Chapter 36: Getting Busy

Hearing this, Zhu Ou immediately forgot her previous grievance. She tied her pink cherry blossom apron tight, adjusted the pink bandana on her cat head, and stood up straight.

Wen Ruyan also stopped smiling and walked over to the prep station with a helpless sigh.

Mo Yubai took a deep breath and told Xiao Ling to get ready.

Open for business!

Soon, the first customer walked in. It was a cute, chibi pink octopus. Its eight tentacles wiggled happily as it walked up to the counter with glowing eyes.

“Oh my gosh! Look what I found! A newly opened bubble tea shop! Give me three cups of Durian Lemonade! With extra ice!”

“Certainly, here is your number. Please wait a moment, and your order will be ready shortly.” Zhu Ou watched the cute, squishy little octopus with a doting smile, handing the number tag to one of its tentacles.

Highly satisfied with the friendly service, the little octopus waved its tentacles in delight.

In the kitchen, Mo Yubai opened the refrigerator, took out the prepared durian ingredients, and blended them into a paste. She poured the paste into cups of crushed lemon, added energy drinks, and just like that, a cup of Durian Lemonade was ready.

Before long, Zhu Ou brought out the three cups of Durian Lemonade from the kitchen. She packed them into a cute little cherry blossom cloth bag and handed them to the octopus with both hands.

The little octopus took the bag and eagerly gulped down a large mouthful. It let out a satisfied sigh. “This is the spot! Your shop is definitely going to be a huge hit!”

With that, it handed Zhu Ou twenty-three gold coins. “The extra three coins are a tip for your excellent service.”

Zhu Ou watched the octopus leave with a slightly dazed expression, then turned her gaze to Mo Yubai.

Mo Yubai nodded in satisfaction as she watched the successful transaction and saw her gold increase by forty-six coins under the Double Coins buff.

Noticing Zhu Ou’s confused look, she smiled and took out a large glass jar, pasting a label on it that read “Tips.”

“You can put the three gold coins from the customer and any other tips in here. Once we close for the day, you and Little Wen can split it.”

“Long live Sister Mo!” Zhu Ou cheered.

“Long live Sister Mo,” Wen Ruyan echoed in a good mood.

Watching the two goof around, the warmth in Mo Yubai’s eyes deepened. Working alongside friends was indeed a completely different experience from grinding away all by herself.

Just then, the second customer walked in. It was a pink skeleton wearing a theatrical costume. Its chibi art style made it look cute rather than scary.

Zhu Ou immediately put on a professional smile and pushed the menu toward the pink skeleton. “Take a look. What would you like to drink?”

The pink skeleton made a clicking sound as it stared at the menu.

Zhu Ou glanced up at the thought bubbles above its head, which showed Stinky Tofu Bubble Tea and Hamburger Coffee. She smiled and said, “Here is your number. Please wait a moment.”

Soon, the pink skeleton’s drinks were ready. It happily took the two cups from Zhu Ou, inserted straws directly into its eye sockets, and began to sip.

“Click, click, click!”

The pink skeleton handed twenty-three gold coins to Zhu Ou, tossed another two coins into the tip jar, and left, thoroughly satisfied.

Soon, two more customers walked in, and the little shop began to get busy.

Meanwhile, a heated discussion had broken out in the chat channel.

“Girls, the Cat Snack Shop just stocked sanitary pads! The price is super low, and there’s a purchase limit, but they aren’t sold out yet. Hurry!”

“Oh my god, thank goodness! I was about to break down and trade a rare blueprint for some.”

“The girls are fine. Even when they’re in desperate need, they trade fairly. But those guys who got pads from chests are all price gouging!”

“Exactly! Yesterday, some guy forced me to trade three bottles of water for just three pads!”

“The Cat Snack Shop is such a lifesaver, sob…”

“If you girls think our prices are too high, you don’t have to trade. Hahaha! If you can’t afford it, just hold it in. You’re just being dramatic. If you can’t even hold that in, don’t blame us for ripping you off!”

“Hahaha, well said, bro! I’ve been sick of these girls for a while. I can hold my pee, but you can’t hold your period?”

“Forget it, women are all the same. No matter what we say, they complain. It was a voluntary trade, yet they claim we scammed them. Talk about biting the hand that feeds you.”

“If you ask me, those girls are just too high-maintenance. If you don’t have pads, just let it run free. Why do you have to catch it? Hahaha.”

“Are you guys animals? If it weren’t for the fact that blood attracts monsters, do you think I’d beg you disgusting creeps for pads?”

“Don’t you have sisters? Don’t you have mothers? How can you say things like that?”

“Pfft, my mom says you young girls are just dramatic and spoiled! Back in her day, they just used old rags, and they were fine.”

“Wait, why are you guys fighting again? If you have time for this, why don’t you come with me to leave bad reviews on the Cat Snack Shop!”

“You’re so ungrateful! The Cat Snack Shop sells things so cheaply and even gives us a chance to buy bubble tea, and you’re still bashing it?”

“Have you not bought any bubble tea yet?”

“No, I just bought the pads. I haven’t had time to grab any bubble tea yet.”

“Ah, then never mind. The Cat Snack Shop’s bubble tea is absolutely delicious! Come find me after you manage to buy some.”

“Really? Then I’m going to try and grab some!”

“Bro, you’re evil. How could you tell her that swill tastes delicious?”

“I can’t be the only one suffering.”

“You’re right! I highly recommend everyone try the bubble tea at the Cat Snack Shop. It’s cheap, full of flavor, and a great value!”

“You two are unbelievable. We’re not blind, you know.”

“Damn, what even is that stuff? After drinking that Stinky Tofu Bubble Tea, I had to chug two bottles of water just to get the taste out of my mouth!”

“How can such a delicacy exist in this world? I think it’s delicious. You guys complain too much!”

“Reported. We found a non-human!”

“Actually, I think the Durian Lemonade is pretty good. That fresh, delicate taste is amazing!”

“Ugh… stop talking. Just thinking about it makes me gag.”

“You uncultured swine, you wouldn’t know a delicacy if it hit you in the face!”

“If those cursed drinks are delicacies, then I gladly admit to being a swine.”

“I don’t get it. Aren’t you all complaining? Then why is it still so hard to buy?”

“Sorry about that. I don’t even like bubble tea, but seeing everyone say how awful it is made me curious to try it.”

“You’re joining the crowd just for that? Speechless.”

“Stop chatting! The Cat Snack Shop just released vegetable ice cream. Go grab some before it’s gone!”

“A bite of ice cream on a hot day like this would be amazing! I’m going right now!”

The bubble tea shop was now level three. Mo Yubai was incredibly busy in the kitchen, churning out all kinds of bizarre drinks. Wen Ruyan was stationed on the left, responsible for scooping the vegetable ice cream and selling small egg tarts.

By this point, Zhu Ou had no time to observe the customers. She could only hand out number tags one after another.

“Here is your number.”

“This one is yours.”

There were already about twelve customers waiting in front of the counter, and the crowd was still growing.

Mo Yubai was now able to produce fifteen drinks every five minutes. Her hands moved so fast while crushing lemons that they left afterimages.

Once they finally sent off this wave of customers, Zhu Ou happily picked up the glass jar and gave it a shake.