Qing canceled his plan to go to the 99th Floor Paradise, even though it was right next to Lu Yao Snack Bar. He took the elevator downstairs with his takeaway and took the subway back to Area C.
Area A and Area C are nearly thirty stops apart, and the return trip takes an hour.
The precise route and driving time were originally set in order to restore modern human life as realistically as possible. Qing used to like this slow and realistic feeling, but now he feels that the journey back is far and long, and he wants to return to paradise as soon as possible.
Most people on the subway looked numb and had dull eyes.
Only the passenger sitting next to Qing had his eyes moving restlessly, and from time to time he looked down at the take-out box in Qing's hand, his nose twitching, as if he always felt a fragrance wafting out of the box.
But how is that possible
The young man looked very strong. He must be the guard of the park. The passengers did not dare to talk to him rashly.
The subway arrived at the station and Qing stood up.
The passenger, who had been struggling all the way, mustered up the courage to speak: "Excuse me, sir, where did you buy the things in your hand? It's a bit ridiculous to say, but I seem to smell a fragrance."
The people around turned their heads to look over. In fact, all the passengers in this carriage could smell a faint fragrance, but they all thought it was impossible.
Qing said coldly: "Area A, 99th Floor Paradise, be polite when you go there, don't scare the owner."
When everyone heard the name of the 99th floor paradise in Area A, they understood.
The Ninety-Nine Floors Park is one of the highest-rated parks in the country and one of only three parks in the country that can host restricted games.
The environment is super realistic, and the experience is excellent whether you are in the game or watching it live.
Nowadays, even the snacks sold can simulate the aroma of food, which is amazing.
Immediately, several passengers got off the subway and changed to another train, preparing to go to the 99th Floor Paradise.
Qing returned to the Cake Shop Paradise in Area C. When his colleagues saw him, they were surprised and asked, "You're back so soon?"
"Um."
Qing hid the packed box in the innermost part of the personal belongings cabinet, set up a few barriers, changed his clothes and went out.
The colleague was holding a teacup. Although there was no tea in the cup, it did not prevent him from pretending to be a health-conscious person: "What are you doing?"
Qing said calmly: "Move around a bit."
As he said that, he pushed open the door of the paradise and entered the room with the smallest number.
The colleague shrugged helplessly, thinking that Qing might have been stimulated after studying and inspecting the 99th Floor Paradise and actually entered the game himself.
I'm afraid it will be difficult for today's challengers.
However, the entry of guards into the game will increase the difficulty of the game, while making the game process more thrilling and more watchable.
Today's revenue should be high, my colleague thought happily.
Six hours later, Qing came out of the park, took a shower, changed clothes, took out grilled chicken wings and milk from the locker, and returned to the office to enjoy them.
When his colleagues saw him, they were surprised again: "You came out so soon?"
Qing took a bite of the chicken wing and closed his eyes to enjoy it. Just as he expected, enjoying delicious food after work doubled his sense of happiness and satisfaction.
Keeping the food warm is the easiest thing for them. After seven or eight hours, the chicken wings are still warm and have the best taste. Water droplets condense on the milk carton, just like it was just taken out of the freezer.
A colleague stood by and looked at them with wide eyes, "What are you eating?"
Qing opened his eyes and looked at the few chicken wings left in the box. He frowned and hesitated for several minutes. He made a difficult decision and took out a spicy grilled wing. He reluctantly shared a box of milk and pushed it in front of his colleague. He gritted his teeth and spat out one word: "Eat."
The colleague with the conspicuous red hair named Chi was not very appreciative. "Did you buy this from Area A? It looks real, but they all taste the same. I'll forget it, you can eat it yourself."
Qing closed his eyes and insisted on pushing the chicken wings in front of Chi: "Eat, it's different."
What's the difference
Not all are illusions.
Chi didn't understand, but seeing Qing insisting, he picked up the chicken wing and took a bite, his eyes widened instantly: "Hmm!!!"
The meat was tender and rich in fat. The roasted chicken wings were cooked at the right temperature and seasoned very well. Chi didn't have time to think. The next second, a strong spicy taste swept through his mouth. It was an extremely real and stimulating feeling, as if countless fine needles were constantly pricking his tongue.
It's completely different from the food out there that's created using magic.
Chi finished a grilled wing, picked up the milk beside him, and drank it in one gulp, sighing with satisfaction: "Huh - where did you buy these?"
As he spoke, his hand naturally reached out, ready to grab another grilled wing, but Qing raised his hand to block him.
Qing held the box in his arms with both hands, his face cold: "Ninety-ninth Floor Paradise, go buy it yourself."
Chi complained unhappily, "Stingy."
Qing suddenly said proudly, "Let's go tomorrow. There's nothing left today. They're all here with me."
Chi had already walked to the door. He turned around when he heard this, his face full of despair. After a while, he approached Qing with eager eyes and said, "Brother, can you give me another one?"
-
99th floor, Area A, in front of Luyao Snack Shop.
Lu Yao and Xingzi looked at each other, both with confusion in their eyes.
Lu Yao said: "If you add sugar, it will be sweet naturally. What's wrong with popcorn?"
Xingzi touched the edge of the soup bowl and felt it was hot. She couldn't help but lower her head and take another sip. It was really sweet.
Not only is it sweet, the dumplings are soft and sticky, the fermented glutinous rice has a strong aroma, and it is filled with boiling sweet water, soft and fluffy, mixed with the aroma of red dates and wolfberries, and tastes like... like a bowl of real sweet soup.
Xingzi finished the whole bowl without realizing it, looked up at Lu Yao, and wiped her mouth shyly.
She picked up a grain of popcorn, held it between her fingertips and squeezed it gently. The popcorn popped like a soap bubble and disappeared without a trace. "It's an illusion, so it has no texture or smell when you eat it."
Lu Yao blinked, thinking of the reaction of the first customer yesterday and the way Xingzi drank the sweet soup just now, and a guess popped up in his mind: Could it be that the food here is all made of illusion
What kind of world is this
Don’t people here need to eat
But they could clearly eat and they liked the food in her shop.
Xingzi didn't seem to have any doubts. She stood up and pointed to the movie theater not far away and said, "My name is Xingzi, and I work at that movie theater. The sweet soup is delicious. Pack me two more servings and pay for the bowl you just had."
Lu Yao stood up and scooped the soup into a box, smiling and saying, "My name is Lu Yao. Just pay for two bowls. Wasn't the bowl just now exchanged for popcorn? I did receive it."
That bucket of popcorn made her realize that the food in this world was most likely made from kneaded food and could not be eaten.
This information is very useful and is worth exchanging for a bowl of sweet soup.
Xingzi didn't hesitate, just nodded to show her acceptance, paid the bill, and left with two bowls of sweet soup.
Only then did Lu Yao remember to count the money. She was too busy yesterday and hadn't checked how much money she had earned.
There were QR codes on the stalls and tables, and the customers seemed to understand it. I didn't ask her how to pay, and I paid without hesitation.
The system has a built-in anti-bullying program, and you will never leave without paying for your meal.
This is also an important reason why Lu Yao can support a small shop by himself. The system is equivalent to temporarily replacing the job of the cashier.
Lu Yao looked at yesterday’s total income and today’s income from two bowls of sweet soup, and fell into deep thought: What the hell is this
Where's her money? Even if it's not RMB, it should be some kind of currency, right
What is the “income of one hundred and seventy hours, equivalent to seven days” on the books
System: [Report to the shopkeeper, time is the only commodity in this world. There is nothing here except eternal time. Residents can only exchange time for food.]
Lu Yao: "... You didn't even mention this. Can't you convert your time income into RMB for me?"
System: [Sorry, this system is designed to help store owners realize their dreams and does not have banking functions.]
Lu Yao: "... so I have to bear all the expenses of opening the store, but I don't have any income?"
System: [To realize your dream, you have to pay a price.]
Lu Yao: “…”
She didn't even know what wish she had made that made her pay such a heavy price.
This is a crappy system!
The system seemed to sense Lu Yao's silence, and said to ease the atmosphere: [Time can be stored in the warehouse. If the store owner wants to extend his life, he can directly integrate the income time into your life span. Think about it from another perspective. As long as you keep running a store in this world, you can gain eternal life. Many people hope so. ]
Lu Yao: “…”
How can you keep the store open if you don’t have money
[Do you want to extend your life? ]
Lu Yao: "... Not in use for now, store it in the warehouse first."
After arguing with the system, Lu Yao remembered to take a look at the menu.
The menu on the stall was slightly different from the menu she saw on the system page. The system page was in Chinese characters, and there were no prices at the end of the menu.
The universal menu had a language she had never seen before, but she could understand it.
Spicy grilled wings, one every six hours, a pair every twelve hours.
Fermented rice balls, one bowl every four hours.
Ice milk, a box every three hours.
… ok.
Time can also be quantified, and Lu Yao finally truly felt that this place is indeed a different world.
Lu Yao admitted that she was a vulgar person. She preferred the simple and straightforward happiness of counting money to the illusory time.
She sat down unhappily, finished her breakfast and cleared away the dishes.
The elevator door on the ninety-ninth floor opened, and three or four people walked down. They saw the door of Luyao Snack Bar wide open from afar, and one of them shouted excitedly, "It's open, it's that one!"
When Lu Yao came out of the store, several people were already standing in front of the stall. They had even looked at the menu. One of them was particularly eager: "Owner, I want a pair of spicy grilled wings, a bowl of sweet soup, and a box of ice milk."
The other three followed suit and asked for the same thing.
Lu Yao was feeling a little disappointed just now, but suddenly several guests came and he couldn't help feeling happy again.
She put the chicken wings on the grill and bent over to scoop up the sweet soup. "Eat here or take away?"
The four guests discussed and decided that since they had all come to Area A from Area C, they might as well splurge at the R-rated movie theater and relax for a day, so they all packed up.
The customer who was very eager at first stood in front of the grill, sniffing the aroma of meat and oil after the meat was roasted over the charcoal fire. He was sure that it was the smell he smelled on the subway yesterday, and couldn't help asking: "Owner, are you not opening the store this afternoon?"
Lu Yao: “Open it.”
"We came here yesterday afternoon, and it was closed."
"Oh, we sold out the ingredients this morning, so we closed."
"So that's how it is."
Aren’t they all made with magic? You can just squeeze them again after they’re sold out. Is there any need to close the shop
Is it because it is more difficult to squeeze out smelly food, so we have to close the door and concentrate on our work
The more the customer thought about it, the more he felt that this was the case. After all, this was the only shop in the entire district that could make smelly food.
The prices are very affordable, and it doesn’t feel like a store next to a high-end theme park at all.
Lu Yao packed four portions of food, handed them to the guests, and then quietly observed how they paid.
Unlike what she expected, they didn't scan the code or use their mobile phones.
When paying, just scan the QR code with your fingertips, then pick up your items and leave.
Lu Yao immediately checked the accounts and found that the income from the sale of food had already been credited, not a penny less.
It would be great if all this was money.
Lu Yao sighed again.
Watching the four people walk into the cinema, Lu Yao felt a little curious.
What kind of movies will be shown in the movie theaters in the other world
If I have the chance in the future, I must see it.
After that group of guests left, there was no one left.
Some of the chicken wings were consumed, so Lu Yao went back to the store and got some out.
About half an hour later, people came out of the cinema and headed straight for Lu Yao Snack Bar.
"Two pairs of Hell Spicy Grilled Wings, a bowl of sweet soup, and two cartons of ice milk."
"A pair of spicy grilled wings and a box of ice milk!"
"Two pairs of spicy grilled wings and a bowl of sweet soup. Please, owner, hurry up!"
A long line gradually formed in front of the snack stand, and people kept coming out of the cinema.
One group of people packed up and left, and within a few minutes another group came out.
Lu Yao was busy grilling chicken wings and scooping sweet soup. His feet never touched the ground and his hair on his forehead was wet with sweat, but the line in front of the stall was getting longer and longer.
When Chi and Qing took the elevator to the 99th floor, the long line at the snack bar had already reached the elevator entrance.
"Is this the queue for spicy grilled wings?" Chi asked dejectedly.
Ever since he tasted the spicy grilled wings, he had been thinking about it all night and couldn't sleep at all.
I got up early and took a leave to rush here from Area C. I thought I could immediately taste the taste I had been dreaming about, but there were too many people.
Qing didn't say anything and walked silently to the end of the line.
He had anticipated this situation.
By noon, all the prepared ingredients were sold out, and there were still more than a dozen people queuing in front of the stall.
Lu Yao wiped his sweat and announced, "Sorry, we're out of ingredients and closed. Come back tomorrow."
Those who didn’t get a ticket stood for a while, and only left disappointed after confirming again and again that they couldn’t buy it.
While Lu Yao was packing his things, he was thinking that he would have to prepare more food tomorrow.
After finishing cleaning, I have to go to the supermarket to buy more things.
She considered contacting suppliers to deliver the goods to her home, which would be more convenient than going to the supermarket every day.
Chi stood in front of the stall, looking unwilling. He was just one person away from getting his turn.
When Lu Yao packed up the grill, tables and chairs and was about to close the shop, he looked up and saw Chi.
The red hair is too eye-catching, a very two-dimensional hair color, but it looks harmonious on the young man.
The moment their eyes met, Chi felt hopeful. He took a step forward and said pitifully, "Owner, I came from far away. Your spicy grilled wings are so delicious."
Lu Yao: “…”
There really isn't a single drop left.
She turned around and took out two lollipops after a moment, handing them to Chi and Qing who was standing beside him, "We really have run out of grilled wings. I'll go out and get some more, come back early tomorrow."
When handing the lollipop to Chi, Lu Yao's fingertips lightly brushed across his, but she didn't notice it and closed the shop after stuffing the candy in her mouth.
Chi stood there for a while, then slowly turned to look at Qing: "I touched her hand."
green:"… "
Chi: "Just a little bit, she is hot."
And they are all cold.
-
Lu Yao took a shower, changed his sweaty clothes, and went out to prepare the goods.
She went to a farmer's market which was farther away from the supermarket, walked around for a few rounds, and bought the ingredients and seasonings she needed. She found out that the purchase price at the farmer's market was much cheaper than that at the supermarket, and that the market also provided door-to-door delivery services.
She contacted several bosses and decided on a supplier for delivering beverages. She planned to wait and see for a while before making a decision on the other goods.
After returning to the store, Lu Yao immediately began to prepare ingredients for the next day.
She didn't know yet that the reputation of Lu Yao Snack Shop had spread to the other world.