Chapter 54 p1
Xu Jinnan’s breath hitched, her gaze fixed on the glistening mango slices sliding down her dress, settling in the valley of her cleavage.
Like a decadent still life, a human fruit platter framed by the dark wood of her décolletage.
Shen Shu’s lips felt dry, her throat tightening as Xu Jinnan looked up, her words catching in her throat.
But the heat in her eyes lingered, making Xu Jinnan’s voice falter slightly.
“Shu Shu… can you get the box…?”
Shen Shu’s nightgown was a simple, plain blue-gray, unlike the lacy one she had given Xu Jinnan.
The neckline of her robe was, as always, high, covering her collarbone.
The exposed skin of her neck, her cheeks, and her earlobes were all flushed a delicate pink, like rosebuds on a trellis.
A captivating blend of passion and shyness.
The emotions in Shen Shu’s eyes made Xu Jinnan’s heart pound.
Then, as Shen Shu lowered her gaze and reached for the box, Xu Jinnan caught the intoxicating scent of her pheromones.
“You should clean that up,” Shen Shu said, her voice slightly breathless, her gaze fixed on the spilled mangoes.
“Right,” Xu Jinnan replied, though she had already intended to.
The thin layer of juice had dried, leaving a sticky residue, the coldness of the fruit no longer perceptible against her skin.
She would take a shower after cleaning up.
But even as she cleaned, she couldn’t forget the charged atmosphere from moments ago.
As she turned around, holding the box, she noticed a trail of juice on the floor, then saw a single mango slice fall from her dress.
Shen Shu felt a strange compulsion, her first thought, It still carries her warmth…
“Tsk,” Xu Jinnan muttered, likely annoyed by the fallen mango.
If Shen Shu had known the consequences of that instinctive glance, she wouldn’t have looked up – Xu Jinnan, holding the plate over her cleavage, her long, elegant fingers picking out the mango slices one by one, the juice staining the thin, almost translucent fabric of her dress, clinging to her skin.
The outline of her body beneath the fabric was faintly visible.
…
They switched tasks, Xu Jinnan cleaning up the spilled mangoes while Shen Shu wiped the box and took it to the bedroom.
“You go shower first. I’ll clean this up,” Shen Shu said as Xu Jinnan finished cleaning herself and was about to mop the floor.
Xu Jinnan didn’t argue. She needed a shower…
…
When she emerged from the bathroom, the floor was clean, and Shen Shu was boiling water in the kitchen, staring at the kettle, lost in thought.
The flush had faded from her face.
Xu Jinnan, wearing her black T-shirt, asked, “You said something about photos of Little Crescent Moon?”
“Yes,” Shen Shu replied, pouring the hot water into a cup. “And two voice messages.” She glanced at the sofa.
Xu Jinnan understood. “Should I get my phone?”
“Yes.”
“What’s the password?”
“1212.”
Xu Jinnan frowned slightly at the unfamiliar number, then opened WeChat on her phone.
The photos Lin Wei had sent showed Little Crescent Moon wearing a white princess dress, a tiara on her head, and a pair of white, fluffy angel wings on her back.
Her hands were raised above her head, forming “V” signs, a bright smile on her face.
Xu Jinnan clicked on the voice messages.
Little Crescent Moon’s voice, childish yet clear, said, “Auntie Nannan, Auntie Shen Shu, it’s Little Crescent Moon! I received the clothes you bought me! And I… I ate red braised pork today, and pork ribs for dinner, and fruit! The director said you bought the fruit, and she asked me to thank you on behalf of all the children! And…” She paused, taking a breath. “And I gave each of my friends two of the candies you bought me, because there weren’t many left, and I didn’t want to eat them all.”
“Some of my friends were sad they didn’t get any, and I was sad too… so I gave them some anyway. Auntie Nannan, Auntie Shen Shu…”
“Next time, I don’t want new clothes, or anything else. Just candy, okay?”
Then, Shen Shu’s voice message played.
“Of course! Auntie Nannan and I will buy you even prettier clothes and lots and lots of candy next time. Be a good girl and eat your dinner and go to sleep, okay?” Her voice was gentle and soothing.
The sound, slightly distorted by the phone’s speaker, had a strange intimacy.
Xu Jinnan’s ear tingled, and she glanced at Shen Shu, who was still looking down at the kettle, then quickly looked away.
Little Crescent Moon hadn’t said anything else in the voice messages, just a brief exchange with Lin Wei, one sentence mentioning Xu Jinnan.
Lin Wei: [How is Miss Xu doing lately?]
Shen Shu: [My wife is fine. Thank you for your concern.]
Xu Jinnan paused. She hadn’t heard Shen Shu use that term before, only seeing it online, when Shen Shu had publicly acknowledged their relationship.
Not a sugar momma. My wife…
“What’s so funny?” Shen Shu asked, looking up.
Xu Jinnan smiled. “She’s adorable. Little Crescent Moon.”
“Yes, she is,” Shen Shu agreed.
Xu Jinnan hesitated, then said sincerely, “Your voice was adorable too, just now.”
Shen Shu was taken aback, then thought, She’s good with words, always knows how to flatter people.
“Not as adorable as you,” she retorted, “in your Winnie the Pooh pajamas.” She looked at Xu Jinnan, a playful glint in her eyes.
Xu Jinnan: “…”
And she says she’s not good with words?
—
After Shen Shu returned to the bedroom, Xu Jinnan leaned against the doorway. “I just realized, what does my birthday have to do with Cai Ying’s novel? Is she writing me into it?”
“Probably,” Shen Shu replied, still reading her script.
It was just a guess.
“What’s it about?”
“I don’t know. She didn’t tell me,” Shen Shu said, realizing her answer sounded dismissive.
“Oh,” Xu Jinnan said, seeing her engrossed in her script, then returned to the guest room, thoughtfully closing the door behind her.
Shen Shu put down her script, exhaling slowly.
She suppressed the familiar warmth spreading through her body and picked up the script again.
It was covered in highlighted lines and notes. She had a good memory and had almost memorized her lines, now focusing on perfecting her delivery.
She turned off the lights around midnight.
She hadn’t been very productive today, especially after Xu Jinnan returned.
She couldn’t deny the desire she had felt, the longing that had washed over her. She attributed it to her approaching heat cycle.
An Omega’s sensitivity heightened during this period.
She hadn’t been bothered by it before, but lately, like during her last heat, she had found herself drawn to Xu Jinnan.
It was happening again.
Her throat felt dry, her body still warm from that moment with the mango.
It was as if she had been injected with an aphrodisiac, the image replaying in her mind even as she tried to focus on her script.
She got up and drank some water, but it didn’t help.
The curtains were slightly ajar, letting in a sliver of moonlight.
She lay down on the bed, her long, dark hair spread out on the pillow, her eyes closed, her breathing gradually deepening – the image of Xu Jinnan and the mango resurfacing, a tantalizing thought taking root in her mind.
In the darkness, she imagined a flushed Omega, her eyes closed, trembling, a soft moan escaping her lips.
…
Xu Jinnan also stayed up late.
With the added responsibility of the North District project, she had become even busier. She had hired a new secretary, who would be starting tomorrow. She had high standards, requiring someone who could quickly adapt and take initiative.
She hoped this new secretary would free up some of her time, allowing her to focus on other matters.
Like the Xu family’s secrets, and spending time with Shen Shu.
The thought of Shen Shu made her pause, then she returned to the work reports on her phone.
She finally fell asleep around 2 a.m., then woke up a few hours later, her brow furrowed.
She felt a sudden sensation of falling, as if she had been pushed off a cliff. Not a single fall, but a series of endless descents, her body plummeting through darkness.
She landed with a jolt, the falling sensation replaced by a vivid memory.
She was three or four years old, her consciousness merged with the original Xu Jinnan’s.
Small and vulnerable, she sat on the ground, her eyes wide with fear, staring at the open car door.
“If you can keep up, I’ll let you in,” Xu Tao’s voice said.
Then, the door slammed shut.
She scrambled to her feet, her small body bundled in a puffy winter coat, reaching for the car door as if it were a lifeline. “Daddy, no! Don’t leave me!”
She ran after the car, but every time she almost caught up, it would accelerate.
She ran and cried, calling out to him.
But she could never reach him.
She stumbled and fell, the car disappearing in the distance.
She seemed to see her father’s sneering face in the rearview mirror.
It was cold.
The sky was gray, the road was gray, the grass by the roadside was gray.
Her white coat was now covered in dirt, the fabric torn at the elbows, revealing the white down feathers inside.
She stood alone in the middle of the road, a small, insignificant speck, unnoticed and uncared for.
After what felt like an eternity, the car returned, stopping in front of her.
The black SUV’s door opened, and her father, a cigarette dangling from his lips, looked down at her. “Do you know what you did wrong?”
Her face was numb from the cold, her hands frozen. She nodded, shivering. “Daddy, I know I was wrong. I won’t hide anymore.”
“We’re going to your grandmother’s house. If you embarrass me in front of the family, you’ll be punished.”
She nodded fearfully, her ears stinging from the cold wind. She covered one ear with her hand.
Finally, he said, “Get in.”
…
Another memory.
Her dirty white coat was deemed too embarrassing, so she was given a new one, also white.
A large house with white walls and black tiles, several buildings connected, red lanterns hanging festively.
It wasn’t a lively atmosphere; the house felt strangely quiet.
As she stood by the entrance, a plump woman approached, and she instinctively tried to hide, but the woman grabbed her face, pinching her cheeks, her other hand gripping her arm.
“Call me ‘Auntie’,” the woman said.
She struggled to free herself, then mumbled the word.
The woman smiled, satisfied, her purple fingernails tracing a path down the little girl’s cheek. “Xu Tao actually managed to produce such a beautiful daughter.” It was her aunt, Xu Lian.
The elderly woman, her grandmother, had three sons and one daughter.
Xu Jinnan’s own consciousness returned, like a soul returning to its body. She could see the original Xu Jinnan and her surroundings.
Xu Lian was of average height, heavier than Xu Tao, her cheeks puffing out when she smiled.
Her smile, directed at the little girl, was unsettling.
Then, Xu Tao’s voice came from behind them.
“Xu Lian, do you know whose daughter you’re touching?” he asked, walking over, a cigarette dangling from his lips.
Xu Lian chuckled. “Look who’s talking. Can’t I even tease her a little?”
“Don’t push your luck.”
“We don’t even know if she’s an Alpha yet, let alone an S-class. If she turns out to be an Omega… then your precious daughter is a failure.”
“Shut up!” Xu Tao snapped, as if she had uttered a curse.
Xu Lian sneered. “Mother has so much faith in your genes, already making plans for her future.”
“Let me remind you, you can tease the other children all you want, but don’t touch the one meant for our branch of the family. If anything happens to her, Mother won’t forgive you.”
…
The next memory was of the original Xu Jinnan running, Xu Jinnan’s consciousness merging with hers again, as she ran towards a courtyard.
A small, traditional courtyard. She didn’t remember how she got there.
Besides a few dark, closed-off rooms, the courtyard was small and easily surveyed – a small water tank in the corner, a rocking chair, and a swing set.
Then, she saw her aunt emerge from one of the rooms, carrying another child.
A little girl, about the same age as her, or perhaps younger?
She wasn’t sure, because the little girl was so thin, like a small cat.
The little girl’s mouth was covered, and she struggled in Xu Lian’s grasp, but to no avail.
Afraid of Xu Lian, Xu Jinnan hid behind the water tank.
She heard the little girl’s muffled sobs as Xu Lian sat down on a chair, placing the little girl face down on her lap and slapping her.
“Be quiet! Xu Tao told me not to touch you, but I want to see what Mother will do. Will she protect your branch of the family, or me?”
The little girl struggled even harder, and Xu Lian, seemingly annoyed, threw her onto the ground, kicking her twice.
Then, the little girl saw Xu Jinnan.
She was beautiful, her eyes filled with tears, her mouth covered.
Their eyes met, and Xu Jinnan felt a silent plea for help.
She needed her.
So, she made a noise.
A splash.
…
Xu Jinnan felt like she was drowning, her body submerged in cold water, a strong hand pushing her down, the world turning dark, the sound of rushing water filling her ears.
Her consciousness faded, her body sinking deeper and deeper…
Just as she was about to lose hope—
She jolted awake, sitting up in bed, gasping for breath, as if she had just escaped death.
Her heart pounded, her mind replaying the fragmented memories. They were dreams, but they were also the original Xu Jinnan’s memories.
But they were different from before.
These memories were fragmented, incomplete, and now, she couldn’t even remember their faces, only Xu Tao’s, Xu Lian’s… and the little girl’s.
Exhausted, she turned on the bedside lamp and checked the time. 12:30 a.m.
She had only slept for half an hour.
She got out of bed, intending to get a glass of water, when she heard the faint sound of the shower running.
Hadn’t Shen Shu already showered last night?
After finishing her water, she stood by the kitchen island, the sound of the shower triggering the memory of the original Xu Jinnan being held underwater by Xu Lian.
Shen Shu emerged from the bathroom to see Xu Jinnan standing by the kitchen island, lost in thought.
There was a coldness in her demeanor, a heaviness, a sense of loneliness…
Perhaps hearing her approach, Xu Jinnan looked up, their eyes meeting.
“Why aren’t you asleep?” Shen Shu asked.
Xu Jinnan looked at her for a moment. “Just getting some water,” she replied.
Shen Shu paused. “Did you have a nightmare?”
Xu Jinnan was surprised. “How did you know?”
“You always have nightmares,” Shen Shu said, walking over and pouring herself a glass of water.
She noticed the water in the kettle was cold, leftover from yesterday morning.
She glanced at the half-empty glass of cold water in Xu Jinnan’s hand.
Just as Xu Jinnan was about to take another sip, Shen Shu grabbed her wrist, placing her hand on the counter. “Don’t drink cold water in the middle of the night,” she said, taking the glass from Xu Jinnan’s hand.
The warmth of her touch, soft and gentle, seemed to dispel the lingering shadows of Xu Jinnan’s nightmare. As Shen Shu pulled her hand away, Xu Jinnan instinctively grasped her fingers.
“How about a handshake instead?” she asked, referring to their unfinished moment at Tong Jia’s apartment.
Her tone was gentle, almost indulgent, with a hint of playful manipulation.
After all, she was already holding Shen Shu’s hand.
Shen Shu looked down, her fingers twitching slightly in Xu Jinnan’s grasp.
But she didn’t speak.
Her silence was a subtle encouragement.
Xu Jinnan’s fingers tightened slightly, her touch firm but not restrictive.
Shen Shu’s cheeks, still flushed from the shower, were a tempting shade of pink.
But Xu Jinnan didn’t push it, her mind not on seduction. Shen Shu’s presence was enough.
Their hands clasped together, their fingers intertwined, a silent, intimate gesture. After a moment, their palms became damp with sweat.
Xu Jinnan released her hand.
“You didn’t turn on the air conditioning? Why are you showering so late?” she asked. It wasn’t that hot tonight.
“Just felt like it,” Shen Shu replied, picking up the kettle and refilling it with water.
If Xu Jinnan had been looking at her, she would have seen the flicker of discomfort in Shen Shu’s eyes.
The world outside was silent.
They stood in the quiet living room, making small talk, the conversation casual and aimless.
The water in the kettle began to boil, and the switch clicked off.
Shen Shu poured some hot water into Xu Jinnan’s glass, then filled the thermos, the sound of the water echoing in the silence.
“Good night,” she said softly.
“Good night,” Xu Jinnan replied.
She took her water and went to the guest room, and Shen Shu returned to her bedroom.
…
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