After the Breakup, the Possessive Heiress Regretted It - Chapter 21

Chapter 21: I Really Like Snowy Days.

Ji Wanmian was stunned. She quickly waved her hands and said, “No way! Let me do it.”

Pei Jinyue set down her phone, found a hair tie, and casually tied up her long hair. Raising an eyebrow, she asked, “You don’t believe I can cook?”

“No, no,” Ji Wanmian shook her head vigorously and explained, “I just think doing all this…”

“Doesn’t suit my status?” Pei Jinyue repeated what Ji Wanmian had said earlier on the way home. She stepped into the kitchen and continued, “I’ve left the Pei family now—I’m just an ordinary person. Why can’t I do these things?”

Ji Wanmian didn’t want to argue, but she couldn’t help feeling bad. She muttered, “But washing vegetables and stuff… it’ll make your hands cold.”

“If you can do it, why can’t I?” Pei Jinyue rolled up her sleeves and got to work without hesitation.

Ji Wanmian beamed with joy, convinced that Pei Jinyue was doing this because she cared about her.

Fine, let the young lady try.

No matter how badly the food turned out, she’d still praise it as delicious.

But soon, Pei Jinyue’s actual skills left Ji Wanmian completely speechless—

Who said the young lady couldn’t cook?!

Ji Wanmian slowly went from being the head chef to a little assistant handing over ingredients. She stared in disbelief and couldn’t help but marvel, “How are you doing this? Have you cooked before?”

It didn’t make sense—what kind of heiress would cook for herself? Weren’t they all raised to never lift a finger?

Pei Jinyue replied while working, “No. I just learned from my phone a moment ago.”

Ji Wanmian’s eyes went wide with shock. “You learned how to cook and stir-fry just while I was making rice?!”

Pei Jinyue nodded.

Ji Wanmian really wanted to give her a thumbs-up. No wonder Pei’s mother was so furious when her daughter ran away with her. Their family genes really were something else. With Pei Jinyue’s talent, even if she had to go out and find a job, she’d definitely be competitive.

But Ji Wanmian still didn’t understand why, even though they were both art students, Pei Jinyue didn’t seem to love painting at all.

Since graduating from college, she hadn’t heard her mention art—not even once. Even when Ji Wanmian was drawing comics, Pei Jinyue never came to take a look.

While Ji Wanmian was lost in thought, Pei Jinyue had already finished cooking the first dish.

The aroma pulled Ji Wanmian out of her daydream. She stared at the dish in front of her—it looked incredibly appetizing—and let out a long “Wah,” exclaiming, “This must be delicious—”

“Try it,” Pei Jinyue said, her hands still full.

Ji Wanmian immediately grabbed her chopsticks, eager to take a bite.

But before she could even taste the flavor, a burning sensation hit her tongue. She couldn’t spit it out, so she frantically fanned her mouth with her hand. “So hot, so hot, so hot—”

“What’s the rush?” Pei Jinyue said with mild exasperation. “It’s not going anywhere. Just eat slowly.”

“Okay…” Ji Wanmian chewed twice and swallowed quickly. “It’s so good!”

“You clearly didn’t even taste it,” Pei Jinyue said, unconvinced. She tried a bite herself, then nodded in approval. “It’s actually pretty decent.”

Ji Wanmian kept gushing, “More than decent—this is divine…”

Pei Jinyue interrupted her, “Enough with the flattery. Beat two eggs.”

“Okay.” Ji Wanmian wisely backed off and obediently began beating the eggs.

The oil in the pan sizzled and popped, the bowl and chopsticks clinked as she stirred the eggs, water flowed as vegetables were rinsed—it felt like a lively party was happening in the kitchen, bustling and full of joy.

They divided the tasks and focused more on the work. Before long, they had finished cooking all the dishes.

“All done!” Ji Wanmian clapped her hands and looked proudly at the table full of food. This was their joint achievement.

Pei Jinyue ladled the soup and said, “Let’s eat before it gets cold.”

Ji Wanmian nodded, “Perfect timing—the rice is ready too.”

Three dishes, one soup, and steaming hot white rice—it was a heartwarming sight.

Even though Ji Wanmian’s work was still unfinished and the deadline was looming, she wanted to savor this moment first.

After all, this was the kind of scene she only dreamed about.

“How about we eat in the living room? Watch something while we eat,” Ji Wanmian suggested.

Good food deserved a good movie to go with it!

“I’ve never done that at home,” Pei Jinyue admitted.

“Oh,” Ji Wanmian paused, waving a hand to show she understood. “Then we can—”

But Pei Jinyue changed course and said, “But I can give it a try.”

“Yay!” Ji Wanmian grinned from ear to ear and cheerfully carried the dishes to the living room. “This is awesome—I get to have lunch with Pei Jinyue!”

Pei Jinyue wiped her hands dry and followed with the rice. “But it’s almost evening now.”

“Then it’s lunch-dinner,” Ji Wanmian said, taking the bowl from her and placing it on the table. Worried that eating on the sofa might be uncomfortable, she found a stool of the right height and placed it behind her. “No need to worry about the details—just eat before it gets cold.”

Pei Jinyue sat down and watched as Ji Wanmian moved nearly all the dishes in front of her. Sometimes, she had to admit—Ji Wanmian was really good to her.

Better than Pei Yan, better than Pei Sicheng, better than any friend she’d ever had.

But she knew clearly: all of this kindness was because Ji Wanmian loved her.

And because of that, she felt like none of it truly belonged to her. She didn’t love Ji Wanmian. So no matter how good Ji Wanmian was to her, she would have to let it go.

Watching Ji Wanmian smiling brightly as she turned on the TV with the remote, Pei Jinyue could see the hidden sadness behind that smile.

She figured that on New Year’s Eve, when she didn’t show up as promised, Ji Wanmian would be terribly disappointed.

After all, they had known each other for some time, and she had stayed here for days. She couldn’t think of any better way to repay her than with money.

And that fake ring used for appearances might fetch a bit, too.

That was the best ending she could think of for Ji Wanmian.

“Pei Jinyue, look! It’s winter in the movie too,” Ji Wanmian said, watching the snowy scene onscreen. She couldn’t hide her longing. “The snow is so beautiful.”

Pei Jinyue looked at Ji Wanmian and paused with her chopsticks midair. “Do you want to see snow?”

Ji Wanmian blinked, that simple question echoing in her mind. “Do you want to see snow?” So direct, it hit her straight in the heart.

It was clearly a question, but it sounded almost like a promise.

But afraid she was just being delusional, she didn’t share her thoughts and instead asked in return, “Do you want to see it?”

“Yes,” Pei Jinyue answered without hesitation. “I really like snowy days.”

“But it hardly ever snows in the South,” Ji Wanmian said. “And aren’t you afraid of the cold?”

She remembered how Pei Jinyue had come home from outside with red cheeks and ears, chilled to the bone, and had to add another layer before leaving again.

Pei Jinyue met her questioning gaze. She couldn’t tell her the real reason she loved snowy days, so she said instead, “I saw a snowfall once—it was really beautiful. Just like in the movies.”

Ji Wanmian accepted her explanation and didn’t ask further. She turned her focus back to the movie and continued eating while watching.

Pei Jinyue tried to watch too, but out of the corner of her eye, she kept seeing Ji Wanmian’s face and remembered what she had said earlier.

She was afraid of the cold. She didn’t like winter.

But she longed desperately to return to that snowy winter thirteen years ago—
to catch up with Nian Nian.