Shadowed Love: A Lover Who Refuses to Let Go - Chapter 25.2

The charged atmosphere shattered, the fluttering in her chest abruptly cut short. Rejected, Yin Yunzhu awkwardly settled back into the chair.

Now she just seemed desperate.

Taking in her dazed expression, Jiang Menghe seized the chance to tease, “That eager?”

“Don’t mess around in public,” Yin Yunzhu blinked, letting the damp powder blend into her skin.

She truly didn’t doubt Jiang Menghe’s nature outwardly composed and refined, but once unleashed, she reverted to her old habit of recklessness.

The more crowded the setting, the more Jiang Menghe enjoyed pushing boundaries with her in private. Unfortunately, Yin Yunzhu was thin-skinned, resisting repeatedly until, worn down by pleading, she eventually gave in.

It was from that moment that a vague realization dawned, the person before her was completely different from the gentle, amiable image the public knew.

“Don’t mess around.” Jiang Menghe flicked her forehead.

A sudden knock at the door made Yin Yunzhu stiffen. She quickly put distance between them and sat properly in her chair.

It was Ye Xiyang.

This was Yin Yunzhu’s first time meeting her agent. Still silently guessing the newcomer’s identity, she saw the two of them already deep in conversation.

“You handed out the tea? You still need me to run errands like this?” Ye Xiyang sighed in exasperation.

Her short hair gave her a sharp, efficient look, and her well-tailored suit hugged her figure, making her seem like part of the company’s upper management.

Yin Yunzhu had always been intimidated by such people like a student shrinking under a teacher’s gaze, she tried to make herself as inconspicuous as possible.

“You’re the most competent person around me. Just consider it a favor.” Jiang Menghe didn’t pause in her work.

She preferred peace and quiet, unlike other celebrities who traveled with an entourage. After setting up her own studio, she simply combined the roles of agent and assistant into one.

Most of the time, she made her own decisions and arrangements, leaving Ye Xiyang with little to do.

At first, Ye Xiyang had wondered why Jiang Menghe suddenly decided to help a friend out. But the moment she saw Yin Yunzhu, she understood.

She had never met Yin Yunzhu before, but she could vaguely recognize her from the contours of her face, the girl in that photo. Quiet and unspeaking, her round eyes met Ye Xiyang’s briefly before shyly darting away.

“She’s shy.” Jiang Menghe blocked Ye Xiyang’s scrutinizing gaze.

That single gesture confirmed Ye Xiyang’s suspicions.

Shrouded in shadow, Yin Yunzhu silently thanked Jiang Menghe for her perceptiveness. She hated socializing or rather, she was outright socially awkward, so much so that even whispering sweet nothings took immense effort.

Not wanting others to speculate about her relationship with Jiang Menghe, Yin Yunzhu stood up. “I’m done here. I’ll head out first.”

There wasn’t much to do anyway just covering up imperfections to look more vibrant on camera.

Watching her retreating figure, Ye Xiyang tilted her chin. “Her?”

Jiang Menghe tidied up her tools and zipped her makeup bag shut. “What do you think?”

Stumped by the question, Ye Xiyang hesitated. “I didn’t think she’d be your type.”

Having worked with Jiang Menghe for years, she knew the woman admired strength at her core. Back when she was invited as a show mentor, she openly stated she preferred the intelligent and capable.

Not to belittle Yin Yunzhu, but the latter seemed dull. To put it bluntly, like a lifeless fish in bed, hardly inspiring any excitement.

And she was a Beta without the pull of pheromones, it was hard to imagine what could possibly be appealing.

Hearing this, Jiang Menghe paused, then laughed. “Then what kind of person should I like? Someone like Ren Yu?”

“You know that’s not what I meant.” Ye Xiyang sighed. If fans saw her sharp-tongued side in private, their illusions would shatter instantly.

“It’s just, you just won an award. Your career is on the rise. Getting involved in a relationship could affect that.”

“We’re not in a relationship, and it won’t affect anything.”

Meeting Ye Xiyang’s stunned gaze, Jiang Menghe patted her shoulder. “Don’t worry, Sister Ye.”

“She won’t influence me, and there won’t be any outcome.”

“I know what matters most to me.”

At the end of the day, it was merely a comfort during lonely times when no one was around for too long. The fear of losing it was real, but it wasn’t that she couldn’t bear to part with Yin Yunzhu it was more like an instinctive resistance to change.

She preferred stability, and this became Yin Yunzhu’s impression of her as someone steadfast and unchanging.

–

Yin Yunzhu stepped out of the office and saw Zheng Xinyue eating a freshly bought fruit platter, chatting and laughing with the man in the dress shirt from earlier.

Spotting her, the woman waved. “Professor Yin, come have some fruit.”

The platter was filled with seasonal fruits, colorful and neatly sliced in wooden compartments. But Yin Yunzhu’s mind was preoccupied with the upcoming interview, so she politely declined.

“No, thank you. When are we starting?”

“Take a break first. Have a seat.” Zheng Xinyue patted the sofa beside her. “The host is on her way and will be here soon.”

“There’s a host?” Yin Yunzhu was surprised. She had assumed it was just an informal feature arranged by the art center.

“This interview is for a magazine column, so we didn’t want to cut corners,” Zheng Xinyue explained, looking slightly troubled as she sought the shirt-clad man’s agreement.

They must be a couple.

Yin Yunzhu said nothing more. To prepare herself, she walked over to the prearranged set.

A warm yellow sofa stood beside a small round coffee table, plush toys nestled together, giving the space the cozy feel of a counseling room. Following the staff’s instructions, she picked up the microphone for a sound check.

The host was a gentle, amiable woman unlike Jiang Menghe, her demeanor was warmer and softer.

After exchanging introductions, sensing Yin Yunzhu’s forced composure, the host reassured her, “Don’t be nervous, Professor Yin. There won’t be any impromptu questions, and if you answer something wrong, we can edit it out later.”

“Alright.” Yin Yunzhu nodded, her palms already damp with sweat.

She looked up, the lights were blinding. Among the cameras and crew, her gaze instinctively found Jiang Menghe.

The woman stood beside Zheng Xinyue, arms crossed, silent. Feeling Yin Yunzhu’s stare, she turned slightly to respond to someone beside her.

Though she knew it was to avoid suspicion, when their eyes met and then quickly averted, Yin Yunzhu still felt a faint pang of disappointment.

“Ladies, get ready,” the man in the shirt called out as he adjusted the camera angle.

Being under the spotlight, watched by so many, was an uncomfortable sensation like being isolated in a vacuum, voices distant and muffled.

A woman’s perfume drifted over, a mature allure entirely different from Jiang Menghe’s.

“Professor Yin,” the host said softly, “your mic is crooked.”

Yin Yunzhu looked down and saw the lapel mic drooping from her collar. She had dressed warmly today, shedding her coat after entering the venue, but her thin color-blocked sweater couldn’t support the mic’s weight, the collar tugged slightly out of place.

With recording about to start, she hurried to adjust it. But the clip was fiddly, her vision limited, and after struggling for a while, she still couldn’t secure it properly.

“Let me help you.” The host leaned in, the scent of roses growing stronger.

Under everyone’s watchful eyes, not wanting to delay the process, Yin Yunzhu didn’t refuse. She held up her collar to make it easier for the host.

The woman’s fingers carried a lingering chill, her figure nearly blocking Yin Yunzhu’s view. Squinting, Yin Yunzhu saw Jiang Menghe looking their way.

She seemed to say something, her eyes in the shadows dark as an unfathomable whirlpool.

Then, in a daze, she smiled.

Yin Yunzhu didn’t understand what that smile meant. The interview went smoothly and quickly as she answered questions methodically, with a pleasant atmosphere in the exhibition hall.

When it ended, Zheng Xinyue came over with praise: “Teacher Yin performed exceptionally well. It’s hard to believe it was your first time on a program.”

“Right? At first, I thought she’d be a shy girl, but her responses were sharp totally unexpected,” the female host chimed in, stretching as she stood up with a smile.

Yin Yunzhu let out a relieved sigh and handed over the microphone she had just removed. “I hope I didn’t hold you back.”

“Not at all! Menghe also thought you did amazing. Menghe huh, where’d she go?” Zheng Xinyue turned around, only to find the person who had been standing behind her had vanished at some point.

A bad feeling crept into Yin Yunzhu’s heart as she recalled that smile.

“Maybe she went back to the car. She mentioned earlier that the heating in the exhibition hall was too stuffy and she needed some air.”

“Then I’ll go get some air too,” Yin Yunzhu said, deliberately fanning herself.

Zheng Xinyue didn’t call out her clumsy lie, interpreting it as her wanting to find Jiang Menghe. Even if she had doubts, given their relationship as actress and fan, it wasn’t strange for Yin Yunzhu to follow after her.

“Go ahead,” Zheng Xinyue said, casually pointing in a direction before leaving.

The gloomy sky seemed to press down, the wind carrying a biting chill. Yin Yunzhu had just recovered from a cold, and the sudden shift between warmth and cold left her dizzy again.

The parking lot was empty and desolate. A familiar black private car was parked beside a withered shrub, and she spotted the license plate immediately, jogging over.

The tinted window rolled down, revealing Jiang Menghe in the driver’s seat, glancing in her direction.

Yin Yunzhu gasped for breath, the cold air stinging her lungs as she leaned closer, blocking most of the light when she bent down.

“What is it?” Jiang Menghe removed her sunglasses, her tone indifferent.

As she spoke, Yin Yunzhu caught a faint whiff of tobacco and blinked in surprise. “You smoked?”

The woman who had been exposed paused, then pulled out a pack of slim cigarettes from her coat pocket, casually picking up a lighter from the side. “Surprised?”

She held the cigarette between her lips, her movements elegant and unhurried. The ember glowed orange, flickering as wisps of smoke blurred the contours of her face.

It was the first time Yin Yunzhu had seen her smoke. She had assumed Jiang Menghe would be similar to how she appeared on-screen at least in terms of habits, free from vices.

Not that being completely abstinent was necessary, but smoking was harmful, and given Yin Yunzhu’s preconceived image of Jiang Menghe, she had expected her to be more of a role model.

Sensitive to the smell of tobacco, Yin Yunzhu coughed twice against the car window, her cheeks flushing from lack of oxygen, making her look like a fragile little flower.

Jiang Menghe’s reaction was muted. She stubbed out the cigarette and tossed it into a portable ashtray. “Fine, I won’t smoke anymore.”

The scent of gardenia seemed burnt, mixed with a dry, intoxicating aroma. Yin Yunzhu felt she had overstepped and mumbled, “I didn’t tell you to stop.”

In short, she had no right to dictate Jiang Menghe’s actions.

“Doesn’t matter. I won’t smoke anyway,” Jiang Menghe exhaled lightly, brushing her bangs aside.

Yin Yunzhu didn’t know what was going on, but her instincts told her the woman was in a bad mood, so she didn’t dare speak further. The two of them stood in silence, one inside the car, the other outside, locked in a quiet standoff.

Then, out of the corner of her eye, Jiang Menghe noticed a figure descending the steps of the art center in the distance.

It was the host who had helped Yin Yunzhu with her microphone earlier.

A thought flashed through her mind. When she looked back at the flustered little Beta left outside, she crooked a finger, beckoning her closer.

“Come here.”

The voice, tinged with the scent of smoke, was slightly hoarse.

Perhaps the smoke had filled her chest, making it hard to breathe. Seeing Yin Yunzhu obediently poke her head in only made her angrier.

“So obedient?” Jiang Menghe sneered, tempted to ask if she was this compliant with everyone.

The woman hosting the event descended the stairs with her bag slung over her shoulder, scanning the area until her gaze locked onto their parking spot. In the open space, the two of them pressed so closely together was far too conspicuous.

She seemed to recognize the two of them, her face etched with astonishment.

Jiang Menghe couldn’t quite make out her expression, only seeing the woman frozen in place. So, she pressed Yin Yunzhu’s shoulder down, murmuring softly as if whispering into her ear.

A fleeting kiss trailed from her earlobe to her neck, finally lingering at the corner of her lips. Jiang Menghe’s gaze was sharp, like a hawk poised to strike, fixed unwaveringly on the figure standing on the steps, her hands never ceasing their movements.

Under that person’s watchful eyes, she gave Yin Yunzhu a deep, lingering kiss.

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