After Mistaking My Stepsister’s First Love - Chapter 44

The atmosphere was truly off.

Ye Wenjin held a pretentious wine glass in her hand, though in reality, it contained fruit wine with an extremely low alcohol content, switched out on Jian Mo’s orders.

As she walked around, it wasn’t as if no one noticed, but everyone kept their eyes downcast, minds their own business, and no one pointed it out.

“Jian Mo’s partner”, that label alone was enough to ensure Ye Wenjin remained unconstrained.

Yet now, as the conversation between Jian Mo and Jian Qingran grew increasingly tense, Ye Wenjin couldn’t help but take a sip of her fruit wine while stealing glances at the two, trying to mask her scrutiny.

Fortunately, not many people were nearby during their exchange after all, everyone here was well-mannered and instinctively kept their distance.

But that didn’t stop her from noticing the faint, lingering gazes directed their way.

This didn’t seem like the best place for a serious discussion.

Lost in thought, Ye Wenjin’s gaze gradually grew vacant, lingering on Jian Mo for a little too long.

Noticing her stare, Jian Mo turned her head. “Xiao Jin? What’s wrong?”

Her tone and expression were gentle, a stark contrast to just moments ago, causing Jian Qingran’s expression to shift slightly.

Snapped back to attention by Jian Mo’s voice, Ye Wenjin paused, catching Jian Qingran’s reaction from the corner of her eye before lowering her voice. “Sister, did this cousin of yours upset you?”

Jian Mo wasn’t surprised by her sharp intuition. Her gentle tone didn’t waver in the slightest, even as a smile played on her lips. “A little. Though I’m not sure if it was a spur-of-the-moment impulse or a premeditated move. Cousin, what do you think, which one was it?”

A cold sweat instantly beaded on Jian Qingran’s forehead, her fingers clenching so tightly they turned pale.

Caught off guard and exposed, panic nearly made her legs give out.

Thankfully, someone in her group steadied her before she could actually collapse, though even if she had, it wouldn’t have been Jian Mo who felt humiliated.

In their circles, everyone knew the distinction: Jian Mo was Jian Mo, and the Jian family was the Jian family. Even as relatives, they couldn’t leverage Jian Mo’s name for personal gain.

Jian Qingran knew this all too well, Jian Mo had no familial loyalty whatsoever.

Forcing a strained smile, her voice trembled slightly. “Cousin no, President Jian, what do you mean? I don’t quite understand.”

Jian Qingran wasn’t trying to play dumb, she simply couldn’t admit it. If she confessed to colluding with Jian Li, Jian Mo wouldn’t hesitate to act, even in the middle of a banquet. This woman didn’t care about her survival at all!

They were supposed to be family!

In any other family, clan interests would come before everything else. But Jian Mo, aside from sharing their surname, had never shown them the slightest courtesy, no benefits ever trickled down to them.

She’d rather hire outsiders than place any of her relatives in key positions.

That was why Jian Corporation had become Jian Mo’s personal domain, while they were left scrambling for the scraps she let slip through her fingers.

Under Jian Li’s leadership, things had been completely different. If only they hadn’t lost the power struggle, they wouldn’t be in such a helpless position now.

The more Jian Qingran thought about it, the more resentment festered in her heart, her clenched fingers growing bloodless.

Truly, Jian Mo was a madwoman, cut from the same cloth as that lunatic Jian Li. Even if their brands of madness differed, neither of them was normal.

However in some ways, the two were truly mother and daughter.

Jian Qingran instinctively glanced at the person beside Jian Mo from the corner of her eye. She could tell at a glance that this person was undoubtedly connected to dance.

Dancers always had a unique aura, and what’s more, this Miss Ye Wenjin bore a striking resemblance to Shen Xiyun from back then.

Yet that glance of hers didn’t escape Jian Mo’s notice. When Jian Qingran’s gaze finally settled on Jian Mo, she was met with eyes as cold as frost.

That look abruptly reminded her of how Jian Mo had once looked at Jian Li, just before Jian Li was placed under house arrest.

Jian Qingran’s face suddenly turned deathly pale, and she froze in place.

Then, she heard the voice of the devil speak.

“It seems Cousin has been working very hard lately. How about this, take some time off. Go abroad with your aunts and relax for a while.”

She sounded genuinely concerned for Jian Qingran, even thoughtfully arranging a trip for her.

But all color drained from Jian Qingran’s face. She took two urgent steps forward, barely restraining her emotions, yet the terror in her eyes was unmistakable.

“No, you can’t do this! I haven’t done anything wrong, you can’t!”

Jian Qingran growled under her breath.

Yet Jian Mo only looked surprised, her voice gentle as she soothed, “Cousin is so agitated you must be exhausted. It’s alright, rest well.”

With that, Jian Mo smiled faintly and turned away, leading Ye Wenjin with her.

Filled with resentment, Jian Qingran hurried forward, desperate to say more, but before she could even get close, Jian Mo glanced back at her with an inscrutable look.

Jian Qingran abruptly halted, rooted to the spot, not daring to take another step.

That look in Jian Mo’s eyes, did she know something?

Had she uncovered everything?

Impossible! She had been so careful, there was no way anyone could have found out.

And yet,

Jian Qingran knew all too well that walls had ears. Jian Mo’s ruthless decision to exile her without hesitation couldn’t be solely because of Jian Li.

She must have found out something!

Anxiety gnawed at her. Her eyes darted around nervously until they landed on something her pupils shrank, and her entire body seemed to deflate, as if all vitality had been sucked out of her.

Was Jian Mo a monster? How had she uncovered it?

It was over. Everything was over.

Jian Qingran stared blankly, unaware of when someone had approached her. When she finally snapped out of it and turned stiffly, she was met with Wu Mingyu’s smiling face her heart felt as though it had been seized by an invisible hand.

“Miss Jian, you don’t seem well. Let me take you to rest.”

That was what she heard the other say.

–

As for their conversation, Ye Wenjin only half-understood, sensing that the “trip abroad” might not be as simple as it seemed. She glanced around discreetly, only to find that Jian Qingran had already vanished from the crowd.

For a brief moment, Ye Wenjin was puzzled, assuming the woman had left early due to discomfort.

Then she stole another glance at Jian Mo before quickly looking away, only to peek at her again after a few steps.

Jian Mo sighed in amusement. “Xiao Jin, what do you want to ask?”

Ye Wenjin stiffened, caught red-handed. “N-Nothing.”

Jian Mo turned to her, brow arched. “Really?”

Ye Wenjin immediately caved. “Actually,  I did have a question. I was just a little curious, what did that cousin do wrong?”

Jian Mo thought to herself, As expected. She smiled lightly and gave a soft hum before saying, “It was something unforgivable, but half of it has been resolved now.”

Ye Wenjin hesitated for a moment. “Then, this vacation isn’t really a vacation, is it?”

Jian Mo replied softly, “Xiao Jin, do you think I’m being too harsh? After all, she is my cousin.”

Ye Wenjin shook her head without hesitation. “I believe Sister isn’t the type to confuse right and wrong. Besides, you reap what you sow, Sister must have her reasons.”

A faint smile tugged at Jian Mo’s lips. She couldn’t deny that her mood had brightened considerably.

Nothing was more uplifting than Ye Wenjin’s unwavering trust in her.

As a result, during the subsequent social interactions, everyone noticed that Jian Mo seemed to be in an exceptionally good mood.

The venue wasn’t particularly large, but after making a round, fatigue inevitably set in.

Noticing the weariness in Ye Wenjin’s eyes, Jian Mo said, “Xiao Jin, go find your roommates. They’ve been waiting for you.”

Overwhelmed by the evening’s events, Ye Wenjin finally remembered the three roommates she had invited. Following Jian Mo’s gaze, she spotted them in a corner.

Feeling a pang of guilt, she quickly nodded. “Alright, Sister, I’ll go over then.”

Jian Mo gave a slight nod. “Mm, go ahead.”

After they parted, Ye Wenjin wanted to keep a low profile, but given her newly revealed identity, staying inconspicuous was impossible.

Thus, she walked toward her roommates under the scrutiny of countless overt and covert glances. However, halfway there, she paused.

The shift in her status left Ye Wenjin struggling to adapt. Approaching them now might drag her roommates into the spotlight as well.

She hesitated, but when she saw Rong Yunshu waving at her, her steps steadied with renewed resolve.

Only then did those secretly observing Ye Wenjin notice the three “ordinary” girls in the corner, sparking murmurs of surprise.

For them, the banquet was an important occasion to maintain connections and expand their social networks, making the trio in the corner seem utterly out of place.

Yet, Rong Yunshu and Chu Yunsheng remained unfazed by the sudden attention. Both had attended similar events before and handled the scrutiny with ease. Seeing Ye Wenjin’s hesitation, Rong Yunshu sighed and beckoned her over.

Chu Yunsheng’s attention had never left Ye Wenjin, and she smiled, urging her to come over without a care for the onlookers.

Zhou Wuhua, however, was different. This was her first time at such an event. Initially reluctant banquets seemed worlds apart from her usual life, she had been persuaded by Chu Yunsheng, who insisted that dorm activities couldn’t exclude anyone and even helped her pick out a dress.

Rong Yunshu, usually aloof, had surprisingly warm intentions and took charge of their makeup and styling.

Zhou Wuhua found herself swept along in a daze. Removing her glasses for makeup left her feeling exposed, and she kept reflexively reaching to adjust them, only to grasp at air.

Staring at her reflection, she felt awkward until she caught the flicker of admiration in Chu Yunsheng’s eyes.

“Wow, Zhou Wuhua, you look amazing all dressed up! Huh? I never noticed, your eyes are so pretty, with a hint of purple!”

Zhou Wuhua’s fingers twitched slightly as she instinctively avoided her gaze, but fearing Chu Yunsheng might find her impolite, she softly explained, “The eye color is hereditary, a kind of genetic defect that affects my vision a little.”

Chu Yunsheng looked astonished. “Really? I had no idea! You never mentioned it, I just thought you liked wearing glasses.”

Zhou Wuhua paused, tightening her grip on the gown before quickly loosening it again.

The dress was borrowed from Chu Yunsheng, she had to be careful not to wrinkle it.

“There wasn’t much to say, and I’m used to wearing them anyway.”

Even so, Chu Yunsheng couldn’t help but feel that glasses were still quite inconvenient. She wondered if this defect could somehow be corrected.

Otherwise, it would be such a shame for such beautiful eyes to be hidden behind lenses.

Under Chu Yunsheng’s gaze, Zhou Wuhua gradually stiffened, only relaxing with a quiet sigh when the other girl finally looked away.

Having no idea about the proper etiquette for attending a banquet, Zhou Wuhua planned to stick close to Chu Yunsheng and Rong Yunshu the entire time.

In fact, when Ye Wenjin had sent the invitation, both she and Chu Yunsheng had been surprised, only Rong Yunshu had remained calm, as if she’d expected it all along.

But such a grand and formal invitation made Zhou Wuhua feel there was more to it.

And sure enough, the moment she stepped into the banquet hall, she sensed how out of place she was among the guests.

Chu Yunsheng and Rong Yunshu, however, adapted effortlessly, their relaxed demeanor a stark contrast to Zhou Wuhua’s nervous caution.

Pressing her lips together, Zhou Wuhua remained silent, as she usually did.

Then, when Ye Wenjin made her entrance, Zhou Wuhua was genuinely stunned.

First, she actually had a partner and one who clearly wasn’t ordinary. Second, her transformation was so drastic that she seemed like a completely different person from just a few days ago.

For a moment, Zhou Wuhua wondered if she’d mistaken her for someone else maybe just another Ye Wenjin with the same name.

She glanced at Chu Yunsheng and saw the same shock mirrored in her expression. Then she turned to Rong Yunshu.

Her expression was far too complicated, but it was from her reaction that Zhou Wuhua confirmed she hadn’t misidentified the dazzling figure before them, this was indeed Ye Wenjin.

It was all so unexpected. As she watched, Zhou Wuhua suddenly felt as though Ye Wenjin was drifting further and further away from them.

But when Ye Wenjin spotted them and her face lit up with delight, Zhou Wuhua realized, Ye Wenjin was still the same Ye Wenjin. She hadn’t changed at all.

The faint sense of distance that had just formed quietly dissolved, and Zhou Wuhua settled back into calm.

“Sorry for taking so long to come over. Have you all eaten yet?”

Ye Wenjin wore an apologetic expression. She had invited them, yet she’d been too busy to properly host them, which made her feel guilty.

Rong Yunshu smiled faintly. “It’s fine, don’t worry about us. But Wenjin, are you sure it’s okay for you to be here?”

In response, Ye Wenjin motioned for them to scoot over and sat down, exhaling slowly as her expression relaxed.

“Socializing is seriously exhausting. But I think I’m done for now, right?”

Chu Yunsheng burst out laughing. “Oh my god, Wenjin, when I first saw you walk in, I was so shocked! I thought you’d completely transformed but the moment you opened your mouth, nope, not a single bit of change.”

Ye Wenjin’s eyes curved with amusement. “Was the change really that big?”

Chu Yunsheng’s expression and tone were exaggerated. “Of course! I almost didn’t recognize you like, wow, where did this goddess come from?”

Ye Wenjin’s cheeks warmed at her praise. “You’re exaggerating too much.”

Chu Yunsheng: “Not at all! Don’t question my professionalism! If you don’t believe me, ask Zhou Wuhua.”

Zhou Wuhua, suddenly called upon, nodded slowly.

Ye Wenjin felt even more embarrassed. Truthfully, after finishing her preparations and looking in the mirror, she barely recognized herself.

Only now did she realize how much she had changed since marrying her sister and all of it was because of Jian Mo.

Unconsciously, Ye Wenjin smiled.

Seeing her radiant expression, Rong Yunshu had to admit that she had indeed met the right person.

The old Ye Wenjin had been like a pearl covered in dust, but after meeting Jian Mo, she had been reborn. Her future was now undeniably bright.

Rong Yunshu froze for a moment before smiling in understanding, occasionally chiming in as the group chatted softly.

Being with friends always brought joy, no matter what they were doing, and Ye Wenjin felt at ease.

Until she heard a familiar voice.

She looked up and saw Ye Shuyao’s doting expression.

Ye Wenjin’s smile vanished instantly.

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