Shadowed Love: A Lover Who Refuses to Let Go - Chapter 26.2

As expected, less than an hour into the drive, she found herself stuck on the highway, not even out of the city yet.

Fine snow dusted the distant rolling mountains, blurring the horizon. Bare tree trunks on either side held messy bird nests, painting a desolate scene.

The road was jam-packed with cars, occasional curses drifting through the air. Seeing no movement anytime soon, Yin Yunzhu opened her laptop to draft an outline for her next book.

Minutes later, she heard a knock on her window.

Turning, she saw a woman standing outside. Her features were striking, with thick eyebrows and silver studs someone who looked like trouble.

Thinking she might have parked in a way that inconvenienced the other person, Yin Yunzhu removed her earbuds and asked softly, “Hello, is there something I can help you with?”

She appeared younger than her age, with faint dimples appearing when she smiled shyly, making her utterly endearing.

Behind the woman stood what seemed to be her friends, nudging and egging her on. The striking woman pulled out her phone, displaying a QR code on the screen.

“Can I add your WeChat?”

From childhood to adulthood, Yin Yunzhu had encountered many similar situations, most of which were casual and frivolous. But the woman before her had bright, sincere eyes that were hard to refuse.

This made Yin Yunzhu fidget uncomfortably. She adjusted the wired earbuds behind her ear, deliberating how to respond without hurting the other’s feelings, and finally said gently, “I’m sorry, but I’m a Beta.”

As soon as the words left her mouth, snowflakes drifted in through the window, carrying a chill that felt even colder as they melted on her cheeks.

The striking woman froze, clutching her phone awkwardly. After an uncomfortable silence, she stiffly replied, “Sorry to bother you,” before nearly fleeing the scene as if she had committed some grave mistake. In truth, Yin Yunzhu inside the car felt even more embarrassed. She rolled up the window to block the curious gazes from afar and immersed herself in writing.

She wouldn’t let such odd looks affect her after all, Betas made up the majority of the population.

Her fingers continued tapping the keyboard, deleting and rewriting repeatedly, until Yin Yunzhu grumbled inwardly:

What’s wrong with being a Beta?

–

After being stuck in traffic for nearly half an hour, she learned there had been an accident ahead. Driving in snowy conditions was slippery, and one car had crashed into the roadside barrier, requiring extensive cleanup before traffic could resume.

This made Yin Yunzhu even more cautious, gripping the steering wheel tightly without a moment’s lapse in focus. As dusk fell, she realized she might not reach her hotel in Pingcheng until well past midnight.

The dimming sky cast the smooth road in the glow of her headlights, revealing a thin layer of damp frost. Her laptop and phone, running for too long, were now low on battery, and with no chance to retrieve the charger from the trunk, Yin Yunzhu simply turned them off to conserve what little power remained.

Gazing across the sea toward Spring City on the opposite shore, a cool breeze slipped through the car window’s gap, lifting her long hair.

The lingering frustration from days of arguing with her family softened amid the open view.

Lost in focus, she naturally missed Jiang Menghe’s call.

Pingcheng Airport.

The bright, bustling airport teemed with people, the noise drowning out the announcements. The glass reflected a tall, slender figure Jiang Menghe, hands in her pockets, silently watching the taxi lanes outside.

She had snuck away from Ye Xiyang, driving from the hotel to the airport, but the long wait was wearing her patience thin.

Removing her mask, she walked over to the display screen, which cycled through all flights to and from Pingcheng.

There was only one daily flight from Pingcheng to Spring City. Though the two cities weren’t particularly close within the province, the trip took less than an hour, including layovers.

By this time, the flight should have arrived long ago.

Jiang Menghe frowned, her fingers brushing impatiently over the rough screen. She didn’t understand why Yin Yunzhu insisted on coming now traveling in the snow was inconvenient, and Pingcheng was even colder than Spring City.

Yet the moment she heard the news, she had rushed over. The thought of Yin Yunzhu braving the snow just to see her softened the icy stiffness in her heart.

She had always assumed the other couldn’t live without her, like scolding a mischievous kitten that, after being reprimanded, would curl up at her feet exposing its soft belly, melting her heart with its vulnerability.

But even this tenderness had long since faded. The plane that should have arrived hours ago still showed no signs, and Jiang Menghe’s breathing grew heavy with anxiety.

Leaving the film studio, she hadn’t anticipated such a long wait, and her coat wasn’t thick enough. The alternating chills and feverish warmth, combined with the rampant flu season, made her particularly susceptible to illness.

Adjusting her mask, she approached the counter: “Could you please check flight SF8064 for me? Thank you.”

The attendant glanced at her briefly before typing, then offered an apologetic reply. “I’m sorry, ma’am. We’ve just received word that flight SF8064 made an emergency landing in Huangcheng due to weather conditions. The estimated arrival time is currently uncertain. You may wait in the lounge, we’ll announce any updates immediately.”

As if on cue, the PA system echoed her exact words. Like a stone tossed into a still lake, the bustling terminal fell silent momentarily before erupting into chaos.

“What does this mean? Is it delayed?”

“Is everyone safe? How could your airline not check the weather before takeoff?”

“I can’t get through on the phone this is ridiculous!”

“…”

The crowd surged like sardines in a tin, voices overlapping in a cacophony reminiscent of a marketplace riot, all demanding answers from the overwhelmed staff.

Amid the uproar, Jiang Menghe moved against the current, her face ashen. The usual clarity in her eyes dimmed, her weary posture betraying exhaustion from the prolonged wait.

The composed mask she wore finally cracked. Her hands trembled slightly as she steadied herself against the reflective glass wall, dialing Yin Yunzhu’s number from memory.

A desperate hope flickered perhaps she’d taken a connecting flight instead, or canceled the trip after their argument that morning.

But the call ended abruptly with a mechanical beep. The phone was off.

Jiang Menghe knew all too well the empty reassurances people clung to during panic. Even airlines couldn’t guarantee absolute safety, though recent years without major crashes had lulled many into considering air travel secure.

She redialed relentlessly, each unanswered call tightening the knot in her chest. Pressing a clenched fist to her lips, she bit down hard, the sharp pain anchoring her spiraling thoughts, bringing numbness and tremors under control.

In desperation, she sent a message:

[OrangeBlossom]: Where are you right now?

The text vanished into the void.

–

After nearly six hours of driving, Yin Yunzhu reached the hotel close to 1 AM. Parking underground, she dragged her luggage up the sloping exit, every muscle screaming in protest.

Cupping her hands, she blew warm air into them, rubbing vigorously. The faint mist dissipated instantly in the freezing air. Though the incline wasn’t steep, patches of black ice from earlier snowfall made the surface treacherous.

Her phone, dead from the cold, refused to revive despite fifteen minutes of charging in the car. Resigned, she decided to borrow a power bank at the hotel.

Just as she stepped clear of the exit, her foot slipped. With a startled yelp, she crashed onto the pavement, her suitcase skidding a short distance away.

A searing pain shot through her wrist. Yin Yunzhu lifted it to find a distinct bloody scrape on her carpal bone, the blood mingled with sand and gravel, a sight that made one’s heart clench.

Though the wound wasn’t serious, the pain still made her suck in a sharp breath. Hearing muffled laughter nearby, Yin Yunzhu flushed and brushed the dirt off her knees.

Entering the hotel, she first fished her ID from the hidden compartment of her suitcase and presented it to the front desk. Then, borrowing a power bank from a passerby, she settled onto a sofa in the lobby, fiddling with her phone.

Today had been nothing but misfortunes.

Yin Yunzhu blew lightly on her wound, planning to order some medicine for delivery once her phone turned on.

This hotel sat at the intersection of the commercial district and the ancient town conveniently located near the scenic area and, most importantly, just a ten-minute drive from the film studio where Jiang Menghe was based.

Recalling their conversation that morning, her heart wavered. Knowing Jiang Menghe wasn’t fond of her, the surprise she had prepared had unsurprisingly turned into a shock.

It wasn’t true that she wasn’t disappointed, but Yin Yunzhu was quick to console herself, soon adjusting her mood.

The black screen slowly lit up with the brand logo, reflecting her face. She wiped the fingerprints off with her thumb, and as soon as it booted, several missed calls popped up.

Just as she was about to call back, the phone rang again.

“Hello?” Yin Yunzhu answered, remembering the other’s indifferent reaction earlier, her tone hardening like stone.

Silence stretched on the other end, as if the caller hadn’t expected the call to go through.

Just as she thought the microphone might be faulty, a weary voice laced with unmistakable anger spoke up.

“Yin Yunzhu,” Jiang Menghe took a deep breath, gripping the phone tightly, “why didn’t you answer your phone?”

Caught off guard by the sudden accusation, Yin Yunzhu was baffled especially by the interrogative tone, which only fueled her defiance.

“I was on the road, how could I answer? Why are you yelling at me right off the bat?”

Even displeased, her voice remained soft and measured, almost like a lover’s coquettish complaint after a fight.

Noticing the glances from people nearby, she lowered her voice.

She had always been patient, and though she once thought Jiang Menghe was gentle, after getting to know her, it was Yin Yunzhu who ended up accommodating her more.

“What do you want?” she asked when the other side fell silent again, sensing something off about Jiang Menghe.

“Where are you?”

The voice on the other end sounded drained, heavy with exhaustion and a thick nasal tone.

“Are you sick?”

“Where. Are. You?”

Jiang Menghe repeated. Unable to resist the questioning, Yin Yunzhu obediently gave her location.

After hanging up, she opened a delivery app, ordering band-aids and iodine, not forgetting to add a box of cold medicine.

Jiang Menghe arrived before the delivery.

Afraid she wouldn’t be able to find her, Yin Yunzhu crouched on the steps by the entrance. Her fluffy hat had been blown askew by the wind, making her look like a disheveled little lion from afar.

Her hands tucked into her sleeves, sneezing, she resembled an abandoned child. Just as she was about to text Jiang Menghe to ask where she was, a car pulled up smoothly in front of her.

Jiang Menghe stepped out, the hem of her coat fluttering against the car door, bringing with it a gust of cold wind.

It had been a while since they last met. Yin Yunzhu quickly stood up, hiding her injured wrist.

They faced each other across the steps. Remembering her stubborn tone on the phone earlier, she hesitated over how to break the ice.

Suddenly, she fell into an icy embrace.

The arm around her waist held her tightly, and the intimate act in public filled Yin Yunzhu with shame, yet no matter how hard she struggled, she couldn’t break free.

Like seeking refuge in a harbor, the woman’s face nuzzled gently against her hair. After pulling away slightly, she took Yin Yunzhu’s hand and pressed it against her own cheek.

Jiang Menghe seemed to have so much to say, her deep eyes swirling with tiny vortices that shimmered under the hotel entrance lights.

Yin Yunzhu felt a gentle press against her forehead. From her angle, she could see the other’s long lashes lowered, and the relief that followed anxiety.

Now, Jiang Menghe’s smile carried the comfort of settled dust.

“Let me hold you.”

She said.

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