After the Breakup, the Possessive Heiress Regretted It - Chapter 40

 Chapter 40: Xiaomian, Are You Worried About Me?

After taking the picture, Pei Jinyue suddenly said mysteriously that she would be back in a moment. Ji Wanmian put her hands on her hips and said she wouldn’t wait, but before she had walked two steps, Pei Jinyue caught up to her.

Ji Wanmian looked at Pei Jinyue’s hurried appearance and asked, “What did you go do?”

“I went to apologize to the boss. After all, something like this happened in her restaurant…” Pei Jinyue paused, not continuing.

Ji Wanmian didn’t press further. Instead, she said in surprise, “You actually thought about other people’s feelings.”

“So, Xiaomian, I’ve really changed a lot.” Pei Jinyue seized the opportunity and quickly explained, “I didn’t truly understand my own feelings before, which is why I hurt you.”

“Stop right there,” Ji Wanmian quickened her pace. “Don’t think that just because you helped me once, everything that happened before can be undone.”

Pei Jinyue followed behind her, lowering her head and saying, “I know I did many things to upset you and kept many things from you. But I don’t expect you to forgive me immediately. I just want you to slowly see my sincerity.”

“Sincerity again? Then why didn’t you reveal who you were in the mascot costume today? You still haven’t shown me any sincerity!” Ji Wanmian stopped, remembering what happened earlier in the day, and pressed.

“I’m sorry, that was my job, I couldn’t just take it off. And…” Pei Jinyue’s voice held a hint of grievance, “If I had told you, you wouldn’t have taken a picture with me.”

Ji Wanmian was speechless. Recalling that if she had known Pei Jinyue was inside the big doll, she probably wouldn’t have gone near her, let alone taken a photo. But she still didn’t want to talk to Pei Jinyue anymore and started walking forward again.

“Xiaomian, wait for me.” Pei Jinyue gently pulled her sleeve.

Ji Wanmian, annoyed, used her other hand to brush Pei Jinyue’s hand away.

“Hiss—”

Pei Jinyue obediently withdrew her hand, wincing as she rubbed her palm.

“What’s wrong?” Ji Wanmian blurted out, looking at Pei Jinyue’s hand, an involuntary worry surfacing in her heart. “You didn’t get hurt just now, did you? Does it hurt a lot?”

Pei Jinyue shook her head, replying, “I’m not hurt. It’s just that I slapped that person’s face too hard just now, so it aches a bit now.”

Ji Wanmian quickly said, “It’s all Zhang Ban’s fault for hurting your hand.”

Pei Jinyue was about to nod, but suddenly lifted her gaze, looking at Ji Wanmian in disbelief. She asked in a trembling voice, “Xiaomian, are you… worried about me?”

Ji Wanmian froze. To be honest, almost all of her recent words came out without thinking, just blurted out. Now, upon reflection, she was indeed concerned about Pei Jinyue.

She self-consciously coughed a few times, then turned her head and looked elsewhere, saying, “Of course not. I just wanted to know where you popped out from. How did you know I was at this class reunion?”

Pei Jinyue meaningfully said “Oh,” then returned to normal after being given a glare by Ji Wanmian. She obediently and seriously explained, “Actually, I wanted to find a part-time job at this store. I happened to hear your voice, and then I heard someone talking about you. I couldn’t stand it, so I just walked in. Don’t you think this is fate between us?”

Ji Wanmian was silent for a while, processing the long string of information, then said in shock, “You mean you’re going to work part-time at the store?”

Pei Jinyue nodded, replying, “I was also working part-time in the mascot costume today.”

Ji Wanmian was still very shocked and asked, “Are you still breaking ties with your family, or are you just experiencing life?”

Pei Jinyue shook her head, saying, “Neither, I suppose. My relationship with my mom has improved a bit, so it’s not a complete break. And as for experiencing life, that’s even more impossible; why would I suffer for no reason?”

Ji Wanmian was puzzled: “Then what are you doing?”

“I want to earn money, and use my own ability to make you trust me,” Pei Jinyue said firmly. “Now I have the ability to be independent, and I don’t need to ask anyone else when making decisions.”

Ji Wanmian muttered, “Trust you to do what?” then asked, “If you want to prove yourself, why don’t you go to Mrs. Pei’s company? Why come here to suffer?”

Pei Jinyue frankly said, “If I did that, I wouldn’t be able to see you every day.”

Such an unexpected declaration of love. Ji Wanmian shook her head and said, “Don’t think about it. It’s all your wishful thinking. There’s no way I’d see you every day. Besides, I don’t even want to see you.”

Pei Jinyue lowered her gaze, saying softly, “Fifth rejection.”

Ji Wanmian didn’t hear clearly. She just kept walking with her head down. The evening wind was biting cold. Now that her anger had subsided, she felt cold all over. It wasn’t too far or too close to home, and taking a taxi wasn’t worth it, so she had to brave the cold wind, rubbing her hands together to keep warm.

Suddenly, she felt warmth around her neck. She looked up and saw that Pei Jinyue had draped her scarf around her.

Seeing Ji Wanmian reach out, Pei Jinyue quickly said, “Wear it. You look quite cold.”

Who knew Ji Wanmian just straightened the scarf and replied, “I wasn’t trying to take it off and give it back to you. I remember this scarf is mine. I gave it to you when you lived at my place that year. It’s just returning to its rightful owner.”

Pei Jinyue chuckled softly and said nothing more.

Speaking of returning to its rightful owner…

Ji Wanmian remembered the lost ring again.

The private room was so big, and the ring was so small. How could it be easily found?

“I’m sorry,” Ji Wanmian finally decided to apologize. “I accidentally lost the ring you gave me.”

Pei Jinyue’s smile grew wider.

Ji Wanmian said angrily, “What are you laughing at?”

Pei Jinyue quickly wiped the smile from her face and replied, “If you lose the ring…”

Ji Wanmian swallowed, wondering if Pei Jinyue would ask her to pay for it. But it was Pei Jinyue who gave it to her.

Pei Jinyue leaned down slightly, meeting Ji Wanmian’s gaze, and continued, “Then the next time you agree to me, I’ll give you another one, one that you can never take off.”

Another love confession.

Ji Wanmian pursed her lips, stepped back two paces, and awkwardly scanned her surroundings, changing the subject: “Where do you live? Why are you following me? I can go home by myself.”

Pei Jinyue straightened up and said gently, “I’ll see you downstairs at your apartment complex. That way, I won’t have to worry.”

“Worry about what?” Ji Wanmian waved her hand, “What kind of danger could I run into?”

But after turning a corner, they actually did run into some.

Zhang Ban, with his father, was waiting there for her.

“Dad, this is the person who hit me!” Zhang Ban, seeing Pei Jinyue, hid behind his father in fear, yet still yelled belligerently.

Zhang’s father squinted at the child behind him, saying, “You’re over twenty, and you didn’t earn any money outside, fine. Now you’re home, enjoying good food and drink, but you’re out embarrassing yourself every day. And now you can’t even win a fight.”

Zhang Ban pouted aggrievedly, muttering, “Dad, stop it. Are you even here to help me get even?”

Zhang’s father said “Alright” several times, then turned his head to look at the two people in front of him and asked, “You two beat my child like this, huh… Wait, it’s two young girls.”

So, Zhang’s father turned his head back angrily and said to Zhang Ban, “Getting beaten up by a young girl like this, you’re really embarrassing me.”

“Dad, let’s talk about this at home. Just help me make my point first,” Zhang Ban was too ashamed to look up, only daring to tug at his father’s sleeve.

“Hey, Uncle, we girls are also very capable, alright?” Ji Wanmian couldn’t listen anymore and spoke up, crossing her arms, looking at the embarrassing father and son.

“You girl, you look so gentle and quiet, how could you hit someone?” Zhang’s father also stared at Ji Wanmian, a benevolent smile still on his face. “Since you’re all classmates, I won’t pursue this. After calculating medical expenses and other costs, just pay twenty thousand and it’ll be fine.”

Ji Wanmian’s eyes widened in astonishment at the number, and she blurted out, “You must be dreaming.”

Zhang’s father’s smile faded, and he said fiercely, “Then in that case, don’t blame me…”

Suddenly, Pei Jinyue coughed lightly, interrupting Zhang’s father’s words.

Zhang’s father frowned and asked, “Do you have anything to say?”

Pei Jinyue took two steps forward, placed her arm on Ji Wanmian’s left shoulder, and slightly raised her chin, her voice containing a hint of a smile: “Go on, say what you’re going to do. You’d better be clear.”

Zhang’s father angrily stepped forward, curse words already at the tip of his tongue, but after clearly seeing the person in front of him, he stumbled back in shock, speechless for a long time.

Zhang Ban didn’t want to miss this opportunity, and with his father behind him, he mustered his courage, stood in front of Zhang’s father, and said, “What do you think you are? Do you think these words can scare us? Bah, someone like you, I wouldn’t even glance at.”

Pei Jinyue was about to retort, but Ji Wanmian beat her to it.

Ji Wanmian angrily said, “Being looked upon by you would be a nightmare! Let me tell you, you can’t curse just anyone.”

Zhang Ban turned his gaze to Ji Wanmian and said, “What are you even? Don’t think I don’t know, your family isn’t that great either, miles away from mine. Today, me only asking for twenty thousand is me being kind, afraid you’d cry and beg me…”

“I’ll remind you one more time, I am someone you cannot afford to offend.” Pei Jinyue didn’t give the other side a chance to finish speaking. She turned her head and glanced at the person beside her, “Also, if you dare to say one more word about Ji Wanmian, or bother her again, it will make me angrier than you cursing me.”

“What if you get angry…” Zhang Ban was unconvinced, but before he could finish, he was cut off by a scolding from his father, which startled him so much he couldn’t utter a single word.

“Please, don’t be angry, both of you. Don’t stoop to my foolish son’s level,” Zhang’s father even bent at the waist, completely abandoning his intimidating posture from before, even smiling apologetically.

Zhang Ban didn’t understand: “Dad, I’m not a foolish son…”

“Get lost!” Zhang’s father frowned, glaring at his son. “You’re never to bother them again, do you hear me! Otherwise, I’ll cut off your allowance, and don’t even think about seeing your car again!”

Zhang Ban dared not speak another word and scurried away.

Before Zhang’s father left, Ji Wanmian didn’t forget to remind him: “What about those twenty thousand yuan…”

Zhang’s father was so startled that he quickly turned around and said, “No, no need, it was all a joke.”

Watching the father and son quickly run away, Ji Wanmian couldn’t help but smile.

Pei Jinyue also started to smile.

Ji Wanmian asked, “What are you laughing at?”

Pei Jinyue replied, “Whatever makes you happy, makes me happy.”

Ji Wanmian pouted and said, “I’m happy because I saw through Zhang Ban’s hypocrisy.”

Pei Jinyue nodded: “Then so am I.”

Ji Wanmian stared at Pei Jinyue, her smile still on her face, but sad memories surfaced in her mind. She said, “Pei Jinyue, I still remember New Year’s Eve three years ago, when I was so angry I went home.”

Pei Jinyue couldn’t smile anymore.

Ji Wanmian turned her head, looked at the distant sky, and said lightly, “So, Pei Jinyue, you were also very hypocritical back then.”