Colored contact lenses were something Keke had never used before.
When he carefully put the thin, wing-like lenses on his eyes as instructed by Qi Han, he looked in the mirror and saw that his pupils had indeed turned back to black.
A hint of joy appeared on his delicate face.
With this, no one will be able to recognize me as a member of the Star Luo royal family, right?
These high-tech contact lenses, provided by Ru Yi, not only didn't harm the eyes but could completely conceal the original eye color and be worn for long periods without needing to be taken off every day.
If Keke had any vision problems, the lenses could even automatically adjust their prescription and correct his eyesight.
Unfortunately, spirit masters have excellent vision, so this feature wasn't needed.
Once again, it was another enviable gadget that countless readers would want to have.
Seeing Keke completely restored to his original appearance, except for being much taller—as if he had aged four or five years overnight—without other noticeable changes, Qi Han breathed a slight sigh of relief.
Now, no one should be able to recognize Keke's identity.
The work uniform had already been adjusted by Ru Yi to fit Keke's current size.
However, the new clothes bought just the day before no longer fit him today.
For some reason, Qi Han actually felt a bit like a parent buying clothes for their child.
Luckily, Keke was now taller than Qi Han, so Keke could wear some of Qi Han's slightly loose clothing.
After lending Keke a set of his clothes, Qi Han gave him some money as an advance on his salary.
He then let Keke go out to buy clothes on his own.
After completing all this, Qi Han downed a glass of agarwood juice and immediately entered the training space.
Now, there was only one final step left to perfecting the Qing Dynasty Blessed Pork Meat. He was close to complete success.
There was still some time before the midday business hours, so he could practice a bit longer.
…
Keke wandered through the crowds of Morning Star Street, feeling a bit lost.
He had already visited a few clothing stores, but after seeing the prices of the new clothes, he left.
Too expensive.
Some clothes even cost a gold Coin, though Keke could afford it now.
His old habit of frugality made him reluctant to buy such expensive clothing.
After a moment of thought, he quickly weaved through the crowd and slipped into an alley off Morning Star Street.
He had spent several years in this area and was quite familiar with every shop.
Soon, he arrived at a store called "Uncle Li's Clothing Shop."
This was the only store on Morning Star Street that made clothes specifically for commoners.
Unlike other places, all the clothes here cost less than one silver Coin.
Two years ago, Keke had bought his new clothes from this very store.
Though the clothes here weren't particularly fashionable, nor made from expensive fabrics, they were sturdy and durable—perfect for simple, hardworking folk.
The shop owner, Uncle Li, was a chatty old man who had once exchanged a few words with Keke.
However, due to the drastic changes in Keke's appearance, the old man didn't recognize him now.
Keke had no intention of reintroducing himself, as the changes he'd undergone were hard to explain.
He tried on several outfits in the store's fitting room and selected the appropriate sizes, spending less than one gold Coin in total.
He packed them in the paper bag Uncle Li provided and left the store.
Qi Han had given him ten gold Coins, an advance on his monthly salary.
To Keke, it was already a fortune, and buying clothes hadn't used much of it.
After some thought, he decided not to return to the restaurant just yet.
There were still several hours before lunchtime service, so perhaps... he could take a stroll around the area?
Oh!
Suddenly, Keke thought of a place he had always wanted to visit but had never been able to enter.
Wanshi Bookstore.
It was said that the store had the most comprehensive collection of books in all of Star Luo.
You could find any book you wanted there, and Keke had always wanted to go inside.
After all, his thirst for knowledge was insatiable, and the bookstore was like a treasure trove to him.
Unfortunately, no matter how hard he tried to clean himself up and maintain a neat appearance in the past, he was always turned away at the door due to the holes and patches on his clothes.
He couldn't even enter, let alone afford to buy the books.
But now things were different.
Dressed in new clothes, though not adorned with extravagant details, he looked decent enough to enter.
Plus, he still had nine gold Coins and several silver Coins left.
That was enough to buy several books.
With that thought, Keke's steps grew lighter.
Carrying the paper bag filled with clothes, he walked toward where he remembered Wanshi Bookstore to be.
At a corner, a figure about two meters tall suddenly appeared, walking straight toward him. Keke was moving quickly, and by the time he realized it, it was too late to stop.
Just as he was about to crash into the figure, the person reached out a large hand and placed it firmly on Keke's shoulder.
"Careful, little one."
The man's voice was low and raspy, with a gravelly, smoky quality that sounded particularly magnetic.
"Ah... yes, sir." Keke breathed a sigh of relief and instinctively looked up at the figure, slightly taken aback.
The man's face was completely hidden under a bamboo hat, with a black veil draping down from the brim, obscuring his entire face.
But Keke didn't think much of it.
After all, he had seen plenty of people with strange clothing habits.
Nodding politely to the man with the bamboo hat, Keke was about to slip away, but he realized that the man's hand on his shoulder hadn't let go—in fact, it had tightened.
"Excuse me..."
"Look up and face me." The man's deep voice suddenly carried an air of authority, making Keke instinctively raise his head again, looking at the man with a bit of confusion and helplessness.
The man's gaze carefully scrutinized Keke's face before finally resting on his eyes.
His heart trembled slightly.
Black...
How could they be black?
"Um… can you let me go now?" Keke asked, his face showing a hint of helplessness.
The man's hand, filled with strength, made Keke feel as though he were being clamped in an iron grip.
After a while, the man's grip gradually loosened, and his hand left Keke's shoulder.
"Sorry, I mistook you for someone else." The man's voice was even lower now, as if he was dejected after realizing his mistake.
"No... it's okay." Keke shook his head, a bit embarrassed. "So... can I go now?"
"Of course." The man stepped aside slightly, clearing the way.
Feeling as though he had been granted amnesty, Keke quickened his pace and headed in the direction he remembered.
That man just now... so strange.
The man's gaze lingered on Keke's back for a long time, only retracting once Keke had completely disappeared from view.
He muttered softly under his breath.
"Too similar."
<+>
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