Chapter 41 p1
Xu Jinnan, still groggy from being woken up, shifted slightly, and her nose brushed against Shen Shu’s.
The contact, cool and smooth, made them both freeze.
Shen Shu tried to push herself up with her elbows, but their bodies remained close, their hearts pounding against each other.
Xu Jinnan was instantly wide awake.
Then, the weight lifted, leaving only a lingering warmth on her shirt.
Shen Shu quickly sat up on the bed, pulling her legs away from Xu Jinnan.
It all happened in a flash.
A strange tension filled the quiet room.
“I was trying to cover you with the blanket and tripped,” Shen Shu explained, her voice betraying a hint of nervousness despite her attempt to sound calm.
In the cool light of the bedside lamp, Xu Jinnan could see the faint blush on Shen Shu’s cheeks and earlobes.
Xu Jinnan blinked slowly, pushing herself up from the floor. “I understand,” she said, her voice husky with sleep.
Shen Shu: “…”
Understand what?
“That explains why I felt a little cold,” Xu Jinnan said, quickly changing the subject. “Are you feeling better?”
“Yes, I’m fine,” Shen Shu replied.
She vaguely remembered Xu Jinnan checking her temperature twice during the night. Whenever she had a fever, her body ached, and her legs felt weak, but she felt fine now.
Except for the lingering warmth on her cheeks and ears.
She instinctively touched her knee, frowning slightly.
“What’s wrong?” Xu Jinnan asked, then remembered Shen Shu falling to the floor. “Did you hurt your leg?”
“Just a scrape.”
“Let me see.”
Shen Shu looked at her silently.
Xu Jinnan, meeting her gaze, explained, “…to see if it needs a bandage.”
Shen Shu lifted her dress slightly, revealing a red scrape on her knee. It would probably bruise by tomorrow.
She hadn’t applied any ointment last night.
“You told me off for not taking care of my injury. Why didn’t you take care of yours?” Xu Jinnan asked, standing up. “I’ll get the first-aid kit.”
Shen Shu watched her leave, her lips parting slightly, but she didn’t call her back.
Xu Jinnan paused at the doorway, taking a deep breath to compose herself, before walking towards the coffee table.
She returned with the first-aid kit and turned on the light.
Shen Shu was still sitting on the bed. Xu Jinnan pulled the blanket closer and sat down on the floor, opening the kit and taking out the antiseptic and cotton swabs.
“This might sting a little,” she warned.
“Mm,” Shen Shu murmured.
She watched as Xu Jinnan, her long, wavy brown hair pulled back in a slightly messy ponytail, sat on the blanket, her long, pale legs exposed, her beautiful eyes focused on dipping the cotton swab into the antiseptic.
She looked surprisingly gentle.
As Xu Jinnan dabbed the antiseptic on the scrape, Shen Shu winced, and Xu Jinnan instinctively leaned closer, blowing gently on her knee.
Shen Shu quickly pulled her leg back, her satin slip dress riding up slightly, revealing goosebumps on her skin above her knee.
Xu Jinnan hadn’t been thinking clearly, but now, the sweet fragrance of Shen Shu’s pheromones filled her senses.
Her scent gland tingled.
Realizing her proximity, she quickly pulled back.
“I’ll do it myself,” Shen Shu said, reaching for the cotton swab.
“Use iodine next time. It doesn’t sting,” Xu Jinnan said.
“Okay.”
After applying the bandage, Shen Shu watched as Xu Jinnan closed the first-aid kit and picked up her blanket.
“I’ll go back to the guest room. Get some rest,” Xu Jinnan said.
Shen Shu nodded.
“Xu Jinnan.”
“Yes?” Xu Jinnan paused.
“Good night.”
It was the first time Shen Shu had initiated a good night.
Xu Jinnan smiled. “Good night, Shu Shu.”
She had grown accustomed to the nickname.
After Xu Jinnan left, Shen Shu sat on the bed for a while, then realized she had been planning to take a shower, but the sticky residue from the suppressant was still on her skin.
It had been a waste.
–
Xu Jinnan lay in bed, listening to the faint sounds of movement from the next room. Shen Shu’s apartment was nice, but the walls were thin.
She turned over, touching her scent gland, which had calmed down slightly.
The sensation, if she focused, wasn’t entirely unpleasant anymore, like the aftertaste of dark chocolate – bitter, smooth, and subtly sweet.
The lingering sting was followed by a sense of excitement, anticipation, and comfort.
Her body seemed to be adapting to Shen Shu’s pheromones, finding pleasure amidst the initial discomfort. It was like an evolution.
She tossed and turned, her mind filled with images of Shen Shu – her soft breathing, her cool nose, her soft skin.
Stop it, she told herself, sitting up.
Her throat was parched, and she finished the remaining water in her glass.
–
At a little past 8 a.m., Tong Jia called their group chat.
“Are you two awake? Have you seen Weibo?” If it weren’t for the cheerful tone of her voice, it would have sounded like bad news.
“Shen Shu, check your follower count! It’s up to 200,000! And Sacred Heart’s official account gained almost 20,000 followers. I’ll post your audition tape at 10 a.m. and double that number,” she said excitedly.
Xu Jinnan, who had finally fallen asleep around 3 a.m., her head still throbbing, groaned. “If it’s not bad news, can we talk later?”
“CEO Xu, I’m not talking to you. I’m talking to Shu Shu,” Tong Jia replied.
Xu Jinnan hung up.
In the bedroom, Shen Shu listened to Tong Jia’s plans, and they discussed her next steps.
“CEO Xu’s not saying anything,” Tong Jia commented suddenly.
Shen Shu paused. “She’s asleep. She didn’t sleep well last night.”
Tong Jia’s voice was full of knowing amusement. “Teacher Xu, really? Even though you weren’t feeling well last night?”
Shen Shu: “…”
–
Xu Jinnan finally woke up around 9:30 a.m.
She had muted the group chat before going to sleep, and now, it was overflowing with notifications. Two new members had been added.
She scrolled through the messages; they were staff members from Sacred Heart Pictures.
Tong Jia had added them to assist Shen Shu when she was busy.
She went to the living room and saw Shen Shu sitting on the sofa, scrolling through her phone.
“Did you stay up late last night?” Shen Shu asked, looking up.
Xu Jinnan rubbed her eyes, nodding. “Tired.”
After washing up in the bathroom, she checked the time. Almost 10 a.m.
She sat down on the sofa beside Shen Shu.
“There’s toast on the table,” Shen Shu said.
“I’m not hungry,” Xu Jinnan replied. Her stomach felt slightly upset, probably from drinking cold water last night.
Shen Shu, seeing her pale face, didn’t say anything, going to the kitchen and returning with a glass of warm milk and a boiled egg.
“Eat the egg first, then drink the milk,” she said. “You’ll feel better.”
Xu Jinnan looked at the food, a faint smile playing on her lips. “Thank you, Miss Shen.”
“You’re welcome,” Shen Shu replied, her tone as casual as Xu Jinnan’s had been.
Xu Jinnan took the egg, the warmth spreading from her fingertips through her body.
–
At 10 a.m., Tong Jia posted Shen Shu’s audition tape on Sacred Heart’s official Weibo account.
The hashtag #ShenShuActing immediately started trending.
The comments section was filled with praise.
So beautiful! I’m a fan!
Tan Jie is sexy, but she doesn’t have that captivating allure. This is amazing!
Her acting is so good! Is she a newcomer? She seems experienced, or maybe she’s just a natural.
The casting director, whom Tan Jie had accused of accepting bribes, also posted on Weibo.
Whether it’s real gold or fool’s gold, an audition will reveal the truth. The role of Nightingale is challenging, but Shen Shu handled it beautifully. She’s clearly talented and hardworking. But most importantly, she has a natural charisma, an ability to see what others miss. Her interpretation of Nightingale was the best of the bunch. It’s a shame I couldn’t finish filming with her. I hope we have the opportunity to collaborate again in the future. Wishing Shen Shu a bright future and Into the Dream a successful run!
The post quickly gained over twenty thousand likes and was shared by various entertainment bloggers.
Even Xia Chun liked the post.
Then, Into the Dream‘s official Weibo account reposted it, adding a playful comment: Show your support for newcomer Shen Shu and our little dream!
With the production team publicly supporting Shen Shu, it was a slap in the face for Tan Jie.
Her fans were furious.
Of course the official account is supporting Shen Shu! She’s already been cast. They can’t support Tan Jie now, can they?
This doesn’t prove she didn’t get the role through her connections!
But their complaints were drowned out by the overwhelming praise for Shen Shu.
#ShenShuVisuals
#ShenShuActing
Both hashtags trended.
The comments were overwhelmingly positive.
Hater turned fan… don’t @ me, I have no shame.
I’m sorry. I apologize for my earlier comments. Her acting is amazing.
Oh my god, she’s wearing the same outfit from the photo! So beautiful! I’m in love!
Tan Jie’s fans, enraged, launched a counterattack, even targeting Into the Dream‘s official account.
The most popular comment: Release Tan Jie’s audition tape! Let’s see who’s better!
A few minutes later, before the official account could respond, Tan Jie herself posted on Weibo: If you love me, please stop this. I just want to focus on my acting. Thank you.
Her fans immediately rallied around her, expressing their sympathy and outrage, claiming she had been unfairly treated and forced to endure such humiliation.
They completely missed her true intentions.
Only Tan Jie knew that based on Shen Shu’s performance in the video, she had lost the audition fair and square. So, she had to put an end to this drama and appease her fans.
–
As Xu Jinnan and Shen Shu were talking, Tong Jia called.
“I’m dying of laughter! Tan Jie’s move was clever. Even if people accuse her of being afraid, her fans will just feel sorry for her. CEO Xu, you’re brilliant! Having me promote that comment about releasing the audition tape was a stroke of genius. Tan Jie couldn’t ignore it.”
“We can wrap this up now. Despite the initial negativity, this whole incident will at least land Shu Shu a supporting role, maybe even a second lead.”
Wrap it up? It was far from over. Xu Jinnan put down her glass of milk. “Tan Jie is one thing, but Ren Xiaoqi hasn’t even apologized.”
Shen Shu, remembering Ren Xiaoqi’s hateful words, knew there were many people like her.
People who, driven by envy and resentment, targeted those who were more successful than them, assuming everyone was as bitter and malicious as they were.
But they also looked down on such people, creating a self-loathing cycle.
It was a toxic mindset.
“She won’t apologize,” Shen Shu said.
“It’s fine if she doesn’t,” Xu Jinnan replied casually. “Then she’ll never act again.”
Shen Shu looked at her, their eyes meeting.
“She will apologize. To you,” Xu Jinnan said firmly.
Shen Shu’s heart ached, a sweet, tingling sensation spreading through her body.
Being protected felt good.
So good that she wondered, Will she always be this kind to me?
The thought was quickly suppressed. She realized she was developing a dependence on Xu Jinnan, a dangerous dependence that triggered her deeply ingrained sense of self-preservation.
No one would stay by your side forever.
You could only rely on yourself.
This was the lesson she had learned from being abandoned by her birth mother, losing her grandmother, being betrayed by her lover, and being discarded by the Shen family.
–
Tan Jie’s fans were still causing trouble online, but Ren Xiaoqi’s Weibo remained silent.
While she remained silent, other netizens unearthed some information.
Someone posted on Zhihu, claiming to be a former employee of the Shen Corporation.
Shen Shu is the heiress of the Shen Corporation. Before entering the entertainment industry, she was a manager in the planning department. But her father didn’t seem to like her, and they had a falling out. I remember the day Miss Xu (Shen Shu’s wife) personally came to take her away from the company. And let me tell you, the Shen Corporation isn’t small, but Miss Xu’s background is even more impressive. I couldn’t find much information about her, but she’s way more powerful than the Shen family. People online are saying Shen Shu has a sugar momma? Let me just say, Miss Xu could buy the entire production… Yes, she’s that rich!
After this post, various rumors about Shen Shu and Xu Jinnan began to surface.
I remember reading a deleted post saying you can’t mention Xu Jinnan’s name online. I’ll try posting this! Miss Xu isn’t just wealthy; she’s one of the top elites in North City. She used to be a notorious playboy, but she settled down after meeting Shen Shu.
That jewelry store, Meilai Jewelry? She’s a shareholder. It’s her own store…
I’ll share something too. I’m a crew member on Into the Dream. Shortly after filming started, an anonymous catering truck arrived. No one knew who sent it, but I overheard someone say it was from Shen Shu. She’s so low-key and kind to the crew, never acting like a diva! I knew she would be successful! Finally, people are recognizing her talent!
Shen Shu put down her phone.
“Is this okay?” she asked. Shen Guotao had once told her that there was almost no information about Xu Jinnan online, not just because of the Xu Corporation’s influence, but also because of her family background.
Xu Jinnan shrugged. “It’s fine. We’ve already revealed our marriage certificate. What’s there to be afraid of?”
Tong Jia’s voice came through the phone. “Enough with the lovey-dovey act, you two. Having a marriage certificate isn’t that impressive. I wish my girlfriend would propose…”
Xu Jinnan and Shen Shu exchanged a look, neither of them responding.
Just then, Ren Xiaoqi posted on Weibo.
Ren Xiaoqi: I’m sorry.
“That’s it?” Tong Jia asked.
Xu Jinnan didn’t say anything, and Tong Jia knew this wasn’t truly over.
A simple apology wasn’t enough.
Many people in this world never learned their lesson unless they paid a price.
Someone like Ren Xiaoqi, given the chance, would only cause more trouble.
You had to make them hurt, make them fear you, before they would truly back down.
After Ren Xiaoqi’s apology, her follower count plummeted, the comments filled with angry messages from former fans.
Who are you even apologizing to? Yourself?
Not even an explanation? Just giving up? Goodbye.
Sorry doesn’t cut it. That’s what the police are for. Using such underhanded tactics to hurt someone, Shen Shu is the real victim…
Am I the only one curious about Ren Xiaoqi’s backer?
As soon as Ren Xiaoqi apologized, an entertainment blogger posted a screenshot of Tan Jie liking her post.
FrontlineGossip: If I say Tan Jie is being shady, will her fans attack me? Dog head emoji
EntertainmentOctopus: Tan Jie has liked more than just that one post. I counted. She liked three of Ren Xiaoqi’s posts attacking Shen Shu. This is getting interesting.
IDontFearHate: @IntoTheDreamOfficial As a fan of Tan Jie, I’d like to see her audition tape. Pleading emoji Please make my dream come true!
This last post, promoted by someone, quickly trended.
#TanJieAuditionTape
The comments were filled with requests.
Where’s the video? I want to see it!
Release the audition tape! Tan Jie’s fans are so arrogant. Let’s see who’s better. And her liking those posts and posting cryptic messages is shady.
Slightly off-topic, but if Tan Jie had known about Shen Shu’s background, would she have dared to be so sarcastic?
Ren Xiaoqi apologized. Will Tan Jie be next? Inciting her fans to attack a newcomer and posting cryptic messages, doesn’t she owe an apology?
The hashtag trended for over twenty minutes.
Finally, Tan Jie posted on Weibo: I apologize for my impulsive words and actions. I hadn’t seen Shen Shu’s audition tape before and was overconfident, leading to a misunderstanding. I will strive to improve myself and focus on my acting. I apologize to @ShenShu.
Her apology sounded sincere, attributing her behavior to a misunderstanding.
“She’s definitely smarter than Ren Xiaoqi,” Tong Jia commented. “She won’t cause any more trouble. Tan Jie has been in the industry for years and has a good reputation.”
The message was clear. Reputation was crucial in the entertainment industry. Shen Shu was a newcomer, and being too ruthless wouldn’t be beneficial in the long run. They could deal with other matters later.
Shen Shu: @TanJie I understand. I hope we have the opportunity to collaborate in the future.
—
The drama had subsided for now.
Shen Shu’s follower count continued to rise, and the online discussions remained lively.
The benefits of the increased exposure were immediate.
Meilai Jewelry was the first to see results. Several influencers had visited the store, posting photos and reviews on Weibo.
Xu Jinnan had a group chat with the other shareholders, and any sales over 100,000 yuan were shared in the chat. There had been five such sales in the past hour, exceeding their usual weekly performance.
As Shen Shu and Tong Jia were discussing future roles, Tong Jia said, “Do you have any preferences? Let’s talk about it.”
“I’ve acted in modern dramas before… but I think it’s best to try different genres. Into the Dream was a challenge, and it gave me confidence. I’d like to explore different roles,” Shen Shu replied.
Xu Jinnan looked up from her phone. Shen Shu’s eyes lit up when she talked about acting, like the subtle shimmer in a makeup palette, captivating and alluring.
“Actually, I have a great script for a modern workplace drama. It’s a supporting role, and I initially thought it would be difficult to secure, but I think we can try for it now,” Tong Jia said, then hesitated.
“What is it?” Shen Shu asked.
“I’ll tell you later. CEO Xu, we won this round. Shouldn’t we celebrate with your wife?”
“Sure,” Xu Jinnan said with a smile. “You arrange it. I’ll pay.”
“I’m bringing my girlfriend, though,” Tong Jia said.
“That’s fine.”
—
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