Chapter 36: How Could I Possibly Let You Know?

Lin Jie was genuinely perplexed; he simply couldn't comprehend why Ye Mo was so fixated on Su Jiamei.

Suddenly, a thought struck him like a bolt of lightning. Could it be... was Ye Mo... perhaps a lesbian?

This theory seemed to make sense. Ye Mo liked Su Jiamei, and she had been deliberately getting close to him, even going so far as to spend extravagantly, all just to find an excuse to be near Su Jiamei today...

But no, this logic was utterly nonsensical. With Ye Mo's personality, if she truly liked someone, would she really need to go through such roundabout ways?

No, no... it didn't add up.

Lin Jie found his thoughts were both logical and illogical at the same time, but either way, they weren't leading anywhere.

"Forget it, what a mess," he muttered.

"You won't be able to see her at this hour anyway, and she doesn't have the habit of going for walks," Lin Jie said flatly, no longer indulging Ye Mo's whims. "She lives on the same floor as me. If you want to see her, go knock on her door tomorrow."

Ye Mo, who had been lounging casually with her legs crossed, teasing Lin Jie, suddenly noticed the change in his tone.

Without hesitation, she stood up, a mischievous grin lighting up her face, and moved closer to Lin Jie. "Why would I want to see her? I wasn't trying to make things awkward for you. I just wanted to spend more time with you... Look at you, acting as if I'm infatuated with her."

Lin Jie looked at Ye Mo with suspicion, thinking, aren't you?

Ye Mo was visibly irritated by his skeptical gaze. She stomped her foot in frustration. "What's with that look? I like men, especially pretty boys like you! Why would I like girls?"

"I'm not a pretty boy," Lin Jie quickly denied, shaking his head.

"Oh, but you have all the potential! Any woman could easily whisk you away!"

Lin Jie's expression darkened. "Nonsense! If I could be so easily seduced, I'd have been taken long ago. Would I still be here, getting called a bootlicker in the exact spot where I was humiliated the other night?"

Lin Jie pointed furiously at the ground beneath his feet—where he had stood that fateful evening, mocked by everyone in the car.

Ye Mo blinked innocently, her large eyes widening. "Sorry, I didn't mean to."

Lin Jie sighed deeply, looking at Ye Mo with a solemn expression. "Mo-jie, I'm not a man of loose morals, really. If my uncle hadn't told me you were a good person, I wouldn't have gone out with you. But after spending time with you, I've realized—you truly are a great person."

And wasn't she? Who else would be so kind to a nobody like him?

Ye Mo, touched by his words, was about to offer some comfort when she suddenly snapped back to reality. Wait... he just called me... a good person?

A good person?

A good person?!

Does this kid need to tell me I'm a good person? Like I don't already know?!

Ye Mo's face contorted in a mix of emotions. This wasn't how the conversation was supposed to go.

How on earth did she end up being handed a "good person" card?

"What the hell! I'm not some good person—I'm a bad woman!" Ye Mo exclaimed in exasperation. "A woman who specializes in tricking naïve little boys like you!"

"Alright, alright, you're a bad woman, Mo-jie. No need to get angry," Lin Jie said with a smile, as if soothing a child.

Ye Mo, feeling utterly speechless at Lin Jie's patronizing tone, stood there pouting and rolling her eyes.

"It's getting late. Go home and get some rest," Lin Jie suggested.

"I'm not going to sleep," Ye Mo retorted, stepping closer to him, her manner suddenly more aggressive. She reached out, trying to grab Lin Jie, but he deftly sidestepped her, as if expecting it.

Ye Mo froze in surprise. "You..."

"I was prepared," Lin Jie said with a hint of smugness in his voice.

Every time Ye Mo found herself cornered in an argument or began to act petulant, she liked to grab hold of Lin Jie. He'd fallen for it several times before, but he wasn't going to make that mistake again.

"You..." Ye Mo was both annoyed and amused, shaking her head. "Tell me, are you planning to ditch me and go off drinking with your low-life friends?"

"Now that you mention it, I hadn't thought of that. Thanks for the suggestion."

"Lin Jie!"

"Lin Jie!"

Lin Jie blinked in confusion, his gaze locking onto Ye Mo... The way she called his name—it was startlingly similar to someone else's.

He was momentarily dazed, but before he could gather his thoughts, he saw Ye Mo frown slightly and turn her head.

She was looking in the direction of the apartment complex.

Lin Jie followed her gaze. He wasn't mistaken.

A self-deprecating smile tugged at his lips. Of course, he couldn't have been wrong.

That voice—it was one he could never mistake.

Even if her voice intertwined with Ye Mo's, even if it had lost its former clarity and brightness, Lin Jie could still recognize it anywhere.

He had a gift for picking out her voice in any crowd. So, Su Jiamei, why were you here, of all places?

Lin Jie silently observed the girl standing not far away. She wore a loose white cartoon T-shirt, light blue denim shorts, and a pair of white clogs. Su Jiamei must have stepped out for something, her attire casual, her hair a bit messy.

But still, she was Su Jiamei. She was as adorable as ever, standing there like the sweet girl Ye Mo always teased him about.

Su Jiamei's large eyes brimmed with disbelief, a look of indescribable anger and sorrow evident in her expression. She bit her lip, staring at Lin Jie, her hands clenched into fists as her chest heaved with emotion.

"Lin Jie, what are you doing?"

"Me?" Lin Jie pointed to himself, confused by her question.

"I just got back from dinner," he replied.

"With whom?" she asked, her voice tight with suspicion.

"Who else?" Ye Mo interjected eagerly, clearly impatient to join the conversation. "I'm standing right here, little sister. Didn't you see me?"

Lin Jie watched in bewilderment as Ye Mo eyed Su Jiamei with a gaze that was... unsettlingly suggestive. What's going on? Is Mo-jie really into Su Jiamei?

Heaven help him, Ye Mo was only mimicking the way Lin Jie had just sized her up moments ago.

"And who are you?" Su Jiamei asked, her lip trembling as she spoke.

Her voice shook with such intensity that Ye Mo became even more animated. All traces of drowsiness gone, she stared provocatively at Su Jiamei, folding her arms across her chest, saying nothing but clearly enjoying herself.

As if that weren't enough, Ye Mo edged closer, wrapped an arm around Lin Jie's shoulders, and said with a smirk, "I'm Lin Jie's big sister. And who might you be, little sister?"

"Since when do you have a sister, Lin Jie? And why have I never heard of her?"

"Well, I'm his god-sister, of course! And why should you know everything?"