Chapter 270

: A Plan to Play Pranks
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Zhang Zian made his decision to temporarily abandon the easy way. He would try other ways to solve the problem, for he could not let his previous efforts go in vain.

Little Celery, tell your Brother Store Manager the details. What happened exactly?
he squatted down and asked seriously.
Little Celery looked up and found that her Brother Store Manager was smiling calmly as usual.
She felt a little bit relieved, but still she asked cautiously,
Brother Store Manager, you are not going to blame me?


Why would I blame you?
Zhang Zian asked her instead,
You did not do anything wrong. Well, Little Celery, now tell me the details. What did your classmates say about you?

After hearing Zhang Zian’s words, Little Celery finally became less gloomy, the tears in her eyes gradually evaporated, and then she mumbled,
After school yesterday, a few classmates and I stayed to discuss what we should perform to celebrate the anniversary of the founding of our school… and I proposed that we perform a fairy tale.


What fairy tale? The Wizard of Oz?
Zhang Zian recalled that when he was a child, he seemed to have performed at a festival program for the school anniversary as well. He participated in the program of
The Wizard of Oz
with his class, and successfully played an important role in it—a tree on the roadside.

No, not The Wizard of Oz… it’s a fairy tale created by ourselves…
said Little Celery bashfully.
Seeing Little Celery like that, Zhang Zian guessed the original fairy tale might be Little Celery’s work, or at least she was involved in the creating process.

That’s nice. And then what happened?
He asked.
Little Celery paused and continued, embarrassed,
The fairy tale is about… pets in a pet shop… and all of them can speak and become friends of everyone…
Then, her face turned red.

Oh, I see.
Zhang Zian said, as if thinking of something.

Brother Store Manager, are you going to laugh at me?
Little Celery seemed very concerned about his opinion, and asked this very seriously.
Zhang Zian didn’t laugh at her, he just suddenly sighed emotionally—all this time, he had not been aware of it, but he was living in the fairy tale world that children were dreaming of!
In his small pet shop, his pets could talk, they could do things beyond people’s common sense, they could help people, they could become friends of people, and they could maybe even develop deeper feelings towards people—if his pet shop was not a fairy tale world, what place could be?
Every day, from morning to night, he had to serve Fina and Snow Lionet, prepare tea for Old Time Tea, play hide and seek with Galaxy, and had to put up with Richard’s endless and noisy babbling… Although he did not tell others, he felt annoyed sometimes. However, still a lot of people envied him, and would be willing to give up everything in exchange for the life he was living.
How desirable! Such a pet shop might only exist in the fairy tale.

I’m not going to laugh at you,
he replied to Little Celery just as seriously.
A pet shop in a fairy tale… sounds very interesting. I believe it will be a good show if you and your classmates can organize the rehearsal and prepare for it.


Really?
Hearing that her idea was appraised by Zhang Zian, there were sparkles shining in Little Celery’s eyes.

Yes,
he said.
Your classmates, they don’t like this show?


Woo…
Little Celery was in low spirits again.
Well, a few girls liked it at first, but the boys…


What’s wrong with the boys? They didn’t like your idea?
He guessed they didn’t. Boys of that age probably didn’t like fairy tales anymore — they preferred programs like Ultraman beating up little monsters.

Um…
she nodded.
One boy in our class, Yi Le, was the first to say he didn’t like it. He said it was too childish and that pets cannot speak. And then several other boys followed him. The girls who were on my side before stopped helping me out…


Wait a minute!
Zhang Zian interrupted her,
Who’s the boy you just said that took the lead?

Little Celery was startled for a moment,
Yi Le. Our teacher said he is the naughtiest child in our class…

Yi Le?
Zhang Zian felt that this name was familiar. After carefully thinking back, he realized Yi Le was the brat who was almost hit by a car in front of his shop. That brat was a classmate of Little Celery? Sure enough, old habits die hard! That brat lied to his mother and said Zhang Zian tried to hurt him, and now he was bullying Little Celery?

So, have you confirmed what show you guys will play yet?
he asked.

Not yet… We just discussed it yesterday, and we did not make a final decision.
She whispered,
Yi Le and the boys proposed to cosplay the Arena of Valor, I didn’t understand what they were talking about…

Damn! These brats just couldn’t be satisfied with playing games online, which already drew complaints from adult players, but now they were actually thinking of cosplaying an online game in front of the entire school during a ceremony? Someone must teach these brats a lesson now! Especially that Yi Le — he was the worst among them all!
Zhang Zian had an idea and said to Little Celery,
Little Celery, those boys said pets cannot speak, right? How about this? Take them to my pet shop after school someday. Let them listen in person whether pets can speak or not. If they hear the pets speak for themselves, they will not object to your show anymore, right?


Really? Can I really bring my classmates over?
Little Celery asked incredulously.
Won’t you feel inconvenienced, Brother Store Manager?


It’s fine. I just feel pissed off that they questioned my shop. Ask them over, and let them know how powerful I am,
Zhang Zian said, confidently patting his chest. He decided he wanted to appear pretentious in front of a group of pupils.

Great! I have always wanted to bring my classmates to play at your pet shop, but I worry that Brother Store Manager will feel annoyed…
The gloominess had completely disappeared from her face. Little Celery muttered excitedly, considering which day would be better if she invited her classmates over.

Little Celery, it’s late, you need to go to school now.
Zhang Zian looked at the time and reminded her,
Feel free to come to my shop anytime, you and your classmates.

Little Celery looked down at the electronic watch for children on her wrist,
Ah, I’m so late… Brother Store Manager, I’m leaving now, bye!

Little Celery once again become energetic and lively as she usually was. She waved at Zhang Zian, and then trotted away.
Zhang Zian stood there holding the foam insulated box, and watched her safely walk across the road before disappearing around the corner of the street. Then, he made his way back to the pet shop.

What took you so long? I’m starving to death!
Fina began to complain the moment it saw him.
Snowy Lionet immediately echoed,
Jerks are just unreliable!


I’m sorry, I met an acquaintance on my way back.
Zhang Zian was in a good mood, and replied to them perfunctorily, then pulled the meat off the skewers and into their food bowls. Tempted by the scents of the delicious barbecue, Fina and Snowy Lionet temporarily shut up and jumped down from the cat tree to begin their meals.
Zhang Zian put the foam insulated box to the side, and came before Richard.

I have a plan to play pranks on someone, are you interested?
he said plainly.
Richard was full and was jumping on the cashier’s desk happily.
With its little black eyeballs rolling, it said,
Of course! Playing pranks is my favorite thing to do.

They hit it off tacitly at that moment.