After Accidentally Marking My Stepsister's White Moonlight (GL, ABO) - Chapter 12

Stepping out of the villa, Ye Wenjin’s emotions were still surging.

When surrounded by Ye Shuyao and the servants earlier, beneath her calm exterior, Ye Wenjin had felt a suffocating pressure.

Then Jian Mo appeared—in that instant, it was as if she had seen a ray of light.

Even though the sky outside was dim, Jian Mo’s presence was dazzlingly bright.

At first, Ye Wenjin hadn’t even fully grasped what was happening before the servants were swiftly restrained.

Her attention had been entirely consumed by Ye Shuyao. The moment she saw her step forward, she knew—Ye Shuyao would never let her leave.

Not out of any motherly affection, but simply because she wouldn’t let go of such a ready-made asset that could bring her profit.

The villa’s servants obeyed her when the Yin-Yu mother-daughter pair wasn’t around. Even if they hesitated at her words, they still blocked her path forward.

Everyone in front of her, through words and actions, was stopping her.

Looking at their varied expressions, Ye Wenjin felt as though their coaxing voices had twisted into something grotesque and terrifying. It was as if countless thorns were sprouting from their bodies, stretching toward her.

Those thorns coiled around her arms, bound her legs, and slowly crept upward, trying to wrap her tightly, suffocating her, as if she were nothing more than nourishment.

And that was when Jian Mo appeared. The moment she stepped in, it was as if a beam of light had fallen upon her, and the thorns shrieked as they retreated.

“Xiao Jin, come here.”

She said it like that.

Ye Wenjin snapped out of her daze and, without hesitation, walked through the parted thorny brambles toward her, stopping only when she stood before Jian Mo and saw her gentle face.

Perhaps the light was too dazzling—she thought she glimpsed a flicker of heartache in Jian Mo’s eyes.

Heartache… for her?

But they had only known each other for a few days, with no emotional foundation. An emotion like heartache shouldn’t have belonged to Jian Mo.

Ye Wenjin thought she must have imagined it, because when she blinked again, those eyes had already regained their calm, though the warmth remained.

Suddenly snapping back to reality, Ye Wenjin wore an apologetic expression. “I’m sorry, sister. Did I take too long? Were you waiting impatiently?”

Jian Mo’s voice was unhurried, naturally soothing. “No rush. I just saw you hadn’t come out for a while and worried something might have happened.”

Though her expression was composed, showing no signs of discomfort, Ye Wenjin still lowered her head in shame.

Never before had she felt such self-loathing as she did now—her wretched family had been laid bare before Jian Mo.

She shouldn’t be overthinking this. After all, she had long known the disparity in their statuses. If not for that accident, their paths would never have crossed.

But realizing that Jian Mo had witnessed her disgrace made Ye Wenjin uncontrollably feel a pang of inferiority.

Her mind kept circling the same thoughts—

What did Jian Mo think of her now?

Would she find her background shameful? Would she see her as nothing but a burden, a nuisance? Would she regret her decision?

Ye Wenjin felt a surge of panic but masked it well.

She simply stood obediently in front of Jian Mo, waiting for her cue.

And then… Jian Mo took her hand and led her back to the car.

Slowly, Ye Wenjin let her tense heart settle. Though Jian Mo hadn’t said anything, her actions were the clearest response.

After the two left, the bodyguards restraining the servants also withdrew, leaving the grand hall in utter silence—so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Ye Wenjin didn’t know what Ye Shuyao was thinking at this moment when she failed to keep her, and she didn’t want to know either.

Because she realized that she wasn’t feeling quite right—her heart was pounding violently, as if it had malfunctioned, especially when she saw Jian Mo, when its rhythm accelerated even more.

It was the sound of falling in love, Ye Wenjin knew.

The surroundings gradually grew quiet, as if only the two of them remained. If not for Jian Mo’s voice snapping her out of it, Ye Wenjin might not have come back to her senses, only feeling a slight regret that the moment was too brief.

Although she had regained her composure, she had just missed what Jian Mo said. Feeling somewhat embarrassed, Ye Wenjin stammered, “Sorry, I… I wasn’t paying attention. What did you say, sis?”

Fortunately, Jian Mo’s expression remained unchanged, as usual, so she probably wasn’t angry.

Calmly, Jian Mo repeated her question, “Are you planning to go back to school now?”

Ye Wenjin misunderstood her meaning and quickly replied, “If you’re busy, sis, you can just drop me off at the bus stop ahead. I can get back on my own.”

Jian Mo looked at her wordlessly.

When no response came, Ye Wenjin belatedly realized something was off and cautiously glanced at Jian Mo, seemingly hearing her let out a soft sigh.

“I’m not busy.”

After a pause, Jian Mo added, “Wouldn’t it be inconvenient to take your luggage back to school?”

Ye Wenjin immediately shook her head. “No, I don’t have much stuff. It’ll fit in the dorm.”

Jian Mo didn’t seem upset by her refusal and said gently, “Keeping it in the dorm isn’t ideal. Why don’t you leave these things at my place?”

Ye Wenjin’s eyes slowly widened, her expression flustered.

Jian Mo was asking her to leave her things at her place!

Even someone as slow as Ye Wenjin finally sensed something unusual. This didn’t seem like just storing belongings—it felt more like… an invitation.

The words “moving in together” instantly flooded her mind, blocking out all other thoughts and occupying her entire being.

Dazed, her thoughts running wild, Ye Wenjin nearly blurted out, “Isn’t it too soon to move in together?”

Luckily, having learned from past mistakes, she caught herself in time, clamping her mouth shut to avoid another slip-up.

But she couldn’t refuse Jian Mo’s suggestion.

So, stammering, Ye Wenjin nodded. “O-okay, I’ll listen to you, sis.”

Jian Mo gave a soft hum in response.

The car fell silent again.

Still lost in thought, Ye Wenjin didn’t notice that the driver had been heading in one direction the entire time—nowhere near her school.

About half an hour later, the car gradually slowed down, likely nearing their destination.

Ye Wenjin looked out the window at the brightly lit surroundings, which were clearly visible.

After passing through the main gate, the car continued inward for a while before stopping in front of a villa.

The villa’s entrance was open, revealing a well-dressed butler waiting quietly at the door, flanked by two kindly-looking aunties—likely servants.

Ye Wenjin suddenly felt nervous. Though the setup wasn’t extravagant, she couldn’t help but tense up.

This villa looked even more imposing than the Yin family’s, with more refined decor and design—the kind of place she would never have been able to set foot in before.

And now, staring at the imposing gate, Ye Wenjin still felt it was surreal. She never imagined that one day she would be able to enter such a place herself.

Lost in thought for a moment, a sudden idea popped into Ye Wenjin’s mind just as she was about to get out of the car.

Would she run into Sister’s family members after going inside?

The moment this thought occurred, her movement to exit the car froze.

When Jian Mo got out and came around, she saw Ye Wenjin’s slightly stiff expression. “What are you hesitating for? Come on out.”

Snapping back to reality, Ye Wenjin quickly got out of the car and followed behind Jian Mo with nervous steps.

It wasn’t until she met the butler’s gentle eyes that half of the anxiety in Ye Wenjin’s heart instantly melted away.

The butler was an elderly woman who appeared to be in her forties, with few wrinkles on her well-maintained face.

Ye Wenjin had expected her to be stern, but she wasn’t at all—especially when looking at her.

“You must be Miss Ye.”

Ye Wenjin glanced at Jian Mo, then hurriedly nodded when she realized the butler was speaking to her. “I’m Ye Wenjin. Nice to meet you.”

The butler smiled warmly. “Pleasure to meet you, Miss Ye. Dinner is ready, and you’ve returned just in time.”

Ye Wenjin hesitated briefly. She had originally planned to drop off her things and leave, but the butler’s hospitality made it hard to refuse. Unconsciously, she looked toward Jian Mo.

“Take the things inside first, then let’s eat.”

Ye Wenjin nodded and tried to lift her suitcase, only for it to be taken from her hands the next second. Looking up, she was met with the smiling faces of two maids.

Reaching out in surprise, she stammered, “Ah, the luggage, I can—”

The butler, walking ahead, said, “Don’t worry. They’ll take care of it properly. Miss Ye, please follow Miss Momo to the dining room.”

Ye Wenjin still felt uneasy. She wasn’t used to this—she had always done everything herself, rarely receiving help from others.

The servants of the Yin family certainly wouldn’t lift a finger for an outsider like her, so she had long grown accustomed to handling things alone.

Being treated like this now left her feeling somewhat awkward.

But Jian Mo remained composed, simply saying, “Let’s go.”

So, Ye Wenjin pushed aside her scattered thoughts and quickly followed.

The dining room was brightly lit, with exquisite and delicious dishes laid out on the table. The moment she stepped in, the aroma of the food overwhelmed her senses, and her stomach promptly growled in response.

She pressed a hand to her belly, trying to silence it, but the command failed. Only now did she realize just how hungry she was.

After leaving the theater, she had headed straight to the Yin residence, leaving no time for dinner. It was already past seven—no wonder she was starving.

Blushing slightly in embarrassment, Ye Wenjin tried to convince herself that no one had heard her stomach’s symphony of hunger.

But in her preoccupation, she missed the butler’s averted face and the fleeting amusement in Jian Mo’s eyes.

Even after being seated by the butler, Ye Wenjin remained tense. Jian Mo, however, had already begun eating earnestly, and the butler didn’t stay either—leaving only the two of them in the dining room.

Having shared a meal with Jian Mo once before, Ye Wenjin instinctively relaxed a little and started eating as well.

The moment the food touched her tongue, its deliciousness captivated her, and the last traces of restraint vanished instantly.

It had been a long time since she had felt such joy from a meal. By the time she finished, Ye Wenjin was thoroughly satisfied.

After eating, her body warmed up, and the rise in bl00d sugar made her feel lazy.

For some reason, this meal was exceptionally to her taste. She had eaten quite a bit from every dish, and even the rice was delicious…

Hmm? So, she had eaten a whole bowl of rice and so many dishes?

The feeling of satisfaction gradually gave way to shock as Ye Wenjin stared blankly at the empty bowl, disbelief written all over her face.

What had she just done???

Ye Wenjin could hardly believe it. She, someone who claimed to be watching her weight, had unknowingly consumed so much food!

How many calories would that amount to? Would she still be able to reach her weight goal?

Ye Wenjin felt as if the sky were about to collapse.

“What’s wrong? Didn’t you like the food?”

Jian Mo had noticed the change in Ye Wenjin’s expression earlier, but after some thought, she couldn’t pinpoint anything amiss, so she asked directly.

Hearing the question, Ye Wenjin snapped out of her daze, though her expression still looked troubled.

She forced a weak smile. “N-no, it’s nothing. I just accidentally ate too much, that’s all.”

Ye Wenjin truly hadn’t realized it earlier. Her mind had been preoccupied with other things, and the delicious food had distracted her, making her completely forget she was still on a diet.

The worst part was that this was dinner. Lunch would have been one thing, but dinner?

Ye Wenjin felt a pang of regret, but soon she noticed Jian Mo’s gaze. She instinctively looked up, only to sense something off about Jian Mo’s expression.

Ye Wenjin froze, her expression cautious. “Sister? Wh-what’s wrong? Did I do something wrong?”

Jian Mo’s brows furrowed slightly, her mood seemingly not the best. Her fingers tapped lightly on the table, and she didn’t speak immediately.

Ye Wenjin immediately felt the pressure, growing uneasy, but she had no idea what she might have said wrong. She could only wait quietly, her heart slightly unsettled.

“How much do you eat in a day?”

The sudden question caught Ye Wenjin off guard. She hadn’t expected Jian Mo to ask this, assuming instead that she would point out something she disliked about her.

Ye Wenjin looked bewildered but didn’t forget to answer.

“My meals are all measured. I need to maintain a slim figure, so I can’t consume too many calories.”

Her voice grew quieter, and Ye Wenjin felt increasingly guilty.

She didn’t know why, but under Jian Mo’s gaze, her initial confidence gradually turned into guilt—though she wasn’t even sure what she was guilty about.

Hesitating, Ye Wenjin finally asked, “Sister, did I… make you unhappy?”

Jian Mo paused, then shook her head. “No.”

She seemed to want to say more, but seeing Ye Wenjin’s cautious expression, she swallowed her words and stood up to leave.

Ye Wenjin hesitated for a second, glancing at the table, but when she saw the maids coming in to clean up, she quickly followed Jian Mo.

In the living room, Ye Wenjin stood awkwardly, wondering how to bring up her departure.

But before she could decide, the butler approached and said gently, “Miss Momo, Miss Ye’s room has been prepared.”

Ye Wenjin was startled and hurriedly replied, “I… I… There’s no need. I can just go back to school.”

The butler’s face showed a hint of surprise. “But it’s raining outside, and quite heavily at that. Miss Ye, why not stay the night and return to school tomorrow morning?”

Ye Wenjin was also taken aback. It hadn’t been raining when they arrived, yet now it was pouring again. She hesitated—getting a taxi at night would indeed be difficult, but staying over seemed rather inappropriate as well.

Jian Mo glanced at the conflicted Ye Wenjin and said gently, “Stay. I’ll take you back tomorrow morning.”

The butler’s smile widened. “Then I’ll go prepare the toiletries.”

Watching the butler leave, Ye Wenjin stood there dazed before suddenly snapping back to reality.

How had she somehow ended up agreeing to stay the night?