Chapter Six: The Long Night

The duration of the World Ancient History class was two hours. So, after class, Liu Ru returned punctually to the seventy-ninth floor of the Sun Tower. She hadn’t even had dinner yet.

Upon entering the somewhat empty room, she saw Su Ziye standing amidst a pile of supplies. These were all the goods previously purchased with a single golden leaf herb. Now, Su Ziye had taken them all out and stacked them here: white sugar, spices, and various ingredients more akin to potion components. Since there were no truly rare materials, the quantity bought with just one golden leaf herb was enormous.

“You’re here just in time,” Su Ziye said, looking up at Liu Ru. “Have you had dinner?”

“No,” Liu Ru replied, shaking her head.

Su Ziye immediately handed her a lunchbox. Liu Ru opened it, discovering it wasn’t beef soup but rather a boxed meal with rice and several small side dishes. She couldn’t help feeling a little disappointed.

“We might have to pull an all-nighter together tonight,” Su Ziye continued with a smile.

“Can you not make it sound so ambiguous?” Liu Ru frowned.

Though she was a bit let down by the lack of beef soup, the girl nonetheless picked up her chopsticks and began to eat. She had never been a picky eater, and Su Ziye’s cooking was always reliable.

“Try this,” Su Ziye said, handing her a small glass bottle.

Liu Ru took it; the touch was cold. Without asking what it was, she uncorked the bottle and took a small sip.

The liquid seemed to effervesce with countless tiny bubbles bursting in her mouth. The cool, sweet taste was followed by a complex tartness. Liu Ru had never tasted anything like it before. After swallowing, she looked up at Su Ziye. “What is this?”

“You’re the first to try it before asking what it is,” Su Ziye replied with a smile.

“You told me to try it first,” Liu Ru answered calmly.

“How does it taste?” Su Ziye asked.

“It’s quite good, and I’ve never tasted anything like it,” the girl replied, glancing around. “Is this what you plan to make?”

Liu Ru’s keen intuition had caught on.

“That’s right,” Su Ziye nodded with a smile, not denying it. “I plan to first sell this throughout Nightleaf Academy. If things go smoothly, I’ll expand to Nightleaf City and even the surrounding regions.”

“Can you make that much?” Liu Ru questioned skeptically.

After all, Su Ziye’s beef soup was delicious, but could he possibly make hundreds or thousands of servings a day? That was simply impossible.

“That’s where you misunderstand this kind of thing,” Su Ziye said, smiling at Liu Ru. “Eat first—when you’re done, I’ll tell you what we’re doing tonight.”

…

Liu Ru did eat quickly. With the addition of that bottle of unnamed, peculiar liquid, while not fully satisfied, at least nothing was unpleasant.

“Try to guess whether this thing could catch on in the academy,” Su Ziye asked, seeing that Liu Ru had finished.

“I don’t know,” Liu Ru answered honestly. “I think it’s pretty good, but my taste doesn’t represent everyone’s.”

“There’s no need to be uncertain. The answer is: absolutely,” Su Ziye said, looking at her. “After all, all student expenses are covered by the academy, and as for beverages, there’s a significant gap right now. The academy only provides simple drinks like fruit wine and sour plum juice. If this drink can be produced smoothly, it’ll be a game changer.”

“But the problem is, how do you make it?” Liu Ru frowned. “It tastes really complex.”

“It’s simple. We’re only making a concentrated syrup,” Su Ziye explained calmly. “We’ll make the concentrate. When it’s needed, just dilute it with water and carbonate it. As for the ingredients,” he gestured, “I’ve already bought everything, and all the equipment is ready. All we need to do now is spend one night blending the concentrates. If all goes well, I can have this drink widely available by tomorrow morning.”

Seeing Su Ziye’s confidence, Liu Ru believed he had indeed thought of every detail. She could only nod. “In that case, I’ll just follow your lead.”

At that moment, the air before them shimmered with ripples.

The two of them stared blankly as the Third Highness suddenly appeared—cloaked in black, the girl materialized abruptly on the seventy-ninth floor of the Sun Tower.

“What brings you here?” Su Ziye was the first to react.

Even though he had planned out all the details, he had never anticipated the arrival of the Third Highness.

She gazed at him in silence, then seemed to consider something. She pointed at the empty glass bottle before Liu Ru, then pointed to her own mouth.

“Your sign language is truly self-taught,” Su Ziye sighed. After a moment’s thought, he understood. “You must have come from the President.”

The Third Highness nodded. “Yes.”

Su Ziye pulled out another bottle from his pocket. Who knew how many samples he had stashed away in his spatial pouch?

The Third Highness instinctively reached to take it, but Su Ziye withdrew his hand. “It’s not free, you know.”

She nodded, and instantly a gleaming gold coin appeared in her palm.

“I’m not asking for money,” Su Ziye said, smiling at her. “Tonight, you’re staying here to help us work.”

A flicker of hesitation crossed her face, but soon she nodded in agreement.

“Alright.”

Su Ziye placed the glass bottle in her hand.

…

“It’s already very late,” Qing Yi said behind Karotes.

“I can just sleep in the office. What about you? Not going back to the dorm?” Karotes replied with a smile.

“I’m a little concerned,” Qing Yi said.

“If you’re worried, why not go check? They won’t be so bold as to refuse you entry,” Karotes said, looking out the window.

“The Third Highness hasn’t returned yet,” she continued.

“Perhaps she’s been recruited as free labor. Anyone who’s ever had her help says she’s quite effective,” Karotes sighed.

On that point, perhaps no one had more authority to speak than he did.

“Who exactly is Su Ziye?” Qing Yi couldn’t help but ask.

“Isn’t he interesting?” Karotes smiled.

“Yes,” Qing Yi nodded. “Even at Nightleaf Academy, it’s hard to find someone quite as fascinating as him.”

“Now that we’ve found him, we should just sit back and watch his performance. I’m very curious to see what he’ll accomplish,” Karotes said, smiling. “I’m planning to check in on them at five in the morning—care to join me?”

“Sure,” Qing Yi smiled. “But I’ll need to nap in the office first.”