Molin remembered 444’s experiment records. Because of his strong reaction to the experimental drugs, he had undergone many related trials, with the side effect being the loss of his sense of taste and smell.

But how had the owner noticed?

Lu Yao and Budu had already reached a stall selling pan-fried buns. When Xie Molin and 444 caught up, she pointed at the buns and said, “These fresh meat buns are especially delicious, especially when they’re fresh out of the pan. How about a serving for everyone?”

This time, 444 received his serving and stood to the side, waiting expectantly for Lu Yao.

Lu Yao was puzzled for a second, then realized and smiled, “Magic can only be used once a day.”

444’s eyes fell in disappointment.

Lu Yao added, “But the effect lasts for eight hours.”

444, who had nearly wilted, immediately revived and eagerly poked at the buns in his box with a thin bamboo skewer.

Lu Yao reminded him, “Slow down. The buns fresh from the pan are the most fragrant but also very hot.”

Earlier, Budu had burned his tongue, though luckily, as a little snow spirit, it hadn’t affected his sense of taste.

They ate and strolled, eventually circling around Sanhua Road.

The last stop was the entrance of the Happiness Café. “The fruit cream puffs here are particularly good. Want to try them?” Lu Yao suggested.

By now, Xie Molin understood that this was part of her usual routine.

Any suggestion from Lu Yao was met with enthusiastic agreement from the others.

It was 11 a.m., not quite lunchtime, so the café was nearly empty.

The four of them entered and picked a table by the window.

Qin Xing, the owner, intercepted a server and brought the menu over himself.

Lu Yao ordered a latte for herself, hot chocolate for Budu, and four fruit cream puffs.

Xie Molin ordered coffee, and 444 was keen to try it too. He had never had coffee before—he’d heard it was bitter but wanted to try.

Lu Yao intervened, “Your stomach isn’t great; black coffee is too harsh. How about something else?”

444 paused for a moment but surprisingly complied, switching to hot chocolate like Budu.

When the drinks and desserts were ready, Qin Xing once again intercepted the server and brought the tray over himself.

The café was unusually quiet at that hour. As Qin Xing approached, he overheard the lively shop owner speaking to the gaunt man, “Hmm, I think what you need isn’t just a childhood lesson but a life lesson.”

Qin Xing’s steps faltered, and an untimely thought crossed his mind:

Can life really be tutored?

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