Shadowed Love: A Lover Who Refuses to Let Go - Chapter 28.2

It was the business card He Ping had given her.

No explanation was needed Jiang Menghe had already scanned the details before tucking it back in place.

“How do you know him?”

As someone in the industry, she naturally recognized He Ping’s name. Yet his years of quiet retreat had coincided with Jiang Menghe’s meteoric rise, causing them to miss any chance of collaboration.

“We met today while watching the rime at Pingdan Mountain she helped take some photos, we chatted a bit and hit it off, then she handed me her business card,” Yin Yunzhu said as she tidied up her toiletries. “But it was just a chance encounter. We probably won’t cross paths again.”

Her tone was light, as if the matter held no significance to her.

Jiang Menghe sat by the sofa, watching her move about with quiet amusement. “How do you know you won’t cross paths again?” she asked. “Back when we had our one-night stand, didn’t you think the same thing?”

Yin Yunzhu shot her a glance, finding the remark odd.

“It’s not the same. How could He Ping and I,” Her face flushed, stumbling over the words “one-night stand” as if they burned her tongue.

Jiang Menghe fell silent, resting her chin on her hand as she gazed at her. Her long lashes cast dense shadows beneath her eyes, like frost melting into her irises.

In moments like these, when she didn’t speak, an air of chilling detachment clung to her.

Then, suddenly, she smiled. “You never know. If the great author sells the rights to her work someday, there might be a collaboration.”

Even though Jiang Menghe’s words struck a chord and despite her usual gentleness Yin Yunzhu couldn’t bring herself to feel happy.

There were always moments like this, when something sharp seemed to slice through the surface, revealing a blade-like edge beneath. The stark contrast in Jiang Menghe’s demeanor unsettled her, stirring unease.

Brushing off the strange tightness in her chest, Yin Yunzhu grabbed a towel and headed for the bathroom. “I’m going to shower first.”

Steam filled the bathroom, condensation sliding down the fogged-up glass. Yin Yunzhu cupped water in her hands to wash her face, still mulling over Jiang Menghe’s words.

Seeing her characters come to life on screen had always been her dream. Once her basic needs were met, she could immerse herself fully in her craft.

Yet, even after lingering in a creative rut for so long, success always seemed just out of reach, missing that final stroke of luck.

The shower was the perfect place to think. The warm water cascaded over her skin, stripping away all pretense, leaving her bare and unguarded. Just as her vision blurred, a sudden chill brushed against her.

The sound of the door opening reached her ears. Jiang Menghe had slipped in at some point, her figure hazy through the misted glass as their eyes met.

“You!”

Water stung Yin Yunzhu’s eyes, making it hard to open them. She wiped at them clumsily with the back of her hand, startled. “Why did you just barge in like that?”

Even though they had been intimate in bed, being watched while showering felt entirely different. In this vulnerable state, it was too easy to let her guard down.

Noticing her embarrassment, Jiang Menghe bent down, picked up the fallen towel, and placed it back on the rack.

“Your towel dropped. I came in to wash my hands and figured I’d grab it for you.”

“You could’ve at least,” Yin Yunzhu faltered, scrambling for a retort. “You could’ve knocked first!”

“I did. You didn’t hear me.”

Her calm reply only made Yin Yunzhu more flustered. “That still doesn’t mean you can just, just peek at me showering!”

That accusation carried some weight.

A soft laugh reached her ears, the sound curling through the humid air of the cramped shower, sending a tingling shiver down her spine.

“I wasn’t peeking. You looked exhausted today, and you’ve been in here so long, I was worried you’d faint.”

“Have I really been that long?”

“Half an hour.”

Yin Yunzhu fell silent. For her, thirty minutes was indeed excessive. She usually only took that long when she was deep in hair care. And Jiang Menghe, being the closest to her, knew these habits all too well.

Realizing she had no ground to stand on, she mumbled, “Then just wait for me. I’ll be done soon.”

“I won’t wait.” Jiang Menghe’s words carried a childlike willfulness.

Her soft fingertips pressed against the glass, slowly wiping away the fog, the process grating on one’s nerves.

Yin Yunzhu saw those familiar eyes intensely aggressive, as if surveying their territory.

Trapped in the shower stall, unable to move, the only cover being a towel hanging on the outside handle. She covered her upper body, avoiding Jiang Menghe’s gaze while cracking the door open just a sliver.

The woman noticed this gesture and, with exaggerated consideration, handed her the towel, deliberately gripping Yin Yunzhu’s wrist in the process.

The scar left from a past collision had scabbed over, no longer as ghastly as it first appeared. Jiang Menghe’s fingers traced over it, her gaze softening with expectation.

“Yin Yunzhu, let yourself go one more time tonight.”

Perhaps being in an unfamiliar place had lifted the weight from their shoulders. It was unclear who ignited the fiery passion first fingertips lingering over collarbones, a swan-like neck arching against cold tiles, unable to struggle free.

Jiang Menghe adored this contrast in Yin Yunzhu, especially how she sank into post-coital guilt, as if in a moment of clarity. Watching her regret her own fall, yet still being irresistibly drawn in.

“I’m terrible.”

Her foot arched, pressing against Yin Yunzhu’s calf as she bit her shoulder, murmuring the words. The water from above mixed with their sweat, sticky yet clarifying.

Yin Yunzhu’s arms ached, too exhausted for more.

“Jiejie!”

The last words of the long night dissolved into a cry of mingled pain and pleasure.

The next morning, Yin Yunzhu turned over to find Jiang Menghe sitting at the bedside. She seemed to have been awake for a while, her damp hair wrapped in a towel as she scrolled through messages.

Her shoulder blades, delicate and symmetrical, protruded like butterfly wings. Yin Yunzhu blinked, suddenly mischievous, and when the other wasn’t looking, poked a finger into the dip of her waist.

Her fingers were caught, Jiang Menghe tucking them under the blankets before rolling back onto the bed.

“Trying to ambush me?”

“Not at all.”

Yin Yunzhu lied, pulling her hand free and hiding it behind her back. From her angle, she could see the dense red marks trailing from collarbones down to a crimson mole, sucked until the original color was indistinguishable. The smooth lines disappeared beneath her collar, a sight that burned her cheeks.

Suddenly remembering the other woman had been sick recently, she reached up to feel Jiang Menghe’s forehead.

A faint smile played on Jiang Menghe’s lips as she allowed the touch, indulging Yin Yunzhu’s fussing.

“At least there’s no fever.” Yin Yunzhu sighed in relief, only for last night’s sinful acts to resurface in her mind.

“Actually, last night, I just!”

Jiang Menghe cut off her excuses. “It’s understandable.”

Even if Yin Yunzhu had been completely unwilling, she had a thousand ways to make her yield. Like an unsuspecting rabbit stumbling into a carefully laid trap.

As the shadows lightened, Yin Yunzhu watched Jiang Menghe rise and pick up her undergarments from the couch.

“When are you leaving Pingcheng?”

She heard the question.

“Not long now. Spring Festival’s coming, and my family’s been pushing me to go back.”

“Pushing you?” Jiang Menghe fastened her bra, the black lace stark against her pale skin. “A blind date?”

She vaguely recalled Yin Xuan mentioning once that Yin Yunzhu’s mother was eager to set her up.

“No, just going home for the holidays.”

Yin Yunzhu cocooned herself in the blankets, reaching for her clothes on the nightstand. “If I’m with you, I won’t go on blind dates.”

The previous incident involving Ren Yu had blown up, and she couldn’t possibly be such a hypocrite as to allow herself to be fickle while forbidding others.

The edge of the bed dipped under the weight as Jiang Menghe’s face came within inches. Backlit, her nose bridge divided her striking features into light and shadow.

A finger lifted Yin Yunzhu’s chin, forcing her to meet Jiang Menghe’s gaze.

“Don’t worry, I’ll let you go once you’ve had your fill of fun.”

The woman’s tone was melodious, yet her words were ruthlessly cold. For some reason, a pang of sourness welled up in Yin Yunzhu’s chest. Even after Jiang Menghe stood up, she remained frozen in place.

Jiang Menghe couldn’t possibly miss that flicker of emotion, but she found it troublesome to placate her. So, even at the risk of offending, she laid out the harsh truth upfront.

There was absolutely no future for them.

The quiet bedroom filled with the rustling of fabric as Yin Yunzhu clutched the sheets, her knuckles turning white. Even knowing how things would end, she couldn’t bring herself to spoil the moment with blunt words during their intimacy.

Jiang Menghe glanced at the pile of clothes on the floor and hooked a black garment with her toes.

A dried, sticky white stain marred a small section in the middle. Frowning, she tossed it straight into the trash. Turning to ask Yin Yunzhu about it, she found her lying flushed on the bed and sighed inwardly.

“Still thinking about what I said earlier?” Jiang Menghe walked over and patted her shoulder.

“No.”

Yin Yunzhu was still fuming, acutely aware that she was pushing her luck, demanding more from Jiang Menghe yet utterly unable to stop herself.

“Your thoughts are written all over your face.”

“Hmph.”

“Angry?”

She wanted to deny it, but afraid Jiang Menghe might actually believe her, she sat up to face her properly.

Seeing Yin Yunzhu ready for a confrontation, Jiang Menghe suppressed the urge to laugh.

“You!” Yin Yunzhu puffed her cheeks and punched Jiang Menghe’s thigh with a clenched fist. “No matter what, you shouldn’t have said something so hurtful!”

“Are we just,” She faltered, searching for a euphemism, ” never going to be harmonious again?”

Truthfully, Jiang Menghe had repeatedly warned herself with logic she and Yin Yunzhu shouldn’t have gone this far. What kind of feelings could two people bound by physical attraction possibly have?

Yet her gaze kept drifting back, curious to see the other’s reaction.

She let Yin Yunzhu rant, adopting the posture of a student attentively listening to a lecture.

“Do you have any idea? Every time we’re together from now on, if I remember those words, I’ll just, wilt.”

Her words increasingly bordered on jest, so Yin Yunzhu seized the lighter mood to pour out her grievances.

“You’re not a man, how could you ‘wilt’?” Jiang Menghe hooked her middle finger, teasing, “You’re plenty capable.”

“Wilt as in wither!” Yin Yunzhu curled her hand, emphasizing.

“That’s called ‘bed death.'” Knowing she lacked knowledge in this area, Jiang Menghe patiently explained.

“What I mean is, those words will stick in my heart like thorns. Every time I remember them, I’ll wither like a flower.” Yin Yunzhu stubbornly clung to her metaphor.

“You’re right. I won’t say it again.”

Jiang Menghe had endless patience and tolerance for her, yet she always managed to provoke the usually good-natured Yin Yunzhu. The latter glared at her, breathing heavily, her round eyes burning with frustration.

Their gazes locked, and once again, Jiang Menghe surrendered.

“Fine, I won’t say it ever again,” she sighed. “So, can I get dressed now?”

Yin Yunzhu’s gaze drifted downward, only to realize the other woman was practically naked except for her bra. She hurriedly grabbed a corner of the nearby blanket to cover her.

“You can get dressed. I won’t look,” she said, even turning her face away voluntarily.

In this regard, she was far more considerate than Jiang Menghe.

“Throw it away,” Jiang Menghe said casually, as if discussing the weather. “Lend me yours.”

“No!” Yin Yunzhu was like a timid rabbit that only dared to act tough in familiar company, growing increasingly adept at refusing as she became more comfortable with someone.

A small bulge rose beneath the bedding as Jiang Menghe’s hand slipped inside, searching, then swiftly pulling out a clean scrap of fabric.

It was the underwear Yin Yunzhu had prepared to wear today.

Before she could snatch it back, the woman leaned in, pressing a kiss to the corner of her lips, a triumphant smile playing on her face.

“On the days we don’t meet, I’ll rely on this to think of you.”

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