After the Breakup, the Possessive Heiress Regretted It - Chapter 13

Chapter 13: You Won’t Ever Become a Part of the Pei Family.

They had arrived.

Ji Wanmian could sense Pei Jinyue’s presence from a distance.

Sure enough, when she looked up, she saw Miss Pei standing by the roadside, looking in her direction.

Ji Wanmian had the driver stop in front of Pei Jinyue, got out of the car, and walked quickly toward her.

As she approached, Pei Jinyue gave a small nod of approval. “That was fast.”

Ji Wanmian, rarely praised, grinned for a while. She almost replied with something cheesy like “Of course I hurried, I was coming to see you,” but worried it would sound too greasy, she just said, “We weren’t that far apart anyway.”

Pei Jinyue gave a quiet “mm” and turned to lead Ji Wanmian toward her home.

Ji Wanmian walked beside her, about to speak, when she noticed something on Pei Jinyue’s face—a red mark. Though Pei Jinyue hadn’t mentioned it, Ji Wanmian saw it clearly.

It was the first time she had seen Pei Jinyue injured. Forgetting everything else, she immediately grabbed her arm, looked up at the mark, and asked anxiously, “What happened to your face? Did someone hit you?”

The wind was strong, whipping Ji Wanmian’s loose hair in all directions, mirroring the turmoil in her heart.

She was freezing, and her hands were icy as they clutched Pei Jinyue’s arm.

Pei Jinyue’s lashes fluttered, but she didn’t pull away immediately. She turned slightly to the side and said softly, “I fell.”

“Who falls and ends up like that…” Ji Wanmian looked at her face and realized she probably wouldn’t get an answer. So she lowered her head and quietly asked, “Does it hurt?”

Pei Jinyue’s lashes trembled again. Just as she opened her mouth to respond, a voice called out her name.

“Jinyue.”

The moment the voice rang out, Pei Jinyue’s expression instantly changed.

Ji Wanmian turned toward the sound and saw a poised, elegant woman walking toward them. Her facial features bore some resemblance to Pei Jinyue’s, so Ji Wanmian guessed she must be Pei Jinyue’s mother—Pei Yan.

Though Pei Yan didn’t look particularly fierce, Ji Wanmian instinctively swallowed nervously.

This woman was nothing like the typical wealthy madams adorned in jewelry. Pei Yan wore minimal accessories, but the composed and capable aura she exuded was more intimidating than anything else.

The moment they made eye contact, even though Pei Yan was smiling politely, Ji Wanmian instinctively let go of Pei Jinyue’s arm and looked away, suddenly feeling incredibly self-conscious.

“You must be Miss Ji?” Pei Yan scanned Ji Wanmian calmly before smiling and walking toward her.

Ji Wanmian didn’t speak, just nodded with her lips tightly pressed together.

Pei Yan raised her hand, studying Ji Wanmian silently.

Pei Jinyue frowned and asked, “What are you doing?”

“She’s quite pretty,” Pei Yan said as she gently adjusted Ji Wanmian’s collar.

Then she tilted her head and asked Pei Jinyue with a smile, “What do you think I’m doing?”

Ji Wanmian was clenching her hands tightly, her heart pounding. The moment Pei Yan touched her, she forgot how to breathe.

Despite the cold, her palms were sweating.

“Don’t be nervous, I’m Jinyue’s mother.” Pei Yan withdrew her hand and even patted Ji Wanmian’s shoulder reassuringly.

Ji Wanmian relaxed just a little and began to mentally debate whether to say “Hello, Mrs. Pei” (more formal) or “Hello, Auntie Pei” (more casual).

All the conversation openers she’d rehearsed on the car ride over vanished. Her mind went completely blank, and despite the tension, an absurd nickname like “Jinyue’s Mom” popped into her head.

But Pei Yan gave her no chance to greet her. Smiling, she took out a tissue, wiped her hand, and said in a polite but distant tone, “Don’t worry. I won’t hit you like I hit Jinyue—because you won’t ever have the chance to become part of the Pei family.”

BANG—

Ji Wanmian’s mind exploded. Her heart leapt into her throat.

It took her a moment to look up and meet Pei Yan’s eyes—the very same eyes that had just delivered such cruel words, all while smiling.

“Don’t look at me like that,” Pei Yan said. “I thought I was being very clear. Everyone has their fate. You don’t belong here.” With that, she tossed the tissue into a nearby trash can.

The words hit Ji Wanmian like icy water. Her heart nearly stopped.

She had anticipated potential obstacles today. After all, not everyone would accept their relationship. But Ji Wanmian had believed that as long as she was sincere and showed her genuine heart, they could overcome anything.

Because they loved each other—and love could conquer so many things.

But she never imagined that Pei Jinyue’s mother would reject her so fiercely, would humiliate her like this, and even refuse to let her step inside the house.

Ji Wanmian stood frozen, unable to speak. Out of the corner of her eye, she glanced at Pei Jinyue, who simply looked down and said nothing.

Ji Wanmian felt a surge of hurt and confusion. She wanted to ask Pei Jinyue why she wasn’t saying anything. But when she looked at the red slap mark on her face, her heart ached. Any anger she might have felt vanished. She figured there must be a reason for her silence.

Was this really the end of their love?

She had loved Pei Jinyue for so many years—how could she possibly give up now?

She bit her lower lip, realizing that the challenges ahead wouldn’t stop here. Their differing backgrounds created a distance that couldn’t be measured in mere kilometers. And the gender of their relationship would bring whispers, stares, and judgment.

She wasn’t bold. She was sensitive and soft-spoken. Even when wronged, all she did was cry. Someone like her should stay away from situations like this.

But if she walked away now—if she ever recalled the moment when, as a child wrongly accused of stealing, Pei Jinyue had walked toward her, skirt swaying—how much would it hurt? Would she regret her cowardice?

So, Ji Wanmian chose to be brave.

For Pei Jinyue. And for herself.

“I’m not leaving,” Ji Wanmian lifted her head. Her voice trembled, but she was firm. She kept it short to stop herself from choking up. “Even if I’m trash, I still love Pei Jinyue. I want to be with her.”

Pei Yan folded her arms. The polite smile faded from her face. Her tone turned cold. “Miss Ji, please understand—this isn’t some child’s game.”

“I know, Mrs. Pei. I understand.” Ji Wanmian took a deep breath, met her gaze boldly, and spoke clearly. “I’m an adult. I know exactly what I’m doing. But since I came here today and now stand in front of you, it proves how serious I am about Pei Jinyue.”

Pei Yan covered her mouth and gave a soft, sarcastic laugh. Her brows arched slightly as she repeated, “Serious about Pei Jinyue?”

Ji Wanmian nodded firmly.

She could already guess what kind of cruel words would come next—mockery for her naivety, ridicule for how little her sincerity meant compared to her background.

But before Pei Yan could reply, someone new stepped in.

“Mom, let Miss Ji come inside first.”

A woman appeared beside Pei Yan, leaned in to whisper something, and Pei Yan nodded. She waved them into the house.

Ji Wanmian glanced at the woman next to Pei Yan—she wore gold-rimmed glasses and carried the exact same powerful aura. From just a quick glance, Ji Wanmian could tell she was the younger version of Pei Yan—same type, same energy.

But unlike Pei Yan, this woman wore a silver necklace with a small pendant shaped like a fish resting near her heart.

Oddly, the necklace didn’t match her otherwise composed and sharp aura.

As Ji Wanmian’s eyes lingered on the necklace, the woman looked back—and held her gaze for a long while.

Their eyes met.

Ji Wanmian pressed her lips together. Should she say hello?

Suddenly, she felt Pei Jinyue beside her breathing faster, her entire body trembling slightly.

She was angry.