Ch 12: Guide to Running a Shop in Another World II

On the seventh day, the inn had no guests.
On the eighth day, Ji Feiming, Ji Zhixin, and Bai Yi came to work.

The three were employees of the blind box store, the Little Pet Cafe, and the Childhood Tutoring Center, respectively.

After parking their vehicles, the trio walked straight to the new inn’s entrance and looked up at its sign.

Hearing the sound of cars approaching, Lu Yao came out for a look. Seeing them, she smiled: “You’re all early.”

Curious about the new inn, they followed her inside.

The moment Ji Zhixin entered, he noticed the miniature paths and the manual elevator system on the floor. Squatting down to inspect, he asked: “Who designed this?”

Bai Yi: “What’s up?”

Ji Zhixin: “Before I started working at the Shoping Street, I liked playing with building blocks. This scene is really well-designed, and the structure of this elevator is ingenious—it seems like it can actually move.”

Back when his legs were bad, Ji Zhixin had been temperamental and reclusive, confined to his room most of the time. Occasionally, his mother would buy him a box of building blocks, which became his sole pastime.

As he spoke, he reached out, turned the elevator lever, and watched as it indeed began to move.

Bai Yi marveled: “This is so interesting!”

Standing behind them, Ji Feiming glanced around at the inn’s layout, his expression shifting slightly:
“The inn hasn’t opened yet?”

Lu Yao: “It opened on the fourth.”

Then why does it still look like this?
It didn’t resemble an operational inn at all.

Outside, Zhou Su arrived on her little electric scooter. She rushed toward the inn, only to pause at the sight of the gathering inside. Hesitating at the door, she eagerly looked at Lu Yao: “Boss, did anything happen last night?”

Lu Yao shook her head: “Blank slate.”

Zhou Su’s face fell in disappointment.

She had been anticipating something since yesterday, so much so that she couldn’t sleep well last night. Sometimes, the more you expect, the less likely it happens.

Ji Zhixin stood up and followed the miniature elevator path, his gaze landing on the intricately detailed blue-brick building. Pushing open the first-floor door, he seemed astonished: “This is so detailed; you can barely tell it’s made of building blocks from the outside.”

Lego, known for sparking creativity, could be used to create a variety of forms with its block shapes. However, buildings made of blocks often retained certain characteristics—visible square edges, rigid lines, and a pixelated feel. Yet this blue-brick building lacked those traits, appearing like a scaled-down replica of a real human dwelling.

Lu Yao explained:
“It’s probably because of the materials. To save costs, I made the bricks and stones for the inn myself. Their texture and structure are closer to those of actual human houses.”

Ji Zhixin asked, puzzled: “Why go through so much trouble to create this for an inn?”

This question was also on Ji Feiming’s and Bai Yi’s minds.

Zhou Su couldn’t hold back and answered: “Because the guests are little people who can live in these tiny houses—though I haven’t seen them myself yet.”

The trio was stunned.

Lu Yao smiled and explained, “This shop is set in a world where humans have gone extinct. The new inhabitants of the continent are the Nitean Little People.”

She had been so engrossed in her work that she hadn’t thought to take photos for her records.

The staff regretfully exited the inn, but before leaving, they all turned back in unison and said, “Boss, let us know if any guests come!”

Their behavior mirrored Zhou Su’s from the day before.

However, on the eighth day, the inn still didn’t receive any visitors.

After work in the evening, Ji Zhixin, Bai Yi, and Zhou Su all came back to see Lu Yao, each reluctant to leave.

Lu Yao remarked, “Don’t look at me like that. I have principles—I don’t make employees work overtime unless it’s necessary.”

Zhou Su clung to Lu Yao’s arm playfully, saying, “Oh, this isn’t overtime! We’ve just finished the New Year holiday and wanted to chat with you.”

Bai Yi and Ji Zhixin carried bags of food in their hands.

Bai Yi said, “Zhixin-ge and I already bought dinner and snacks. You wouldn’t have the heart to send us away, right?”

To avoid delivery drivers showing up, Ji Zhixin had driven to the city to buy the food with Bai Yi. Besides a proper dinner, they also brought a “Thursday Happy Bucket,” desserts, and milk tea.

Lu Yao sighed, “Fine, but let me be clear: no overtime pay, and don’t let this affect your work tomorrow.”

Ji Zhixin retorted, “Who said this is overtime? It’s just a rare post-work gathering with colleagues.”

Bai Yi and Zhou Su nodded enthusiastically, their eyes frequently darting toward the half-built second guesthouse zone on the counter.

Lu Yao handed out blueprints, saying, “First, divide the tasks properly. Don’t mix things up; redoing it is a hassle.”

Despite bringing food, none of them ate. Only Lu Yao sat down to open her meal of pan-seared steak and spaghetti, which had gone a bit cold. She took it to the kitchen to reheat before eating.

…

In the world of Alexander Continent, the Dragon Festival had just ended, and staff from the nail salon were gradually returning.

Harold, busy catching up with familiar faces and exchanging banter, didn’t come over that evening, and even Budu stayed on that side.

As Ji Zhixin had said, it was indeed rare for Lu Yao to sit with her local staff and spend some time chatting.

The three staff members were engrossed in playing with the building blocks, while Lu Yao sat by the kitchen counter eating.

Bai Yi said, “Boss, a few people came to the tutoring center looking for you today.”

Lu Yao asked, “Who?”

Bai Yi replied, “One was a woman named Zhou Yishan, and the other was a man who identified himself as ‘X.’ Xiaoxiao said these two have been waiting outside the shop almost every day recently.”

Although the tutoring center was technically closed during the holiday, some staff remained on duty to handle lingering work from the ultimate mission.

Since the completion of that mission, dramatic changes had taken place in Sanhua City and even the entire world. Yet Lu Yao’s only focus was continuing to run the tutoring center.

As for controlling the world’s future, she had no such ambitions.

She thought to herself, Let the new god worry about these things.

However, the seed she had planted in her flowerpot had yet to sprout.

Bai Yi continued, “In the afternoon, Zhixin and I were hanging out near the convenience store, and they spotted us. They asked me to pass a message to you.”

Lu Yao: “What did they say?”

Bai Yi: “They claimed they had something very important to tell you and hoped they could meet with you.”

Lu Yao frowned. Zhou Yishan’s tutoring had already been completed. After the incident at the research institute, Lu Yao had no desire to see her—or X, for that matter.

Bai Yi added, “They seemed serious, as if it were truly important.”

Lu Yao pondered for a moment. “I understand. After I finish my tasks over the next couple of days, I’ll meet with them.”

Tomorrow was the final day of the inn’s mission, and she had to be there to oversee it.

Zhou Su, having listened to the conversation, couldn’t hold back her curiosity. “Boss, have you made progress on that project you mentioned earlier?”

Earlier, she had tried sharing news about tonight’s hangout at the inn in the group chat, only to remember they couldn’t send photos, which reminded her of the matter.

Lu Yao thought for a moment and nodded. “I’ve discussed it with our collaborators. I should receive an answer in the next few days.”

Previously, Lu Yao had spoken with the head guard at the snack shop to discuss the details of building the internal network.

The head guard explained that the plan required the approval of the Demon God, as the network would serve as an online platform for the shop but had to rely on Dreamland’s rules and infrastructure. Since this involved multiple interconnected world systems, the Demon God’s consent was critical.

Lu Yao understood the head guard’s caution and could only wait patiently for the Demon God’s response.

Zhou Su pressed, “Can you at least hint at what this project involves?”

Lu Yao replied vaguely, “It’s hard to say for now.”

She didn’t want to prematurely share details. If the Demon God didn’t approve, it would feel like she’d broken a promise to her employees. While she hadn’t been overly concerned about such things in the past, the growing number of shops and staff on the street made her increasingly aware of her responsibilities as a boss.

The system’s recent antics left her with a nagging sense that more trouble awaited. Having dependable, trustworthy “teammates” might prove crucial in the days ahead.

The discussion fizzled out without further details, but Zhou Su wasn’t disappointed. Instead, she changed the topic to something else.

Tonight, what held everyone’s attention the most was the inn’s Little People guests.

Unfortunately, by 10 p.m., no new guests had arrived.

Lu Yao, true to her word, firmly shooed the three away, warning them not to stay up late if they wanted to function at work tomorrow.

Both Ji Zhixin and Bai Yi drove, while Zhou Su rode her small electric scooter.

Concerned for Zhou Su’s safety, Bai Yi offered to drive her home.

Lu Yao stood at the inn’s entrance, watching them leave.

The parking lot next to Qingshan Noodle House was in terrible shape. If the internal network project succeeded and funds became available, she considered renovating the area.

…

On the Nitean Continent, a Nitean Little Person wrapped tightly in a pink cloak sprinted towards Thorn Valley.

Snow fell heavily at night, but he didn’t stop, hunching his body low as feather-like flakes landed on his head and shoulders. Determined, he pressed forward.

Finally, he climbed up the gentle slope leading into Thorn Valley and saw a bright, wide road stretching ahead.

He paused in surprise, then began running toward the inn.

Exhausted from the long journey, his legs gave way as he descended the slope too quickly, falling flat on his face. Something he had been holding close to his chest flew out, emitting a weak whimper.

The Little Person struggled to get up, desperate to reach the small creature that was crying out in distress, but his frozen limbs refused to obey.

The biting wind carried snowflakes that whipped against him, and a thin layer of ice began to form under his feet.

He was so close, yet so far.

Unwilling to give in, he closed his eyes.

…

Inside the inn, Lu Yao had made a makeshift bed using chairs in the kitchen hallway. Before resting, she habitually pushed open the inn door to check outside.

Tonight, the Nitean Continent was blanketed in snow again.

The fences on either side of the inn weren’t fully white, and the small string lights appeared hazy in the snowy night. Without moonlight, they resembled stars scattered on the ground.

“Woo—”

Lu Yao’s ears perked up as she faintly heard a whimper, but with the sound of the windmills spinning noisily, she thought she might’ve imagined it.

“Woo-woo—”

She pulled out her phone, switched on the flashlight, and began walking along the fence.

Halfway through, she crouched to pick up a piece of paper buried in the snow.

One side had an illustration, and the back was printed text—it was one of the inn’s flyers.

Continuing forward, she stopped near the slope. Squinting, she scanned the snow and spotted a pink bundle partially covered by snowflakes. Another ten minutes, and it would’ve been entirely buried.

Brushing the snow aside, she found it oddly familiar.

After a moment, she remembered—it was the hooded cloak she had sewn for Monk that night.

Underneath the hooded cloak was a Nitean Little Person curled up and frozen stiff.

This little one can’t form a cocoon?

A short distance away, there was another small grayish-black furry bundle. Lu Yao placed both tiny creatures into her coat pockets, one on each side. Pausing to listen, she heard no other sounds and turned to head back to the inn.

Once inside, she turned on the portable heater, grabbed a fleece blanket, and began warming up the Little Person and the furry bundle, much like when she had rescued Monk.

The tiny furry bundle was about the size of one of her fingertips. Its gray-white fur was curled tightly, resembling a thumb-sized donut. Its abdomen rose and fell faintly, showing signs of life.

As she kept watch over them, Lu Yao sent a message to the group chat.

[Lu Yao: The inn has guests now.]

Well, rescued guests, but it didn’t really matter.

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