CHAPTER 36

While the two people were enjoying themselves with the new toys, Chu Yu and Shu Yanyan had already returned to the dessert shop.

Thanks to the selfless dedication of the robots in the shop, even though the owner hadn't been there for a few days, the shop remained very clean.

Shu Yanyan immediately opened the doors and windows of the shop to let some fresh air in. Then, she went into the kitchen at the back and casually checked the ingredients stored in the refrigerator.

Chu Yu approached her and heard her muttering to herself, "Hmm... Just when business was starting to pick up, the boss had to be absent. I wonder if those customers will come back when we reopen... Well, I guess we have to take it step by step."

Chu Yu couldn't help but chuckle.

The more she got to know Shu Yanyan, the more she liked this person. Whether it was her indomitable spirit in the face of difficulties or her passion and dedication to life, it captivated Chu Yu and made her unable to break free.

When Shu Yanyan heard the laughter, she turned her head to look at her.

"...What are you laughing at?"

Chu Yu blinked mischievously and teased her, "I just think Yanyan is very cute."

Shu Yanyan was confused. "If you think I'm cute, why are you laughing?"

No wonder she was suspicious. Chu Yu had a lot of tricks up her sleeve!

Chu Yu touched her chin and replied, "A cute Yanyan like you has already been captured by me. Isn't it worth a good laugh?"

Shu Yanyan's face turned red, and she deliberately turned her head away, refusing to look at her.

It was as if they were a pair of natural complements and adversaries. Chu Yu had the ability to make her blush with just a few words. It was a strange feeling, and one thing was certain—Shu Yanyan didn't dislike it...

But she would never openly admit that she enjoyed being teased by the other person!

After taking a few deep breaths, Shu Yanyan felt the temperature on her face decrease slightly and decided to change the subject. "Hmm, the ingredients are well-preserved, but the quantity is not much. We'll need to arrange a procurement in the next couple of days."

Chu Yu followed up on her statement with a question, "Yanyan... Are you planning to continue running the shop?"

Shu Yanyan was taken aback and lifted her head to ask, "Is it not allowed?"

Chu Yu pondered for a moment and said, "If you're willing, of course, you can continue doing what you love."

Shu Yanyan pursed her lips.

She was always kind enough to proactively consider others. Since Chu Yu didn't object, she herself felt a bit uneasy. "I remember Auntie pays special attention to the royal family's image in the media. If I... would it be inappropriate? Will it make her unhappy?"

Chu Yu chuckled softly.

"Well, well, it seems Yanyan already has the consciousness of an Empress of the Empire. If Mother knew that you were so well-behaved and cared so much about her feelings, she would definitely wake up laughing from her dreams."

Shu Yanyan's face turned bright red this time.

She lightly patted Chu Yu's arm and stammered, "I-I didn't... I'm not like that! Don't talk nonsense!"

"Okay, okay..." Chu Yu's eyes were filled with teasing laughter, but she tactfully agreed, "I understand that Yanyan hasn't decided whether to become my Empress yet. I have to work even harder so that Yanyan won't suffer."

This was hardly comforting; it was getting more and more outrageous!

The blush on Shu Yanyan's face climbed all the way to her ears. She stomped her foot in frustration but couldn't find any way to deal with this rascal in front of her.

Chu Yu reached out and playfully pulled her into an embrace.

"What's wrong? Can't handle these words?"

"I remember last night in bed, I said even more..." Chu Yu's voice trailed off mischievously.

Shu Yanyan buried her entire face into Chu Yu's chest and began lightly pounding her shoulders with her hands.

"Stop it, stop it! You're not allowed to say that anymore!"

Chu Yu thoroughly enjoyed this "actively throwing herself into her arms" behavior. There was a wicked smile on her lips, and her hand, not behaving properly, lightly patted Shu Yanyan's rear end.

"Ah, Yanyan's temper is getting bigger and bigger. Alright, I'll listen to you. I won't say anything."

After she finished speaking, Shu Yanyan stopped hammering her hands but still refused to lift her head to face people.

Chu Yu knew she was shy, so she didn't continue teasing her. Instead, she gently stroked her back, giving her enough time to recover.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, she earnestly answered Shu Yanyan's earlier question.

"Since I said you can do what you like, I will handle all the obstacles for you. So Yanyan, don't worry, just go ahead and do what you want."

Shu Yanyan's voice came from her chest, sounding somewhat muffled.

"...But, I can't let you bear all the pressure alone."

Chu Yu rubbed her earlobe. "My little wife is so considerate even before entering the door?"

Shu Yanyan raised her hands and covered her ears.

"...If you keep doing this, I, I won't talk to you anymore."

Chu Yu was tickled by her reaction.

While the little bunny covered her own ears, she turned her attention to the other person's long hair.

"It's not much pressure.

"This is the Empire, and online trading here is many times more advanced than the chaotic federation. If Yanyan wants to sell her own desserts, she can open a food processing factory near the palace and produce various sweets to be sold through logistics across the universe.

"Of course, if you want to open your own shop, it's also simple. I'll have the Ministry of Commerce provide you with a temporary identity. You can wear a mask like we do now and work in the shop. By then, I'll apply to be Yanyan's waiter, so Yanyan, the boss, better treat me well."

After listening, Shu Yanyan nodded seriously.

Chu Yu's two suggestions perfectly considered all the circumstances. Even if the two of them were together, she could still work hard to promote the cuisine of the Chinese era on Earth. And once the reputation spread, even if her identity was discovered, it would only be an added honor.

Thinking about this, she suddenly felt enlightened.

As for Chu Yu's last remark...

"Hmph, I don't want a waiter like you!" Shu Yanyan directly refused her request.

Chu Yu was a bit surprised. "Why?"

Shu Yanyan gritted her teeth inwardly. "You're clumsy and don't know how to make desserts at all. Every time you show up, you're not helping, you're just causing trouble."

Chu Yu laughed so much that her eyes narrowed.

She changed her tone and said, "Ahem, if you don't want me to be a waiter in the shop, can I be the boss's exclusive assistant? When you're thirsty, I'll bring you water. When you're hungry, I'll feed you. And if you're tired, I can even be your human pillow. Boss, tell me, where else can you find such a versatile assistant?"

Shu Yanyan rolled her eyes.

Chu Yu's words sounded nice, but the real situation would definitely be—

When she's thirsty, she'll be teased by the other person. When she's hungry, she'll be teased by the other person. After a hard day's work, she'll definitely be teased by this beast when they get home!

This kind of loss-making deal, absolutely! Not! Going! To! Happen!

Shu Yanyan was resolute. "I don't want it."

Chu Yu pretended to look aggrieved. "Hmm? Are you that heartless?"

Shu Yanyan withdrew from her embrace and composed herself seriously. "I can't handle overly busy work. Even if I open a shop, it will only be a small one. It won't tire me out, so I don't need a dedicated assistant."

Chu Yu's expression showed that she didn't accept this reasoning at all, so Shu Yanyan had to continue fabricating: "And, I don't have the budget for that either. You have to understand that opening a shop here, aside from the cost of ingredients, the monthly rent and utilities alone are very high... Um, although Suqing gave me a great discount, I can't always take advantage of her..."

Chu Yu keenly caught a crucial keyword in her words and a sense of crisis filled her narrowed eyes.

As soon as Shu Yanyan finished her rambling, Chu Yu immediately inquired, "Suqing gave you a great discount? Is this shop her business?"

Shu Yanyan had no idea that something was amiss and nodded lightly. "Yes."

She told Chu Yu, "Suqing is a very good person. She was my first customer, and after Shu Qing disappeared, she gave me special encouragement and help. It was her suggestion that brought me and Yunmiao to the Imperial Star."

Speaking up to this point, she felt deeply moved.

"I really have to thank her, or else... we wouldn't know how long it would take for us to see each other again..."

If it were just her alone, she wouldn't have had the subjective desire to leave the chaotic federation—

Shu Qing disappeared there, and she always felt that she should stay in the same place, waiting for her return.

Suqing's persuasion and advice were part of the reason she took this brave step. It can be said that without her, Shu Yanyan might have waited for several more years until Yunmiao could be left under adult supervision before setting off for the Empire.

Chu Yu paused for a moment and then realized.

"Well, then we really have to thank her."

Her words sounded sincere, but there was a hint of bitterness added—

Being grateful for someone helping their partner is one thing, but the fact that the person has ulterior motives towards their partner cannot be easily dismissed.

Shu Yanyan continued unknowingly fueling the fire, "So, don't speak ill of Suqing anymore. She is a very successful entrepreneur and a particularly upright person. She doesn't have any malicious intentions."

Chu Yu raised an eyebrow and pointed out the contradiction in her words, "Successful entrepreneurs generally prioritize their own interests. How can you tell she doesn't have any malicious intentions?"

Shu Yanyan pouted, "You... work and personal life are separate matters. How can you mix them up?"

Chu Yu knew this wouldn't work. The more she spoke ill of Suqing, the more Shu Yanyan would disagree. If they really argued about it, Shu Yanyan would go over all the good qualities and kind acts of Suqing, making the situation even more difficult to handle.

She shifted her gaze back to the original question.

"You said Suqing gave you a great discount, right? This is a well-known commercial street in the capital, and the rent can't be cheap. How much does she charge you in Imperial currency every month?"

Shu Yanyan had no ulterior motives. She retrieved the contract she had signed with Suqing on her phone and showed it to Chu Yu.

"Here, take a look. This is the amount of rent."

Chu Yu widened her eyes and put on a surprised expression.

"From what I know, she practically gave it to you for free."

In fact...

Pretending to be a knowledgeable emperor, Chu Yu had no idea how much the rent for an ordinary commercial street should be!

But this was enough to deceive the naive little rabbit.

The little rabbit sighed and wore a worried expression.

"Yes, that's true. Suqing said it was because the previous tenant breached the contract, so she made it cheap for me. But I also know that she probably just found an excuse. This place is bustling, and she shouldn't be charging so little."

Chu Yu chuckled inwardly.

The little rabbit fell into the trap!

On the surface, she furrowed her eyebrows slightly and said, "At that time, I wasn't with you, and she probably thought it was difficult for you to take care of Yunmiao alone in various aspects. That's why she gave you a discount.

"But Yanyan... our family is reunited now, and we can't take advantage of others like this.

"You should know that a shop in such a prime location is very valuable. Every month Suqing rents it to you, she's losing tens of thousands on the books."

The little rabbit looked up at her with a naive expression, seeking her help. "Then, what should we do?"

Chu Yu gave a very "understanding" suggestion. "I think it would be best if we return the shop to her so that she can rent it out at a normal price."

Shu Yanyan hesitated a bit. "In the end, it was Suqing's goodwill. If I directly tell her to take back the shop, will it hurt her feelings?"

"Of course not!" Realizing that her tone sounded a bit urgent, Chu Yu quickly coughed twice to cover it up. "Ahem, well, she gave you such a high discount before because you didn't have anyone to rely on, Yanyan. Now that you have me, how could we possibly be short of money? If she knew about us being together, she would probably want to take back the shop immediately. It's not good to make such demands."

"If Yanyan takes the initiative to return the shop and reveals our situation to her, it would help her resolve a burden in her heart."

After some thought, she even added, "Let's compensate her for the breach of contract, too. We can't let her suffer a loss."

She would compensate whatever amount was needed! Once the money matters were settled, she wanted to see if that Suqing still had the face to approach her partner!

Shu Yanyan was convinced. "You're right..."

She slapped her face to encourage herself. "Now that you're back, our situation is different from before. We can't accept Suqing's help with a clear conscience anymore! I'll talk to her later, at the very least... we should make her raise the rent to a normal standard."

Another alarm bell rang in Chu Yu's mind.

She spoke up, blocking the other party's last retreat. "Wouldn't that be inappropriate? Suqing is so 'upright', she definitely won't do business with you in a normal way. Every time you have a transaction with her, you'll be unknowingly or somewhat taken care of by her...

"In the long run, it would almost have no effect. We might as well take advantage of her."

Shu Yanyan couldn't quite understand her logic. "Huh?"

Chu Yu hugged her by the neck and pulled her into her embrace, cutting off her further thoughts.

"Anyway, it's better if we don't have any financial dealings with her anymore. Mother has several shops in the commercial area near the palace. I'll go and buy them from her tonight, and you can open your shop there in the future."

Shu Yanyan said, "Ah, but..."

Chu Yu took a deep breath. "Mother would be very happy if she knew you were working in her shops. And it's very close to the palace, so it's convenient for coming and going."

Shu Yanyan pondered for a moment and nodded. "Hmm... that could work."

She continued, "We don't need to rush with the physical shop. I want to first reopen the online store. We did well when you were still Shu Qing, and an online store is more advantageous for promotion, too."

Chu Yu finally felt relieved and a smile appeared on her lips.

"Well, that's great. I was thinking the same thing," she said.

Shu Yanyan also smiled along with her.

"Since that's the case, let's close down this shop. We need to quickly inform Suqing and let her find the next tenant.

"As for the penalty for breaking the contract..."

"I'll take care of it!" Chu Yu interrupted, "Give me the contract, I'll handle the penalty and make sure she's satisfied!"

Shu Yanyan nodded and obediently passed over the contract.

"Thank you, Chu Yu."

Chu Yu lowered her head and lightly kissed the corner of her lips. "I thought you didn't see me as an outsider, why are you still saying thank you?"

Shu Yanyan felt a bit dizzy. "Um, even when dealing with family, it's important to express gratitude."

"You've been so good to me, I... I want to thank you." she said.

This statement from the little rabbit perfectly demonstrated what it meant to be grateful to the fox after being deceived!

The fox felt extremely satisfied!

Afraid that her smile was too unrestrained and would give herself away, Chu Yu simply lowered her head and deeply kissed Shu Yanyan's lips.

Their lips met, and Chu Yu finally revealed her true nature, boldly invading with her tongue. Her assault was intense, and within just two minutes, Shu Yanyan felt like all the oxygen in her body had been sucked away.

She gently pushed the other person away and started to breathe softly.

Chu Yu held onto her waist, helping her maintain balance.

"Yanyan, you're so delicate. I'll spare you for now, but you'll have to compensate me tonight," she said.She said it with such righteousness, as if Shu Yanyan really owed her something.

However, Shu Yanyan's brain hadn't fully recovered from the lack of oxygen, and she only felt that Chu Yu's "gentlemanly behavior" was considerate.

In a dazed state, she nodded slightly and whispered, "Okay."

Chu Yu smiled and lightly kissed her forehead.

The little rabbit was truly obedient.

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