Chapter 21
Xu Jinnan tossed her phone onto the sofa, then, looking down at her pajamas, stood up.
The hotel closet contained only the two dresses she’d bought on the way. She liked dresses; they were easy to put on and take off.
As she finished changing, her phone buzzed with a message from Shen Shu: [Busy this afternoon. Later.]
Xu Jinnan raised an eyebrow. Had she been stood up? Shen Shu was a busy woman.
She replied, “Okay,” then, suddenly restless, called Zhou Pei and decided to visit a few more companies.
She still had some money left; she might as well invest it.
After visiting two gaming companies without finding anything promising, she dismissed Zhou Pei and went to a cafe, idly flipping through a magazine.
“Long time no see, Nannan.”
Xu Jinnan looked up.
She didn’t recognize the woman and gave a noncommittal hum.
The woman sat down across from her.
“It was Yin Xue’s fault, not mine. We’ve known each other for years. Why are you targeting me?”
From her tone, Xu Jinnan guessed it might be Song Ronghui.
She didn’t have a good impression of her. “Can’t you tell I’m in a bad mood?” she said flatly.
“Oh? Trouble in paradise with your little plaything?”
What the hell? Xu Jinnan frowned. “You can leave now.”
The woman sighed. “Clearly, you’re not in a good mood. Fine, I’ll leave. But don’t forget about next month’s… event. You can bring your… wife.”
As the woman turned to leave, Xu Jinnan put down her magazine and watched her, her eyes narrowing slightly.
Outside the cafe, Song Ronghui pulled out her phone.
“Something’s definitely off with Xu Jinnan. Tell Yin Xue I’ll look into it.”
—
The brief encounter had soured Xu Jinnan’s mood.
As she was paying her bill, Tong Jia sent her a photo – several women in qipaos, standing and sitting in a white studio.
She spotted Shen Shu instantly.
Her dark hair was pinned up with a silver hairpin, a high-slit, dark green qipao accentuating her long legs. She tilted her head slightly, her elegant, aloof beauty radiating from the screen.
Forty minutes later, Xu Jinnan followed Tong Jia into the film studio through a side entrance.
“It’s almost her turn. Sure you don’t want to watch in person?” Tong Jia offered Xu Jinnan a can of iced tea.
“Can’t I see her from here?” Xu Jinnan gestured towards the screen, where Shen Shu was standing outside the filming area, watching the other actors with a serious expression.
It was a Republican-era drama, and Shen Shu was auditioning for the role of a femme fatale assassin named Nightingale.
The character’s backstory was tragic: a young lady from a wealthy family, searching for her lost lover, only to be betrayed and abused, losing her innocence and dignity. Her abuser even branded her leg with the character for “slut.”
When she finally found her lover, he was married with children.
Driven mad, Nightingale murdered his entire family, becoming a cold-blooded assassin, using her beauty to lure her victims. The brand on her leg became her mark in the underworld.
“That’s… complicated.”
“It’s only three scenes,” Tong Jia replied. “It’s just an audition. She might not even get the part. Why so worried?”
Xu Jinnan felt a pang of annoyance.
Shen Shu wasn’t one for blind confidence. If she was auditioning, she was prepared.
Tong Jia continued, “It’s a challenging role. Although she only appears three times, the character is emotionally complex. But if she plays it well, she could be more popular than the supporting actress, or even the lead.”
Xu Jinnan wasn’t familiar with the industry, but she trusted Tong Jia’s professional judgment.
“Here we go.”
As Tong Jia spoke, Shen Shu walked onto the set, and Xu Jinnan felt a knot of tension in her stomach.
It was the scene where Nightingale, after years of searching, finally sees her lover again. She stands across the street, watching him with another woman, their voices low and intimate. Then their eyes meet.
A typical portrayal would show a progression of emotions: joy, disappointment, despair…
But Shen Shu’s expression was cold, the emotions swirling in her eyes. In the final thirty seconds, a slow smile spread across her face, her eyes curving like crescent moons.
A chill ran down Xu Jinnan’s spine. She remembered the original Xu Jinnan’s fate in the book. Shen Shu had personally carved out her scent glands.
Xu Jinnan: “…”
“She’s got it,” Tong Jia said, nodding approvingly.
As soon as the audition ended, the director dismissed the other actors.
Xu Jinnan took a sip of tea.
“Underestimated her, didn’t you?” Tong Jia asked. “Why not just start a company for her? Why this secrecy, even from your wife?”
Xu Jinnan: “…”
Sometimes, Tong Jia was too perceptive for her own good.
She’d presented herself as a committed partner in their first meeting, but now she was clearly just teasing.
“My wife is proud. I can’t just hand things to her,” Xu Jinnan replied casually.
Tong Jia: “…” Was she being fed dog food?
Xu Jinnan watched Shen Shu leave the set.
If Shen Shu knew she was here, she might not have agreed to the audition. After the incident with her family, she was likely under a lot of pressure.
And if Xu Jinnan started a company for her, the ownership would be public. That’s why she’d chosen to invest through Tong Jia.
“I have to say, your wife has an amazing figure,” Tong Jia said, naming a letter. “D-cup, at least?”
“…Tong Jia,” Xu Jinnan said, “is it appropriate for an Omega and an Alpha to be discussing this?”
Tong Jia shrugged. “Sorry, my bad.” Blame the novels.
Xu Jinnan thought, Tong Jia seemed so serious in the book. Why is she so… playful now?
As she was about to leave, Tong Jia added, “Better hurry after her. You’re practically drooling over your wife.”
Xu Jinnan: “…”
Xu Jinnan arrived at Shen Shu’s apartment a little after six.
Shen Shu’s gaze lingered on her for a moment as she handed her the bunny slippers.
Xu Jinnan was wearing a light-colored, floral slip dress, the fitted design accentuating her figure. The low neckline hinted at the curves beneath.
The dress, combined with her delicate features and long, wavy hair, was stunning.
She seems to like dresses, Shen Shu thought.
After changing her shoes, Xu Jinnan noticed Shen Shu heading towards the balcony and followed her.
Several potted plants, including pothos and succulents, lined the balcony.
Shen Shu, in a casual dress, was watering them. Xu Jinnan, remembering the elegant qipao from earlier, averted her gaze from Shen Shu’s graceful figure. “Why don’t you grow flowers?” she asked.
“They’re difficult to take care of,” Shen Shu replied.
Xu Jinnan’s gaze shifted from the glistening water droplets on the leaves back to Shen Shu, finally settling on her slender neck.
Her throat tightened.
Memories she’d tried to suppress for a week came flooding back – that moment in the bathroom, when she’d almost touched that very spot.
“The box is on the table,” Shen Shu said, turning around and meeting Xu Jinnan’s gaze. Xu Jinnan’s heart skipped a beat. “Right,” she replied quickly.
She didn’t move. “What are your plans now?” she asked.
Shen Shu thought for a moment. “Pursue something I… enjoy.”
Those were Xu Jinnan’s own words.
Xu Jinnan smiled faintly. “Whatever it is, I’m sure you’ll excel at it.”
Shen Shu put down the watering can and looked up at her. The sunlight made Xu Jinnan’s skin and clothes glow.
Excel?
She wasn’t even sure she believed that herself.
She had been so nervous during the audition.
Her expression softened. “I’ll tell you about it later… I still owe you a meal. We can settle that tonight.”
Xu Jinnan agreed cheerfully.
She returned to the living room and went straight to the box on the coffee table.
A small stack of A4 papers caught her attention before the box. Five characters were clearly visible: Divorce Agreement.
Ah, a farewell dinner.
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