Chapter 104: Jiang Cha: Do I No Longer Need To Try?

“I was thinking of you.”

Jiang Cha replied without hesitation, but the red-haired witch just covered her mouth with one hand and chuckled softly. “Eh~ I don’t believe you.”

“Jiang Cha is a big liar.”

“Mm, a big liar indeed.”

The girl laughed along, their expressions relaxed, as if they had gradually become accustomed to the unique rhythm of their relationship.

“How’s business lately, Annie?”

“Not bad! This month’s accounts haven’t gone into the red yet. But Jiang Cha, really… have you been running your shop properly?”

Annie squinted at Jiang Cha’s store, her cheeks puffed up as she scolded her. “So far, your opening hours aren’t even half as long as your closing hours! Are you sure this is okay?”

“I don’t want it to be like this either…”

Embarrassed by the scolding, Jiang Cha scratched her head and smiled sheepishly. “I’ve just been really busy lately.”

“I know you’ve been busy, but at least…”

Annie paused mid-sentence, blinked, and stared at Jiang Cha for three whole seconds before sighing. “Forget it. You’re way too busy to run a shop properly anyway.”

“Decision made!”

“Hm?”

“Whenever Jiang Cha isn’t around, I’ll manage your shop!”

“Won’t that be troublesome for you?”

Jiang Cha was momentarily taken aback—not because she minded Annie taking initiative, but because she was slightly concerned. “You’d be managing two shops while also keeping up with your studies?”

“You really just want to hand it all over to me!”

The red-haired witch struck a triumphant pose, hands on her hips, puffing up her chest. Her close-fitting black-and-white maid outfit combined with her vibrant hair made her look especially cute in the afternoon sunlight.

It had a sense of normalcy—a slice of everyday life that contrasted sharply with the fantastical world of witches, yet felt reassuring.

“I can only temporarily manage it while you’re gone! The shop still needs your attention!”

“Yes, yes~”

Jiang Cha gently reached out and ruffled the little witch’s hair. “Then I’ll leave it to you, Store Manager.”

“Temporary manager!”

Annie blushed instantly and almost shouted her correction again.

“Hi hi~”

Jiang Cha didn’t mind at all. Annie’s personality was genuine; though a wealthy heiress, she had the charm of a girl next door—cute, gentle, a bit shy, occasionally playful, with a hint of mischievousness.

Especially the way she could be shy yet straightforward—it was one of Annie’s irresistible qualities.

“Compared to Annie’s steadily thriving maid shop… my side is still… as quiet as ever.”

Jiang Cha dialed the two clients’ numbers, but both requests fell through because she replied too late. In other words, her witch shop’s second month of operation was disappointing—she might not even recoup the cost.

It was understandable; her shop’s opening hours were barely half as long as the closing hours, and even if she had advertised before, occasional customers wouldn’t meet the shop owner herself.

“Speaking of which, I should be ready to take the intermediate alchemist certificate soon, as long as I have a work…”

Having an intermediate alchemist certificate would indeed boost her shop’s credibility, but Jiang Cha’s priorities had already shifted.

“Too much trouble, I’ll leave it for later. I’ll take it together with other things.”

After all, the shop wasn’t meant to make money; spending precious study and research time just to boost sales would be counterproductive.

“Even like this, it’s fine. A shop that seems small and unimpressive but secretly amazing—that could even attract more attention!”

Actually, Jiang Cha’s witch shop had already built a reputation over the past two months. Some of it came from the Daisy Squad’s promotion, some from her previously crafted undead mecha, and some from sporadic prior commissions.

However, compared to her skill in making magical items, people still trusted Jiang Cha herself more.

“These are the recently requested commissions! Mostly exploration and training assignments.”

Annie came in holding a thick stack of requests.

“Do you want to take any?”

“Nope.”

Jiang Cha waved her magical book in her hand. “You can tell, right? My current state isn’t suitable for witch battles.”

She had even taken a leave from the battle club. Even if she hadn’t, she wouldn’t dare go—there was a mentor waiting to give her a severe scolding.

Carol still held a grudge about being outsmarted by Jiang Cha!

“Are you sure? I also have two Life Hearts here.”

“No, no, that’s unnecessary.”

Life Hearts were magical materials ranging from level six to nine. Their value was extremely high, so only a rich girl like Annie would casually offer them.

No, actually, even someone like Annie would only casually give them to Jiang Cha.

“Transforming undead magic is also a form of training for me—it strengthens my magical power and improves my necromancy at once. No urgent need, I don’t want to solve this with money.”

“I see.”

Annie felt puzzled. If money could solve it, why not use it? The Life Heart’s effect wasn’t just to control Jiang Cha’s excess undead power. Its most important effect was granting the user a Life trait, and with a high-level Life Heart, there was even a chance for the superior trait Child of Life—something other witches couldn’t easily get.

“But what level Life Heart are you using, Annie?”

“Level nine.”

“…Then the one you wanted to give me?”

“Of course, also level nine.”

Annie tilted her head, placing a glowing green gem in front of Jiang Cha, as if puzzled why she asked.

Jiang Cha: “…”

She felt Annie was even richer than Lina. Could this girl be her family’s heir?

If she managed to win her over now, wouldn’t she have a lifetime of comfort?

Jiang Cha swallowed hard, almost succumbing to temptation as she stared at the gem, placed casually before her by a girl in a maid outfit helping to sweep the floor.

“Oh, if you think a Life Heart isn’t enough, I could ask my father to bring the family’s Life Source Star.”

“But that would count as a family investment in you, not a personal gift,” Annie explained seriously, as if worried Jiang Cha would misunderstand.

The Life Source Star was far too valuable. She could only wear it temporarily as a child; now, she used the level nine Life Heart instead.

—Jiang Cha was so shocked by her words that she nearly sprayed her tea onto the floor.

“Jiang Cha! I just finished cleaning the floor!”