Chapter 15: Living Off My Looks

Yun Tao, with his delicate features and youthful innocence, didn’t need any makeup. Since it was summer, Ruan Ruan prioritized practicality and comfort when designing his outfit. She chose lightweight, breathable fabrics that were easy to wear: a white robe with green accents, an inner lining embroidered with bamboo, a sash adorned with a jade pendant, and a matching ink bamboo paper fan.

After getting changed, Yun Tao was immediately surrounded by a circle of “wild” moms and dads, along with a few “wild” big brothers and sisters, all beaming as they clicked away with their cameras.

“Where did this little prince come from? So adorable!”

“This outfit is gorgeous! He wears it so well.”

“Those eyes are amazing—my 2D dream son just walked into reality. I’m losing it!”

They hovered around him like college students fussing over a stray kitten.

One person asked, concerned, “Sweetie, isn’t this outfit too hot for summer?”
“Not at all! There’s air conditioning,” Yun Tao replied as he flicked open the fan with a crisp snap! and gave it a leisurely wave. “Besides, I have a fan too.”

The venue’s air conditioning was running full blast, so he had actually been feeling a bit chilly earlier. This outfit was perfect for warming up. His fan-waving motion was smooth and dashing, but his sweet, childlike voice made him look like a precocious little celestial being—adorable and stylish without clashing one bit. His charm sent everyone into even higher spirits.

“Sweetie,” Ruan Ruan said, “could you open the fan again? Big Sis wants to record it!”

Yun Tao neatly closed the fan, clasped it in both hands, and gave Ruan Ruan a playful bow, saying, “Since you asked, Big Sis, I’ll gladly oblige.”

Too. Cute. To. Handle.

Meanwhile, Luo Zheyan, in the middle of getting styled, couldn’t help but peek over at Yun Tao, grinning uncontrollably. Proudly, he said to the makeup artist, “That’s my little brother. Adorable, right?”

The makeup artist, with a straight face, shot back, “He’s my little brother.”

Luo Zheyan: “…Excuse me?”

Jiang Qing couldn’t hold back her laughter. “He’s my little brother too. Guess we’re one big family!”

The lively atmosphere quieted abruptly when Tai Sui arrived. His striking red hair and the crimson mole on his brow made him impossible to ignore. The sheer presence he exuded silenced the crowd; no one dared to speak.

Tai Sui crooked a finger at Ruan Ruan. “The clothes.”

Still dazed from the impact of his godly looks, Ruan Ruan handed over the prepared outfit, pointing toward the fitting room. “Over there.”

Their stall, one of the larger ones, included a couple of changing areas. Traditional-style clothing could be tricky to put on, so Ruan Ruan had brought along two assistants—one male, one female—just in case anyone needed help.

Tai Sui didn’t need it. He pulled the curtain aside and disappeared.

“Who is that?” someone finally whispered, breaking the silence.

“How can anyone be that handsome?”

“For a second, I thought he was a celebrity.”

“Please, if anyone in showbiz looked like that, wouldn’t they already be my ultimate crush?”

When Tai Sui stepped out of the fitting room, the crowd fell silent again. He wore a simple red robe with no embellishments, yet his fiery hair and jet-black eyes gave him an otherworldly, almost demonic beauty.

The way everyone stared at him had evolved from amazement to something closer to reverence—and maybe even a touch of fear.

Tai Sui, unfazed, “rescued” Yun Tao from the stunned crowd, picked him up like a little package, and strode off, leaving behind only, “I’m taking the kid back to the stall, and send Yun Fenghe over.”

The crowd watched the striking duo—one fiery, one sweet—walk away in silence.

“He… kinda looks like a demon.”

Hard to disagree with that.

“Didn’t they say after 1949, spirits and demons were banned?” someone joked, breaking the tension.

Everyone burst out laughing, and the lively atmosphere returned.

Not long after, Yun Fenghe arrived. He was dressed in a long gray robe, not too different from his usual style, but with the addition of a single-lens gold-rimmed eyeglass. The slender chain hanging from it added a scholarly elegance, making him look like a gentleman carved from jade.

Another round of gasps and admiring glances.

“Where did you even find these god-tier models?” someone asked Ruan Ruan enviously.

Ruan Ruan sighed. “Thank goodness for reliable friends!”

Her models were all perfect fits for her designs, each with a unique charm that elevated her work. They could easily walk the runway at a high-profile traditional fashion show—and not just as models, but as the show-stopping finale.

Feeling lucky, Ruan Ruan decided she’d better start a livestream later.

The booth, themed around the mythical Shan Hai Jing, was eye-catching and whimsical. Decorations had a fantasy flair, and even the food containers were printed with cute illustrations of a baby taotie. Tai Sui had arranged everything so neatly that Yun Tao felt a little guilty. He walked over and gave Tai Sui’s shoulders a squeeze. “Thanks for all the hard work, big bro!”

Tai Sui raised an eyebrow. “Feeling guilty all of a sudden?”

Yun Tao chuckled sheepishly.

Yun Fenghe stayed at the clothing booth to oversee things while Luo Zheyan and Jiang Qing came to help at Taotie Delicacies Pavilion.

Luo Zheyan, tall and broad-shouldered, donned a black swordsman robe and bamboo hat. With his sharp brows and bright eyes, he had the rugged charm of a wandering hero. His grin, which revealed perfectly straight teeth, completed the look.

Jiang Qing, in a soft green dress, radiated elegance with her gentle eyes and serene temperament—like a lotus in full bloom.

And Tai Sui? Tai Sui wore an apron, flipping pancakes with a deadpan expression. The sight was so absurdly out of place yet somehow worked, making the crowd even more fascinated. Before long, a quiet line formed in front of the stall, the customers sneaking excited glances at each other.

Yun Tao, amused by the whole scene, snapped a few pictures and uploaded them to social media with the caption: Grumpy Pancake Brother—don’t miss him or you’ll wait another year!

Despite his amateur photography skills, Tai Sui’s impossibly good looks stood out even from the messiest angles, making him shine like a beacon amid the chaos.

When it was a cute girl dressed as a white rabbit’s turn, she hesitated, phone in hand, and shyly asked if she could take a picture with Tai Sui.

Tai Sui glanced at her and said flatly, “Sure, but I’m just a background prop.”

The crowd erupted with laughter.

Jiang Qing noticed the bunny ears on the girl’s head and turned to Yun Tao. “Taotao, it’s a pity you didn’t bring those horn-shaped accessories. They’d look so cute!”

Yun Tao replied, “You want to see them?”

Jiang Qing nodded enthusiastically.

“I brought them! Wait here a sec.” Yun Tao disappeared behind the curtain and returned wearing a pair of small, delicate horns on his head.

“Taotao, you look like a little demon!” Jiang Qing touched the horns curiously. “They feel so real! Can I take them off and have a closer look?”

Yun Tao’s eyes widened, and he took a step back, shaking his head frantically.

“Big Sis, these can’t just be taken off!”

“They’re tricky to wear, so please don’t touch them,” he said firmly.

Jiang Qing reluctantly promised, “Alright, I won’t.”

Their conversation quickly caught everyone’s attention. The crowd, which had been focused on Tai Sui, suddenly shifted their gaze to Yun Tao.

The bunny girl abandoned her pancake and dashed over. “Sweetie, can I take a picture with you?”

Tai Sui: ???

So the love wasn’t lost; it just shifted—from him to Yun Tao.

Yun Tao’s impromptu social media post unexpectedly went viral within the weekend market hashtag.

Visitors planning their trips made the Taotie Delicacies Pavilion and photos with the “red-robed hottie” a must on their itineraries. Upon arriving, they were delighted to find not just the red-haired “demon,” but also an adorable “little demon,” an ethereal beauty, and a dashing swordsman.

A god-tier stall, a feast for the eyes!

Most importantly, the food smelled amazing!

The scent of pancakes mingled with the aroma of scallion noodles, neither overpowering the other, creating an irresistible fragrance. In a food market, a good smell is the best advertisement—and this stall was attracting customers in droves.

Most customers couldn’t wait to dig in the moment they got their food. A bite into the freshly made pancake came with an audible crunch from the crispy crust.

Some took just a few bites before snapping a photo and texting their friends: “This pancake is incredible! Did you make it here yet? The line’s huge, and they’re gonna sell out soon!”

Their friends replied: “It looks amazing! I’m still ten minutes away—please get me one if you can! I’m begging you!”

Those who tried the “Worry-Free Scallion Noodles” experienced something completely different. After slurping down a bowl, all their earlier irritation from waiting in line seemed to vanish, leaving them feeling inexplicably satisfied. Even the noisy venue around them didn’t seem as annoying anymore.

The smell alone was so enticing that the stall owners in the light snacks section couldn’t help sneaking glances their way. If they weren’t stuck at their own booths, they would’ve lined up for a pancake themselves!

Before two hours had passed, the line outside Taotie Delicacies grew even longer, and soon every single item was sold out. Many customers, drawn in by the eye-catching outfits of the staff, wandered over to their clothing stall next.

Tai Sui turned to Yun Tao and asked, “Boss, are we heading back to restock?”

“Let’s do it in the afternoon.” Yun Tao glanced toward the light snack section, gulping involuntarily. “Let’s take a break, wander around, grab some food, and then head back to Sister Ruan’s for the part-time gig.”

He was still very committed to his job!

Everyone readily agreed.

In the light snack section, most stalls offered free samples. It was Yuntao’s first time at an event like this, and he came completely unprepared—no samples, no gimmicky promotional tactics. So, he just roamed around curiously, taking mental notes.

But as it turned out, his charm was more than enough to get by. Wherever he went, stall owners kept piling food onto his plate. Of course, he didn’t freeload entirely—after tasting, he always offered spot-on feedback that left the stall owners thrilled. They even handed him a ton of shop merchandise as a thank-you.

Tai Sui trailed behind him, arms full of cute plushies, looking like he wanted to curse someone out—but damn, he still looked good doing it.

“TaoTao, are you seriously okay eating this much?” Jiang Qing asked, starting to get worried.

Yun Tao, holding a cup of cream-topped milk tea, licked the whipped topping and blinked innocently. “Sis, I didn’t eat that much! I just had a little bite of everything, and the rest I gave to Big Brother!”

Tai Sui, now shouldering the blame, deadpanned: “…Mm.”

Jiang Qing, clearly no match for Yun Tao’s feigned innocence, just sighed and relented. “Fine, but don’t eat too much random stuff, okay? And the milk tea is cold—you only get one sip!”

“Okay…” Yun Tao’s voice turned pitifully soft.

“Excuse me, could you tell me where Taotie Delicacies is?”

The sudden voice snapped Yun Tao to attention.

A young man in white stood a short distance away, asking for directions. His skin was pale, his half-lidded eyes carried a languid, almost sorrowful air, and on top of his head sat a pair of red fox ears.

Yun Tao caught a faint, well-hidden trace of demonic energy.

A fox spirit.

Since waking up, he hadn’t run into any other demons—until now. Yun Tao’s eyes widened slowly, his gaze sharp and intense.

The fox spirit lowered his head and locked eyes with Yun Tao. His gaze flickered briefly over the small horns atop Yun Tao’s head before curling into a faint, enigmatic smile.

What an adorable little demon, staring so openly, so blatantly unguarded. So… weak.

The passerby the fox spirit had been questioning pointed toward Yun Tao’s group. “Oh, you’re looking for Taotie Delicacies? What a coincidence! The owners are right over there!”

The fox spirit nodded politely. “Thank you.”

Tai Sui and Yun Fenghe both instantly recognized what he was but stayed silent.

Jiang Qing, completely unaware of the undercurrent, chimed in cheerfully, “Sorry, we’re sold out for now. If you’re hungry, you’ll have to come back this afternoon!”

“What a shame,” the fox spirit said, glancing briefly at Tai Sui and Yun Fenghe before turning on his heel and walking away. “I’ll just have to come back later.”

“You’re really just letting him leave?” Tai Sui asked Yun Tao.

By then, Yun Tao had sneakily licked the last bit of cream off his milk tea. “What else?”

What business did he have meddling with some random passing demon?

Caught under Jiang Qing’s disapproving stare, Yun Tao reluctantly handed the rest of the milk tea to Tai Sui and sighed wistfully.

When they finally returned to their traditional clothing stall, Ruan Ruan was live-streaming. Yun Fenghe, ever the gentleman, stood next to her, smiling and greeting the viewers.

The moment his face appeared on camera, the stream’s viewer counts skyrocketed.

Ruan Ruan brightened when she spotted Yun Tao and the others. “Done with the morning rush already?”

“Yup, time to focus on this gig now.” Yun Tao tilted his head curiously. “What’re you guys doing?”

Just as the camera panned over to him, the viewers exploded with comments, the chat box filling with endless cries of “So cute!!!”

“We’re streaming! Everyone says you’re super adorable.” Ruan Ruan used the moment to promote the outfit Yun Tao was wearing. “We’re opening pre-orders next weekend!”

Yun Tao carefully set down his pile of snacks, picked up a tiny pineapple cake, and looked up at Jiang Qing with pleading eyes. “Sis, can I have just one more?”

His big, watery eyes made him look like he hadn’t eaten in days. Jiang Qing held out for exactly one second before caving in. “Fine, but only one. The rest goes back in the bag!”

Yun Tao lit up like a kid on Christmas morning, grinning so sweetly it was enough to give you cavities. He nibbled on the pineapple cake slowly, savoring every bite like a little hamster, his long lashes brushing against his cheeks.

Ruan Ruan couldn’t tear the camera away, and neither could the viewers.

“When’s he starting his own mukbang channel? He makes food look SO good!”

“Okay, I wasn’t craving pineapple cake before, but now I NEED it!”

“He’s so obedient! If he begged me like that, I’d let him eat whatever he wanted!”

Even after finishing the cake, Yun Tao carefully shook out the last crumbs from the wrapper, leaving nothing behind. It wasn’t until then that Ruan Ruan remembered to shift the focus back to the clothing. When the camera panned to Tai Sui, the chat basically screamed.

The stream was a smashing success, and Ruan Ruan was so thrilled she offered to increase their pay.

At noon, the Taotie Delicacies team restocked their supplies. By the time they reopened in the afternoon, the line was back in full swing, and before long, everything sold out again. Among the crowd, the fox spirit quietly bought a bag of food and left without a word.

With the clothing stall duties wrapping up early, Ruan Ruan waved them off, encouraging them to take the rest of the day to explore and have fun.

The park was massive, buzzing with exciting activities and packed with people. To keep Yun Tao from getting lost, the older ones took turns carrying him, unknowingly turning their group into the center of attention everywhere they went.

That evening, Yun Tao found out their little squad had gone viral. Every single post about the creative park’s anniversary or the weekend market featured them in some way. The event even hit the local trending list, with a lively comment section to boot.

“I need all the details on that guy wearing red shirt RIGHT NOW.”

“Forget the pretty faces—Taotie Delicacies scallion noodles are unbeatable! Go to the market tomorrow, you won’t regret it!”

“I tried, but the line was insane! Couldn’t get any!”

“Saw them in person! The little demon boss is SO CUTE. He even called me ‘Sis’!”

“Red-shirt hottie, listen, I’ve been single my whole life…”

Yun Tao read the comments to Tai Sui, laughing so hard his stomach hurt.

Tai Sui frowned. “What kind of nonsense is this?”

Sure, Taotie Delicacies had gotten popular partly because of its attractive staff, but even if they worked in masks, their legendary pancakes and scallion noodles would’ve held their own. The foodies who tasted them weren’t shy about spreading the word.

It was clear tomorrow’s business would be even crazier.

Yun Tao yawned. “Let’s prep a little extra food for tomorrow.”

After all, he’d only signed up for a week. Once tomorrow was over, his mission would be complete.

Tai Sui noticed his sleepiness. “If you’re tired, go to bed.”

Yun Tao flopped onto the bed and fell asleep instantly, mumbling, “Milk tea…”

Tai Sui chuckled. “So ambitious.”

Yun Fenghe just shook his head and tucked the blanket around Yun Tao.

At ten that night, Tai Sui was scrolling through comments, liking all the ones calling him handsome or referring to Yun Tao as his “little brother.”

But then, he caught a faint wisp of demonic energy. It was fleeting, but unmistakable.

He looked out the window, clicking his tongue. “Let you go in the morning, and now you’re sneaking back at night?”