Shadowed Love: A Lover Who Refuses to Let Go - Chapter 18

By the time she got home, it was already evening. The beams of light piercing through the clouds at dusk and dawn were equally hazy. Yin Yunzhu hung the gift box containing the handkerchief by the entrance and leaned against the cabinet to change her shoes.

Xiaoyu, her cat, boldly jumped onto the cabinet to sniff the unfamiliar scent on her.

“Mom’s back from the hunt,” she said, pulling a can of cat food from her pocket. She popped the tab and placed it on the floor.

The orange tabby crouched down to devour the meal, its back resembling that of a miniature tiger.

After changing into loungewear, Yin Yunzhu headed to the kitchen to throw together a simple dinner. She was still uncomfortably full from lunch, stuck in that awkward state of semi-satiety.

Her phone lay on the countertop, and soon the screen lit up.

Ju He: [Home?]

Yin Yunzhu was washing vegetables and casually wiped her hands. The moisture on her fingertips blurred the letters in the text box as she typed.

Little Bamboo: [Cooking right now.]

Meanwhile, at the InterContinental Hotel.

The sky darkened, the thick night like ink dripping into clear water. The overhead light in the bedroom cast a reflection of the woman onto the glass.

Jiang Menghe sat on the edge of the bed, her slender legs crossed, dazzlingly pale under the light. She picked up a crumpled note bearing her own handwriting.

She took a moment to reply.

Ju He: [Did you like the gift?]

Reading this, Yin Yunzhu felt a twinge of guilt.

Little Bamboo: [I did.]

Truthfully, the gift meant little to her. She could sense the perfunctory nature behind it perhaps Jiang Menghe hadn’t even bothered to learn her preferences.

It was just a gift that, by conventional standards, would elicit surprise.

But Yin Yunzhu didn’t mind. The fact that Jiang Menghe could arrange everything so meticulously afterward already put her ahead of most people.

Their brief exchange ended, and Jiang Menghe turned off her screen, pulling the covers over herself as she lay down.

The soft reading light fell on her profile, dividing her sharp features into light and shadow, lending her gaze an air of cool detachment.

Though the hotel had changed the sheets, traces of last night lingered. The faint scent of incense mixed with the ambiguity of kisses, wafting to her nose as her hair sank into the pillow.

She preferred silence, quietly attending to her tasks in the still of the night.

But tonight was too quiet, making it hard to resist thoughts of restless tossing and turning.

Jiang Menghe reached out and picked up the contract on the nightstand. It was one she’d recently signed. Her studio had arranged a dinner with the other party for the coming days, a chance to meet in person.

Things were about to get busy.

As the New Year approached, early winter arrived with its long, gloomy days. A thin mist formed on the glass storefronts lining the streets, and when doors opened, the cold air rushed in, leaving trails of condensation.

Downtown, skyscrapers stood tall, one of them housing various businesses, self-service restaurants, hot springs, and reception centers.

“Take all these liquors away. Jiang Menghe doesn’t drink any of this. Replace them all with tea,” a man in a suit barked, pacing back and forth while scolding the interns scrambling around him. “You didn’t even bother to research her preferences? Look at the mess you’ve made…”

His hair slicked back with pomade, he nervously pulled out a handkerchief to wipe his sweat, micromanaging everything from the seating arrangement to the flowers in the narrow-necked vases, ensuring everything was perfectly arranged.

Finally securing a connection with Yunyu Entertainment, this deal couldn’t fall through.

The phone in his pocket rang, Jiang Menghe’s agent had sent the license plate number. He quickly gathered his team and went downstairs to meet them.

A low-key black sedan slowly pulled up to the curb. The agent stepped out from the passenger seat and shook hands with the man in the suit. Jiang Menghe, seated in the back, adjusted her sunglasses before pushing the door open and stepping out.

“I heard you were coming, so I had people waiting downstairs early. But I still wasn’t at ease, so I came personally,” the suited man said, rubbing his hands together with an ingratiating smile.

Ye Xiyang, Jiang Menghe’s agent, appeared to be in her late thirties. Her short hair barely reached her ears, always impeccably groomed, giving off an air of efficiency and reliability.

She shook his hand briefly, brushing off the pleasantries. “It’s cold out here. Let’s talk inside.”

The man peered over her shoulder to gauge Jiang Menghe’s expression. The woman’s lips were pressed tight, her wide-brimmed hat casting a shadow over her face. The reflective lenses of her sunglasses mirrored his own nervous demeanor.

“Ah, yes, of course.” He gestured for them to proceed.

Originally intending to express his sincerity and the importance he placed on this meeting, he quickly realized that small talk wouldn’t get him far with their indifferent expressions. He decided to change tactics.

They passed through the rose-gold revolving doors into a spacious lobby where well-dressed figures occasionally strode by. The crisscrossing beams overhead resembled the intricate structure of a bird’s nest.

Securing a reservation in a place like this undoubtedly came at a premium.

Ye Xiyang slowed her pace, unable to hold back her admiration. “Not a bad choice of venue.”

Jiang Menghe tucked her hands into her coat pockets, finally taking a moment to survey the surroundings before remarking, “President Wang has gone to great lengths.”

Flattered by their comments, Wang hurriedly responded with humility, “Since we’re discussing a collaboration with Ms. Jiang, we naturally had to show our sincerity. We’ve prepared thoroughly and are just waiting for your approval…”

As the man rambled on, Jiang Menghe curved her lips slightly without speaking, her gaze drifting toward a café in the corner of the first floor where she caught glimpses of a few young faces.

“Quite lively today.”

Given the high-end nature of the venue, one would expect it to be quieter with controlled foot traffic. Yet the place was brimming with energy.

Her offhand comment made Wang’s heart skip a beat. He quickly explained, “A nearby company is holding their year-end review here, so many employees are around today. But don’t worry they’re on a different floor. We’ll have complete privacy.”

Under his guidance, they entered a private room, shutting the door behind them to block out the noise from the hallway.

Jiang Menghe took the central seat, facing a floor-to-ceiling window that offered a sweeping view of Quancheng. The hazy skyline melted into rolling mountains, the city nestled between water and hills, forever steeped in the poetic mist of rain.

An artist of her stature was no longer at the mercy of entertainment agencies. While most would be pushing hard in their prime, she remained as selective as before her fame, never hastily signing contracts for publicity-driven projects.

Every detail had been tailored to her preferences the fragrance in the air, the appetizers served before the meal… Seeing the extent of their sincerity, she relaxed slightly and exchanged a glance with Ye Xiyang beside her.

While her agent pulled out the contract for negotiations, Jiang Menghe excused herself to the restroom for a breath of fresh air.

At the end of the hallway, distorted shadows flickered. The click of her heels echoed as she turned the corner, only to find the restroom under maintenance, the polished tiles still glistening with damp streaks.

Without hesitation, she pressed the elevator button beside her and opted to go downstairs instead.

Compared to the understated luxury upstairs, the lower level was much brighter. Beams of light streamed down through the hollow corridor, accompanied by the clamor of conversation.

Mindful of the crowd, she deliberately pulled up her mask, covering her entire face. Given the cold weather, this attire didn’t arouse any suspicion.

Warm water flowed down the sensor-activated sink as Jiang Menghe pulled out a tissue to dry her hands. The sound of a door opening came from the adjacent stall.

As if compelled by some unseen force, she glanced over only to see a familiar face.

Even in the dim lighting of the cinema, where visibility was poor, Jiang Menghe had a sharp memory. She instantly recognized this person who had been by Yin Yunzhu’s side.

“Ugh, this is so annoying. The annual meeting feels like some MLM scheme, complete with slogans,” grumbled the girl with braided hair as she walked to the sink. “Even my high school’s hundred-day pledge rally was more hype than this.”

Following closely behind, Beijiali couldn’t agree more. Today, she had tied her long hair up with a black bow-shaped shark clip, giving her a much neater and fresher look.

“Bosses just love this kind of thing. If they really wanted us to work hard, better benefits would be more effective than empty formalities.”

She stepped beside Jiang Menghe, waved her hand under the sensor faucet, and pumped a dollop of hand soap, rubbing it between her palms.

“But the venue today is nice. Want to go take photos in the first-floor lounge later?” Beijiali dampened her fingers to smooth down the stray baby hairs at her temples, then placed her crossbody bag on the counter. She spritzed a few drops of perfume onto her wrists.

The perfume swayed in its transparent glass bottle, catching the rippling light from the overhead lamps. Its unusual packaging easily drew attention sure enough, the braided girl leaned in curiously.

“I was just about to ask, what perfume are you wearing today? It smells amazing. The guy sitting behind me even asked me about it earlier.”

Though she had intended to be noticed, Beijiali now feigned nonchalance, dragging out her words. “It’s from HJ. Heard of it?”

Jiang Menghe seemed to catch something familiar in their exchange and slowed her hand-drying motions.

“HJ? Of course I have!” The braided girl gasped, reaching out instinctively before quickly restraining herself. “Jiali, you’re seriously impressive. This stuff is crazy expensive!”

“Yeah, and it’s custom-made too,” Beijiali said, noticing the sparkle in the girl’s eyes. She handed the bottle over. “Here, try some.”

“Really?” The braided girl accepted it eagerly. “Thanks, Jiali! You’re the best.”

A light, elegant gardenia fragrance filled the air, growing even more pronounced in the cool, filtered atmosphere of the restroom.

Watching the two girls bond over the perfume, Jiang Menghe rested her hands on the edge of the counter. In the mirror, her sharp gaze was unreadable, the lower half of her face hidden behind the mask.

She knew this scent all too well, whether it was the bottle placed on the bathroom shelf or the diffuser mist sprayed around the apartment, it had seeped into every corner of her private space.

“What’s the big deal?” Beijiali couldn’t hide her smugness. “A friend gave it to me. We’re super close you know the Quancheng Writers’ Association? She’s even hosted lectures there before!”

Though she often complained about Yin Yunzhu’s reserved and slow-moving personality, in front of outsiders, she exaggerated shamelessly. A few guest posts on a public account had somehow turned her into some kind of VIP.

The same went for shopping outings. Every time she dressed Yin Yunzhu to perfection from head to toe, basking in the envious glances of passersby, Beijiali would proudly lift her chin as if to flaunt the superiority of her social circle.

Under the braided-haired girl’s astonished and admiring gaze, she perked up: “My pen name… well, it’s not something I can just disclose. But trust me, you’d definitely recognize it, ”

“Alright, alright, let’s hurry back before the team leader starts nagging again.” With the group chat notification chiming, Beijiali had no choice but to cut her bragging short.

As the two disappeared around the bathroom corner, Jiang Menghe, who had frozen in place, finally moved again.

The world couldn’t possibly be that coincidental for her friend to also be a writer, one with tastes so aligned that she could custom-make a perfume with every minute detail perfectly matched.

After a brief moment of stunned silence, a soft chuckle escaped by the sink.

The woman leisurely adjusted her appearance, then strode off in her high heels as if nothing had happened.

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