Chapter 10, Unveiling the Secrets of the Universe

Ye Tao felt that the atmosphere was somewhat strange; Miss Zhuo seemed to be quite concerned about his affairs, as if there were other matters to discuss after leaving him to eat. He shrugged and said, "It is an honor for me to be invited by Miss Meng, and I dare not decline"

Miss Zhuo did not continue to confront Ye Tao. She politely asked, "If you two have no further matters, would you honor me by joining me for a meal?"

Ye Tao paused for a moment, tilted his head, and said, "I didn't think much when I chose this name; I just thought it sounded good and wrote it down."

Miss Zhuo smiled and said, "If Master Du has matters to attend to, I would not dare to delay him. What about Master Ye?"

Miss Zhuo smiled in a rather enigmatic manner, leaving Ye Tao somewhat perplexed about her true intentions. However, Miss Zhuo then took out the Illusionary Spirit Chess and began to inquire in detail about its intricate rules.

So, this Ye Tao, whom we have only met for a few hours, is the one capable of making the young lady lose control

Ye Tao did not respond directly, but Du Fengchi said: "Since the young lady has extended an invitation, I cannot decline. However, I have a prior engagement with a friend, which involves both dining and discussing matters. As this appointment was made beforehand, I regret that I will not have the honor of dining with the young lady."

After Si Si apologized to Miss Zhuo, she hurried over. Miss Zhuo glanced at Si Si, then at Ye Tao, and asked with a smile: "Young Master Ye, I must ask you once more, why is that furniture store called 'IKEA'?"

Miss Zhuo listened attentively and nodded, saying: "It truly is a peculiar method. I felt a bit dizzy when I reached the intersection today and did not approach to take a closer look. Looking back, I think I should have gone to see it. This sign is indeed quite interesting"

Miss Zhuo had probably never engaged in discussions with others so earnestly. Manager Liu came upstairs and glanced around briefly. Since it posed no harm to the young lady, he felt reassured and waited on the third floor. The maids Sisi and Qiao'er had been following Miss Zhuo for quite some time, and they were even more astonished, having never seen her so harmoniously engaged in the study of a plaything with a stranger. When in the capital, even in the presence of the greatly admired master musician Gongsun Xu, Miss Zhuo remained composed and indifferent. In reality, Miss Zhuo's health was exceedingly poor; although her daily activities were manageable, extreme joy, anger, sorrow, and hatred were all to be avoided. To maintain her health, the only guiding principle was to keep her heart as calm as still water. However, a fourteen-year-old girl, a person of exceptional talent, could certainly restrain all her emotions to live a few more days, but how much enjoyment could such a life truly hold? In front of her closest maids, Miss Zhuo once mentioned that she could maintain her calm demeanor simply because she had yet to encounter anything or anyone that she could not restrain herself from.

At that moment, Miss Zhuo's eyes sparkled with cunning as she smiled slightly. Her teasing words struck Ye Tao like thunder, each word resonating in his heart: "The young lady is wondering, why not call it Bai An Ju, Jin Hai Ma, Ya Zan, Yun Dian, Da Fen Qi, Bei Ou Feng Qing, Ji Sheng Wei Bang, Ling Fang Yuan, or Jia Shi Jia, but instead choose to call it IKEA?"

Miss Zhuo casually remarked, "These items are not worth much. Compared to letting my younger brothers continue to waste things in my study, this is quite a bargain. Young master, please do not take it to heart. Today, I visited the Yi and *Tu* Book War Tower and strolled through the Yi War shop, but I did not go to see the furniture crafted by the Ye workshop. However, the name 'IKEA furniture' is indeed unique. It is suitable for home, and it also represents the home of the people of Yicheng, simple and warm, yet not lacking in elegance. When the young master chose this name, what meaning did he intend to convey?"

"Sisi, come help me." Qiao'er called softly as her head peeked out from the stairway. Miss Zhuo's meals were always served by just the two of them, and no one else was allowed to touch those utensils.

Du Fengchi chatted for a few more moments before taking his leave. At this time, Lu Dan had already finished watching the chess match and listening to the commentary from the Yizhan Building, and after browsing the Yizhan Shop for a sufficient amount of time, he returned with his purchases. The Yizhan Shop conducted its business with great attention to detail and foresight, and along with the terrain components, they provided three sets of catalogs for various chess types and related products. Lu Dan found this interesting, so he asked his maid Qiao'er to bring a set of catalogs when reporting to Miss Zhuo. The Yizhan Shop conducted its business with great attention to detail and foresight, and along with the terrain components, they provided three sets of catalogs for various chess types and related products. Lu Dan found this interesting, so he asked his maid Qiao'er to bring a set of catalogs when reporting to Miss Zhuo.

What is the matter? Is there something wrong? Ye Tao felt somewhat puzzled; he currently held great admiration for Miss Zhuo's character and talents, yet he always found her to be somewhat inscrutable. Is it possible that there is some taboo? I have been in Yicheng all along and am unaware of many taboos in the capital.

Ye Tao smiled and said, "It is merely a trivial matter, and I would not dare to trouble you, Miss. I will have the workshop create two pieces the size of paperweights using the same method for your enjoyment."

Si Si attended to the ink and brush, meticulously recording the discussions between Miss Zhuo and Ye Tao. She listened as Ye Tao elaborated on the grand concept and intricate rules of the Illusory Spirit Chess, finding amusement in the uniqueness of each piece involved. It was somewhat challenging for Si Si to fully grasp the rules, and she nearly forgot to ensure that Miss Zhuo always had a cup of hot tea in hand. Meanwhile, Qiao Er was dispatched to prepare the dinner snacks. Given the fervor with which Miss Zhuo and Ye Tao were discussing, it seemed likely they intended to continue their conversation while dining.

Ye Tao felt somewhat embarrassed upon seeing this set of brochures. Miss Zhuo had helped him so much today, yet he had actually made her spend money on so many items in his own shop. The rules of the Yi Zhan shop were also established by Ye Tao, and he was well aware of how much it cost to send three sets of product catalogs. He quickly said, "I didn't know that Miss had an interest in military chess; these items should be presented by me. It is indeed inappropriate for Miss to incur such expenses."

Zhuo Xiao asked again, "How were the blue monument and the yellow characters created? It is already quite difficult to achieve such bright colors, and to have them placed outdoors exposed to wind and rain without fading is remarkable, isn't it?"

Ye Tao felt a sense of pride; indeed, that signboard had required considerable thought. It had withstood years of exposure to wind, sun, and rain without losing a hint of color. However, curious individuals had secretly scraped off a bit, which took some effort to repair. Ye Tao stated: "Although blue and yellow are different in hue, the method used on that signboard is the same. First, we sourced plant and mineral dye bases, selecting powder particles that were vibrant in color and insoluble in water, and mixed them with gypsum. Ye Tao continued: "Although blue and yellow are different in hue, the method used on that signboard is the same. First, we sourced plant and mineral dye bases, selecting powder particles that were vibrant in color and insoluble in water, and mixed them with gypsum. This gypsum serves merely as a shaping agent and is also susceptible to sun, wind, and rain. The secret of this signboard lies in a type of fish glue, which, when combined with those powdered gypsum particles, becomes impervious to the elements once dried. It is somewhat akin to the gelatin that forms when fish soup cools in winter. However, this gelatin is much more resilient; although it cannot compare to stone, its hardness and luster are somewhat similar to porcelain. The secret of this signboard lies in a type of fish glue, which, when combined with those powdered gypsum particles, becomes impervious to the elements once dried. It is somewhat akin to the gelatin that forms when fish soup cools in winter. However, this gelatin is much more resilient; although it cannot compare to stone, its hardness and luster are somewhat similar to porcelain. However, this type of fish glue is not easy to collect. Although we have brainstormed ways to utilize fish glue creatively, the yield has consistently remained low.