Chapter 63
Shen Shu’s voice, as she said Xu Jinnan’s name, was soft, almost a murmur, but her fingers, gripping Xu Jinnan’s dress, tightened like a kitten’s claws.
Her beautiful eyes, wide and sparkling, held a hint of playful affection, like a kitten’s meow.
Seeing this vulnerable side of Shen Shu, Xu Jinnan’s throat tightened.
This stark contrast to her usual aloof demeanor was both surprising and endearing.
She leaned closer, their noses brushing against each other, and felt Shen Shu’s grip tighten on her dress.
She reached out and gently grasped Shen Shu’s wrist, intending to close the distance between them…
Then, the sound of approaching tires and the glare of headlights startled them.
Xu Jinnan paused, her nose touching Shen Shu’s, a husky chuckle escaping her lips. “Shu Shu, let’s go home,” she whispered, having almost forgotten they were in a public place.
—
They drove back to the apartment in silence, the few kilometers passing quickly.
But it wasn’t an uncomfortable silence. A shared sense of ease and happiness, a subtle intimacy, lingered in the air.
Like the first buds of spring, a promise of new beginnings, their hearts filled with a quiet joy.
As they got out of the car and walked towards the elevator, Xu Jinnan suddenly stopped.
“What’s wrong?” Shen Shu asked, puzzled.
Xu Jinnan smiled ruefully. “Shu Shu, what did we go out for?” She had taken the bag with the intention of discarding it, but the kiss in the car had completely erased it from her mind.
Shen Shu’s lips curved into a smile as she realized what Xu Jinnan meant. “Are you going back now?”
Xu Jinnan shook her head, sighing. “It’s almost midnight.”
She returned to the car, retrieved the bag, and they went upstairs.
—
Back at the apartment, Xu Jinnan poured them each a glass of water, and they stood in silence for a few minutes, sipping their drinks.
Finally, Xu Jinnan broke the silence. “What do you want for breakfast tomorrow?”
Shen Shu took a sip of water. “You don’t have to always ask what I want. What do you want?”
“I’m not picky. Anything is fine,” Xu Jinnan replied.
“Porridge then,” Shen Shu said. “Oh, right, Lin Wei sent a video of Little Crescent Moon.” She took out her phone and opened the video.
Xu Jinnan leaned closer, her hand gently brushing against Shen Shu’s as she adjusted the phone slightly.
Shen Shu’s palm was warmer than she had expected, almost as warm as it had been in the car.
She tried to maintain her composure, to ignore the memory of their almost-kiss, but the clean, sunny scent of Xu Jinnan’s pheromones was intoxicating.
Xu Jinnan watched the video.
It seemed to be from a National Day celebration. Little Crescent Moon, wearing a white tutu, was dancing, a bright smile on her face.
Her movements weren’t perfect, but she was clearly trying her best, her small body occasionally wobbling.
Then, a short video of Little Crescent Moon waving at the camera.
“Auntie Nannan, Auntie Shen Shu, how are you? I miss you!” she chirped, then giggled, hiding her face shyly, less bold than during their previous visits.
Children were like that; they warmed up quickly, but a little distance, a lack of contact, could create a sense of unfamiliarity.
“Let’s visit her again sometime,” Shen Shu said.
“Okay, next month. You’ll be busy this month,” Xu Jinnan replied, nodding. She had checked Shen Shu’s schedule with Tong Jia; besides the day after tomorrow, she was booked solid for the next two weeks.
Xu Jinnan herself was also busy this month, barely able to spare a day, a quick trip there and back.
She pulled her hand away from Shen Shu’s, her palm slightly damp, a cool breeze dispelling the lingering warmth.
“Okay,” Shen Shu replied, the conversation ending.
Xu Jinnan poured the remaining water from her glass into the sink, then turned to Shen Shu, a smile playing on her lips. “You really like children, don’t you?”
“Don’t you?”
“I do, but I’m not very good with them,” Xu Jinnan admitted.
She had been a bit clumsy taking care of Little Crescent Moon.
“Children are easy. They’re easy to please,” Shen Shu said.
Xu Jinnan washed her glass and placed it on the drying rack, then raised an eyebrow. “Definitely easier to please than adults,” she said, a hint of amusement in her voice.
Shen Shu looked at her. “What are you trying to say?”
“I’m trying to say…” Xu Jinnan paused. “It’s getting late. Let’s go to bed.”
Let’s go to bed.
The words, seemingly innocent, held a certain suggestive undertone.
Shen Shu’s breath hitched, her heart racing slightly.
Xu Jinnan hadn’t intended it that way; she often said such things casually. But tonight, it felt different.
She was considering whether to clarify her meaning when Shen Shu picked up her glass. “Okay, good night,” she said softly.
Xu Jinnan’s gaze lingered on Shen Shu’s flushed earlobes, her heart skipping a beat.
“Good night, Shu Shu,” she replied.
She didn’t look away until Shen Shu had closed the bedroom door behind her.
If Shen Shu had glanced back, she would have seen the desire in Xu Jinnan’s eyes, the carefully controlled longing.
–In her bedroom, the cool white light of the bedside lamp was still on.
Shen Shu lay in bed, the blanket pulled up to her chest, then turned over, her gaze falling on the base of the lamp.
The shadow it cast on the table… reminded her of Xu Jinnan leaning over her, her lips cool against Shen Shu’s, the initial contact like a soft jelly, tempting her to…
The thought was embarrassing.
She bit her lip, remembering the moment Xu Jinnan had pulled away, and felt a strange pang of regret…
She pulled the blanket higher, exhaling slowly, trying to push the thoughts aside.
She felt like a lovesick fool around Xu Jinnan.
—
The next morning, Xu Jinnan hadn’t slept well.
She had spent the night tossing and turning, plagued by a restless desire, a frustrating dream where she was reaching for someone, but couldn’t quite grasp them.
A night of wasted effort.
But she felt surprisingly alert, despite the lack of sleep.
As if on cue, just as she opened her door, Shen Shu emerged from her bedroom.
“Morning,” they said simultaneously.
“You go wash up. I’ll make some porridge,” Xu Jinnan said, heading towards the kitchen island.
Shen Shu took a couple of steps, rubbing her eyes. “I’ll just have toast. I’m running late,” she said.
Xu Jinnan looked at her. “You didn’t sleep well either?”
Either.
The word, seemingly insignificant, changed the tone of the sentence, creating a subtle connection between them.
“…Not really,” Shen Shu replied.
She hadn’t slept well.
She had been dreaming all night and felt exhausted.
The dream… the physical intimacy had felt so real that her heart was still racing.
Thinking about it, the cool autumn air suddenly felt warmer.
Her body temperature had risen slightly.
—
After washing up, they sat down at the table for breakfast.
Xu Jinnan had a mango cream bread, Shen Shu a plain multigrain toast, each with a glass of milk and a boiled egg.
Xu Jinnan pushed the blueberry jam towards Shen Shu. “I can’t drive you today. I have to go to the North District,” she said.
“It’s fine. I’ll take a taxi,” Shen Shu replied, nodding.
“I wouldn’t dream of letting you take a taxi,” Xu Jinnan said, swallowing her bread and smiling faintly. “I’ll have Zhou Pei drive you.”
“What about you?” Shen Shu asked, looking up just as Xu Jinnan licked a smear of cream from her lip, the gesture strangely sensual.
Shen Shu took a large gulp of milk.
“Viola will drive me,” Xu Jinnan replied.
Shen Shu looked away, her voice calm. “Viola is also very busy, driving back and forth between the North District and the city center, and now she has to be your chauffeur too.”
“You make me sound like a terrible boss,” Xu Jinnan said with a laugh. “It’s in her contract. Besides, I’ve only asked her to drive me twice this week. And she’s compensated accordingly.”
Shen Shu paused. “Oh, so I’m supposed to praise you now?”
Xu Jinnan: “Hmm?”
—
Xu Jinnan went to the North District.
The construction workers were already hard at work. It was just a routine inspection, but even with Viola overseeing the project, she still had to make regular appearances.
Otherwise, they might get complacent.
There was no such thing as a minor detail in construction; a small oversight now could become a major problem later.
She walked around the site, dressed in a black tracksuit and a red hard hat, her white sneakers quickly covered in dust, but she didn’t mind.
As she was leaving, she saw Xu Li arriving.
They saw each other, but neither of them acknowledged the other.
Back in the car, Xu Jinnan asked Viola, “How often does Xu Li come here?”
“Every other day. Like you, she reviews the daily construction reports, and she’s very meticulous. She asked for our reports as well… but as you instructed, I haven’t given them to her.”
Xu Jinnan nodded, not asking any further questions.
She had underestimated Xu Li. Initially, she had seen her as just another spoiled brat, resentful of the original Xu Jinnan because of the inheritance.
Based on their previous interactions, Xu Li had seemed impulsive and easily angered.
But now, she saw a different side to her.
A woman who was meticulous about her work, even willing to visit the construction site, couldn’t be simply dismissed as a fool.
It was possible, but unlikely.
And no one in the Xu family was simple.
Just then, a phone call interrupted her thoughts.
—
After visiting Meilai Jewelry and having lunch, she went to the 16th floor, where the “Show” live streaming studio was located.
Since the live stream exposé, the app’s downloads had skyrocketed, and she had dedicated an entire floor to the project, even converting some of the spaces downstairs into studios.
She planned to recruit some streamers, focusing on individual talents – singing, dancing, even playing mahjong. Anything unique and entertaining.
“We can also consider collaborating with popular influencers and celebrities. Prepare a few budget proposals for this,” she said to Viola as they entered the elevator.
“Certainly. I’ll inform the team downstairs,” Viola replied.
She thought Shen Shu would be a good fit, considering her recent popularity and her relationship with Xu Jinnan.
It could be even more effective than collaborating with other celebrities.
But the plan wasn’t finalized yet, so there was no rush.
—
It was a little past 2 p.m.
As Xu Jinnan and Viola stepped out of the elevator, Xu Jinnan paused, instinctively glancing towards the film crew’s office area across the hall.
She didn’t see Shen Shu.
But as she turned around, she saw Tan Jie walking towards them from the pantry.
She quickly looked away.
Tan Jie, however, called out to her. “CEO Xu, are you going to the Chen family banquet next week?”
Xu Jinnan had seen Chen Bo mention it in the group chat. It was his father’s birthday party, and most of North City’s elite would be there.
The Xu family would receive an invitation as well.
Chen Bo had asked if she was going, but she hadn’t given him a definite answer.
She didn’t want to engage with Tan Jie, who continued, smiling, “I’ll be there too.”
While the business world and the entertainment industry seemed like separate spheres, there was some overlap. Like the Han family banquet, which had been attended by Xia Chun.
But someone of Tan Jie’s status wouldn’t have been invited by the Han family.
Xu Jinnan wasn’t interested.
“Is that so?” she replied dismissively.
“I rarely attend such events, but Young Master Chen said you’re a friend, so I assumed you would be there,” Tan Jie said, her words carrying a subtle, suggestive undertone.
Xu Jinnan frowned.
Tan Jie smiled, waiting.
“Did you enjoy the green tea pastries?” Xu Jinnan asked.
Tan Jie: “…”
—
Inside the film crew’s office, the director yelled “Cut!”, and Shen Shu emerged from the back room, Tong Jia handing her a glass of water.
“Are you tired?”
Shen Shu’s expression turned serious. “Was there something wrong with my performance?”
“No,” Tong Jia reassured her, patting her back. “You just seem a little… out of it.”
Shen Shu relaxed slightly. “Yes, I’m a little tired.”
Tong Jia leaned closer, a playful glint in her eyes. “Tired, maybe, but you seem happy.”
Shen Shu, understanding the innuendo, her thoughts drifting to Xu Jinnan, was about to ask Tong Jia for her phone when her gaze stopped on something outside the window.
Xu Jinnan’s back was turned, and Viola and Tan Jie were standing beside her, almost flanking her.
Perhaps sensing her silence, Tong Jia followed her gaze.
“What’s Tan Jie doing?” she asked, lowering her voice, mindful of the crew members around them. “Is your wife some kind of irresistible magnet?”
“She’s not exactly avoiding her, is she?” Shen Shu retorted, turning away and walking towards her resting area.
Tong Jia followed her. “No, CEO Xu isn’t even talking to her. And she sent her those green tea pastries last time. Besides, would CEO Xu even be interested in her? You two are ridiculous, getting jealous over everything.”
“…I’m not jealous,” Shen Shu said, though she wasn’t sure why she felt like a petulant child.
“Sure, you’re not. Oh, look, they’re hugging now!” Tong Jia exclaimed.
Shen Shu whirled around, her gaze fixed on the people outside the window.
They were still just standing there.
Tong Jia chuckled, poking Shen Shu’s shoulder. “Still saying you’re not jealous? Shu Shu, you’re so cute.”
“Tong Jia!”
Tong Jia, amused by Shen Shu’s flustered reaction, smiled and reached out to pat her back.
“Sorry, sorry, I was wrong. Don’t be mad.”
—
Just then, Viola, having noticed Tong Jia’s playful gesture, was about to alert Xu Jinnan when Tan Jie spoke again.
“CEO Xu, you seem to have misunderstood. I rarely attend these kinds of events. If you and Miss Shen were going, I would at least know someone there,” she explained.
“Misunderstood what?” Xu Jinnan asked, noticing people looking at them. She turned away, her voice cold. “We’re not exactly close.”
She walked back to her office, Viola following her. Viola, hesitating, then said sincerely, “CEO Xu, Miss Shen might be upset.”
Xu Jinnan looked at her, puzzled, then, after hearing her explanation, smiled faintly. “I doubt it.” She had already told Shen Shu about the lunch box incident; there was nothing between her and Tan Jie.
Shen Shu wouldn’t overthink it, would she?
Viola didn’t say anything more. It was a personal matter; she could offer a suggestion, but not interfere.
—
Back in her office, Xu Jinnan sat down on the sofa, the earlier encounter briefly distracting her, then she remembered something.
The video.
The recording Chen Yue had taken in Qucheng.
She put on her Bluetooth earbuds and opened the video.
The town, located near the Xu family’s ancestral home, was called Xiao Qu Town.
The hidden camera, attached to Chen Yue’s chest, had recorded two hours of footage, starting from the moment they arrived.
Xu Jinnan watched the video at normal speed, as if retracing their steps, her attention still drawn to the “XU” logos. She had investigated after returning; the Xu Corporation had investments in the town.
To be precise, they had a stake in almost every business there.
They had even funded the construction of most of the buildings on that street.
She watched the video for over an hour, focusing on Chen Yue’s perspective, but didn’t notice anything unusual.
Then, the video showed Xu Lian and her wife approaching.
Her wife’s name was Li Laijia, a sophisticated woman in her mid-thirties.
Xu Jinnan watched the scene again, feeling like she had missed something, then rewound it and played it in slow motion.
Her gaze fixed on Li Laijia, and as she had suspected, Li Laijia’s expression had flickered for a brief moment upon seeing her, a subtle shift that suggested recognition, not animosity.
But it had been fleeting.
She continued watching. At the end of the video, as they were about to get into the car, the camera, still recording, captured Xu Lian and Li Laijia in the background.
She saw Xu Lian grab Li Laijia’s hair, yank her head back, then roughly shove her into the car.
It was a violent gesture.
Xu Jinnan frowned, the scene reminding her of the dream, the one where she had seen Xu Lian abusing a little girl in the courtyard…
And Xu Tao was also abusive.
Was it a coincidence?
She refocused on the video.
It would be difficult to investigate Xiao Qu Town on her own. Xu Lian was definitely involved, and perhaps Li Laijia could be a breakthrough.
Meaning she might have to return to Qucheng.
But so far, progress had been slow. She needed more clues.
Just then, her phone vibrated, startling her, and she instinctively tensed.
It was Chen Yue.
“CEO Xu, I found it,” he said, his voice raspy, the sound of exhaling smoke audible. “You were right. My friend kept an eye on Wang Zheng. He was staying at a hotel at first, then, after making sure no one was following him, he went to his… girlfriend’s place. That’s where it is.”
“His girlfriend?”
Chen Yue chuckled. “You’re so smart! My friend approached her. She said she has two documents, but she wants fifty thousand yuan for them.” His tone was dismissive, as if he thought the woman was foolish for asking for so little.
Xu Jinnan’s lips curved into a smile, but she remained cautious. “Go get them personally,” she instructed.
“Don’t worry, I’m already buying a ticket. But it’s late. I probably won’t be back until tonight,” he replied.
“No matter how late it is, come to me as soon as you have them,” Xu Jinnan said.
The last time, Wang Zheng had run, delaying everything. She couldn’t afford another setback.
“Certainly.”
Xu Jinnan hung up, exhaling slowly. What secrets had Wang Zheng been hiding?
She felt a surge of nervous anticipation, like the ripples on a still pond before a tsunami.
Unable to relax, she stood by the window for a long time, her mind racing.
She was one step closer to the truth, but her relationship with Shen Shu had just started to improve, and she was worried.
Just then, as if on cue, her phone buzzed with a message from Tong Jia.
Tong Jia: [CEO Xu, a word of advice, since you’re the sugar momma – prepare a foot bath. Your wife is jealous!]
Xu Jinnan: “…”
She hadn’t taken Viola’s words seriously earlier.
But now… she knew she shouldn’t feel this way, but she couldn’t deny the surge of happiness.
Shen Shu was jealous.
—
That evening, she waited for Shen Shu to finish filming and drove her home herself.
Shen Shu was quiet during the drive, her responses brief and noncommittal, her emotions hidden.
Xu Jinnan didn’t press her, and once they were home, she told Shen Shu to take a shower while she finished reading the reports she hadn’t had time for at the office.
Half an hour later, Shen Shu emerged from the bathroom, wearing her strawberry-print pajamas.
Her dark hair was wrapped in a soft, pink towel, a few damp strands escaping and curling around her face, a single droplet of water sliding down her neck and disappearing beneath the fabric of her top.
Xu Jinnan’s gaze followed the droplet.
“You can go now,” Shen Shu said, wiping her hair with the towel.
“Aren’t you going to dry your hair?” Xu Jinnan asked.
She had noticed Shen Shu rarely dried her hair after showering.
“I don’t like it,” Shen Shu replied.
She found it too much trouble, a waste of time, and since she usually stayed up late, her hair would be dry by the time she went to bed.
Xu Jinnan stood up and walked over to her, gently squeezing the damp strands of hair with the towel.
“You should dry your hair. You’ll catch a cold in this weather,” she said softly.
Shen Shu’s skin, still warm from the shower, felt hot against Xu Jinnan’s hand as she brushed her neck, and Shen Shu instinctively flinched.
“No, I don’t want to,” she said, her voice flat, her gaze averted.
While her tone was normal, her averted gaze told Xu Jinnan she was still upset about the Tan Jie incident.
And she was also insecure.
As Shen Shu turned to walk away, Xu Jinnan gently grasped her wrist. “I’ll dry it for you,” she said, then, without waiting for a response, led her to the bathroom.
She plugged in the hairdryer and gently pushed Shen Shu towards the counter, then stood behind her.
Shen Shu looked up at Xu Jinnan’s reflection in the mirror, the warm air from the hairdryer a comforting presence on her scalp, her back tingling despite the distance between them.
Xu Jinnan’s eyes met hers in the mirror, then she quickly looked away, focusing on Shen Shu’s hair.
Her hands, slender and pale, were like something out of a manga.
Beautiful.
Her touch was gentle as she ran her fingers through Shen Shu’s soft hair, the familiar scent of her pheromones filling the air with each pass of the hairdryer.
The hairdryer clicked off, the warmth fading.
Xu Jinnan touched Shen Shu’s hair, placing the hairdryer on the counter, then, instead of stepping away, leaned closer, her face inches from Shen Shu’s ear.
“I won’t talk to her again, okay?” she whispered, her voice soft and coaxing.
Shen Shu didn’t want to be difficult; it had been a minor incident, but her words still carried a hint of resentment. “You can talk to whoever you want,” she said, annoyed by her own pettiness, and turned to leave.
Xu Jinnan’s arms wrapped around her, pulling her into a gentle embrace.
“Will this make you feel better?” she whispered.
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