Chapter 54

This morning's breakfast was a bowl of Mountain Delicacy Hot Noodles, which tasted just as delicious as before.

After finishing the noodles, Zhu Zi quickly paid and pulled Xia Zhi as they walked back.

"Boss, let's hurry back!"

"Don't rush—you're wearing high heels. Be careful not to twist your ankle."

"Boss, how did you know I was wearing high heels?"

"I could hear it. The sound of your footsteps is much clearer than usual, definitely high heels."

"Oh, you're right."

"Is this your first time wearing high heels? Your footsteps sound a bit unsteady."

"Yes, it's my first time. I'm not quite used to them yet."

"Then let's walk slowly. We'll definitely make it in time."

Zhu Zi nodded helplessly, thinking that the boss really wasn't in any hurry at all.

Although their shop's juice was indeed delicious and they didn't need to worry about sales, shouldn't they be more serious on their first day of business?

Yesterday, when they went to see Fish Vendor Liu, she heard the boss say that this shop was bought for 5,000,000 Mora, and that it was quite a bargain. If she had 5,000,000 Mora in Inazuma...

Zhu Zi's thoughts wandered, and when she came back to her senses, her face inexplicably turned red.

When they returned to the shop, Xia Zhi saw Qiqi and Hu Tao each carrying a chair and sitting at the entrance. Hu Tao was talking to Qiqi, but Qiqi wasn't responding.

None of that mattered though—what was important was that both of them had golden progress bars floating above them.

How beautiful.

Xia Zhi couldn't help but smile, walking over to say, "Miss Qiqi, thank you for watching the shop."

Qiqi stood up and replied seriously, "You're welcome."

Hu Tao also stood up, greeting him with a smile, "Hello, Mr. Xia, we meet again."

Xia Zhi first "hesitated," then as if remembering her appearance, asked uncertainly, "You are... Director Hu?"

"It's only been a few days, and Mr. Xia has already forgotten his neighbor? How heartbreaking."

"I'm sorry, Director Hu. It's not that I forgot—I just couldn't recognize your voice earlier."

"Voice?"

"I'm actually blind."

"Ah... I'm sorry."

Hu Tao's expression froze for a moment before she said seriously,

"Mr. Xia, I was just joking with you earlier. Please don't take offense."

Xia Zhi shook his head and smiled, "It's fine. I'm happy that Director Hu could come support us on our opening day. This is Miss Zhu Zi, my shop's server. This is Director Hu, the owner of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor next door."

Hu Tao smiled and exchanged greetings with Zhu Zi. Though she didn't mention that she actually came because of Qiqi, she asked curiously, "I heard from Qiqi that Mr. Xia is opening a specialty beverage shop."

"Yes."

"I saw the shop's poster—100 Mora per cup?"

"That's right."

"That's quite expensive."

"It's worth the price, and today it's half off."

"Even at 50 Mora, it's still expensive. Mr. Xia, I should be your shop's first customer, right?"

"No, Qiqi was."

"Oh?"

Hu Tao glanced at Qiqi, who was silently picking up her chair and walking back into the shop, sitting at the table with the incense burner.

"As the second customer, I should be special too, right?"

Xia Zhi thought for a moment and said, "Indeed. Then let me treat Director Hu to a drink."

Hu Tao nodded satisfactorily, "Thank you, Mr. Xia."

After all, the funeral parlor's business wasn't easy, and now with another big-spending client, she naturally wanted to save money where she could.

They entered the shop together, and Xia Zhi went behind the counter, taking out four clean glasses from the cabinet.

Hu Tao eagerly waited to see how he would prepare a juice worth 100 Mora.

Such an expensive beverage must have a complex and difficult preparation process, right?

First, he filled the glasses with clear water.

Then he took out a bottle and added one drop of concentrate to each glass.

Finally, Xia Zhi pushed a colorful juice toward her, saying, "Director Hu, please enjoy. Zhu Zi, this one is yours, please help take this cup to Miss Qiqi."

???

Wait, that's it?

Hu Tao looked down at the impossibly beautiful colored juice before her: "Just like that?"

"Yes."

"This thing sells for 100 Mora?"

"Yes, Director Hu, please don't think my preparation process looks simple. Actually, making this juice concentrate is very complex—it's just that you can't see all the work that goes on behind the scenes."

"...I see."

How complex could making juice concentrate be? Isn't it just washing fruits and squeezing them into juice? Though the rainbow-like color looks beautiful, it must just be made from seven different fruits, right?

Hu Tao picked up her glass somewhat dubiously and brought it to her lips.

An extraordinary fruit fragrance entered her nose, making her eyes light up.

"This aroma seems to have Sunset Fruit, Valberry, Sunsettia, Apple, Lemon... no, it's not just seven types... ten types... twenty types... even more..."

Hu Tao's expression gradually became serious because she even detected a scent that shouldn't exist in this juice.

It was the scent of a forbidden fruit that only grows in the border regions, a place where the living cannot set foot, let alone eat anything from there.

Hu Tao put down her glass and asked Xia Zhi seriously, "Mr. Xia, could you tell me exactly how you made this juice concentrate?"

Xia Zhi shook his head and replied seriously, "Sorry, that's a secret."

Hu Tao gave him a long look.

Xia Zhi just picked up his own glass of juice, took a small sip, then asked, "Director Hu, aren't you going to drink?"

Hu Tao turned to look at Zhu Zi and Qiqi. They were both drinking the juice. Qiqi being a zombie didn't count, but Zhu Zi's expression showed no pain—rather, she looked quite satisfied.

All four glasses were made with the same concentrate, and since Mr. Xia and Zhu Zi drank it without issue, it proved the juice was harmless.

This meant that forbidden fruit couldn't have been used in the ingredients.

But why could she smell that unique scent of forbidden fruit?

Perhaps this juice could recreate flavors from the drinker's memories?

Hu Tao couldn't quite figure it out. She picked up her glass, hesitated for a moment, brought it to her lips, and took a small sip.

The cool juice flowed into her mouth, immediately playing a colorful melody on her tongue, making her feel as if she were in an orchard laden with fruit.

Hu Tao closed her eyes, savoring it for a long while before opening them again and sighing, "What a dreamlike flavor..."

Xia Zhi smiled and asked, "Does Director Hu still think 100 Mora is expensive?"

Hu Tao sighed and said, "That price is an insult to this drink."

She took another sip of juice, her face showing the same satisfaction as Zhu Zi's, then asked curiously, "Just how many types of fruit did you use as ingredients? So many flavors mixed together yet there's no conflict at all."

"That's a secret."

Xia Zhi looked at the golden progress bar above her showing [Progress: 3%] and replied casually,

"If Director Hu enjoys it, you're welcome to visit our shop often."