After Mistaking My Stepsister’s First Love - Chapter 12

Even after leaving the villa, Ye Wenjin’s emotions remained turbulent.

When surrounded by Ye Shuyao and the servants, Ye Wenjin had maintained her composure, but deep down, she had felt suffocated.

Until Jian Mo appeared, in that instant, it was as if she had seen a ray of light.

Though the sky outside was dim, Jian Mo’s presence shone brilliantly.

At first, Ye Wenjin hadn’t even fully processed what was happening before the servants were restrained.

Her attention had been entirely consumed by Ye Shuyao. The moment she saw her, she knew Ye Shuyao would try to stop her from leaving.

Not out of any motherly affection, but simply because she didn’t want to let go of a ready-made asset that could bring her benefits.

The villa’s servants obeyed her when Yin Yu and her daughter weren’t around, but even though they hesitated at her words, they still blocked her path.

Everyone in front of her, through words and actions, was hindering her.

Looking at their varied expressions, Ye Wenjin felt as though their persuasive voices had twisted into something grotesque and terrifying. It was as if countless thorns were sprouting from their bodies, stretching toward her.

Those thorns coiled around her arms, bound her legs, and slowly crept upward, trying to wrap her tightly, suffocating her, as if she were mere nourishment.

And it was at that moment Jian Mo appeared. The second she arrived, it was as if a beam of light had fallen upon her, and the thorns shrieked as they retreated.

“Xiao Jin, come here.”

She said it just like that.

Ye Wenjin snapped out of her daze and walked toward her without hesitation, stepping through the parted thicket of thorns until she stood before Jian Mo, gazing at her gentle face.

Perhaps the light was too dazzling, she thought she saw a flicker of heartache in Jian Mo’s eyes.

Heartache… for her?

But they had only known each other for a few days, with no emotional foundation. An emotion like heartache shouldn’t have belonged to Jian Mo.

Ye Wenjin thought she must have imagined it, because when she blinked again, those eyes had returned to calmness, though still warm.

Suddenly snapping back to reality, Ye Wenjin looked apologetic. “I’m sorry, sister. Did I take too long? Were you waiting impatiently?”

Jian Mo’s voice was soothing. “No rush. I just saw you hadn’t come out for a while and was worried something might have happened.”

Though her expression was composed, Ye Wenjin still lowered her head in shame.

Never before had she felt such intense self-consciousness. Her wretched family had been laid bare before Jian Mo.

She shouldn’t have been overthinking it after all, she had long known their statuses were unequal. If not for that accident, their paths would never have crossed.

But realizing Jian Mo had witnessed her disgrace made Ye Wenjin uncontrollably feel a pang of inferiority.

Her mind kept circling the same thoughts,

What did Jian Mo think of her now?

Would she think her background was shameful? Would she see her as a burden, a nuisance? Would she regret her decision?

Ye Wenjin felt a surge of unease but masked it well.

She simply stood obediently before Jian Mo, waiting for her cue.

And then… Jian Mo took her hand and led her back to the car.

Slowly, Ye Wenjin’s anxious heart settled. Though Jian Mo hadn’t said anything, her actions were the best reassurance.

After the two left, the bodyguards who had been controlling the servants also departed one after another, leaving the entire hall silent so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Ye Wenjin didn’t know what Ye Shuyao was thinking at this moment when she failed to keep her, nor did she want to know.

Because she realized that she wasn’t feeling quite right. Her heart was pounding violently, as if it had malfunctioned, especially when she saw Jian Mo, the rhythm only quickened further.

It was the sound of her heart skipping a beat. Ye Wenjin knew it.

The surroundings gradually grew quieter, as if only the two of them remained. If not for Jian Mo’s voice snapping her out of it, Ye Wenjin might not have regained her composure, only feeling a faint regret, regret that the moment had been too brief.

Though she had come back to her senses, she had just missed Jian Mo’s words. Embarrassed, Ye Wenjin said, “Sorry, I… I wasn’t paying attention. What did you say, sis?”

Fortunately, Jian Mo’s expression was no different from usual, she probably wasn’t angry.

Calmly, she repeated, “Are you planning to go back to school now?”

Ye Wenjin misunderstood and quickly replied, “If you’re busy, sis, you can just drop me off at the bus stop ahead. I can get back on my own.”

Jian Mo looked at her wordlessly.

When no response came, Ye Wenjin belatedly sensed something amiss and cautiously glanced at Jian Mo, almost as if she heard her let out a soft sigh.

“I’m not busy.”

After a pause, Jian Mo added, “Wouldn’t it be inconvenient to take your luggage back to school?”

Ye Wenjin immediately shook her head. “No, I don’t have much stuff. It’ll fit in the dorm.”

Jian Mo didn’t take offense at her refusal and said gently, “It’s still not very convenient to keep it in the dorm. Why don’t you leave these things at my place?”

Ye Wenjin’s eyes widened slowly, her expression flustered.

Jian Mo had just told her to leave her things at her place!

Even someone as slow as Ye Wenjin finally sensed something unusual. This didn’t seem like just a matter of storing belongings, it felt more like an invitation.

The words “living together” immediately flashed in her mind, overwhelming all her senses and occupying her thoughts entirely.

Ye Wenjin’s mind wandered, her thoughts running wild, and she nearly blurted out, “Isn’t it too soon to move in together?”

Luckily, having learned from past mistakes, she caught herself in time and clamped her mouth shut, afraid of misspeaking again.

But she couldn’t refuse Jian Mo’s suggestion at all.

So, stammering, Ye Wenjin nodded. “O-okay, I’ll listen to you, sis.”

Jian Mo gave a soft hum in response.

The car fell silent again.

Ye Wenjin remained dazed, lost in thought, and thus failed to notice that the driver had been heading in one direction the entire time with no intention of going toward her school.

About half an hour later, the car gradually slowed down, likely nearing their destination.

Ye Wenjin looked out the window. The area outside was brightly lit, making everything clearly visible.

After passing through the main gate, the car continued driving for a while before stopping in front of a villa.

The villa’s front door was open, revealing a well-dressed butler waiting quietly at the entrance, flanked by two kindly-looking aunties likely the household staff.

Ye Wenjin suddenly felt nervous. Though the setup wasn’t extravagant, she couldn’t help but tense up.

This villa looked even more imposing than the Yin family’s, with more refined decor and design, the kind of place she would never have been able to set foot in before.

Now, staring at the imposing gate, Ye Wenjin still felt it was surreal. She never imagined that one day she would actually step into such a place.

Lost in thought for a moment, a sudden idea popped into her head just as she was about to get out of the car.

What if she ran into her sister’s family after going in?

The thought made her freeze mid-motion as she was stepping out of the car.

By the time Jian Mo got out and walked around to her side, she saw Ye Wenjin’s slightly stiff expression. “What are you spacing out for? Come on,” she said.

Snapping back to reality, Ye Wenjin quickly got out of the car and followed behind Jian Mo, her heart filled with unease.

But the moment she met the butler’s gentle gaze, half of her anxiety instantly melted away.

The butler was an older woman, appearing to be in her forties, with few wrinkles on her well-maintained face.

Ye Wenjin had expected her to be stern, but she wasn’t, she was incredibly warm, especially when looking at her.

“You must be Miss Ye,” the butler said.

Ye Wenjin glanced at Jian Mo, then quickly nodded when she realized the butler was speaking to her. “Yes, I’m Ye Wenjin. Hello.”

The butler smiled warmly. “Nice to meet you, Miss Ye. Dinner is ready, and you’ve returned just in time.”

Ye Wenjin hesitated for a second. She had originally planned to drop off her things and leave, but the butler’s hospitality made it hard to refuse. Unconsciously, she looked to Jian Mo for guidance.

“Take the things inside first, then let’s eat,” Jian Mo said.

Ye Wenjin nodded and reached to lift her suitcase, only for it to be taken from her hands the next second. She looked up to see two smiling maids.

Her hand still outstretched, she stammered, “Ah, I can carry my own luggage.”

The butler, walking ahead, reassured her, “Don’t worry, they’ll take care of it properly. Miss Ye, please follow Miss Mo Mo to the dining room.”

Ye Wenjin still felt uncertain. She wasn’t used to this, she had always done everything herself, rarely receiving help from others.

The Yin family’s servants certainly wouldn’t lift a finger for an outsider like her, so she had long grown accustomed to handling things alone.

Being treated like this now left her feeling a little out of place.

But Jian Mo seemed completely at ease, simply saying, “Let’s go.”

So Ye Wenjin pushed aside her doubts and hurried after her.

The dining room was bright and spacious, the table laden with exquisite and delicious dishes. The moment she stepped in, the aroma of the food overwhelmed her senses, and her stomach immediately growled in response.

She pressed a hand to her belly, willing it to stay quiet, but the command failed. Only now did she realize just how hungry she was.

After leaving the theater, she had gone straight to the Yin family, leaving no time for dinner. It was already past seven, no wonder she was starving.

Embarrassed, her cheeks flushed slightly.

Unable to silence her stomach’s symphony of hunger, she could only convince herself that no one had heard.

But in her distraction, she didn’t notice the butler turning her head slightly or the fleeting amusement in Jian Mo’s eyes.

Even after being seated by the butler, Ye Wenjin remained tense. But Jian Mo was already focused on eating, and the butler didn’t stay leaving only the two of them in the dining room.

Having shared a meal with Jian Mo once before, Ye Wenjin instinctively relaxed a little and began to eat as well.

The moment the food touched her tongue, she was captivated by its deliciousness, and her last traces of restraint vanished instantly.

It had been so long since she had felt genuine pleasure from a meal. By the time she finished, she was thoroughly satisfied.

After eating, her body warmed up, and the rise in blood sugar made her feel pleasantly lazy.

For some reason, this meal was exceptionally satisfying, she had eaten a fair amount of every dish, and even the rice tasted particularly fragrant…

Huh? Wait, so she had finished a whole bowl of rice and eaten so many dishes?

The contentment in her heart was gradually replaced by shock. Ye Wenjin stared blankly at the empty bowl, disbelief written all over her face.

What had she just done???

She could hardly believe it she, someone who claimed to be watching her weight, had unknowingly devoured so much food!

How many calories was that? Would she still be able to reach her weight goal?

Ye Wenjin felt like the sky was about to collapse.

“What’s wrong? Didn’t the food suit your taste?”

Jian Mo had noticed the change in Ye Wenjin’s expression earlier, but after some thought, she couldn’t pinpoint anything amiss, so she asked directly.

Hearing the question, Ye Wenjin snapped out of her daze, though her expression still looked a little off.

She forced a weak smile. “N-no, it’s nothing. I just… accidentally ate too much, that’s all.”

It was true, she hadn’t even realized it. Earlier, her mind had been preoccupied with other things, and the delicious food had completely distracted her, making her forget she was supposed to be on a diet.

The worst part? This was dinner. Lunch would have been one thing, but dinner?

Ye Wenjin felt a pang of regret, but soon, she noticed Jian Mo’s gaze. She instinctively looked up, only to sense something off in Jian Mo’s expression.

Ye Wenjin froze, then cautiously asked, “Sister? Wh-what’s wrong? Did I do something wrong?”

Jian Mo’s brows furrowed slightly, her mood seemingly not the best. Her fingers tapped lightly on the table, and she didn’t speak immediately.

Ye Wenjin immediately felt the pressure, a little uneasy, but she had no idea what she might have said wrong. She could only wait quietly, her heart slightly unsettled.

“How much do you eat in a day?”

The sudden question stunned Ye Wenjin. She hadn’t expected Jian Mo to ask this, she thought she was about to be scolded for something.

Confused but still answering, Ye Wenjin replied, “I have set portions for all three meals. Since I need to maintain a slim figure, I can’t consume too many calories.”

Her voice grew quieter, and she felt increasingly guilty.

She didn’t know why, but under Jian Mo’s gaze, what had once seemed perfectly reasonable now made her feel inexplicably ashamed even though she wasn’t sure what she had to be ashamed about.

Hesitating for a moment, Ye Wenjin finally asked, “Sister… did I upset you?”

Jian Mo paused, then shook her head. “No.”

She seemed like she wanted to say more, but after seeing Ye Wenjin’s cautious expression, she swallowed her words and stood up to leave.

Ye Wenjin hesitated for a second, glancing at the table. When she saw the maids coming in to clean up, she finally followed Jian Mo.

In the living room, Ye Wenjin stood awkwardly, wondering how to bring up leaving.

But before she could gather her thoughts, the housekeeper approached and said gently, “Miss Mo, Miss Ye’s room has been prepared.”

Ye Wenjin was startled and quickly waved her hands. “I—I no need, I can just go back to school.”

The butler showed a flicker of surprise. “But it’s raining outside, and quite heavily at that. Miss Ye, why not stay the night and return to school tomorrow morning?”

Ye Wenjin was equally startled. It hadn’t been raining when they arrived now it was pouring again. She hesitated. It would indeed be difficult to hail a taxi at this hour, but staying over felt awkward too.

Jian Mo glanced at the conflicted Ye Wenjin and said gently, “Stay. I’ll take you back tomorrow morning.”

The butler’s smile widened. “Then I’ll prepare the toiletries for you.”

Watching the butler leave, Ye Wenjin stood dazed for a moment before snapping back to reality.

How had she somehow ended up agreeing to stay the night?

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