Chapter 57 p2
—
Xu Jinnan sat in her car outside the hospital for a while, lost in thought.
She wasn’t tired; she had simply been unconsciously sitting there, her mind replaying everything that had happened – her sudden transmigration, the one-in-a-million secondary differentiation, the Xu family drama, the novel’s plot, even Yin Xue and the mysterious powder.
Then, a word came to mind – destined.
She chuckled softly, finding her own train of thought amusing.
But she couldn’t deny the lingering unease, the subtle discomfort she had been trying to suppress, but which kept resurfacing.
The window was open, letting in the cool autumn breeze, a welcome relief from the lingering summer heat. She checked the time; it would be a few more hours before nightfall.
She stayed at the office until past 8 p.m., working non-stop, barely having time for a drink of water, finally finishing her tasks.
When she arrived home at 9 p.m., the bathroom door opened, and Shen Shu emerged, her hair wrapped in a towel, wearing a two-piece pajama set.
It was new; Xu Jinnan had never seen it before – a pale pink, with small strawberries embroidered along the edges.
It was a slightly fitted design, but still loose on Shen Shu’s slender frame.
Shen Shu glanced at Xu Jinnan, then walked towards the sofa, holding the towel with one hand. Xu Jinnan’s gaze followed her, lingering on the curve of her breasts, a small strawberry peeking out from the side…
Xu Jinnan bit her lip, went to the kitchen island, washed her hands, poured herself a glass of water, and took a sip. “New pajamas?” she asked casually.
“Yes, Cai Ying and I bought them the other day,” Shen Shu replied.
She didn’t usually wear such cute styles, but the sales assistant had been very persuasive, and Cai Ying had encouraged her.
“Xu Jinnan is used to your aloof image. A change of pace might spice things up a bit, don’t you think?”
But Shen Shu hadn’t bought them for Xu Jinnan; she had simply wanted a change, a way to lift her own spirits.
She looked up, her eyes meeting Xu Jinnan’s.
Xu Jinnan nodded calmly. “They look good. Very good,” she said. Shen Shu’s pajamas were usually more mature and darker in color. This sudden change of style, like the dress she had worn the other day, was captivating.
Xu Jinnan went to take a shower, not seeing the faint smile that touched Shen Shu’s lips as she turned away.
—
After a quick shower, Xu Jinnan joined Shen Shu on the sofa.
They weren’t sitting close together, and the balcony window was open, letting in a cool breeze that carried the faint scent of Shen Shu’s pheromones.
The only sound in the room was the laughter from the variety show on TV.
After a while, Xu Jinnan asked casually, “You and Xia Chun knew each other before?”
“We dated,” Shen Shu replied, her voice calm and unwavering.
Xu Jinnan paused, then nodded. “Oh… that makes sense. No wonder.”
“No wonder what?”
“She’s very kind to you. And the way she looked at me at the restaurant and the banquet… it was strange.” She had assumed it was just one-sided affection, hence the subtle hostility towards Xu Jinnan.
She mentally replayed Shen Shu’s words, We dated.
Shen Shu’s tone was even, but her gaze, as she looked at Xu Jinnan, was slightly scrutinizing.
“It was years ago. I didn’t think it was important,” she explained.
And she didn’t want to talk about what she had been through during that time.
Xu Jinnan hesitated. “How long were you together?”
Shen Shu paused, then said, “A little over two years.”
Xu Jinnan didn’t ask any further questions, sensing Shen Shu’s reluctance to discuss the topic. She didn’t want to pry.
But Shen Shu, seeing her silence, asked, “That’s it?”
Xu Jinnan shook her head. “That’s it. Why would I need to know more?”
While she hadn’t asked much, she had a general understanding of the situation.
On the drive back from the hospital, she had thought about it. So what if Xia Chun was Shen Shu’s “destined” partner in the novel? Based on their interactions, Xia Chun’s feelings were clearly one-sided.
As for their past relationship…
Xu Jinnan felt a strange mix of emotions. She knew Shen Shu didn’t have feelings for Xia Chun anymore, but two years was a long time.
Lost in thought, she didn’t notice the shift in Shen Shu’s mood.
“It’s not relevant to you anyway,” Shen Shu said coldly, standing up. “I’m going to bed.”
Xu Jinnan was taken aback.
“So early?”
“Yes.”
“What do you want for breakfast tomorrow?”
“Nothing,” Shen Shu replied, her voice flat, not turning around.
Xu Jinnan: “…”
Why is she suddenly upset?
Shen Shu closed the bedroom door a little more forcefully than usual, the sound lingering in the air.
She felt her emotions spiraling out of control.
She hated this feeling of helplessness, like being adrift at sea, unable to steer the boat.
Her phone vibrated on the bed.
She walked over and checked it.
Cai Ying: [Shu Shu, I forgot to ask, does your wife like the pajamas? Hee hee, did she find them irresistible~?]
Shen Shu: “…”
She stared at the message for a moment, then went to the wardrobe, taking out her old pajamas and changing out of the pink strawberry ones.
—
The next morning, Xu Jinnan had hoped to smooth things over during breakfast, but Shen Shu was gone.
She had been busy for the past two days, working late, and they hadn’t seen each other at all.
It was the first time in months.
Xu Jinnan sensed something was wrong. Shen Shu was deliberately avoiding her.
The online drama continued, with Xia Chun and Shen Shu’s fans forming an unlikely alliance, boosting each other’s popularity.
Exchanging compliments and thanks, their polite interactions praised by bloggers as a model of fan behavior.
Some even started shipping them as a couple.
Xu Jinnan, during a break, checked out their super topic – “Sheng Xia” (a combination of their names).
It was a much better name than hers and Shen Shu’s…
Someone was even hosting a giveaway, offering a monthly prize of ten thousand yuan to three lucky winners.
Not as generous as the giveaway in their own CP super topic.
The “Sheng Xia” super topic had over five thousand followers.
She checked the “NanShu” super topic; it had over twenty thousand.
Not bad.
Xu Jinnan felt a strange sense of satisfaction, then paused. Is this some kind of weird competitiveness?
She scrolled through the comments on the “Sheng Xia” super topic.
Sheng Xia is real! Share your CP origin story! I’ll go first. I was captivated by their photo together from Into the Dream!
The comment had numerous replies.
Xia Xia likes every single one of Shen Shen’s Weibo posts~ I’m shipping them!
Xia Xia even reposted Shen Shen’s Weibo post, the one about the trending topic!
And didn’t Xia Xia get injured protecting Shen Shen? Such a heroic moment! I can’t get enough of them!!!
Xu Jinnan: “…”
Doesn’t anyone see the problem here?
Then, she saw a comment: Seriously? She’s married, and you’re shipping her with someone else? That’s messed up.
She immediately liked the comment.
Then, she remembered her conversation with Shen Shu.
—”Why would I need to know more?”
—”It’s not relevant to you anyway.”
Xu Jinnan didn’t like this cold war atmosphere, and she had a feeling she knew why Shen Shu was being distant.
The group chat mentioned filming was resuming today, and she wanted to ask about the location, planning to visit after her meeting.
As she parked, she saw a crowd gathered outside the building.
The security guard, recognizing her car, approached her. “CEO Xu.”
“Who are those people?”
“Paparazzi. Didn’t a film crew rent space in the building?”
Xu Jinnan remembered, then realized the timing was too coincidental.
She took the elevator to the 26th floor and, as she stepped out, heard voices and glanced towards the large office area across the hall.
She stopped, her gaze finding Shen Shu, dressed in a business suit, standing with a group of people.
Xia Chun was standing opposite her.
“They’re so beautiful! I’m obsessed!”
“Shen Shu looks amazing! Beautiful women together are a feast for the eyes! Are they filming the entire drama here?”
“I think so. Something happened at their previous location, so they moved here.”
“You know, they would actually look good together… with CEO Xu.”
One of the employees, glancing over and meeting Xu Jinnan’s gaze, gasped, startled.
Xu Jinnan smiled faintly. “Good morning.”
—
Xu Jinnan messaged Tong Jia: [?]
Tong Jia had been to her office before, but she had never mentioned Shen Shu filming here.
Having seen Xu Jinnan just now, Tong Jia understood the question mark. She replied quickly.
Tong Jia: [Surprise!]
Tong Jia: [I’ve been so careful not to mention it in the group chat, so you wouldn’t find out.]
Xu Jinnan: [Should I be grateful?]
She overheard her employees’ conversation.
Just then, Zhou Pei entered with some documents. “Did you know which production was filming here?” Xu Jinnan asked. Zhou Pei hadn’t mentioned it either.
“No, the property manager handles those arrangements,” Zhou Pei replied, shaking her head.
What a coincidence.
“Tell everyone to be mindful of the film crew. No disturbances,” Xu Jinnan instructed.
“Certainly.”
—
After Zhou Pei left, Xu Jinnan thought, This is actually quite convenient.
She had been so busy lately, barely having time to talk to Shen Shu, but if they were in the same building, it would be easier to see each other during breaks.
She couldn’t keep avoiding her.
She messaged Tong Jia, inviting her to lunch in her office.
Then, she went to a meeting.
Shortly after the meeting started, she received a message from Tong Jia.
[Showing off your love on the first day? Not cool.]
Xu Jinnan: “…”
She didn’t reply, her mind on the meeting. By the time it ended, it was already lunchtime. She messaged Tong Jia: [Can’t make it today. Tomorrow?]
Tong Jia: [Such a fickle woman.]
—
The meeting dragged on until 11:30 a.m.
Her back ached from sitting for so long, and her stomach rumbled, having only had toast and milk for breakfast, not even bothering with eggs, since Shen Shu wasn’t there.
As she left the meeting room, she asked Viola about lunch.
“Someone from the film crew next door sent over a lunch box,” Viola replied.
Xu Jinnan paused, then smiled. “Really?”
Back in her office, she saw a paper bag on her desk. Inside, a perfectly prepared steak lunch, complete with sides.
She took a picture and posted it on her Moments feed with a simple caption: Lunch.
Then, she slowly savored the meal.
—
Meanwhile, Shen Shu closed her lunch box, and Tong Jia glanced at the uneaten food. “That’s all you’re eating? Is it not good? Honestly, CEO Xu is so clueless. Enjoying her steak lunch and posting about it online, not even caring if her wife has eaten.”
“Can we order less next time? It’s such a waste,” Shen Shu said.
“So, you prefer CEO Xu’s cooking? You always have such a good appetite at home,” Tong Jia commented.
“…It’s fine,” Shen Shu replied calmly.
“Shu Shu, have you two been fighting?” Tong Jia asked, lowering her voice.
“No.”
We haven’t even been talking, Shen Shu thought.
She didn’t understand her own feelings, her thoughts tangled and confused, like weeds growing uncontrollably, one after another.
She could only try to maintain her composure, to distance herself.
But it wasn’t working…
“Shu Shu, perfect timing! You haven’t finished eating yet,” Tan Jie’s voice said from behind them.
They looked up.
Tan Jie was holding a lunch box. “We ordered steak lunches. Want to try some? It’s low-calorie,” she said with a smile, her beauty captivating, drawing the attention of those around them.
It would be rude to refuse, so Tong Jia accepted the lunch box, thanking her with a smile.
“It’s nothing. I don’t like the food on set either,” Tan Jie replied, then added, “Oh, I sent one to Miss Xu as well. Ask her if she likes it. We can order more next time.”
Both Shen Shu and Tong Jia’s smiles faltered.
Tong Jia had even shown Shen Shu Xu Jinnan’s Moments post.
—
Xu Jinnan was reading a contract, taking small bites of her steak, when the door opened.
It wasn’t a forceful entrance, but the person’s expression was grim, making the sound seem heavier than it was.
“Xu Jinnan.”
Xu Jinnan put down her steak, startled by Shen Shu’s expression – a mixture of hurt, anger, and something else she couldn’t quite place.
Assuming she had been bullied on set, Xu Jinnan immediately stood up. “What’s wrong? Did someone give you trouble?”
“I don’t care about your relationship with Tan Jie, but while we’re on set, please be more considerate,” Shen Shu said coldly.
Xu Jinnan was confused. “What… I…”
Before she could finish, Shen Shu continued, her voice flat and emotionless, “Since our marriage is just a contract, and you clearly don’t care, there’s no need to pretend. Let’s just end this charade and get a divorce.”
Xu Jinnan: “…”
Shen Shu didn’t look at her again, simply turning and walking out, slamming the door behind her.
Xu Jinnan’s hand rested on the door, her body leaning against it as she followed Shen Shu, a sigh escaping her lips.
“Who said I don’t care?” she whispered.
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