Chapter 14: New Guests

That morning, the hair treatment salon was once again bustling with a joint promotion for manicure and scalp care packages. After indulging in a bowl of fried egg river snail noodles the previous night, Ning Zhixia’s pH level had finally returned to normal, and now she was gleefully tearing open the mountain of packages that had just arrived at her door.

“Oh, oh, oh, it’s here!”

After weeks of anxious waiting, her spiritual sustenance from across the sea had finally arrived safe and sound. Beaming, heart trembling with excitement, she lugged the heavy box upstairs, only to stumble and fall. The ten-odd vibrantly colored “crispy duck” novels within soared through the air.

She gasped, “My masterpieces!”

Crash!

Qu Banqing nimbly dodged aside as if he’d teleported. He glanced down at the books, tutted, and shook his head. “Filth.”

Still sprawled on the ground, Ning Zhixia shot him a disgruntled look and spread her hands. “If you’re so pure, let’s see your browsing history.”

Qu Banqing paused momentarily, then, holding his teacup with an air of elegance, turned and walked downstairs. “Excuse me.”

“Hmph,” Ning Zhixia huffed. She scrambled up, gathering her precious spiritual nourishment. These books were like delicious meals, each one begging to be savored.

She had barely begun to sample a few pages when Qu Banqing’s voice called up from below—

“Ning, your mother sent you a package!”

“Just open it,” Ning Zhixia called back after thinking a moment. “It’s probably the herbal sleep pillows she mentioned!”

Her mother, Ms. Lu, ran a thriving guesthouse in Diancheng and often sent her handmade home gifts.

“So it’s a sleep pillow…” Qu Banqing sounded puzzled as he opened the box. “Why are there four?”

“I told her you were back in Yucheng.” Ning Zhixia, already curled up in a beanbag chair, flipped through her book serenely. She raised her voice, “The extra pair is for you!”

“Huh?” Qu Banqing was a bit surprised. He glanced down and saw that the sleep pillow was embroidered with adorable little butterfly patterns, reminiscent of the cartoon pajamas he used to wear when staying at her house as a child.

He stroked the butterfly, lips moving wordlessly, and muttered with his head lowered, “Auntie still remembers me…”

“She does, of course she does!” Ning Zhixia replied instantly.

“Hehe… hehe…” Qu Banqing nuzzled the pillow affectionately, hugging it and spinning in a circle, his eyes lowered in a gentle smile. “It’s beautiful.”

“Of course! My mom’s handiwork is top-notch.”

Ning Zhixia turned another page, and her eyes suddenly shone with excitement.

“Hehehe, hahaha…”

He snapped the book shut, wriggled like a caterpillar in the chair for a couple of turns, then, after a few seconds’ contentment, wore the blissful expression of someone enjoying a hearty meal. He turned back to the previous page to savor the story again, grabbing a crispy chicken nugget from the table to munch on.

A few curious kittens, drawn by the sound, scampered up and clustered around Ning Zhixia, their heads bobbing inquisitively.

“Hey, little kittens shouldn’t look at this,” he said, nudging their tiny heads aside.

The kittens, obedient as ever, mewed softly and pressed their padded paws gently on his legs, kneading away as he exhaled in comfort and turned another page.

A chubby orange tabby, looking like a semi-trailer, squeezed through the others and flopped down on the edge of the sofa in an arched bow, eyes fixed on the fragrant snack box.

In a flash, a streak of orange darted past Ning Zhixia’s eyes. As if on cue, several furry paws grabbed hold of his chicken nugget-wielding hand.

“Villainous cats from the South Village! Don’t think you can bully me in my old age!”

Ning Zhixia reacted instantly, scooping up the orange tabby and the collaborating kittens, plunking them back in his lap.

The fat tabby, none too pleased, jumped down and sat with its tail curled, laboriously twisting around to groom its fur.

Ning Zhixia snorted, squinting as he patted his thigh. “If you want extra treats, you have to work for them. Got it?”

“Meow—” The kittens waggled their tails and each bumped their heads against his in turn.

Seeing his underlings defect, the orange tabby’s ears twitched furiously. It let out a flattering “mew” and pounced at Ning Zhixia.

“Argh!”

His bravado crumbled as the orange beast bowled him over, leaving him dazed and tongue-lolling on the sofa.

Not long after the playful chaos, Qu Banqing called up from below that a scheduled customer had arrived.

Ning Zhixia remembered that Lu Yaoguang had said she’d come by today for a new set of nails, so he hurried downstairs with kittens clinging to his clothes.

“Hello!”

Lu Yaoguang, dressed in a pretty dress, greeted him with infectious energy, waving her phone tripod. “I haven’t streamed enough hours lately… Mind if I go live while you work?”

“Go ahead,” Ning Zhixia said, unbothered, as he put on his mask and found her a spot for the tripod.

Since the livestream required the right angle and lighting, Ning Zhixia glanced at the lounge chair by the window and had an idea. “Why don’t you lie down there? I’ll move a small table over.”

“Sure! That’s definitely more comfortable than sitting.”

Lu Yaoguang nestled into the chair, covering her legs with a soft blanket. As she leaned back in contentment, Qu Banqing set a glass of juice on the tray by her armrest.

Knowing it would be awkward to reach for the glass, Qu Banqing thoughtfully connected several straws in a line, bringing the end right to her lips.

“How does it feel?” he asked.

“…Very peaceful,” Lu Yaoguang replied, sipping. It was the perfect experience for a professional slacker.

“Nail drill, gel palette, UV lamp…” Ning Zhixia, like a diligent student double-checking his school bag, sat on a small stool and laid out each tool before starting to remove her old polish.

Lu Yaoguang began her livestream, chewing her straw as usual.

Her beautifully made-up face appeared on camera from a somewhat unflattering nostril angle, startling her fans who had rushed in after receiving the notification.

What a surprising livestream perspective!

“Not at home today—getting my nails done!”

“I’ll just get a classic French set.”

“There’s even a lounge chair here, so soft and adjustable—way better than a hard stool!”

She chatted casually with her viewers, then turned the camera as Ning Zhixia finished removing her polish.

Unaware of being filmed, the dark-haired nail artist was half-hidden behind a mask, fine motes of dust swirling in the natural light around him. His long lashes cast distinct shadows, never trembling, as he concentrated on his work.

The viewers could hardly believe it: the nail artist was a young man. After a moment’s stunned silence, the comments began to pour in.

“Ooh! He’s a little brother!”

“Rich people are lucky. When I get rich, I’ll hire a pop-star-level little brother to do all your nails!”

“How do you know he’s good-looking with half his face covered?”

“Sometimes good looks are all about vibes, you know?”

“Judging by how high he sits, he’s probably about 179 cm tall?”

Ning Zhixia looked up to have Lu Yaoguang cure her nails. His eyes met the camera directly, and viewers felt their hearts skip a beat. Just as someone was about to compliment him, he caught sight of a comment and leaned in, squinting mischievously.

“I’m 180 with shoes on! There’s no such thing as a 179 cm man!”

Lu Yaoguang burst out laughing, earning a mock-glare from Ning Zhixia as she quickly angled the camera downward.

The viewers’ attention shifted instantly to her nails.

A French manicure is a classic, but though it looks simple, achieving perfect uniformity in the arc and thickness across all nails in one go is no easy feat. Many nail artists use all sorts of tricks, like French guides or stamping, or paint one nail at a time and cure each individually—a time-consuming ordeal that drives perfectionists mad.

But Ning Zhixia worked at double speed, his brush strokes fluid and precise. The viewers stared as perfect lines formed beneath his hand. For ten seconds the screen fell silent, then comments exploded.

“Wow, his elbows aren’t even resting on the table!”

“So satisfying—like releasing a breath you’ve been holding!”

“His hands are so steady, and he paints a whole hand before curing!”

“I love it! It’s such a pain to keep switching hands to cure each nail!”

“Quick, little deer, zoom in with the camera!”

This time, the set featured a nude base with high French tips. Ning Zhixia blended several polishes, finally choosing a shade of bellflower purple for the tips, edged with a black arc—more sensual and refined than the previous springtime floral style, perfect for a grown woman.

Lu Yaoguang trusted his eye completely and was so engrossed that she forgot she was supposed to be the star of the show, watching along with her fans.

With no one to play with, the kittens wandered over to the lounge chair.

“Meow meow!” Lu Yaoguang exclaimed, glancing down to see several kittens tilting their heads at her, testing the ground with their paws, then suddenly leaping onto her lap.

“Purr, purr…” The new little technicians buried their furry heads, kneading her thighs with their soft paws in slow, alternating rhythms.

Lu Yaoguang held her breath, joy flickering in her eyes, afraid to disturb them as she silently clutched her chest in excitement. She furtively angled the camera to show off, eager to share her fortune—

Look at me! So many kittens giving me a massage!

Sure enough, as the viewers noticed the new angle, their comments filled with delighted, motherly affection.

“Aww, so many kittens! Auntie wants to kiss your little paws!”

“Girl, you’ve had your turn. Get up and let me have a go.”

“They’re so serious, kneading away like little bakers!”

Noticing the kittens had gone quiet, Ning Zhixia looked up to check what mischief they were up to—only to have a paw press his head back down.

“???”

Ning Zhixia was perplexed. Who exactly was the boss in this household?

The chat erupted in laughter.

“Kittens: focus on your work, no slacking!”

“Even the kittens have landed spring internships—how about you?”

“If I tip the kittens, will the little bakers let me pet them?”

Lu Yaoguang was completely absorbed by the kittens’ massage, basking in their hospitality. When Ning Zhixia finally finished her nails, she was reluctant to leave.

At least she remembered her starved viewers, using the natural light to show off her manicure. “See? Looks great! Short extensions with full French tips—318 yuan in total!”

The comments poured in, and Lu Yaoguang pulled Ning Zhixia into the frame.

The young man, just finished with work, yanked off his mask to yawn, only to be thrust before the camera, blinking like a startled animal. Prodded, he quickly pulled his mask back up.

The viewers showered him with praise. “Wow! The shop owner is so cute!”

“That’s right,” Ning Zhixia shamelessly nodded, “It’s a universally acknowledged fact.”

Lu Yaoguang: “…”

Everyone loved a beautiful, self-aware young man, and the stream was full of friendly questions, which Ning Zhixia answered.

“So it’s on Qingxi Road, not too far—I can get there by taxi in twenty minutes!”

“Hey, is it across from Lanhua Hair Salon? I think I saw it when I took my mom for a scalp treatment.”

“Didn’t Lanhua just start offering manicures? I heard they’re really cheap.”

“Trust me, don’t go. They push too many packages and their nail skills are awful. Specialization matters—pick a professional nail salon!”

“Exactly! No idea how that shop got so popular in the first place!”

Realizing it was Lu Yaoguang’s stream, Ning Zhixia chatted a while before handing the tripod back to her.

When she tried to pay, Ning Zhixia scratched his head, a little embarrassed. “I mean, I got some free publicity out of this—let’s just call it even.”

“Each to their own,” Lu Yaoguang replied, sending the money anyway. “Just let me be lazy and relax for once!”

They exchanged polite thanks and goodbyes, and after Lu Yaoguang posted her highlights, the nail salon’s followers quickly multiplied.

Thanks to local recommendations, even former customers who’d gone to the hair treatment salon started coming back to book appointments.

Although Monster Nail Salon’s prices weren’t as low as express shops, the great environment, stellar value, and thoughtful kitten masseurs made it a rare luxury VIP experience!

Ning Zhixia was so flattered by the praise that he completely forgot about sulking by the window earlier.

That day, after finishing a big job—hand-painting, rhinestones, and more, all afternoon’s work—he was tired but exhilarated to have earned nearly fifteen hundred yuan.

“See? I told you, skill is what matters,” Qu Banqing said, stroking the dog’s head. “No need for those silly package deals—customers still come.”

“Mama, you’re so wise,” Ning Zhixia sighed.

“Get lost.” Qu Banqing pinched his cheek before kicking him off to tidy up his workbench.

“Such violence, my friend…”

After packing up, the city’s bustle faded into quiet. Ning Zhixia paused and glanced at the clock. It was getting late.

But unlike before, the dark, greenish glow that had long shrouded the window was gradually receding. Outside, waves rippled across the glass. Several kitten heads gathered at the window, pawing at light patterns that danced on the sill.

Ning Zhixia looked up, mouth slightly open, fishing a furry paw out of his mouth and marveling like a country bumpkin.

Odelo was right—this place felt charged with energy, connected to some new dimension.

He rubbed his hands in excitement. Wouldn’t that mean even more generous, inhuman customers soon?

“Pop… pop…”

The door sounded as if someone was pulling suction cups off it.

A new customer?

Ning Zhixia hesitated, then, curiosity winning out, opened the door—and was so stunned by what he saw that his mind froze.

Shimmering blue waves of the ocean surged against what seemed a wall of water at the wide entrance. A massive figure was already halfway through.

“Slap!” “Slap!”

Two enormous tentacles, each lined with oversized suckers, slapped down on either side of the doorway. Ning Zhixia gasped and ducked behind the door, just as a timid voice sounded from the entrance.

“So cramped…”

Peeking out, Ning Zhixia locked eyes with a huge pink octopus wedged halfway in.

He summoned his courage. “Hello?”

“Hello, human.”

The pink octopus, with a shy nasal lilt, patted his head with a tentacle and then quickly drew it back. As it squeezed fully inside, it made a crisp “pop” sound.

“Glub glub… glub glub…”

Apparently aware of its inconvenient size, the octopus shrank awkwardly into a corner, nervously wringing two rosy tentacles. Its huge round eyes, as round as its head, swiveled as it surveyed the room before settling on Ning Zhixia.

“My name is Bobokula… It’s nice to meet you.”

“H-hello…”

All the excitement drained from Ning Zhixia’s face as he stared blankly at the thick, waving tentacles.

Um, do octopuses… have nails?