Opening an antique shop and getting rich through all the worlds

Chapter 73

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All the aberrant species surrounding the perimeter were eliminated.

Wen Zhi discarded the rebar stained with dark liquid, then turned sideways, the upward curve of his lips revealing a clear smile.

Only when silence returned outside the door and the wooden door closed did Shen You snap back to reality.

“It’s done.”

Wen Zhi returned to the shop, washed his hands clean at the faucet where she watered her plants, then returned to the table, his tone as casually indifferent as always.

“How long will you stay here?”

“One more day.” Shen You sighed, hoping that regular customers would find their way here, which would make business in this dimensional plane much easier.

“I looked around earlier. There aren’t any living people within fifty miles. Don’t you need a bodyguard who can clear out the aberrant species? With so many aberrant species around, your customers might not even survive long enough to find this place.”

Wen Zhi looked at her with expectant black eyes, like someone seeking praise.

“You mean yourself?” Shen You understood. It turns out his earlier display had been to demonstrate his capabilities.

However, his point was valid.

The shop was safe, but outside was dangerous. Who would venture into a pile of aberrant species for no reason? Even if someone finally appeared, they might perish before they could enter the shop to conduct business.

“I can’t afford to hire you.” Shen You told him somewhat helplessly.

This person’s transactions differed greatly from her business. She only wanted money, but his demands were unpredictable.

“Consider it… payment for meals.” Wen Zhi put his wine cup down and smiled. “Besides, I want to explore this dimensional plane. Does hiring a bodyguard include accommodation?”

Shen You glanced toward the loft area. “I don’t have an extra bed here. You can choose between the sofa and sleeping on the floor.”

She had originally thought that he wouldn’t agree and would definitely return to Great Qi. Unexpectedly, he nodded lightly and said seriously, “Don’t worry. I also have business ethics. I won’t go near your room.”

Shen You wasn’t particularly concerned about this. Given his appearance, she wouldn’t exactly be at a disadvantage.

“There’s one more thing I’d like to ask about.”

Wen Zhi possessed considerable assets in the modern world and likely had companies behind him. She wanted to understand how these operations worked.

After listening to her questions, he replied, “There are legitimate sources for the assets. If you want to establish a company, I can help you connect with the right people.”

“The other party has a contract with me. They won’t interfere with matters that aren’t their concern.”

Shen You smiled and nodded. “Then let’s consider it a partnership. I’ll give you dividends from supplies purchased through the company.”

“Alright, you can decide the amount.” Wen Zhi agreed.

Shen You felt relieved about the procurement matter. Relying solely on an antique shop without other assets was too risky.

The big players in the collecting world all had investments behind them, and transactions between them could easily be conducted through legitimate channels.

Naturally, she didn’t simply accept help without investigation just because someone claimed they could handle these matters.

That evening, she consulted several people in her room.

Others wouldn’t tell her too much, and she didn’t require extensive expertise. She simply couldn’t remain completely ignorant.

Outside, all the aberrant species had been cleared away. There were no more piercing roars, only the whistling sound of wind.

Wen Zhi chose the sofa bed in the loft. Shen You told him thoughtfully that it was also her media room, complete with a projector and everything else he might need.

She rarely used it herself, as her own room had similar equipment.

Just as Shen You lay down and started a favorite movie, she heard fierce winds raging outside, with flying sand and debris. The broken high-rises seemed to sway, large pieces of building rubble falling downward. Even car wrecks were blown away. The wailing wind swept past continuously, creating a cacophony of sounds.

However all remained calm and peaceful inside her shop. The plants in the courtyard swayed only slightly. It was truly a safe house in the apocalyptic times.

Shen You left a small night light on, covered herself with an autumn quilt, and had to admit that this atmospheric setting was quite pleasant.

The air conditioning maintained a comfortable temperature, while a terrifying storm raged outside, yet warm-toned lighting continued to glow inside.

The night passed peacefully. The next morning, when she awoke, Lan City had become even more devastated, with distant buildings looking as if they had been sliced by a blade.

When Shen You changed clothes and came out, she smelled the aroma of food. It was the sesame oil she had purchased previously.

Wen Zhi was sitting at the dining table, eating wontons elegantly. “I made some for you as well while I was at it.”

Looking at the food on the table, Shen You thought to herself: What kind of fairy helper is this?

“Thank you.” She didn’t stand on ceremony and sat down to eat.

It was already past nine o’clock, and things had long since returned to calm outside.

Meanwhile on the road leading into the city, a weather-beaten car was making its way forward shakily.

“Are you sure there’s a shop in the city?” The driver still didn’t quite believe.

The woman, who had changed into clean clothes but still showed signs of poor condition, answered with certainty, “I’m sure. Otherwise, I couldn’t have escaped from those bandits. Also, Jin Feng went inside but was thrown out later.”

A composed middle-aged man spoke up from the back seat, “If what Xiao Ren says is true, then everyone should be polite when we arrive.”

Anyone capable of surviving outside the shelter and operating a shop in the city was undoubtedly a formidable individual.

Even the leader of those bandits was an ability user who had survived countless dangers, yet he had been beaten half to death with such ease.

The car stopped at this moment, and the short-haired woman looked ahead. “What’s wrong?”

“Captain Fang, there are aberrant species corpses everywhere ahead. It’s terrible.” The team member driving couldn’t help but say.

They had never witnessed such a scene. No thermal weapons had been used, yet nearly every creature had been killed with a single strike.

In just one night, the most dangerous city had become quiet to this extent.

“Could it have been done by someone from that shop?” Xiao Ren suggested.

Captain Fang and the middle-aged man exchanged glances. Regardless of who had done this, their journey along this route was now much smoother.

However the car couldn’t proceed further ahead, so they left people to guard the vehicle while the rest continued on foot, following Xiao Ren.

They passed through the archway and arrived outside the shop. They had originally prepared for major battles after entering the city, yet they hadn’t encountered a single living aberrant species.

The group stood outside the door, looking at each other in amazement, shocked by the surveillance camera that still seemed to be working above the entrance.

Having walked this far, how could they fail to understand that the aberrant species had clearly been cleared with the shop as the center point?

They looked at that door again. It didn’t have a single stain.

The person inside who could kill so many aberrant species— even if they all worked together, they might not be able to guarantee their safety.

“Director Xiang, maybe you should wait outside while I take people inside.” Captain Fang said with concern.

Director Xiang was a backbone of the shelter and one of the first to organize the shelter when the apocalypse began.

If something happened to him inside, the loss to the shelter would be enormous.

“No, the two of us should go in.” Director Xiang decided after serious consideration. “If so many people enter with weapons, others might think we’re bandits.”

Just him plus Captain Fang. Entering this way also demonstrated their sincerity.

Captain Fang disagreed at first, but seeing the director’s insistence, could only nod in agreement.

Before entering, she checked her magazine, then pushed the door and walked inside.

Upon entering, the first thing they smelled was the fragrance of rice.

Then they saw the elegant tea cups on the table outside the antique-style wooden folding shop door, coconut cakes, various beautifully shaped pastries, and two excellent porcelain bowls containing ice-cold sweet dumplings.