V1: Chapter 57: Dessert Shop Design

Two Days Later...

Liang Di went to a dessert shop in the most bustling aristocratic district. As soon as she pushed open the door, an atmosphere of luxury washed over her. Ornate chandeliers, murals, and carpets complemented each other, creating a luxurious space brimming with artistic beauty.

Such a beautiful dessert shop, yet its profits were dismal; it was a real waste of the decor.

Behind Liang Di were five artists: one a renowned local master painter, two of his apprentices, and two unknown young artists.

Liang Di had designed it this way intentionally. The master painter's works were more expensive, and his schedule would definitely be full, so his prices would be higher, and reservations would be required. This was a major selling point, attracting the ladies and wives of the wealthy to compete with each other.

"Remove all the desserts from these display cases," Liang Di said, pointing to the desserts in the glass case in front of her. "We need to renovate, build five separate rooms, and remove everything that needs to be removed."

Liang Di glanced at the plain-looking male shop owner selling cakes at the counter. "You don't need to work here anymore. I'll reassign you. Go to the commoners' tailor shop in the commoners' district and become its owner."

"Bellica, go to the commoners' district, but not too poor. Pick a few handsome commoners, bring them here, and teach them for a week how to serve noble ladies and young women. Find a few pretty common women too."

"Male servants serve noble ladies, female servants serve noble masters. You should understand the logic behind that, right?"

Bellica nodded.

Most noble masters have been ruined by wine and women; they're either as fat as pigs or as thin as a dog. Noble families rarely use male servants; they almost always use female servants. Handsome male servants will bring pleasure to the ladies.

As for those pretty maids… how many noble gentlemen aren't lustful?

“By the way, when you’re training them, remember to tell them not to dream of climbing the social ladder. There will be regular checks. If they’re found to have such thoughts, or have already acted on them, then break their legs,” Liang Di said. “Anyway, a commoner’s life is no different from that of livestock.”

Although she would use “beauties” to attract them, Liang Di was also afraid of causing trouble. If a noble lady or gentleman came to make a scene, things would be difficult to resolve.

“Yes, Miss.”

Liang Di opened the cupboard, took out a piece of cake, put it in her mouth, and took a small bite.

The taste was not bad, the texture was just right, but…

Liang Di held up the cake in her hand, examining it from side to side for a while.

"Too ordinary. A triangular cake topped with a strawberry—that's for eating, not for admiring or looking at."

"Sometimes, food can be appreciated."

"Call your head chef out."

The pot-bellied pastry chef came running out of the kitchen, all excited.

“Miss, Miss, you’re here! It really is! They just told me…”

“No need for such formalities,” Liang Di gestured.

“You’re facing a very serious problem now, a test of whether you can continue working here.”

The pastry chef’s smile froze. He looked at the young woman before him with trepidation, bowing hastily, his face full of flattery.

“Miss, is there something wrong with my cake? Is there a problem with the taste?”

“No,” Liang Di handed the pastry chef the cake.

“It’s too ordinary. It’s exactly the same as all the cakes in every dessert shop, all the same. It can’t stand out from the crowd.”

“It’s like young lovers. If you don’t have good features, no one will want to understand your values. If you don’t have a good appearance, no one will want to understand your inner self. It’s the same with desserts. Only when a cake looks good will it attract people to stop and want to taste it.”

“Do you understand?”

The pastry chef nodded, like a chick pecking at rice.

“My requirements are low; just make the cake I describe.”

Liang Di lifted her skirt and sat down on the sofa.

“I want a cake shaped like a black swan, plus a macaron shaped like a seashell, with… round pearls inside.”

The pastry chef’s smile froze.

He’d never heard of such requirements before, and a black swan-shaped cake was something he’d never made before. He was completely at a loss, both in terms of design and ingredients.

But to keep his high-paying job, he had no choice but to bite the bullet.

“You have four hours. If you’re even a minute late, pack your things and leave.”

Making this kind of cake wasn’t something he could handle alone. Fortunately, there were several of his newly taken-over apprentices in the kitchen.

Several men and women huddled together, studying how to create the black swan’s shape.

“The young lady said the most important thing is the cake's appearance. The ingredients only need to be expensive enough; don't worry too much about the taste and texture. Appearance comes first, taste and texture are secondary.”

Although the pastry chef didn't quite understand this, the young lady said it this way, and she insisted he do it this way, so there must be a reason.

“Chocolate, chocolate will do.”

One apprentice immediately went to melt the chocolate, while two others began to prepare the cream, and the pastry chef trimmed the square cake.

Liang Di didn't wait outside. She left Bellica to watch this shop and then took Gladys to the next one.

On the way.

“Gladys, Bellica was standing right next to you just now. You should have seen clearly how she helped me,” Liang Di said.

Gladys nodded timidly.

Although she had been given a good drink yesterday, filled with fresh animal blood, Gladys was still very afraid of the tentacle girl beside her. She would become timid and submissive whenever she saw her.

Liang Di could feel the person beside her trembling. She frowned, glancing at Gladys with disdain.

"I don't expect you to be as capable as her immediately, but you'd better learn these things right away. My patience with you is limited."

"Okay, okay!"

The little Blood Princess had lost the arrogance she displayed at first sight; she had completely transformed into a weak, pitiful, and humble "working-class person."

Inside the Noble Academy

"What?! What do you mean? Why can't I participate?!"

Liang Lin slammed a piece of paper onto the table with a bang.

Before her stood the registration staff teacher, whose glasses had practically flown off in shock.

"Miss Liang, Miss Liang Lin... this isn't something a teacher can decide on their own..." The teacher trembled as he picked up the fallen glasses from the table. "This was decided by the principal of the academy, and by all the other officials."