Due to time constraints today, Yun Manman didn't prepare any new desserts, instead opting to repeat yesterday's menu. She did, however, make a bit more of each item.
By the time all the desserts were ready, it was already noon. Yun Manman had no choice but to order takeout, though this time she avoided meat and simply ordered a vegetable noodle dish.
The delivery person turned out to be the same heart-shaped sika deer from yesterday. He mentioned that he seemed to be responsible for deliveries in this area.
Yun Manman thought to herself that this explained why the delivery was so quick, arriving just moments after she placed the order.
While she had been busy that morning, the little snake had been well-behaved, curling up in the pocket of her apron without interfering with her work at all.
As she ate her meal, the small white snake draped itself around her neck, curiously leaning forward to sniff her food.
Seeing its inquisitive expression, Yun Manman smiled and held up some noodles in front of it.
"Snakes don't eat noodles, do they?"
As expected, the snake merely sniffed at the offering before losing interest and slithering back to coil atop Yun Manman's head, resembling a white hat.
"Ah, right, I should take some photos of you to see if anyone's looking for you," Yun Manman muttered, gently removing the well-coiled snake from her head and placing it on the table.
The little snake looked bewildered as she arranged it into various poses. It only realized what was happening when the camera lens was thrust in front of its face. In a flash, it slithered off the table, trying to hide back in the apron pocket.
For some reason, its instincts told it that it shouldn't be photographed.
Yun Manman hadn't expected the usually docile snake to be so uncooperative now.
"Stay still, won't you? Just let me take a picture!"
As soon as she grabbed its head, the snake's tail wrapped around the camera lens, completely blocking the shot.
Moreover, the little snake was incredibly slippery and strong, constantly wriggling out of Yun Manman's grasp.
Exhausted from the struggle, Yun Manman glared at the snake now huddled in the corner.
It even knew to turn its back and hide its face, with just the tip of its tail nervously swaying back and forth.
Fine, no photos then.
The picture she had sent to Aunt Zhou last night would have to do, even if it wasn't very clear and didn't show the snake's face.
Yun Manman searched online for some local rescue groups and composed a "Lost white snake, seeking owner" message, attaching the photo before posting it.
When she put away her communicator, the little snake slowly began to crawl towards her.
It paused several times along the way, tilting its head to make sure she really wasn't going to take any more photos.
The image of the snake with its head cocked to one side was adorable.
Yun Manman found its cautious behavior so endearing that her earlier frustration immediately dissipated.
How could the snake be at fault?
It just didn't want its picture taken!
Snakes are good! Cats are bad!
She walked over and crouched down to scoop up the wary little snake, nuzzling it against her cheek.
"Alright, no more photos. I just can't win with you."
The cool snake body felt refreshing against her warm cheek.
The little snake seemed to understand, happily flicking its tongue against the girl's cheek. Its smooth body also wrapped around her slender wrist, gently undulating.
Yun Manman watched the snake's emotions play out through its actions, amused and impressed.
This snake was so intelligent, almost as if it could understand human speech.
Its owner must have raised it very well.
As the girl and snake were playing, the bell above the door chimed, and Aunt Zhou entered with a smile. "Is this the little snake you found yesterday?"
Upon seeing someone enter, the white snake quickly slithered into the pocket of Yun Manman's apron, peeking out with just half its head to observe Aunt Zhou.
Aunt Zhou's hand, which had been reaching out to pet the snake, awkwardly paused mid-air before she casually withdrew it. "It seems a bit shy, doesn't it?"
Yun Manman nodded. "It does, but it's very attached to me."
"I wonder if it has an owner. If not, you could keep it. I've always wanted to raise a hognose snake, but my family vetoed the idea."
It seemed the doctor sheep was right; the feline species here did seem to enjoy keeping snakes as pets.
Yun Manman cleared away the takeout containers from the table. "I just posted online about it, but I'm not sure if it'll help."
"Did your family enjoy the desserts you took home yesterday, Aunt Zhou?" Yun Manman asked, noticing her eyeing the desserts in the display case.
Aunt Zhou nodded enthusiastically. "They loved them! Everyone said they were delicious and that eating them improved their mood."
She mentioned that her partner had woken up in a better mood this morning, feeling like they hadn't had any nightmares and even had a pleasant dream.
"That's wonderful! Sweet foods really do have the power to bring happiness to people."
Hearing that other beastmen enjoyed her desserts so much, Yun Manman's ears twitched happily, and her dimples deepened with her sweet smile.
Aunt Zhou said, "So I'd like to buy some more to take home for afternoon tea."
Yun Manman helped Aunt Zhou package up the types and quantities she wanted, then saw her out of the shop.
Unlike yesterday's quiet atmosphere, today customers started trickling in steadily even before evening.
Most of today's patrons were returning customers from yesterday, along with some who had been recommended by others.
Some bought desserts to take away, while others ordered a drink and a dessert to enjoy their afternoon tea in the shop.
Every customer was curious about the shop's all-sweet menu, but with Yun Manman's enthusiastic introductions, they were brave enough to try. Most found the desserts delicious.
Several customers exclaimed, "I never knew sweet flavors could be so complex!"
"What an amazing texture!"
The most dramatic reaction came from a girl who, after eating some pudding, suddenly transformed with a 'poof' into a grey and white furry creature with big black eyes and a long tail.
Yun Manman looked closely and realized, to her surprise, that it was a sugar glider, noting the thin membranes between its limbs.
The sugar glider girl sat in her chair, cupping her face in her paws and squinting her eyes in bliss. "I love desserts! I want to live here! Even the air is filled with sweet scents!"
Indeed, the dessert shop was permeated with a sweet aroma, a scent that made one feel dizzy with happiness.
During the afternoon, the border collie police officer from yesterday, Bian Yu, rushed into the store again, buying many portions of pork floss buns.
He also asked Yun Manman if eating these desserts had any effects.
Yun Manman was puzzled by the question. "No special effects, they're just sweets. Does making people feel happy count as an effect?"
"Nothing bad happened to anyone who ate yesterday's desserts, did it?" she asked, growing increasingly worried.
Really? Her desserts should be clean and safe, shouldn't they?
Bian Yu quickly shook his head in denial: "No, no, everything you make is delicious. There's no problem. My colleagues all love eating them."
Yun Manman felt relieved: "That's good."
She had thought her little shop would have to close down on its second day of business.
Bian Yu came and went in a hurry.
Yun Manman watched his eager and excited retreating figure, shrugging her shoulders.
How strange.
She continued humming as she made the cream cheese in her hands.
It seemed this world didn't have cream cheese.
Yun Manman had searched high and low, both offline and online in the ingredient sections, but couldn't find any.
But there was whipping cream.
Perhaps whipping cream was also used for cooking here.
Cheesecakes and mousse cakes, if you want them to taste rich and sweet, all rely on cream cheese.
No matter, making cream cheese wasn't difficult. This wouldn't stump Miss Kitty.
She poured milk and whipping cream into a pot, heating and stirring until small bubbles appeared, then turned off the heat.
Next, she added lemon juice and waited for them to react in the pot, forming coagulated particles - these particles were actually the cream cheese.
She filtered it through cheesecloth, squeezing out the moisture from the coagulated particles, then put it in the refrigerator to chill overnight. It would be ready to use tomorrow.
Yun Manman had already thought of what delicious treats to make once she had cream cheese.
Light and fluffy cheesecake, fresh and tangy yogurt cheesecake, smooth and airy mousse cake...
Cheese is power!
I love cheese!
Yun Manman was waving a big flag for cheese in her heart.
While she was making it, the little snake in her apron pocket had been observing her movements, and after watching for a while, it could even help a bit.
When she was about to reach for the mixer on the other side of the workbench, the little white snake was even quicker, using its tail to curl around the mixer and deliver it to Yun Manman's hand.
Yun Manman's mouth fell open as she looked at the fairly heavy mixer in her hand, then at the snake sticking out its tongue, clearly seeking praise. She was stunned.
Aren't little snakes supposed to be this strong?
And how is it so smart?
This wasn't just a matter of being smart anymore, right? This snake was practically magical!
Yun Manman, with complex thoughts, patted the snake's head with her clean hand to show her appreciation.
A child's good intentions still need to be praised.
At the same time, she thought about searching online when she got back, wondering if pets in the Lingyi Continent were exceptionally intelligent.
After work, Bian Yu entered his home carrying a bag of desserts. As soon as he entered, he called out: "Brother! How are you feeling today?"
Bian Yu's older brother was called Bian Yan. He used to be a soldier but had retired due to mental power disorder.
Their parents had passed away long ago, and the two brothers relied on each other to grow up, supporting each other.
Bian Yan poked his head out of the kitchen, holding a spatula: "Yu? Why are you home so early today?"
He then answered Bian Yu's question: "My headache is much better today, it hasn't been occurring as frequently."
Bian Yu helped bring the prepared dishes to the dining table: "That's good."
"I feel like those desserts might really help alleviate the headaches caused by mental power disorder."
Yesterday, Bian Yu had brought home some pork floss buns from the dessert shop, thinking to let his brother try them.
At the time, Bian Yan just thought they tasted very good.
Unexpectedly, Bian Yan had actually slept well that night.
Due to his mental power disorder, Bian Yan's nights were usually very difficult, often suffering from headaches and irritability that made it hard to fall asleep, causing him to wake up very early.
This morning, when Bian Yu didn't see his brother up early exercising as usual, he was confused for a moment before rushing to check on Bian Yan in his room.
He discovered that his brother, who usually had trouble sleeping, was still deep in dreamland.
According to his brother's description after waking up, the pain that used to feel like knives drilling and axes chopping while sleeping had eased by more than half last night.
Although there was still some pain, it was enough to allow Bian Yan to get a good night's sleep.
The attentive Bian Yu noticed that the only thing different about his brother yesterday was eating the pork floss buns he had brought back from the "Perfect Sweets Shop".
The absurd and outlandish idea that "pork floss buns might alleviate mental power disorder" formed in Bian Yu's mind.
That's why he had hurriedly bought more pork floss buns from Yun Manman, wanting to test it again.
Bian Yan, of course, also saw the dessert shop's packaging bag. He shook his head with a smile and said: "Yu, your ideas are getting more and more outlandish."
Obviously, he didn't quite believe his brother's idea that deviated from the norms of the Lingyi Continent.
They had tried many methods - dredging agents, soothing medications, and even sought out expensive dredging masters for guidance.
The medications had little effect, and while the dredging masters were effective, the cost was prohibitive, making it difficult for the two brothers to sustain continuous treatments in their current situation.
Bian Yan had already resigned himself to his fate.
After all, there were so many beast-people with mental power disorders who were still living well, he could get used to it too.
A problem that the country hadn't been able to solve for so many years, how could a small dessert have any effect?
Bian Yu also knew that his guess was hard to believe; he himself found it difficult to accept.
But he really didn't want his brother to continue suffering from the mental power disorder, becoming introverted, silent, self-deprecating, and avoiding crowds.
He wanted his brother to become sunny, cheerful, and talkative like before.
Bian Yu said: "It's okay, let's just give it a try. The pork floss buns are delicious anyway, right, brother?"
His tone carried a hint of pleading.
Bian Yan was silent for a moment, but finally nodded and said: "Alright."