Chapter 64 p1
The ten-square-meter bathroom felt like a hot air balloon, the air thick with tension.
Their reflections in the mirror were inches apart, their bodies close, yet not quite touching, Shen Shu’s back tingling with a strange mix of warmth and a frustrating emptiness, as if she were standing on tiptoe, reaching for something just beyond her grasp.
Even though Xu Jinnan was holding her, she felt adrift, untethered.
“Shu Shu?” Xu Jinnan whispered, her warm breath caressing Shen Shu’s ear.
Shen Shu’s entire being felt enveloped in warmth, her voice trembling slightly. “What if it still hurts?”
Xu Jinnan tilted her head back slightly, looking at Shen Shu’s reflection in the mirror, her cheek brushing against Shen Shu’s. “How about this?” she murmured, then gently kissed Shen Shu’s cheek.
Her gaze remained fixed on the mirror as their lips touched, watching Shen Shu’s reaction, searching her eyes for a sign of acceptance or rejection, of pleasure or displeasure.
Shen Shu’s breath hitched, her body trembling slightly under Xu Jinnan’s intense gaze, which felt like a scanner, penetrating her defenses, exposing her innermost thoughts and desires.
She bit her lip, her teeth pressing against the soft flesh.
“Mm…” she murmured softly.
Xu Jinnan’s warm breath shifted to her ear, her lips brushing against the sensitive skin of her earlobe.
“How about this?” she whispered.
Shen Shu’s earlobe, small and delicate, looked incredibly tempting.
But Xu Jinnan didn’t kiss it, simply touching it lightly with her lips.
Even this fleeting contact was enough to make Shen Shu’s legs tremble, her composure shattering like a broken mirror.
She steadied herself against the counter, her hand gripping the edge.
Xu Jinnan should have stopped there. She knew she should stop.
But the empty apartment, the close confines of the bathroom, the mingled scent of vanilla, honey, and milk…
Her Alpha instincts, the primal urge to possess and dominate, were overwhelming.
She leaned closer, pressing Shen Shu against the cool surface of the counter.
“Why are you so quiet?” she murmured, her lips brushing against Shen Shu’s ear.
Shen Shu’s heart pounded, the warmth of Xu Jinnan’s breath still lingering on her skin, the distance between them now a torment.
Her throat felt dry, like she had tasted a sweet treat, only to have it snatched away, the lingering sweetness a constant reminder of what she craved.
“What do you want me to say, Teacher Xu?” she asked, her voice slightly breathless.
“Hmm…” Xu Jinnan, pleased that Shen Shu had spoken, and amused by the formal address, smiled faintly, looking at Shen Shu’s reflection in the mirror. “Anything.”
Their voices were both husky, like parched flowers in a desert, desperate for water.
Shen Shu didn’t seem to know what to say, but Xu Jinnan’s gaze, as she looked at her, was intense.
She turned her head, her hand reaching out to gently caress Shen Shu’s cheek.
“Shu Shu, your face is so warm,” she murmured.
Shen Shu instinctively reached for Xu Jinnan’s hand, but before she could touch it—
A knock came at the door.
Xu Jinnan quickly withdrew her hand, listening. She heard voices outside.
“I’ll go check,” she said.
“Okay.”
She looked through the peephole and saw a young woman with curly hair.
“I’m your upstairs neighbor,” the woman said. “I’m so sorry, but I dropped some clothes on your balcony while I was hanging laundry. Could you get them for me?”
Xu Jinnan went to the balcony and saw a few garments draped over the railing.
She hesitated, then heard Shen Shu enter the living room.
“I’ll get a plastic bag,” she said, turning to Shen Shu.
She quickly returned with the bag and carefully placed the clothes inside, then opened the door slightly and handed it to the woman.
“Thank you,” the woman said.
“Be more careful next time,” Xu Jinnan replied, closing the door.
She went to Shen Shu’s bedroom and saw her sitting on the bed, reading.
“I’m going to take a shower,” she said, grabbing her pajamas.
“Okay,” Shen Shu replied.
Xu Jinnan went to the bathroom, closed the door, and stood there for a moment, looking at the counter, then at her reflection in the mirror.
She undressed, then, standing in front of the mirror, her mind replaying their earlier encounter, touched her lips lightly.
The memory was vivid, like a scene from a forbidden movie.
She exhaled and stepped into the shower, closing the glass door behind her.
She stood under the spray of hot water, letting it wash over her, then opened her mouth, catching a few drops before spitting them out.
She stayed in the shower for almost an hour.
Despite the long shower, she still couldn’t sleep, and neither could Shen Shu.
—
The next morning, they had planned to go to the riding stable at 1 p.m., but neither of them woke up early.
Xu Jinnan made egg noodles and a small portion of sweet and sour pork ribs for a late breakfast/early lunch.
The riding stable was outside the city, about a forty-minute drive from Xingcheng International.
Xu Jinnan drove, and Shen Shu sat in the passenger seat, scrolling through messages on her phone.
Tong Jia was discussing the CP super topic.
Her conversation with Xia Chun’s agent hadn’t gone well. While Shen Shu’s repost and like had helped to quell the rumors, Xia Chun herself hadn’t done anything, leading to speculation among some netizens and fans.
Some of the comments, especially from trolls, were particularly nasty.
She was the one who started the rumors in the first place.
Trying to use Xia Chun for clout, then pretending to clarify things when she got called out.
So obvious. Poor Chun Chun.
Xia Chun’s agency hasn’t even responded. It’s just the Qipao Miss flailing around…
I used to like Shen Shu after Xia Chun praised her, but I didn’t expect her to be this kind of person.
While Shen Shu herself wasn’t bothered by the comments, Tong Jia and the other studio staff were furious. Tong Jia had even gone to talk to Xia Chun’s agent that morning, but he had been evasive, all smiles and polite words, then had disappeared altogether.
Not wanting to discuss it openly in the group chat, Tong Jia sent Shen Shu a private message.
Tong Jia: [I’m so frustrated! I asked to speak to Xia Chun directly, and you know what her agent said? “If you want to talk to her, why don’t you go yourself?” Meaning he wants you to talk to Xia Chun about this!]
Tong Jia: [I’m starting to think Xia Chun’s perfect image is just an act. Does she still have feelings for you? Ugh, I’m so angry!]
Tong Jia: [I don’t understand what they’re trying to achieve. You’re filming together. If your reputation is damaged, it affects the entire production. How does that benefit Xia Chun?]
Shen Shu read the messages, lost in thought.
She remembered Xia Chun’s confession at the hospital, the one Xu Jinnan and Tong Jia had interrupted.
After Xu Jinnan left, she had returned to Xia Chun’s room and made it clear they had no future together.
Since then, to avoid any misunderstandings, and also because she genuinely wanted to move on, she had avoided interacting with Xia Chun outside of filming, even rejecting her request for a private conversation and avoiding her whenever possible.
She sighed softly.
Xu Jinnan, hearing her sigh, glanced over, noticing her troubled expression. “What’s wrong?”
Shen Shu hesitated, then briefly explained the situation.
The online comments, while unpleasant, weren’t as bad as before, and Xia Chun’s agency had no reason to cooperate with the rumors.
So, Shen Shu wasn’t particularly upset.
The car stopped at a red light.
“Have you considered that Xia Chun’s agent might be relaying messages to her?” Xu Jinnan asked, her tone neutral, a subtle question hidden in her words.
Shen Shu had, of course, considered it.
She hesitated. “The Xia Chun I knew wouldn’t do this,” she said softly, her voice full of sincerity.
She had met Xia Chun in college. She had been kind, gentle, and always smiling, just like now.
But something had changed.
Regardless of how their relationship had ended, she couldn’t believe Xia Chun would resort to such underhanded tactics to force a meeting.
The light turned green.
Xu Jinnan, her gaze fixed on the road ahead, simply said, “Oh.”
She didn’t know what else to say.
She didn’t understand their relationship; Shen Shu did.
Her tone sounded magnanimous, almost indifferent, and Shen Shu glanced at her.
The sunlight streaming through the window illuminated Xu Jinnan’s face, highlighting the soft downy hairs on her cheeks.
Her profile was sharp and elegant, her expression cool and composed.
“Xu Jinnan,” Shen Shu said, the slight upward inflection in her voice making it sound almost playful.
“Yes?”
“Are you jealous?”
Xu Jinnan paused. “…Maybe a little,” she admitted.
If Shen Shu had pressed her, she would have given a different answer.
But Shen Shu didn’t ask any further questions, simply turning to look out the window.
The glass reflected the curve of her lips, the subtle gloss making them look even more alluring.
Outside, the leaves on the trees lining the road were starting to turn yellow, the colors of autumn a vibrant mix of life and decay, a season of change and renewal.
—
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