Chapter 55 p2
Shen Shu closed her bedroom door and stood there for a moment, the soft, yellow light of the bedside lamp casting a warm glow, like an old photograph.
She looked down at her fingertip.
She took a deep breath.
I should have washed my hands…
She glanced at the glass of water on her nightstand, then went to the bathroom and rinsed her hand under the faucet, the lingering warmth finally fading.
But the heat within her remained, and she touched her racing pulse. Her heat cycle was definitely approaching.
Otherwise, these thoughts and feelings wouldn’t be so persistent.
—
The next morning, with her meeting canceled, Xu Jinnan slept in, a rare luxury these days.
She woke up a little after 9 a.m.
“Are you having breakfast?” Shen Shu asked.
Xu Jinnan shook her head. “No, I have a lunch meeting.”
“Okay.”
“I’ll be near Wanhe Plaza. I can drop you off. No need to drive. Viola can take you to the studio later,” she offered.
Shen Shu considered it. “Alright,” she agreed. She didn’t enjoy driving.
—
Xu Jinnan dropped Shen Shu off at Wanhe Plaza, where Cai Ying was waiting.
After saying goodbye, Shen Shu walked over to Cai Ying, who was still looking around. “What are you looking at?”
Cai Ying stared at the white Bentley disappearing in the distance. “Who was driving? Someone new?” she asked. She remembered Xu Jinnan’s driver being a woman named Zhou.
“Xu Jinnan’s new secretary,” Shen Shu replied.
“New secretary? Alpha? Omega? Or Beta?”
“I don’t know.”
“Seriously? Don’t you have any sense of danger? Your wife has a female secretary, and you don’t even know what she is?” Cai Ying exclaimed.
I can’t exactly ask, Shen Shu thought.
“Let me tell you, some people, even with a beautiful wife at home, still crave novelty, especially with a secretary constantly by their side,” Cai Ying continued, exasperated by Shen Shu’s apparent indifference.
While Shen Shu had reason to be confident, Xu Jinnan’s past reputation was still a concern. Even if Shen Shu didn’t care, Cai Ying felt obligated to protect her.
—
After lunch, Viola arrived.
Cai Ying, making an excuse about having errands near the studio, joined them in the car, observing Viola for a moment before asking with a smile, “Viola, you’re so pretty! And so tall! Are you an Alpha?”
Shen Shu: “…” She hasn’t even gotten out of the car. How can you tell she’s tall?
“Thank you, Miss Cai. Yes, I’m an Alpha,” Viola replied.
Cai Ying’s eyes widened, and she immediately turned to Shen Shu – See? An Alpha! And your wife is an Omega!
Shen Shu: “…”
“Being Xu Jinnan’s secretary must be tough. Are you single? Otherwise, you wouldn’t have time for a girlfriend,” Cai Ying continued.
Viola smiled. “You’re right. I am single.”
Cai Ying turned to Shen Shu again – See? And she’s single!
Shen Shu stopped her before she could say anything more.
As they got out of the car, Cai Ying grabbed Shen Shu’s arm. “Shu Shu, even though Xu Jinnan is an Omega, and you’re married, and she seems to prefer Omegas, Alphas are naturally attracted to Omegas, and that secretary is pretty. You have to be careful!”
Shen Shu, after finally managing to get rid of Cai Ying, stood at the entrance of the studio, feeling a strange tightness in her chest.
—
That afternoon, after finishing her work, Xu Jinnan received a call from Chen Yue.
The late afternoon sun wasn’t as intense as earlier, and she drove to the same old residential area.
Chen Yue wasn’t wearing his usual chain today, his demeanor slightly more subdued, but he still greeted her with a familiar, slightly thuggish grin. “CEO Xu.”
“Call him,” Xu Jinnan said, getting straight to the point.
Half an hour earlier, Chen Yue had called, saying he had found Wang Zheng again, and this time, he hadn’t run. He had even agreed to talk to Xu Jinnan.
But Chen Yue couldn’t stay with him.
Xu Jinnan had agreed.
After all, Chen Yue alone might not be able to control him.
Chen Yue dialed the number Wang Zheng had given him. Xu Jinnan suspected he had simply been stalling for time, but the call connected.
“Hello?”
“This is Xu Jinnan.”
The sound of heavy breathing and exhaling smoke came through the line.
It was the second time she had heard Wang Zheng’s voice. “I didn’t run. This is too dangerous. I was going to risk it and sell you the information, but I was discovered,” he said, his voice hoarse. “The Xu family is too deep. It’s not worth risking my life.”
“Who’s threatening your life?”
“Anyone but you.”
Xu Jinnan paused. “Someone from my family?”
Wang Zheng took another drag from his cigarette. “Not just the Xu family. Everyone there is strange. But I haven’t investigated that deeply… Anyway, I destroyed everything I found. I can’t give you any information. CEO Xu, we’re both just trying to make a living. You’re not going to push me to my death, are you?”
“Of course not. I’m a reasonable person,” Xu Jinnan replied. “But you took my money, and I got nothing in return. Isn’t that a little unreasonable?”
Wang Zheng paused. “I can’t return the money. What do you want?” His tone was slightly pleading.
“How about this, answer one question, and we’ll call it even,” Xu Jinnan suggested.
Wang Zheng considered it. “Go ahead.”
“Who was the last person you investigated?”
“Lu Yun.”
“CEO Xu, you have to keep your word,” Wang Zheng reminded her.
“Of course. That money is nothing to me. I can even give you another million, as long as you tell me everything you know. Contact me when you’ve made up your mind.”
Xu Jinnan hung up.
Lu Yun.
This wasn’t what she had expected. She had thought it would be someone else in the Xu family, like Xu Lian, or perhaps her wife.
The original Xu Jinnan’s letter had mentioned meeting Xu Lian’s wife.
She gave Chen Yue some money.
He looked at the thick wad of cash, then asked, “CEO Xu, why didn’t you ask more questions?” Judging by the amount, she must have paid Wang Zheng a lot.
One question seemed like a waste.
“Find someone else, someone discreet, to keep an eye on him. No contact, just track his movements,” she instructed.
“I thought you were letting it go,” Chen Yue said.
“Do you think I print money?”
“Whatever is threatening him is also protecting him… If you can find it, the money is yours,” she said.
Chen Yue’s eyes lit up. “One million?”
Xu Jinnan nodded.
After he promised to find it, she added, “I need you to accompany me somewhere in a couple of days.”
“Where?”
“Qucheng.”
She felt like she needed to visit the place herself, perhaps to trigger more of the original Xu Jinnan’s memories.
—
It was a little past 4 p.m.
Shen Shu returned to the studio after her magazine photoshoot, and Xinxin helped her adjust her dress.
“You should have seen the looks on their faces!” Xinxin said excitedly. “And they were so polite to me today, catering to my every need, afraid of tiring you out. Look, even the cushion on the chair is new!” People were always quick to abandon those who fell from grace, and even quicker to fawn over those who rose to power.
The incidents with Ren Xiaoqi and the live stream had made Shen Shu famous.
“Speaking of Ren Xiaoqi, she’s having a tough time. After losing several endorsement deals, she can’t even get any decent roles. I heard she’s even auditioning for maid roles now,” Xinxin said.
Shen Shu took a sip of water through a straw, murmuring in acknowledgement, but didn’t comment.
Ren Xiaoqi had tried to ruin her reputation for clout.
This was her just desserts.
But she remembered Tong Jia mentioning that Xu Jinnan wasn’t satisfied with Ren Xiaoqi’s apology and was planning something else.
She hadn’t thought much of it at the time, but later, she had overheard Xu Jinnan on the phone, saying she wouldn’t let Ren Xiaoqi have an easy time in the industry for at least a year.
Xu Jinnan was fiercely protective of those she cared about…
Like with Qiao Rui, she had gone to great lengths to help Tong Jia, while also being considerate of her feelings.
Xu Jinnan was a good person, and once people realized she wasn’t the monster they imagined, once they saw her true nature, they would adore her.
Xinxin mentioned Tong Jia, saying she and Tong Jia had been reading a fanfic based on an ABO novel. “The one that was shared in the group chat. Have you read it?”
“No,” Shen Shu replied. She had seen the link, but hadn’t clicked on it. She wasn’t interested in novels.
It was probably a story about her and Xu Jinnan.
Hearing Xinxin’s description, she suddenly felt a flicker of curiosity.
Xinxin’s eyes crinkled as she smiled. “It’s quite steamy~ Imagine you dominating CEO Xu… You should check it out.” She returned to the topic of Tong Jia. “The author started updating again recently. I told Jia-jie about it, but she’s clearly just pretending to be happy. I wanted to cheer her up, but it seems pointless.”
“Heartbreak takes time to heal, no matter who you are. Give her some space,” Shen Shu said.
“Shu Shu,” Xinxin asked hesitantly, “have you ever experienced heartbreak?” Then, she bit her lip. “Sorry, you don’t have to answer that. I shouldn’t have asked.”
Shen Shu shook her head. “It’s fine.”
—
As she was sitting in front of the mirror, Xu Jinnan called, asking when she would be done.
She was coming to pick her up.
Xinxin’s eyes lit up. “So sweet! I wonder when I’ll find true love,” she said, helping Shen Shu pin up her hair so she could change.
Then, she remembered something. “Shu Shu, was that CEO Xu’s new secretary who drove you here today?” she asked.
“How did you know?”
“I called Jia-jie yesterday, and she said it was CEO Xu’s new secretary who called the police.”
“I see.”
“What is she? Alpha, Beta, or Omega?”
Shen Shu, looking at her lovestruck expression, sighed. “Alpha.”
“Whoa…”
After a moment, Xinxin hesitated. “Shu Shu, you should be careful. She’s pretty. And nowadays, Alphas like Alphas, and Omegas like Omegas. And a secretary is always by her side…”
Shen Shu: “…”
Xinxin wouldn’t normally say such things, but perhaps because of the drama with Tong Jia, she was being overly cautious, like Cai Ying.
Shen Shu’s feelings were complex. Two people had warned her in just a few hours.
“She is pretty,” she admitted softly.
“But not as pretty as you! I’ve never seen anyone more beautiful! But Jia-jie’s experience has traumatized me. You and CEO Xu are my relationship goals! Don’t break my heart! So, I’m a little… Don’t mind me, Shu Shu. I just love a good conspiracy theory,” Xinxin said.
Shen Shu: “…”
“I’m serious. You’re stunning, no matter how many times I see you,” Xinxin said, stepping back and admiring Shen Shu’s reflection in the mirror. “And that dress! Especially the back! To quote a popular saying, I could stare at it all day.” She giggled. She had a habit of saying suggestive things, like Tong Jia.
“If CEO Xu saw you like this, she wouldn’t be able to handle it,” she added.
Shen Shu’s long, dark hair, thick and glossy, had been styled in loose waves for the photoshoot, and a few strands had escaped her updo, framing her face.
The backless dress accentuated her elegant figure, her pale skin a stark contrast to her dark hair and red lips.
Her reflection in the mirror was breathtakingly beautiful.
“Your hair is done. Are you changing now?” Xinxin asked.
Shen Shu looked at her reflection, then said, “Later.”
Xinxin understood instantly.
—
When Xu Jinnan opened the door, the scent of makeup filled the air.
Shen Shu was sitting sideways, still wearing her sparkly dress. Xu Jinnan walked in, a habitual smile playing on her lips. “Not done yet?”
“No,” Shen Shu replied, glancing at her.
Xu Jinnan’s eyelashes fluttered, her eyes widening slightly.
Shen Shu’s dress was a nude-colored, sequined slip dress, the low neckline revealing the smooth, pale skin of her neck and chest.
The tattoo on her collarbone was covered with makeup and glitter, shimmering like a galaxy in the bright lights of the dressing room.
Her waist was slender, her legs long and shapely beneath the asymmetrical hem of the dress.
Xu Jinnan’s gaze lingered on her delicate ankles, thinking, An anklet would be perfect.
A thin, silver one.
“CEO Xu, you’re drooling,” Xinxin said, trying to suppress a smile.
“…” “Learn some manners from Tong Jia,” Xu Jinnan retorted.
Xinxin laughed.
Shen Shu, looking away, reached for her water glass, then realized it was empty.
The kettle was also empty.
“No more water?” Xu Jinnan asked.
“Can you refill it?” Shen Shu asked, a rare request.
Xu Jinnan, pleased, walked over to the kettle. “Of course,” she said, looking at Shen Shu for a moment.
As she left the room with the kettle, she licked her lips, thinking, How can someone be so beautiful?
On her way back, she almost bumped into a woman looking down at her phone.
“Excuse me,” the woman murmured.
Xu Jinnan realized it was Tan Jie.
She nodded curtly, about to walk past her, when Tan Jie said, “Miss Xu, are you here to pick up Shen Shu? I haven’t congratulated her yet. I heard she’s already getting offers from other productions.”
Xinxin had gone to return some props, leaving the door ajar, and Shen Shu, noticing people peeking inside, stood up to close it. As she reached the doorway, she glanced outside and froze.
Xu Jinnan was talking to Tan Jie.
Then, Xu Jinnan turned around, their eyes meeting.
Shen Shu quickly looked away and closed the door.
A moment later, the door opened again, and Xu Jinnan entered, placing the glass of water on Shen Shu’s table.
“Thank you,” Shen Shu said, her voice cool and distant, her gaze fixed on a game on her phone.
Xu Jinnan looked down, thinking for a moment. “Tan Jie congratulated you earlier. I ignored her,” she said.
“Okay,” Shen Shu replied, still not looking up.
What’s so interesting about that puzzle game? Xu Jinnan wondered.
She wasn’t offended by Shen Shu’s coldness, her mind elsewhere.
Just then, Xinxin returned, carrying two heavy garment bags. “These are for tomorrow’s shoot,” she said.
“Xinxin, can you help me with the zipper?” Shen Shu asked, putting down her phone. The dress was a fitted design, and she couldn’t reach the zipper.
“CEO Xu, can you help Shu Shu? I need to get a couple more outfits,” Xinxin said.
Xu Jinnan paused, her gaze drawn to Shen Shu’s back, the smooth skin shimmering with glitter, the nude-colored sequins accentuating the elegant lines of her spine.
A breathtakingly beautiful sight.
After a moment of silence, Shen Shu, looking at Xu Jinnan’s reflection in the mirror, said, “She can’t. You do it.”
She can’t?
How many times had Shen Shu said that now?
Xu Jinnan’s eyes darkened as she looked at Shen Shu’s back, then she placed one hand on the back of Shen Shu’s chair, the other on the table in front of her, leaning in close, as if enclosing Shen Shu in a protective embrace.
She smiled faintly. “Xinxin, why don’t you go ahead? I’ll take care of this.”
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