After traveling through the book, I realized my wish in my previous life

When Master Zhou heard Shen Xiaoxia's praise, a smile spread across his face, "As long as it tastes good...!"

Others who tasted it also praised it as delicious.

A group of people continued to work. "We need to lower the temperature a few degrees," Master Zhou said to the people around him. "The oven is too hot."

As she spoke, she squeezed the piping bag with her fingers nimbly, and the pink batter formed a perfect circle on the baking tray.

Shen Xiaoxia noticed a hideous scar on his left hand, extending from the base of his thumb to his wrist. Master Zhou followed her gaze and smiled, "When I was young, I was making mooncakes in a state-owned factory. The mold got stuck, and I had to show off..."

The sound of the oven dinging interrupted the memory. Chef Zhou took out the baking tray. Twelve small cakes shone like pearls under the light. He picked up one and handed it to Shen Xiaoxia, "Try it. I added some jasmine tea powder."

The crispy shell broke between the teeth, and the jasmine aroma of the filling instantly filled the mouth. Shen Xiaoxia closed her eyes, as if she saw the jasmine flowers in early summer blooming in the moonlight.

Shen Xiaoxia praised with a smile, "This is delicious too!"

Hearing her say it was delicious, Master Zhou nodded and felt relieved. He looked at Shen Xiaoxia and said, "Tomorrow I'll try a modified version of 'Beijing Eight Pieces' and make the pea yellow into mousse..."

Shen Xiaoxia did not interfere with the kitchen affairs, and let Chef Zhou play freely. "Chef Zhou, follow your own ideas. I believe in you!"

In the lobby, sunlight poured in through the glass curtain wall on the east side. Shen Xiaoxia looked at the light flowing on the copper handrail of the spiral staircase like a golden river. She picked up a soft cloth and gently wiped an almost invisible fingerprint on the handrail.

In the library area on the second floor, Aunt Wang and Chen Mo were doing the final sorting. They were both staff members of the library on the second floor.

Shen Xiaoxia walked up the spiral staircase. The sound of her footsteps was particularly clear in the quiet space. The sunlight shone through the skylight onto the bookshelf, and the spines of every book were glowing with warm light.

"Boss Shen!" Chen Mo looked up, his young face brimming with excitement. "Look at this..."

He pointed to a glass display case in the corner, where several elegantly bound old books were neatly arranged - the 1957 edition of "Coffee Appreciation Handbook", "Peking Teahouse Notes" from the Republic of China period, and even a handwritten "Secret Recipes for Western Pastry Making", the paper of which was already yellowed.

"What are these...?" Shen Xiaoxia was surprised.

"Professor Li, who lives next door, donated it," Aunt Wang explained with a smile. "He heard I work in the library and that these books are available for borrowing. He said they'd just be gathering dust at home, so it's better to give them to someone who truly understands them."

Shen Xiaoxia gently stroked the glass cabinet, her heart moving slightly. These books are not just collections, but also a kind of inheritance - just like her cafe, which carries not only coffee and desserts, but also stories buried by time.

"By the way," Chen Mo suddenly asked, "that copy of One Hundred Years of Solitude...a few of my friends asked if they could buy it."

Shen Xiaoxia shook her head and said, "Tell them that they can make reservations for readings, but it's not for sale at the moment."

There are very few authentic foreign books at present, and the one she exhibited was taken out from the space.

After looking at the situation on the second floor, Shen Xiaoxia went up to the third floor alone.

This is her completely private space - office area, rest area, fitness corner, and Jiang Musheng's playground.

Shen Xiaoxia discovered that the angle of a bookshelf needed to be adjusted. Just as she was about to start, Jiang Yan came up.

"I'll do it," he pulled Shen Xiaoxia aside, "This thing is not light, don't hurt your waist. If you really need to move it, just call someone downstairs. Even if there is no one downstairs, you can wait for me to come over before moving it..."

Shen Xiaoxia smiled. Jiang Yan probably didn't remember that she was very strong. He always felt that she couldn't lift things with her hands or carry things on her shoulders.

Jiang Yan pushed the bookshelf and asked, "Left or right?"

"Move a little closer to the window... Yes, right here!" Shen Xiaoxia took two steps back, watching the afternoon sunlight just enough to illuminate the display area on the third shelf of the bookshelf. "This is where Mu Sheng's picture books and the magazines I want to read are placed."

Jiang Yan suddenly hugged her from behind. "I like this corner on the third floor the most." He pointed to the reading area by the window, where there was a tea table made from old ship wood. "Do you know why?"

Shen Xiaoxia shook her head, her hair brushing across Jiang Yan's chin.

"Because the view here is good," Jiang Yan's breath brushed against her ear, "I can see what's going on on the first and second floors, as well as outside. Most importantly, I can drink tea while watching you and Mu Sheng play."

Shen Xiaoxia curled her lips. Every area on the third floor was carefully designed and arranged by her, and she liked every corner.

"Are you not busy this afternoon?"

Jiang Yan held Shen Xiaoxia's hand and said, "I was worried about you, so I came to check on you. Fortunately, I came. What you did just now was very dangerous, you know?"

Shen Xiaoxia was helpless. "Okay, I get it. I won't do it again next time, okay?"

Jiang Yan snorted softly, "That's more like it."

Shen Xiaoxia squatted down, checked the newly laid cushions on the floor, and tried the guardrail made by Jiang Yan himself, confirming that every corner was polished round and smooth so as not to scratch the child.

Shen Xiaoxia looked around, "Mu Sheng will definitely like this place..."

Jiang Yan followed Shen Xiaoxia's gaze and looked around. "Of course, you decorated this place according to our preferences. It's hard not to like it!"

At night, all the staff left and Shen Xiaoxia sat alone in the empty first-floor lobby.

Moonlight poured in through the glass curtain wall, casting geometric spots of light on the floor. She slowly walked to the bar, pressed the switch of the coffee machine, and made herself a cup of espresso.

The bitter liquid slid down her throat. She closed her eyes, as if she could hear the laughter that would fill this place in two days, the crisp sound of cups and plates colliding, and the rustling of books turning pages...

"Why are you here alone? Is there anything else you need to do?"

Jiang Yan's voice came from behind. He was holding the sleeping Jiang Musheng in his arms, and the little guy was holding a building block tightly in his hand.

"It's almost done. Let's go home first." Shen Xiaoxia smiled, took her son and kissed his forehead gently.

On the eve of the opening, Shen Xiaoxia was worried and checked the condition of the equipment and the placement of tables and chairs.

"Tomorrow is the big day," Jiang Yan's voice came from behind him, holding two glasses of red wine. "Want to try...? A friend brought this back from France."

Shen Xiaoxia took the wine glass, the purple-red liquid swaying slightly in the moonlight, "I'm a little nervous."

Jiang Yan put his arm around her shoulders and said, "Do you know what I admire most about you? Your courage to think and act."

Shen Xiaoxia leaned on his shoulder and suddenly remembered that she had asked Jiang Yan a question when she just graduated. At that time, she had not found a formal job, and most of the time Jiang Yan didn't know what she was busy with. She asked Jiang Yan if she was too willful.

At that time, Jiang Yan said, "Xia Xia, there is light in your eyes. Sooner or later, you will do great things."

The glass curtain wall reflected the figures of the two people cuddling together. Shen Xiaoxia looked around. This was a dream place filled with the aroma of coffee and books.