Chapter 41: I Should Believe Him

Translator: Tim; Editor: Tehrn/Carolin

Ning Hai.

Two days passed quickly. Although Ning Qingxue waited at the front door each day, watching intently, she didn't see even a shadow of Ye Mo.

Two days later, Ning Qingxue realized Ye Mo had left without a word. He hadn't even taken his belongings. Unless it was an emergency, she clearly meant nothing to him. Perhaps he saw her as disrespectful, heartless, and self-centered.

"Qingxue, the two days are up," Li Mumei said, looking at the distraught Ning Qingxue. "Your parents are coming, but I told them we'll meet in Yu State."

Ning Qingxue's behavior over the past two days had been erratic, as if she'd lost her soul. She seemed genuinely concerned about Ye Mo's return. While Li Mumei didn't know the details, she sensed a hidden dynamic between them.

However, she wouldn't have believed Ning Qingxue was attracted to Ye Mo.

"Two days already?" Ning Qingxue replied absently, her mind elsewhere.

A moment later, she said, "Mumei, I want to buy this place—no matter the cost."

"Qingxue, what's wrong with you?" Li Mumei questioned, finding Ning Qingxue's impulsiveness strange. "Even if the owner sells, who would live here?"

"Mumei, buy it, but tell the owner not to move the flowerpots," Ning Qingxue insisted.

"Why? You need a good reason, and your parents will want to know," Li Mumei pressed.

"No reason, Mumei. I feel I've lost something here. Buying this place might give me a chance to find it; otherwise, I might never find it. I've made up my mind. If Dad disagrees, I'll talk to him myself." Ning Qingxue's voice was soft, almost ethereal.

…

"Look, that pretty lady who came for Ye Mo is back."

"Ye Mo's lucky. He knows beautiful women like this, yet he skips class, making it impossible for the girls to find him."

"Amazing! I've only seen him two or three times since school started."

"Hmph."

Whispers filled the classroom; the final "hmph" came from Yan Yan, annoyed by this beautiful girl—far prettier than herself—who had already embarrassed her once.

Su Jingwen had visited Ning Hai University several times without finding Ye Mo. She knew Li Mumei knew his address, but she didn't want her search to become public knowledge. She sought Ye Mo because she felt comfortable and happy in his presence; she felt no pressure around him.

Since their dance at her birthday party, she hadn't seen him. This was her third attempt to find him, and she decided to ask his classmates if necessary.

As she made up her mind, she saw a cold, yet mature woman enter—the teacher she'd seen leaving with Ye Mo. Excitedly, she approached. "Teacher, do you know where Ye Mo has been these past few days?"

"Ye Mo? I don't know anyone so shameless," the woman retorted, turning and leaving. This was Yun Bing, and her hatred for Ye Mo was intense. If she saw him again, she wasn't sure she wouldn't throw her books at him.

Someone actually asking about Ye Mo, and recognizing this pretty lady from before, reinforced her belief that anyone friendly with him couldn't be a good person.

Su Jingwen stared in shock. "Do all the university teachers have such low moral standards? She said she didn't know him, yet called him shameless. What did Ye Mo do to her? Even if others don't know his situation, how could she not? He was kicked out of the Beijing Ye family; he's naturally… 'that.'"

What else could cause such intense hatred? Ye Mo wouldn't do something like that. What right did she have to hate him? Her opinion of Yun Bing plummeted.

"Sister Jingwen, why are you here?" Su Mei asked.

"Su Mei, who's that teacher? Her morals are appalling! I asked a question, and she swore at me," Su Jingwen said, pointing at Yun Bing's back.

Su Mei looked intrigued. "That's Yun Bing, the English teacher. She's cold, but not immoral. What happened?"

"I asked about Ye Mo, and she called him shameless. What kind of teacher is she?" Su Jingwen was clearly upset.

"Ye Mo? Oh, that's why. He harassed her. I saw it myself. He was harassing her, she tried to hit him, he grabbed her wrist. She called him shameless. Sister Jingwen, stay away from him. He's shameless and probably only befriended you for your money," Su Mei said, painting a very negative picture of Ye Mo.

Su Jingwen listened, confused. After a long pause, she frowned. "Ye Mo isn't like that. I've met him several times; he didn't seem like that. Su Mei, did you see wrong? Don't be so judgmental."

"What? How could I be wrong? I saw it at the lake—the interaction between them. And even if I was wrong, was the teacher lying?" Su Mei insisted.

Su Jingwen's question had been flawed. If Su Mei was mistaken, why had Yun Bing sworn at Ye Mo? Was her own impression wrong? Yet, Ye Mo had never given her a bad impression. He might not be wealthy, but he'd always treated her as an equal. What was going on?

You know someone's face, but not their heart. Was Ye Mo that kind of person? Had he hidden his true nature? Or had he had ulterior motives from the start? She'd been the one pursuing him; he'd never sought her out, even knowing her number.

She touched the bracelet on her wrist. Su Jingwen's heart was troubled. It wasn't romantic feelings for Ye Mo; she simply hadn't had a close male friend her own age. Her good impression of him had formed unconsciously, but now others' opinions clashed so violently with hers, she felt stifled. And she had witnessed something.

"No," she thought. "I need to see for myself. Li Mumei knows where he lives. I'll ask her. I don't believe Ye Mo is that kind of person. They must have misunderstood him. I should believe him."