Chapter 52: How Does My Waist Look?

Later during their driving practice, Ye Mo really brought the room key card and handed it over to Lin Jie.

Lin Jie, feeling a bit helpless, scratched his nose and said, "This... this doesn't feel quite right."

"There's nothing wrong with it. I promised to give it to you, and I always keep my word," Ye Mo replied, her eyes glinting with a hint of mischief.

Lin Jie stood there, stunned, watching her with the oddest sense that she took great pride in her honesty and integrity.

He couldn't help but think, Is honesty really necessary for something like this? What would I even do with her room key?

Surely, he wasn't actually going to sneak into her room in the dead of night?

Reluctantly, he accepted the key, a somewhat awkward smile playing on his lips, then attempted to return it. "I really don't need it, Mo-jie, you should keep it."

"You've already taken it, which means you're at least a little interested. Don't be so shy—just take it," Ye Mo said dismissively.

Lin Jie, key card still in hand, pondered for a moment and decided once more to return it. Yet, Ye Mo adamantly refused, her expression turning serious as she threatened, "If you try to give it back again, I'll assume you no longer want me as your sister."

Left with no other choice, Lin Jie reluctantly put the key in his pocket, thinking, Fine, I'll just hold on to it for now, even though I don't need it.

Seeing him finally stash the key away, Ye Mo clapped her hands in satisfaction, then linked her arm through his, leading him on a stroll through the driving school's training grounds.

Today, the sky over Tianbei was overcast, the temperature cooler than usual, with a soft breeze blowing. It was one of those rare days when staying indoors with air conditioning wasn't necessary.

"Your college entrance exam results will be out soon," Ye Mo commented casually, hands behind her back, her gaze drifting down to her white sneakers.

"Yeah, they'll be out soon," Lin Jie replied, mentally calculating the days. The results were indeed about to be announced.

The day after the results were released, he would have to visit the school again—likely the last time he'd return as a high school senior.

Thinking about it now, a faint sense of nostalgia tugged at him.

In hindsight, his high school days hadn't been all bad... Though at the time, they felt grueling, after hearing Ye Mo's words last night, Lin Jie had a sense of clarity.

At least he had gone through his high school years with hope and purpose, never wasting his time or life.

Just then, they passed by the campus convenience store, its glass walls offering a faint reflection of their silhouettes.

Lin Jie glanced to the side and caught his reflection—a tall figure with a gentle demeanor, black-rimmed glasses framing delicate, refined features.

"Hehe, are you admiring how handsome you are?" Ye Mo teased, her eyes sparkling.

Lin Jie was unlike those who constantly checked themselves in mirrors, shamelessly preening in public. He was the opposite—feeling awkward when caught.

He quickly shook his head. "No, I'm not good-looking at all."

"Pfft."

"What does pfft mean?" Lin Jie averted his gaze, but Ye Mo circled around, trying to meet his eyes. Seeing him get flustered only encouraged her.

"It means nothing," she said, giving a little shrug before striking a few poses in front of the mirrored glass.

From a distance, Lin Jie watched her, hesitant to look too closely lest he see his own reflection again. He couldn't help but think how beautiful she was.

Ye Mo wasn't wearing any makeup, just as she hadn't the first time they met. But now, things were different—perhaps because of the dazzling filters his mind added to her. Even barefaced, she appeared breathtakingly radiant, like a painting come to life.

She had an innate grace about her. Dressed simply in a plain white t-shirt and loose jeans, she carried herself with a vibrant charm. Standing next to Lin Jie, she seemed almost cooler than him.

Lin Jie stared, entranced, forgetting that he could be seen in the mirror too. Ye Mo, catching his dazed expression, couldn't help but laugh softly.

"What's funny?" Lin Jie, glancing around in confusion, asked. What's she laughing about this time?

Ye Mo always made him nervous when she laughed, fearing he had done something embarrassing again.

"Nothing. I'm just admiring how handsome you are," she replied with a smirk.

To Ye Mo, Lin Jie's claims of being unattractive were simply laughable. If he weren't handsome, she wouldn't have treated him so well.

She certainly wouldn't have been so clumsy during their first meeting... or been bold enough to delete his contact out of frustration.

A faint smile crept across Lin Jie's face, flustered yet secretly pleased by her praise.

With a playful glance, Ye Mo said, "Come on, let's keep walking…"

"My uncle said he's coming to pick me up soon," Lin Jie suddenly remembered.

Ye Mo paused, turning back to him with a light laugh. "So? Does that mean you can't spend a little more time with me?"

"Of course I can," he replied hastily. "I mean, I'd love to."

Her eyes, deep and intense, gleamed with a subtle, commanding presence. Lin Jie felt a jolt of nervousness but quickly fell in line beside her.

"That's more like it," she said, stretching lazily. The motion lifted her shirt slightly, revealing a slim, graceful waist.

Lin Jie's eyes were drawn to the sight—her pale, delicate skin and the elegant curve of her waist. He couldn't help but gulp.

Ye Mo rarely posted photos that revealed much; her style was always conservative. In an age where revealing oneself online was so common, she stood out as a breath of fresh air.

No wonder she had so many fans—it was purely because of her natural beauty. Lin Jie hadn't seen many girls online who could flaunt their looks so openly, without masks or filters.

As if sensing his gaze, Ye Mo frowned slightly and turned back, catching him quickly averting his eyes. She paused, her expression a mix of amusement and challenge, before slowing her pace to walk beside him.

An unfamiliar melody drifted in the air as Lin Jie, trying to divert attention, began whistling, his eyes wandering aimlessly. "Heh, do you know what song this is?"

Ye Mo shook her head. "No idea."

"Well, let me tell you—"

"I'm not interested in what song you're whistling," she interrupted with a sly grin. "I'm more interested in... how you think my waist looks."

"It's absolutely stunning!"