After Mistaking My Stepsister’s First Love - Chapter 13

The matter of staying overnight was settled just like that. Ye Wenjin opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but no words came out. She resigned herself to the fact that she would be staying.

Still, she couldn’t shake the discomfort of the situation.

Truth be told, compared to the number of servants in the Yin family, the staff in this villa was remarkably sparse.

Or perhaps she just hadn’t seen the others yet. But at the moment, the vast villa was eerily quiet, devoid of any lively atmosphere.

Ye Wenjin guessed that Jian Mo probably disliked too much disturbance. From their brief interactions, she had noticed that Jian Mo preferred tranquility and disliked noisy environments.

So it made sense that the villa had so few people around.

And precisely because of the quiet surroundings, the unease in Ye Wenjin’s heart gradually dissipated—though she still felt somewhat restrained.

Even though she was staying over, it was still relatively early. Ye Wenjin sat stiffly on the sofa, inexplicably too self-conscious to even check her phone, looking like a mushroom that had sprouted right there on the couch.

“Would you like to work out?”

Jian Mo’s voice was gentle, and every time she spoke, Ye Wenjin found it soothing.

But this time, after processing the words, Ye Wenjin blinked in confusion. “Work out?”

Jian Mo gave a slight nod. “Mm. There’s a gym at home.”

Truthfully, Ye Wenjin was just too tense. To prevent her from actually turning into a mushroom, Jian Mo suggested she go exercise.

“Didn’t you say you ate too much at dinner? The gym can help you burn off the extra calories.”

Ye Wenjin’s eyes immediately lit up. After a moment of thought, she asked cautiously, “Sister, is there an empty room?”

Jian Mo looked at her. “Don’t like the gym?”

Ye Wenjin shook her head, a little shy. “No, it’s just that I’m more used to practicing dance exercises. After warming up, I follow it with dance practice—it burns calories faster. I’m not very familiar with gym equipment.”

Whenever she consumed too many calories, she usually opted to extend her practice sessions to burn them off. A few extra rounds of practice could burn more calories than a gym session.

Jian Mo’s gaze flickered. “Come on, I’ll take you.”

To her surprise, there really was an empty room. Delighted, Ye Wenjin followed along.

But she had assumed it would just be an ordinary spare room. When they stopped and Jian Mo turned on the lights, however, Ye Wenjin froze in shock.

Because the room before her wasn’t just any empty space—it was a full-fledged dance studio.

Floor-to-ceiling mirrors covered two walls, and a ballet barre stood in front of them. Everything was fully equipped.

Ye Wenjin stood dumbfounded for a long moment before finally snapping out of it. “This… is this a dance studio?”

Jian Mo gave a soft hum of acknowledgment. “Go ahead. I’ll have the housekeeper bring you practice clothes. The AC controls are right here—adjust them as you like. Just don’t practice too late.”

Ye Wenjin nodded blankly.

She still hadn’t fully processed it. Only when Jian Mo’s figure disappeared from sight did she suddenly come back to her senses, a huge question mark hovering over her head.

Jian Mo’s home… had a dance studio?

Was it for yoga? Or did her sister also practice dance?

Ye Wenjin couldn’t make sense of it. Since she couldn’t figure it out, she decided not to dwell on it. She took off her shoes and stepped inside.

The weather had been chilly since the rain, and practicing in thin clothes right away could easily lead to a cold. So Ye Wenjin found the AC controls and set a comfortable temperature.

Before long, the room gradually warmed up, and even the floor became cozy. Just as Ye Wenjin was searching for suitable music, there was a knock at the door. She hurried to open it and, sure enough, it was the butler.

“Miss Ye, here are the things you requested.”

The butler handed her a set of workout clothes and shoes, along with a thermos of warm water and a few pieces of candy—thoughtful touches indeed.

Surprised by how thorough the preparations were, Ye Wenjin accepted the items with a mix of gratitude and hesitation. After a brief pause, she cautiously asked, “You…”

She opened her mouth but realized she didn’t even know the butler’s name, leaving her momentarily at a loss for how to address him.

The butler, ever perceptive, smiled and said, “Miss Ye, you may call me Butler Wu.”

Ye Wenjin exhaled in relief. “Butler Wu, I… actually wanted to ask about these things…”

She glanced at the workout clothes in her hands, puzzled as to why Jian Mo would have such items here. Her curiosity got the better of her.

Butler Wu chuckled. “Miss Ye, there’s no need to worry. These are all clean.”

Ye Wenjin blinked. “That’s not what I meant… Well, never mind. Thank you for bringing them.”

Butler Wu’s expression remained unchanged, his smile warm and his eyes seemingly capable of understanding everything.

Hearing her words, he nodded and said, “It’s my duty. I won’t disturb you further, Miss Ye.”

Ye Wenjin nodded in return, watching as Butler Wu left before turning back into the room.

She felt a bit perplexed. She could tell Butler Wu had likely guessed what she wanted to ask, but he seemed unwilling to elaborate. Realizing this, it dawned on her that she might have overstepped. Fortunately, Butler Wu didn’t seem to mind, maintaining his usual courteous demeanor.

Perhaps it’s best not to be too curious, she thought.

With that, Ye Wenjin set the matter aside and focused on her practice. Though she had been keeping up with her exercises over the past two days, she had been somewhat lax compared to before. Now that she had a proper place to train, she couldn’t afford to slack off.

By the time she finished, she glanced at the clock—it was already past ten.

It was getting late, and she had to return to school for classes the next day. It was time to wash up and sleep.

With that in mind, Ye Wenjin got up and began tidying the room, turning off the lights and the air conditioner before slipping on her jacket and stepping out.

Since she planned to shower and sleep right after returning, she decided not to change clothes now—she’d have to wash them anyway anyway.

It was quite late when she stepped out, and the villa was even quieter than before. Everyone must have already gone to bed.

Ye Wenjin paused mid-step, suddenly remembering something: she wasn’t familiar with the place, didn’t know where her room was, and had no idea where to go to wash up. She stood there awkwardly, frozen in place.

Just as she debated whether to call for help, Butler Wu approached unhurriedly.

“Miss Ye, what a coincidence. I was just coming to remind you that it’s getting late.”

Feeling a bit embarrassed, Ye Wenjin said, “Sorry to trouble you, Butler Wu. I was actually looking for you.”

With an understanding smile, Butler Wu replied, “Please follow me. Your room is on the third floor.”

Ye Wenjin quickly followed, relieved.

As they walked, she hesitated for a moment before quietly asking, “Butler Wu, has… my sister already gone to bed?”

Butler Wu shook her head. “Miss Momo is still working.”

Having just arrived in a new environment, Ye Wenjin had been tense and hadn’t noticed Butler Wu’s form of address for Jian Mo. Now that she did, she felt a sudden wave of emotion.

“I see. It feels like Butler Wu and my sister are as close as family. You must have a very good relationship.”

After all, in her experience, whether it was butlers or servants, none addressed their employers as intimately as Butler Wu did.

The Yin family was even stricter, insisting on rigid adherence to rules.

Yin Yu was the head of the household, so the servants addressed her as “Family Head” or “President Yin.” Yin Feifei was called “Eldest Miss,” and Ye Shuyao was “Madam.” As for her, she was just an ordinary “Miss Ye.”

Given this limited understanding, she was both surprised and moved when she noticed Butler Wu’s affectionate way of referring to Jian Mo.

Butler Wu’s gaze softened. “Miss Momo has always been very kind to us. Many of us have watched her grow up. She has a good heart and doesn’t stand on ceremony.”

Ye Wenjin couldn’t help but agree, especially with the strict Yin family as a point of comparison. For the servants, Jian Mo’s household must feel like paradise.

“My sister really is very kind-hearted,” she said.

Butler Wu’s smile remained unchanged, but her eyes grew even warmer as she looked at Ye Wenjin.

This girl has good judgment.

“Yes, Miss Momo is perhaps too kind-hearted, alas—”

She suddenly sighed, making Ye Wenjin think something had happened. Instinctively, she asked, “What’s wrong?”

Butler Wu looked melancholy. “I was just thinking about Miss Momo’s past… Ah, never mind. It’s better not to talk about it. If she knew I mentioned this to you, she’d surely scold me.”

If Butler Wu hadn’t brought it up, Ye Wenjin wouldn’t have been curious. But seeing her expression, curiosity was instantly piqued.

Though she wanted to ask what had happened, she knew her boundaries and what questions to avoid.

Since Butler Wu had said as much, it must be something she wasn’t supposed to know. Best not to invite trouble.

Resolved, Ye Wenjin nodded obediently. “Alright, then let’s not talk about it.”

Butler Wu gave her a surprised look, not expecting her to resist asking. Just as she was about to say something, they reached the third floor.

As soon as she stepped onto the third floor, Ye Wenjin caught the sharp scent of winter plum.

She paused, sensing the pheromones laced within the fragrance, and forcibly stopped in her tracks.

“Butler Wu, I can’t go any further.”

Suppressing the urge stirred by the pheromones, she even took a step back.

Butler Wu immediately noticed something was wrong and grew serious. “Miss Momo… Oh no, her pheromones are fluctuating again. Miss Ye, please go back downstairs. I’ll fetch the suppressants.”

Ye Wenjin quickly nodded and turned to leave.

Even though she moved swiftly, she could still feel Jian Mo’s pheromones clinging to her.

Those pheromones extended like tendrils, probing toward her. In just two seconds, she could feel the glands at the back of her neck growing restless, eager to respond.

Not daring to linger, Ye Wenjin quickened her pace. Only when she reached the first floor did the probing pheromone tendrils finally begin to fade.

Yet the faint scent of winter plum still lingered on her, reluctant to fade away.

Ye Wenjin felt a slight relief, but not entirely at ease. She gazed anxiously at the third floor, worried that Jian Mo might be in trouble.

Even though she knew Butler Wu had gone to fetch the suppressants, her concern remained.

She had heard of hormonal imbalances before—this condition usually occurred when someone experienced intense stimulation during differentiation or when their hormones were unstable just after differentiation and were subjected to further stress.

In any case, hormonal imbalances could flare up intermittently, bringing severe pain during episodes.

Ye Wenjin never expected Jian Mo to suffer from such an ailment.

Her eyes fixed on the third floor as she awaited the outcome, her mind inevitably wandering: What had Jian Mo gone through? How could she have developed this condition?

And… come to think of it, there was something strange.

Whether it was Butler Wu or the other servants she had seen, they were all quite old—likely having lived in the Jian household for a long time.

Yet she hadn’t seen Jian Mo’s family members, nor had anyone mentioned them. Could that be the reason? Ye Wenjin frowned deeply in thought.

Lost in her thoughts, a sudden noise erupted from the third floor—a loud crash, as if something had fallen to the ground.

Ye Wenjin grew frantic. Just as she was about to call for Butler Wu to ask what was happening, she heard the butler urgently calling her name before she could speak.

Without hesitation, Ye Wenjin dashed upstairs while responding.

The two met at the second-floor landing, but before Ye Wenjin could ask anything, Butler Wu grabbed her hand and pulled her upward.

“Miss Ye, I know you and Mo Mo share a deep bond. Right now, she’s extremely hostile toward outsiders—even I, a Beta, can’t get close. You’re the only one who can deliver the suppressants to her.”

Ye Wenjin’s heart clenched. “But I—”

Butler Wu’s expression was grave. “You needn’t feel burdened. Mo Mo has already told us—your hormonal compatibility is exceptionally high. Perhaps only you can approach her now. Once the suppressant takes effect, she’ll calm down.”

With the situation urgent, Ye Wenjin wasted no more time and nodded firmly.

“I understand. I’ll go in right away.”

Butler Wu led her to the door and gently pushed it open.

In an instant, Ye Wenjin saw Jian Mo leaning heavily against the desk, her face strained with pain she couldn’t conceal.

The items on the desk were now scattered across the floor. Hearing the noise, Jian Mo turned her gaze toward her.

The aggressive scent of winter plum, which had surged toward Ye Wenjin, suddenly retracted its thorns, curling and coiling around her like a gentle embrace.

In that moment, the fragrance of rosemary filled the entire room.

Click.

The door closed behind her.

Support