After the Breakup, the Possessive Heiress Regretted It - Chapter 2

Chapter 2: No One Was Allowed to Disturb Her.

No one was allowed to disturb her.

The sound of the door closing wasn’t loud, but it echoed in Ji Wanmian’s heart for a long time.

So long that she couldn’t seem to move on.

Just like that memory—Ji Wanmian knew better than anyone that the one stuck in the past, unable to move forward, was her alone.

Because when Ji Wanmian later brought it up again, Pei Jinyue had looked genuinely surprised, as if she had no real memory of it. She merely said she didn’t like that male classmate very much at the time and didn’t remember helping Ji Wanmian at all.

So what she once thought was an unforgettable encounter…

Had only been colored by her own feelings.

Ji Wanmian slumped on the sofa for a long while, not even in the mood to get up and make breakfast. It wasn’t until a notification sound came from her phone in the bedroom that she reluctantly moved her legs and dragged herself to the place she least wanted to go.

Oh, it was just a calendar reminder.

“1 day left until the deadline.”

What? Only one day left?!

Despairing, Ji Wanmian flopped back onto her bed and glanced at the time on her phone.

Almost 9 a.m.

She didn’t even have time to wallow in her feelings. After quickly showering and brushing her teeth, she rushed to her desk to finish her draft.

Luckily, she had stayed up several nights before to finish the linework and coloring. She just needed to add some finishing touches and dialogue, so Ji Wanmian decided to temporarily push thoughts of Pei Jinyue aside and fully immerse herself in her work.

Work was work. Love was…

Was what she had with Pei Jinyue even love?

Ji Wanmian’s hands paused. She had been sitting hunched over for a long time, and now her neck and back were aching. She put down her keyboard, mouse, and stylus, letting herself take a proper break.

She opened a pack of bread and collapsed back onto the sofa again. As she chewed, her eyes swept over her small rental apartment—just one bedroom and one living room. Not big, but just right for one person.

But ever since Pei Jinyue said she wanted to come over, Ji Wanmian couldn’t stop worrying—

Would Pei Jinyue think the place was too small?

Would she be uncomfortable staying here?

Would she…?

No.

Because Pei Jinyue didn’t care about the apartment at all. She had only one requirement—for the occasional overnight stay. Sometimes, she would even…

The bread in Ji Wanmian’s mouth lost all flavor. Especially when she thought of Pei Jinyue’s words, a bitterness lingered.

She set the bread aside, stretched her stiff body, and walked to the balcony.

It was December. Although there was no snow in the southern winter, the cold was still enough to make one shiver. Even staying indoors, the chill crept in from somewhere, making her hands and feet cold and movement difficult.

Ji Wanmian shivered and turned away from the balcony, her mind suddenly wondering whether Pei Jinyue would be cold outside.

Today was even colder than yesterday.

She thought back to last night, when Pei Jinyue had suddenly called her late at night. She had already been asleep, but the moment she heard Pei Jinyue’s voice, she sobered up instantly.

When Pei Jinyue said she wanted to stay over, Ji Wanmian was so excited she couldn’t fall back asleep. She jumped into the shower, changed into nicer pajamas, and waited anxiously in the brightly lit living room—too nervous to even check her phone.

When she finally saw Pei Jinyue arrive, cheeks flushed from the wind, her heart ached before anything else.

Pei Jinyue walked in and got straight to the point: “I’ll stay the night.”

Ji Wanmian immediately nodded, stumbling over her words: “Okay. I’ll sleep on the sofa, you take the bed. Unless you…”

Pei Jinyue didn’t wait for her to finish and simply said, “Together.”

“Huh?” Ji Wanmian didn’t get it at first. When the meaning hit her, her eyes widened, and she swallowed hard, her ears flushing red. In a low voice, she asked, “You mean…”

Pei Jinyue calmly replied, “Mm.”

Ji Wanmian’s heart nearly jumped out of her chest. She lowered her head and shyly clutched her sleeve, mumbling, “But this…”

“Can I come in first?” Pei Jinyue asked, polite but direct.

At those words, Ji Wanmian’s face turned bright red. She didn’t dare look up, hurriedly opened the door wider, and let Pei Jinyue in.

Pei Jinyue said nothing more and stepped inside, skillfully changing her shoes—it wasn’t her first time here, after all.

Ji Wanmian closed the door with a flushed face and only turned around after taking a long breath. The moment she did, she saw Pei Jinyue sitting on the sofa, head bowed, staring at her hands.

Concern welled up in Ji Wanmian’s chest. She quickly walked over and followed Pei Jinyue’s gaze—her hands were red from the cold.

Without thinking, Ji Wanmian grabbed her hands and asked worriedly, “Why are your hands so red?”

“Cold.” Pei Jinyue’s voice was soft and low, but they were so close that the single word hit Ji Wanmian’s heart directly.

Ji Wanmian placed her slightly warmer hands over Pei Jinyue’s. In that moment, her worry overcame her shyness. She blurted out, “Let me warm them up for you.”

Pei Jinyue’s hands gradually warmed.

But Ji Wanmian’s own hands slowly grew cold.

Just like now.

Her fingers were so frozen they could barely bend, but she didn’t turn on the heater. Instead, she rubbed her hands together, just enough to keep working.

With her meager income, it was better to save electricity. She’d turn on the heater only when Pei Jinyue came over.

Ji Wanmian refocused and continued her editing work. When hungry, she snacked on whatever was left. When sleepy, she stepped out onto the cold balcony for a blast of wind. If she got too exhausted, she’d think about Pei Jinyue’s background—it gave her a little more motivation.

Actually, even before she had met Pei Jinyue in person, she’d already heard the name many times.

The rich heiress of the same college—gorgeous, always dressed in designer brands, generous with money.

But Ji Wanmian never expected that she would one day become entangled with someone so out of reach.

In a relationship where she didn’t even know what role she played.

By the time she finished the final touches, it was nearly ten at night. After setting everything aside, Ji Wanmian stretched. Hunger hit before sleepiness did.

She was starving.

She searched the apartment but found no more snacks or instant noodles. With no other option, she bundled up and headed downstairs to grab something to eat. Otherwise, she wouldn’t even be able to sleep through the hunger.

Wrapping herself in a scarf and hat, adding another layer against the chill, she finally stepped outside.

The wind was still sharp. But the street was bustling with people, and the lingering food stalls brought with them the comforting scent of street food. Ji Wanmian inhaled deeply—the smell alone made her feel slightly less cold and more connected to the lively city.

The scent of grilled skewers and fried snacks was incredibly tempting. Even from a distance, it felt like the food was right under her nose—hot, spicy, and delicious.

She almost drifted toward the food by instinct. But then she reminded herself she needed to lose weight. She couldn’t let herself gain more—Pei Jinyue was so slim, she had to show some restraint too.

So Ji Wanmian walked past all the sizzling, fragrant food stands and finally found an elderly woman closing up shop. She bought a roasted sweet potato.

As the elderly vendor handed it over, she asked kindly, “Eating so late?”

“Just got off work,” Ji Wanmian scratched her head, though she was working from home—it still felt like she had just escaped the depths of exhaustion.

“Make sure you rest early after eating,” the woman said warmly, handing her the sweet potato. “Work is important, but your health is too. Don’t push yourself too hard.”

Ji Wanmian felt her nose sting. She accepted the sweet potato and passed over the cash, murmuring, “Thank you.”

The old woman smiled, “Hurry home, it’s cold outside.”

Ji Wanmian nodded, turned around, and walked back.

The sweet potato was warm in her hands. One bite—sweet and soft—slid down her throat and warmed her from the inside out.

As she recalled the elderly woman’s kind words, a gentle warmth filled her heart. It made her feel like, maybe, someone in this city did care about her.

But the person in her heart…

Would never notice any of her emotions or changes. The dark circles under her eyes from countless sleepless nights, her worn-out body—it was all so obvious, yet Pei Jinyue managed to ignore it all.

Ji Wanmian could only repeat to herself: maybe Pei Jinyue had noticed, but just chose not to say anything.

That was the only way she could comfort herself.

Walking home with the roasted sweet potato in hand, Ji Wanmian faced the cold wind, her eyes filled with the city’s nighttime hustle and glow.

She had stayed in this city after graduation for Pei Jinyue’s sake.

But was it really worth it?

After weaving through the noisy crowds and returning to the quiet alley where she lived, Ji Wanmian walked alone, her loneliness magnified by the bitter wind. It made everything feel even more desolate.

Meanwhile, the person in her heart was partying without a care.

Pei Jinyue held a wine glass, her cheeks slightly flushed, perfectly matching her burgundy hair.

In the booming bar, she drank one glass after another, swaying with the music, utterly carefree.

When women or men approached her to flirt, she mostly ignored them. But if an attractive woman caught her eye, she might curl her lips into a smirk, raise an eyebrow, and casually ask, “Wanna grab a drink together?”

If they had the nerve to stay, Pei Jinyue didn’t mind chatting. But that was as far as it went. She could hold her liquor well—few could outdrink her, and even fewer could take advantage of her.

If anyone crossed a line, either with words or actions, she would sneer and curse them out without a hint of politeness.

So no one managed to stay by her side for long.

Not that it mattered.

Because Miss Pei wasn’t in a great mood tonight anyway. She didn’t show it outwardly, but she had no interest in connecting with anyone.

The reason?

Her phone wouldn’t stop ringing from constant calls from home. She hung up one, only for another to come immediately after. It was endless.

Finally, she shut her phone off completely.

She was going to enjoy her night.

No one was allowed to disturb her.