After Mistaking My Stepsister’s First Love - Chapter 43

Ye Wenjin was completely unprepared. Suddenly thrust into the spotlight, she felt her social anxiety flaring up again.

Truthfully, she had always been somewhat afraid of crowds. In any setting unrelated to dance, whenever there were too many people, an inexplicable dread would creep into her heart.

But she hadn’t always been this way. Though much of her childhood memories had faded, she could still recall some hazy fragments.

Back then, she had been extremely outgoing, even a bit of a chatterbox.

On fine days when Ye Shuyao took her out, she would chime in with a word or two whenever they passed by people chatting, no matter the topic. She was practically a social menace.

Often, her excessive extroversion led to awkward situations. While she remained unfazed, Ye Shuyao would be so embarrassed that she’d scoop her up and flee the scene.

Yet after the upheaval in her life, Ye Wenjin gradually grew quieter.

Especially after being brought to the Yin family, where Ye Shuyao had to curry favor with Yin Yu, she was told to watch her words and actions. As a result, she spoke even less.

The incident that made her afraid of crowds wasn’t even particularly significant. But at that young age, her perception and environment etched the experience deeply into her mind.

From then on, she became uneasy in large gatherings, a feeling that lingered to this day.

It happened when Ye Shuyao, on a whim, took her to a banquet. It was her first time attending one.

Her initial curiosity quickly gave way to boredom, and because she didn’t know anyone, Ye Wenjin could only trail closely behind Ye Shuyao.

That was the only way she felt any sense of security.

But even then, an accident occurred. Ye Wenjin remembered walking carefully, yet when she collided with a server and was drenched in wine, she didn’t even realize how it had happened.

At first, it didn’t draw much attention. But then the server suddenly burst into tears, trembling and insisting it wasn’t intentional, looking so pitiful that it seemed Ye Wenjin was some villain who had bullied her into that state.

Ye Wenjin wanted to explain, but in her first encounter with such a situation, nervousness rendered her speechless.

The commotion quickly drew the eyes of those nearby. Ye Wenjin felt the weight of their gazes multiplying on her.

Her body stiffened as she searched the crowd for Ye Shuyao, hoping for help. But she spotted her standing among the onlookers, wearing a complicated expression.

She hesitated then chose to look away, afraid of being embarrassed by association.

Under the scrutiny of mocking stares and the whispers that wormed their way into her ears, Ye Wenjin’s body grew even more rigid.

She didn’t remember how she left the banquet hall, but from that moment on, she despised such events. Eventually, even slightly crowded places made her feel deeply uncomfortable.

But,

The stage was different.

Dancing brought her peace and serenity. When immersed in it, she forgot everything around her, feeling only pure joy.

Ye Wenjin loved that sensation loved the version of herself that existed in those moments. Only when dancing did she feel truly alive.

Not like the invisible presence she had become in the Yin household, nor the misfit at banquets.

So she never imagined that one day, she would make a grand, spotlight-stealing entrance at a banquet.

The scene flashed through her mind again, and Ye Wenjin felt her body stiffen, her eyes flickering with panic.

Even though Jian Mo had just reassured her, the turmoil in her heart left Ye Wenjin unable to control herself, instinctively wanting to turn and flee.

Yet the next second, her hand was gently grasped by Jian Mo.

The sudden warmth snapped Ye Wenjin out of her daze. She blinked slowly, turning her head slightly to meet Jian Mo’s calm gaze.

The panic in her heart and the memories in her mind seemed to freeze in an instant, as if someone had pressed pause.

Ye Wenjin stared at her blankly, not even realizing when Jian Mo had looped an arm through hers.

Just like that, she was led by Jian Mo into the banquet hall. Jian Mo’s steps weren’t fast, but as the two walked in under the lights, Ye Wenjin felt a fleeting illusion as though they were at a wedding.

At some point, the panic and fear had been replaced by shyness. Ye Wenjin’s lashes trembled slightly, but she couldn’t suppress the smile that curled at her lips.

Jian Mo beside her had captured all her attention, so Ye Wenjin didn’t notice the few shocked gazes from the crowd.

And those gazes came from the Yin family.

Yin Feifei had taken some time to be bailed out by Yin Yu. When she came to and realized she had actually fainted from Ye Wenjin’s pheromone impact, she felt nothing but deep humiliation, her mind consumed with thoughts of revenge.

But since she had never paid Ye Wenjin any attention before, she didn’t know where to start. She could only spend time investigating first.

However, when she was finally released and learned from Ye Shuyao that Jian Mo had not only stood up for Ye Wenjin but also called the police to have her detained, Yin Feifei was filled with disbelief and outrage.

Ye Wenjin? How could she deserve that?!

That was Jian Mo, someone even she couldn’t get close to! What right did Ye Wenjin have?!

If before she had wanted revenge because Ye Wenjin had humiliated her, now Yin Feifei simply wanted to ruin Ye Wenjin’s reputation, to make Jian Mo see what kind of trash Ye Wenjin really was.

That scheming woman, who had somehow caught Jian Mo’s attention, how could she possibly be worthy of her?!

The thought drove Yin Feifei mad with jealousy. Even she had never had the chance to speak to Jian Mo. How the hell did Ye Wenjin manage it?!

The envy in her heart burned so fiercely that her rationality teetered on the edge.

Originally, she had planned to have Ye Shuyao step in and trick Ye Wenjin into returning. But the woman was useless, she couldn’t even bring her own daughter back. Worse, Ye Wenjin had blocked all her contact methods and completely avoided her.

Yin Feifei had considered having her kidnapped, but after the incident last time when she took people to the school and Jian Mo called the police, getting in again would be difficult.

The most infuriating part was Ye Wenjin herself, she was like a turtle, disappearing at the drop of a hat.

No one knew where she went, and even when followed, she always slipped away.

Left with no options, Yin Feifei combed through all the information she had gathered and set her sights on the performance Ye Wenjin was participating in.

Investigating her classmates wasn’t hard, and in doing so, one name caught her attention.

He Wenxi.

After reviewing her profile, Yin Feifei immediately knew she was the perfect candidate. Sure enough, the two hit it off and reached a mutually satisfying agreement.

He Wenxi wanted the spotlight, the recognition, she just wanted Ye Wenjin ruined. Their goals aligned perfectly.

However,  digging up dirt on Ye Wenjin wasn’t easy. The woman was dull and rigid.

Yin Feifei had gone through considerable effort to uncover some scandalous material. Deep down, she knew there was likely no improper relationship between Ye Wenjin and that old woman, but so what? Once rumors spread and enough people talked, even the purest white could be tarnished black.

What she hadn’t anticipated, though, was that the old woman had ties to Jian Mo. Her scheme had fallen apart.

Filled with resentment but unable to find any other weaknesses, Yin Feifei seethed with frustration until she unexpectedly received an invitation from the Jian family.

For a moment, she thought she must have misread it, unable to believe such good fortune had landed in their laps.

She assumed Jian Mo had finally come to her senses, that his gaze had at last settled on her, which was why they had been invited.

Yet, after meticulously dressing up and eagerly awaiting Jian Mo’s appearance, what she saw instead was him walking out arm-in-arm with Ye Wenjin.

Ye Wenjin, what right did she have to stand by Jian Mo’s side?!

Yin Feifei’s eyes burned with hatred, her malice so sharp it could have pierced Ye Wenjin like a volley of arrows.

It wasn’t just Yin Feifei who was stunned. Yin Yu was equally shocked.

She never expected Ye Wenjin, whom she hadn’t seen in so long, to reappear in such a dazzling manner. For a split second, she even wondered if she had mistaken her for someone else.

The contrast with the past was simply too stark.

Even Ye Shuyao stood dazed, staring unblinkingly at Ye Wenjin’s figure, questioning whether her eyes were deceiving her.

But no matter how many times she scrutinized the scene, the answer remained the same that was indeed Ye Wenjin, her daughter.

But since when had A-Jin become so radiant?

In her memories, A-Jin had always been dull, unremarkable, almost invisible, someone who gave her peace of mind.

Not like this. Now, she hardly dared to recognize her.

Or rather, was the person before her truly her daughter, Ye Wenjin?

“Ah Jin…”

Ye Shuyao murmured the name under her breath, yet she couldn’t reconcile the luminous figure before her with the shadowy memory of her daughter. She could only watch blankly as Ye Wenjin strode past without so much as a glance, as though nothing else in the room could capture her attention.

Not even her own mother left the slightest trace in Ye Wenjin’s eyes.

Ye Shuyao clenched her fists, telling herself that A-Jin simply hadn’t noticed her there were so many people here, after all. It was only natural she might be overlooked.

Even as a foreboding unease gnawed at her, Ye Shuyao stubbornly clung to this belief, refusing to entertain any other possibility.

Around her, hushed whispers seemed to weave through the music. Though faint, Ye Shuyao inexplicably felt they were ringing right beside her ears.

They were talking about her.

Mocking her for being Ye Wenjin’s mother, yet forgotten the moment her daughter rose to prominence. Laughing at what a failure she was as a parent.

Ye Shuyao’s expression grew increasingly rigid, the voices in her mind growing louder.

Many at the event knew them, and such gossip wasn’t unfounded after all, none of them were particularly kind-hearted people.

Over the years, Yin Yu had often taken her to various banquets, introducing her to countless connections, expanding her social circle.

In the past, Ye Shuyao had felt a strange sense of pride in knowing so many people.

But in this moment, that pride evaporated entirely.

She couldn’t shake the feeling that countless eyes were watching her, that whispers slithered behind her back. Her face burned with humiliation, and all she wanted was to hide.

Until a voice interrupted her thoughts, jolting Ye Shuyao back to reality. The low warning from Yin Yu reached her ears.

“Daydreaming at such an important occasion? Ye Shuyao, what are you thinking? Don’t embarrass me!”

Ye Shuyao paled slightly and nodded hastily, quickly composing herself before turning toward the source of the voice.

Under the gaze of the crowd, Jian Mo and Ye Wenjin had already stepped onto the stage.

The speaker was an elegant middle-aged woman. Ye Shuyao vaguely found her familiar, and it took her a moment to recall, she had indeed seen this woman with A’Jin before.

“Thank you all for coming. To avoid disrupting the guests’ enjoyment, I’ll keep this brief.”

“There’s only one purpose for tonight’s banquet. Allow me the honor of introducing,”

“Miss Ye Wenjin is my young lady’s partner.”

As soon as the words fell, the previously quiet venue erupted in an uproar.

Clearly, this sudden announcement had taken everyone by surprise.

Jian Mo had always been the most sought-after figure in their circles, but her aloof demeanor had kept all advances at bay. While many remained undeterred, speculation had long swirled about who would finally win the heart of this unattainable flower.

Now, faced with such explosive news, the crowd instantly buzzed with excitement.

Most of tonight’s guests were either business associates of the Jian family or aristocratic acquaintances of Jian Mo herself.

They had assumed this was just another ordinary banquet, who could have guessed there’d be such a juicy revelation?

In an instant, murmurs filled the room, expressions shifting between shock, curiosity, and disbelief.

Standing on stage, Ye Wenjin could clearly see the reactions of the crowd below.

As she had expected, most people weren’t just stunned their gazes were also filled with scrutiny, as if trying to figure out what exactly had drawn Jian Mo to her.

A few others looked utterly bewildered, perhaps wondering which family she belonged to.

Ye Wenjin remained calm inside. Her eyes swept over the varied expressions in the crowd, and when they landed on the three members of the Yin family each wearing looks of shock or resentment, she felt a faint, satisfying thrill.

Her gaze moved on swiftly, only softening when she spotted her three roommates.

Unsurprisingly, Chu Yunsheng’s eyes were wide as saucers.

Zhou Wuhua appeared composed on the surface, but her eyes betrayed her, she seemed to be questioning life itself.

Only Rong Yunshu,  Ye Wenjin thought she might have imagined it. For a fleeting moment, Rong Yunshu’s expression had been so complex it was almost unfathomable. But just as quickly, she schooled her features back to neutrality.

A flicker of doubt crossed Ye Wenjin’s mind, but this wasn’t the time to dwell on it.

She took in every reaction from the crowd which was why she also noticed that a few individuals wore peculiarly strange expressions.

At first, she didn’t understand why. It wasn’t until after the formal introduction, when Jian Mo led her through the mingling guests, that she learned the truth.

Those people were actually Jian Mo’s relatives.

One of them, in particular, caught her attention.

When Jian Mo addressed her as “cousin,” her tone carried an unreadable edge and the woman’s face instantly paled.

Ye Wenjin initially thought she might be unwell, but her instincts told her there was more to it.

Standing close, she could easily detect a trace of,  fear in the woman’s eyes?

Why fear? Was it because of Jian Mo?

Ye Wenjin was puzzled.

Yet Jian Mo’s expression remained unchanged, the only sign of tension being the strange atmosphere lingering between them.

Lost in thought, Ye Wenjin fell silent.

Support