Chapter 26
After asking the question, Xu Jinnan waited a few seconds, but Shen Shu simply stared at her silently.
Xu Jinnan’s mind cleared a little. Why would Shen Shu do this?
It must have been out of necessity.
“Because I was acting up last night, so…?” she asked tentatively.
Shen Shu looked up, her voice calm. “Then I should have tied you up in the bathroom.”
“…Instead of handcuffing yourself to me,” Xu Jinnan finished the thought.
She shook her head, trying to wake up properly. “…Let me think.”
“You put these on,” Shen Shu stated flatly, cutting her off.
“…?”
Seeing Xu Jinnan’s surprised, almost shocked expression, Shen Shu’s beautiful eyes narrowed slightly. “You really don’t remember?”
Shen Shu’s eyes, unlike Xu Jinnan’s naturally upturned ones, didn’t convey the same sense of intensity. But because she rarely smiled, her alluring eyes held a certain coldness.
Especially now, her gaze was piercing.
Xu Jinnan stared at her, subtly twisting her wrist. “I did this?”
Xu Jinnan: “…”
When had she become such a lightweight?
She hadn’t expected to get drunk last night. The original Xu Jinnan had a much higher tolerance.
But this body was complicated, a secondary differentiator, so a change in alcohol tolerance wasn’t surprising.
Besides, she still experienced those residual effects, reacting to things the original Xu Jinnan had liked or disliked.
After getting drunk and losing control last night, seeing those items in the suitcase might have triggered a reaction, leading to some… unusual behavior.
It was possible.
Xu Jinnan looked away. “…I didn’t do anything to you, did I?”
Shen Shu averted her gaze, subtly moving her wrist, the metal of the handcuff chafing against her skin. “What did you want to do?” she asked coolly.
Xu Jinnan followed her gaze and noticed faint bruises on Shen Shu’s delicate wrist.
“…”
“I’m sorry,” she mumbled, realizing she had blacked out.
“Wait,” she said, her thoughts returning. “Where did these even come from?” She didn’t have handcuffs in her hotel room.
Shen Shu’s expression turned knowing.
Xu Jinnan followed her gaze to the open suitcase on the floor, the scattered contents – chains, restraints, and other questionable items – clearly visible.
Xu Jinnan rubbed her temples. Lu Yun had outdone herself.
She had assumed the suitcase contained only clothes, but Lu Yun had packed these things as well.
“I didn’t bring these,” she said weakly.
“No need to explain,” Shen Shu replied. “I don’t judge people’s personal preferences.”
“…”
She… never mind.
With the evidence right there, any explanation would sound unconvincing.
The priority was to find the key.
They stood up and walked over to the suitcase, crouching down beside it.
Unable to find the key, they started taking out the items one by one, shaking out the clothes and other objects.
Shen Shu’s expression remained unchanged throughout the ordeal.
Xu Jinnan, however, experienced the ultimate social death – even if it wasn’t you, when others thought it was you, you were already dead.
They emptied the suitcase, but there was no sign of the key.
“…Let’s call a locksmith,” Xu Jinnan said.
“What will you tell them?” Shen Shu asked, her tone sharp.
Xu Jinnan realized it wasn’t a good idea. Shen Shu was an actress now, and she had been trending online recently. If this got out, what would people think?
It might even make the news.
“Young celebrity couple’s kinky games go wrong, requiring locksmith’s assistance…”
Xu Jinnan met Shen Shu’s gaze. “I’ll call Zhou Pei.”
Shen Shu didn’t object, so Xu Jinnan stood up, then realized they were still handcuffed together, pulling Shen Shu along with her.
After today, she’ll probably block me, Xu Jinnan thought.
After the call, they sat on the sofa, Xu Jinnan wrapping a shawl around herself. To ease the awkwardness, she turned on the TV.
It was a movie channel.
And the movie playing was starring Xia Chun.
A close-up of Xia Chun’s face filled the screen. Her forehead rested against another woman’s shoulder, her clothes partially undone, her voice soft and filled with emotion.
Her acting was undeniably good.
Xia Chun’s lines were delivered with such feeling, and the scene, with the two women embracing, was intimate and sensual.
Even Xu Jinnan, who rarely watched movies, was captivated.
“Xia Chun is a good actress,” she commented.
“Mm,” Shen Shu replied.
She remembered Tong Jia mentioning that Shen Shu had struggled with a scene involving flirting with Xia Chun.
Looking at the beautiful woman on screen, Xu Jinnan imagined Shen Shu and Xia Chun together. It would be a stunning image.
Her thoughts paused. “How was filming yesterday?” she asked, turning to Shen Shu. The soft morning light illuminated her face.
Shen Shu’s expression was calm as she watched the movie, but Xu Jinnan sensed a hint of something in her eyes.
A subtle emotion she couldn’t decipher.
“They changed the schedule. We’re filming tomorrow,” Shen Shu replied.
Xu Jinnan nodded.
Shen Shu suddenly turned to her, their eyes meeting. “You didn’t used to have such a low tolerance for alcohol,” she said.
The topic change was abrupt. “Maybe I wasn’t feeling well yesterday,” Xu Jinnan replied casually.
“Don’t push yourself next time,” Shen Shu said softly.
She doesn’t sound angry anymore, Xu Jinnan thought.
Then, Shen Shu added, “You’ll only hurt yourself and others.”
Xu Jinnan: “…” Ouch.
After a long silence, Xu Jinnan coughed. “Miss Shen, would you mind accompanying me to the bathroom?”
Shen Shu: “…”
Xu Jinnan had wanted to wait for the atmosphere to improve, but it seemed unlikely. She couldn’t hold it in any longer.
“Hold it,” Shen Shu said.
Xu Jinnan: “…?”
Omegas held grudges.
Fortunately, Shen Shu wasn’t completely heartless and relented before Zhou Pei arrived.
However, the short chain of the handcuffs made the trip to the bathroom awkward, their bodies brushing against each other.
Zhou Pei arrived within twenty minutes.
“Can you do it?” Xu Jinnan asked, watching her take out her tools.
“I opened them for you before. No problem,” Zhou Pei replied.
Xu Jinnan: “…???”
She saw Shen Shu turn her head slightly. Oh, before.
Xu Jinnan had no other thoughts now, only that Zhou Pei was an excellent assistant, always answering her questions without hesitation.
Once the handcuffs were unlocked, they both examined their bruised wrists, Shen Shu’s more severe than Xu Jinnan’s.
As Shen Shu freshened up in the bathroom, Xu Jinnan offered her an ice pack, but she declined.
Xu Jinnan asked Zhou Pei to drive Shen Shu home, but just then, Tong Jia called.
“No need. I have other plans,” Shen Shu said, heading towards the door.
Zhou Pei looked at Xu Jinnan, silently asking if she should follow and see Shen Shu off. Xu Jinnan shook her head. After Shen Shu left, she said, “If she doesn’t want it, don’t force it. Don’t make her uncomfortable.”
Zhou Pei nodded.
In the bathroom, Xu Jinnan examined her dress, the strap torn. She took it off and stood in front of the mirror.
Her reflection showed flawless, pale skin, smooth as a baby’s.
She stared at it for a moment, lost in thought.
After changing, she found Zhou Pei still waiting outside. On a whim, she said, “Help me find something. Information about my kindergarten, including photos and names of the students.”
“Certainly,” Zhou Pei replied calmly. “I’ll send it to you at the office.”
Xu Jinnan paused.
Seeing her expression, Zhou Pei explained, “I keep records of everything you’ve asked me to investigate, unless you instruct me to destroy them.”
The original Xu Jinnan had been obsessed with her childhood. It was in character for her to have investigated this.
She must have also looked into Xiao Shu.
Xu Jinnan tentatively asked about her.
As expected, Zhou Pei wasn’t surprised. “You asked me to destroy everything, but I think I have one photo left,” she replied.
At the office, Zhou Pei sent her the photo of Xiao Shu.
Xu Jinnan looked at the woman in the picture. Faint traces of her childhood features remained.
She studied the unfamiliar face, a sense of unease settling over her. The woman’s eyes and brows bore a slight resemblance to Shen Shu’s.
Xu Jinnan’s thoughts cleared.
When she had read about the original Xu Jinnan’s relentless pursuit of Shen Shu, she had been puzzled. While the original was undoubtedly twisted, her reasons for marrying Shen Shu and tormenting her hadn’t seemed strong enough.
But if the original had been projecting Xiao Shu onto Shen Shu, marrying her out of a desire for revenge, or even… to transfer her twisted affections…
It made sense.
Xiao Shu.
Shen Shu.
Even their names were similar.
A childhood grudge held for so many years, turning into an obsession, ultimately leading her to treat Shen Shu as a substitute for her childhood tormentor.
Xu Jinnan’s heart ached for Shen Shu.
And the original Xu Jinnan had already been twisted as a child…
Xu Jinnan looked at her arm. There were no marks.
Perhaps the injuries hadn’t been severe enough to leave scars, or perhaps they had been surgically removed.
But she was almost certain that the root of the original Xu Jinnan’s problems lay within the Xu family.
Or perhaps Xu Tao specifically.
The family portrait seemed to confirm this.
Xu Tao must have done something to her, likely physical abuse.
But why hadn’t Lu Yun intervened?
And why had Lu Yun pleaded with her to stop investigating Qucheng?
Xu Jinnan stood up, looking down at the city below, the pedestrians like moving dots. She couldn’t answer these questions now.
And they weren’t the priority.
She suddenly remembered Shen Shu’s beautiful face from that morning.
She wanted to be better to Shen Shu.
An hour later, Tong Jia barged into Xu Jinnan’s office, surprised to see her usually carefree demeanor replaced by a look of preoccupation. She tossed her bag onto the table. “I came here to escape the boredom at home. Why do you look like you’ve been through hell?”
Hell doesn’t compare to this, Xu Jinnan thought.
Compared to the Xu family’s issues, she felt more heartbroken for Shen Shu.
The original Xu Jinnan had let Xiao Shu go, but had then targeted Shen Shu as a replacement, using their marriage as a means of torment.
Shen Shu had done nothing wrong; she was an innocent victim.
“What is it?” Xu Jinnan asked Tong Jia.
Tong Jia sat down opposite her, taking the coffee Zhou Pei had brought. “I’m in a bad mood too.”
“What a coincidence.”
“Why don’t you go first? What’s wrong?”
“Just say what you want. I don’t have time for this,” Xu Jinnan said impatiently.
Tong Jia wasn’t offended. “Come on, we’re friends. I need a favor.”
“Go ahead.”
“My girlfriend is on a business trip,” Tong Jia said. “I want to surprise her and need some advice.”
Xu Jinnan was puzzled. “Advice on what?”
“What do you and Shen Shu like in bed? Something… spicy.”
“…” Xu Jinnan stared at her. “Are you crazy?”
“You’re the crazy one.” Tong Jia leaned closer, resting her chin on her hands. “I’m serious. Despite my usual jokes, my girlfriend and I are quite conservative in that department.”
Xu Jinnan: “…”
She hadn’t noticed.
She put down her documents, trying to treat the person in front of her like a delicate Omega.
“Can we please discuss something normal?” she asked patiently.
Tong Jia immediately shook her head. “No. You don’t understand how miserable I am. If I don’t initiate, we can go two weeks without sex.”
“…” Xu Jinnan raised an eyebrow. “And this is my problem because…?”
“You’re the expert! I’ve heard about your… exploits. Just think of it as taking on a student.” Tong Jia put on a pitiful expression. “I’ll even give you free intel on Shen Shu.”
Xu Jinnan: “…”
Looking at Tong Jia, she suddenly remembered that morning.
Shen Shu sitting beside her, barely an arm’s length away, her dark hair slightly disheveled, her white T-shirt wrinkled, her black skirt with silver embroidery, her creamy white arm handcuffed to hers…
A disheveled, forbidden beauty.
After learning the truth about the original Xu Jinnan’s reasons for tormenting Shen Shu, she shouldn’t be having these thoughts.
It felt almost predatory.
But besides that, Xu Jinnan didn’t feel ashamed.
She simply thought Shen Shu had been incredibly beautiful.
After a moment of contemplation, she said, “Perhaps you could consider… buying a bracelet?”
“?”
“Would that work?” Tong Jia asked, picking up her coffee, her eyes gleaming with interest.
“I don’t know. It should be quite stimulating.”
“Should? Sounds like you haven’t tried it.”
Xu Jinnan was silent.
She only remembered clinging to Shen Shu’s back last night, returning to the hotel, and then… nothing. She had no recollection of what had happened in the room.
So, she could only say, maybe I have.
But it was best not to try.
After Tong Jia left, satisfied, Zhou Pei entered the office. “Miss, Mrs. Lu just called.”
“What did she say?”
“She asked if you had eaten and how you were feeling.”
Xu Jinnan paused. Lu Yun’s maternal affection was something she had never experienced before, but her unconditional, almost suffocating doting was sometimes unsettling.
Then, Zhou Pei said, “Mrs. Lu has a difficult life.”
It was rare for Zhou Pei to offer such personal comments. “I know,” Xu Jinnan replied.
Lu Yun was Xu Tao’s second wife. Xu Jinnan rarely visited, and Xu Tao clearly favored his children from his previous marriage. Lu Yun’s life in that household wasn’t easy.
“Shouldn’t you visit her?”
Xu Jinnan shook her head. “Do you think I should?”
“The Xu family has a vast fortune. Mrs. Lu probably wants you to be more involved.” The words had a double meaning.
Xu Jinnan rubbed her neck, leaning back in her chair. Perhaps the conversation with Tong Jia had relaxed her slightly.
“I don’t care about the Xu family’s fortune,” she said. “I just want a comfortable life for myself and the people I care about.”
Perhaps Tong Jia was right. She had never been materialistic, and making money wasn’t difficult for her. So, sometimes she was rational, and other times, idealistic.
“Did Nannan really say that?”
“Yes.”
Lu Yun put down her pruning shears. “How can she not care? Without the Xu family, how will she survive with just those small companies of hers?”
“Madam, Miss is doing well. At least these are her own efforts.”
“What do you know? Without the Xu family’s backing, how could she be so successful? Even if it’s her own effort, it’s only temporary. What about the future? Who will ensure her continued success?” Lu Yun continued, “I assigned you to her to take care of and protect her. You don’t need to offer your opinions on other matters.”
Zhou Pei paused. “Yes, Madam.”
Lu Yun was silent for a moment. “She wasn’t like this before. No matter how wild and reckless she was, she still cared about the family business. Ever since she got married…”
“You said they’re not living together?”
“Yes,” Zhou Pei replied, then hesitated. “They stayed together last night.”
“And before that?”
“Only that one time at the Shen residence. Not since then.” Zhou Pei explained, “There were some misunderstandings between her and Miss Shen before. Miss Shen might not be comfortable with it.”
“Not comfortable? And Nannan just accepts it? She dotes on her that much?”
“Yes, Madam.”
After hanging up, Lu Yun’s coldness turned into anxiety. She would do anything to protect Nannan, to let her live as she pleased. As long as no one died, she could clean up any mess.
But she was getting old, and Nannan was still young. Without her protection, Nannan would have to rely on the Xu family.
She could tolerate Nannan’s playful nature, but not her indifference towards the family business, her lack of ambition, her infatuation with another woman.
Lu Yun decided to visit them personally.
On the way back to the hotel, Xu Jinnan felt drowsy. She hadn’t slept well and had woken up early.
She wondered if the original Xu Jinnan had also been prone to fatigue.
Lost in thought, her phone vibrated.
Shen Shu: [Come over. Your mother is here and says she’s staying for a few days.]
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