Chapter 79 - Store And Crisis (Filler)

Yu Yingyi stared at Nian Zhen as she spoke with Mei Xiang, her expression and tone remained unchanged. She was starting to think Nian Zhen was a robot, but that wasn't possible considering the era they were in.

"Yingyi!" Mei Xiang called out as she came towards her, "Sorry for taking away Nian Zhen when you were going to talk to her, I had something to tell her."

"Ah, it's fine, it's fine. Though your friend is kind of...how should I say it, different?" asked Yu Yingyi.

"I get what you mean, she's just unable to express her emotions, no, it's that she doesn't know what're emotions," Mei Xiang replied.

"So what you're trying to say is...."

"Yep. I don't know everything, but I know she was raised in a household that raised their children differently. Their motto was that emotions were weak and one should never show it," said Mei Xiang.

Yu Yingyi was startled, something like that existed in this world? In the novel, not once did the novel mention anything about this. Yu Yingyi sighed in her head, the information she got from the novel didn't matter anymore, everything was already different.

"That's a cruel way to be raised, is that the reason why her tone and expression stays the same?" asked Yu Yingyi.

"Yep, I hope you don't find her weird and want to avoid her," said Mie Xiang.

"No, no, I would never! If I did that, I wouldn't be able to live with myself," Yu Yingyi reassured.

Mei Xiang smiled, "Then I'm relieved."

"Also, I'm going to leave now, I promised Jia Yi something and I have to keep my word. I might be back in a bit for your help though," said Yu Yingyi.

"Is that so? Then come back sooner, it's boring without your presence, you know?"

Yu Yingyi chuckled, "Don't insult your friend, I'm sure she'll be a good company to have around."

"Yeah, yeah, just go already."

Yu Yingyi chuckled to herself, despite Mei Xiang saying just go already, she knew Mei Xiang wanted her to stay since Mei Xiang had a few attributes of a tsundere.

"Are you leaving?" Nian Zhen's monotone voice called out to her.

Yu Yingyi glanced over in Nian Zhen's direction and nodded, "Yes, I have a promise to fulfill. But if you're still here when I come back, we'll talk again."

"Okay, see you later," Nian Zhen replied.

Despite having a monotone voice and an unchanging expression, Nian Zhen also wasn't much of a talker. Yu Yingyi expected this. She's met people who were similar to Nian Zhen, but she never made friends with them since she wouldn't know how to talk to them in the long run.

Leaving the store, Yu Yingyi headed towards the less crowded area where not many nobles would visit. But Yingyi was going to change that. There was a perfectly sized unused store, she recently got permission to take it.

By changing the entire store into a flower shop for Jia Yi, the area would become attractive again. With this, she was going to fulfill the promise she made with Jia Yi for joining her side.

Once Yu Yingyi made it into the area where the store was located, her smile immediately faltered. The sight of the store wasn't pleasing, it was old to the point where there were vines on the outside.

The door started making creaking noises as Yu Yingyi opened it, she cringed as it sent shivers down her spine. The first thing she would do was fix the door. Although the outside of the store looked horrible, the inside wasn't bad.

There were shelves lined up on the wall, tables scattered in different places, all it needed was some touch-ups and remodeling and everything would be fine.

"Let's just hope the store doesn't start crumbling down," Yu Yingyi muttered as she took a deep breath which immediately led to her coughing due to the dust, "Never doing that again."

Yu Yingyi started taking notes of what to fix, she was going to show this to Mei Xiang and had her make everything better.

By the time she was done, it was already the afternoon, and her stomach couldn't growl any louder. Yingyi was starving, she contemplated whether she should eat breakfast or not.

"Mei Xiang!" Yu Yingyi called out as she entered the store, "I have a job for you!"

Mei Xiang appeared by her side with an unexcited expression, "What is it?"

"Ah..." Yu Yingyi contemplated whether she should tell Mei Xiang or not after seeing the look on her face, "I was wondering if you could help me remodel a store."

"Remodel a store?" Mei Xiang asked as she deadpanned her, "Why do you need a store?"

"I don't need it, it's for Jia Yi. I promised I would give her a flower shop so I'm fulfilling it now," Yu Yingyi explained.

"I see, do you have any notes to give me an image of what you want?"

"I do," Yu Yignyi replied as she handed over the notes to Mie Xiang.

Mei Xiang's eyes scanned the paper, the details quickly entering her brain. In less than a minute, Mei Xiang had a general idea of what to do.

"I have an idea, but why do you need to remodel so many things? Isn't it a store?" asked Mei Xiang.

"Ah, I forgot to mention that the store hasn't been used in a long time, it was basically abandoned. I was permitted to take it recently," Yu Yingyi replied.

"I don't mean anything offensive by this, but ever since you changed from a prince to a princess, you've been less responsible," said Mei Xiang.

Yu Yingyi was shocked, "I have?!"

Mei Xiang nodded, "Look how much work you're making me do. Back when you were the prince, I didn't have to do that much work."

"That can't be true!" Yu Yingyi cried out, "I've been helping Liya with a lot of things."

"If I recall correctly, you told me you stayed in the palace for an entire week doing nothing, are you sure?"

"I'm sure of it," said Yu Yingyi, "After all, I was writing down plans on what to do in the future."

"Is that so? If you say so, then I'll believe you. Is there anything else you need?" asked Mei Xiang.

There was a growling noise that came from Yu Yingyi's stomach, "Ah..."

"Go get something to eat Yingyi, I don't want you to starve to death, especially in the store."

"So if I starved to death anywhere else, it'd be fine?!"

"Oi, stop trying to twist my words, you know I didn't mean it like that."

Yu Yingyi let out a laugh, "I know, I know. Anyway, I'll see you later Mei Xiang, I'm going to get something to eat."

With that said, Yu Yingyi left the store, as she passed by several merchant stores, she was suddenly pulled into an alleyway.

Right when Yu Yingyi was about to scream for help, the familiar face came into sight making her stop.

"Nian Zhen, what're you doing?"