Running a Small Shop

"Tai Zai Zhi—! You bastard!"

Zhong Yuan Zhong Ye strode over, grabbing Tai Zai Zhi tightly by the collar with one hand. The chair scraped against the floor, making a harsh, screeching sound as Zhong Ye lifted him straight off his seat, glaring like a tiger eyeing its prey.

"Why are you here? Huh?" Zhong Yuan Zhong Ye questioned coldly. "Could it be—this is all your conspiracy? What on earth are you trying to do!"

Tai Zai Zhi: "...Huh?"

Being hoisted up out of nowhere, countless calculations that could be called "conspiracies" flashed through Tai Zai Zhi's mind... But he was certain he hadn't executed any of them recently!

Tai Zai Zhi's eyes darted around, and he immediately reacted, looking at Li Nai on the side. This guy must have sold him something strange, and now this unlucky fellow had come to demand justice!

Having figured it all out, Tai Zai Zhi found it a bit amusing. He never expected the day would come when he would have to take the blame for someone else. But if it was this bizarre shop owner, he wasn't too surprised...

"First thing in the morning, and I already have to hear you noisy shorty shouting." Tai Zai Zhi lazily picked his ear. "Although I'd love to see you in a miserable state, being dragged into this makes me quite uncomfortable too—"

"Huh?!" Zhong Yuan Zhong Ye glared in fury.

"Whatever that slug brain of yours is thinking, the person you should be looking for is the shop owner over there."

With that, Tai Zai Zhi looked at Li Nai and drawled, "Mr. Shop Owner—I got caught in this crossfire just to take the fall for you. How do you plan to compensate me?"

Li Nai had leisurely closed the door by now, sitting down behind the counter to enjoy the show. Zhong Yuan Zhong Ye knew Tai Zai Zhi well; seeing that he didn't seem to be joking, he shifted his suspicious gaze to Li Nai.

"Keep going." Facing their stares, Li Nai blinked. "Why are you looking at me?"

Zhong Yuan Zhong Ye: "..."

At those words, Zhong Ye actually let go of Tai Zai Zhi. Tai Zai Zhi sat back in his chair, adjusting his collar while muttering, "Failing to stop violence in the shop, this store manager is really underqualified."

How could Li Nai stand having his professionalism questioned? He immediately said, "Who said that! Violence is absolutely forbidden in this shop!"

"Then just now..."

"Violence that damages the shop is forbidden," Li Nai said calmly. "But you aren't a part of the shop."

Tai Zai Zhi: "..."

"Or do you want to become a part of this place?" Li Nai said meaningfully. "It's not impossible—"

"Zhong Ye," Tai Zai Zhi decisively shifted the target, "didn't you have something to ask the shop owner?"

Suddenly called out, Zhong Yuan Zhong Ye clicked his tongue. After the commotion, his anger had mostly dissipated. He stood there with his arms crossed, staring sharply at Li Nai.

"Boss, the thing you sold me yesterday..."

Zhong Ye was about to continue but suddenly stopped, casting a wary glance at Tai Zai Zhi. After a brief thought, Zhong Yuan Zhong Ye chose to hide the specifics, only staring coldly at Li Nai. "I'll only ask you one thing—is this an act of provocation against the Port Mafia?"

The atmosphere suddenly froze. Facing Zhong Yuan Zhong Ye's imposing interrogation, Li Nai blinked and said helplessly, "Um... Customer, you haven't said anything, so how would I know what happened?"

"You don't know?" Zhong Yuan Zhong Ye frowned. "You sold me a hat, and you don't know what would happen?"

Tai Zai Zhi raised an eyebrow in surprise, falling into thought. A hat? Wasn't it bandages?

"Customer, you're mistaken. Although our shop's goods are a bit magical, I'm only the shop owner, not the manufacturer," Li Nai said innocently. "I only handle the buying and selling. As for other things... well, I can't control them."

Zhong Yuan Zhong Ye stared at Li Nai, his deep blue eyes under the brim of his hat glinting with danger. He said nothing, and it was unclear whether he believed him or not.

"Wait, Zhong Ye," Tai Zai Zhi spoke up. "The thing you bought was a hat?"

"Yeah, so what," Zhong Yuan Zhong Ye replied bluntly.

"Li Nai, last time you clearly told me that besides bandages, there was only the Red Scarf..." Tai Zai Zhi looked at Li Nai.

"When you asked, there were indeed only those two," Li Nai shrugged. "There was only one hat, and it was bought by this customer before your second visit."

"Second visit?" Zhong Ye caught onto something and turned to look at Tai Zai Zhi. "You bought things from him too, and twice at that? Is there something wrong with your head?"

"Hey, why do I hear slander?" Li Nai tapped the counter in dissatisfaction. "With such good items, not buying them is what means there's something wrong with your head!"

Ignoring Li Nai's protest, Zhong Ye frowned and said, "I suspect the things he sells are all ability..."

"They are ability items," Tai Zai Zhi said calmly. "I thought so at first too."

"But Zhong Ye, think about it carefully." Tai Zai Zhi's hazel eyes darkened. "Can that kind of power really be explained just by an ability item?"

Zhong Ye frowned deeply. After locking eyes with Tai Zai Zhi for a long moment, he snorted coldly, pulled down the brim of his hat, and turned away. Li Nai had no desire to join this conversation at all; he lowered his head to look at his glass, as if intently studying its pattern.

Once the two fell silent, he immediately looked up with a businesslike smile.

"It seems the small talk is over," Li Nai said enthusiastically. "So, do you want to buy anything today? Or consigning goods is also very welcome!"

If you want to chat, go to a cafe! My favorability toward you guys is only at this level. If you keep talking nonsense, don't blame me for kicking you out.

Under Li Nai's enthusiastic gaze, Zhong Yuan Zhong Ye remained silent for a moment before clicking his tongue and turning toward the door. "No need, I still have an investigation ordered by the boss..."

An idea flashed in Tai Zai Zhi's mind, and he suddenly spoke up, "Could it be yesterday's serial explosions?"

Zhong Yuan Zhong Ye turned around instantly, rushing back even faster than he had left. "You know?!"

Serial explosions? Li Nai thought to himself, *Could it be the explosion that 'Miss Bandage' planned to use to treat Tai Zai Zhi's injuries...?*

Just as he thought of this, he looked up to see Tai Zai Zhi leaning back in his chair, saying in an annoying tone, "I heard many members of the Port Mafia were injured in that explosion? Business went down the drain too, tsk tsk tsk..."

*Alright, it seems that was indeed the event,* Li Nai thought expressionlessly.

Zhong Ye calmed down. "I need this intelligence. Your terms?"

Tai Zai Zhi smiled, about to speak, when Li Nai, unable to take it anymore, cut him off.

"Stop," Li Nai raised his hand. "If you want to talk business, go outside. If you're not buying anything, don't take up space in the shop."

"Don't be so hasty, Li Nai," Tai Zai Zhi smiled intimately, winking at him. "Remember what I said before? I want to consign 'intelligence.'"

Li Nai paused, catching Tai Zai Zhi's signal.

"Sure," Li Nai said. "As long as the intelligence is valuable enough, it can be consigned."

The two exchanged looks and quickly reached an agreement, smiling meaningfully. Zhong Yuan Zhong Ye grew wary. "Why do I feel like you two are trying to scam me..."

"How could that be, Zhong Ye! I sincerely want to help you solve your problem!" Tai Zai Zhi stood up and pushed Zhong Ye down into the chair, facing the smiling Li Nai.