Although his plan had been perfectly laid out and set in his mind, even after speaking with Tang Jihao, one glaring problem clung to his side: Tang Yuqiu had vanished.

Chen Ren had scoured the Tang Manor, and questioned every servant he could find, but all anyone knew was that she had left the manor. "Being outside" was about as useful as saying she was somewhere under the sky. The city was vast, and people disappeared easily into its winding streets, crowded districts, and hidden alcoves.

He knew how people like Tang Yuqiu would act when they were troubled. Often, they’d seek quiet corners where the noise of life would fade away, and the chaos in their mind could find some peace. The issue was that those places were rarely obvious, especially for someone like Tang Yuqiu who would be smart enough not to hide in plain sight.

Maybe she had somewhere private where she found comfort, maybe it was a person— but again, he doubted she had such close friends considering her nature. He also hadn't seen her with anyone else other than her maid. But how would he know where to find her? How would anyone know?

With a sigh, Chen Ren set off, his steps light but his mind heavy.

The city stretched before him like a puzzle, its roads teeming with life. He made his way through familiar streets, heading towards the upper district— a more refined area beyond the bustling market. He had been here before, more than once, a wide landscape that offered a semblance of peace. Yet, even after combing the alleys and looking into the refined tea houses that someone like Tang Yuqiu would frequent, she was still nowhere to be found.

His search felt endless, each corner revealing nothing but the familiar sights of merchants, shoppers, and city dwellers going about their day. The upper district may have offered more serenity, but it did not yield the answers he sought. Frustration clawed at him, his thoughts a jumble of worry and mild irritation.

He had hoped to find her deep in thought somewhere, brooding in a corner, contemplating whatever troubles had sent her off in the first place.

But it wasn’t until he moved closer to the noodle stall, his last resort, that he spotted her— Tang Yuqiu, seated casually, bowls of noodles scattered around her like trophies from some odd competition. She wasn’t brooding, wasn’t lost in thought. Instead, she was slurping noodles with the kind of focus that suggested she was thinking about absolutely nothing at all.

A soft, bemused voice broke the silence of his thoughts. "You should’ve looked for her here right away," Yalan, his feline companion, muttered from his side, her amber eyes glinting with amusement.

Chen Ren sighed, rubbing his forehead. “I thought she'd be sitting somewhere, lost in thought, not... slurping noodles.”

"Some people eat when they're stressed," the cat remarked with an air of superiority, tail flicking lazily. "You humans have the strangest habits."

Chen Ren shook his head, though a small smile tugged at his lips. "Of all places..."

Still, he felt a wave of relief wash over him. She was here, not lost or troubled in some hidden corner. Just here, surrounded by noodles and clearly coping in her own way. Now, it was just a matter of talking to her about what was in his mind.

Chen Ren gave a subtle nod to Yalan, acknowledging the cat’s dry wisdom, before setting his sights on Tang Yuqiu.

In the middle of a small mess of empty bowls, her eyes were narrowed but drew a blank. She was slurping the last of her noodles as if they held the answers to all her problems. It was still early, just before lunch, so the line for the stall was small but growing, the quiet before the midday rush.

He stepped closer, weaving through the sparse crowd with ease, and gave a polite nod to Yuqiu, who glanced up at him with the barest flicker of acknowledgement. Her brows knit together in annoyance, but she didn’t make any move to stop him. “I hope the noodles are satisfying your appetite,” he said, a soft humour lacing his words.

Her eyes flicked up, cool and sharp. “I don’t want to talk to eavesdroppers,” she replied, her voice low and edged with irritation.

Chen Ren sighed but met her gaze evenly. “I wasn’t trying to eavesdrop. Your father called me there. I just happen to have a knack for being in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

She studied him for a moment, her expression softening just a fraction. The scowl that was on her lips turned to a thin, straight line. “I can see that,” she muttered, though the edge hadn’t entirely left her voice. “So, why are you bothering me now?” She swirled the noodles with her chopsticks and was playing with them as she waited for his response.

Chen Ren moved closer, his tone shifting as he spoke with more purpose. “I have a way to alleviate your worries.” He paused, letting his words settle. “As I’m living in your house, it’s only right that I lend a hand.”

She looked at him, scepticism written plainly on her face. She placed the chopsticks on the bowl, balancing them carefully before setting the bowl aside. “How exactly can you help me?” She glared at him with a deadpan look on her face. Before he could respond, she laughed humorlessly— a dry laugh through her nose. “Don’t joke, Chen Ren.”

As soon as she said it, she picked up the bowl again and started slurping noodles.

“I’m not joking.” His voice held a quiet confidence. He gestured to the stall behind him, to the small but growing crowd of customers waiting for their turn. “The place where you’re eating noodles right now— I created it in mere weeks. No funding, just meagre savings. And now look at it.”

Her eyes narrowed once again. “Are you trying to brag?”

He shook his head. “No. I’m offering a proposal.”

Tang Yuqiu’s eyes searched his face, trying to determine if he was serious or just playing some elaborate joke. There was no deceit in his gaze, only a calm certainty. “A proposal?” she repeated, her voice less hostile now, but still guarded. “What kind of business?”

She placed the bowl back on the table, giving him her full attention at the sound of his seriousness.

“High-end products,” he said, his tone firm. “Something refined, something that stands out.”

She exhaled sharply, her doubt clear. “That sounds expensive. If it fails, the losses would be huge. I can’t afford that again— I can’t bear that kind of failure anymore.”

Chen Ren leaned in slightly, his voice dropping as if sharing a secret only for her ears. “You don’t have to think negatively all the time. Failure isn’t a certainty.”

Her gaze wavered for a moment, but he pressed on. “You tried to save a blacksmithing workshop for your father. You bought it and poured everything into it, hoping to turn it into something grand. Even though you’re well-versed in the basics of business, you lack one thing: innovation. That’s where I come in.”

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Tang Yuqiu’s fingers curled around the edge of the table, her expression unreadable, but Chen Ren could see the faint flicker of doubt turning into interest. “Innovation?” she echoed softly.

He nodded, his gaze steady. “I’ll bring innovation. You bring the structure. Together, we can build something that doesn’t just survive—it thrives.”

For the first time since they began talking, Tang Yuqiu looked at him not with suspicion or irritation but with something close to hope. But she wasn’t ready to admit it yet. “It sounds risky,” she said, her voice quieter now.

“All good things are,” Chen Ren replied with a faint smile. “But this time, you won’t be doing it alone.”

It seemed as if she allowed herself to consider the possibilities for a brief moment, but soon her expression shifted to one that clearly conveyed the question: “Have you lost your mind?” Her frown deepened as seconds passed, assessing him for any hint of deceit again, but after a long pause, she simply sighed, her shoulders drooping slightly. "If you’re lying, I’ll kick you out myself."

Chen Ren chuckled.

“You don’t have that authority. Your father does. And let’s be honest, do you really think the regular guards would be able to get me out?” He folded his arms, voice lowering to a serious tone. “But I’m not lying. This business will help you regain your lost honour. We’ll build something that’ll take the city by storm. Only if you want to. If you don’t, then… Well.”

He shrugged.

She stared at him, her expression unreadable as she considered his words. “Forty-sixty,” she said, at last, her voice steady. “In my favour for the profits.”

Chen Ren raised an eyebrow, a small smirk playing on his lips. “Fifty-fifty,” he countered, unwavering. “I’m already doing you a favour by letting you in on the profits.”

She snickered, the tension in her posture easing just a bit. “I doubt you’re going to put any money into this venture, and as for labour? I’ll be the one doing most of it. Not to mention, I’m putting my last bit of savings into this. The split should be in my favour.”

He shook his head, his smile not faltering. “None of it matters without my ideas and innovation. Without me, this is just another failed business in the making.”

Chen Ren felt a pang of guilt settle in his chest. He was aware that the knowledge he held— the ideas, the innovation— weren’t really his own. They came from Earth, from a world she knew nothing about. In a sense, he was taking advantage of her ignorance, using what he hadn’t developed himself. But a little shamelessness could go a long way, and in this world, survival wasn’t always about playing fair. Besides, if it meant helping her out of this mess and earning good money, he could live with it.

The two of them leaned closer over the wooden table, their voices rising and falling like the tide as they haggled fiercely.

Tang Yuqiu’s eyes sparkled with determination as she pushed for a larger share, her tone sharp and confident. “You can’t expect me to invest my last savings without a fair cut. I’m thinking at least fifty-forty in my favour.”

Chen Ren crossed his arms, unyielding. “That just sounds comical to me now. I’ll agree to fifty-fifty, but only if you want this to work.”

“Fifty-fifty? That’s not happening. You’re not even putting in any capital,” she shot back, her frustration evident. “I’m the one risking everything here.”

“And without my ideas, there’s nothing worth investing or risking in at all,” he countered, his voice steady. “You need to recognize the value I bring to the table.”

She rolled her eyes, a scoff escaping her lips. “Please. Are you really valuing your ‘grand ideas’ that highly? They’re just words without a proper plan. How about seventy-thirty? I need a cushion for my risks.”

“Seventy-thirty? Don’t make me laugh! You just increased your profits after asking sixty.” Chen Ren shook his head, a smirk on his face. “You’ll scare away any potential investors with those demands. You really think anyone will join you at that rate?”

“If you want a partner, you’ll have to meet me halfway. How about sixty-forty, then? That’s still generous considering I’m the one bringing in the capital.”

“Fifty-fifty. It’s either that or no deal.”

“Fine,” she relented, with an exasperated huff. “Fifty-fifty.” Her eyes gleamed with a mix of scepticism and expectation as she added, “But the next discussion will be when you bring me this so-called high-end product. And make sure it actually impresses me.”

With that, she stood, the bowls of noodles forgotten as she straightened her dress. “Don’t disappoint me, Chen Ren,” she said coolly before turning on her heel and walking off into the city streets.

Chen Ren watched her go, rubbing the back of his head in thought. The deal was set, but now came the hard part: delivering on his promise. Getting the product was, without a doubt, the toughest challenge ahead.

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Now comes the real work,” he muttered, casting a glance at the noodle stall. Then, realisation struck him. “Wait! She forgot to pay!”

***

Once the discussion with the young miss was over, Chen Ren spent the rest of the afternoon working at the noodle stall. The hustle and bustle of serving bowls of noodles to the waiting line kept him busy, but his mind was far from settled. The deal he struck with Tang Yuqiu was the easy part— making promises and talking up grand ideas.

Sure, in his mind, he had a thousand concepts for high-end products, things that could revolutionise this city. He could picture them clearly—luxurious cosmetics, high-quality fabrics, herbal tonics. But as the hours ticked by and the day dragged into late afternoon, he realised something that chilled him more than he expected: this world wasn’t like his own.

The herbs he needed, the specific plants, the animals—none of them were familiar to him here. The flora and fauna he relied on for his ideas were different and foreign. What use was knowledge from another world if the fundamental building blocks were all wrong?

Chen Ren rubbed his temple, staring out at the thinning crowd of customers. He didn’t even have a good grasp of what was available locally. Without the right resources, his ideas were nothing more than fantasies.

He needed a solid foundation in the herbal and animal life around the city. But therein lay the problem: Chen Ren had no books related to that. He had never been interested in herbology or biology. His knowledge from his past life was limited to what modern industry could produce— he didn’t have the faintest clue how to identify rare herbs or unique ingredients in this world.

And worse still, this city didn’t seem to have a public library. He had asked around before— hoping for a place where he could dig up some information— but according to the servants, there was no such luxury here. Even Yalan, the cat, had been little help, though she had muttered some vague complaints about ‘human knowledge being too scattered.’

When he’d brought up the idea to Xiulan, she confirmed his suspicions. The local herbalists and doctors were fiercely protective of their knowledge, sharing only with their trusted apprentices. Trying to pry information out of them would take too much time— something he barely had.

Chen Ren sighed, leaning against the stall’s counter. His options were growing slimmer by the minute. There had to be another way. And then, a flicker of memory hit him— something from Chen Ren’s life here, something he had almost forgotten about. He straightened up, eyes narrowing as a thought crystallised.

There was one place that might have what he needed. It wasn’t a library, not in the traditional sense, but it was a place where books were plentiful. More importantly, it was a place where someone like him might just stumble upon the right book by sheer luck.

His gaze turned resolute as he packed up the last of the stall’s supplies, handing over the evening shift to Tang Xiulan. He didn’t say much to her, just a brief nod before he turned and headed into the city, a singular thought guiding his steps.

By the time Chen Ren arrived at his destination, the sun had dipped low in the sky, casting the streets in a soft orange glow.

He found himself standing outside an unassuming tea shop, nestled between a pair of larger merchant buildings. To most, it looked like a simple, cosy place— a retreat for the weary, where people sipped tea and escaped the noise of the marketplace. But Chen Ren knew better.

He glanced at the faded sign swaying in the evening breeze. It was a tea shop, yes, but it was also something more: a place with a surprisingly large collection of novels.

“Stories for the idle,” Chen Ren muttered to himself. “But maybe, just maybe, I might be able to find what I'm looking for here.”

He walked forward, pushing the door open, the faint scent of tea leaves and old parchment greeting him. The air inside was warm and cosy, and the soft murmur of voices made it feel almost too peaceful for the task at hand. He spotted a few patrons lounging about, their noses buried in novels as they sipped their drinks.

His eyes scanned the shelves lining the walls. There, amidst the countless works of fiction, he hoped to find what he was looking for. The herbal knowledge he needed, the key to unlocking the next step of his plan— surely, among all these books, there had to be something useful. A book, a scrap of knowledge… anything.

Chen Ren strode inside, a small smile creeping across his face. "Time to see what this tea shop really has to offer."

***

A/N - Next bonus chapter if we reach 3500 followers by 18 November.