After Mistaking My Stepsister’s First Love - Chapter 49

Although Jian Mo had taken care of all matters related to Ye Shuyao, Ye Wenjin still felt a lingering unease in her heart.

She knew Ye Shuyao’s temperament well. After marrying into the Yin family, Ye Shuyao had essentially prioritized Yin Yu and Yin Feifei in everything, never once contradicting them. Ye Wenjin had never even seen her lose her temper.

And she also knew that Yin Yu and the others were unlikely to let things go easily.

Yin Feifei was unpredictable, but Yin Yu was definitely the type who wouldn’t act without personal gain. Now that they knew about her relationship with Jian Mo, Yin Yu was probably scheming ways to extract benefits from Jian Mo.

As the only person connected to Jian Mo, Ye Wenjin doubted Yin Yu would simply leave her alone.

Ye Shuyao’s repeated visits to her might very well have been at Yin Yu’s behest.

Even though she had offered to repay all the money she had used over the years, Ye Wenjin suspected they wouldn’t accept it.

She had mentally prepared herself for long-term harassment.

Yet, before long, Jian Mo told her not to worry about Ye Shuyao anymore, everything had been settled, and they wouldn’t bother her again.

Ye Wenjin was stunned, sensing that Jian Mo must have paid a hefty price. She looked at Jian Mo with concern, wanting to ask for details.

But Jian Mo simply said, “Xiaojin, don’t you trust me?”

Ye Wenjin shook her head. “Of course I trust you. I just don’t want you to suffer any losses.”

Jian Mo chuckled softly at that. “Don’t worry, I didn’t lose out.”

Her tone was firm, and after scrutinizing her expression carefully, Ye Wenjin saw no sign of reluctance. She finally relaxed.

Still, for a while afterward, Ye Wenjin remained subconsciously guarded. But everything remained peaceful.

Neither Ye Shuyao nor Yin Feifei reappeared, as if they had truly vanished from her life.

Eventually, Ye Wenjin let go of her vigilance and stopped paying attention to them altogether.

Time passed swiftly, and before she knew it, summer was in full swing, along with the dreaded final exams.

One day, when the topic came up in the dorm, Ye Wenjin suddenly realized that once this semester ended, she would officially begin training with Mei Yan’s dance troupe.

After some thought, she realized she would likely be very busy from then on, with little time for leisure.

So when Chu Yunsheng suggested a vacation trip together, Ye Wenjin was instantly tempted.

“A trip? What made you suddenly think of traveling?”

Jian Mo was momentarily surprised by Ye Wenjin’s unexpected proposal.

The old Ye Wenjin would never have entertained such an idea, but after spending so much time with Jian Mo, it was as if she had been nurtured anew.

Unlike when she had first arrived at the villa, she had now completely come out of her shell.

Her gentle nature had endeared her to the few staff members in the villa. Jian Mo had only recently noticed that everyone treated Ye Wenjin like their own child.

Surrounded by so much kindness, Ye Wenjin had grown increasingly cheerful.

Jian Mo wasn’t surprised, Ye Wenjin had that special quality about her. Even when she had seemed shy and introverted, she had always been a soft-hearted person.

It was only natural that people adored her.

Though Ye Wenjin herself hadn’t realized it, perhaps that very innocence was why everyone loved her so much.

Seeing Jian Mo’s surprised expression, Ye Wenjin smiled sheepishly. “We were just chatting with my roommates about it. Time flies so fast after graduation, it’ll be hard to get everyone together again, so we thought about going on a trip together.”

She paused, then continued, “I thought about it too. After this semester ends, I’ll be reporting to Teacher Mei’s dance troupe, and I probably won’t have much free time after that. So I thought,  maybe now’s the best chance to go out and have fun with you.”

After knowing each other for so long, they’d rarely had the opportunity to go out together. The look Ye Wenjin gave Jian Mo was practically brimming with anticipation like a puppy begging for treats.

It was hard to say no. Jian Mo found herself helpless against this kind of charm and couldn’t help but chuckle.

“Alright, is it with your roommates?”

Ye Wenjin’s eyes lit up instantly, but her smile dimmed slightly at the question. Hesitantly, she said, “Yeah, but Zhou Wuhua isn’t sure if she’s going yet.”

Noticing the faint disappointment on her face, Jian Mo thought for a moment before saying, “Let’s all go together. I’ll have someone arrange everything for the trip.”

Ye Wenjin: “…!”

Realization dawned on her. “R-really…? You mean it?”

Jian Mo’s lips curved slightly. “You’d like that, wouldn’t you? If that’s the case, why not?”

Ye Wenjin didn’t reply, too embarrassed to speak, but her eyes sparkled with excitement.

True to her reputation for efficiency, by evening, Ye Wenjin had already received a detailed travel itinerary from Butler Wu, meticulously tailored to everyone’s preferences.

When Chu Yunsheng heard the news, she was overjoyed, praising Jian Mo’s generosity and sincerely wishing the two of them eternal happiness. Even Zhou Wuhua eventually agreed after some persuasion.

For a while, everyone’s excitement was at an all-time high, wishing time would fast-forward to the end of the semester.

But before the vacation came the grade performance and final exams.

Once the initial excitement faded, reality set in, and everyone threw themselves into studying, the atmosphere instantly turning tense.

Although Ye Wenjin had already secured an internship spot in Teacher Mei’s dance troupe, she still took the upcoming grade performance very seriously.

After all, this was an important opportunity for everyone. Even with her spot secured, she didn’t slack off, diligently preparing for both the performance and her written exams.

The grade performance wasn’t just for their year, it included freshmen and sophomores as well. Seniors were exempt since most had already started working by then.

To ensure a flawless performance, everyone naturally shifted into high gear, and the campus was soon filled with students cramming for exams.

Without any transition, Ye Wenjin plunged into finals mode, juggling both the performance and her academic tests.

Days passed before she suddenly realized how little she’d been in touch with Jian Mo lately. Their conversations had been brief, both busy with their own tasks. On reflection, she hadn’t gone home in days either.

If Jian Mo hadn’t brought it up, Ye Wenjin might not have noticed at all.

“I got so caught up in everything I’m sorry, I forgot to tell you,” Ye Wenjin explained anxiously, her face full of guilt. She worried Jian Mo might think she’d kept it from her on purpose.

But the voice on the other end of the line was soft and soothing, full of reassurance. “Finals are definitely a busier time, but Xiaojin, next time don’t forget, okay? I’d worry about you.”

Hearing this, Ye Wenjin was momentarily stunned, her unease melting into joy. She hurriedly promised, “I understand, sister. I’ll definitely remember.”

Jian Mo didn’t say anything more, only gently reminding her to rest and not overwork herself.

Yet, Ye Wenjin still couldn’t find any free time, and their communication grew increasingly sparse. Often, their calls would end after just a few brief words.

Every time Ye Wenjin spoke with Jian Mo, her tone remained as warm as ever. What she didn’t know, however, was that the atmosphere at Jian Mo’s company had also been unusually tense these past few days.

For some unknown reason, Jian Mo had suddenly become intensely focused on her work.

The attitude of those at the top dictated the actions of those below, and so everyone was swept up in the frenzy, as if someone had pressed the fast-forward button.

As a result, rumors began to circulate, everyone was speculating about what had sparked Jian Mo’s sudden passion for work.

Although productivity soared, no one could maintain such enthusiasm under the relentless pressure of high-intensity work.

Within days, complaints began to rise among the employees.

Worried that Jian Mo wasn’t eating properly under the stress, Housekeeper Wu started bringing her meals as well.

Overhearing snippets of conversation upon arrival, Housekeeper Wu wore a thoughtful expression.

After delivering the food, she lingered and cautiously asked, “Miss Mo, has work been particularly heavy lately?”

Jian Mo gave a noncommittal hum, her mood indifferent.

Observing her for a moment, Housekeeper Wu had a sudden insight and said, “Miss Wenjin hasn’t been home these past few days because of finals. When I bring her meals, I can’t help but feel she’s lost weight. I wonder if she’s been eating properly.”

As expected, Jian Mo’s brows furrowed slightly.

Housekeeper Wu understood now this was the reason for Jian Mo’s low spirits.

She continued, “Then please take care of yourself, Miss Mo. I’ll go deliver Miss Wenjin’s meal now.”

Housekeeper Wu turned to leave, but before she could reach the door, Jian Mo called her back. A flicker of amusement passed through Housekeeper Wu’s eyes, though her expression remained neutral as she turned around. “Yes, miss? What is it?”

Without hesitation, Jian Mo said, “I’ll go with you.”

Housekeeper Wu’s smile widened slightly. “But your work,”

“It can wait.”

She was already at the door.

Housekeeper Wu chuckled and quickly followed. “Of course.”

Only after the two had left the building did the employees, who had been holding their breath, finally relax.

Whether it was temporary or not, at least for now, they could breathe easy!

Ye Wenjin was completely unaware of any of this. Her days had fallen into a strict routine.

Mornings were dedicated to academic classes, so she was either in lectures or reviewing in the library.

Afternoons were reserved for rehearsal for the performance, and once she started practicing, she lost track of time. Fortunately, Housekeeper Wu brought her meals, or else she might have forgotten to eat altogether.

So when she received Housekeeper Wu’s call at noon, Ye Wenjin didn’t think much of it and headed to the school gate as usual.

But today was a little different because…

Housekeeper Wu’s hands were empty.

Ye Wenjin blinked in confusion. “Auntie Wu?”

Housekeeper Wu smiled and gestured toward the car.

Suddenly realizing, Ye Wenjin stared blankly as the car window slowly rolled down, revealing none other than Jian Mo sitting inside.

“Sister?!”

Suddenly seeing Jian Mo, Ye Wenjin felt so overwhelmed with joy that she couldn’t react for a long moment. It was only when Butler Wu opened the car door for her that she snapped out of it.

“Miss Wenjin, please get in.”

Prompted, Ye Wenjin quickly stepped into the car.

The door closed, but Butler Wu didn’t enter.

Yet Ye Wenjin had no mind to dwell on that. Her eyes were fixed on Jian Mo, scanning her over and over as if to confirm she was truly there.

A week without seeing each other had allowed longing to accumulate in Ye Wenjin’s heart. But with her busy preparing for the end-of-term performance and Jian Mo tied up with work, neither had time to spare, only managing a few casual messages on their phones.

It hadn’t seemed so bad before, but now, face to face, Ye Wenjin realized just how much she had missed Jian Mo.

Only now, seeing her again, watching as Jian Mo gazed at her with the same gentle warmth as always.

That hollow corner of her heart was suddenly filled.

“Sis, I missed you so much…”

Ye Wenjin murmured softly, almost dazedly.

Jian Mo stroked the top of her head. “Xiao Jin, you seem thinner.”

Clutching her hand, Ye Wenjin nuzzled against it before pressing a kiss to her fingers, whispering, “No, it’s you who’s lost weight.”

Breathing in her familiar scent, seeing the person she had longed for.

Ye Wenjin felt as if her body had lightened, her spirit finally at ease.

So this was what it felt like to miss someone.

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