Chapter 246: Heart Knot

Lin Xiao noticed Huang Xinyu was in low spirits and discreetly changed the subject.

“Auntie Xin, where are we heading?”

Huang Xinyu gathered herself, seemingly having come to some realization, and her elegant smile reappeared. She linked her arm through Lin Xiao’s and said, “Let’s go. I’ll take you to a department store nearby.”

From a distance, Huang Xinyu walking arm-in-arm with Lin Xiao made them appear like an affectionate couple.

Their close posture inevitably led to some physical contact. As they walked, Lin Xiao’s arm occasionally brushed against Huang Xinyu’s ample chest. The incredible softness and bounce were noticeable even through their clothes.

Lin Xiao pushed down the strange feeling and suddenly had a thought.

‘Auntie Xin is indeed worthy of being Huang Caixing’s mother. Not only do they look alike, but their figures are also very similar. If Huang Caixing’s nickname is ‘Little Cow’… Auntie Xin’s nickname must be…’

Before he could finish the thought, Lin Xiao quickly shook his head to clear his mind.

It was already past six in the evening, and the sun had set below the horizon, leaving only a hint of twilight in the sky.

A cool evening breeze swept up the fallen leaves and rustled Huang Xinyu’s hair, dissipating the day’s heat and bringing the refreshing coolness unique to a summer evening.

The two walked slowly along the street, savoring the peacefulness of the moment.

“Lin Xiao, what is your job?” Huang Xinyu broke the silence first.

Lin Xiao didn’t hide anything. “I have two jobs. One is being a bodyguard, and the other is part-time at a martial Arts Hall.”

“Being a bodyguard and working at a martial Arts Hall suits you well.” Huang Xinyu chuckled softly, glancing sideways at Lin Xiao before looking away. “But both jobs are dangerous, right? If something were to happen to you, what would happen to Yuan Yu?”

Lin Xiao remained silent.

“I need to apologize to you. A while ago, I had someone investigate you,” Huang Xinyu spoke softly, slightly lowering her head to avoid Lin Xiao’s suddenly sharp gaze. “After all, Huang Caixing is my… daughter. She likes you so much, and you saved us. I couldn’t have someone with an unknown background around.”

The sharpness in Lin Xiao’s eyes slowly faded, becoming deep and calm again.

“So, what did you find out?”

“I found out what I needed to know, and I stopped looking into things that I shouldn’t know.”

Huang Xinyu stopped walking and stood in front of Lin Xiao, raising her head to meet his eyes with genuine sincerity.

“Lin Xiao, I’m sorry. Can you forgive me?”

“There’s nothing to forgive because I never intended to hide anything in the first place. If you wanted to know, you could have just asked me directly,” Lin Xiao replied calmly.

Huang Xinyu smiled gently. “I understand because you’re a good person.”

She reached out and patted Lin Xiao’s head naturally, her gaze tender.

Lin Xiao, not used to such intimate gestures, instinctively wanted to pull away, but ultimately held still.

“I know that you and Yuan Yu’s brother were both soldiers and that you both served in special forces units, but that’s where my investigation ended.” Huang Xinyu took Lin Xiao’s arm and continued walking, speaking softly as they went. “If I’m not mistaken, you and Yuan Yu’s brother were comrades, right? That’s why you suddenly appeared in Jinghai City to take care of Yuan Yu and her mother—because her brother asked you to?”

“Yuan Yong was my best friend. He died heroically during a mission.”

A flash of pain crossed Lin Xiao’s eyes, and his fists clenched involuntarily.

Lin Xiao didn’t know why he was telling Huang Xinyu all this. There was something about her that made him feel at ease, lowering his guard without realizing it.

Huang Xinyu placed her hand on Lin Xiao’s, her gaze softening even more. “Sometimes, you need to let things out instead of keeping them bottled up. It can help. You can’t live in the past forever; you have to look forward. Don’t you agree?”

Lin Xiao nodded, but the knot in his heart wasn’t something that could be untied with just a few words.

Huang Xinyu regretted bringing this up. She felt she shouldn’t have mentioned it, but she also knew that Lin Xiao had limitless potential. He couldn’t be trapped in the sorrow of his comrade’s sacrifice.

Yuan Yu and Huang Caixing were very close to Lin Xiao, but they were too young and innocent to see the weight on his shoulders. Huang Xinyu, however, had years of experience that allowed her to see through people’s facades. She had noticed Lin Xiao’s vulnerability.

Everyone has a weak spot, and Lin Xiao’s was Yuan Yong’s death.

Perhaps even Lin Xiao hadn’t realized that he blamed himself for Yuan Yong’s death. He believed that if it weren’t for his own mistakes in command, Yuan Yong wouldn’t have died.

To fulfill his promise to Yuan Yong and to ease his own guilt, Lin Xiao willingly gave up a promising future, retired from the military, and came to this unfamiliar city to take on Yuan Yong’s family responsibilities.

In Lin Xiao’s heart, there was hesitation and confusion, though he kept it hidden from others.

“Alright, let’s not talk about this anymore.” Huang Xinyu, noticing Lin Xiao’s mood dropping, suddenly imitated Huang Caixing’s tone, shaking Lin Xiao’s arm. “Brother Lin, give me a smile!”

Lin Xiao was stunned when the usually graceful and elegant Huang Xinyu did such a thing. He stared at her blankly, unable to process what had just happened.

‘What is Auntie Xinyu doing? Why is she imitating Huang Caixing?’

Under Lin Xiao’s gaze, a pretty blush appeared on Huang Xinyu’s fair face. “Why are you looking at me like that? Is it that strange?”

“No.” Lin Xiao snapped out of it, averting his gaze without expression, but the corners of his mouth involuntarily curled up. “You did a great job.”

“That girl always talks about you, constantly mentioning Brother Lin this and Brother Lin that, paying more attention to you than to me, her own mother.” Huang Xinyu pursed her lips, an action that made her look even more like Huang Caixing. “If you get the chance, you should talk to her for me. She never listens to anything I say at home.”

“Got it, I will,” Lin Xiao agreed with a nod. Then he remembered a question that had been on his mind for a long time. “Can I ask you something?”

“Of course, ask away.”

“Are you and Caixing really biological mother and daughter?” Lin Xiao asked carefully.

Huang Xinyu’s body stiffened abruptly, her steps faltering. If Lin Xiao hadn’t been supporting her, she might have fallen.

Even so, she was visibly shaken, raising a hand to lightly pat her chest.

“Isn’t it obvious? If we weren’t mother and daughter, would we look so much alike?”

Though Huang Xinyu said this, Lin Xiao had already gleaned the truth from her momentary panic.

Not wanting to push further, Lin Xiao helped her regain her balance.

“Got it, I won’t ask again.”

“You shouldn’t have asked in the first place,” Huang Xinyu glared at him.

“Sorry.”

With a huff of annoyance, Huang Xinyu released Lin Xiao’s arm and walked ahead alone. From Lin Xiao’s perspective, her graceful back was fully displayed before him.