The Return of the God Level Assassin Chapter 1295: BAI ZE AND XIA LI'S MEET-UP (V)

Bai Ze remained rooted at the entrance. A vast, dazzling wave of warm illumination flooded the interior, standing in stark contrast to the shadowy steps he'd just ascended. He blinked repeatedly to let his vision adapt. In that instant, the reason behind Xia Li's label of it as a 'specialty store' became crystal clear to him.

The initial sight that grabbed his attention was the wall opposite the entrance. It was entirely draped in large, vibrant banners. Every one showcased a pair of strikingly handsome illustrated young men. One displayed them sharing a set of headphones. Another had one feeding the other a slice of cake, their faces inches apart, beaming affectionately at one another.

Next, his eyes shifted to the shelves and stands on display. They formed a bustling, vivid array of goods—novels, key rings, smartphone covers, acrylic figures, and various other items. All the artwork in view, every poster, every tiny accessory, portrayed men in duos. Frequently, they appeared in affectionate or tender stances. The whole vibe of the shop boldly declared its central theme.

Bai Ze nearly retreated a step. He ought to have realized this was precisely the type of establishment Xia Li had in mind, particularly considering her interests. Memories flooded back of the fan illustrations on her Weibo. The majority of her sketches involved male pairs depicted in intimate and endearing ways, much like those on the banners. She had even portrayed YUN and Noctis in similar scenarios.

Xia Li moved ahead of him into the glowing interior. She turned her head to glance back, her face blending mirth with a touch of unease. "So, now that you see what this place is all about, do you still want to come in with me?"

Bai Ze pulled his shoulders back and cleared his throat, aiming for an air of total composure. "Of course I do!" he declared, his tone a bit overly enthusiastic. He managed a nonchalant shrug. "It's not like there's anything off about this spot. Isn't it basically like any other fan shop? No big deal."

To back up his words, he strode ahead to position himself next to her within the store. He jammed his hands into his pockets, striving for a laid-back vibe. "So," he added, surveying the area. "What precisely did you intend to purchase?"

Xia Li appeared to study him for a moment. Finally, a bright grin lit up her charming features. Witnessing that, Bai Ze felt certain he'd chosen wisely by joining her.

"Just some fresh novels that recently released, and perhaps a bit of the latest official merch they've put out," she explained, her gaze already sweeping over the crammed shelves.

Bai Ze gave a nod and trailed after Xia Li as she guided them forward. She headed first to a nearby stand overflowing with graphic novels and began browsing through them. As he idly scanned the covers, one jumped out at him. Heat rushed to his cheeks immediately. The artwork on it illustrated two bare-chested young men in a fervent embrace, lips locked, forms molded closely against each other.

He averted his eyes quickly, only for them to settle on yet another cover. This particular one proved even more charged. It showed one man pressing the other to a wall, fingers woven into the other's locks while they shared a heated kiss. Neither wore a shirt, their forms glistening with perspiration. Bai Ze's cheeks flamed with even greater intensity.

From then on, he resolved that the safest direction was toward the rear of Xia Li's head. He locked his stare on her dark locks and held it steady, resolved against letting his eyes stray once more.

He remained silent and kept a short distance behind her while she examined various displays. That's when awareness dawned of the other shoppers. They consisted mainly of females, and a number were directing looks straight at him. Some displayed blatant curiosity. Others murmured among themselves and chuckled softly. A few even offered smiles that carried an overly perceptive edge.

Being among the scant males in the entire shop left him profoundly uncomfortable. The stares and laughter urged him to withdraw inward. Self-awareness and a sense of mismatch washed over him. Yet he refused to let Xia Li believe he felt ashamed to appear with her in such a setting. Thus, he lifted his chin slightly and continued shadowing her, despite his face likely resembling a ripe tomato still.

"Oh, it's this!"

The thrill in Xia Li's voice drew his focus. He watched as she delicately lifted what seemed to be a packaged statue from a shelf. It exceeded the scale of a typical figurine, roughly the height of a modest vase. Details escaped him since she clutched it promptly to her chest with both arms, her face alight with joy. She then bounced lightly toward another rack piled tall with graphic novels. Clearly, that item held great appeal for her.

He observed that Xia Li attempted to browse the graphic novels, yet struggled due to gripping the sizable container with the statue using both hands. He moved nearer without delay. "Here," he offered, extending his palms. "Allow me to take the box so you can check things out freely."

Xia Li raised her eyes to him, hesitation flickering across her features. "Are you sure?"

Bai Ze inclined his head, offering what he hoped came across as an assured grin. "Yeah, it's fine."

Though doubt lingered in her expression, Xia Li handed over the box with care to Bai Ze. He accepted it and peered down at the contents through the transparent casing. A duo of statues resided within. One portrayed an angel boasting elegant white wings, the counterpart a demon with shadowy, rugged wings. The figures stood fully unclothed, their expansive wings modestly shielding certain areas. The angel perched upon the demon's lap, neck arched backward in a visage of utter bliss.

He swallowed sharply. A tremor ran through his fingers, nearly causing the box to tumble straight to the ground.