Chapter 72 p2
—
A few days later, Xu Jinnan finally had time for her check-up.
Professor Qin’s expression was slightly strained as he greeted her, but he didn’t want to be disrespectful, simply saying, as he drew her blood, “Miss Xu, I’m responsible for your health, but you also have to take responsibility for yourself. Secondary differentiation is rare, and there are many unforeseen risks. Regular check-ups are essential. It’s difficult for me to do my job if you don’t take this seriously.”
Xu Jinnan nodded. “I apologize for the trouble, Professor Qin,” she said sincerely.
Professor Qin paused, unable to say anything more.
He couldn’t bring himself to be truly angry with her.
After the blood test, Xu Jinnan sat down to rest and check her messages.
A few minutes later, Professor Qin returned with her results, his brow furrowed.
“Miss Xu, your levels are so high, and you don’t feel anything unusual? Why did you wait so long to come in?” he asked, handing her the report. Her Alpha levels were significantly higher than before.
“I do feel… uncomfortable,” she admitted.
The tingling in her scent gland had become more frequent, sometimes even occurring when Shen Shu wasn’t around.
“Of course you feel uncomfortable. Your levels are very high. And with any additional stimuli, the risk of a rut is even higher,” he explained.
“Is there anything I can do?”
“I’ll prescribe some medication to lower your levels, and I’ll give you two more doses of AOH suppressants. Keep them with you at all times. You have to be very careful with your current levels…” He didn’t need to elaborate, and Xu Jinnan nodded.
She felt a sudden wave of sadness, a deep, inexplicable melancholy.
“Is there no way to permanently cure this… sensitivity?” she asked.
“So far, it seems to be self-resolving. It usually only occurs during the initial stages of secondary differentiation. The AOH suppressants can only alleviate the symptoms temporarily,” he explained, then, seeing her downcast expression, added gently, “It will get better, Miss Xu. Don’t worry.”
She asked about the medical records he had checked for her.
“I reviewed everything. Most of the tests were neurological and psychiatric, and there were no abnormalities. Miss Xu, your main concerns now are your high Alpha levels and the potential for a rut,” he said.
—
The morning sky had been clear and bright, but by noon, dark clouds had gathered, threatening rain.
While Professor Qin hadn’t found anything unusual in her medical records, the thought of being a product of incest still bothered her, a deep-seated unease.
Especially when she thought about Shen Shu.
She paused, then started the car.
The sensitivity issue was related to her Alpha identity… and after the incident with the stalker, she had decided to tell Shen Shu the truth about her past.
—
The opportunity came three days later.
Shen Shu had been filming night scenes for the past two days, working until late.
They hadn’t had dinner together at home in days, and with her late nights, they hadn’t even been sleeping together. One day, they hadn’t even seen each other, only exchanging a brief glance in the morning when Xu Jinnan left for work.
They hadn’t even had lunch together.
On her way to the office, Xu Jinnan stopped at a casual restaurant chain and messaged Shen Shu, asking what she was having for lunch.
Just as she sat down with her food, she received a reply.
Shen Shu: [The one you ordered.]
A photo followed.
It was the healthy meal Xu Jinnan had ordered for her, the photo taken with the container on Shen Shu’s lap, a few inches of black stocking visible beneath it.
Xu Jinnan also took a photo of her own meal – a simple lunch of meat and vegetables, and a bowl of pork rib soup.
She sent a voice message. “My lunch is better than yours,” she said playfully.
She put down her phone, picked up her chopsticks, and took a few bites of her food, when a young woman with a ponytail sat down opposite her.
Xu Jinnan didn’t pay attention, continuing to eat and check her phone. Shen Shu hadn’t replied to her voice message, so she sent another one.
A few seconds later, the call connected. Just as she was about to put the phone to her ear, a soft voice said, “Excuse me, can I add you on WeChat?”
Xu Jinnan paused. “Sorry, I’m married,” she replied.
The woman blushed, nodding and picking up her tray. “Oh, okay. Sorry to bother you,” she mumbled, hurrying away.
Xu Jinnan put the phone to her ear. “Hello?”
Silence. She looked at the screen; the call had ended.
Xu Jinnan: “…”
She touched her nose and sent Shen Shu a message: [Why did you hang up?]
After waiting for fifteen minutes with no reply, she took a sip of her soup, finding it a little too salty, then put it aside and typed another message: [What time are you done tonight? Weren’t you having dinner with Tong Jia and Cai Ying?]
Shen Shu, after about thirty seconds, replied with a single digit: [6]
Xu Jinnan: “…”
Seeing the stark contrast to her earlier silence, she understood, a sweet yet slightly sour feeling, like a ripe grape, spreading through her.
—
That evening, Xu Jinnan went straight home from the North District, arriving at 8 p.m., too late to cook.
But Shen Shu, Tong Jia, and Cai Ying hadn’t started eating yet, waiting for her.
Tong Jia had cooked. She had been feeling guilty since the parking garage incident and had been taking care of everything for Shen Shu, sometimes even more attentively than Xu Jinnan.
Tonight’s dinner was also Shen Shu’s idea, wanting to distract Tong Jia and spend some time with her.
Tong Jia’s reasoning was simple. The recent incident had highlighted her shortcomings as an agent. While she was familiar with the industry, this was her first time managing an artist, and her close relationship with Shen Shu and Xu Jinnan sometimes made her forget that Shen Shu was a rising star, someone who needed a professional agent.
She had to be more… professional.
She understood Shen Shu’s intentions and was touched, quickly finishing two glasses of wine as soon as they sat down.
Cai Ying, ever the supportive friend, cheered her on, and the atmosphere quickly became lively.
In contrast, Xu Jinnan and Shen Shu were much quieter.
Xu Jinnan leaned closer to Shen Shu. “That woman from earlier, I met her at lunch,” she whispered.
“CEO Xu is a busy woman. She didn’t want to be disturbed,” Shen Shu retorted.
“I told her I was married,” Xu Jinnan said.
“Really?” Shen Shu asked, her voice laced with skepticism. “You don’t seem like the marrying type. More like the commitment-phobic type.”
Xu Jinnan: “…?”
Shen Shu took a sip of water, watching Tong Jia and Cai Ying’s animated conversation, then turned back to Xu Jinnan. “And you always wait for me to fall asleep before coming to bed. Afraid I’ll devour you?”
Xu Jinnan: “…”
She could hear the subtle resentment in Shen Shu’s voice.
Fortunately, Cai Ying changed the subject, saving Xu Jinnan from having to respond.
“Shu Shu, Xu Jinnan is going to that banquet tomorrow. Are you going too?”
Shen Shu picked up a shrimp with her chopsticks. “Why would I have to go just because she’s going?”
Cai Ying immediately looked at Xu Jinnan, a questioning look in her eyes – What’s going on between you two?
Xu Jinnan, unable to answer, peeled a shrimp and placed it in Shen Shu’s bowl.
“Little Cai, are you going?” Tong Jia asked.
Cai Ying looked at Shen Shu and Xu Jinnan. “I’ll go if Shu Shu goes. I don’t have any classes. It’ll be fun. Jia Jia, you should come too! Those two will be together, and I’ll be all alone…”
“I think I’ll pass. I prefer having a hot Alpha by my side,” Tong Jia said, glancing at Xu Jinnan and Shen Shu, then added, “And if I go with you, wouldn’t we both be alone?”
Cai Ying: “…”
Xu Jinnan chuckled, then, looking at Shen Shu, who was eating quietly, asked Cai Ying, “What about your Teacher Han?”
“I haven’t asked her,” Cai Ying replied.
“Why not?” Tong Jia asked, surprised.
Cai Ying tapped her chin thoughtfully. “You haven’t met her yet. Wouldn’t it be awkward to bring her to a banquet?”
Tong Jia disagreed. “How do you know she wouldn’t want to go if you don’t ask?”
Cai Ying considered it. She had a point.
She glanced at the diamond bracelet on her wrist, a gift from Han Ling after Cai Ying had bought her a pair of earrings when she was feeling down.
The pink diamonds sparkled in the light, like a miniature galaxy.
She loved it.
She smiled and opened her chat with Han Ling, which was pinned at the top of her list.
[Teacher Han, are you busy tomorrow night?]
Han Ling replied just as they were finishing dinner.
Teacher Han: [I have a banquet to attend tomorrow night.]
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