Chapter 113: Gunshot

“Of course, there’s no problem,” Lin Xiao immediately responded. “Even if you hadn’t mentioned it, I would still look out for her. Don’t worry.”

Huang Xinyu seemed to breathe a sigh of relief upon hearing Lin Xiao’s assurance. She gently patted his shoulder, saying, “You’re looking for clothes, right? I’m pretty familiar with this place, and I was already planning to shop with Caixing. Mind if I show you around?”

“I appreciate it.”

Lin Xiao didn’t hesitate. Truth be told, he wasn’t great at picking out clothes. The last time he went shopping, it was with Yuan Yu.

They soon caught up with Huang Caixing leading the way. All three ventured to the third-floor clothing section. Even though it wasn’t a holiday, the place, being one of the bustling shopping hubs of Jinghai City, was teeming with people.

Upon their entrance to the third floor, numerous eyes gravitated toward them. Specifically, it was Huang Caixing and Huang Xinyu who magnetized most of the attention, drawing especially ardent looks from men.

Lin Xiao, on the other hand, seemed virtually invisible.

Perhaps accustomed to such attention, both Huang Xinyu and Huang Caixing maintained their composure. Amidst the envious onlookers, they navigated Lin Xiao to a men’s clothing store.

Suddenly, a shift occurred. All attention veered toward Lin Xiao, their expressions registering surprise.

“Who’s this guy? Got two absolute stunners, both a mom and daughter, shopping with him?”

The crowd’s stares grew increasingly envious and incredulous. From their observations, the stunning duo accompanying him seemed to be a mother-daughter pair. The younger woman was affectionately close to him, while the older one, exuding a mature charm, not only didn’t object but engaged Lin Xiao in lively conversation, their eyes sharing an intimate connection.

“What a smooth player, with both mother and daughter at his side!”

If glares were lethal, Lin Xiao would’ve met his death multiple times over by now.

Amidst the envy and incredulity directed at him, Lin Xiao felt a sense of inexplicable absurdity, as if he was blamed for something he hadn’t done.

He had neither acted nor spoken, yet he had already earned the disdain of many. There’s an old saying, ‘Beauty brings calamity,’ and it wasn’t baseless.

Huang Xinyu, with a playful smile, asked, “What clothing brands do you fancy? I can help you find a fitting ensemble.”

“Anything will do. I’m not particular about brands. As long as it’s a decent suit,” Lin Xiao replied.

Brands and fashion were foreign concepts to him. For Lin Xiao, as long as the clothes served their purpose, that sufficed.

“In that case, let me suggest ‘Ermenegildo Zegna’. Founded in 1910, it’s an esteemed Italian menswear label. Renowned for its minimalist chic designs, it exudes a casual yet bold aura. Very fitting for someone like you.”

Huang Xinyu elaborated quite extensively, recounting the entire history of the Ermenegildo Zegna brand. Her exposition left Lin Xiao’s head spinning.

Had it been a detailed character analysis related to Lin Xiao’s mission, he’d have absorbed every word. However, with fashion brands, he felt as lost as if he were deciphering an alien code.

“Auntie Xinyu, you’d better take the lead on this. Fashion isn’t my forte.”

Witnessing Lin Xiao’s bewildered look, a smile appeared on Huang Xinyu’s lips.

“Alright,” she said and strolled around the store, fetching several outfits and passing them to Lin Xiao. “I’ve made a few selections for you. Try them on.”

“Understood.” Taking the garments, Lin Xiao headed to the dressing room.

Shortly after, he re-emerged.

As Lin Xiao stepped out, the eyes of both Huang Xinyu and Huang Caixing sparkled. Transformed by the attire, he was barely recognizable. A total metamorphosis.

His lean, statuesque figure, coupled with those piercing eyes, radiated an unmatched aura.

“It’s a start, not bad at all,” Huang Xinyu remarked, nodding with a hint of satisfaction. “However, it’s still missing that certain je ne sais quoi. Lin Xiao, perhaps try another?”

Inspecting his reflection, Lin Xiao commented, “I rather like this one.”

“Yes, Big Brother Lin looks really dashing in it,” Huang Caixing chimed in, nodding approvingly.

Amused, Huang Xinyu retorted with a mock glare at her daughter, “Tell me, between us, who’s the fashion maven?”

Caught off guard by her mother’s joke, Huang Caixing didn’t offer a rebuttal. After all, she was well aware of her mother’s prowess as a seasoned fashion designer.

Seeing Huang Caixing act so docilely, Huang Xinyu nodded with approval. Turning to Lin Xiao, she advised, “Lin Xiao, on my recommendation, try another piece. This one is decent, but the cut doesn’t quite flatter your shoulders, and the color isn’t bold enough for your complexion.”

Lin Xiao merely nodded in response, taking the clothes back to the dressing room. He might not be well-versed in fashion, but Huang Xinyu was evidently an expert. It made sense to heed her advice.

However, he soon found himself regretting this decision. Huang Xinyu had him cycling through outfits for nearly an hour, each time pointing out their shortcomings.

“The collar of this one sits too low,” she’d say, or “Those trousers break awkwardly at your ankle.”

Lin Xiao was on the verge of losing patience, silently resolving never to accompany Huang Xinyu on a shopping spree again.

As time seemed to drag on, Lin Xiao, growing weary of Huang Xinyu’s critiques, suddenly heard a series of distant bangs through the noises of a bustling mall and ambient music. To the casual ear, they sounded like fireworks.

Jolted to alertness by the noise amidst the bluster of the mall, Lin Xiao’s eyes sharpened, his attention fixed on the distant sound.

The sequence of bangs grew more pressing and intense, even above the mall’s ambient noise, eventually capturing the attention of others in the vicinity.

A man voiced his irritation, “Who’s letting off fireworks in the mall? Isn’t this the city center where they’re banned?”

Several others nodded in agreement, their expressions mirroring the man’s annoyance.

But Lin Xiao, springing to his feet, urgently said, “Everyone, evacuate immediately. Clear the mall now.”

Because, to his trained ears, those weren’t the harmless pops of fireworks. They were the unmistakable cracks of gunfire.

Rapid, unyielding, and incredibly intense gunfire.

The frequency of the shots might have misled many into thinking they were fireworks, especially with the mall’s music and chatter. But Lin Xiao, as the former captain of the Dragon Sword Squad and Xia Country’s elite soldier, recognized the sound without a shadow of a doubt. He was absolutely certain of his judgment.

The surrounding crowd gazed at him as if he’d made a ridiculous claim. A man scoffed, “Are you daydreaming, friend? Share your amusing dream that has you wanting to empty the mall.”

Laughter erupted around them at the joke.

“It’s just fireworks, and he’s panicking? How jittery can someone be?” another man joked, further mocking Lin Xiao.

“It’s not fireworks. It’s gunfire,” Lin Xiao countered with steely determination.

His statement silenced the jeers momentarily, but it was brief; soon they were laughing even louder than before.