Chapter 45: A Lift in Spirits

Mo Jiale was absolutely right.

He and Lin Jie were both the type of people who, when in love, could be absurdly honest to the point of ridicule.

Thus, even the slightest change in their behavior was immediately noticeable.

Lin Jie glanced at Mo Jiale with a slight surprise, masking the sudden coldness in his expression with a faint smile, "Give up? Haha, Jiale, have you given up?"

When the conversation turned to him, Mo Jiale's face didn't look any better. He took a long drag on his cigarette, and after a considerable pause, finally said, "Let's talk about you. As for me... there's nothing worth mentioning."

"Besides... you're not me, and you never will be," Mo Jiale added suddenly, his gaze flickering with a hint of melancholy, yet also a trace of solace.

Lin Jie would never be like Mo Jiale.

Leaning back on the sofa, Lin Jie waved away the persistent waiter trying to offer him a cigarette with a trace of impatience.

"We agreed a long time ago, no smoking," Lin Jie said.

His grandfather had smoked all his life, and his later years were plagued by illness. Having witnessed it firsthand, Lin Jie had always held a deep aversion to smoking, and naturally, he didn't want his friends to smoke either.

But in reality, Zhao Yan smoked, and Mo Jiale had followed suit.

"Hahaha, back then, we also agreed we'd get into the same school," Mo Jiale laughed, his eyes glinting with amusement as he looked at Lin Jie. "Back then, we said we'd aim for Tsinghua or Peking University. We also said we wouldn't come to seedy places like bars."

To say such things about a bar in front of the staff—only Mo Jiale could pull that off.

Lin Jie remained silent for a moment before saying, "For He Yan... risking your health like this, is it worth it?"

Mo Jiale waved it off dismissively and stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray. "There are people who smoke and live long, and people who don't and still die young. It's all nonsense. If you're alive, you should live happily. Why bother thinking so much? Doesn't it tire you out, Lin Jie?"

"I'm only concerned about your health. If you won't listen, fine."

"As long as you don't smoke, that's all that matters, hahaha."

Mo Jiale had started smoking the night He Yan got a boyfriend.

Lin Jie and Zhao Yan had accompanied him as he drank himself into a stupor, sobbing hysterically, and in a fit of madness, demanded Zhao Yan buy him cigarettes. Lin Jie and Zhao Yan watched as Mo Jiale fumbled through several packs before he finally learned how to smoke. Eventually, Zhao Yan started smoking too.

"Of course I won't smoke," Lin Jie said.

At the mention of smoking, Lin Jie's thoughts drifted to Ye Mo's delicate figure—her slender waist, her long quivering lashes, her graceful collarbones, her elegant fingers holding a slim cigarette between them. Beneath her cool, indifferent gaze, her red lips casually drew from the cigarette, a scene vivid in Lin Jie's mind, making his throat tighten involuntarily.

Ye Mo smoked too, but Lin Jie never minded. In fact, he had never found it repulsive at all… which was strange.

Normally, girls who smoked were burdened with unspoken judgments, but for some reason, Lin Jie felt no such aversion toward Ye Mo.

"Maybe it's the power of money," Lin Jie muttered under his breath.

"What are you mumbling about?" Mo Jiale chuckled, looking over at him.

"Nothing, just thinking of a friend who smokes," Lin Jie replied.

"A friend? Don't you hate smoking?" Mo Jiale asked, curious.

"Not as much as you think. I may dislike it, but if you insist on smoking, I won't stop you," Lin Jie said.

"Dislike is dislike. Hate is hate. You should at least follow your own nature, Lin Jie," Mo Jiale said.

He understood that Lin Jie's personality made him popular, but if it meant losing his own happiness in the process, was it really worth it?

Lin Jie remained silent, knowing that the one time he had truly acted on his own desires had led to an unforgettable night.

"I know."

"What are you two talking about that's making you so emo?" Zhao Yan approached with a grin, holding two drinks in his hands. He placed them before the two of them, clicking his tongue in mock disapproval. "You two sitting here brooding—if either of you sings any sad songs later, I'm cutting you off."

After clinking glasses, Lin Jie sighed, "I wish I could be like Zhao Yan, carefree and without a worry in the world."

"Life's about being happy," Zhao Yan responded nonchalantly. Then he grinned mischievously at Mo Jiale, "So, Mo Jiale, are you picking up those girls later or am I?"

"You go. I'm not interested," Mo Jiale said flatly.

Zhao Yan rolled his eyes, "Yeah right, after a few drinks, you'll be all over it."

Lin Jie recalled the video Zhao Yan had sent him of Mo Jiale and laughed.

After ordering drinks, the three of them lazily tossed dice, sipping their drinks, not putting too much thought into anything.

It was at that moment Lin Jie finally received a message from Ye Mo, sparking a sense of anticipation within him.

"You guys go on, I need to reply to this," Lin Jie said.

His sudden withdrawal caught Zhao Yan and Mo Jiale's attention.

Zhao Yan chuckled slyly, "Oh, so there's someone who can pull Lin Jie away from a game to answer a message?"

Lin Jie ignored him, letting them carry on.

In the past, Ye Mo's messages had been a daily occurrence, and Lin Jie had grown used to them, occasionally responding with a few words. Most of the time, he was left speechless by her barrage of emoticons.

He never used to feel this kind of anticipation.

Perhaps people are just like that, indifferent when they receive attention, but eager when it's suddenly scarce.

Ye Mo's message was simple—she had just woken up.

Lin Jie told her it was fine, and that she should go back to sleep.

After a while, Ye Mo messaged again, asking if he was free, as she wanted to go shopping for a dress with him.

Lin Jie replied that he was busy and suggested another time.

Sensing something amiss, Ye Mo cautiously asked where he was.

Naturally, Lin Jie wasn't going to admit he was out drinking. He glanced around the bar, realizing he wasn't doing anything wrong, so there was no need to feel guilty.

"I'm just having some late-night snacks with friends," he replied.

Ye Mo didn't press further. To do so would only make her seem suspicious.

They agreed on another time, and Ye Mo wished him a good evening, telling him to enjoy himself.

Lin Jie, of course, accepted gladly.

Having received Ye Mo's message, Lin Jie suddenly found his spirits lifted.