Chapter 28p2
Lu Yun returned to the room and saw Xu Jinnan’s distracted expression.
“There’s a Han family banquet tonight. I can’t go. You never liked these events, but you can go in my place. You helped the Shen family; we need to maintain a good relationship with the Han family.”
Xu Jinnan hesitated, then agreed.
She could tell Lu Yun was prepared to argue, and she didn’t have the energy for it right now. There were more important things to consider.
She needed to think about what she had just discovered.
As for the banquet, she would just make an appearance.
It wasn’t that different from the social events she used to attend in her original world.
Seeing Xu Jinnan’s ready agreement, Lu Yun was surprised, then felt a pang of sadness. She realized her Nannan had truly changed.
She wished she hadn’t.
At least, before, Nannan had listened to her.
But now, she only listened to others…
Shen Shu, waiting on set, checked her vibrating phone.
Xu Jinnan: [I have something to do tonight. Are you free tomorrow?]
She thought for a moment, then replied: [Evening is fine.]
Xu Jinnan: [Okay]
Shen Shu looked at Xu Jinnan’s profile picture. It had changed. She couldn’t remember what it had been before, but it hadn’t been anything serious.
The new picture was a split image of water and sunlight, separated by a pane of glass with water droplets, creating a calming and refreshing effect.
Just like Xu Jinnan herself – carefree and easygoing, her presence comforting, even warm at times.
Xu Jinnan’s two personalities were like night and day, completely different.
The screen dimmed.
Shen Shu’s thoughts continued.
Xu Jinnan had said she needed her for the inheritance, but so far, she hadn’t asked for anything in return.
In fact, she had only helped her.
At the Shen residence, Xu Jinnan had protected her.
After leaving the Shen family, Xu Jinnan had continued to protect her.
At the KTV, despite the danger, Xu Jinnan had protected her.
She had supported her acting career, even though it didn’t benefit her in any way.
And she had even argued with Lu Yun, causing her to be hospitalized, all for Shen Shu’s sake.
Shen Shu considered another possibility. If Xu Jinnan was an Alpha…
They had shared a room, a bed, and Xu Jinnan hadn’t made any advances. She had even only come onto the bed after Shen Shu had offered.
Xu Jinnan was a good person.
A good person who treated her well.
Thinking about it this way, she didn’t feel as averse to Alphas as she had thought.
But why had Xu Jinnan lied to her? That was what she couldn’t understand.
A crew member called out, and Shen Shu snapped out of her thoughts, putting away her phone and standing up.
It was a scene with Xia Chun. She had prepared for two days, rehearsing countless times in front of the mirror, but after the previous NG, she was still nervous.
She took a deep breath and walked onto the set.
Xia Chun gave her a strained smile. The image of Shen Shu and Xu Jinnan pressed together in that hotel room was still vivid in her mind.
“Ready,” the director called out.
They took their positions.
It was a scene between Nightingale and the character V, a member of the organization hunting down the assassins.
It was a scene of mutual probing, the emotions and dialogue more important than the action.
“You don’t believe me when I say I like you,” V said, touching Nightingale’s hair, her gaze suggestive.
“Really…?” Nightingale leaned closer. “Say that again.”
Shen Shu’s demeanor was usually cold, but her alluring eyes softened when she expressed warmth, her coldness melting into a captivating charm.
Not overtly affectionate, but alluring nonetheless.
Nightingale’s words were delivered slowly, her voice soft, her breath warm in the air.
Xia Chun’s breath hitched, the faint scent of vanilla and honey filling her senses, reminding her of Xu Jinnan’s flushed face pressed against her back…
Her fingers curled, and her brow furrowed.
“Cut!”
“Xia Chun, your expression is off,” the director said through the loudspeaker.
“Perhaps she’s too immersed in the role,” the assistant director said, trying to lighten the mood. “Touch up her makeup.”
“Are you alright?” Shen Shu asked Xia Chun.
Xia Chun looked at her, her expression softening. “Are you concerned about me?”
Shen Shu would ask even if it was another actor who seemed unwell. “You look a little pale,” she replied calmly.
Her voice wasn’t loud, but the nearby makeup artist and assistant overheard and rushed over to Xia Chun.
“My stomach’s a little upset,” Xia Chun said. “It’s an old problem.”
As her assistant fussed over her, Shen Shu offered a polite word of concern and didn’t say anything more.
Xia Chun looked away, lost in thought. Besides her physical discomfort, she had actually lost focus during filming. It was unprofessional.
She closed her eyes, trying to calm down.
The second take went smoothly.
That was the end of Shen Shu’s scenes for the day. It was a little after 4 p.m.
There weren’t many people filming at this studio, and there were plenty of empty rooms backstage.
As Shen Shu was packing up, Wei Wuqing called, reminding her about the evening’s event.
After agreeing, she saw Xia Chun standing at the door, holding a box of grapes.
Xia Chun’s color had returned. She placed the grapes beside Shen Shu’s bag, the washed fruit glistening with water droplets.
“Just washed them,” she said.
“Why are you doing this?” Shen Shu asked.
Xia Chun smiled. “I brought some for everyone. Just thought I’d bring you some too.”
Shen Shu walked past her. “Don’t do this again.”
“Why didn’t you push her away that day?”
Faced with Shen Shu’s coldness, Xia Chun’s patience finally wore thin. She couldn’t understand it. Shen Shu could have pushed Xu Jinnan away, but she hadn’t.
The question had been bothering her since that night.
“You know who she is,” Shen Shu replied. “Why would I push her away?”
“After what happened, you couldn’t even stand being near an Alpha, let alone being touched by one. Why did you let her touch you? Did you fall for her? Impossible. Xu Jinnan is such a disgusting person…”
Shen Shu’s expression darkened at her first sentence. She turned and glared at Xia Chun.
Realizing what she had said, Xia Chun’s eyes flickered. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to…”
Before she could finish, Shen Shu had already left.
Xia Chun felt a sharp pain in her stomach and sat down, clenching her fists, a mixture of regret, pain, and jealousy washing over her.
She remembered the phone conversation she had overheard earlier.
She took out her phone and dialed a number.
“Ms. Han, didn’t you say there was an HP banquet tonight? I’m free now… No need to pick me up. I’ll go myself.”
The HP banquet was held at the Han family’s five-star hotel.
It was an annual event, attended by prominent figures from the business world, celebrities, and artists.
It was a prestigious event in North City.
Hearing the description, Xu Jinnan understood Lu Yun’s earlier comment. The original Xu Jinnan must have loathed these formal, pretentious events.
She dozed off in the car, woken by Zhou Pei when they arrived.
She rubbed her neck, the tingling sensation having subsided considerably. Before getting out of the car, she reminded herself not to drink any alcohol tonight.
She was wearing a black, sequined, high-slit dress with a low neckline, a trench coat draped over her shoulders, a silver clutch in her hand, and matching ten-centimeter heels.
She walked into the banquet hall, her chin held high, exuding confidence.
The room fell silent for a moment as she entered, then people started approaching her.
She had to maintain the Han family’s image, but not at the expense of her own.
Han Wenfang walked over. “Miss Xu, what a surprise! We’re honored by your presence.”
As she clinked glasses with Xu Jinnan, she glanced at the drink in her hand, then lowered her gaze, hiding her thoughts.
“Why are you alone tonight? This isn’t like you,” Han Wenfang said playfully. “Is Miss Shen still upset about the last incident and refusing to come?” She was referring to the incident with Yin Xue at the hospital.
“Of course not. She has something to do tonight,” Xu Jinnan replied.
Just then, someone exclaimed, “Isn’t that Xia Chun? Impressive, Second Miss Han. I heard she never attends these business events.”
“The number one Alpha in the entertainment industry. She’s something else.”
“And look who’s with her. Is that her date? Holy shit… isn’t that North City’s goddess, Shen Shu?”
Han Wenfang took a sip of wine. “Miss Xu, I thought your wife had something to do. Why is she here with another Alpha?”
Someone abruptly stopped talking—
Xu Jinnan slowly turned around. Shen Shu, in a dark green mermaid gown, walked in with Xia Chun, the two of them a few steps apart.
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