Dual-line life

Before that, Xu Youling finally began to feel that his life after coming into this world was on the right track.

The space and service speed of the spiritual beauty stall were no longer sufficient to meet the needs of its rapidly growing customer base. Xu Youling continued to set up shop at the same hours as before, but her working hours were getting later and later.

He was so engrossed in his work that he naturally didn't notice anything, but Song Qi would cry if he was even a minute late. While Xu Youling kept promising to "get off work on time tomorrow," she felt guilty seeing the dark circles under Song Qi's eyes as he still had to work during the day.

So, on a weekend night which was obviously the peak season, Xu Youling did not go out for the first time, but instead lay on the table in the restaurant to settle the bill.

The smart dining table in the rental house is a bit old, but it can still adjust the height smoothly to suit the user's height and other habits. Xu Youling found a pencil tip according to his habits in the real world and wrote with difficulty.

His pen-holding habit wasn't very good, and now that he was thinner, the way his fingers gripped the tip of the pen seemed a bit too forceful, and he looked very tired.

"Ninety-eight plus one hundred and twenty-eight plus sixty-eight plus..." Song Qi's calculation ability was almost making things worse. "That's so many!"

Xu Youling was dizzy and checked the number. After counting several times, he reluctantly believed the result they came up with: "It's really a lot!"

According to the prices and wages in this world, the turnover they made from setting up their stall in the past two weeks was almost equal to Song Qi's income for two months.

Xu Youling opened his account and said to Song Qi, who was struggling to study the bank statement beside him, "I'll give you half."

It was he who first asked Song Qi, who didn't want to "participate in the shares", to work for free because he couldn't support the whole stall by himself. What's more, the other party had to do such heavy physical labor during the day. Xu Youling always felt embarrassed.

"Huh?" Song Qi's eyes widened. "Half...it shouldn't be that much. You did most of the work. I just helped a little."

"But without you, I wouldn't have the ability or confidence to set up a stall on my own." Xu Youling said sincerely, "Take it. You're the second largest shareholder, and you even fought that sentry for me."

"Then... then I'll take it!" Song Qi nodded happily, "Well... actually it's not that tiring, I can still do it for another year or six months... Why are you still sitting here? Let's go!"

Xu Youling didn't move, his pencil unconsciously drawing a few circles on the paper. He held his chin and looked to the side, a little worriedly: "I have a new plan. Um... Dear second largest shareholder, can you give me some reference and advice?"

"What, you want to add some new projects?" Song Qi sat back at the table.

"I was just thinking... since we already have the windfall start-up capital, why not just rent a storefront?" Xu Youling twirled a pen, her long, beautiful fingers casting a shadow under the light. "That way, we can add more items to our menu and stay open all day. We don't have to make customers wait for numbers, and we can use the store as a rest area."

"That would be a bit expensive..." Song Qi was worried. "Commercial water and electricity are both very expensive. Even if it's just a one-month trial operation, it will almost cost you all your savings. What if you lose money?"

I've lost, so I've lost. I'm not a native of this world anyway, so it's no big deal if I mess up my life. Xu Youling thought so.

But another thought secretly arose in his mind: If I lose, I will go to Pei Zhi, since he also needs this service anyway.

And he looked like he was willing to pay for it.

"Ahem..." Xu Youling cleared his throat and said unnaturally, "The bigger the storm, the more expensive the fish. You can't catch a wolf without sacrificing your child. Anyway... Anyway, that's the truth."

"Oh oh oh..." Song Qi nodded in confusion.

I always feel that it is impossible to run a proper store relying on just myself and Song Qi.

"Anyway," Xu Youling said seriously, "In the near future, in addition to setting up a stall, I will also look for a suitable storefront."

"I'll pay attention too!" Song Qi clenched his fist.

So, Xu Youling lived a life of slavery, setting up stalls at night, looking for shops during the day, and occasionally going to the White Pagoda to find Pei Zhi.

He had never started a business in the real world and was extremely inexperienced. He was also worried about losing all his capital, so he was extremely cautious in everything he did, running around the streets with an electronic recorder in his hand.

But even so, it is very difficult to successfully find a store suitable for the spiritual and physical beauty business.

First, whether it can meet the basic needs of the service.

It requires cheap water and electricity, reasonable wiring planning, and the interior design should be spacious and open with room for creativity. The decoration should not be too old, and there should be no serious damage.

Second, is there a stable source of customers nearby?

The intersection of main roads may look bustling, but without convenient parking, it's hard to attract guests from further afield. Studios in office buildings offer more flexibility, but without proper publicity, they might not attract anyone.

Third, price.

This was the most vexing and frustrating aspect for Xu Youling. The decor was shabby in busy areas, the neat and beautiful storefront was located in an old, deserted neighborhood, and the store near the business district would be affected by the fumes from nearby restaurants... If every condition was met, it would cost extra.

But where does the money come from?

He opened his account again and again to check the balance, and thought that he might as well continue to set up the stall.

Anyway, I have to leave after completing the task, so it would be weird to leave the store here.

But every night when he went to the stall and took care of the spiritual bodies of many guide guests who were unaware that they were depressed due to poor mental state, Xu Youling would feel a strong sense of satisfaction.

Maybe he is just a little too compassionate, always thinking that he has this golden finger, so any help he can give is a good thing. If he can encourage everyone to take good care of their spiritual bodies, it would be a good thing.

Xu Youling, who was thinking about many things, was often in a trance. One time, when he was sitting beside Pei Zhi's bed and was being guided by his mental power to relieve him, he sighed a little depressedly.

"What's wrong?" Pei Zhi held his hand tightly.

"It's nothing, just a little tired." Xu Youling was a little depressed.

"Tired?" Pei Zhi stopped the movement of pulling with his mental power, turned his head to look at him, his eyes dark.

Xu Youling's report fell on deaf ears, and Pei Zhi's trial date was repeatedly postponed, making one wonder if it was just an attempt to keep him in the cell until he died. Every time Xu Youling came to the cell and opened the door, he would tremble with fear, fearing that Pei Zhi had escaped and the cell was empty.

But for some reason, Pei Zhi did not leave. He just sat there coldly and asked him to come over, half-forced him to vent, and tolerated the German Shepherd to lick his face at the end.

According to the original book's timeline, he was almost organizing an army outside the White Tower. This was barely the only good thing that happened.

The only good thing about this was that, during his clumsy counseling, Xu Youling gradually learned to perceive Pei Zhi's emotions. He discovered that Pei Zhi not only did not want to redress his injustice, but he also had no intention of proving his ability and value to the world. This was definitely very bad news for Xu Youling, who was desperate to correct his life path.

If a person lacks the desire to connect with others, his or her personality will become extreme and eventually fall into extinction.

But...why did he stay?

"Well... actually it's not that bad. I've just been looking for a store lately, so I've been a little busy." Xu Youling decided to share her life with Pei Zhi, perhaps it would give him some encouragement. "Because I used to set up a stall, wasn't it? Business was good, so I thought... maybe I could try to open a small shop."

"If you're tired, you don't have to come." Pei Zhi's voice turned cold. "It makes me upset just looking at you."

He didn't know when his mental power had withdrawn from Xu Youling's mental realm and was quietly clinging to his side.

"That's not what I meant..." Xu Youling pursed her lips and softened her voice, "I'm not complaining to you. I'm very happy with what I did. I only told you because you asked... I didn't mean to say I wouldn't give it to you..."

He gradually discovered that Pei Zhi, like most sentinels, was extremely emotionally sensitive and would suddenly become very angry if someone said something wrong.

Pei Zhi took a long breath to suppress his anger: "I didn't say anything, who are you showing this to?"

"Don't be angry," Xu Youling whispered, "I won't say anything more."

"You said you were happy to find a store." Pei Zhi didn't let him go at all. "What do you mean? You're happy to find a store, happy to wash other people's spirit bodies, but you have to sigh after sitting with me for a while."

"No! I'm happy to sit with you for a while!" Xu Youling immediately surrendered, "I'm happy to rub your German Shepherd, and I'm happy to be taught how to groom."

"Why?" Pei Zhi had no expression on his face.

"Because I learned a lot. I've never successfully counseled a sentry before," Xu Youling answered carefully. "Your spirit is also very cute, and the indirect influence it has on you is particularly good, better than that of other guests."

The flattery successfully hit the horse's leg, and Pei Zhi's face darkened: "Shut up."

Xu Youling immediately made a zipper-zipping motion, stood up and put on a thick coat while speaking with pursed lips: "Then I'm leaving!"

With his mouth closed, he looks like a ventriloquist or a whining little animal.

"You can go if you want." Pei Zhi was very annoyed.

The cheap German Shepherd was eager to follow Xu Youling out, but Pei Zhi quickly pulled the dog back.

"You're useless." He scolded the now fluffy and energetic puppy in a low voice, "Sit still!"

The German Shepherd hummed pitifully twice, and Xu Youling softened his heart. He turned around and squatted down to touch it.

"Okay, okay," he coaxed in a low voice, "I'll come again next time and bring it to you..."

Then, for some reason, the puppy's bright eyes suddenly became blurred.

My knees hit the ground with a dull sound, but I didn't feel any pain for a moment. I just felt weak all over and couldn't lift my limbs no matter what.

A pitiful posture of half-kneeling on the ground, fingers still inserted in the German Shepherd's hair, curled up nervously.

"Xu Youling? Xu Youling?"

Someone was calling my name, but I couldn't hear it clearly.

"Fuck... wake up!"

A pair of hands picked me up like a mossy stone or a long-bloomed flower, and held me against my face and neck.

"Xu Youling!"

The whole body was wrapped and pulled upwards.

He should have felt nauseous, painful, or numb, but for some reason he didn't. He even smiled at the man to show that he was fine.

But it only led to more helpless hugs and tighter arms.