Ch 37: Guide to Running a Shop in Another World II

At the entrance, four Nitean small people stood in two pairs, each leading a long-haired ox.

One of them appeared to be from the Xiaguang tribe, while the other three seemed unfamiliar to Lu Yao.

Their skin was slightly dark, wrapped in deep green cloaks, and under the light, strange iridescent hues shimmered on their cheeks.

Among them, the woman standing beside the Xiaguang tribesman had silvery-purple hues on her cheeks, resembling tiny, delicate scales.

The other two small people, whose scales reflected pale green light, were likely from the coastal Black Rock tribe.

Hudie also had similar scales on her arms, but perhaps because she was of mixed blood, her cheeks didn’t bear these distinct features.

Lu Yao observed them. Despite their initial wide-eyed reaction and dilated pupils, they managed to suppress their instinctive fear and didn’t behave rudely.

It was evident they knew of the inn and of Lu Yao herself.

Lu Yao’s attention shifted to the two Black Rock small people standing at the back, who seemed slightly uneasy. Their long-haired ox carried a peculiar box.

The wooden box was perfectly square, devoid of any patterns on its surface, with a ring of small holes at the top.

What stood out was how carefully the box was strapped—not casually tied but cradled in a beast-hide sling and securely fastened to the ox’s back.

It seemed significant, though its purpose was unclear.

“We’d like to stay at the inn,” the male Xiaguang tribesman spoke up.

Zhu Zhou descended via the lift and jogged over to Lu Yao. “I’ll handle it.”

Zhu Zhou skillfully guided the four guests to the currency exchange machine and explained the inn’s check-in procedure.

The male Xiaguang tribesman introduced himself as Feng Qin, and his female companion with silvery-purple scales was named Xia Yin.

The other pair, also a couple, were indeed from the Black Rock tribe as Lu Yao had guessed.

The man was named Qian Lang, and the woman, Bei Bei.

When Lu Yao offered to lead their long-haired ox to the stable, Qian Lang and Bei Bei were visibly tense and refused to let her near.

Only after carefully removing the box from the ox’s back themselves did they allow her to take the animals away.

It was clear that the box was of immense importance.

Qian Lang and Bei Bei were assigned to Room 402 in the vintage guesthouse block.

After Zhu Zhou escorted them to their room, Xia Yin bluntly stated, “I don’t want to stay near them. Is there somewhere quieter?”

Zhu Zhou replied earnestly, “Our guest rooms are well-insulated; you won’t hear other guests from your room.”

Xia Yin’s expression remained cold. Feng Qin gently placed an arm around her shoulders, patting them in a soothing gesture before turning to Zhu Zhou. “Then put us in the room furthest from them.”

Zhu Zhou thought for a moment. “That would be in Block Three, the furthest from Block One.”

Just then, Lu Yao emerged from the kitchen and interrupted. “If you prefer peace and quiet, the Rose Garden House has vacant rooms.”

Rose Garden House?

Xia Yin and Feng Qin exchanged glances and then looked at Lu Yao. “We’ll take that.”

Lu Yao personally led them to the Rose Garden House, with Zhu Zhou trailing behind out of curiosity.

The Rose Garden House had just been completed that evening, and every small person in the inn had rushed to see it.

It was an extraordinarily beautiful little building, so much so that Zhu Zhou and Yuan Wei thought it might rival the godly temple of the Shenmu tribe.

Xia Yin and Feng Qin had no idea what to expect from the so-called Rose Garden House. Their decision was purely emotional, wanting to stay far from the guests in Room 402.

The three green-brick buildings were neat and elegant, so the Rose Garden House surely wouldn’t disappoint.

With a mindset of “it doesn’t really matter,” Xia Yin and Feng Qin followed Lu Yao.

The guests’ luggage was placed on a mini foldable cart, which Lu Yao easily pushed along with a single finger.

They passed the green-brick buildings and the mini cinema before stopping in front of a light blue domed castle.

This guesthouse had only three floors. The first floor included a tea lounge, dining room, art studio, reading room, kitchen, and cleaning room. At the back was a row of glasshouses intended for planting flowers, which would eventually become a floral greenhouse.

For now, the greenhouse was empty, and none of the inn’s small guests had visited it yet.

The second and third floors were guest rooms. The second floor housed 12 small suites for up to 13 guests, while the third floor had six larger suites that could accommodate up to 26.

Inside, there were three spiral staircases leading upstairs and seven elevators strategically placed throughout.

Lu Yao had enlisted Bai Lu to decorate the exterior. The intricate relief patterns on the walls and railings, along with a series of hanging paintings—oil, watercolor, egg-shell art, and dried-flower creations—added a refined touch. Despite their varied styles, the artworks surprisingly harmonized with each other.

The center of the blue-domed building featured a clock tower. A watch-sized clock face was embedded within the wall.

When constructing the clock tower, Lu Yao had discovered that the time on Nitean Continent differed from that of the store’s world.

In conversion, one day on the Nitean Continent equaled 16 hours in the store’s time system.

Thus, the inn’s clock tower displayed a custom face aligned with Nitean Continent’s time, specially designed by Edward at Lu Yao’s request.

Edward and Ambrose, who had studied otherworldly time systems, had even privately discussed these time discrepancies, as Alexander Continent’s time system also differed greatly from the store’s.

The golden clock face embedded in the pristine white wall, paired with the light blue dome, elegant relief carvings, and unique paintings, made the castle-like building extraordinarily luxurious.

Xia Yin and Feng Qin stood at the foot of the stairs, gazing upward in stunned silence.

Zhu Zhou, waiting for some reaction, couldn’t help but remark, “This guesthouse opened just this evening. You are the very first guests to stay here.”

After spending time with the human staff, the small people had picked up common human phrases like “open” and “check-in.”

Xia Yin and Feng Qin indeed appeared surprised, a faint glimmer lighting their eyes as their moods lifted.

Zhu Zhou felt slightly impatient—why were they so calm?

When Lu Yao had shown the staff the newly completed guesthouse earlier that day, everyone had been astonished.

It was as if it had shattered every prior notion the Nitean small people had about housing.

This creation, seemingly the work of gods, was generously opened to all.

Hudie and A’Dai had immediately clamored to switch rooms, eager to move into the Rose Garden House, only to be reluctantly persuaded otherwise by Lu Yao.

Later, they changed their minds again, requesting adjustments to their current rooms. It had taken Lu Yao until late at night to appease them all.

Now, Lu Yao handed a key to Xia Yin and said, “Your room is 203. Zhu Zhou will escort you upstairs.”

Ascending the steps, they paused at the entrance, where a “large” oil painting hung on the central wall. Its bold and passionate colors naturally drew attention from any viewer.

Lu Yao explained, “This is a rose.”

Xia Yin was surprised. “A rose is a flower?”

Lu Yao nodded. “Yes.”

Xia Yin gazed at it, seemingly lost in thought. “What a fiery flower. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Lu Yao smiled. “Tomorrow, I’ll bring some to the inn for you to admire.”

Xia Yin nodded, the sorrow between her brows easing slightly.

The corridors and staircases were lined with thick, soft carpets, a detail unnoticed until they entered.

The second-floor corridor showcased a different collection of wall art, offering an entirely new experience at every turn.

At Room 203, Zhu Zhou set down their luggage and invited the guests to open the door.

The room’s interior was decorated in a classic European style. The dark carpet appeared understated at first glance, but upon closer inspection, its intricate patterns and faint golden shimmer revealed its luxurious craftsmanship.

Entering from the entrance, the crystal chandelier on the ceiling sparkled like gemstones, with each tassel shimmering under the light.

The glow reflected off the set of European leather sofas, the lace-covered tea table, and the grand canopy bed, continuously drawing the guests’ attention.

Finally seeing surprise, hesitation, and uncontrollable admiration in the guests’ eyes, Zhu Zhou felt a deep sense of satisfaction.

As usual, he politely redirected their focus and carefully explained the basic amenities in the room. With a composed expression, he excused himself, saying, “I’ll deliver your meal later.”

Downstairs, Zhu Zhou bolted toward the green-brick building and leaned against the kitchen door, brimming with gossip. “Ah Yuan, the Rose Garden House has its first guests. You should’ve seen their expressions when they entered the room…”

Yuanwei couldn’t help but laugh as she listened to Zhu Zhou’s storytelling.

The two had seen the Rose Garden House open for the first time earlier that day, and their reactions had been even more amusing than the guests’.

Though inexperienced, even they knew the Rose Garden House was exceptionally beautiful.

Yuanwei finished preparing meals for four and delivered them upstairs, while Zhu Zhou took a tray to the Rose Garden House.

In Room 402 of the green-brick building, Qian Lang and Beibei, having bathed, sat on the bed, nervously staring at the box placed in the middle.

At the sound of a knock, both startled.

Qian Lang got up, opened the door, and glanced toward the adjacent room before turning to Yuanwei and casually asking, “Where are the other two?”

Yuanwei: “?”

Qian Lang clarified, “The two who came to the inn with us.”

Yuanwei replied, “They’re staying in another guesthouse.”

After delivering the meals and returning to the kitchen, Yuanwei began tidying up.

A few minutes later, Zhu Zhou returned to help her finish the closing tasks.

Lu Yao, having bathed and changed, saw them still busy and pulled up a chair to listen to their conversation.

Yuanwei speculated, “Do you think the guests upstairs know the ones in the Rose Garden House?”

Zhu Zhou nodded. “Three of the four guests are from the Blackrock Tribe. Judging from the behavior of the guests in 203, they probably know each other.”

Yuanwei recounted how Qian Lang had reacted while collecting his meal and whispered, “They brought a fetal seed with them and are staying at the inn together. Could they all have come from the Shenmu Tribe?”

Zhu Zhou, deep in thought, agreed. Then, with a slightly dejected expression, he added, “The 402 guests managed to obtain a fetal seed, but the ones in 203 didn’t—just like what happened to us.”

That would explain why the 203 guests didn’t want to be near the 402 guests. Just seeing them might be unbearable.

Lu Yao pushed the small kitchen door open a crack with her finger, poking her head through. “The box with the 402 guests—is that holding a fetal seed?”

Yuanwei and Zhu Zhou turned to see their boss, mouth open wide enough to reveal her tonsils.

The two weren’t the least bit scared, worried instead that she couldn’t hear them, as they leaned against the door and started chatting.

Yuanwei said, “It’s that box. Back when Huxi and Yin’er came out of the temple, they were carrying the same kind of box.”

The next day, at the break of dawn, Lu Yao woke up earlier than usual, likely due to some trivial matters weighing on her mind.

She was quite curious about the fetal seeds of the Nitean little people, but according to Yuanwei, the guests in Room 402 would never let her see them.

After performing the Iris Ceremony, Nitean couples would live together and then travel to the Shenmu Tribe when the time felt right for both.

If they were fortunate enough to obtain a fetal seed, they would return to their tribe as quickly and safely as possible.

During the incubation period, the couple would remain highly vigilant. Before the child’s birth, no one else was allowed to see or touch their fetal seed.

This mysterious and unique reproductive method of the Nitean little people fascinated Lu Yao.

After washing up, she put the matter aside for now. She took out some sweet flag flower seedlings and a few adorable clay flowerpots from her portable storage.

The mini clay pots were the “masterpieces” of her human staff, each reflecting their individual tastes and quirks.

Flower soil, fertilizer, and miniature trowels were arranged neatly under the eaves. Lu Yao carefully transplanted three sweet flag seedlings using a method she had recently learned.

The tiny seedlings, planted in pots the size of lipstick caps, were even more endearing than succulents.

Lu Yao opened the window and placed the three sweet flag pots directly into the glass greenhouse.

Since both Yangju and the Acorus were solitary seedlings, she cast a duplication spell before planting them as a precaution.

However, something interesting happened—neither plant could be duplicated. This meant they were truly unique in this world.

She placed the Yangju in one teacup and the Acorus in another. After adding soil and water, she set them both in the greenhouse, silently hoping they would sprout on their own.

If the system were still active, it would’ve already started grumbling: “Unique and precious seeds, and you just buried them like that? No ceremony at all? You’ll regret this.”

No one in the inn knew that the boss had quietly planted some flowers in the greenhouse. The morning began as usual—with a joyful breakfast.

After breakfast, the little staff urged Lu Yao to head out.

Yesterday, she had mentioned wanting to build a new facility between the hot spring flower tree on the mountain and the inn.

Though the little ones didn’t quite understand what she meant, it didn’t stop them from eagerly anticipating it all night.

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