If a Loser Is Reborn, They Can't Remain a Loser.

Jiang Yunlu's appetite wasn't particularly large—just about the same as an average boy's.

Having just finished a competition today, she had expended a great deal of energy. After making her way through the table, she had enthusiastically sampled every dish.

Even the squid ink pasta that Lin Mo had ordered piqued her curiosity, and she leaned over to twirl a few forkfuls onto her plate, leaving traces of black ink at the corners of her mouth.

Lin Mo set down his fork, watching her with leisurely amusement from across the table.

The girl was eating with such relish that she hadn’t noticed the smudge of black ink staining her lips, stark against her fair complexion—an utterly comical sight.

He didn’t say a word, but the mirth in his eyes deepened as he unhurriedly picked up his phone and aimed it at her.

Click.

The sharp sound of the camera shutter cut through the quiet of the booth.

Jiang Yunlu froze mid-bite, noodles still in her mouth, and looked up at Lin Mo in confusion.

But he had already swiftly tucked his phone away, smoothly pulling out a napkin and handing it to her with perfectly feigned concern.

"Here, wipe your mouth."

Still dazed, the girl took the napkin without thinking.

"Thanks."

As she dabbed at her lips and saw the unmistakable black stain on the napkin, realization dawned.

The shutter sound, his barely suppressed grin, the offered napkin—the pieces clicked together in her mind.

She set the napkin down, pressed her lips together, and when she looked up again, her eyes were wide and pleading.

"Lin Mo, can you delete the photo?" Her voice was soft, laced with a hint of a whine.

Lin Mo grinned, turning his phone screen toward her to display the picture.

In it, her lips were smeared with ink, her expression still fixed in food-induced bliss—utterly ridiculous.

Jiang Yunlu could feel her cheeks burning.

With a sudden pounce, she lunged for his phone, but Lin Mo was quicker.

"Heh. Jiang Yunlu, you wouldn’t want this photo getting out, would you?"

She let out a small "Ah!" but didn’t seem angry—instead, she played along, blinking up at him.

"Well then, Lin Mo, what do you want?"

Instead of answering, he leaned slightly forward, closing the distance between them in an instant.

Picking up a fresh napkin, he wrapped it around his index finger and reached across the table.

Jiang Yunlu’s breath hitched. Instinctively, she wanted to pull back, but her body remained frozen in place.

His fingertip brushed lightly against the corner of her mouth, firm yet gentle, meticulously wiping away every last trace of ink.

His touch was warm, the heat seeping through the thin napkin and scorching her lips.

"Haven’t decided yet," Lin Mo finally replied, withdrawing his hand and examining the ink-stained napkin. "Let’s call it an IOU for now."

A flush crept uncontrollably from Jiang Yunlu’s neck to the tips of her ears. She ducked her head, staring fixedly at her plate as her heart raced wildly.

Nearby, the female assistant observed the scene and hesitated before deciding against reporting it to President Jiang.

After all, she didn’t want the young mistress inheriting the family business by tomorrow.

Once they finished eating, Jiang Yunlu still wasn’t ready to go home.

"Can you walk with me for a bit?"

Her voice was sweetly coaxing, and Lin Mo agreed almost without thinking.

The May night was neither too hot nor too cold.

No rain had fallen today, and the breeze by the river was just right.

The two strolled aimlessly along the Yuejiang River, while the assistant trailed several dozen meters behind.

President Jiang’s final instruction had been clear: keep an eye on them and prevent any "beyond-friendship" behavior.

But with the vast distance currently between the two, there was no need for intervention.

Just a riverside walk—nothing to worry about.

Lin Mo kept his hands in his pockets, his gaze fixed on a brightly lit ferry gliding slowly across the dark water.

Jiang Yunlu followed his line of sight. The boat looked like a floating beacon against the inky river.

"Have you ever ridden one of those?" she asked.

Lin Mo shook his head, his tone lazy.

"Nah. As everyone knows, locals don’t do Yuejiang night cruises or go up the Yangcheng Tower."

Jiang Yunlu turned to him, surprised. "People actually say that?"

Of course she hadn’t heard it—it was just local lore.

After all, a ticket to the Yangcheng Tower cost hundreds, and most locals would rather spend that money on a good meal.

But the Yuejiang night cruise did intrigue Lin Mo.

"Come on, it’s still early. Let’s go see the night view."

Without thinking, he grabbed her wrist.

The assistant’s eyes widened in alarm, her heart nearly leaping out of her throat.

He grabbed her wrist!

What level of emergency was this?

Should she call President Jiang right now?

They arrived at the ferry terminal.

The most expensive tickets cost over a hundred, while the cheapest were just a few dozen.

Lin Mo didn’t hesitate—he bought two of the priciest ones.

The premium tickets granted access to the ferry’s third deck, offering the best views.

Lin Mo and Xie Yuling boarded, with the assistant following at a discreet distance—though she settled for a cheaper ticket on the second deck.

The third floor was small, and if the young mistress spotted her, things could get awkward.

As for what happened up there, the assistant would remain blissfully unaware.

Onboard, the river wind carried a damp chill.

The third-deck railing was still sparsely populated, leaving plenty of space.

Jiang Yunlu leaned against the railing, taking in the glittering skyline of Jiangdao across the water.

"You really like standing by windows or railings to watch the scenery, don’t you?"

Lin Mo smiled, his eyes on the distant lights.

"Yeah. Even as a kid, whether on a bus or in my dad’s car, I always loved watching the world rush past outside."

Jiang Yunlu sat down beside him. The third deck was empty except for the two of them now.

Unconsciously, they had drifted closer.

"When did you start riding buses alone?"

The question was like a pebble dropped into the depths of Lin Mo’s memories.

When had it started?

He paused, realizing it had been so long.

The disaster that had upended his life was now far in the past.

Being reborn had only added more time to that distance.

But the memories remained—especially for who he was now.

"Middle school, I guess. By then, I understood everything. Knew I was a burden. My grandma wanted me to move back with her, but I refused. Thought I was being tough, proving I didn’t need anyone."

And he had managed—just in the most self-destructive way possible.

He’d let himself become a complete mess.

Even without the system’s help this time, he’d wanted to change his fate.

A loser reborn shouldn’t stay a loser, right?

This wasn’t some romance novel, after all.

As more people filtered onto the third deck, the ferry began to move.

Jiang Yunlu suddenly turned to him.

"You’re doing great now. And you really don’t rely on anyone else."