Chapter 37: Night Journey by the River

Coming out of the street food stall, Li Jing patted his somewhat full stomach, looking satisfied.

After having eaten at upscale restaurants for days, returning to street food stalls gave Li Jing a sense of long-lost nostalgia and satisfaction.

Moreover, this place really tasted good, the ingredients were fresh enough, and the spicy flavor was just what Li Jing liked.

And He Mo, who also ate happily beside him, couldn't help but take a few more glances at Li Jing while enjoying her meal.

This guy is really strange, not only familiar with these street stalls but also extremely knowledgeable about the dishes and their flavors.

What surprised her even more was that when the grease from the barbecue accidentally got on the corner of Li Jing's clothes, he seemed not to care at all, continuing to eat with great enthusiasm.

This was completely different from the image of wealthy people in He Mo's mind.

"What a strange person…"

He Mo watched the back of Li Jing in front, her lips slightly curling into a smile, "Though he's strange, I like him."

Then, she quickened her pace, put her hands behind her back, and walked alongside Li Jing, saying, "Next, let me take you for a walk by the river.

There's a river running through the city center, and taking a walk by it after a hearty meal is sure to be enjoyable."

Li Jing, who was full and planning to take a walk to aid digestion, nodded in agreement after hearing this.

The river in this city wasn't big, but it happened to be peaceful and clean.

As night fell, the city's hustle and bustle gradually settled down, and Li Jing and He Mo strolled along the riverside, as if instantly transported from the bustling street stall to a serene world.

The river shimmered with a silver glow under the moonlight; a gentle breeze brought a cool thread, brushing against their faces, making them feel comfortable.

Li Jing walked ahead, enjoying the city's tranquility. He Mo followed behind, occasionally observing Li Jing in front.

The streetlights along the bank exuded a soft glow, and the trees swayed gently in the breeze, with the green leaves rustling.

The chirping of insects in the grass rose and fell, intertwining with the sound of flowing water, naturally calming one's heart.

At a pavilion, Li Jing and He Mo sat inside, watching people strolling in pairs or small groups by the riverside, filling with an inexplicable sense of ease and comfort.

Li Jing leaned back against the seat, gazing at the bright lights across the river, then turned back to appreciate the nearby tranquility. This contrast brought an unprecedented calmness to his heart.

Li Jing looked at the river view, and He Mo looked at Li Jing.

In fact, coming to the city center this time was intentional for He Mo.

Though she appeared as if she saw through Li Jing, she knew she hadn't figured him out, which was why she found him strange and was interested in him.

Until she walked around the city with him, He Mo realized that he was truly enjoying the hustle and bustle of city life while also quietly appreciating the ordinary beauty of the city's nightscape.

This genuine quality inadvertently stirred ripples in He Mo's heart time and time again.

"Hey, can you tell me your story?"

He Mo stretched out her fair leg from under her skirt, lightly kicking Li Jing sitting opposite her.

"You want to hear my story?"

Li Jing withdrew his gaze from the scenery, turned to look at He Mo under the moonlight, and couldn't help but be amazed.

Reclining on the pavilion bench, under the moonlight, He Mo appeared even more ethereal; her originally clean and beautiful face became even more pure and aloof, like a fairy untouched by worldly filth.

Her skin was as delicate as white jade, pure and flawless, emitting a soft glow under the moonlight. Her long, black hair lazily cascaded over her shoulders like a waterfall.

Compared to Zhang Xinxin, He Mo's figure might not be quite as voluptuous, but her innate gentle and elegant temperament was enough to make her the white moonlight in most boys' hearts.

"Why, are there too many women in your stories that it's inconvenient to tell?"

Seeing Li Jing silent, He Mo tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, smiling lightly, looking particularly beautiful under the moonlight.

Li Jing was momentarily mesmerized until she looked directly at him, at which point he snapped back and quickly said, "Not at all, I'm just afraid that after you hear it, you'll find me too excellent and fall in love with me."

He Mo couldn't help but roll her eyes, "You're overthinking it; I've met men as excellent as the number of women you've met."

"Really? Alright then, let me think about where to start…"

"Don't think about it, I like to listen to love stories. Just talk about your first love." He Mo showed a bit of a gossiping look on her face.

"First love?"

Li Jing thought of the girl who ditched him.

Although he had developed youthful affections in middle school, to be serious about a relationship, his ex-girlfriend could be considered his true first love.

"Do you really want to hear it?"

"Yeah, I do."

"Alright, then it starts from graduating college…"

Moonlight fell like silver, gently illuminating the pavilion by the river.

In the pavilion, Li Jing cast his gaze to the distant river and, with his thoughts flowing gently along the water, began to calmly recount his past and the girl he once knew.

He Mo sat beside him, slightly turned, her gaze focused and pure. Her long hair lightly swayed in the breeze, like a black satin.

Under the moonlight, she looked at Li Jing with a particularly gentle gaze, during the storytelling, her eyes occasionally flashed with surprise and empathy.

Outside the pavilion, the river flowed steadily, a breeze whisked by, leaves rustled. And the two in the pavilion seemed isolated from the outside commotion, immersed in this peaceful beauty.

When Li Jing finished telling his story, He Mo was so absorbed that it took her a while to come back to her senses, asking in surprise, "So she left you because you were unemployed?"

But immediately, she frowned and shook her head, "No, if you were unemployed, how are you so wealthy now?"

"Maybe the heavens favored me, and good fortune just came suddenly."

Hearing Li Jing's unserious answer, He Mo instinctively didn't want to believe it, but looking at Li Jing's sincere and candid expression, it didn't seem like a lie.

Her tightly knit little brows gradually loosened, she pursed her lips, "Alright, whether you have money doesn't matter to me.

Let's go, let's go explore elsewhere."

"It's just over like this?"

Having just recounted his past, Li Jing, seeing her preparing to leave, quickly said, "This isn't fair, I finished my story; shouldn't it be your turn?"

"Who said I have to tell my story?" He Mo giggled, wearing a proud look as if he fell for her trick.

"No way, I'm at a loss here."

"What are you being stingy for as a man? How about this, I'll take you somewhere fun."

"What are we playing?" Li Jing asked puzzledly.

"It's really fun, you'll know when you get there!"

Seeing Li Jing was still a bit reluctant, He Mo simply grabbed his hand and started walking outside, "Don't be so petty like a girl, I'll take you to something fun."

Li Jing wasn't really being calculating. Seeing her grab his hand without hesitation, he was surprised, realizing she was gradually lowering her guard toward him.

Thinking of this, he slightly curled his lips and immediately clasped her small hand in return, walking hand in hand like a couple.

Originally intending to console him, He Mo's face changed a bit, feeling his big hand. She instinctively tried to break free but failed.

She couldn't help but glare at Li Jing, seeing he had no intention of letting go, she didn't argue further, letting him hold her hand as they walked forward together.

Feeling the warmth on her hand, He Mo suddenly realized… it's been a long time since she held hands with a guy.

Turns out, holding hands feels pretty good.