Chapter 62 p2
—
Xu Jinnan leaned back in her chair, her eyes closed, a massage device on her neck and another on her lower back. She was thinking of installing a massage chair in her office, and perhaps one at home as well.
After a brief rest, she picked up her phone, intending to ask Shen Shu when she would be done and if she wanted anything to eat, when her gaze stopped on Shen Shu’s profile picture.
A black “X” on a white background.
She suddenly lost her appetite, turning off the massage devices and sitting up straight, resting her elbows on the desk.
Could it be Xia Chun?
If so, what kind of relationship had it been, for Shen Shu to carry this symbol with her, to use it as her profile picture?
Then, her rational mind took over. Based on Shen Shu’s reactions, she clearly didn’t have feelings for Xia Chun anymore. She wouldn’t use her initial as her profile picture.
Then, what did the “X” mean?
Lost in thought, she considered asking Shen Shu directly. Perhaps it wasn’t what she thought at all.
But the more she tried to suppress it, the more it bothered her.
She realized that seeing Shen Shu and Xia Chun’s names together bothered her more than she had anticipated.
Like that afternoon, when she had impulsively pulled Shen Shu into the empty pantry. She wouldn’t normally do that, especially with other people around.
But she hadn’t been able to resist, the action almost deliberate…
She had felt like a wolf marking its territory, pulling its mate into a secluded corner.
If they hadn’t been interrupted—
She wasn’t sure what she would have done.
She unconsciously rubbed her thumb against her forefinger, as if she could still feel the warmth and softness of Shen Shu’s lips.
She had tasted their sweetness, a taste as intoxicating and addictive as the deep ocean…
She couldn’t deny the desire she had felt, the undeniable arousal.
She closed WeChat, then, after a moment of silence, checked Weibo.
She hadn’t had time to open it today, and as soon as she did, she saw a message from ShuShu’sNumberOneFan.
ShuShu’sNumberOneFan: [Boss Lady, our Shu Shu is amazing!]
ShuShu’sNumberOneFan: [The Sheng Xia super topic lost over a thousand followers in a few hours, but that giveaway is still up.]
Xu Jinnan didn’t understand at first, so she checked Shen Shu’s Weibo.
She had reposted the pinned giveaway post from the “NanShu” super topic, a silent yet powerful statement.
Xu Jinnan smiled, liking the post.
She closed Weibo, then her phone lit up again.
Shen Shu: [Will be an hour late tonight.]
Xu Jinnan: [Are you hungry?]
Shen Shu: [No.]
Xu Jinnan: [Want to eat at home then? A little later?]
Shen Shu closed her eyes, letting the makeup artist continue her work, and sent a message: [Okay.]
Tong Jia, standing beside her, yawned.
“Not sure if we’ll be done in an hour,” she said. “Shu Shu, want to have dinner together? There’s a new restaurant I want to try.”
“Not tonight,” Shen Shu replied.
“Then I’ll ask Little Cai,” Tong Jia said.
“She… might not be free either,” Shen Shu said.
Cai Ying had mentioned going to the movies with Han Ling.
–
Han Wenling took the popcorn from the attendant and handed it to Cai Ying.
Cai Ying was wearing a pink and white hoodie and tight jeans, her slender legs accentuated by a pair of white sneakers.
She held the popcorn, popping a couple of pieces into her mouth, her small, pale hands adorable.
Han Wenling, holding two cups of orange juice, glanced at her hands. “Let’s go. They’re checking tickets,” she said.
Cai Ying nodded, taking another handful of popcorn. As they were waiting in line, she almost bumped into someone.
Han Wenling grabbed her wrist, taking the popcorn from her. “Watch where you’re going,” she said with a smile, meeting Cai Ying’s puzzled gaze. “I’ll hold this for you. You can eat it inside.”
“Okay,” Cai Ying mumbled, letting Han Wenling lead her into the theater.
They found seats in the back row, and Han Wenling placed the drinks on the cupholders, then handed Cai Ying the popcorn.
“Aren’t you going to have any?”
“I don’t like sweet things.”
“It’s good,” Cai Ying said, taking a handful. “Teacher Han, you’re such a picky eater.”
Han Wenling raised an eyebrow. “Am I?”
“Yes! You don’t eat this, you don’t eat that, no sweets, no spicy food, no onions, ginger, or garlic, not even kiwi. You’re so difficult to please! Children like you are a nightmare to raise,” Cai Ying said casually.
Han Wenling’s expression flickered, then she smiled. “Is that so?”
“What?”
“My younger sister eats everything. Are you saying my parents prefer her because of that?” she asked, her voice light and teasing, but her eyes unreadable.
Cai Ying’s heart sank, a sudden nervousness gripping her. She had said the wrong thing.
“No, that’s not what I meant…”
Han Wenling, seeing her guilt, leaned closer, a playful glint in her eyes. “Then what did you mean?”
The scent of cedarwood, Han Wenling’s pheromones, enveloped Cai Ying, a subtle yet intoxicating fragrance.
Cai Ying’s face flushed. “You’re so wonderful. They must love you very much,” she stammered.
Han Wenling paused, then, her lips curving into a smile, whispered, “Wonderful? That’s a first.”
Cai Ying turned to her, their faces inches apart, their breaths mingling. Han Wenling’s eyes darkened, and she didn’t move away.
Cai Ying leaned back slightly. “You’re a good person. A truly good person,” she said, her voice firm.
Just then, the theater lights dimmed.
They had wanted to watch a romance movie they had missed earlier, but it was no longer showing, so they settled for a recently released comedy.
At first, Cai Ying’s attention was on Han Wenling, but then she was drawn into the movie, laughing along with the audience, munching on popcorn.
Every time she laughed, Han Wenling glanced at her.
She wasn’t usually interested in movies; in fact, there were very few things that truly captivated her.
“Hahaha, that was hilarious!” Cai Ying exclaimed, turning to Han Wenling, wanting to share the moment.
Their eyes met in the darkness.
Han Wenling, her gaze fixed on Cai Ying’s sparkling eyes, reached out and gently cupped her flushed cheek, turning her face towards her.
Then, she kissed her.
Cai Ying’s eyes widened. They were in a public place… but the thrill of the moment, the unexpected intimacy, was intoxicating, and she couldn’t resist.
After a few seconds, Han Wenling pulled away.
Cai Ying’s heart pounded as she looked at her, her lips parting slightly, about to speak, but her words were drowned out by the laughter of the audience.
Han Wenling licked her lips, tasting the sweetness of popcorn.
Looking at Cai Ying’s flushed face, a mixture of shyness and boldness, she leaned in close and whispered, “So sweet.”
Cai Ying blushed even deeper.
—
It was past 9 p.m., and Xu Jinnan and Shen Shu were sitting on the sofa.
Just then, Cai Ying sent a message in their group chat. Xu Jinnan, who was checking her phone, glanced at it, then leaned closer to Shen Shu.
As Shen Shu looked down, Xu Jinnan caught the scent of her shower gel, a sweet, milky fragrance.
Cai Ying: [Han Ling kissed me!]
Then, she retracted the message.
Xu Jinnan sent a question mark.
Cai Ying: [Speechless emoji]
Cai Ying: [Choking emoji]
Cai Ying: [Screaming emoji]
Cai Ying: […I sent that to the wrong chat.]
Cai Ying: [You didn’t see that, right?]
Xu Jinnan: [Han Ling kissed me!]
Cai Ying: […………………… Goodbye.]
The string of ellipses made Xu Jinnan chuckle.
“Why are you teasing her?” Shen Shu asked, picking up her vibrating phone.
Cai Ying: [Help!!! Major social death!!!]
Cai Ying: [Whatever. I’m done… ]
Cai Ying: [Shu Shu, Han Ling kissed me!]
As Shen Shu replied to Cai Ying, the kettle clicked off, and Xu Jinnan went to pour some water.
“They haven’t known each other for very long, have they?” she asked.
“No,” Shen Shu replied.
They had only met a few times.
Xu Jinnan placed the glasses of warm water on the table, remembering Cai Ying’s mortified reaction to sending the message to the wrong chat, and chuckled. “Things are progressing quickly.”
Shen Shu looked up. “Yes, they are,” she said, her tone slightly odd.
Xu Jinnan, meeting her gaze, paused. Was there something else behind her words…?
“You have a day off tomorrow, right? Want to go horseback riding?” she asked, changing the subject.
“Why?” Shen Shu asked, turning to her after sending her message.
“Cai Ying gave me a VIP card,” Xu Jinnan explained, showing her the card. “We’ve both been busy lately. It would be a nice way to relax.”
Shen Shu glanced at her lower back. “Can your back handle it?”
Xu Jinnan: “…”
She suspected that look was deliberate.
“It’s not always sore. I’ve just been sitting too much lately,” she clarified.
“Oh, sitting too much,” Shen Shu repeated, her tone slightly suggestive.
Xu Jinnan, realizing the double entendre, said, “Sitting in a chair too much.”
Shen Shu’s lips curved into a faint smile. “I didn’t say anything else, Teacher Xu. What are you thinking about?”
Xu Jinnan chuckled, turning the tables. “And what is Teacher Shen thinking about?”
Shen Shu stood up. “Teacher Xu is pure and virtuous. What could she possibly be thinking about?”
Xu Jinnan: “…”
And she says she’s not good with words?
—
At 11 p.m., Xu Jinnan took the suitcase from the guest room and placed the contents of the red handbag inside a separate bag, planning to discard everything.
As she was leaving, Shen Shu emerged from the bedroom, dressed in a white T-shirt, jeans, and a trench coat. “I can’t sleep. Going for a walk,” she said.
Xu Jinnan was happy to have company.
She drove to a deserted area a few kilometers away, a place where people often dumped trash.
As she got out of the car, about to toss the bag into a dumpster, a voice called out, “Hey!”
She turned to see a security guard approaching. “Dumping trash this late? What is it?”
Xu Jinnan: “…”
The guard placed his hand on his walkie-talkie. “Which building are you from? Open the bag and let me see.”
Xu Jinnan sighed. “…Just some personal belongings.”
“Open it! Now!” the guard said. “Such a big, heavy bag, and you call it ‘personal belongings’? If you don’t open it, I’m calling the police.”
Xu Jinnan: “…”
Shen Shu couldn’t help but laugh, a soft chuckle escaping her lips as she leaned back in the passenger seat.
It was the first time Xu Jinnan had seen her laugh so freely, and she thought, Perhaps that embarrassing encounter wasn’t a complete waste after all.
But remembering the security guard’s reaction after she reluctantly opened the bag, she still found the whole thing absurd.
“Exercise equipment, huh?” he had asked, peering at the chains visible through the plastic bag.
Xu Jinnan, her face burning, had mumbled, “Yes.”
The guard, relaxing slightly, had said, “You’re throwing this away? What a waste! Give it to me.”
Xu Jinnan: “…”
As she walked back to the car, still holding the bag, he had called out after her, “Hey, why aren’t you throwing it away anymore?”
The memory made her cringe.
Shen Shu’s laughter, clear and bright, was like a spring trickling over smooth stones.
Xu Jinnan looked at her.
Shen Shu was still laughing, her cheeks flushed, her lips curved into a beautiful crescent moon shape.
She was breathtakingly beautiful.
Xu Jinnan, her own lips curving into a smile, asked, “Is it that funny?”
“Yes,” Shen Shu replied, still chuckling.
Xu Jinnan raised an eyebrow, feigning annoyance. “Stop laughing.”
“You can’t tell me what to do,” Shen Shu retorted, her voice light and playful.
“What if I do?”
“What will you do?” Shen Shu asked, turning to her, her eyes sparkling with amusement in the dim light of the car.
“Tell me, what will you do?” she repeated, tilting her head slightly, challenging Xu Jinnan’s “authority.”
Perhaps because Xu Jinnan didn’t reply, Shen Shu, assuming she was actually annoyed, her smile fading slightly, said, “It’s getting late. Let’s go ho— mmmph.”
A shadow fell over her face as Xu Jinnan leaned in, her lips warm and soft against Shen Shu’s.
Shen Shu’s mind went blank, as if a tightly wound spring had suddenly snapped.
She instinctively kissed her back.
After a brief moment, Xu Jinnan pulled away, their lips still close, a hair’s breadth apart.
She looked down at Shen Shu, her voice husky. “Want to go horseback riding the day after tomorrow?”
Shen Shu’s breathing was uneven. “Mm…”
Her eyelashes fluttered, a mixture of nervousness and excitement.
“Xu Jinnan.”
“Yes?”
She felt Shen Shu’s fingers gently tugging at the fabric of her dress, as if encouraging her to continue…
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