Chapter 75
The sharp crack of Cai Ying’s slap echoed through the room, making everyone gasp.
Most of them didn’t recognize Cai Ying, but everyone knew Han Wenling.
At least, everyone at this banquet did.
Han Wenling had been slapped before, as a child, by both her parents.
A few incidents stood out in her memory.
Once, when her parents were divorcing, her mother, drunk, had slapped her.
Another time, when Han Wenfang had fallen and hit her head on a flowerpot, their father, assuming Han Wenling had pushed her, had slapped her. Her stepmother had been there too, holding Han Wenfang, her face impassive. Han Wenling had been only nine years old.
Both times, the burning sting on her cheek, the tears streaming down her face, had been an involuntary reaction to the physical and emotional pain.
But she hadn’t cried since she was nine.
She had become like the moss-covered stone in the garden she had seen that day, cold and unyielding.
It wasn’t the stone that had injured Han Wenfang.
It was the stone that had broken her heart.
Now, looking down at Cai Ying, she felt a strange warmth spreading through her chest, her heart, usually cold and still, beating slowly, then quickening as a tear traced a path down Cai Ying’s cheek.
A burning sensation.
“Cai Ying,” she whispered, her voice barely audible, lost in the noise of the banquet hall, a sound only she could hear.
“Are you crazy?!”
The woman beside Han Wenling, reacting first, shoved Cai Ying.
Cai Ying stumbled backward, caught by Shen Shu, who instinctively stepped in front of her, shielding her protectively, her anger flaring at the woman’s aggressive behavior.
Xu Jinnan also reacted instantly, stepping forward to stand in front of Shen Shu and Cai Ying.
He Qing, the He family heiress, recently returned from abroad, wasn’t familiar with these people.
She only sensed a dangerous aura emanating from the woman in front of her, a subtle dominance, especially in her sharp, almond-shaped eyes, that made her instinctively wary.
She had already lost this battle.
“Nan-jie!” Chen Bo exclaimed nervously.
There was only one person in North City who was addressed with such deference. He Qing paused, the words “Miss Xu” still forming on her lips.
Xu Jinnan glanced at her coldly, then turned to Han Wenling.
Chen Bo, seeing this, hurried over, his voice low and urgent. “Nan-jie, calm down! Don’t do anything rash!”
He was genuinely afraid of what she might do.
This wasn’t on the same level as Cai Ying’s slap.
This was a public place, with too many people, too many prying eyes. It wasn’t the time or place for a confrontation.
Han Wenling, looking at Xu Jinnan’s cold, impassive face, her thoughts racing, then her gaze shifted to the person behind her.
Cai Ying stepped forward, tears streaming down her face, her eyes red and swollen.
She blinked, trying to hold back the tears, then stood directly in front of Han Wenling, her hand, still stinging from the slap, trembling slightly.
She looked at Han Wenling for a long moment, her gaze unwavering, then lowered her head and tried to unclasp the bracelet on her wrist, the sparkling diamonds now like icy shackles, a cold weight on her skin.
But she couldn’t unclasp it.
Shen Shu reached out to help, but Cai Ying, with a sudden surge of anger, ripped the bracelet from her wrist, a single pink diamond, the most beautiful one on the delicate silver chain, flying off and disappearing into the crowd.
“Han Wenling,” she said, her voice trembling, the name, both familiar and unfamiliar, a bitter taste on her tongue, “I was blind.” She paused, taking a deep breath. “From now on, I wouldn’t look at you even if you were a dog.”
“I swear.”
—
Cai Ying turned and walked away, her head held high, the crowd parting slightly as she passed.
Xu Jinnan glanced at Han Wenling, then, without another word, followed Shen Shu and Cai Ying.
That single glance was enough for Chen Bo to sense the shift in the atmosphere.
“This isn’t good…” he muttered, watching the three women leave, then turned to Han Wenling and He Qing. “Miss Han, that Miss Cai is the only daughter of the Cai family.”
Not only was she the apple of her father’s eye, but Xu Jinnan and Shen Shu’s protectiveness towards her was also a clear sign that this wasn’t a trivial matter.
And that look in Xu Jinnan’s eyes…
While the Han family was almost equal in status to the Xu family, it wasn’t quite there yet.
And Xu Jinnan’s own influence was considerable. If she decided to retaliate on Cai Ying’s behalf, combined with the Cai family’s own power, Han Wenling would be in serious trouble.
He was certain of it.
Han Wenling didn’t reply, her gaze following Cai Ying’s retreating figure, her eyelashes fluttering slightly.
“What just happened? I thought I was helping you avoid trouble, but now it seems like I’ve caused even more,” He Qing said, pulling her hand away from Han Wenling’s arm.
—
Outside the hotel, Cai Ying’s tears flowed freely, her face wet and streaked with mascara.
Hearing Shen Shu call her name, she stopped, then turned and threw herself into Shen Shu’s arms, sobbing uncontrollably.
Images of her time with Han Wenling flashed through her mind – their first meeting at the studio, their first tutoring session at the library, their first date at the mall, holding hands, their first kiss at the movie theater.
Han Wenling had always been kind, gentle, and patient, her occasional moments of introspection only adding to her allure. Cai Ying had never suspected she was being deceived.
Even her name was fake.
Every word, every gesture, a carefully crafted lie.
And she even had a fiancée… Did that make Cai Ying the “other woman”?
The thought made her cry even harder, Han Wenling’s confession a knife twisting in her heart.
She had been betrayed again.
“Shu Shu, do I look that easy to fool? I’m so heartbroken…”
Shen Shu’s heart ached, her anger flaring. She wanted to go back inside and slap Han Wenling again.
“They’re the ones who are messed up,” she said, her voice tight with anger, gently patting Cai Ying’s back.
Xu Jinnan stood beside them, sighing inwardly. While she usually enjoyed teasing Cai Ying, seeing her cry like this made her feel strangely protective, especially noticing Shen Shu’s worried expression.
After a while, Cai Ying pulled away from Shen Shu’s embrace, her eyes meeting Shen Shu’s. “I’m fine,” she said, her voice choked with sobs. “It’s not like I haven’t dealt with scumbags before. I’ll be over it in a few days.”
But her heart ached, a heavy, suffocating pain, like a balloon inflated to its bursting point.
Giving your heart to someone, only to have it trampled and discarded…
It was a disgusting feeling.
She never wanted to see Han Wenling’s face again.
Shen Shu’s heart ached even more, and she was about to turn around and go back inside when Xu Jinnan gently grasped her arm.
“You two go wait in the car,” she said, her thumb gently caressing Shen Shu’s wrist. “I’ll handle this.”
While Cai Ying and Han Wenling hadn’t been together for very long, Xu Jinnan could tell Cai Ying had been deeply invested in the relationship.
Despite her claims of wanting to “seduce” her tutor, Cai Ying was a genuine and passionate person, the type to give her heart freely and without reservation.
Shen Shu wouldn’t let this go.
And besides their connection through Shen Shu, Xu Jinnan also considered Cai Ying a friend, almost a younger sister.
“Where are you going?” Shen Shu asked.
Xu Jinnan glanced at Cai Ying, whose eyes were still filled with tears, then said, “Mr. Cai is inside. He must have heard the commotion. You two shouldn’t get involved in this.”
Cai Ying, wiping away her tears, seemed to realize the implications of slapping Han Wenling, the eldest daughter of the HP Group.
“Did I cause trouble for my dad?” she asked, fresh tears streaming down her face, her heartbreak still raw.
“You didn’t cause any trouble,” Shen Shu said softly.
“Shu Shu’s right,” Xu Jinnan said, her fingers toying with the pearl and gold necklace, which suddenly felt too tight. “With me here, there’s nothing to be afraid of.”
She watched as they got into the car, telling Viola to stay with them, then turned and reentered the hotel.
—
Chen Bo, unsure if Xu Jinnan would return, had been waiting at the entrance after informing his father of her arrival.
Seeing her now, his eyes lit up, and he hurried over to greet her.
Without a word, Xu Jinnan had him lead her to the VIP area.
It was a lavishly decorated room, filled with North City’s business elite. Chen Bo’s father, the guest of honor, sat at the head of the table.
Xu Tao sat on one side, the Han family on the other.
The remaining guests included the matriarch of the HL Group, Director Song, Han Fu’s mother, and a few other prominent figures.
As Xu Jinnan entered, she saw Cai Ying’s father, his face grim, walking towards the exit.
“Mr. Cai, please wait a moment,” she said, her voice calm and clear. “Shu Shu is waiting for her in the car.”
Mr. Cai, his hair streaked with gray despite being only 48, his face pale, nodded at Xu Jinnan, his tone grateful. “I know you’re protecting her. Thank you.”
“Now, now, Mr. Cai, don’t jump to conclusions. There might be a misunderstanding,” the matriarch of the HL Group said.
Xu Jinnan smiled faintly. “You’re right, Mrs. He. It was a misunderstanding. But the one who caused it was Miss Han.” She turned to the Han patriarch. “With your impending merger, I thought it best to clarify things, to avoid any unpleasant rumors.”
She briefly explained the situation, starting with Han Wenling’s fake identity as a tutor.
“I have to say, Miss Han’s deception was quite impressive. Even I was fooled,” she said, looking at CEO Han.
Mr. Cai scoffed. “How dare she! I’ve heard about your daughter’s reputation, Mr. Han, but I never thought she would target my family. Does she think the Cai family is easy to bully?”
“Mr. Han, you owe me an explanation! Or should I seek it myself?”
“Mr. Cai, please calm down,” Xu Jinnan said, her voice soothing. “Cai Ying is Shu Shu’s friend, and my friend.”
Her stance was clear.
Xu Tao, who had been silent, finally spoke. “While it might seem like a trivial matter between children, Miss Han’s actions were inappropriate.”
Xu Jinnan wasn’t surprised by his intervention. He enjoyed seeing the Han family lose face, and he always supported her in public, especially now.
Chen Bo’s father, his attitude towards Xu Jinnan having changed considerably, also spoke up, despite his position as the host, wanting to maintain a neutral stance, but also wanting to show respect for Xu Jinnan and Xu Tao.
“I think it’s best to clarify things. Why don’t we have Miss Han explain herself? Mrs. He, Mr. Han, what do you think? We’re all friends here. Let’s not let this create any unnecessary conflict.”
Mrs. He was speechless. Most of the influential figures in the room were siding with Xu Jinnan. What could she do?
She suddenly regretted agreeing to the engagement with Han Wenling, which had seemed like a strategic alliance, considering Han Wenling’s promising future. Now, she was trapped.
The Xu family alone was a formidable opponent.
What had Han Wenling done?!
Mr. Han, his face pale and his breathing labored, slammed his hand on the table. “That ungrateful wretch! Bring her here!”
Han Wenling was quickly summoned. She had a feeling she knew what this was about.
Slap!
Mr. Han, his hand trembling, stood up and slapped her hard across the face, her lip splitting at the impact.
—
Half an hour later, Xu Jinnan and Mr. Cai left the hotel and returned to the car.
Mr. Cai woke Cai Ying, who, seeing his face, immediately clung to him, her voice choked with tears. “Dad…”
He patted her back gently. “It’s okay. Daddy’s here.”
Cai Ying tried to speak, but he stopped her. “It’s not your fault. It’s my fault. I didn’t even know you were dating. I’ve been too busy, too neglectful.”
Seeing her tear-streaked face and red, swollen eyes, his heart ached, and he forced himself to calm down, soothing her before turning to Xu Jinnan and thanking her.
Xu Jinnan and Shen Shu shook their heads. “It was nothing, Mr. Cai. You should take her home now,” Shen Shu said.
“Indeed. There’s no need for further thanks,” Xu Jinnan added. Shen Shu had always been kind to Cai Ying, encouraging her and supporting her, even inspiring her to focus on her studies, along with Xu Jinnan’s own words of encouragement.
Mr. Cai looked at Xu Jinnan. “Xiao Xu, words can’t express my gratitude. From now on, the Cai family is your ally. No matter what.” Xu Jinnan had risked offending both the Han and He families with her actions tonight.
He could tell it wasn’t just a strategic move to gain the Cai family’s support; she genuinely cared about Cai Ying.
Besides, after decades in the business world, he had a keen sense for these things – Xu Jinnan was a rising star, a force to be reckoned with.
—
Viola drove Xu Jinnan and Shen Shu back to Xingcheng International.
Shen Shu remained silent during the drive, her calm demeanor masking her anger.
Xu Jinnan moved closer to her, taking her hand, and didn’t speak until they were back in the apartment, then whispered, “I promised you, if it was Han Wenling, I would rip her head off.” While it was meant as a joke, there was a steely undertone to her voice.
“Don’t worry, Han Wenling will be paying for this for a long time,” she continued.
She had expected a fight, but Mr. Han, without even asking for an explanation, had publicly slapped his daughter, a clear message to everyone present.
He had then announced that Han Wenling was being relieved of all her duties, further solidifying her downfall.
Actions had consequences.
Xu Jinnan briefly explained what had happened.
Her calm, soothing voice, her warm breath, slightly tinged with alcohol, eased Shen Shu’s lingering anger.
“Cai Ying has her own path to walk. Perhaps this is a necessary step in her growth,” Xu Jinnan said.
“I’d rather she didn’t have to grow up,” Shen Shu replied softly, her voice full of a wistful longing for Cai Ying’s continued innocence.
It was a selfish thought.
She knew Cai Ying, as the sole heiress of the Cai family, would eventually have to face the harsh realities of the business world, even with professional managers to assist her.
Cai Ying’s father, Shen Shu, and Xu Jinnan could protect her for now, but not forever.
“At least not like this,” Shen Shu said.
Xu Jinnan wasn’t sure how to comfort her. Life wasn’t fair, and she herself had experienced more in the past few months than most people did in a lifetime.
You could only learn from your experiences and become more discerning.
She gently stroked Shen Shu’s hair, her fingers brushing against the back of her neck, untangling a strand of hair caught in the lace of her dress.
“I understand,” she murmured.
The light touch on her neck, and the faint scent of alcohol on Xu Jinnan’s breath, drew Shen Shu’s attention.
“Have you been drinking?”
“A couple of glasses,” Xu Jinnan replied.
Her lips, slightly dry from the alcohol, looked like parched leaves.
With so many important figures present, especially Chen Bo’s father, who had shown her considerable respect, she had to make an effort.
Achieving her goals sometimes required… social lubrication.
But the thought was fleeting.
She bent down to retrieve their slippers from the shoe rack, the fitted dress clinging to her slender frame.
As she stood up, the pearls and gold chain around her neck swayed gently.
“Aren’t you cold?” Shen Shu asked.
“I didn’t notice until you mentioned it,” Xu Jinnan replied, rubbing her arms, a slight shiver running through her.
“Go take a shower then,” Shen Shu said.
Xu Jinnan, seeing Shen Shu’s insistence, nodded and retrieved a two-piece silk pajama set.
—
After their showers, neither of them felt like watching TV, so they sat on the bed, one with her phone, the other with a book.
Xu Jinnan was typing on her phone, while Shen Shu was reading The Ferryman.
Xu Jinnan scrolled through the messages in her work group chat. They were discussing the team-building event again.
Designer Qi: [CEO Xu, about that camping trip with hot springs… should we start planning?]
HR: [Raises hand emoji]
Finance Director Nana: [Raises hand emoji]
Admin Liu: [Hot springs!!!]
The company had been performing well, exceeding their KPIs for the first half of the year in just two weeks, and after a period of intense work, they deserved a break.
Xu Jinnan: [Okay.]
Xu Jinnan: [@Admin Liu Look into it early next month. Find a suitable location and date.]
Admin Liu: [Roger that! Thank you, boss!]
Designer Qi: [Thank you, boss!]
Finance Director Nana: [CEO Xu, we can bring our families, right? Grinning emoji]
Xu Jinnan immediately replied, “Yes,” then, as they asked if she would be bringing her wife, she paused, glancing at Shen Shu.
Shen Shu, her dark hair in a messy bun, looked up, sensing her gaze.
“What?” she asked, her mood still slightly subdued after the Cai Ying incident.
Xu Jinnan showed her the messages, then, after a moment, asked, “Are you going?”
“Do you want me to go?”
“Of course I want you to go,” Xu Jinnan replied without thinking.
Then, she reconsidered. Camping and hot springs… both presented opportunities for… activities. She had thought about this when they had first suggested it, but she had completely forgotten just now.
Shen Shu, a flicker of amusement in her eyes, nodded. “I’ll check my schedule,” she said, turning a page in her book, her voice calm. “I’ll try to make it.”
Xu Jinnan’s ear tingled at her tone.
“Is it good?” she asked. “The book, I mean.”
Shen Shu closed the book, the cover showing a bright yellow sun breaking through dark purple clouds, its reflection shimmering on the surface of the ocean, a small boat silhouetted against the horizon.
The title: If I Stay.
“It’s good,” Shen Shu replied.
“Dylan is sent to the afterlife by Tristan, but then she realizes what she truly wants and decides to return, despite the dangers. Tristan, however, is now like Dylan was at the beginning, cautious and afraid of breaking the rules… I haven’t finished it yet, but I think it has a happy ending,” she explained.
Xu Jinnan, looking at the title, felt a pang of emotion. “It sounds… hopeful.”
—
Time passed, and at 11 p.m., Shen Shu put down her book. “Aren’t you going to sleep?”
“Soon. You go ahead,” Xu Jinnan replied.
She turned off the living room lights, leaving only the bedside lamp on.
A few minutes later, hearing Shen Shu shift on the bed, she quickly finished replying to her messages and turned off the light.
The room was plunged into darkness.
Xu Jinnan lay down, feeling drowsy after only two glasses of wine. “Good night, Shu Shu,” she murmured.
Shen Shu didn’t reply, and Xu Jinnan turned to her, her eyes still adjusting to the darkness, about to speak, when Shen Shu’s blanket shifted, the warmth of her body followed by a sudden coolness as she moved closer, then the warmth returned as she snuggled against Xu Jinnan, her arm wrapping around her waist.
Xu Jinnan’s heart skipped a beat, a pleasant flutter in her chest.
“Xu Jinnan.”
“Yes?”
“Your heart is racing.”
“…It is,” Xu Jinnan replied, thinking, Because you’re holding me so tight, your ear pressed against my collarbone, that’s why my heart is racing.
Shen Shu’s fingers gently poked her side.
Xu Jinnan opened her eyes, chuckling softly. “Where did you learn that habit? Poking people’s sides?”
“From you,” Shen Shu replied.
Xu Jinnan’s throat tightened.
…Touché.
After a moment, she gently disentangled herself from Shen Shu’s embrace, cupping her face in her hands and kissing her softly.
“Go to sleep,” she murmured, her breath warm against Shen Shu’s cheek, then took Shen Shu’s hand, her fingers interlaced with hers, as if afraid she would move again.
Xu Jinnan’s skin was warm and clean, the faint scent of alcohol still lingering.
A subtle, intoxicating fragrance.
“Just one?” Shen Shu whispered.
Xu Jinnan took a deep breath. Here we go again.
Since that night, these… tests had become more frequent. And Shen Shu seemed bolder now, her touch more deliberate, her words more suggestive.
It made Xu Jinnan feel strangely passive.
Her eyes darkened as she leaned in, their foreheads touching.
As they pulled away, their breathing slightly ragged, the only sound in the room the gentle rustling of the wind outside, like a soft melody accompanying their silent symphony.
Xu Jinnan’s lips, no longer dry, glistened in the darkness.
“Shu Shu, only puppies do that,” she murmured, her voice husky.
Shen Shu’s face burned in the darkness, and she leaned in again, gently biting Xu Jinnan’s lower lip.
Xu Jinnan winced, a soft hiss escaping her lips.
Shen Shu pushed her away, then, when Xu Jinnan didn’t resist, simply lay back down, a chuckle escaping her lips. “See? I told you.”
“You’re annoying,” she murmured.
“Yes, I am,” Xu Jinnan replied, accepting the accusation with a smile.
Shen Shu, hearing the amusement in her voice, playfully slapped her arm, the light touch a subtle caress.
She turned over, her back to Xu Jinnan. “Go to sleep,” she said.
Xu Jinnan also turned over, her gaze lingering on Shen Shu’s bare shoulder, then she pulled the blanket higher, covering her.
“Good night,” she whispered.
—
The peaceful silence of early morning was shattered by a vibrating phone.
Xu Jinnan reached for it, glancing at Shen Shu, who had also been woken by the noise. She picked up her own phone; it was Li Lan.
Li Lan wouldn’t call at this hour unless it was important.
Unless there had been a breakthrough in the stalker case.
Xu Jinnan was instantly wide awake, sitting up in bed. “She confessed,” Li Lan said.
Xu Jinnan waited for the name.
“Zhou Pei.”
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