Nathan Road No. 100.
Here, eateries and cosmetics shops abound, as do towering office buildings. The throngs of people weave ceaselessly.
Under the colorful signs, a multitude of aromas assault the senses. The snip-snip of scissors fills the air, as snow-white rice noodle rolls fall into plastic lunch boxes, followed by a sprinkling of fried toppings and soy sauce. And there's the aromatic toasted sesame seeds.
"Five dollars."
Li Yan paid with one hand and with the other received a serving of spare rib and pig intestine rice roll, spearing it with a bamboo stick as he entered a grey, dusty building in front of him. It bore the sign, "Zhongxing Baode International Auction Co., Ltd. Hong Kong Office."
The lobby on the first floor was poorly lit and very dim. Seated in front of a desktop computer at the reception was a girl with shoulder-length short hair wearing a white woolen coat. She had a sweet appearance, reminiscent of Qiu Shuzhen in the metropolis.
