After the Breakup, the Possessive Heiress Regretted It - Chapter 31

 Chapter 31: I Just Want to Say, I Really Love You.

But soon, Ji Wanmian shifted her gaze. She didn’t find it romantic at all, only annoying.

She bent down and immediately blew out the candles, afraid that if she was a second late, her wish wouldn’t come true.

The cake was huge, enough for everyone present to have a slice and still have some left over.

After handing out portions one by one, Ji Wanmian noticed that Pei Jinyue was also standing obediently in place, probably waiting for her to bring her cake.

She glanced at the remaining cake on the table. Although there was still a lot, she didn’t want Pei Jinyue to taste even a single piece of fruit.

But she didn’t know how, under everyone’s gaze, she could avoid giving cake to this Miss Pei, who had specially come to sing for her.

She lowered her head and bit her lower lip, growing angrier the more she thought about it.

Regardless of Pei Jinyue’s purpose for suddenly showing up, in just an hour or two, this person had completely ruined her birthday happiness, her enjoyment of the gathering, and her ordinary, beautiful life.

Thinking of this, her disgust, hatred, and disdain for Pei Jinyue intensified. She had thought the sadness and pain of three years ago had almost been forgotten by time, but why did those unbearable memories suddenly flood her mind again the moment Pei Jinyue appeared, adding an inexplicable discomfort to her otherwise happy life?

Pei Jinyue was always so selfish, always so fond of controlling others’ hearts.

It was like this three years ago, and meeting again now, nothing had changed.

Ji Wanmian was so angry she almost bit through her lip.

Suddenly, Wen Su handed a plate to Ji Wanmian and, somewhat shyly, opened her mouth: “Xiaomian, this cake is quite tasty. After you’ve taken your share, if there’s any left, could I have it all?”

Ji Wanmian snapped back to reality, looking at Wen Su in surprise. When did the usually small-appetite Wen Su become so fond of cake? She was about to ask, but then she thought, perhaps Wen Su had seen through her thoughts and was helping her out of a predicament.

This Little Wen Su was too kind!

She quickly nodded in agreement: “Okay, okay, there’s plenty left, Xiaowen can have it all.”

Pei Jinyue cleared her throat, likely trying to make her presence known.

Ji Lan heard the sound and walked over, asking with concern, “Little Pei, do you have a cold? Then go sit over there for a bit.”

Pei Jinyue: “…”

Ji Wanmian’s shoulders trembled from suppressing her laughter. Her hand, cutting the cake for Wen Su, also felt a little unsteady.

It was Wen Su who stood up, walked next to Ji Wanmian, took the tools from her hand, and concentrated on cutting the cake.

With a chair conveniently blocking the way, Ji Wanmian couldn’t step back, so she could only stand beside Wen Su.

The two of them were very close.

Ji Wanmian smiled and said to Wen Su, “Thank you for the trouble,” and Wen Su shook her head, replying, “It’s no trouble at all. You’ve been cutting for so long, you must be tired.”

This scene looked like two people who had lived together for years, showing mutual consideration and perfect understanding.

At least, that’s how it seemed to Pei Jinyue.

By the time Ji Wanmian finished distributing the cake, she looked up again and found that Pei Jinyue was indeed gone.

Perhaps her wish had come true.

She really didn’t want to see Pei Jinyue again.

If the person truly came back for the ring, she would turn her house upside down to find it. If that didn’t work…

Ji Wanmian gritted her teeth; she could even pay her back.

As long as her wish today could come true, even if she had to endure a little hardship, she could bear it.

“Don’t worry,” Wen Su handed Ji Wanmian her portion, placed the fork, and even prepared a napkin. Everything was ready. “Even if she’s really here to ask for money, I can help you solve it.”

Ji Wanmian blinked, took the plate, and asked curiously, “Little Wen Su, how do you plan to solve it?”

As soon as she asked, many scenarios flashed through her mind, such as Wen Su hiring a lawyer or lending her some money to make Pei Jinyue leave.

But the slender Wen Su beside her replied, “Beat her up.”

Ji Wanmian was surprised for two seconds, even forgetting to eat her cake. Then she laughed, bending at the waist, freeing one hand to pat Wen Su’s shoulder, and said, “How can we let our quiet Little Wen Su do such a thing?”

But Wen Su didn’t laugh along.

Ji Wanmian’s smile slowly faded. She straightened up slightly, leaned closer to Wen Su, and asked cautiously, “Are you serious?”

Wen Su didn’t speak, but just lowered her eyes and gently nodded.

Ji Wanmian asked in confusion, “What’s wrong? Did someone make you unhappy?”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t want to show any unhappiness on your birthday. I just want you to be happy every day, and even happier on your birthday,” Wen Su put down what she was holding, turned her head, and looked at Ji Wanmian, her eyes full of regret. “I can see that you really dislike this friend surnamed Pei, and you weren’t very happy at this gathering. If I had known earlier, I wouldn’t have agreed when Auntie discussed it with me. I wouldn’t have let that person in, and I wouldn’t have let her disturb this gathering.”

Seeing Wen Su like this, Ji Wanmian quickly put down her cake, waved her hand, and said, “It’s okay, I have a good mindset, I’ll be fine in a moment, really it’s nothing.”

Wen Su grabbed Ji Wanmian’s hand and blurted out, “But I just don’t want to see you sad or worried at all.”

Ji Wanmian was startled by Wen Su’s sudden closeness. For a long while, she didn’t snap back to reality, nor did she properly consider what she had just heard. She just answered blankly, “People always have times when they’re unhappy. If I were always foolishly happy, it would make me seem not very smart.”

Originally, Wen Su somewhat regretted speaking her mind directly. But after hearing Ji Wanmian’s reply, she relaxed quite a bit. She silently released the hand she was holding and lowered her head, saying, “I still feel very guilty for making your birthday not as happy.”

Ji Wanmian picked up her cake again, and casually nudged Wen Su’s arm with her elbow, smiling as her eyes almost crinkled shut. She said, “Don’t ‘but’ me anymore. You said you’d take the rest earlier, so keep your word. No wasting!”

Wen Su didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. In the end, she silently took all the remaining cake and ate it with Ji Wanmian.

The dinner party ended around nine in the evening, and it had stopped raining outside. Ji Wanmian told Ji Lan and Old Wan to go home first, while she went to the convenience store next door to buy yogurt and take a stroll to aid digestion.

Ji Lan was initially a bit worried, but seeing Wen Su with her, and knowing that Ji Wanmian often walked this path, she felt relieved and went home first.

However, Wen Su received an urgent call from home, requiring her to go back in person.

As she left, Wen Su turned back every few steps, repeatedly cautioning, “It’s too cold, just walk for a bit and then go home. Call me if you encounter any danger.” She even went so far as to offer Ji Wanmian her coat to wear.

Ji Wanmian teased, “I’m not a child anymore, I’ll be twenty-seven after today. And I’m already wrapped up like a zongzi; you should keep your coat for yourself. Don’t catch a cold, or Auntie Wen will be worried about you.”

Probably feeling that the area around the community should be safe enough, Wen Su didn’t say anything more and simply bid a hasty farewell.

In truth, calling it a stroll to aid digestion was more like letting the evening breeze blow away the bad mood that had surfaced because of Pei Jinyue.

In the dimly lit night, pedestrians hurried past.

Ji Wanmian kept her hands in her pockets, leisurely walking along the street. Listening to the bustling sounds of people, her mind involuntarily recalled her birthday three years ago, when she was alone in an empty rented room, anxiously and nervously awaiting Pei Jinyue’s call, waiting for Pei Jinyue to “fall from the sky.”

But now, she had family and friends, all the people who loved her were by her side. She no longer craved Pei Jinyue’s pitying love like a desert yearns for dew.

Ji Wanmian finished a whole bottle of yogurt. As she looked for a trash can, she saw a familiar figure flash by. She froze in place, bewildered, and rubbed her eyes. Only after the figure disappeared again did she fully relax.

Perhaps she was startled by Pei Jinyue’s sudden appearance today; now even a bakery employee in uniform seemed like that unattainable Miss Pei.

Ji Wanmian was a bit tired from walking and was about to go straight home, but when she looked up, she realized she had already walked to the entrance of a bakery. So, she might as well buy some bread to take home for breakfast.

She had always heard that this shop had high sales and good flavors.

No wonder there were so many people even late at night. Ji Wanmian browsed the store, put everything that looked good onto her tray, and lined up to pay.

When it was her turn, she received a few messages on her phone. She simply placed her tray in front of the cashier and buried her head in replying to the messages.

“Twenty-seven yuan in total.”

“Okay.” Ji Wanmian instinctively replied, but after she finished her messages and thought about it properly, she realized that the amount was clearly wrong. No matter how she calculated based on the listed prices, she couldn’t get such a discounted price.

She didn’t want to take advantage of anyone, so she looked up and wanted to clarify: “This price…”

“It’s your birthday.”

The employee at the bakery counter, bagging items for customers, wore a mask, revealing only a pair of beautiful, smiling eyes.

Ji Wanmian froze, saying nothing.

The employee continued, “Today is your birthday, so there’s a discount.”

Ji Wanmian looked around, saw that she and the person in front of her were the only ones in the store, then put away her phone and stared directly into the employee’s eyes, asking, “How do you know it’s my birthday? I’m not even here to buy a birthday cake.”

The employee said solemnly, “I can tell you look very good today, refreshed, radiant, like someone celebrating a birthday.”

Ji Wanmian was speechless. She opened her mouth but couldn’t say anything, finally just smiling wryly.

The employee wasn’t embarrassed by the awkward silence and continued to insist, “Do you need anything else? Whatever you buy today, it’s all just twenty-seven.”

Ji Wanmian remembered the prices of the bread and asked, “Won’t your boss scold you if they find out?”

“No,” the employee shook her head, “I don’t think my boss dares to scold me.”

She wasn’t even pretending to be a little bit believable.

Ji Wanmian clicked her tongue twice, openly showing a look of disdain.

The employee still crinkled her brows, smiling as she looked at her.

“Then if I want to buy this shop? Is it also twenty-seven yuan?” Ji Wanmian wasn’t very ambitious, she just wanted to do more with less money.

The employee wasn’t scared by her. Instead, she leaned out, looked outside the shop, and pointed her fingertip across the shops on the street, saying nonchalantly, “Never mind this shop. If you fancy any shop across the street, it’s also just twenty-seven yuan. If you think twenty-seven is a bit much, I can even give it to you for free.”

“What if I don’t like anything?” Ji Wanmian wasn’t amused by the person in front of her, but said coldly, “Anything related to you, I don’t like.”

The employee’s tone remained light and cheerful, and she replied with a smile, “I can serve you until you’re satisfied.”

Ji Wanmian scoffed twice, having no intention of continuing this childish game with Miss Pei. She directly exposed her, “Pei Jinyue, do you find this very interesting?”

Pei Jinyue chuckled, “I think it’s alright.”

“But I don’t find it interesting.” Ji Wanmian was so angry she wanted to leave immediately, but also wanted to clarify things. So she had to “endure the humiliation” and stay put, asking the person in front of her, “Are you stalking me?”

Pei Jinyue let out an “Ah” and said, “If I remember correctly, you walked into this store on your own.”

Ji Wanmian choked, infuriated, and then said, “Then how did you know to come to my birthday? And even book the whole place, and make my mom believe you?”

Pei Jinyue explained, “This was just a coincidence. It’s because the classmate who was attending your birthday chatted about it in this store, that’s how I found out you were celebrating your birthday outside this time.”

Ji Wanmian asked with annoyance, “And then? And then you had them take you to my mom, so you could suddenly appear at my birthday dinner?”

“That is indeed my fault, but I didn’t expect it to be so successful,” Pei Jinyue spread her hands. “As soon as I met Mom, I introduced myself, and after she remembered me, she told me that Xiaomian used to mention me every day, talk about me every time she came home or called, always praising me for being beautiful and kind…”

“Stop!” Ji Wanmian slapped the table in anger. She only felt that her past words had turned into thorns piercing her heart, each sentence feeling like torture. She had thought her mom had long forgotten about the “Classmate Pei” she used to mention. If she had known her mom remembered so clearly, she should have said more bad things about Pei Jinyue.

Pei Jinyue added, “But don’t blame Mom. At first, she also thought it wasn’t good to keep this from you, but you believe in my ability. I am Pei Jinyue, how can there be anything I can’t do?”

“You’re shameless,” Ji Wanmian didn’t want to use harsh words, but Pei Jinyue was almost inhuman.

Wait…

Just as Ji Wanmian grew angrier thinking about Pei Jinyue’s words, a thought suddenly flashed through her mind, startling her.

“No, what did you just call her? You called her ‘Mom’ directly?” Ji Wanmian’s eyes widened in surprise, staring incredulously at the shameless Pei Jinyue.

Pei Jinyue didn’t hold back at all, saying self-righteously, “Yes, calling her ‘Auntie’ is too unfamiliar.”

Ji Wanmian was so angry she laughed, supporting her waist with one hand and saying, “Pei Jinyue, you have such thick skin.”

Pei Jinyue nodded and said, “Thank you.”

Ji Wanmian frowned and asked, “What are you thanking me for?”

Pei Jinyue said, “Isn’t your implicit meaning praising me for going to such lengths to get close to you?”

Ji Wanmian: “…”

Couldn’t stand it for a second!

Ji Wanmian turned and walked away, but just as she reached the door, she turned back and asked, “What exactly do you want to do?”

Pei Jinyue also walked to the door, took off her mask, and slowly opened her mouth.

Ji Wanmian’s heart was pounding in her throat.

Please don’t say the answer she feared the most.

Although a lot of money was out of the question, and her life wouldn’t be given, please don’t mention anything about feelings—

Pei Jinyue smiled faintly and said leisurely, “I want you to fall in love with me again.”

Ji Wanmian let out a slight sigh of relief. Thankfully, it was just this Miss’s desire for control over her “plaything.” Based on her previous experience of being kicked away, she believed it would fade soon. It was better than Pei Jinyue actually developing genuine feelings.

She waved her hand and said, “What’s the big deal?”

Seeing Pei Jinyue’s confused expression, Ji Wanmian added, “Isn’t it just that you want to see me throw myself at you again like before? Maybe that gives you a sense of accomplishment. Well, listen up—”

She cleared her throat, placed her hand at the corner of her eye, feigning deep affection: “I’ve already fallen in love with you. Alright, now get out… no, you can leave. Don’t bother me anymore.”

With that, Ji Wanmian left without hesitation, not looking back once.

But Pei Jinyue’s voice still reached her ears from behind.

“Ji Wanmian, I love you, and I won’t let you leave my side again.”

It didn’t sound like a joke; it was so serious it was frightening.

Ji Wanmian’s heart raced. She had intended to pretend she didn’t hear, hide at home, and avoid the sight of her, but then she thought, why should she suffer such humiliation? It was enough to be a wimp three years ago; the Ji Wanmian of three years later didn’t want to be upset by Pei Jinyue again.

She walked back towards Pei Jinyue, only to find the person walking towards her.

“You forgot your bread,” Pei Jinyue held the bag out to Ji Wanmian. “Don’t worry, eat it, it’s fine.”

Ji Wanmian stepped back two paces, firmly refusing, “I don’t want it. I’ll never buy anything here again. I don’t even want to walk down this street again.”

“Do you really not want to see me that much?” Pei Jinyue lowered her gaze, asking in confusion.

Ji Wanmian said, “I hate you. Every word I say to you now feels uncomfortable.”

Pei Jinyue lowered her head, truly looking like a child who had made a mistake, and said, “I know I was wrong. These past three years, I’ve always regretted it. I was also worried that my appearance would affect your life, but when I actually heard news of you, I found that I just wanted to see you quickly. Even if the method made you unhappy, I had no ill intentions. I truly love you… Are you busy?”

“Mhm.” Ji Wanmian wasn’t fully listening to Pei Jinyue, but was looking down at her phone, replying to messages, and answering perfunctorily, “My friend is worried I might encounter something strange out here alone, so she’s asking if I want her to pick me up.”

Pei Jinyue asked with some disappointment, “Was it the girl who was sitting next to you just now?”

Recalling that person, she inevitably felt sad. Just now at the hot pot restaurant, she had thought Ji Wanmian would pity her and give her a piece of cake, but when she saw Ji Wanmian with that girl, for the first time in her life, she quietly picked up her guitar in such a pathetic state and fled in a hurry.

“Whether it is or isn’t, what does it have to do with you?” Ji Wanmian put down her phone and looked coldly at Pei Jinyue. “Is there anything else you want to say? If not, then never appear in front of me again.”

Pei Jinyue took a step forward, wanting Ji Wanmian to see her sincerity, “I just want to say, I really love you.”

But Ji Wanmian kept backing away, her face showing an expression Pei Jinyue had never seen before. She said faintly, “You need to understand, I don’t care if you’ve mistaken me for someone else’s substitute again, or if you couldn’t get the person in your heart, which is why you came back to me. Now, no matter what, I will never truly fall in love with you again.”

Pei Jinyue’s hand, holding the bread, trembled. She raised her hand, wanting to grab the hand of the person in front of her as she had done before.

But it fell empty.

She could only watch from afar, watching Ji Wanmian walk into the crowd, walking next to another girl.

Pei Jinyue just stood there, standing until the neighboring shop closed and turned off its lights, standing until the street became sparsely populated. Only when not a trace of Ji Wanmian could be seen did she snap back to reality and slowly walk back into the shop.

She looked at the guitar beside her and found it ridiculous.

It had rained on the way to the hot pot restaurant. She worried the guitar would get wet and wouldn’t play the sound Ji Wanmian liked, so she covered the guitar with her umbrella and walked through the rain herself.

Didn’t Ji Wanmian used to love listening to her sing?

Why didn’t she like it anymore?

Actually, Pei Jinyue knew perfectly well, without asking anyone.

Recalling the things she had done three years ago, Ji Wanmian still having the patience to talk to her was all because her Xiaomian was too kind.

She had intended to distract herself by playing on her phone, but seeing today’s date, she still felt a little dazed.

November was almost over; in the blink of an eye, it would be New Year’s Eve again.

The scene of that New Year’s Eve was vivid in her memory, as if it had happened yesterday, not a single detail forgotten.

Especially the unanswered phone call.

She thought she was just obsessed with saying one last word to Ji Wanmian.

—It was a word she herself didn’t even know what to say.

After that day, she did fly to Sucheng and met Su Nian.

So alike.

This was her first impression upon seeing Su Nian.

Although she wasn’t sure why she thought this way, the moment she truly saw Su Nian, she seemed unable to clearly see Su Nian’s features. In a trance, all she seemed to see was an old friend.

That was a girl without a mole under her right eye.

Su Nian was also very polite. Out of courtesy, she listened attentively to everything Pei Jinyue said.

Upon hearing that Pei Jinyue had specially come because of the past incident, Su Nian waved her hand, saying it was just a small favor and there was no need to keep it in mind.

Yes.

Indeed, there was no need to keep this matter in mind.

That thought also flashed through Pei Jinyue’s mind.

Gratitude or no gratitude.

It was all from childhood.

Did one have to be obsessed with something that happened in the past for a lifetime?

She placed all the gifts she had brought for Su Nian at her home. However, Su Nian merely smiled and declined them all, stating that she had someone she liked and feared they might misunderstand if they saw these gifts when they visited.

Hearing these words, Pei Jinyue’s heart felt no great turmoil, nor did she “fight” for love as she had written in her letter. In fact, as she left, she even told Su Nian, “I wish you and the person you like can be together.”

No one expected her to leave Sucheng so quickly, even she herself was surprised.

Perhaps it was because Su Nian, after receiving her words, blessed her with the same exact sentiment.

Being with the person you like…

Pei Jinyue thought about it for a long time on the way.

From a young age, she was not born to be as sensitive and melancholic as others, nor would she easily shed a single tear.

But she lowered her head and looked at the ring they had bought together for a sham.

Unexpectedly, this was her last and only thought.

After returning to the Pei family home, she packed her luggage, not intending to let anyone else look for Ji Wanmian; she would go herself.

But before she could step out the door, she heard Pei Yan tell her—

“Did you forget what you promised me in the car last time?”