Chapter 47
Han Wenling returned to her private room, where several others were seated around a rectangular table.
The woman who had entered with her earlier sat down beside her, leaning in close. “Mr. Han, were those Xu Jinnan and Shen Shu just now?”
Han Wenling, catching a whiff of her strong perfume, glanced at her. “You recognized them, didn’t you?”
The woman, oblivious to Han Wenling’s subtle displeasure, continued, “I haven’t had the chance to meet them before. I only saw that trending topic online. I thought I was mistaken… But Xu Jinnan seems different from the rumors.”
Han Wenling took a sip of baijiu, smiling faintly. The Alpha across from her said, “Xu Jinnan has calmed down since getting married. It’s understandable. With a wife like that, I’d stay home every night too.”
“Yeah, and Shen Shu is interesting. Decided to become an actress just like that. She’s surprisingly good. Stunningly beautiful,” another Alpha agreed.
“She is quite interesting,” Han Wenling said.
The Alpha chuckled. “Oh? Not many women earn your praise, Mr. Han. Are you interested? We might not have a chance, but you, Miss Han, are certainly qualified to pursue her.”
Han Wenling’s lips curved into a smile. “I’ll pass. I don’t like trouble.” She never got involved with married women, especially not Xu Jinnan’s wife.
Besides, while Shen Shu was undeniably beautiful, and Han Wenling had found her intriguing, she hadn’t forgotten about the land deal.
Someone had approached the Han family, offering to share information about a plot of land in the North District in exchange for a partnership.
The Han family, naturally, hadn’t passed up the opportunity, making preparations in secret, only to be beaten to the punch by the Xu family.
Later, they had discovered that Shen Shu was the one who had approached them.
While they couldn’t confront her directly, the land had become a valuable asset for the Xu family, infuriating the Han patriarch.
Seeing Xu Jinnan and Shen Shu together, she wondered if the Xu family had deliberately played them.
“Mr. Han, you invited me here, but you’re not even talking to me?”
Han Wenling’s fingers brushed against the woman’s shoulder, stopping her from leaning in closer. “Don’t wear such strong perfume next time,” she said.
The woman’s face fell, a flicker of embarrassment in her eyes.
The others didn’t react; they were used to this. When Han Wenling was interested in a woman, she would shower her with affection and attention, but her interest was often fleeting.
Just like now, calling someone “darling” one moment, then dismissing them the next.
The woman, unable to tolerate such treatment, excused herself and left. Han Wenling didn’t even glance at her, continuing to drink and chat with the others.
She had always disliked strong perfumes.
The last time she had seen this woman, her perfume had been subtle.
Han Wenling suddenly remembered a different scent, a light, sweet fragrance.
She thought of Cai Ying, the naive young lady who genuinely believed she was just a tutor. Han Wenling had been teasing her, replying to her messages sporadically.
She seemed to have received a couple of messages from Cai Ying that afternoon. She took out her phone.
Little Bunny: [Photo]
Little Bunny: [Teacher Han, is this the correct usage of this English term?]
The photo showed a circled question about a common trade term, something Cai Ying shouldn’t need help with.
Han Wenling: [Yes, is that all you wanted to ask?]
Cai Ying’s reply was almost instantaneous.
Cai Ying: [I’ve been improving a lot lately. Are you free sometime? I’d like to treat you to dinner.]
Han Wenling smiled, looking at the message. “What’s so funny?” her friend asked.
“The little bunny is taking the bait,” she replied, her voice laced with amusement.
—
Xu Jinnan had ordered a dual-flavor hot pot, one side spicy, the other mild, but they mostly used the mild side.
“If you’re really worried, I can have someone find photos of Han Ling at the university,” Xu Jinnan offered.
Shen Shu knew she was probably overthinking it, but the thought had crossed her mind, and it bothered her.
Cai Ying was naive and trusting; she would be easily hurt by someone like Han Wenling.
“I doubt it,” Xu Jinnan said. “You’re just being overly protective. Cai Ying might seem soft and easily bullied, but she’s actually quite decisive when it comes to relationships.” Just look at her attitude towards her ex-girlfriend. Despite her heartbreak, she had been able to move on.
Sensing Shen Shu’s gaze, Xu Jinnan paused, placing a piece of beef in her bowl. “Of course, neither of you will encounter any more ‘bad apples’,” she said.
Shen Shu smiled at her quick reassurance, her earlier worry dissipating.
“Just eat,” Xu Jinnan said. “I haven’t eaten all day. I’m starving.”
“Why?”
Xu Jinnan’s phone vibrated several times. “Too busy. Back-to-back meetings,” she replied.
Shu Shu Protection Squad
Tong Jia: [@Shen Shu I met with a few of your top fans this afternoon. There’s one I think would be a good fit. I’ll send you her information tomorrow. We need to start organizing your fan base before things get out of control.]
Shen Shu: [Okay.]
Tong Jia: [@Xu Jinnan CEO Xu, do you mind if Shu Shu’s moderator is a female Alpha?]
Xu Jinnan: “…”
She glanced at Shen Shu, who didn’t seem to react, then typed in the group chat: [Will Shu Shu be interacting directly with the moderator?]
Shen Shu, taking a bite of food, glanced at the message.
Tong Jia: [Yes.]
“What do you think?” Xu Jinnan asked Shen Shu.
Remembering Shen Shu’s reaction at the motel, if there was a possibility of frequent or close interaction, it was best to avoid an Alpha.
“What do you think?” Shen Shu asked, meeting Xu Jinnan’s gaze.
After a brief silence, Xu Jinnan said, “Find someone else?”
“Yes,” Shen Shu replied. “I’ll talk to Tong Jia at the office tomorrow. She’s been working hard.”
Xu Jinnan smiled faintly. “Okay.” She sent Tong Jia a private message.
[How do I become a moderator?]
Tong Jia: [Laughing emoji]
Xu Jinnan: [Transfer of 10,000 yuan]
Tong Jia: [Hello, respected Moderator Daddy! I’m Shu Shu’s agent, Little Tongzi. Pleased to meet you!]
Xu Jinnan: “…”
Xu Jinnan: [?]
Tong Jia: [Laughing emoji]
Tong Jia: [I knew you would ask me to replace the moderator, but I didn’t expect you to ask to be the moderator!]
So, she had been waiting for a bribe.
Tong Jia: [You’re probably too busy, but don’t worry, you have the title now. You don’t have to do anything, just pay up.]
Xu Jinnan: “…?”
Tong Jia: [Hahaha, sorry, CEO Xu, I couldn’t resist. I was just kidding. The person I mentioned earlier isn’t an Alpha. She’s a Beta.]
Xu Jinnan sent a sticker: [Trash.jpg]
Xu Jinnan: [You even lied to Shen Shu?]
Tong Jia: [She knows. Smiling emoji]
Xu Jinnan: [?]
Tong Jia: [Damn, I started this. I deserve this public display of affection. You two are so cute!]
Xu Jinnan turned to Shen Shu, who was calmly sipping her iced tea. “What?” Shen Shu asked, noticing her gaze.
Xu Jinnan smiled faintly, a warmth spreading through her chest. “Nothing.”
Tong Jia had done this to stir up trouble.
And Shen Shu had played along.
Was it to test her reaction? The thought made Xu Jinnan’s heart race.
Another notification from Shu Shu Protection Squad.
Tong Jia: [@Shen Shu Shu Shu, I found someone even better! Perfect, in fact. No one could be more suitable.]
Shen Shu looked at her phone. She wasn’t familiar with the rules of fan management yet. Before she could reply, Tong Jia continued: [She helped a lot with the Ren Xiaoqi incident, she’s wealthy and capable, and most importantly, she’s your biggest fan. She’s been there since the beginning of your super topic, deleting negative comments, staying up all night to promote your posts, reading every single comment…]
Xinxin suddenly chimed in: [What’s her ID? I’ll check her out on Weibo.]
Tong Jia: [RichSisterWithStamina.]
Xinxin: [Whoa, sounds like a total Alpha.]
Tong Jia: [I’m not so sure about that.]
Xu Jinnan: “…”
Shen Shu wiped her mouth with a napkin.
Tong Jia: [Just kidding! Don’t worry, I won’t let you interact with your fans directly or alone. There won’t be any problems.]
Shen Shu: [Okay, I’ll leave it to you.] Tong Jia knew more about these things than she did.
After Tong Jia’s first message, Xu Jinnan had told her not to reveal her identity as the moderator.
Tong Jia had asked why.
Xu Jinnan hadn’t explained, simply transferring another ten thousand yuan as a “hush money” payment.
She wasn’t ashamed of supporting Shen Shu, but Tong Jia’s fawning tone had been a bit much, like a lovesick puppy, and admitting it would be embarrassing.
I’ll tell her later, she thought, taking a bite of potato.
She wasn’t usually concerned about appearances. When had she become so self-conscious around Shen Shu? The thought bubbled up inside her, like the simmering broth in the hot pot.
She glanced at Shen Shu, her gaze unconsciously softening.
She watched as Shen Shu, distracted by her phone, almost burned her lips on a piece of vegetable. Xu Jinnan’s heart skipped a beat.
She picked up the vegetable with her chopsticks, blew on it, and placed it in Shen Shu’s bowl. “Let Tong Jia handle it later. Eat your dinner,” she said.
Shen Shu showed her her phone. “It’s not about that. Lin Wei sent photos of Little Crescent Moon,” she said.
The photo showed Little Crescent Moon sitting on a swing, her hand gripping the rope, her face bright with a sunny smile.
She shouldn’t be called Little Crescent Moon, Xu Jinnan thought. She should be called Little Sunshine.
“She’s so adorable,” she said.
Shen Shu’s lips curved into a smile. “Yes, she is.”
“All the children there are well-behaved.”
“Because they’re in an orphanage.”
Shen Shu put away her phone, then tapped on Xu Jinnan’s contact. “I added her for you.”
Xu Jinnan, still thinking about Shen Shu’s earlier words, looked up. “They have to be well-behaved to be adopted,” Shen Shu explained, her voice soft. “They’re even more well-behaved when adults are around.”
They were all children who had lost their parents, most of them abandoned.
No matter how good the orphanage was, how caring the staff, it couldn’t replace the security of a family.
Like Little Crescent Moon’s eagerness to see Xu Jinnan, they were starved for affection, clinging to any warmth like a precious treasure.
Even then, they still felt insecure and afraid.
“Little Crescent Moon might be smiling now, but she’ll probably cry herself to sleep tonight, after we leave,” Shen Shu said.
Xu Jinnan looked at her, not asking how she knew.
She took a grape-flavored candy from her bag and placed it in Shen Shu’s hand.
“Then let’s visit her together next time,” she said softly.
Shen Shu paused, then closed her hand around the candy. “Okay.”
..
It was past 8 p.m. when they finished dinner. The restaurant was located in the city center, the streets bustling with activity.
Her car was parked in the underground garage of a nearby building, a short walk away. Xu Jinnan suggested walking, and they strolled along the street.
There wasn’t much to see, so they ended up in the supermarket in the basement of the building.
Xu Jinnan wanted to buy a new pair of slippers. Just as they reached the aisle, they overheard a conversation.
“Isn’t that a celebrity? She looks familiar.”
“I think so too. Wait, she’s the one… damn, I can’t remember her name. My boyfriend said she was beautiful.”
Xu Jinnan and Shen Shu exchanged a look and moved away.
A few moments later, Xu Jinnan saw the two women looking at them again. She shielded Shen Shu from their view and pulled her towards the exit.
As they walked, she felt Shen Shu’s hand subtly squeeze hers.
It was barely perceptible, almost like an illusion, yet real.
Perhaps because of this shared moment of intimacy, they seemed to lose interest in shopping, and Xu Jinnan held Shen Shu’s hand all the way back to the car.
They didn’t talk much, but the atmosphere in the car was peaceful and comfortable.
As they reached the entrance of Xingcheng International, Xu Jinnan saw a Maybach parked near the entrance, three men standing beside it – two, a man and a woman, dressed in black T-shirts, flanking the car like bodyguards.
The third man, in a white shirt and black trousers, stood leaning against the car, a cigarette in his hand.
As he looked up, his gaze met Xu Jinnan’s, his sharp eyes softening slightly as a smile played on his lips.
Xu Jinnan narrowed her eyes, assessing him. Friend or foe?
The man straightened up, extinguished his cigarette, and walked towards her car.
Xu Jinnan stopped the car, but didn’t get out, waiting for him to approach. He knocked on the window, and she lowered it slightly.
“So angry you won’t even get out of the car?” he asked, a hint of amusement in his voice.
Xu Jinnan didn’t reply. Who is this guy?
He smiled ruefully. “I’m sorry, okay?”
Xu Jinnan: “…”
Leave a Reply