Chapter 76 p1
Zhou Pei.
Xu Jinnan had suspected her ever since discovering her connection to Lu Yun…
But hearing her name confirmed, she still felt a pang of surprise and disappointment.
Shen Shu had been the first person she met in this world.
And Zhou Pei, the first person she had trusted.
Initially, having read the first half of the novel, she had seen Zhou Pei as a loyal and efficient assistant, the kind any executive would appreciate.
Then, she had discovered Zhou Pei’s true allegiance to Lu Yun.
Xu Jinnan put down her phone, her thoughts a tangled mess, like a muddy pond, slowly settling, the murky water gradually clearing, revealing the truth hidden beneath.
Once you knew the outcome, you could retrace the steps, connect the dots.
She mentally reviewed every interaction she had had with Zhou Pei, every detail, every seemingly insignificant event.
Her expression hardened as the pieces fell into place.
Shen Shu, also woken by the vibrating phone, had heard Xu Jinnan’s side of the conversation, and while she hadn’t caught the name, seeing Xu Jinnan’s grim expression, she felt a surge of anxiety.
She sat up and looked at Xu Jinnan, her hand reaching out to gently pat Xu Jinnan’s hand, which was resting on the blanket.
Xu Jinnan instinctively grasped her hand, her mind still racing.
Zhou Pei was the one behind the stalker, the one who had access to the company’s security system.
The attack on Shen Shu hadn’t been entirely a coincidence; Zhou Pei must have informed the woman that Xu Jinnan wouldn’t be at the office that day.
And what about Yin Xue?
Zhou Pei had been the one investigating Yin Xue’s unauthorized entry into the hospital, but she had found nothing. Xu Jinnan had assumed it was a dead end.
But now, she suspected Zhou Pei had been the one who helped Yin Xue, or perhaps she had simply been covering for her.
“Yin Xue,” she murmured.
“What?” Shen Shu asked.
Xu Jinnan turned to her, her eyes dark. “The white powder Yin Xue used in Rongcheng… what if Zhou Pei was the one who gave it to her?”
Zhou Pei had been her assistant, privy to her schedule, even with Xu Jinnan’s attempts to maintain a certain distance.
If Zhou Pei had been in contact with Yin Xue, it would explain how she obtained the drug.
Of course, it was just a theory.
The cool autumn air, crisp and clear, filled the room, the occasional chirping of birds outside a stark contrast to the heavy silence within.
Only the sunlight streaming through the window offered a glimmer of hope.
Shen Shu, meeting Xu Jinnan’s gaze, felt her hand turn cold in Xu Jinnan’s grasp, the coldness spreading through her as she listened to Xu Jinnan’s words.
She covered Xu Jinnan’s hand with her own, her touch gentle and reassuring.
Then who is behind Zhou Pei? Xu Jinnan wondered, several names coming to mind.
Shen Shu’s brow furrowed. “I’m not sure, but I saw Zhou Pei with Xu Li once, at a cafe,” she said. She had been in the car with Tong Jia at the time and hadn’t been certain, thinking she might have been mistaken.
She had never seen or heard of any connection between them before, and Zhou Pei had always seemed efficient, discreet, and reserved, the kind of person who wouldn’t cause trouble.
“If it’s Xu Li, what’s her motive? Does she think hurting you will hurt me?” Xu Jinnan asked, taking a deep breath.
If Xu Li was simply after the inheritance, her hatred for Xu Jinnan shouldn’t be this intense…
“It could also be Lu Yun,” Xu Jinnan said.
Lu Yun had always disliked Shen Shu, blaming her for Xu Jinnan’s recent rebellious behavior.
If that was the case, then Xu Tao was also a suspect.
“Don’t overthink it,” Shen Shu said, sensing Xu Jinnan’s distress. “Xu Jinnan.”
“There might be others I don’t know about,” Xu Jinnan said, her voice low.
“Xu Jinnan, it’s okay. Don’t worry about it,” Shen Shu said, cupping Xu Jinnan’s face in her hands. “Zhou Pei doesn’t know we’re onto her. Finding out who’s behind her won’t be difficult.”
Xu Jinnan took Shen Shu’s hand and, after looking at her for a moment, rested her forehead against Shen Shu’s palm, her head bowed.
She took a deep breath, the familiar scent of vanilla calming her racing heart, easing her anxiety.
“You’re right,” she murmured.
Li Lan had said she would handle the investigation discreetly, with Xu Jinnan’s cooperation. As long as they kept an eye on Zhou Pei, they would eventually uncover the truth.
—
It was almost noon.
Zhou Pei entered Xu Jinnan’s office, carrying a folder.
“Miss, this is the contract from the Chen family. They asked you to review it and let them know if you have any questions,” she said, her use of the honorific “Miss,” more intimate than the usual “CEO Xu,” creating a sense of familiarity.
She placed the folder on the desk.
Xu Jinnan looked up at her. “With the North District project, I’ve been delegating a lot of work to Viola. Are you… upset about that? You can tell me,” she asked, her voice gentle.
Zhou Pei looked surprised, then shook her head. “No, it’s just work. I understand.” Her answer was simple and direct.
Xu Jinnan had always admired her efficiency and professionalism.
“Good. You’ve been with me for so long, and while I’ve been relying on Viola lately, I still trust you more than anyone else in this company,” Xu Jinnan said, her gaze fixed on the open folder, as if she had just thought of it.
Zhou Pei smiled faintly. “Thank you for your trust, Miss.”
Xu Jinnan nodded, and Zhou Pei turned to leave.
As she reached the door, she felt Xu Jinnan’s gaze on her back and instinctively looked over her shoulder, but Xu Jinnan was still reading the contract, her expression focused.
—
Two hours later, Xu Jinnan, her back aching from sitting for so long, stood up and stretched, then took out her phone and messaged Tong Jia, asking when Shen Shu would be done filming.
Tong Jia replied quickly: [Around 6 p.m.]
Tong Jia: [Going to Cai Ying’s place tonight.]
Xu Jinnan assumed Shen Shu would also want to check on Cai Ying, and after a moment of thought, she closed Tong Jia’s chat and opened Cai Ying’s.
She couldn’t find her in her recent contacts, finally locating her in the group chat member list – a solid black profile picture.
Xu Jinnan: “…”
She remembered doing the same thing when she was younger, around thirteen or fourteen, whenever she was upset – deleting all her social media posts and changing her profile picture to something blank, as if seeking a sense of emotional detachment, a way to escape the world’s noise and find a moment of peace.
But she had outgrown that phase.
Now, she preferred to confront her problems directly, seeking solutions instead of escaping into a world of silent introspection.
Of course, everyone was different.
She understood Cai Ying was hurting.
Xu Jinnan sighed softly and sent her a link to an online menu.
[Dinner’s on me. Order whatever you want.]
After waiting for half a minute with no reply, she was about to turn off her phone when a voice message popped up.
“Xu Jinnan, do you think I’m a beggar? A single meal?”
Xu Jinnan chuckled, relieved to hear the familiar, albeit slightly weaker, defiance in Cai Ying’s voice.
She had been right; Cai Ying was resilient.
She just needed a little time.
Xu Jinnan replied playfully: [Oh, looks like you’re not even getting a meal now.]
Cai Ying: […………]
Cai Ying: [Are you human?]
Cai Ying: [Kicking me while I’m down?]
Cai Ying: [Get lost!]
Xu Jinnan raised an eyebrow, staring at the last message.
Then, it was retracted.
After a moment, Cai Ying sent another message.
[Sorry.]
[My dad told me about last night. Thank you.]
Xu Jinnan sat down on the sofa and typed a reply.
[Tell me what you want, call me ‘sis,’ and I’ll make it for you.]
Cai Ying retracted a message.
Cai Ying retracted a message.
Xu Jinnan: “…”
Cai Ying: [Go to hell.]
Xu Jinnan chuckled, taking a screenshot of the conversation and sending it to Shen Shu.
Shen Shu had been worried about Cai Ying and hadn’t slept well.
She wanted to reassure her.
—
Xu Jinnan was in a meeting about the live streaming platform’s marketing strategy when Chen Bo messaged her, saying she had become a legend among the second-generation rich kids after last night’s incident.
She didn’t need him to tell her; she had received countless calls that morning from companies seeking partnerships, at least ten.
She had only helped Cai Ying out of friendship, but it had inadvertently boosted her own reputation. Even Xu Tao didn’t have the influence to unite so many powerful figures against a common enemy.
But last night, besides Xu Tao, the Cai family, the Chen family, and even Han Fu’s mother had all sided with her.
Especially against the HP Group.
She was one step closer to her goal.
Chen Bo also mentioned Han Wenling’s engagement to the He family heiress, which had apparently been called off.
This wasn’t surprising.
After offending both the Cai family and Xu Jinnan, Han Wenling had also alienated the He family, in their eyes, and Mr. Han’s public display of disapproval had likely been the final nail in the coffin.
Xu Jinnan didn’t dwell on it.
—
The “Show” live streaming studio was on the 16th floor, and as Xu Jinnan stepped out of the elevator, she saw a crowd of crew members; they were filming in the pantry area.
They seemed to have just finished a take, and Shen Shu was talking to the director, her head slightly bowed, perhaps discussing the scene.
Xu Jinnan and Viola, after watching them for a moment, were about to return to their office when Tong Jia hurried over.
“CEO Xu, are you going to the Cai residence tonight?”
“Not sure yet,” Xu Jinnan replied. She had a meeting at Meilai Jewelry later.
Tong Jia nodded. “I’m so angry! I should have slapped her harder! All Alphas are scum!”
Xu Jinnan raised an eyebrow.
“Not you, of course,” Tong Jia added quickly.
Xu Jinnan, used to her quick backpedaling, simply said, “Let me know when Shen Shu is free.”
“Why?”
“Why should I tell you?”
Tong Jia: “…”
Childish.
As Xu Jinnan walked away, Tong Jia rolled her eyes, then noticed Viola lingering behind.
Viola was taller, even with Tong Jia’s heels.
“Miss Tong,” she said.
“Yes?”
“I’m also an Alpha.”
Tong Jia paused. “I didn’t mean you,” she said.
Viola smiled faintly. “Thank you, Miss Tong.”
After she left, Tong Jia tapped her chin thoughtfully. She’s quite sensitive.
But not in an unpleasant way.
—
Half an hour later, Xu Jinnan’s back was aching again. She was only 26, but these past few months had taken a toll on her body.
She would have to schedule another massage soon.
She turned on the massage device and leaned against the armrest of the sofa, her body slightly angled.
A knock came at the door, and she called out, “Come in,” straightening up, then froze as the door opened.
Shen Shu, seeing the massage device in her hand, walked in. “Your back acting up again?”
Xu Jinnan: “…” The phrasing was a little… suggestive.
She put away the device. “Just relaxing.”
“Oh.”
Shen Shu walked closer. “Did you need something?”
“Wait here.”
Xu Jinnan went to the small lounge area inside her office, and a few moments later, Shen Shu, hearing a buzzing sound, followed her, curious. The room was small, furnished with a black massage chair by the window, a round wicker coffee table, two armchairs, and a small counter with a sink.
Xu Jinnan was standing by the counter, pouring a glass of grape juice from a juicer.
“Sit on the sofa. The chairs here are uncomfortable,” she said, gesturing towards the living room.
Back on the sofa, Shen Shu looked at the glass of grape juice, then said calmly, “I’m not thirsty.”
Xu Jinnan looked at her for a moment. Shen Shu had been avoiding grapes since the parking garage incident, likely because of the stalker.
Knowing Shen Shu was usually picky about fruit, grapes being one of the few she enjoyed, Xu Jinnan had been trying to… reintroduce them, to help her overcome her aversion.
“Okay, I’ll leave it here then,” she said, placing the glass on the coffee table.
Shen Shu picked up the massage device Xu Jinnan had been using, a pink, handheld device.
Xu Jinnan looked at her, and Shen Shu, after a moment of silence, said, “I’ll have a little.”
Xu Jinnan immediately handed her the glass.
“You’re sneaky,” Shen Shu muttered, taking the glass.
Xu Jinnan chuckled. “Just a little. You don’t have to drink it if you don’t want to,” she said gently, not wanting to pressure her.
Shen Shu’s long eyelashes cast shadows on her cheeks as she lowered her head to take a sip, her lips brushing against the rim of the glass. Since she hadn’t reached for the glass, Xu Jinnan had to lift it slightly to accommodate her.
Shen Shu sometimes enjoyed this… special treatment, the way Xu Jinnan’s eyes softened with indulgence, making her feel pampered and powerful.
No one could resist this side of Xu Jinnan.
A drop of juice escaped her lips, sliding down her chin, and Xu Jinnan, taking the glass from her, gently wiped it away with a tissue.
Shen Shu, thinking she hadn’t cleaned it properly, licked her lip, the gesture unexpectedly sensual, making Xu Jinnan’s eyes darken.
And Shen Shu’s gaze, as she did so, was fixed on Xu Jinnan’s face.
It was almost too much.
Shen Shu’s gaze drifted from Xu Jinnan’s eyes to her throat, her thoughts wandering, when a sudden buzzing sound made her look down.
“Oops,” Xu Jinnan said, her hand slipping, the glass tilting, the grape juice spilling onto Shen Shu’s black skirt.
Xu Jinnan: “…”
Shen Shu: “…”
—
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