Welcome to the Ability Shop!

Chapter 1: Starting Today, I'll Be the Store Manager
Chen Xuan had the same dream again.

A dream I've had since I was a child.

In his dream, it was a small but beautifully decorated room, like a hotel reception area or a shop. A coffee machine sat on the bar, and he could almost smell the rich aroma of coffee; on either side were wooden shelves selling common snacks. In the center of the room stood several glass display cases, always containing the things he wanted most... before, it was toy cars and game consoles, now it was money and time.

Yes, even dreams are this realistic.

He had the same dream so many times that he subconsciously realized he was dreaming. He could wander around in his dream, seeing every detail in every corner, and even brew a cup of milky coffee with a coffee machine. Unfortunately, a dream is just a dream; he never tasted coffee, nor was he ever able to tear off the packaging of a snack.

Always just one step away from the goal.

It will either wake up or jump into another dream.

What struck him most in the room was an iron box on the bar, engraved with strange symbols and patterns, its keyhole shaped like a lifelike eye. Through that eye, he could almost see a string of constantly changing numbers—it seemed to be a countdown. The box was, of course, locked; perhaps it would unlock automatically when the numbers reached 0.

But... who cares what treasures are hidden in the box in the dream?

Even if it's a check for financial freedom, it's just a dream.

He turned 26 this year, and the countdown has finally come to an end.

"Click."

The moment the numbers reached zero, Chen Xuan heard the box emit a crisp, spring-like sound.

Good heavens, this dream is not only continuous in content, but the timing is also quite reliable. He walked to the bar and opened the box himself—

The dream is over, and things remain the same as always.

Chen Xuan sat up groggily, wanting to urinate, but found himself not in bed.

His sleepiness vanished instantly; he shuddered and suddenly opened his eyes wide!
There was nothing unfamiliar about the ceiling—he had seen this wooden-beam style ceiling countless times: in his dreams!
The light, hidden in the light troughs, was soft and warm, neither glaring nor too dim to allow him to see his surroundings clearly. He seemed to be asleep at the bar, and everything around him confirmed it. This was the room from his dream.

He felt a chill run down his spine and quickly ran out the door to check his location.

This sight immediately put him at ease – he was surrounded by familiar buildings, he hadn't left the neighborhood, and his rented building, number 2, was at most a hundred meters away.

Chen Xuan sprinted home at top speed!
After closing the door, his wildly beating heart finally calmed down a little.

What exactly happened? Was he sleepwalking?

But how do you explain that the shop's decor is exactly the same as the room in your dream?
And coincidentally, it was located in the neighborhood where I rented an apartment!
This feeling of confusion between reality and illusion struck Chen Xuan as extremely strange.

After thinking for a moment, he decided to go back again... to see what was going on in that room.

However, when he got dressed and returned the way he came, he could no longer find the shop's entrance—it was an old neighborhood with dozens of buildings very close together and many dead ends. He could only confirm the general direction of the route, but couldn't pinpoint the specific address. In addition, most of the shops on the ground floor were owned by the landlords themselves, and their opening days and hours were unpredictable. Once they turned off the lights and closed, it was pitch black, making it extremely difficult to find.

Maybe... I really am sleepwalking?

Thinking about having to work the next morning, Chen Xuan had no choice but to give up.

I barely dared to close my eyes that night.

The next day, dragging his exhausted body, Chen Xuan worked at the fast food restaurant until his shift ended in the evening. By the time he limped back to his lodgings, his eyelids were almost too heavy to keep open. Even so, before collapsing completely, he glanced at the clock: 6:15.

The moment Chen Xuan woke up, he knew something terrible had happened.

This time he wasn't dreaming; he was woken up by the urge to urinate. But the moment he opened his eyes, he realized he was back in that awful place!

That exquisite room I used to dream about!
The familiar ceiling, the soft lighting, the ticking clock—everything felt like yesterday.

The hands of the clock were just past 8:30.

Chen Xuan then noticed the first strange thing: he seemed to have slept for more than two hours, but at this moment his body was full of energy and he did not feel sleepy at all, as if he had slept for more than ten hours!
This can no longer be explained by sleepwalking.

Chen Xuan sprang to his feet and immediately checked himself over – there were no obvious external injuries, and his kidneys seemed to be intact.

Should I run away before anyone notices me?

Chen Xuan took two steps, then stopped.

Where did they run off to?
Even dreams can drag you out of reality, so what difference does it make where you run off to? Even if you sneak home now, what if they catch you again tomorrow? You can't just teleport like this every day, can you?

Moreover... the environment here feels more familiar than my temporary home. He moved to Tianlu Community less than two years ago, but this dream has been lingering on and off for over a decade or two.

If you have the same dream from childhood to adulthood, does it strongly foreshadow something?
If I don't figure this out, I'm afraid I'll never be able to truly leave this place.

Chen Xuan slowly turned his head and looked at the clean and tidy bar behind him—this was definitely not an unclaimed place; the countertop was almost spotless, as if someone diligently wiped it down every day.

He walked to the front of the table and, as if possessed, pressed the button on the coffee machine.

"Gulu gulu."

The coffee machine started turning, and after a moment, a stream of brownish-white beverage flowed into the cup. He had performed this action countless times in his dreams, to the point that he bought the same coffee machine in reality. However, in his dreams, he could only smell the coffee, but never actually taste it.

Chen Xuan picked up the cup and took a small sip.

The rich coffee flavor... mixed with a hint of milky richness, is exactly the same as the coffee brewed at home.

...He is no longer in a dream.

Well then, let's look around first.

Chen Xuan's first inspection was of the display cases—he'd rushed off yesterday and forgotten to check what was inside. The glass cases were completely empty; neither money nor time was stored there, once again proving the gap between dreams and reality.

However, in terms of richness of detail, reality is far more intense. For example, he noticed many photo frames hanging on the wall, something he rarely noticed in his dreams. Upon closer inspection, he discovered houses... landscapes... and some rather postmodern elements, such as a close-up view of a star ring, a monster from a tokusatsu film, or a spaceship that had crashed in a primeval jungle.

He had to admit that the CG was quite exquisite, and the shop manager was a person of good taste.

There were also things hanging on the wall behind the bar.

First, there are three certificates: a business license, a food business license, and a fire safety certificate. Having these three certificates indicates that the shop is perfectly legal and registered with the Administration for Industry and Commerce.

Next to the certificate is a display board showcasing outstanding employees.

The employee section is completely blank, with only the store manager's photo at the very top.

Chen Xuan was stunned when he saw the photo.

Isn't that my own ID photo? It's the same one as on my ID card!

Me? As the store manager?
He turned around and examined the three certificates more closely, only to be shocked to find that the "legal representative" column on the certificates was filled with the name Chen Xuan!

This is too ridiculous!
When did I apply for these certificates?

But amidst this absurdity and unruliness, he vaguely felt that something was quite reasonable.

Because in his dreams, he was the only one who ever patronized this shop!

Chen Xuan forced himself to remain calm, holding his phone and walking around the store, but didn't find any hidden cameras or anything like that. He then stepped outside and found that it was indeed an apartment building complex. There were no streetlights in front of the store, making it look gloomy. The signs hanging above the store were also mismatched: one was a department store plastered on the wall, and the other was a light-up sign for "Skewered Spicy Hot Pot" pressed against a foam board, although the lights weren't on at the moment. There was a semi-transparent curtain at the entrance for shelter from the wind and rain, and its plastic color showed that it was quite old. Not only that, but someone had also written "Shop for Rent" on the curtain with an oil-based pen.

In other words, there used to be a small supermarket and a mala tang (spicy hot pot) shop here, but they closed down. The current shop is newly opened and only the interior has been renovated; the facade hasn't been decorated at all. If you rush out at night without paying attention to your surroundings, it's indeed quite difficult to find it.

It wasn't a ghost shop either, because Chen Xuan had never heard of a ghost needing to obtain a business license to open a shop.

An incredible yet seemingly the only truth answer increasingly surfaced in his mind.

Whether he accepts it or not, this shop was opened specifically for him.

The thought sent a jolt through his spine.

In a sense, Chen Xuan longed to own his own business. After graduation, he worked at a large company and tried to start a game business with his colleagues. However, the intense work atmosphere there left him physically and mentally exhausted, so he quit his job and took odd jobs to rest.

His ideal job would be one that wasn't too strenuous, yet still provided enough income to make a living. The perfect model would be a landlord strolling through the morning market with a huge bunch of keys, while a small supermarket in the neighborhood would also be a good choice. They all had one thing in common: no intense competition, and the choice of whether to work or rest was entirely up to him.

Even if the income is not high, it is still better than working in a fast food restaurant or delivering food.

Is his dream about to come true?

Controlling his fluctuating emotions, Chen Xuan knew that he first needed to resolve a crucial question.

If this is indeed a shop that a dream gave him, then what exactly does it sell?

(End of this chapter)