Chapter 14
Early that morning, the head massage parlor was bustling again, promoting their joint manicure and head massage package deal.
Ning Zhixia’s pH level, after a bowl of fried egg snail noodles last night, had returned to normal. He was now happily opening a pile of newly delivered packages.
“Oh, oh, oh, it’s here!”
After half a month of anxiety, his spiritual food, shipped from overseas, had finally arrived safely.
Ning Zhixia’s eyes lit up, his heart trembling with excitement. He carried a heavy cardboard box upstairs and tripped, sending a dozen colorful BL novels flying.
Ning Zhixia panicked: “My masterpieces!”
Thud! Thud!
Qu Banqing nimbly dodged like he had teleported, glanced down, and shook his head disapprovingly: “Filth.”
Ning Zhixia sprawled on the floor, extending his hand towards him: “Please, pure one, show me your pure browser history.”
“…” Qu Banqing paused, then turned and went downstairs gracefully, teacup in hand. “Excuse me.”
Ning Zhixia: “Hmph.”
He got up and picked up his precious spiritual food. Ah, such fragrant food, to be savored and enjoyed!
Just as he picked them up and started browsing, Qu Banqing’s voice came from downstairs—
“Ning Meow Meow, your mom sent you a package!”
“You open it.” Ning Zhixia thought for a moment. “I think it’s the herbal sleep pillow she sent!”
Ning Zhixia’s mother, Mrs. Lu, ran a successful homestay in Diancheng and often sent handmade home gifts.
“So it’s a sleep pillow…”
Qu Banqing opened the box and let out a surprised “Eh?” “So many? There are four!”
“Because I told her you were back in Yucheng.” Ning Zhixia had already curled up in the beanbag chair, peacefully flipping through his book, and said loudly, “The extra one is for you!”
“Ah?”
Qu Banqing was a little surprised. He looked down at the sleep pillow in his hands, embroidered with cute little butterflies, similar to the cartoon pajamas he used to wear when he slept over at Ning Zhixia’s house as a child.
He touched the little butterfly, his lips moving slightly, and muttered, “Auntie still remembers me…”
Ning Zhixia replied, “Of course she remembers!”
“Hee hee… hee hee…” Qu Banqing rubbed the pillow affectionately, hugging it and spinning around, a smile on his face as he murmured, “It’s so pretty.”
“Of course, Mom’s craftsmanship is top-notch.”
Ning Zhixia turned another page, his eyes suddenly lighting up.
“Hee hee hee, ha ha ha…”
He slammed the book shut, wriggled around on the beanbag like a caterpillar, calmed down after a few seconds, then put on an expression of pure satisfaction, carefully turning back to the previous page to savor the scene, and casually popped a chicken nugget into his mouth.
A few curious kittens, attracted by the sound, jumped onto the beanbag and gathered around Ning Zhixia, peering at him.
“Hey, underage kittens can’t look.” Ning Zhixia turned his head and nudged their little heads away.
The kittens obediently meowed softly, kneading their paws on their owner’s legs, and Ning Zhixia sighed comfortably, turning another page.
The fat orange cat, like a semi-truck, squeezed through them, plopping down on the edge of the beanbag, its body curved like a bow, its eyes glancing at the fragrant little box.
Suddenly, Ning Zhixia saw a flash of yellow, and like a signal, his hand holding the chicken nugget was grabbed by several paws.
“Evil cats from the south village, you can’t bully this old man!”
Ning Zhixia reacted instantly, quickly grabbing the fat orange cat and its accomplices, putting them back on his lap.
The fat orange cat, feeling disgruntled, ran off, sat down with its tail curled, and awkwardly twisted its body to lick its raised fur.
Ning Zhixia snorted, patted his leg, and said with narrowed eyes, “If you want more treats, you have to work, understand?”
“Meow—”
The kittens wagged their tails and meowed, lining up to bump heads with him.
Seeing its minions betray it, the fat orange cat twitched its ears, and meowed ingratiatingly as it pounced on Ning Zhixia—
“Thud!”
The arrogant Ning Skinflint was knocked dizzy by the orange semi-truck, his head tilting to the side as he lay on the beanbag, sticking out his tongue.
Not long after playing with the furballs, Qu Banqing called from downstairs that the customer with an appointment had arrived.
Ning Zhixia remembered that Lu Yaoguang was coming today for a new design, so he quickly went downstairs, covered in kittens.
“Hello!”
Lu Yaoguang, wearing a pretty dress, greeted him cheerfully, holding up a phone stand. “I haven’t met my live stream hours requirement lately, hee hee… do you mind if I stream later?”
“Go ahead, film whatever you want.”
Ning Zhixia didn’t mind, putting on his mask and helping her find a place for the stand.
Since the live stream needed good lighting and angles, Ning Zhixia looked at the recliner by the window and had a brilliant idea. “Why don’t you lie down there, and I’ll move a small coffee table over.”
“Sure!” That was much more comfortable than sitting.
Lu Yaoguang happily settled into the recliner, covering her legs with a soft blanket. Just as she leaned back comfortably, Qu Banqing brought over a glass of juice and placed it on the tray beside the armrest.
It wouldn’t be convenient to reach for the glass later, so Qu Banqing thought for a moment, stuck several straws together, extending them all the way to Lu Yaoguang’s mouth.
He asked, “How does it feel?”
“…Quite peaceful.” Lu Yaoguang sipped through the straw, feeling like a pampered queen.
“Electric file, mixing palette, UV lamp…” Ning Zhixia, like a diligent student checking his backpack before school, sat on a small stool and carefully checked his tools before starting to remove her old nail polish.
Lu Yaoguang also started her live stream.
A pretty face with delicate makeup appeared on screen, the camera angle pointing up her nostrils. Fans who received the notification were momentarily stunned.
What a unique angle!
“Hey everyone, I’m not at home, I’m out getting my nails done!”
“Just a French manicure today.”
“The shop has recliners, so soft and adjustable, much more comfortable than sitting on a stool!”
Lu Yaoguang chatted with her fans for a while, then glanced sideways and saw that Ning Zhixia had finished removing her nail polish, so she slightly turned the camera towards him.
The dark-haired manicurist in the frame was oblivious, half of his face covered by a mask, dust motes dancing in the natural light, his long eyelashes casting distinct shadows, his expression focused as he worked.
The viewers in the live stream were surprised to see that the manicurist was a man. After a moment of silence, the comments flooded in.
“Eww! It’s a little brother!”
“It’s good to be rich. When I’m rich, I’ll get each of you sisters an idol-level little brother to do your nails!”
“Half of his face is covered, how do you know he’s good-looking?”
“Sometimes, handsomeness is an aura, you know?”
“Judging by his height when he sits down, he’s probably 179cm?”
Ning Zhixia looked up to have Lu Yaoguang cure her nails under the lamp, his eyes meeting the camera. The viewers were momentarily captivated by his delicate features, just as they were about to praise him, he caught a comment and narrowed his eyes, leaning closer.
“I’m 180cm with shoes on!” Ning Zhixia declared firmly, “There are no 179cm men in the world!”
Lu Yaoguang giggled, then, after being glared at by Ning Zhixia, stifled her laughter and moved the camera downwards.
The viewers’ attention immediately shifted to Lu Yaoguang’s nails.
French manicures were a common classic, but although they looked simple, it wasn’t easy to create a perfect, consistent curve and thickness on every nail in one go.
Many manicurists had come up with various methods to simplify the process, such as using pre-made French tip guides or nail stamping plates. The simplest method was to paint and cure each nail individually, but this time-consuming process was a nightmare for many perfectionist manicurists.
However, Ning Zhixia’s speed was like fast-forwarding. The viewers watched in disbelief as the smooth lines flowed from his hand in a single stroke. The screen was blank for about ten seconds before the comments exploded.
“Damn, his elbows are floating!”
“So satisfying, like finally exhaling after holding your breath!”
“This manicurist’s hands are so steady, and he paints an entire hand before curing it!”
“I like that too! Constantly curing each nail and switching hands is so troublesome!”
“Quick, quick, Little Deer, zoom in!”
This design was a high-smile French manicure with a nude base. Ning Zhixia mixed several colors for the tip and chose a purplish-blue shade, outlining it with a black curve, adding a touch of mature, sexy sophistication compared to the previous spring flower design.
Lu Yaoguang trusted his aesthetic sense so much that she forgot she was the protagonist of the live stream, watching intently along with her fans.
The kittens, with no one to play with, wandered around and came to the recliner.
“Meow!”
Lu Yaoguang let out a small “Eh?” and looked down. Several kittens were tilting their heads, looking at her, their paws tentatively stepping on the ground, then they twitched their ears and jumped up.
“Purr, purr…”
The newly appointed masseuses buried their heads in her lap, kneading her legs with their soft paws, their tails wagging rhythmically.
Lu Yaoguang held her breath, a hint of surprise in her eyes, trying not to disturb them as she clutched her chest, marveling at her good fortune, and secretly adjusted the camera, eager to show off—
Look at me, look at me! So many kittens are giving me a massage!
As expected, just as the viewers, whose perspective had just been changed, were about to ask questions, they saw the scene and instantly melted.
“Purr, purr, so many kittens! Auntie wants to kiss your pink paws!”
“You lucky girl, get down and let me have a turn!”
“They’re so serious, working diligently like they’re kneading dough!”
Ning Zhixia hadn’t heard the kittens for a while, so he looked up to see what they were up to, only to be pushed back down by a paw.
“???”
Ning Zhixia was a little bewildered. Who was the boss in this house?
The live stream chat exploded with laughter.
“Kittens: Focus on work, do not disturb! No slacking!”
“Even kittens have found spring jobs, what about you guys?”
“If I donate cat treats, can I pet the manicurist?”
Lu Yaoguang was completely engrossed in the kitten leg massage, feeling completely at home. When Ning Zhixia finished her manicure, she was even a little reluctant to leave.
Fortunately, she remembered her fans clamoring in the live stream and showed them the finished product under natural light: “Here, isn’t it beautiful? Short extensions, builder gel, and a full French manicure, only 318 yuan!”
The comments flooded in, and Lu Yaoguang pulled Ning Zhixia over.
The young man, who had just finished working, was taking off his mask and yawning. He was suddenly thrust in front of the camera, staring blankly like a startled animal, only reacting after being poked, and quickly put his mask back on.
The viewers showered him with compliments: “Wow! The shop owner is so cute!”
“Yes.” Ning Zhixia nodded shamelessly. “No need to mention universally acknowledged facts.”
Lu Yaoguang: “…”
Everyone loved honest and self-aware people. The live stream chat was filled with questions, and Ning Zhixia answered a few.
“So it’s on Qingxi Road, not too far, a twenty-minute taxi ride for me!”
“Eh, is it opposite Lanhua Head Massage? I think I saw it when I accompanied my mom for a head massage.”
“Doesn’t Lanhua also offer manicures now? Seems quite cheap.”
“Trust me, don’t go there. They’re pushy and their skills are bad. Stick to professional nail salons for manicures!”
“Yeah, I don’t know how that shop got popular in the first place!”
Ning Zhixia remembered that this was Lu Yaoguang’s live stream, so he only chatted for a bit before returning the stand.
When she was leaving and about to pay, Ning Zhixia scratched his head, feeling a little embarrassed to accept the money: “I kind of benefited from your popularity today, forget about it.”
“Let’s keep things separate.” Lu Yaoguang scanned the QR code and waved her hand. “Just consider it my break time!”
They thanked each other and said goodbye. After Lu Yaoguang posted the day’s content, the Monster Manicure Shop’s follower count increased significantly.
Perhaps due to the local area promotion, even the customers who had previously gone to the head massage parlor started returning and booking appointments.
Although the Monster Manicure Shop’s prices weren’t as low as the express manicure, it had a better environment and better value for money, plus a group of kitten masseuses providing attentive service. This was a rare and valuable VIP experience!
Ning Zhixia was so overwhelmed with compliments from the customers that he completely forgot about his earlier sulking.
That day, he had just finished a large order, spending the entire afternoon on hand-painting and applying rhinestones. He was a little tired, but earning nearly 1500 yuan was still satisfying.
“See? I told you good skills are key.” Qu Banqing ruffled his hair. “Even without those gimmicky package deals and discounts, customers still come.”
Ning Zhixia sighed, “Mommy, you’re so right.”
“Get lost.” Qu Banqing pinched his cheek and, before turning to go to the kitchen, kicked him towards the workstation to clean up.
“Sigh, violent friend.”
Ning Zhixia grumbled as he tidied up the desk. The noise from the street suddenly quieted down. He stopped, turned his head to look at the clock, and realized it was time.
However, unlike usual, the window, usually occupied by dark figures and green lights, gradually cleared. Water ripples appeared outside the glass, and several cat heads gathered at the window, their paws playing with the refracted light patterns on the windowsill.
Ning Zhixia tilted his head slightly, his mouth open, pulled a paw out of his mouth, and let out a surprised gasp.
Audrow was right. The house seemed to have absorbed enough energy and connected to a new plane.
Ning Zhixia rubbed his hands excitedly. Wouldn’t this mean he would soon encounter more generous non-human customers?!
“Pop… pop…”
The door sounded like it was being cupped.
Was it a new customer?
Ning Zhixia hesitated for a moment, then curiously opened the door, his mind instantly blown by the scene in front of him—
The clear blue seabed rippled, separated from the wide doorway by a wall of water, and a large figure had already pushed half of its body through.
“Slap!”
“Slap!”
Tentacles with large suckers slapped into the room, one on each side. Ning Zhixia gasped and quickly retreated behind the door, just as a timid voice came from the doorway.
“So tight…”
Ning Zhixia peeked out from behind the door, making eye contact with a large pink octopus squeezing its way in.
He cautiously said, “Hello?”
“Hello, human.”
The pink octopus, with a slightly shy nasal voice, touched the young man’s head with a tentacle, then quickly retracted it, letting out a crisp “pop” as it squeezed through the doorway.
“Squish, squish… squish, squish…”
It seemed to realize its size was inconvenient, and huddled in a corner of the room, nervously rubbing its two pink tentacles together, its large, round eyes darting around the room before settling on the young man in front of it—
“My name is Popokula… nice to meet you.”
“H-hello…”
Ning Zhixia’s enthusiastic expression drained from his face as he stared blankly at the thick tentacles waving excitedly at him.
Um, octopuses don’t have nails, do they?
