Chapter 23: Darling?

Lin Xiao stepped out of his shop, and the scorching afternoon sun immediately bathed him in its glow. It was a marvelous day—perfect for heading out and finding good fortune.

Crossing two street corners fragrant with the scent of coffee, he reached the main thoroughfare of the bustling commercial district. Unlike the quiet solitude of the previous night, the street was now a churning sea of humanity. On the asphalt, the tracks of the streetcar gleamed with a metallic luster in the sunlight. An old-fashioned tram rattled by with a clang, the conductor hanging halfway out the door, veins bulging as he shouted, "Central Avenue! Central Avenue!" His voice was quickly swallowed by the surrounding din.

The surging crowds piqued Lin Xiao’s curiosity. Looking around, he realized that seven or eight out of every ten people were young women. Stylish ladies walked in small groups, dressed in a vibrant array of spring outfits, as colorful as a blooming garden. Men were a rare sight; perhaps they were all too busy working to earn a living. Even when he did spot a few, most were accompanied by a female companion, carrying the bags and parcels from their shopping spree.

Most of these women were striking and beautiful. Naturally, those who could afford to spend a weekday afternoon leisurely shopping were beauties who didn't need to struggle for a living. As they passed Lin Xiao, their gazes would linger for a few extra seconds—some brazenly, others trying to be subtle. Lin Xiao was long accustomed to these stares; he knew that for these women, it was merely looking. When it truly came time to marry, they would still throw themselves into the arms of fat, wealthy tycoons without hesitation, even if it meant becoming a concubine. Women were perhaps more lustful than men, but they were also more pragmatic and more submissive to material wealth.

Lin Xiao walked through this gentle gaze without side-glancing, looking up at the buildings lining the street. The colorful neon billboards on the facades were dazzling even in the daylight. Though not as brilliant as they would be at night, the advertisements for various products remained clearly visible.

Suddenly, a massive billboard caught his eye. On it, a stout, middle-aged man grinned, his shiny, round face highlighted by a pair of meticulously groomed handlebar mustaches. He wore a tight suit, and a gold-plated watch chain left folds across his bulging belly, making him look like a purse stuffed with silver coins. The slogan read: "Smoke 'Golden Dragon' cigarettes, enjoy a 'delightful' life!"

Lin Xiao: "..." What a trashy slogan. To have it plastered all over the street, paired with such a visage—it was visual pollution.

The man on the advertisement, "Jin Baolai," was a nouveau riche tycoon who had been making waves in Donghai City in recent years. Originally named Jin Asan, he changed to his current, more auspicious-sounding name after finding success in the tobacco business. In the picture, he held a cigarette in his right hand, gave a thumbs-up with his left, and a thick, heavy gold chain glittered around his neck.

"It seems that no matter where you go, the nouveau riche all look the same," Lin Xiao said with a smile, wondering if that counted as a stereotype.

"What? Young man, just because you’re handsome, you look down on Boss Jin?"

A gravelly voice suddenly came from nearby, as harsh as sandpaper rubbing together. Lin Xiao turned to see a street vendor selling fried skewers. The man wore a grease-stained apron, looked to be in his fifties, and had years of oily fumes embedded in the wrinkles of his face. His triangular eyes were fixed on Lin Xiao with a squint.

Lin Xiao felt a bit helpless. He had only made a casual remark, yet it had drawn a retort. Why? But he didn't want to argue, so he simply smiled and said, "How would I have the right to look down on him? I just thought he looks every bit the part of a big boss." Jin Baolai’s appearance certainly reinforced Lin Xiao’s stereotypes.

"That's right!" The vendor raised his voice, wiping his greasy fingers on his apron. "Let me tell you, seven or eight years ago, Boss Jin was right here on this street, selling grilled gluten just like me!" He puffed out his chest as if showing off his own great achievements. "Now, he’s a big boss worth over ten billion! That’s why, for a man, having ability is what matters most."

Lin Xiao: "..." You have far too much free time. There are more flies than customers at your stall, and instead of thinking about how to improve your business, you’re here seeking self-satisfaction?

Looking around, the pedestrian street was teeming with people, yet this stall stood desolate. Not far away, a few scruffy-looking youths stood around, glancing over occasionally with shifty eyes. Lin Xiao didn't want to engage with such a person and prepared to walk away, but the vendor persisted:

"Don't think that just because the girls look at you, they’ll choose you. When it comes to finding a man, they'll choose someone like Boss Jin! I heard he just bought a seaside villa next to Golden Bay last month and took the star of the Donghai Song and Dance Troupe as his third wife!" His proud expression made it seem as if he were the one who had taken the third wife.

Lin Xiao replied, "You must be very capable yourself, then, having married multiple wives?"

The vendor: "..." His expression froze instantly, and his greasy face turned the color of liver.

Lin Xiao continued, "Since you used to sell skewers with Boss Jin and are so close, he must take good care of you now, right?"

The vendor: "..." His Adam's apple bobbed violently, and veins bulged on his forehead. *This little brat dares to mock me? I'll show him what's what...*

Just then, a young girl in yellow walked over. She wore her hair in two lively pigtails that bounced with every step. She wore rimless glasses on the bridge of her nose, and behind the lenses, her eyes were clear and bright, radiating an air of scholarly grace. Although her yellow knit cardigan looked slightly worn from many washes, it couldn't hide her fresh and spirited aura. With a height of about 1.67 meters, her upright posture and clean white shoes and socks were enough to make one sigh that a true beauty looks good in anything.

*So beautiful!*

Lin Xiao’s eyes lit up. This was perhaps the second most beautiful woman he had seen since arriving in this world. If Yang Shubai was a ten-point beauty, the girl in yellow was at least an eight. If she were to dress up properly, reaching a nine wasn't impossible.

The girl’s gaze cut through the crowd and locked onto Lin Xiao. The moment their eyes met, Lin Xiao was certain she was staring at him.

*No way? Is she also a girl obsessed with appearances?* This was Lin Xiao’s first time being a handsome man—a top-tier one at that—and he really didn't know how romantic luck would manifest in the life of a hunk.

The next second, the girl suddenly smiled, her eyes filled with bright sunshine. She stepped forward and sprinted toward Lin Xiao. Before he could react, she had rushed up to him, grabbed his arm, and began pulling him away without a word.

"Darling, why are you here? You've made me look everywhere for you!" she said with a coquettish pout, her voice crisp and pleasant, yet tinged with a deliberate intimacy. "Aren't we supposed to see a movie? We're going to be late!"

Lin Xiao: "???" What is going on? Do I know you? Are scams this direct nowadays? Calling me "darling" right off the bat? Could this be a honey trap...

Just as he froze in place, the girl’s fingers pinched his arm hard twice. This subtle action made Lin Xiao jolt—it was a signal. Although he didn't know the situation, anyone with a bit of social intelligence would go along with her words first and ask for an explanation once they reached a private spot.

But the problem was, Lin Xiao didn't dare...

So, he had to bite the bullet and say, "Miss, you must have the wrong person, right? I don't know you!"

The girl in yellow: "???"