Ch 103: Guide to Running a Shop in Another World II

Apart from the time spent playing games to earn money, Zhu Ying preferred binge-watching dramas, browsing Big eye forums, and recently even following reality shows and watching cut videos on alphabet websites. She could be described as a “self-taught” high-intensity internet surfer.

While browsing Big eye and watching short videos, she often stumbled upon other content—unboxings, recommendations, and critiques. Especially after placing online orders, she frequently came across reviews and recommendations for the products she had bought.

Zhu Ying selectively watched topics that interested her and gained a lot of new knowledge.

After placing an order and waiting for the delivery, she watched many unboxings and reviews about lipsticks and eyeshadows. When her package arrived in the morning, Zhu Ying immediately thought of those online videos.

Besides professional influencers, many ordinary people shared their shopping experiences online. Now, Zhu Ying finally understood what Lu Yao had said before: with online shopping, you can’t immediately get your items, and returning or exchanging goods involves time and risk. So, thorough preparation before shopping was essential, and other people’s reviews were highly valuable. Videos, notes, photos, and evaluations were excellent references.

However, Zhu Ying was immersed in the joy of her first online shopping experience. Like most internet users, she simply wanted to document and share her first unboxing.

Zhu Ying’s cave was a stone chamber deep within the forest.

She searched her cave thoroughly and found a nice light-colored fabric to lay on her stone table. Since the lighting in the cave was poor and she didn’t want to unbox outdoors, she rummaged through her belongings and found two fist-sized luminous pearls.

Years ago, Zhu Ying had acquired these pearls during her travels in the human world. She had once dismissed them as useless for cultivation and stashed them away, but now they found a purpose.

Zhu Ying placed the pearls into candle holders, repurposing them as “lamps.” She even draped fabric over the holders to create a soft lighting effect, like a diffuser.

After setting up her unboxing scene, she began wrestling with her memory jade.

The memory jade on the Fusheng Continent functioned similarly to a camera or phone’s recording feature, though far less convenient.

Zhu Ying’s jade was square, resembling a mahjong tile. It lacked a stand for support, had a wide field of view, and often captured her in the frame.

She wanted to emulate online unboxings, showing only her hands and the box. After much adjustment, she finally propped the jade up in place.

Suddenly, her transmission jade lit up.

It was from the store owner.

Several human cultivators had arrived at the café and wanted to learn how to play games. The owner asked her to teach one of the female cultivators.

This was akin to an assignment from her sect, with task subsidies included.

Getting paid without taking on a coaching gig was a rare opportunity.

Zhu Ying immediately agreed but wanted to finish her unboxing video before heading over.

Lu Yao, once again amazed at Zhu Ying’s dedication to online trends, said, “…Just come by in the afternoon. They’re still in beginner training.”

Newcomers usually required at least a day or two to get comfortable.

For residents of the Floating World Continent, adapting to gameplay mechanics was one challenge; adapting to electronic devices was another.

Devils and demons, after spending some time in the internet café, gradually familiarized themselves with the online world and began to explore their areas of interest.

In contrast, the disciples of Kunlun and Lingxiao Sword Sect dove straight into learning games with a strong sense of purpose. How much they could master in just a day or two remained to be seen.

After coordinating with the owner, Zhu Ying put down the transmission jade and resumed her unboxing preparations.

She placed the package on the cloth-covered stone table and adjusted the memory jade’s position several times before finding the right “angle.”

The memory jade operated entirely differently from a camera or phone. It lacked a viewfinder or preview display, so one had to ensure proper positioning in advance.

Zhu Ying had once used Jiao Niang’s phone and was amazed by its powerful functions—it was almost like a mini computer. She had even searched online for the price of such phones and found them to be astonishingly expensive.

Pulling her wandering thoughts back, Zhu Ying took a deep breath and prepared to begin her unboxing.

She carefully positioned the cardboard box, and with a light swipe of her fingertip, the fragile tape snapped open.

Inside the box, the first thing she saw were air-filled cushions crammed to the brim. Beneath them was a layer of raffia grass covering the bottom. The box looked large, but the actual contents were sparse.

Zhu Ying sifted through the raffia and pulled out two boxes along with a few scattered items.

She had purchased two products: a lipstick and a cyberpunk-themed eyeshadow palette—both endorsed by her favorite male actor from the same brand.

These items weren’t cheap. Adding in service and shipping fees, the cost converted into her currency felt even higher. Once unwrapped, the products were barely the size of her palm.

Zhu Ying first picked up the lipstick, a sleek black-and-gold tube that felt weighty in her hand. She twisted it open, cautiously swiped it on the back of her hand, and admired the rich purple color. It was slightly different in texture and shade from the one Lu Yao had given her.

This one had a slightly drier texture, and the purple was more intense—daring, even. It wasn’t a color everyone could pull off, as it could make some look as though they had eaten poisonous mushrooms.

She was tempted to apply it right away but remembered she was still recording the unboxing. After a moment of hesitation, she decided to save it for later.

Next, she picked up the eyeshadow palette. The box, slightly smaller than her palm, had a distinct texture unlike the porcelain jars common in human makeup shops. Inside were five colors and a tiny eyeshadow brush.

Zhu Ying had seen reviews of this palette online, though this specific color scheme was rarely mentioned. Most netizens deemed the colors too bold and unsuitable for daily wear. While some people bought it, it wasn’t particularly popular.

She peeled off the protective film under the lid, set it aside, and leaned in to examine the colors closely, even giving them a sniff. Unable to resist, she dipped her finger into one shade and applied it to the back of her hand.

The moment her fingertip touched the palette, she could feel its velvety smoothness. The powder was finely milled and soft—completely different from the powders found in human makeup shops.

When she spread it across her hand, it went on seamlessly, blending easily. The resulting color was unexpectedly stunning. She recalled a term frequently used by netizens: “good spreadability.”

The palette featured five shades: two basic highlighting and eyeliner shades, a deep purple, a fresh green, and a bold yellow with fine shimmer. The combination was undeniably daring and avant-garde.

One by one, Zhu Ying swatched the colors on her arm, growing more delighted with each shade.

She had always loved highly saturated colors like purple and green, and this was her first time encountering a shimmer shade. On her arm, the yellow shimmer looked glossy and radiant. It was absolutely mesmerizing.

The yellow shade, with its subtle base color, paired surprisingly well when layered with either purple or green.

While netizens found the palette impractical for everyday use, Zhu Ying thought the bold colors perfectly suited her style and personality.

Indeed, no amount of online browsing could compare to experiencing the product firsthand.

Thrilled with her purchase, Zhu Ying admired the shimmering colors on her arm under the luminous pearl light for a long while. She wanted to stop recording and immediately put on a full face of makeup.

But then she remembered the other small items in the box. Steeling herself, she sat back down and opened the remaining packages.

Inside were a crystal-clear handheld mirror, a 5ml foundation sample, a set of three mini perfume bottles, and a handful of small samples for primer and cleansing oil.

She knew these were freebies, as she had seen similar ones in other unboxing videos. Most people, however, glossed over these items and didn’t spend time introducing them.

For Zhu Ying, though, this was her first time receiving so many gifts with a purchase, and she was overjoyed.

However, the packaging was covered in human script, which Zhu Ying couldn’t read. Unsure how to use them, she decided to bring them to the internet café in the afternoon and ask the store owner for help.

Zhu Ying laid out both the purchased products and the free samples, filling the table with an organized display for a “long shot” close-up before finally removing the image-capturing charm.

She sat in place, reviewing the recorded footage from the charm, savoring her first unboxing experience before standing up to tidy the area.

Meanwhile, Xie Zili left the internet café to search for any trace of Jiao Niang.

The mountain was populated with many creatures, and the air near the Bodhi Tree was thick with mingled scents due to the frequent comings and goings of internet café patrons.

However, Xie Zili, having spent half a year living with Jiao Niang in the Sea of Tears and being half-demon himself, was highly sensitive to the aura of water-dwelling creatures. He quickly picked up a trail and followed it.

Jiao Niang’s temporary residence wasn’t far from the internet café. Along a mountain stream, wherever there was a pool of water, she could often be found.

She had set up a dwelling deep in the pool, but lately, she had been training Xiong An’an. At times, she brought the little panda cub to rest by the water’s edge.

Since Xiong An’an couldn’t sleep in the water, Jiao Niang had built a low shelter beside the pool using tree branches and vines. The little cub would sleep there, covered with an air-conditioning blanket conveniently “borrowed” from the internet café.

When Xie Zili followed the stream to this spot, he saw the mermaid demon sitting by the water with her large pink tail stretched out. She was lazily fanning the panda cub with a leaf the size of a palm frond, keeping away the mosquitoes.

The baby panda was already well protected with its thick fur and the insect-repellent sachet Lu Yao had specially commissioned from Jiang Yan. Mosquitoes were hardly a concern, and even if they bit, the little cub’s tough skin made it insignificant.

Jiao Niang’s actions were more an expression of fondness. Like the other staff at the internet café, she inexplicably adored the little cub.

She had no ties or attachments in the world, yet Xiong An’an clung to her, calling her “Master.” The cub would collect flowers while wandering, bringing one bouquet to the café owner and another to her. He even used the transmission charm to “call” Xiong Pingping, telling her he had found fruits she liked on the mountain and had picked a large batch to store in his storage bag for the next meeting.

Xie Zili stood beneath the trees, watching silently for a long time. Jiao Niang didn’t notice his presence.

He remained rooted in place, gazing at the scene before him. It reminded him of the past in the Sea of Tears, where Jiao Niang had cared for him in much the same way, though he had been less than appreciative at the time.

A gentle breeze rustled the branches. The little panda stirred in its sleep, its small paw reaching into the air as it let out a soft hum. Rolling over, it shuffled closer to Jiao Niang’s side.

Jiao Niang’s lips curved slightly as she stroked the fluffy ear of the cub. Then she used her demon magic to cast a protective barrier around them before leaning against the shore to close her eyes.

Xie Zili’s hands curled tightly at his sides, a dull ache filling his chest. He stood there for what felt like an eternity before slowly turning back the way he had come.

As he moved further from the pool, he stopped and tilted his head to the sky, his eyes clouded with confusion.

The Xie family manor no longer had a place for him, and Jiao Niang no longer needed him.

Where could he go?

Resolving to rejoin his waiting senior brother and sister at the café, Xie Zili inhaled deeply and resumed walking.

Returning to the internet café with a heavy heart, Xie Zili was certain his senior brother and sister must have grown impatient with his absence. However, upon entering, he was greeted by an unexpected sight: the two were seated at those peculiar black boxes, wearing strange devices on their heads, furiously clicking away, with Zhong Jinglan loudly cheering and drawing a crowd of onlooking demons and devils.

Approaching them, Xie Zili called out, “Senior Brother, Senior Sister.”

Zhong Jinglan didn’t even hear him, but Bai Ji glanced over briefly and promptly said, “Junior Brother, hurry and get a terminal and account from the attendant. We’re only waiting on you.”

Xie Zili: What is going on?

Seeing the two engrossed in their screens and utterly uninterested in him, he could only walk to the front desk for answers.

When Lu Yao noticed him, she found it odd. “You didn’t find her?”

Xie Zili lowered his head. “I did.”

Lu Yao’s curiosity deepened. “Then why did you return so quickly?”

After a moment of silence, Xie Zili muttered, “She was resting.”

Lu Yao had nothing to say to that. After some thought, she added, “She works the night shift—it makes sense she’d need rest. You can wait here for her to come tonight.”

Xie Zili: “…”

Lu Yao set him up with a terminal and game account before escorting him to his seat. However, instead of having him start the game, she opened a documentary on the terminal—specifically, an educational film about the physiological process of pregnancy and childbirth.

Xie Zili’s seat was tucked away in a corner, and he was unfamiliar with computers and the internet.

When the shopkeeper made him watch the documentary, he didn’t resist.

Wearing headphones, he watched for several minutes before realizing what it was about. Embarrassment and frustration surged as he yanked off the headphones, looking around for Lu Yao.

At the same time, Dan Xi arrived from the Demon Realm to pick up her parcel.

Lu Yao was engrossed in conversation with her and didn’t notice Xie Zili’s flustered expression.

The seat next to Xie Zili was occupied by a rugged-looking demon, intently focused on gaming. Xie Zili couldn’t bring himself to ask for help.

The screen was massive, and standing up would expose the “embarrassing” content to those around him.

Reluctantly, he put the headphones back on and continued watching, though hesitantly at first.

Initially, he was genuinely angry, but as time passed, he found himself drawn into the documentary.

When the screen went dark and the credits began rolling, Xie Zili finally snapped out of his daze.

Lu Yao returned to turn off the screen without saying anything, leaving Xie Zili to sit in silence for a long time.

…

Demon Realm, Demon Palace

Lu Yao held a recording charm in her hand, replaying an image of Xuanfeng and Mo Bao.

After much effort, she had learned the name of the person the Demon Sovereign admired: Lu Yao.

A human.

When she first heard the name, her chest tightened painfully.

It was said that Lu Yao had once visited the Demon Realm. On that night, the magic dragon streaked across the sky, and she accompanied the Demon Sovereign to the Ninefold Demonic Hall.

Unfortunately, Lu Yao had been unaware of the significance of that visit at the time.

Clenching the charm tightly, she dismissed the floating water screen.

She had to confirm for herself who this Lu Yao was.

…

Several more cultivators arrived at the internet café.

Using the same approach, Lu Yao encouraged them to activate terminals and accounts to begin practicing games.

Initially, the cultivators were hesitant. However, upon seeing disciples from the Kunlun Sect and Lingxiao Sword Sect diligently training, they begrudgingly followed suit. After a few rounds of gameplay, they found it surprisingly enjoyable.

When Xiao Zhong arrived for his shift, he saw two neatly aligned rows of cultivators, all intently focused on the terminals. He felt a surge of disbelief.

Previously, when Lu Yao proposed using a “Three Realms’ Strongest” identity to lure cultivators to the café, Xiao Zhong had thought the idea was far-fetched. At best, it might “trick” a few curious individuals.

While his colleagues had enthusiastically supported the idea, Xiao Zhong considered it a long shot, likely to fail. Now, reality had proven him wrong.

Lingering at the doorway for several minutes, he finally walked toward the counter.

Before he could reach it, Lu Yao called out cheerfully, “K King, you’re finally here!”

Hearing the title, Xiao Zhong hesitated for a split second before continuing forward.

Lu Yao wasted no time detailing the training and match schedules they had discussed earlier in the group chat.

While Cheng Ye was responsible for progress in the second office, the small tournaments in the café were entirely under Xiao Zhong’s charge.

What surprised him was how serious Lu Yao was about this. She even asked him to coach the cultivators’ team alongside the café’s own players.

Though it was clear that only a few days of practice wouldn’t transform the newcomers into seasoned gamers, Lu Yao seemed optimistic.

After coordinating with Xiao Zhong, Lu Yao grabbed a stack of documents and headed to the second office for a meeting.

The game’s foundational framework was now complete.

Although the game was designed based on the background of the Floating World Continent, it wasn’t entirely identical to it.

The game’s details were crucial for determining whether it could be officially launched in this world, and its systems and rules were subject to restrictions that only Lu Yao fully understood. She had to personally oversee and ensure compliance with every aspect.

After finishing up in the second office, Lu Yao returned to the café.

Behind the counter, Jiao niang and Xiong An’an were crouched together, unboxing a package.

Jiao niang’s air fryer and pre-prepared food items had arrived. Both were curious, but Xiong An’an was even more excited, holding a recording charm to film the unboxing process.

Lu Yao glanced around the main hall but didn’t see Xie Zili.

She had already informed Jiao niang about everything, and there was nothing more she could do.

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