After Mistaking My Stepsister’s First Love - Chapter 42

Going Public!!!

Huh? Did she mean what I think she meant?

Ye Wenjin’s pupils dilated in shock, momentarily speechless as she stared dumbfounded at Jian Mo.

Seeing her stunned expression, Jian Mo couldn’t help but find it amusing, though her face remained composed. Softly, she asked, “Xiaojin? Why are you spacing out? Do you have concerns? Or… do you not want to go public?”

Ye Wenjin trembled all over, snapping back to reality at once. She hurriedly replied, “N-no… that’s not it. I don’t mind going public. It’s just a bit sudden, and I haven’t processed it yet.”

As she spoke, her cheeks gradually flushed pink. After hesitating for a moment, she added, “Why did you suddenly decide to go public, sister? I thought…”

Jian Mo chuckled lightly. “Thought what? That I wouldn’t want to go public?”

Ye Wenjin opened her mouth but then nodded sheepishly.

Jian Mo looked at her with calm amusement. “Why would you think that?”

Ye Wenjin scratched her cheek, suddenly feeling too embarrassed to answer.

But Jian Mo’s expression was steady, displaying extraordinary patience, as if determined to wait for her response.

Under the weight of such a serious gaze, Ye Wenjin’s awkwardness gradually faded. In a small voice, she explained, “Because… I feel like I’m not good enough for you, sister.

It already feels like a dream just to be married to you. Honestly, I don’t mind keeping it private. If we go public, I’m afraid people might gossip about you.”

Jian Mo raised an eyebrow. “Gossip about me? So that’s your concern?”

Ye Wenjin nodded honestly.

For a brief moment, a strange look flickered across Jian Mo’s face, but she quickly regained her usual gentleness. “Then, Xiaojin, have you thought about yourself? If we go public, you’ll be the one facing more criticism.”

Yet Ye Wenjin’s expression remained composed, even relaxed. After a moment of thought, she said earnestly, “But they wouldn’t be wrong. It’s true that I’ve overreached by marrying you that’s an undeniable fact.”

Jian Mo’s eyes flickered slightly as she murmured, “Doesn’t it make you feel resentful?”

Ye Wenjin thought for a while before answering candidly, “It does, because—”

She suddenly paused, then after a long moment, lifted her gaze to meet Jian Mo’s steadily. With great sincerity, she said, “I want to be more worthy of you, sister. I want to stand by your side as your equal. So a little criticism doesn’t matter. I’ll work hard to grow into someone who truly matches you. By then, the gossip will naturally fade away.”

Her vision suddenly blurred as the scent of winter plum blossoms enveloped her once more followed by the soft press of lips against hers.

Only after they parted did she realize what had happened.

Jian Mo had kissed her.

Ye Wenjin stared at Jian Mo in stunned silence, her expression one of utter disbelief.

Jian Mo curved her lips into a smile and turned away, leaving behind a single sentence that drifted into Ye Wenjin’s ears.

“I’ll be waiting for that day, Xiaojin.”

Ye Wenjin blinked, her heart suddenly swelling with boundless joy.

Sister hadn’t mocked her for being unrealistic, she’d even kissed her!

Ye Wenjin’s heart melted into warmth as she watched Jian Mo’s graceful retreating figure. An overwhelming urge to do something surged within her.

So she eagerly followed, trailing behind Jian Mo all the way to her room. But just as she was about to step inside, Ye Wenjin abruptly came to her senses and halted at the doorway.

Yet her longing gaze remained fixed on Jian Mo.

Jian Mo found it somewhat amusing, the gaze burning into her back was so intense it could almost bore a hole through her. Yet, despite that, Ye Wenjin remained so well-behaved. Even after following her all the way to the bedroom door, she just stood outside, staring longingly.

Like a well-mannered little dog waiting for its owner’s permission to enter.

Jian Mo turned her head and immediately met Ye Wenjin’s eager expression. Unable to resist, she curved her lips. “Don’t you want to come in?”

Ye Wenjin’s eyes lit up instantly. In one swift motion, she stepped inside, one hand closing the door while the other pulled Jian Mo into her arms.

Her expression was intoxicated as she nuzzled against Jian Mo’s neck, inhaling softly. “Jiejie, you smell so good.”

Jian Mo smiled languidly, her tone teasing. “Then take a few more whiffs?”

So Ye Wenjin obediently buried her face deeper into Jian Mo’s neck, breathing her in.

Jian Mo couldn’t help but think she really did resemble a puppy. Her eyes curved in amusement as she reached out to stroke Ye Wenjin’s hair, running her fingers through it gently.

“About tomorrow’s banquet, do you have anyone you’d like to invite, Xiaojin?”

Ye Wenjin paused, considering for a moment, but seemed uncertain. Hesitantly, she asked, “Can,  I invite my roommates?”

Jian Mo nodded. “Of course.”

Ye Wenjin smiled. “Then I’ll ask them.”

Truthfully, her roommates had already noticed the unusual changes in her lately, they must have some suspicions.

Now that Jian Mo was hosting a banquet and planning to make their relationship public, it was the perfect opportunity to invite them and tell them everything at once. It would also help her relax a little.

“Send an invitation to the Yin family as well.”

Ye Wenjin’s smile faltered slightly. She hadn’t expected Jian Mo to bring up the Yin family on her own.

Her expression turned hesitant. “Jiejie wants to invite them too?”

“Don’t you want to, Xiaojin?”

Ye Wenjin frowned slightly. She didn’t really want the Yin family to attend. But since Jian Mo had suggested it, she must have her reasons.

So she shook her head. “No, it’s fine. Jiejie can decide. I just… don’t want them ruining your mood.”

Jian Mo’s lips curled. “Unimportant people can’t ruin my mood.”

A flicker of confusion passed through Ye Wenjin’s eyes.

If they were unimportant, why invite them at all?

Though the question lingered in her mind, Ye Wenjin didn’t voice it. She simply nodded and said obediently, “Whatever Jiejie decides is fine.”

Jian Mo stroked her hair even more tenderly. “Xiaojin is so well-behaved.”

Ye Wenjin’s face warmed.

Jian Mo’s tone was so much like coaxing a child, Ye Wenjin felt both embarrassed and secretly thrilled.

She loved it when Jian Mo spoke to her like this. It made her feel special, cherished.

The two of them stayed wrapped in each other’s arms for a while.

But with Jian Mo’s scent constantly teasing her senses, Ye Wenjin struggled to hold back and ultimately failed.

She pulled away from that intoxicating neck and stared straight at Jian Mo, eyes brimming with anticipation. “Jiejie, I… I want to kiss you. Can I?”

Jian Mo chuckled, her tone encouraging. “Of course you can kiss me, Xiaojin. You don’t need to ask for permission in moments like this.”

Ye Wenjin felt this wasn’t quite right, but she always listened to Jian Mo. So she immediately put the lesson into practice, leaning in abruptly to capture those soft, glistening lips.

The sensation of their lips meeting was indescribably sweet, tender and intoxicating.

The air between them was thick with the scent of each other’s pheromones.

Ye Wenjin felt an addictive sensation, continuously drawing from Jian Mo’s lips. Apart from the sound of water, she could also hear the faint moans escaping from Jian Mo.

The scents of wintersweet and rosemary had somehow drifted out, gradually filling the entire room.

Ye Wenjin became even more intoxicated by this bliss, unconsciously craving to extract more of its sweetness.

By the time this prolonged kiss ended, Jian Mo was unusually breathless, her eyes glistening even more. The look she gave Ye Wenjin sent her mind into a daze, as if a fire were burning inside her.

She wanted to speak, but the hoarseness of her own voice startled her at the first syllable. Yet, even so, she didn’t avert her gaze for a second, staring intently at Jian Mo.

Under such a predatory gaze, even Jian Mo felt somewhat restless.

However, this wasn’t the right moment, because the sound of Butler Wu’s footsteps clearly echoed outside the door, accompanied by her ever-gentle voice.

Dinner was ready, and it was time for them to go downstairs.

The two locked eyes, allowing their pheromones to intertwine endlessly.

It wasn’t until Butler Wu called again that Jian Mo finally responded, yet neither of them showed any intention of letting go, their gazes glued together, the air thick with an ambiguous tension.

The sound of Butler Wu’s retreating footsteps faded outside the door.

Ye Wenjin slowly exhaled, reluctantly tearing her gaze away, managing to restrain herself in the end.

“Elder sister, let’s go down for dinner first.”

After being interrupted, belated rationality kicked in, and Ye Wenjin could finally think clearly.

If they didn’t go down for dinner now, it would practically be an open declaration of what they had been doing.

Ye Wenjin wasn’t thick-skinned enough for that, just the thought of it filled her with unbearable shame.

The heated atmosphere finally cooled slightly.

Seeing Ye Wenjin regain her composure, Jian Mo felt a tinge of regret. She licked her lips slightly, her expression exuding allure. “Alright, let’s eat first. After dinner, we’ll continue with the pheromone guidance.”

Ye Wenjin felt the temperature, which had just begun to subside, skyrocket again. She quickly turned around, muttering something about going to the bathroom before vanishing in a flash.

Jian Mo watched her fleeing figure and raised an eyebrow.

It seemed that going too long without guidance wasn’t ideal. Just when Ye Wenjin had made some progress, she had now reverted to square one.

Thinking this, Jian Mo couldn’t help but smirk.

–

During dinner, Butler Wu showed no signs of suspicion, and Ye Wenjin gradually relaxed.

After the meal, Butler Wu brought out a black notebook and began reviewing the schedule and arrangements with Jian Mo.

Ye Wenjin listened in and couldn’t help gasping repeatedly.

“Elder sister, isn’t this… a bit too extravagant?”

Butler Wu, overhearing her remark, smiled and explained, “Miss Wenjin, this is just a standard banquet nothing extravagant. Thankfully, it’s not a wedding, or else other families would laugh at us for such a modest scale.”

Ye Wenjin: “Huh?”

Well, she must be too inexperienced.

She wondered what would be required of her.

So Ye Wenjin nodded obediently and said, “I understand, Aunt Wu. Whatever you need me to do, I’ll cooperate fully.”

Butler Wu immediately gave a kindly smile.

For some reason, Ye Wenjin felt a slight chill, though she couldn’t pinpoint where it came from.

It wasn’t until early the next morning, just past seven o’clock, that Ye Wenjin faintly heard Butler Wu’s voice. For a moment, she thought she was imagining it.

Last night, because they had to regulate pheromones, the two had naturally done it several more times. While they hadn’t stayed up too late, they certainly hadn’t gone to bed early either.

When she was woken up, Ye Wenjin felt dazed, as if she were still dreaming.

Then she noticed the emptiness in her arms, Jian Mo had slipped out of her embrace.

“Xiaoin, time to get up.”

It was her sister calling her to wake up.

Ye Wenjin sat up in a daze, glanced at the time, and was instantly stunned.

Earlier, when Jian Mo had mentioned waking up early, she had assumed it would be around eight or nine o’clock. But now, she was being roused at barely seven.

Ye Wenjin even began to doubt her own memory was the banquet not in the evening but at noon?

Otherwise, why would they need to get up so early?

She sat on the bed in a stupor, completely lost in thought.

Jian Mo, who had already dressed and turned around, immediately noticed her faraway expression and couldn’t help but chuckle. “Wake up, Xiaojin.”

Ye Wenjin blinked sleepily. “Sis, isn’t the banquet in the evening?”

Jian Mo nodded. “It is, but we need to prepare early.”

Ye Wenjin was baffled. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t think of any preparations that required waking up this early.

It wasn’t until after breakfast, when Butler Wu escorted them to a luxurious building, that things started to make sense.

Still confused, Ye Wenjin was guided to lie down. Only when she felt the cool sensation on her face did she realize she was undergoing a skincare and beauty treatment.

She was so startled her eyes widened for a moment.

What surprised her even more was that the beauty treatment was just the beginning.

After two hours of pampering, Jian Mo took her for a massage, herbal steam therapy, hot spring soak, and more.

By the time all the treatments were over, Ye Wenjin felt completely relaxed, as if her entire body had been polished smooth and glowing.

But that wasn’t the end. Next, she was whisked away to select a gown, get her hair styled, and have her makeup done…

By the time everything was finished, dusk had already fallen.

Ye Wenjin stared at her transformed reflection in the mirror, utterly dazed.

No wonder they had to wake up so early there were so many steps that they’d never make it if they didn’t start early.

She was still lost in thought when the sound of the door opening behind her snapped her back to reality. Turning slowly, her eyes lit up at the sight of Jian Mo.

Her sister wore a water-blue gown. Though the design was simple, the fabric held a clever detail under different lighting, the dress shimmered in varying hues, radiant and breathtaking.

“Xiaojin, are you ready?”

Ye Wenjin’s heart tightened. She took a deep breath, stood up, and walked toward Jian Mo. “I’m ready.”

Arm in arm, they descended the stairs. The closer they got, the clearer the melodious music became.

The banquet hall was now just ahead.

As the doors swung open, a beam of light fell upon them. For a moment, the sounds around Ye Wenjin faded into silence, leaving her feeling uncertain. But Jian Mo gently squeezed her hand in reassurance.

Her nerves eased.

But perhaps she relaxed too soon.

Because now, every pair of eyes in the room was fixed on them.

They were truly the center of attention.

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