"Here we are. This is the storefront."
At Feiyun Slope, next to Xigu Antique Shop, stood an as-yet unopened and unrenovated building.
A man and a woman approached slowly.
"It hasn't opened yet?" Havria blinked, a little surprised.
If the shop hadn't even opened, what exactly could she, the supposed shopkeeper, do?
"Not only hasn't it opened~" Taro shrugged. "I haven't even decided what this place is supposed to be yet."
"Huh?" Havria was dumbfounded. "You haven't even planned that far?"
So careless?
"Tch." Taro grinned. "Back then, Zhongli was willing to be the sucker who paid for it, so I thought I'd snatch it first and figure it out later."
What a sucker indeed. The first person in history to fleece Morax like that. Still, she figured Zhongli was willingly fleeced—after all, with Taro's power to resurrect even gods, even Morax couldn't resist the bait.
"Then Boss had better think this through." Havria couldn't help but smile. "In ancient times, trade was mostly barter. I just revived, so I know nothing of today's market. I'll need to study for some time. This storefront will have to sit idle for now."
"We'll see."
Taro shook his head, pulled out the key, and pushed open the door.
"The first step is renovation. We can decide what kind of business later."
The previous tenant had cleared out completely. The interior was barren, not a chair, painting, screen, or vase left behind.
"Really emptied out." Havria glanced around. "So, Boss, how do you plan to furnish it?"
"You have any ideas?" Taro turned to her. "If you can handle it, I'll leave renovations to you."
He wasn't some interior design expert. But Havria had ruled before; her eye for aesthetics couldn't be bad.
"Boss thinks too highly of me~" Havria shook her head quickly. "I can arrange salt flowers and salt statues, sure. Anything else, I can't help with."
Obviously, salt sculptures were out of the question here. And besides, millennia-old taste hardly matched current aesthetics.
"Tsk, what an incompetent shopkeeper." Taro sighed.
"Sorry to disappoint, Boss," Havria answered with a laugh.
"..."
Forget it. No use relying on her. Maybe ask Zhongli? No, not a good idea. He'd have to do it himself.
He wasn't skilled, but copying and pasting? That he could do.
He had plenty of props anyway.
"Watch closely. This is simple."
Taro dipped into his personal warehouse, pulled out a luxury single-fortress base, and slapped it down.
Pa!
The prop activated. Auto-scan. Auto-arrange. Auto-assemble.
The structure dissolved and seeped into the ground.
Moments later, the once-empty hall gleamed with brilliance.
A jade-carved counter.
Dragon-and-phoenix engraved storage shelves.
Tables and chairs carved from thousand-year violetgold wood.
Top-grade purple clay teapots used only by the nobility.
Landscapes and screens crafted by master artists.
All in perfect, system-calculated harmony.
In an instant, the barren space became dazzling and elegant.
"This..."
Havria stared, stunned, then broke into a bright smile. "As expected of Boss. Truly wondrous. I was too ignorant to appreciate."
Emotional value—delivered. Everyone liked flattery, and he was no exception.
"But, Boss..." Havria added, "with the store so high-class, the business can't be small."
It looked expensive. If they sold trinkets here, it would be laughable.
"In that case, we'll sell luxury goods."
Taro casually dumped a pile of jewels and ornaments onto the counter.
"There. That's your job now."
Arrange. Decorate. Sell. All her responsibility.
"..."
Havria was silent, staring at the glittering mountain of gems.
Work had come far too suddenly.
"All of this... is mine to handle?"
"Of course. Who else, me?"
"But aren't you afraid I'll undersell it?"
"If you do, I'll dock your wages."
"Boss, don't worry. I won't lose a single coin." Havria patted her ample chest with confidence.
She was developing a worker's mentality. If it meant avoiding pay cuts, she'd master the art of shopkeeping overnight if she had to.
"Good. Then it's yours." Taro nodded in satisfaction.
This was what being a boss felt like.
"Wait, Boss!" Havria raised her hand quickly. "The shop issue is solved, but what about me? Food, lodging, salary, hours?"
She had decided. She wouldn't be a god anymore. A shopkeeper's life suited her fine. The shop would be her place in Liyue, so her own arrangements needed clarity.
"True enough." Taro scratched his chin. "Alright—work hours whenever. You're a god, just leave an avatar to watch the store. Do business when there's business. Free time's yours.
Salary—one percent commission on each sale.
Food and lodging, covered. Meals at Wanmin Restaurant—it's cheap.
For lodging, use the upstairs floor. Buy whatever bed and quilts you like."
As he spoke, Taro tossed her a bag of high-value mora. About one million.
"There. Advance pay."
"Alright, rest's on you. I've got to meet Zhongli for business."
"..."
Taking the bag, Havria's beautiful face bloomed with a radiant smile.
Clasping her hands behind her back, she stepped gracefully into the shop.
Today was a new life.
And with it, a job.
(End of Chapter)
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