A month later, the Perfect Sweets Shop's capital city branch had its grand opening!
Yun Manman hadn't expected the opening to be delayed for so long, but she was glad it finally happened smoothly.
Sisi and Uncle Lin stayed in the capital branch to help out. As for the shop in Lili Town, Yun Manman hired another apprentice, who after training would stay at the Lili Town sweet shop to make desserts alongside Bian Yan.
Yuan Qing had returned to Siduo City at some point, and by the time Yun Manman received her message, she was already on the air rail.
Miss Leopard Cat voluntarily offered to help Yun Manman manage the sweet shop in Lili Town, which came as a surprise to Yun Manman. She had originally thought that Sister Qing would go back to inherit her family business.
Since Yuan Qing had management experience and was someone Yun Manman trusted, Yun Manman was more than happy to agree on the spot. However, she was still quite curious about the situation between Yuan Qing and Yin Qian.
After asking twice, Yuan Qing brushed it off both times, so Yun Manman had to suppress her curiosity and focus on preparing for the capital branch's opening.
She chose a beautiful autumn day with clear skies and bright sunshine. Amidst the congratulations and onlookers of the beast people, she pulled down the red cloth covering the signboard, revealing the large characters that read "Perfect Sweets Shop".
The young girl smiled at everyone and said, "All desserts are 20% off, everyone is welcome to try them~"
In fact, the Perfect Sweets Shop no longer needed discounts to attract customers. Yun Manman herself had become a "living billboard", a "celebrity" in Kashida. Even the cubs on the street would raise their hands and say, "I know, I know, she's the Peace Ambassador!" when talking about her.
After the war ended, due to Yun Manman's exceptionally good counseling abilities and a series of outstanding performances, she was called the "Strongest Counselor". After all, no counselor in history had ever been able to save a beast person in the process of turning dark, but she did it.
Without her selfless help and dedication, the latest counseling medicine and pseudo-mental power device could not have been developed, and the beast people of Lingli Town would still be living in dire straits.
Moreover, Kashida's successful friendly diplomatic relations with the Elf race were partly due to Yun Manman being blessed by the Elf race's sacred tree.
Half a month ago, Yun Manman was awarded the "Peace Ambassador" medal by His Majesty of Kashida, in recognition and gratitude for her contributions to Kashida.
All at once, Yun Manman became the brightest and most eye-catching star in the sky of Kashida.
Everything about her received keen attention and discussion from everyone. Such as the soon-to-open "Perfect Sweets Shop", her background, her relationship with General Lu Qi...
When someone revealed that Yun Manman and Lu Qi were in a romantic relationship, some beast people said, "That's good, they're from comparable backgrounds, a talented woman and a handsome man."
Some were sour about Lu Qi, feeling that Lu Qi, this Singing Snake who was "not quite up to par in certain aspects", wasn't worthy of Kashida's best feline beast person.
In any case, the "Perfect Sweets Shop" was bustling with customers as soon as it opened. Fortunately, Yun Manman had hired enough staff, and the daily production of desserts was limited to a set amount, so it wasn't too exhausting.
Once the sweet shop stabilized, Yun Manman felt that this kind of life was quite fulfilling. During the day, she would sit in the sweet shop for a while, and when she felt inspired, she would make some new desserts herself, which also served as a treat for the customers.
Occasionally she would go out on dates with Lu Qi. In her remaining time, Yun Manman would go to Kashida's Counseling Academy for further studies, systematically learning the theoretical knowledge related to counseling and improving herself, after all, she was a counselor who had joined halfway.
On this day, Yun Manman was busy in the sweet shop as usual for a while, then looked at the bustling but orderly sweet shop and nodded with satisfaction. Not bad, not bad, thanks to the shop manager her mother found for her, who had super management skills, she could relax now.
She instructed the manager: "I'm going upstairs, call me if anything comes up."
The building Yan Xi gave her had three floors. The first floor was the sweet shop, the second floor was used as a staff lounge and for storing some supplies, and the third floor was Yun Manman's rest area.
Yun Manman would usually stay here to relax, watch dramas, or read books when she had nothing to do.
She picked up a freshly made chocolate lava cup cake and went upstairs.
Some sharp-eyed beast people noticed that the new dessert in Yun Manman's hand was something they hadn't seen before, and they were drooling.
Although they didn't know what new thing it was, everything the boss made was delicious!
And they had just seen General Lu Qi go upstairs! This must be for the general to eat!
Damn it! This way, all the good stuff goes into the general's stomach first!
Why does that male beast person, the general, get to find such a good female like the Peace Ambassador! He doesn't even have soft and pretty fur!
A cat beast person became disgruntled, swishing his white fluffy tail and started to shout: "Boss is playing favorites!"
"The general will get fat if he eats anymore! Why not let us taste it first!"
Other beast people joined in the commotion: "That's right! How can General Lu, a snake-form beast person, be worthy of such a good feline beast person like you!"
Another male beast person showed off the muscles on his arms and his sleek, well-groomed tail behind him, even winking at Yun Manman:
"Boss, how about me?"
"Why don't you dump General Lu and be with me instead!"
"Oh, boss, look at me too, I'm a tiger you know..."
Yun Manman was both amused and exasperated by them, just as she was about to say something, a familiar mental pressure passed through Yun Manman and fell on the rowdy beast people, instantly silencing them.
The young girl found it amusing inwardly.
She smiled apologetically at them: "I made five extra portions of the chocolate lava cake, you can go buy them if you want."
Then she turned and went upstairs.
Only after Yun Manman's figure disappeared from everyone's sight did the terrifying mental pressure vanish.
The beast people were evidently "battle-hardened", as soon as they could move, they rushed to the counter to place orders, fighting for those limited chocolate lava cakes.
As for General Lu, well, they couldn't beat him, but at most he could only threaten them a bit.
But being able to say a few more words like this, annoying the jealous General Lu, was quite enjoyable and satisfying.
The beast people repeatedly tested the boundaries of danger, developing a set of methods to tease Lu Qi without putting their lives at risk.
Yun Manman returned upstairs, and as soon as she opened the door, she was wrapped around the waist by a cool snake tail, slowly but irresistibly pulling her onto the man's lap.
Lu Qi buried his face in the crook of her neck, inhaling the young girl's sweet scent, and mumbled, "They're so annoying."
Yun Manman put down the plate in her hand, turned around with difficulty, and hugged Lu Qi's head: "Don't mind them, they're just teasing you."
Her gaze fell on Lu Qi's communicator which was still lit up, and she couldn't help but laugh: "Why are you still arguing with them?"
Recently, when Yun Manman became wildly popular, many beast people posted comments online like "General Lu Qi is not worthy", "Dump Lu Qi and be beautiful on your own", "Manman, why don't you look at me instead", and so on.
Lu Qi was furious, hugging his communicator and angrily typing on the keyboard, battling with netizens until dawn.
"If General Lu is not worthy, are you worthy?"
"Why don't you let your girlfriend dump you?"
"I really envy your skin, it's so thick."
If he encountered sarcastic comments saying Yun Manman shouldn't have received so much praise and honor, Lu Qi would get even angrier, his words extremely sharp and insulting without using profanity.
"You should try filling your brain with something, don't let it be completely empty."
"I know you're straightforward, but you don't have to use your mouth as a toilet."
"If the Beast God knew you talked like this, he would definitely regret giving you a mouth."
His combat power was extremely fierce, making many beast people cry with his words alone.
Lu Qi's account was quickly discovered to be his real identity.
Just like on the battlefield years ago, Lu Qi's title of "Most Venomous Jealous King" also became famous overnight on the internet.
Lu Qi picked up Yun Manman's tail behind her, leisurely smoothing the fur on it: "They're deliberately asking to be scolded."
Some people would intentionally provoke Lu Qi on his account just to get a reply from the general, while others who had been scolded by Lu Qi would come to his account to continue arguing out of anger.
And Lu Qi would seriously reply to each one.
All in all, it was very lively.
Lu Qi's slender fingers seemed to have magic, the sensation of them passing through the fur and touching the skin of her tail made Yun Manman shudder.
Her cheeks turned pink, and she let out a soft moan: "Why don't you just ignore them... mm, stop touching..."
An electric-like tingling sensation from the base of her tail made Yun Manman shudder uncontrollably, causing an inexplicable yearning deep within her body.
Lu Qi obediently released her tail, lowering his gaze to the girl's moist, alluring eyes. His throat bobbed involuntarily as he said in a husky voice, "You're always touching my tail, what's wrong with me touching yours..."
The atmosphere gradually became more intimate and romantic. Before they knew it, they were lying on the sofa.
Their noses touched, their soft pants intertwining. Their lips and tongues clung together in a sticky, passionate dance, accompanied by the embarrassingly wet sounds of sucking and kissing.
Yun Manman's mind grew hazy from his possessive kisses. In her daze, she felt them part slightly, and her hand was grabbed and placed on firm, yet elastic skin.
Lu Qi kissed the cat girl's ear, his voice low and hoarse: "See if I've gotten fat from eating sweets..."
The feeling under her hand was exquisite. Yun Manman's mind went blank as she unconsciously traced the smooth lines of his waist downward.
The cool body temperature inexplicably became scorching, and the breathing by her ear grew increasingly heavy.
Suddenly, Yun Manman's communicator rang, startling them both and shattering the heated atmosphere.
Yun Manman pushed Lu Qi away and grabbed the communicator. It was a call from the shop manager: "Boss, the person in charge from the Ika Grand Restaurant is here to discuss cooperation."
Molly had contacted Yun Manman about this earlier, but the details needed to be discussed in person.
"Mm, okay, I'll be right down."
The girl froze for a few seconds, then blushed as she patted the tail that had nearly crept under her skirt. "Go away, I need to get to work."
Her voice was soft, still carrying the sweet allure that hadn't quite faded, as sweet as if it could be wrung out like water.
Lu Qi lay on the sofa like a corpse, his resentment almost tangible.
After a while, the mischievous tail finally released her.
Yun Manman held back a laugh and pulled away the hand covering his eyes. She leaned down to kiss his tightly pressed thin lips. "Be good, okay? I'll be back soon, and we'll have lunch together."
Lu Qi was sweetened by her gesture, the corners of his mouth turning up slightly. "...If you don't leave now, you won't be able to leave at all."
The implication was clear.
The girl fled the room as if escaping.
In the stairwell, Yun Manman leaned against the wall, trying to calm her breathing and heartbeat. Her emerald cat eyes flickered as she fanned her face with both hands, attempting to dispel the heat quickly.
They had come close to crossing the line many times before, but had never gone all the way.
This time was a bit more intense.
Yun Manman exhaled, shook her head to clear away the risqué thoughts, and after a moment, headed downstairs.
She couldn't keep the little red panda grandma waiting too long.
Inside the room, Lu Qi lay there for a long time before finally going to the bathroom to take a shower.
It was half a day before he emerged from the bathroom.
He lounged lazily on the sofa, looking at the various provocative comments under his account. Strangely, he didn't feel as angry as before.
After all, no matter which sweet thing it was, they were all his.
Ah, when would they be able to become a couple?