Chapter 23

After watching the vehicle drive away, Qin Cheng remained somewhat distracted for a long while.

She had not seen the other woman eat the food with her own eyes, so she could not help worrying. Would she eat it? When would she eat it? For the sake of freshness, it would be better if she ate it soon.

And why had Jiang Rong specifically said anything except soy milk?

Logically, Assistant Jiang should know her superior’s tastes. Otherwise, she would not previously have gone out of her way to buy soy milk from a convenience store. So why had she not bought any today?

Could it be that the milky flavor of convenience-store soy milk had not suited her, making her lose hope in the soy milk sold elsewhere?

Or perhaps… that person’s tastes had changed, and she no longer liked soy milk.

Thought after thought rose and churned in Qin Cheng’s mind. She replayed the few scenes from earlier over and over in slow motion, trying not to miss a single detail.

It was inevitable that she would seem strange in such a state. Even Nuonuo, standing nearby, noticed something was wrong.

“Sister Qin, your complexion looks bad.”

Although she had noticed something unusual, Nuonuo was simple Read on BaiLianTalesand straightforward, and so were her thoughts.

“Are you uncomfortable? Where does it hurt?”

Only after being asked did Qin Cheng realize she had made the girl worry. She forced herself out of the tangled mess of thoughts and managed a smile.

“I’m fine. I just didn’t sleep very well last night, and business was busy today, so I’m a little tired.”

“How about I go wash my face while it’s quiet? Keep an eye on the shop for me.”

She rose and headed toward the restroom.

After taking a few steps, she seemed to remember something and turned back to her employee.

“By the way, Nuonuo, from now on, could you just call me Sister? There’s no need to include my surname. It’s only the two of us in the shop anyway.”

There were certainly plenty of people in the world surnamed Qin, but just in case, she ought to prevent the title “Boss Qin” from reaching a certain person’s ears.

Although the chances of that person deliberately asking about it were not very high.

Naturally, this calculation could not be shared with anyone else.

Fortunately, Nuonuo was innocent and did not ask for a reason. She simply nodded obediently, allowing Qin Cheng to relax a little.

After breathing a sigh of relief, Qin Cheng genuinely went into the restroom and washed her face.

The restroom was small and technically available for customers, but people who came in to buy drinks rarely stayed long enough to use it.

Normally, only Qin Cheng and Nuonuo used it.

They kept a few personal items inside, and Nuonuo had even placed a small potted plant there, making the space look warm and tidy.

Qin Cheng splashed several handfuls of cold water onto her face.

The chill instantly penetrated to her heart, clearing her mind somewhat and suppressing the chaotic thoughts churning within it.

She wiped the droplets from her chin, raised her head, and saw herself in the mirror.

The woman reflected there had pale skin—a bloodless kind of pale.

Still, it looked better than the waxy yellow complexion she had worn before, though it could hardly be called healthy or rosy.

Fortunately, a little flesh had returned to her face. Her cheeks were no longer hollow, making her appearance less gaunt.

Perhaps because she was receiving enough vitamins, some shine had also returned to her hair. At the very least, it no longer resembled dried grass.

Come to think of it, she had been constantly busy ever since deciding to open the shop and had not returned to the hospital for another examination.

She did not know what condition her body was currently in, but judging from how she felt, it seemed fairly good.

At the very least, she had not suffered any severe complications again. Even the abdominal pain occurred only occasionally and was never too intense.

Looking at herself in the mirror, she now resembled her former self from before she became ill.

With a little light makeup, her complexion would probably look even better.

And her lips…

Wait.

The moment Qin Cheng realized what direction her thoughts were taking, her heart jolted sharply.

Why… was she beginning to think about her appearance and makeup?

It was true that most women cared about beauty, but after becoming seriously ill, Qin Cheng had been in so much pain every day that she had no energy left to care about her appearance.

She no longer even knew which forgotten corner contained her cosmetics.

Later, after encountering the small realm and having her mother stay with her, she had begun doing a simple skincare routine morning and night.

Even then, it was only to make herself look less pale and haggard. She had never put any extra thought into it.

Yet today, for no apparent reason, she had begun calculating how to improve the appearance of the woman in the mirror.

Why?

The reason was actually painfully obvious.

Upon discovering that such a hidden thought existed in her subconscious, Qin Cheng was startled and immediately despised herself for it.

Perhaps everything had gone too smoothly recently.

She had grown greedy without realizing it, instinctively wanting to take another step forward after already gaining so much.

But how could she possibly ask for more?

The current situation was already the product of a miracle.

Her original intention had only been to secretly help that woman recover her health.

She should not entertain any desires beyond that.

With a body as precarious as hers, balanced like someone walking a tightrope, wanting too much would be pure foolishness.

Qin Cheng remained in the restroom for a long while.

Only after she felt that she had thoroughly corrected her state of mind, and heard a customer enter outside, did she dry her face and leave.

Yet once the transaction was finished, the customer had gone, and Qin Cheng sat down on a stool, she uncontrollably began wondering again.

Why had she stopped buying soy milk?

It was clearly so good for the stomach and intestines…

While Boss Qin quietly worried herself on this side, someone else was equally troubled inside a vehicle speeding along an elevated highway.

That person was the diligent and long-suffering Assistant Jiang.

“President Chu, please take a break. You’ve been reading for more than ten minutes. It’s bad for your eyes.”

Jiang Rong helplessly gathered the documents scattered across the back seat.

“And please find time to drink what I bought earlier. I heard that freshly pressed juice loses nutrients if it sits too long. Wouldn’t that mean I bought it for nothing?”

The woman beside her remained focused on the papers in her hands.

She only murmured an absentminded acknowledgment.

“You two drink them first. I don’t like juices made from leafy vegetables. You know that…”

“There aren’t any leafy vegetables!”

Jiang Rong was caught between irritation and amusement.

“I already told you, the green one is kiwi and cucumber juice. There’s also a pure fruit juice to choose from.”

“How many times do I have to repeat myself, Sister Qinyi?”

Jiang Rong clearly separated business from personal matters.

Normally, she addressed her as President Chu.

Once she called her by name, however, she was speaking as a personal friend.

This time, the woman beside her finally raised her head and quickly returned to the present.

She smiled apologetically for her earlier dismissiveness and explained, “But it looks so green. And the pure fruit juice seems as though it would be too sweet.”

“How about you divide the drinks among yourselves and give me the box of fruit? I’ll eat a little, so it won’t count as letting your money go to waste.”

Fruit was better than nothing.

Seeing her lack of appetite, Jiang Rong no longer pressed her about the drinks.

She quickly opened the takeout box, unwrapped the small plastic fork inside, and handed everything over.

“Then try to eat as much as you can. It looks very fresh.”

The fruit inside the box was indeed excellent.

There were only two kinds, but the kiwi flesh was translucent and tender, green with a faint golden tint and a jade-like sheen.

The strawberries had been carefully hulled, leaving only the vivid red fruit.

Each was evenly sized, plump, and glossy, shaped like a perfect cone. Merely looking at them made the mouth water.

The woman in the back seat had previously focused entirely on work.

This was the first time she had clearly seen what fruit the box contained, and surprise appeared on her face.

“You said this box was complimentary?”

“Yes. They said it was a small welcome gift for a first-time customer.”

Jiang Rong rarely bought fruit for her, so she was not entirely sure of her preferences.

“Why? Is it not to your taste?”

“No.”

The woman shook her head.

Looking at the brightly colored fruit seemed to improve her mood slightly, and the corners of her lips lifted.

“What a coincidence. These are both among my favorites. Probably second and third place.”

Seeing that a simple box of fruit had made her relax enough to joke, Jiang Rong was secretly surprised, but considered it a good sign.

She smiled and continued the conversation.

“Oh? Then may I ask which fruit ranks Read on BaiLianTales first in President Chu’s heart? I’ll know what to watch for in the future.”

The question appeared to have been poorly timed.

The other woman paused.

The faint smile at the corners of her mouth immediately vanished.

“…There is no first place,” she finally answered indifferently.

Then she picked up a piece of kiwi and placed it in her mouth.

The green flesh tasted sour at first and sweet afterward.

Its flavor was rich, its texture smooth and refreshing.

A lingering cool sweetness traveled from her mouth down her throat and into her heart, quietly dispersing the gloom and oppression that had previously weighed upon her.

The feeling caused the woman to pause.

Still, she did not think much about it.

Her appetite merely improved slightly, and she casually picked up a strawberry.

The strawberry was fragrant and bursting with juice.

It was somehow sweeter and more flavorful than any she had eaten before.

As she continued eating, the cool fruit fragrance filled her senses, and her entire body began to feel more comfortable.

Jiang Rong did not understand why, but seeing that her superior had not stopped after merely eating one or two pieces allowed her to relax.

She gave the pure fruit juice to their driver, Brother Zhang, and tried the fruit-and-vegetable juice that Director Jin had praised so enthusiastically.

She had watched the kiwi and cucumber juice being made.

A substantial amount of cucumber had gone into it, so she had expected a strong cucumber taste.

Instead, the delicate sweetness of the kiwi completely dominated the drink.

Only a trace of cucumber freshness remained in the aftertaste.

The flavor and texture were both excellent. Even someone who disliked cucumber could easily drink it.

With quality like this, it was no wonder the younger employees liked the shop and Director Jin praised it so strongly.

She had even heard that drinking it regularly could help detoxify the body or something similar…

Jiang Rong narrowed her eyes while drinking and thinking.

She glanced at her superior beside her, who had unknowingly eaten half the box of fruit, and began forming an idea.

After that, although she did not appear as frequently as a certain director or screenwriter, Assistant Jiang occasionally visited the ordinary-named shop hidden in the alley.

She bought food and drinks for herself as well as for her superior.

Meanwhile, after the nervousness of the first visit and the tension of the second, Boss Qin gradually became accustomed to Assistant Jiang’s presence.

Still, compared with ordinary customers, she spoke less whenever Jiang Rong was there.

Most of the time, she let Nuonuo handle the customer, just in case.

This was enough…

After one occasion when Jiang Rong casually mentioned that the food was being bought for her superior, Qin Cheng told herself that this was already the best possible outcome.

She ought to be satisfied.

From every perspective, Qin Cheng truly should have been satisfied.

She had accomplished her goal, and business was going well.

When she reviewed the accounts in early July, even after deducting the previous month’s rent, utilities, taxes, and other costs, the shop had still made a profit.

Having money left over after the first month was naturally worth celebrating.

To others, the amount might not seem like much. It was less than ten thousand yuan.

But Qin Cheng knew that more than half of her fruit and vegetables cost her nothing.

Her actual profit was more than twice the recorded amount.

For a newly opened small shop, earning over ten thousand yuan in profit was already quite good.

Since everything had been proceeding smoothly, she was in such a good mood that she also gave her only employee a bonus.

The landlady had originally wanted only to give her daughter some experience.

She knew Nuonuo was not particularly useful and had even offered to pay her wages herself.

Now, Qin Cheng not only paid her full wages, but also gave her a bonus.

Naturally, the landlady was extremely grateful.

Nuonuo received the first salary and bonus of her life.

Although she did not beam with joy or say much, the encouragement clearly had a powerful effect on her.

She became more proactive at work, and her conversations with customers grew increasingly fluent.

In addition, the number of small potted plants inside the shop continued to increase.

This was also Nuonuo’s contribution.

She enjoyed caring for flowers and greenery in her spare time, decorating the shop with flourishing plants and creating a beautiful little scene.

At first, Qin Cheng did not pay much attention.

Later, she noticed that Nuonuo collected the daily fruit and vegetable scraps and placed them in a barrel near the flower bed outside the shop.

Only then did she ask out of curiosity and learn that Nuonuo was composting them.

Qin Cheng knew about composting but had never tried it.

After all, the soil inside the small realm did not appear to require fertilizer.

She had once bought plant nutrient solution online and tried pouring some into the soil, only to discover that it could not penetrate the seemingly loose black earth.

It merely pooled in a small hollow, and in the end, she had to soak it all up with paper.

Still, no matter how mysterious the soil was, continually [stolen content]growing crops without replenishing its fertility did not seem ideal.

Seeing Nuonuo composting gave Qin Cheng an idea.

If fertilizer from the outside world could not be used, what would happen if she made fertilizer from crops grown inside the small realm itself?

By then, she already had a dedicated plot beside the lake where she piled plant waste.

The waste mainly came from crops that were repeatedly replanted, such as soybean stalks and potato leaves.

The realm was still spacious, so Qin Cheng was not worried about where to put it.

But the pile looked unsightly.

Besides, it was still part of the crops, and simply discarding it seemed wasteful.

Over the following days, she humbly learned composting methods from Nuonuo and copied her example by setting up several compost bins where the waste had previously been piled.

During this process, she made an interesting discovery.

If a compost bin was placed on the stone road, it produced no fertilizer at all.

Whatever was put inside remained exactly the same, barely changing.

Only when the bins were placed on the black soil did anything happen.

The reaction was also quite fast.

The guidebook said compost usually required two or three months to ferment.

Inside the small realm, however, it took only around two weeks to produce a pile of dark organic fertilizer.

As expected, this organic fertilizer made entirely from crop residue within the small realm differed from ordinary fertilizer.

Qin Cheng tentatively poured a little around the roots of several plants.

Within a few days, the fertilizer had disappeared.

Whether it was merely psychological or not, the crops also seemed to be growing better.

To confirm that she was not ​unauthorized copy​imagining it, Qin Cheng brought some outside and used it on ordinary flowers and plants.

Naturally, she did this secretly without telling Nuonuo.

The result was… excellent.

Whether it was the potted greenery inside the shop or the landscaping outside, every plant appeared extraordinarily vigorous the next day.

One potted plant even bloomed out of season, leaving Nuonuo puzzled for quite some time.

In any case, being able to make more efficient use of every part of the crops without creating waste was naturally a good thing.

Qin Cheng was satisfied.

The flowers and plants were probably satisfied too.

The shop was filled with the freshness of greenery and the fragrance of fruit and vegetables.

Upon entering, even the air seemed to smell better.

With its refreshing atmosphere and the increasingly hot weather after July began, the ​unauthorized copy​previously inconspicuous little shop attracted more and more business.

Of course, the fundamental reason was still that the products were good.

Among them, the fruit-and-vegetable juices and fruit-juice ice spheres received especially high praise.

The fruit-juice ice spheres were practical and showed genuine care, while fruit-and-vegetable juices were already popular because of the health-conscious trend.

The versions sold in Qin Cheng’s shop also tasted excellent.

The sweetness and fragrance of the fruit suppressed the slight bitterness of the vegetables, making them very popular among young office workers.

Logically, improving business should have been a good thing.

But not everyone was pleased.

Director Jin, for example, disliked the increasing crowds.

They forced him to arrive later and later, and he could sit only briefly before having to leave.

The ease and freedom he had enjoyed at the beginning were gone.

Although Qin Cheng did not know exactly how much contact existed between Jiang Rong and Director Jin, she placed great importance on the old man’s presence.

In the end, she simply allowed Nuonuo to leave work at the usual time while she herself remained in the shop until ten at night, allowing Director Jin and the others to stay longer.

Qin Cheng had quietly adjusted her schedule, but how could Director Jin fail to notice?

The old man behaved calmly on the surface, but naturally made plans of his own.

So one evening, when he arrived, he returned the favor by bringing a new distinguished guest.

The moment Nuonuo, who had not yet finished work, saw the two people Director Jin pulled through the door, one on either side, her eyes instantly began shining again.

Boss Qin, however, swept her gaze over them and felt her temples begin throbbing.

At first, Qin Cheng truly had put all her effort into building a reputation within a certain company.

But now that her goal had been achieved, she instead hoped everything would remain restrained.

At the very least, she absolutely did not want to see her shop featured in some tabloid beneath a headline such as:

Shengtang’s Best Actor Spotted Deep in an Alley at Midnight—What Was He Doing There?!