Chapter 51: Perhaps He Saw It

Whether Ye Mo asked him to sing the song by chance or design, Lin Jie was unsure, and truthfully, he didn't care to find out.

All he knew was that the things he had clung to for so long were slowly finding their place, the things he had thought of abandoning were once again firmly within his grasp, and the matters that once troubled him were beginning to dissipate.

Just like the song said, consider it a regret.

And for that, he had Ye Mo to thank.

Ye Mo was a kind soul.

Most girls, when faced with Lin Jie's charming features, paired with his sincere gaze and flirtatious words, would feel a tinge of shyness, or at the very least, some discomfort.

But Ye Mo wasn't like most girls. She met Lin Jie's gaze with an almost teasing smile, showing not a trace of embarrassment.

Lin Jie couldn't help but chuckle to himself. He had no words to describe Ye Mo's expression... If he had to, he'd resort to percentages—part indifference, part amusement.

In any case, her faint smile always gave the impression that she was toying with him, and when paired with her cold, striking beauty, Lin Jie had to admit—she was simply breathtaking.

"What are you laughing at now?" Ye Mo asked, a hint of curiosity in her voice.

"I'm laughing at how beautiful you are!"

"Are you done yet, little brother?"

"Not at all."

Ye Mo glanced at her phone but said nothing. Lin Jie noticed, and offered, "It's getting late. Let me take you home."

Ye Mo raised her elegant eyebrows, smiling slyly. "Why are you so intent on taking me home? Dying to know where I live?"

"Of course! I'm desperate to know where my sister lives." Lin Jie played along, standing and stretching lazily.

Seeing Lin Jie rise, and watching Ye Mo gather her things, Mo Jiale understood their intentions. He approached with a grin, "Leaving already?"

"Yeah, I'm taking my sister home," Lin Jie replied with a nod.

Ye Mo squinted slightly at Lin Jie, letting out a soft chuckle.

Lin Jie really was perceptive; he always seemed to understand what people were thinking.

Mo Jiale gave a knowing smile, clapping Lin Jie on the shoulder.

Lin Jie returned the gesture, patting Mo Jiale's shoulder with a bit of force to signal, "Don't overthink it."

Mo Jiale kept patting his shoulder, assuring him with a smile that there was no misunderstanding.

Satisfied, Lin Jie withdrew his hand, waving at Zhao Yan, who was singing loudly from across the room. Zhao Yan responded with an OK sign.

"Alright, sister, let's go."

"I'll walk you two to the door," Mo Jiale offered, opening the door for them.

Lin Jie gestured grandly for Ye Mo to proceed, smiling, "Ladies first, sister."

Ye Mo stifled a laugh behind her hand. "What kind of broken English is that?"

"How dare you! I scored 130 in English!"

Ye Mo looked at him disdainfully. "I scored 140 on my college entrance exam."

Lin Jie coughed awkwardly, his voice faltering, "Sometimes I score 140 too…"

Ye Mo didn't bother hiding her laughter.

Mo Jiale, walking ahead, wisely kept his distance from them.

Lin Jie pointed at him, saying, "That's my best friend, Mo Jiale."

"Mhm," Ye Mo nodded.

"Little brother, you're always so lively when you've had a drink," Ye Mo said, smiling at Lin Jie.

If only he could be this lively without drinking. She wouldn't mind at all if he talked a lot—Ye Mo certainly wouldn't find him annoying.

"I'm not drunk," Lin Jie insisted, feeling quite sober. If he were drunk, he'd be running to the bathroom by now.

"If only you weren't," Ye Mo murmured softly. "You have no idea… When you're drunk, I really…"

"Never mind, no use telling you. You're drunk anyway."

Ye Mo was sure Lin Jie had had too much to drink. Otherwise, how could he be so cheerful, so familiar with her… How many times had he called her "sister" already?

He was never this cute when sober. Aside from his looks, there really wasn't much to him. But when he was drunk… calling her "sister" over and over again… It was just too adorable.

Ye Mo's heart was bursting with joy. Each time Lin Jie called her "sister," though she appeared calm on the surface, inside she was elated.

Lin Jie was at a loss. "Sister, I'm really not drunk, I swear."

"Alright, alright, I believe you."

Well, there was no point in arguing now.

Mo Jiale had called a taxi for them, smiling as he said, "I'll leave you two to it. I've got other friends to attend to. Take care."

"Thank you," Ye Mo replied politely.

Lin Jie exchanged a few more pleasantries with Mo Jiale before escorting Ye Mo into the car.

He used to watch adults making small talk and never understood why they'd exchange so many words when meeting or parting. Now that he was grown, he was starting to do the same.

As the car pulled away, Lin Jie lowered the window, watching the scenery blur past. Suddenly, he realized—he had grown up too.

He turned slightly to glance at Ye Mo. She sat quietly beside him, her presence calm and serene.

Lin Jie couldn't help but smile.

Of course, Ye Mo caught him smiling. She let out a soft giggle, "You really are a fool."

"Then let me be a fool."

When Ye Mo was quiet, her face took on a cool detachment, her features sharp and distant, exuding a sense of aloofness.

Lin Jie never noticed how unapproachable Ye Mo could seem, because around him, she was always gentle, her words laced with warmth, her face lit with smiles.

The car sped along. At this hour, the streets were nearly empty, and soon they arrived at their destination.

Ye Mo was staying at a five-star hotel.

It wasn't surprising. Lin Jie got out, following Ye Mo. As they neared the hotel lobby, Lin Jie stopped.

Ye Mo noticed and turned around, taking off her white baseball cap. Her dark hair cascaded down like a waterfall, her face stunning in the moonlit night.

She smiled sweetly, "Why aren't you coming?"

Lin Jie chuckled, "Why would I?"

Ye Mo glanced around before smiling playfully, "Want to come up for some tea? I have some great tea that might sober you up… And weren't you so curious about where I live? Come take a look."

"You need to rest, so I'll pass. Besides, Sister Mo, I'm not really that interested in where you live. I just wanted to make sure you got home safely."

"I'm staying in room 3501," Ye Mo said softly, turning towards the elevator. She waved her room card behind her, "I'll give you a spare key tomorrow."

She had to turn away—otherwise, that boy might see her face flush with embarrassment.