Part 3
However, writing words of apology with such sharp strokes made Zhu Ran chuckle, his eyes curving into a shallow arc.
Regarding Z sending someone to protect him, Zhu Ran wasn’t actually very angry.
He understood Z was concerned about him, but before doing these things, Zhu Ran hoped the other would inform him and seek his consent.
And now, Z, who clearly wasn’t good at cooking, had made him cookies and written an apology note. Any small lingering unhappiness in Zhu Ran’s heart had long since vanished.
He looked toward the living room from his reclining chair on the balcony.
Z was sitting upright on the sofa, his posture straight. The slanting sunlight fell beside him, warming and softening his temperament.
Recalling, ever since Z became Zhu Ran’s assistant, whether intentionally or not, the other had spent most of his time in the living room, accompanying Zhu Ran through much of the day.
Zhu Ran had even become somewhat accustomed to Z accompanying him as he worked in the living room.
Having someone’s company made Zhu Ran feel he wasn’t alone.
But Z didn’t seem very focused today, his gaze on the optical computer was vacant; he was clearly daydreaming.
As for the reason for the daydreaming… it was clearly because of Zhu Ran.
Zhu Ran picked up his optical computer and sent Z a Star-link message: [The cookies are delicious. As a thank you, shall I give you a massage tonight?]
In the living room, after Z received Zhu Ran’s message, his eyes instantly brightened.
Z knew that Zhu Ran sending this message meant the other was no longer angry with him.
Z: [Alright.]
In the Star-link message, he coldly replied with a single word. However, in reality, the dark clouds enveloping Z were swept away, and his joy was evident on his face.
Instantly, the sky cleared, and his heart was bright.
Z instinctively looked toward Zhu Ran basking in the sun on the balcony, only to meet Zhu Ran’s gaze.
His beautiful heterochromatic eyes were dazed for a moment.
Zhu Ran was bathed in gold, a faint smile on his face.
His emerald eyes were already very beautiful. Paired with the sunlight and the smile, he was like the most beautiful treasure in the world, making it hard to look away.
Flowers were in full bloom on the balcony, each one vivid in color, dazzling the eyes.
Just like Z’s heart.
With a bang, brilliant fireworks filled the sky. Beneath the fireworks, the flowers had all bloomed.
Zhu Ran soon finished off the small cookies. He quite liked eating such snacks, and… Z had indeed made them quite well.
Wiping the cookie crumbs from the corner of his mouth, Zhu Ran set about preparing for tomorrow’s restock.
His gentle mental power expanded and retracted. In just half an hour, Zhu Ran had produced four 5ml bottles of pure lavender essential oil and eight 10ml bottles of massage oil.
“Pure lavender essential oil is priced at 300,000, with a new product discount price of 240,000.”
“Lavender massage oil is priced at 100,000, with a new product discount price of 80,000.”
Zhu Ran had already received the testing reports for the essential oils and natural plants from Huinai.
The agency that issued the testing was the most authoritative First Medical Research Department of the Interstellar. In the certificate issued for the lavender essential oil, it wrote:
[Upon testing, pure lavender essential oil helps with sleep, stabilizes the spiritual sea, and can assist in repairing the shallow spiritual sea. The repair effect varies from person to person. For patients with spiritual sea damage below 30%, the estimated repair effect within one cycle (seven days) will not be below 2%.]
The bottom of the report was stamped with the seal of the First Medical Research Department.
The massage oil and natural plants similarly had the effect of stabilizing the spiritual sea.
However, because the massage oil had been diluted, its spiritual sea repair effect was half that of the pure essential oil.
As for the natural plants and floral tea, they only had a slight spiritual sea repair effect, estimated at around 0.1% within one cycle.
Clearly, the natural plants and their derivative products all had the effect of stabilizing the spiritual sea. The extracted essential oils, while stabilizing the spiritual sea, also had a repair effect.
Zhu Ran set the prices for the essential oil and massage oil by referencing the prices of interstellar spiritual sea medicine.
A dose of the most common spiritual sea medicine in the interstellar was 20,000 credits, while high-end ones were 100,000 credits. Special medicine for spiritual sea damage above 75% started at 500,000 credits.
Zhu Ran comprehensively set the prices for the essential oil products at 300,000 and 100,000.
At first glance, it seemed more expensive than high-end spiritual sea medicine. However, a 5ml bottle of pure essential oil could be used for about ten days in a desktop aromatherapy machine.
Overall, it was still quite a bit cheaper than spiritual sea medicine.
“Other products will have a conventional restock.
Daisy, Red Rose, Lavender, and Freesia—five of each will be listed. Four pots of Freesia PLUS will be listed. Star Beauty is easy to stimulate, so ten pots will be listed. That makes thirty-four natural plants in total.
Four cans of Daisy Tea, plus the twelve bottles of the new essential oils—the number of items listed daily has reached fifty.”
Having obtained the certificates for the essential oil products, he uploaded the items one by one to Starbuy. Zhu Ran finally entered the shop to adjust the placement of the items.
The restock preparations for tomorrow were completed.
Finally, using the shop account, Zhu Ran posted the restock announcement and the aromatherapy explanation video, attaching the testing reports.
Zhu’s Lingering Fragrance:
[At midnight tomorrow, the expansion and renovation of Zhu’s Lingering Fragrance will be completed!
While the first floor of the shop has become more spacious, the aromatherapy experience area and tea room on the second floor will be opened. All customers are welcome to come and experience them.
Aromatherapy is a method extracted from natural plants… the testing certificates issued by relevant departments are as follows. (Certificate Image)
The pure lavender essential oil and massage oil launched at midnight can both be used for aromatherapy. For usage methods, see the video. (Explanation Video)]
As soon as the announcement from Zhu’s Lingering Fragrance was posted, most people following the shop were very confused.
What did the shop owner say was new?
Aromatherapy?
Lavender… essential oil?
What on earth are these things?
Are they reliable?
Translator’s Note
Key Terms & Cultural Notes:
- Salted Fish (鹹魚 – xián yú): In Chinese internet slang, this refers to someone who has no ambition or just wants to take things easy. Zhu Ran’s “Salted Fish” personality vs. a “Volume King” (卷王 – juǎn wáng, someone who is hyper-competitive) is a funny contrast.
- Salted Fish doesn’t want to flip over: A common saying. Even if a salted fish flips over, it’s still a salted fish!
- Citulanya (西图澜娅): This is often used in Chinese web novels as a phonetic play on “Victoria’s Secret” (Wéiduōlìyǎ de mìmì) or simply as a name that sounds Western and high-end.
- Nutritional Fluid (營養液): The standard, boring meal for people in the interstellar era. Z eating this while Zhu Ran is out at a fancy restaurant perfectly captures his sulking mood!
- Bie Nao (別鬧): This literally means “stop it” or “don’t mess around,” but when said in a soft, tired voice, it carries a heavy flirtatious or intimate undertone.
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