Seven-year itch | Stealing someone’s partner | Rekindled romance | Brought together by music
A growing, airheaded muse x a younger woman who’s sweet on the outside and dark on the inside
Su Jue unilaterally asked for a divorce, then changed her name to Su Linyue and ran away before signing the papers.
The TV in the shop, posters at the mall, screens in the plaza, even her phone wallpaper kept reminding her, over and over: Rao Qin had never really left her life.
*
At a concert, Su Linyue was caught on the audience interaction camera. Afterward, she was “invited” to a private lounge backstage. The moment she walked in, she was pulled into a hot, familiar embrace.
A familiar scent surrounded her: “I’ve missed you so much.”
In the dim room, the mirror before them reflected Rao Qin and Su Linyue entwined together.
Su Linyue steadied herself and forced herself to stay calm. “We’re divorced.”
Rao Qin bent down affectionately and nuzzled the side of her neck. “I haven’t been able to sleep for ages.”
Su Linyue suppressed her pounding heart, took a deep breath, and said without changing her expression, “I have someone I like. Let me go, Rao Qin.”
The arm around her tightened. Through the mirror, a sharp, icy gaze made her turn her eyes away.
After a long pause, Rao Qin smiled as if it didn’t matter, turned her head, and kissed the corner of her mouth. “It wouldn’t be the first time anyway.”
*
Su Linyue struggled to remember. At first, she really hadn’t liked Rao Qin.
In the gray days of their student years, Rao Qin accidentally discovered her secret crush on an older student and volunteered to help her win him over.
Rao Qin arranged for her to meet him in the music room, but when footsteps sounded in the hallway, she pinned Su Linyue behind the door and kissed her passionately.
The handle behind her waist turned, a cheap phone vibrated against her body, and the older student’s voice kept ringing in her ears.
In the gaps between kisses, Rao Qin kept giving Su Linyue a running commentary: “He’s looking for you. He knocked on the door. He’s gone to the window. The curtains are open. If he climbs in, he’ll see us kissing...”
After dropping one time bomb after another, Rao Qin kissed her again.
For the first time in her life, Su Linyue felt her heart literally pounding like a drum.
At last, Rao Qin pulled away and smiled wickedly. “I was lying. I locked the doors and windows. He can’t get in.”
*
A story born of a craving for old-school melodrama. Set in a fictional world, with very imperfect characters. The characters have no musical ability whatsoever. All music-related details are researched, borrowed, and mixed together at random. The story alternates with memories from their school days, and the older student is cannon fodder.
The “bie” in the title, Don’t Linger in Reflected Shadows, has a different meaning. The inspiration came from “Don’t hide your pipa,” and its extended meaning: redirecting your affections to someone else, regardless of gender.
Theme: Her song echoes through the forest, and she longs to catch the singing cicada
