Chapter 48: Joining Forces to Defy This Era

Mo Jiale's arrival was impeccably timed. Though he was puzzled by the sudden appearance of this beautiful woman and her relationship with Lin Jie, he could tell from Lin Jie's slightly uneasy demeanor that certain things were better left unsaid.

What kind of person was Lin Jie?

If he didn't care about someone, even if you insulted him to his face, he wouldn't bother to respond.

But now? All they'd done was come out for a casual drink, yet Lin Jie appeared visibly unsettled in front of Ye Mo. To say there was nothing between the two of them would be a lie even a ghost wouldn't believe.

What are good brothers for, if not to save the day?

Under Ye Mo's watchful gaze, Mo Jiale downed his glass of whiskey in one go, then smiled and said, "It took some effort to get Lin Jie out here for drinks and a bit of fun. You see, we even invited some girls over... but he wouldn't join us. He's just been sitting here, drinking alone."

Ye Mo thought for a moment. Indeed, when she walked in, Lin Jie hadn't been mingling with the others who were rolling dice; he had been off by himself. This realization softened her irritation just a little.

However, she still glanced at Lin Jie and let out a soft scoff before raising her glass to Mo Jiale. "Nice to meet you, I'm Ye Mo... And he's not entirely alone. Isn't there a little songbird sitting beside him?"

Ye Mo sat to Lin Jie's left, Mo Jiale on his right. They clinked glasses over him, and Lin Jie, caught in the middle, felt a bit awkward. Seeing Ye Mo raise her glass, he quickly followed suit.

Yet, Ye Mo completely ignored him, leaving Lin Jie awkwardly holding his raised glass in midair.

Though Ye Mo noticed him in her peripheral vision, she deliberately ignored him, smiling as she began chatting with Mo Jiale.

The two of them exchanged polite smiles and made casual conversation, with Mo Jiale doing most of the talking, lavishing praise on Lin Jie.

Mo Jiale wasn't exaggerating, but Lin Jie, caught in the middle, still felt a little embarrassed.

Ye Mo listened with a gentle smile, her gaze occasionally drifting toward Lin Jie, who sat staring blankly at his drink.

Ye Mo genuinely enjoyed seeing Lin Jie in these moments of confusion. It gave her a unique sense of satisfaction, akin to the joy some people find in petting a cat or a dog.

With Lin Jie, Ye Mo's temper always flared quickly but subsided just as fast.

Perhaps it was because she knew she was older than Lin Jie. For the first time, the woman who had never compromised for anyone found herself willing to make concessions, genuinely wanting to care for someone else.

After a while, Mo Jiale felt that he had sufficiently lightened the mood. He discreetly nudged Lin Jie with his shoulder and, without looking back, whispered, "Hurry up and toast her."

Lin Jie snapped out of his daze, quickly grabbed a bottle, and with an ingratiating smile, refilled her glass. "Sis, let me toast to you."

Ye Mo clinked glasses with him.

Seeing the two finally raise a glass together, Mo Jiale stood up, dusted himself off, and prepared to leave.

After Mo Jiale departed, Ye Mo set down her glass, her smile fading. She furrowed her brows slightly as she gazed at Lin Jie, her exquisite face expressionless, yet Lin Jie could feel the cold sweat trickling down his back.

To be honest, Lin Jie never realized just how much he cared about Ye Mo's feelings.

He sat there, uneasy, swallowing hard.

"Sis, should we sing?"

"No," Ye Mo replied icily.

Lin Jie, feeling awkward, dropped the topic. He remembered Ye Mo once saying that she was an excellent singer, and he had hoped to use that as a conversational bridge. However, she shut him down without hesitation.

Lin Jie had no idea what Ye Mo was angry about. Sometimes he could be quite perceptive, thinking he understood women, but other times his intelligence seemed to drop to zero, and he was utterly clueless.

"How about we drink?"

"No."

Lin Jie fell silent. Just moments ago, when Mo Jiale was here, she was all smiles, yet now that he'd left, it was like she had transformed, with Lin Jie as her target.

They sat in silence for a while, Ye Mo at ease and unhurried, even ordering a fruit platter. Meanwhile, Lin Jie, like a scolded schoolboy, sat upright, tense.

Naturally, Lin Jie couldn't help but feel a bit aggrieved. He wondered why he should feel guilty, why he had to act this way... Damn it, who was Ye Mo to him, anyway?

But every time Lin Jie mustered the courage to cross his legs or relax, all Ye Mo had to do was glance at him, and he immediately fell back into line.

Not far away, Zhao Yan and Mo Jiale were laughing quietly as they watched. When had they ever seen Lin Jie so obedient? If it weren't for the inappropriate setting, they would have been tempted to go over and do a celebratory dance right in front of him.

Just as Lin Jie was mentally counting sheep, Ye Mo's voice broke the silence. "I despise being lied to."

Lin Jie blinked, caught off guard.

"I don't like it when people lie to me... especially people I care about."

"I never said you couldn't come to a bar... I actually trust you," Ye Mo said, tilting her head slightly toward him. She reached out and gently patted the back of his head, her gaze softening. "You, who would let yourself be bullied without retaliating—how could I not trust you?"

Lin Jie lowered his head slightly. For some reason, his eyes stung. "I just didn't know what to say... Maybe they were right."

"Right? About what?" Ye Mo's pretty face flashed with anger. "What gives them the right to mock someone who truly loves another? Who are they to judge? What satisfaction do they get from calling someone a 'bootlicker' for sincerely giving their all?"

Ye Mo's gaze turned scornful. "They don't even have the courage to love with all their heart—how insecure and pathetic must they be to mock others? Love shouldn't be tainted by the cynical trends of this miserable era."

Lin Jie had never imagined that someone would come into his life who shared his views on love so deeply. Each word Ye Mo spoke resonated within him, sparking a profound response in his heart.

He began to feel a surge of emotion. Staring wide-eyed at the beautiful girl beside him, at the corners of her lips curved in a sneer beneath her cap, his whole body trembled slightly.

Lin Jie gazed at Ye Mo, his expression softer than ever before. He smiled tenderly, and in that wrongfully set-up private room, though outwardly calm, his heart churned with emotion.

See? Someone understood, someone supported the ideals he had always held on to… And now, Lin Jie thought, it was time to follow Ye Mo's example.

To look upon this absurd era with scorn... and declare war.