Chapter 42
Push-ups are one thing, but what’s with the “close contact” part?
Xu Jinnan glanced at Shen Shu, whose expression mirrored her own confusion.
Tong Jia, anticipating their reluctance, added, “Even if you have to take a call and leave, you still have to do at least one. We all did the dare. It’d be heartbreaking if you two just left.”
Xu Jinnan: “…”
“We’re all friends here. If Shu Shu is shy about the whispering part, she can skip it, or she can have a small drink,” Tong Jia said, looking at Shen Shu. “But CEO Xu, you have to do the dare. If Shu Shu chooses to drink, you have to pick someone to do the push-ups with, without the whispering, of course.”
Xu Jinnan: “…” This woman is unbelievable.
She gave Tong Jia a look.
Tong Jia, sensing the unspoken threat – Oh, you think this is funny? Just you wait. – flinched.
She hadn’t meant any harm. She was just used to teasing Xu Jinnan.
But now that she thought about it, having Xu Jinnan do push-ups with someone else wasn’t appropriate. One was her investor, the other her artist; both were valuable.
What if it caused problems between them?
“Alright, alright, I wouldn’t want Shu Shu to get jealous…” Tong Jia said, changing the rules. “You two can either do the push-ups together, or Shu Shu can have a drink, and since this is your second dare refusal, CEO Xu, you have to drink five.”
So, two push-ups equaled one drink.
A glass of Wusu beer wasn’t much. Shen Shu could handle a little alcohol, and for Xu Jinnan, it was practically nothing.
After this, they could switch to dice or another game.
Everyone would save face. That was Tong Jia’s plan.
After her previous experience, Xu Jinnan was wary of this body’s alcohol tolerance, but compared to doing push-ups in a suggestive position with Shen Shu, making her uncomfortable, she would choose to drink.
As this thought crossed her mind, another one followed – her initial reaction hadn’t been to refuse the push-ups; she had simply been concerned about Shen Shu’s comfort.
The thought was fleeting.
Shen Shu finished the small glass of wine Tong Jia had poured her and watched as Xu Jinnan picked up a full glass of Wusu, pausing slightly.
She had seen Xu Jinnan clutch her stomach after the first drink earlier, and she hadn’t been feeling well this morning…
She was about to offer to drink in Xu Jinnan’s place, but Qiao Rui gently reminded her that wasn’t allowed.
“It’s fine,” Xu Jinnan murmured.
While Qiao Rui’s words had been polite, there had been a hint of disapproval in her tone.
She didn’t care about Qiao Rui’s opinion, but the two assistants were there, and she didn’t want to create a bad impression, especially since they would be working with Shen Shu in the future.
She should have refused the dare from the start. But Tong Jia had already changed the rules, and five glasses of beer wasn’t that much. Refusing again would be disrespectful.
She might as well just drink it.
Xu Jinnan quickly finished two glasses, the beer going down smoothly. Wusu wasn’t harsh, but she still paused slightly after each glass.
No one noticed, except Shen Shu, who was watching her closely. In the colorful lights of the karaoke room, she saw the slight furrow in Xu Jinnan’s brow as she drank.
Xu Jinnan didn’t have to do this. She had even walked out of the Han family banquet; these people were nothing to her. Shen Shu knew she was drinking for her sake.
As Xu Jinnan reached for the fourth glass, Shen Shu stopped her.
“That’s enough. Let’s do the push-ups,” she said calmly. “One drink equals two push-ups. We’ll do four.” Her voice was as cool and composed as ever, the words devoid of any innuendo.
Xu Jinnan paused, surprised.
Shen Shu turned to Tong Jia. “But can we skip the whispering?” she asked softly. Her tone was serious, but Xu Jinnan’s throat tightened. Her thoughts had become dangerously suggestive since arriving in this world.
Why did she find that question so alluring?
Tong Jia, used to Shen Shu’s aloof demeanor, was amused by the contrast between her expression and her words.
She suddenly thought Shen Shu would be perfect for the role of a naive, innocent, yet subtly seductive character.
“Sure,” she said, laughing.
She thought Xu Jinnan was being overly protective of her wife. Shen Shu seemed more open to it.
Xu Jinnan leaned in close to Shen Shu’s ear. “Do you even know what a push-up is?” she whispered.
“…Yes,” Shen Shu replied. “Top or bottom?”
Xu Jinnan: “…” How can she ask that so calmly?
It made Xu Jinnan’s own thoughts seem even more impure.
Everyone in the room was watching them expectantly.
Shen Shu paused. “You can be on the bottom.”
Xu Jinnan: “?”
The two questions had been so close together, it was as if Shen Shu hadn’t given her a chance to choose.
And indeed, she hadn’t.
She had considered Xu Jinnan’s upset stomach and her apparent lack of sleep, judging by her pale lips and tired appearance this morning.
She probably didn’t have much energy.
Tong Jia chuckled. “CEO Xu, you two are giving yourselves away.”
The others also exchanged knowing smiles.
Before Xu Jinnan could respond, Shen Shu stood up.
Xu Jinnan followed her, still wanting to avoid the push-ups. She was fine with drinking.
“Come on, let’s get this over with. I’m tired,” Shen Shu said, her voice unusually soft, almost intimate.
Xu Jinnan couldn’t speak, a smile playing on her lips.
She looked at Shen Shu’s serious expression, then leaned in close, their faces only inches apart. “Then I want to be on top,” she whispered.
Shen Shu: “…”
The others in the room were practically howling with laughter. This was pure entertainment. They had been so reluctant to participate just moments ago, and now they were practically making out in public.
Shen Shu lay down on the wide sofa, the cushions sinking slightly under her weight. As Xu Jinnan leaned over her, the sofa dipped further.
Their eyes met, their breathing shallow, then they both looked away.
Xu Jinnan carefully positioned her arms to avoid touching Shen Shu’s body, despite their close proximity.
The four push-ups were over in seconds.
“CEO Xu, you’re quite strong,” Tong Jia commented.
Xu Jinnan stood up, slipping on her heels. “It’s getting late. Shu Shu and I are leaving. You guys have fun,” she said, and they left the room.
As soon as they were outside, Shen Shu’s phone rang. It was Cai Ying, who explained she hadn’t seen their messages earlier. Shen Shu told her they would talk later.
They walked silently through the long, brightly lit hallway. As they turned a corner, a drunk man stumbled towards them, and Xu Jinnan instinctively pulled Shen Shu closer, half-embracing her.
After the man passed, she released Shen Shu and they continued walking.
Xu Jinnan glanced at Shen Shu, whose face was slightly flushed, perhaps from the alcohol, or perhaps something else. Is she blushing? she wondered.
The thought sent a pleasant flutter through her chest.
As if sensing her gaze, Shen Shu said, “Let’s go,” and walked ahead.
“Okay,” Xu Jinnan replied, following her.
Tong Jia, watching them from a distance, said to Qiao Rui, “Newlyweds are different, aren’t they?”
“Different how?” Qiao Rui asked with a smile.
Tong Jia playfully pinched her waist. “We’ve been together too long. Starting to feel the seven-year itch, aren’t we?” She looked at Qiao Rui, searching her eyes.
Qiao Rui gently touched Tong Jia’s nose. “I don’t feel it at all. I can’t get enough of you. Are you the one getting tired of me?”
Tong Jia laughed, pleased with the answer, but the smile didn’t reach her eyes. Why doesn’t she understand? Haven’t I been dropping enough hints?
How much longer did she have to wait for a proposal?
Since they had both been drinking, they called a driver.
Xu Jinnan had been right; the original Xu Jinnan’s body had changed, especially her alcohol tolerance. After those few drinks, her face and neck felt warm.
Her head was spinning, and she felt drowsy.
They chatted briefly in the car, then Xu Jinnan leaned against the window and fell silent. Shen Shu glanced over and saw her long eyelashes fluttering against her cheek.
Her nose was delicate and straight, her lips slightly thin. They said thin lips meant a cold heart.
But Xu Jinnan, if she loved someone, would be anything but coldhearted.
The car suddenly braked, and Shen Shu instinctively reached out to protect Xu Jinnan’s head from hitting the window.
Shen Shu’s palm was warm; Xu Jinnan’s face was burning hot.
Xu Jinnan didn’t wake up, simply nuzzling against Shen Shu’s hand, as if finding the support comfortable.
Shen Shu: “…”
When Xu Jinnan woke up, she found a pillow beneath her head. She felt even dizzier than before.
The alcohol was hitting her now.
The elevator ascended to the eighth floor.
Xu Jinnan, her eyes half-closed, saw her flushed face in the mirrored wall of the elevator. She paused, then glanced at Shen Shu.
The air felt warm and heavy, and her mouth was dry.
Sensing her gaze, Shen Shu looked over, their eyes meeting in the mirror. Xu Jinnan didn’t look away.
“Is your stomach upset?” Shen Shu asked, her voice unusually gentle.
Xu Jinnan paused, as if processing the question, then shook her head, her gaze returning to Shen Shu’s face. “No.”
Shen Shu nodded, looking away.
Inside the apartment, Xu Jinnan watched as Shen Shu changed her shoes at the entrance. In the cool light of the hallway, Shen Shu’s toes looked almost translucent.
When Shen Shu stood up and saw Xu Jinnan still standing there, her heels still on, she asked, “What are you waiting for?”
“Shen Shu,” Xu Jinnan said, stepping closer and leaning down, “were you blushing just now?”
Her height, amplified by her heels, and her pheromones, mingled with the scent of alcohol, made Shen Shu instinctively want to step back.
She resisted the urge, her lips parting slightly, when Xu Jinnan suddenly straightened up, rubbing her head. “I’m so tired. I’m going to bed,” she mumbled, kicking off her heels and walking barefoot to the guest room.
Shen Shu watched her leave, a thought crossing her mind – Is she drunk again?
After the guest room door closed, Shen Shu looked down at Xu Jinnan’s discarded heels, then neatly placed them on the shoe rack.
She paused, a smile playing on her lips. Xu Jinnan was rather endearing sometimes.
Xu Jinnan slept soundly, waking up to realize she hadn’t changed her clothes or showered.
Fortunately, she wasn’t completely blackout drunk and still remembered what had happened. After replaying the night’s events in her mind, she finally left the guest room.
Shen Shu was still asleep. Xu Jinnan went to the kitchen, scrolling through her phone.
The refrigerator still contained only two carrots. She took out some pork ribs from the freezer, planning to make porridge.
She scrolled through the messages in the group chat. Tong Jia and her two assistants were talking.
Xinxin: [Great news! Shu-jie’s follower count is over 800,000!!!]
Tong Jia: [@Shen Shu @Xu Jinnan You have a fan who wrote a fanfic about you two. Want to read it?]
Xinxin: [Yes! I want to read it!]
Tong Jia: [Link]
Tong Jia: [Crazy Rich Omega vs. Ice Queen Alpha, forced confinement edition…]
Xiaodong: [Isn’t CEO Xu an Alpha?]
Tong Jia: [It’s fanfiction.]
Xu Jinnan: “…”
What makes them think I’m an Omega?
She clicked on the link and saw the author’s name – Little Bunny.
She raised an eyebrow. She and Little Bunny didn’t seem to get along.
The title was The Domineering CEO’s Captivity Diary. It was a short story, posted on a public, 18+ website, only the first chapter, about two thousand words.
But it had a lot of views.
Xu Jinnan skimmed it.
It was about a domineering CEO who becomes obsessed with the female protagonist, who then turns the tables and imprisons her. A classic enemies-to-lovers, with a touch of crazy.
Xu Jinnan’s face remained expressionless as she returned to WeChat and sent a smiling emoji in the group chat.
Tong Jia immediately sent her a private message.
[CEO Xu, did you pay to have that post about you deleted?]
Xu Jinnan: [?]
Tong Jia: [There was a discussion on Zhihu about someone posting your dark secrets, and now the entire account is gone. I’ll show you.]
Xu Jinnan turned on the faucet and started washing the carrots. A few moments later, Tong Jia messaged her, saying she couldn’t find the post anymore.
Xu Jinnan replied, “I don’t know.”
She had seen this happen a few times before. She had even investigated it. Even Han Hui and Chen Bo had their share of scandals and rumors online. But there was nothing about her, the notorious “North City Bully.”
She suspected it was the Xu Corporation’s doing, considering Xu Tao’s obsession with reputation.
As she was thinking, she saw Shen Shu emerge from the bedroom.
“Go wash up. I’ll make some stir-fried carrots to go with the porridge,” she said, picking up a knife.
“Your headache’s gone?” Shen Shu asked.
“I slept it off,” Xu Jinnan replied.
It was more of a brunch than breakfast. They ate quietly, and then Xu Jinnan’s phone rang.
After the call, she glanced at Shen Shu, who was washing the dishes. “Are you going out today?”
“Tong Jia set up a meeting with a director this afternoon,” Shen Shu replied.
Already scheduling meetings for her next project? Tong Jia was right; things were about to get busy for Shen Shu.
“Cai Ying said she’s coming over tonight,” Shen Shu added.
Xu Jinnan turned off her phone. “Then I’ll come back here,” she said without thinking, then realized how that sounded.
She had been considering the living arrangements these past few days.
After revealing their marriage, staying at the hotel wasn’t appropriate anymore. Shen Shu had a spare room, and if she didn’t mind, Xu Jinnan would move in.
“I don’t mind,” Shen Shu said, placing the dishes on the drying rack.
The living room fell silent. After a moment, Shen Shu asked, “Do you mind cooking?”
Xu Jinnan smiled. “Do you mind eating more?”
Shen Shu paused, a faint smile playing on her lips.
Xu Jinnan went to the office, telling Zhou Pei on the way to deal with the old apartment. It held too many unpleasant memories for both her and Shen Shu.
At the office, she received a message from Chen Yue, the young private investigator.
She drove to the same run-down apartment complex, the midday sun beating down on the empty streets. Chen Yue, still in his hip-hop attire, his silver chain glinting in the sunlight, hurried over to the car.
“Nan-jie,” he said, getting in and handing her a photo.
It wasn’t very clear, but the man’s features were visible.
“This should be Wang Zheng.”
“Should?”
“I visited the locations you mentioned and pulled some strings to get the surveillance footage. This is the only person who appeared at all those places. You can check the footage from Chengyang Cafe, the only place I couldn’t access. Compare it to the time of the phone call. If this man was there at that time, then it’s almost certain he’s Wang Zheng.”
Xu Jinnan looked at the photo. A middle-aged man in a blue work cap, his head tilted back slightly, a white scar on his chin.
“I’ll look into it,” she said, taking the photo and handing Chen Yue a wad of cash.
“Thank you, Nan-jie. Let me know if you need anything else. Once you confirm his identity, I’ll find him for you, no matter where he is,” he said, puffing out his chest.
Just then, his phone rang, and as he left, Xu Jinnan overheard him mention hospital bills.
She sat in the car for a while, the quiet atmosphere of the old residential area strangely calming, reminding her of cooking in Shen Shu’s kitchen.
It was a peaceful, comforting feeling.
She saw an elderly woman carrying groceries, walking into a narrow alleyway.
She sent Shen Shu a message.
[Need anything from the grocery store?]
A few seconds later:
Shen Shu: [I went shopping this morning.]
[Okay.]
Then, another message from Shen Shu:
[Any fruits you like?]
Xu Jinnan: [Mangoes.]
Just then, Cai Ying tagged her and Shen Shu in the group chat.
Cai Ying: [@Shen Shu My dear superstar, I might not be able to make it tonight.]
Cai Ying: [@Xu Jinnan Hey, I might not be able to make it tonight.]
Xu Jinnan: “…”
Shen Shu asked what was wrong, and Cai Ying immediately replied: [Can’t talk now, gotta study!] followed by a location pin for the City Library.
After learning about the tutor, Han Ling, Shen Shu had had someone investigate. She was indeed a professor at the university, albeit an adjunct, and the student reviews were positive – beautiful, knowledgeable, kind, and patient.
It matched Cai Ying’s description.
But she hadn’t seen a photo.
Shen Shu didn’t want to interfere too much, simply reminding Cai Ying to be careful during their occasional chats. But the tutor seemed competent; Cai Ying’s recent practice exams showed significant improvement.
And according to Shen Shu, they always met at the City Library.
Xu Jinnan hadn’t been to a library in years. Her office building wasn’t far from the City Library. Perhaps she should visit sometime.
At the City Library, Cai Ying had reserved a table in advance. The library was crowded due to the hot weather, and she had only managed to find a table near the edge.
She didn’t see Han Ling, so she sent her a WeChat message, but received no reply.
She rested her head on the table, waiting, when she felt a hand ruffle her hair.
“Ran into someone I knew. Sorry I’m late,” a voice said.
Cai Ying didn’t mind, opening her textbook. “I reread the chapter you mentioned, but I don’t understand this phrase.”
Han Wenling looked at her for a moment. “What’s wrong?” Cai Ying asked, blinking.
The mixed-race Omega’s long eyelashes fluttered like fans, her light-colored eyes sparkling, her skin pale and flawless. She looked as innocent as a blank sheet of paper.
If this continued, Han Wenling would actually start treating her like a student.
She leaned closer, a playful smile on her lips. “Let me show you.”
A clean, refreshing scent filled Cai Ying’s senses.
Han Wenling’s pheromones were cedar-scented, a pleasant fragrance she never bothered to conceal. The scent intensified slightly when she was close.
Like now. It was subtle, undetectable to others, but Cai Ying could smell it.
Her ears felt warm.
After the lesson, as Cai Ying was packing up, Han Wenling said softly, “There’s a difficult concept in the next chapter. You can ask me about it tonight.”
“I might have to ask you tomorrow,” Cai Ying replied.
“Oh?”
“I have plans tonight. I won’t be able to study.”
“With whom?”
The question was a bit intrusive, but Han Wenling’s tone was light and curious.
“A friend from abroad. She just got back yesterday. We’re having dinner tonight,” Cai Ying replied, their voices low.
Han Wenling nodded, not asking any further questions.
Then, she seemed to remember something. “Did you finish that novel? Weren’t you going to tell me about it?”
“No…” Cai Ying hesitated. “One of the characters has a similar name to my best friend. It freaked me out a little. Maybe another time.”
“Want me to read it with you?”
Cai Ying looked up, biting her lip. She would love to read with a beautiful woman, but thinking about it made her slightly nervous.
She didn’t answer. Xu Jinnan had told her Omegas should be more reserved around Alphas, or they would be seen as easy targets.
That afternoon, Zhou Pei had already listed the old apartment for sale, as instructed by Xu Jinnan.
She asked Xu Jinnan what she wanted to do with the belongings inside, mentioning some designer bags and clothes. Xu Jinnan, after a moment of thought, told her to pack everything and deliver it to Shen Shu’s apartment.
“Since you’re moving in with Miss Shen, should I pack your things from the hotel as well?” Zhou Pei asked.
“Yes, please,” Xu Jinnan replied.
She didn’t have much, and the guest room closet was empty.
Later that afternoon, Zhou Pei drove Xu Jinnan to Xingcheng International. As they pulled up, they saw Shen Shu entering the building with a bag of groceries.
Shen Shu also saw Xu Jinnan’s car and stopped.
Xu Jinnan got out of the car and took the bag from Shen Shu, smiling as she saw the mangoes and grapes inside. Just as they were about to go upstairs, Xu Jinnan’s phone rang.
It was Chen Bo, his voice urgent.
“Nan-jie, Yin Xue attempted suicide. Did you know?”
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