Shadowed Love: A Lover Who Refuses to Let Go - Chapter 20

Despite Jiang Menghe’s reassurance not to worry, Yin Yunzhu remained uneasy. She knew their relationship had already crossed boundaries, and if discovered by opportunistic media, it would undoubtedly be sensationalized.

She didn’t believe she held much weight in the other’s heart this was a consensual affair. With Jiang Menghe already overwhelmed, there was no expectation of special consideration for her.

As it turned out, Yin Yunzhu had overthought things. In the following days, whether on Weibo’s trending topics or other platforms, not a single whisper of the incident surfaced.

Reclining in her ergonomic chair, she switched from her writing software to the browser homepage. Aside from recent social news and new drama promotions, everything remained eerily quiet.

Having secretly followed Jiang Menghe’s Weibo account days prior, she found the comments section filled with uniform praise.

Her suspended heart settled slightly, and Yin Yunzhu finally couldn’t resist sending Jiang Menghe a message.

Little Bamboo: [How did things go with that matter from the other day?]

Her eagerness was palpable, stemming from guilt over accidentally appearing in the frame and causing trouble.

Orange Harmony: [Handled.]

The reply came swiftly, delivered with Jiang Menghe’s characteristic calm, as if discussing whether the weather was clear or cloudy.

Yin Yunzhu exhaled, her palm damp with sweat against the phone. She wiped it clean with a tissue.

These past days had been spent in restless anxiety. Since childhood, she’d been the well-behaved girl in others’ eyes, even Bei Jiali found her personality dull. Making entertainment headlines would be like having her privacy violently exposed.

Jiang Menghe’s appearance had been like a sudden summer storm ruthlessly disturbing still waters, sending scalding spray flying and turning Yin Yunzhu’s life upside down.

Little Bamboo: [Thank you. I’m sorry for the trouble.]

The formality of this message created appropriate distance between them.

On the other end, the woman’s fingers hovered over the keyboard, the word “No worries” unsent as the woman across from her spoke again.

“Ms. Jiang, have you reached a decision?”

In the brightly lit private room, their reflections shimmered against the floor-to-ceiling windows. A clear crescent moon hung above the skyscrapers, adding a frosty solemnity to the night.

Jiang Menghe rested her elbow on the table edge, her gaze shifting between the two women opposite.

The one on the left was Ren Yu, a current second-tier starlet with a sweet, innocent charm that stood out among the glamorous actresses, a rising talent of recent years.

Those lively round eyes had been glued to Jiang Menghe since her arrival.

The entertainment industry’s cash cow, the box office guarantee, who wouldn’t covet such status?

“Not interested.” Ye Xiyang interjected, tossing photos onto the round table that slid back before Ren Yu.

The images showed a brightly lit hotel corridor with two figures standing by a doorway. From the deliberately angled shot, they appeared to be embracing passionately.

One face was unmistakably familiar, Jiang Menghe herself, seated before them.

Ren Yu was an actress heavily promoted by a renowned director within their circle, their distant familial connection earning her special favor. Yet despite several well-received films, Ren Yu inexplicably remained unpopular, her junior status keeping her stagnant in the second tier after years in the industry.

Her studio had recently decided to rebrand her transitioning from serious actress to trending celebrity, starting with commercial films to build public recognition before reconsidering her path.

They kept buying trending spots for variety shows, only to be outmaneuvered by rivals every time. Just when they were at their wits’ end, Ren Yu’s manager set their sights on Jiang Menghe.

The entertainment industry always has its exceptions, those with exceptional talent who remain beloved by the public, rarely embroiled in scandals over the years, and whose collaborators consistently skyrocket to fame.

Jiang Menghe was that exception.

Ren Yu wanted to work with her, but her own status didn’t allow it, it would easily spark rumors of backdoor deals. So she took an unconventional approach, repeatedly trying to stir up some romantic speculation by marketing herself as “Jiang Menghe’s most favored junior.”

They had people stake out the hotel she frequented for a long time, finally managing to snap some intimate photos with an unknown civilian a few days ago now serving as leverage for today’s negotiation.

Even after being slighted by Ye Xiyang, Ren Yu didn’t lose her temper. Instead, she turned her gaze to Jiang Menghe.

She knew who held the real power here.

Jiang Menghe leisurely placed her phone on the table, interlacing her fingers and resting her chin on them. “Sister Ye, we’re all friends here. Whatever the issue, we can discuss it together.”

Her words were soft, drifting lazily in the warm air, easily creating an illusion of tenderness.

Seeing her attitude soften, Ren Yu brightened. “Senior Jiang, does this mean you agree?”

“What plans do you have?” Jiang Menghe didn’t deny it, taking a sip of red wine.

Ren Yu quickly signaled her manager, who pulled a document folder from her bag, deliberately walking halfway around the table to present the pre-negotiated terms, everything from the duration of their collaboration, joint ad shoots and film projects, to penalty clauses.

Spotting several familiar sponsors listed, Jiang Menghe raised an eyebrow.

Ren Yu’s backers were clearly no small players, no wonder she was in such a hurry. If she didn’t make waves soon, those investors would likely pull out.

When Ren Yu’s manager moved to flip the page for her, Jiang Menghe stopped her, looking up. “Director Cong and I go way back. For a friend of hers, I’d naturally extend some courtesy.”

After months of grinding, Ren Yu couldn’t help but feel a surge of triumph at these words. “Then let’s sign the contract tonight.”

“Not so fast,” Jiang Menghe cut her off, closing the folder. “I’ll need some time to think it over.”

Ren Yu panicked, fearing complications might arise, but when she saw her manager subtly shake her head, she bit back her protests.

With the discussion settled, Jiang Menghe stood, and Ren Yu stepped forward to propose a toast.

Under the chandelier’s glow, her delicate, sweet features carried a shrewd edge. The wine-red knit shawl darkened in the backlight, its patterns faintly visible.

The liquid in her glass swayed as she clinked it lightly against Jiang Menghe’s, then downed it in one go.

“Happy collaboration,” the girl said with a wink, her plump cheeks dimpling as she smiled.

Jiang Menghe paused, lowering her eyes with a faint smile. “Happy collaboration.”

Leaving the hotel under the heavy night sky, the low shrubs by the steps were lit by streetlamps, casting small pools of light.

Jiang Menghe casually handed the folder to Ye Xiyang. “Last time, someone reached out to us, they had dirt on Cong Peien?”

“Yeah, but they’ve got some nerve. Asking for over half a million? They’d make a killing,” Ye Xiyang said, opening the car door and tossing the folder onto the back seat.

After years as Jiang Menghe’s manager, she was used to their good-cop-bad-cop routine. Early in her career, Jiang Menghe had struggled, constantly at others’ mercy. Even after achieving fame, she never openly offended anyone at these gatherings, old habits died hard.

“Buy it.” After saying this, Jiang Menghe took out her phone to send a message.

The car started, and Ye Xiyang acknowledged with a hum. Tonight’s doubts lingered in her mind, she really wanted to ask who the woman in the photo was.

Jiang Menghe preferred tranquility and had none of the scandals common among most celebrities in the industry. If the intimacy between the two in the photo was real, this would be her first secret lover.

Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed the woman’s thoughts were elsewhere and decided to drop the subject. She knew Jiang was usually meticulous and careful, rarely careless enough to be caught by those paparazzi.

But as an employee of the studio, it wasn’t her place to pry into her boss’s private affairs, so she silently drove on.

Jiang Menghe was messaging Yin Yunzhu. She still remembered the unsent “You’re welcome” from before dinner, so she deleted it and typed something else instead.

Orange Blossom: “I want to come to your place.”

The exhaustion of the night weighed on her limbs as she leaned back in the passenger seat, closing her eyes to rest.

Yin Yunzhu was just tying up the takeout bags and had just placed them by the door when she heard the notification. She hurried back to the dining area and froze at the message.

In her eyes, Jiang Menghe had always been composed and mature yet these words carried an unexpectedly clingy, coquettish tone.

Silently turning around, she took in the state of her apartment.

Unopened packages were piled on the coffee table, the couch cover was half-dragged off, and a suspicious layer of yellow fur coated the fabric. At that moment, Xiao Yu was gnawing at the knot on the takeout bag.

Orange Blossom: “I want to come to your place.”

Her phone buzzed again, the same message, repeated with such urgency it was as if Jiang might leap out of the screen.

Yin Yunzhu hesitated, reluctant. Aside from the mess and the cat, her home was a private sanctuary. The sudden intrusion of an unfamiliar presence would feel uncomfortable.

Moreover, Jiang’s intentions were unmistakable. Having experienced their shared recklessness before, she knew it would only leave her place in greater disarray.

But then she remembered how openly Jiang had invited her last time, how she had already memorized the layout of Jiang’s home and felt it unfair to refuse.

After an internal battle, she finally made up her mind.

Little Bamboo: “Okay. [Address]”

Orange Blossom: “Never mind.”

Their messages appeared in the chat simultaneously. Yin Yunzhu watched in disbelief as the latter swiftly vanished.

[The other party has recalled a message.]

Orange Blossom: “On my way.”

Complicated emotions were quickly overtaken by urgency. She immediately started the robot vacuum and frantically brushed the sofa, giving the place a hasty cleanup.

Jiang Menghe was fast. Before long, the doorbell rang.

“Coming, coming!” Yin Yunzhu scooped up Xiao Yu and shut her in the study before rushing to answer the door.

A cold, crisp aura swept in, carrying the familiar, delicate scent of gardenias. The woman stood tall in her trench coat, her nose red from the chill, breath visible in the air.

The biting cold invaded the warm living room. Every time she saw Jiang Menghe, Yin Yunzhu’s heartbeat raced uncontrollably.

Biological attraction was hard to suppress especially when the woman’s captivating eyes seemed to cradle her in affection, evoking a sense of fulfillment and sweetness.

Her thoughts and movements turned hazy as she stood there, watching Jiang change shoes, cheeks burning.

For some reason, Jiang seemed even more alluring tonight. Or perhaps it was the way her territory was being claimed people always felt both fear and admiration toward those who exuded dominance.

Before she could react, Jiang Menghe had already gotten straight to the point. Perhaps uninterested in Yin Yunzhu’s private life, she wrapped an arm around her shoulders and planted a kiss.

Yin Yunzhu had no choice but to endure it, her back pressed against the wall as the other woman’s tongue playfully swept across her palate. The ticklish sensation, combined with the lack of air, made her whimper uncontrollably.

Jiang Menghe loved seeing her like this. She took Yin Yunzhu’s cold hand and gradually guided it beneath her own clothes.

The lewd sound of wetness mingled between them, and in their half-hearted resistance, the two slowly edged toward the bedroom.

Yin Yunzhu finally pulled away, pushing at her with newfound clarity. “No, not the bedroom…”

She didn’t want to wash the sheets. The damp scent would linger no matter how long they aired them out, a constant reminder of their indiscretion.

“Not the bedroom?” Jiang Menghe’s dazed eyes sharpened, a fox-like cunning flashing in them as she buried her face in Yin Yunzhu’s hair.

“No.” Yin Yunzhu’s long lashes glistened with moisture.

The next moment, the woman’s fingers dug sharply into her waist, the sudden, unbearable tickling leaving her no escape. Yin Yunzhu’s eyes flew open as she shrank back toward the door.

Hot breath brushed against her ear as Jiang Menghe declared with childish defiance, “I insist.”

Support Shadowed Love: A Lover Who Refuses to Let Go