Chapter 28: How Does This Dress Look?

As they passed by a plaza, they noticed a large crowd gathered.

"What's going on over there?"

Ye Mo, curious, stood on her tiptoes to get a better view.

Lin Jie glanced over briefly before replying, "Someone's singing, probably a local internet celebrity. They seem popular, and there's always an audience."

"Wow, an online streamer?"

Hearing it was an influencer piqued Ye Mo's interest. She grabbed Lin Jie's arm, eager to push through the crowd, but as her hand touched his arm, he instinctively pulled away.

Her hand was cool to the touch, a gentle caress.

Seeing his reaction, Ye Mo paused, momentarily surprised. She stared at him for a while before gesturing toward the crowd. "Let's go, let's have a look."

Lin Jie's reflex wasn't intentional; it wasn't directed at anyone in particular. Ever since disturbing stories surfaced online, he had developed a cautious demeanor in public.

He had no desire to one day find himself the subject of some viral post accompanied by the caption, "Who can relate, family?"

Disgusting.

"Alright."

Lin Jie quickened his pace, stepping ahead of Ye Mo to clear a path wide enough for her to pass through.

The singer was an older man with long, unkempt hair and a rugged beard, giving him a weathered appearance. Lin Jie mused, perhaps this is what people meant by "a life well-lived."

"He's singing folk songs... The leather jacket and jeans look is so overused, there's nothing original about it. His singing isn't great either, but he seems to have a following," Ye Mo had, at some point, stood shoulder to shoulder with Lin Jie, listening intently. She frowned slightly, then asked with a serious expression, "How many followers does he have? Don't tell me it's in the millions."

"About three hundred thousand, give or take."

"Even that seems excessive. At best, he should have a few tens of thousands. Clearly, his team is pushing hard behind the scenes," Ye Mo commented.

Lin Jie watched her delicate features with interest, as Ye Mo looked back at him. "You've been acting strange today. Why do you keep sneaking glances at me?"

It was odd. He seemed so reluctant to let her touch his arm, yet here he was, stealing glances all along the way.

Ye Mo didn't mind Lin Jie looking at her. If anything, it reassured her that she still held some allure in his eyes.

After a moment of hesitation, Lin Jie smiled and said, "It's just that... I'm an ordinary person, and it's my first time seeing a famous influencer in the flesh. It's a bit novel, you know?"

Ye Mo narrowed her eyes slightly and laughed softly. Her smile was at once cool and tender. "Don't tell me you only realized today that I'm a big online celebrity. Did you think I was lying all this time?"

Lin Jie shook his head. "Of course not, I've always believed you."

"Why are you being so polite today?" Ye Mo laughed lightly. "There's nothing extraordinary about being an influencer or a celebrity. In the end, we're all just people."

Lin Jie smiled without replying.

We're all people, yes, but some are far above the rest.

"I don't see you being all that impressed by me," Ye Mo continued, "After all, you're the first person to ever delete my contact information."

Lin Jie felt a wave of embarrassment.

Ye Mo gave him a sideways glance. The day they exchanged WeChat details, she had been debating which bar to visit. But when she sent the message, she was met with a red exclamation mark.

There were countless people online, and even more in real life, who would do anything to get her contact information. Lin Jie, however, had deleted her in complete silence.

But Ye Mo was sharp. When they went drinking later and Lin Jie let slip his reasons, she had already pieced together why he had done it.

"Let's go, let's get something to eat. This guy's singing is awful. Next time, I'll sing for you; I'm far better than him." Ye Mo tugged at Lin Jie's sleeve, not wanting to go through the awkwardness of reaching for his hand again.

Lin Jie wanted to question her boast, but as he turned to look at Ye Mo's faintly proud and confident expression, he swallowed his words.

Even though Ye Mo said she didn't have anywhere specific in mind, when Lin Jie suggested they find a random place to eat, she promptly turned him down.

With a purpose in mind, she strolled down the street with Lin Jie in tow. The weather in Tianbei City was like that—spring had barely begun, yet the days were already sweltering. By the time summer fully arrived in July and August, the city would live up to its reputation as a furnace.

Ye Mo didn't walk quickly. As they passed various shops, she would often stop to browse, occasionally buying small trinkets. Each time, she would turn and ask Lin Jie, "How does this look?"

"Looks great, everything looks good on you."

Lin Jie knew his response sounded perfunctory, but sometimes the truth was just that simple.

Ye Mo was beautiful, and accessories were merely ornaments to her.

Beautiful women were never short of admirers.

Lin Jie could confidently say he had no romantic feelings for Ye Mo.

It was a stark contrast to how he once felt about Su Jiamu. Back then, seeing other boys flirt with Su Jiamu filled him with anxiety and a desperate need to know how she felt.

But now, when men approached Ye Mo, he merely watched, feeling neither the urge to intervene nor any desire to protect her.

Perhaps, deep down, Lin Jie hoped Ye Mo would realize this and distance herself from him.

Ye Mo, meanwhile, paid little attention to the men who approached her, remaining aloof. She would continue browsing her chosen trinkets, casually calling the shopkeeper over to inquire about prices, leaving the would-be suitors awkwardly lingering in the background.

Sometimes, indifference is more brutal than outright rejection.

Lin Jie observed quietly from the sidelines, watching as the poor souls fumbled in their defeat.

People always say, Be brave. But before being brave, please take a look in the mirror.

Lin Jie had spent three years changing himself, only to realize he had become the fool before he even made a move.

"Lin Jie, what do you think of this dress?" Ye Mo's voice was cool as she held up a dress and glanced at him.

"Oh, I'm coming."

"How does it look?" She held the dress up against herself, her expression frosty as she awaited his response.

Lin Jie, wary of her mood, coughed lightly before launching into an enthusiastic monologue of praise.

Ye Mo simply stood there, watching him with a faint, cold smile, saying nothing.