Chapter 103: Slice-Of-Life: Progression

Ethan got back to the shop with Nora, and found Evelyn already awake. She simply sat on the couch, expressionless.

Ethan felt his heart ache, and he thought, ’Perhaps I shouldn’t have told her?’

He scratched his head, a little confused.

Nora was confused and immediately ran to meet her mother.

"Mom! What happened to you? You look dull."

Evelyn forced a smile and patted her head. "It’s nothing. I’m just thinking about a few things."

Nora frowned clearly not believing her. She turned to Ethan and asked, her tone slightly serious. "Dad... what happened?"

Ethan shrugged. "I got Cassie arrested because she did something bad. And your mom..."

Nora blinked, her eyes brightening. "Wait, really? Damn, that’s great!"

Both parents stared at her in shock, not expecting such a response from her. Nora also froze, realizing she had acted out of character due to excitement.

After all, her hate for Cassie was only slightly lesser than the hate she had for Ethan.

"Um... I mean," She cleared her throat. "I knew she was always a bad person."

Ethan tilted his head. "You knew?"

Nora nodded. "Mn. I do. I didn’t like her at all."

"Why?" Evelyn asked, brows furrowed.

Pouting, Nora folded her arms. "I don’t know... I just have this feeling that she was up to no good. Besides, I got sick because of her. No way I’m trusting her after that."

Ethan nodded, totally agreeing with her.

Meanwhile, Evelyn turned away and pondered. Thinking about their time in school together, she had never considered Cassie a bad friend—for years.

Now, realizing that there might be more than she initially thought, she felt a little lost.

’Cassie... why?’

Noticing her gloomy mood again, Ethan smiled and took out the necklace he had bought for her.

"Hey, look at this. Isn’t it beautiful?"

Evelyn turned to him, blinking as she stared at it. "Oh? A necklace?"

Ethan nodded, then nudged Nora slightly.

The girl grinned too, then took out a pair of beautiful diamond earrings that she had chosen for her mother. Of course, Ethan had been the one to pay, but the choice was hers anyway.

"You guys bought these...?"

She took the necklace and earrings in her hands, staring at them with a soft smile. First, she wore the earrings, then put the necklace around her neck.

Ethan and Nora watched, stunned by her beauty that was further accentuated by the jewelry.

"So beautiful..."

He muttered along with Nora, and they glanced at each other.

Ethan raised an eyebrow. "Did you copy me?"

Nora frowned. "No, why would I?"

Ethan stared at her in suspicion. "Really?"

She nodded.

Evelyn shook her head with a small smile on her face. "You two should stop bickering. I love the jewelries."

Nora immediately hugged her, while Ethan looked at them with a soft smile. He felt relieved that Evelyn was holding up well.

What was strange, though... was how Nora had reacted to the news.

He rubbed the back of his neck, feeling confused.

’Well, whatever.’

"I found two people who can actually help us run the smoothie shop."

Hearing that, Evelyn raised her head and met his gaze. "Wait, already? Why didn’t you tell me?"

Ethan shrugged. "I was still screening them, and looks like they passed."

She stared at him with a hint of displeasure in her gaze, then smiled. "Thank you."

Ethan nodded.

"They’ll resume work tomorrow, and since I’ve set up the whole place, we just need to make sure customers patronize the place."

Evelyn smirked. "That’s your job, no? The event planner."

He chuckled and sat down beside her. "What event planner? Anyway, I know they’ll patronize us so you don’t have to worry."

"Mn." Evelyn nodded. "I’ll stop worrying about it, then."

Taking out his phone from his pocket, Ethan said, "They’ll resume work tomorrow morning... and what’s your brand name, again?"

Evelyn paused, her hand resting on Nora’s head. "Brand name? I don’t really have one. Should we create one?"

He nodded. "Just think if something big and suitable. After all, this will be more than a fruit shop. Trust me."

She smiled and held his hand. "I trust your decisions. They always turn out well, after all."

Ethan chuckled, then smiled smugly. "Well, I’m just that awesome."

............

The next morning, Ethan quickly returned to the shop after dropping off Nora at her school. When he got back, the new employees had already arrived and were waiting.

Ethan walked up to them and smiled. "Gilbert and Maya, right? Nice to meet you two."

The duo turned to him, then shook his hand as they exchanged greetings.

"So... where is the shop?" Gilbert asked, seemingly excited.

Ethan shook his head and pointed at the shop beside them.

"Wait a second, let me get the keys."

He went into Evelyn’s shop and returned with the woman trailing behind him.

"Hello~!" She greeted the duo enthusiastically, even shaking their hands.

Meanwhile, Ethan opened the shop and took them inside. Just as he had planned, the place looked like Cassandra’s teashop.

There were tables and chairs for customers who wanted to sit and drink, and a freezer behind the counter.

He turned to the new employees.

"So who among you will make the fruit juices?"

Maya pointed to Gilbert. "He’s very adept at it."

Ethan smiled and nodded. "That’s good. Well then, you should get started. The day is going to be productive."

The fruits that would be used had been prepared in advance, so Ethan simply guided Gilbert to the kitchen to prepare them.

Before long, business went into full swing.

Ethan and Evelyn left the duo to their own devices, returning to manage the original fruit shop with Cassandra.

Just as Ethan predicted, curious customers asked Evelyn about the fruit juice stall, and when they learned that it was a branch of her shop, many felt relieved to check the place without feeling like they were betraying Evelyn.

Humming a tune, Ethan sat on the couch inside the shop, leisurely browsing through his phone. Suddenly, the system screen flickered to life before him.

[You have completed your second mission!]

[Receive Reward: Fertility Pill!]

Ethan blinked, then recalled the details of his second mission. It was to help a family resolve a dispute, and thinking back to Lucas’s case, he quickly connected the dots.

’So it worked? Nice. He’ll probably call me soon.’

Smiling, he shifted his focus to the reward. It was a fertility pill, which slightly surprised him.

’Is it supposed to help an infertile person conceive or just make a person highly likely to get pregnant?’

He had no idea what it could actually do, so he asked the system itself.

’Hey, what will be the most optimal use for this pill?’

[The sole function of a Fertility Pill is to cure infertility.]

Ethan blinked, genuinely amazed. ’Cure Infertility? Like completely?’

[Yes. You can test it by finding anyone who is infertile and administering the pill to them.]

Ethan hummed, thinking about the people he knew. None of them had such problems, so...

’Well, I’ll eventually find someone, or go to the hospital to test it out.’

Time passed swiftly, and soon, he had to go pick up Nora at the school. He arrived on time, but they didn’t leave immediately. After all, Richard didn’t show up quickly and they couldn’t leave Alexa standing there alone.

So, Ethan waited until the man arrived. Once again, Richard looked a little disheveled, but had a bright smile on his face as he picked up his daughter.

The two men exchanged greetings before going their separate ways. Ethan brought Nora back to the shop, and she was surprised to see the fruit juice shop up and running.

"Daddy, can I go get one too?" She asked, staring at him with puppy eyes.

Ethan nodded and gave her some money. "Buy three. For Evelyn and me too."

The little girl nodded with a grin and ran to the other shop while Evelyn looked at him with a speechless expression.

"Isn’t it our shop? Why would she need money to buy?"

Ethan shook his head and answered with a profound smile. "I’m letting her learn something from it. After all, life teaches you the best lessons."

Evelyn’s eyes narrowed, and she folded her arms. "Well, why don’t you inform me about that lesson you’re teaching Nora with this?"

Cassandra also turned to them, interested in hearing this lesson too.

Ethan sighed dramatically and answered, "Even if you own something—especially a business—learn to respect it and not abuse it."

The two women fell silent, realizing what he had actually said was right.

Soon, Nora returned with three cups of apple juice.

"Here!"

She took one for herself and handed the remaining two to her parents. Ethan immediately went inside to sit and relax, with Nora following him and getting ready to do her assignments.

Evelyn stayed behind, doing her job to support Cassandra. After all, the shop still had some fruit left unsold.

As Ethan took a sip of the juice, his phone vibrated. Checking the name of the caller, he smiled.