The Rival Café's Plot**
The bell above the door of *Huang's Heavenly Brews* jingled as Mrs. Lin from the competing *Golden Lotus Café* stepped inside, her smile sharp enough to slice tofu.
"*Aiyah*, business is so good lately, *ah*?" she said, eyeing the packed tables. The rich, floral aroma of fairy-tea-infused pastries filled the air, drawing in customers even on a weekday afternoon.
Chen's mother smiled politely while wiping the counter. "We've been lucky. New suppliers."
Mrs. Lin's gaze lingered a little too long on the display case where the *VitalBite* cookies—now rebranded as *"Morning Boost Bites"*—were nearly sold out. "Very *interesting* new recipes," she mused. "Customers say they feel… *different* after eating here."
Chen, who was refilling the sugar jars, stiffened.
His mother laughed it off. "Just good ingredients."
Mrs. Lin hummed, unconvinced, before leaving with a too-sweet *"Good luck with the health inspection next week!"*
Chen's grip on the sugar jar tightened.
That wasn't a friendly reminder.
That was a threat.
---
The Health Inspection Scare**
Three days later, two health inspectors in crisp uniforms walked into *Huang's Heavenly Brews*, clipboards in hand.
"Routine inspection," the first one said, though Chen knew better.
For the next hour, they poked and prodded at everything—checking expiration dates, swabbing surfaces for bacteria, even sniffing the matcha powder (which, thankfully, no longer *visibly* shimmered). Chen's mother stayed calm, but her knuckles were white around her apron strings.
Then came the bombshell.
"We've received a complaint," the second inspector said, flipping through notes. "Allegations of… *unapproved additives* in your food. Customers reporting unusual energy boosts."
Chen's stomach dropped.
His mother frowned. "What additives?"
"That's what we're here to determine."
Chen's mind raced. The *VitalBite* cookies *were* magical, but Rootweaver had assured him they'd pass all Earthly tests. Still, if the inspectors dug too deep…
Then, a miracle.
The first inspector's device beeped. "No synthetic additives detected."
The second frowned. "But the energy effects—"
"Probably just *good* ingredients," the first said, shrugging. "Place smells amazing."
By the time they left, stamping the café with a perfect score, Chen nearly collapsed in relief.
His mother, however, wasn't celebrating.
"That was no coincidence," she muttered, glaring across the street at *Golden Lotus Café*, where Mrs. Lin was watching, her face sour.
---
The Backfire**
The town's food safety blog posted the results the next day:
**"Huang's Heavenly Brews Passes Rigorous Inspection with Flying Colors—Questions Raised About False Complaints."**
The comment section exploded.
*"Golden Lotus has been salty since Huang's started selling those energy cookies."*
*"I eat there every morning and I've never felt better. Maybe someone's just jealous?"*
*"Health inspectors don't just show up for no reason. Who filed that complaint?"*
By lunchtime, the rumor mill had done its work. Customers flooded *Huang's Heavenly Brews*, some out of curiosity, others out of spite toward *Golden Lotus*. Mrs. Lin's café sat half-empty, her usual regulars now sipping fairy-tea lattes across the street.
Chen's mother shook her head as she counted the day's earnings. "Karma's a faster delivery service than *Golden Root*."
Chen grinned.
Then his phone buzzed. Listra:
**"Shift tonight. Bring your own shadow—it's getting cheeky."**
---
The Raise Negotiation**
That evening, Chen cornered Listra in the café's storage room.
"I need a raise."
Listra didn't look up from stacking jars of starlight honey. "You've been here three weeks."
"And I've saved three spoons from unionizing, convinced a wine elemental to pay its tab, and stopped a moon raccoon from terrorizing the pastry case."
Listra smirked. "Fair. But tavern wages are fixed."
"Why?"
She sighed, floating down to eye level. "Because the tavern *is* the payment."
Chen blinked. "What?"
"You think it's coincidence you've been sharper in school? That your reflexes are better? That your parents' café is suddenly thriving?" She tapped his forehead. "The magic here *lingers*, Chen. Every hour you work, every bite you eat—it's changing you. Awakening your roots."
Chen opened his mouth, then closed it.
She was right.
His grades *had* improved. His parents *were* less stressed. Even his shadow had stopped misbehaving—mostly.
Listra tossed him a small pouch. "Five extra glims. Not because you asked, but because you *earned* them."
Chen peeked inside—then nearly dropped it.
Among the coins was a tiny, glowing root.
"Starter ingredient for your first potion," Listra said. "Consider it an… *investment*."
---
The Shadow's New Role**
Chen's shadow had become alarmingly helpful.
At home, it stirred pots while he chopped vegetables. At school, it pointed out key notes in his textbooks. And at the tavern?
It learned to carry trays.
"That's just cheating," Gregory grumbled as Chen's shadow floated a set of teacups to a table.
Listra chuckled. "Innovation."
Chen, however, was more concerned about Min Rui's narrowed eyes during gym class as his shadow *ever so slightly* adjusted his basketball shot.
"Okay," she said, cornering him after the bell. "What's *up* with you lately?"
Chen feigned innocence. "Up?"
"You're acing tests. Your family's café is suddenly the talk of the town. And I *swear* your shadow just—"
The PA system crackled. "Chen Li Huang to the principal's office."
Min's eyes widened. "What did you do?"
Chen had no idea.
But as he walked down the hall, his shadow gave him a reassuring thumbs-up.
Whatever it was, they'd handle it.
Together.