Chapter 29: "You Big Fool, Hurry Up!"

"Are you done?"

Lin Jie, feeling parched, licked his lips and replied, "Yes, I've said it all. But it doesn't matter what I think, it's up to you whether you like it or not..."

"Boss, I'll take this dress, and pack the rest of the items too."

"Sure, beautiful lady."

"Boss, I've bought so much, can't you give me a discount?"

"Haha, of course, how about 10% off?"

"Alright."

As Lin Jie marveled at Ye Mo's bargaining skills, she waved the bag in front of him. "Carry it."

"Okay, sure."

To be honest, Ye Mo in real life was a far cry from her online persona. Online, she resembled a master at fishing for attention—her voice sugary sweet, her emojis adorably pink. But in person, she was that aloof older sister who looked at you with playful disdain, her every word and action assertive and domineering.

Yet Lin Jie couldn't bring himself to say no.

Well, truthfully, carrying a few bags didn't bother Lin Jie at all, especially when the other person was an exceptional beauty like Ye Mo.

After shopping, Ye Mo didn't speak to him for about ten minutes, and Lin Jie grew slightly uneasy. He suspected she might be upset. But then he consoled himself... perhaps it was better this way. If Ye Mo were truly angry, she might never seek him out again, and he could quietly return to his dark, familiar corner.

But Ye Mo had no intention of granting him that reprieve.

She stood beneath a tall building, glancing left and right, before crouching slightly to adjust her phone's angle. Then, she waved him over.

Lin Jie hurried to her side.

For some reason, seeing that she was still willing to engage with him brought him a sense of relief.

"What can I do for you, Mo-jie?" he asked with a hint of amusement.

Ye Mo's eyes glimmered with a half-smile as she studied him, but then she grew serious. "Can you take some photos of me? I want to post them later."

"Of course." Lin Jie nodded.

"Do you even know how to take pictures?" she asked, skeptical.

At the mention of this, Lin Jie brightened, a confident smile spreading across his face. "Leave it to me, I'm great at photography."

"Really?" Ye Mo still sounded doubtful.

"If you don't trust me, why did you ask me to do it?" Lin Jie retorted, slightly indignant.

"Oh, alright, alright, don't get mad," she said with a playful grin. "I'm just afraid you'll make me look like a school kid."

Ye Mo chuckled, adding, "Honestly, guys usually aren't great at taking photos. It's not that you're all terrible, but you tend to be too careless."

Remembering something unpleasant, Ye Mo's expression momentarily turned amusing. "Well, to be fair, some girls are bad at it too."

"Mo-jie, don't you have your own photographer?" Lin Jie asked, grinning.

Usually, for someone as popular as Ye Mo, it was unthinkable that she wouldn't have a team and a dedicated photographer. But judging from her previous social media posts, she seemed to wander around on her own.

Ye Mo was not like the others.

"I don't," she shook her head, handing him the phone. "I don't like hiring photographers. I prefer being free and spontaneous. I don't want them telling me what to do, I like being my authentic self."

"Most of the time, I just ask random strangers to take pictures for me. Sometimes they're good, sometimes not so much." Ye Mo sighed softly.

"Don't worry, leave it to me." Lin Jie confidently patted his chest.

"Alright then, I'll trust you," she said with a soft smile. "But if the pictures don't turn out well, I'll hold you accountable."

With that, Ye Mo playfully waved a fist at him, feigning seriousness.

Lin Jie laughed heartily and gave her an "OK" gesture.

He had studied photography before and knew his way around Photoshop.

Why? Not because of some deep passion.

Lin Jie had once hoped to impress Su Jiayu.

Unfortunately, that moment would never come.

Ye Mo struck various poses beneath the towering building, and Lin Jie crouched down to capture her already statuesque figure from an even more flattering angle... He admired people like Ye Mo; their photos always turned out naturally beautiful.

"Are you done?" she asked.

Lin Jie recognized the spot as a popular photo-op location, akin to the iconic Shanghai skyline trio, though not quite as opulent. There were more people here compared to the previous street, yet Ye Mo was undeterred. Her poses were poised and elegant, even as curious onlookers gathered around. She only grew more confident, more radiant.

"Finished."

Lin Jie scratched his nose as he handed the phone back to her. Ye Mo scanned the pictures, her eyes lighting up with delight. She looked at Lin Jie, brimming with excitement. "Wow, you really know how to take photos!"

Lin Jie was taken aback. "What do you think? Do you like them?"

"They're amazing! Absolutely gorgeous!" Ye Mo jumped a little in place, her eyes sparkling as if she had discovered a hidden treasure. She looked incredibly endearing.

Lin Jie, a bit flustered by her enthusiasm, asked, "Is it really that good?"

"Really, they're stunning! You've outdone yourself. I'm absolutely in love with them!" she continued, her excitement unabated.

Lin Jie smiled, happy for her, though part of him couldn't help but wonder—just how bad had the other strangers been at taking her photos?

"Did you study photography?" she asked, curiously.

"Yes, I picked it up on my own. I used to love taking landscape photos, so I learned a bit online," Lin Jie explained.

"Wow, that's awesome! Do you want to be my personal photographer?" she asked, eyes twinkling with mischief.

"But I thought you didn't like photographers?" Lin Jie responded, puzzled.

Ye Mo pursed her lips and shot him a look that said, "How could you be so dense?" With a sigh, she turned back to her phone, delightedly admiring her photos, before walking away.

Seeing Lin Jie still standing there, she turned around, her smile bright as ever. "What are you daydreaming about, big fool?"

"You big fool, hurry up!"