Chapter 48
After saying this, Xu Yincheng glanced at the passenger seat, then back at Xu Jinnan. “You’re really not going to acknowledge me?”
Xu Jinnan composed herself. “When did you get back?”
“Just this evening.” Xu Yincheng tapped on the car window, gesturing for her to get out. “Bring your wife too.”
Xu Jinnan hesitated, then got out of the car with Shen Shu.
Xu Yincheng was tall, his features handsome and sharp, even in the dim light, his expression cool and aloof, a hint of ruggedness in his demeanor.
He had the air of a military man, but with a touch of worldly experience.
His background had always been a mystery, but based on the Xu family’s reactions and descriptions, he was clearly someone of significance.
“I couldn’t call you back. You know my work is sensitive. I just got my phone back two weeks ago,” he explained, his tone placating, the familiar way he always spoke to the original Xu Jinnan.
“I tried calling you, but you blocked me,” he added, not accusingly, not even waiting for a response, then turning to Shen Shu. “I wasn’t there for your wedding, but I brought a gift.” He gestured to one of the men standing by the car, who opened the back door and retrieved a box.
Xu Yincheng took the box and handed it to Shen Shu.
Shen Shu hesitated, glancing at Xu Jinnan, who nodded, and she accepted the gift.
“Thank you,” she said.
“You’re welcome. I should be thanking you for keeping her out of trouble,” Xu Yincheng replied, glancing at his watch. The warmth in his eyes vanished as he looked away, his expression turning cold and distant. “I have to go. Come home for dinner tomorrow night.”
While he seemed friendly, Xu Jinnan remained wary, unsure of his intentions. “We might not be free,” she said, testing him.
“No time for dinner?” He looked at her, a knowing smile playing on his lips, assuming she was still angry.
Then, his indulgent tone surprised her. “I’m only here for two days. If you’re really busy, I can have the Xu family come to your office for dinner. Just bring your wife.”
Xu Jinnan: “…”
Judging by his expression, she had no doubt he would actually do it.
She didn’t refuse. While she wasn’t sure about his true nature, she had been planning to visit the Xu residence anyway.
–
After the Maybach disappeared from sight, Xu Jinnan stood there for a moment, lost in thought, when Shen Shu asked, “Are you and your brother not close?”
There was a hint of concern in her usually calm voice.
She had noticed Xu Jinnan’s wariness upon seeing him.
She had never met Xu Yincheng before, only heard rumors about his mysterious background, the details unknown.
He had seemed friendly towards Xu Jinnan, but so had Lu Yun, and yet…
“I don’t really remember,” Xu Jinnan replied.
With the multiple personalities excuse, there was no need to elaborate.
Sensing Shen Shu’s concern, she added, “It’s fine. Just act normal tomorrow. You don’t have to worry about this. I can handle it myself.”
She wouldn’t take Shen Shu to the Xu residence.
The Xu family was a dangerous place; she didn’t want to drag Shen Shu into it.
Shen Shu looked at her for a moment, then nodded silently.
–
The next day, Xu Jinnan looked up from her work; it was past 4 p.m. She leaned back in her chair and checked her phone. Lu Yun had sent several messages, asking when she would be coming home.
One message in particular caught her attention: [Nannan, you didn’t say anything to Xu Yincheng, did you?]
Lu Yun’s tone was neutral, but the question revealed a certain apprehension towards Xu Yincheng.
She sent a brief reply: Later, then ignored the other messages.
Her gaze lingered on Shen Shu’s profile picture – a black “X” on a white background.
No messages all day.
She had noticed Shen Shu’s silence since returning from the orphanage yesterday.
Tong Jia had mentioned in the group chat that Shen Shu had a shoot today.
She sent Shen Shu a message: [Home yet?]
After waiting for a while with no response, she finished her work and checked the time. Half an hour had passed.
Still no reply from Shen Shu.
Assuming she was still busy, Xu Jinnan left for the Xu residence. On the way, she saw Tong Jia tagging Shen Shu in the group chat, but Shen Shu hadn’t replied.
Then, a private message from Tong Jia: [@Xu Jinnan CEO Xu, are you home yet? Can you ask Shu Shu to reply to me?]
Xu Jinnan frowned. [@Tong Jia When did she go home?]
Tong Jia: [Around 4 p.m. I drove her back.]
Xu Jinnan immediately called Shen Shu, but the call went straight to voicemail. As she was about to call Zhou Pei and have her drive to Xingcheng International, Shen Shu answered.
“Hello?”
Xu Jinnan’s shoulders relaxed. “What are you doing? Tong Jia is looking for you,” she said casually.
Shen Shu paused. “At your house.”
Then, Xu Jinnan heard Xu Yincheng’s voice in the background. “Tell her to hurry up.”
Xu Jinnan’s face hardened. “Can you leave now?” she asked Shen Shu, her voice laced with concern.
“It’s fine. My phone was in my bag. I’ll explain when you get here,” Shen Shu replied.
Xu Jinnan hung up and told Zhou Pei to hurry.
–
Twenty minutes later, Xu Jinnan entered the Xu residence. Shen Shu was sitting on an armchair in the living room, Xu Tao, Xu Yincheng, and Xu Li also present.
She glanced at Shen Shu, then looked at Xu Tao, whose voice was surprisingly normal. “You’re back?”
Xu Jinnan sat down on the armrest of Shen Shu’s chair, forcing a smile. “Why did you come alone? Why didn’t you wait for me?” Shen Shu wouldn’t have come here on her own. She wanted to know who had brought her here.
She seemed oblivious to Xu Tao’s darkening expression.
Xu Jinnan leaned in close to Shen Shu, putting an arm around her shoulder.
“I had someone pick her up,” Xu Yincheng said, his voice low and calm, a hint of amusement in his tone. “My sister-in-law hasn’t had dinner at the Xu residence before. She needs to familiarize herself with the family.”
Xu Jinnan looked at him. He was smiling faintly, but she couldn’t detect any malice.
His words were also a subtle acknowledgement of Shen Shu’s position as Xu Jinnan’s wife.
Before this, no one in the Xu family had treated Shen Shu with any respect.
They had even suggested a divorce because of her acting career.
What was Xu Yincheng’s game?
Lu Yun emerged from the kitchen.
“Nannan, is there anything else you want to eat? I’ll make it for you,” she said, her voice warm and motherly.
If Xu Jinnan hadn’t seen Lu Yun’s cold and calculating side, hadn’t witnessed her protecting Xu Tao, she might have found the words comforting.
“No, thank you. Anything is fine,” she replied.
“What about you, Yincheng?” Lu Yun asked, turning to him.
Xu Yincheng didn’t even look at her. “Just make whatever Nannan likes.”
Lu Yun’s smile faltered. “Okay.”
Xu Jinnan noticed the subtle interaction.
Both Xu Tao and Lu Yun seemed wary of Xu Yincheng.
Even Xu Li, who usually never missed an opportunity to criticize her, remained silent.
Regardless of Xu Yincheng’s true intentions, he seemed friendly enough, and his attitude towards the rest of the family was far less cordial than towards her.
She suddenly wondered if Xu Tao’s kindness and Lu Yun’s concerned messages were because of Xu Yincheng’s return.
Her suspicion was confirmed during dinner.
Xu Tao sat at the head of the table, Xu Yincheng and Lu Yun on either side of him. Lu Yun had initially wanted Xu Jinnan to sit beside her, but Xu Yincheng had called her over.
“Sit next to me. Let’s catch up.”
Lu Yun didn’t object.
“Brother, did you see what happened to Shen Shu online?” Xu Li finally asked, unable to contain herself.
“Yes, what about it?” Xu Yincheng replied calmly.
Xu Li took a deep breath. “Because of her, even you were almost dragged into it. Don’t you care? That industry is so messy. This kind of thing could happen again… Don’t you care about our family’s reputation?”
Shen Shu, her head bowed, suddenly found a peeled shrimp in her bowl.
Xu Jinnan, as if she hadn’t heard Xu Li’s words, said to Shen Shu, “Eat,” then placed another shrimp in her bowl.
She wasn’t wearing gloves, her slender fingers deftly peeling the shrimp.
Shen Shu understood the message – ignore them. It was her first time at the Xu residence, and the atmosphere was strange, almost suffocating.
Everyone seemed to be hiding something, their thoughts and motives concealed.
It was a familiar feeling for Xu Jinnan.
Xu Yincheng, as if oblivious to their silent exchange, replied to Xu Li, “I’d like to see anyone try to drag me into anything.” His arrogance was unmistakable, the same impression Xu Jinnan had gotten last night. He seemed serious and aloof, but his words were casual, almost flippant.
She was starting to become curious about him.
“I rarely come home. I don’t know when I’ll be back next, so let me make this clear. Nannan is married now, and Shen Shu is my sister-in-law. No one dared to slander her before, and no one will dare to do so now,” he said, his voice calm but firm, his gaze sweeping over the table. “As long as Nannan is happy, no one should interfere in their marriage. Understood?”
His casual tone and words surprised Xu Jinnan.
Xu Li was his biological sister, yet he was defending Shen Shu in front of her? Who was the real family here?
Xu Li, gritting her teeth, put down her chopsticks and remained silent.
Xu Yincheng ignored her, turning to Xu Jinnan and chatting casually. Xu Jinnan responded politely, but the rest of the Xu family, except for Xu Yincheng, looked displeased.
Even Xu Tao remained silent, as if he had no desire to speak.
After dinner, as Xu Yincheng and Xu Tao were playing chess downstairs, Xu Jinnan was about to take Shen Shu upstairs, intending to have her stay at the apartment tonight. She planned to sneak into the study while everyone was asleep.
“Nannan, stay for a while,” Xu Yincheng called out. “Is your wife interested in chess?”
Shen Shu, clearly uncomfortable in this environment, didn’t reply, and Xu Jinnan said, “She’s tired. I’ll let her rest upstairs.” She turned to Shen Shu. “Go on up. I’ll be there soon.”
“Okay,” Shen Shu replied, nodding.
Xu Yincheng looked away, placing a white piece on the board, capturing one of Xu Tao’s black pieces. Xu Jinnan glanced at Xu Tao, whose expression was a mixture of frustration and resentment.
She had seen him angry before, but never this subdued.
“What’s a ‘super topic’?” Xu Yincheng suddenly asked, his tone serious.
Xu Jinnan, momentarily confused, sat down on a nearby armchair and briefly explained it.
“I’m following yours,” he said.
Xu Jinnan: “…?”
“I even checked in.”
Xu Jinnan: “?”
Just then, Xu Tao lost the game.
Xu Yincheng asked if he wanted to play again, but Xu Tao simply waved his hand dismissively, leaning back on the sofa, his interest gone.
Xu Yincheng put down his chess piece and turned to Xu Jinnan, his tone changing completely, a playful glint in his eyes. He leaned closer. “Have your wife sign an autograph for me tomorrow.”
“…”
Xu Jinnan’s expression turned complex.
This wasn’t what she had expected.
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