The makeup did well to hide his two black eyes and broken nose.
Li Tian, sitting in the backseat of the car, grimaced as he adjusted his oversized glasses. They felt too big for his face, the frames almost comically out of place with his usual flashy persona. He adjusted them again, still unsure if he could get used to the feeling. He hated this—his whole life had been about looking perfect, about maintaining an image. And now, here he was, a mess hidden behind a cheap pair of glasses and rough clothes. He glared at his reflection in the compact mirror before quickly snapping it shut, unable to stand it any longer.
"Here," he passed it to the woman beside him.
She took it and smirked. "Had enough of yourself, Tian?"
"Shut up," he muttered, avoiding her gaze. His pride hurt to admit that the whole thing was getting to him. This entire situation felt like a joke. Did he have to look like a nerd? A geek? A loser? It was as if the world were conspiring to make him look ridiculous. And the worst part? It was working.
The deep, unmistakable feeling of humiliation gnawed at him. His family—his mother, his siblings, even his fans—were probably laughing behind his back. They'd be asking how the great Li Tian had fallen so far.
He glanced out the window, trying to distract himself, but his thoughts only spiraled deeper. No. He couldn't let them have the satisfaction. He would show them. He'd make sure they saw that he could handle this.
"Take this." Meilin's voice broke through his thoughts as she passed him a small earpiece.
He took it and slipped it into his ear, deliberately ignoring her eyes on him.
"Listen, Tian," Meilin continued, her tone more serious. "Stay low. The goal is simple—walk from point A to point B, buy something, and don't get caught. If you do, our team is here for backup. If there's any chance that you're suspected, tell me IMMEDIATELY."
He nodded absently as he fixed his glasses one more time.
"Anything else?"
"Yes. Keep your attitude in check. You're on a mission, not a vacation. And, our people—" Meilin paused, her eyes narrowing with emphasis "—will be wearing red scarves. Don't miss them."
"Seriously? Red scarves?" He stared at her, incredulous. The ridiculousness of it was almost too much to bear.
"Yes, Tian. They're very thin." She raised an eyebrow, as if that should be self-explanatory.
He couldn't even summon a response, but inwardly, he seethed. He was so done with this. Why did he need all this extra security? How was this supposed to be a test of his skills when he had to be babysat like this? Was his outfit not gaudy enough? Would anyone actually recognize him in it? And the glasses? Ugh, the glasses. His ego couldn't handle it.
"Whatever," he muttered, pushing open the car door. "I'm heading out."
"See you on the other side."
---
The street market was chaotic—a noisy, bustling place where vendors shouted out their wares, and people meandered in every direction. Couples wandered by, families haggled over prices, and groups laughed at one another's choices. Li Tian felt the uncomfortable weight of the crowd pressing in on him.
To Li Tian, it all felt like chaos.
His eyes darted from one food stall to another, disgusted by the grimy displays. It was the smells of the food stalls hit him first, making his stomach churn. Then, the sight of the dishes appeared, looking unappealing and foreign, especially to his refined tastes. He wrinkled his nose at the greasy, questionable-looking offerings, each one more bizarre than the last. He couldn't fathom how anyone could eat any of this. He could barely stomach the sight of it. Thinking of anyone eating it was beyond him.
As he moved deeper into the crowd, the space grew tighter, and a feeling of claustrophobia crept in. People shoved past him, paying no mind to his discomfort. It was a stark contrast to the control he was used to, where space and dignity were always maintained.
Trying to stay focused, he walked, forcing himself to ignore the clammy feeling consuming him. But was that even possible when the Li Tian who was so used to being in control had all of his personal space vanish, swallowed by the sea of bodies.
It wasn't even that long before couldn't take it anymore. It was too much. He gritted his teeth and pushed through the crowd aggressively. His mission was simple, but the sheer discomfort of it all made it feel like the hardest task he'd ever been given.
Still, the goal was to buy something. Something… anything.
Every vendor tried to lure him in, some more fiercely than others. But nothing looked appetizing. If he wasn't gagging at the sight of them, he was cringing at the thought of even putting it in his mouth. If he were to fail the trial run, this food mission would probably be the reason why.
The vendors on the street continued to relentlessly promote their food, some going so far as to approach and usher people directly toward their stalls. With exaggerated promises and flowery language, they did everything they could to lure customers in. It was easy to get lost in the crowd if one weren't paying attention.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a middle-aged man approach. Before he could stop it, the man tapped his shoulder lightly.
"Excuse me, youngste—"
"Get your grimy hands off me, you fucker! I don't want your dogshit!" Li Tian snapped, his voice sharp and cutting, loud enough for the surrounding people to hear.
The middle-aged man recoiled in shock, his face registering both confusion and surprise. The people around them, already used to the usual street noise and haggling, looked up, momentarily startled by the tension in the air. Unlike the usual vendors who shouted to entice customers, this brief encounter felt different. It was laden with malice. Li Tian didn't care. His frustration was bubbling over, and he couldn't contain it. The smell of the market, the chaos around him—it was all too much. It hadn't even been long since his journey began, yet already, he could feel himself being on edge.
"I was only trying to tell you that your shoe was untied, young man," the man said, his voice unexpectedly kind and understanding.
Li Tian's gaze shifted downward, and sure enough, his shoelaces were in disarray—one untied, the other barely hanging on. A fresh wave of embarrassment crashed over him. His temper flared.
"Damn these shitty cheap shoes!" he muttered to himself as he stormed off, ignoring the man's voice trailing behind him.
"Nice going, Tian."
"Shut up," he muttered into the earpiece, wishing he could just disappear into the crowd. His cheeks burned, and he wasn't sure if it was from the embarrassment or his growing irritation.
Li Tian didn't feel any better after walking away. Despite his disguise, he couldn't shake the feeling that people were still ridiculing him. How was this attire keeping a low profile anyway!? His outfit was supposed to keep a low profile, but it was doing the opposite. Frustrated, he bent down to tie his shoes, only to be jostled from behind. In a flash, he lost his balance and crashed to the dirty ground, his backside hitting the pavement with a painful thud. His clothes were soaked in mud, and his palms stung from the fall.
"Oof! Sorry, man. Didn't see ya. What were you doing on the ground in the middle of the street?" The man, a passerby, extended his hand to help him up.
Li Tian, already fuming, swatted the man's hand away and pushed himself off the dirty ground, his backside soaked in mud. He was furious now. The humiliation piled on top of humiliation. This day was turning into a nightmare.
He snarled at the man who had bumped into him before storming off, his frustration boiling over as he pushed through the crowd.
"Did something happen?" Meilin's voice crackled in his ear.
"Nothing," Li Tian growled, the words more out of spite than truth. But he didn't want to admit anything. He couldn't.
---
After walking what seemed like forever, disregarding the direction he was heading, he eventually found a quiet corner away from the crowds, and this time, he finally managed to bend down to tie his shoes safely. His frustration was palpable, but there was nothing left to do but carry on. It was clearly his own fault for attempting to tie his shoes in the middle of the street, but he was still new to these situations. Normally, people would always make way for him but that was not going to happen for as long as he donned a disguise. His sense of common logic wasn't quite there yet, and he figured he'd learn better by just going through it.
Then, an unexpected voice broke the silence. "Young man?"
Li Tian glanced up to see an elderly woman sitting in front of a tiny stall, far removed from the main market. She was watching him with a kind smile on her face, though her eyes carried a hint of concern.
"Are you alright?" she asked gently.
He sighed and wiped some dirt from his palms. He wasn't in the mood for anything, let alone talking to an old lady, but there was something about her demeanor that made him pause.
"I'm fine," he replied shortly, standing up to dust off his pants.
"You look like you've taken a fall..." she noted, her eyes softening as she studied the cuts on his palms and the mud streaking his clothes.
She rummaged under her stall, pulling out a clean white cloth and offering it to him. "Here, dear. Clean yourself up."
Li Tian stared at it, uncertain. Did she not care if it got dirty? "Thank you..." he muttered, but the question still lingered in his mind. Why was she being so kind?
"No worries, dear, just keep it," she smiled warmly. "A handsome young man like yourself shouldn't worry about something so insignificant."
"I'm very handsome, aren't I?" Li Tian replied reflexively, wiping himself down. The words had barely left his mouth before he froze, realizing his mistake. Shit.
The woman laughed, her wrinkled eyes crinkling in amusement. "You sure are, dear. I wish my grandson was as handsome as you. But don't tell him I said that."
For a moment, Li Tian simply stood there, stunned. He hadn't expected such a genuine response, and somehow, it made him feel lighter. A slow smile tugged at his lips, unbidden. "Don't worry, old lady, I won't." He chuckled, the first real smile of the day spreading across his face was aimed at this stranger on the corner.
"Please, call me Grandmama," she said with a twinkle in her eyes. "I'm just a young woman that happens to have grandchildren."
"Of course, Grandmama," he chuckled, indulging her.
He then glanced at the food she sold— they were plain, unremarkable buns. Even the more repulsive-looking street food seemed more intriguing.
It was just a round white ball.
Li Tian squinted at the sign: "Grandmama's Homemade Bao."
"Would you like to try one, dear?" the elderly woman interrupted his thoughts.
"I—"
"Even with those thick glasses, I can tell you're not impressed," she said knowingly, her eyes twinkling with a mix of kindness and insight. There was no hiding his reaction from her; she saw right through his attempt to be polite.
The woman, beaming with pride, handed him a small steamed bun wrapped in paper. "Try it, dear. It's my homemade bao."
He raised an eyebrow. "Pao?" He glanced at it skeptically—it didn't look like much, just a simple, round bun.
"Would you like to try one, dear?" Her voice broke his thoughts, gentle but insistent.
"I..."
"Even with those thick glasses on, I can tell from your expression that you don't think much of them," she added matter-of-factly, a knowing smile dancing on her lips. There was no hiding his thoughts from her.
Li Tian looked at her apologetically. But he realized this could also be the perfect chance to purchase something for his mission. He pulled out his wallet and immediately frowned—only credit cards and large bills. Did she even have enough to make change in this rundown stall of hers? Well, no matter. He didn't need the change. She should be grateful for the large tip.
"No need, son," Grandmama stopped him with a firm yet kindly hand. She swiftly packed a freshly steamed bun from the warmer, the sweet aroma filling the air, and handed it to him. "This is my gift to you."
Li Tian blinked in confusion. "You don't want my money?" He felt a strange unease, unsure of her intentions. This wasn't one of those business deals or workdays where people showered him with free things just to stay in his favor. This old lady shouldn't know who he is. What was going on?
"It's fine, dear," she reassured him with another warm smile, her wrinkled eyes soft with wisdom. "Enjoying my pao is payment enough."
Still uncertain, he took the bun, staring at it inquisitively. What was this thing, really?
"You've never had a steamed bun, dear?" she asked curiously. Someone never having tried such a staple simple food was rare.
Steamed bun? He had heard of them but had never bothered to try one.
"No, I haven't," he admitted, his voice low, but sincere.
"Then this is my lucky day," Grandmama grinned, her face lighting up with joy. "I get to see the reaction of a handsome young man eating a steamed bun for the first time."
"Uhh..." he hesitated. What if he didn't like it? How embarrassing that would be.
"It's not about what something looks like on the outside, dear," she said softly, her eyes drifting toward the sky. "What matters is on the inside. Some of the most beautiful dishes will taste awful. The most majestic creatures can be deadly, and the wealthiest people will betray you if it benefits them..."
In that moment, she looked every bit the sage—her words carrying the weight of years of wisdom and lived experience. There was an unsettling depth to her that caught Li Tian off guard. He couldn't quite grasp the full depth of her lesson, but the way she spoke made him hesitate, sensing its importance. Still, unless he actually tasted the bun in his hands, the meaning behind her words would remain elusive.
Taking a deep breath, he decided to trust her. He took a tentative bite into the soft, cloud-like outer layer of the steamed bun. The moment the rich, spicy meat filling hit his tongue, a shiver ran down his spine. His whole world seemed to stop for a split second as the savory flavors exploded in his mouth, so simple yet so profound.
He swallowed, and for the first time that day, something inside him shifted. The world felt different. Something about the tenderness of the modest bun and the burst of flavor made everything feel... right.
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