Chapter 18: A Visual Feast
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As time passed, the number of customers in the shop steadily increased, including many regulars as well as numerous tourists drawn in by the lively atmosphere. Of course, upon glancing at the price list, each of them was taken aback.
All drinks were uniformly priced at 188 yuan.
Pastries were 88 yuan for a single box and 588 yuan for a box of six.
Wasn’t this a scam? How could a place that clearly charges so much actually allow people to order?
Watching the customers line up to pay, many tourists cast suspicious glances at them.
Could they all be planted customers?
Don’t think they were unaware; some influencer-run shops are notorious for such tactics.
They had been fooled many times before!
But those previous scams were minor compared to this store’s grand scheme.
It felt like a shop aiming for a big score before disappearing.
One cautious tourist approached a paying customer in line. “How much money are you getting for lining up?”
“Huh?” The customer was momentarily confused.
“I mean, how much does the owner pay you? I could line up too and earn some extra cash,” the tourist whispered, genuinely considering the idea.
The customer snapped back, “Sorry, you’ve got it wrong. We’re not plants, just here to buy stuff.”
“What did you buy?” the tourist asked, curious.
“One cup of oolong tea, one iced black tea, one plum juice, and a box of lotus seed ice cakes.”
“How much?”
“632 yuan,” the customer winced slightly. “It’s expensive, but the taste is really good. I’m picking this up for my girlfriend today; I couldn’t bear to drink it all alone.”
“Really?”
The customer pulled out yesterday’s receipt. “I bought a cup of iced black tea here yesterday and was instantly won over. I’ve decided—this is my ultimate summer remedy.”
“Ultimate summer remedy?”
“One sip keeps me cool for one or two hours. The more I drink, the longer it lasts.”
“Are you telling me this is some kind of fantasy?”
“Believe it or not!” The customer glanced at the tourist and then stepped forward to pay.
“Sir, you’re a regular! 632 yuan! Please show your payment code!”
While scanning the code, the customer joked, “Yesterday I was ‘young man,’ today I’m just ‘sir’?”
“The little card is tired from serving so many customers!” came the reply.
“Alright, I forgive you.”
The tourist watched all this, dumbfounded—not just fantasy, but outright science fiction!
Had technology outside really advanced to this degree?
Similar scenes played out with other tourists.
From what they heard from customers, the drinks at this general store had special effects.
Many tourists immediately searched on Orange Book and public reviews. Though there were few mentions on Orange Book, most were positive. On public review platforms, customers raved unanimously.
They knew there was a 5 yuan discount activity on public review platforms, but with prices at 188 yuan, what was a 5 yuan discount worth?
As for short videos, they found a weight loss influencer’s vlog claiming that drinking the store’s oolong tea boosts metabolism and aids weight loss, with many seeing results.
There were also some check-in videos at the store and short clips of conversations with the automated checkout device, the Little Card.
However, these videos had few likes, and their accounts were ordinary daily users, clearly just tourists casually filming.
Aside from being expensive and somewhat overhyped, it seemed like a normal shop.
This didn’t make sense!
Of course, some tourists were indifferent, saw the prices as unreasonable, and simply left—after all, there were plenty of other shops; no need to linger here.
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Others, however, refused to be swayed and browsed the store carefully.
The result...
“Want to try some?” The owner kindly offered samples, and naturally, the tourists accepted.
After a moment, a small group lined up at the automated checkout with drinks in hand, while others wandered around, unable to stop thinking about the beverages.
Sure enough, sometimes it’s best not to taste something too good.
Once you’ve had the best, everything else feels like a compromise.
Soon, after experiencing the power of the iced black tea, many tourists became repeat customers of the general store.
For Yu Zui, such scenes had become routine.
She sensed that regular customers already accounted for a steady portion of sales, despite the shop having only been open three days.
Quality goods were king!
At that moment, checking the online orders after hitting ten, Yu Zui took a moment to focus on them.
Compared to the explosive surge earlier that morning, sales had become a steady trickle, with a few cancellations in between.
Tang Siyuan and another companion had come and gone several times—truly proactive.
Just as she finished handling the orders, the delivery driver arrived.
He brought a full load.
Once the delivery was unpacked, everyone’s attention was drawn to several sets of furniture.
Previously, there had been only three shelves against the wall, mainly noticed for the drinks displayed upon them.
Now, there was an added cabinet, a large plank table, and a set of chairs placed thoughtfully so they complemented each other.
All the furniture was made from the same type of wood, exquisitely carved with intricate patterns that emitted a faint woody fragrance, instantly elevating the entire shop’s ambiance.
“Ah, boss, all your furnishings are the same kind of wood!” a customer observed, surprised to see even the counter and storage area made from that wood.
“Yes, it gives the whole interior a more unified style,” Yu Zui responded, having just noticed it herself.
She thought to herself that her dream of a trendy influencer store might really work.
Not only were the products top-notch, but the décor was heading towards a high-end vibe.
A boutique approach!
Though Yu Zui hadn’t mingled with the wealthy, she had glimpsed some glimpses through short videos.
Her drinks were likely still far less expensive than theirs.
With the added special effects, she felt no shame about the current prices.
“This wood must be expensive! It smells wonderful and is soothing, refreshing the mind,” a customer leaned over to sniff the shelves, then touched the surface. “The texture is warm and smooth—definitely quality wood.”
Other customers’ attention was drawn by the comment, and they started examining the wood closely.
Especially the set of chairs near the entrance—some had already sat down.
Whether psychological or not, those who sat felt an immediate sense of comfort.
Yu Zui took this opportunity to fiddle with the cabinet.
“System, do you have any product descriptions made from this kind of wood? Put one on the cabinet so customers don’t need me to explain. It would also match the style better,” she requested, feeling she owed the system enough and could ask for this small favor.
If a request was unreasonable, the system would refuse.
[...Placed in warehouse.]
Yu Zui immediately retrieved it from the warehouse and placed it prominently on the shelf.
Then she carefully arranged the drinks.
The plum juice, with a bonus stock of 100 bottles, had all been displayed earlier and still had some left—no need to restock.
For the others, she kept around 20 bottles on hand.
After all, her liquid capital couldn’t support more.
Once the cabinet was set, Yu Zui began arranging the pastry display.
Just placing them plainly was too dull, so she searched online for designs and had the system provide two different dessert trays.
She also prepared introduction cards for the lotus seed ice cakes and the Chun Shui Sheng pastries.
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The content on the introduction cards was edited by Yu Zui herself.
When the two signs were displayed, they instantly drew the attention of nearby customers.
“Is this Chun Shui Sheng the same as the Liuli fruit from that popular drama?” someone recognized and exclaimed excitedly.
After all, the drama had been a sensation, sparking a wave of bloggers making videos—each more beautiful than the last—but Yu Zui had never seen it in real life, let alone bought it.
“Yes,” Yu Zui nodded.
Hehe, linking products to a hit drama was another selling point.
She planned to work on some promotional hype later.
“But I don’t see it here!”
“It’s new; it will be delivered shortly,” Yu Zui replied.
As she spoke, the delivery person arrived with a huge refrigerated box.
After signing for it, Yu Zui took it straight to the warehouse.
She then purchased a six-pack box.
Next, she brought out the loose pastries and began arranging them on the cabinet.
First, she unpacked the previously bought six-pack of lotus seed ice cakes and placed them on a lotus petal-shaped wooden tray.
As for the Chun Shui Sheng, Yu Zui was amazed upon unpacking.
Each compartment contained a different variety:
Grapefruit Chun Shui Sheng, Green Jade Chun Shui Sheng, Starry Sky Chun Shui Sheng, Water Chestnut Chun Shui Sheng, Peach Chun Shui Sheng, Passion Fruit Chun Shui Sheng.
Six flavors, six colors.
Especially with the translucent skins enhancing the vivid colors, it was truly a visual feast.
Yu Zui carefully arranged them on a special welcoming pinecone tray, each flavor on a different layer.
After finishing, she set single boxes aside and planned to bring out the six-packs only once customers confirmed their purchase.
Adjusting the display to its most beautiful angle, Yu Zui clapped her hands in satisfaction.
Done!
Suddenly, the atmosphere around her grew quiet.
Looking up, she saw a crowd frantically snapping photos of the two beautifully arranged pastries.
After the shooting, spontaneous gasps escaped their lips.
“Ahhh, these pastries are just stunning!”
“They’re practically works of art!”
“So pretty—are they even meant to be eaten?”
“I have to post these on my Moments!”
“...”
Seeing this scene, Yu Zui fell silent.
These were indeed meant to be eaten, not just photographed!
As the tourists crowded around, she suddenly realized one thing.
She hadn’t taken a single photo herself!
Yet, in the next moment, an idea flashed through her mind—how to use these two exceptionally beautiful new pastries to give her shop a little boost in popularity.
After all, the main quest emphasized the shop’s reputation.
Because of financial concerns, her focus had been on side quests to earn money.
But now, she felt main and side quests could proceed in parallel, complementing each other!