Shadowed Love: A Lover Who Refuses to Let Go - Chapter 26.1

Just as Xinyue had predicted, Jiang Menghe soon joined the film crew, which meant the two wouldn’t see each other for quite some time.

Over the past few days, scattered snowflakes had drifted from the sky, and the artificial lake near the apartment had formed a thin layer of ice. Yin Yunzhu carefully carried the heavy package inside, sweating from the effort.

Rarely so eager to open a delivery, she made a shallow cut along the seal and peeled back the cardboard to reveal the cover of a physical book.

After signing the contract with the publisher and finalizing the autograph pricing, she knew she’d be busy in the coming days.

Pulling out a calligraphy brush she had prepared earlier, Yin Yunzhu wrote a blessing and a simple doodle on the first page beneath the cover. They say handwriting reflects personality her rounded, childish strokes looked like a child’s scribbles.

The doorbell rang. Checking the video screen, she saw Beijiali and unlocked the door, watching as the woman hunched over, panting, and dropped the package with a thud.

“What the hell is this? So heavy! Carrying it up felt like plowing a field for two hours,” the woman grumbled, pounding her lower back in frustration.

Yin Yunzhu poured her a glass of water. “It’s all books. I thought the apartment had an elevator, why didn’t you use it?”

At the mention of that, Beijiali’s temper flared. She downed the water in one gulp. “Oh, you’re asking now? You never gave me the access card! How was I supposed to use the elevator? And you didn’t even reply to my messages!”

Hearing this, Yin Yunzhu opened her phone’s message inbox and, sure enough, found several unread notifications.

Knowing she was in the wrong, she apologized guiltily. “Sorry, I was so focused on work that I didn’t notice.”

Beijiali knew her habits once immersed in something, she easily lost track of time so she just waved it off and flopped onto the couch, turning on the TV.

The channel was broadcasting news about the upcoming Spring Festival. Come to think of it, the streets had already begun lighting up with festive decorations, some businesses jumping the gun to create a celebratory atmosphere.

Crossing her legs, Beijiali flipped through channels with the remote. “By the way, any plans for the New Year?”

“Same as every year, right? Both families getting together,” Yin Yunzhu replied, sorting the books and moving them to the coffee table.

The two families got along well, and since they lived close by, they often celebrated holidays together.

Personally, Yin Yunzhu wasn’t fond of the New Year. The noise wasn’t the worst part, it was the horde of distant relatives who would show up, lecturing and prying under the guise of elder wisdom, only to leave behind a mess when they left.

It felt like her personal space had been invaded and marked by unfamiliar presences, something her strong sense of boundaries instinctively rejected. She hated having her private life scrutinized.

“Spare me. Last year’s barely over, and now we have to do it all again?” Beijiali groaned, rubbing her temples. “Last time, my second aunt grilled me about whether I was dating yet, going on and on about nonsense.”

At times like these, she’d play the role of a broke, unsophisticated romantic. Though it meant enduring her relatives’ nagging and passive-aggressive remarks, at least the topic would eventually pass.

“What else can we do? It’s not like we can just skip going home,” Yin Yunzhu sighed, recalling how her last conversation with Shan Songyue about blind dates had ended in a stalemate.

“Listen, since you’ll have some free time after finishing these autographs, why not go on a trip? Get some fresh air, avoid the family chaos, buy yourself a few extra days,” Beijiali suggested, suddenly sitting up with a mischievous grin that screamed “bad idea.”

That reminded Yin Yunzhu her last book had just wrapped up, and a break might be just what she needed to clear her head and find inspiration for the next one.

“We’ll see,” she replied vaguely, leaving it at that.

Accustomed to her listless state, Beijiali shrugged and shifted her attention to the spotless table.

“By the way, you usually have piles of express boxes stacked like mountains. Did you clean up today knowing I was coming?” As she spoke, she habitually pulled open the drawer under the coffee table, checking if anything was hidden inside.

The moment she did, Yin Yunzhu’s heart skipped a beat. Ignoring the book in her arms, she quickly nudged the drawer shut with her foot.

“They’re all opened, don’t mess with them!”

Her face flushed red, a guilty flicker flashing in her eyes. To the other girl, it looked more like anger.

“Fine, you have your little secrets. I won’t look, okay?”

–

Beijiali’s words had struck a chord with Yin Yunzhu. Now, she hunched over her desk, searching for travel guides before the Spring Festival.

A beam of bright light cast her silhouette, tinting the swaying fuzz on her head a faint reddish-brown. After writing holiday greetings all day, her fingers stretched stiffly.

Recalling the horror scenes of the Spring Festival travel rush in the news, Yin Yunzhu opted for a road trip to nearby cities instead. She tore off a sticky note and pinned it to the pegboard on her wall.

Huangcheng, Pingcheng.

Her gaze lingered on the last city, and she nervously picked up her stylus.

If she remembered correctly, Jiang Menghe was filming in Pingcheng. Few crews started shooting before the Spring Festival, so if she took a role at this time, she probably wouldn’t be coming back for the holidays.

To say there were no ulterior motives would be a lie, it had already been a week since they last saw each other.

Before Jiang Menghe left, she had hoped Yin Yunzhu would see her off at the airport, but Yin Yunzhu refused, citing work. At the time, she was still embarrassed by the blacklist misunderstanding and didn’t want to endure Jiang Menghe’s teasing gaze all day.

Now, she wished she had gone. Even as just friends, she wouldn’t have refused such a small favor let alone when their relationship had already surpassed friendship.

Unconsciously, what had once been mutual non-interference had gradually evolved into their lives intertwining. The restrained ambiguity sometimes gave the illusion that they were already deep in a passionate romance.

But Yin Yunzhu was clear-headed. She wouldn’t start a vague relationship not without a proper confession.

In the end, she settled on Pingcheng.

Unlike Quancheng’s rapid commercial development, Pingcheng retained its local charm. The black-tiled houses under the light snowfall resembled an unpainted watercolor, making it the perfect time to see the frost-covered trees.

She’d heard the local tourism bureau had planted them deliberately to attract visitors. Even if artificial, crowds still flocked to take photos, and the sheer grandeur was palpable even through images.

Eagerly, Yin Yunzhu messaged Jiang Menghe, but with the late hour, she received no reply.

By the time she woke, the sun was high, its light filtering through the pale curtains like rippling water beneath the sea. She stretched, massaging her stiff limbs.

She’d actually fallen asleep at her desk.

Her phone had several unread messages.

Jiang Menghe: “Why are you suddenly coming to Pingcheng?”

The text gave no hint of emotion, but Yin Yunzhu could tell, there was no delight on the other end. If anything, her sudden arrival seemed like a potential problem.

Yin Yunzhu: “It’s close, and it’s easier to go home for the Spring Festival.”

Jiang Menghe: “The weather’s been bad lately. Do you really have to come?”

Sensing Jiang Menghe’s reluctance, Yin Yunzhu slowed her typing, wondering if this was a polite way of saying she didn’t want to meet.

Backing out now would only make her intentions seem more suspicious.

Yin Yunzhu: “I already booked a midnight flight. It’d be a waste to cancel.”

Classmate Xiao Zhu: [“I’m just going for a stroll alone, won’t disturb you.”]

She lied. What was originally a road trip had turned into a flight, as if this change would make it impossible for the other party to refuse.

Ju He: [“Be safe on your way.”]

These six words of concern made Yin Yunzhu lose all excitement about visiting an unfamiliar city and experiencing new things. Instead, her heart felt heavy, as if weighed down by a stone.

After comforting herself, she pulled out a suitcase from the walk-in closet and packed some daily essentials.

Meanwhile, in Pingcheng.

Pavilions and corridors were adorned with glistening snow. The temperature had dropped sharply from Quancheng to Pingcheng, making each breath painful in the chest. A crimson winding corridor stretched out, where thinly clad actors were taking a break between scenes.

Jiang Menghe sat in her van, holding a warm silver ear mushroom drink to warm her hands. The door was half-open, offering a view of the busy figures on set.

Ye Xiyang was arranging post-holiday commercial shoots when a gust of wind rushed in, making her shiver.

“Should we close the door?”

“No need,” Jiang Menghe inhaled slowly, her knuckles red from the cold. “I’ll warm up a bit and head over soon.”

The form-fitting costume provided little warmth. A long down jacket draped over her shoulders, and the snow melting in her hair gave her a resilient, vine-like grace.

Ye Xiyang said nothing about her dedication, simply turning the heater to its highest setting.

Jiang Menghe wasn’t one to indulge in comfort. Though she carried an air of peaceful contentment, staying within her comfort zone without contention, it was different from the passive “go-with-the-flow” attitude many adopted nowadays.

Sitting in the backseat, the glow from her phone outlined her sharp jawline.

“Ye-jie, any plans for tonight?”

Ye Xiyang flipped through the schedule and paused. “A lipstick brand we worked with before wants to discuss contract renewal over dinner.”

Early in her career under a management company, Jiang Menghe had endorsed many cosmetics brands. After going independent and falling out with her former agency, many brands quietly distanced themselves. Now, with recent awards under her belt, they were rushing back to collaborate.

“Decline,” Jiang Menghe said flatly.

She didn’t even ask which brand it was at her current status, few domestic makeup brands were beyond offending. After noting it down, Ye Xiyang couldn’t resist asking.

“Why? Got other plans tonight?”

“No,” Jiang Menghe replied bluntly, her features shadowed. “Just exhausted and want to rest early.”

–

Yin Yunzhu didn’t have much to pack. She preferred traveling light and would buy anything forgotten locally.

After loading her suitcase into the trunk, she turned on the heater and GPS.

Quancheng wasn’t far from Pingcheng, but they were at opposite ends of the province. The drive would take four to five hours, and with bad weather, likely longer.

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