Chapter 23
Xu Jinnan was wide awake now.
In this world, saying someone was “tired” was the same as saying they were incompetent in bed.
Seeing Shen Shu carrying something towards the balcony, Xu Jinnan stood up abruptly, ready to argue. She’d only taken a few steps when she heard the sound of shattering glass.
A clear glass vase lay in pieces on the balcony floor, a potted pothos lying amongst the shards.
“Don’t move,” Xu Jinnan said, looking at the broken glass near Shen Shu’s feet.
“It’s fine,” Shen Shu replied.
Then she hesitated.
Before Xu Jinnan could react, Shen Shu turned slightly, reaching up to clip a small, triangular piece of fabric to the clothesline.
It was white, almost translucent when wet.
Xu Jinnan’s gaze lingered on the delicate garment for a moment before snapping back to Shen Shu’s face.
Shen Shu pulled the trash can closer and bent down to pick up the larger pieces of glass, her earlobes flushed a delicate pink. “It’s getting late. You should go.”
Xu Jinnan, looking at the sharp shards in Shen Shu’s hand, said, “Let me do it.”
“Where are the gloves?”
“It’s fine. There aren’t many pieces,” Shen Shu replied.
Then she gasped, a thin trickle of blood welling up on her finger.
Xu Jinnan felt a surge of irritation. “Why are you so stubborn?”
Shen Shu glanced at her finger. It was just a scratch, the blood already starting to clot. It was nothing.
A shadow fell over her.
Before she could react, she was lifted off the ground.
“Xu Jinnan!” she exclaimed, startled.
Xu Jinnan held her closer.
“Xu Jinnan!” Shen Shu repeated, her arm pressed against Xu Jinnan’s warm skin, her gaze drawn to the smooth, pale curve of her neck. The air was filled with the clean scent of Xu Jinnan’s pheromones, with a hint of alcohol…
Her breath hitched, a strange weakness spreading through her body.
Xu Jinnan didn’t reply, carrying her into the bedroom and setting her down.
“Stay here,” she said, in a tone that brooked no argument.
She can lift me with one arm, and yet she claims to be “tired?” Could she even handle it if we…
Xu Jinnan was still fixated on the comment.
She tossed her own towel onto the floor and bent down to pick up the broken glass.
Shen Shu’s heart raced. Pheromones could be replicated, but the feeling someone gave you… that was unique.
She watched Xu Jinnan through the bedroom window, lost in thought. A possibility occurred to her, and her heart sank.
…
An hour later, after a brief rain shower, Tong Jia met Xu Jinnan for coffee.
“What’s with the spaced-out look? Did you and your wife have a fight?” Tong Jia took a bite of cake.
After pretending for so long, hearing “your wife” constantly was starting to get to her.
With Shen Shu’s personality, even if we were really married, we probably wouldn’t fight, Xu Jinnan thought.
She couldn’t put her finger on it, but Shen Shu had been acting strangely lately.
Tong Jia jumped to a conclusion. “Unsatisfactory sex life? You definitely have that look.”
Xu Jinnan glared at her, not deigning to respond.
Despite her easygoing nature, Tong Jia had learned where to draw the line with Xu Jinnan. When she was genuinely annoyed, it was best to stay quiet.
She changed the subject, discussing Shen Shu’s progress on set.
Shen Shu had been doing well over the past two weeks. According to online buzz, she was gaining popularity.
“The leads haven’t even trended yet, but your wife is already making headlines,” Tong Jia said. “And guess what? The director added a few more scenes for her.”
“Why?” Xu Jinnan asked.
“Because she’s popular! Passion is important these days, but so is hype. Everyone needs to make money.” After meeting Xu Jinnan a few times, Tong Jia found her difficult to read. Sometimes, she was down-to-earth, buying street food, other times, completely aloof, seemingly unaware of ordinary struggles.
“Oh,” Xu Jinnan replied, unconcerned.
“Our second female lead quit,” Tong Jia continued, her voice laced with annoyance. “After the director gave Shen Shu more scenes, she threw a fit, demanding more screen time for herself. The director told her off, and now, just as we’re about to start filming, she’s refusing to act. Fine, let her quit.”
“But I heard a big name is interested in the script and might take the role for a lower salary.”
“Oh,” Xu Jinnan said again, her tone indifferent.
Tong Jia tucked her silver hair behind her ear. “Just a heads-up, now that she’s trending, some of the comments online might… upset you.”
“What kind of comments?” Xu Jinnan picked up her iced lemonade.
Tong Jia showed her some Weibo posts. Besides the trending topic about Shen Shu, there were several other posts trying to piggyback on the hype.
Two malicious comments stood out:
Righteous Gentleman: #WhatIsARealQipaoBeauty# This face is so fake. [Photo]
IsItLuce: #WhatIsARealQipaoBeauty# Nice figure, but her face looks… generic. And too much filter. [Photo]
Xu Jinnan created a new Weibo account, right then and there, naming it – RichSisterWithLotsOfLove
Tong Jia rolled her eyes. Rich people.
When she checked Weibo again, the entire conversation had changed, even those two haters had switched sides.
Righteous Gentleman: #WhatIsARealQipaoBeauty# Holy shit, she’s gorgeous!
IsItLuce: #WhatIsARealQipaoBeauty# I was wrong. She’s stunning in person! And she’s a newcomer. Supporting her!
Tong Jia: “…” Money talks.
She sent Xu Jinnan a WeChat message: [Sister, you’re rich. By the way… I have a Weibo account too. Lots of followers.]
Xu Jinnan ignored her.
Tong Jia tried again: [Your fairy isn’t having a good day. Better go comfort her.]
Xu Jinnan: [[Transfer of 5000 yuan]]
Tong Jia: “…!” I think I’ve found a way to get rich.
Xu Jinnan turned off her phone and messaged Shen Shu, asking if she was home. Half an hour later, she received a single, cold reply:
“Yes.”
She felt like a lovesick puppy, chasing after someone who clearly wasn’t interested.
Xu Jinnan smiled wryly, entering the apartment in her bunny slippers.
A script lay on the sofa.
“Get your own water,” Shen Shu said.
Xu Jinnan: “…Okay.”
They hadn’t seen each other since that night. They’d barely spoken, even on WeChat. Xu Jinnan had been busy with the company, and Shen Shu hadn’t been very responsive either.
She’d always gotten her own water before. Today, Shen Shu’s tone seemed deliberately cold.
“How’s filming going?” Xu Jinnan asked.
“Fine.”
“Any problems?”
“No.”
“…”
Xu Jinnan paused. “Did I do something to offend you?” She wasn’t used to this atmosphere. If Shen Shu truly disliked her, she would simply stop coming. But she needed to know why.
When Xu Jinnan wasn’t smiling, her phoenix eyes had an intimidating quality.
Shen Shu met her gaze, a flicker of fear in her eyes despite her efforts to control it.
Her expression cooled. Xu Jinnan had no right to be condescending in her home—
“Was I too harsh that night?” Xu Jinnan asked, looking down at her. “I didn’t mean to be. I was just worried you would get hurt.”
Shen Shu froze.
It dawned on her what Xu Jinnan was referring to.
Shen Shu: “…”
Xu Jinnan’s brow furrowed slightly, a thoughtful expression on her face.
Shen Shu quickly composed herself, looking away. “No, it wasn’t you,” she said, walking over to the sofa.
Fine.
Xu Jinnan tapped her fingers against a glass at the breakfast bar, glancing at Shen Shu’s dry lips. She poured a glass of water and walked over to her.
Shen Shu’s gaze fell on the offered glass. Just as Xu Jinnan was about to withdraw it, she took it.
Her mind kept replaying that night at the hotel, superimposing Xu Jinnan’s image with the figure from the bathroom… Both her instincts and her senses told her it was Xu Jinnan.
The thought, once planted, grew like a weed, taking root in her mind.
That’s why she’d been avoiding her.
Seeing Shen Shu’s continued indifference, Xu Jinnan stood up.
“Get some rest. I won’t bother you for a few days.”
The next morning, as Xu Jinnan was busy with her investments, her phone buzzed.
She ignored it.
But a moment later, a thought struck her, and she picked it up.
A call came in at the same time.
It was Tong Jia.
Xu Jinnan sighed. “…You have too much time on your hands.”
“CEO Xu, busy?”
Xu Jinnan said flatly, “Yes, goodbye.”
“Busy, busy, so busy you’re going to lose your wife.”
Xu Jinnan put the phone back to her ear, remaining silent.
Tong Jia chuckled, pleased with herself. “Frankly, CEO Xu, you’re beautiful, charming, and most importantly, rich. But I have to say, this time, you might lose.”
Xu Jinnan: “?”
“Tsk, tsk. Xia Chun, the one taking over the second female lead role. And guess what? She has a steamy scene with your wife today.”
Xu Jinnan frowned. “Who?”
“Are you still asleep? You haven’t heard of the award-winning actress Xia Chun? Let me send you a picture to wake you up.”
Xu Jinnan opened Tong Jia’s WeChat message. The photo showed a tall, short-haired woman with a striking presence, her profile exquisite, smiling at Shen Shu with an almost… affectionate look.
Shen Shu, in her Nightingale costume, was actually smiling back.
Tong Jia’s gleeful voice echoed from the phone. “An award-winning actress, gazing at your wife adoringly. She’s clearly after her.”
Xu Jinnan: “…”
No wonder the name sounded familiar.
Xia Chun was none other than the protagonist’s love interest in Savage Lover.
Shen Shu’s love interest.
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