Chapter 382: Store Planning

Chapter 382: Chapter 382: Store Planning

"Alright, you’re catching on~" Lily Hart offered grudging praise, grabbing the hem of his shirt and walking forward.

Frost Shaw obediently followed, watching her fair hand bob up and down, his own shirt hem swaying along with it.

’For some reason, it didn’t feel like his shirt hem, but... a leash. She was pulling his leash. *Whimper*~’

Frost Shaw’s imagination always ran wild in this department. The red on the tips of his ears had just started to fade, but now it flared up again, burning hot.

When they reached the stairs, Lily Hart let go and glanced back at him. "You, uh, need a minute?"

It wasn’t that she wanted to say it, but his face, neck, and ears were just so red.

She took Frost Shaw’s hand and pressed the back of it to his own cheek, teasing, "Here, cool off a bit. Your hand is nice and cool."

Frost Shaw smiled, raised his other hand to his other cheek, and said cheerfully, "Alright, cooling down."

He looked back at her sparkling, teasing eyes and pressed the back of his hand to her cheek. "Why isn’t your face hot at all~"

"You think everyone’s like you?" Lily Hart scoffed.

"What do you mean?" Frost Shaw asked, confused. ’Like you, as in someone who blushes easily? Or like you, as in someone who likes you this much?’

Lily Hart released his wrist. "Alright, let’s go. It’s almost time for lunch!"

"What would you like to eat?" Frost Shaw asked obediently. "How about I make it for you?"

As they went downstairs, Frost Shaw played with the ends of her hair. Her high ponytail swung back and forth, looking particularly jaunty.

"Anything’s fine, as long as it’s spicy," Lily Hart said. "I had too much sweet stuff this morning."

The two of them reached the ground floor, and Frost Shaw followed her back to the RV, completely oblivious to Easton’s hesitant expression.

Inside the RV, besides Diana Sharp and Tina Jacobs, there was an eyesore.

Roman Rowe.

Of course, that was just Frost Shaw’s opinion.

Seeing that it was almost lunchtime, Roman Rowe had come to the RV to cook. The next thing he knew, he saw Lily Hart and Frost Shaw entering the kitchen, one after the other.

He suddenly had a gut feeling. ’Did something happen between those two that I don’t know about?’

’But he couldn’t put his finger on it. Still, the vibe between them felt completely different!’

’What’s going on?’

Roman Rowe scratched his head with the hand holding the cleaver, unable to figure it out.

Lily Hart grabbed a piece of fruit from the fridge and started munching on it. She casually asked the two, "So, what’s on the menu for lunch?"

Frost Shaw: "Spicy chicken."

Roman Rowe: "Stir-fried beef."

They spoke in unison. The moment the words were out, their eyes met, and they seemed to be secretly glaring at each other.

Then, they both turned to Boss Hart and asked in unison again, "Boss Hart, which one do you want to eat?"

Lily Hart paused her munching. "Huh? I want to eat both."

Frost Shaw: Hmph.

’Why do I feel like I’m being subtly attacked right now? What am I supposed to do?’

Roman Rowe said cheerfully, "Sure! I’ll make it for you." He immediately went back to chopping beef with glee.

Lily Hart glanced at Frost Shaw and shot him a look. He was instantly placated and, grumbling under his breath, also began to prep his ingredients.

She continued munching on her fruit and sauntered into the living room, glancing back just before she left the kitchen.

Both of them were wearing aprons and, coincidentally, both were chopping vegetables. Two diligent, handsome figures from behind.

Lily Hart was very satisfied. She walked over to the sofa and flopped down, feeling the weightlessness of sinking into the soft cushions.

She nibbled her fruit while fiddling with her Light Brain, but soon grew bored and let her gaze drift outside.

Her gaze slid past the clinic, the convenience store, and the hotel.

The number of first-prize shops had been increasing a bit quickly lately, making the town’s layout a little chaotic.

A quick count revealed ten shops, not including the night market.

Since she had some free time, she decided to do some proper planning.

She decided to go back to basics: a main road running right down the middle, with shops lined up on either side, all their entrances facing the road.

That way, it wouldn’t be so chaotic, and customers could easily move from one shop to the next.

’If she let them keep popping up randomly, she’d end up getting lost herself one day.’

No sooner said than done. She would use the lottery shop as the starting point for the main road.

On the left would be the clinic, convenience store, hotel, factory, and hardware store (Molly Mason). She even sorted them a bit: these were the more practical establishments.

On the right would be the breakfast shop, cake shop (Rhonda Kane), hot pot restaurant (Cynthia Whittaker), bathhouse, kitchen (Donnie), and night market. These were more food and leisure-oriented.

Lily Hart first grabbed a piece of paper to sketch out her plan. A straight line represented the main road, with the lottery shop at its starting point.

The shops would be placed on either side of this line.

Once she had decided, Lily Hart sent a group message to the shop owners as a heads-up.

They wouldn’t be moving everything right away, of course—they would wait until after closing time tonight, once all the customers were gone.

By the time she finished, lunch was about ready. Frost Shaw and Roman Rowe took turns bringing out the dishes.

As if in a competition, they kept glaring at each other and comparing the dishes in their hands.

And they didn’t just compare them amongst themselves; they had to ask Lily Hart, who was zoning out on the sofa.

Lily Hart: ?

She had no choice but to get up and walk over to the dining table. Stroking her chin, she commented, "They both look great! And they smell delicious!"

Upon hearing this, Roman Rowe shot a smug look at Frost Shaw. "See? Boss Hart is praising me~"

Frost Shaw rolled his eyes at him and muttered, "Idiot."

"?!? You... you! Boss Hart~ He cursed at me~" Roman Rowe tattled to Lily Hart, all while secretly shooting a look at Frost Shaw.

It’s said that the child who whines gets the candy, but Lily Hart didn’t have that much candy to hand out.

Frost Shaw couldn’t be bothered to deal with him and went back into the kitchen. A moment later, he emerged with a plate of dumplings and a bowl of rice.

He asked Lily Hart, "Do you want dumplings or rice?"

Lily Hart couldn’t decide. "I want both." So she simply pulled both bowls in front of her. ’I’ll eat both! No need to hesitate!’

Frost Shaw smiled and went back to the kitchen to get her a pair of chopsticks.

The others hadn’t arrived yet, and Roman Rowe had gone to the restroom. Frost Shaw quickly returned with the chopsticks and swiftly sat down beside Lily Hart.

Lily Hart reached for the chopsticks, but Frost Shaw pretended not to notice. Instead, he picked up a dumpling and held it to her lips.

She shot him a sideways glance but didn’t call him out on his little ploy, obediently leaning in.

Frost Shaw’s attention wasn’t on the dumpling or the chopsticks, but on her mouth as she leaned closer. ’What do I do? I kind of want to kiss her.’

He held the chopsticks steady and began to lean in as well, completely unbeknownst to Lily Hart.

"Hey, hey, hey, hey!" Roman Rowe exclaimed as he came out of the restroom, haphazardly wiping his wet hands on his clothes.

He looked up, saw Frost Shaw’s head getting closer and closer, and couldn’t help but cry out as he dashed over.

He slapped one hand on the back of Frost Shaw’s head and the other over his mouth.

Then, he used his foot to drag the stool out from under Frost Shaw. The dumpling fell to the floor with a SPLAT.

Lily Hart looked down, a little disappointed.

It was unclear whether she was disappointed about the fallen dumpling, or the kiss that had been interrupted.

Roman Rowe let go of Frost Shaw, his face a mixture of shock and immense fury. "You... you... what do you think you were doing!"

Frost Shaw didn’t say a word. He righted his stool, picked up the dumpling from the floor, blew on it twice, and stuffed it into Roman Rowe’s mouth.