New Eridu has always encouraged citizens to start their own businesses, and some of the more successful examples include Master Chop’s noodle shop and Tin Man Cafe.
Sixth Street is also a very famous pedestrian street.
To secure a prime location here, one must either have moved in during the early days of Sixth Street or possess formidable strength.
Although Firefly’s shop is located behind the 141 Convenience Store and is not in a prime location, she still has the confidence to keep it running.
After all, good wine needs no deep alley, and delicious cakes will naturally draw a crowd.
The shop’s business license has already been delivered, and the Public Security Bureau rated the shop as excellent in terms of hygiene and product quality.
After all, Firefly’s main selling point is pure deliciousness—one bite and you’ll be left speechless with satisfaction.
Today, Firefly was at the shop doing preparations very early, aiming to finish restocking before the official opening at nine o’clock.
At half past eight, Firefly carefully cut the last piece of standard cake into five portions and placed them inside the refrigerated display case.
Just then, a gentle knocking sound came from outside the door.
Firefly turned her head and saw Belle standing outside.
Firefly pulled open the shop door with a chuckle and said, “You could have just pushed the door open directly.
Good morning, Belle.” Belle also smiled as she walked into the shop.
“Good morning, Firefly.
Is this your shop?” Looking at this small yet cozy little shop, Belle couldn’t imagine how blissful it must be to work here—after all, you get to eat Firefly Cake to your heart’s content!
“How is it?
The decoration isn’t bad, right?” Firefly scratched her head shyly.
Belle nodded in agreement.
“It’s truly wonderful.
The lighting, atmosphere, and environment are all impeccable.” Firefly took a piece of cake from the display case and handed it to Belle.
“Come and try it.
Although it’s just a standard milk cake, I put my utmost sincerity and effort into it, you know!” Belle didn’t stand on ceremony either; she used a knife and fork to cut off a small piece and popped it into her mouth.
“Mm~ No matter how many times I eat it, I always feel that both the cream and the cake itself deserve to be praised as top-tier.” “Click—” Hearing this very familiar sound, Belle snapped back to reality and saw Firefly holding up her phone.
How could she not know what Firefly had just done?
She immediately reached out for the phone in mild anger, but Firefly nimbly dodged away.
“Bad Firefly!
Let me see how the picture turned out!” Belle put down her half-eaten cake and focused entirely on snatching Firefly’s phone.
Because the shop wasn’t very big, Firefly didn’t dare to move too wildly.
After putting up a symbolic resistance, her phone was snatched away.
Belle looked at the phone.
In the photo, she was supporting the cake with one hand while using a knife and fork to shovel a large bite of cake into her mouth with the other, looking rather dorky.
Belle thought the photo turned out great, but she still insisted, “It looks terrible, I’m going to delete it!” “No.” Hearing that Belle wanted to delete it, Firefly immediately took back the phone.
Finding the girl in the photo utterly adorable, she decided to save it.
The two of them acted overly intimate while wrestling for the phone, but fortunately, the shop wasn’t officially open yet and there was no one else around.
Seeing Firefly set the photo as a favorite, Belle released her arms from around Firefly.
She suddenly remembered that she hadn’t come over so early just to get cozy with Firefly.
The normal routine should have been: she enters the shop, then suggests letting E18 help manage it for a while, and then get cozy with Firefly.
It seemed the order got mixed up.
“Oh right, where is E18?” “Mh-na mh-na?” The voice seemed to come from outside the door.
Belle walked over and opened it, and a Bangboo wearing a scarf with the number 18 walked into the shop.
“Firefly, look.
I brought E18 over.
It’s an expert at holding down the fort at the cash register.” Firefly saw E18.
“Eh?
If E18 comes over, what about your Video Store?” Belle put her hands on her hips and said righteously, “What’s the problem with that?
Big brother will handle everything.” “Belle is really nice to Wise.” Firefly wiped away her sweat, hoping Wise was doing well.
Belle picked up her half-eaten cake again and continued eating.
“It’s fine.
Worst case scenario, I’ll bring a few cakes back for him when I return; he’ll definitely agree with my decision.” At this moment, a calm voice echoed in Firefly’s mind.
“Firefly-1, it is time for your shop’s official opening.
Please flip the shop sign to ‘Open’.
To promote your shop’s business, please immediately post a promotional message for the cake shop on social media, requiring yourself to appear in it, featuring at least one standard cake and one limited-edition cake.” Hearing this sudden reminder, Firefly realized that it was already exactly nine o’clock.
She came to the door and flipped the sign—from the inside it read ‘Closed for Business’, while from the outside the characters for ‘Open for Business’ could be seen.
“Ah, are we finally open for business?” Seeing this action, Belle also picked up E18 and placed it behind the counter.
Afterward, she watched Firefly’s subsequent actions.
Firefly went into the kitchen, took out a limited-edition cake from the freezer, and then stood in front of the refrigerated display case inside the shop.
“Belle, come over and help me take a picture.” Hearing Firefly’s words, Belle understood what she wanted to do.
“Leave it to me!
I guarantee it’ll look great!” Belle found a suitable angle, framing Firefly from the waist up along with the cake in her hands and the cakes in the display case.
With a click, a photo was thus captured and frozen in time.
Looking at the gentle and charming smile of the girl in the photo, Belle couldn’t help staring in a daze.
At this moment, she didn’t realize that the corners of her mouth could no longer be suppressed from curving upward, and a trace of crystalline tear-like moisture even flowed from the corner of her mouth.
“Are you done?” Firefly started to walk over to take a look, but Belle suddenly shouted, “Don’t move!” Firefly was stunned, startled into not daring to move a muscle.
“W-What’s wrong?” “I want to take another one!” Then Belle flipped the camera lens and opened the selfie mode.
Belle’s small face occupied half the frame, with her hands extended and suspended in mid-air, as if she were trying to cradle Firefly’s whole person.
“Click—” Belle was extremely satisfied with the photo she had taken, and she decided to share this picture so that everyone who saw the post would envy her.
“Heh heh…” Belle was feeling ecstatic inside, and she couldn’t wait to see Wise’s likes and comments appear on the post.
“Are we good now?” Firefly was still standing by the display case maintaining her pose, which made Belle feel a bit embarrassed.
Firefly breathed a sigh of relief.
Belle transferred the photo to Firefly, and soon, a post appeared online.
[Ta-da-da-da!
Firefly Cake Shop is officially meeting everyone on Sixth Street!
Whether you are currently in Sixth Street or not, Firefly Cake Shop welcomes your arrival!] Attached with an image.
After publishing the post, Firefly put down her phone.
Seeing the limited-edition cake she had taken out earlier, she used a plastic knife to cut a piece, put it on a plate, and handed it to Belle.
“Try this!
This is our shop’s limited-edition cake, you know.
The price is much more expensive than the standard cake.” Whether in terms of ingredients or craftsmanship, the limited-edition cake was much higher than the standard one, and naturally, it was also much more delicious.
However, as soon as Belle heard that the limited-edition cake was more expensive, she waved her hand.
“How can I do that?
I’ve already eaten so much!
If I eat any more, Firefly will be at a loss.” However, Firefly wouldn’t give up on this idea just because of a couple of words.
“Come and eat it.
This is just a token of my sincerity, you know.” She used a knife and fork to cut off a small piece and held it to Belle’s lips.
Belle’s face flushed red.
When had she ever been fed food by someone else like this?
She suddenly felt very shy—clearly, she hadn’t felt shy at all while having so much fun playing with Firefly just moments ago.
“S-Since it’s like this, then I will…” Belle took a bite and caught the offered cake in her mouth.
At this moment, Belle understood what “melting in the mouth” truly meant, and her mouth was instantly filled with a refreshing fragrance.
She tilted her head back in disbelief, her whole body craving this flavor, and goosebumps broke out all over her skin.
“T-Th-Th-This…
This is way too delicious!”