After the Breakup, the Possessive Heiress Regretted It - Chapter 1

Chapter 1: Is this Sweat or Tears?

Hot.

Sweat dripped down.

Outside the window, the freezing winter wind pierced the air, shaking the treetops. In the stillness of the night, the sound of wind rustling through branches was especially clear.

Inside the room, there was no light, no sound of the heater—only the two of them. Ji Wanmian’s eyes sparkled, as if tears of restraint were welling up in her eyes.

So hot.

Especially when the two of them were pressed so closely together.

Ji Wanmian turned her head slightly, trying to bury her voice into the wind, dissolve it into the long night.

Pei Jinyue leaned down, burying herself in Ji Wanmian’s hair, and gently asked, “What’s wrong?”

Ji Wanmian hesitated, bit her lower lip, and only after a long pause whispered, “Hot…”

She felt like every word she uttered was like a bubbling steam bubble emerging from boiling water.

Pei Jinyue kissed her again, brushing away the moisture on Ji Wanmian’s face. She whispered in her ear, “Is this sweat or tears?”

Ji Wanmian no longer had the strength to reply. She closed her eyes, feeling the heat of Pei Jinyue’s lips on her face like flames licking her skin.

So hot.

She felt like she was about to turn into ashes.

“Forget it,” Pei Jinyue flipped over and lay back down. “I’m tired.”

Ji Wanmian opened her eyes and let out a long sigh.

She turned, and by the faint light filtering through the curtains, she could see Pei Jinyue’s exposed shoulder—fair and glowing.

Ji Wanmian swallowed hard, her throat even drier.

After rubbing her sore thighs, she sat up slightly and pulled the blanket toward Pei Jinyue, trying to cover her bare skin.

Pei Jinyue naturally wrapped her arm around Ji Wanmian’s waist and also sat up, resting her face on the back of Ji Wanmian’s neck.

The soft breath brushed through Ji Wanmian’s hair.

And also brushed against her heartstrings, like countless bugs crawling over her heart—tingling and electric, spreading through her whole body.

“Niannian…”

There it was again—that name.

Ji Wanmian’s tightly clenched lips slowly loosened.

All those strange feelings running through her body instantly vanished when she heard those two syllables.

So cold.

Must be the window not properly shut, letting in the winter wind.

Pei Jinyue mumbled the name a few more times before her breathing gradually evened out.

She must have fallen asleep.

Ji Wanmian stayed in that position for a while, then carefully turned around. After making sure Pei Jinyue wouldn’t fall off the bed, she gently laid her down and tucked her in.

But Ji Wanmian couldn’t sleep.

She lay carefully on the other side and gently wiped the sweat from Pei Jinyue’s forehead.

Less than thirty centimeters apart—close enough for Ji Wanmian to clearly see Pei Jinyue’s sleeping face.

So beautiful.

Breathtakingly so.

Ji Wanmian didn’t even know how to describe the feeling she had the first time she met Pei Jinyue. Just a glance at her made Ji Wanmian’s heart skip a beat. She forgot how to breathe.

If someone had told the past Ji Wanmian—

That one day Pei Jinyue would lie next to her, doing things that could make someone sweat even in winter—

She would’ve thought she was dreaming.

But it came true.

Only, not everything went the way she wished.

Her heart had belonged to Pei Jinyue for years.

But the one living in Pei Jinyue’s heart wasn’t Ji Wanmian.

It was someone named “Niannian.”

From the flirtations in college to now, even after graduation—in countless passionate nights—whenever Pei Jinyue was drowsy from exhaustion, she would unconsciously whisper that name again and again.

At first, Ji Wanmian thought she’d misheard, maybe Pei was calling her “Mianmian.”

Then one day, driven by curiosity, she opened Pei Jinyue’s nickname on her phone—

It was “Niannian.”

So she hadn’t heard wrong.

It was Niannian, not Mianmian.

They sounded similar, but they weren’t the same.

And Ji Wanmian didn’t even need to ask. Deep down, she already knew.

Pei Jinyue always called her by her full name.

So polite, so distant, so formal.

Even in the heat of passion, when everything was hazy and sweaty, Pei Jinyue would only ever say “Ji Wanmian.”

Once, Ji Wanmian tried to get closer, hugging Pei Jinyue from behind and whispering playfully: “Yueyue, can you call me…”

But all she got was Pei Jinyue’s cold reply—

“Ji Wanmian, just keep calling me by my full name.”

Sometimes Ji Wanmian wanted to scream at her, cry, and demand, “Who is this Niannian?”

But she didn’t feel she had the right.

People without confidence tread carefully.

Just like now—Ji Wanmian wanted to tuck Pei Jinyue’s loose hair behind her ear, but even that felt like a privilege she hadn’t earned.

Sleep, then.

Maybe in her dreams, Pei Jinyue would love her.

…

The next morning, Ji Wanmian woke first.

Or rather, she hadn’t really slept.

Every time Pei Jinyue stayed over, Ji Wanmian could barely rest. The bruises, the aching body—plus the pain from all the harsh words.

She even fantasized that Pei Jinyue might love her in her dreams.

But she didn’t even get the chance to dream of her.

Ji Wanmian quietly moved out of bed, wincing at the soreness in her thighs. She moved carefully, afraid of waking her.

Just as she slipped on her slippers, she heard a groggy groan behind her.

Her heart trembled. She turned—and Pei Jinyue had indeed woken up.

“You’re up early,” Pei Jinyue mumbled, rolling over and pulling the blanket tighter.

Ji Wanmian looked down like a guilty child. “I just wanted to make you breakfast…”

Pei Jinyue sat up, ruffling her bangs, not even bothering to open her eyes. “I’m not hungry.”

“But it’s been a while since you came over. I just wanted…” Ji Wanmian nervously clenched her hands.

Pei Jinyue was quiet, then got out of bed. She didn’t shy away—undressed right in front of Ji Wanmian. “I just came to sleep.”

Ji Wanmian had been lowering her head, but those words made her look up in frustration—only to catch sight of Pei Jinyue’s bare back.

Her face flushed, ears burning. She quickly looked away. “You could at least warn me…”

Pei Jinyue raised an eyebrow. “It’s not like you didn’t see everything last night.”

Ji Wanmian blushed even harder, stammering.

Pei Jinyue ignored her and walked into the bathroom.

The sound of the shower filled the air. Ji Wanmian took several gulps of cold water to calm down. But that cold sentence still echoed:

“I just came to sleep.”

Her grip on the cup tightened. The more she thought about it, the more those words stabbed her heart.

The water stopped—Pei Jinyue was coming out.

Ji Wanmian took a deep breath and sat on the couch, waiting.

But when Pei Jinyue stepped out, all the words she’d prepared got stuck in her throat.

Because Pei Jinyue was just too beautiful.

Stunning and dazzling.

Half-wet burgundy hair framed her flawless face. Even the simplest makeup made her look breathtaking. That lip color—so bold—only made her more alluring.

Pei Jinyue crossed her arms and leaned against the door. “What did you want to say?”

What did you want to say.

That one line brought Ji Wanmian back to their very first meeting.

Freshman year, Ji Wanmian was falsely accused of stealing by a male classmate. He was furious and wouldn’t let her explain.

That was when Pei Jinyue appeared.

Without even speaking, just a glance shut him up.

Then she looked at Ji Wanmian, who was surrounded and tearful, and asked:

“What do you want to say?”

Ji Wanmian froze—just like now.

After a long while, Ji Wanmian finally snapped back and, seeing Pei Jinyue’s growing impatience, blurted out:

“I just wanted to say… that makeup looks really good on you. So, are you really not staying for breakfast?”

What was she saying—

Ji Wanmian mentally facepalmed. She always blurted nonsense when nervous.

Oh well. At least she said what she wanted.

Pei Jinyue didn’t answer right away. Just then, her phone buzzed in her bag. She checked it—and her face immediately darkened.

Ji Wanmian noticed. “What’s wrong?”

“It has nothing to do with you.” Pei Jinyue shoved the phone back in her bag, put on her scarf and coat. Her face returned to its usual cold expression.

She walked straight to the door.

Ji Wanmian bit her lip and hesitated. “Will you be back tonight?”

“We’ll see.” Pei Jinyue changed her shoes and opened the door. “I left money for you in the closet.”

Ji Wanmian froze—then angrily shouted, “Who asked you for money? What do you think I am?”

She did love Pei Jinyue. So deeply it had seeped into her bones and bl00d.

But she didn’t want to lose her pride.

Even in a one-sided relationship, she hoped for at least some respect.

But she didn’t get it.

Just before walking out the door, Pei Jinyue turned and coldly said—

“Isn’t it my money you’re after?”