After Mistaking My Stepsister’s First Love - Chapter 33

Ye Wenjin didn’t even realize it herself, but there was a faint trace of grievance in her tone when she spoke to Jian Mo.

Though she hadn’t noticed, Jian Mo had picked up on it keenly.

Moreover, given Ye Wenjin’s personality, she would never trouble others unless absolutely necessary yet this time, she even asked Aunt Wu to come to the school with her. Something must have happened.

Jian Mo’s expression was grave, but her voice remained calm, carrying a soothing undertone. “Xiao Jin, don’t panic. Wait for us to arrive.”

Ye Wenjin responded with a quiet “Mm,” then, as if remembering something, she rallied her spirits and added, “Sister, don’t rush either. Drive safely.”

Jian Mo agreed, but the moment the call ended, she swiftly notified the housekeeper, Wu.

Both of them set off immediately, Jian Mo from the company, while Wu left from home.

However, since Jian Mo’s office was farther away, Wu arrived at the school first.

Following Jian Mo’s instructions, Wu contacted Ye Wenjin as soon as she reached the school, intending to go to the office first to assess the situation.

But dressed in her uniform, Wu stood out starkly among the students, drawing curious glances wherever she went.

Students were used to seeing only their peers or teachers, so encountering someone unusual naturally piqued their interest.

Some even thought a teacher was cosplaying and took photos, posting them on the school forum, sparking lively discussions.

Especially when someone noticed the direction Wu was heading, a fresh wave of speculation erupted.

Back in the classroom, since Ye Wenjin had been called away, rehearsals were paused, and everyone was taking a break. Naturally, some had seen the forum posts and began whispering among themselves.

Rong Yunshu overheard and checked the post herself. Her heart sank.

She certainly recognized Wu. The sudden appearance of the housekeeper at school, coupled with Ye Wenjin being summoned by the teacher, made it impossible for Rong Yunshu not to connect the dots.

Her gaze instinctively shifted to He Wenxi, only to see her smiling faintly. Rong Yunshu’s brows furrowed tightly.

Amid the murmurs in the classroom, Ye Wenjin, standing in the office, felt a slight easing of tension upon receiving the news that Wu had arrived.

Yet she remained silent, her head slightly bowed, standing there quietly and obediently, an image that evoked an inexplicable sense of pity.

Whenever Teacher Guan’s eyes swept over her, she couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.

What an undeserved misfortune.

Ye Wenjin, too, couldn’t figure out who could possibly resent her so much.

She had earned the lead dancer position through her own skill. Even if Teacher Guan hadn’t emphasized its importance, she had taken it seriously.

She cherished every opportunity she got, working hard to accumulate experience, dreaming that one day she too could have a grand performance of her own.

Yet obstacles always seemed to appear. Ye Wenjin felt lost.

Seeing her dazed and dejected expression, Teacher Guan’s attitude softened somewhat.

Truthfully, she had high hopes for Ye Wenjin. Among all the students in the class, Ye Wenjin was the only one with both exceptional skill and humility. She approached every lesson and every performance with utmost dedication. In her, Teacher Guan saw a heart full of passion.

Ye Wenjin genuinely loved dance, which was why she never half-hearted her efforts. Though her performances were still youthful and unpolished, they brimmed with emotion, blending seamlessly with the dance itself, a sight that brought comfort to those who watched.

In truth, she felt the lead dancer position should have gone to Ye Wenjin. The self-choreographed dance Ye had adapted had genuinely surprised her with its brilliance.

However, two instructors had strongly recommended He Wenxi, believing she better suited the style of this performance. After some discussion, He Wenxi was ultimately chosen as the lead dancer.

Ye Wenjin secured the position of secondary lead dancer with the second-highest score.

Instructor Guan felt a twinge of regret, but seeing Ye Wenjin rehearse diligently, her impression of the girl improved somewhat.

What she hadn’t expected was for someone to suddenly accuse Ye Wenjin of having inappropriate ties with an outsider and even providing evidence.

This was a hidden bomb. If exposed, it wouldn’t just disrupt the performance but also deal a significant blow to the academy’s reputation.

After careful consideration, Instructor Guan decided to speak with Ye Wenjin first, hoping to clarify the truth.

From their conversation, her instincts leaned heavily in Ye Wenjin’s favor. Now, she was just waiting for the other party to arrive. Once everything was cleared up, the matter could be resolved with minimal fallout.

Normally, all instructors should have been present for this, but…

Out of a desire to protect talent, Instructor Guan chose to handle the initial questioning herself.

The wait wasn’t long before a knock sounded at the office door. Ye Wenjin’s eyes brightened slightly as she moved to open it.

But it wasn’t Steward Wu standing outside, it was two other instructors.

Ye Wenjin was puzzled, but behind her, Instructor Guan’s expression shifted.

Frowning slightly, she asked, “Instructor Li, Instructor Yue, what brings you here?”

“Instructor Guan, I’d like to ask the same. Were you planning to handle this privately with Ye Wenjin?”

Instructor Guan’s face darkened. “Instructor Li, mind your words. I was merely gathering information from Ye Wenjin to investigate the matter properly.”

Instructor Li frowned. “Investigate? What’s there to investigate? The evidence is right in front of us. If this isn’t handled correctly, have you considered the consequences?”

Instructor Guan studied her for a moment. “I’m well aware of the potential consequences, Instructor Li. There’s no need for such urgency.”

“The truth will come out. Since Ye Wenjin claims she can prove her innocence, we should at least hear her out. Jumping to conclusions without a full understanding could lead to wrongful accusations, which would also have serious repercussions.”

“I don’t want any student to be falsely accused, just as I believe those at fault should face consequences. Don’t you agree, Instructor Li?”

Instructor Li’s expression remained unchanged, though her brow twitched. “Of course I agree, Instructor Guan. That goes without saying.”

As she spoke, Instructor Yue, standing beside her, remained silent, instead turning his gaze to Ye Wenjin.

“Student Ye, you mentioned you have evidence?”

Ye Wenjin paused briefly before answering, “I’ve asked the elder in question to come. They should be arriving soon.”

Instructor Yue nodded and said nothing more, taking a seat as if preparing to listen.

Seeing this, Instructor Li also stepped into the office.

The atmosphere was tense, but Ye Wenjin seemed unaffected.

From the exchange between the two instructors, she had already picked up on certain undercurrents. She wasn’t foolish, she understood the implications.

Instructor Guan’s integrity was beyond doubt, but the same couldn’t necessarily be said for Instructor Li.

Ye Wenjin quickly searched her memories but found no past conflicts with Instructor Li.

Over the past two years, she had maintained a polite but distant relationship with all her instructors.

Ye Wenjin had never thought to curry favor with any teacher, nor had she ever made enemies with them.

So she couldn’t understand why Teacher Li seemed to hold some hostility toward her.

Hostility wasn’t quite the right word, Ye Wenjin couldn’t quite put her finger on the feeling, but it left her unsettled deep down.

Fortunately, the tense atmosphere was broken when the door sounded again.

This time, it was still Ye Wenjin who opened it.

Perhaps she had managed to suppress her grievances earlier, but the moment she saw the familiar figure of Aunt Wu at the door, her nose tingled with unshed tears.

“Aunt Wu…”

Aunt Wu, the housekeeper, took one look at her expression and immediately frowned. “Miss Wenjin, you’ve been wronged.”

Ye Wenjin shook her head, her gaze drifting behind Aunt Wu as she asked hesitantly, “Aunt Wu, is… is my sister not coming?”

Aunt Wu replied gently, “Miss Momo is coming from the company and needs a little more time. She should be here soon, don’t worry.”

Ye Wenjin nodded, falling silent.

Seeing the usually bright girl so subdued, Aunt Wu felt a surge of displeasure.

The child they had raised with such care at home, how had she ended up like this after just coming to school?

Aunt Wu didn’t know exactly what had happened to Ye Wenjin, but that didn’t stop her from standing up for her.

Even when facing the three teachers in the office, Aunt Wu remained poised and unyielding, her polite smile masking the firmness in her words.

“Please wait a little longer, ladies. My young mistress will arrive shortly.”

Teacher Guan was momentarily taken aback by the way she referred to Ye Momo, recalling the person mentioned in the “evidence.” The more she looked at Aunt Wu, the more she felt it matched, but the way she addressed Ye Momo gave her pause.

Not just her, even Teacher Li and Teacher Yue exchanged uncertain glances, their eyes flickering between Ye Wenjin and Aunt Wu.

There was no doubt that the woman in the evidence was this very person, but she wasn’t quite what they had imagined. Her demeanor didn’t seem ordinary, yet neither did it fit…

Teacher Li had initially thought that with the evidence in hand, Ye Wenjin would have a hard time refuting the accusations. But now, seeing Aunt Wu, she wasn’t so sure anymore. A sense of foreboding crept into her heart.

This matter might not end well today.

Teacher Yue, however, was more composed than Teacher Li. She said nothing, merely observing how things unfolded.

After a moment of hesitation, Teacher Guan couldn’t resist asking, “Ye Wenjin, who is this?”

Before Ye Wenjin could answer, Aunt Wu stopped her with a smile. “My surname is Wu. I am Miss Wenjin’s housekeeper. The young mistress is kind-hearted and calls me Aunt Wu.”

Teacher Guan froze, connecting the dots with the so-called evidence.

Her brows furrowed deeply. “It seems we’ve made a mistake.”

Hearing this, Teacher Li couldn’t help but interject, “Teacher Guan, the matter hasn’t been fully investigated yet, has it? Just her word alone doesn’t prove anything, does it?”

Teacher Guan shot her a glance. “Teacher Li, why are you in such a hurry?”

Teacher Li choked back her words, afraid of saying too much and making things worse.

Teacher Yue, however, smiled lightly. “Teacher Guan, Teacher Li is just raising reasonable doubts. We really shouldn’t take one person’s word as absolute, should we?”

Teacher Guan sneered inwardly. She wanted to retort but held back, not wanting to escalate things.

By now, if she still didn’t understand the dynamics at play, she might as well have lived all these years for nothing.

At first, she had wondered how these two teachers had known she had called Ye Wenjin in for questioning. Now, it was clear, someone had tipped them off.

Teacher Guan looked at the two of them, and her expression subtly shifted.

Teacher Li noticed and grew even more uneasy. In truth, she also felt that things were slipping out of control.

She couldn’t help but feel a pang of regret, why had she insisted on wading into this mess? Now, she had no idea how to wrap it up.

Ye Wenjin sensed the change in the office atmosphere but remained quiet.

Teacher Yue, realizing the situation was turning sour, also grew restless. She wanted to leave but couldn’t think of a proper excuse.

Just as she was agonizing over it, there was another knock at the door.

Ye Wenjin, standing near the entrance, opened it and looked up to see the expressionless face of Jian Mo. She froze for a moment. “Sister…”

Only after seeing her did Jian Mo’s expression soften slightly. “Xiao Jin, are you alright?”

Ye Wenjin shook her head. “I’m fine, Sister.”

Jian Mo scrutinized her carefully, frowning when she noticed her subdued demeanor.

Then, she turned her gaze to the office. Butler Wu stepped forward, bowed slightly, and quietly briefed her on the situation.

Jian Mo’s eyes turned cold as she walked into the office, her gaze sweeping over the teachers.

Her sudden imposing aura caught them off guard. They stared at her in shock and suspicion, none daring to speak.

Feeling such strong presence from someone who appeared to be a student’s family member, they instinctively realized this person was no ordinary figure.

Teacher Guan glanced at the two who had turned as timid as quails, exhaled softly, and said, “Now that everyone’s here, let me briefly explain the situation. May I ask how to address you, miss?”

Butler Wu smiled politely. “Our young lady’s surname is Jian.”

Teacher Guan nodded and, steeling herself, recounted the incident from start to finish.

As she spoke, the office fell into complete silence, only her voice and the increasingly frosty expression of the young woman before them filled the room.

Though Jian Mo didn’t appear much older, her commanding presence was undeniable. Teacher Guan sighed inwardly, knowing today’s matter wouldn’t be resolved so easily.

So, after finishing her explanation, she proactively presented the evidence, a stack of photographs.

Only then did Ye Wenjin realize the photos were of her and Aunt Wu, but the angles were deliberately misleading.

What had been normal interactions between them now appeared suspiciously intimate, giving the impression of an improper relationship.

Seeing these photos, Ye Wenjin felt nothing but absurdity. Her eyes filled with confusion as she asked, “Teacher Guan, can you now tell me who reported me?”

Teacher Li clenched her teeth and interjected, “Ye Wenjin, your suspicion hasn’t been cleared yet—”

Mid-sentence, she suddenly felt an intense gaze land on her. Teacher Li stiffened, her voice cutting off abruptly.

Following the stare, she saw the newly arrived Miss Jian looking at her coldly.

Not wanting to remain passive, Teacher Li bit her lip, about to speak again, but Jian Mo suddenly said, “Since this is such a serious matter, why aren’t the college leadership present? Let’s have them all come here. What do you think, Teacher Guan?”

Teacher Guan silently stood up to summon them.

Teacher Li and Teacher Yue’s faces instantly paled.

As luck would have it, the college secretary, dean, vice-dean, and department head were all available. After hearing Teacher Guan’s request, the leadership arrived in full force, ready to assess the situation.

Ye Wenjin had only ever seen them in lectures before this was the first time she was meeting the college leaders under such circumstances.

After a brief exchange of nods, the dean signaled for Teacher Guan to recount the events first.

Teacher Guan then succinctly summarized the situation once more.

As her words faded, the quiet office was broken by the secretary’s indignant voice, “This is utterly absurd!”

Teacher Guan’s account had been impartial, clearly detailing everything from the moment the report was received up to the present. The leaders, all shrewd individuals, could easily discern the underlying complexities. Moreover, the two individuals Ye Wenjin had called in were actually familiar faces to them.

After a moment of contemplation, the dean said, “In that case, Teacher Guan, bring the whistleblower in as well.”

Teacher Guan thought of that person and couldn’t help but sigh inwardly before nodding and going to fetch them.

Ye Wenjin looked up, her gaze fixed calmly on the doorway. But when she saw who was slowly walking in alongside Teacher Guan, her heart was instantly flooded with confusion and bewilderment.

He Wenxi? Why was it her?

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