Shopping

The black sedan came to a smooth stop in the underground parking lot of a high-end shopping mall in the city center. The engine was turned off, and a brief silence fell over the interior.

Bai Xu unbuckled his seatbelt and turned to look at Shi Mo in the passenger seat.

The other person was still wearing that silk nightgown that was out of place with the surroundings, with long, silvery-white hair loosely draped over their shoulders, and a few strands even slipping down to their collarbone.

His heterochromatic pupils were half-closed, their hazy appearance created by the dim light from the parking lot outside the window, giving him an almost feline languor and nonchalance.

He didn't even seem to realize he needed to change his clothes before leaving the house; it was as if he had simply been pulled off the sofa and shoved into the car.

Bai Xu's gaze lingered for half a second on the excessively open neckline and delicate collarbone, then he subtly looked away, his brows furrowing almost imperceptibly, and his Adam's apple bobbing slightly.

He reaffirmed that bringing this person out to buy clothes was absolutely the right decision—at least in public, he couldn't let him be so... casual.

"We've arrived, get off the bus." Bai Xu's voice was slightly lower than usual.

Shi Mo lazily hummed in agreement and pushed open the car door.

This time he wasn't barefoot; he was wearing a pair of black soft-soled ankle boots that Bai Xu had left at his bedroom door sometime ago. He stood up straight, the hem of his robe swaying with his movements, revealing a section of his beautifully shaped calves and ankles.

The two walked towards the elevator one after the other.

Bai Xu stood tall and straight, dressed in a well-tailored black combat uniform modified into a civilian uniform, perfectly showcasing his broad shoulders and narrow waist. His steps were steady and powerful, and his temperament was cold and aloof. Shi Mo, on the other hand, wore a loose, floor-length bathrobe, his steps casual and relaxed, yet he possessed an undeniable, strange aura that seemed to exist outside the rules of the world.

This unique combination instantly became the focus of attention from the moment one stepped into the bright, bustling space on the first floor of the mall.

The dazzling lights, the dazzling array of shops, the bustling crowds, and the air filled with the mixed aromas of perfume, coffee, and desserts.

Shi Mo narrowed his eyes slightly, showing a little impatience with the overly "down-to-earth" noise and smell. He subconsciously took half a step closer to Bai Xu, as if trying to use the other's presence to separate himself from the invisible noise.

Bai Xu keenly noticed this subtle movement, paused almost imperceptibly, and then naturally adjusted his pace, placing himself closer to the crowd, subtly forming a protective posture.

With a clear goal in mind, he led Shi Mo directly to a menswear store known for its minimalist design, top-quality fabrics, and privacy.

"Welcome." The sales assistant greeted them with a well-trained smile, but when she saw the two customers' appearances and... one of their clothes, her professional smile couldn't help but show a hint of surprise and curiosity, and her eyes quickly darted between the two.

Bai Xu ignored the sales assistant's subtle expression and turned to Shi Mo in a low voice, "Take a look and see if there are any styles you like." His voice was low, and his breath was warm as it fell on Shi Mo's ear.

Shi Mo glanced casually at the clothes displayed in the store, her eyes devoid of any emotion, as if she were looking at a backdrop rather than fine garments. "Whatever."

Bai Xu seemed to have anticipated this outcome.

He walked to the rack of shirts, his long, slender fingers brushing over several pieces before finally settling on a high-quality dark gray mercerized cotton shirt. He took the shirt down, paired it with a pair of neatly tailored casual trousers in the same color, and turned to hand it to Shi Mo: "Try this."

Shi Mo took the clothes, her fingertips inadvertently brushing against Bai Xu's hand. The cool touch made Bai Xu's knuckles curl slightly. Shi Mo, however, was completely unaware, not even glancing at the clothes in her hand, and walked straight to the fitting room indicated by the sales assistant.

Bai Xu continued browsing the shelves, her gaze focused and discerning. She selected several more pieces of clothing in different colors and styles, all understated yet with excellent details and materials. It seemed she had already prepared several outfits for Shi Mo in her mind.

Just then, a few young girls strolling together passed by outside the store. Their eyes were instantly drawn to the two strikingly different yet equally captivating figures inside the glass window.

"Wow! Look! Look! Two incredibly handsome guys!"

"My goodness, that white-haired guy is absolutely stunning! Is he an elf?! That hair, those eyes! He even looks so stylish in a bathrobe!"

"The guy in the black shirt next to him is so handsome! His physique and presence are amazing! He makes me feel so safe!"

"Are they together? The one in black is picking out clothes for the one with white hair! This scene..."

"What a perfect match! One is aloof and assertive, the other is laid-back and carefree. They're mismatched in physique and looks! But their chemistry is off the charts!"

"The way the man in the black clothes looked at the man with the white hair—even though his expression wasn't much, he seemed so focused… I'm totally swooning!"

The girls whispered excitedly, their cheeks flushed, and some had already quietly raised their phones.

However, their boyfriends were unhappy, feeling a mix of jealousy and displeasure.

"What do you mean, 'match'? What's wrong with your eyes?" A boy frowned and pulled his girlfriend closer to him. "That white-haired guy coming out in a bathrobe is obviously not normal, okay? The one in black looks like he was forced to come out; his brows are all furrowed."

"Exactly," another boy tried to analyze rationally, but his tone was sarcastic, "and if you look closely, they barely communicated. The one in black picked out clothes and handed them over, the one with the white hair took them and went into the fitting room without saying a word. They don't look like a couple at all; they're more like... uh, a guardian and a troublesome ward? Or a strict boss and a lazy subordinate?"

"Yeah, yeah, bro's right! We don't look familiar at all, the atmosphere's kind of awkward. Let's go, let's go buy some milk tea."

The boyfriends pulled and dragged the girls, who were still looking back every few steps and whose eyes were shining as they frantically imagined things, away from the "place of trouble."

The girls, however, were reluctant to part, whispering in protest, "You don't understand! That silent tension is the most powerful!"

"Exactly, the lack of interaction allows for more imagination!"

At that moment, the curtain of the fitting room was lifted by a pale, slender hand, and Shi Mo walked out.

Bai Xu looked at him, his eyes deepening, a clear satisfaction flashing in his green pupils, along with some deeper, more unfathomable emotion. He nodded slightly, his voice even deeper than before: "Okay." Those two simple words seemed to carry a heavy weight.

He then handed over several carefully coordinated outfits, this time deliberately avoiding touching them with his fingertips: "Try these too."

Shi Mo had no opinion, or rather, he didn't care what he wore at all. He took the stack of clothes, the soft fabric piled up in his arms, and as he turned around, his tall and straight back, now free of his bathrobe, drew a clean arc under the light before disappearing again behind the curtain of the fitting room.

The time that followed seemed to become Bai Xu's silent "exclusive matching game".

He was responsible for selecting, reviewing, and fine-tuning, while Shi Mo was responsible for stepping out of the fitting room and showcasing the results.

From simple and casual to slightly formal with a design sense, from cool dark colors to the occasional light beige or hazy blue that makes Shi Mo's skin look even more pale... Shi Mo is like an extremely perfect and extremely cooperative doll (if you ignore his perpetually uninterested eyes). No matter what style of clothes he wears, his gender-transcending appearance and unique temperament can carry them off, showing a different yet equally attractive look.

Throughout the process, the two still communicated very little, yet they seemed to have formed a silent understanding.

Bai Xu stood a few steps away from the fitting room. Every time Shi Mo came out after changing, he would carefully examine him from head to toe with his sharp green eyes, his gaze sweeping over every detail as if it were a tangible thing.

Shi Mo mostly just stood there casually, occasionally meeting Bai Xu's scrutinizing gaze. A faint, almost playful glint would flash in his heterochromatic pupils, as if asking, "How is it?"

"This one."

"Um."

"Roll up your sleeves a little."

Shi Mo did as instructed, slowly rolling up his shirt sleeves to reveal a section of his beautifully shaped, pale wrist.

"Neckline..."

Bai Xu stepped forward, almost instinctively reaching out his hand. His fingertips paused just before touching Shi Mo's neck, then he pointed lightly. "Unbutton the second button."

Shi Mo glanced up at him, her gaze calm, but she did as he asked, unbuttoning the top of her shirt to reveal a small patch of her delicate collarbone.

Bai Xu's gaze lingered there for a moment before shifting away, his Adam's apple bobbing almost imperceptibly.

"good."

"oh."

"wrap up."

"..."

Their conversation was extremely brief and their tone was flat. However, within this almost procedural interaction, there was an indescribable atmosphere.

In the end, Bai Xu selected several sets of comfortable everyday clothes, including essential underwear and socks, and also picked out two high-quality coats: a crisp black long trench coat and a neatly tailored dark blue short leather jacket.

"That's all," Bai Xu said to the sales assistant waiting beside him, handing over a discreet black card.

The sales assistant respectfully accepted the package and began packing it skillfully and carefully, her gaze still lingering on Shi Mo, who stood quietly to the side, seemingly blending into the luxurious surroundings.

Shi Mo watched as the sales assistant handed him several large, exquisite shopping bags, and he naturally reached out to take them. The weight of the paper bags was as light as nothing to him, but the way he carried them created an interesting contrast with his expensive new clothes.

He turned his head to look at Bai Xu, who was signing the contract beside him, and suddenly spoke, his voice calm but carrying a hint of genuine doubt: "Why?"

After signing, Bai Xu handed the pen back to the sales assistant and turned around. His gaze fell on Shi Mo's hand holding the bag, then slowly moved upwards, meeting those heterochromatic eyes. The light from the mall's overhead lights fell on his deep green eyes, reflecting a faint, elusive glow.

"Members of the Seventh Sequence need to be mindful of their image when entering certain places." Bai Xu's tone was businesslike, but he paused, lowered his voice, and added with a hint of almost imperceptible helplessness and something else, "Moreover," his gaze swept over Shi Mo's figure, which was now covered in proper clothing but still aroused the imagination, "you can't... keep walking around in front of me in that bathrobe."

He spoke the last few words very softly, almost between his lips and teeth, yet they carried a peculiar warmth and weight.

Shi Mo raised an eyebrow, a hint of understanding flashing in his heterochromatic eyes, yet also something else. He didn't respond, but simply picked up the bag and walked out of the store first.

Bai Xu watched his retreating figure—the back of the new shirt perfectly hugged his slender spine—before taking a few seconds to follow him.

The two continued walking through the mall, preparing to head to the next store to buy shoes.