After the Breakup, the Possessive Heiress Regretted It - Chapter 4
Chapter 4: Hm? You like me?
“Pei, wait up!” Ji Wanmian ran ahead, using all her strength to try to catch up with Pei Jinyue.
Pei Jinyue stopped and stood two steps above, turned back slightly, lowered her eyes, and looked at the girl behind her. She asked calmly, “Ji Wanmian, why are you following me?”
“I…” Ji Wanmian was out of breath from running. She stood at the base of the stairs, bent over with her hands on her knees, panting so hard she couldn’t speak for a while.
Pei Jinyue waited two seconds. When she didn’t get a reply, she simply said, “Then I’m leaving,” and turned to continue walking up.
Somehow, Ji Wanmian suddenly reached out and grabbed Pei Jinyue’s arm and blurted out, “I came to tell you—I like you!”
Her heart was about to leap out of her chest.
She anxiously awaited Pei Jinyue’s response, but her vision blurred more and more. Though Pei Jinyue stood so close, she somehow felt far away—so far that her face was hard to make out.
“Pei Jinyue—”
Ji Wanmian spun in place in a panic and called out her name loudly.
That shout startled her awake.
She sat upright in bed, still shaken, her mind replaying the dream again and again.
It was like she had been trapped in that moment for a very long time.
After calming down a bit, Ji Wanmian pulled herself out of the dream and began searching frantically for her phone, which she had dropped by the bed.
She was nervous—afraid that she’d missed a call from Pei Jinyue while sleeping so deeply.
Finally, she found her phone, swallowed hard, and unlocked it with trembling fingers.
There were birthday wishes from her mom, dad, friends, and classmates.
But none from Pei Jinyue.
Ji Wanmian wasn’t sure whether to be disappointed or relieved. After replying to each message with thanks, she stared at the screen, realizing that deep down, she still felt disappointed.
A cold breeze slipped through the edge of the window again.
Ji Wanmian put her phone down and wrapped herself in her blanket, curling up into a small ball for warmth.
She looked out the window. It was misty.
It felt like she was back in that day in her dream.
The day she could never forget.
Because it was the moment she confessed her love to Pei Jinyue.
Her rational mind could no longer control her feelings.
The moment she saw the dazzling Pei Jinyue during her lowest point, a seed was planted in her heart. Every sleepless night and every image that played in her mind was just that seed growing.
After that, Ji Wanmian became Pei Jinyue’s little follower. She felt shy about having feelings that didn’t seem “normal,” but she couldn’t stop wanting to see her.
Her dormmates used to tease her when they found out, saying, “She helped you once and now it feels like you’re ready to devote your life in return.”
At first, Ji Wanmian thought it was just gratitude. But as she got closer to Pei Jinyue, she slowly realized—
No, that wasn’t it.
Pure gratitude wouldn’t make your heart race, your face flush, and your words stumble every time you see someone.
The biggest giveaway? Ji Wanmian couldn’t meet Pei Jinyue’s eyes. Every time they made eye contact, she felt like all the jumbled thoughts in her mind were laid bare.
Every chance encounter that made her heartbeat skip told her—
Her feelings for Pei Jinyue weren’t just those of an ordinary classmate or friend.
Could this feeling really be love?
Ji Wanmian had never truly experienced a crush or being in love. As a kid, she’d seen older teens date. As she got older, she read romance magazines and watched friends find their other halves.
But she had never been interested.
She always thought dating was a waste of time. Plus, she’d read too many heartbreaking stories and thought that love often just led to pain and scars.
And yet here she was—just like the heroine of those novels—willing to spend time for Pei Jinyue, and feeling miserable when she couldn’t see her.
She clearly recognized—every emotional high and low was because of Pei Jinyue. Whether her eyes were open or closed, all she could see was Pei Jinyue. Even seeing a name similar to hers online would make her pause.
She was sure of it now—she was in love with Pei Jinyue.
The strange emotions, the uncontrollable longing—they were all born from her deep affection.
So, on that day, slow-paced Ji Wanmian grabbed Pei Jinyue’s arm.
Even through a sleeve, she was dying of embarrassment.
She still remembered Pei Jinyue’s calm reaction—just a slight raise of her brow as she softly asked, “Hm? You like me?”
Few students were passing by at that moment. Ji Wanmian stood below the steps, looking up at Pei Jinyue.
She forgot how to breathe. All she could think was: Why did I say that out loud? What now? She opened her mouth but couldn’t get a single word out.
“Jinyue—” another classmate waved at Pei Jinyue from the side, calling her over.
Ji Wanmian panicked even more, her expression tense, but she still couldn’t speak.
“Ji Wanmian,” Pei Jinyue looked at the hand still holding her arm and called her name.
Ji Wanmian immediately got the message and let go quickly, putting her hands behind her back. Her face was burning—she didn’t need a mirror to know she was blushing hard. She couldn’t bring herself to look at Pei Jinyue.
“Whatever you want to say, save it for another time,” Pei Jinyue didn’t press further and walked toward the classmate who had called her.
Ji Wanmian kept her head down and replied with a quiet “Okay.” Her heart rate gradually returned to normal. Though she knew she had missed the moment, she couldn’t stop the wave of disappointment.
Was her courage-fueled confession really going to end like that?
How would she face Pei Jinyue after this?
Did this mean she had to stop liking her?
Her nose tingled.
That feeling of being wronged was enough to make anyone tear up.
“Ji Wanmian.”
Pei Jinyue’s voice called her name again from not far away.
Ji Wanmian looked up, confused, and saw that she hadn’t misheard.
Pei Jinyue was looking right at her. “It’s getting cold these days. Wear more layers.”
Ji Wanmian blinked, then smiled softly, brushing aside all her feelings of grievance and said, “You too.”
Pei Jinyue nodded and walked off.
Out of sight.
From that day on, Ji Wanmian kept loving Pei Jinyue—months turned into years.
She often admired Pei Jinyue’s ability to sense her feelings. Just when Ji Wanmian wanted to give up, Pei Jinyue would offer the tiniest bit of warmth and hope, enough to keep her going.
That was how it had always been. It hadn’t changed.
Pei Jinyue was still the same.
Ji Wanmian’s stomach growled, interrupting her thoughts. She shivered as she threw off the blanket, put on slippers, and added another thick layer over her pajamas.
It was nearly 6 p.m.
She was shocked—she had nearly slept the whole day.
She washed her face to wake up, then sat on the couch, lost in thought. What should she eat for dinner?
This meal would be her only one today.
It should at least be something good.
She looked up recipes online, feeling determined, rolled up her sleeves, and headed to the kitchen to make herself a nice meal.
She opened the fridge.
It was empty.
Ji Wanmian closed the fridge door in silence. She’d been so groggy, she forgot she hadn’t bought any groceries.
Like a stranger in her own kitchen, she looked around, hoping to find something edible.
All she found were seasonings.
Not even rice.
She hesitated, wondering if she should go downstairs and buy something. But the second she stepped onto the balcony and felt the cold air, she gave up on going out.
Fine—delivery it is.
Within ten minutes of her firm resolve, Ji Wanmian completely abandoned her plan to cook.
As soon as she opened the food delivery app, she was greeted by pictures of beautiful cakes—each more tempting than the last. She swallowed her saliva, already imagining the taste.
The sweet-and-sour fruit, the melt-in-your-mouth cream, the soft, fluffy cake layers—one bite would never be enough.
Before placing an order, Ji Wanmian paused. She realized she probably couldn’t finish a whole cake by herself—it would just go to waste.
She sighed.
Who else could she spend this birthday with?
Maybe it was because her mind had been so full of memories earlier that she only now realized how lonely it was to spend her birthday alone again.
Back when she lived with her parents, she didn’t have to say a word—her birthday was always a lively family gathering.
In college, her roommates would secretly plan surprises and they’d eat cake together.
But after graduation, Ji Wanmian had moved to a new city just to stay close to Pei Jinyue. It had already been two years since she had a properly celebrated birthday.
She opened her calendar and looked at the note she’d written long ago.
Back then, still in college, she had celebrated Pei Jinyue’s 21st birthday. Seeing all the gifts, she was worried Pei couldn’t carry them, so she offered to help.
Pei Jinyue thanked her and said, “I’ll celebrate your birthday with you sometime.”
Overjoyed, Ji Wanmian had asked, “Next year?”
Pei Jinyue had thought for a moment and replied, “The year after. I might not see you next year.”
“Okay!” Ji Wanmian nodded, holding back her smile.
From that moment, she had looked forward to the birthday Pei Jinyue would spend with her.
She was half a year older than Pei Jinyue, so she would be 24 by then.
How wonderful—to still see Pei Jinyue at 24.
Ji Wanmian had wondered why not this year’s birthday.
But she wanted to believe Pei Jinyue had her reasons.
Maybe she just wanted to make sure they stayed in touch after graduation.
That thought cheered Ji Wanmian up.
Yes, that must be why Pei Jinyue made a promise for her 24th birthday.
She ordered a cake, thinking—what if Pei Jinyue showed up at her door the next second?
She got more nervous the more she thought about it, even changing into nicer clothes.
The cake sat on the table for a long time.
She stared at the clock.
Eventually, she told herself—a phone call from Pei Jinyue will be enough.
But nothing came.
Just like her fridge—completely empty.
Right before midnight, Ji Wanmian lit a candle and made a wish—
“I hope Pei Jinyue can celebrate my birthday with me next year.”
She blew out the candle.
No one sang to her, no one clapped, no one shared the cake.
Just her. Alone.
Meanwhile, the person she wished for—Pei Jinyue—was happily out partying.
Clinking glasses, loud music, a bright smile on her face.
Pei Jinyue didn’t go see Ji Wanmian today.
In fact, she had completely forgotten it was Ji Wanmian’s birthday.
She had long forgotten that offhanded promise she once made.