Chapter 45
Dinner at the Yuhua Orphanage was at six o’clock. Sixty-some children filled the dining hall, and Xu Jinnan and Shen Shu decided to stay and eat with Little Crescent Moon.
Like the exterior, the dining hall was decorated with cheerful cartoon characters, the tables and chairs painted in pink and blue. Children over three ate by themselves, while the younger ones were assisted by caregivers.
Xu Jinnan was slightly surprised by the orderly environment and the relatively healthy, though simple, meal of rice, vegetables, and sliced grapes and apples.
The children were well-behaved, eating quietly.
“They’re so well-behaved,” Xu Jinnan commented.
Shen Shu didn’t reply, sitting down beside Little Crescent Moon.
Xu Jinnan sat opposite them.
Little Crescent Moon’s round eyes crinkled into crescent moons when she smiled, and Xu Jinnan couldn’t help but smile back, offering her a few grapes from her plate.
“Thank you, Auntie Nannan,” Little Crescent Moon said, taking a bite of rice, her cheeks puffing out adorably.
Xu Jinnan’s gaze softened as she watched her.
After a moment, she glanced at Shen Shu, who had been unusually quiet since leaving Little Crescent Moon’s room.
She knew Shen Shu was adopted, but she didn’t know the details of her childhood. Perhaps she had also had a difficult time before being adopted, and Little Crescent Moon’s words had reminded her of it, putting her in a bad mood?
Xu Jinnan offered her the remaining grapes on her plate. “Why are you so quiet?” she asked softly.
“What’s there to say? Just eat,” Shen Shu replied.
As Xu Jinnan was thinking of a response, a familiar scent wafted towards her.
Lin Wei sat down beside her, placing a plate of sliced mangoes on the table. “Miss Xu, these are from the mangoes you brought. I cut some for you,” she said with a smile.
“Those are for the children. Give them to Little Crescent Moon,” Xu Jinnan said.
“Little Crescent Moon is allergic to mangoes. The other children can have them tomorrow. Besides, don’t you like mangoes?” Lin Wei asked, pushing the plate closer to Xu Jinnan. “I tried them. They’re very sweet.”
Xu Jinnan glanced at Shen Shu. “Oh, thank you,” she said.
“You brought them. I should be thanking you.”
Xu Jinnan had chatted with Lin Wei earlier that afternoon, but hadn’t learned anything useful. However, she could tell Lin Wei was a caring caregiver.
As Xu Jinnan was about to offer the mangoes to Shen Shu, Shen Shu placed the grapes Xu Jinnan had given her onto Little Crescent Moon’s plate. “You can have these. I don’t want them,” she said.
Xu Jinnan looked at her for a moment, then decided not to push it.
—
It was 6:30 p.m. after dinner.
The children were sitting in the main hall, listening to a story, and Xu Jinnan, checking the time, said to Shen Shu, “Can you stay with her for a bit?”
Shen Shu looked up. “I’ll explain later,” Xu Jinnan said.
Shen Shu didn’t ask any further questions.
Xu Jinnan went to Little Crescent Moon’s room and locked the door behind her.
That nagging feeling of having missed something had intensified since leaving the room earlier. She felt like she had to come back to find the answer.
She carefully scanned the room, her gaze sweeping over every corner – behind the door, the chairs, the desk, the bookshelves, the wardrobe, the bed.
Then, her gaze stopped on the desk drawer. She opened it and took out the sketchbook.
Flipping through the pages, she felt a connection to the original Xu Jinnan’s emotions – the moments of peace, the moments of despair, the extremes captured in each stroke.
She reached the last page – a dark cloud looming over a caged bird, a small bamboo tube tied to its leg.
She stared at it for a moment, then turned her attention back to the drawer.
She pulled it all the way out, reaching inside and feeling the texture of cardboard… something was taped to the bottom. She pulled it out.
A notebook.
The moment she held it in her hand, the vague feeling she had been experiencing crystallized into a clear understanding.
She sat down at the desk, pulling the small lamp closer, and opened the notebook.
Each page contained a single sentence. As she read, a chill ran down her spine.
– You found it. I should be happy.
– I’m not crazy. I know you’re replacing me.
– Did you know I was so eager for this that you came to replace me? It doesn’t matter.
– Don’t try to erase the maggot-infested memories of my past.
– It’s impossible.
– Once you remember everything, I’m certain you’ll become me. You know you’re being influenced by me. Otherwise, how would you have found this diary?
– Don’t be afraid. Find the devil’s key in Xu Tao’s study. It’s under the drawer, as a reminder.
– My room… no, your room. Go back there.
– When you remember how to use the key, don’t forget, 0323 is the day your life, and theirs, will end. I’ll be waiting.
– I’m giving you my body, my pain, my end. Don’t disappoint me.
– Most importantly, don’t forget to be reborn as a bird.
– We can be friends. I’ll play with you, and you’ll play with me.
– Then, we’ll be free.
Before she arrived, the original Xu Jinnan had sensed something was wrong, but she had simply thought she had multiple personalities.
If Xu Jinnan didn’t have the clear memories of her previous life, she might have doubted her own sanity after reading these cryptic messages.
While some of the sentences were nonsensical, she extracted a few key points.
First: There was a key hidden under the drawer in Xu Tao’s study. This key would unlock something in the original Xu Jinnan’s room.
Second: Whatever it unlocked was dangerous.
Third: 0323 was a date, possibly the day the original Xu Jinnan had planned her revenge.
Xu Jinnan sat at the desk for a long time, then reached a conclusion – she needed to go back to the Xu residence.
The original Xu Jinnan had made it clear that whatever the key unlocked was dangerous, not just for the Xu family, but for her as well.
It was like a time bomb, and she had to know what it was before she could defuse it.
Her gaze lingered on the date, 0323.
It was early September now; March was still six months away. What was the significance of this date?
She remembered the locked box in Shen Shu’s apartment… could this be the password?
As she was thinking, a knock came at the door.
She put the notebook in her bag and opened the door. It was the orphanage director.
“Sorry to interrupt, Miss Xu. I wanted to chat with you, but something came up. Are you leaving tonight, or tomorrow?” she asked, her voice apologetic.
Xu Jinnan wanted to discuss Little Crescent Moon with her. “Is there somewhere I can stay here?” she asked.
“Well, we do have some spare rooms, but they don’t have air conditioning, and the showers aren’t working tonight. A pipe burst this afternoon, and we used all the water for the children… I’m afraid the conditions aren’t very good,” the director explained.
Xu Jinnan didn’t want to impose. She had seen a small hotel in town.
After the director left, she glanced at the sketchbook on the table, then closed the door and left the room.
—
Back in the main hall, she looked around, but couldn’t find Shen Shu or Little Crescent Moon. A little boy, seeing her looking around, tugged at her dress.
“They’re on the swings,” he said.
“Thank you,” Xu Jinnan said with a smile.
The little boy grinned and ran off.
She noticed that the children here were cheerful and well-adjusted. Even Little Crescent Moon, despite her complicated situation with the original Xu Jinnan and Yin Xue, seemed relatively normal… It was a testament to the orphanage’s positive environment.
The director must be doing a good job.
She would have to talk to her tomorrow.
Xu Jinnan walked through the hallway, then, realizing she had taken the wrong turn, followed the sound of a child’s laughter.
She emerged into a small playground, brightly lit by a large lamp, with a sandbox, a slide, and two swing sets.
Little Crescent Moon and Shen Shu were sitting on the swings, their backs to her.
“Okay, Auntie Shen Shu, now it’s my turn to push you!” Little Crescent Moon exclaimed, jumping off her swing and pushing Shen Shu.
“You can’t push me. I’m too heavy,” Shen Shu said, her voice gentle and playful.
Little Crescent Moon insisted, pulling her onto the swing.
Shen Shu sat down, her feet touching the ground. “Be careful, Little Crescent Moon,” she said with a smile.
“Don’t worry, I’m strong!” Little Crescent Moon pushed with all her might, and Shen Shu swung gently back and forth.
“Little Crescent Moon is so strong!” Shen Shu praised.
“Of course! I’m super strong!”
Xu Jinnan smiled, watching them. She walked quietly towards them, then gently tapped Little Crescent Moon’s pigtail.
Little Crescent Moon looked up, surprised, and Xu Jinnan put a finger to her lips, then gestured for her to move aside.
Little Crescent Moon giggled and stepped away, looking like a mischievous little elf.
Shen Shu, feeling the change in momentum, was about to jump off the swing when Xu Jinnan caught her, pulling her back gently.
Shen Shu’s head rested against something soft, and she felt a warmth at her back.
The bright light cast long shadows, and from a distance, with Xu Jinnan’s arms around Shen Shu, they looked like a couple embracing.
“Aww!” Little Crescent Moon exclaimed, covering her eyes with her hands. “So shy!”
Xu Jinnan quickly let go of Shen Shu.
After a moment, she ruffled Little Crescent Moon’s hair. “I was just afraid Auntie Shen Shu would fall,” she explained, then turned to Shen Shu. “Why would you jump off like that? Aren’t you afraid of getting hurt?”
“You startled me,” Shen Shu retorted.
Xu Jinnan: “…”
She had a point.
—
They took Little Crescent Moon back to her room, and a caregiver soon arrived with a small bucket of warm water for her bath.
Xu Jinnan refilled the bucket while Shen Shu helped Little Crescent Moon bathe and change into clean pajamas.
After Little Crescent Moon was tucked into bed, Shen Shu placed the dirty clothes in the laundry cart outside.
“Auntie Nannan,” Little Crescent Moon whispered, beckoning Xu Jinnan closer.
Xu Jinnan leaned in and felt something small in her hand. “Give this to Auntie Shen Shu, and she won’t be angry anymore,” Little Crescent Moon said.
Xu Jinnan looked down at the grape-flavored candy in her palm.
“You could tell she was upset?” she asked, glancing at the doorway and smiling.
Shen Shu hadn’t seemed particularly upset, her expression and tone normal, but there had been something… off. Xu Jinnan attributed it to the emotional impact of the orphanage.
It was past 8 p.m., and after Little Crescent Moon fell asleep, Xu Jinnan and Shen Shu left the orphanage.
As they were leaving, Lin Wei called out to Xu Jinnan.
“Miss Xu, are you leaving?”
“Yes.”
“That’s great! Miss Xu, we haven’t exchanged WeChat contacts yet. Can I add you? That way, I can send you photos of Little Crescent Moon,” she said.
“You two can chat. I’ll be in the car,” Shen Shu said, walking towards the entrance.
Xu Jinnan glanced at her, then said to Lin Wei, “My wife has my phone.”
She had chatted with Lin Wei that afternoon, but hadn’t learned anything useful. However, she had noticed Lin Wei seemed interested in her.
She hadn’t encouraged it. Lin Wei was pretty, with pale skin and a curvy figure, but she wasn’t Xu Jinnan’s type. And she didn’t want to deal with another one of the original Xu Jinnan’s conquests.
The streetlights were dim, flickering intermittently, and it wasn’t until they reached the town that the surroundings became brighter.
The atmosphere in the car was quiet.
Xu Jinnan tried to start a conversation twice, then gave up.
They drove around the small town, finding only one decent-looking hotel – a 99 Motel. It was Saturday night, and most of the rooms were occupied. Fortunately, two adjacent single rooms were available, recently vacated.
Xu Jinnan opened the door to her room.
A small room with a 1.35-meter bed, a tiny bathroom, dim lighting, and the strong smell of disinfectant.
“Should we find another place?” she asked Shen Shu, who was standing outside her room. They could drive back towards the city, even if it meant arriving late.
“Do you mind staying here?” Shen Shu asked.
“I don’t mind. I was just worried you wouldn’t be comfortable,” Xu Jinnan replied. She had never stayed in such a cheap hotel, but it wasn’t unbearable.
Shen Shu hesitated. “Let’s stay here. I don’t want to drive anymore.”
“Okay,” Xu Jinnan said, looking at her. “Get some rest.”
“Mm.”
“Good night.”
“Good night,” Shen Shu replied, opening her own door.
—
The bathroom was tiny, the shower separated from the rest of the room by a thin, faded floral curtain.
After a quick shower, Xu Jinnan lay down on the bed and checked her phone, which was buzzing with notifications – dozens of unread messages, mostly work-related, and a few from Tong Jia’s group chat.
The work messages were about the live streaming platform. The programmers and engineers had already started working, but they were divided on whether to use open-source code or develop their own. Some argued that using existing code would save resources, as live streaming platforms already existed, albeit not widely used, so there was no need to reinvent the wheel.
Others argued for developing their own proprietary code, citing Xu Jinnan’s innovative vision.
The discussion had escalated into an argument.
Xu Jinnan took a sip of water and sent a smiling emoji in the group chat, silencing them instantly.
Xu Jinnan: [If the existing framework is robust enough to meet our design requirements, we can use open-source code. But remember, I want a product that can be imitated, but never surpassed. I’m not a programmer. Whether or not you can achieve this is up to you. I’m only responsible for two things.]
Xu Jinnan: [Funding and results.]
The argument ended.
She returned to her messages and saw Shen Shu’s message in Tong Jia’s group chat.
Shen Shu: [Returning tomorrow afternoon. Meeting with Director Zhang.]
Tong Jia: [Okay. You two are so romantic! A spontaneous road trip?]
Xinxin: [Jealous!]
Xiaodong: [Jealous!]
Shen Shu: [Going to sleep. Talk tomorrow.]
Tong Jia: [@Xu Jinnan CEO Xu’s not saying anything?]
Tong Jia: [Tsk tsk, sleeping already? Good night then.]
Seeing that Shen Shu had said she was going to bed, Xu Jinnan didn’t reply. If she did, Tong Jia, with her loose lips, would never stop.
…
In the next room, Shen Shu scrolled through the chat history, Tong Jia and Xinxin still talking, then turned off her phone.
There was no night light in the room, so she left the bathroom light on and turned off the bedroom light.
She lay down, the window close to the bed, the traffic noise and occasional chatter from the hallway filtering through the thin walls.
She placed her jacket on the pillow and pulled the blanket up to her chest.
She couldn’t sleep, tossing and turning for a long time.
Just as she was drifting off, a loud banging on the door jolted her awake.
Another bang.
“Open the door! You bitch! Open the fucking door!”
Shen Shu grabbed her phone and took a few steps towards the door, instinctively dialing Xu Jinnan’s number, then stopped.
A strong, unpleasant Alpha scent seeped through the crack under the door.
She frowned, taking a step back.
The banging intensified.
“Fuck, who are you? Get off me!”
“You’ve got the wrong room.”
Shen Shu heard a familiar voice and sighed in relief.
“Mind your own business! Go back to your room! Hey! Let go of me!”
“Get lost,” Xu Jinnan’s cold voice said, followed by a thud.
Shen Shu heard a whimper, then the sound of someone scrambling away.
A top-tier Alpha, even without actively releasing pheromones, could still exert a natural dominance over lower-ranking Alphas, Betas, and Omegas. The drunk Alpha’s scent had been instantly suppressed by Xu Jinnan’s presence.
After the man stumbled away, Xu Jinnan knocked softly on Shen Shu’s door. “Shen Shu, it’s me.”
The door opened immediately.
Seeing Shen Shu’s pale face, Xu Jinnan stepped closer. “Are you okay?”
Shen Shu shook her head. She had simply been repulsed by the Alpha’s scent.
Xu Jinnan followed her into the room.
The Alpha’s rank had been low, and his pheromones shouldn’t have affected an S-class Omega like Shen Shu, but she still looked shaken.
Remembering Shen Shu’s aversion to Alphas, and the flicker of fear she had seen in her eyes when she opened the door, Xu Jinnan opened a bottle of water and handed it to her. “Have some water.”
Shen Shu took the bottle, but didn’t drink.
After a moment, she said, “Go back to your room and get some sleep.”
“Can you sleep?”
“I’ll sleep when I’m tired.”
Xu Jinnan didn’t reply, glancing around the room.
The space between the bed and the window was small, but she could sleep there.
“I’ll sleep here,” she said, her voice gentle but firm, moving the chair aside. “Just don’t step on me when you get out of bed.”
“I’m fine. Go back to your room,” Shen Shu said.
“I’m not,” Xu Jinnan replied, meeting her gaze.
“I’m scared. That drunk guy was terrifying. What if he comes back and knocks on my door? We should look out for each other.”
Shen Shu: “…”
Xu Jinnan smiled faintly, turning to leave.
Shen Shu glanced at the floor, the paint chipped and worn in places.
“It’s dirty,” she said.
“It’s fine with the blanket,” Xu Jinnan replied.
“Sleep on the bed.”
Xu Jinnan: “…Huh?”
“Bring your blanket and sleep on the bed,” Shen Shu repeated.
Xu Jinnan hesitated, touching her lip with her tongue. “It’s fine. The floor is comfortable,” she said.
Shen Shu looked at her for a moment, then looked away. “Xu Jinnan, do you have to make me look like the bad guy?” Did Xu Jinnan really think she couldn’t tell the difference between genuine concern and a simple offer?
Didn’t she realize Xu Jinnan was only staying because she was scared?
Shen Shu hadn’t intended to say anything more, but now, a sudden surge of annoyance made her snap. “If you don’t want to share a bed with me, just go back to your room. I don’t need your company.”
Xu Jinnan: “…”
She wasn’t uncomfortable sharing a bed with Shen Shu.
She couldn’t exactly say she was afraid of her own impure thoughts, could she?
Why is she getting angry?
Shen Shu turned her back to Xu Jinnan and lay down, her voice returning to its usual calm indifference. “Can you turn off the light on your way out? Thank you.”
A moment later, the light went out.
Shen Shu opened her eyes, staring at the door, a strange tightness in her chest.
She had intended to wait for Xu Jinnan to leave before locking the door, but Xu Jinnan hadn’t moved.
Then, she heard the door open again.
It clicked shut, then locked.
Footsteps approached the bed.
In the faint light from the bathroom, Xu Jinnan walked over to the bed, holding her blanket. “Miss Shen?” she whispered. “Can you move over a little?”
Shen Shu didn’t reply, simply shifting to the right.
Xu Jinnan placed most of the blanket between them, assuming they would sleep separately.
But neither of them could sleep.
Xu Jinnan replayed the day’s events in her mind. She had sensed Shen Shu’s subtle mood swings, assuming she had been affected by Little Crescent Moon’s situation.
But she had also been thinking about something else.
She wasn’t sure if it was just her imagination, or wishful thinking.
Some feelings were difficult to define, their presence undeniable, yet intangible, like a veil, obscuring the truth.
It was a dangerous feeling, one that made her hesitate.
After a long silence, Xu Jinnan said, “Lin Wei seems to be a good caregiver for Little Crescent Moon. Can you add her on WeChat for me tomorrow?”
“Why don’t you add her yourself?” Shen Shu asked.
“She seems interested in me. I don’t want to give her the wrong idea,” Xu Jinnan replied.
Shen Shu didn’t respond.
“Little Crescent Moon is adorable, and her situation is heartbreaking. I’d like to visit her again when I have time… We could go together, if you’re free. It would be convenient to have Lin Wei’s WeChat to check on her occasionally. What do you think?” She could tell Shen Shu liked Little Crescent Moon.
“We’ll talk about it tomorrow,” Shen Shu said.
“Okay, good night then.”
Receiving no response, Xu Jinnan turned over, then heard Shen Shu’s calm voice. “My alarm is set for 7 a.m.”
Xu Jinnan opened her eyes, smiling silently. “What a coincidence. Mine too.”
Perhaps because of the shared quietude, or the quietness of the world outside, they soon drifted off to sleep.
But not for long. Shen Shu woke up, disturbed by a slight movement beside her. She was drowsy, the dim light of the bathroom illuminating the room. Xu Jinnan, facing her, lay curled up a short distance away, the blanket kicked aside.
She often kicked off her blankets; Shen Shu had seen it several times now.
She was about to retrieve the blanket for Xu Jinnan, then decided against it, simply pulling the edge of her own blanket over Xu Jinnan’s chest.
Then, she shifted slightly to the right, creating a small, almost insignificant distance between them.
Xu Jinnan slept soundly, dreaming of a vast field of fragrant vanilla, the sweet scent enveloping her, drawing her in.
She wanted to absorb it, to make it a part of her.
“Ah…” A soft moan echoed in her ears.
Xu Jinnan frowned, thinking, The walls are so thin. It’s impossible to sleep. Shen Shu must be having trouble sleeping too.
Then, she realized something was wrong and opened her eyes—
She was nestled under Shen Shu’s blanket, the Omega’s pale, slender neck within reach, her skin soft and smooth.
She instinctively inhaled, the sweet scent filling her lungs.
Then, a tingling sensation shot through her scent gland, and her body flushed with heat…
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