Endless desert.
Cold night sky, filled with stars.
A three-story building suddenly appears in the vast desert.
"Hey, what are you doing wandering around there? Since you’ve seen it, why not come in?" Kong Hou squats at the entrance of the Shop of Everything, shouting out.
"I... am afraid of dirtying your shop."
"If you can see our shop, then you are destined to come. Come in, it won’t dirty the shop." Kong Hou murmured while hugging a hot water bottle, "The temperature difference in the desert is really terrible."
"Are you afraid of the cold?" Dong Xiao appeared next to Kong Hou, frowned at the squatting Kong Hou, and asked incredulously. A dragon, although not fully grown, but with considerable cultivation, how could it fear such low temperatures?
"Isn’t it just to suit the occasion? Hehe." Kong Hou put away the hot water bottle, took out an ice cream and started eating, waving to the person at the door, "Come on in."
"Really, can I?" The person at the door seemed very hesitant.
"Yes, our boss has been waiting inside for a long time." Dong Xiao made a welcoming gesture, "Please come in."
The person at the door finally stepped into the door nervously.
Under Dong Xiao’s guidance, he met the owner of the Shop of Everything.
"You’ve been lingering at the door for three days." Tianmiao smiled, "Kong Hou has already told you about the business of our shop, right?"
"Yes." The person answered cautiously as they sat down.
"Then, speak your wish." Tianmiao said softly.
"I... wish he would forget me." The person paused, slowly speaking.
Tianmiao simply laughed and leaned back.
"Guest, express your true wish. Otherwise, it cannot be fulfilled." Tianmiao patiently said, leaning in a broad, soft chair.
The person sitting opposite remained silent.
After a long time, the person finally spoke: "Yes, this wish is not true. I don’t want him to forget me, I don’t, I’m truly a selfish, ridiculous person."
"It’s human nature. This cannot simply be judged as right or wrong." Tianmiao’s voice was gentle, "Then, guest, what is your true wish?"
"I want him to return safely. And then, never come again. I hope he lives well." The person’s voice was somewhat bitter.
"Is that all?" Tianmiao smiled.
The person remained silent.
"Would you like to see him again?" Tianmiao took the ice cream handed by Kong Hou, took a bite, and asked with a smile.
"No..." The person shook their head, "I don’t want him to see me like this. As long as he’s well, that’s enough."
"Alright, as you wish..." Tianmiao smiled.
The person stood up and bowed to Tianmiao, "All I can give, is in..."
"No need, I don’t want those. As for the price, I will collect it when the time comes." Tianmiao raised a hand to stop, signaling Dong Xiao to escort the guest.
Dong Xiao politely guided the person to the door.
The person exited the shop and turned around, only to see a vast desert, where the shop had disappeared without a trace.
Will the wish come true?
...
Shop of Everything.
Kong Hou was still biting into the ice cream: "I like vanilla, strawberry, and blueberry flavors. I don’t like chocolate flavor, it’s somewhat bitter."
"Try savoring it after the bitterness." Tianmiao said with a smile, biting into a piece of ice cream.
Kong Hou smacked his lips, eyes sparkling: "Ah, sweet too?"
"Yes, sweet..." Tianmiao’s voice was distant and ethereal.