Shadowed Love: A Lover Who Refuses to Let Go - Chapter 12

The blaring of car horns filled the air as crowds of parents jostled at the school gate, some leaning against their electric scooters while chatting with those nearby.

Amid the chaos, Yin Yunzhu felt the urge to flee. Yet her feet seemed rooted to the spot, refusing to budge no matter how hard she tried.

Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of a tall figure, Jiang Menghe was already standing before her. She pulled down her mask, revealing the delicate lower half of her face.

“Wow!” Yin Xuan immediately recognized Jiang Menghe and was about to shout excitedly when Yin Yunzhu swiftly crouched down and covered her mouth.

“No shouting,” she scolded in a low voice, though her usual gentle demeanor made the warning far from intimidating.

Yin Xuan kicked her short legs, pretending to bite her sister’s hand, and was just about to yell when Jiang Menghe pressed a finger to her lips, signaling for silence.

The beautiful, gentle older sister was naturally adored by children. No matter how much Yin Yunzhu had tried to discipline her sister, Jiang Menghe effortlessly tamed her with a single gesture.

Yin Xuan obediently fell silent, her round eyes sparkling. If she had a dog’s tail, it would have been wagging like a propeller by now.

Yin Yunzhu: “Little brat.”

She stood up, dusting herself off, certain she must look utterly disheveled in Jiang Menghe’s eyes.

Even behind sunglasses, Jiang Menghe’s amused expression was palpable. Yin Yunzhu turned her face away, recalling their unpleasant parting days earlier, and forced out an explanation.

“My sister goes to school here. I didn’t come here to run into you on purpose.”

Hearing the resentment in her words, Jiang Menghe raised an eyebrow and lowered her sunglasses slightly, smiling. “I know.”

If you knew, then why come here? Just to make your presence known?

Yin Yunzhu stiffened, her cheeks flushed from the cold wind as she buried herself deeper into her fluffy hat, resembling an awkward little penguin.

The awkwardness between them thickened, clinging to her throat. She stayed silent, staring at the hexagonal paving stones beneath her feet.

“I saw you around here with your sister last time, so I thought I’d try my luck. Didn’t expect to actually run into you.”

Jiang Menghe hadn’t held much hope. She had merely parked her car by the roadside and rolled down the window, as if just taking a casual break.

As she spoke, her breath formed faint mist in the cold, softening the sharp angles of her face. No matter the situation, her voice remained gentle, like the undisturbed surface of a lake.

Sensing the strange tension between them, Yin Xuan, unusually quiet, hid behind her sister.

When Yin Yunzhu didn’t respond, Jiang Menghe sighed and reached out to pull up her hat, shielding her from the biting cold.

The edges of the hat fluffed up like a lion’s mane. Defiant, Yin Yunzhu tugged it back down almost immediately after Jiang Menghe adjusted it.

“Oh? And then what?”

Jiang Menghe paused, helpless against such childish behavior. “It’s freezing out here. How about we talk over a meal? Would that be okay?”

The school bell rang, and children burst out of the gates, running to their parents. In a crowded place, the risk of Jiang Menghe being recognized was high.

“No.”

The three encounters with Jiang Menghe were moments Yin Yunzhu least wanted to revisit, experiences she had desperately tried to escape. Though not exactly shameful, the disconnect between her mind and body left her feeling deeply fractured.

She hadn’t yet figured out how to face Jiang Menghe openly. Besides, the things she had said the other day had been too harsh.

After firmly refusing, Yin Yunzhu grabbed Yin Xuan’s slender arm, ready to head home, but found she couldn’t pull her along. She looked down to see why.

The little girl had wrapped herself around Jiang Menghe’s leg, looking up with adoring eyes as she bossed her older sister around without hesitation.

“Big sis, I want a feast!”

Her voice was loud and full of energy, a stark contrast to her usual sluggishness when being nagged to do homework.

“I’ll cook for you at home,” Yin Yunzhu said, eager to distance herself from Jiang Menghe as she reached out to pull her sister away.

“No, no! Your cooking isn’t good! I want a feast!”

Seeing the “claws” coming for her, Yin Xuan put on a pitiful act, clinging to Jiang Menghe like a lifeline, gripping so hard that visible wrinkles formed on the woman’s coat.

Her outburst drew scrutinizing glances from nearby parents, as if silently judging which family had raised such an unruly child. Yin Yunzhu stood frozen, flushed with embarrassment, unable to drag her sister away, yet unwilling to stay.

When she heard the words “isn’t good,” Jiang Menghe lifted a hand to hide her smirk before spreading her arms helplessly. “Well, what do we do now?”

Yin Yunzhu shot a glare at Yin Xuan, who had already ducked behind Jiang Menghe for protection and stuck out her tongue in defiance.

The grilled fish restaurant near the school district was packed, the air thick with the scent of smoked meat and spicy broth. Though not exactly high-end, the place was clean and tidy, far from being some shady dive.

Jiang Menghe chose a corner seat by the window, sitting with her back to the wall. Light filtered through the lattice partition, casting a warm glow on her profile.

“Order whatever you like,” she said, sliding the tablet over.

Yin Xuan, ever the social butterfly, swung her legs excitedly on the sofa. “Wow, you’re the best, sis!”

In a child’s world, good food was the ultimate happiness. Without hesitation, she scrolled through the menu and picked several of her favorite dishes.

Yin Yunzhu couldn’t take it anymore and cleared her throat. “Xiao Xuan, what have I taught you?”

The two of them had eyes bigger than their stomachs, ordering too much would just lead to waste. Besides, since an outsider was footing the bill, they ought to show some restraint.

Realizing her mistake, Yin Xuan hummed sheepishly before flashing a sweet smile at the woman across from her. “Thank you, sis.”

Yin Yunzhu kicked her lightly under the table, then sulked by the window, sipping her chrysanthemum tea in silence.

The warm drink soothed her stomach, and the quiet corner lulled her into drowsiness. Sitting in the dim light, the overhead lamps of the mall reflected in her eyes, making them gleam.

Witnessing the sisters’ dynamic, Jiang Menghe interlaced her fingers, watching with amusement like a fox.

What’s so funny…

Though Yin Yunzhu appeared to be gazing outside, her peripheral vision never left the woman opposite her. Seeing that smirk, she grumbled internally.

A waiter came to collect the tablet and brought over a bowl of mashed potatoes. Yin Xuan dug in happily with her spoon, completely oblivious to the tension between the two older women.

The prolonged silence grew awkward. Jiang Menghe traced the plain silver ring on her finger before breaking the ice. “Consider this meal an apology. Forgive my earlier rudeness, alright?”

Yin Yunzhu wanted to say no.

She wasn’t the petty type, she simply wanted to use this incident to sever their strange relationship. She thought her actions had made her stance clear, never expecting Jiang Menghe to go through such lengths to apologize.

Did she, act this way with her past lovers too?

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