Shadowed Love: A Lover Who Refuses to Let Go - Chapter 8

At the intersection, cars flowed like a river, their honks blending into the gritty wind. As the traffic light changed, the waiting crowd began moving, making Yin Yunzhu stand out even more.

She stared at her phone screen as if trying to bore holes through it, repeatedly pondering the meaning behind those words.

Not only had she been spotted, but Yin Xuan had also made it into the frame.

Little Bamboo: 【Yeah, need to bring my sister】

After typing this, she felt her explanation was too much, as if she were eager to distance herself from Yin Xuan. But her fingers moved faster than her brain, and the message was sent before she could reconsider.

Orange Harmony: 【Oh?】

Orange Harmony: 【You left something here. Aren’t you coming to get it?】

Orange Harmony: 【[Image]】

Yin Yunzhu opened the image and saw the keychain she had lost a few days ago, a green plush toy with two eyes glued on, resembling a personified virus charm.

It really was hers. That night, when she reached for her keys, she found only emptiness and assumed she had left them in the taxi, so she didn’t dwell on it. Turns out Jiang Menghe had them.

She had bought it with her roommate during a trip to Baihui in college. It held no special meaning, just something she had kept out of habit, tossing it into the washing machine with her jacket whenever it got dirty.

She hadn’t planned on retrieving it, but a nagging guilt or perhaps some instinct, made her reply.

【Got it. I’ll come get it tomorrow night.】

A tug at her sleeve. Yin Xuan looked up at her impatiently. “Sis, stop playing with your phone. The light’s about to change.”

Yin Yunzhu glanced up and saw the countdown on the opposite signal. Grabbing her sister’s hand, she hurried across, making it to the sidewalk just as the light turned red.

“You said you’d keep me company, but you’re not even paying attention.” Yin Xuan reached for the phone, but Yunzhu lifted it out of her grasp.

“Kids shouldn’t stare at screens. It’ll ruin your eyes.” She parroted Ms. Shan’s go-to line, and sure enough, the little girl’s enthusiasm deflated with a huff.

“If you won’t let me see, I’ll tell Mom you’re bullying me when we get back.”

“Kids shouldn’t meddle in grown-up business.” Yunzhu held the squirming Yin Xuan in place. Outmatched in strength, the girl soon gave up, her round cheeks flushed with frustration.

“I’m going back to see Jiangjiang.” She pivoted on her toes, about to dash across the crosswalk, only to be yanked back by her collar.

Where she had picked up the habit of calling her “Jiangjiang,” Yunzhu had no idea.

“Jiangjiang won’t have time for a brat like you. Don’t waste your energy.” Yunzhu wrapped her arms firmly around the girl. Sometimes, with kids, you had to be firm, reasoning got you nowhere.

Realizing escape was impossible, Yin Xuan glared with wide eyes. “I don’t want you as my sister anymore. I’ll find a nicer one myself.”

Her bravado was almost comical, like a newborn kitten trying to intimidate with its tiny claws.

“Ask Mom first if she’ll allow it. And who’s this ‘nicer’ sister you’re after, Jiang Menghe?” The words slipped out before Yunzhu could stop them.

When she thought of “gentleness,” Jiang Menghe’s face was the first to flash through her mind. Despite their rocky interactions, the woman embodied the word effortlessly in her demeanor.

Just standing there, she exuded a quiet elegance. For a celebrity, she carried no airs like warm jade, radiating comfort at a touch.

“Yeah, I’d rather have Jiang Jiang as my sister, not you.” Yin Xuan pushed her away, her little mind already scheming.

Yin Yunzhu rapped her knuckles against the back of her head, easily subduing her. “You think she’s all gentle and sweet?”

After their intimate encounters, she knew all too well the wildness hidden beneath that woman’s surface. That gentle, affectionate demeanor? Nothing but a facade.

No one understood her other side better than she did.

The next day, Yin Yunzhu took advantage of a break between work to visit Jiang Menghe’s home.

She had learned one thing, when one person craves the other’s body, even in broad daylight, the two could easily end up tangled together. Though she had mentally prepared herself beforehand, determined to firmly reject any advances this time (surely Jiang Menghe wouldn’t force herself on her, right?), her heart still swayed like an unbalanced scale as she knocked on the door.

The door cracked open slightly, and Jiang Menghe’s footsteps faded into the distance. She was on the phone, sitting back on the living room sofa, her delicate brows furrowed as if in disagreement with the person on the other end.

The room’s layout hadn’t changed much since her last visit. Night had fallen over Quancheng, and through the floor-to-ceiling windows, she could see the artificial lake at the center, surrounded by trees now bare after shedding their leaves, adorned with tiny yellow bulbs that sparkled like fire and silver from afar.

The heating was ample, and Jiang Menghe wore only a knee-length dress at home. Her crossed legs gleamed pale, the hem of her skirt occasionally brushing against her ankles.

Jiang Menghe didn’t have much on her schedule lately otherwise, she would’ve already been holed up on a film set.

Since she was still on the phone, Yin Yunzhu didn’t dare move recklessly, awkwardly hovering by the cabinet next to the sofa.

“Got it, I’ll talk to her,” Jiang Menghe said, massaging her temple, the jewelry on her earlobe catching the light as she moved. “Get some rest early.”

After hanging up, she pressed her lips together, clearly in a sour mood, before remembering Yin Yunzhu was still there. She reined in her emotions and tilted her chin toward the side. “Don’t just stand there. Take a seat.”

Then she tossed her phone onto the sofa and stood, ready to leave the room.

“No need. I’ll grab my things and go.” Yin Yunzhu met her gaze briefly before quickly looking away.

Seeing she couldn’t be persuaded to stay, Jiang Menghe lingered by the hallway, her striking features softened by the gentle lighting. “I just got back from the studio not long ago. I was planning to take a shower first, could you wait for me a little?”

Yin Yunzhu couldn’t refuse such a reasonable request and nodded stiffly.

Retrieving a keychain wouldn’t take much time. Maybe it was the deepening autumn chill in Quancheng that made her want to linger a little longer, soaking up the warmth.

She settled into a corner of the sofa, sitting stiffly. Out of the corner of her eye, she watched Jiang Menghe’s figure disappear down the hallway. Clasping her hands together, Yin Yunzhu was too nervous to let her gaze wander.

The coffee table held only an upside-down tea set, likely untouched for a long time, the water stains long evaporated.

The memory of their entangled embrace, her back pressed against something cold, made Yin Yunzhu’s cheeks burn. She lowered her head, rubbing her face repeatedly. Just then, she noticed a document resting on the arm of the sofa.

The cover was a plain white A4 sheet, the bold Song font spelling out the title of a script.

Was this Jiang Menghe’s audition material?

Curious, she picked it up and carefully flipped through it. The written word had always held an irresistible charm for Yin Yunzhu, and she soon became engrossed.

The script contained only brief character dialogues, with necessary actions and emotions noted beside the names, the rest was left to the actors’ interpretation.

Yin Yunzhu recognized this plot, it was a segment from a recently viral novel. After being published in physical books and adapted into comics, it had gained unstoppable momentum, catching the attention of copyright holders and successfully being adapted for film and television.

According to rumors, casting was still underway.

How enviable.

As a writer of her caliber, her income comfortably covered daily expenses, leaving her financially unburdened. So, she pinned her hopes on refining higher-quality works, dreaming that one day, copyright holders might take notice.

Unfortunately, due to genre restrictions, even if Yin Yunzhu’s novels were published in print, many supernatural and eerie elements would have to be cut. By the time the book reached readers, its content would bear little resemblance to the digital version.

Lost in thought, she caught a faint, elegant whiff of gardenia, wrapped in damp humidity, like summer rain. Then, the light dimmed before her as the script in her hand was plucked away.

Jiang Menghe had finished her shower at some point, water droplets trailing from her hair onto the towel draped over her shoulders. Her robe hung open, revealing a collarbone and the small red mole on her left chest.

A week had passed, and any lingering marks had faded beyond visibility.

Yin Yunzhu’s gaze burned, and she nervously lowered her eyes. Realizing the rudeness of taking something without permission, she quickly stood to apologize, “I’m sorry, I just—”

Jiang Menghe curved her lips, holding the script without a word. The fragmented light caught in her almond-shaped eyes, making her true emotions unreadable, though instinct suggested mild irritation.

People who concealed their emotions were hard to decipher, impossible to understand.

No one liked those who lacked boundaries, those who overstepped their place and touched things freely in someone else’s home. Putting herself in Jiang Menghe’s shoes, Yin Yunzhu wondered if she had grown presumptuous, emboldened by their few intimate encounters.

As she stood, a weight settled on her shoulder, Jiang Menghe pressing her back down, or perhaps just using her for balance as she sat beside her.

The woman’s damp hair radiated warmth, tickling Yin Yunzhu’s nerves. Restless, she glanced over and saw Jiang Menghe skimming the script.

Not so much reading as scanning. Within seconds, Jiang Menghe rolled it up and tossed it carelessly onto the other end of the sofa.

“It’s fine,” she said, close enough that their arms brushed, warmth building between them. “You’re interested in this? If you like it, I could introduce you to the industry.”

Yin Yunzhu wasn’t bad-looking, her clear, round eyes could soften hearts at a glance. Her features weren’t sharply defined, giving her an overall vibe of the recently popular “ditzy beauty” trope.

The topic successfully diverted, she had already forgotten her original purpose for being here. Following Jiang Menghe’s train of thought, something felt off.

Like an olive branch extended by a sugar daddy after taking a lover under their wing.

“No, I’ve studied this book before, some of its plot devices are really well done,” Yin Yunzhu admitted sheepishly. Aside from writing, her job required constant research to fuel inspiration.

Whether it was trending market styles or niche genres, she had delved into them all.

Jiang Menghe’s sharp eyes caught the keyword, her brow quirking in curiosity. “Studied?”

“I’m a full-time writer. I really enjoy this stuff.” This was the first time they’d discussed anything unrelated to sex, and Yin Yunzhu felt awkward.

For the first time, she saw genuine surprise on the other woman’s face. The usual lazy amusement in Jiang Menghe’s eyes faded slightly. “Really? That’s impressive.”

When Jiang Menghe smiled, her eyes curved like crescent moons. It wasn’t empty politeness, there was a subtle, almost imperceptible hint of admiration.

Yin Yunzhu suddenly felt reinvigorated, momentarily forgetting the tense standoff between them. Being praised by this gentle older sister made her puff up like an inflated balloon, her lips curling upward in an embarrassingly pleased expression.

These subtle reactions didn’t escape the woman’s notice. A mischievous glint appeared in her eyes as she reached out to smooth the stray hairs by Yin’s ear, asking casually:

“It’s freezing outside today. It’s dangerous for a Beta to walk alone at night.”

“Would you like to stay?”

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