Ch 56: Guide to Running a Shop in Another World II

Ji Qingyan’s fingers flew across the keyboard as she carefully composed the message and hit send.

It had been a year since she and Cheng Ye broke up. They hadn’t deleted each other’s contact information, but neither had they reached out. She’d vaguely heard from someone that he had quit his job and returned to his hometown, but she didn’t know what his life was like now.

Maybe he had already settled down—married, found a stable and leisurely job, and was living the simple, peaceful life he had once dreamed of.

When Lu Yao mentioned wanting skilled system admins, the first person Ji Qingyan thought of was Cheng Ye.

As Bai Lu had said, once a thought takes root, not acting on it can lead to endless preoccupation, distracting you from work.

After sending the message, Ji Qingyan exhaled deeply.

Whether or not Cheng Ye accepted the opportunity, she had done her part, and there was no reason to dwell on it anymore.

…

In Kaiyang City, at the General Hospital, Cheng Ye sat on a cold, dimly lit bench in the corridor, gripping a medical report in his hand.

The hallway buzzed with hurried footsteps and bustling voices, but Cheng Ye felt as though the world had fallen silent. His body was cold.

On the diagnosis line of the report, the words “Liver cancer, advanced stage” loomed like a death sentence.

Suddenly, his phone screen lit up with a new message.

He glanced at the sender’s name, hesitated, and eventually opened the chat.

[She]: Cheng Ye, it’s Ji Qingyan. Are you busy? There’s a good job opportunity I think you might like—relatively laid-back, decent pay, and I think it’d suit you. Want to come for an interview? It’s in Yaoguang City, and I’m here too.

Cheng Ye stared at the message in silence, then moved to delete it.

His thumb hovered over the red “Delete” option. After a long sigh, he went back to the chat and reluctantly typed out a reply:

[Cheng Ye]: What job?

[Ji Qingyan]: System admin.

Cheng Ye: “…”

Several more messages followed in quick succession. They were long-winded and seemed to be her attempt at convincing him that being a system admin was genuinely a good job.

Cheng Ye skimmed through the texts, barely registering their content, and then typed a simple reply:

[Cheng Ye]: Alright, I’ll come and take a look.

[Ji Qingyan]: Really?

[Cheng Ye]: Mm. Let’s grab a meal while I’m there.

[Ji Qingyan]: Sure! When are you coming? Hurry up—I’ll let them know in advance so you don’t miss out.

She was seriously eager for him to take this job.

[Cheng Ye]: …Alright, I’ll get a ticket for tomorrow.

[Ji Qingyan]: Great! Let me know the time, and I’ll pick you up from the airport.

Cheng Ye stared at her final message, his mouth filled with a bitter taste.

Forget it.

Even if it was just a moment of weakness, he still wanted to see her again.

Just once. Then he’d come back.

With that thought, Cheng Ye stood up. A spark of energy returned to his limbs as he strode towards the elevator.

…

After finalizing things with Cheng Ye, Ji Qingyan immediately contacted Lu Yao.

She gave a brief summary of Cheng Ye’s qualifications, emphasizing that he was more than capable of handling the role of system admin.

The only potential issue was Cheng Ye’s personality—he wasn’t great at dealing with people.

However, the Shopping Street was unlike a typical workplace. Despite the diverse and numerous staff, there weren’t any strange office politics, and colleagues were generally easygoing.

Ji Qingyan sincerely believed this environment would suit Cheng Ye, even if their encounter might be a little awkward.

…

The Next Day: Airport

Cheng Ye walked out of the terminal and paused when he spotted Ji Qingyan waving from afar.

It had been a year since they last saw each other, and she seemed to have changed a lot.

Ji Qingyan approached him quickly and noticed he was empty-handed. “You didn’t bring any luggage?”

Cheng Ye glanced down. “No.”

She led him toward the parking lot and turned to look at him again. “Didn’t sleep well? You look pale.”

Cheng Ye: “A little.”

After they got in the car, Ji Qingyan reminded Cheng Ye to fasten his seatbelt and drove straight toward Shopping Street.

As he watched the scenery zip past and the road become increasingly remote, Cheng Ye finally said, “I haven’t had breakfast.”

Ji Qingyan smiled. “Me neither. When we get to the shop, there’ll be plenty of good food.”

Cheng Ye hesitated. “Where are we going?”

“Shopping Street, where I work. You’ll have your interview there.”

Cheng Ye frowned slightly. “You seriously want me to be a system admin?”

“Of course. Why else would I bring you here?”

Cheng Ye fell silent. Ji Qingyan continued, “I’ve already arranged everything with the shop owner. You’re the first candidate, so your chances of getting the job are high.”

Gripping and releasing his seatbelt repeatedly, Cheng Ye felt an urge to tell Ji Qingyan the truth about his condition but couldn’t bring himself to say it.

What would be the point of telling her? Their relationship had ended long ago.

She was genuinely trying to help him with this job, without any ulterior motives.

Cheng Ye suppressed his swirling emotions and quietly acquiesced.

Ji Qingyan had gone to the trouble of arranging this interview; he couldn’t turn it down now. He decided he’d take a look and find a way to politely decline afterward.

When her phone buzzed with a notification, Ji Qingyan turned to Cheng Ye. “You have a new message too. Download the app and sign the confidentiality agreement before we get there.”

Cheng Ye opened his phone to find the pop-up notification.

Ji Qingyan added, “I wrote the app myself. Just go in and sign the agreement.”

Hearing this, Cheng Ye’s lingering doubts eased. He downloaded the app and, without reading too carefully, clicked “Agree” all the way through.

…

Shopping Street

When they arrived, Cheng Ye glanced at Ji Qingyan. “You work here now?”

She nodded. “Yes. Let’s eat first, then I’ll take you to meet the shop owner.”

Shopping Street was a run-down road far from the city center, clearly devoid of bustling business activity, yet it was lined with shops on both sides.

Cheng Ye noticed an internet café further down the street, and his expression turned increasingly complex.

He had thought Ji Qingyan might take him to a snack shop or the noodle place nearby, so he moved toward the steps.

But Ji Qingyan stopped him. “Not the noodle shop. On Shopping Street, no one except the shop owner is allowed to enter the eateries. We’re going to the hot spring inn.”

Before entering the inn, Ji Qingyan gave Cheng Ye a heads-up. “I work here. The shops on Shopping Street all have some… unusual aspects. Don’t be too surprised.”

Cheng Ye thought to himself: No matter how unusual, nothing could surprise me anymore.

Then he stepped into the Hot Spring Inn.

On the windowsills, rooftops, elevators, pathways, and transparent tunnels, tiny ten-centimeter-tall people bustled about.

Cheng Ye rubbed his eyes, looked again, and locked eyes with one of the little people walking through a transparent passageway.

The tiny figure nodded at him and walked away leisurely.

Cheng Ye looked down at Ji Qingyan.

“It’s not an illusion,” she said. “You’ll get used to it.”

She briefly explained the Hot Spring Inn’s peculiarities and added, “The shop where you’ll interview is even more unique.”

Standing in the hallway, Cheng Ye stared blankly at the miniature structures around him, unsure if he had heard her explanation.

After a while, he seemed to regain his composure, sat down to eat, and asked, “The shop where I’m supposed to interview… what’s its situation?”

Ji Qingyan, sitting beside him, smiled. “Oh, you heard me. I haven’t been there yet either. But the shop owner said it’s set in the cultivation world.”

Cheng Ye, who had just picked up his chopsticks, slowly put them back down. His thoughts churned. “Cultivation world?”

Ji Qingyan couldn’t help laughing. “Yes, the cultivation world. The shop owner plans to open an internet café there and needs skilled system admins.”

Cultivation world.

Cheng Ye thought it was absurd at first.

But as he looked around at his surroundings, he realized he couldn’t laugh.

If it really was the cultivation world… maybe there was hope for his illness.

He had, after all, read cultivation novels before. These days, whenever he had free time, he gravitated toward fantastical stories on reading apps.

The more fantastical and far removed from reality, the more he loved them.

“Alright, let’s eat first, then head to the interview,” Cheng Ye said, picking up his chopsticks and starting to eat.

He hadn’t been very hungry earlier, but whether it was the delicious food at the Hot Spring Inn or his changing mood, he found himself truly enjoying the meal.

After eating, Ji Qingyan brought Cheng Ye to the Interdimensional Internet Café to meet Lu Yao.

A small truck was parked at the entrance, and two delivery workers were unloading the latest equipment.

Fifteen state-of-the-art devices, still in their boxes, were neatly placed under the awning but hadn’t been moved inside yet.

Ji Qingyan and Cheng Ye entered the café to find Lu Yao scolding a group of sparrow spirits in the corner.

The fine black net from before had turned into a birdcage, trapping over a dozen sparrows inside. They chirped noisily until Lu Yao grabbed one of them.

“Two hundred years of cultivation, and you haven’t even managed to take human form? It must be because you’re so despicable.”

“When will I let you go? When I’m in a good mood.”

“You’re too noisy. Keep it up, and I’ll clip your tongues.”

Her tone was soft and calm, with no apparent malice, but the sparrows in the cage immediately fell silent. Even the one in her hand stopped struggling and became obedient.

Ji Qingyan glanced at Cheng Ye and walked over first. “Boss, I brought him.”

Lu Yao turned her head. “Good. Just a moment.”

Inside the cage, the sparrow spirits stared at Ji Qingyan and Cheng Ye with their shiny, beady eyes, as if evaluating who might be easier to bully.

Lu Yao put the sparrow back into the cage and stood up. “Let’s talk outside.”

…

Outside the Internet Café

Ji Qingyan asked, “Boss, were you just talking to those sparrows?”

Lu Yao nodded. “Those were the sparrow spirits that pecked at me yesterday. Don’t underestimate them—they haven’t taken human form yet, but they’re a handful. Just now, those beady eyes were assessing which of you two would be easier to push around.”

Ji Qingyan & Cheng Ye: “…”

Lu Yao brought Cheng Ye across the street to the employee office for the interview, leaving Ji Qingyan free to post in the work group chat.

Employee Group Chat

Hot Spring Inn Ji Qingyan: “The new shop has a whole cage of sparrow spirits! Just saw the boss scolding them—it’s hilarious!”

Nail Salon Harold: “The same bunch from yesterday? They flew over to try bullying Lu Yao.”

Nail Salon Merulu: “Bullying Lu Yao? Who dares bully Lu Yao?”

Nail Salon Puxiu: “Was Lu Yao hurt?”

Nail Salon Mumu: “Did Lu Yao get scared?”

Little Pet Cafe Jiuhua: [Shocked.JPG] “Mumu can type?!”

Little Pet Cafe Leilei: “Crying? Even Leopard can type, you know.”

Childhood Tutoring Center Hu Jiao: “You’re all going to make me laugh to death!”

Nail Salon Harold: “They’re all locked up in the shop now. Those guys messing with Lu Yao? Definitely won’t end well for them.”

Snack Shop Xingzi: “Don’t talk about Lu Yao like that.”

Snack Shop Xiao Qie: “Lu Yao would feel sad if she saw this.”

Nail Salon Harold: “…I was complimenting her!!!”

…

Employee Office

The cinema post-production trio kept sneaking glances at their phones, watching the group chat flood with messages. Every single one struck a chord, stirring their desire to jump in.

Oh, how they wanted to join in!

But with the boss conducting an interview outside, they didn’t dare touch their phones.

…

Half an hour later, Lu Yao and Cheng Ye had nearly wrapped up their conversation.

Lu Yao seemed quite satisfied, but Cheng Ye looked hesitant.

Lu Yao: “Is there something else on your mind?”

Cheng Ye slowly clenched his hands, resting them on his knees. “There is. Before coming to Yaoguang City, I had a medical checkup.”

Lu Yao frowned. “Are you unwell?”

Cheng Ye laid everything on the table, confessing his diagnosis.

Lu Yao shifted in her chair, leaning back against the rest. “Does Qingyan know about this?”

Cheng Ye shook his head. “She doesn’t.”

Lu Yao crossed her arms. “As a rule, I generally don’t encourage people with health issues to work in the shop.”

Cheng Ye’s motivations were clear to Lu Yao. He wasn’t the first person to approach the shopping street with ulterior motives.

His honesty during the interview, however, earned her respect.

Cheng Ye: “At first, I agreed to come because I wanted to see her one last time. I didn’t expect her to genuinely believe in this opportunity. I owe you an apology. But now, I’m truly drawn to this job.”

Lu Yao tapped her fingers lightly on the armrest, starting to understand Ji Qingyan’s intentions. “She really means well,” she thought. Cheng Ye, it seemed, wasn’t overly cunning or calculative.

Lu Yao: “If you are truly capable, I can make an exception.”

From employees like Ji Zhixin, to Fu Chi, and Zheng Ziyang, many who came to the shopping street had their own motivations.

As long as their work was up to par, Lu Yao didn’t mind helping out within reason.

It was simply a matter of mutual benefit—a concept she was perfectly comfortable with.

Cheng Ye raised his head, his disbelief evident.

Lu Yao: “If you’re willing, let’s start with a seven-day trial contract. After seven days, we’ll decide if it’s a mutual fit. This is standard for all new employees here.”

Cheng Ye didn’t hesitate to sign the trial contract.

Lu Yao chose not to tell Ji Qingyan about Cheng Ye’s condition.

Later that afternoon, she decided to test some magic-based renovations for the new shop. The results far exceeded her expectations.

Satisfied with the progress, she assigned Cheng Ye the task of setting up the computers, preparing for the grand opening scheduled for three days later.

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