Chapter 37: A Grand Opening

Yesterday, I bought nineteen sets of scratch-offs and have three left; the "Big Seven" series sold out completely. It is clear that even if people in this apocalypse have crystal nuclei, they are still struggling to get enough to eat, so their love for food is purely sincere.

With renewed confidence, she bought fifteen more sets of "Big Seven" and three sets of each of the other three varieties.

Everything was ready. As she waited for customers, Lu Li sat on a high stool, chin resting on her hand, eyes fixed on the bustling crowd. She no longer needed to shout to attract attention; the moment the RV appeared, the crowd was drawn to it as if by a magnet.

She was busy when Shen Bing arrived. He asked impatiently, "Are we opening soon?"

Lu Li replied while working, "Yes, summon the convenience store."

Shen Bing asked, "How do I summon it?"

Finding him slow, Lu Li grabbed his wrist, opened his optical computer, and guided his face through the recognition process. She scrolled to "Lu Li’s Convenience Store," where a prominent "Start" button awaited. Shen Bing, caught off guard by her grip, felt a searing warmth where she held his wrist.

Before he could react to the sudden contact, a beam of white light flashed beside the RV. The entrance was always this dazzling. As the light faded and the crowd could see clearly, a chorus of gasps erupted.

Inside the transparent glass structure, two shelves were clearly visible, along with customers who had been close enough to start scratching their tickets. One man pressed his face against the glass and exclaimed in disbelief, "Is... is that instant ramen?"

At these words, everyone crowded around the glass. "Could that be ham sausage? And is it corn-flavored?"

"Bottled water! That’s bottled water! It’s so clean! I’d give anything for a sip!"

Exclamations like these rippled through the crowd. Items that were taken for granted in the civilized era were rare treasures in the apocalypse. Things like instant ramen and bottled water were now strategic resources; to acquire them, one needed both sufficient crystal nuclei and the right connections. Naturally, the neatly arranged, fresh-looking goods inside the glass house drew everyone’s attention.

Lu Li let go of Shen Bing’s hand and rubbed her own, complaining, "Even though you’re a walking ice block, you really should wear more layers."

Before Shen Bing could respond, she gave him a look and whispered, "Go on, this is the best time to open."

Seeing him standing there like he had taken root, she teased, "Why are you still standing there? Are you afraid of being alone? Or do you need your big sister to give you some courage?"

Shen Bing said weakly, "I have social anxiety." There were too many people; he didn't dare push his way in.

As a social butterfly, Lu Li didn't quite understand, but she respected his feelings. She stepped down from the RV and led Shen Bing through the crowd. The onlookers, seemingly aware that the convenience store was linked to Lu Li, parted to form a path.

Walking through the center of the crowd, Lu Li was met with smiles—some worshipful, some expectant, others appreciative. She suddenly felt very happy. She began to understand what it felt like to be trusted by so many people; it was a sense of peace she had never known before. It gave her the confidence to do anything, knowing there were people behind her in support.

No wonder everyone wants to stand at the top, she thought. The feeling of being admired was intoxicating, as if all the energy in the world were flowing toward her.

Lu Li reached the door of the convenience store. Scanning her as the owner, the glass doors slid open. She stood before the entrance, turned around, and pulled out a party popper, giving it a twist.

"Pop! Pop!" With a few sounds, silver ribbons sprayed into the air, spinning and dancing. In the sunlight, they looked like stardust—colorful and brilliant. The party popper brought the atmosphere to a climax.

The crowd cheered, looking at her with wide-eyed anticipation. Standing in the sun, she looked like a savior.

When the excitement settled, she pulled Shen Bing forward to introduce him. "This is my new convenience store. I sell snacks and bottled water, so come in and buy whatever you need. Everyone knows Shen Bing, right? He’s the co-owner, and he’ll be in charge of management."

Beside her, Shen Bing stood straight as a sentry, holding a lucky cat statue in his hands. If not for the cover of his black cloak, the bright red of his ear tips would have been glaringly obvious to everyone.

Lu Li poked him and whispered, "Say something."

Shen Bing coughed twice to bolster his courage, then said, somewhat composed, "Yes, I am the co-owner, Shen Bing. Everyone, come in and shop!"

Lu Li had taught him the phrase yesterday. In the current apocalypse, there were no malls to browse, so people usually just said they were "buying things."

The crowd was already impatient and surged into the convenience store, following Lu Li and Shen Bing. The store was small and was packed in an instant, with people crowding around the shelves. Each item had a price tag: 25 points for a ham sausage, 75 for instant ramen, 88 for bottled water, and so on.

Someone asked, "What are these 'points'?"

Shen Bing, having been pushed outside, had to shout to be heard: "One first-tier crystal nucleus gets you 50 points. Come to me if you want to trade!"

Immediately, people rushed toward Shen Bing, while others tried to push toward the shelves. The two flows of people collided like a violent tide.

"Damn it, why are you pushing? Are you in a hurry to get reincarnated?"

"Who are you talking to? Your breath smells like a sewer this morning—didn't you brush your teeth?"

"Hey, hey, stop pushing! Seriously!"

Shen Bing’s senses were sharp, and his reflexes were fast. Seeing the trouble, he twitched his fingers, and in an instant, he froze the troublemakers into ice sculptures.

It was no joke; although he was young, his strength was absolute—the world’s only Tier 7 ice-type ability user. The two agitators were frozen mid-rant, their expressions still twisted in anger. Everyone else backed away instantly, trying to carve out a bit of breathing room.

Shen Bing manipulated the ice sculptures like puppets, sliding them out of the store to let them "sunbathe" outside. The remaining crowd stood silent, terrified. They had always known of Shen Bing’s fearsome reputation, but after recent interactions, they had let their guard down, thinking he had become friendly and approachable.

How wrong they were! It was all an illusion. He was still the same Shen Bing who would freeze a person solid without a second thought.

Lu Li stepped out to smooth things over. "Everyone, please continue browsing. As long as you don't cause trouble, we are very happy to have you!" She wore a warm smile with dimples that seemed even more radiant in the sunlight.

Playing the roles of the strict disciplinarian and the kind mediator, they managed to calm everyone down. The customers couldn't help but think: Boss Lu is so kind, after all...

Seeing that the small store was packed like a tin of sardines, Lu Li leaned toward Shen Bing. Both stood with their arms crossed, looking at the store with serious expressions.

"Let's limit the number of people," Lu Li said. "Fifty at a time." Otherwise, no one would even be able to see the prices on the shelves.

Shen Bing agreed unconditionally. Before he could even finish nodding, a megaphone was shoved toward his mouth.

Lu Li gave him another look. "You’re the co-owner. You organize it."