The man stood in place for a moment, quietly reflecting before chuckling at himself. "I should've asked how old he is," he muttered.
Looking at Keke, he seemed to see the shadow of someone buried deep in his memory.
Such a strong resemblance couldn't just be a coincidence.
Expanding his mental awareness, the man quickly disappeared, pursuing Keke's direction.
After all, he returned to Star Luo City this time with no pressing matters—just to take a look around.
With ample time on his hands, he figured he could observe this intriguing young man further.
If Keke truly was who he suspected, it would be quite the unexpected surprise.
<+>
A few hours later, Keke stepped out of the "Wanshi Bookstore," his arms cradling several thick books.
They were titles he had long wanted to read but had never been able to find elsewhere.
This time, he'd managed to locate them all, and his money was just enough to cover the cost.
Fortunately, there was a decorative clock inside the bookstore that kept reminding Keke of the time.
Otherwise, he might have missed the lunch shift at "Small Shop," engrossed as he was in the sea of books.
Balancing his new purchases along with the bag of clothes he bought earlier, Keke walked briskly back toward Small Shop.
What he didn't realize was that, during the several hours he spent browsing the bookstore, a pair of eyes had been following him the whole time.
On the rooftop of a building opposite the bookstore, the man with the conical hat gently touched the brim of his hat and whispered with a faint smile, "So, this kid also loves books, huh?"
Noticing the direction Keke was heading, the man swiftly moved to another rooftop, ensuring Keke remained within his sightline.
Soon, the man was surprised to see Keke stop in front of a shop—a restaurant, no less.
"Small Shop?"
The man read the name aloud, the syllables unfamiliar on his tongue.
He hadn't heard of this restaurant before; after all, it had been over a decade since his last visit to Star Luo City.
Back then, this place didn't exist.
Curious, he continued to observe.
Outside the restaurant, a large crowd quietly stood in line, waiting for it to open.
Unlike the others, Keke bypassed the line and went straight to the front, where two blonde twin girls were standing.
They seemed surprised to see him, and soon, the three started chatting.
"So, this kid's got a bit of luck with the ladies," the man murmured with a smirk, mistakenly thinking there was something more between Keke and the twins.
Casually scanning the rest of the line, his eyes suddenly sharpened.
"Is that… Lord Tang Qianqiu?"
At the front of the line, Tang Qianqiu slightly turned his head, his gaze briefly sweeping over the man in the conical hat, his eyes carrying a subtle warning before looking away.
Meeting Tang Qianqiu's gaze, the man straightened up a little, respectfully bowing from afar.
"The head of the Tang Sect himself, waiting in line for a meal? This restaurant must be something special."
But what connection did this restaurant have with Keke?
The man's gaze drifted across the rest of the diners, only to spot yet another familiar face.
"Is that… Tonghua? He's grown so much over these years!"
A trace of fondness crossed the man's face.
Despite his issues with Tonghua's father, he had once held this child in his arms.
But now wasn't the time for Tonghua to know he had returned.
After sweeping the line again and confirming there were no other familiar faces, the man's attention returned to Keke, and a faint warmth flickered in his eyes.
Though he wasn't entirely certain, he felt about 70% sure of Keke's identity.
The only anomaly was the boy's eye color.
"Could his martial spirit have mutated?" the man wondered, his thoughts racing.
Without hesitation, he flashed to the back of the line.
Since Keke seemed to be waiting for the restaurant to open, the man figured he wouldn't stray too far.
Besides, he was becoming intrigued by this establishment himself.
If it could attract Star Luo's Eldest Prince and the head of the Tang Sect, there had to be something special about this place.
Might as well give it a try.
After years of sharing simple meals with rough soldiers, he wouldn't mind indulging his palate again.
Once upon a time, he had been a lover of fine cuisine.
<+>
The Qin sisters were surprised to see Keke, as they had assumed he'd already be inside waiting for them.
After all, unlike them, Keke lived at the restaurant.
What shocked them more, though, was how much he had changed.
Though Keke's delicate features remained, there was a newfound maturity about him.
His height had shot up nearly two heads, bringing him close to six feet tall, making it seem as though he'd aged four or five years overnight.
Keke patiently explained his situation to the sisters again, though he was careful not to reveal what his martial spirit was.
The two didn't pry either.
Both girls were fairly accepting of Keke's transformation.
After all, in Douluo Continent, many people experienced physical changes when their martial spirits evolved.
Though Keke's case was rare, it wasn't unheard of.
Once they'd accepted Keke's new look, the three resumed their conversation in hushed tones.
"Keke, look over there," Qin Yue whispered, subtly pointing toward someone in the line. "That's the Eldest Prince."
Keke froze.
Before, he might have gazed upon the Eldest Prince with awe.
But now, if his suspicions were correct, that man might very well be his cousin.
He slowly turned his head to get a look at the man who might share his bloodline.
Wearing a luxurious prince's robe, Dai Tonghua stood with his hands behind his back, his eyes half-closed, exuding an air of aloofness.
Despite waiting in line like everyone else, his expression radiated arrogance.
Behind him stood two servants, their attire even more extravagant than the new clothes Keke had just bought.
So this was the Eldest Prince?
Seeing the faint resemblance between them, Keke's expression grew complex.
Strictly speaking, this wasn't the first time he had seen Dai Tonghua.
The last time had been that night, when the Eldest Prince first visited Small Shop.
But back then, fear had kept Keke from even looking directly at him, terrified that one of the prince's attendants might beat him.
He had kept his head bowed in submission.
"Hey, Keke, you look a bit like the Eldest Prince," Qin Yue observed with a laugh, her voice hushed but playful.
Her sister Qin Yao quickly tugged on her sleeve, urging her not to say such things.
Joking about such matters could be seen as a grave offense against the royal family.
Realizing her mistake, Qin Yue quickly covered her mouth, her eyes darting nervously.
Keke glanced at her and smiled faintly. "It's just a coincidence."
After all, he was just Keke, the little beggar.
He didn't bear the Dai name.
Right?
<+>
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