Chapter 73 p2
It was almost midnight.
The living room lights were brighter than the bedroom lights.
The sofa was wide and comfortable, big enough for two people to lie down on, and Xu Jinnan often worked there.
After working on her laptop for a while, her mouth feeling dry, she looked towards the coffee table.
She opened the cupboard and saw a stash of her favorite snacks – dried mangoes, freshly baked bread, and a small bag of assorted fruit candies.
The kind Little Crescent Moon had given her.
She took a mint candy, the flavor sweet and refreshing, not too strong.
Just as she popped it into her mouth, Shen Shu’s bedroom door opened.
Shen Shu glanced at her, her eyes lingering on the candy in Xu Jinnan’s hand. “Are you hungry?”
“Just needed something to… freshen my breath,” Xu Jinnan replied, gesturing towards the bedroom. “Is Cai Ying asleep?”
“Yes,” Shen Shu said.
Cai Ying wasn’t one to stay up late; she usually fell asleep after chatting for a while.
Shen Shu went to the bathroom, and when she returned, Xu Jinnan called out to her.
She walked over to the sofa, noticing the new cushions, a pale green with white lace trim, a refreshing change.
Xu Jinnan had bought them.
She had been planning to tell Shen Shu about it later, since Cai Ying was staying over, but seeing her now, she decided not to wait.
“I haven’t shown you what Chen Yue brought back,” Xu Jinnan said, taking Shen Shu’s hand and pulling her down onto the sofa beside her.
She opened the photos on her phone, her expression serious, a hint of nervousness in her eyes that Shen Shu rarely saw.
Shen Shu took the phone, puzzled.
At first, she didn’t understand, but then, seeing Lu Yun’s information, her blood ran cold.
Lu Yun, 95% compatibility.
(Note: Close relative within three generations of the Xu family.)
Xu Jinnan had told her bits and pieces about the Xu family – the locked box, the abuse, the mysterious powder, the town of Qucheng – none of it trivial.
But nothing had prepared her for this.
Close relative.
The implications for Xu Jinnan were devastating.
Shen Shu’s grip on the phone tightened, her fingers turning white.
She forced herself to scroll to the next photo, her vision blurring.
A tear splashed onto the screen.
Xu Jinnan’s heart lurched, and she reached out to cup Shen Shu’s face in her hands, her thumbs gently wiping away her tears. “Don’t cry,” she whispered, her voice filled with concern.
Shen Shu’s eyes met hers, tears streaming down her face, unable to speak.
She pulled Xu Jinnan’s hands away and buried her face in her shoulder.
“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?” she whispered, her voice choked with emotion.
Xu Jinnan was speechless, her mind reeling, having never seen Shen Shu cry like this.
“Don’t cry, Shu Shu,” she murmured, her voice soft and soothing. It was breaking her heart.
“Xu Jinnan,” Shen Shu whispered, her voice thick with tears, then didn’t say anything more.
She had never realized the burden Xu Jinnan carried.
Was that why she had been so worried about involving Shen Shu, afraid of being a burden? Perhaps her earlier coldness had been partly due to that fear.
Shen Shu rarely cried, and she hadn’t cried like this in years, not even after the attack in the parking garage.
But now, thinking about everything Xu Jinnan had endured, her tragic past, her heart felt like a shattered glass bottle.
Why was life so unfair? Why did she have to suffer so much?
Xu Jinnan held her close, gently patting her back, their voices low, afraid of waking Cai Ying.
I should have gone to the bedroom, she thought, regretting her earlier hesitation.
Shen Shu’s tears made her question whether she should tell her about her own fears and anxieties. After a moment of thought, she decided she had to.
“Shu Shu, I might have other problems in the future, physical, mental…” she began, but Shen Shu’s arms, which had been around her neck, suddenly loosened.
Her beautiful face, now streaked with tears, her eyes red and swollen, her cheeks and nose flushed, looked like a ripe peach.
She stared at Xu Jinnan, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.
Xu Jinnan, trying to lighten the mood, said, “I haven’t even started crying yet, and you’re already a mess. Shouldn’t you be comforting me?”
“Xu Jinnan.”
“Yes?” Xu Jinnan’s voice was also slightly hoarse now, her smile fading.
“I’ll comfort you,” Shen Shu whispered, then leaned in and gently kissed the corner of Xu Jinnan’s lips.
She pulled away, but her forehead rested against Xu Jinnan’s, their breaths mingling, like tangled threads in a dye bath, creating a vibrant, chaotic mix of colors.
Xu Jinnan’s eyes darkened, and she returned the kiss, her movements both gentle and demanding.
Shifting slightly, she placed her knee on the sofa, lifting Shen Shu slightly, their bodies now closer.
Shen Shu’s arms wrapped around Xu Jinnan’s neck, her gaze, through her long eyelashes, meeting Xu Jinnan’s half-closed eyes, her mind blank.
Aware of Cai Ying’s presence in the next room, they kept their movements restrained, their breathing shallow, but their bodies still gravitated towards each other, sinking deeper into the sofa.
The close confines of the living room, the risk of being discovered, only intensified the intimacy of the moment.
Like two thieves stealing a forbidden pleasure.
As Shen Shu’s hand moved lower, her fingers brushing against the sensitive skin of Xu Jinnan’s neck, Xu Jinnan gently pushed her away, sitting up.
“Shu Shu,” she murmured, her voice husky, “Cai Ying is still here.”
Her breath was minty fresh.
A cool breeze drifted in from the balcony, dispelling the heat that had been building between them, though Shen Shu’s cheeks were still flushed. She placed her hands on Xu Jinnan’s shoulders. “Would it matter if she wasn’t?” she whispered, her own breath minty fresh.
Her voice was so low, so soft, that Xu Jinnan’s heart pounded, a wave of desire washing over her, almost overwhelming.
Screw the rut, she thought.
But then, a sliver of sanity returned.
She winced as Shen Shu’s fingers dug into her shoulders.
“Did you just pinch me?” she asked, a smile playing on her lips despite the slight pain.
Shen Shu didn’t reply, understanding now the reason for Xu Jinnan’s restraint, her fears and anxieties.
This was a difficult situation for anyone.
She thought, She needs time to adjust.
And she’ll realize I don’t care.
“Go wash your face and get some sleep,” Xu Jinnan said, her hand gently brushing Shen Shu’s eyelashes.
“Okay,” Shen Shu replied, then suddenly asked, “What did that girl at the restaurant look like?”
Xu Jinnan, caught off guard by the abrupt question, paused. “Oh, she had a ponytail, looked young, probably a college student.”
“A student? No wonder…”
“No wonder what?”
“You called her ‘little girl’.”
Xu Jinnan: “…” So that’s what this is about.
She chuckled, then, seeing Shen Shu’s expression, stopped. “Isn’t that what you call young people?”
Shen Shu ignored her, remembering the other photo. “What about the other one?”
Xu Jinnan opened the photo on her phone and explained her theory. “This could be a much bigger problem. I’m still investigating.” The children in the photo were around the same age as she and Shen Shu.
“X4 is the same age as you,” she added.
Not just the same age, but the same birthdate.
But they were all labeled with codes, making it difficult to identify them. She could only start with Lu Yun’s information.
And she had to be careful, especially with Shen Shu involved.
Shen Shu zoomed in on the photo, her gaze lingering on the codes.
X1, X2, X3… X4.
As she stared at X4’s information, the birthdate 1121, a sudden ringing filled her ears, as if something was trying to break through from the depths of her memory.
She felt a wave of nausea.
Xu Jinnan, noticing her reaction, asked, “What’s wrong?”
Shen Shu frowned, taking a deep breath. “Nothing,” she said, shaking her head. “Seeing the same birthdate… it just made me feel a little uneasy.”
Xu Jinnan took the phone, remembering her own reaction to seeing the date, the instinctive aversion.
She didn’t want this to be connected to Shen Shu in any way.
It was past 1 a.m.
They slept in the guest room that night.
—
The next morning, Cai Ying, not seeing Shen Shu in her bed, was indignant, accusing Xu Jinnan of kidnapping her in the middle of the night and demanding a luxurious lunch as compensation.
Of course, it was just an act.
She enthusiastically recounted the details of sharing a bed with Shen Shu in the group chat.
–
On their way to the Chen family banquet that evening, Cai Ying and Tong Jia were chatting in the group chat.
Cai Ying: [@Tong Jia My married bestie, a bird flown from the nest, sweet nothings before bed, an empty bed upon waking. Sigh]
Tong Jia: [@Cai Ying You should have come with me. Now you’re just a third wheel.]
Cai Ying: […Woof.]
Tong Jia: [Hahaha, Little Cai, you’re so cute! I claim you as my little sister!]
Cai Ying: [This little sister has a girlfriend. Thanks, but no thanks.]
Tong Jia: […Oh.]
Tong Jia: [As the group admin, please take a look at the group name. Thank you.]
Cai Ying immediately changed the group name to “PDA Allowed.”
Tong Jia: […]
Xu Jinnan, amused, sent a message: [@Cai Ying We’re almost there.]
Cai Ying: [I’m already here, waiting for you.]
Cai Ying: [Hurry up! I’m lonely without Jia Jia!]
Tong Jia: [I’m having dinner with a director. Can’t miss this opportunity. Just cling to Shu Shu and let CEO Xu trail behind you. It’ll be hilarious!]
Cai Ying: [Good idea!]
Xu Jinnan turned to Shen Shu, chuckling. “Those two are a riot.”
Seeing Shen Shu turn off her phone, she asked, “Are your eyes bothering you?”
“Yes, they’re a little sore,” Shen Shu replied.
She had been staying up late, and after crying last night, her eyes had been puffy this morning. Her scenes had been rescheduled for the afternoon, fortunately, and the director hadn’t complained.
“Take a nap,” Xu Jinnan said.
Shen Shu leaned against Xu Jinnan’s shoulder, closing her eyes.
Xu Jinnan glanced at her, then checked her phone, opening Chen Bo’s “Fishing Nightclub” group chat.
Several messages were tagged with her name.
Chen Bo: [@Xu Jinnan Nan-jie, when are you arriving?]
Han Fu: [@Xu Jinnan Ahhh, my Nannan, haven’t seen you in ages! Miss you!]
The other messages were similar, all from about an hour ago.
She hadn’t replied. Chen Bo had already called, saying he would meet them at the entrance.
Just as she was about to close the chat, she saw a new message from Chen Bo.
[@Han Wenfang Holy shit, is your sister finally engaged to the He heiress? She even brought her here?]
[Photo]
Xu Jinnan didn’t open the photo, recognizing Han Wenling and a woman in a white dress standing beside her, their arms linked.
Han Wenfang: [Who knows?]
Xu Jinnan didn’t think much of it. Strategic marriages were common in their circles.
—
Five minutes later, they arrived at the five-star hotel, owned by the Chen family.
Its opulent exterior, gleaming with gold and marble, was even more extravagant than most five-star hotels.
As soon as they got out of the car, Shen Shu received a message from Cai Ying, asking if they had arrived.
Shen Shu: [We’re here.]
Cai Ying’s spirits lifted, seeing Shen Shu’s message. She didn’t usually enjoy these social gatherings, but she had been looking forward to spending time with Shen Shu.
However, it was proving to be less entertaining than she had hoped. She would rather be at home on her computer, or at the beach, or even at a quiet bar.
She was wearing a lilac dress that accentuated her slender ankles and silver heels, her mixed-race features giving her the air of a princess from a fairytale.
She attracted quite a few admiring glances.
After politely declining several invitations, she walked towards the entrance, looking for Shen Shu and Xu Jinnan.
Then, her gaze stopped on a familiar figure in the distance.
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