After the Breakup, the Possessive Heiress Regretted It - Chapter 20

Chapter 20: But While The Umbrella Remained, The Hearts Beneath it Had Already Drifted Apart.

Ji Wanmian was stunned. She had blurted out the invitation on impulse and hadn’t expected Pei Jinyue to agree so readily. She had already rehearsed what she’d say in case she was rejected—now that her offer was accepted, she was caught off guard and unsure how to continue the conversation.

“Then…” she lowered her head, now tangled up in figuring out when they should go back. Going during the New Year holiday seemed too formal—almost like she was bringing her partner home to meet the parents. But she hadn’t thought of another suitable time.

Pei Jinyue stood quietly beside her, fiddling with her phone. She didn’t rush her, which gave Ji Wanmian plenty of space to think.

Although Ji Wanmian’s job allowed for a bit more flexibility, her parents would still be working if they went back on any ordinary day.

Suddenly, she recalled what Lu Yu had said before leaving—about upcoming holidays. The only one close was New Year’s Day.

That settled it. New Year’s was perfect—it marked a new beginning.

If she could spend New Year’s Eve with Pei Jinyue, it would mean they had walked through the past year together and would enter the next one hand in hand.

Ji Wanmian turned to Pei Jinyue and said, “Then let’s go back for New Year’s.”

Pei Jinyue, in the middle of replying to a message, nodded and answered with a simple, “Okay.”

That one word of affirmation filled Ji Wanmian’s heart with joy. Just imagining returning to her hometown with Pei Jinyue—and spending New Year’s together—made her think: This is just too wonderful.

She rubbed her flushed cheeks with her cold hands to cool herself down.

After Pei Jinyue finished her message, she put away her phone and walked alongside her.

Their footsteps matched, and now even their expectations were aligned.

Pei Jinyue, too, was looking forward to New Year’s Day.

But not because of Ji Wanmian.

Just moments earlier, Qi Wanwan had sent her a message confirming that Nian Nian had been found—so she had immediately booked her flight.

December 31st, to Su City.

“The rain’s stopped,” Ji Wanmian noticed that fewer people were holding umbrellas, so she reached her hand out. “Looks like it’s really over. I’ll close the umbrella.”

“Alright,” Pei Jinyue responded.

The umbrella folded closed.

But the hearts beneath it had already drifted apart.

…

They were close to the neighborhood entrance when Ji Wanmian suggested Pei Jinyue head home first while she popped into the market to buy some groceries.

She was in a good mood today and wanted to show off her cooking skills for Miss Pei.

“I’ll come too,” Pei Jinyue offered. She was free anyway, and thought it would be nice to experience more of ordinary life.

“Wouldn’t that be… kind of beneath your… status?” Ji Wanmian asked hesitantly, delicately voicing her concern.

“What status?” Pei Jinyue had never cared for that kind of thing and never saw herself as above others. “I’m just a person, too.”

“Alright!” Ji Wanmian was thrilled to walk with her and quickly agreed with a smile. “Let’s go together, then.”

Inside the supermarket, Ji Wanmian pushed the cart while Pei Jinyue followed behind, carefully selecting vegetables and fruit.

It wasn’t crowded at this hour, and they weren’t in a rush, so they took their time.

Watching Pei Jinyue, who always looked so ethereal and aloof, picking through produce like an ordinary person made Ji Wanmian smile uncontrollably. It felt like a goddess descending to Earth, slowly becoming part of the human world and taking on the scent of everyday life.

Pei Jinyue held up two weighed potatoes and asked, “What are you laughing at?”

Ji Wanmian hesitated, not even sure herself why she felt so happy. Glancing at the potatoes, she rambled, “Just… these potatoes are really good-looking.”

Pei Jinyue didn’t get it. “What’s the point of looking good if they’re going to be eaten anyway?”

Ji Wanmian doubled over with laughter, leaning on the cart. So even Miss Pei can be unintentionally funny.

“Let’s keep going,” Pei Jinyue said, and they moved on to finish their shopping.

Before they knew it, the cart was nearly full. Just as they were about to check out, Ji Wanmian noticed the fish section nearby. It had been a while since she’d eaten fish, so she casually suggested, “How about we get some fish? A little nián nián yǒu yú…”

She trailed off mid-sentence.

Her smile froze.

The name she thought she had long forgotten suddenly resurfaced in her heart, stabbing sharply.

These past few days had been so beautiful that remembering the reality again made it hurt all the more.

Ji Wanmian pressed her lips together, not finishing her thought, and didn’t dare look at Pei Jinyue.

Pei Jinyue didn’t respond either. She simply walked toward the checkout area and said, “Let’s go home.”

“…Okay.” Ji Wanmian kept her head down and followed.

Nián Nián.

The name still echoed in Ji Wanmian’s mind.

She was already with Pei Jinyue now. She needed to trust her lover. She should forget that name—forget the past.

But how could she forget those late-night moments of grief and humiliation?

Ji Wanmian looked up at Pei Jinyue’s back.

The young miss walked gracefully, neither hurried nor slow.

From this view, it almost seemed like Ji Wanmian was the one still clinging to the past.

Forget it.

Let the past stay in the past.

There were only sixteen days left until New Year’s Eve.

They were about to welcome a new year together. Maybe, just maybe, all the old memories would fade away with the turning of the calendar.

…

Carrying heavy bags full of vegetables, fruits, and more snacks than she could count, Ji Wanmian rushed into the living room, dropped everything, and shook her sore arms.

“These are so heavy! Why didn’t you let me carry more?” Pei Jinyue set down her umbrella and the ring box, closing the door behind her.

“You carried plenty—especially the most precious stuff,” Ji Wanmian joked, still warm from the walk, fanning herself constantly.

“You’re that hot?” Pei Jinyue asked, noticing the flush on her face.

“It’s fine.” Ji Wanmian sprang back up from the couch after barely two minutes of rest, tied on an apron, and headed to the kitchen. “Watch as Chef Ji shows off her cooking skills!”

“Don’t you want to rest a little more? You’re sweating,” Pei Jinyue pointed out.

Ji Wanmian touched her forehead—yep, she really was sweating. She hadn’t expected to break a sweat in this cold weather, though late-night sweating was a different matter entirely.

She turned around, intending to grab tissues from the living room.

But before she could take a step, Pei Jinyue walked over with tissues in hand.

Ji Wanmian swallowed. Wait—is she going to wipe my sweat for me?

If I’d known, I would’ve worn perfume…

But she was overthinking.

Pei Jinyue simply handed her the tissues.

A little disappointed, Ji Wanmian took them and wiped her own forehead.

Just as she was about to toss the tissue in the trash, Pei Jinyue asked from behind, “Did you want me to wipe it for you?”

Ji Wanmian froze mid-throw, missing the trash can entirely. She had to bend over to pick it up again.

She turned around, stunned. “You… you can even read my little thoughts now?”

Honestly, Pei Jinyue found it a bit unbelievable herself. She had always been emotionally slow, yet somehow she’d picked up on Ji Wanmian’s unspoken feelings.

Clearly, spending time together these past few days had helped her emotional sensitivity. The trip hadn’t been for nothing.

Even though Pei Jinyue didn’t actually do anything, Ji Wanmian already felt deeply fulfilled and even more motivated.

She shrugged off her thick winter coat, rolled up her sleeves, and headed toward the kitchen. “Time to cook! I’m making you an amazing dinner.”

Pei Jinyue followed, stopping at the kitchen doorway, quietly watching her.

Ji Wanmian was full of enthusiasm—but unfortunately, that’s all she had.

She wandered around the kitchen for a while, eventually managing to get some rice cooking. Then she stood in front of all the vegetables, scratching her head, trying to remember what to do next.

Turns out that after working full-time for so long, she’d nearly forgotten how to live.

The other day she forgot to put on makeup—now she’d forgotten how to stir-fry vegetables.

At last, Pei Jinyue spoke up. “Let me do it.”