After Mistaking My Stepsister’s First Love - Chapter 23

The moment this thought surfaced, Rong Yunshu knew the speculation was likely true. When she looked at Ye Wenjin again, she noticed her cheeks were faintly flushed, as if she had been thinking of something.

Every sign pointed to the fact that Ye Wenjin’s relationship with that woman was exactly what she had imagined.

A bitter feeling spread through her chest, but Rong Yunshu suppressed it forcefully and instead softly reminded, “Wenjin, class is about to start.”

Before Ye Wenjin could fully regain her composure, the bell rang. Rubbing her ears, she quickly collected herself and focused on the lecture.

This was a core course, she couldn’t afford to be distracted.

Ye Wenjin mentally calculated her savings and decided she’d better not take any more leave from now on. She needed to work hard for that scholarship.

The morning class passed quickly in deep concentration. Only when the bell rang again did Ye Wenjin realize it was already over.

Rong Yunshu turned to her. “It’s noon, Wenjin. Where are we eating today?”

Ye Wenjin hesitated for a moment before replying, ” I don’t think I’ll eat at the cafeteria today.”

Rong Yunshu frowned slightly. “Not the cafeteria? Then where? Off-campus? I remember Chu Yunsheng mentioned a new place opened outside. But aren’t you supposed to watch your diet? Can you eat there?”

Embarrassed, Ye Wenjin explained, “No, I’m not going out either. Um,  someone will probably bring me food.”

Noticing the uncertainty in her expression, Rong Yunshu instinctively furrowed her brows but quickly smoothed her expression.

Casually, she suggested, “If you’re not sure, why not just come to the cafeteria with me? Or how long do you need to wait? I can stay with you.”

Ye Wenjin reflexively declined. “No need, Yunshu. You should go ahead and eat.”

Rong Yunshu smiled helplessly. “It’s fine. We always stick together, don’t we? You can come with me to pick up your food, and then we’ll go to the cafeteria together. Besides, yesterday Chu Yunsheng asked me to bring her lunch since we thought you wouldn’t be back until the afternoon.”

At this, Ye Wenjin understood perhaps Rong Yunshu didn’t like being alone either.

She had assumed Yunshu and Yunsheng didn’t get along, but it seemed they were close enough to bring each other meals?

After some thought, Ye Wenjin was persuaded.

She nodded. “Then let’s go to the cafeteria first. It’ll probably be a while before my food arrives.”

Rong Yunshu agreed readily. “Alright.”

By the time they reached the cafeteria and were buying their meals, Ye Wenjin’s phone rang. As expected, it was Butler Wu, saying she was waiting at the school gate.

Ye Wenjin acknowledged and asked her to wait a little longer.

Then, hurrying through their meal purchase, the two of them made their way to the school gate.

The entire time, Rong Yunshu observed Ye Wenjin’s expression, but her demeanor remained perfectly normal nothing like someone about to meet the woman from yesterday.

Had she guessed wrong? Was it not that woman bringing her food?

Lost in thought, they finally arrived at the gate.

Ye Wenjin scanned the area and spotted Butler Wu’s car with its hazard lights on, parked a short distance away. She quickly walked over.

“Aunt Wu, sorry for making you come all this way.”

Butler Wu chuckled. “What trouble? It’s good to get out and move around. At my age, everything feels like a struggle.”

Ye Wenjing shook her head earnestly and said, “Aunt Wu looks very young, not old at all.”

Seeing her serious expression, the housekeeper Wu couldn’t help but smile brightly. “Miss Wenjing, you’re so sweet. Here’s your lunch hurry back before it gets cold and loses its flavor.”

Ye Wenjing took the lunchbox from her and widened her eyes slightly.

The lunchbox was quite large, making it obvious at a glance that it was packed with plenty of food.

“It’s so big!”

Housekeeper Wu chuckled. “It just looks big, the portions aren’t actually that much. You must finish it all, Miss Wenjing. I’ve calculated it carefully the calories in this meal are just right.”

Ye Wenjing stared at the enormous lunchbox, feeling a little dizzy.

Was it really just right? She hesitated inwardly.

But Housekeeper Wu didn’t give her a chance to refuse. “Hurry back now, Miss Wenjing. Don’t keep your classmates waiting.”

Her gaze lingered briefly on Rong Yunshu, nodding slightly in acknowledgment.

Rong Yunshu paused before politely returning the greeting.

Only after Housekeeper Wu drove away did the two turn back toward the dormitory.

Rong Yunshu was lost in thought. She had never seen this person before, nor had Ye Wenjing ever mentioned her. Though Ye Wenjing rarely spoke about her personal life before.

Perhaps it was intuition, but Rong Yunshu felt this woman was different from the family members Ye Wenjing never brought up.

Still, Ye Wenjing had called her “Aunt Wu,” which didn’t sound like a family member.

Rong Yunshu glanced at Ye Wenjing’s expression. She seemed troubled by the size of the lunchbox, but subtle hints in her demeanor still revealed happiness.

Suddenly, Rong Yunshu spoke up. “Wenjing, was that someone from your family just now?”

Ye Wenjing snapped out of her thoughts with a soft “Ah.” “Well,  you could say that.”

It wasn’t exactly easy to explain that she was her sister’s housekeeper, was it?

Besides, Housekeeper Wu had practically watched her sister grow up, calling her family wasn’t entirely wrong.

Rong Yunshu: “Oh, really? You’ve never mentioned her before.”

Ye Wenjing laughed awkwardly. “Let’s hurry back, or Yunshu will be starving by now.”

Rong Yunshu nodded, noticing her evasion and tactfully dropping the subject.

She already had a suspicion this sudden appearance of an elder might have a strong connection to that woman from yesterday.

Even as they returned to the dormitory, Rong Yunshu was still mulling it over.

At this hour, everyone in the dorm was present.

Unsurprisingly, the moment Ye Wenjing walked in carrying the lunchbox, Chu Yunsheng gasped loudly.

“A lunchbox?! Wenjing, you actually brought your own food?!”

This was the first time they’d seen her bring a meal, so not only was Chu Yunsheng shocked, but even Zhou Wuhua couldn’t hide her curiosity, glancing over a few times.

Ye Wenjing smiled sheepishly. “It was sent over by someone from home.”

Chu Yunsheng’s surprise only grew.

After all, Ye Wenjing had rarely spoken about her family in the dorm before now she was mentioning them so casually.

And judging by her expression, she didn’t seem as resistant as she usually did when receiving calls from home. In fact, she even looked… happy?

Astonished by the change, Chu Yunsheng suddenly bounced over, circling Ye Wenjing with undisguised curiosity.

Ye Wenjing grew increasingly uncomfortable under her scrutiny and quickly pointed at the food in Rong Yunshu’s hands. “Here’s your meal, go eat.”

Subtext: Stop staring at me.

Chu Yunsheng’s expression froze momentarily, a hint of bewilderment crossing her face. “Huh? Food?”

Ye Wenjin, oblivious to the change in her demeanor, seized the moment of Chu Yunsheng’s distraction to slip away from the side.

“Yeah, didn’t you ask Rong Yunshu to bring you food? Go ahead and eat.”

Chu Yunsheng looked up at Rong Yunshu, her eyes filled with confusion.

They both had classes this morning, what reason would she have to ask for food? And why would she ask Rong Yunshu of all people?

Then, her eyebrows arched high as she drawled, “Ohhh! So it was me who asked Rong Yunshu to bring food.”

In the past, Ye Wenjin would have caught the sarcasm in her tone.

But now, her attention was entirely on the lunchbox, worried there might be too much to finish. As she fretted and opened the large container, she naturally reacted more slowly to Chu Yunsheng’s situation.

Only belatedly realizing Chu Yunsheng had spoken, she turned to her blankly. “What’s wrong? Did I say something incorrect?”

Rong Yunshu glanced subtly at Chu Yunsheng, who was silently taunting her with a look, and replied calmly, “No, you should eat now.”

Chu Yunsheng mouthed her words silently, her expression dripping with amusement.

Rong Yunshu ignored her and handed her the food instead, her smile laced with warning. “Eat up, young mistress.”

Chu Yunsheng: “?”

Had she said she wanted to eat? Who knew if Rong Yunshu had poisoned it? Besides, she’d already eaten!

Most importantly, was this how Rong Yunshu asked for favors?

She immediately frowned, ready to refuse, but before she could speak, Zhou Wuhua appeared out of nowhere and smoothly took the food from her hands, lowering her voice. “Give it to me. I was the one who told Chu Yunsheng to ask you to bring food.”

Rong Yunshu froze, staring at her in surprise, not understanding why Zhou Wuhua would suddenly come to her rescue.

Chu Yunsheng was equally baffled. Leaning closer to Zhou Wuhua, she whispered, “When did I ever tell you to ask her to bring food? Wait, why are you helping her?”

Zhou Wuhua adjusted her glasses, her gaze flickering behind the lenses as she glanced at Chu Yunsheng. Her tone was indifferent. “Let’s just say, I enjoy helping others. It’s not a big deal anyway.”

Chu Yunsheng pouted. Though it wasn’t a big deal, she simply disliked Rong Yunshu. Not exposing her little scheme outright was already giving her face.

But since Zhou Wuhua was willing to cover for Rong Yunshu, she wouldn’t say anything more.

With a soft scoff at Rong Yunshu, Chu Yunsheng turned and sauntered back to Ye Wenjin’s side. Peeking into her lunchbox, she was stunned by the exquisitely prepared and lavish meal inside and began chattering excitedly.

Rong Yunshu paid her no mind, instead turning her gaze to Zhou Wuhua, her eyes tinged with curiosity.

Zhou Wuhua avoided her gaze, offering only a shy nod before retreating to her usual spot as if nothing had happened.

Rong Yunshu fell into thought, glancing between Zhou Wuhua and Chu Yunsheng before suddenly pausing.

If her suspicions were correct, perhaps Zhou Wuhua had helped her out of a sense of shared adversity.

Rong Yunshu fell silent.

Meanwhile, Chu Yunsheng quickly forgot about Rong Yunshu using her as an excuse. To her, Ye Wenjin’s situation was far more interesting.

Because she had a suspicion,

“Wenjin, be honest, are you seeing someone? This food couldn’t have been made by someone who likes you, could it?”

It’s no wonder she thought that way the presentation in the food container was truly exquisite, clearly prepared with great care.

Moreover, Ye Wenjin had never before brought gifts from others back to the dorm. Whenever someone showed her kindness, she would politely decline without fail, never accepting their offerings. She never led anyone on, rejecting them outright, almost as if she were immune to romance.

Yet, in truth, Ye Wenjin was quite beautiful, especially on stage, where she truly stood out. Over the past two years, she had participated in numerous performances at school and elsewhere, garnering admiration from at least a hundred people, if not a thousand.

By all logic, she shouldn’t have remained single for so long, but she had managed it through sheer determination.

Chu Yunsheng even suspected she might have no interest in romance at all, that she was “married to dance.” Who would have guessed that today, she’d see such a meticulously prepared lunch in Ye Wenjin’s hands?

Her curiosity was instantly piqued!

Hearing such an outrageous assumption, Ye Wenjin couldn’t help but laugh and explained, “It’s not from someone who likes me. It was sent by an elder. Rong Yunshu went with me to pick it up, you can ask her if you don’t believe me.”

Chu Yunsheng whipped her head around to look at Rong Yunshu, only to see her expression unchanged as she gave a faint “Mm” in confirmation. Disappointed, Chu Yunsheng’s excitement deflated.

But then she quickly caught on, “An elder?”

Ye Wenjin’s heart skipped a beat, but she maintained her composure and nodded. “Yes, an elder. We just, weren’t very close before.”

Hearing this, Chu Yunsheng felt she understood and was suddenly overwhelmed with sympathy for her.

“Well, this elder of yours seems really nice.”

At least better than your mom.

She added this silently in her heart, not daring to say it out loud. After all, no matter what, that was still Ye Wenjin’s mother, and Chu Yunsheng couldn’t bring herself to speak ill of someone’s parent to their face.

Ye Wenjin smiled. “Yes, she’s a very kind elder.”

Gazing at the elegant food container, Chu Yunsheng sighed inwardly.

Whether something was made with care or not was obvious at a glance.

In the two years they’d been roommates, Ye Wenjin had rarely mentioned her mother, and when she did, her tone was always indifferent.

Unlike now, when she spoke of this elder, her face was full of warmth.

Chu Yunsheng was genuinely happy for her someone was treating Ye Wenjin well.

With that thought, Chu Yunsheng pointed at one of the dishes. “Wenjin~ Can I try some too~?”

Hearing her exaggerated, singsong tone, Ye Wenjin couldn’t help but laugh. “Sure, go ahead.”

Chu Yunsheng took a satisfied bite, then dramatically praised, “So delicious! The flavors are so refreshing your elder’s cooking is amazing!”

Hearing Housekeeper Wu being complimented, Ye Wenjin was delighted. “Would you like to try something else?”

Though tempted, Chu Yunsheng knew when to stop.

“That’s enough for me, you should eat now!”

Ye Wenjin nodded and began eating slowly. Before she knew it, she had finished everything.

Just as Housekeeper Wu had estimated, the portions were perfect.

The container only looked large because of the careful arrangement and insulation.

Ye Wenjin meticulously cleaned the container, planning to return it to Housekeeper Wu the next time she visited.

In the afternoon, they had dance class. As soon as it began, the teacher announced some news.

Recently, there was a rather important performance coming up, but they needed to select several lead dancers and one principal dancer. Naturally, the selection would be based on auditions, which would continue until suitable candidates were chosen.

When she heard the news, Ye Wenjin’s eyes lit up slightly.

For them, this kind of performance was an opportunity to gain exposure and accumulate experience. Of course, both the principal and lead dancers would receive a lot of attention.

If she could secure either of those roles and invite her sister to watch.

Would her sister,  actually come?

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