Chapter 32: She Probably Has No Worries

How peculiar.

At school events, Ye Mo was always composed and unruffled. At business engagements, she exuded tranquility, as if she had seen it all. Yet, when it came to something as trivial as taking a picture with Lin Jie, she found herself hesitating, her heart racing uncontrollably.

The tips of her ears grew warm, and she could feel the flush spreading, certain they had turned red.

She wasn't wrong. If it weren't for the restaurant's dim, golden lighting, all Lin Jie would have to do is glance up, and he'd see the fair beauty before him, her delicate earlobes tinged with an adorable shade of pink.

Lin Jie, however, kept his gaze mostly on his plate, not because he was particularly hungry, but because in front of Ye Mo, he dared not linger too long on her.

Ye Mo was simply too extraordinary, so extraordinary that Lin Jie felt out of place... From someone he once dismissed as "just an ordinary girl," she had transformed into the unattainable beauty before him in the blink of an eye.

But this was precisely Ye Mo's intent.

She had "lavished extravagance" to achieve this effect.

And clearly, she had succeeded.

By the time Ye Mo had calmed herself, Lin Jie had nearly finished his meal. She gazed at him quietly, crossing her legs, one hand supporting her chin, looking utterly at ease.

"Finished?"

"You didn't eat much at all. Aren't you going to have more?" Lin Jie nodded, then glanced at Ye Mo, asking her.

Ye Mo shook her head gently. "I'm already full. I finished a while ago."

"But didn't you say you were just resting?" Lin Jie asked.

Ye Mo had ordered an array of dishes, enough to fill the table, and while they made for beautiful photos, it was impossible for just the two of them to finish.

"After resting, I don't feel like eating anymore," Ye Mo said with a soft smile.

"What should we do with all this food?" Lin Jie hesitated for a moment.

"Leave it, or you could pack it up and take it home," Ye Mo suggested after a moment's thought.

She assumed Lin Jie wouldn't refuse, having brought it up. But to her surprise, Lin Jie shook his head, declining the offer.

Ye Mo found it amusing. "Weren't you worried about wasting food? Why aren't you packing it up?"

"The portions aren't that large, and besides, I live alone. I don't really want to eat leftovers," Lin Jie replied.

"Hmm? You live alone?" Ye Mo's eyes lit up with curiosity as if she had just stumbled upon a startling revelation.

Lin Jie shot her a slightly suspicious glance before nodding. "Yes."

Indeed, he did live alone. But what did she intend to do with that knowledge?

"Heh heh heh."

Ye Mo's silly grin somehow struck Lin Jie as amusing, and he couldn't help but chuckle. "What are you laughing at?"

"What, I'm not allowed to laugh?" Ye Mo sat up straight but quickly relaxed again, leaning back into the soft chair. She smiled sweetly as she asked, "Didn't you just graduate high school? Why are you living alone already?"

"Hmm? I've always lived alone," Lin Jie replied.

"Ah!" Ye Mo's eyes widened in surprise. "You lived alone even during high school?"

Lin Jie nodded again.

Seeing Ye Mo still looking surprised, Lin Jie wiped his mouth with a napkin and said, "Didn't my uncle tell you?"

Ye Mo rolled her eyes elegantly. "Coach doesn't tell me everything, and besides, that's your family matter."

"Oh, I thought my uncle told you everything."

Ye Mo pursed her lips and cast him another graceful eye-roll, her expression captivating. "He's your uncle, not mine."

Lin Jie chuckled. He'd seen how much Wu Fei liked Ye Mo, so he thought he'd be more open with her.

"Why didn't you live with your uncle? High school must have been tough, right?"

How was Lin Jie supposed to answer that?

He chuckled softly, a fleeting emotion crossing his eyes.

Moving out to live on his own had been his decision. High school was tough, yes, but Lin Jie had found joy in it.

Because that was when he became neighbors with Su Jia Mu, when they lived in the same neighborhood, and every morning, he could see her.

"Was high school difficult for you too, sis?" he asked.

"Of course it was," Ye Mo raised an eyebrow slightly, pausing before continuing, "But after the college entrance exams, I felt it was all worth it. Freshman year didn't feel like much, but now that I'm nearly in my third year, whenever I see a new batch of high school students, I find myself nostalgic for those days."

Lin Jie agreed with her. High school was a time one couldn't help but look back on fondly.

He didn't feel his high school years had been all that hard. At least, not until that fateful night. Until then, each day had been filled with hope and anticipation.

For the first time, Lin Jie felt a moment of peace, however fleeting. It was better than never finding peace at all.

As Ye Mo pressed for more details, Lin Jie gave her a brief rundown of his family situation.

When he finished, Lin Jie earnestly added, "They treat me well, and I really think they're good to me."

"Of course they are. Every parent is the best parent to their child," Ye Mo agreed warmly. "My parents are great too. Even though they're always busy with work, they still gave me a wonderful childhood."

Lin Jie listened with a trace of envy as Ye Mo spoke, realizing that she had truly sailed through life with ease.

Someone like Ye Mo—surely, she had no real worries in life?