Shadowed Love: A Lover Who Refuses to Let Go - Chapter 10

From the moment she signed up for the lecture in the group chat, many of Yin Yunzhu’s familiar colleagues welcomed the new face. One of her closer acquaintances even privately messaged her.

Ke Rubing: [What suddenly made you want to attend a lecture? Weren’t you never interested in these before?]

Ke Rubing and Yin Yunzhu had met in a group chat. Their first lecture outing had been together, and they usually exchanged writing tips, but they rarely pried into each other’s personal lives otherwise.

Ke Rubing was cold-natured and reticent, like the top student in class during their school days, quietly taking notes, always seeming preoccupied while eating or walking.

Yin Yunzhu couldn’t very well explain that her life and work had been in disarray lately, and she needed a hobby to recalibrate her mindset. Yet she herself disliked crowded, noisy places, so she opted for a lecture.

Little Bamboo: [Sitting at home all year has nearly made me sick [wry smile].]

Fortunately, the other didn’t press further, simply replying with an “Oh” before inviting her to go together, which Yin Yunzhu readily agreed to.

Winter Solstice had long passed, but the air still held the lingering warmth of late autumn. In the season of clamorous, vibrant leaves, everything gradually settled into silence.

On Friday, Yin Yunzhu and Ke Rubing met at the designated spot. After lunch, they took a taxi to the arts center near the commercial district.

The surrounding area was an underdeveloped creative park, with minimal industrial traces and well-maintained greenery. Across from the exhibition hall, elderly dog walkers could often be seen in the park, greeting acquaintances with unsteady steps.

Yin Yunzhu wore a caramel-toned fleece coat, her gently curled hair ends swaying behind her, her brows and eyes flushed from the wind. She emerged from the first-floor restroom of the arts center and hurried to the entrance of Hall No. 2.

The spacious open lobby was bathed in the glow of the setting sun, casting a warm hue over the posters. Ke Rubing stood at the entrance, arms crossed, reading the lecture description on the display stand.

Hearing footsteps, she looked up and pointed to a line of fine print at the bottom. “Isn’t this the one recently nominated for a literary award? If she’s hosting, we might actually learn something.”

Yin Yunzhu glanced at the clock in the center of the lobby and urged, “It’s almost four. Let’s go in.”

It felt more like a salon than a lecture. Pushing the door open, warmth rushed to meet them. Near the entrance, a few people were chatting, one of whom was the lecturer featured on the poster.

The hall wasn’t arranged with neat rows of seats. Instead, a few armchairs faced each other in corners, separated by wooden screens, the air laced with the bitterness of coffee and the aroma of bread.

Small groups gathered, sharing insights without lowering their voices, accompanied by a relaxed melody that heightened the laid-back atmosphere.

Yin Yunzhu poured herself a coffee, cradling it for warmth. Beside her, Ke Rubing spotted an acquaintance and went over to chat, leaving Yin Yunzhu momentarily alone.

How to pass the time?

She skirted around the screens, looking for a sofa to rest on, and noticed a few people seated nearby.

Apart from writers from the authors’ association, arts center staff could also move freely through the hall. Judging by their conversation, which made no mention of the lecture, they likely had nothing to do with the event.

Among them was a woman with shoulder-length hair, laughing and chatting animatedly, her demeanor striking Yin Yunzhu as oddly familiar.

“My husband is next door. I saw there was a lecture here and came to listen, to cultivate my sentiments a bit.” The woman covered her mouth as she laughed, fine wrinkles gathering at the corners of her eyes.

“How sweet! Bringing your wife along for work, unlike my husband…” The woman opposite crossed her legs and pouted in dissatisfaction.

The conversation between the two felt alien to Yin Yunzhu. She hesitated by the screen divider, her inability to blend in making her appear particularly forlorn, like a little rabbit with drooping ears.

Just then, the short-haired woman noticed her and waved enthusiastically. “Why are you standing there all alone, little sister? There’s space here, come sit!”

She patted the empty single sofa beside her, her bright red nails making her whole demeanor radiant.

Realizing the invitation was for her, Yin Yunzhu’s social anxiety flared up. Too embarrassed to refuse, she shuffled over to the armrest of the sofa, her face flushing as she murmured, “Thank you.”

“What’s there to thank?” The woman laughed heartily, propping her chin on her hand with effortless familiarity. “By the way, are you here as an author sharing experiences?”

“Yes.” Yin Yunzhu smiled shyly, the tips of her ears turning pink.

The other woman with the short-haired one gasped in surprise. “Wow, this is a famous writer! I definitely need to hear this.”

She leaned forward, adopting an attentive posture. The short-haired woman playfully swatted her twice before her phone on the low table buzzed.

“Gotta take this.” She made a shushing gesture, covering the receiver as she answered.

“I’m in Hall 2, behind the screen divider on the sofas. Or you can wait at the entrance, and I’ll come get you.”

“Hurry up.”

From the window-side sofa, one could see the stone sculptures in the open-air plaza. Sunlight spilled generously, casting sharp shadows in the crevices, almost blinding.

Yin Yunzhu took small sips of her coffee, the bitterness lingering in the warm air of the hall, making her drowsy. After hanging up, the short-haired woman rejoined the conversation.

Most of the time, she kept up effortlessly. Occasionally, when family was mentioned, the two would exchange complaints, leaving Yin Yunzhu to offer awkward smiles, thinking of Yin Xuan and Dan Songyue back home.

A sudden draft of cold air slipped in, briefly disrupting the room’s atmosphere.

A woman strode in wearing a long French-style coat, unbuttoned, the hem swaying with her steps. Her hair was swept over her chest, her face obscured by sunglasses and a mask, though glimpses of warm, fair skin were visible.

Zhuo Qun’s aura was like frost clinging to winter branches, thawing under a warm breeze.

She scanned the room, her gaze settling on the trio by the window.

The moment the woman entered, Yin Yunzhu noticed her instantly. At the same time, the short-haired woman waved and whispered, “Over here.”

“Let me introduce you, this is Xiao Yin, a pretty well-known writer.” She scooted aside to make space.

Jiang Menghe removed her sunglasses, her gentle almond eyes giving the illusion of deep affection to anyone she looked at.

When Yin Yunzhu saw her face clearly, her expression froze, like a rusted clockwork forced to turn, her gaze refusing to settle on the woman’s features.

She never imagined such a coincidence could exist, forcibly linking two people who should never have crossed paths.

A flicker of surprise flashed in Jiang Menghe’s eyes before it was swiftly suppressed. The two stood in silent confrontation, the tension so palpable even the others noticed.

The short-haired woman’s eyes darted between them uncertainly. “You two… know each other?”

Yin Yunzhu recalled the words Jiang Menghe had said to her when she left her home a few days ago.

“Please try not to let outsiders know about our relationship, okay?”

Though phrased as a request, the words had pierced her heart like an icicle. Compared to her own anxious hesitation, Jiang Menghe seemed more like a seasoned player in the game of love, effortlessly in control.

“We don’t know each other.” Jiang Menghe stood by the low table, her lashes half-lowered, her voice light but laced with coldness.

Yin Yunzhu had been struggling to find an explanation, but hearing those words left her with mixed emotions.

A faint sense of disappointment lodged in her throat. She lowered her head and echoed, “We don’t know each other.” To make the pause seem natural, she even added, “I’ve seen her on TV, so I was a little surprised to see her in person.”

“Don’t just stand there talking, come sit!” The short-haired woman tugged at Jiang Menghe’s sleeve, urging her.

Jiang Menghe’s coat carried the chill from outside, rustling faintly as she moved. She sat down beside Yin Yunzhu, her hand resting on the armrest just a slight shift away from grasping Yin Yunzhu’s hand.

Neither of them made a move. They both knew the reckless passion they shared in private couldn’t be brought into the open. So they pretended to be strangers and continued the conversation.

The woman beside them relaxed, resting her cheek against her hand as she leaned back. Though she appeared attentive, a hint of indifference betrayed her disinterest.

But Yin Yunzhu couldn’t calm the turmoil inside her. When she was on the verge of crushing her coffee cup in her grip, she suddenly stood up. “Excuse me, I need to use the restroom.”

Then she left, her retreating figure almost like a desperate escape.

The restroom near Gallery One of the art center was impeccably clean, with a subtle, uniform fragrance placed on the windowsill.

Along the way, she tossed the empty cup into the trash and turned on the faucet, scrubbing her hands obsessively.

How could this be such a coincidence? How could she…

For a moment, Yin Yunzhu almost wondered if this was some ploy by Jiang Menghe, a staged encounter to deepen their connection.

No. In Jiang Menghe’s eyes, their relationship was purely physical. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have insisted on keeping it a secret.

As she wrestled with her thoughts, Jiang Menghe’s reflection appeared in the mirror, illuminated by the harsh overhead light, her long lashes casting shadows under her eyes.

Her mood didn’t seem good. Her lips pressed into a thin line as she slowly approached.

“What a coincidence, ” Yin Yunzhu began, but Jiang Menghe cut her off.

“Was this intentional?” Jiang Menghe frowned, impatience flickering in her eyes.

She crossed her arms, a defensive gesture.

“What?” Yin Yunzhu was confused.

“Did you dig into my social circle, track my schedule, and then arrange this little ‘coincidence’?” Jiang Menghe braced her hands against the counter, staring at Yin Yunzhu’s reflection before suddenly smiling.

The drawn-out tone was loaded with implication, as if she was certain Yin Yunzhu had schemed her way into this encounter.

“I didn’t!” Yin Yunzhu denied, irritated by the baseless accusation. Her tone carried a rare sharpness.

“Really?” Jiang Menghe took a deep breath, stepping closer. “Miss, I believe I’ve made it clear, we keep our private lives separate.”

“You were the one who started this.” Yin Yunzhu faltered, too embarrassed to finish the sentence. Even in an argument, her resolve weakened. “This messy relationship. Me being here is pure coincidence.”

“I don’t see anything wrong with my actions, and I don’t think I should have to tiptoe around just because we’re both here.” The more she spoke, the more aggrieved she felt. Remembering the three times she had failed to resist temptation, her face flushed. Clutching the hem of her clothes, she ranted like a firecracker set off.

Their ambiguous relationship began with half-hearted resistance, and the blame couldn’t solely be placed on Jiang Menghe. Yin Yunzhu turned her face away, a sour feeling welling up in her heart.

It was bad enough to be spineless, but she didn’t even dare to look the other person in the eye.

Jiang Menghe carried a unique gentleness about her, like water at just the right temperature. Even a single glance would make one regret having been too harsh in their accusations earlier.

How had she dealt with her past lovers? Had she also settled things in the shadows, saying cold, heartless words to sever ties cleanly?

But this was Yin Yunzhu’s first time, she couldn’t pretend nothing had happened. Though she appeared calm on the surface, no one cared more than her about such a careless and perfunctory beginning.

Life was gradually veering off its expected course.

Jiang Menghe listened quietly until she finished speaking, her lips pressed together lightly as if she easily believed this explanation, then let out a long sigh.

“I’m sorry for misunderstanding you.” She raised her hand as if to touch Yin Yunzhu’s head, but the sound of growing chatter came from the doorway.

Someone was coming.

Out of the corner of her eye, Yin Yunzhu caught sight of the shadow cast on the tiles. Stubbornly, she put distance between herself and the person before her, leaving behind a final remark before turning to leave.

“If it’s taboo, let’s not meet again.”

Jiang Menghe didn’t follow.

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