After Mistaking My Stepsister’s First Love - Chapter 45

The moment she saw the approaching figure, Ye Wenjin felt a wave of confusion. After all, she couldn’t imagine what else there was to say to Ye Shuyao.

In fact, the other woman didn’t even need to speak. Just the sight of her overly affectionate expression was enough for Ye Wenjin to guess exactly what she was thinking.

It was always the same old rhetoric, repeated over and over like some kind of brainwashing.

But Ye Wenjin remembered clearly, she had already spoken to Ye Shuyao more than once. Once when she left the Yin family, and another time in the school parking lot.

She had made herself perfectly clear, yet it seemed like Ye Shuyao forgot every word as soon as she heard it. How had she never realized before just how clingy Ye Shuyao could be?

Ye Wenjin felt both bewildered and exhausted. She realized one thing: no matter how much she said to Ye Shuyao, it would all be wasted breath. There was simply no reasoning with her.

Meanwhile, Ye Shuyao felt deeply wronged by Ye Wenjin’s attitude. But she was the mother, the elder. Even though Ye Wenjin had said many hurtful things before, she would force herself to understand. She knew that Ah Jin must be holding onto resentment, which was why she kept lashing out.

As a mother, she had to be the bigger person. Besides, what kind of grudge could last overnight between mother and daughter? She refused to believe Ye Wenjin could be so heartless.

If she just talked to Ah Jin properly, her understanding and considerate daughter would surely calm down.

Everything would be fine once they cleared the air.

With this in mind, Ye Shuyao told herself to stay composed. Before coming, she had even carefully adjusted her expression because every time she wore this look, Ah Jin would soften and relent.

So this time would surely be no different.

Yet when she approached Ye Wenjin and saw the instant chill in her daughter’s demeanor upon noticing her, Ye Shuyao’s heart still ached.

Ye Wenjin was her daughter, how could she look at her like that?

Her daughter had always been so obedient, listening to everything she said. How had things come to this? Had someone led her astray? Otherwise, why would she treat her with such coldness?

However, the moment Ye Wenjin saw Ye Shuyao’s wounded, aggrieved expression before she had even spoken a word, she felt a sense of inevitability.

Perhaps because she had stepped out of that cycle, she now saw everything with perfect clarity. So when she saw that expression on Ye Shuyao’s face again, she felt not the slightest stir of emotion, only a dull headache.

Ye Wenjin paused and glanced to the side. Her three roommates wore expressions ranging from disbelief to speechlessness. Clearly, they had sensed it too.

Rong Yunshu needed no explanation—she had met Ye Shuyao before and had some idea of what she was like.

As for Chu Yunsheng and Zhou Wuhuan, though this was their first encounter, one was an expert at reading people, and the other had a keen eye for drama. In the short time they had observed, they had already grasped the true nature of this “auntie.”

If that were all, it might have been tolerable. But they had also noticed something else Ye Wenjin bore a striking resemblance to this woman.

It was obvious at a glance that the two were related by blood.

But Chu Yunsheng had never encountered this type of elder before. Her expressions and mannerisms carried an artificial, exaggerated quality, especially when she put on that wounded look, it practically radiated the aura of a white lotus.

Chu Yunsheng nearly choked.

Even knowing the other woman might be family, she found it hard to suppress the urge to roll her eyes.

Now she finally understood why Ye Wenjin was unwilling to discuss family matters in the dorm. If it were her, she probably wouldn’t want to talk about it either.

She had been pondering what kind of relationship the two had, but before she could think too deeply, Chu Yunsheng suddenly heard the woman in front of her say, “Ah Jin, come outside with Mom for a bit, okay? There’s something I want to talk to you about.”

Chu Yunsheng: “…”

Good grief, it was actually Ye Wenjin’s mother.

Chu Yunsheng mentally recited prayers in her heart, and with a sidelong glance, she noticed Zhou Wuhua also lowering her head in silent exasperation.

Rong Yunshu, on the other hand, wore an expression of sheer distaste and awkwardness on her face.

With such a comparison, Chu Yunsheng suddenly didn’t feel so bad anymore.

It seemed they were all perfectly normal.

Clearly, Ye Wenjin was also very normal, she refused without hesitation.

“I’ve said it before. Ever since I left the Yin family, I’ve had no ties to any of you. So there’s nothing to talk about.”

Ye Shuyao’s expression faltered slightly, but she suppressed it, still looking at Ye Wenjin with pleading eyes. “Ah Jin, I just need a little time. Are you really going to refuse even this small request from your mother?”

Her face was full of disappointment and a trace of heartache, as if Ye Wenjin had committed some grave mistake.

Yet all she wanted was to avoid a conversation with Ye Shuyao, knowing full well it would be pointless.

Ye Wenjin pinched her brow in frustration.

It was obvious Ye Shuyao wouldn’t give up easily, and with so many people around, causing a scene here wouldn’t reflect well on her sister either.

Taking this into consideration, Ye Wenjin reluctantly stood up, intending to find a place to make it quick.

What she didn’t expect was that as soon as she rose, all three of her roommates stood up as well, looking as though they were about to follow her out.

Ye Wenjin couldn’t help but laugh. “Why are you all standing up? I’ll just be gone for a moment, no need to come with me.”

Rong Yunshu was succinct. “I don’t trust it. We’re going together.”

Chu Yunsheng wagged a finger. “We’re a dorm squad, can’t let you go solo. What if something happens?”

As she spoke, her eyes deliberately flicked toward Ye Shuyao.

Ye Wenjin keenly noticed Ye Shuyao’s sudden stiffening. She seemed eager to say something but held back.

Zhou Wuhua avoided everyone’s gaze and murmured, “I don’t know anyone here. I feel safer sticking with you guys.”

In short, she was coming too.

After a moment’s thought, Ye Wenjin decided it might be better to go together. Staying low-key, however, was completely out of the question. Everyone noticed the four of them leaving, though no one paid much attention, leaving the curious glances behind. Of course, there was also the flustered Ye Shuyao.

She hadn’t expected that her attempt to speak with Ye Wenjin alone would turn into a buy-one-get-three deal. With more people around, things would undoubtedly be trickier.

Before she could think further, the group ahead was already nearly out of sight. Left with no choice, she steeled herself and hurried after them, trying to ignore the inquisitive onlookers and the two particularly piercing stares.

Ye Shuyao knew that even though she hadn’t said anything yet, the people at this banquet were all sharp-minded, they had probably already concocted several versions of the story in their heads.

Biting her lip, Ye Shuyao tried to minimize her presence and quickly left the banquet hall.

Ye Wenjin, of course, had also come prepared. Before leaving, she had asked a waiter to inform Jian Mo of her whereabouts and another to relay the same to Butler Wu.

This was just a precaution. She couldn’t deny that she had grown wary of Ye Shuyao especially after recent events, which made her suspect Ye Shuyao’s involvement.

After all, it never hurt to be cautious.

Ye Wenjin now understood this principle all too well.

The hotel was vast, with a terrace outside, and she decided to head there for some fresh air.

The four of them arrived at the terrace first, while Ye Shuyao lagged behind.

Chu Yunsheng glanced around before finally whispering, “Wenjin, is that really your mom?”

Ye Wenjin sighed and nodded. “Yes.”

Chu Yunsheng clicked her tongue. “That’s just…”

She trailed off, swallowing the harsher words out of respect for her friend.

Only Rong Yunshu, who knew the full story, scoffed quietly. She had a feeling this Aunt Ye was about to shatter her expectations once again.

The last time they met, Rong Yunshu had found her somewhat terrifying, living entirely in her own world, with beliefs so unshakable that no outside words could penetrate.

She had never encountered someone so peculiar, and their last meeting had been brief. Today, she might get a fuller picture.

As expected, Ye Shuyao soon arrived and immediately launched into a speech that once again defied all logic. Chu Yunsheng and Zhou Wuyan were already frowning, barely suppressing their discomfort.

All three wore expressions of stunned disbelief.

Ye Wenjin, however, remained unfazed, listening with an impassive face, barely blinking.

She watched as Ye Shuyao wholeheartedly played the role of a devoted mother, lost in her own narrative of sacrifice, lamenting how Ye Wenjin’s departure had been the ultimate betrayal.

They had spent years together, yet even after all that time, Ye Wenjin realized she still didn’t truly understand Ye Shuyao.

Blood ties were strange. Simply because they were related, they were bound together despite their incompatible personalities and ways of living. Because Ye Shuyao was her mother, Ye Wenjin had always softened and yielded.

Without that blood connection, she knew she would have left long ago.

In that sense, relationships outside of family seemed simpler.

At least with others, discomfort could lead to a clean break. But blood ties? They were inescapable.

Never before had Ye Wenjin felt so shackled by kinship. No matter how much she resisted, she kept making exceptions, just because Ye Shuyao was her mother.

Ye Shuyao’s voice faded into the background as Ye Wenjin’s thoughts wandered, her mind drifting.

It wasn’t until Ye Shuyao raised her voice sharply that she snapped back to reality.

Blinking slightly, Ye Wenjin murmured, “Sorry, I zoned out. What did you say?”

Ye Shuyao stared at her, feeling as though she’d been slapped, her face burning with humiliation.

“Ye Wenjin?! How could you become like this?”

Her tone suddenly turned icy, her face unable to conceal her disappointment.

Yet, Ye Wenjin only felt a headache coming on and numbly asked again, “So what did you just say? If you don’t want to say it, forget it. And don’t come looking for me in the future.”

Ye Shuyao was momentarily speechless, taking a long while to suppress her anger before softening her tone.

“I said, come home for a visit. Mom misses you, and Auntie Yin misses you too. Feifei is back as well, everyone’s there. You should at least come home for a meal.”

Ye Wenjin looked at her with a mix of amusement and exasperation.

Before she could respond, Chu Yunsheng couldn’t hold back any longer.

“Auntie, if I recall correctly, Wenjin has made it clear more than once that she doesn’t want anything to do with you all, right? Do you just selectively hear what you want?”

Chu Yunsheng genuinely found her baffling. It suddenly dawned on her what Rong Yunshu’s earlier expression had meant.

Faced with someone like Ye Shuyao, who refused to listen, it was indeed hard to stay calm.

She was genuinely curious, how did Ye Wenjin usually communicate with her? Because right now, it seemed utterly impossible.

Before Ye Shuyao could speak, Rong Yunshu chuckled leisurely and said, “Oh, don’t misunderstand Auntie. She’s in a tough spot, tied up and gagged by the Yin family, barely managing to show her concern.”

Chu Yunsheng shot a surprised glance at the sarcastic Rong Yunshu, then scoffed and continued, “Of course Wenjin will go home after the banquet but it’ll be to her partner’s home. Speaking of which, Auntie, I have a question for you. Did you know about the incident where Wenjin was framed recently?”

Ye Shuyao had been ready with a slew of retorts, but at Chu Yunsheng’s words, she suddenly fell silent.

She pressed her lips together. “I didn’t know.”

All four of them frowned simultaneously.

Chu Yunsheng had brought it up on a whim, intending to jab at her, since it seemed like Ye Shuyao had never shown any concern about the incident. But her reaction was off, clearly something was wrong.

Chu Yunsheng grew even more blunt. “Really didn’t know? Or are you pretending not to? Come to think of it, there was a forum post back then that kept slandering Wenjin. I thought about it later and realized that unless someone knew her personally, they wouldn’t have had such detailed information. So, Auntie, any ideas?”

Ye Shuyao was at a loss for words. Because the truth was,  she had known.

Yin Feifei had come to her, and she couldn’t very well refuse to cooperate, so…

But it was only because she wanted Ye Wenjin to come home! If she suffered outside, of course she’d return.

So,  she hadn’t done anything wrong.

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