After Mistaking My Stepsister’s First Love - Chapter 83

A week passes exceptionally quickly when one is busy.

Even before the intensive training began, Ye Wenjin had guessed that she might not have much time to rest in the days to come.

And indeed, that was exactly what happened. From the moment the training started, she had no time to rest at all.

There wasn’t even a transition period. On the day they gathered in the auditorium, after Mei Yan gave a brief speech as a motivational send-off, they immediately plunged into a grueling training regimen, leaving everyone dizzy with exhaustion.

Each day’s schedule was packed to the brim. By the time training ended, even Ye Wenjin felt overwhelmed, her mind numb with fatigue.

She considered herself to have fairly good stamina, but under such intense pressure, she still felt suffocated.

The first two days were an adjustment period, leaving her so exhausted that she collapsed into bed as soon as she returned to the dorm, with no energy left to talk to anyone. As a result, even after a week, she still didn’t recognize all her teammates in the training camp.

Or rather, among the sixty participants, Luo Xi was the only one she was somewhat familiar with.

However, after a week, small cliques had already formed within the training group.

During breaks between training sessions, Ye Wenjin often saw small clusters of people chatting together.

But strangely, she noticed that no one approached her either. Aside from Luo Xi, a few others were in the same situation as if they had been inexplicably excluded by the rest.

Luo Xi chuckled softly. “With more people, things inevitably get complicated. If you didn’t know better, you’d think this was a social gathering rather than a training camp.”

Ye Wenjin was slightly surprised to hear this from her.

Luo Xi raised an eyebrow. “You seem shocked?”

Ye Wenjin nodded silently. “A little.”

Luo Xi shrugged. “But I’m not wrong. Everyone here is in competition with each other, aren’t they? Given that we’re rivals, how many of those huddled together do you think are genuinely sincere? I don’t think it’s a very rational approach.”

Only then did Ye Wenjin realize that Luo Xi had changed not just in appearance, but as a person. The shift was so pronounced that it left her feeling unsettled.

Over the past week, Ye Wenjin had sensed something off about Luo Xi, though it hadn’t been as obvious.

But now, hearing Luo Xi’s words, she was certain her instincts had been right.

Still…

So much time had passed. She didn’t know what Luo Xi had been through, so she couldn’t say why she had changed like this.

Besides, no one stays the same forever. It was only natural.

Ye Wenjin quietly drank her water, choosing not to comment further.

Luo Xi shrugged and also fell silent, focusing on recovering her energy.

And just as Luo Xi had said, the reality was exactly as she had pointed out, it was just that she was the one who voiced it while others hadn’t.

The term “training teammates” sounded pleasant, but in truth, they were all competitors. It was just that, for now, everyone was maintaining a superficial harmony.

But the competition had actually begun the moment Mei Yan made that statement.

As dancers, skill was naturally the most important factor.

Even among those selected for the training camp for their excellence, there would still be distinctions between the best and the rest.

And with so many outstanding dancers gathered in one place, everyone felt the immense pressure.

Everyone was striving, pushing themselves to outdo others. Some chose to grind extending their training hours, doubling their practice time. But when everyone did the same, it became nothing more than routine overtime training.

Ye Wenjin hadn’t initially realized this until she noticed the dance studio lights still on past midnight, with more than one person still practicing inside. A sudden sense of pressure washed over her.

And so, overtime training became an unspoken agreement among them.

Those selected could undoubtedly be called exceptional everyone was here with the goal of joining the dance troupe. If they didn’t dedicate their time to training, it would all be meaningless.

But such relentless practice inevitably took its toll on the body.

On the eighth day of training, someone suddenly collapsed.

Ye Wenjin watched as the instructors rushed the person to the hospital, feeling the heavy silence around her. Yet, within moments, everyone resumed their training as if nothing had happened.

As if a teammate’s collapse meant nothing to them.

No one diverted their attention to anything else. They all had resolve. Having come this far, there seemed to be no other path but to keep pushing forward—otherwise, wouldn’t all their previous efforts be in vain?

Ye Wenjin mechanically continued her training, enduring until the end without staying for overtime. Under the silent gazes of the others, she left the studio.

That night, back in her dorm, she called Jian Mo.

“Ah Jin? Finished training?”

The moment Jian Mo’s voice came through the receiver, Ye Wenjin slowly relaxed, murmuring, “Sis…”

Jian Mo paused. “What’s wrong? Did something happen?”

Ye Wenjin was taken aback. “How did you know?”

Jian Mo’s voice was gentle. “I could tell. You sound down. What happened today? You can tell me.”

A warmth spread through Ye Wenjin’s chest, happy that Jian Mo could so easily sense her emotions. But as she recalled the day’s events, her faint smile faded.

She recounted what she had witnessed and how it made her feel, her tone disheartened.

Ye Wenjin didn’t know if she was being overly sensitive, but she couldn’t shake the memory.

Luo Xi had said they were all competitors, and she understood that. Yet, deep down, she couldn’t help but feel…

It was all so cold.

She could tell Luo Xi’s kindness toward her wasn’t just because of their past connection.

Occasionally, she saw Luo Xi chatting with a few others, who also treated her amiably.

But beyond those few, Luo Xi was distant with everyone else.

Once the initial joy of reuniting with an old friend faded, Ye Wenjin found herself at a loss.

Perhaps the pressure was too much, she hadn’t even realized how much she had rambled on. Yet Jian Mo listened patiently, never interrupting.

Only when she finally stopped did Ye Wenjin realize how long she had been venting. Panic set in.

“Sis? Sorry, I didn’t mean to—”

“Ah Jin.”

Jian Mo gently cut off her apology.

Ye Wenjin froze as Jian Mo’s voice came through again, soft and warm.

“Ah Jin, why are you apologizing again?”

Ye Wenjin opened her mouth, unsure of what to say. She had just felt that her emotions were too negative and had unintentionally dumped them all on Jian Mo, so she instinctively apologized.

Jian Mo’s voice was gentle yet filled with strength. “Ah Jin, we’re partners. Of course, you can confide in me. This isn’t something you need to apologize for. I hope next time you’re troubled, you’ll still come to me, okay?”

A warm current flowed through Ye Wenjin’s heart. “Okay, I understand, sis.”

After resolving this, Jian Mo continued with satisfaction, “As for your worries, Ah Jin, you need to realize one thing even in school, this kind of competitive dynamic exists. It’s just that it never gave you such a strong sense of urgency before, so it’s normal that you’re struggling to adapt now.”

“And that Luo Xi you mentioned is the exact opposite of you. She’s overly adapted so much so that she navigates it effortlessly. But this clashes too much with your initial impression of her, which is why you feel lost.”

“Because Luo Xi thinks like a businesswoman. She’s calculated the pros and cons and chosen precision networking. In her eyes, you, her, and a few others she frequently talks to are the most likely to stay. I don’t know how many people Aunt Mei plans to recruit, but there must be at least five spots. So, by default, you’re all on the same team.”

“The others are aware of this too. The gap in skill is obvious, so they unconsciously form cliques. Because your chances of making it through this selection are the highest, unlike their uncertain futures. That’s why they feel they can’t relate to you and instinctively keep their distance.”

“But doesn’t that just prove how outstanding Ah Jin is? Even among so many talented dancers, you stand out.”

Ye Wenjin was stunned, then fell into silence.

She understood what Jian Mo meant, it was just that she couldn’t quite adjust to this shift yet.

Back in her class, there had been competition among classmates too. But it never felt this stark. The bond between classmates wasn’t just about competition; there was also friendship.

Here, however, Ye Wenjin could clearly sense that competition overshadowed every other relationship.

She wasn’t used to this kind of atmosphere.

“Sis… am I being too sensitive? Everyone else seems to have adapted so well. It’s like I’m the only one who doesn’t fit in again.”

Ye Wenjin couldn’t help but feel defeated.

It always seemed like she was a step behind. She knew it might just be her personality, but she couldn’t help feeling disheartened.

Yet Jian Mo’s voice remained as gentle as ever. “Ah Jin, this isn’t being sensitive.”

“Some people adapt quickly and grow fast, but Ah Jin doesn’t need to compare herself to them. You can take things at your own pace. I don’t want you to force sudden growth in a short time—you can take it slow.”

“Feeling lost is okay, Ah Jin. It’s all part of your growth.”

“Actually, I’m really happy that you thought to reach out to me first instead of bottling it up alone. That’s already a big step.”

“So, Ah Jin, don’t put too much pressure on yourself. If it gets too hard and you can’t keep going, you can always come home. I’ll never leave you.”

Ye Wenjin’s restless heart gradually settled into calm.

Jian Mo was right. Some people grew quickly, while others needed time to slowly find their footing.

Perhaps she was the type who needed to take things slow, but that was alright because Jian Mo would always be her steadfast support.

With Jian Mo’s guidance, Ye Wenjin felt much lighter.

She had long known that people were different from one another, and ever since childhood, she had always seemed out of sync with those around her.

But it didn’t matter, she had still moved forward step by step at her own pace.

So Jian Mo was right, she only needed to follow her own rhythm.

With that burden lifted, Ye Wenjin felt a newfound ease.

Suddenly, a thought occurred to her, and she asked, “By the way, how are things going on your end?”

Ye Wenjin knew that Jian Mo was settling old scores with Yin Yu, and given Jian Mo’s efficiency, a week had passed perhaps there was already a result?

Jian Mo chuckled softly. “The Yin family has gone bankrupt. Yin Yu seems unable to accept this outcome and has started trying to pull strings to get Jian Li out, hoping for her help afterward. Those two were always birds of a feather, I don’t even need to investigate to know what they’re thinking.”

After all, during the years Jian Li was in charge, she had been the most familiar with how to operate in legal gray areas.

Now that Yin Yu had come begging for her help, the only way for them to make a quick comeback was to return to their old ways.

But times had changed. What might have been overlooked as borderline behavior in the past was now outright illegal.

If Jian Li and Yin Yu went down that path, prison would be their only destination.

And Jian Mo was certain they would because she would block every other route they could take.

For the two of them, desperate times called for desperate measures. Already inclined toward shady dealings, they were bound to join forces.

Now, Jian Li had already been freed thanks to Yin Yu’s maneuvering.

Jian Mo had to admire Yin Yu’s resourcefulness even after bankruptcy, she still had the means to pull strings and even get Jian Li out.

But so what? If not for Jian Mo’s tacit permission, Yin Yu would never have been able to take Jian Li away so easily.

She had prepared everything, and just as expected, Jian Li and Yin Yu had taken the bait. Everything was unfolding exactly as she had envisioned.

Still, when Ye Wenjin suddenly asked, Jian Mo hesitated for a moment, worried that she might not be able to accept her ruthlessness.

But she no longer wanted to keep anything from Ye Wenjin, so in the end, she told her.

Hearing that Yin Yu had already rescued Jian Li and that the two were secretly making connections, Ye Wenjin frowned.

“Then, will you be in danger, sister?”

Ye Wenjin was sharp even though Jian Mo had downplayed the risks, she had still picked up on them.

Jian Mo sighed inwardly, though her expression remained light. “Don’t worry, A’Jin. It’s just a minor issue.”

Ye Wenjin wasn’t entirely reassured, but since Jian Mo sounded so certain, she chose to trust her for now.

Their call didn’t last much longer before Ye Wenjin grew tired and drifted off to sleep.

Jian Mo smiled faintly, listening to Ye Wenjin’s steady breathing for a long while before she, too, gradually fell asleep.

Originally, Ye Wenjin had been worried about Jian Mo running into trouble but unexpectedly, trouble came knocking at her own door first.

When her teacher told her someone was looking for her outside, Ye Wenjin’s first thought was that her sister had come.

But when she reached the entrance, the person waiting for her wasn’t Jian Mo but…

Guan You.

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