Mo Yan's food truck interior, steam rising from the kitchen, the HUD floating above the counter displaying the mission prompt in crimson text.

Close-up of Mo Yan's hands gripping the counter edge, knuckles white. Then a wider shot of him pacing inside the truck.

Mo Yan drives the truck toward the survivor camp at dawn. Grey morning light. The camp visible in the distance.

Mo Yan walks through the survivor camp, observing. He spots a woman sitting alone, clutching a worn photograph.

Mo Yan approaches the grieving woman. She's startled, then guarded. He introduces himself and offers help.

The woman explains about her mother's last birthday. Mo Yan listens, his expression unreadable.

The woman hesitates, then agrees. Mo Yan leads her to the truck. The System HUD flickers with a progress indicator.

Inside the truck, Mo Yan explains what he needs. The woman is confused but willing. The System provides a vial.

The woman begins to cry, thinking of her mother. Mo Yan holds the vial steady. Her tears fall, shimmering like liquid pearl.

The vial fills with shimmering tears. The woman wipes her eyes, exhausted. Mo Yan thanks her quietly.

Night falls. Mo Yan drives toward the opera house. The vial of tears glows in the passenger seat. Madame Qing's court awaits.

Mo Yan enters the opera house kitchen. Madame Qing's court is assembled at the long table, waiting.

Mo Yan begins preparing the cake. He measures the tears carefully, adding them to the batter. The kitchen fills with an ethereal light.

The cake emerges from the oven, glowing faintly. Mo Yan examines it — a simple sponge cake with strawberries, exactly like the photograph.

Mo Yan serves the cake to Madame Qing. The court watches in silence. He presents it with a slight bow.

Madame Qing takes a bite. Her eyes close. The court holds its breath. A five-star rating begins to form.

The System logs the mission complete. Five stars from the court. Mo Yan stands in the golden light, expression unreadable.

Dawn. Mo Yan returns to the survivor camp with a wrapped portion of cake. The grieving woman is waiting.

Mo Yan hands her the cake portion. He doesn't explain what's in it. She unwraps it with trembling hands.

The woman takes a bite. She cries, but this time she smiles through it. A five-star rating forms above her.

The System unlocks the new seasoning. Mo Yan watches the notification, his expression darkening.

Mo Yan sits in the truck, alone. The HUD shows his current rating: five stars accumulated. The bottle of grief sits in his inventory.

The final page. Mo Yan looks up at the camera/reader, expression set. The truck rumbles to life. A new mission prompt flickers.