Su Jingwen had expected Ye Mo to be in bad shape after being locked up. But when the detention room door opened, what she saw stunned her—Ye Mo was lying calmly on a bed, still with his shoes on, looking entirely at ease. Several burly men stood cautiously to the side. The room was so quiet that it resembled a classroom during evening study rather than a temporary holding cell.
The moment the iron door opened, Ye Mo knew who had come. When he saw Su Jingwen, he instantly understood—she must have seen him being taken away and thought he was the same person who had sold her the talisman. That would explain why she came to "rescue" him and had even called the police. If she was the one who called, she had certainly caused more harm than good.
"Hi, I believe you recognize me," Su Jingwen said. "I'm Su Jingwen. I saw you being taken away at the gate of Ninghai University and called the police."
Ye Mo thought to himself, So it was her after all. She clearly meant well, so he couldn't blame her. But based on her words, she wasn't certain whether he was the talisman seller or not. Since she wasn't sure, there was no way Ye Mo would admit it. He knew that revealing his identity would cause major trouble.
He'd already had to consider killing and fleeing just to get out of the police station. If someone more powerful intervened, he'd have no way out. Still too weak... Ye Mo sighed internally.
Seeing Ye Mo hesitate, Su Jingwen quickly said, "This isn't the place to talk. Let's go."
Police chief Geng Xuebin personally helped Ye Mo complete the paperwork and escorted him and Su Jingwen to the gate.
Su Jingwen drove a red Mercedes. As Ye Mo got in, he noticed the car had a clean, light feminine scent—it told him she rarely had others in her vehicle. Still, since she invited him in, he didn't hesitate.
"Would you like to join me for dinner?" Su Jingwen asked politely. She had already assumed Ye Mo was the talisman master.
Ye Mo hadn't eaten since leaving campus, so he agreed casually.
Su Jingwen took Ye Mo to a restaurant called West Lake Residence. It was a quiet and elegantly decorated place with very few guests. Ye Mo instantly felt that it was a nice spot. Compared to his usual roadside stalls and casual meals, this was something else—but he wasn't picky.
"Jingwen, long time no see," greeted a graceful woman as they entered. She smiled warmly upon seeing Su Jingwen.
"Fang-jie, I've been busy lately and haven't had time to come by. I brought a friend today. Do you have a private room available?" Su Jingwen asked with a relaxed tone, clearly familiar with the woman.
The elegant woman glanced at Ye Mo with curiosity but quickly responded naturally, "Yes, the 'Knowing Heart' room is available."
This "Fang-jie" wasn't especially pretty, but she had an impressive figure and flirtatious-looking eyes. Yet her poise and elegance gave off a refined aura. Still, Ye Mo caught the slight change in her expression when she heard that he was Su Jingwen's friend.
The Knowing Heart room was dim and intimate—not exactly a typical dining setting, more like a place for couples to talk. Ye Mo didn't like the atmosphere and immediately drew open the curtains. The warm glow of the setting sun filled the room, making it feel fresh.
"Jingwen, go ahead and order. I'll make you some tea," Fang-jie said, placing the menu on the table and stepping out.
Ye Mo found it odd that the boss herself would prepare tea. Didn't they have servers?
Noticing his confusion, Su Jingwen explained, "Fang-jie is a tea master. Most people who come here are regulars, and she personally prepares tea for them. Go ahead and choose from the menu."
Ye Mo flipped through the menu. There weren't many dishes, but each had beautifully crafted photos.
"There's no price listed," he said.
"All dishes are 300 yuan each—no matter what you order. Regulars know this," Su Jingwen replied with a smile.
Ye Mo was taken aback. Even a plate of vegetables costs 300? But he said nothing. Just because he wasn't rich didn't mean others weren't. What he didn't know was that the food wasn't even the most expensive part of the restaurant.
Since he wasn't picky and the price was the same, he randomly picked a few dishes.
Though not a tea connoisseur, Ye Mo could tell Fang-jie's brew was special. One sip left a fragrant aftertaste that lingered pleasantly.
"You're the one who sold me that talisman, aren't you?" Su Jingwen asked suddenly with a smile.
Her surprise attack might have worked on others, but not on Ye Mo. He didn't react with shock or indifference. Instead, he asked with genuine confusion, "Talisman? Master? I'm just a student. See, here's my student ID."
He handed it over.
Ye Mo, Ninghai University, Class of 2005, Biotech major—he really was a senior in college.
Su Jingwen returned the ID with slight disappointment. Did I get the wrong guy after all? She had seen him taken away at the university gate and assumed he must be the same person.
"Su Jingwen, did you mistake me for someone else?" Ye Mo said, feigning embarrassment. "You brought me to such a fancy place—I feel a little guilty."
"No big deal. You just happen to look like a friend of mine. Even if it's a mistake, we're friends now. If we meet more often, we'll become closer. You're younger than me, so call me Jingwen-jie from now on. Calling me by name feels awkward," she said with another smile.
Ye Mo had left a good impression on her. He was handsome and had a warm, sunny look. His gaze was clear and never lecherous.
"Alright, Jingwen-jie, I'll take advantage of your kindness and enjoy this good meal," Ye Mo replied casually. But he didn't feel like he was taking a free ride. He was certain the talisman had helped save her mother. He trusted his work, and Su Jingwen's attitude only reinforced his belief.
Su Jingwen handed him a business card. "This is my number. If those people come after you again, just call me."
Ye Mo took the card and thought, If not for you, none of this would've happened in the first place. Call you? No thanks. After this meal, we'll go our separate ways.
"Heh, thanks. I'll keep that in mind, though I doubt I'll be much help to you," Ye Mo said.
"You never know," Su Jingwen replied with a smile, her eyes holding a secret. "Maybe I'll come to you for help someday."
Ye Mo inwardly cursed himself for talking too much. He barely had time to train as it was—he didn't need more distractions.
Still, Su Jingwen suddenly realized something: being around Ye Mo made her feel at peace. Strangely, there was no pressure at all.