Chapter 13

The rain had finally stopped, and the sun was shining brightly. After being cooped up in her room for too long, Yun Yin decided to go for a walk.

During her time at Yunman Lake, the longest she’d spent doing anything was sleeping, and she was starting to find it rather dull.

She figured she should take advantage of her relatively healthy body to do things she enjoyed while she still could.

Yun Yin asked Aunt Lin about the nearest large shopping mall, quickly tidied herself up, and set off.

Yunman Lake was far from the city center, and many of the things she needed weren’t available there. She had to go to the main urban area to buy them.

Upon arriving in the city, Yun Yin put on her mask, got out of the car, and told the driver to return. She wanted to explore alone.

She strolled leisurely into the mall, her destination clear in her mind.

She had researched beforehand: this mall had a store specializing in professional-grade microphones and related equipment.

Perhaps because it was a weekday, the store was nearly empty. Three or five people stood at the cashier, looking like they were together.

Yun Yin stood a distance behind them, waiting patiently, and overheard their conversation.

“I heard a rumor that Xu Ruoyou is coming back.”

“Ah! Really?” one of the girls exclaimed in disbelief. “Didn’t she say she’d be studying abroad for two years? It’s only been one year.”

The girl continued, “I don’t know for sure, but I have a strong feeling it’s true.”

Xu Ruoyou?

Yun Yin’s lips moved slightly as she silently repeated the name.

Isn’t she the male lead’s unattainable white moonlight in the novel?

No wonder the name sounded so familiar.

In the book, Xu Ruoyou was a renowned singer and the male lead’s long-cherished, yet unattainable, love.

However, she wasn’t the female lead. Like the original owner of Yun Yin’s body, she was merely a plot device with minimal screen time.

In this million-word novel, there seemed to be no true female lead. The author appeared reluctant to invest in developing female characters, leaving them flat and stereotypical.

Instead, there were only the male lead’s so-called “soulmates,” women willing to sacrifice everything to advance his career.

Soon, the customers ahead of Yun Yin finished their transactions, and it was her turn. She snapped out of her reverie about the novel’s plot.

The staff member who greeted her glanced at her order and smiled warmly. “Miss, is there anything else you need?”

Yun Yin checked her shopping list on her phone, comparing it to her order. “No, thank you,” she replied softly.

The staff member paused, startled by her voice.

Her voice was gentle and melodious, with a clear, pure tone that was instantly recognizable. Even through her mask, it carried a hint of sweetness.

A few seconds later, the staff member snapped out of their daze, picked up the order, rang up the purchase, and handed Yun Yin a receipt. “Miss, our store offers delivery. Would you like to use it?”

Yun Yin nodded and filled out her address as instructed.

While she was writing, the staff member couldn’t help but steal glances at her.

Her face was obscured by a white mask and hat, leaving only her luminous, captivating eyes visible.

They were strikingly beautiful.

As Yun Yin finished her purchase and prepared to leave, she noticed a record store next door. Her eyes lit up, and she immediately walked over.

She gently pushed open the door, the wind chimes tinkling crisply. Inside, a black vinyl record player was playing a song she’d never heard before.

The male vocalist’s voice was deep and husky, as if sharing a personal story with you.

The shelves were lined with tapes and records from various eras. Movie and music posters of all sizes were stacked on the wooden floor. Further inside, a wall of books and albums came into view.

Many of the records were from a world different from her own, so she hadn’t heard most of the songs.

The once-bright sky had inexplicably turned rainy, and Yun Yin showed no signs of leaving the record store.

It wasn’t until five in the afternoon that the driver’s phone call finally pulled her away.

As she opened the car door, Yun Yin noticed an unfamiliar figure inside. Her hand froze on the handle.

“Don’t you recognize me?” the man’s low, husky voice echoed in the car.

Yun Yin blinked, snapped out of her daze, closed the door, and slid inside. “No, I was just surprised.”

Pei Yu turned his head, his gaze lifting to meet hers. “What did you buy today?”

His question reminded Yun Yin of the record store she’d stumbled upon earlier. She picked up one of the albums and waved it. “These.”

She seemed genuinely delighted, her voice brimming with excitement.

“So happy?” Pei Yu chuckled softly, as if infected by her mood.

“Mm-hmm.” Yun Yin nodded, her thoughts drifting back to the rows of records in the store. “Most of them I’ve never heard before.”

Pei Yu’s eyes darkened.

Unaware of the contradiction in her words, Yun Yin held in her hand one of the most iconic works of a legendary pop king—a song so universally known that it had become a cultural touchstone.

It was impossible he hadn’t heard of her.

Pei Yu recalled the image of Yun Yin softly humming that night. “Is there anything else you want to buy?”

“No, that’s all.” Yun Yin shook her head. They had already bought everything they needed, and these records were an unexpected delight.

In the warm car, fatigue suddenly washed over her. Her eyelids grew heavier and heavier, and Yun Yin closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.

Pei Yu glanced at the woman beside him. After a few seconds, he quietly asked the driver to raise the air conditioning temperature and lower the volume of the light music. The car slowed to a smooth, steady pace.

Yun Yin woke from her daze. When she opened her eyes, the sky outside was completely dark.

As she fully regained her senses, she suddenly realized she was being held in someone’s arms.

“Why didn’t you wake me?”

“I tried, but you didn’t wake up.” Pei Yu lowered his gaze to meet hers, his tone utterly flat.

How could I have no memory of that?

“I’m awake now. You can put me down.” An unfamiliar yet familiar scent filled her nostrils, and Yun Yin unconsciously shifted in his arms.

She still wasn’t used to being so close to someone.

Pei Yu’s arm tightened slightly, and Yun Yin instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck.

“Don’t move. We’re almost there.”

Yun Yin froze, terrified he might drop her.

When they reached the living room, Pei Yu gently placed her on the sofa. She immediately sprang up and hurried upstairs.

By evening, Yun Yin showed signs of a fever, likely from spending too much time outdoors. During dinner, Pei Yu noticed her discomfort and immediately called Qi Ye.

After the call, Pei Yu retrieved the medicine he had prepared earlier from the medicine cabinet.

“Can’t you tell me when you’re not feeling well?” Pei Yu frowned at Yun Yin.

It was early autumn, and the weather in the Capital was unpredictable. One moment the sun shone brightly, and the next a torrential downpour could begin.

At Yunman Lake, Aunt Lin, aware of Yun Yin’s delicate health, had taken meticulous precautions to keep her warm. Yun Yin rarely caught colds or fevers there, so Pei Yu was surprised she had developed a fever after being out for less than a day.

This incident served as a stark reminder of just how fragile Yun Yin’s constitution truly was.

“It’s nothing,” Yun Yin said, seemingly unconcerned. “I just need a good night’s sleep.”

Pei Yu’s irritation grew inexplicably.

He recalled Yun Yin’s previous illness. What would have been a minor cold or fever for most people, lasting only two or three days, had lingered for over a week in her case.

“Don’t go out again until you’re completely recovered,” Pei Yu said stiffly, handing her the medicine. “Take this.”

He spoke as if he were the one who was sick, not Yun Yin.

Realizing he was concerned for her, Yun Yin didn’t argue. She slowly accepted the medicine and a cup of hot water.

Watching her obediently swallow the pills, Pei Yu’s irritation eased slightly.

In just a few days, Yun Yin had listened to all the albums she’d bought last time, yet she still felt unsatisfied.

She researched the history of music in this world online, and the more she learned, the more fascinated she became.

It was completely different from the world she’d known before transmigrating into this book.

This rekindled her interest.

She listened to the works of several artists online, but soon grew restless and began searching for out-of-print albums.

The weather remained gloomy today, and Yun Yin was still coughing, but she decided to venture out anyway, returning to the same record store as before.

As she left, she didn’t notice Aunt Lin’s hesitant gaze, nor did she remember Pei Yu’s words from a few days prior.

Upon arriving at the store, Yun Yin eagerly stepped inside.

This time, the shelves seemed to be stocked with even more new albums, and she began browsing slowly.

At a corner on one side, a casually dressed woman leaned against a bookshelf, holding an album in her hand.

Yun Yin glanced over absently. The album cover featured two large, ornate cursive characters:

Hidden Melody

Yun Yin had stumbled upon this album while researching online a couple of days ago.

It was Xu Ruoyou’s most famous album, bar none, featuring many of her signature songs.

Undeniably, Xu Ruoyou possessed a unique voice—clear, resonant, and deeply emotive. Yet, to Yun Yin, it always felt like something was missing.

At the same time, the woman noticed Yun Yin’s gaze. She looked up, raising an eyebrow slightly. “You like it?”

Yun Yin now got a clearer look at the woman. She was fully masked and hatted, her face completely obscured. Only her clothing and figure hinted at her gender.

Yun Yin wasn’t surprised by this. Due to seasonal allergies, she herself always wore a mask when going out.

Faced with the woman’s question, Yun Yin naturally couldn’t voice her true thoughts. Instead, she simply said, “It’s alright.”

The woman shook her head, drawing out her words. “I don’t think much of it.”

Yun Yin remained silent, but the voice struck her as strangely familiar.

The woman had no intention of continuing the casual conversation with Yun Yin, nor did she expect a response. As if talking to herself, she finished speaking, casually placed the album back on the shelf, and left.

Yun Yin watched her retreating figure, now recognizing who she was—Xu Ruoyou.

She had heard her songs before. Her voice was distinctive and easily recognizable. Even though the woman had lowered her voice while speaking, Yun Yin had still recognized her.

The encounter with Xu Ruoyou felt like a trivial side note, and Yun Yin paid it no mind.

She stayed at the record store until the afternoon, buying a large stack of albums before finally returning home, completely satisfied.

When Yun Yin arrived and was about to head upstairs, she saw Aunt Lin standing at the foot of the staircase, looking as if she had something to say.

“What’s wrong, Aunt Lin?” Yun Yin asked first.

Aunt Lin hesitated, unsure how to phrase her words.

Before leaving, Mr. Pei had instructed her that the weather was turning colder and Miss Yun’s fever hadn’t fully subsided. He told her to keep an eye on her and prevent her from going out.

But Aunt Lin didn’t dare.

In the past, Miss Yun had been temperamental and haughty. Aunt Lin only spoke to her when absolutely necessary, treading carefully for fear of doing something wrong and upsetting her.

Although Miss Yun’s temper had improved and the haughty glint in her eyes had vanished, replaced by a gentle demeanor, Aunt Lin still hesitated to restrict her freedom.

Coincidentally, Mr. Pei called shortly after Miss Yun left, asking if Yun Yin was home.

Aunt Lin stammered out the truth.

Upon learning that Yun Yin had gone out, Pei Yu said nothing further and hung up.

Recalling Pei Yu’s parting words, Aunt Lin murmured, “Mr. Pei wants you to call him back when you return.”

Yun Yin instinctively pulled out her phone to check, but the illuminated screen showed no missed calls.

It was then that she remembered she had switched to a new phone and SIM card for peace and quiet, and hardly anyone knew this number.

A subtle expression crossed Yun Yin’s face. “Alright, I’ll call him as soon as I go upstairs.”

Back in her bedroom, Yun Yin picked up the original owner’s phone. The screen lit up with dozens of unread WeChat messages and a missed call at the top.