After Mistaking My Stepsister’s First Love - Chapter 3

Ye Wenjin was locked up just like that.

As for school, Ye Shuyao had requested a day off for her, citing illness. Since the next day was Friday, followed by the weekend, this meant three days in total. Although Ye Wenjin didn’t know why they were keeping her confined, a bad feeling gnawed at her.

Because the leave had been personally requested by Ye Shuyao and was only for a single day, no one suspected a thing.

When she was first restrained, her phone had been confiscated by the servants, leaving her with no way to call for help. She was like a prisoner stranded on a deserted island, with no one to turn to.

After sitting listlessly in her room for a long while whether from anger or the cold Ye Wenjin suddenly felt waves of dizziness.

She really did seem to be falling ill. Her mind was so sluggish that even her thoughts slowed. To at least keep a clear head, she took a deep breath and knocked on the door to summon a servant.

“Miss Ye, what do you need?”

“Go tell Madam that I’m sick and ask her to call a doctor for me. Whatever your mistress is planning, it won’t be easy to carry out if I’m unwell, right?”

Ye Wenjin’s tone was indifferent, as if she wasn’t the one being locked up.

The servant hesitated but eventually relayed the message to Ye Shuyao.

However, what Ye Wenjin received wasn’t a doctor, just a box of cold medicine, along with Ye Shuyao’s distrustful gaze and icy words.

“Ah-Jin, you’re not a child anymore. Don’t try to escape using such tricks. And you never used to lie, look at you now, spending time with unsavory people and learning to deceive. It’s a good thing we didn’t let you stray too far.”

Ye Shuyao frowned, her eyes filled with disappointment, convinced that Ye Wenjin was playing games.

Staring at that familiar face, Ye Wenjin only felt estranged, a chill creeping into her heart.

She wasn’t lying. She truly felt unwell her head was spinning, and her body burned with fever.

Had Ye Shuyao bothered to check, she would have known Ye Wenjin was telling the truth. But without even verifying, she had labeled her a liar.

Was this woman really her mother?

Ye Wenjin felt dazed, sinking into silence.

Ye Shuyao’s frown deepened at her lack of response. She sighed and spoke in a lecturing tone.

“Ah-Jin, you know marrying into the Yin family was a stretch for me, let alone bringing you along. I have to tread carefully every day, if Yin Yu is displeased, we’ll lose our home.

“Your sister was lucky to present as an Alpha, and her rank isn’t low. She has better prospects, and it’s all for the family’s sake. If your Aunt Yin’s company thrives, we all benefit.

“Besides, the Lin family isn’t bad either. Marrying into it would be good for everyone. And Madam Lin is kind her daughter must be decent too. What exactly are you unhappy about?”

Ye Wenjin kept her eyes closed and remained silent.

Disappointed, Ye Shuyao shook her head and left the room.

Only after she was gone did Ye Wenjin slowly open her eyes. Wincing, she got up and took a pill.

But the medicine didn’t seem to help. Her body still burned, and as her fever rose, her head throbbed with pain.

The physical discomfort brought an unprecedented weakness. Too drained to ponder their motives, Ye Wenjin washed up briefly before climbing into bed, soon sinking into a deep sleep.

The next day, Ye Wenjin woke up feeling slightly better, though her body was still weak. Frowning, she took another pill.

She remained in a daze until the afternoon when the door opened and Ye Shuyao walked in, holding a formal dress. “Change into this. We’re going out later.”

Ye Wenjin didn’t look at her, as if she hadn’t heard, remaining indifferent.

“Ah Jin, be obedient. Don’t disappoint me.”

Ye Shuyao’s voice was gentle, as though nothing had happened the night before.

Ye Wenjin’s pupils trembled slightly. She lowered her gaze, lost in thought, before finally giving a faint nod.

Only then did Ye Shuyao seem satisfied. Before leaving, she instructed, “Freshen up properly and come out quickly.”

It had been drizzling all day, the gloomy rain casting a stifling atmosphere.

When Ye Wenjin stepped outside in the dress, she realized the wind was strong, and the outfit Ye Shuyao had brought was too thin. The cold breeze made her already aching head throb again.

The car window rolled down, and Ye Shuyao urged, “Don’t just stand there. Get in the car.”

Perhaps because her heart had gone numb, Ye Wenjin silently obeyed.

It wasn’t just her and Ye Shuyao going out, Yin Yu and her daughter were also joining.

Ye Wenjin found it inexplicably amusing. She had no idea where they were taking her that required three people to keep an eye on her.

Yin Feifei still disliked her and couldn’t resist making snide remarks, but Ye Wenjin ignored her, keeping her eyes closed in silence to conserve her energy.

Yin Feifei snorted, seemingly wanting to say more, but Yin Yu stopped her, and she reluctantly quieted down.

The group arrived at the entrance of a lavish hotel.

After getting out of the car, Yin Yu handed the invitation to the doorman, and they were escorted to the banquet hall.

Only after entering did Ye Wenjin realize she had been brought to another banquet and, as luck would have it, this one was hosted by the Lin family.

Ye Wenjin grew wary. She didn’t believe Yin Yu had kept her around just to attend the Lin family’s banquet, but she had no information to go on, so she decided to wait and see.

The banquet hall was well-heated, providing some relief from the cold. But before she could relax, she sensed an intense gaze scrutinizing her. Following it, she spotted Madam Lin and the young woman beside her—likely her daughter.

The young lady’s eyes were filled with displeasure. It wasn’t hard to guess that she wasn’t the favored candidate for the arranged marriage.

After all, Ye Wenjin was unremarkable, practically invisible in the Yin family, nowhere near as dazzling as her stepsister.

But Ye Wenjin didn’t care, her expression blank and distant.

Ye Shuyao, however, grew visibly anxious when she noticed where Ye Wenjin was looking. Yet Madam Lin and her daughter showed no intention of approaching them. Glancing at Yin Yu, who seemed deep in thought, Ye Shuyao had no choice but to suppress her impatience for now.

Ye Wenjin was puzzled. While Ye Shuyao had always been eager to please Madam Lin, she had never been this desperate before.

Her behavior, only deepened Ye Wenjin’s suspicions.

But judging by the way Madam Lin casually averted her gaze, their invitation here likely had ulterior motives.

As Ye Wenjin had guessed, Madam Lin’s purpose in hosting this banquet wasn’t to strengthen ties with Yin Yu.

Before, a marriage alliance with the Yin family might have been appealing. But the moment Yin Yu showed signs of changing the engagement candidate, Madam Lin realized that forming ties with the Yin family was far from wise.

So she had been scheming early on, going through countless connections with great effort, and only recently managed to establish a link. If all went well, as long as she could latch onto that person, what would the Yin family even matter?

Though rumors said that person wasn’t easy to approach, Madam Lin knew well that opportunities had to be seized. And sure enough, the other party had agreed to attend the banquet.

Though her mind was racing with thoughts, Madam Lin wore a cheerful smile as she conversed with guests, as if she hadn’t noticed the Yin family’s arrival.

Yet Yin Yu had keenly sensed something amiss from her behavior.

Originally, she had kept Ye Wenjin behind precisely because of the prearranged discussion about the marriage alliance with the Lin family today. But she hadn’t expected Lin Yu to host a banquet on this very day.

When she received the invitation, Yin Yu had already detected something off, but after some consideration, she still brought Ye Wenjin along.

Now, after seeing Lin Yu, Yin Yu was certain she had other plans, the marriage discussion might fall through. But she didn’t leave. Instead, she intended to see what game Lin Yu was really playing.

And Yin Feifei, true to being raised by Yin Yu herself, also sensed a shift, her expression darkening momentarily. But she quickly composed herself, narrowing her eyes as she glanced discreetly at Miss Lin, who stood beside Lin Yu, then flicked a look at Ye Wenjin before curling her lips.

No matter what Lin Yu was plotting, this marriage had to go through.

Only Ye Shuao remained oblivious, anxious that the engagement hadn’t been settled yet. Until it was finalized, her heart wouldn’t find peace.

Amidst the undercurrents around them, Ye Wenjin had also noticed, but she was powerless to intervene, her body felt even more unwell.

Perhaps it was the earlier exposure to the cold wind, or maybe the stark contrast between the chill outside and the overly warm banquet hall, but her cold had worsened.

When she woke up this morning, she had thought she was nearly recovered, but this outing seemed to have aggravated her condition.

Now, her head was foggy, leaving her no energy to decipher the silent exchanges around her. The surrounding noise only made her more irritable.

Dazed, she wasn’t sure how much time had passed when she felt a bump, jolting her slightly awake. Following the murmurs, she noticed everyone turning their attention toward the banquet hall’s entrance.

Was some important figure arriving?

Thinking this, Ye Wenjin instinctively turned her gaze that way as well.

Soon, the room fell silent.

In her daze, Ye Wenjin thought she saw an immortal stepping through the light. Blinking, she realized it wasn’t a celestial being but it might as well have been.

The woman walking in had an ethereal, moonlit grace, her beauty almost otherworldly, a striking contradiction. Dressed in a simple white gown, she instantly became the center of attention the moment she appeared.

Ye Wenjin faintly heard gasps around her. Scanning the room, she saw most people looked stunned, their expressions quickly shifting to fawning admiration.

Even Yin Feifei, who usually carried herself with arrogance was staring unblinkingly at the newcomer, murmuring under her breath.

“Jian Mo… It’s actually her!”

Who was Jian Mo?

Ye Wenjin was puzzled, but out of the corner of her eye, she caught Yin Feifei’s cheeks flushing slightly, her eyes burning with fervent emotion and a deeply hidden determination.

Seeing her like this, Ye Wenjin suddenly remembered that Yin Feifei did indeed have someone she liked someone she had openly pursued with great fanfare. However, she never got the chance to confess or chase after them. Over time, this unrequited love became an unforgettable “white moonlight.” Could it be…?

She froze for a moment before shifting her gaze to the newcomer. But for some reason, despite the many eyes on her, Ye Wenjin noticed that the woman named Jian Mo seemed to glance in her direction for a fleeting instant.

With so many people around, Ye Wenjin couldn’t be sure if that look was meant for her. Still, she quickly dismissed the thought after all, she didn’t even know the woman.

So she averted her eyes and resumed her role as part of the background.

Jian Mo’s arrival instantly elevated the atmosphere of the banquet to its peak. A steady stream of guests approached her to strike up conversations, though Madam Lin remained in the most privileged position.

Yet Ye Wenjin noticed Yin Yu’s expression darkening.

Not that it was surprising. Yin Yu had assumed she had Madam Lin under her thumb, only to find that Madam Lin had managed to invite a heavyweight guest. Just by observing how everyone treated the woman, it was clear she was no ordinary figure. No wonder Yin Yu’s face had soured.

But none of this concerned Ye Wenjin. She kept her head slightly bowed, trailing behind the others without speaking or forcing a smile, her gaze hollow.

Even so, trouble still found her.

Perhaps emboldened by her home advantage and the presence of such an esteemed guest, Madam Lin was brimming with confidence. She approached with a server carrying wine glasses, her face radiant as she initiated conversation.

Though aware of the hostility, Yin Yu kept her expression in check, though the forced smile made her displeasure obvious.

What she hadn’t anticipated, however, was that Madam Lin’s target this time was Yin Feifei. At Madam Lin’s signal, her daughter stepped forward and handed a glass of wine to Yin Feifei.

Madam Lin smiled, though her eyes remained cold. “My daughter has always admired Feifei, but alas, fate had other plans. Since there’s no such bond between them, why not let bygones be bygones over a drink?”

Yin Yu narrowed her eyes, staring at the glass with an inscrutable expression.

Yin Feifei’s face also tightened, but she stepped forward, took the glass, and smiled faintly before passing it to Ye Wenjin.

“If this is Miss Lin’s wine, then naturally, my sister should be the one to drink it. Though we may lack a connection, my sister and Miss Lin hit it off immediately. They’ll surely grow close in the future, so I wouldn’t dream of stealing her moment. Don’t you agree, Sister Wenjin?”

Ye Wenjin’s face paled slightly. She lowered her eyes and remained silent, refusing wordlessly.

When she didn’t move, Ye Shuyao hastily took the glass and thrust it toward her.

“Your sister isn’t wrong. Just drink it.”

She seemed to have completely forgotten Ye Wenjin’s earlier claim of feeling unwell, only eager to echo Yin Feifei.

Ye Wenjin glanced calmly at Ye Shuyao but said nothing more. She took the glass and downed the wine in one gulp.

Miss Lin stood frozen, unsure what to do. Madam Lin smirked. “Why are you looking at me? Since Miss Ye has been so gracious, it would be impolite for you not to drink as well.”

Thus, Miss Lin hurriedly drank as well.

Once she finished, Madam Lin cast a meaningful glance at Ye Wenjin before leading her entourage away.

Ye Wenjin frowned slightly, sensing something amiss. But at that moment, no one paid her any attention.

Yin Yu felt she had lost face, her expression turning sour. In contrast, Yin Feifei seemed quite pleased, occasionally glancing at Ye Wenjin with a flicker of amusement in her eyes.

Ye Wenjin’s intuition was right, she felt the discomfort around her growing heavier, accompanied by another unsettling sensation that gave her a bad premonition.

The moment she realized something was wrong with her body, her first instinct was to seek Ye Shuyao’s help. Yet, the first thing that flashed in her mind was Ye Shuyao’s disappointed expression.

Ye Wenjin froze. Without alerting anyone, she decided to leave quietly.

But Yin Feifei, as if watching her every move, suddenly grabbed her arm and whispered, “Sister seems unwell. Let me take her to rest.”

Yin Yu, already irritated, waved them off without a second thought. Ye Shuyao, too absorbed in her own sorrow, didn’t notice anything amiss with Ye Wenjin.

With permission granted, Ye Wenjin was forcibly led out of the banquet hall.

Her discomfort intensified. At one point, her vision blurred, the world spinning, her body burning up.

Despite the agony, she knew she couldn’t go with Yin Feifei.

Yet, her resistance meant nothing to Yin Feifei, who scoffed and quickened her pace.

Ye Wenjin’s unease grew, her struggles more desperate until, suddenly, something long suppressed within her burst free.

The empty hallway was instantly flooded with a torrent of violent pheromones.

Caught off guard, Yin Feifei was overwhelmed by the pheromone clash. The sheer pressure plunged her into darkness, and she collapsed unconscious.

Freed from Yin Feifei’s grip, Ye Wenjin had no time to process what had happened. She only knew she had to escape.

Staggering forward like a headless fly, she didn’t stop until the world around her fell into complete silence. Only then did she feel a sliver of relief.

But her tenuous grip on consciousness was slipping. Her vision blurred again, her body swaying as if she might faint at any moment.

Just as she was about to collapse, a cold, wintry scent of plum blossoms enveloped her. She stumbled into an embrace filled with that chilling fragrance, the icy plum aroma soothing her frenzied pheromones. Every fiber of her being sang with comfort.

For a brief moment, clarity returned to Ye Wenjin’s eyes. She looked up but only caught a glimpse of the stranger’s delicate jawline.

The crisp, frost-kissed scent of plum blossoms filled her senses, a fragrance that should have sharpened her awareness. Yet, for some reason, it intoxicated her.

Clutching the stranger like a lifeline, Ye Wenjin clung tightly, her voice a dazed murmur.

“So fragrant… so good… mmm…”

In the deserted hallway, the scent of winter plums grew ever stronger.

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