Yan and Zhu Jue stood before the wooden door, eting it again after what felt like ages.
The appearance of this interdinsional grocery store’s door remained as bizarre as ever. Last ti, it had shown up in a shopping district, at least passable as so kind of art installation. This ti, it materialized right in the middle of a cobblestone path—definitely the kind of sight that made you wonder if you were seeing things.
And… Yan glanced back.
Because the uneven pebbles made walking uncomfortable, she and Jue were the only ones on this path.
Was this door opening just for the two of them?
Just last week, Yan had been complaining to Jue about running out of snacks. A whole week without intergalactic treats—unbearable!
Well, restocking ti had arrived.
Yan counted on her fingers. “Jue, it’s been about a month, right? Sa as last ti?”
Zhu Jue nodded. “Roughly.”
Yan rubbed her chin. “I wonder if that’s just how often this door appears?”
“Last ti, Owner Lu Chen said only those ‘fated’ can see it. Since we’ve spotted it twice now, we must qualify,” Zhu Jue mused. “Maybe this is its refresh cycle.”
“Hmm, makes sense. Maybe for us, it’s once a month? Next month, we can test the pattern. Other tis, the door probably pops up elsewhere.”
Who knew what the criteria were for being “fated” by this interdinsional grocery store? Yan had initially wondered if others might also stumble inside, buy snacks, and resell them at outrageous prices.
She’d even searched terms like “planet,” “Mistfruit,” and “galaxy cups” on Taobao and Pinduoduo—only to find childhood chocolate star cups or planet-thed decor.
Then again, Yan reconsidered, if anyone else had wandered through that door and found themselves in another world, they’d probably treat it as their own “secret encounter.” They’d keep quiet, careful not to expose anything.
Yan took Zhu Jue’s hand and stepped forward lightly, pressing her left hand against the handle before swinging the door open.
“Welco, guests.” Owner Lu Chen’s voice greeted them.
Yan and Zhu Jue looked at the man they hadn’t seen in a month. His long hair was now pinned up with a wooden hairpin, and he wore a traditional long robe, a pair of antique chain-rimd glasses resting on his nose. Compared to last ti, his entire aura seed more enigmatic.
Or, to put it simply… *What a show-off!*
Lu Chen held a teacup in one hand, idly glancing toward the entrance. When his eyes t the vaguely familiar pair, his grip faltered, nearly dropping the cup.
“Long ti no see, Lu Chen,” Yan greeted with a nod.
Lu Chen carefully set down his teacup, observing his first-ever custors in this world. Sohow, this young couple was even calr than he was.
Since their visit last month had marked his grand opening, business had been thriving.
Custors of all kinds had co and gone—students, office workers, wealthy middle-aged folks, elders.
Truthfully, even Lu Chen didn’t know how the store “selected” its guests. What exactly counted as “fate”?
But this young couple? Definitely fated.
Lu Chen had taken a liking to them, and not just because they were his first modern-world custors. No, it was more about how they stood out over the past month—especially compared to others.
He rembered their first visit. They had appeared out of nowhere, asked few questions, and didn’t bombard him with skepticism.
They didn’t scream *scam*, threaten to call the police, or demand to be released from so alien abduction.
They didn’t kneel in awe upon witnessing the store’s wonders, begging him to operate a ti machine.
And they certainly didn’t try to smash the counter or threaten him.
Then there were the *other* custors—the ones who made him question humanity. Compared to them, this couple was downright refreshing.
Of course, his current “mysterious grandmaster” aesthetic was sothing he’d refined over the past month.
To match the store’s otherworldly prestige, Lu Chen had even studied online tutorials on controlling his facial muscles and expressions.
Now, his business persona was all about *silent, enigmatic authority*.
Recalling his rookie outfit from a month ago, Lu Chen could tell the couple’s slightly *odd* looks were directed at his current getup.
“Ahem.” He cleared his throat.
“It’s you two. Been a while.” He rose from behind the counter, removing his *totally-for-show* chain glasses.
“We ran out of snacks. Saw the door today, so we’re here to restock,” Zhu Jue said.
Yan nodded—last ti, there were still several items they hadn’t bought.
By now, the two of them no longer needed Lu Chen’s introduction and walked straight to the counter.
Lu Chen watched their movents: ...
You two are really so natural, so at ease! It’s only your second ti here, yet you’re acting like regulars, casually coming to restock!
“Huh, the inventory changed?” Yan exclaid, surprised as she looked at the items on display.
Were these new products from another dinsion?
Everything here looked like it was from ancient tis! The little shop’s restocking speed was impressively fast.
“Yes, it’s a new batch. Just the first wave of fresh arrivals,” Lu Chen finally saw a flicker of astonishnt on their faces, but it lasted only a mont before they accepted the shift from futuristic goods to ancient artifacts.
“But there are still so snacks left in stock, though not many. Take a look first—I’ll go fetch them. As returning custors, I’ll give you a discount.”
The couple had co to restock on snacks, and Lu Chen was more than happy to clear out his inventory.
To be honest, the inter-dinsional convenience store’s current offerings—mostly interstellar snacks—were a bit of a tough sell.
The problem was, while the snacks were delicious, fun, and novel, they were also expensive and lacked any “special effects.”
A month into business, the store’s best custors were still this young couple, and they were even repeat buyers!
Lu Chen had just returned from the ancient dinsion and had been worrying about how to offload the interstellar snacks that hadn’t sold in a month.
“Alright, we’ll check out the new items first,” Yan agreed, pulling Zhu Jue along as they leaned over the counter to inspect the new arrivals.
Her eyes sparkled with fascination—this ti, the goods on display were all steeped in classical elegance.
There was an exquisite octagonal jewelry box showcasing an array of hair ornants, celadon porcelain, double-sided embroidered handkerchiefs...
Unpackaged brushes, inksticks, paper, and inkstones were also displayed, and several mannequins dressed in traditional Great Zhou Dynasty attire stood nearby.
The craftsmanship and color palette of the clothing were so stunning that Yan couldn’t resist reaching out to touch one. It looked incredibly expensive.
“So beautiful,” she murmured.
“Is this gold leaf on here?”
“It’s embroidered with gold thread,” Lu Chen chid in, stepping closer to admire the pale yellow dress alongside them.
“Do you want to try it on? I think it might fit you. Even if you don’t buy it, there’s no harm in trying.”
Lu Chen had actually regretted buying these traditional garnts in the ancient dinsion. After researching, he realized just how exorbitantly priced such finely crafted clothing was back then—custom-tailored, made with rare fabrics, and ticulously hand-embroidered, all factors that drove up the cost.
But in the modern era, mass production and machine embroidery were commonplace, and ancient dyeing techniques couldn’t compete with today’s vibrant variety.
Nowadays, traditional outfits could even be bought for as little as a couple hundred yuan!
During his trip to the ancient dinsion, the items he’d brought back derived their value from their craftsmanship, rarity, or historical significance—all of which required custors to have a discerning eye.
The clothes he’d commissioned from the so-called Cloud Tailoring House were based on asurents taken from tall, well-proportioned won in the ancient dinsion.
In other words, all the pieces he’d brought back were modern size M.
When sourcing the inventory, Lu Chen had been certain they’d sell for a fortune, but now he was worried they might not move at all.
After all, the garnts from the Cloud Tailoring House were practically worth their weight in gold!
Seeing Yan’s interest and rembering the couple’s strong purchasing power, he quickly seized the opportunity to make a pitch.
Yan hesitated. “I’m not really dressed up, and this kind of outfit needs the right hairstyle to look good.”
From her estimation, this traditional attire would cost at least five figures if custom-made by modern designers.
“Your hair is long enough,” Lu Chen said, crossing his arms.
“You can use the accessories in the display case too. Chances are, you’ll be the only custors today.”
The young couple were Lu Chen’s first visitors of the day, and as long as they stayed, the inter-dinsional store wouldn’t admit any new custors.
“Wow, Lu Chen, you’re such a generous shop owner,” Yan remarked, impressed.
“Go ahead and try it. We don’t have anything else to do anyway,” Zhu Jue encouraged, noticing how tempted she already was. He only needed to give his approval.
“Then thank you, owner—I won’t hold back!”
Yan happily headed to try on the dress. Even if she couldn’t own such beautiful clothing, trying it on would be a treat. Wearing it would an briefly making it hers.
Following Lu Chen’s gesture, the two noticed that the store had sohow expanded—a wooden door labeled “Fitting Room” now stood nearby.
Just as Yan was wondering how to take the pale yellow dress off the mannequin, Lu Chen clapped his hands, and the outfit vanished from the display.
He turned to Yan, "Please go to the fitting room. The vanity set will be delivered shortly. Ladies' fitting room—gentlen, no entry." Lu Chen glanced at Zhu Jue.
"If you don't mind, why not join for so tea?" Zhu Jue nodded calmly.
Lu Chen watched as the sowhat silent but undeniably handso man sat down with an air of effortless composure. After taking a sip of the tea Lu Chen had brewed, the man fell into a deeper silence.
"What, not to your taste? Should I switch to another blend?" Lu Chen was in a good mood today.
The tea leaves were sothing he’d brought back from an ancient realm, and Lu Chen was certain they were exquisite—even a tea novice like him could tell. The only issue was his brewing skills, which left much to be desired.
"It’s to my taste," Zhu Jue said.
"Mind if I brew it instead?"
Normally, one wouldn’t complain when receiving hospitality, but Zhu Jue couldn’t bear to see such fine tea go to waste.
"You know how? Great, less work for ." Lu Chen didn’t mind.
"Where’s the restroom?" Zhu Jue asked.
Lu Chen raised an eyebrow and snapped his fingers. Another door materialized. "There you go."
Zhu Jue opened the door and stepped inside without so much as a flicker of surprise.
This nonchalance inexplicably irked Lu Chen.
*Seriously, how are both of you so unflappable?*
Zhu Jue washed his hands and erged monts later, his skin perfectly dry. Just then, Yan stepped out of the fitting room.
She wore a soft yellow dress, her hair loosely tied into a simple updo. She’d chosen only a couple of accessories and touched up her makeup with a compact and lipstick from her purse.
A glimr of admiration flashed in Lu Chen’s eyes. Her aura was so refined that, had he not just returned from the Great Zhou Dynasty and known she was a modern-day custor in his shop, he might have mistaken her for a local "kindred spirit" from that era.
A smile played at Yan’s lips as she twirled in front of Zhu Jue, her eyes sparkling.
"How do I look?"
She was radiant.
"No one could compare," Zhu Jue replied, his gaze fixed solely on her, as if nothing else in the world existed.
Lu Chen silently crossed his arms, suddenly feeling like he’d made a mistake. *Are these two deliberately flaunting their affection in front of ?*
For so reason, he now felt like the odd one out in his own shop.
The three of them sat around an antique table as Zhu Jue poured the third infusion using a lidded bowl.
Yan carefully cradled the porcelain cup in her hands. As the hot tea filled it, the glaze at the bottom instantly crackled into a srizing pattern.
Her grip stiffened slightly. Suddenly, she wasn’t sure she dared to drink. If this cup was from the kiln she suspected, its value would be astronomical—one careless slip, and she’d never be able to repay the damage.
Of course, wearing such beautiful clothes called for photos.
The inter-dinsional shop strictly prohibited photography to avoid exposing its secrets, but under the hopeful gazes of the couple, Lu Chen relented.
After all, he’d allowed them to try on the clothes and take pictures. A single outfit wouldn’t give much away, and with so many traditional clothing stores around these days, his shop just looked like another eclectic boutique capitalizing on classical aesthetics—the kind that overcharged for random trinkets. A few photos wouldn’t hurt.
Yan and Zhu Jue quickly snapped a few shots near the tea table before changing back. It wasn’t that they didn’t want to wear the outfits longer, but Yan knew her tendencies—she was a little clumsy, prone to spilling food or snagging fabric. The last thing she wanted was to accidentally stain or damage the delicate garnts.
Back at the tea table, Yan sipped the ancient-tree tea. Its fragrance surpassed even century-old tea she’d tasted before. Considering the new items Lu Chen had stocked, she wondered how much this tea would cost.
"Is this tea for sale?" she asked.
The shop’s latest arrivals included quite a few things she and Zhu Jue could use, and it was hard to resist the temptation.
They’d recently stocked up on brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones at Panxi Hall in the antique market, but the quality here at the inter-dinsional shop was just as impressive.
The double-sided embroidered handkerchiefs, the jewelry with rare craftsmanship—each piece was irresistible, practically begging to be taken ho.
"The tea?" Lu Chen seed surprised.
It had been a gift from a distinguished guest in the ancient realm—a man who clearly moved in extraordinary circles.
That custor had been extravagantly generous. If Lu Chen hadn’t set purchase limits, the man would’ve cleared out half the counter.
Even at checkout, he’d paid with gold leaves and ingots, carrying stacks of silver notes on top of that.
The man had given Lu Chen several types of tea, none of which he’d planned to sell.
But judging by the couple’s reaction, they recognized its worth.
"This is my personal stash—not for sale," Lu Chen said.
Truthfully, he had no idea how to price it. The giver hadn’t explained the tea’s origins, as if assuming Lu Chen already knew. Asking would’ve risked exposing his ignorance, so he’d stayed quiet.
Even now, all he knew was that it was exceptional—but how exceptional, he couldn’t say.
Lu Chen watched as the young couple's initially expectant expressions turned visibly disappointed. Only then did he leisurely speak up, "But if you'd like, I can give you a discount on today's purchase—consider it a gesture between friends."
When the young man from the couple took the teaware from him and brewed the tea, the result was clearly several levels better than Lu Chen’s own attempts. He couldn’t understand why—the teaware, water, and tea leaves were identical, yet the tea brewed by the other party was undeniably superior.
At his words, the couple’s eyes instantly brightened.
Yan and Zhu Jue had grown up drinking tea with their elders—Wuyi rock tea, Anxi Tieguanyin, Fuding white tea, Mingqian Longjing, even obscure wild ancient tree teas, and hand-roasted leaves from family friends’ tea mountains.
They wouldn’t claim to be connoisseurs, nor had they necessarily sampled the finest teas, but their palates were sharp. This tea wasn’t astringent, its aroma was rich, and the lingering sweetness left a lasting impression. In the simplest terms—it was *good*, incredibly good.
After finishing their tea, Yan and Zhu Jue began shopping in the little store.
Their funds were limited, and since they might return in the future, they couldn’t splurge recklessly. They had to pick carefully, selecting only what they truly wanted.
Yan chose a double-sided embroidered handkerchief, planning to stretch it into a fan panel to match her traditional-style outfits.
For both of them, a pair of matching black-glazed teacups, stunningly beautiful. High-quality handmade pignts in shades of cyan, green, and ochre—precious artifacts crafted by ancient artisans.
This ti, their purchases were fewer but far more expensive than before.
Along with restocking on interstellar snacks, their haul from the dinsional shop was substantial, especially with the complintary tea leaves gifted by the owner.
But they had only just arrived at the beach, and carrying all these items while continuing to explore would be troubleso.
Had their seaside trip been wasted? They’d barely started!
"Lu Chen," Yan’s mind whirred into action, "if we leave our stuff here, can we co back later after playing around? Will the door still be there? Or could you, say, open a portal to our school to deliver it? Or maybe I could call you, and you’d make the door appear in front of ?"
Suddenly, it struck her—this dinsional door was the ultimate courier and food-delivery hack. Instant teleportation!
Since ti stood still inside the shop, their long stay hadn’t eaten into their beach outing. Yan and Zhu Jue still had plenty of daylight left to wander by the shore.
Shopkeeper Lu Chen: ?
*Are these two a little too comfortable?*
"We just got to the beach, and carrying all this would be inconvenient," Zhu Jue added.
Finally, Lu Chen understood.
They were here to have fun, and shopping was just a side activity. Their priority was playing, then retrieving their purchases later.
The way he looked at them was like observing rare creatures. Most custors in his shop couldn’t wait to zip ho through the portal.
But these two? Treating it like a casual shopping spree during a day out—leaving their haul behind to pick up later.
His lips twitched. "Once the wooden door closes, it won’t reappear for a while. But I’ve got your last departure coordinates. As a special favor, once you’re near that spot again, the shop door will sense you and open for pickup."
*Last coordinates…* Yan thought back. Last month, after buying snacks, they’d returned straight to campus—so the location was the little path at their school, specifically the bench she and Zhu Jue often sat on.
"That’s perfect, thank you!"
Yan’s smile widened. Now they could enjoy themselves freely, knowing their items would be waiting back at school.
Waving goodbye, they stepped through the wooden door and reappeared on the pebbled beach path.
Zhu Jue lifted his left wrist, where his watch—paused for so long—resud ticking.
No one had noticed their brief disappearance.
"That shop’s bathroom tech is way more advanced than ours," Zhu Jue remarked, his expression odd.
He’d only gone to wash his hands before brewing tea, but the sink had been an automated marvel—water jets, foam sprays, multi-directional cleansing.
Frankly, it was surreal: a chanical arm erging from the basin to scrub and even massage your hands, followed by steps he couldn’t begin to decipher.
It made him feel less like a person washing up and more like an item being processed.
Yan gaped at his description. "That’s insane! I should’ve checked it out too."
That sink had to be from the *interstellar era*!
As they chatted about the latest oddities in the dinsional shop, they didn’t forget their main purpose for the day.
Facing the sea, embracing the open sky, they strolled along the coastal path, the ocean breeze brushing past.
They didn’t need to do anything special.
Just being together was enough.
The seaside was quite far. Yan and Zhu Jue strolled for over an hour, grabbed a al, and felt the sea breeze growing fiercer before finally starting their journey back to campus.
...
As a host of an interstellar livestream, Ye Ping'an had successfully coasted through an entire month.
He’d already visited the nearby attractions, shopping malls, and spacious parks around the school, but he really didn’t feel like venturing further out. With early winter approaching, he decided to just scrape by with minimal effort.
However, due to his prolonged lack of engagent, the interstellar livestream platform issued him a warning, demanding that he cater to so of the audience’s requests.
Left with no choice, Ye Ping’an—who usually avoided interacting with his viewers—set up a poll.
The audience could vote on where they wanted him to livestream next.
Ye Ping'an had assud these interstellar viewers would seize the opportunity to expose him, making outrageous demands—like visiting the legendary ancient Blue Star landmarks recorded in interstellar history or places ntioned in their textbooks.
To his surprise, the winning vote was for him to stream at "the newly reconstructed campus spot where the last slip-up happened."
So close, and no need to even leave campus—this request was almost too easy.
Thus, Ye Ping'an slept in until noon, had a late breakfast, played a few rounds of gas, and finally sauntered out.
His stream, as usual, was silent, but today’s title read: **[Voted Most-Wanted Location—Blue Star Campus Pathway]**
**[The host is finally back! The reconstruction should be finished by now, right?]**
**[LMAO it’s been done for ages, but last ti the crew ssed up by snacking on cara. Died laughing.]**
**[Am I the only one curious if the host is from the Ancient Blue Star Restoration Society? How many billions in Star Alliance credits did they dump into this?]**
Ye Ping’an yawned, eyelids drooping, but the mont he opened them again, he froze.
Two figures stood ahead—familiar ones. Why were *they* here again?
A sudden sense of foreboding gripped him.
Following his earlier suspicions… were they here to monitor his livestream?
He ducked behind a tree and blocked the cara just in ti to see the couple stretch out their hands. In front of them, a wooden door materialized out of nowhere. They reached in and pulled out a bag—its contents a mystery.
The mont they retrieved it, the door vanished in the blink of an eye.
Ye Ping’an’s pupils contracted. Was that… a legendary spatial portal?
Zhu Jue and Yan—were this couple using a dinsional gate to transport supplies?!
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