After a series of “Huh? The source of the fragrance? The walls, the wooden walls!”

and “Hey, mister, please don’t pick at my walls, it won’t work even if you break a piece off!”

and “Not for sale, not for sale, the walls are not for sale…

and the house is definitely not for sale!”

and other such harmonious and friendly exchanges, Zhao Xing, drenched in sweat, finally broke free from the parents’ encirclement and began to pour them rock sugar water.

Rock sugar water was a local specialty, made by boiling fresh fruit and rock sugar.

It was especially for children to drink.

Particularly in cold weather, eating cold fruit could easily give children an upset stomach. Boiling it into a warm, sweet rock sugar water, however, was very comforting.

Zhao Xing’s pot was made with apples, using the mountain spring water drawn from the well and cooked in the Delicious Iron Wok.

The taste was on a whole other level.

He felt sorry for these kids, which was why he had specially prepared the drink.

The four little munchkins would let out a “Wow!” with every sip, looking as if they’d never tasted anything so good.

One little girl, whose condition was more severe, took a big gulp and was instantly conquered by the deliciousness. She held her cup up to her mother. “This is so good, Mommy, try some~”

Her mother’s eyes immediately reddened.

This common sight among other children was something she was experiencing for the first time.

Fighting back tears, she said, “Mommy doesn’t want any, Mommy’s not thirsty. You drink it, sweetie…”

A family with an annual income in the millions, and now mother and daughter were politely offering a single cup of rock sugar water to each other.

It was a scene both heartbreaking and a little amusing.

Zhao Xing, holding the pitcher, said with a grin, “There’s more in the pot. Any little one who wants their parents to have a drink can raise their hand to apply for them.”

As soon as he said it, the little girl from before immediately shot her hand up.

After raising it, she felt a little shy and said in a small voice, “I want to apply… for my mommy to have a cup…”

“Okay, I’ve got it down,” Zhao Xing said. “Any other little ones?”

The other three children immediately raised their hands as well.

Smiling, Zhao Xing went back to the kitchen, took out the cups he had prepared earlier, and poured water for the parents.

He had spent a long time researching emotional dysregulation disorder yesterday. He didn’t fully understand some of the professional papers, but he knew in his heart that with the help of the Ancient Wood Fragrance, the children’s emotions would be calm.

All he had to do now was keep the children happy, and there shouldn’t be any major problems.

So, Zhao Xing had done a lot of homework these past few days. He had even chatted for a long time with a high school classmate who was now a kindergarten teacher and designed many activities that children of this age would enjoy.

Of course, they were all activities that didn’t cost any money.

His kindergarten teacher friend had also suggested that he let the children do more things within their own abilities to give them a sense of accomplishment, which might help with their condition.

That was why Zhao Xing had designed these little activities.

In the main hall, the parents sat on the mismatched, broken chairs, looking at the uneven floor beneath their feet, but they no longer felt that this guesthouse was shabby.

They watched their children eagerly raising their hands and clamoring to speak, and felt that everything before them was as beautiful as a dream.

A dream they had despaired of for so long, where they could finally imagine their children were cured…

A child with an emotional disorder stopping an episode in less than ten minutes.

A child with an emotional disorder eagerly raising their hand to answer questions.

A child with an emotional disorder not only laughing out loud but also playing with other children who also had emotional disorders…

If this wasn’t a dream, what was?

However, the fresh, woody scent lingering in the air told them that this was not a dream. There was a reason for all of this!

The parents came back to their senses and were finally certain: this guesthouse was a godsend. It was their godsend!

In an instant, the way they looked at Zhao Xing became more and more emotional. Was this a guesthouse owner? No! This was a lifesaver!

One parent even began to ask Zhao Xing how long they could book a room for, wondering if booking it for ten or eight years was possible.

I might as well just sell you the shop, Zhao Xing thought. “Guest, please reconsider. Don’t make an impulsive decision. Besides, if your child gets better tomorrow, booking it for so long would be useless. Are you going to become a sub-landlord?”

He was speaking hypothetically, but the parent was thrilled to hear it. “That would be wonderful!” they said, overjoyed. “In that case, I’ll give you a huge red envelope!”

Realizing that didn’t sound right, they laughed and added, “I’ll give you one now, too. Thank you, boss, for giving us this time of peace together.”

Zhao Xing waved his hand. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to make money; he just believed in earning it honorably.

These parents had clearly been desperate, and now that they saw a possibility of their children being cured, they were emotionally overwhelmed. He didn’t like to take advantage of situations like that.

In a few days, when the parents had calmed down and still wanted to give him money, he would welcome it with open arms and beating drums.

Zhao Xing went into the kitchen to start boiling another pot of water. Suddenly, a familiar panel popped up in front of him.

【Daily Task Issued: A guest in the guesthouse is feeling unwell and needs careful recuperation, but the guest themselves does not seem to have noticed. Please help the guest recuperate and have a wonderful stay!】

“Finally, a daily task,” Zhao Xing said. “I knew with so many guests, a task was bound to pop up.”

“Yes, yes, the Host is truly prescient!” the System chirped.

Zhao Xing snorted. “But how am I supposed to help them recuperate? I don’t know how… Wait, I remember I got an item before. Found it!”

【Clear Rhyme Tea Set: A tea set refined by a great ascended medical cultivator. Simply add clear water, and it will pour out a mellow, fragrant tea. This tea has the miraculous effect of nourishing the body.】

“This should work for recuperation, right?” Zhao Xing said. “I just boiled some water. Wait, which guest is feeling unwell?”

He suddenly felt the downside of having many guests. Before, with only one or two guests, the target of the task was obvious. Now, with so many people, did he have to check them one by one?

He imagined a future where the guesthouse was upgraded, the shop expanded, and there were dozens, or even hundreds, of guests.

Having to find the single task target among them would be like finding a needle in a haystack…

Shaking the groundless fears from his mind, he opened the guest panels one by one.

【Name: Zhang Feng

Reception Points: 20 Points/Visit

Experience: Graduated from XX University, now a senior executive at XX company, married ten years ago…

Likes: Wallpaper: Ancient Wood Fragrance】

【Name: Qian Xinlu

Reception Points: 20 Points/Visit

Experience: A six-year-old human cub, diagnosed with emotional dysregulation disorder at age three. Became a severe case two years ago, has been greatly troubled…

Likes: Wallpaper: Ancient Wood Fragrance】

【Name: Lei Chenxiang

Reception Points: 20 Points/Visit

Experience: …

Likes: Wallpaper: Ancient Wood Fragrance】

After scrolling through five or six people, Zhao Xing finally found the target of the task.

【Name: Liao Qingshan

Reception Points: 20 Points/Visit

Experience: Currently 62 years old, a professor at X City University. Highly respected, with students all over the world. A very admirable scholar. He has some high blood pressure, which is not usually severe, but he experiences some dizziness and numbness when stimulated. His children are very worried about this, but his physical examination results are all good. He has not yet realized that he is currently feeling dizzy and may need some reminding.

Likes: Unknown】

“Dizzy…” Zhao Xing looked at the silver-haired old man. He was kindly watching his little grandson play with his friends, completely unaware of his own discomfort.

It made sense. For a sixty-two-year-old man, the long journey by bus was already tiring.

Then he had experienced the emotional rollercoaster of his grandson having an episode and then the possibility of a cure.

That kind of stimulation was not insignificant.

The old man probably hadn’t even had time to notice he wasn’t feeling well.

Zhao Xing didn’t dare to delay. He had just boiled water. He took out the Clear Rhyme Tea Set and poured the boiling water into it.

A delicate, elegant tea fragrance wafted out.

He carried the tea tray to the main hall.

The Clear Rhyme Tea Set itself consisted of a teapot and four tea cups. They were made of celadon porcelain, with a glaze the color of a clear blue sky. Although beautiful, they were not flashy.

But as soon as Zhao Xing carried the tea tray over to Professor Liao, the old man suddenly turned around. “What a fragrant tea!”

He was a tea lover. In his youth, he had even followed Lu Yu’s The Classic of Tea to visit the sources of various types of tea. It was safe to say his research was extensive.

Zhao Xing smiled. “You have a sharp nose, sir. It is indeed a pot of good tea. I noticed you were shaking your head just now. Are you feeling dizzy? This tea is said to have the effect of lowering blood pressure. Please have a cup and try it.” He spouted nonsense, put down the tea tray, and then picked up the teapot to pour him a cup.

Professor Liao was no longer paying attention to what he was saying. All his attention was captivated by the tea in front of him.

An important step before tasting tea is to smell the aroma and observe the color. He had already smelled the aroma.

Now, looking at the color of the tea, it was clear, translucent, and bright. It was obviously a good tea.

After a moment of admiration, Professor Liao picked up the teacup and took a light sip.

Instantly, the fragrance lingered on his lips and tongue, a clear, far-reaching aroma that went straight to his lungs.

Of all the teas he had drunk in his life, not a single one could compare to the cup before him.

Not only that, but after drinking one cup, as the tea’s fragrance drifted, the faint dizziness he had been feeling instantly cleared up a lot.

Only then did Professor Liao remember that Zhao Xing had seemed to say that he had brought the blood pressure-lowering tea because he saw he was dizzy.

This immediately made him feel even more favorable toward the young man; he was both thoughtful and kind. He hadn’t even noticed his own dizziness, but the other party had noticed it first.

More importantly, this tea was exceptionally good! It deserved to be tasted by more people.

At this thought, Professor Liao smiled, took out his phone, and carefully sent a text message to his student. “…Don’t worry, I have arrived in Qingyang City today. You once said you were troubled about the topic for your next feature story. If you haven’t resolved it yet, I have a recommendation for you: a guesthouse, the address is…”

Over on the other side, Zhao Xing had already returned after delivering the tea.

A large system page appeared in front of him: 【Congratulations, Host, on completing the task!】

Zhao Xing grinned. “Let me see what goodies I got this time. I hope it’s a sign. It’s not right to be open for business without a sign!”

However, when he tapped it open—

【Congratulations, Host, on receiving the reward: 15 Points, Happy Pet Door, Super Hair Sucker.】

【Happy Pet Door: Made from Joyful Wood. Can attract pets to enter and exit through this door, increasing the pet’s happiness and also improving the pet’s physical fitness.】

【Super Hair Sucker: Automatically absorbs pet hair. One gentle suck and it all flies away, protecting your respiratory health.】

Zhao Xing read it word for word. “…What the hell? Never mind the hair sucker, what’s with this pet door? Why does it increase the pet’s happiness and freedom? This is a guesthouse! Shouldn’t it be increasing the guests’ happiness?”

The System said cautiously, “Because they think that if pets take the initiative to seek out guests, the guests are already very happy, right? No need for an extra boost…”

“Huh? Who are ‘they’?” Zhao Xing asked.

“It’s a pet civilization world, formed from the projections of other worlds. All the animals and plants that can be pets in other worlds have become intelligent beings in this world. After learning about the status of pets in other worlds, they created many items that can improve the status of pets…”

The corner of Zhao Xing’s mouth twitched. “I knew it…”

After about ten seconds, he suddenly realized. “Wait, I forgot, we don’t have any pets! This item is useless!”

The System was very agreeable this time. “If the Host draws an item they can’t use, the System can help exchange it!”

Before Zhao Xing could get happy, it added, “It just costs a little money.”

Zhao Xing asked cautiously, “How much?”

“The pet door is a beginner-level item,” the System said. “Exchanging it once only costs two thousand yuan.”

Zhao Xing silently stood up. “I’m going to go have a talk with the little orange kitten.”