章 44: Chapter 44
After returning from their stroll in the harbor district, Zhu Zi lit the quatrefoil lamps in the store and looked expectantly at Xia Zhi, her voice taking on a coquettish tone as she softly called out, "Boss, you promised me juice."
Xia Zhi shook his head with a smile, walked behind the counter, took out two clean glasses, and began mixing.
A small drop of syrup fell into the clear water, instantly dyeing it in seven colors.
Though this was Zhu Zi's second time witnessing this sight, she couldn't help but display an expression of amazement.
Xia Zhi handed over a glass of rainbow juice, saying, "Here you go."
"Thank you, Boss!"
Zhu Zi happily accepted it, carefully holding the glass with both hands.
She first lowered her head to admire the colorful juice in the glass for a moment, then brought her nose close to the rim, somewhat intoxicated by the peculiar fragrance wafting from the glass. Finally, she raised the glass to her lips and took a small sip.
"Mmm! Boss!"
"What is it?"
"This juice tastes different from what I had this morning!"
"That's exactly how it's supposed to be. Does it taste good?"
"Yes, it's delicious!"
"Mm-hmm, that's the special feature of our store's juice – every glass has its own unique taste."
"So there's a pleasant surprise every day?"
"That's right."
"Wow..."
Hearing this, Zhu Zi's face was full of yearning.
Leaving Inazuma had definitely been the right choice – otherwise, how would she have found such happiness now?
Zhu Zi turned her head and noticed the poster she had written still hanging on the wall.
"Boss!"
"Hmm?"
"I think selling our juice for 100 Mora is too cheap!"
"..."
"This price is practically an insult to it!"
"..."
"Boss!"
Xia Zhi smiled helplessly, "Alright, let's keep the price as it is for now. It's fine if it's a bit cheap."
Zhu Zi pursed her lips, having to give up her persuasion attempt. "Alright, Boss."
After taking a few sips of juice, Zhu Zi suddenly remembered she had left clothes drying in the back courtyard from last night's washing. Somewhat reluctantly putting down her glass, she informed Xia Zhi before running to the back to collect the clothes.
Xia Zhi stood alone behind the counter, suddenly feeling a bit bored.
He looked around and his detecting gaze fell on Zhu Zi's glass on the table, noticing a moist mark on the opposite rim where she had drunk from.
Under the soft light of the quatrefoil lamps, that gleam somehow appeared strangely enticing.
Xia Zhi shook his head and chuckled, feeling his thoughts had wandered a bit.
Perhaps it was because he'd been eating Slime Condensate dishes at Wanmin Restaurant these past two days, resulting in excessive protein intake.
Xia Zhi took a few sips of juice and waited quietly for a while until Zhu Zi returned from the back carrying the dried clothes.
She first placed them on a clean stool, selected his clothes, folded them neatly one by one, then brought them over to him: "Boss, these are your clothes."
Xia Zhi took them and nodded: "Thank you for your trouble."
Zhu Zi smiled and said, "It's no trouble at all, just something that needed doing!"
She returned to the stool and carefully folded her own clothes one by one before returning to the counter to continue happily drinking her juice while hugging the glass.
Xia Zhi had been "watching" her do all these things, and couldn't help but nod inwardly. From these small actions, he could tell that Zhu Zi was a diligent and self-disciplined young woman.
With such a quality employee, his future shop-keeping life would surely be much easier and more convenient.
Night fell deep, and after finishing his evening routine, Xia Zhi returned to his room upstairs.
Taking out the [Blazing Incense Burner], he first used last night's alchemy technique to extract spices and create a [Perfect Calming Incense].
Regular in shape, crystal clear in appearance.
Xia Zhi held it in his hand, gently rubbing its surface and playing with it for a moment before putting it away without lighting it.
The reason he had lit the incense the previous two nights was to test the effects of both [Calming Incense] and [Perfect Calming Incense].
In truth, he didn't really need the calming effects of the incense himself. Though its fragrance was pleasant, at most it only helped clear his mind while writing and made his sleep more peaceful.
Although he had crafted this incense himself, it was already considered a supernatural item and could be recycled in the system for 1 point.
If he were to simply consume something worth ten million Mora just to sleep a little better at night, it would seem rather extravagant.
Better to save it for now.
Tomorrow morning, he could cut off a small piece to treat Qiqi – with such careful budgeting, one [Perfect Calming Incense] should last four or five days, roughly enough time to max out Qiqi's progress bar.
At this moment, light footsteps could be heard coming up the stairs outside.
It was Zhu Zi.
Then came the sound of a door opening and being locked.
This girl was still very vigilant.
Good, girls should protect themselves well when living away from home.
Xia Zhi smiled, cleaned up the spices on the table, took out paper and pen, and continued writing his novel.
Now that he had no financial pressure and didn't need to rely on this novel for income, he could write the story at his own pace and according to his own ideas, which was quite enjoyable.
Late into the night, Xia Zhi put down his pen, stretched his body, and went to bed.
At some point, a slender white ghostly shadow once again passed through the wall from next door.
She wore an expression of eagerness, but suddenly frowned, feeling something was different from what she had expected.
Tonight, the air in the room seemed to lack what she was looking for.
Eh?
Where's my fragrance?
Where's my deliciously fragrant incense?
She floated to the table, bringing her head close to the incense burner for a careful look.
It was cold!
There was nothing inside!
She searched the table carefully again.
Nothing!
Except for a stack of written papers, there was nothing else.
Not giving up, she continued searching around the room.
After a complete search, apart from some spices, she still couldn't find any finished incense.
She suddenly turned her head, her gaze falling on Xia Zhi lying in bed.
How infuriating!
Where did you hide the incense?!
Why did you suddenly stop burning incense tonight?
Aren't you just making things difficult for me?
She floated to the bedside, looking down at the sleeping Xia Zhi with a resentful expression.
She really wanted to shake him awake and ask for clarity!
But she feared frightening him – if he ran away like the previous tenants, it wouldn't just mean missing out on incense for one night, but forever.
Sigh.
She silently sighed and floated back to the table.
Never mind, better to endure it for now.
Perhaps there would be incense again tomorrow night.
She lay on the table and listlessly picked up the manuscript papers.
Might as well read the story first.
The major plot point from last night had been cut off – surely he must have written more today?
Thinking this, she flipped through the papers and continued reading.
But before long, her expression suddenly became somewhat dazed.
No!
How shameless!
What kind of thing is this?!
Perhaps due to excessive excitement and embarrassment, her white spiritual form began to take on a reddish tinge.
The sight was as beautiful as blood jade.
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