Chapter 31: A Peculiar Feeling

Perhaps Lin Jie still hadn't recovered from the sorrow brought by that young girl, Su Jiayu. His smile always carried a trace of sadness, and his eyes remained devoid of light.

Ye Mo glanced at him, momentarily unsure of what to say.

She could only walk ahead, following the staff into the elevator, then watched as Lin Jie stepped in after her.

Ye Mo remained silent, removing her hat to reveal her sleek, ebony hair. Her breathtakingly beautiful face was fully unveiled for all to see.

Some people wear hats and masks to enhance their appearance, but for Ye Mo, such things were a burden, unnecessary embellishments used to conceal her natural beauty.

Lin Jie knew Ye Mo wouldn't respond to him. After all, she was only teasing. He also knew that for someone like her, promises were not made lightly.

There are those who treat promises like idle chatter, saying anything to impress. But even their most elaborate words amount to nothing more than self-deception.

When the elevator reached the restaurant floor and the staff exited, Ye Mo stopped Lin Jie, who was about to follow.

Lin Jie turned back, puzzled, gazing at Ye Mo still standing inside the elevator. She crossed her arms, leaning casually against the wall, her long legs slightly crossed. She raised an eyebrow at him, a playful smirk on her lips, "Oh, how bold, you pretty boy."

Lin Jie's expression darkened, and without turning back, he continued walking.

Ye Mo hurried after him, sidling up with a soft smile, "What's wrong? Did I upset you?"

"Not at all," Lin Jie replied honestly.

Ye Mo pursed her lips slightly, "You must be angry. I know calling you a pretty boy wasn't very nice… but don't take it to heart. I was just teasing you. I don't really think that about you…"

"I'm not bothered," Lin Jie firmly shook his head, "Sis, I'm not mad. You can call me whatever you like."

What did it matter, really?

That night, a group of people mocked him as a sycophant, and he hadn't said a word… so being called a pretty boy was nothing. It didn't matter to Lin Jie. None of it did.

"Really?" Ye Mo asked, still doubtful, "You're truly not upset?"

Lin Jie found her doubt amusing, "Really, I'm not. Why would I be angry?"

"Well then, when I become the CEO of a huge company, I'll make sure to hire you as my assistant," Ye Mo said.

"Of course. When you're a superstar and a big-time CEO, I'll shamelessly come to you for a job," Lin Jie responded with a smile.

Ye Mo laughed, "It's a deal, then?"

"It's a deal."

Ye Mo's taste was impeccable. She had specifically chosen a window seat, ensuring both the view and ambiance were the finest in the entire restaurant.

Lin Jie sat down and turned his head to gaze at the bustling nightscape through the floor-to-ceiling windows. His mood began to lift.

A beautiful view, after all, truly can heal a troubled heart.

Opposite him, Ye Mo was browsing the menu, and after ordering, she pulled out her phone, showing Lin Jie pictures from her travels. "Look, these are from my trips."

"They're beautiful. You captured them wonderfully."

"Hehe, I took all of these myself," Ye Mo said, her tone laced with pride.

Lin Jie gave her a thumbs-up. He didn't like holding onto other people's phones for too long, but Ye Mo insisted he take his time, so he continued scrolling through the photos.

As he flipped through the images, one particular scene caught Lin Jie's attention—it wasn't a person, but the landscape.

Sometimes, when we're feeling down, the things we once overlooked start to become meaningful and interesting.

Lin Jie thought to himself, once he finished learning to drive, he'd take a proper trip somewhere.

"How is it? Beautiful, right?" Ye Mo asked.

"Yes, absolutely stunning," Lin Jie sincerely praised.

A small, self-satisfied smile tugged at Ye Mo's lips.

The dishes began arriving slowly. Ye Mo handed Lin Jie a pair of chopsticks, signaling him to start eating.

Without hesitation, Lin Jie began eating leisurely, and seeing him dig in, Ye Mo also picked up her chopsticks.

Girls seem to have smaller appetites; after just a few bites, Ye Mo put down her chopsticks, cradling a cocktail in her hands as she quietly watched Lin Jie eat.

Lin Jie felt slightly uncomfortable under her gaze and glanced at her, "Aren't you eating?"

"I am, but I'll rest a bit first," Ye Mo replied, her smile warm and soft.

Resting her chin on her hand, the gentle glow of the restaurant's amber lighting made her look even more serene.

Ye Mo's face was exquisite. Whether viewed head-on or in profile, the sculpted elegance of her features left a lasting impression.

Suddenly, Lin Jie recalled the first time he'd met Ye Mo. How had he ever considered her just an "ordinary" girl?

Maybe back then, he hadn't known she was an internet sensation. He didn't know she was wealthy. And he certainly hadn't realized how strikingly beautiful she was... He was only distracted, that's all.

"Sis, you should eat more."

"Alright," Ye Mo responded with a smile. She lifted her chin slightly, gazing at Lin Jie like a sly little fox.

Lin Jie was puzzled but continued eating.

"Lin Jie."

"Hmm?"

Lin Jie looked up, only to see Ye Mo giggling mischievously while holding her phone.

She had taken a picture of him.

Lin Jie knew she had snapped the photo, but he only smiled helplessly and said nothing.

For Lin Jie, taking pictures of himself wasn't something he enjoyed. He preferred capturing others.

It used to be because he thought he wasn't good-looking, but now it was just habit.

Ye Mo began asking if Lin Jie had any photos of himself. She pouted slightly, looking at the picture she'd just taken, her tone a bit regretful, "I accidentally made you look bad. Do you have any nicer pictures? Can you send me a few?"

"What are you up to?" Lin Jie asked cautiously.

"Well, you've taken so many pictures of me, I want to take some of you in return. Is that not fair?" Ye Mo asked.

Lin Jie was still holding his chopsticks, and though he found it hard to refuse, he was firm in his decision on one thing—no photos!

"No!"

Ye Mo sighed in exasperation, "What about your old photos?"

Lin Jie shook his head, "I don't have any."

"Then I'll take one for you now!"

"Sis, why do you keep wanting to take pictures of me?" Lin Jie asked, confused.

Ye Mo stammered a bit, her heartbeat quickening for reasons she couldn't quite explain. She averted her gaze, nervously biting the decorative straw on her cocktail.

She wanted to take a picture with Lin Jie.

It should have been a simple request, but for some reason, the thought made her feel nervous and excited.

So, she decided to take pictures of Lin Jie first and then, bit by bit, work up to asking for that one photo together…

Ye Mo's eyes drifted towards the window, staring at the night scenery as she tried to calm her racing heart. It was all very strange indeed.