Shadowed Love: A Lover Who Refuses to Let Go - Chapter 11

Returning from the restroom, Yin Yunzhu had no intention of staying any longer. She hastily bid farewell to the short-haired woman and left the art center.

While waiting for her ride, she received another message from Ke Rubing asking where she was.

Yin Yunzhu brushed it off with a vague reply, stuffed her phone into her pocket, and leaned against the taxi stand.

The sky in Quancheng always seemed vast and hazy, like steam blending with the cold air, hanging heavily in the atmosphere.

When her phone buzzed again, she instinctively assumed it was Ke Rubing. But upon opening the chat interface, she found Jiang Menghe’s message, previously buried at the bottom now refreshed at the top.

OrangeHe: “I take back my earlier malicious assumptions. I’m sorry.”

It was hard to imagine the glamorous actress, who always carried herself with such poise in public, humbling herself to apologize. Or perhaps that last remark in the restroom had sounded more like a lover’s petty sulk, creating unnecessary misunderstandings.

Yin Yunzhu had initially wanted to accuse her of being presumptuous, but then she realized Jiang Menghe wasn’t just anyone. To quote her die-hard fans, “Falling for Jiang Menghe is as easy as breathing.”

So, maybe her self-importance was understandable. Perhaps her past partners had done similar things, leading Jiang Menghe to jump to conclusions?

After mentally justifying it for her, Yin Yunzhu forgave her rather easily.

However, she wouldn’t voice these thoughts outright. She was too thin-skinned to swallow her pride and say “It’s fine,” especially since doing so would likely revert their relationship back to its previous awkward dynamic.

Advancing would mean risking further offense, while retreating would create distance. This was the perfect opportunity to make her stance clear.

So, Yin Yunzhu chose to ignore it. She was soft-hearted by nature like a hedgehog curling into itself for defense, leaving only its spines exposed, never actively hurting anyone.

Back inside the art center, the conversation in Hall No. 2 was lively. Near the corner of the lounge area, three women sat apart from one another.

Jiang Menghe responded to Zheng Xinyue’s chatter with vague hums, her attention entirely fixed on her lit-up phone screen, specifically, her chat history with Yin Yunzhu.

It was common for celebrities to craft public personas, which often led to gossip about their true natures being exposed, what fans jokingly called “collapsing the house.”

But Jiang Menghe was different. Privately, she remained sincere and polite, leaving no room for criticism. If conflicts arose, it was usually the other party who ended up feeling guilty.

“Menghe, what do you think?” Zheng Xinyue nudged her elbow, suddenly pulling her into the conversation.

“Sorry, I’m not really familiar with this topic,” Jiang Menghe smiled apologetically, excusing her lack of engagement.

She hadn’t been paying attention to their discussion, likely something about husbands, kids, or the latest messy Alpha-Omega gossip in the industry.

“Having a scent gland makes you so special, huh? Nothing else matters. I just hope my daughter doesn’t end up as a Beta when she grows up,” another woman scoffed.

Jiang Menghe distractedly glanced at her phone again. No new messages. A flicker of irritation rose in her chest.

Frowning slightly, she muted Yin Yunzhu’s chat and forced herself to shift focus.

Meanwhile, Yin Yunzhu had just stepped out of the elevator when she spotted a little pink bundle crouched in front of her apartment door. She immediately felt a headache coming on.

Yin Xuan, wearing her pink backpack, was intently picking at the doormat. Hearing footsteps, she looked up, then sprang forward with a bright cry: “Sis!”

“Why are you here?” Yin Yunzhu didn’t dodge in time, staggering back a step under the sudden weight.

“Mom told me to come,” Yin Xuan ducked under her arm, glancing around before pouting in disappointment. “You didn’t bring any snacks back?”

“I knew you were coming?” Yin Yunzhu sighed helplessly as she reached for her keys. “Mom’s really something, just leaving you here like this. Wasn’t she worried someone might pick you up?”

Unlike other parents, Ms. Shan raised both her eldest and second child with an extremely hands-off approach, her carefree attitude almost seeming unmotherly. This was precisely why Yin Yunzhu often felt her mother was remarkably open-minded and free-spirited.

But nagging was an inevitable habit that came with age.

At the last remark, the little girl tugged at her backpack straps and mumbled, “Mom brought me here. She texted you, but you didn’t reply.”

Skeptical, Yin Yunzhu checked her phone and found it was true. She’d put it on night mode to avoid Jiang Menghe’s disturbances, consequently missing two calls from Ms. Shan.

Without even discussing it first…

One Meter of Sunshine: [Work needs me to go on a business trip. Take care of Xiaoxuan for a few days. Finals are coming up, make sure she studies properly.]

As she grumbled internally, the impatient girl beside her was already peeking through the door crack, chanting “kitty, kitty.”

The usually lively and elusive kitten Xiao Yu, sensing a stranger’s presence, stood guard at the doorway. Recognizing this particular member of the Yin family, it promptly dived under the sofa.

Yin Yunzhu hung her coat by the door and fetched a pair of small fluffy slippers. “What do you want for dinner?”

“Takeout!” Yin Xuan, now standing in the slippers, reached under the sofa for the cat but perked up at the question. Her sparkling eyes blinked pleadingly, making it impossible to refuse.

“No takeout. How about noodles?” Yin Yunzhu opened the kitchen cabinet.

Half a bag of colorful butterfly-shaped pasta from their last supermarket trip remained, exactly the kind of thing kids Yin Xuan’s age adored.

“Aww, ” The girl dragged out the sound, her face scrunching up. “Will it even taste good?”

Yin Yunzhu’s cooking skills were passable, enough to feed herself, though work often kept her too busy, leaving her reliant on takeout.

“Don’t worry, it’s better than Mom’s.” She blanched the shredded chicken to remove the gaminess, the range hood soon drowning out their conversation.

Yin Xuan, growing rapidly, complained but ultimately devoured two large bowls, even finishing the broth.

After a quick post-dinner wash-up and some homework help, Yin Yunzhu finally had time to relax in bed.

The warm glow of the reading lamp illuminated a corner of the room, where a second-grade workbook lay open on the wooden stand by the dresser.

Yin Yunzhu was replying to the publisher, the initial review had passed, but minor edits were still needed.

Yin Xuan leaned against her shoulder, demanding a bedtime story.

“Quiet, I’m working,” Yin Yunzhu said. Though patient, even she had her limits with mischievous kids.

“Then let me play with your phone.” The girl reached for it unabashedly.

“Too young for a phone addiction. You’ll ruin your eyes, go to sleep.” Yin Yunzhu blocked her with a turn of her wrist.

“I want it, I want it!” Yin Xuan threw a tantrum, resorting to threats. “If you don’t tuck me in, I’ll tell Mom!”

Yin Yunzhu remained unruffled. “Tell her what?”

The question stumped the child. Frowning, her chubby cheeks puffing out, Yin Xuan huffed, “I’ll tell her you’re secretly dating someone!”

Already unsettled by her earlier encounter with Jiang Menghe, Yin Yunzhu casually turned off her phone screen. “I’m not.”

“If you don’t have it, then show me.” Yin Xuan tried to pry with her hands, but the strength difference between an adult and a child was too great. Even twisting like a pretzel on the bed, she couldn’t budge it an inch.

Normally, Yin Yunzhu might have teased her, but now she had no such mood. She simply turned off the bedside lamp, and darkness surged into the bedroom like a tide.

“If I were dating, I’d be out on a date tonight,” she said, pulling the blanket over herself as she settled back into bed.

The implication of “going out without me” flashed through Yin Xuan’s mind, stirring a pang of resentment. She kicked her short legs, mimicking Madam Shan’s tone.

“At your age and still not dating? Be careful or you’ll end up alone forever.”

“Then I just won’t marry,” Yin Yunzhu replied indifferently, her voice muffled by the blanket. “I won’t date anyone. Living alone is just fine.”

She turned toward the window, where the dazzling glow of city lights seeped through the curtains, casting a faint shimmer in her indifferent eyes.

No male Betas, and certainly no female Betas either. When she got older, she’d just find a nursing home to spend the rest of her days.

Fine. No disturbances either.

The last line she repeated silently in her heart, though she wasn’t sure who she was trying to convince.

Over the next two days, freed from Madam Shan’s supervision, Yin Xuan ran wild around the house. By Monday morning, the dark circles under her eyes betrayed her all-night cramming session to finish homework.

Xinwu Apartments weren’t particularly close to the elementary school, so Yin Yunzhu woke up early, braving the winter chill to drop her off and pick her up.

Early December edged closer to the New Year, and the roads were busier than usual. Small puddles had frozen into icy patches, reflecting the gray-blue sky.

After finishing her morning writing quota, Yin Yunzhu parked outside the school gates. She wore a khaki down jacket today, the fur-lined hood making her look youthful and fresh.

Compared to the army of parents on electric scooters, she stood out like a sore thumb.

Her social circle was small, just a handful of people she kept in touch with. Staring at the empty chat logs, her gaze drifted upward unconsciously.

It had been two or three days since she last spoke to Jiang Menghe. She wondered how the other woman was doing lately.

If she wanted to know Jiang Menghe’s whereabouts, all she had to do was check the entertainment section, there was always some gossip to be found. Yin Yunzhu just wanted an excuse to rationalize her own unusual thoughts and behavior.

The messages still lingered from that day, Jiang Menghe’s apology left without a response.

This time, they might really go their separate ways. Proud and aloof, Jiang Menghe had countless past lovers, why waste time on someone who had slighted her?

As the school gates opened, she stepped out of the car and leaned against a bare tree, waiting. Swarms of young faces jostled through the crowd, searching for familiar figures.

“Over here.” Yin Yunzhu quickly spotted Yin Xuan and raised a hand in greeting.

Yin Xuan dashed over, swinging her backpack toward her.

“Did the teacher say anything about your homework this morning?” Yin Yunzhu slung the bag over her left shoulder and reached out her right hand to take the little girl’s.

“The teacher likes me too much to scold me,” Yin Xuan boasted, a hint of pride in her voice.

Bubbly and thick-skinned, even if her grades weren’t great, the teachers couldn’t bring themselves to be too hard on her.

“Is that so, ” Yin Yunzhu scoffed lightly, about to fish out her car keys when her peripheral vision caught a figure across the street.

The woman stood tall like a winter pine, her coat draping over her slender frame. Dark hair was loosely gathered over her shoulders, her gentle demeanor laced with an unyielding resilience.

Their eyes met, sparks crackling in the cold air. A passerby blocked their line of sight, but when the moment passed, their gazes locked again.

“Sister, what are you looking at?” Yin Xuan tugged at her sleeve, following her gaze.

Yin Yunzhu didn’t respond, her face filled with astonishment as she tightened her grip on the little girl’s hand.

Jiang Menghe.

Their eyes met across the distance, and the other woman made the first move.

She seemed to be smiling as she slipped her hands into her coat pockets, then strode straight toward her through the rushing traffic.

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