After Accidentally Marking My Stepsister's White Moonlight (GL, ABO) - Chapter 3

Ye Wenjin was locked away just like that.

As for school, Ye Shuyao had requested a day’s leave for her, citing illness. Since the next day was Friday, followed by the weekend, this would give them three days. Though Ye Wenjin didn’t know why they wanted to keep her here, a bad feeling settled in her heart.

Because the leave had been personally requested by Ye Shuyao and was only for a single day, no one suspected anything.

When she was first restrained, her phone had been confiscated by the servants, leaving her with no means to call for help. It was as if she had been stranded on a deserted island, with no one to aid her.

After sitting listlessly in the room for a while—whether from anger or the cold—Ye Wenjin suddenly felt dizzy.

She really did seem to be falling ill. Her mind was so sluggish that even her thoughts slowed. To at least keep a clear head, she took a deep breath and knocked on the door to summon a servant.

“Miss Ye, what is it?”

“Go tell Madam that I’m sick and ask her to call a doctor for me. Whatever she plans to do, it won’t be easy if I’m unwell, right?”

Her tone was indifferent, as if she wasn’t the one being locked up.

The servant hesitated but eventually relayed the message to Ye Shuyao.

However, what Ye Wenjin received wasn’t a doctor—just a box of cold medicine, along with Ye Shuyao’s distrustful gaze and icy words.

“A-Jin, you’re not a child anymore. Don’t try to escape with such tricks. You never used to lie, but now you’ve learned to deceive. It’s a good thing we didn’t let you stray too far. Look at you now—spending time with unsavory people has taught you to lie.”

Ye Shuyao’s brows were furrowed, her eyes filled with disappointment, utterly convinced that Ye Wenjin was scheming.

Staring at that familiar face, Ye Wenjin felt only estrangement, a chill creeping into her heart.

She wasn’t lying. She truly felt unwell—her head was pounding, and her body burned with fever.

Had Ye Shuyao simply checked, she would have known the truth. But without even verifying, she had labeled her a liar.

Was this woman really her mother?

Ye Wenjin felt dazed, sinking into silence.

Ye Shuyao frowned even harder at her lack of response, then sighed and spoke earnestly.

“A-Jin, you know marrying into the Yin family was already a stretch for me, let alone bringing you along. I have to tread carefully every day, or if Yin Yu is displeased, we’ll lose our home.

Your sister was lucky to present as an Alpha, and her rank isn’t low. She has better prospects—it’s all for the family’s sake. The better Aunt Yin’s company does, the better it is for all of us.

Besides, the Lin family isn’t bad either. Marrying into them will benefit everyone. And Madam Lin is kind—Miss Lin must be good too. What exactly are you dissatisfied with?”

Ye Wenjin kept her eyes closed, still silent.

Disappointed, Ye Shuyao shook her head and left the room.

Only after she was gone did Ye Wenjin slowly open her eyes. Wincing, she got up and took a pill.

But the medicine didn’t seem to work. Her body still burned, and as her fever rose, her head throbbed with pain.

The physical discomfort brought an unprecedented weakness. Too drained to ponder their motives, Ye Wenjin washed up briefly before climbing into bed, soon sinking into a deep sleep.

The next morning, Ye Wenjin felt slightly better, though her body was still weak. Frowning, she took another pill.

She remained in a daze until the afternoon when the door opened and Ye Shuyao walked in, holding a formal dress. “Change into this. We’re going out soon.”

Ye Wenjin didn’t look at her, as if she hadn’t heard, remaining motionless.

“A-Jin, be obedient. Don’t disappoint your mother.”

Ye Shuyao’s voice was gentle, as though nothing had happened the night before.

Ye Wenjin’s pupils trembled slightly. She lowered her gaze, lost in thought, before finally giving a faint nod.

Only then did Ye Shuyao seem satisfied. Before leaving, she instructed, “Freshen up properly and come out quickly.”

It had been drizzling all day, the gloomy rain casting a stifling atmosphere.

When Ye Wenjin stepped outside in the dress, she realized the wind was strong, and the outfit Ye Shuyao had brought was too thin. The cold breeze made her already aching head throb again.

The car window rolled down, and Ye Shuyao urged, “Don’t just stand there. Get in.”

Perhaps her heart had already gone numb. Ye Wenjin silently got into the car.

It wasn’t just her and Ye Shuyao going out—Yin Yu and her daughter were also coming along.

Ye Wenjin found it inexplicably amusing. She had no idea where they were taking her that required three people to keep watch over her.

Yin Feifei still despised her and couldn’t resist making snide remarks upon seeing her. But Ye Wenjin ignored her, silently closing her eyes to conserve her energy.

Yin Feifei snorted, seemingly wanting to say more, but Yin Yu stopped her, forcing her to reluctantly quiet down.

The group arrived at the entrance of a dazzlingly luxurious hotel.

After getting out of the car, Yin Yu handed the invitation to the doorman, and they were escorted into the banquet hall.

It wasn’t until she entered that Ye Wenjin realized she had been brought to another banquet—and, as luck would have it, this one was hosted by the Lin family.

Ye Wenjin grew wary. She didn’t believe Yin Yu had kept her around just to attend the Lin family’s banquet, but she had no information to go on, so she could only wait and see.

The banquet hall was well-heated, providing some relief from the cold. But before she could relax, she noticed an intense gaze scrutinizing her. Following it, she saw Madam Lin and the young woman beside her—likely her daughter.

The young lady’s eyes were filled with displeasure. It wasn’t hard to guess that she wasn’t the favored candidate for the arranged marriage.

After all, Ye Wenjin was unremarkable, practically invisible in the Yin family, nowhere near as dazzling as her stepsister.

But Ye Wenjin didn’t care. Her expression remained blank, her gaze distant.

Ye Shuyao, however, grew visibly anxious when she noticed Ye Wenjin looking toward Madam Lin and her daughter. But the two showed no intention of coming over to greet them. Glancing at Yin Yu, who seemed deep in thought, Ye Shuyao had no choice but to suppress her impatience for now.

Ye Wenjin was puzzled. While Ye Shuyao had always tried to curry favor with Madam Lin before, she had never been this desperate.

Her behavior… made Ye Wenjin even more suspicious.

But judging by the way Madam Lin casually averted her gaze, the motive behind inviting them here was far from pure.

As Ye Wenjin suspected, Madam Lin’s purpose in hosting this banquet wasn’t to strengthen ties with Yin Yu.

Before, a marriage alliance with the Yin family would have been ideal. But when Yin Yu showed signs of wanting to change the engagement candidate, Madam Lin realized that forming ties with the Yin family was far from wise.

So she had been scheming early on, going through countless connections with great effort, until she finally managed to establish a link recently. If things went smoothly, as long as she could latch onto that person, what would the Yin family even matter?

Although rumors said that person wasn’t easy to approach, Madam Lin knew well that opportunities had to be seized. And now, the other party had agreed to attend the banquet.

A hundred thoughts swirled in her mind, but Madam Lin maintained a smiling demeanor as she chatted with guests, as if she hadn’t noticed the Yin family’s arrival.

Yin Yu, however, keenly sensed something amiss from her behavior.

Originally, she had kept Ye Wenjin precisely because of the prearranged discussion about the marriage alliance with the Lin family today. But she hadn’t expected Lin Yu to host a banquet on the same day.

When she received the invitation, Yin Yu had already sensed something off, but after some consideration, she still brought Ye Wenjin along.

Now, after seeing Lin Yu, Yin Yu was certain she had other plans. The marriage discussion might fall through, but she didn’t leave. Instead, she decided to see what Lin Yu was really up to.

Yin Feifei, true to being raised by Yin Yu herself, also sensed the change, her expression darkening momentarily. But she quickly composed herself, narrowing her eyes subtly as she glanced at Miss Lin standing beside Lin Yu, then at Ye Wenjin, curling her lips slightly.

No matter what Lin Yu was plotting, this marriage alliance had to succeed.

Only Ye Shuyao remained oblivious, anxious about the unsettled marriage arrangement. Until it was finalized, her heart would never be at ease.

Amidst the undercurrents around her, Ye Wenjin had also noticed, but she was powerless to intervene—her body felt even more unwell.

Perhaps it was the earlier exposure to the cold wind, now compounded by the overly heated banquet hall. The alternating temperatures had worsened her cold.

When she woke up this morning, she had thought she was almost recovered. But this outing seemed to have aggravated her condition.

Now, her head was spinning, leaving her no energy to decipher the silent exchanges around her. The surrounding noise only made her more irritable.

Dazed, she wasn’t sure how much time had passed when she felt a bump, jolting her slightly awake. Following the murmurs, she noticed everyone looking toward the banquet hall entrance.

Some important figure must be arriving, she thought blankly, her gaze drifting in that direction.

Soon, the room fell silent.

In her daze, Ye Wenjin thought she saw an immortal stepping through the light. Blinking, she realized it wasn’t an immortal—but it might as well have been.

The approaching figure carried a moonlike, ethereal grace, with a beauty so striking it bordered on otherworldly, a contradiction in itself. Dressed in a simple white gown, she became the center of attention the moment she appeared.

Ye Wenjin faintly heard the gasps around her. Scanning the room, she saw most people were stunned, their expressions quickly shifting to fawning.

Even Yin Feifei, who usually looked down on everyone, was staring unblinkingly at the newcomer, murmuring softly under her breath.

“Jian Mo… It’s actually her!”

Who was Jian Mo?

Ye Wenjin was puzzled. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Yin Feifei’s cheeks flushing, her eyes burning with fervent admiration and a deeply hidden determination.

Seeing her like this, Ye Wenjin suddenly remembered that Yin Feifei did indeed have someone she liked—someone she had pursued so openly and boldly. However, she never got the chance to confess or chase after them. Over time, this unrequited love became an unforgettable “white moonlight.” Could it be…?

She froze for a moment before shifting her gaze to the newcomer. Strangely, even though so many people were looking at her, Ye Wenjin noticed that the woman named Jian Mo seemed to glance in her direction for a fleeting moment.

With so many people around, Ye Wenjin couldn’t be sure if Jian Mo was actually looking at her. But upon further thought, she dismissed the idea—after all, they didn’t know each other.

So she averted her eyes and continued to blend into the background.

Jian Mo’s arrival instantly elevated the atmosphere of the banquet to its peak. A steady stream of people approached her to strike up conversations, though Mrs. Lin remained in the most privileged position.

Yet Ye Wenjin noticed that Yin Yu’s expression had darkened.

Not that it was surprising. Yin Yu had thought she had Mrs. Lin under her thumb, only to find that Mrs. Lin had managed to invite someone of significant influence. Just by observing how the crowd treated this woman, it was clear she was no ordinary guest. No wonder Yin Yu looked displeased.

But none of this concerned Ye Wenjin. She kept her head down, trailing behind the others without speaking or forcing a smile, her gaze hollow.

Even so, trouble still found her.

Perhaps emboldened by her home advantage and the fact that she had indeed secured the attendance of such an esteemed guest, Mrs. Lin was brimming with triumph. She approached with a server carrying wine glasses, her face radiant as she initiated conversation.

Though aware of Mrs. Lin’s ill intentions, Yin Yu restrained her expression, though the strained smile on her face betrayed her irritation.

However, she hadn’t expected Mrs. Lin’s target to be Yin Feifei. At Mrs. Lin’s signal, Miss Lin, who had accompanied her, handed a glass of wine to Yin Feifei.

Mrs. Lin smiled, though her eyes remained cold. “My daughter has always admired Feifei, but alas, fate did not bring them together. Since there’s no such bond, why not let bygones be bygones over a drink?”

Yin Yu narrowed her eyes, staring at the glass with an inscrutable expression.

Yin Feifei’s face also darkened, but she stepped forward, took the glass, and smiled faintly before handing it to Ye Wenjin.

“If it’s Miss Lin’s wine, then naturally, my sister should be the one to drink it. Though we were not meant to be, my sister and Miss Lin hit it off immediately. They’ll grow close in the future, so I shouldn’t steal this opportunity from her. Don’t you agree, Sister Wenjin?”

Ye Wenjin’s face paled slightly. She lowered her eyes and remained silent, refusing wordlessly.

When she didn’t move, Ye Shuyao hastily took the glass and pushed it toward her.

“Your sister isn’t wrong. Just drink it.”

She seemed to have completely forgotten Ye Wenjin’s earlier claim of feeling unwell, only eager to echo Yin Feifei.

Ye Wenjin gave Ye Shuyao a calm look but said nothing more. She took the glass and downed it in one go.

Miss Lin stood frozen, unsure what to do. Mrs. Lin smirked. “Why are you looking at me? Since Miss Ye has been so gracious, it would be impolite for you not to drink.”

Thus, Miss Lin hastily drank as well.

Once she finished, Mrs. Lin cast a meaningful glance at Ye Wenjin before leading her entourage away.

Ye Wenjin frowned slightly, sensing something amiss, but no one paid her any attention now.

Yin Yu felt he had lost face, his expression darkening. In contrast, Yin Feifei looked quite pleased, occasionally glancing at Ye Wenjin with a glint of amusement in her eyes.

Ye Wenjin’s intuition was right—because the discomfort around her was growing heavier, accompanied by another unsettling sensation that gave her a bad premonition.

The moment she realized something was wrong with her body, her first instinct was to seek help from Ye Shuyao. Yet, the image of Ye Shuyao’s disappointed expression flashed in her mind first.

Ye Wenjin froze. Without alerting anyone, she decided to leave first.

But Yin Feifei seemed to be watching her every move. She abruptly grabbed Ye Wenjin’s arm and said softly, “Sister seems unwell. Let me take her to rest.”

Yin Yu, already irritated, waved them off. Ye Shuyao, too, was lost in sorrow and didn’t notice Ye Wenjin’s condition.

Once permission was granted, Ye Wenjin was forcibly led out of the banquet hall by Yin Feifei.

The discomfort in her body intensified. For a moment, Ye Wenjin felt her consciousness blurring—the world spun, and her body burned.

Despite the agony, she knew she couldn’t go with Yin Feifei.

Yet her resistance meant nothing to Yin Feifei, who scoffed and quickened her pace.

Ye Wenjin sensed danger and struggled harder—until, at some point, something long suppressed within her burst through its restraints.

The empty hallway was instantly flooded with a violent surge of pheromones.

Caught off guard, Yin Feifei was overwhelmed by the pheromone clash. The sheer pressure knocked her unconscious.

Freed from Yin Feifei’s grip, Ye Wenjin had no time to process what she had done—she only knew she had to escape.

Staggering forward like a headless fly, she didn’t stop until the surroundings fell into complete silence. Only then did she feel slightly at ease.

But her barely held consciousness couldn’t last. Her vision blurred, her body swayed—she was on the verge of collapse.

Just as she was about to fall, a cold, wintry scent of plum blossoms enveloped her, and she stumbled straight into a frigid yet fragrant embrace. The icy plum aroma soothed her raging pheromones, sending waves of comfort through her limbs.

For a brief moment, Ye Wenjin’s vision cleared. Lifting her gaze, she only caught sight of the person’s delicate chin.

The crisp, frosty fragrance of plum blossoms filled her senses—a scent that should have sharpened her awareness, yet inexplicably, it drew her in deeper.

Clutching the stranger like a lifeline, Ye Wenjin clung tightly, murmuring in a daze.

“So fragrant… so nice… mmm…”

In the deserted hallway, the scent of cold plum blossoms grew stronger.