After Mistaking My Stepsister’s First Love - Chapter 60

The moment she saw the person, Ye Wenjin’s brow furrowed slightly.

This was far too coincidental. How could she run into Yin Yu just by attending a charity banquet on a whim?

And…

If Yin Yu was here, then it meant Ye Shuyao and Yin Feifei had likely come as well.

Most of the time, the three of them appeared together at various events. That was just how Yin Yu’s mindset worked—whether he truly loved his wife and daughter or not, he would always bring them along to important occasions.

Sure enough, without even searching much, Ye Wenjin spotted Ye Shuyao not far from Yin Yu, wearing an ingratiating smile as she chatted with a wealthy socialite.

A quick glance in another direction revealed Yin Feifei holding a wine glass, trying to blend into a small group of young people.

The group wasn’t large, but every member seemed to have considerable status. Naturally, Yin Feifei failed to integrate herself.

Ye Wenjin was somewhat puzzled. After all, in her impression, the Yin family shouldn’t have been invited.

Yet all three of them had made it into the venue, which meant they must have had an invitation.

But where had the invitation come from?

Ye Wenjin knew the Yin family was moderately wealthy, but after understanding the significance of this charity banquet, their presence struck her as odd.

Had someone else invited them?

Lost in thought, Ye Wenjin withdrew her gaze and shook her head slightly, deciding not to dwell on it further.

She really didn’t want to run into them, so she scanned the room and whispered to Jian Mo, “Sister, let’s go over there.”

Jian Mo glanced casually in the direction of Yin Yu and the others but nodded without objection. “Alright.”

The two turned to head the other way, but their path was anything but smooth. With Jian Mo by her side, staying low-key was impossible.

After just a few steps, Ye Wenjin noticed several groups approaching, eager to strike up a conversation with Jian Mo.

And where there was one, there would inevitably be more. The commotion couldn’t be hidden, so Ye Wenjin soon felt several intense gazes fixed on her. Even without turning around, she knew exactly whose eyes were on her.

She guessed that aside from Yin Yu and his family, no one else would pay her such close attention.

Yet, to her surprise, one of those gazes didn’t belong to any of the three.

Ye Wenjin followed the line of sight and found herself looking at a… familiar stranger.

The reason she called them a familiar stranger was that their previous encounters had either involved arguments or nearly escalated into physical altercations.

She never expected to see Tong Tong at this banquet.

Ye Wenjin was genuinely startled, deeply marveling at how small the world could be.

This banquet was turning out to be quite the gathering—so many familiar faces, most of whom she had grudges with.

Ye Wenjin felt utterly numb. If the timing had been better, she would’ve loved to vent to Rong Yunshu and the others.

But right now, Jian Mo was still engaged in conversation. She couldn’t just pull out her phone and start texting.

Feeling stifled, Ye Wenjin suddenly caught Tong Tong’s gaze—surprised and excited—before the latter began walking toward them.

Ye Wenjin: “…”

She had initially hoped Tong Tong’s target wasn’t them, but when the other woman stopped just a short distance away, that sliver of hope vanished entirely.

This person really was here for them—or, to be more precise, she was here for Jian Mo.

Ye Wenjin clenched her fists, her expression stiffening slightly.

“What a coincidence to run into you here. It seems fate has brought us together.”

Ye Wenjin: “…”

This kind of fate was entirely unnecessary.

But she didn’t speak, merely standing quietly beside Jian Mo.

Jian Mo, however, turned slightly cold at the words, casting a brief glance at Tong Tong. “Do you need something?”

Tong Tong wasn’t pleased with her attitude but quickly forced a smile. “Can’t I just greet an acquaintance when I see one? I know there was some misunderstanding between us before, but wasn’t that already cleared up? No need to be so cold.”

Ye Wenjin: “?”

Misunderstanding? What misunderstanding? When was it cleared up?

It took Ye Wenjin a moment to recall.

Could she be referring to that incident where they nearly came to blows?

But… that didn’t exactly count as a misunderstanding.

Ye Wenjin was speechless.

As if reading her thoughts, Jian Mo replied bluntly, “Misunderstanding? You’re overthinking it, Miss Tong.”

Tong Tong, undeterred, pressed on. “Of course it was a misunderstanding. It’s not like we have any real grudges, right? How is that little incident not a misunderstanding?”

Jian Mo gave her a once-over, her lips thinning slightly. “I’m not interested, and I don’t want to hear any more. Do as you please, Miss Tong. We have other matters to attend to.”

With that, Jian Mo and Ye Wenjin prepared to leave.

But Tong Tong suddenly reached out, trying to grab Jian Mo’s arm. “Wait, don’t go—you still haven’t told me your name—”

Ye Wenjin noticed her hand about to touch Jian Mo and frowned, swiftly pulling Jian Mo closer to her side.

Just as she was about to tell Tong Tong to back off, a woman who had appeared out of nowhere yanked Tong Tong away.

“Director Jian? What’s going on here?”

The woman had a bright, striking appearance, but her demeanor was entirely different from Jian Mo’s. Holding Tong Tong behind her with one hand, she smiled at Jian Mo.

Ye Wenjin studied the newcomer, her gaze flickering between her and Tong Tong’s faces. She realized they bore some resemblance.

A suspicion formed in her mind, and then she heard Jian Mo say, “Can’t you tell, Miss Tong?”

Tong Yan suddenly laughed. “Director Jian, you must be joking. My apologies—my sister here is as childish as they come. I hope she hasn’t offended you.”

Jian Mo’s expression remained unchanged. “Is that so?”

Tong Yan subtly observed Jian Mo’s reaction, her brow furrowing slightly, unsure of what to make of it.

Meanwhile, Tong Tong, never one to stay quiet, gaped at Jian Mo in shock. “Director Jian? Your surname is Jian? Could you be from the Jian family—”

“Tong Tong! Enough.”

Tong Yan shot her sister a warning glare, afraid she might say something irredeemably offensive.

Tong Tong pouted but knew better than to push it. For once, she quieted down, though her expression still betrayed her dissatisfaction.

Ye Wenjin thought to herself—just as she’d guessed. This woman really was the eldest daughter of the Tong family, Tong Tong’s sister.

But… the contrast between the two sisters was stark. If not for their similar features, no one would guess they were related.

Tong Yan’s every move was captivating, like a blooming peony in full splendor. In contrast, Tong Tong resembled a bristling little beast, seemingly displeased with everyone around her.

It was quite similar to the dynamic between the Rong Yunshu sisters.

Ye Wenjin didn’t interject rashly, choosing instead to observe quietly from the sidelines.

Yet, as she watched Tong Yan, Tong Yan was also watching her.

These were all people who had dealt with cunning old foxes—none of them were pushovers.

Thus, Tong Yan keenly sensed that Ye Wenjin held special significance to Jian Mo. Or perhaps, the other party simply wasn’t trying to hide it at all.

Bringing someone so openly to a banquet, interacting so naturally—it seemed the rumors that Jian Mo had only married on a whim were unreliable. If this was just a fleeting fancy, then there was probably no such thing as genuine affection in their circles.

After stopping Tong Tong from making a scene, Tong Yan quickly adjusted her expression and asked, “Might I ask who this is beside President Jian—?”

Jian Mo was about to speak when she felt Ye Wenjin lightly scratch her palm. Then, she heard her say, “My name is Ye Wenjin. I’m Jian Mo’s wife.”

These words weren’t just heard by Tong Yan—everyone nearby caught them as well.

Jian Mo hadn’t expected her to say it so suddenly, and the corners of her lips couldn’t help but curl upward.

Tong Yan immediately understood.

So the rumors were indeed false. These two actually seemed to be in love.

However, Tong Tong beside her was far from calm. She stared at Ye Wenjin in disbelief. “What did you say? You’re her wife? You two are married?”

Ye Wenjin nodded openly. “Is there a problem?”

Tong Tong’s eyes widened, still unwilling to believe it. “How could you two be married?”

Ye Wenjin felt a little exasperated. “So, Miss Tong, do you have any objections to our marriage?”

Before Tong Tong could respond, Tong Yan pulled her behind her and said with a smile, “Of course she has no objections. Please don’t tease her, Miss Ye.”

Ye Wenjin found it amusing. She wasn’t teasing Tong Tong—it was just that the way Tong Tong kept looking at Jian Mo made her uncomfortable, so she couldn’t resist…

Asserting her claim.

“Well, as long as Miss Tong has no objections, that’s fine.”

The people around them subtly observed the exchange, and after witnessing this scene, they all began calculating their next moves.

Soon, Ye Wenjin noticed that those who approached her for conversation no longer treated her as invisible, as they had before. Instead, they smiled warmly and made an effort to engage her in conversation.

They ensured she never felt awkward or left out, going out of their way to provide emotional comfort—truly masters of social maneuvering.

As expected of old foxes—their change in attitude was lightning-fast.

After sending off wave after wave of people seeking to chat and hearing the announcement that the banquet was about to begin, Ye Wenjin finally exhaled in relief.

Jian Mo chuckled. “What’s wrong?”

Ye Wenjin leaned in and whispered, “Sister, is socializing always this exhausting for you?”

Jian Mo paused. “Why do you ask?”

Ye Wenjin sighed. “Because just handling that little bit of interaction tired me out so much, yet you navigate it all effortlessly. You’re amazing.”

Jian Mo let out a soft laugh. “You’re amazing too, Xiao Jin.”

Ye Wenjin’s eyes brightened. “Really?”

Jian Mo nodded firmly. “Of course. You’ve grown so much.”

Compared to before, the current Ye Wenjin had indeed matured significantly.

And perhaps the ones who felt this change most deeply were the Yin family.

After noticing Ye Wenjin also attending the banquet, the group had been stealing glances in her direction, intentionally or not, and naturally witnessed the earlier scene.

No one understood better than them just how much Ye Wenjin had changed.

Yin Yu believed it was all because of Jian Mo’s backing, and that without Jian Mo, Ye Wenjin was nothing.

Yin Feifei burned with jealousy, convinced Ye Wenjin had stolen everything from her. If not for Ye Wenjin, she would be the one by Jian Mo’s side now.

As for Ye Shuyao, she looked dazed, barely paying attention to the rare networking opportunity she had worked so hard to obtain.

Without her, Ye Wenjin was thriving.

She smiled more now, even radiating confidence—just like the little girl from her memories.

How had she forgotten? The young Ye Wenjin had been just as bright and self-assured, the child she had once adored.

Yet now, the distance between them was so vast, so insurmountable, that even standing face to face, they could no longer speak intimately.

A deep melancholy settled in Ye Shuyao’s heart, her expression turning sorrowful. But Yin Yu and Yin Feifei were too preoccupied with their own affairs to notice her mood.

As Ye Shuyao gazed at the two people she had worked so hard to please, she suddenly felt it wasn’t worth it.

The one who had cared for her the most had been pushed away—by her own hands.

She couldn’t turn back now. If she did, what would have been the point of everything she had done?

Besides, they still had a chance.

Last time, when Ye Wenjin had tried to sever ties with them, Jian Mo had stepped in to offer compensation. Though heartbroken, Ye Shuyao knew there was no going back, so having some financial security wasn’t a bad consolation.

But Yin Yu had refused the money. Ye Shuyao didn’t know what had been discussed, only that Yin Yu had been in high spirits that day, treating her with unprecedented gentleness.

Later, she heard that Yin Yu had made an outrageous demand—a lucrative project from Jian Mo.

That project was a goldmine. If handled well, they would never want for money again, and might even climb higher in society.

Ye Shuyao had been reluctant, but Yin Yu had coaxed her with sweet words—something she had never done before—and eventually, she gave in.

And the project truly was a blessing. Influential figures who had once been out of reach were now seeking collaborations with Yin Yu.

This very banquet was an invitation extended to them because of it.

Ye Shuyao had been thrilled. Under normal circumstances, they wouldn’t have been invited, but thanks to the project, they were now mingling in such elite circles.

Yet the moment she spotted Ye Wenjin, guilt surged within her, and she desperately hoped Ye Wenjin wouldn’t notice her.

If only Ye Wenjin hadn’t insisted on cutting ties, she wouldn’t feel so guilty now…

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