Chapter 69 The House of Abstraction: The First Signs of Evil Power

A few days after opening the store, Ji Zhi Qiu almost forgot that she was live streaming, and her mind was completely focused on the store's operation. Ji Zi Shen was also constantly developing the menu, but both the front of house and the back of house faced the same dilemma: the scale was too small and there were not enough people.

Everyone felt a strong sense of belonging to the shop, and their workload had reached its limit, making it impossible to move forward any further. They welcomed their fourth day of business amidst their worries.

Before the store even officially opened, a long queue had already formed outside. Ji Zhi Qiu roughly counted the queues, frowned slightly, and called Wen Qi Zheng over.

"Go and prepare some candy and lemonade for the customers in line."

Seeing this scene, Wen Qizheng still felt like he was in a dream. "I haven't seen a single customer all day, how come you have so many?"

Ji Zhi Qiu shared with him with amusement, "Yan Yan is the complete opposite of you. He wants to spend all day outside soliciting customers, and he was so enthusiastic that he almost ran off with someone else, abandoning his father and brother."

Wen Qizheng put himself in that situation and couldn't help but gasp.

Ji Zhi Qiu comforted him, "Everyone has a different personality, with different strengths and weaknesses. There's no need to pursue the same things."

Wen Qizheng nodded and immediately went to work.

After another long day of non-stop work, the last customer approached Ji Zhi Qiu before closing time in the evening and praised, "Your mango shaved ice with coconut is still the best. It tastes completely different from the previous one."

Ji Zhi Qiu glanced subconsciously into the kitchen. He had witnessed the whole thing and knew best that the mango shaved ice with coconut was Ji Zi Shen's original creation. How could this be...?

He casually inquired, "It's our honor to have you like it. The difference in taste might be due to the different ingredients and preparation methods used by the two companies."

"I guess so," the customer said casually. "I don't really know either, but your two companies look exactly the same and have the same name."

Ji Zhi Qiu sensed something was wrong and asked casually, "Which store is it?"

The customer gave a general location, paid the bill, and left.

After closing the door, everyone was cleaning up, but Ji Zhi Qiu looked thoughtful, staring blankly out the window, occasionally frowning.

Lu Yu Nian was the first to notice his emotions. He gripped the microphone and lowered his voice, asking, "What's wrong? Did something happen?"

Although they had only spent a few days together, Ji Zhi Qiu had an instinctive trust in Lu Yu Nian. She pulled him aside and explained the whole story.

"Don't tell Zishen about this yet, so he won't be upset." Lu Yu'nian paused and asked, "How do you plan to handle this?"

“The situation is more complicated than we imagined.” Ji Zhi Qiu hesitated for a moment, “Actually, we all know the owner of this shop.”

...

Following the directions given by the customer, Ji Zhi Qiu and Lu Yu Nian went to visit the shop. The shop's exterior was very familiar, and the people coming out of the shop even called out their names.

"What are you doing here, Zhi Qiu Yu Nian?" Lin Jinzhao was pleasantly surprised and greeted them warmly.

Ji Zhi Qiu and Lu Yu Nian exchanged a glance, their expressions unchanged. "We just happened to be passing by and we're a bit thirsty. Is your shop still open?"

According to his character, he should have given him a warm welcome at this moment, but Lin Jinzhao's expression stiffened when he heard this. He wanted to use silence to make Ji Zhi Qiu back down, but Ji Zhi Qiu looked at him with a smile, as if he did not notice that the atmosphere was not right.

Lin Jinzhao could only manage a dry laugh: "Of course, but all our signature desserts are sold out."

"It's okay," Ji Zhi Qiu joked deliberately. "Don't worry, I'll pay."

They went into the store and picked up the menu. Just as they were about to browse through it, Lin Jinzhao covered the first half with his hand: "These are all sold out. Aren't you thirsty? Why don't you order some drinks?"

Just then, Lin Jinzhao's son ran out of the kitchen, stomping his feet and yelling, "Don't give them mango shaved ice, that's mine!"

Ji Zhi Qiu: "..."

Such a familiar scene, such a familiar feeling.

Ji Yanyan's figure overlapped with Lin Zizhou's; both were unruly, spoiled brats.

Ji Zhi Qiu happened to be the best at dealing with unruly children, and smiled indulgently: "How can we adults compete with children? Since the desserts are sold out and only drinks are left, Yu Nian, let's order lemonade."

Lin Jinzhao loves his reputation and marketing his impeccable persona. Now that Ji Zhiqi has offered him a way out, he feels embarrassed. "Now that we're running a shop, the customer is king. There's no distinction between adults and children. I was so busy that I forgot there was a dessert in the kitchen. I'll bring it over now."

Lin Zizhou was very dissatisfied and still wanted to cause trouble, but after being glared at by his father, he could only weakly shrink back.

But the brat couldn't control his emotions. As soon as his father disappeared, he glared at Ji Zhi Qiu with arrogance, pounced on him, and punched him, yelling, "You bad guy! What are you? How dare you steal my dessert? I'll beat you to death!"

Ji Zhi Qiu was very experienced. He turned around and looked outside as if by accident, stood up first, and exclaimed, "The scenery here is really beautiful."

Lin Zizhou lost his target and, unable to stop his forward momentum, fell flat on his face.

The boy was immediately stunned. More than the pain, he couldn't believe that someone would dare to treat him like this.

Lin Zizhou grew up in a better environment, with his elders spoiling and indulging him. His fans, out of love for him, also praised him to the skies. Wherever he went, he received love and praise, so he subconsciously felt that everyone in the world should accommodate him, obediently let him beat them, and even apologize.

He looked up, glaring fiercely at Ji Zhi Qiu, his eyes brimming with tears. He cried and flailed his arms, "You actually bullied a child! I'm going to tell Dad!"

This wasn't his child after all, so Ji Zhi Qiu couldn't use too harsh a method. He immediately squatted down guiltily and looked at Lin Zi Zhou with concern, "I'm so sorry, baby, I didn't know you were coming. Did you hurt yourself?"

Even so, he was crouching three steps away, so no matter how much Lin Zizhou struggled, he couldn't possibly touch him.

Seeing Ji Zhi Qiu apologize, Lin Zi Zhou was about to feel smug when he opened his eyes and saw no one: ? ? ?!

He momentarily forgot his fake crying, his gaze sweeping around, searching for Ji Zhi Qiu's figure. Ji Zhi Qiu seized the opportunity to walk behind him, grabbed the back of his neck, and gently lifted him up.

This was the first time Lin Zizhou had encountered such a situation, and he was so bewildered that he forgot to react. Just then, Lin Jinzhao came over from the kitchen with desserts.

Behind every unruly child is an even more unreasonable parent. Lin Zizhou immediately rushed over, hugged his father's leg, and whimpered softly, but there wasn't a trace of tears on his face. He even glared fiercely at Ji Zhiqi. It was chilling to think about a child with such a venomous look in his eyes.

Ji Zhi Qiu, a veteran of countless battles, simply smiled and looked at Lin Jin Zhao: "You've really gone to a lot of trouble, taking such good care of us."

Lin Jinzhao immediately switched into business mode, smiling and replying, "Not at all, you're too kind."

Seeing that his father wouldn't stand up for him, Lin Zizhou got anxious and was about to throw a tantrum again. Although Lin Jinzhao always indulged his child, his reputation was more important in public. He glared at him fiercely and said, "Can't you see that Dad is working? Be a good boy and wait in the back. Dad will make you another dessert."

Lin Zizhou, who had been pampered since childhood, had never suffered such humiliation. He burst into tears and gave his father the same treatment, hitting him hard twice before running away to the back in tears.

Even a child's strength should not be underestimated. Lin Jinzhao's face turned pale on the spot, and he barely managed to maintain a smile.

Ji Zhi Qiu pretended not to see it and played along with him, saying worriedly, "Oh dear, what should we do? Go and comfort the child."

Lin Jinzhao could only nod and turn around to walk away. Despite his best efforts to control himself, he still walked with a limp.

Although the two adults handled the situation very gracefully, the viewers in the live stream still instinctively felt uncomfortable.

This kid is so unruly! Don't the adults care at all?!

The problem is that the parents are completely unreasonable, so I can only stay far away from them; I can't afford to offend them.

[Why is your mouth so filthy? It's full of filth. Zhouzhou is just a baby, and you're an adult. Why are you arguing with him?]

Our Zizhou baby is the cutest, and Jinzhao is the best dad in the world. We won't allow you to say that about him!

Lin Jinchao's fans blindly defended him, and the most abnormal people usually have the loudest voices. Everyone wanted to avoid getting involved, so they kept quiet and stayed away. Public opinion sided with Lin Jinchao, and related topics lost all interest. Lin Jinchao's family also failed to notice any problems amidst the endless praise.

Having exhausted too many brain cells in teaching Ji Yanyan well, Ji Zhi Qiu was too lazy to discipline other people's children. His attention was now focused on the dessert in front of him.

The customer was telling the truth; the two desserts looked exactly alike.

Ji Zhi Qiu picked up a spoon and took a bite, and his tightly furrowed brows relaxed.

The tastes are completely different; there's no comparison whatsoever.

He put down his spoon, looked down at the plate of dessert, and his heart clenched.

Is this just a coincidence? If Zishen finds out about this, how should I explain it to him?

He tried to organize his thoughts, but the constant crying stimulated his eardrums and nerves. Ji Zhi Qiu stood up and walked towards the kitchen, just as Lin Jin Zhao came out and slammed the door shut.

Although he loves his child dearly, he cares more about his image and career, and no one can stop him.

"Is Zizhou alright?"

Lin Jinchao regarded Ji Zhiqi as the instigator and harbored resentment, but he acted very friendly, saying, "It's okay, the child will calm down after crying for a while."

Ji Zhi Qiu stopped beating around the bush and went straight to the point, "This dessert is delicious, did you come up with it?"

Lin Jinzhao and Ji Zhiqi's eyes met, and everything was understood without words.

Lin Jinzhao knew this day would come sooner or later, but he was fearless: "This is a local traditional delicacy. An old lady taught me how to make it. I heard that your shop also has this dessert. What a coincidence!"

He deliberately lied and confused the public. Ji Zhi Qiu couldn't find any evidence in a short time. If he insisted on confronting him, Ji Zhi Qiu would be the one to suffer, as he had fans who could guide public opinion, while Ji Zhi Qiu was just a newcomer with nothing.

Lin Jinzhao felt no guilt whatsoever; on the contrary, he was somewhat impatient, hoping that Ji Zhi Qiu would immediately target him. However, what he received was Ji Zhi Qiu's composure.

Ji Zhi Qiu said with a slightly troubled expression, "But the taste of our two families is completely different. Is there such a thing as authentic and inauthentic traditional food that has been passed down for so long?"

"..." Lin Jinzhao's face darkened.

Ji Zhi Qiu's business is the best, with a constant stream of customers, surpassing everyone else. Otherwise, he wouldn't have taken such an unconventional approach and directly copied the most popular dessert.

Ji Zhi Qiu said this to mock him for being such a failure, for not even being able to imitate the point properly.

"It seems so." Lin Jinzhao has experienced many ups and downs in the entertainment industry. He has a lot of scandals but has never been caught. Thick skin is his basic skill: "Indeed, the recipe that grandma gave me is not authentic enough. Since it is a local traditional dish, could you share it? I know Zhi Qiu, you are the kindest."

He waited for Ji Zhi Qiu to turn hostile, but Ji Zhi Qiu blinked and immediately agreed, "Of course, good things should be shared. But even if I give you the recipe, you might not be able to recreate the taste. How about this, I'll have someone personally guide you through making it, that way it'll be more efficient."

These words were unexpected. Lin Jinchao stared blankly at Ji Zhiqi, not understanding what he was up to.

Ji Zhi Qiu said innocently, "But we have too much work on our end, could you please help us out?"

Lin Jinzhao understood now and almost burst out laughing.

It turns out that Ji Zhi Qiu was too stupid; he was sold out and still helped the seller count the money.

"Of course!"

Ji Zhi Qiu looked at him with longing in her eyes, and said with feigned distress, "We can only stay here for a week, but we need your help for the next few days. I'm really a little embarrassed to ask."

Lin Jinzhao looked at him mockingly, but patted him on the shoulder warmly, "It's okay, we're friends, I'll still help with this little thing."

...

After leaving the store, Ji Zhi Qiu's lips couldn't help but curl up, and he eventually burst out laughing. Luckily, Lu Yu Nian turned off the microphone for him beforehand.

"Why didn't you stop me just now?" Ji Zhi Qiu blinked. "Or did you guess what I was going to do?"

Lu Yunian chuckled helplessly, "That is indeed a good method."

Without needing to discuss it, they simply exchanged a glance and reached a silent understanding: "Okay, then we'll split up tomorrow."

***

To avoid gossip, Lin Jinchao brought his son to Ji Zhiqiu's shop early the next morning to help out.

Ji Zhi Qiu warmly welcomed him, held his hand and said many nice things. Lin Jinzhao felt like he was in the role of "helpful person" and was flattered into a state of high spirits, which made him very motivated.

He couldn't wait to go to the kitchen, like a hungry wolf smelling meat, staring at the desserts in the shop with green eyes. Ji Zhi Qiu smiled meaningfully and secretly led Ji Yan Yan and the others away.

Ji Zhi Qiu kept his promise and sent someone to teach him step by step. Lin Jin Zhao was still not satisfied and set his sights on other desserts. Unexpectedly, there was no one smart in the shop and they were completely unsuspecting. They mixed the ingredients right in front of him, and he successfully learned them all.

The thought of being able to take his place filled Lin Jinzhao with restlessness. He wanted to return to his shop immediately, but as soon as he moved, he felt his clothes being grabbed.

Ji Zishen looked up at him, her big eyes misty with tears, her expression innocent and pitiful. "Uncle, can you help me? I can't do all this by myself, I'm scared."

Even though Lin Jinzhao knew beforehand that Ji Zishen was in charge of the kitchen alone and was on guard, Ji Zishen's tea ceremony skills were so superb that Lin Jinzhao was momentarily stunned and almost subconsciously agreed.

Ji Zishen blinked again, biting his lower lip, "If I don't do a good job, Dad will scold me when he gets back."

Lin Jinzhao didn't miss any opportunity to put others down, and immediately nodded and said, "You're just a child, how can I let you bear such pressure? Don't worry, Uncle will definitely help you."

Lin Jinzhao had barely given his word when he was immediately put on a whim, leaving him completely disoriented and forgetting the passage of time.

Whenever he was so tired that he wanted to give up and find an excuse to leave, new people would ask him for help. Before Wen Qizheng had learned proper social skills, he had already learned the art of tea. He asked for help with a cold and aloof image, which made it impossible for people to refuse.

Lin Jinzhao was busy all day and was only allowed to leave at closing time. He dragged his tired body back to his shop, only to unexpectedly bump into Ji Zhiqi and the others at the door.

What are you doing here?

Ji Zhi Qiu smiled, looking at the children behind her with affection, her expression a mix of sweet trouble and delight. "The kids can't stay still and keep asking to come out and play, so I have to stay with them."

He then changed the subject, showering Lin Jinzhao with sweet words, "Thank you so much today. I don't know what I would have done without you."

Having been immersed in that persona for so long, Lin Jinchao habitually said, "It's nothing, I'm just glad I could help you."

Ji Zhi Qiu didn't stand on ceremony with him, said "See you tomorrow" and left.

Lin Jinzhao looked around his shop and found nothing amiss; on the contrary, he felt quite satisfied.

He has obtained all the recipes, and in just a few days, he will be able to crush Ji Zhi Qiu under his feet!

He was so engrossed in his dream that he couldn't pull himself out, but he was too tired to do anything but wash up and go to sleep, with a satisfied smile on his face, unaware that the atmosphere in the live stream had changed.

【Aaaaaah, brother, don't sleep! I'm so angry! How dare he treat you like this!】

【That's too much, Ji Zhi Qiu! You ￥#*&@！ #I'll curse you to death!】

Even though our brother is asleep, we are still here. We will protect Lin Jinchao, the best person in the world!

Lin Jinzhao has many fans and is very powerful. Normal people wouldn't bother with them, but there are many people who can't stand them. Their anger is accumulating, and Ji Zhi Qiu has given them an outlet.

Holy crap, Ji Zhi Qiu is too smart!

[The Thirty-Six Stratagems: "Draw the firewood from under the cauldron"—brilliant!]

[Just admit defeat. If you keep making a fuss, I'll have to argue with you about whether this dessert is actually a traditional dish. *smiley face*]

[Hilarious! I'm a local, and I've never even heard of this traditional dish. Even if we assume it's something that's been around for thousands of years, how could it possibly be called a trendy internet name?!]

[Zishen adjusted the ingredient ratio during the live stream, you know. We have proof. If you dare to bite like a mad dog again, don't blame us for being impolite!]

Lin Jinzhao had a good night's sleep and was still dreaming, completely unaware of the ups and downs online. The next morning, he couldn't wait to get back to work, but unexpectedly, Ji Zhiqi came to his door and asked him for help.

You can't hit someone who's smiling, and besides, it was his promise first, so Lin Jinzhao was half-dragged and half-pulled to work at Ji Zhiqi's shop for another day. He was so tired that he was in a daze, and he didn't realize something was wrong until the very last moment.

Ji Zhi Qiu played the victim, complaining that the shop was short-staffed and begging for his help, but he didn't show up all day. Where was he?!

Lin Jinzhao guessed the truth but couldn't believe it. He quickly walked back to the store and bumped into Ji Zhiqi, who had just finished packing up.

He stared at Ji Zhi Qiu in shock, momentarily speechless.

This...this...this...did Ji Zhi Qiu directly use his storefront? How could he expand like this?!

Ji Zhi Qiu showed no guilt whatsoever, putting his arm around Lin Jin Chao like a good brother, "You're such a good person, you keep your word, thank you for your hard work these past two days."

Before the attack, Lin Jinzhao was forcibly taken to the kitchen by Ji Zhiqi, where the cameras and microphones were turned off.

Lin Jinchao didn't hide anything, pointing his finger at his nose, "What have you done? Are you trying to fool me like an idiot!"

Ji Zhi Qiu shrugged. "That's what we agreed on back then."

"When did I say I was giving you the shop?!"

Ji Zhi Qiu was also quite helpless, "There's nothing I can do about it. It's not good to leave the shop empty and explain it to the production team, so I had no choice but to help you with this."

"Help?" Lin Jinzhao was so angry he laughed.

“Of course I’m helping.” Ji Zhi Qiu didn’t understand why she was being blamed, feeling innocent and wronged. “Think about our agreement. Didn’t I have someone teach you step by step, without keeping any precautions against you? You didn’t contribute much; you were just keeping your promise to help out at my shop.”

Lin Jinzhao almost fainted from exhaustion.

He knew all the recipes and cooking methods, but how could a kitchen helper not have access to them!

He immediately exploded, "I'm a guest just like you. The shop was given to me by the production team. How dare you treat me like this?!"

Ji Zhi Qiu didn't understand. "Qi Zheng has been my employee for a long time. Everyone accepts it well. It's even said to be a win-win situation."

Lin Jinzhao: "..." How could the production team find such a useless and lagging guest!

"How can I be compared to him?" Lin Jinchao looked at Ji Zhiqi in disbelief: "I have so many fans, aren't you afraid at all?"

Ji Zhi Qiu's smile slowly disappeared. "All I know is that you stole my son's hard work, and that you'll make him sad. Since you're resorting to underhanded tactics, don't blame me for getting back at you!"

"I know what you're trying to threaten me with, so what? Don't forget that I've been away for half my life and I'm still an ordinary person when I come back. I'm not going to work in the entertainment industry anymore. I have nothing to lose. All your tricks are useless against me!"

"But you, don't be so emboldened. You were the one who exposed the scandal of your secret marriage and childbirth first. How many fans turned against you? Hate lasts longer than love. If I provide an opportunity, how many people will fight for me?!"

"I've always done whatever I wanted, and it's perfectly reasonable for me to do whatever I want. But what about you? Have you given up on your carefully constructed image after all these years? Even if you were in the wrong first, justice will stand on the side of truth. Think carefully about what you're going to say later. Do you dare to tear off the mask?"

Ji Zhi Qiu's persistent questioning about death slowly extinguished Lin Jin Zhao's arrogance, leaving him speechless and staring at him in disbelief, feeling a deep-seated fear.

Ji Zhi Qiu gave a cold laugh.

Lin Jinzhao wants to replace them by plagiarism, and he even shamelessly covets the recipe. Since that's the case, let's just grant his wish. But what good is the recipe if we lose the shop?!

His three sons are ruthless villains in the book. Lin Jinzhao was very lucky that he was the one to resolve this matter; otherwise, he would have suffered an even more tragic death.

Ji Zhi Qiu was too lazy to play along, so she turned around and walked away. "I'm not that kind. I'll only give you one minute."

He bypassed Lin Jinchao, pushed open the door and walked out, counting down in his mind. Unexpectedly, just three seconds later, Lin Jinchao composed himself and came out.

As expected of an actor, his acting skills remained flawless even at this moment. He dared not lash out and looked at Ji Zhi Qiu gratefully, "The store's business is in very bad shape and it has been losing money for a long time. It would be better if I could work at your store."

Ji Zhi Qiu felt like he was a really good person. "It's okay. We were originally guests recording together. This little bit of trouble is nothing. Don't worry, I will treat you the same way I treated Qi Zheng."

Lin Jinzhao gritted his teeth and said almost the exact same words as Wen Qizheng that day, "Please take care of the rent for that shop as well. Zhi Qiu, you're so kind. You've done me a huge favor. Thank you so much."

Fans in the live stream, fiercely supporting their idol: ? ? ?!

Bystanders watching the spectacle: ...

[Hahaha, how does it feel to be betrayed by your own idol?]

Lin Jinzhao's fans are notorious for being rabid dogs in the entertainment industry. This is the first time I've seen them get their comeuppance. It's so satisfying!

[Well done! Such a strong attitude and methods! It's so satisfying to be a fan of Ji Zhi Qiu!]

[The House of Abstraction Reveals Its Evil Power]

What's going on? I feel like I've seen this evil force before.