Qin Lan's heart raced as she stared at the message, her phone trembling in her hand. She reread the words over and over, each time her anxiety growing. The anonymous sender claimed to know something about Lu Yan—something she wasn't aware of. But was it real, or just another ploy to destroy the delicate progress they had made?
Her thoughts spiraled as questions raced through her mind. Was this person connected to Song Rui? Was it a trap? Could she trust this anonymous source?
Just as she was about to type a response, Lu Yan's voice broke the silence. "Lan?" He stepped out of the bathroom, a towel wrapped around his waist and water droplets still clinging to his hair. He looked relaxed for the first time in a long while, as if the conversation they'd had earlier had lifted some of the tension that had been suffocating them both.
Qin Lan quickly turned off her phone, hiding her sudden distress with a forced smile. "Yeah?" she replied, her voice unnaturally steady. She couldn't let him see the message—not yet. Not until she understood what it meant.
"I was thinking we could go out this weekend. Maybe get away from everything for a little while," Lu Yan suggested, his tone light. He ran a hand through his damp hair, his gaze soft as he looked at her. "Just the two of us."
Qin Lan felt a pang of guilt at his words. He was trying—really trying. And here she was, holding onto a secret that could shatter the fragile truce they had just begun to form. She nodded, her smile tight. "That sounds nice."
Lu Yan smiled back, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Good. I'll make the arrangements."
As he walked away, heading to the bedroom to get dressed, Qin Lan's gaze lingered on him. Her heart was torn. Part of her wanted to confront him immediately about the message, demand the truth. But another part of her—the part that feared losing him—urged caution. She couldn't afford to jump to conclusions, not without more information.
When Lu Yan was out of sight, Qin Lan unlocked her phone and stared at the message again. Meet me tomorrow. I'll explain everything.
Her fingers hovered over the screen before she finally typed a quick response: Who are you?
She waited, her heart pounding in her chest as she watched the dots appear on the screen, indicating that the anonymous sender was typing. After what felt like an eternity, the response came.
Unknown: Someone who cares about the truth. If you want to know the real Lu Yan, meet me at the café on Xiang Street. 11 AM. Don't tell anyone, especially not him.
Qin Lan's hands tightened around her phone. The real Lu Yan? What did that even mean? Was there something else he had been hiding from her? After everything they had been through, could there still be secrets lurking in the shadows?
She swallowed hard, her mind a whirlwind of fear and doubt. Was she really ready to face the truth—whatever it might be?
---
The next morning, Qin Lan could hardly focus on anything as she prepared for the day ahead. The message from the anonymous sender had haunted her all night, leaving her with barely any sleep. Lu Yan had noticed her restlessness, but she had waved it off as stress from work.
She looked at herself in the mirror, her reflection betraying the turmoil that churned inside her. Today could change everything. If she met this person and uncovered something damning about Lu Yan, there might be no turning back.
Her phone buzzed on the vanity, pulling her out of her thoughts. It was a message from Lu Yan: Leaving for work now. I'll see you tonight. I love you.
Qin Lan's heart twisted as she read his words. Did he really love her? Was it genuine? Or was this message yet another layer of the illusion?
She grabbed her bag and headed out the door, her nerves wound tight as she made her way to the café on Xiang Street. It was a small, nondescript place, nestled between two large office buildings. The kind of place where no one would think to look for her.
Her hands trembled slightly as she pushed open the door, scanning the room for any sign of the anonymous sender. The café was sparsely populated—just a few patrons quietly sipping their drinks at scattered tables. Her eyes landed on a figure seated in the far corner, wearing a hooded jacket and sunglasses.
Her heart leaped into her throat. Was this them?
With a deep breath, Qin Lan steeled herself and made her way toward the figure. As she approached, the person lifted their head slightly, gesturing for her to sit across from them. Qin Lan hesitated for a moment before slowly lowering herself into the chair.
The person didn't speak immediately, their eyes hidden behind dark glasses as they regarded her in silence. The tension in the air was palpable, thick with unspoken questions and simmering unease.
Finally, the figure spoke, their voice low and unfamiliar. "You came. That's good. I wasn't sure if you would."
Qin Lan swallowed hard, her fingers clenched around the strap of her bag. "Who are you?" she asked, her voice sharper than she intended. "Why did you contact me?"
The figure leaned back slightly in their chair, their expression unreadable. "I'm someone who's been watching Lu Yan for a long time," they said quietly. "And I think it's time you knew the truth about who he really is."
Qin Lan's heart raced at their words, her mind buzzing with a thousand questions. "What truth?" she demanded. "What are you talking about?"
The figure hesitated for a moment before pulling out a small envelope from their jacket pocket and sliding it across the table to her. "This will tell you everything you need to know. But be warned—it might not be what you want to hear."
Qin Lan stared at the envelope, her hand trembling as she reached for it. Inside, she could feel the weight of the answers she had been searching for—the answers that could either confirm her worst fears or dispel them entirely.
"What's in here?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
The figure tilted their head slightly, their gaze still obscured by the sunglasses. "Proof," they replied simply. "Proof that Lu Yan isn't the man you think he is."
Qin Lan's breath hitched in her throat as she clutched the envelope tightly in her hand. The weight of the truth—whatever it was—pressed down on her like a leaden cloud.
"Why are you doing this?" she asked, her voice shaking. "Why now?"
The figure's lips curved into a small, humorless smile. "Because you deserve to know," they said softly. "No one should be kept in the dark about the person they love."
Qin Lan's heart pounded in her chest as she stood from the table, clutching the envelope tightly in her hand. She didn't say another word as she turned and hurried out of the café, her mind racing with fear and uncertainty.
---
Back at home, Qin Lan paced the living room, the envelope still unopened in her hand. What if it was all a lie? What if this was just someone trying to sabotage her relationship with Lu Yan?
But deep down, Qin Lan knew that she couldn't ignore it. She had to know the truth—no matter how painful it might be.
With trembling hands, she tore open the envelope, pulling out a series of photographs. Her eyes widened in shock as she stared at the images—images of Lu Yan, meeting with a woman she didn't recognize. They were taken in secret, the pair caught in intimate moments—too close, too familiar.
Her heart clenched painfully in her chest as the truth settled in. Lu Yan had been hiding something from her.
She had been living in the shadow of his past—and now, it seemed, that shadow had come to claim its place once again.
---
End of Chapter 18
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