After Mistaking My Stepsister’s First Love - Chapter 62

Ye Wenjin instinctively felt a bit puzzled, as this seemed to be the first time Jian Mo had intentionally sent her away to talk to someone else when they were together.

It was obvious Jian Mo didn’t want her to know the content of the conversation.

Ye Wenjin pinched the hem of her skirt, feeling a little down.

Though she knew some things weren’t meant for her to know, when it happened right in front of her, she couldn’t help but care, even if she understood she shouldn’t overthink it.

She took a deep breath, slowly calming the emotions in her heart and telling herself not to dwell on it.

No matter what her sister wanted to discuss with Tong Yan, she just needed to trust her.

Lost in thought, Ye Wenjin gradually zoned out, her gaze unfocused as she stared blankly at nothing in particular, making it impossible to discern what was on her mind.

It wasn’t until the sound of approaching footsteps snapped her out of her reverie that she slowly turned to look at the newcomer.

When she realized it was Tong Tong standing before her, a faint trace of resignation flickered imperceptibly in Ye Wenjin’s eyes, though her expression remained calm. “Is there something you need, Miss Tong?”

Tong Tong scrutinized her for a long moment, her face full of disdain before she scoffed. “How could someone like you even marry Jian Mo? I’m really curious what tricks you used. You look so innocent, but you’re actually quite cunning, aren’t you?”

Tong Tong was genuinely curious and resentful. These two seemed to come from completely different worlds—who would’ve thought they’d end up together?

At first, she had noticed there was something unusual about their relationship, but she had assumed it was just Jian Mo having some fun. Never in her wildest dreams did she expect them to already be married.

Yet, she had never heard any news about Jian Mo’s marriage, nor had they held a wedding. Clearly, there had to be some hidden circumstances behind it.

After turning it over in her mind, Tong Tong still believed their marriage was likely just for show, and Jian Mo couldn’t possibly care that much about this woman in front of her—otherwise, why would she keep delaying the wedding?

As for the undisguised malice radiating from Tong Tong, Ye Wenjin sensed it immediately but paid it no mind.

However, when she noticed the shifting expressions on Tong Tong’s face and the disdainful, contemptuous look directed her way, she couldn’t resist firing back. “Why should I tell you? Miss Tong, if I recall correctly, we’re not exactly close, are we?”

Tong Tong’s brows furrowed at that, and she sneered. “Don’t celebrate too soon. Even if you’re married, not many people know about it, right? And the fact that you still haven’t held a wedding to this day proves you don’t want others to find out. If Jian Mo really cared about you, why would she keep dragging it out?”

Ye Wenjin’s heart skipped a beat, but she quickly regained her composure, replying coolly, “My relationship with my sister is none of your concern. After all, Miss Tong, you’re an outsider—you’d do better to worry about yourself.”

Tong Tong’s expression darkened. “What did you just say?!”

Ye Wenjin tilted her head slightly. “Was I wrong?”

Tong Tong choked, unable to refute her because what she said was true—but that only made her feel even more stifled.

“Just you wait. When she gets tired of you and throws you away, let’s see if you can stay this composed.”

Ye Wenjin wasn’t affected by her words at all, finding them almost laughable—like a child throwing a tantrum after losing an argument.

But Tong Tong was already an adult. It just showed how well she had been sheltered by her family.

Ye Wenjin didn’t want to waste words with her. With a calm expression, she nodded and said, “Oh, I see.”

Tong Tong: “…”

She took a deep breath, finally remembering the real matter at hand, and said, “I’m not here to argue with you. Someone wants to see you—come with me.”

Ye Wenjin gave her a strange look, feeling that at least one of them must be a fool.

Seeing Tong Tong’s utterly self-assured expression, Ye Wenjin replied flatly, “Miss Tong, do you really think I’m an idiot? Our relationship isn’t exactly friendly, so why should I do whatever you say?”

Tong Tong’s eyes widened slightly. “You really are as unpleasant as that person said. Hmph, someone who abandons their own family is clearly no good.”

Hearing this, Ye Wenjin immediately understood. “Ah—so that’s why you suddenly sought me out. Yin Feifei told you something, didn’t she?”

She found it genuinely amusing. Tong Tong acted like a spoiled brat, yet she was so naive it was as if she had no brain at all—her words and actions were utterly baffling.

Ye Wenjin couldn’t help but laugh. “Miss Tong’s family must be very loving. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have raised someone with such a… simple personality.”

Tong Tong instantly bristled. “What are you implying?!”

She hated nothing more than people calling her stupid or saying she couldn’t compare to her sister. No matter how tactfully Ye Wenjin phrased it, she understood the underlying mockery.

But Ye Wenjin was merely stating the truth. She genuinely thought Tong Tong was fortunate to have doting relatives who had spoiled her into such a temperament.

Watching the fuming Tong Tong, Ye Wenjin remained unfazed and said bluntly, “Miss Tong, there’s no need to say more. I’m not going anywhere.”

She had learned to be cautious now. Even with acquaintances, if they suddenly asked her to go somewhere under such circumstances, she would be on high alert.

After all, she had already suffered the consequences of not being vigilant.

The first time, she was tricked into returning home and unexpectedly ran into Jian Mo. The second time, she was falsely accused at school—had it not been disproven, she might have been expelled.

Ye Wenjin had come to realize that no matter where she was, she had to stay alert.

So, faced with Tong Tong’s words, she didn’t react at all.

Ye Wenjin’s stubborn refusal infuriated Tong Tong, who wanted to lash out but didn’t dare. In the end, she forcibly suppressed her anger and instead forced a smile. “Miss Ye, are you really not going? If I recall correctly, your records show that your parents divorced when you were very young. One remarried into the Yin family, while the other cut off all contact with you.”

Ye Wenjin frowned. “You investigated me? So what?”

Tong Tong sneered. “It’s not much, really. I just found that parent of yours who suddenly disappeared. After hearing about you, they were eager to meet you. And as someone with a kind heart, of course I had to help.”

Ye Wenjin’s expression gradually darkened. “You brought them to the banquet?”

Tong Tong nodded without hesitation. “What if I did? If you won’t go, then I’ll just have to bring them here.”

Ye Wenjin didn’t know what Tong Tong was plotting, but she was certain it was nothing good.

However, if Guan You appeared here and a conflict broke out, her sister would also be subjected to gossip.

Frowning, she stared fixedly at Tong Tong.

Tong Tong didn’t know why, but under such a gaze, she actually felt somewhat guilty. Just as she was about to avert her eyes, unable to hold on any longer, Ye Wenjin’s thoughts circled back, and she finally nodded.

“Where is she? Take me to her.”

Tong Tong breathed a sigh of relief inwardly, and a slow smile appeared on her face. “Miss Ye is truly filial. Follow me.”

Ye Wenjin remained expressionless and didn’t respond.

The two left the balcony one after the other, though before departing, Ye Wenjin sent a message to Jian Mo informing her of her whereabouts.

Knowing that Jian Mo and Tong Yan had important matters to discuss, she didn’t dare disturb them, but it was necessary to let them know where she was going.

However, there was no reply from Jian Mo on her phone, likely because they were still in conversation.

Ye Wenjin put her phone away and followed Tong Tong at a steady pace. Though her expression gave nothing away, her heart was anything but calm.

If Tong Tong hadn’t brought it up, she truly hadn’t thought about Guan You in a long time.

Over a decade was enough to blur her memories of Guan You.

Suddenly facing the prospect of meeting her again, Ye Wenjin appeared indifferent on the surface, but inside, she was somewhat nervous.

She took a quiet, deep breath and exhaled slowly, her thoughts in disarray.

It wasn’t until they turned a corner that Ye Wenjin’s gaze inadvertently paused.

Tong Tong led her through a long corridor, finally arriving at an open-air garden on the other side.

Because of the banquet, the guests were still in the main hall, leaving the garden quiet. So quiet, in fact, that with just a glance, she spotted a familiar figure standing there.

The longer she looked, the more the figure overlapped with the hazy image in her memory.

Ye Wenjin hadn’t expected to see Guan You so abruptly. Her heart skipped a beat uncontrollably, and her breathing grew faint.

Tong Tong observed Ye Wenjin’s reaction with a meaningful smile. “It’s been so long since you two have seen each other. I won’t intrude. Miss Ye, make yourself at home.”

With that, she turned and left without hesitation.

But Ye Wenjin barely registered her words. Gathering her focus and steadying her emotions, she walked forward slowly.

The closer she got, the clearer the figure became. Yet before she could even reach her side, the woman suddenly turned around, and they came face to face without warning.

Ye Wenjin’s heart missed a beat. She stopped abruptly, scrutinizing the person before her.

The differences from the fading memories were stark. Over a decade had passed, and now she looked much older—even makeup couldn’t conceal it.

That face was both familiar and foreign, yet Ye Wenjin felt no ripple of emotion in her heart, only an unsettling calm.

She simply stood there, quietly observing, just as the other woman seemed to be assessing her.

Yes, assessing.

In some ways, apart from aging, the woman hadn’t changed much.

“A-Jin? Is it really you, A-Jin?”

After a brief hesitation, the woman seemed to recognize her, her face lighting up with joy as she hurried forward—only to stop abruptly, looking at her with guilt.

But Ye Wenjin showed little reaction to this scene.

After all, the moment Guan You had so decisively abandoned her, she had gradually stopped expecting any maternal love from her.

And after all these years, Guan You had never once sought her out—proof enough that she had long since forgotten her.

Now that she had suddenly appeared before her, Ye Wenjin didn’t believe for a second that it was due to some belated maternal awakening—that she had suddenly remembered she had a daughter and wanted to see how she was doing.

So, after witnessing Guan You’s performance, Ye Wenjin didn’t show the slightest hint of distress. She merely gave a faint, indifferent nod.

“It’s me. So, how did you get here?”

Guan You was momentarily taken aback before sighing emotionally. “Ah-Jin, you’ve really changed so much. At first, I almost didn’t recognize you. But seeing that you’re doing well now puts my mind at ease.”

Her expression was filled with both nostalgia and guilt as she continued, “All these years, I’ve often wondered how you were doing, whether you grew up well. Now that I’ve seen you, I feel much more at peace.”

Ye Wenjin’s brows furrowed slightly. “So? You just suddenly remembered me and decided to drop by for a casual visit?”

A flicker of displeasure crossed Guan You’s face, but it was quickly concealed. Instead, her eyes took on a sorrowful glint. “Ah-Jin, it’s been so long since we last saw each other. Don’t you miss your mother at all? Or are you blaming me for not visiting you?”

She sighed dramatically. “But I wanted to see you. If it weren’t for Ye Shuyao blocking me, I wouldn’t have had to wait until now for this chance to meet you.”

Ye Wenjin slowly raised an eyebrow. “So, you’re saying the reason you never showed up all these years was because of Madam Ye’s interference?”

Guan You’s expression suddenly stiffened, confusion flashing across her face. “Madam Ye? Ah-Jin, she’s your mother. Why are you calling her that?”

Ye Wenjin found it amusing and kindly explained, “Didn’t the person who brought you here tell you? Madam Ye and I no longer have any relationship.”

She tilted her head slightly, her tone turning sharper. “As for you, Madam Guan—if it weren’t for someone’s help, you wouldn’t have been able to enter this venue, would you? Yet here you are, standing in front of me.”

A cold smile played on her lips. “Did you make some kind of deal to get here? Am I right? Or are you going to argue that you just happened to hear I was here and snuck in just to see me?”

Her smile didn’t reach her eyes as she murmured softly, “That would be too fake.”

She didn’t believe a single word Guan You said. She wasn’t a child anymore—she wouldn’t fall for such a clumsy lie just because the other person was her long-lost mother.

Ye Wenjin realized that ever since cutting ties with Ye Shuyao, she had grown colder.

Or perhaps it wasn’t coldness—just clarity.

Guan You kept insisting that Ye Shuyao had prevented them from meeting all these years.

But Ye Wenjin hadn’t forgotten that when the two of them were going through their messy divorce, Guan You had abandoned her and taken most of the family’s assets.

As a result, she and Ye Shuyao had endured a period of extreme hardship in the beginning. Those days had been truly bitter, and that suffering only ended when Ye Shuyao remarried into the Yin family.

Yet she had always sensed that Yin Yu’s feelings for Ye Shuyao weren’t love. She didn’t know whether Ye Shuyao realized it, but she knew her mother didn’t want to give up her comfortable life and return to the struggles of the past.

So Ye Shuyao poured all her energy into pleasing Yin Yu and Yin Feifei, neglecting her own daughter in the process.

And as an unwanted stepchild dragged into the Yin household, Ye Wenjin had never been important—just an invisible presence.

Guan You claimed Ye Shuyao had blocked her, preventing them from meeting. But the truth was, after entering the Yin family, Ye Shuyao had barely spared her a second thought.

If Guan You had truly wanted to meet her, there would have been plenty of opportunities—more than enough. Yet, in all that time, she had never once seen Guan You appear.

Had she heard Guan You say these words when she was still young, she might have believed them.

But now? Not a single word.

Though Guan You tried her best to conceal it, her subconscious reactions and micro-expressions couldn’t lie.

Ye Wenjin knew—this woman disliked her.

And as for Guan You appearing directly in the inner venue of tonight’s charity gala? There was no way it wasn’t part of some scheme.

As for who had helped her get in, Ye Wenjin had her suspicions—either Yin Feifei or Tong Tong.

But what exactly were those two after?

Ye Wenjin’s gaze at Guan You was filled with scrutiny, not bothering to hide it in the slightest.

Guan You suddenly felt her palms grow damp with sweat. She never could have imagined that the daughter she had abandoned would grow into someone like this—even managing to marry into the Jian family, no less.

Had she known Ye Wenjin would turn out so promising, she would have taken her along during the divorce. Then, rebuilding their relationship now wouldn’t be so difficult.

Guan You’s face was etched with sorrow. “A-Jin, I know you resent me for not taking you with me, but I had no choice. You were so young back then, and Ye Shuyao would never have told you the truth.”

Ye Wenjin tilted her head slightly. “So there’s more to the story?”

Guan You seized the opportunity. “Yes! Listen, A-Jin—I was deceived back then. The family’s wealth was already nearly gone, and I had to use all the money to pay off debts! But those debts were mine alone. Ye Shuyao didn’t shoulder a single cent of them.”

“If not for the debts, I would have taken you with me. But the circumstances at the time made it impossible. Ye Shuyao was mentally unstable and insisted on keeping you—what could I do?”

Her words were earnest, her eyes brimming with heartache.

Ye Wenjin’s gaze flickered—not because she believed her, but because she was wondering: What was Guan You’s real purpose in being here?

Lost in thought, she suddenly asked, “Where are your wife and daughter?”

She hadn’t forgotten that Guan You had cheated back then. Yet now, Guan You hadn’t mentioned it at all. Well, if she wouldn’t bring it up, Ye Wenjin would.

At the question, Guan You’s expression stiffened.

Ye Wenjin took one look and understood everything.

“So, Ms. Guan, you’re still so devoted to them. In that case, why bother seeking out an outsider like me?”

“If I recall correctly, I was granted to Ms. Ye in the custody ruling. And throughout my upbringing, you contributed nothing. You should know that even if you find me now, I won’t give you what you want.”

“I won’t acknowledge you as my mother, so don’t waste your time here. You’ll get nothing from me.”

Ye Wenjin was brutally direct, leaving no room for Guan You to play the emotional card. Then, with a soft sigh, she added, “I’ve said all I need to. Ms. Guan, do as you please.”

With that, she turned to leave. Seeing the situation slipping away, Guan You rushed forward, reaching out to grab her.

But sensing the movement behind her, Ye Wenjin didn’t even glance back—instead, she quickened her pace. Spotting a server approaching, her eyes lit up.

By the time Guan You tried to pursue her further, several servers had already blocked her path. She could only watch helplessly as Ye Wenjin disappeared from sight.

Guan You panicked instantly.

If she failed to stall for the required time… that final payment—!

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