Chapter 120: I’m Going to Buy Some Oranges

Lin Xiao had received an affirmative response from the police, but instead of taking immediate action, he made his way back to the storage room on the fifth floor.

Huang Caixing and Huang Xinyu sat silently on the floor, the weight of the atmosphere pressing down on them. Several times, Huang Caixing had the urge to open the door and peek outside, but each time, Huang Xinyu stopped her.

With Lin Xiao absent, Huang Xinyu felt the burden of being alert and cautious. Her heart felt heavy, and her palms were sweaty. Clutching a wooden stick she had found, she stared intently at the door, dreading the thought of the robbers barging in.

In contrast to Huang Xinyu’s palpable tension, Huang Caixing seemed more composed. She had unwavering trust in Lin Xiao. Despite the frightening ruthlessness of the robbers, she believed that Brother Lin would handle everything flawlessly.

For Huang Caixing, as long as Brother Lin was there, no problem was insurmountable, and no enemy was unbeatable. Her optimism slightly eased the strain on Huang Xinyu, although she remained on edge.

Suddenly, rhythmic footsteps echoed from outside.

Huang Xinyu tensed, gripping her stick tighter. But Huang Caixing’s eyes sparkled with hope, a smile forming as she said, “It must be Big Brother Lin returning.”

The door opened to reveal Lin Xiao. Without hesitation, Huang Caixing rushed to him, wrapping her arms around him. Seeing him, Huang Xinyu exhaled in relief, dropping her stick, which was dampened by her sweat.

“Brother Lin, how’s everything outside?” asked Huang Caixing, her voice soft and filled with concern.

“The robbers likely won’t come here, so you both are safe,” Lin Xiao reassured, with Huang Caixing clinging to him like a koala. With his hands occupied by her, he used his foot to shut the door.

“However, two hostages were killed, and another was injured.”

Huang Caixing’s eyes widened in disbelief, her hand covering her mouth.

“How did that happen?” she gasped, her delicate face etched with shock.

Huang Xinyu’s reaction mirrored hers, a mix of shock and fear.

Steadying herself against the wall, Huang Xinyu rose to her feet, her brow furrowed in a blend of pain and concern. “What about the police? With such a major incident, they can’t just stand by, can they?”

“The robbers have about sixty hostages. The police are holding back from storming the mall. They’re concerned if they do, it might escalate the situation and endanger the hostages even further,” Lin Xiao briefed them on what he knew. “Did you hear what the robber was yelling earlier?”

“We didn’t hear anything,” both replied in unison, shaking their heads.

Given the secluded location of this warehouse and being on the fifth floor with the door firmly closed, it wasn’t surprising that they missed the robber’s announcements.

“The robber made a demand,” Lin Xiao continued, his voice devoid of emotion, “They want a helicopter within ten minutes. For every minute past that deadline, another hostage will die. So, right now, no one else can help us. We can only depend on ourselves.”

A chilling resolve shone in Lin Xiao’s eyes. He made up his mind to eliminate them all.

He didn’t personally know any of the hostages. Some had even ridiculed him earlier. So, he felt neither warmth nor malice toward them. But the criminals’ indiscriminate violence severely crossed Lin Xiao’s moral bottom line. He couldn’t stand by and do nothing anymore.

Lin Xiao had taken lives before. One might even say he was no stranger to death. Yet, he was sure each person he killed had it coming. None were truly innocent.

While Lin Xiao’s actions aimed to punish the wicked and safeguard his homeland, the robbers’ motives were far simpler: greed, money, and the perverse thrill of their vile desires.

Lin Xiao was fundamentally different from them.

Huang Caixing caught the underlying intent in Lin Xiao’s gaze, gripping his hand tightly. “Big Brother Lin, you don’t plan to…”

She left her sentence hanging, but her voice trembled with evident panic.

While Huang Caixing had unshakable faith in Lin Xiao, she wasn’t prepared to see him risk everything against the robbers. The mere thought of him getting hurt sent shivers down her spine, and her eyes widened in fear as she looked at him.

With a reassuring smile, Lin Xiao gently patted Huang Caixing’s head. “Relax, they’re just a handful of robbers. They’re no match for me.”

Only now did Huang Xinyu grasp Lin Xiao’s intentions. She exclaimed, “Lin Xiao, you can’t possibly be thinking of taking on those robbers by yourself? Have you lost your mind?”

But Lin Xiao was resolute. No amount of persuasion would sway him.

“Auntie Xinyu,” he began soothingly, “I’ve made up my mind. Rest assured, I wouldn’t do something I’m not confident about. You both need to stay put. Once I’ve handled the robbers, I’ll come back for you. Don’t leave this place until I return.”

Huang Xinyu, sensing the unwavering determination in Lin Xiao’s eyes, conceded. “Alright, just promise me you’ll be cautious. Don’t overreach.”

The concern in her eyes was palpable. Despite their brief acquaintance, she held Lin Xiao in high regard. He hadn’t just saved her daughter but also given them a timely warning that had potentially spared them from becoming hostages or worse.

Tears shimmered in Huang Caixing’s eyes as she implored, “Big Brother Lin, promise me you’ll be safe.”

Chuckling, Lin Xiao responded, “Have a little faith in me. I’ll be back before you know it. It’s not a final goodbye or anything.” Trying to ease the tension, he added jestingly, “Stay put, I’ll go buy some oranges.”

Huang Caixing was momentarily taken aback but soon broke into a soft laugh. “Big Brother Lin,” she said with feigned annoyance, “you’re so naughty!”

The room’s heavy atmosphere lifted momentarily.

“Big Brother Lin, you go ahead. We’ll wait here for you.”

Lin Xiao gave Huang Caixing a slight nod, his gaze briefly lingering on Huang Xinyu before he turned to exit the storage room.

After he left, a bewildered Huang Xinyu turned to her now smiling daughter and asked, “What did Lin Xiao mean by what he said just now?”

With a playful glint in her eye, Huang Caixing replied, “Mom, the line Big Brother Lin just used, ‘Stay put, I’ll go buy some oranges,’ is a reference to Zhu Ziqing’s ‘Back View’. It’s what a father told his children as he was leaving them at the station.”

Huang Xinyu, upon hearing this, looked momentarily taken aback. A blush crept up her cheeks, and she lowered her head, not saying another word.

Meanwhile, Lin Xiao had already exited the storage room on the fifth floor.

The moment he stepped out, his demeanor shifted dramatically. His eyes became cold and piercing as if he was an exquisite sword just unsheathed, its gleaming blade intimidating to all who saw it.

This was the true face of Lin Xiao. The facade of calm and indifference was merely a mask hiding beneath an unassuming exterior.

Without making a sound, Lin Xiao swiftly moved, vanishing into the corridor in an instant.

***

On the shopping mall’s third floor, the head of the robbers idly twirled a sharp dagger, its blade catching the light menacingly.

The dagger spun effortlessly between his fingers, yet he paid it no heed.

Just then, Old Seventh returned, immediately addressing the leader, “Boss, are you sure about your plan? Aren’t you worried the police might risk it all and storm in?”

Laughing softly, the leader replied, “Think about it. We’re in the heart of Jinghai City, right in the middle of its busiest shopping district. Would they really dare to mount an assault here? If they do, I’d be genuinely impressed. But the reality is, even though they might wish nothing more than to finish us off, they have to think of the repercussions. They’ll be forced to negotiate. And even if some hot-headed officer decides on a bold move, I bet their superiors would call it off instantly.”

Remaining composed and twirling his dagger continuously, he scoffed, “You just took out a hostage in front of them. See any repercussions for you yet?”