The shop door opened, revealing the brand-new, spotless interior to Liu Lingjuan beneath the bright lights.
"Mom, come in and have a look!"
There was a little pride in Li Wanyin's voice as she led her mother into the space she had poured so much effort into.
The moment Liu Lingjuan stepped over the threshold, the clean, crisp decor, full of Eastern elegance, caught her eye.
"Did Shi'an help you design this?"
"Yes! Shi'an did such a wonderful job! It's exactly what I wanted. Everyone says it looks lovely. What do you think, Mom?"
Liu Lingjuan looked around with a smile. Everything in the shop was new and astonishing to her.
The space used ink black, off-white, mist gray, ivory, and smoky blue-green as its main palette. The permanent fixtures were clean and crisp, all simple, straight lines without elaborate carvings, yet the materials and furnishings were full of Chinese charm, understated and sophisticated.
To the left of the entrance were the service counter and main preparation area. The counter was neat and open, the workflow smooth, and the tea-making process inside was visible at a glance.
Opposite was a spacious dining area, with individual tables and window booths cleverly arranged for comfortable seating without crowding. A small, warm pendant light hung above each table, its soft light creating a wonderful atmosphere.
Several fresh, delicate ink paintings adorned the walls, adding a gentle, artistic touch.
Most distinctive of all was the little space in the corner prepared especially for Cat. A cat tree stood securely there, with a soft cushion beside it: a cute, soothing little corner reserved for the feline shopkeeper to bring in good fortune.
Fat Cat had lazily wandered over there just then, sharpened some claws on the scratching board, then climbed onto the cat exercise wheel