"Your hand..." Su Mei stared at Ye Mo's perfectly fine right hand, stunned. She pointed at it with disbelief.
Ye Mo frowned slightly upon seeing her and said calmly, "Jingwen, I'm going to rest for a bit," then walked away and sat at a different table.
Ning Qingxue gave Ye Mo a curious glance, then looked to Li Mumei. Who is this Ye Mo guy?
Li Mumei gave a wry smile and quickly pulled Ning Qingxue aside. "Actually, that's Ye Mo—the one you were engaged to. But he seems completely different from before. Not only has his appearance changed a little, even his whole demeanor is different. I don't know what happened to him, and honestly, I haven't seen him in a long time. I have no idea why Jingwen invited him."
That's Ye Mo? Ning Qingxue instinctively looked again. The man sitting there spoke and acted with quiet confidence. Though plainly dressed, he carried himself naturally, with a composed and graceful manner. There was no sign of nervousness, no trace of arrogance—only a subtle, understated masculinity. She could feel it from afar.
Could this man really be the one I was engaged to? If he isn't, how can I live with a stranger like him? Ning Qingxue hesitated. Then she gave herself a wry smile. Even if he is the real Ye Mo, will he accept the arrangement I came to propose? That's still uncertain.
"Mumei, I think he's really changed. Let me go talk to him myself," said Ning Qingxue.
Ye Mo had already noticed that most of the guests here were from wealthy or prestigious backgrounds, all dressed to impress. Compared to them, he looked like a pauper. But it didn't faze him in the slightest. His state of mind was far beyond such superficial comparisons.
Even if he did have wealth and fame, he would still live the way he wanted. His goals didn't lie in money or power. If that had been his ambition, he could've become rich and admired long ago. But to what end? Life is short, and none of that matters in the end. His true pursuit was longevity. And now, added to that pursuit, was a lingering concern for his master, Luo Ying.
Having lived two lives, if he still didn't understand Luo Ying's heart, he might as well die a third time. Everything else—power, status, vanity—was fleeting dust in his eyes.
"Ye Mo." Ning Qingxue approached his table and called softly, her tone mixed with uncertainty.
"You came. Have a seat," Ye Mo replied with a calm smile, as if he were a friendly neighbor. To Ning Qingxue, that smile felt oddly familiar, as though she had known him for a long time—even though this was their first meeting. She had never once imagined herself wanting to meet this man before.
"Thank you," Ning Qingxue said, sitting down. She was surprised to find herself feeling unusually relaxed—as if Ye Mo were a peaceful lake that made her feel at ease.
"You seem tired and worried. Is something on your mind? If I can help, I'd be glad to." Ye Mo knew a girl like Ning Qingxue wouldn't suddenly come over to speak with someone she'd already broken off an engagement with unless there was a reason. She was here for something—so he figured he might as well get straight to the point. Besides, he had overheard part of her earlier conversation with Li Mumei. What surprised him most was that this woman, once his fiancée, was so beautiful—comparable even to Luo Ying.
He didn't feel strongly toward her—no affection, no dislike. But her melancholic, searching gaze reminded him so much of Luo Ying that it tugged at something in his heart.
Ning Qingxue was stunned. His insight and calm words were so unlike the Ye Mo she had expected. Could this man really be the "useless young master" disowned by his clan?
"I..." Ning Qingxue hesitated for a long time, unable to bring herself to speak. Maybe I should've let Mumei handle this...
But Ye Mo just sat there, quietly, without exerting any pressure. His presence brought a sense of security and tranquility. Finally, Ning Qingxue gathered her courage.
"It's about... my marriage."
The calm and collected Ye Mo furrowed his brow. For the first time, he showed a trace of emotion. He cut her off bluntly: "Your Ning family already broke off the engagement. I'm no longer part of the Ye family either."
He didn't continue, but the meaning was clear: I can help you with anything else, but not this. Your family ended things, and now you want to come back? That's asking too much. Although he felt some admiration for her beauty and grace, that didn't mean she could casually trample over his dignity.
"I'm sorry." Ning Qingxue suddenly felt an overwhelming sense of helplessness.
Ye Mo smiled faintly. "There's no need to apologize. I'm a castoff of the Ye family—hardly worthy of the Ning family. That engagement being canceled was actually a relief for me. I don't hold anything against you, I just don't want to talk about this matter anymore."
Ning Qingxue felt an odd heaviness in her chest. If she had heard those words before meeting Ye Mo, she might have laughed them off. But now, after seeing him in person, she realized how absurd her past assumptions had been—that Ye Mo was unworthy of her.
This man might appear to have nothing, but the calm grace in his demeanor, the grounded strength in his posture—it all felt so different from the rumors. He wasn't the broken, desperate man she'd imagined. Instead, he gave off the impression of someone who stood above the world, untouched and unbothered.
Ye Mo sighed inwardly. He could tell she had a problem, but if it wasn't something he could resolve, then there was no point in continuing.
"Since—"
But Ning Qingxue suddenly interrupted him, biting her lip. "I want to go tonight—"
The moment she cut him off, she felt a strange sense of balance—as though she had regained something after being interrupted earlier herself.
But before she could finish, someone else interrupted her.
"Qingxue, is that really you? What a surprise! I can't believe I'm seeing you at Jingwen's birthday party!" came a smooth voice. A young man appeared beside their table, holding a half-glass of red wine.
Ning Qingxue frowned and said nothing.
The man was fairly good-looking, but his eyes wandered constantly, never staying in one place. When he first noticed Ye Mo, he ignored him entirely—Ye Mo looked nothing like a proper guest. He wasn't even dressed like staff.
"Hey buddy, mind moving? I haven't seen Qingxue in a long time." The man stepped right in front of Ye Mo and gestured for him to leave.