Category: Captivating Beauty

  • Captivating Beauty 30p1

    Chapter 30 p1

    On the screen, Xu Jinnan’s delicate face slowly approached. Her red lipstick and narrow eyes, with their deep brown pupils, were as cold and alluring as the deep ocean at night.

    She narrowed her eyes at the camera, as if seeing the person behind the screen, then the video feed went black.

    “Fuck, she found it.”

    Song Ronghui exhaled, flicking ash from her cigarette. “It was so well hidden. I even checked it myself. How did she find it?”

    “Was there only one? No backup?”

    “No. I underestimated her. I thought it was foolproof. But don’t you think this is even stranger? When did Xu Jinnan become so perceptive? And the way she looks at me… I can’t explain it…” Song Ronghui chuckled, as if finding the thought absurd. “It’s like she’s been possessed, isn’t it?”

    A woman’s voice came through the speaker on the table. “Don’t say such things. If this fails, you don’t want anyone tracing it back to you…”

    “Don’t worry, I’ve taken care of the waiter. And that other Omega is Han Hui’s woman. He prepared the room. I just had someone distract him before he could go in. They won’t be able to trace it back to me.”

    Song Ronghui stood up and walked over to the window, pushing it open. The warm night air brushed against her face. “What a shame. Such a perfect plan, wasted.”

    It had been a near S-class Omega.

    Even Shen Shu, an S-class, had reacted. If Xu Jinnan was an Omega, she wouldn’t have escaped.

    And if, as Yin Xue suspected, she was an Alpha with active pheromones, she would have been even more vulnerable.

    Two desirable Omegas in heat, right there for the taking…

    Any Alpha would have succumbed.

    “It’s your fault, isn’t it?” the woman’s voice said accusingly.

    Song Ronghui chuckled, trying to placate her. “But you’ll find out what you want to know tonight. There are no other guests on this floor, and no one will be in the courtyard for the next half hour. Unless… Xu Jinnan jumps out the window.”

    “Good…”

    “After we find out if she’s an Alpha or an Omega, what then? What do you plan to do?” She hadn’t explicitly stated her intentions. Yin Xue was in prison; even if they found out, it wouldn’t change anything for her.

    As for Song Ronghui, she was helping partly to please Yin Xue, and partly out of curiosity.

    And perhaps a touch of schadenfreude, considering Xu Jinnan’s usual arrogance.

    She secretly hoped Xu Jinnan was a dysfunctional Omega.

    An Omega who boasted about dominating other Omegas, leaving them bedridden for days, but was actually impotent and incapable of being marked.

    How ironic would that be?

    The thought was satisfying.

    Unaware of Song Ronghui’s thoughts, Yin Xue replied, “She ruined my life. Don’t I deserve to know the truth about her? I don’t just want to know what she is; I want to know everything about her. Ronghui, I can’t let this go. I was with her for so many years, and this is how it ends. She destroyed me, and I’ll destroy her!”

    Song Ronghui didn’t say anything.

    She knew Yin Xue’s current state was driven by a mixture of hatred and love for Xu Jinnan.

    She had always known Yin Xue loved Xu Jinnan, which was why, despite her own feelings for Yin Xue, and despite her intense jealousy, she had never interfered.

    But she had been secretly pleased when she learned about Xu Jinnan’s marriage. She knew Yin Xue, possessive as she was, wouldn’t tolerate it.

    As expected, they had quickly fallen out.

    But she hadn’t anticipated Xu Jinnan’s ruthlessness, completely cutting ties with Yin Xue… leading to the incident at the Emperor Hotel.

    It was only then that Yin Xue had finally turned her attention to Song Ronghui.

    Song Ronghui poured herself a glass of wine and finished it in one gulp.

    She could play around with Yin Xue, but there was no future between them. She knew that.

    She also knew that Yin Xue’s actions would eventually lead to trouble.

    If Xu Jinnan found out about her involvement, she wouldn’t hesitate to retaliate, and even the Song family might not be able to protect her.

    Listening to Yin Xue’s words, she had briefly considered whether to save herself or drown with her.

    “Ronghui, when will you come visit me?” Yin Xue asked.

    Song Ronghui smiled wryly. It was easy to jump into the water, but difficult to climb back out.

    Why did someone like her, a scumbag, have a heart capable of love?

    She shouldn’t, didn’t deserve to, but she couldn’t help it.

    “I’ll come when this is over.”


    Meanwhile, in another building, Han Wenling sat with her legs crossed, her light purple fingernails tapping rhythmically on the polished wooden desk.

    A man dressed as a waiter stood a meter away.

    “Who told you to lure them there?”

    The waiter, his face pale and covered in sweat, didn’t dare tell the truth, remembering the other person’s terrifying presence.

    Han Wenling waited a few seconds, then stopped tapping. “Let me guess.” She named someone.

    The waiter remained silent.

    Han Wenling took a sip of wine from the glass her secretary had handed her. “Perhaps you’re not aware, but I have very little patience. If something were to happen to you, do you think that person would protect you?”

    The waiter gritted his teeth. “If I tell you, I’ll be in trouble either way.”

    “There’s a difference. If you don’t tell me, you’ll be in trouble now. Believe me?”

    The waiter, a Beta, couldn’t withstand her Alpha pressure. He looked up.

    “It wasn’t Young Master Han who told me to lure them to the room. It was Second Miss Xu…”

    Han Wenling raised an eyebrow. “Xu Li?”

    She picked up a tablet from her desk. “Did she also ask you to install the hidden cameras?”

    “Yes, but she said she didn’t want to watch it. She just wanted a few… compromising photos. She said she would send them to Young Master Han after confirming they were… suitable.”

    “Suitable for what?”

    The waiter stammered, “A… a threesome…”

    Han Wenling simply said, “Oh.” Xu Li, despite being Xu Jinnan’s older sister, was a fastidious person. But only when it came to physical cleanliness.

    Her methods were far from clean.

    “If Young Master Han finds out, he’ll definitely confront Xu Jinnan. How does that benefit the Xu family?” her secretary asked, puzzled.

    Han Wenling looked at the screen, smiling faintly. “Two idiots causing trouble doesn’t reflect on the Xu or Han families, does it?”

    Neither Xu Tao nor the Han patriarch would care, and there wouldn’t be any negative publicity. The only ones affected would be Xu Jinnan and Han Hui’s image in the eyes of their elders.

    Xu Li likely just wanted to ruin Xu Jinnan’s reputation, just like Han Wenfang always tried to find fault with Han Wenling.

    “All this effort just for that? Isn’t she afraid Xu Jinnan will retaliate?”

    Han Wenling looked at the waiter for a moment, then dismissed him.

    “Do you think Han Wenfang is afraid of me?” she asked, her lips curving into a smile. “There might be others involved, each with their own motives, or perhaps there’s something we don’t know. It doesn’t matter… as long as it doesn’t affect the Han family’s interests, we don’t care what they do. Let him go.”

    “What about room 209…?”

    “Why should I help Xu Jinnan?” Han Wenling said, looking at the surveillance footage. “But when did Xu Jinnan become so virtuous?”

    The camera was positioned above the bed, providing a clear view of the entire room.

    The person on the bed was moving restlessly, their moans audible even through the speakers.

    But Xu Jinnan didn’t even glance at the bed, even covering the person with a blanket. However, the Omega was clearly delirious, and the blanket was quickly thrown off.

    “An Omega in heat, and Xu Jinnan can resist? Impressive,” Han Wenling said, a smirk playing on her lips. “She wasn’t like this last time.”


    In room 209, if the situation wasn’t so urgent, Xu Jinnan might have taken the time to search for other hidden cameras.

    But the room was filled with the Omega’s potent pheromones.

    Besides the woman’s moans from the bed, she could only hear Shen Shu’s increasingly ragged breathing.

    There was a signal jammer in the room; she couldn’t even make a phone call.

    “She’s not going to last much longer…”

    Shen Shu looked at the woman on the bed, her voice hoarse. She had lost control the moment she entered the room.

    An Omega in heat, without suppressants or a marking, would continue to burn up.

    It could even be life-threatening.

    Xu Jinnan’s face hardened. Whoever was behind this didn’t even care about human life.

    “We can’t wait.”

    She grabbed a towel from the bathroom, walked over to the plant stand, and picked up the heaviest pot. Before smashing it against the window, she turned to Shen Shu. “Turn around.”

    Shen Shu, assuming she was trying to create a way to call for help, sat up on the sofa, her legs weak. “Be careful.”

    As Shen Shu turned away, Xu Jinnan swung the pot at the window.

    Crash!

    The first hit didn’t break it.

    Shen Shu glanced over. Xu Jinnan’s feet were slightly apart for leverage, her pale arms tense. She clenched her fists. “Be careful,” she repeated.

    “Okay,” Xu Jinnan replied, pulling the towel tighter around her to protect her skin.

    She swung the pot again, and this time, cracks appeared on the glass.

    On the third swing, focusing on the cracked area, she used less force, and the glass shattered, raining down on her.

    The towel protected her upper body, but a few shards grazed her legs.

    Shen Shu, her strength fading, felt her body heating up. She couldn’t see Xu Jinnan’s back and asked, “Are you alright?”

    Xu Jinnan glanced at the blood trickling down her leg. “I’m fine,” she replied calmly.

    Shen Shu was slightly relieved, then saw Xu Jinnan tie the high slit of her dress closed with a knot. She was wearing leggings underneath, so it wasn’t revealing.

    Shen Shu guessed her intention, her flushed face paling slightly. “What are you doing?” she asked, her voice slightly panicked. She lost her balance and slipped from the sofa.

    Xu Jinnan rushed over, smelling Shen Shu’s sweet pheromones. “Are you…?”

    Shen Shu shook her head. She wasn’t in heat yet, but… it was close.

    Xu Jinnan’s palms were sweaty as she helped Shen Shu up, her skin feeling like silk.

    She steadied Shen Shu, then let go of her.

    “Xu Jinnan, you…”

    “This floor isn’t very high. I can climb down the air conditioner unit,” Xu Jinnan said.

    “No… mm…” Shen Shu groaned, her brow furrowed. “Are you crazy? What if you fall…?”

    Hearing her soft moan, Xu Jinnan felt a drop of sweat roll down her forehead.

    She looked at Shen Shu’s flushed face. “It’ll be fine. And there’s no other way. Stay here. I’ll be back.”

    The woman on the bed was delirious from the fever, and Shen Shu was clearly struggling.

    And the 99% pheromone compatibility wasn’t helping.

    Xu Jinnan walked towards the window.

    Shen Shu watched nervously as Xu Jinnan broke off the heels of her shoes, placed a chair by the window, and brushed the broken glass from the windowsill with the towel.

    Just as she was about to climb out—

    The door opened.


     

  • Captivating Beauty 29

    Chapter 29

    The moment Shen Shu entered and saw Xu Jinnan, her eyelashes fluttered, then she quickly lowered her gaze, hiding her surprise.

    “Ah Shu.”

    Xia Chun’s soft voice drew her attention. “Can we talk later?”

    “Excuse me,” Shen Shu interrupted, glancing towards Xu Jinnan.

    Xu Jinnan watched the two of them talking by the entrance, then noticed Shen Shu looking at her.

    Their eyes met.

    Shen Shu walked towards her, ignoring the curious stares of the other guests.

    “I’m late,” she said.

    Xu Jinnan hid her surprise and chuckled, playing along. “I thought you weren’t coming.”

    Shen Shu raised an eyebrow. “I just wanted to see if you would bring another woman.”

    Xu Jinnan’s throat tightened at her playful tone.

    “I wouldn’t dare,” she replied.

    “Miss Xu.”

    Xia Chun’s gentle voice came from behind Shen Shu.

    Xu Jinnan looked at Xia Chun, as if noticing her for the first time. “Xia Chun, we meet again,” she said, a faint smile playing on her lips.

    “This time, Miss Xu remembers me.”

    Xu Jinnan chuckled, looking down at Shen Shu and winking. “And this time, you know who I am.”

    Xia Chun’s smile faltered.

    Xu Jinnan didn’t see Xia Chun as a threat, but with so many people watching, she had to assert her position.

    “I forgot to thank you last time. Thank you for taking care of my Shu Shu on set,” she said to Xia Chun.

    “You’re welcome. It’s my pleasure,” Xia Chun replied, her tone suggesting something more.

    “Good to know you’re taking care of her. You better treat her well,” Xu Jinnan said, putting an arm around Shen Shu’s waist.

    Shen Shu stiffened slightly, then relaxed, leaning against Xu Jinnan.

    “Don’t I treat you well enough?” Xu Jinnan whispered, her voice low and intimate, only for Shen Shu to hear.

    To others, they looked like a loving couple flirting.

    There was a hint of genuine grievance in Xu Jinnan’s tone, and Shen Shu couldn’t tell if she was acting or not.

    Xu Jinnan glanced at Xia Chun, whose expression had darkened.

    She had found Xia Chun’s behavior strange. While Xia Chun was Shen Shu’s official partner in the book, she hadn’t appeared in the first half. Logically, they should only be colleagues.

    Yet, Xia Chun’s hostility was obvious.

    Although Savage Lover was a lesbian romance novel, it focused on the main character’s journey. Besides the angst-ridden relationship between the original Xu Jinnan and Shen Shu, and a few minor romantic subplots, Xia Chun’s name had only appeared once.

    Xu Jinnan suddenly considered another possibility – could they have known each other before?

    Watching their interaction, Xia Chun struggled to maintain her composure, the complex emotions in her eyes difficult to conceal.

    Just then, Han Wenling sent someone to summon her, and she excused herself.

    “Enjoying the show, Second Miss Han?” Xu Jinnan asked, turning to Han Wenfang.

    Han Wenfang’s playful tone vanished. She called over a waiter and offered Shen Shu a glass of wine. “Miss Shen, we meet again.”

    Shen Shu accepted the glass, clinking it against Han Wenfang’s with a faint smile.

    Han Wenfang wasn’t one to overstay her welcome. After her teasing remark almost caused offense, she excused herself and left.

    As soon as she was gone, Xu Jinnan took Shen Shu’s wine glass and replaced it with a fruit drink.

    “Your mother sent you, didn’t she?” Xu Jinnan asked.

    Shen Shu took a sip, glancing around the room. “Have you seen her?”

    “Yes, she told me you would be here.”

    “Then why were you surprised?”

    Xu Jinnan’s gaze lingered on Shen Shu’s wrist. “I thought you would bring a date.” But she had realized it was just an optical illusion; Shen Shu had been walking alone, not with Xia Chun.

    “I just bumped into her at the entrance,” Shen Shu said calmly.

    “I know,” Xu Jinnan replied. “Are you going to find Mrs. Wei?”

    Shen Shu shook her head. “No need, since you’re here.”

    “My father made a mistake and needs someone to smooth things over with the Han family. My mother wanted me to bring you here…”

    This kind of banquet wasn’t important enough for Xu Tao to attend personally. It was usually Lu Yun, but she was in the hospital.

    That was why Wei Wuqing had targeted Xu Jinnan.

    “Why didn’t you ask me to come with you?”

    As she spoke, Xu Jinnan leaned closer to Shen Shu, her arm brushing against Shen Shu’s through the fabric of her dress. Shen Shu quickly pulled away, pretending to adjust her glass.

    “How is your mother?” she asked, avoiding the question.

    “She’s fine,” Xu Jinnan replied. “Don’t worry about the investment. That eight million wasn’t just my money. You have a share in it.”

    “What?” Shen Shu was confused.

    Xu Jinnan smiled at her bewildered expression. “It was earned after our marriage. Technically, it’s joint marital property. I only contributed four million.”

    Shen Shu: “…”

    “Don’t tell your mother that,” she said, imagining Lu Yun’s reaction.

    “Alright, I won’t. But it’s the truth. It’s the law,” Xu Jinnan said casually.

    Her lipstick was a shade brighter than usual, a velvety matte red, complementing her black dress. She was wearing a dark green quartz watch.

    Despite her relaxed demeanor, she exuded an air of authority.

    Her casual tone and words, combined with a subtle hint of indulgence and affection, created an intriguing contrast.

    “If they can’t repay it, do whatever you need to do,” Shen Shu said.

    Xu Jinnan touched her lips. “As you wish.”

    “…”

    Shen Shu looked at her for a moment. “You’ve been acting strange lately.”

    “How so?”

    “Too agreeable.”

    “…Is that a bad thing?”

    Shen Shu shrugged. It was good, of course, but too good, almost unreal.

    The coldness of the past few days seemed to have vanished.

    She considered it. It wasn’t unpleasant.


    Xu Jinnan, rarely attending such events, naturally became the center of attention, with many people approaching her for a toast, which she mostly ignored.

    After a while, she checked the time. “Let’s leave in five minutes.”

    “We can’t just leave,” Shen Shu whispered.

    Her voice was soft, and for some reason, Xu Jinnan detected a hint of gentleness.

    Without thinking, she said, “Okay.”

    Just then, someone called out, “Miss Xu.”

    She looked up to see Xia Chun and a woman in a purple dress approaching. From the way others addressed her, Xu Jinnan guessed she was Han Wenling, the eldest Han daughter.

    The woman had single eyelids, but her eyes were strikingly beautiful, like a fox’s.

    Xu Jinnan felt a sense of danger as Han Wenling looked at her.

    “Miss Shen,” Xu Jinnan said, turning to Shen Shu.

    “?”

    She had noticed that Xu Jinnan often used this formal address when she wanted something, or when she was about to say something nice.

    Xu Jinnan’s arm brushed against Shen Shu’s.

    A subtle nudge.

    She nudged her again, twice, and for some reason, Shen Shu had the strange feeling that Xu Jinnan was acting coquettishly.

    She instinctively pulled away, then, just as Xia Chun and Han Wenling reached them, she linked arms with Xu Jinnan.

    Han Wenling, taller than even Xu Jinnan, said, “It’s not easy to get a meeting with you.”

    Her tone was unreadable. Xu Jinnan smiled faintly, turning to Xia Chun. “You’re quite influential, being able to invite Xia Chun.”

    Han Wenling chuckled, her fox-like eyes glancing from Xu Jinnan to Shen Shu. “We’re all old friends. Our Han family’s wine isn’t bad, is it? Why aren’t you two drinking?” She offered Xu Jinnan a glass. “This isn’t like you. At least three glasses, right?”

    Xu Jinnan: “…”

    Her condition wasn’t stable yet. The handcuff incident at the hotel had likely been triggered by alcohol.

    She definitely couldn’t drink tonight.

    Xia Chun, standing beside them, said jokingly, “Miss Xu’s tolerance isn’t very high. She was drunk after only three glasses last time.”

    “Impossible,” Han Wenling said. “She can handle at least three bottles of brandy.”

    Xu Jinnan: “…”

    Just as she was about to speak, Shen Shu interrupted.

    “Nannan isn’t feeling well tonight, Miss Han. I’ll drink with you.” She took a glass from a passing waiter, leaning closer to Xu Jinnan, her eyes sparkling. “Is that alright?”

    Xu Jinnan’s heart skipped a beat.

    Han Wenling’s gaze flickered between them. “Of course. But one glass isn’t enough. At least three, right?”

    Her tone was challenging.

    Xia Chun looked at the glass in Shen Shu’s hand, about to offer to drink in her place.

    But Xu Jinnan took the glass from Shen Shu.

    “We have to leave soon,” she said calmly. “Just this one.”

    Han Wenling looked at her for a few seconds, then tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, clinking her glass against Xu Jinnan’s. “Just kidding. It’s a banquet, not a drinking contest. I wouldn’t force anyone to drink.”

    They finished their drinks. Just then, someone called Han Wenling away. She turned to Xu Jinnan. “I have to attend to something. I’ll treat you two to dinner next time. Please do me the honor.”

    After she left, Xia Chun also excused herself, her expression even grimmer than before.

    Although the wine wasn’t harsh, Xu Jinnan still felt a slight burn after finishing half the glass in one gulp.

    A waiter approached with a tray of fruit juices. Xu Jinnan picked up a glass of grape juice and a glass of water.

    Her hands were beautiful – pale, smooth, and slender, the kind that were easy to remember.

    Her fingers, holding the deep purple juice, looked elegant and captivating.

    “Aren’t you going to drink?” she asked Shen Shu.

    Shen Shu took the juice, staring at it silently.

    Remembering Shen Shu’s earlier behavior, Xu Jinnan smiled faintly. “You wouldn’t actually drink for me, would you?”

    Shen Shu looked at her, but didn’t reply.

    “…”

    “Can I ask you something?” Xu Jinnan said, suddenly serious.

    Shen Shu looked at her, puzzled. “What?”

    Xu Jinnan leaned closer. “Do you think I’m… incompetent? No, I mean… weak…?” She raised an eyebrow, unable to find the right word.

    Shen Shu looked at her, her voice calm. “At least your alcohol tolerance isn’t very good.”

    Xu Jinnan: “…”

    Ouch.

    She gestured for Shen Shu to step aside. Although the handcuff incident was embarrassing enough, she still had to ask. “Did I do anything else at the hotel that day?”

    She hadn’t felt anything unusual before, but now, with Xu Jinnan so close, she could smell her sunny pheromones.

    Anything else?

    That day at the hotel, her scent gland, beneath Xu Jinnan’s fingertips…

    A shiver ran down Shen Shu’s spine.

    Then, her gaze stopped on a figure walking through the crowd – Song Ronghui.

    She quickly composed herself. “Be careful of Song Ronghui.”

    “…Huh?”

    Xu Jinnan hadn’t expected the sudden change of topic. She paused.

    Most of the guests were gathered around the bar and food area, but a few were scattered around the room. Shen Shu leaned in close, whispering in Xu Jinnan’s ear, “She suspects you’re not an Omega. She also knows about your differentiation defect.”

    She briefly explained what she had overheard by the fire exit, although she hadn’t heard everything clearly.

    She had intended to tell Xu Jinnan about this yesterday.

    “They play dirty. Be careful.”

    “Okay.”

    To Xu Jinnan, it didn’t matter what those people suspected. She was an Alpha now.

    But it was different for Shen Shu.

    Her gaze drifted downwards, lingering on Shen Shu’s exposed neck, the elegant lines of her green qipao and her upswept hair accentuating its delicate curve.

    It was an incredibly alluring sight for an Alpha.

    Xu Jinnan looked away, wondering if she should tell Shen Shu the truth now.

    As people moved around them, Shen Shu was suddenly bumped into. Xu Jinnan quickly caught her. The person who bumped into her apologized profusely.

    Shen Shu, startled, spilled her purple drink all over Xu Jinnan.

    Xu Jinnan felt the cold liquid trickle down her chest.

    She pulled her hand away from Shen Shu’s back. Shen Shu, seeing the stain on her dress, said, “I’m sorry.”

    Xu Jinnan looked at her. “It’s fine. Let’s go.”

    The purple grape juice, slightly pulpy, left a glistening stain on her chest, drawing attention.

    Shen Shu looked away. “It’ll get sticky. You should wash it off.”

    Xu Jinnan nodded. “Alright.”

    The restroom was a short walk away.

    A few minutes after Xu Jinnan left, a waiter approached Shen Shu. “Miss Shen, Miss Xu is in room 209 on the second floor. She asked you to go up.”

    Shen Shu glanced towards the restroom, puzzled. “Why would she be on the second floor? What does she want?”

    “She went to the restroom, but the one on this floor is being repaired. Something happened to her dress. She called while I was downstairs, so she asked me to tell you,” the waiter explained, then nodded and left.

    Shen Shu called Xu Jinnan, but the line was busy.

    She frowned, then headed towards the elevators.


    Two minutes later, Xu Jinnan emerged from the restroom, which had been out of order, causing a slight delay.

    “Oh, Miss Xu, what are you doing here?”

    Xu Jinnan turned around.

    A woman she didn’t recognize said, “Someone said you were on the second floor and asked Miss Shen to go up and find you.” Then, her expression changed, as if she had realized something.

    Xu Jinnan’s heart sank. “When did this happen?” she asked, stopping the woman.

    The woman, intimidated by her gaze, stammered, “J-just now. I was nearby… I overheard it. Room… 209, I think.”

    Xu Jinnan rushed towards the elevators, calling Shen Shu as she went up to the second floor. Compared to the bustling lobby, this floor was quiet.

    Too quiet.

    A housekeeper emerged from a room, and Xu Jinnan pulled her towards room 209. She could already smell Shen Shu’s faint vanilla scent.

    She pounded on the door, calling out Shen Shu’s name.

    “Shen Shu!”

    “I’m here…”

    A weak voice came from inside.

    Xu Jinnan’s face darkened. She snatched the master keycard from the trembling housekeeper and swiped it through the lock, bursting into the room.

    “Shen Shu!”

    The door slammed shut behind her.

    Xu Jinnan didn’t look back, her eyes finding Shen Shu slumped on the floor.

    Her face was flushed, her breath coming in ragged gasps, her body limp.

    Xu Jinnan knelt beside her. “Drugs?”

    “No…” Shen Shu gasped. “Pheromone induction…”

    She had been pushed into the room, which had been filled with Omega pheromones.

    Alpha and Omega pheromones could affect each other, and so could pheromones of the same type. Every Alpha and Omega emitted these inducing pheromones.

    It was called pheromone induction syndrome.

    Xu Jinnan finally registered the presence of another, unfamiliar Omega scent in the room.

    Then, she heard a moan from the bed and looked up to see a woman she didn’t recognize looking at her pleadingly. “Please… mark me…”

    There was an Omega in heat in the room…

    The Omega’s pheromones intensified, filling the air.

    With each increase in pheromone concentration, Shen Shu’s breathing became more erratic.

    Xu Jinnan scooped her up and rushed to the door, but the electronic lock wouldn’t open. The hallway was silent.

    The windows were sealed with plastic film to prevent the Omega’s pheromones from escaping before Xu Jinnan arrived.

    She looked down at the courtyard below, but it was dark and deserted.

    From the person who bumped into Shen Shu, everything had been planned.

    No, it couldn’t be this simple.

    Xu Jinnan frowned, her thoughts interrupted by the trembling of Shen Shu’s body in her arms.

    Her own hands were shaking as she held Shen Shu.

    As an S-class Alpha, she shouldn’t be affected by ordinary Omega pheromones. But if Shen Shu’s heat had been induced, and considering her own sensitivity to Shen Shu’s pheromones…

    If she lost control—

    Xu Jinnan took a deep breath, but it didn’t help, only increasing her anxiety.

    She placed Shen Shu on the sofa, intending to check the windows.

    Then, her gaze stopped on something in the corner of the room. She walked over to a tall plant stand, pushing aside the foliage and artificial flowers, and retrieved a small camera.

    A red light blinked, like a watchful eye.

  • Captivating Beauty 28p2

    Chapter 28p2

    Lu Yun returned to the room and saw Xu Jinnan’s distracted expression.

    “There’s a Han family banquet tonight. I can’t go. You never liked these events, but you can go in my place. You helped the Shen family; we need to maintain a good relationship with the Han family.”

    Xu Jinnan hesitated, then agreed.

    She could tell Lu Yun was prepared to argue, and she didn’t have the energy for it right now. There were more important things to consider.

    She needed to think about what she had just discovered.

    As for the banquet, she would just make an appearance.

    It wasn’t that different from the social events she used to attend in her original world.

    Seeing Xu Jinnan’s ready agreement, Lu Yun was surprised, then felt a pang of sadness. She realized her Nannan had truly changed.

    She wished she hadn’t.

    At least, before, Nannan had listened to her.

    But now, she only listened to others…


    Shen Shu, waiting on set, checked her vibrating phone.

    Xu Jinnan: [I have something to do tonight. Are you free tomorrow?]

    She thought for a moment, then replied: [Evening is fine.]

    Xu Jinnan: [Okay]

    Shen Shu looked at Xu Jinnan’s profile picture. It had changed. She couldn’t remember what it had been before, but it hadn’t been anything serious.

    The new picture was a split image of water and sunlight, separated by a pane of glass with water droplets, creating a calming and refreshing effect.

    Just like Xu Jinnan herself – carefree and easygoing, her presence comforting, even warm at times.

    Xu Jinnan’s two personalities were like night and day, completely different.

    The screen dimmed.

    Shen Shu’s thoughts continued.

    Xu Jinnan had said she needed her for the inheritance, but so far, she hadn’t asked for anything in return.

    In fact, she had only helped her.

    At the Shen residence, Xu Jinnan had protected her.

    After leaving the Shen family, Xu Jinnan had continued to protect her.

    At the KTV, despite the danger, Xu Jinnan had protected her.

    She had supported her acting career, even though it didn’t benefit her in any way.

    And she had even argued with Lu Yun, causing her to be hospitalized, all for Shen Shu’s sake.

    Shen Shu considered another possibility. If Xu Jinnan was an Alpha…

    They had shared a room, a bed, and Xu Jinnan hadn’t made any advances. She had even only come onto the bed after Shen Shu had offered.

    Xu Jinnan was a good person.

    A good person who treated her well.

    Thinking about it this way, she didn’t feel as averse to Alphas as she had thought.

    But why had Xu Jinnan lied to her? That was what she couldn’t understand.


    A crew member called out, and Shen Shu snapped out of her thoughts, putting away her phone and standing up.

    It was a scene with Xia Chun. She had prepared for two days, rehearsing countless times in front of the mirror, but after the previous NG, she was still nervous.

    She took a deep breath and walked onto the set.

    Xia Chun gave her a strained smile. The image of Shen Shu and Xu Jinnan pressed together in that hotel room was still vivid in her mind.

    “Ready,” the director called out.

    They took their positions.

    It was a scene between Nightingale and the character V, a member of the organization hunting down the assassins.

    It was a scene of mutual probing, the emotions and dialogue more important than the action.

    “You don’t believe me when I say I like you,” V said, touching Nightingale’s hair, her gaze suggestive.

    “Really…?” Nightingale leaned closer. “Say that again.”

    Shen Shu’s demeanor was usually cold, but her alluring eyes softened when she expressed warmth, her coldness melting into a captivating charm.

    Not overtly affectionate, but alluring nonetheless.

    Nightingale’s words were delivered slowly, her voice soft, her breath warm in the air.

    Xia Chun’s breath hitched, the faint scent of vanilla and honey filling her senses, reminding her of Xu Jinnan’s flushed face pressed against her back…

    Her fingers curled, and her brow furrowed.

    “Cut!”

    “Xia Chun, your expression is off,” the director said through the loudspeaker.

    “Perhaps she’s too immersed in the role,” the assistant director said, trying to lighten the mood. “Touch up her makeup.”

    “Are you alright?” Shen Shu asked Xia Chun.

    Xia Chun looked at her, her expression softening. “Are you concerned about me?”

    Shen Shu would ask even if it was another actor who seemed unwell. “You look a little pale,” she replied calmly.

    Her voice wasn’t loud, but the nearby makeup artist and assistant overheard and rushed over to Xia Chun.

    “My stomach’s a little upset,” Xia Chun said. “It’s an old problem.”

    As her assistant fussed over her, Shen Shu offered a polite word of concern and didn’t say anything more.

    Xia Chun looked away, lost in thought. Besides her physical discomfort, she had actually lost focus during filming. It was unprofessional.

    She closed her eyes, trying to calm down.

    The second take went smoothly.

    That was the end of Shen Shu’s scenes for the day. It was a little after 4 p.m.

    There weren’t many people filming at this studio, and there were plenty of empty rooms backstage.

    As Shen Shu was packing up, Wei Wuqing called, reminding her about the evening’s event.

    After agreeing, she saw Xia Chun standing at the door, holding a box of grapes.

    Xia Chun’s color had returned. She placed the grapes beside Shen Shu’s bag, the washed fruit glistening with water droplets.

    “Just washed them,” she said.

    “Why are you doing this?” Shen Shu asked.

    Xia Chun smiled. “I brought some for everyone. Just thought I’d bring you some too.”

    Shen Shu walked past her. “Don’t do this again.”

    “Why didn’t you push her away that day?”

    Faced with Shen Shu’s coldness, Xia Chun’s patience finally wore thin. She couldn’t understand it. Shen Shu could have pushed Xu Jinnan away, but she hadn’t.

    The question had been bothering her since that night.

    “You know who she is,” Shen Shu replied. “Why would I push her away?”

    “After what happened, you couldn’t even stand being near an Alpha, let alone being touched by one. Why did you let her touch you? Did you fall for her? Impossible. Xu Jinnan is such a disgusting person…”

    Shen Shu’s expression darkened at her first sentence. She turned and glared at Xia Chun.

    Realizing what she had said, Xia Chun’s eyes flickered. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to…”

    Before she could finish, Shen Shu had already left.

    Xia Chun felt a sharp pain in her stomach and sat down, clenching her fists, a mixture of regret, pain, and jealousy washing over her.

    She remembered the phone conversation she had overheard earlier.

    She took out her phone and dialed a number.

    “Ms. Han, didn’t you say there was an HP banquet tonight? I’m free now… No need to pick me up. I’ll go myself.”


    The HP banquet was held at the Han family’s five-star hotel.

    It was an annual event, attended by prominent figures from the business world, celebrities, and artists.

    It was a prestigious event in North City.

    Hearing the description, Xu Jinnan understood Lu Yun’s earlier comment. The original Xu Jinnan must have loathed these formal, pretentious events.

    She dozed off in the car, woken by Zhou Pei when they arrived.

    She rubbed her neck, the tingling sensation having subsided considerably. Before getting out of the car, she reminded herself not to drink any alcohol tonight.

    She was wearing a black, sequined, high-slit dress with a low neckline, a trench coat draped over her shoulders, a silver clutch in her hand, and matching ten-centimeter heels.

    She walked into the banquet hall, her chin held high, exuding confidence.

    The room fell silent for a moment as she entered, then people started approaching her.

    She had to maintain the Han family’s image, but not at the expense of her own.

    Han Wenfang walked over. “Miss Xu, what a surprise! We’re honored by your presence.”

    As she clinked glasses with Xu Jinnan, she glanced at the drink in her hand, then lowered her gaze, hiding her thoughts.

    “Why are you alone tonight? This isn’t like you,” Han Wenfang said playfully. “Is Miss Shen still upset about the last incident and refusing to come?” She was referring to the incident with Yin Xue at the hospital.

    “Of course not. She has something to do tonight,” Xu Jinnan replied.

    Just then, someone exclaimed, “Isn’t that Xia Chun? Impressive, Second Miss Han. I heard she never attends these business events.”

    “The number one Alpha in the entertainment industry. She’s something else.”

    “And look who’s with her. Is that her date? Holy shit… isn’t that North City’s goddess, Shen Shu?”

    Han Wenfang took a sip of wine. “Miss Xu, I thought your wife had something to do. Why is she here with another Alpha?”

    Someone abruptly stopped talking—

    Xu Jinnan slowly turned around. Shen Shu, in a dark green mermaid gown, walked in with Xia Chun, the two of them a few steps apart.

  • Captivating Beauty 28p1

    Chapter 28p1

    The question was startling.

    Xu Jinnan had anticipated this confrontation, but she hadn’t expected it to be so sudden.

    She looked at Shen Shu’s clear, unwavering gaze, then noticed a single tear tracing a path down her cheek.

    Xu Jinnan reached up to wipe the tear from her own eyelid. “Shall we go upstairs?” she asked.

    She dismissed Zhou Pei and followed Shen Shu into the apartment building.

    The real reason for her deception was the initial lack of trust and Shen Shu’s aversion to Alphas, although she still didn’t know the root cause of that aversion.

    But if Shen Shu asked directly, she wouldn’t lie.

    The rain had started suddenly, but fortunately, Zhou Pei had given her an umbrella. It took them a minute and a half to walk from the entrance to Shen Shu’s apartment.

    They walked side by side in silence, Xu Jinnan holding the umbrella and tilting it slightly towards Shen Shu.

    Inside the apartment, Shen Shu changed into slippers, the rain having splashed her legs and seeped into her heels.

    Xu Jinnan stood at the door, watching her.

    After this conversation, she probably wouldn’t be welcome inside anymore.

    Shen Shu straightened up, her beautiful eyes meeting Xu Jinnan’s, as if seeing right through her, into her very soul. As if she knew everything.

    Or had guessed everything.

    After a long silence, Xu Jinnan began, “Actually, I…”

    A sudden, insistent knocking interrupted her.

    Xu Jinnan: “…”

    Lu Yun’s arrival disrupted her train of thought. She wasn’t carrying any luggage, but her expression indicated this visit wasn’t a casual one.

    As expected, Lu Yun walked in, her face grim, and threw her handbag onto the coffee table. “I really underestimated you,” she said, glaring at Shen Shu.

    Shen Shu was taken aback, but Xu Jinnan quickly stepped in front of her, shielding her from Lu Yun’s anger.

    “Mom, what’s wrong?”

    Lu Yun’s gaze shifted to Xu Jinnan. “Since the wedding, the Shen family has taken full advantage of their connection to the Xu family. I won’t even mention the twenty million investment I threw away like it was nothing. But I made it clear to them that the Xu family wouldn’t help them with this, and they shouldn’t even think about asking…” She let out a sarcastic laugh, glaring at Shen Shu.

    “And what does she do? Did she think I was joking? She turns around and whispers in your ear, convincing you to throw money at their problems?” She had disliked Shen Shu from the moment she saw her.

    She knew about Nannan’s childhood trauma, the little girl Zhou Pei had tracked down, and the events that had transpired.

    She hadn’t noticed any resemblance between Shen Shu and that girl at first. The slight similarity in their features was barely noticeable.

    It wasn’t until Nannan insisted on marrying Shen Shu that she realized Shen Shu was just a substitute.

    At the time, she hadn’t been worried. If this was Nannan’s way of dealing with her past, letting her vent her frustrations on someone, it was fine.

    The Shen family had been in dire financial straits, and they had eagerly accepted the proposal.

    Twenty million was a small price to pay for Nannan’s happiness.

    But now, things were different.

    Shen Shu had crossed a line.

    She was influencing Nannan’s decisions. Since the wedding, Nannan had become softer, more compliant.

    Shen Shu looked at Xu Jinnan, surprised. Wei Wuqing had indeed asked for money and had suggested asking Xu Jinnan for help.

    But Shen Shu hadn’t intended to mention it.

    “Mom, you misunderstand. Shu Shu didn’t ask for anything. I just happened to hear about their situation,” Xu Jinnan said.

    The eight million she had provided the Shen family was nothing compared to the initial twenty million wedding investment.

    Lu Yun’s anger stemmed mostly from her dislike of Shen Shu and the Shen family.

    She assumed Shen Shu had manipulated her.

    Just like with the inheritance issue, Lu Yun’s first instinct was to blame Shen Shu – even though logically, it didn’t make sense for Shen Shu to do so.

    “Does that make it any less important?” Lu Yun exclaimed. “You gave away all the money you had! You think I don’t know? You refuse my money, but you throw your own money at them. Do you expect me to just stand by and watch?”

    Shen Shu froze.

    She knew Xu Jinnan had started a venture capital firm and had been busy with investments.

    But was Lu Yun telling the truth? Why would Xu Jinnan do that?

    Xu Jinnan turned to Shen Shu. “Why don’t you go inside for a moment?”

    Shen Shu hesitated, then nodded.

    Staying here would only make things worse.

    Seeing Shen Shu about to leave, Lu Yun frowned at Xu Jinnan. “I came here to talk to her. Why are you sending her away? Tell me, is she the reason you don’t want the Xu family’s money, the inheritance, my money…?” She pointed at Shen Shu’s back. “Is it all because of her?”

    Shen Shu stiffened, but didn’t stop.

    The bedroom door clicked shut.

    Xu Jinnan sat down beside Lu Yun, trying to calm her down.

    “I didn’t just give the Shen family money. We signed a contract,” she explained. “No profit sharing, full repayment. If they don’t fulfill the contract within three months, they have to use company shares as collateral.”

    “You think they can repay it?” Lu Yun scoffed. “Those two are useless. Do you know why this happened? Because that idiot son of theirs was scammed in a business deal. The middleman was the Han family’s youngest son. And now, Shen Guotao actually went to the Han family demanding compensation.”

    Everyone in North City knew about the two major business empires – the Xu Corporation and the HP Group.

    The Xu Corporation focused on import-export trade and real estate. HP focused on e-commerce and new energy, recently expanding into real estate development.

    Even if the youngest Han son had deliberately targeted them, Shen Guotao couldn’t just confront the Han family directly.

    It was a foolish move.

    But he had been relying on the Xu family’s influence.

    He hadn’t considered that in the business world, profit always came first. Even with the Xu family’s backing, few would dare to do business with him now. If anything went wrong, it would only create more trouble for them.

    While the Xu and Han families maintained a cordial facade, they were fierce competitors.

    Shen Guotao, relying on the Xu family’s power, had offended the Han family. The best course of action for the Xu family was to distance themselves. After all, Shen Guotao was insignificant to Lu Yun and Xu Tao.

    It wasn’t worth jeopardizing their relationship with the Han family for him.

    “I know,” Xu Jinnan said.

    She had used all her available funds, so of course she had thoroughly investigated the situation beforehand.

    “You knew?!”

    “I married Shen Shu. Is it right to abandon her family now, just because of some minor conflict between the Xu and Han families?” She could tell Shen Shu still cared about her family.

    Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been so restless and sleepless the night she received news of Shen Guotao’s accident.

    Lu Yun was taken aback, then her voice sharpened.

    “So, it is because of that vixen! I regret letting you marry her!”

    “How many times have I told you? Never trust those people outside. They’re all untrustworthy! Only your mother will never harm you! Look at what you’ve become! You don’t care about anything anymore…”

    Xu Jinnan wasn’t heartless. Despite her lack of emotional connection to Lu Yun, and despite the secrets Lu Yun and the Xu family were hiding, she still felt a pang of sympathy for her as a mother.

    But that didn’t mean she would tolerate this.

    Especially Lu Yun’s increasing possessiveness.

    “Mom, perhaps you don’t simply dislike Shen Shu,” Xu Jinnan said, looking at Lu Yun, her voice calm but firm. “You just can’t accept that I’m becoming independent, right?”

    “But I’ve grown up. I have my own thoughts, my own way of living,” Xu Jinnan continued. “You need to let go.”

    Lu Yun’s face paled. “What are you…”

    She clutched her chest and doubled over.

    Xu Jinnan rushed to support her. “What’s wrong?”

    “Medication… in my bag…”

    Xu Jinnan quickly retrieved a small white bottle from Lu Yun’s bag.

    Hearing the commotion, Shen Shu opened the bedroom door and hurried over, bringing a glass of warm water.

    After taking the medication, Lu Yun’s color gradually returned.

    Xu Jinnan helped her lie down in the guest room and was about to call the hospital when Lu Yun stopped her. “I’m fine now. Just need some rest.”

    Lu Yun insisted she was okay, and seeing her improved color, Xu Jinnan nodded.

    “Don’t worry, Nannan. I’m fine,” Lu Yun said, her voice weaker than before.

    Hearing her reassurance, Xu Jinnan sighed. “Rest well. We’ll talk later.” She left the door slightly ajar and went out.

    Shen Shu was standing by the kitchen counter. “Is your mother alright?”

    “She’s fine. She’s resting.”

    It was the first time Xu Jinnan had learned about Lu Yun’s heart condition.

    Shen Shu, seeing her expression, handed her a glass of water.

    “Thank you,” Xu Jinnan said, taking the glass.

    As she drank, her pale neck tilted back slightly, her throat bobbing.

    Shen Shu noticed the damp sleeve of her beige top, the thin fabric clinging to her skin, accentuating the curve of her breast.

    “Why don’t you take a shower? Call me when you’re done,” Shen Shu said, looking away. “Then we can talk.”

    Xu Jinnan nodded, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. “Okay.”


    In the bathroom, Xu Jinnan stood under the showerhead, her mind racing.

    Lu Yun’s reaction had been completely unexpected.

    She was still so bad at handling these relationships.


    After a quick shower, Xu Jinnan peeked into the guest room and saw Shen Shu inside.

    “Your mother is still feeling unwell. Her private doctor is on the way,” Shen Shu said, turning off the main lights and leaving only the bedside lamp on to avoid straining Lu Yun’s eyes.

    Xu Jinnan pulled off her towel and walked over.

    Lu Yun’s eyes were closed, her breathing shallow and rapid, her brow furrowed, a sheen of sweat on her forehead. Xu Jinnan suddenly regretted her earlier complacency.

    The doctor arrived quickly, examining Lu Yun and concluding she had experienced a stress-induced episode and hadn’t fully recovered from her medication.

    “Her blood pressure and other vitals are normal now. There’s no major cause for concern, but a family member should stay with her tonight, and it’s best to bring her to the hospital for a check-up tomorrow,” the doctor said.

    “Is it a heart condition?” Xu Jinnan asked.

    “Hypertension and heart disease. It’s been going on for years. Miss Xu, your mother hid it from you because she didn’t want you to worry. Mrs. Lu is truly a remarkable mother.”

    Xu Jinnan thanked the doctor and saw him out.

    She saw Shen Shu closing the guest room door. Their eyes met. “Shall we talk now?” Xu Jinnan asked.

    “Take care of your mother first,” Shen Shu replied, then paused, her gaze lingering on Xu Jinnan.

    Xu Jinnan’s hair was damp and slightly disheveled, and she was wearing a long chiffon dress.

    Sensing her gaze, Xu Jinnan shrugged. “I don’t have anything else to wear.” She hadn’t expected to spend another night here, so she had only brought one set of pajamas, which were still damp from last night. The clothes in the wardrobe were all similar dresses.

    “What if your mother sees you like this?”

    “It’s fine,” Xu Jinnan replied.

    Shen Shu hesitated, then went into her bedroom and returned with a black, oversized cotton T-shirt.

    “Do you want to wear this?”

    “…Okay.”

    Shen Shu had asked her directly, so she must have learned something, or discovered something, yet she was still being civil.

    Xu Jinnan was surprised.

    She left the guest room door ajar and lay down on the living room sofa, within earshot of Lu Yun. She checked on her periodically throughout the night, finally falling asleep around 1 a.m., reassured that Lu Yun was stable.


    In the morning, after Xu Jinnan and Lu Yun left for the hospital, Shen Shu went to clean the guest room.

    As she pulled back the covers, she froze.

    Several dark red stains dotted the sheets.

    Bloodstains. Judging by their location, they were from someone’s back.


    Just as Xu Jinnan arrived at the hospital, she received a WeChat message from Shen Shu.

    [Check your mother’s back. It looks like she’s injured.]

    A photo of the bloodstained sheets followed.

    Xu Jinnan’s heart lurched.

    She looked at Lu Yun, who was undergoing a check-up, a wave of unease washing over her.

    That unfamiliar feeling again.

    She stood there for a moment, frowning, a thought forming in her mind.

    After excusing herself, she returned to the room. The dirty laundry basket in the bathroom was empty.

    Feeling a sense of frustration, she was about to leave when she saw a housekeeper cleaning the room across the hall. “Did you see the clothes from the bathroom in this room?” she asked.

    “They’re in the laundry cart. They were stained, so I took them,” the housekeeper replied.

    Xu Jinnan immediately spotted Lu Yun’s black dress.

    She retrieved it and returned to the room. The soft fabric felt stiff where the blood had dried.

    Holding it up to the light, she could make out several long, thin marks.

    Her fingers tightened, crumpling the dress in her hand. A chilling thought struck her – Perhaps there’s more than one victim in the Xu family?

    She touched her chest, feeling a phantom pain, as if she was experiencing the original Xu Jinnan’s suffering.

    She hoped she was wrong.

    But the premonition felt too real.


     

  • Captivating Beauty 27p2

    Chapter 27 p2

    The next morning was overcast, the temperature slightly cooler than usual.

    Lu Yun had left early, sending Xu Jinnan a message at 7 a.m. saying she had something to attend to. Xu Jinnan was relieved. Seeing the remaining luggage in the bedroom, she left it with Zhou Pei, asking her to deliver it to the Xu residence.

    Lu Yun’s visit had likely been about the Xu family business. Yesterday hadn’t gone well, and given Lu Yun’s doting nature, she probably wouldn’t pressure Xu Jinnan again for a while.

    Xu Jinnan dropped Shen Shu off at the hospital.

    “Professor Qin asked me to get a routine check-up. I’ll come find you later,” she said.

    “No need if you’re busy,” Shen Shu replied.

    “I’m not busy,” Xu Jinnan said firmly. “Go ahead. Call me if you need anything.”

    “Okay.”

    As Xu Jinnan walked away, Shen Shu watched her, her gaze lingering on her slim waist accentuated by her high-waisted skirt. Just as she was about to turn around, she heard two people talking.

    “That waist is amazing. She must be great in bed.”

    “What if she’s an Omega? Oh my god, stop it. We’re in a hospital.”

    Shen Shu turned and glanced at them.

    Perhaps sensing her gaze, they looked over, and Shen Shu quickly turned away, entering the hospital.

    “Wow, so many beautiful women in this hospital.”

    “She looks familiar, don’t you think? An actress?”


    Xu Jinnan had arranged for Shen Guotao to be transferred to the VIP ward.

    His leg injury wasn’t serious. He had been driving home from work late at night, exhausted, and had run a red light, colliding with an electric scooter. Fortunately, he had swerved at the last moment, and the person on the scooter had only suffered minor injuries.

    But his car had crashed into a steel barrier, the front severely damaged. He was lucky to have kept his leg.

    Shen Guotao was resting. Wei Wuqing, her face pale, whispered, “This is supposed to be the VIP ward, but there’s no water, and no one has come to refill it. So inconsiderate. I need to tell Nannan. They’re not taking us seriously.”

    Shen Shu frowned. “Refilling water isn’t their job. Don’t bother Xu Jinnan with such trivial matters.”

    Wei Wuqing was dissatisfied with her tone, but remembering the real reason for their visit, she relented. “You’re right. We shouldn’t bother her with this.”

    “Shu Shu, your father and I have been thinking about what happened. We were wrong. It’s just old-fashioned thinking, assuming our son would inherit the family business.”

    Wei Wuqing sighed. “You’ve been doing a great job. You deserve a share of the Shen family’s assets. We feel terrible about how we treated you. We apologize, Shu Shu.”

    The apple peel Shen Shu was peeling broke, and she bent down to pick it up. “It’s fine.”

    “So, you forgive us?”

    Shen Shu didn’t know how to respond.

    Of course not, she thought.

    She placed the peeled apple on the table and picked up the water pitcher. “I’m going to get some water.”

    The waiting area was almost empty. The water dispenser was near the nurses’ station, and a fire exit was a few meters away.

    As Shen Shu entered the water station, she heard a familiar name. She quietly closed the lid of the pitcher and walked out.

    Just as she did, the fire exit door closed.


    Song Ronghui sat on the stairs, lighting a cigarette.

    She lowered her voice.

    “I just saw her through the window. I heard her father-in-law is on this floor, so I’m taking the stairs down to avoid her.”

    “That professor in charge of her is a sly one. I couldn’t get any information from him. I had to bribe a junior doctor to get a copy of her report, and it’s over two months old. They’re really good at keeping secrets.”

    “Just like you said, she really is a dysfunctional Omega. Her pheromone level is 0…” Song Ronghui’s eyes gleamed. “No wonder I’ve never smelled her pheromones.”

    Yin Xue’s voice came through the phone. “If it’s not recent, and not directly from Professor Qin, it’s fake.”

    Song Ronghui exhaled a plume of smoke. “What are you trying to find out? You told me she was an Omega, then asked me to check her records. I did, but you still seem suspicious. Why?”

    She deliberately raised the inflection of her voice, a hint of flirtation in her tone.

    Yin Xue chuckled. “You’re right, I am suspicious. I’m certain Xu Jinnan is an Omega, but when she fainted that day, I smelled something else on her.”

    “What?”

    “Your Alpha… scent,” Yin Xue said, licking her lips. “And pheromones.”

    Unfortunately, Xu Jinnan had knocked her unconscious, and the scent had been fleeting, so she needed Song Ronghui to investigate.

    Hearing the sound of Yin Xue’s tongue, Song Ronghui paused.

    After a moment, she said, “Isn’t there a Han family banquet in a few days? Whether she’s an Omega or an Alpha, we’ll find out then.”


    When Xu Jinnan arrived at Shen Guotao’s ward after her check-up, Wei Wuqing was holding Shen Shu’s hand, dabbing her eyes with a tissue.

    Chen Xiaxia stood behind her, a hand on her shoulder.

    They looked more like a loving family than Wei Wuqing and Shen Shu.

    Seeing Xu Jinnan, Wei Wuqing immediately brightened and greeted her warmly, exchanging pleasantries with Shen Guotao, then pulled Chen Xiaxia forward.

    “Perfect timing, Nannan. Besides our mishandling of the company incident, there’s something Xiaxia needs to apologize for.”

    “What is it?” Xu Jinnan asked, leaning against the armrest of the sofa next to Shen Shu.

    She glanced at Shen Shu, confirming she hadn’t been bullied, then said casually, “Actually, I’m more curious about why you’re making such a fuss.”

    She discreetly sent Zhou Pei a message.

    “Xiaxia, tell them yourself,” Wei Wuqing said.

    Chen Xiaxia bit her lip, tears welling up in her eyes before she could even speak. “I’m sorry. Someone told me that if I went with her for a while, she could make things difficult for my cousin and get my acting role back, so I… I went… I didn’t expect her to drug me…” She burst into tears.

    “Who told you to go? Do you know her?” Xu Jinnan asked.

    Chen Xiaxia shook her head. “No, I just heard the KTV staff call her Xiao Xue-jie. She gave me a drink, just one glass…”

    She sobbed uncontrollably.

    Xu Jinnan, usually sympathetic towards crying women, now found it irritating.

    Wei Wuqing, sensing Xu Jinnan’s impatience, coughed discreetly, signaling Chen Xiaxia to stop crying. However, Chen Xiaxia misinterpreted the signal and continued.

    “Jinnan-jie, thank you for helping me. If you hadn’t suppressed the news, my career would be ruined… Thank you. I’ll do anything for you…”

    Her words were becoming increasingly inappropriate. Seeing Xu Jinnan’s expression, Wei Wuqing quickly stopped her.

    Shen Shu was stunned. She had assumed the Cai family had suppressed the news, but it had been Xu Jinnan.

    Xu Jinnan’s expression softened slightly, but she wasn’t completely convinced. “Actually, it had nothing to do with you. My actions depend entirely on Shu Shu.”

    Wei Wuqing and Shen Guotao had played the emotional card, and Shen Shu had softened.

    But Xu Jinnan wasn’t emotionally invested in them.

    Wei Wuqing smiled awkwardly, then turned to Shen Shu. “Shu Shu, you’re so lucky to have such a loving wife. I can finally face your grandmother in the afterlife, knowing you’re well taken care of…”

    Hearing the mention of her grandmother, Shen Shu’s eyelashes fluttered, hiding her sadness.

    It was her only regret in this life.

    Wei Wuqing, sensing Xu Jinnan’s displeasure, quickly changed the subject.

    Just then, Xu Jinnan received a reply from Zhou Pei.

    [Miss, the Shen family is experiencing financial difficulties and needs urgent capital turnover. Mr. and Mrs. Shen approached Mr. Xu, but he refused. They also contacted you a few days ago…]

    She hadn’t met with them.

    She remembered now.

    Shen Shu had already left the Shen family; why would she bother meeting them?

    So, after all this drama, it was still about money.

    Xu Jinnan’s expression turned cold.

    Wei Wuqing offered her a fruit platter, but she declined. Wei Wuqing then picked an orange and gave it to Chen Xiaxia.

    Chen Xiaxia pouted. “Peeling this will make my hands smell.”

    Wei Wuqing playfully rolled her eyes, peeling the orange and removing the white pith. “Spoiled brat.”

    Shen Shu didn’t react, seemingly accustomed to this behavior.

    “Shu Shu, have some too,” Wei Wuqing said, finally remembering her.

    Shen Shu shook her head, but Wei Wuqing placed half the peeled orange in her hand.

    Shen Shu held the orange, the coldness of the fruit seeping into her fingertips, then spreading through her body.

    She didn’t eat oranges.

    Never had.

    “She doesn’t eat oranges,” Xu Jinnan said suddenly, taking the orange from Shen Shu’s hand.

    She stood up and placed the orange back on the platter. “She’s picky. At home, I even have to peel her grapes.”

    Wei Wuqing paused, looking at the fruit platter, sensing something was amiss.

    Xu Jinnan didn’t say anything more, smoothing her dress and turning to Shen Shu. “It’s getting late. Don’t you have something to do?”

    Shen Shu met her gaze. “Yes.”


    Wei Wuqing followed them to the door, Chen Xiaxia trailing behind her. Watching the two beautiful women walk away side by side, her eyes welled up.

    “Jinnan-jie used to like me,” she murmured.

    Wei Wuqing patted her shoulder, frowning. “Don’t ever say that again! Have some sense!”

    Chen Xiaxia’s tears started to fall. “Why am I so miserable? I’m not as good as my cousin in anything, and now even you don’t like me… I apologized, but you’re still asking her to help me get a role.”

    Wei Wuqing sighed, wiping away her tears. “The important thing now is to resolve the company’s financial problems. I’ll talk to her later.”

    “Will she agree to help me?”

    “Don’t worry,” Wei Wuqing said confidently.

    Her trump card, the elderly Mrs. Shen, had never failed her.


    Shen Shu’s expression was calm, but Xu Jinnan knew the Shen family was weighing on her mind. With her personality, she probably wanted to be alone right now.

    “Should I have Zhou Pei drive you home?”

    “What about you?”

    “My test results should be out. I’ll go check,” Xu Jinnan replied casually.

    “I’ll go with you.”

    “…Huh?”

    Xu Jinnan hadn’t expected this response.

    She checked her phone twice on the way to the hospital, noticing Shen Shu glancing at her each time. She quickly typed a message to Professor Qin.

    Professor Qin looked surprised to see them together.

    “Sorry, Miss Xu, I was just about to call you. There was a problem with your blood sample. The results might take another hour,” he said, recovering quickly.

    “What a coincidence,” Shen Shu said, a faint smile playing on her lips, like a cool autumn rain. “There’s always a problem when I’m around.” Her tone was light, almost playful.

    But Xu Jinnan felt a flicker of unease.


    Once in the car, she checked her phone. Professor Qin had sent a message.

    Professor Qin: [Miss Xu, I thought you were joking…]

    Xu Jinnan stared at the message she had sent him: The goddess has arrived.

    “…”


    Xu Jinnan dropped Shen Shu off at her apartment building. Before opening the car door, Shen Shu turned to her. “Come up with me.”

    Sensing she had something to say, Xu Jinnan agreed.

    Instead of going upstairs, Shen Shu stopped by the flowerbeds. Perhaps due to the gloomy weather, there was no one around.

    “What’s wrong?” Xu Jinnan asked softly.

    Shen Shu looked up, meeting her gaze. “Xu Jinnan, are you an Omega, or an Alpha?”

  • Captivating Beauty 27

    Chapter 27 p1

    When Xu Jinnan arrived, Lu Yun was sitting calmly on the sofa, sipping tea, but she reminded Xu Jinnan of those stereotypical evil mothers-in-law often portrayed on TV.

    Shen Shu stood beside her, her expression as indifferent as ever.

    Lu Yun greeted Xu Jinnan with a warm smile. “You’re back?” Then, her tone changed. “Go inside for a moment. I need to talk to my daughter.” This last part was directed at Shen Shu.

    Xu Jinnan frowned instinctively. Did Shen Shu owe her something?

    Just as she was about to speak, Shen Shu said, “I’m going out for a bit.”

    As soon as Shen Shu left, Lu Yun gestured for Xu Jinnan to sit down, placing a thermal food container on her lap and opening it. The aroma of shrimp and scallop porridge filled the air.

    Even though Xu Jinnan disliked Lu Yun, she couldn’t be completely indifferent.

    “I personally picked these ingredients this afternoon. Do you like it? Eat this shrimp,” Lu Yun said, picking out a large shrimp, peeling it, and placing it in Xu Jinnan’s spoon. “Nannan, you always ignore my calls when you’re angry. I worry about you.”

    “Zhou Pei answered,” Xu Jinnan replied.

    For a moment, Lu Yun thought Xu Jinnan knew Zhou Pei was her informant, but then she dismissed the idea. “Talking to her isn’t the same as seeing you with my own eyes.”

    Xu Jinnan put down her bowl. This was Shen Shu’s home, and she wasn’t comfortable with Lu Yun treating it like her own.

    “I’m fine. You should go home,” she said.

    “I’m staying here for a few days to take care of you. Professor Qin said you haven’t been well, and you looked so pale the other day. How can I not worry?”

    Xu Jinnan insisted she didn’t need to be taken care of, but Lu Yun was determined to stay.

    “Nannan, I always thought we had an unspoken understanding about this, so I never brought it up.” Lu Yun placed a hand on Xu Jinnan’s slightly warm wrist. “You’re doing well now, but remember, you’re entitled to a share of the Xu family’s assets. No one can change that. You can’t give it up for any reason, understand?”

    It was good to be upfront. “Perhaps in the future, but right now, I’m not interested in fighting for the inheritance. I can take care of myself,” Xu Jinnan said, then added, “And my family.”

    Lu Yun’s eyes narrowed, her grip tightening slightly. “Do you know what you’re saying? You’re not interested? Nannan, did that woman put you up to this?”

    “It’s her, isn’t it? She abandoned the Shen family and stooped to becoming an actress because she has you and the Xu family as her backing. And now she’s trying to manipulate you too?”

    “Enough. It has nothing to do with Shen Shu. I don’t need the Xu family’s money,” Xu Jinnan said, her patience wearing thin. These people always found reasons to resent and dislike Shen Shu.

    If Shen Shu was truly using her as a safety net, as they claimed, why would she encourage her to abandon the Xu family? It didn’t make sense.

    “The Xu family might be important to you, but I don’t need them.” Xu Jinnan touched her scent gland. Xu Tao had two other children he favored; there was no point in competing.

    A loud bang echoed through the room as Lu Yun slammed her hand on the table.

    “I can indulge you in everything, but not this. Absolutely not.”

    Lu Yun’s eyes were bloodshot, tears welling up. “There’s no room for discussion. Even if you don’t want it, I’ll find a way for you to get it, because it’s what you deserve, what we deserve… Nannan, you’re my daughter. Just this once, listen to your mother, okay?”

    What does she mean by “deserve”? Because she’s part of the Xu family, or does Lu Yun know something, something that makes her feel guilty?

    Xu Jinnan leaned towards the latter.

    A mother would know if her child had been hurt.

    Perhaps noticing Xu Jinnan’s pale face, Lu Yun suddenly remembered her daughter’s mental instability and decided not to push her too hard.

    “Nannan, are you tired? Finish your porridge. We’ll talk later.”


    Shen Shu returned after receiving a call from Xu Jinnan.

    “So, she’s really staying?”

    Xu Jinnan closed the bedroom door behind her, sighing. “I’ll try to get her to leave tomorrow.”

    “Can you?” Shen Shu asked gently. “You can’t just force her out.”

    “I’m not that heartless,” Shen Shu replied.

    No matter how much she disliked Lu Yun, she wouldn’t kick her out.

    Xu Jinnan sensed a change in Shen Shu’s demeanor. They had had dinner together just a few days ago, and things had seemed fine. Now, she was back to being cold and distant.

    Omega’s were difficult to understand.

    Shen Shu went to prepare the guest room. Lu Yun walked in and immediately started criticizing. “What kind of blanket is this? It smells musty. When was the last time you aired it out? You can’t even do this much as a wife.”

    Xu Jinnan’s eye twitched. Here we go, the classic mother-in-law routine – nitpicking.

    “It’s a clean blanket,” Shen Shu said.

    Only Cai Ying had ever stayed over, and they always shared Shen Shu’s bed. The guest room and spare blankets were rarely used.

    Just as Lu Yun was about to retort, Xu Jinnan walked in and pulled Shen Shu aside. “Mom, I’ll have someone take you home. You won’t be comfortable here, and you might have trouble sleeping.”

    “…Fine,” Lu Yun conceded.

    “…”

    Xu Jinnan led Shen Shu back to the bedroom.

    They exchanged a look, both knowing they would be sharing the room tonight.

    “Same rules as before. I’ll sleep on the floor,” Xu Jinnan said, preparing to lay out her blanket.

    Unlike the Shen family villa, which had carpeted floors, Shen Shu’s apartment had cold, hard tiles. It would be uncomfortable without a thick mattress.

    “There’s only one spare blanket,” Shen Shu said, retrieving a thin blanket from the closet. “Use this. It’s a bit thin, though.”

    It was the one she usually used on the sofa, only 1.5 meters long.

    “…” “It’s fine. I’m tough,” Xu Jinnan replied.

    “Whether you’re tough or not, this is all there is.”

    Xu Jinnan stopped, then moved closer to the bed. She hadn’t been far away to begin with, so she was now standing right next to Shen Shu.

    Lowering her voice, she smiled. “Miss Shen, can I ask you something?”

    Shen Shu, smelling her pheromones, shifted uncomfortably. “What?”

    She rarely backed down during conversations, especially not in front of Xu Jinnan.

    Xu Jinnan looked at her, then took a small step back, bending slightly so their eyes met. “Can we stop being awkward?” she asked with a smile.

    She still didn’t know why Shen Shu was being cold, but she was afraid of making things worse by asking. Girls were like that.

    The best approach was to be conciliatory.

    “…I’m not being awkward,” Shen Shu replied.

    “Really?”

    Xu Jinnan’s expression softened, her eyes focused and gentle.

    Is she in a good mood today, or something? Shen Shu wondered, then looked away and walked past her.


    After resting in the guest room for a while, Lu Yun emerged to see Xu Jinnan working on her laptop. “Nannan, this place is too small. You should move.”

    “It’s fine. It’s just the two of us,” Xu Jinnan replied, the implication clear.

    “So, you’re saying it’s too small for three people?”

    “Mom, why don’t you get some rest? Zhou Pei can take you home tomorrow,” Xu Jinnan said.

    Lu Yun looked at her daughter. She looked the same, but her personality had changed. While she wasn’t as volatile as before, she felt… different, almost like a stranger.

    She walked over and glanced at the laptop screen, which displayed sales data for the top three suppressant brands. “Nannan, are you interested in suppressant development?”

    “Just browsing.”

    “You’ve really grown up.”

    I’m 26. Of course I’ve grown up.

    After their earlier conversation, Xu Jinnan knew where this was going. She closed her laptop and rubbed her neck. “Mom, get some rest. I’m going to bed.”

    At Shen Shu’s door, Xu Jinnan instinctively reached for the doorknob, then, remembering Lu Yun was watching, simply opened the door and walked in.

    A flash of white greeted her.

    “Sorry,” she mumbled.

    Shen Shu quickly pulled down her dress. “Why didn’t you knock?”

    Xu Jinnan took a deep breath, turning her back to Shen Shu. “I didn’t expect you to be changing.”

    “Lock the door next time.”

    Shen Shu hadn’t expected Xu Jinnan to come in. She had been on the sofa the entire time.

    “You can continue. I won’t look,” Xu Jinnan said.

    Shen Shu’s bedroom had a small balcony, separated by a curtain, but the glass sliding door was open, and the faint sound of traffic drifted in.

    Xu Jinnan stood with her back to Shen Shu, listening to the rustling of fabric, scratching her ear.


    The blanket was indeed thin.

    “…”

    Xu Jinnan lay on the floor, the blanket covering only half her body, the rest exposed to the cool air. Only her head, resting on the pillow, felt warm.

    She couldn’t sleep.

    In fact, she felt wide awake. She touched the back of her neck.

    Her scent gland felt tingly, and her heart was racing, but her skin felt normal.

    She turned over, closing her eyes.

    A sweet scent kept drifting into her nose. Her breathing became uneven, and after a few seconds, she took a deep breath.

    She opened her eyes.

    She lifted the blanket to her nose. It carried Shen Shu’s vanilla-honey scent.


    At 10 p.m., the main lights went out, and the bedside lamp cast a cool glow on the ceiling.

    The only sound in the quiet room was the occasional rustling of pages.

    Shen Shu turned to look at the woman on the floor.

    Xu Jinnan lay on her back, wearing her usual slip dress and a blue-gray silk robe, her long legs curled up beneath the small blanket.

    I feel like I’m bullying her, Shen Shu thought.

    Xu Jinnan stirred as her phone vibrated.

    Shen Shu looked away from her bare feet peeking out from beneath the blanket.

    Xu Jinnan picked up her phone.

    It was a reply from Professor Qin.

    Professor Qin: [It’s unlikely to be related to your rut. While the suppressants I gave you were trial versions, based on the data, a relapse so soon after being stabilized is rare, unless you were exposed to extreme stimuli.]

    Professor Qin: [It’s likely due to increased Alpha hormone activity, which can be triggered by excitement, sexual arousal, deep kissing, skin contact, etc. The specific triggers vary from person to person.]

    Xu Jinnan: “?”

    She hadn’t done anything particularly exciting.

    A sweet scent suddenly filled the air, followed by a faint tingling sensation.

    Xu Jinnan: [What if there were no such triggers?]

    Professor Qin: [Are you with Miss Shen?]

    Xu Jinnan: [Yes]

    Professor Qin: [Then it’s normal. I told you your pheromone compatibility is 99%. You’re both more sensitive to each other’s pheromones. You’re still in the Alpha hormone stabilization phase. Any physical contact within a three-meter radius can trigger your Alpha hormones.]

    Xu Jinnan: “…”

    Why did that sound so suggestive?

    She asked why this hadn’t happened before.

    Professor Qin: [This is rare, but there have been similar cases. Another secondary differentiator, like you, met someone with extremely high pheromone compatibility. Her reactions intensified over time, the closer she got to her girlfriend.]

    As long as it wasn’t a rut, Xu Jinnan was relieved.

    Being in the same room with Shen Shu, she had experienced firsthand how volatile her rut could be.

    She replied, “Understood.”

    Then, another message arrived.

    Professor Qin: [Miss Xu, there’s one more thing I should remind you. As an Alpha and Omega couple living together, your heat cycles and ruts are like two ticking time bombs. And since your rut is unstable, it could be triggered at any time.]

    Xu Jinnan’s heart sank as she read the last sentence.

    She wasn’t comfortable with lying, and she felt guilty about keeping so many secrets from Shen Shu.

    As she was thinking, she heard Shen Shu answer a phone call.

    “Hello?”

    “Is it serious?” Shen Shu paused. “I see.”

    Xu Jinnan could only hear muffled sounds from the other end.

    After about half a minute, Shen Shu sighed softly. “Which hospital? Okay, I’ll go tomorrow.”

    “What happened?” Xu Jinnan asked, sitting up slightly.

    Shen Shu hung up, her long eyelashes casting shadows on her face. “My father is in the hospital.”

    “Is it serious?”

    “He was in a car accident. He injured his leg.” Shen Shu’s voice was calm, betraying no emotion.

    “Which hospital?”

    “Rennan.”

    The hospital funded by the Xu family, where Professor Qin worked. This was convenient. Xu Jinnan immediately called the hospital administrator, who quickly returned her call with an update.

    Xu Jinnan relayed the information to Shen Shu. A fractured leg, but no permanent damage. He would be able to walk normally after a month of recovery.

    Shen Shu nodded, her expression relaxing slightly.

    Hearing Xu Jinnan make another call to arrange for additional care, Shen Shu whispered, “Thank you.”

    Xu Jinnan put her phone on silent and lay back down. “Get some rest. I’ll go with you tomorrow.”

    Shen Shu’s lips parted slightly. She looked at Xu Jinnan and wanted to say, “No need,” but the words wouldn’t come out.

    After accepting her help, refusing her offer now would seem ungrateful.


    At 11 p.m., Shen Shu turned off the bedside lamp.

    The curtains weren’t fully drawn, and after her eyes adjusted to the darkness, she could see the faint glow of the city lights.

    Xu Jinnan shifted a few times, then stopped as she heard Shen Shu move on the bed.

    Tomorrow, even if I have to be ruthless, I’ll get Lu Yun out of here, she thought.

    The floor was hard and cold, and she couldn’t sleep.

    “You.”

    The word was sudden.

    And brief.

    Xu Jinnan wondered if she had imagined it.

    She opened her eyes. “Me?”

    “Sleep on the bed.”

    “…Are you sure?”

    “…”

    In the darkness, Shen Shu’s lips pressed together.

    The silence stretched on.

    “Then I’m coming up?”

    She wasn’t one to refuse a kind offer.

    Besides, the floor was truly unbearable.

    Xu Jinnan picked up her blanket and stood up. In the dim light, she saw the figure under the pink blanket shift to the right, making space for her.

    Xu Jinnan lay down on the bed. She felt a warmth where their legs touched, spreading through the cotton sheets.

    It was Shen Shu’s body heat.

    A sweet, milky scent emanated from the blankets, filling the air and mingling with Xu Jinnan’s own scent.

    She suddenly remembered she had used Shen Shu’s shower gel today.

    The milk-scented one.

    She sighed contentedly. The bed was much more comfortable.


    Half an hour later, Xu Jinnan stared at the gap in the curtains, wide awake. She touched her tingling scent gland.

    Even though they were under separate blankets, she was still lying next to a top-tier Omega.

    And she was a healthy Alpha.

    Not just any Alpha, but one whose hormones were in overdrive…

    Her throat tightened, her skin itching, a restless energy coursing through her body.

    The soft, fragrant bed was even more conducive to arousal than the hard floor.


     

  • Captivating Beauty 26

    Chapter 26

    After asking the question, Xu Jinnan waited a few seconds, but Shen Shu simply stared at her silently.

    Xu Jinnan’s mind cleared a little. Why would Shen Shu do this?

    It must have been out of necessity.

    “Because I was acting up last night, so…?” she asked tentatively.

    Shen Shu looked up, her voice calm. “Then I should have tied you up in the bathroom.”

    “…Instead of handcuffing yourself to me,” Xu Jinnan finished the thought.

    She shook her head, trying to wake up properly. “…Let me think.”

    “You put these on,” Shen Shu stated flatly, cutting her off.

    “…?”

    Seeing Xu Jinnan’s surprised, almost shocked expression, Shen Shu’s beautiful eyes narrowed slightly. “You really don’t remember?”

    Shen Shu’s eyes, unlike Xu Jinnan’s naturally upturned ones, didn’t convey the same sense of intensity. But because she rarely smiled, her alluring eyes held a certain coldness.

    Especially now, her gaze was piercing.

    Xu Jinnan stared at her, subtly twisting her wrist. “I did this?”

    Xu Jinnan: “…”

    When had she become such a lightweight?

    She hadn’t expected to get drunk last night. The original Xu Jinnan had a much higher tolerance.

    But this body was complicated, a secondary differentiator, so a change in alcohol tolerance wasn’t surprising.

    Besides, she still experienced those residual effects, reacting to things the original Xu Jinnan had liked or disliked.

    After getting drunk and losing control last night, seeing those items in the suitcase might have triggered a reaction, leading to some… unusual behavior.

    It was possible.

    Xu Jinnan looked away. “…I didn’t do anything to you, did I?”

    Shen Shu averted her gaze, subtly moving her wrist, the metal of the handcuff chafing against her skin. “What did you want to do?” she asked coolly.

    Xu Jinnan followed her gaze and noticed faint bruises on Shen Shu’s delicate wrist.

    “…”

    “I’m sorry,” she mumbled, realizing she had blacked out.

    “Wait,” she said, her thoughts returning. “Where did these even come from?” She didn’t have handcuffs in her hotel room.

    Shen Shu’s expression turned knowing.

    Xu Jinnan followed her gaze to the open suitcase on the floor, the scattered contents – chains, restraints, and other questionable items – clearly visible.

    Xu Jinnan rubbed her temples. Lu Yun had outdone herself.

    She had assumed the suitcase contained only clothes, but Lu Yun had packed these things as well.

    “I didn’t bring these,” she said weakly.

    “No need to explain,” Shen Shu replied. “I don’t judge people’s personal preferences.”

    “…”

    She… never mind.

    With the evidence right there, any explanation would sound unconvincing.

    The priority was to find the key.

    They stood up and walked over to the suitcase, crouching down beside it.

    Unable to find the key, they started taking out the items one by one, shaking out the clothes and other objects.

    Shen Shu’s expression remained unchanged throughout the ordeal.

    Xu Jinnan, however, experienced the ultimate social death – even if it wasn’t you, when others thought it was you, you were already dead.

    They emptied the suitcase, but there was no sign of the key.

    “…Let’s call a locksmith,” Xu Jinnan said.

    “What will you tell them?” Shen Shu asked, her tone sharp.

    Xu Jinnan realized it wasn’t a good idea. Shen Shu was an actress now, and she had been trending online recently. If this got out, what would people think?

    It might even make the news.

    “Young celebrity couple’s kinky games go wrong, requiring locksmith’s assistance…”

    Xu Jinnan met Shen Shu’s gaze. “I’ll call Zhou Pei.”

    Shen Shu didn’t object, so Xu Jinnan stood up, then realized they were still handcuffed together, pulling Shen Shu along with her.

    After today, she’ll probably block me, Xu Jinnan thought.

    After the call, they sat on the sofa, Xu Jinnan wrapping a shawl around herself. To ease the awkwardness, she turned on the TV.

    It was a movie channel.

    And the movie playing was starring Xia Chun.

    A close-up of Xia Chun’s face filled the screen. Her forehead rested against another woman’s shoulder, her clothes partially undone, her voice soft and filled with emotion.

    Her acting was undeniably good.

    Xia Chun’s lines were delivered with such feeling, and the scene, with the two women embracing, was intimate and sensual.

    Even Xu Jinnan, who rarely watched movies, was captivated.

    “Xia Chun is a good actress,” she commented.

    “Mm,” Shen Shu replied.

    She remembered Tong Jia mentioning that Shen Shu had struggled with a scene involving flirting with Xia Chun.

    Looking at the beautiful woman on screen, Xu Jinnan imagined Shen Shu and Xia Chun together. It would be a stunning image.

    Her thoughts paused. “How was filming yesterday?” she asked, turning to Shen Shu. The soft morning light illuminated her face.

    Shen Shu’s expression was calm as she watched the movie, but Xu Jinnan sensed a hint of something in her eyes.

    A subtle emotion she couldn’t decipher.

    “They changed the schedule. We’re filming tomorrow,” Shen Shu replied.

    Xu Jinnan nodded.

    Shen Shu suddenly turned to her, their eyes meeting. “You didn’t used to have such a low tolerance for alcohol,” she said.

    The topic change was abrupt. “Maybe I wasn’t feeling well yesterday,” Xu Jinnan replied casually.

    “Don’t push yourself next time,” Shen Shu said softly.

    She doesn’t sound angry anymore, Xu Jinnan thought.

    Then, Shen Shu added, “You’ll only hurt yourself and others.”

    Xu Jinnan: “…” Ouch.

    After a long silence, Xu Jinnan coughed. “Miss Shen, would you mind accompanying me to the bathroom?”

    Shen Shu: “…”

    Xu Jinnan had wanted to wait for the atmosphere to improve, but it seemed unlikely. She couldn’t hold it in any longer.

    “Hold it,” Shen Shu said.

    Xu Jinnan: “…?”

    Omegas held grudges.

    Fortunately, Shen Shu wasn’t completely heartless and relented before Zhou Pei arrived.

    However, the short chain of the handcuffs made the trip to the bathroom awkward, their bodies brushing against each other.

    Zhou Pei arrived within twenty minutes.

    “Can you do it?” Xu Jinnan asked, watching her take out her tools.

    “I opened them for you before. No problem,” Zhou Pei replied.

    Xu Jinnan: “…???”

    She saw Shen Shu turn her head slightly. Oh, before.

    Xu Jinnan had no other thoughts now, only that Zhou Pei was an excellent assistant, always answering her questions without hesitation.

    Once the handcuffs were unlocked, they both examined their bruised wrists, Shen Shu’s more severe than Xu Jinnan’s.

    As Shen Shu freshened up in the bathroom, Xu Jinnan offered her an ice pack, but she declined.

    Xu Jinnan asked Zhou Pei to drive Shen Shu home, but just then, Tong Jia called.

    “No need. I have other plans,” Shen Shu said, heading towards the door.

    Zhou Pei looked at Xu Jinnan, silently asking if she should follow and see Shen Shu off. Xu Jinnan shook her head. After Shen Shu left, she said, “If she doesn’t want it, don’t force it. Don’t make her uncomfortable.”

    Zhou Pei nodded.


    In the bathroom, Xu Jinnan examined her dress, the strap torn. She took it off and stood in front of the mirror.

    Her reflection showed flawless, pale skin, smooth as a baby’s.

    She stared at it for a moment, lost in thought.


    After changing, she found Zhou Pei still waiting outside. On a whim, she said, “Help me find something. Information about my kindergarten, including photos and names of the students.”

    “Certainly,” Zhou Pei replied calmly. “I’ll send it to you at the office.”

    Xu Jinnan paused.

    Seeing her expression, Zhou Pei explained, “I keep records of everything you’ve asked me to investigate, unless you instruct me to destroy them.”

    The original Xu Jinnan had been obsessed with her childhood. It was in character for her to have investigated this.

    She must have also looked into Xiao Shu.

    Xu Jinnan tentatively asked about her.

    As expected, Zhou Pei wasn’t surprised. “You asked me to destroy everything, but I think I have one photo left,” she replied.


    At the office, Zhou Pei sent her the photo of Xiao Shu.

    Xu Jinnan looked at the woman in the picture. Faint traces of her childhood features remained.

    She studied the unfamiliar face, a sense of unease settling over her. The woman’s eyes and brows bore a slight resemblance to Shen Shu’s.

    Xu Jinnan’s thoughts cleared.

    When she had read about the original Xu Jinnan’s relentless pursuit of Shen Shu, she had been puzzled. While the original was undoubtedly twisted, her reasons for marrying Shen Shu and tormenting her hadn’t seemed strong enough.

    But if the original had been projecting Xiao Shu onto Shen Shu, marrying her out of a desire for revenge, or even… to transfer her twisted affections…

    It made sense.

    Xiao Shu.

    Shen Shu.

    Even their names were similar.

    A childhood grudge held for so many years, turning into an obsession, ultimately leading her to treat Shen Shu as a substitute for her childhood tormentor.

    Xu Jinnan’s heart ached for Shen Shu.

    And the original Xu Jinnan had already been twisted as a child…

    Xu Jinnan looked at her arm. There were no marks.

    Perhaps the injuries hadn’t been severe enough to leave scars, or perhaps they had been surgically removed.

    But she was almost certain that the root of the original Xu Jinnan’s problems lay within the Xu family.

    Or perhaps Xu Tao specifically.

    The family portrait seemed to confirm this.

    Xu Tao must have done something to her, likely physical abuse.

    But why hadn’t Lu Yun intervened?

    And why had Lu Yun pleaded with her to stop investigating Qucheng?

    Xu Jinnan stood up, looking down at the city below, the pedestrians like moving dots. She couldn’t answer these questions now.

    And they weren’t the priority.

    She suddenly remembered Shen Shu’s beautiful face from that morning.

    She wanted to be better to Shen Shu.


    An hour later, Tong Jia barged into Xu Jinnan’s office, surprised to see her usually carefree demeanor replaced by a look of preoccupation. She tossed her bag onto the table. “I came here to escape the boredom at home. Why do you look like you’ve been through hell?”

    Hell doesn’t compare to this, Xu Jinnan thought.

    Compared to the Xu family’s issues, she felt more heartbroken for Shen Shu.

    The original Xu Jinnan had let Xiao Shu go, but had then targeted Shen Shu as a replacement, using their marriage as a means of torment.

    Shen Shu had done nothing wrong; she was an innocent victim.

    “What is it?” Xu Jinnan asked Tong Jia.

    Tong Jia sat down opposite her, taking the coffee Zhou Pei had brought. “I’m in a bad mood too.”

    “What a coincidence.”

    “Why don’t you go first? What’s wrong?”

    “Just say what you want. I don’t have time for this,” Xu Jinnan said impatiently.

    Tong Jia wasn’t offended. “Come on, we’re friends. I need a favor.”

    “Go ahead.”

    “My girlfriend is on a business trip,” Tong Jia said. “I want to surprise her and need some advice.”

    Xu Jinnan was puzzled. “Advice on what?”

    “What do you and Shen Shu like in bed? Something… spicy.”

    “…” Xu Jinnan stared at her. “Are you crazy?”

    “You’re the crazy one.” Tong Jia leaned closer, resting her chin on her hands. “I’m serious. Despite my usual jokes, my girlfriend and I are quite conservative in that department.”

    Xu Jinnan: “…”

    She hadn’t noticed.

    She put down her documents, trying to treat the person in front of her like a delicate Omega.

    “Can we please discuss something normal?” she asked patiently.

    Tong Jia immediately shook her head. “No. You don’t understand how miserable I am. If I don’t initiate, we can go two weeks without sex.”

    “…” Xu Jinnan raised an eyebrow. “And this is my problem because…?”

    “You’re the expert! I’ve heard about your… exploits. Just think of it as taking on a student.” Tong Jia put on a pitiful expression. “I’ll even give you free intel on Shen Shu.”

    Xu Jinnan: “…”

    Looking at Tong Jia, she suddenly remembered that morning.

    Shen Shu sitting beside her, barely an arm’s length away, her dark hair slightly disheveled, her white T-shirt wrinkled, her black skirt with silver embroidery, her creamy white arm handcuffed to hers…

    A disheveled, forbidden beauty.

    After learning the truth about the original Xu Jinnan’s reasons for tormenting Shen Shu, she shouldn’t be having these thoughts.

    It felt almost predatory.

    But besides that, Xu Jinnan didn’t feel ashamed.

    She simply thought Shen Shu had been incredibly beautiful.

    After a moment of contemplation, she said, “Perhaps you could consider… buying a bracelet?”

    “?”

    “Would that work?” Tong Jia asked, picking up her coffee, her eyes gleaming with interest.

    “I don’t know. It should be quite stimulating.”

    “Should? Sounds like you haven’t tried it.”

    Xu Jinnan was silent.

    She only remembered clinging to Shen Shu’s back last night, returning to the hotel, and then… nothing. She had no recollection of what had happened in the room.

    So, she could only say, maybe I have.

    But it was best not to try.


    After Tong Jia left, satisfied, Zhou Pei entered the office. “Miss, Mrs. Lu just called.”

    “What did she say?”

    “She asked if you had eaten and how you were feeling.”

    Xu Jinnan paused. Lu Yun’s maternal affection was something she had never experienced before, but her unconditional, almost suffocating doting was sometimes unsettling.

    Then, Zhou Pei said, “Mrs. Lu has a difficult life.”

    It was rare for Zhou Pei to offer such personal comments. “I know,” Xu Jinnan replied.

    Lu Yun was Xu Tao’s second wife. Xu Jinnan rarely visited, and Xu Tao clearly favored his children from his previous marriage. Lu Yun’s life in that household wasn’t easy.

    “Shouldn’t you visit her?”

    Xu Jinnan shook her head. “Do you think I should?”

    “The Xu family has a vast fortune. Mrs. Lu probably wants you to be more involved.” The words had a double meaning.

    Xu Jinnan rubbed her neck, leaning back in her chair. Perhaps the conversation with Tong Jia had relaxed her slightly.

    “I don’t care about the Xu family’s fortune,” she said. “I just want a comfortable life for myself and the people I care about.”

    Perhaps Tong Jia was right. She had never been materialistic, and making money wasn’t difficult for her. So, sometimes she was rational, and other times, idealistic.


    “Did Nannan really say that?”

    “Yes.”

    Lu Yun put down her pruning shears. “How can she not care? Without the Xu family, how will she survive with just those small companies of hers?”

    “Madam, Miss is doing well. At least these are her own efforts.”

    “What do you know? Without the Xu family’s backing, how could she be so successful? Even if it’s her own effort, it’s only temporary. What about the future? Who will ensure her continued success?” Lu Yun continued, “I assigned you to her to take care of and protect her. You don’t need to offer your opinions on other matters.”

    Zhou Pei paused. “Yes, Madam.”

    Lu Yun was silent for a moment. “She wasn’t like this before. No matter how wild and reckless she was, she still cared about the family business. Ever since she got married…”

    “You said they’re not living together?”

    “Yes,” Zhou Pei replied, then hesitated. “They stayed together last night.”

    “And before that?”

    “Only that one time at the Shen residence. Not since then.” Zhou Pei explained, “There were some misunderstandings between her and Miss Shen before. Miss Shen might not be comfortable with it.”

    “Not comfortable? And Nannan just accepts it? She dotes on her that much?”

    “Yes, Madam.”

    After hanging up, Lu Yun’s coldness turned into anxiety. She would do anything to protect Nannan, to let her live as she pleased. As long as no one died, she could clean up any mess.

    But she was getting old, and Nannan was still young. Without her protection, Nannan would have to rely on the Xu family.

    She could tolerate Nannan’s playful nature, but not her indifference towards the family business, her lack of ambition, her infatuation with another woman.

    Lu Yun decided to visit them personally.


    On the way back to the hotel, Xu Jinnan felt drowsy. She hadn’t slept well and had woken up early.

    She wondered if the original Xu Jinnan had also been prone to fatigue.

    Lost in thought, her phone vibrated.

    Shen Shu: [Come over. Your mother is here and says she’s staying for a few days.]

  • Captivating Beauty 25

    Chapter 25

    The restaurant was decorated in champagne hues. Song Ronghui, in a tight black off-the-shoulder dress, sat smoking in the VIP lounge outside the private dining rooms.

    Chen Bo and his Omega companion lounged on a larger chair, practically putting on a live sex show.

    “Can you go inside?” Song Ronghui asked, lighting another cigarette.

    “Why? You didn’t bring anyone yourself, and now you can’t stand seeing others having fun?” Chen Bo grumbled. “You seem… agitated today.”

    “Next time you plan on a marathon session, don’t ask me to arrange the next round,” Song Ronghui said.

    Just then, the door to room 301 opened. Han Fu emerged, being carried by a curvy, dark-skinned woman. Her voice was hoarse, her flushed face almost matching her bright pink hair. “I can’t do this anymore. You guys go ahead.”

    Song Ronghui cursed under her breath. Perhaps noticing her foul mood, Chen Bo got up.

    “Let’s call a couple more. Han Wenfang’s been active lately… Let’s invite her. We can go somewhere else.”

    “Hey, isn’t that the actress…?” Han Fu pointed to someone leaving a nearby room.

    “It is. I went with Ronghui to offer her a drink earlier. She was in the room with us, right, Ronghui?” Chen Bo said.

    Song Ronghui looked over, a thoughtful expression on her face.

    After leaving the restaurant, Song Ronghui sat alone in her car, staring out at the city lights, a cigarette in her hand.

    After a moment, she pulled out her phone.

    “Hello?”

    “Can I see her now?”

    The call ended. Five minutes later, she received a reply: [Come.]

    Two hours later, Song Ronghui entered a brightly lit room in Rongcheng Prison’s special ward. There were no windows, only a small vent in the ceiling.

    A woman leaned back against the dark green metal bed, her curves accentuated by the blue prison uniform. She smiled seductively.

    “You came?”

    “Yes.” Song Ronghui’s gaze shifted from her face to her long hair. “Your hair’s grown.”

    Yin Xue ran her fingers through her hair. “Come here,” she said.

    Song Ronghui hesitated, then approached. Yin Xue leaned forward, resting her head on Song Ronghui’s stomach. “Ronghui, it’s so hard in here. Get me out of here, please?”

    “Getting you a private cell and allowing me to visit you is already pushing the limits,” Song Ronghui said, her voice tight. “I’ll try to find a way, but it’s difficult. You could have messed with anyone else, even Cai Ying, and I could have protected you.” But she’d targeted not only Xu Jinnan’s new lover, but Xu Jinnan herself.

    “Xu Jinnan won’t let me go? She’s truly ruthless.”

    “It’s not her,” Song Ronghui replied. “It’s the Xu family.”

    Specifically, Lu Yun.

    She’d gone straight to the patriarch of the Xu family. If Song Ronghui interfered, it would jeopardize any future collaborations between the Xu and Song families.

    “You know Xu Jinnan is their precious daughter. It’s complicated.”

    Yin Xue chuckled. “Precious daughter? Fine, let’s talk about something else.”

    Song Ronghui groaned, stopping Yin Xue’s wandering hands. “Don’t tease me.”

    Yin Xue, looking bored, wiped her hand on her uniform. “Did you find anything?”

    A hollowness settled in Song Ronghui’s chest. “Xu Jinnan is… strange. I can’t explain it. She’s Xu Jinnan, but she’s… different. That day at the cafe, she looked at me like she’d never seen me before. And tonight, it was the same feeling. Do you remember Xia Chun?”

    “The name sounds familiar.”

    “Xu Jinnan investigated her when she was targeting Shen Shu. But today, she acted like she didn’t know her. It wasn’t an act. She’s not good at hiding things. It’s like she’s a different person.”

    Yin Xue’s eyes glinted in the artificial light. “Did she mention me?”

    “No.”

    “She’s almost forgotten me, hasn’t she?” A shadow crossed Yin Xue’s face, then she looked up at Song Ronghui and smiled. “Your family has shares in that specialized hospital in the South District, right? Bring me a copy of Xu Jinnan’s medical records next time.”

    “What for?”

    “I’ll tell you next time… If necessary, you can try working with Xu Li. She’ll help anyone who’s against Xu Jinnan. But she’s manipulative, so be careful. Just use her. Don’t tell her anything, understand?”

    “You’ve dealt with her too?”

    “We used each other.” Yin Xue’s expression hardened. “I never… had her. So be careful.” She traced circles on Song Ronghui’s skirt with her finger.

    This time, Song Ronghui didn’t stop her. She took a deep breath. “We grew up together. Of course, I’ll help you.”

    “Just because we grew up together?”

    Song Ronghui looked at Yin Xue’s beautiful face, her head spinning. No, it wasn’t just that.

    She wasn’t running a charity.

    As she leaned in to kiss her, Yin Xue stopped her. “You know I don’t like kissing. Let’s do something else.”


    “Darling Omega, want to play?”

    Xu Jinnan’s voice echoed in the spacious bedroom.

    Shen Shu froze, transported back to that terrifying night, when someone had dragged her into a room…

    “Xu Jinnan…?” she whispered, trying to stay calm.

    But Xu Jinnan didn’t seem to hear her, or notice her distress. Her arms were still wrapped around Shen Shu, pinning her against the suitcase.

    Shen Shu trembled uncontrollably.

    She felt unsafe.

    She wasn’t sure if Xu Jinnan was just drunk, or… something else…

    Xu Jinnan had said that person wouldn’t come back… but what if she had?

    Xu Jinnan’s arms tightened slightly around Shen Shu, her touch gentle, almost hesitant, as if afraid of hurting her.

    Then she spoke, her voice soft, almost like she was talking to herself.

    “Why not play with me? Are you scared?”

    She stopped moving, her chin resting on Shen Shu’s shoulder. She tossed the chain aside, then picked up a pair of toy handcuffs from the suitcase.

    Before Shen Shu could react, a click echoed as one of her hands was cuffed.

    Another click, and the other cuff was fastened to Xu Jinnan’s wrist.

    “If you don’t play with me, you can’t leave.”

    Her voice was suddenly childlike, laced with a petulant whine and a hint of… vulnerability.

    Shen Shu even detected a note of… pleading.

    There was no malice in her tone.

    The sharp fear in Shen Shu’s heart subsided. Then she felt Xu Jinnan’s arms loosen.

    The dampness of their skin, pressed together moments ago, was replaced by a welcome coolness.

    Xu Jinnan collapsed onto the carpet, pulling Shen Shu down with her.

    She saw Xu Jinnan curl up on the floor.

    “Shen Shu,” she murmured, her voice so low that Shen Shu wasn’t sure she’d heard her name.

    “What?”

    Xu Jinnan’s brow was furrowed, her body curled up, her light brown curls damp with sweat, clinging to her face and neck.

    “I don’t feel well.”

    Her mind was hazy, her body and emotions on the verge of collapse.

    She vaguely knew this was the precursor to a differentiation complication. Professor Qin had warned her that certain stimuli could trigger it.

    Was it the alcohol?

    In her current state, she couldn’t think clearly.

    She instinctively wanted to warn Shen Shu to leave, but the words wouldn’t come.

    Or perhaps she’d said them, but she couldn’t remember.

    Hearing Xu Jinnan’s slurred words and the way she’d said her name, the fear in Shen Shu’s heart gave way to… concern.

    She looked at the woman on the floor, a lump forming in her throat. For a moment, she’d thought… what if this was the old Xu Jinnan again…?

    A shiver ran down her spine. She couldn’t bear to think about it.

    Then came a wave of relief.

    She exhaled, her body covered in a cold sweat, her T-shirt clinging to her skin.

    Ignoring the discomfort, she searched the suitcase but couldn’t find the key to the handcuffs, or the suppressant Professor Qin had mentioned.

    She looked towards the closet.

    Xu Jinnan had so many bags; she seemed to carry a different one every time they met. Perhaps the suppressant was in another bag.

    She looked at the unconscious woman on the floor, then at the handcuffs binding them together.

    Her head was spinning. The closet was on the other side of the room. She pulled Xu Jinnan up, supporting her against her shoulder.

    Xu Jinnan’s temperature was rising. The moment she felt Shen Shu’s cool skin, she leaned in, pressing her face against her shoulder, her cheek resting on the damp fabric of Shen Shu’s T-shirt.

    Shen Shu stiffened.

    She felt Xu Jinnan’s cool nose against her skin and shrugged uncomfortably.

    “Shen Shu?”

    Shen Shu paused. “Are you awake?”

    “Am I heavy?”

    “…”

    “Yes.”

    If she could unlock the handcuffs, she would have already thrown her off.

    She was about to tell her to find the suppressant now that she was awake.

    “But I’m not getting up,” Xu Jinnan mumbled.

    “…Are you being difficult on purpose?” Shen Shu said, exasperated.

    Xu Jinnan’s behavior seemed consistent with intoxication, but she remembered her having a high tolerance for alcohol.

    She pushed aside the thought for now.

    She opened the closet. There were only a few outfits inside, all dresses.

    Shen Shu searched through the four handbags, finally finding a green container in the last one.

    It was labeled with a special symbol: AOH.

    And a line of small print: For restricted use only.

    It was a suppressant she hadn’t seen before. An injection.

    Shen Shu helped Xu Jinnan lie down on the floor, opened the container, and bent down, brushing Xu Jinnan’s long hair aside to expose the back of her neck.

    As she touched her skin, Xu Jinnan stirred restlessly, as if she didn’t want to be touched.

    But then she instinctively leaned into Shen Shu’s hand, nuzzling against it, her skin warm against Shen Shu’s cooler hand, which carried the faint scent of vanilla.

    Afraid she would move again, Shen Shu pressed her hand firmly against Xu Jinnan’s neck.

    As the needle went in, Xu Jinnan groaned. “…If I lose control, grab the knife.”

    “…”

    Shen Shu withdrew the needle, then paused. “You’re an Omega. What could you possibly do?”

    Xu Jinnan didn’t reply.

    As Shen Shu tried to help her up, she realized Xu Jinnan was clutching the hem of her shirt…

    She sat down on the floor, too tired to lift her onto the bed.


    Xu Jinnan couldn’t open her eyes. She knew she was dreaming, but she couldn’t wake up.

    It was a kindergarten.

    She was wearing a princess dress, her delicate features attracting a crowd of children, who complimented her and wanted to play with her.

    She had many friends.

    One of them, Xiao Shu, was her favorite.

    Xiao Shu always wore the long dresses she liked, but she rarely smiled. So, Xu Jinnan would try to amuse her, bringing her toys, wanting to give her everything she had.

    They became best friends.

    One rainy day, puddles formed on the kindergarten playground, the raindrops creating ripples like tiny flowers.

    After school, Xiao Shu was waiting for her parents at the gate. Xu Jinnan ran towards her, splashing through the puddles.

    “I’ll walk you home,” she offered, grinning.

    “Okay,” Xiao Shu replied, smiling back.

    Then Xiao Shu’s smile faltered, as if she’d seen something frightening.

    Xu Jinnan followed her gaze and looked down at her sleeve, soaked from the rain. Crimson blood seeped through the fabric, staining the white a pale pink.

    She pulled up her sleeve, revealing several cuts of varying lengths, glistening with rainwater. “It’s fine,” she said. “They’ll heal soon.”

    Xiao Shu didn’t let her walk her home that day.

    On a sunny day, after being home with a fever for two days, Xu Jinnan decided to give Xiao Shu a present. She had a feeling Xiao Shu was being distant.

    She found her by the slide in the playground.

    Xiao Shu was talking to a few other children.

    “The blood on her hands is scary. She’s like a ghost. I don’t want to talk to her anymore.”

    “Xu Jinnan is really scary…”


    “Xu Jinnan?”

    Xu Jinnan opened her eyes, meeting Shen Shu’s gaze. Her vision cleared, but her mind was still trapped in the dream.

    A heavy sadness settled over her, like a dark cloud.

    Those were real memories, belonging to the original Xu Jinnan. She could even feel her pain and anguish.

    Her voice was hoarse after a night of silence. “I think I understand now,” she said, remembering the last sentence on the back of the photo.

    ‘Want to play with me?’

    It was the original Xu Jinnan’s childhood obsession, a fixation on the betrayal of her kindergarten friend – the first sign of her troubled mind.

    Combined with the Xu family’s strange behavior…

    Perhaps the original Xu Jinnan’s cruelty wasn’t simply a result of being spoiled, or her failed differentiation. Perhaps it stemmed from… abuse, or even trauma…

    “Understand what?” Shen Shu asked.

    The curtains were drawn, but she could see the pale light of dawn through the gaps.

    Afraid Xu Jinnan would lose control again, she’d stayed awake for a while, then drifted off to sleep.

    She’d been woken up by a tug on her wrist.

    Seeing Xu Jinnan’s silence, she watched her for a few seconds.

    “Understand…” Xu Jinnan started, then, a thought striking her, looked down at her wrist. She moved suddenly, the sudden tug on the handcuffs pulling Shen Shu towards her before she could react to the pain.

    Shen Shu, caught off guard, fell against her.

    Their lips brushed against each other.

    A jolt went through Xu Jinnan.

    …Seriously? First thing in the morning?

    She quickly helped Shen Shu up.

    Xu Jinnan stared at her, forgetting what she’d been about to say. She looked down at the handcuffs. “What’s this?” she asked, puzzled.

    “?” Shen Shu replied, equally puzzled.

  • Captivating Beauty 24p3

    Chapter 24 p3

    Shen Shu quickly regained her balance, pulling away from Xia Chun. As she straightened up, she saw Xu Jinnan and the woman beside her.

    Song Ronghui had offered her a drink earlier. Shen Shu had seen her with Xu Jinnan before.

    Their eyes met.

    Xu Jinnan walked over, smiling casually. “You’re here too. I just came for dinner.”

    They hadn’t spoken in two days, but Xu Jinnan acted as if nothing had happened.

    She’s surprisingly good at this, Shen Shu thought, feeling a twinge of guilt.

    Before she could speak, the door to room 309 opened, and a slightly drunk man stumbled out.

    “Xia Chun, what are you doing out here? You can’t avoid us. Come have a drink!”

    “Coming,” Xia Chun replied. She turned to Shen Shu. “Is this your friend?”

    She knows who I am, Xu Jinnan thought.

    Shen Shu didn’t answer.

    The room was filled with people from the production crew. She would wait for Shen Shu’s response and then play along.

    She wouldn’t embarrass her.

    After a brief pause, Xia Chun said warmly, “Since you’re friends, why don’t you join us?”

    “She’s waiting for her friend,” Shen Shu replied.

    Xia Chun, noticing the beautiful woman standing a few meters away, nodded understandingly. “Ah, I see. Well, we’ll go in…”

    “It’s fine,” Xu Jinnan interrupted, picking at her teeth with her tongue. She hadn’t intended to intrude.

    But she’d changed her mind.


    Chen Bo, his arm around a flushed, dazed Omega, emerged from a room and saw Song Ronghui standing in the corridor, a thoughtful expression on her face.

    “What are you doing?” he asked, squeezing the Omega’s waist.

    Song Ronghui extinguished her cigarette. “Where are the other two?”

    “Still going at it. Damn, that Alpha Han Fu found is intense. Even better than me.”

    “Xu Jinnan asked me to tell you to be careful. Don’t want to catch anything.”

    “Huh?” Chen Bo scoffed. “Is she serious? She’s worse than me.”

    “Maybe, but she only uses her hands. How’s she going to catch anything? Unlike you…” Song Ronghui’s gaze lingered below his belt, a knowing smile playing on her lips.

    “What the hell are you talking about? Xu Jinnan? Doesn’t she… you know?” Chen Bo laughed. “Are you saying she can’t perform? Be careful, she might hear you.” He didn’t take it seriously. Everyone knew anyone who’d been with Xu Jinnan couldn’t walk for three days.

    Song Ronghui chuckled. “No, I didn’t say anything. I’m terrified of her.”

    “Hey, were you serious just now? Yin Xue told you, right? You’re close.”

    “I was joking,” Song Ronghui replied. “I haven’t tried it myself. How would I know?”

    Chen Bo deposited the Omega onto a chair and leaned closer to Song Ronghui. “How is Yin Xue lately?”

    Song Ronghui’s smile faded as she glanced towards room 309. “Miserable.”


    Someone at the table made space for Xu Jinnan to sit beside Shen Shu.

    Xia Chun was on Shen Shu’s other side.

    One was a friend, the other a respected senior. Logically, there shouldn’t be any tension. But the three of them sitting together created a strange, almost confrontational atmosphere.

    Especially with their striking beauty.

    All eyes were on them.

    “Shu-jie, you’ve only had one sip,” Ren Xiaoqi said. “You need to show Director Zhang some respect. It’s his farewell dinner.”

    Director Zhang was the casting director. He was the one who’d given Shen Shu this opportunity. He was leaving for personal reasons, and Xia Chun had organized this dinner for him.

    Director Zhang tried to smooth things over, reminding them they had filming the next day.

    “Don’t worry, Director Zhang, it’s just a few drinks. We’ll be fine tomorrow,” Ren Xiaoqi said, raising her glass to Shen Shu. “Shu-jie, to you.”

    Xu Jinnan smelled the alcohol on Shen Shu. She’d thought Shen Shu didn’t drink, so hearing she’d had “a few drinks” surprised her.

    No wonder her face was flushed.

    “She can’t handle alcohol,” Xu Jinnan said, looking at Ren Xiaoqi and smiling faintly. “I’ll drink with you.”

    Ren Xiaoqi hesitated.

    It was clear Xu Jinnan was trying to protect Shen Shu, but she couldn’t find it in herself to be offended.

    Xu Jinnan’s smile softened her sharp features, her dark brown eyes creating an illusion of warmth and affection.

    Ren Xiaoqi’s face flushed slightly. “Sure.”

    Xu Jinnan downed her drink in one gulp.

    Shen Shu glanced at the empty glass in Xu Jinnan’s hand and murmured, “You don’t have to do that.”

    They were close, and Xu Jinnan’s gaze lingered on her pink earlobes. “Can’t even protect you from a drink?” she said softly.

    Shen Shu: “…?”

    “Miss Xu,” Ren Xiaoqi said, “you and Shu-jie seem close.”

    Xu Jinnan looked at Shen Shu. “Do we?”

    She thought they were… acquaintances, at best.

    Shen Shu met her gaze. Xu Jinnan’s tone hadn’t been directed at Ren Xiaoqi; she’d been asking Shen Shu.

    “Since you’re Shen Shu’s friend, I should toast you as well,” Xia Chun said, placing her glass on the table and smiling at Xu Jinnan.

    Xu Jinnan: “And you are…?”

    Xia Chun: “…”

    Someone finally remembered that they’d only introduced themselves by name, but Xia Chun was a famous actress, a household name. How could anyone not know her?

    Ren Xiaoqi filled Xu Jinnan in.

    Watching Xu Jinnan’s feigned surprise, Shen Shu thought, She should be the one acting.

    “I’m just a newcomer. You don’t have to be so polite, Xia Chun,” she said.

    “We had a pleasant collaboration. I just wanted to toast your friend. Unless… Miss Xu can’t handle another drink?”

    Xu Jinnan smiled faintly. This woman was interesting. As far as she knew, Xia Chun and Shen Shu had just met, and yet, she seemed to know who Xu Jinnan was, her tone laced with a subtle hostility.

    “How about we switch to baijiu?” Xu Jinnan suggested.

    Xia Chun could hold her liquor.

    As for Xu Jinnan, Shen Shu wasn’t worried.

    She’d seen Xu Jinnan drink before. Back then, when Xu Jinnan had been threatening her family, Shen Shu had found her in a private room, downing a bottle of Remy Martin.

    Multiple personalities or not, her alcohol tolerance wouldn’t change.

    It wasn’t a serious drinking contest; they only had two glasses of baijiu.

    But Shen Shu kept glancing at Xu Jinnan, who seemed unwell.

    Half an hour later, the dinner ended.

    As they were leaving, Ren Xiaoqi asked Xu Jinnan, “Where are you staying? Need a ride?”

    Xu Jinnan smiled and waved her hand dismissively.

    Soon, only Xu Jinnan and Shen Shu remained in the room.

    “Are you alright?” Shen Shu asked.

    “Mm,” Xu Jinnan replied, her head suddenly hitting the table with a thud.

    “…” Shen Shu sighed. “Come on, let’s go.”

    She waited a few seconds, but Xu Jinnan didn’t move. She tapped her on the shoulder. Xu Jinnan was clearly intoxicated.

    “Can you walk?” Shen Shu asked.

    Xu Jinnan mumbled something about being hot.

    Shen Shu glanced at her watch and went to get a wet towel for her.

    As she opened the door, Xu Jinnan stumbled into her, pinning her against the wall.

    She called out Xu Jinnan’s name, but Xu Jinnan wrapped her arms around her waist, pulling her closer and burying her face in her neck.

    Shen Shu froze, the warmth of Xu Jinnan’s body against hers sending a jolt through her.

    Xu Jinnan murmured something, her hot breath against Shen Shu’s neck.

    A shiver ran down Shen Shu’s spine.

    “I can’t walk,” Xu Jinnan mumbled.

    Shen Shu: “…”

    Just then, the door opened, and Xia Chun froze, her eyes widening. “…You…”

    Shen Shu, flustered, didn’t push Xu Jinnan away. “Behave yourself,” she muttered, turning to support her.

    As if sensing her disapproval, Xu Jinnan quieted down.

    Xia Chun, completely ignored, stood there, her face pale, her nails digging into her palms, her eyes filled with shock and confusion.

    Xu Jinnan was taller than Shen Shu, making it difficult to support her, especially in her current state.

    Shen Shu hadn’t realized how drunk she was until they were in the car, Xu Jinnan practically unconscious, her head resting on Shen Shu’s lap. Her light blue dress, which reached her knees, had ridden up slightly as she moved.

    “Xingcheng International,” Shen Shu told the driver.

    Xu Jinnan suddenly slapped her leg. “I’m not going there.”

    Shen Shu: …I should just leave you here.

    Xu Jinnan’s hand had moved instinctively.

    But Shen Shu was wearing a short skirt. She grabbed Xu Jinnan’s hand and pulled it away. Xu Jinnan reached for her hand again, this time holding on tight.

    As if seeking comfort.

    Shen Shu looked down. Without her usual arrogance, Xu Jinnan seemed almost… vulnerable.

    But Shen Shu didn’t relax. Xu Jinnan’s face was pressed against her knee, her skin damp with sweat.

    She’d had a few drinks herself, not enough to be drunk, but enough to make her head spin.

    Perhaps that was why she didn’t push Xu Jinnan away.

    She wasn’t sure about Xu Jinnan’s condition. The walls in her apartment were thin; she didn’t want to disturb her neighbors.

    She gave the driver the name of Xu Jinnan’s hotel.

    At the hotel, the manager personally escorted them to the room, helping Shen Shu get Xu Jinnan onto the bed.

    As he was leaving, he couldn’t help but glance at Xu Jinnan.

    She was completely unconscious, her dress bunched up around her hips, the thin straps slipping off her shoulders, her pale skin flushed an unnatural red.

    “Hot…” she murmured, pulling at her dress.

    Shen Shu stepped forward, blocking the manager’s view, and closed the door.

    She turned back to Xu Jinnan, whose dress, already made of silk, was now practically falling off.

    Shen Shu’s heart skipped a beat. She exhaled, grabbing Xu Jinnan’s phone to call Professor Qin.

    Something wasn’t right. From her previous hospital stays, it was clear Xu Jinnan’s health was fragile.

    This didn’t seem like a simple fever or intoxication.

    Just in case, it was best to call Professor Qin.

    Seeing the fingerprint lock, Shen Shu reached for Xu Jinnan’s hand, but it was awkward. She was about to move when Xu Jinnan grabbed her wrist, pulling her down onto the bed and rolling on top of her.

    Their positions were reversed.

    Xu Jinnan was strong, as Shen Shu knew from experience.

    But she was even stronger when she wasn’t in her right mind. The difference in strength was overwhelming; Shen Shu couldn’t move.

    “Xu Jinnan, snap out of it,” she said, her voice remarkably calm.

    For some reason, she wasn’t as afraid as she’d been before. She seemed to instinctively know that Xu Jinnan wouldn’t hurt her.

    And in truth, Xu Jinnan had been protecting her all along.

    Xu Jinnan’s mind was hazy, her body alternating between hot and cold, waves of sweat drenching her skin.

    She looked down at the person beneath her, sensing a coolness emanating from them. Her breathing became erratic, a tingling sensation spreading through her body…

    Her eyes were clouded with desire.

    Shen Shu, feeling Xu Jinnan’s face inching closer, pressed her hand against her collarbone. “Xu Jinnan!”

    Xu Jinnan didn’t seem to hear her. Just as her lips were about to touch Shen Shu’s skin, she suddenly pulled back, as if losing interest, then reached up and gently cupped Shen Shu’s neck.

    Her touch was light, almost hesitant, yet it felt like she could snap Shen Shu’s neck at any moment.

    But her touch was also… gentle, almost reverent…

    Shen Shu’s heart pounded, her hands trembling.

    She couldn’t control the tremors, whether from the alcohol or Xu Jinnan’s sudden change in demeanor, her usual aloofness replaced by something… raw and intense.

    “Xu Jinnan, that’s enough!”

    Xu Jinnan stopped.

    Shen Shu, thinking she’d regained her senses, parted her lips to speak, but Xu Jinnan murmured, “Beautiful.”

    Shen Shu realized she was talking about her neck, and her face flushed.

    Then Xu Jinnan’s finger traced a path down her neck, and Shen Shu’s eyes widened.

    Reacting instinctively, she pushed Xu Jinnan away. Xu Jinnan collapsed onto the bed, licked her lips, and closed her eyes.

    She seemed to be asleep, but her breathing was heavier now, almost labored.

    Shen Shu, her own breath coming in ragged gasps, quickly unlocked Xu Jinnan’s phone and called Professor Qin.

    After a moment, Professor Qin’s sleepy voice answered.

    After hearing the situation, he paused, then said, “I gave her two suppressants the other day. They’re in a green container. Miss Shen, if you can’t find them, or if her condition doesn’t improve after she takes them, call me immediately.”

    “She’s not in heat. What’s wrong with her?” Shen Shu asked, testing the waters.

    Professor Qin hesitated. “It might be… the alcohol. Miss Shen, why don’t you look for the suppressants first?”

    Shen Shu knew he was being evasive, but she didn’t press further.

    She couldn’t find the suppressants in Xu Jinnan’s bag. She searched the bedroom, her gaze finally settling on the suitcase.

    She crouched down and opened it, then froze.

    The suitcase was filled with revealing clothes, costumes for various… role-playing scenarios. And on top, a collection of… toys.

    She recoiled instinctively, then felt a burning warmth against her back, a soft touch.

    Shen Shu stiffened. Xu Jinnan had somehow appeared behind her, silently.

    After what had just happened, Shen Shu was wary. She sensed Xu Jinnan reaching for her.

    She tried to dodge, but two arms wrapped around her, pinning her in place. Xu Jinnan reached into the suitcase, her pale fingers lifting a thin chain.

    She held it against Shen Shu’s cheek, her voice low and husky, a hint of amusement in her tone.

    “Darling Omega, want to play?”

  • Captivating Beauty 24p2

    Chapter 24 p2

    Perhaps because of the incident upstairs, Xu Jinnan felt unwell.

    At the dinner table, Xu Tao asked about her recent investments. “You’ve been doing well. Who’s advising you?”

    The food was tasteless.

    “I came up with the ideas myself,” she replied.

    Xu Tao clearly didn’t believe her. In all these years, she’d never shown any interest in business, only in causing trouble. It was that Shen woman who had a good business sense.

    “Fine, whether it was your idea or that Shen woman’s, I don’t care. Just remember, no matter how much you dote on your wife, don’t lose your sense of propriety.” He continued, “And that acting nonsense? Put a stop to it.”

    “I can’t do that,” Xu Jinnan said firmly.

    Xu Tao frowned. “What did you say?”

    “Shen Shu’s acting career isn’t harming anyone.”

    “Not harming anyone?!” Xu Tao exploded, slamming his chopsticks down. “Her photos online are all over the news! Look at her image! She looks like a prostitute!”

    Xu Jinnan put down her chopsticks, her eyes turning cold. “Watch your language.”

    It was probably the first time Xu Jinnan had ever talked back to him. After a moment of stunned silence, his anger erupted.

    “You’ve grown some nerve! How dare you speak to me like that!”

    “You shouldn’t insult my wife.”

    “Can we drop the loving wife act?” Xu Li said, taking a sip of milk. “Dad’s right. Her image is damaging the Xu family’s reputation.”

    Xu Jinnan’s voice turned icy. “Your reputation isn’t exactly spotless either.”

    “Not as bad as yours.”

    “Enough!” Lu Yun snapped.

    “There’s a solution… little sister can get a divorce,” Xu Li said with a smirk. “That should be easy for her, right?”

    Xu Li was deliberately provoking her. She knew Xu Jinnan wouldn’t divorce Shen Shu, but she wanted to create conflict between her and their father.

    Xu Jinnan narrowed her eyes. This woman was truly manipulative.

    As if oblivious, Xu Li continued to fan the flames. “Why are you glaring at me? You’ve only been married for a few days. What’s with the sudden devotion?”

    “You shut up!” Lu Yun gripped Xu Jinnan’s hand, afraid she would lose control. In her eyes, Xu Jinnan was mentally unstable and couldn’t handle stress.

    “Xu Tao! Control your daughter!”

    “You control her! She’s throwing away the Xu family’s reputation for a woman!”

    “Reputation? Look at yourself! Do you even have one?”

    At that moment, Xu Jinnan glanced at Xu Tao, seeing a flash of something dark and frightening in his eyes.

    She couldn’t stay here another second. She gave Xu Li, who had effortlessly escalated the situation, a cold look, their eyes meeting briefly.

    Then she turned and walked away.

    The sound of her parents arguing followed her. At the door, Lu Yun caught up to her, her voice pleading. “Nannan!”

    “I need some time alone,” Xu Jinnan said, pulling her hand away.

    “Don’t send anyone to Qucheng again. Stop investigating,” Lu Yun said.

    Xu Jinnan turned around sharply.

    “You were the one who stopped him from seeing me?”

    “Yes, I paid him to leave North City.”

    “Please, Nannan, don’t investigate any further.”

    A chill ran down Xu Jinnan’s spine.


    If it weren’t for inheriting the original Xu Jinnan’s body, she wouldn’t have bothered investigating. But everything pointed to… danger.

    The words on the photo.

    The locked box.

    Lu Yun’s desperation to stop her from investigating Qucheng.

    Every time she thought about it, a sense of unease settled over her, like a lurking beast.

    She couldn’t rest until she knew the truth.

    Xu Jinnan rubbed her temples.

    “Miss, you didn’t sleep well last night. Why don’t you go to Miss Shen’s and rest?” Zhou Pei suggested.

    Xu Jinnan glanced at her. Zhou Pei knew they were living separately. Secrets couldn’t be kept forever; eventually, everyone would know their marriage was a sham.

    And after today’s incident, it was clear the Xu family was a toxic environment.

    Perhaps far worse than the Shen family. She wondered if a divorce might be the best thing for Shen Shu after all.

    “Back to the hotel,” she said.

    Instead of taking the private elevator, Xu Jinnan sat down in the hotel lobby, attributing her behavior to a rebellious impulse.

    She didn’t understand what was happening to her.

    Perhaps the events at the Xu family home had shaken her more than she’d realized.

    “Miss, your luggage has been delivered to your room.”

    It was the things Lu Yun had packed for her.

    “You can go home now,” Xu Jinnan told Zhou Pei.

    “You don’t look well. Should I call a doctor?”

    “I’m fine. I’ll call if I need anything.” She’d been feeling unwell since leaving the Xu residence, waves of cold sweat washing over her, like a fever. But Professor Qin had said chills could also be an early symptom of differentiation complications.

    “I’ll be up in a bit. You can go,” she repeated.

    After Zhou Pei left, Xu Jinnan sat in the lobby, idly scrolling through Weibo. Shen Shu wasn’t trending anymore. A suggested follow appeared at the top of her feed: Newcomer Shen Shu.

    She clicked on it. The profile picture was the same as her WeChat profile – a black X against a white background. There were no posts.

    Xu Jinnan followed her, the account automatically added to her entertainment list.

    A WeChat notification popped up.

    It was a group message.

    Han Fu: [@Xu Jinnan Coming?]

    A location tag and a photo followed.

    She’d intended to change her number, but dealing with the original Xu Jinnan’s messy contacts seemed more trouble than it was worth. She’d deleted all the random contacts and group chats.

    They’d just added her back.

    Xu Jinnan opened the photo. A large round table, filled with people. Shen Shu was in the bottom right corner, wearing a simple beige T-shirt, but Xu Jinnan spotted her instantly.

    A short-haired woman with a beautiful, gentle face sat beside her.

    Another dinner?

    Did this film crew ever actually film anything?

    Xu Jinnan scrolled through the chat history.

    Han Fu: [Chen Bo had the waiter take this photo. If you don’t come, he’s going to make a move.]

    Han Fu: [You know he’s obsessed with Shen Shu, can’t resist a top-tier Omega.]

    Chen Bo: [Fuck off, I’m not! And what about Song Ronghui offering her a drink?]

    Xu Jinnan frowned.

    Song Ronghui: [@Xu Jinnan Don’t worry, it was just a drink, nothing inappropriate.]

    Chen Bo: [I can vouch for that. Don’t hit anyone, Nan-jie.]

    Song Ronghui: [@Chen Bo We’re still in the same room! Can you be a little more discreet? Your Omega’s moans are a bit loud.]

    Chen Bo: [Come join us.]

    Han Fu: [There he goes again.]

    Xu Jinnan didn’t bother reading the rest.

    Even though Yin Xue had been the one using Chen Bo’s phone last time, none of these people were decent. They had no boundaries when they were together.

    Song Ronghui: [Coming?]

    Xu Jinnan stood up.

    If she didn’t go, Chen Bo and the others would assume she’d lost interest in Shen Shu and would act even more recklessly.

    She couldn’t risk them targeting Shen Shu again.


    At the restaurant, she saw a familiar face at the entrance.

    Song Ronghui.

    After their encounter at the cafe, Xu Jinnan had checked Song Ronghui’s Moments to be sure she would recognize her. She seemed the most normal of the bunch, her posts relatively tame.

    Unlike Chen Bo and Han Fu, whose Moments were filled with explicit content.

    The level of debauchery would be considered criminal in her original world.

    “I wondered if you would come,” Song Ronghui said. “Didn’t think you actually would.”

    Xu Jinnan glanced around. “Where are the others?”

    Song Ronghui offered her a cigarette. Xu Jinnan didn’t take it, so she lit it herself. “Still at it. Room 301. You can still join them.”

    Xu Jinnan: “…”

    She felt a wave of disgust, especially being in a restaurant.

    “Aren’t you afraid of catching something?”

    “Afraid of what?” Song Ronghui exhaled a plume of smoke. “Didn’t you say, if we get sick, we’ll die together, and if we don’t, we’ll play together?”

    “…”

    They were all insane.

    Xu Jinnan didn’t waste any more time with her. Perhaps sensing her impatience, Song Ronghui said, “Your little wife is in 309. You’re welcome.”

    Xu Jinnan brushed past her.

    “Nannan, do you really not miss Yin Xue anymore?” Song Ronghui asked casually, as if it had just occurred to her.

    Xu Jinnan’s attention was elsewhere. She saw two figures walking down the corridor. Shen Shu stumbled slightly on the carpet, and the woman walking behind her immediately put her arm around her shoulder.

    Xu Jinnan felt a strange surge of… possessiveness.

    Song Ronghui walked over and put her arm around Xu Jinnan’s shoulder. “Why don’t you dye your hair green?”

    “…”

    Song Ronghui chuckled.