Category: Captivating Beauty

Chapter 58

“Who said I don’t care?” Xu Jinnan whispered, her warm breath brushing against Shen Shu’s cheek, sending shivers down her spine.

Shen Shu instinctively raised her hand to shield herself, her arm bumping against Xu Jinnan’s chest.

It was a light touch, barely a graze.

If Xu Jinnan had to describe the sensation, the only word that came to mind was “coquettish,” though that was clearly not Shen Shu’s intention.

Xu Jinnan was well-endowed, her figure particularly striking in low-cut dresses.

Shen Shu had experienced it firsthand…

The moment her arm brushed against Xu Jinnan’s chest, Xu Jinnan let out a soft moan.

Shen Shu’s breath hitched, her earlobes flushing a delicate pink, like ripe summer fruit, tempting and inviting.

Xu Jinnan’s gaze lingered on her ear, her lips slightly dry. She swallowed, her voice husky as she whispered, “Shu Shu.”

She needed a response, a sign, a flicker of emotion from Shen Shu to guide her next move.

Sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, illuminating Xu Jinnan’s figure against the door. Shen Shu took a deep breath, then slowly turned around, meeting Xu Jinnan’s gaze. “Care about what?” she asked.

As she turned, the distance between them closed, her nose brushing against Xu Jinnan’s smooth chin, the faint scent of powder and the warm, sunny fragrance of her pheromones filling the air.

Their breaths mingled, and Shen Shu’s fingers tightened slightly.

Xu Jinnan looked down at her, her gaze lingering on Shen Shu’s slightly parted lips, the color of the lipstick now a soft, inviting red, smudged from their earlier contact.

She could almost feel the warmth of Shen Shu’s lips against her own.

Her fingertips tingled.

Just then, a soft knock came at the door, and Zhou Pei’s hesitant voice called out, “CEO Xu, Mr. Qin from Meilai Jewelry is here.”

Xu Jinnan looked at Shen Shu, then called out, “I’ll be there in a moment. Please have him wait.”

Shen Shu lowered her gaze, breaking eye contact, then turned towards the window. A moment later, as if making a decision, she reached for the doorknob.

Her wrist was caught in a firm grip.

Xu Jinnan held her wrist, locking the door, then led her towards the desk by the window.

The sun hadn’t reached that part of the room yet, and Xu Jinnan placed her hands on Shen Shu’s shoulders, gently guiding her into the chair, then leaned against the edge of the desk, her body angled towards Shen Shu.

They stood in the shadows, the sunlight a few feet away, like a dividing line between two worlds.

“Shu Shu,” Xu Jinnan said, her voice serious, “can you tell me why you thought I was involved with Tan Jie?”

The uneaten steak lunch still sat on the desk.

Shen Shu’s gaze shifted from the food to Xu Jinnan’s eyes. “Do you really not know, or are you pretending?”

“I really don’t know,” Xu Jinnan replied.

Shen Shu paused, then said calmly, “Tan Jie sent me a steak lunch too.”

“…” “I thought you sent it,” Xu Jinnan said.

Shen Shu: “…”

A brief silence filled the office, then Xu Jinnan chuckled softly. “So, that’s cleared up then? Let’s talk about something else.”

“Shu Shu,” she said, her voice serious.

Shen Shu looked up, her beautiful features as cool and composed as ever, but a flicker of something in her eyes betrayed her emotions.

“I thought I had misunderstood, but now, I don’t think it was a misunderstanding,” Xu Jinnan said, then, feeling the distance between them, pushed herself away from the desk and leaned against the armrest of Shen Shu’s chair, closing the gap between them slightly.

“I said the wrong thing earlier, or rather, I expressed myself poorly…” she continued, her voice low.

Shen Shu remained silent, waiting.

“I do care,” Xu Jinnan said, then, after a brief pause, added, “You might not know this, but you’re special to me.”

At least, in this life, no one had ever made her feel this way.

While the feeling was still undefined, a seed just beginning to sprout, Shen Shu was special, undeniably so.

Shen Shu had been watching her intently, her expression finally softening at those words.

“Xu Jinnan, do you even understand what that means?”

Xu Jinnan: “…”

“I do,” she replied, meeting Shen Shu’s gaze. “I understand why you’re angry, and I understand what I’m saying.”

A long silence followed.

“Shu Shu,” Xu Jinnan said softly, “let’s not rush this. Let’s take things slow, okay?”

Making this decision had been difficult. Before, she had been unsure of Shen Shu’s feelings, and her own feelings had been unclear. And there was also a lingering fear.

It wasn’t just the fear of the Xu family’s secrets, or the fear of suddenly disappearing from this world, like she had arrived.

It was the fear of not being good enough… she had her flaws.

Perhaps, if they truly explored this connection, if Shen Shu truly got to know her, she would be disappointed.

But despite her fears, she had still said those words.

Even though she knew it was selfish, even though she knew it was a risk for both of them, she had still said them.

The tension in Shen Shu’s heart eased, a sense of relief washing over her, like a flower finally blooming after a long winter.

Neither of them pressed for further explanations or definitions.

A subtle shift had occurred, a silent understanding passing between them.

They both knew things would be different now.

—

Xu Jinnan personally drove Shen Shu to the studio, the privacy divider still up from their earlier conversation.

“You should finish your lunch,” Shen Shu said, glancing at the uneaten steak on Xu Jinnan’s desk.

“Can I even eat after that?” Xu Jinnan asked, a playful smile on her lips as she opened the car door for Shen Shu. “I was already full, but I thought you sent it, so I forced myself to eat it.”

“…” Shen Shu bit her lip. “I’ll go then.”

“Okay,” Xu Jinnan replied, nodding.

—

“Did you two have a fight? Is that why you came here alone?” Tong Jia asked anxiously as soon as Shen Shu arrived.

She had been worried. The atmosphere between Xu Jinnan and Shen Shu had been strange these past few days.

Shen Shu had even been replying to her messages privately, not in the group chat.

While Shen Shu’s demeanor seemed normal, she had been unusually quiet, her focus solely on her script, the pages already dog-eared from constant rereading.

“No, why would we fight?” Shen Shu asked, sitting down.

Tong Jia: “?”

Shen Shu’s voice was calm, but the slight upward inflection at the end…

And the faint smile playing on her lips…

“You two made up?” Tong Jia asked, her eyes narrowing slightly.

“We didn’t have a fight,” Shen Shu repeated.

“Really? The way you stormed out of the office earlier scared me.”

“…”

“Are you sure you didn’t fight?”

“No,” Shen Shu said firmly. “What’s the address of the restaurant?”

“What are you doing?”

“Just send it to me.”

Tong Jia sent her the address, assuming Shen Shu was ordering takeout, and didn’t think much of it.

After scrolling through her phone for a while, she suddenly leaned closer to Shen Shu. “You two made up so quickly… did you… do it?”

“…” “No,” Shen Shu replied.

Tong Jia, as if she hadn’t heard, tapped her chin thoughtfully. “That’s not right. You were only gone for ten minutes… CEO Xu isn’t that fast, is she?”

Shen Shu: “…”

She didn’t even look up. “If you’re that bored, why don’t you go for a run?”

Tong Jia, seeing her flustered expression, chuckled. “Okay, okay, I’ll stop teasing you.”

Before going to chat with the director, Shen Shu put down her phone and picked up her script.

“Still reading that?” Tong Jia teased. “You’ve practically memorized it backwards. What’s the point?”

After she left, Shen Shu stared at the script, the words already ingrained in her memory.

It was just an excuse to avoid interacting with the others.

Her thoughts drifted to Xu Jinnan’s spacious office, the sunlight streaming through the floor-to-ceiling windows.

Let’s take things slow, okay?

Her expression softened, a faint smile playing on her lips, the gloom of the past few days lifting.

She had actually calmed down before even reaching Xu Jinnan’s office.

Knowing Xu Jinnan, she wouldn’t have accepted the lunch box if she had known it was from Tan Jie.

But in that moment, she hadn’t been thinking clearly.

Seeing the lunch box had triggered a surge of irrational anger, a desire to confront Xu Jinnan, to put an end to her confused and conflicting emotions.

But seeing Xu Jinnan’s worried expression and hearing her concerned tone, “What’s wrong? Did someone bully you?”, her anger had dissipated, replaced by something else.

Her harsh words had been partly true, partly a deliberate provocation.

While 95% of her had wanted to end things with Xu Jinnan, the remaining 5% had hoped for a different outcome.

And Xu Jinnan had made that 5% win.

Was she happy? Yes, she was.

At that moment, she felt like she had won too.

—

After seeing the Meilai Jewelry representatives off, Xu Jinnan rubbed her lower back and glanced at the film crew’s office area across the hall. She didn’t see Shen Shu, so she messaged Tong Jia, asking when Shen Shu would be done.

Just as she was about to return to her office, Xinxin called out to her.

She ran over from the elevator, handing Xu Jinnan a paper bag. “Shu Shu bought you afternoon tea!” she said, her voice full of playful innuendo.

Xu Jinnan took the bag, smiling. “Really?”

“Huh?”

A few minutes later, Zhou Pei, Viola, and the two assistants arrived at the film crew’s office with afternoon tea.

To avoid disrupting the filming, they waited for a break before setting up the food and drinks.

“Thank you, CEO Xu,” Director Zhang said, accepting a cup of black tea from Zhou Pei. “And thank you for the discount on the space, and the food and drinks.”

The assistant director chuckled. “Having a wife on set makes a difference. Thank you for your generosity, CEO Xu.” Everyone smiled at Shen Shu.

“Thank you for your hard work, Director, and everyone,” Shen Shu replied politely.

“Miss Tan, I apologize for my earlier misunderstanding. I thought you sent that lunch box to CEO Xu. But she said it was delicious. Thank you for your kindness. These pastries are for you,” Viola said, her voice loud enough for everyone around Tan Jie to hear.

They all looked at Tan Jie.

Tan Jie, flustered by the public apology, quickly recovered, forcing a smile. “You’re welcome. CEO Xu provided us with such a wonderful space, and free access to the pantry. Consider this a small token of my appreciation.” Her assistant took the pastries from Viola.

After Viola left, Tan Jie looked inside the bag – green tea pastries.

Her face stiffened, but she maintained her composure, her fingernails digging into her palm.

Viola then handed a separate bag to Shen Shu – grape juice.

“Shu Shu, can you ask CEO Xu to give me the same special treatment next time? Maybe some plum juice?” Tong Jia asked, nudging the grape juice with her elbow.

Shen Shu, knowing she was being teased, glanced at her but didn’t reply, simply taking a sip of the juice.

It was refreshing, sweet and slightly tart.

“You’re so heartless,” Tong Jia muttered, turning away.

Just then, a slender hand appeared in front of her, holding a bottle of plum juice. She looked up to see Viola smiling at her.

“We have some in the office fridge,” Viola said.

Tong Jia took the bottle, giving her a thumbs-up. “Thanks, sis!”

Viola paused. “Miss Tong, if you don’t mind me asking, how old are you?”

Tong Jia also paused. “Me? 27.”

Viola smiled. “Miss Tong, I’m 29.”

Tong Jia: “…?”

She watched as Viola walked away, then, opening the bottle of plum juice, went over to Shen Shu. “Your CEO Xu’s secretary is interesting. 29? She doesn’t look a day over 25.”

“You two are already on a first-name basis?” Shen Shu asked. She hadn’t heard their conversation.

Tong Jia recounted their exchange, then realized, “I just called her ‘sis,’ and she’s already correcting me? Is she saying I shouldn’t call her ‘sis’ because she’s older than me?”

Shen Shu chuckled softly. “Maybe you should tone down the casual flirting.”

Tong Jia shrugged. “29, huh? How old is Xu Jinnan again?”

Shen Shu took another sip of grape juice. “26.”

“Oh, she’s younger than you! A younger woman! Impressive,” Tong Jia commented, sitting down beside Shen Shu.

Energetic younger Xu Jinnan vs. elegant older Shen Shu.

She instinctively wanted to make a suggestive comment, then stopped, a shadow crossing her face.

She suddenly felt a pang of sadness.

Shen Shu, sensing her sudden silence, handed her the script. “Help me with my lines,” she said.

—

It was past 7 p.m.

Xu Jinnan, leaving the office after working late, rubbed her aching back and noticed the lights were still on in the film crew’s office area across the hall, but the filming was taking place further inside, so she didn’t see Shen Shu.

She sent Shen Shu a message, then sat down in the waiting area.

As she scrolled through Weibo, she saw a comment on one of her reposts calling her a “fan icon.” She considered it. It wasn’t entirely inaccurate.

If those fans knew she not only followed Shen Shu and interacted with her online, but also lived with her, they would probably lose their minds.

She chuckled, opening the “NanShu” CP super topic.

The giveaway post was still pinned at the top, and she noticed that “WhoDaresBreakUpMyCP” had increased the prize amount from 50,000 to 60,000 yuan per winner.

She clicked on the comments, surprised.

Is the Sheng Xia CP threatened? Seriously? A bidding war for CP dominance? They’re matching our prize amount now?

They’re copying us! Initially, they only had three winners, then they increased it to ten, like us. And as soon as we increased the prize to 60,000, they did the same… Interesting.

I hope they keep escalating! More giveaways! I want to win!

If this isn’t the real Xu Jinnan behind this, then that user is crazy.

At least we’re shipping the real couple. What are they even shipping? This is infuriating!

@WhoDaresBreakUpMyCP Just let it go. We don’t need to compete with them.

Xu Jinnan paused, then opened the “Sheng Xia” CP super topic, confirming that the giveaway details – the prize amount and the number of winners – were identical to the one in the “NanShu” super topic.

It was clearly a competition.

She also noticed that the “Sheng Xia” super topic now had over eight thousand followers…

Is this a CP war? she wondered, touching her forehead.

She returned to her messages and saw a private message from ShuShu’sNumberOneFan.

ShuShu’sNumberOneFan: [Boss Lady!! That guy in our CP super topic is amazing! He increased the prize again, to 700,000 yuan per month! Is this how rich people casually spend their money? Crying emoji]

Xu Jinnan decided to ignore the super topic drama, knowing this fan would keep her updated anyway.

As expected, a few minutes later:

ShuShu’sNumberOneFan: [Holy shit! The Sheng Xia super topic just increased their prize too… This is going to trend! It’s already climbing the ranks!]

If this continued, it would get out of hand.

She sent Tong Jia screenshots of the two super topics, asking how she wanted to handle it.

Just as she returned to Weibo, several new messages from ShuShu’sNumberOneFan popped up.

ShuShu’sNumberOneFan: [This is insane!]

ShuShu’sNumberOneFan: [He increased it to 200,000 yuan per winner! Two million per month! This isn’t just a flex; it’s a diamond explosion!]

ShuShu’sNumberOneFan: [Hahaha, they gave up!]

Xu Jinnan: “…” This is a true fan.

She was strangely touched.

She sent a private message to WhoDaresBreakUpMyCP.

Bro, judging by your ID, let me know if you need backup.

Just then, she heard the clicking of high heels approaching.

She looked up to see Shen Shu, still in her business attire from the shoot, without her glasses, her aloof demeanor unchanged.

Xu Jinnan’s gaze lingered on her legs.

There was a small run in her black stockings, a few threads unraveling, revealing a sliver of pale skin beneath the torn fabric.

The contrast between black and white was striking.

Imperfection, in a way, was alluring.

A human flaw, or perhaps an Alpha flaw, or perhaps just her own.

She pushed the thought aside, standing up and rubbing her lower back. “Done with work?”

“Yes, let’s go home,” Shen Shu replied.

“Okay, I’ll get the car keys,” Xu Jinnan said, glancing at the other crew members leaving the office. She turned back to Shen Shu. “Your stockings are torn. Do you want to change before we leave?”

“I snagged them on something,” Shen Shu said. “I’ll change when we get home.”

Seeing her weariness, Xu Jinnan grabbed her keys and they left.

As they got out of the car, Xu Jinnan instinctively rubbed her lower back again.

Shen Shu glanced at her slim waist, accentuated by her high-waisted dress.

“Are you feeling unwell?” she asked.

Xu Jinnan turned to her. “I’ve been sitting in meetings all day. My back is a little stiff,” she explained.

Shen Shu opened the apartment door, changing her shoes. “You should take better care of yourself,” she said.

Xu Jinnan looked at her, her gaze lingering on Shen Shu’s bowed head. “I should,” she replied, a hint of amusement in her voice.

Shen Shu, realizing the double entendre, paused, then didn’t bother correcting her.

Xu Jinnan’s throat tightened at her silence.

She told Shen Shu to take a shower first, then lay down on the sofa, her lower back aching. It wasn’t a sharp pain, just a dull, persistent ache.

The sound of the shower running filled the apartment, and Xu Jinnan turned on the TV, the movie channel drowning out the noise.

When Shen Shu emerged from the bathroom, Xu Jinnan handed her a two-piece silk pajama set.

She didn’t usually wear matching sets, finding them cumbersome, but the nights were getting colder.

After a quick shower, Xu Jinnan stood in front of the bathroom mirror, running her fingers through her damp hair, then, as she was about to leave, noticed the discarded stockings in the trash can.

—

She sat down on the sofa, shifting uncomfortably.

“Is it that bad?” Shen Shu asked.

“It’s a little uncomfortable,” Xu Jinnan admitted. “I think I need a massage.” She reached behind her, trying to massage the aching spot.

Shen Shu looked at her for a moment. “Lie down,” she said.

“Huh?”

Xu Jinnan paused. “It’s fine. I’ll just lie down in bed later,” she said.

“Lie down. Now,” Shen Shu repeated, her tone firmer this time.

Xu Jinnan met her gaze. “…Okay.”

She lay down on the sofa, facing away from Shen Shu, who sat down beside her.

Shen Shu’s hands were warm, her fingernails neatly trimmed, as she gently probed Xu Jinnan’s back, searching for the pressure points.

Xu Jinnan guided her hand, but after a few moments, she lost her place again.

“Here?”

“…A little lower… too much.” Forget the ache in her back; Xu Jinnan’s entire body was tingling now. “Shu Shu, are you doing this on purpose?”

Shen Shu: “…”

Xu Jinnan winced as Shen Shu’s fingernail dug into her back, a sharp, unexpected pain that made her tense up.

“That’s what ‘on purpose’ means,” Shen Shu said calmly.

Xu Jinnan: “…”

Shen Shu lifted her hand. “Your skin is too slippery,” she said.

Xu Jinnan was about to tell her to stop; this wasn’t relaxing, it was torture.

Then, Shen Shu’s cool voice said, “Should I pull up your shirt and try again?”

Chapter 57 p2

—

Xu Jinnan sat in her car outside the hospital for a while, lost in thought.

She wasn’t tired; she had simply been unconsciously sitting there, her mind replaying everything that had happened – her sudden transmigration, the one-in-a-million secondary differentiation, the Xu family drama, the novel’s plot, even Yin Xue and the mysterious powder.

Then, a word came to mind – destined.

She chuckled softly, finding her own train of thought amusing.

But she couldn’t deny the lingering unease, the subtle discomfort she had been trying to suppress, but which kept resurfacing.

The window was open, letting in the cool autumn breeze, a welcome relief from the lingering summer heat. She checked the time; it would be a few more hours before nightfall.

She stayed at the office until past 8 p.m., working non-stop, barely having time for a drink of water, finally finishing her tasks.

When she arrived home at 9 p.m., the bathroom door opened, and Shen Shu emerged, her hair wrapped in a towel, wearing a two-piece pajama set.

It was new; Xu Jinnan had never seen it before – a pale pink, with small strawberries embroidered along the edges.

It was a slightly fitted design, but still loose on Shen Shu’s slender frame.

Shen Shu glanced at Xu Jinnan, then walked towards the sofa, holding the towel with one hand. Xu Jinnan’s gaze followed her, lingering on the curve of her breasts, a small strawberry peeking out from the side…

Xu Jinnan bit her lip, went to the kitchen island, washed her hands, poured herself a glass of water, and took a sip. “New pajamas?” she asked casually.

“Yes, Cai Ying and I bought them the other day,” Shen Shu replied.

She didn’t usually wear such cute styles, but the sales assistant had been very persuasive, and Cai Ying had encouraged her.

“Xu Jinnan is used to your aloof image. A change of pace might spice things up a bit, don’t you think?”

But Shen Shu hadn’t bought them for Xu Jinnan; she had simply wanted a change, a way to lift her own spirits.

She looked up, her eyes meeting Xu Jinnan’s.

Xu Jinnan nodded calmly. “They look good. Very good,” she said. Shen Shu’s pajamas were usually more mature and darker in color. This sudden change of style, like the dress she had worn the other day, was captivating.

Xu Jinnan went to take a shower, not seeing the faint smile that touched Shen Shu’s lips as she turned away.

—

After a quick shower, Xu Jinnan joined Shen Shu on the sofa.

They weren’t sitting close together, and the balcony window was open, letting in a cool breeze that carried the faint scent of Shen Shu’s pheromones.

The only sound in the room was the laughter from the variety show on TV.

After a while, Xu Jinnan asked casually, “You and Xia Chun knew each other before?”

“We dated,” Shen Shu replied, her voice calm and unwavering.

Xu Jinnan paused, then nodded. “Oh… that makes sense. No wonder.”

“No wonder what?”

“She’s very kind to you. And the way she looked at me at the restaurant and the banquet… it was strange.” She had assumed it was just one-sided affection, hence the subtle hostility towards Xu Jinnan.

She mentally replayed Shen Shu’s words, We dated.

Shen Shu’s tone was even, but her gaze, as she looked at Xu Jinnan, was slightly scrutinizing.

“It was years ago. I didn’t think it was important,” she explained.

And she didn’t want to talk about what she had been through during that time.

Xu Jinnan hesitated. “How long were you together?”

Shen Shu paused, then said, “A little over two years.”

Xu Jinnan didn’t ask any further questions, sensing Shen Shu’s reluctance to discuss the topic. She didn’t want to pry.

But Shen Shu, seeing her silence, asked, “That’s it?”

Xu Jinnan shook her head. “That’s it. Why would I need to know more?”

While she hadn’t asked much, she had a general understanding of the situation.

On the drive back from the hospital, she had thought about it. So what if Xia Chun was Shen Shu’s “destined” partner in the novel? Based on their interactions, Xia Chun’s feelings were clearly one-sided.

As for their past relationship…

Xu Jinnan felt a strange mix of emotions. She knew Shen Shu didn’t have feelings for Xia Chun anymore, but two years was a long time.

Lost in thought, she didn’t notice the shift in Shen Shu’s mood.

“It’s not relevant to you anyway,” Shen Shu said coldly, standing up. “I’m going to bed.”

Xu Jinnan was taken aback.

“So early?”

“Yes.”

“What do you want for breakfast tomorrow?”

“Nothing,” Shen Shu replied, her voice flat, not turning around.

Xu Jinnan: “…”

Why is she suddenly upset?

Shen Shu closed the bedroom door a little more forcefully than usual, the sound lingering in the air.

She felt her emotions spiraling out of control.

She hated this feeling of helplessness, like being adrift at sea, unable to steer the boat.

Her phone vibrated on the bed.

She walked over and checked it.

Cai Ying: [Shu Shu, I forgot to ask, does your wife like the pajamas? Hee hee, did she find them irresistible~?]

Shen Shu: “…”

She stared at the message for a moment, then went to the wardrobe, taking out her old pajamas and changing out of the pink strawberry ones.

—

The next morning, Xu Jinnan had hoped to smooth things over during breakfast, but Shen Shu was gone.

She had been busy for the past two days, working late, and they hadn’t seen each other at all.

It was the first time in months.

Xu Jinnan sensed something was wrong. Shen Shu was deliberately avoiding her.

The online drama continued, with Xia Chun and Shen Shu’s fans forming an unlikely alliance, boosting each other’s popularity.

Exchanging compliments and thanks, their polite interactions praised by bloggers as a model of fan behavior.

Some even started shipping them as a couple.

Xu Jinnan, during a break, checked out their super topic – “Sheng Xia” (a combination of their names).

It was a much better name than hers and Shen Shu’s…

Someone was even hosting a giveaway, offering a monthly prize of ten thousand yuan to three lucky winners.

Not as generous as the giveaway in their own CP super topic.

The “Sheng Xia” super topic had over five thousand followers.

She checked the “NanShu” super topic; it had over twenty thousand.

Not bad.

Xu Jinnan felt a strange sense of satisfaction, then paused. Is this some kind of weird competitiveness?

She scrolled through the comments on the “Sheng Xia” super topic.

Sheng Xia is real! Share your CP origin story! I’ll go first. I was captivated by their photo together from Into the Dream!

The comment had numerous replies.

Xia Xia likes every single one of Shen Shen’s Weibo posts~ I’m shipping them!

Xia Xia even reposted Shen Shen’s Weibo post, the one about the trending topic!

And didn’t Xia Xia get injured protecting Shen Shen? Such a heroic moment! I can’t get enough of them!!!

Xu Jinnan: “…”

Doesn’t anyone see the problem here?

Then, she saw a comment: Seriously? She’s married, and you’re shipping her with someone else? That’s messed up.

She immediately liked the comment.

Then, she remembered her conversation with Shen Shu.

—”Why would I need to know more?”

—”It’s not relevant to you anyway.”

Xu Jinnan didn’t like this cold war atmosphere, and she had a feeling she knew why Shen Shu was being distant.

The group chat mentioned filming was resuming today, and she wanted to ask about the location, planning to visit after her meeting.

As she parked, she saw a crowd gathered outside the building.

The security guard, recognizing her car, approached her. “CEO Xu.”

“Who are those people?”

“Paparazzi. Didn’t a film crew rent space in the building?”

Xu Jinnan remembered, then realized the timing was too coincidental.

She took the elevator to the 26th floor and, as she stepped out, heard voices and glanced towards the large office area across the hall.

She stopped, her gaze finding Shen Shu, dressed in a business suit, standing with a group of people.

Xia Chun was standing opposite her.

“They’re so beautiful! I’m obsessed!”

“Shen Shu looks amazing! Beautiful women together are a feast for the eyes! Are they filming the entire drama here?”

“I think so. Something happened at their previous location, so they moved here.”

“You know, they would actually look good together… with CEO Xu.”

One of the employees, glancing over and meeting Xu Jinnan’s gaze, gasped, startled.

Xu Jinnan smiled faintly. “Good morning.”

—

Xu Jinnan messaged Tong Jia: [?]

Tong Jia had been to her office before, but she had never mentioned Shen Shu filming here.

Having seen Xu Jinnan just now, Tong Jia understood the question mark. She replied quickly.

Tong Jia: [Surprise!]

Tong Jia: [I’ve been so careful not to mention it in the group chat, so you wouldn’t find out.]

Xu Jinnan: [Should I be grateful?]

She overheard her employees’ conversation.

Just then, Zhou Pei entered with some documents. “Did you know which production was filming here?” Xu Jinnan asked. Zhou Pei hadn’t mentioned it either.

“No, the property manager handles those arrangements,” Zhou Pei replied, shaking her head.

What a coincidence.

“Tell everyone to be mindful of the film crew. No disturbances,” Xu Jinnan instructed.

“Certainly.”

—

After Zhou Pei left, Xu Jinnan thought, This is actually quite convenient.

She had been so busy lately, barely having time to talk to Shen Shu, but if they were in the same building, it would be easier to see each other during breaks.

She couldn’t keep avoiding her.

She messaged Tong Jia, inviting her to lunch in her office.

Then, she went to a meeting.

Shortly after the meeting started, she received a message from Tong Jia.

[Showing off your love on the first day? Not cool.]

Xu Jinnan: “…”

She didn’t reply, her mind on the meeting. By the time it ended, it was already lunchtime. She messaged Tong Jia: [Can’t make it today. Tomorrow?]

Tong Jia: [Such a fickle woman.]

—

The meeting dragged on until 11:30 a.m.

Her back ached from sitting for so long, and her stomach rumbled, having only had toast and milk for breakfast, not even bothering with eggs, since Shen Shu wasn’t there.

As she left the meeting room, she asked Viola about lunch.

“Someone from the film crew next door sent over a lunch box,” Viola replied.

Xu Jinnan paused, then smiled. “Really?”

Back in her office, she saw a paper bag on her desk. Inside, a perfectly prepared steak lunch, complete with sides.

She took a picture and posted it on her Moments feed with a simple caption: Lunch.

Then, she slowly savored the meal.

—

Meanwhile, Shen Shu closed her lunch box, and Tong Jia glanced at the uneaten food. “That’s all you’re eating? Is it not good? Honestly, CEO Xu is so clueless. Enjoying her steak lunch and posting about it online, not even caring if her wife has eaten.”

“Can we order less next time? It’s such a waste,” Shen Shu said.

“So, you prefer CEO Xu’s cooking? You always have such a good appetite at home,” Tong Jia commented.

“…It’s fine,” Shen Shu replied calmly.

“Shu Shu, have you two been fighting?” Tong Jia asked, lowering her voice.

“No.”

We haven’t even been talking, Shen Shu thought.

She didn’t understand her own feelings, her thoughts tangled and confused, like weeds growing uncontrollably, one after another.

She could only try to maintain her composure, to distance herself.

But it wasn’t working…

“Shu Shu, perfect timing! You haven’t finished eating yet,” Tan Jie’s voice said from behind them.

They looked up.

Tan Jie was holding a lunch box. “We ordered steak lunches. Want to try some? It’s low-calorie,” she said with a smile, her beauty captivating, drawing the attention of those around them.

It would be rude to refuse, so Tong Jia accepted the lunch box, thanking her with a smile.

“It’s nothing. I don’t like the food on set either,” Tan Jie replied, then added, “Oh, I sent one to Miss Xu as well. Ask her if she likes it. We can order more next time.”

Both Shen Shu and Tong Jia’s smiles faltered.

Tong Jia had even shown Shen Shu Xu Jinnan’s Moments post.

—

Xu Jinnan was reading a contract, taking small bites of her steak, when the door opened.

It wasn’t a forceful entrance, but the person’s expression was grim, making the sound seem heavier than it was.

“Xu Jinnan.”

Xu Jinnan put down her steak, startled by Shen Shu’s expression – a mixture of hurt, anger, and something else she couldn’t quite place.

Assuming she had been bullied on set, Xu Jinnan immediately stood up. “What’s wrong? Did someone give you trouble?”

“I don’t care about your relationship with Tan Jie, but while we’re on set, please be more considerate,” Shen Shu said coldly.

Xu Jinnan was confused. “What… I…”

Before she could finish, Shen Shu continued, her voice flat and emotionless, “Since our marriage is just a contract, and you clearly don’t care, there’s no need to pretend. Let’s just end this charade and get a divorce.”

Xu Jinnan: “…”

Shen Shu didn’t look at her again, simply turning and walking out, slamming the door behind her.

Xu Jinnan’s hand rested on the door, her body leaning against it as she followed Shen Shu, a sigh escaping her lips.

“Who said I don’t care?” she whispered.

Chapter 57 p1

Hundreds.

A chill ran down Xu Jinnan’s spine.

“Even if it doesn’t kill you, it can cause brain damage and psychosis,” Professor Qin said gravely. “And that’s the best-case scenario.” The last time, with Yin Xue’s suicide attempt, she had only inhaled a trace amount from the bandages, and it had still affected her for days. And that had been a diluted version.

“Miss Xu, this is a controlled substance. If it doesn’t belong to you, you should report this to the police,” he said seriously.

Xu Jinnan understood. This amount was enough to warrant a serious investigation.

“It’s not mine, and it’s not convenient to involve the police right now,” she said, walking over to the sink and washing her hands. “Professor Qin, I’ll take care of this and have it destroyed. Just pretend you never saw it.” She lowered her voice. “I’ll be honest with you. This is a Xu family matter. No matter the outcome, I promise you won’t be implicated.”

A cool breeze drifted in through the open window, the dripping faucet slowing to a stop.

“I understand,” Professor Qin said. “Consider this matter closed.” He wasn’t foolish.

Xu Jinnan had made it clear this was a family matter.

Destroying the evidence and reporting it to the police would only antagonize the Xu family, with no benefit to him.

Besides, after these past few months, he had grown to trust Xu Jinnan.

—

Xu Jinnan sat in the driver’s seat, the cold sweat that had earlier beaded on her forehead now evaporated.

Her white Bentley glided along the asphalt road, the golden leaves of the French plane trees lining the streets, their vibrant yellow a stark contrast to the darkening sky, the earlier sunshine now obscured by gathering clouds.

Like the secrets hidden within the Xu family.

She mentally reviewed the recent events, realizing that despite overcoming each crisis, she hadn’t gotten any closer to the truth.

Who was helping Yin Xue?

And what was the connection between that person and the drug the original Xu Jinnan had hidden?

A sense of unease settled over her. Besides the Xu family, there might be others… watching her.

She had no leads, no answers.

Only Qucheng.

She had to finalize the Qucheng trip soon; she couldn’t keep postponing it.

She didn’t know what other dangers awaited her.

As she parked, unbuckling her seatbelt, she received a WeChat message from Tong Jia.

Two weeks had passed since the Qiao Rui incident, and Tong Jia seemed to have recovered, her usual cheerful demeanor masking any lingering pain.

Tong Jia: [Sis, check Weibo!]

Xu Jinnan: [?]

Tong Jia: [You’ll regret it if you don’t!]

Xu Jinnan was easily swayed by such challenges. Her work WeChat was constantly buzzing with notifications, so she usually kept Weibo on silent.

As she opened the app, the notification count continued to climb, along with her follower count.

Then, her gaze stopped.

Her private messages were restricted to followers only, and a new name had appeared on the list – Shen Shu.

Shen Shu: [Thank you.]

Shen Shu had actually followed her?

Not only that, but she had also liked Xu Jinnan’s repost of her thank-you message to her fans.

Xu Jinnan’s earlier gloom lifted, a smile playing on her lips. So this is the joy of fandom.

Another message, from ShuShu’sNumberOneFan: [Ahhh!!! Sis! You’re my savior!]

ShuShu’sNumberOneFan: [Shu Shu only follows five people, and you’re one of them!!!]

ShuShu’sNumberOneFan: [I’m going to cling to your thigh for the rest of my life! Please let me bask in your glory!]

RichSisterWithStamina: [My pleasure.]

Xu Jinnan chuckled, then, feeling a surge of curiosity, opened the fan group chat.

How did you do it?!

Can you buy me an LED screen too? I want to be followed by Shu Shu!

Don’t be ridiculous. You’re a moderator. You can do it yourself.

I think Xia Chun is also a fan now. She likes every single one of Shu Shu’s posts.

It’s not just because of the LED screen. Jia-jie said Boss Lady has secured several sponsorships and endorsements for Shu Shu, even negotiated some of them personally. She’s practically Shu Shu’s second agent.

I want to see what Boss Lady looks like~

Slightly off-topic, but Boss Lady is a CP fan! Such a charming persona~

Xu Jinnan scrolled through the messages, her head resting against the headrest, then paused, rereading the comment about Xia Chun.

A strange thought crossed her mind.

—

It was 1 p.m. when Xu Jinnan finished her meeting.

As she left her office, she heard her employees discussing a film crew.

“Which production?”

“I don’t know. They’re keeping it a secret, probably to avoid crowds.”

“But people will find out eventually, won’t they?”

“The fewer people who know, the better. The company said we shouldn’t disturb them.”

Xu Jinnan paused, a thought crossing her mind. Shen Shu had finished filming her outdoor scenes today and would be at the office building tomorrow.

But not in this area.

As she was leaving the restroom, she overheard a conversation. “Holy shit, the set for Full Dress collapsed… Someone’s trapped underneath.”

Xu Jinnan’s blood ran cold. She whirled around. “Which Full Dress?”

The employee, startled by her intensity, stammered, “The… the…”

Before she could finish, Xu Jinnan had already rushed away.

Which Full Dress? There was only one.

She ran to her office, grabbing her phone. It was better to call Shen Shu directly.

They usually communicated through WeChat, her recent call log showing only a few calls from the past two days, but in this moment of panic, her patience vanished.

She found Shen Shu’s number and dialed it.

After waiting for over ten seconds with no answer, she tapped her fingers impatiently on the desk, her stomach clenching.

She hung up and called Tong Jia, who also didn’t answer the first time. After another long wait, she frowned, a sense of unease settling over her.

“Hello? CEO Xu?”

“Where’s Shen Shu?” she asked without preamble.

“You saw the news, didn’t you? Don’t worry, she’s fine. She wasn’t hurt… I’ll explain later. We’re at the hospital,” Tong Jia replied.

If she wasn’t hurt, why are they at the hospital? She would have to see Shen Shu to be sure.

“Which hospital?”

Tong Jia gave her the address. It was the one funded by the Xu family.

—

Xu Jinnan’s face was expressionless as she drove, her foot heavy on the accelerator. She knew Shen Shu was probably fine; Tong Jia would have called her immediately if anything serious had happened.

But she still wanted to see her as soon as possible.

To confirm with her own eyes that she was safe.

At the hospital, she rushed towards the emergency room, where a crowd of fans and reporters were being held back by security.

Most of them were Xia Chun’s fans, her agent talking to them.

To avoid the crowd, Xu Jinnan took the staff entrance.

“You’re here already?” Tong Jia asked, holding a bag of medication, a tube of ointment visible inside.

Xu Jinnan frowned. “I thought she wasn’t hurt.”

“Don’t worry, it’s not for Shu Shu. It’s for Xia Chun. If she hadn’t reacted quickly and pulled Shu Shu out of the way, the scaffolding would have fallen on her. She helped us, so I’m just running errands for her,” Tong Jia explained.

Xu Jinnan relaxed slightly. “Where is she?”

“Xinxin is with her, thanking Xia Chun. She’s really fine. Don’t worry,” Tong Jia reassured her, leading her towards the elevators. Due to their connections, they had been given a private room.

The hospital was quiet, with few patients.

“She’s fine. The X-rays were normal. Just a few scrapes, but Xia Chun’s agency is probably making a big deal out of it for publicity,” Tong Jia said, pointing towards a room. “But Xia Chun is really nice. I’m starting to become a fan.”

Xu Jinnan nodded, and they reached the room. Tong Jia opened the door.

“I can’t forget you,” Xia Chun’s voice said, just as the door opened.

Everyone froze.

Xu Jinnan and Tong Jia stood at the doorway, Xia Chun sitting on the edge of the bed, Shen Shu standing a few feet away.

Xu Jinnan’s eyes met Shen Shu’s.

Tong Jia coughed awkwardly, glancing at Xu Jinnan’s expression. “Xia Chun, thank you so much! Shu Shu’s family is so grateful!” she said, her tone overly cheerful.

They all knew who Xu Jinnan was, and Tong Jia’s emphasis on “family” was a deliberate attempt to clarify their relationship.

Xu Jinnan’s expression softened slightly as she turned to Xia Chun, forcing a smile. “Yes, thank you, Xia Chun. Are you hurt?”

“I’m fine. It’s nothing. You should still take Ah Shu for a CT scan, just to be safe,” Xia Chun replied.

“No need. I’m fine,” Shen Shu said, walking over to Xu Jinnan. She turned to Tong Jia. “Jia Jia, Xia Chun’s agent isn’t here yet, and Xinxin went to get some water. Can you stay with her for a bit?”

“Sure, you two lovebirds chat,” Tong Jia said, regretting her impulsive entrance.

She had assumed Xia Chun simply admired Shen Shu. What was with this talk of past relationships?

And the atmosphere between Xu Jinnan and Shen Shu seemed strange, almost tense. Were they about to have a fight?

Before leaving, Xu Jinnan had intended to thank Xia Chun again for helping Shen Shu, but she lost her desire to do so.

Outside the room, she looked down at Shen Shu, her voice low and concerned. “Are you sure you’re okay? Should we get a check-up?”

“I’m fine. Xia Chun pulled me out of the way,” Shen Shu replied, shaking her head.

“Good.” Xu Jinnan nodded. “What happened? How can a film set just collapse?”

Just as Shen Shu was about to explain, someone approached, and Xu Jinnan instinctively stepped in front of her, shielding her from their gaze.

As they stood close together, the scent of disinfectant was replaced by Shen Shu’s familiar fragrance.

Shen Shu, still slightly shaken from the incident, felt a sense of calm now, standing beside Xu Jinnan.

She was wearing heels, while Xu Jinnan was in flat sneakers.

She looked up at Xu Jinnan’s face, her light brown hair slightly tousled, as if ruffled by the wind.

Her gaze lingered on a stray strand of hair.

“I don’t know. Maybe they didn’t secure the set properly… Did you see it on Weibo?” she asked.

“Something like that,” Xu Jinnan replied vaguely.

A silence fell between them.

“Don’t you have anything else to ask me?” Shen Shu asked.

Xu Jinnan looked at her. Even she, oblivious as she could be sometimes, understood the meaning behind Xia Chun’s words.

It wasn’t just one-sided affection.

Xia Chun and Shen Shu had a past. Perhaps.

After all, she hadn’t read the entire novel. She lacked conviction.

Did you two know each other before? She wanted to ask.

She hesitated, then asked softly, “I do have a question.”

Just then, Xinxin approached with a water pitcher, and Xu Jinnan said, “Let’s talk about it later, at home.”

Xinxin greeted them cheerfully.

Seeing that Shen Shu was truly unharmed, Xu Jinnan said, “Why don’t you go back inside? I have to go back to the office.”

“What am I supposed to be doing?” Shen Shu asked, the slight upward inflection in her voice making it sound more like a statement than a question.

Xu Jinnan glanced at Xia Chun’s room, smiling faintly. “Isn’t Xia Chun injured? And there are all those fans outside. Her agency wants to use this for publicity, and Tong Jia asked you to stay and show your support.”

Shen Shu didn’t reply, looking down for a moment, then said calmly, “You’ve thought of everything, haven’t you?”

“Isn’t that what Tong Jia wanted?”

“Yes,” Shen Shu said. “You can go now.”

Xu Jinnan sensed the awkwardness in her tone. “What time will you be home?”

“I don’t know. When I’m done.”

Xu Jinnan: “…” Why the hesitation?

—

A few minutes after Xu Jinnan left, Xia Chun’s agent returned, and Tong Jia immediately pulled Shen Shu aside.

“Shu Shu, what’s going on between you and Xia Chun? No, we’ll discuss this later,” she said, then, lowering her voice, asked, “Is CEO Xu angry?”

“Why would she be angry?” Shen Shu asked calmly.

“I heard it. She must have heard it too,” Tong Jia said, referring to Xia Chun’s confession.

Shen Shu shook her head silently.

Clearly, Xu Jinnan didn’t care.

To Xu Jinnan, their marriage was just a contract, but why was she so good to her?

Then again, she was good to everyone.

Shen Shu felt a strange pang of annoyance, unable to focus on Tong Jia’s words.

—

 

Chapter 56 p2

That afternoon, Shen Shu and Tong Jia were talking at the studio.

Xinxin entered, placing her phone on the table in front of them. “This lady is amazing! She’s doing our job for us,” she said with a laugh.

Shen Shu looked down at the photo of a legal notice.

The Weibo user’s ID was ICan’tBeTamed.

The post read: I apologize for my impulsive behavior. I was provoked and said some things I shouldn’t have, accusing Ms. Shen Shu of having plastic surgery. I don’t have any friends who work at plastic surgery clinics, and I’ve never heard such rumors.

I apologize to @RichSisterWithStamina for my inappropriate words.

I also apologize to Ms. @ShenShu. I’m sorry.

“Another trending topic! The one from this morning hasn’t even died down yet,” Xinxin said excitedly, sitting down beside them. Then, she paused. “Is this too much publicity, though?”

“It’s fine. We chose this path. We have the resources to handle it. And besides, this publicity will help us secure better opportunities,” Tong Jia reassured her.

Xinxin nodded, picking up her phone and opening RichSisterWithStamina’s Weibo profile. “This lady is amazing! A true fan! Sending a legal notice right away! That’ll teach them a lesson!” And no one could accuse them of being overly sensitive. They could even step in and mediate, further improving their public image.

“These trolls think they can say whatever they want online. Well, they messed with the wrong person. Jia-jie, you have excellent taste in fans!”

Tong Jia, her ears burning at the indirect compliment, thought, Subtle PDA is the deadliest.

“Of course. I personally chose her,” she said, her tone changing slightly.

Shen Shu, staring at RichSisterWithStamina’s profile, a subtle softness in her eyes, said, “Contact her and thank her for me. And thank all my fans for their support.”

“Will do!”

—

It was past 7 p.m., and Xu Jinnan was working late, having received a message from Professor Qin, who would be returning tomorrow. She didn’t have time in the morning, so she had to catch up tonight.

Viola entered with a container of porridge. “CEO Xu, I brought you some porridge. Eat when you have time,” she said.

“Thank you,” Xu Jinnan replied, looking up.

She put down her pen. “Can you get me some antacids?”

“You barely touched your lunch. Your stomach must be upset,” Viola said. “I’ll go get some right away.”

Xu Jinnan rubbed her stomach, her lips slightly pale. Sometimes, when she skipped meals, she lost her appetite altogether.

By the time she remembered to eat, it was already time for the next meal.

After taking the antacids, she felt slightly better and was about to return to her work when she received a message from Shen Shu.

Shen Shu: [Busy?]

Xu Jinnan: [Not really. You? Done with work?]

Shen Shu: [I just got home.]

Xu Jinnan: [Get some rest then. I’ll be late.]

Shen Shu: [How late?]

Xu Jinnan paused, checking the time. She wasn’t sure.

Shen Shu: [Be careful driving.]

Xu Jinnan: [Okay.]

After a few minutes, she sent another message. [Is there something you want to talk about?]

Shen Shu: [Can’t I just ask?]

Xu Jinnan, finding typing too slow, sent a voice message.

“Of course you can.”

—

When Xu Jinnan arrived home at 10 p.m., the living room lights were on, and Shen Shu was sitting on the sofa, watching a variety show on TV, her phone in her hand.

Seeing her, Shen Shu turned off the TV and stood up. “I bought some new bread. Have some if you’re hungry. I’m going to bed,” she said.

Xu Jinnan nodded, watching as she went into the bedroom.

Was she waiting for me?

Xu Jinnan smiled faintly, opening the cupboard and seeing a package of mango-flavored cream bread.

—

The next day was the first day of filming for Shen Shu’s new drama.

Tong Jia arrived at 7 a.m. to pick her up. Shen Shu glanced at the closed guest room door, then, just as she was about to leave, Xu Jinnan emerged.

“Shu Shu.”

Shen Shu turned around.

“Good luck,” Xu Jinnan said. “Don’t worry about anything. I’ve got your back.”

—

Shen Shu sat in the van, her first scene mostly outdoors, at a traditional house in the suburbs, the first meeting between the female lead and the second female lead.

She, as the third female lead, would encounter them during their meeting.

The first scene of the love triangle.

While it seemed clichéd at first glance, it was actually a well-written workplace drama about a woman overcoming obstacles and achieving success.

The script was good.

Unlike her previous experience, Shen Shu wasn’t nervous. Instead of reading the script, she closed her eyes and relaxed during the drive.

Suddenly, Tong Jia said, “Slow down, Shu Shu. Look.”

Shen Shu opened her eyes, following Tong Jia’s gaze to a large LED screen across from Wanhe Plaza, a new addition.

Just then, the screen lit up.

It was her face.

One of her promotional photos for the drama, her expression cool and elegant, her makeup subtle, her nude-colored, sequined dress shimmering in the bright light. People stopped to take pictures.

Tong Jia smiled. “Surprise! Do you like it?”

Shen Shu stared at the screen, a mixture of surprise, excitement, and gratitude washing over her.

She took a picture with her phone, then turned to Tong Jia, a smile playing on her lips. “When did the studio become so wealthy?” It was a prime location in the city center, a significant expense.

Tong Jia’s smile was enigmatic. “There’s more. Billboards, bus stops, TV commercials, everywhere. And to avoid jealousy, it’s not just you. We got something for the other leads too.”

“Was it that… fan?”

Tong Jia paused, and Xinxin, sitting in the front, chuckled. “Shu Shu, you sound like a lovesick teenager.”

“You’re right,” Tong Jia said, looking at Shen Shu. “Sometimes, I forget she’s not the younger one.”

Xinxin: “Me too!”

Tong Jia turned back to Shen Shu. “Yes, it was her. My choice for moderator, not bad, right? A true fan…” she said, a hint of wistfulness in her voice.

“Yes, she’s amazing,” Shen Shu agreed.

—

As they approached the studio, about a dozen fans were waiting at the entrance, wearing matching T-shirts with Shen Shu’s chibi character on them, holding light boards.

The scene was comparable to Xia Chun’s fan greeting, even the merchandise of similar quality.

And since Xia Chun had defended Shen Shu online, the two fan bases were on good terms.

Tan Jie’s fans were fewer in number, and a few of them, having attacked Shen Shu online before, rolled their eyes as Shen Shu’s van arrived.

They thought Tan Jie shouldn’t have apologized!

Shen Shu had the driver stop at the entrance, rolling down the window to greet her fans. “Thank you for coming! You don’t have to wait for me. Go home early and be careful,” she said.

“Shu Shu!!!”

“Okay, we’ll leave now!”

“Remember to drink plenty of water, Shu Bao!”

“I will. I’m going in now,” Shen Shu said.

“Good luck, Shu Shu!”

“Fighting!”

Shen Shu smiled faintly, nodding. “Thank you.”

The window closed, and the van drove into the studio.

Her fans cheered excitedly.

“I’m going to faint! Oh my god!”

“Help me…”

“She’s so beautiful!”

Xia Chun’s fans, standing nearby, also smiled. “Wow, she’s even more stunning in person! Is this considered marrying young?”

“Totally! I can’t handle this much beauty.”

Just then, Xia Chun’s car arrived. She rolled down the window, waved, and thanked her fans before driving in.

Then, Tan Jie’s van arrived.

“Jie Jie!!!”

Tan Jie, hearing her fans’ cheers, rolled down the window, smiled, and thanked them as well.

As the window closed, her smile faded.

“Why are there so few people?” she asked.

“Two of your biggest fans couldn’t make it, and a few others who usually come with them didn’t come either,” her agent explained.

Tan Jie didn’t reply.

“I’ll remind them next time,” her agent added.

“Okay.”

—

Meanwhile, Xu Jinnan, after dealing with some urgent matters and delegating tasks to her team, finally left for the hospital.

The morning sky was overcast, the clouds thick and heavy in places, the sun breaking through in others.

It was difficult to tell if it would be a good day or not.

But the autumn air was crisp and cool. October 1st. A good day for Shen Shu, she thought.

She touched the small box in her bag, wondering what Professor Qin would say.

—

At the hospital, Professor Qin asked about her recent health, then ordered a routine check-up.

After that, Xu Jinnan gave him the box. He placed it on a silver tray and carefully took out a small sample with tweezers.

His expression changed as he examined it. “I’ll run some tests first. If this is what I think it is, it’s not good,” he said, his voice serious.

Xu Jinnan, sensing his concern, simply nodded.

She would find out the truth today, one way or another.

The tests would take two hours, and Professor Qin, remembering her request, personally took the sample to the lab.

While waiting, Xu Jinnan saw Shen Shu’s Weibo post.

Thank you everyone for your support. You’re the best.

The accompanying photos showed the LED screen and the two custom-made fan shirts Tong Jia had received.

Xu Jinnan liked and reposted the post, adding a comment: You go, superstar!

After her blood test, she rested in Professor Qin’s office. Two hours later, he returned, his face grim.

He closed the door behind him. “Miss Xu, where did you get this?”

“Tell me what it is first.”

“Remember that incident in Rongcheng? This powder is the same as the drug you were exposed to, except that was a diluted version, and this is concentrated.”

Xu Jinnan’s eyes widened. “I only inhaled a small amount, and I was incapacitated. What would happen with a concentrated dose?”

Professor Qin frowned, then sat down opposite her, his voice grave. “Let me put it this way, this amount is enough to kill hundreds of people.”

Chapter 56 p1

Xu Jinnan leaned closer, her soft fingers brushing against the fabric of Shen Shu’s dress. The moment her knuckles grazed Shen Shu’s skin, Shen Shu’s back stiffened, her delicate shoulder blades twitching like the wings of a startled butterfly.

A playful smile touched Xu Jinnan’s lips as she whispered in Shen Shu’s ear, her voice slow and deliberate, “Hold still, Shu Shu. I’m unzipping it now.”

The dress was form-fitting, and loosening the zipper at the back would also loosen the fabric at the front, risking exposure, even with the straps still in place.

Shen Shu’s breath hitched as she felt the warmth of Xu Jinnan’s hand and the light brush of her knuckles against her skin, a shiver running down her arms and neck.

Xu Jinnan’s presence was almost overwhelming.

Shen Shu, refusing to show weakness, placed a hand on her chest and murmured, “Okay.”

Xu Jinnan slowly lowered the zipper, her gaze half-lidded, stopping at about ten centimeters. The delicate chain of the zipper was like a lure, tempting her to reveal the treasure hidden beneath…

She was the hunter now, her heart pounding with anticipation, her fingers itching to continue, yet she forced herself to stop, her imagination running wild, picturing the breathtaking beauty she was about to unveil.

With a supreme effort of will, she pulled her hand away, turning to look at Shen Shu in the mirror. “Is that enough?” she asked, her voice slightly husky.

They were still close, and the sweet fragrance of Shen Shu’s pheromones filled her senses.

She felt the warmth of Shen Shu’s skin against her hand, a bead of sweat forming on her knuckle.

Shen Shu’s breathing was uneven, and with each inhale and exhale, the desire in Xu Jinnan’s eyes intensified.

“That’s enough,” Shen Shu replied, her gaze meeting Xu Jinnan’s in the mirror for a brief moment, then quickly looking away. Her face was lightly powdered, hiding the true color of her cheeks, but the tips of her ears were undeniably pink.

Just as she stood up, carefully holding the neckline of her dress, the door suddenly swung open.

She instinctively clutched the fabric tighter, her balance shifting, and she sat back down, the thin strap of her dress slipping from her shoulder.

At the same moment, something warm and soft brushed against her ear.

She felt the other person’s breath hitch.

It all happened in a flash.

Xu Jinnan reacted instantly, her arm circling Shen Shu’s neck, pulling her closer.

“Don’t you know how to knock?” she asked coldly.

The woman at the door, about thirty years old, wearing glasses, seeing them, smiled awkwardly but didn’t apologize, quickly retreating.

After she left, Xu Jinnan’s fingers lingered on Shen Shu’s neck, her thumb gently caressing the sensitive skin behind her ear.

Feeling the dampness of Shen Shu’s skin, she lowered her gaze. “Are you hot? You’re sweating.”

Shen Shu, unable to bear the intimacy any longer, was about to pull Xu Jinnan’s hand away when Xu Jinnan released her.

Shen Shu went into the changing room.

Xu Jinnan stood in front of the mirror, staring at her own lips, then, after a moment, touched them lightly with her fingertips.

Her ear was so warm.

—

They drove back to Xingcheng International.

Shen Shu, changed into a simple T-shirt and jeans, sat in the passenger seat, scrolling through messages on her phone.

“Any plans for tomorrow?” Xu Jinnan asked.

“Another costume fitting,” Shen Shu replied calmly.

“Another one? I thought today was the last day.”

“Today was for promotional photos.”

“Oh.” Xu Jinnan continued, “What time are you leaving? I can drive you. I’ll have Viola pick me up earlier.”

Shen Shu paused, her gaze fixed on her phone. “I haven’t seen Assistant Zhou in a few days.”

“She’s busy with other things. Having her constantly driving you around would be too much. And she’s been in close contact with my mother, so I don’t feel as comfortable using her as before. That’s why I hired Viola. She’s very capable, and so far, she’s been great,” Xu Jinnan explained.

“And quite pretty,” Shen Shu added.

“Pretty?” Xu Jinnan asked instinctively.

Her standards were higher now. She thought Viola was simply pleasant-looking, her focus on competence and efficiency.

Then, glancing at Shen Shu, she said sincerely, “You’re much prettier.”

She quickly looked away, and Shen Shu glanced at her, her expression soft and gentle. She almost thought the intensity she had felt in the dressing room had been her imagination.

The streetlights outside cast a warm glow through the car windows.

After a moment, Xu Jinnan said, “Miss Shen, can we make a deal?”

“About what?” Shen Shu asked calmly.

“Stop saying those things.”

Shen Shu paused, remembering Xu Jinnan’s reaction earlier, which had started with the “not big” comment. “Aren’t you an Omega? Why do you care so much?”

Xu Jinnan chuckled. “Just because I can’t be marked doesn’t mean I’m not good at other things.” She was perfectly capable in other areas, especially when it came to work and intelligence.

Then, realizing how that sounded, she added, “I mean, save some face for me in public.”

After a few seconds, Shen Shu replied softly, “Okay.”

Her tone wasn’t as cold as it had been in the dressing room.

Xu Jinnan smiled faintly. “What do you want for dinner?”

“Noodles. The fridge is empty. I need to go grocery shopping tomorrow,” Shen Shu replied.

“Let’s go tonight. Together.”

“Okay…”

Shen Shu looked out the window at the passing trees, thinking, She’s been quite susceptible to reverse psychology lately…

—

As they got out of the car, Xu Jinnan told Shen Shu to wait while she retrieved two masks from the car.

She opened the packages and carefully placed the black masks over Shen Shu’s face, hooking the straps around her ears.

The mask covered most of Shen Shu’s face, making her already delicate features seem even smaller, her eyes, framed by her long, wavy hair, softer than usual.

And with the mask covering her lower face, her expressive eyes, as they met Xu Jinnan’s, had a captivating quality.

Normally, Shen Shu would have taken the mask and put it on herself, telling Xu Jinnan she could manage.

But now, the thought was fleeting.

She couldn’t deny she had grown accustomed to Xu Jinnan’s kindness, even starting to rely on it, enjoying the warmth and care.

And her usual vigilance and independence faded into the background.

—

They bought some vegetables, beef, and shrimp at the supermarket.

Xu Jinnan planned to make salt and pepper shrimp, stir-fried beef with bell peppers, and egg drop soup with greens.

She also bought some potatoes and carrots for later.

They also looked at slippers, as Xu Jinnan had forgotten to buy them last time, and Shen Shu wanted a new pair as well.

After browsing the aisle, Xu Jinnan stopped in front of a display.

Two pairs of slippers, one light blue and one light pink, with a simple daisy embroidered on the front, were hanging together. They were the prettiest ones there.

Buy one, get one free.

Of course, it wasn’t about the discount; she simply hadn’t liked any of the others.

“These are nice,” she said, touching the soft fabric.

She figured if Shen Shu didn’t like them, she could keep the extra pair.

“Okay, let’s get them,” Shen Shu agreed.

“Are you sure? Don’t you want to look at the others?”

“You bought two pairs,” Shen Shu pointed out.

Xu Jinnan smiled. “Okay, one for each of us then.”

Shen Shu didn’t reply, walking towards another aisle. “Do you want a pair of warmer slippers?”

“Huh?”

She paused, realizing she had instinctively assumed Xu Jinnan would be staying for a while, through summer, autumn, winter… she would need warmer slippers when the weather got colder.

“We can get them later,” she said, changing her mind.

Just then, Xu Jinnan tossed a pair of black, fluffy slippers into the shopping cart.

—

They didn’t realize how heavy the bags were until they carried them out of the supermarket.

Especially the potatoes, carrots, and the other groceries, along with the meat and seafood.

“Next time you go grocery shopping, don’t go alone. This is heavy,” Xu Jinnan said, struggling with the bags.

Shen Shu’s lips curved upwards slightly. “When do you ever have time?”

“If you have time, so do I.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

“Then be careful—”

Just as they stepped out of the supermarket, a heavily laden shopping cart almost collided with them. Shen Shu instinctively pulled Xu Jinnan closer, shielding her.

The person pushing the cart apologized profusely.

Xu Jinnan, recovering from the near collision, told the person to be careful. She had been about to move out of the way, but Shen Shu had reacted even faster.

The cart had barely missed them.

“Are you okay?” Shen Shu asked.

“I’m fine. It didn’t hit me,” Xu Jinnan replied, smiling faintly, her gaze lingering on their clasped hands.

She felt Shen Shu’s fingers tighten around hers for a brief moment.

Then, Shen Shu hesitated, as if about to pull away.

Xu Jinnan’s heart skipped a beat.

Someone pushing a shopping cart behind them told them to move, and Xu Jinnan, tightening her grip on Shen Shu’s hand, pulled her along.

They crossed the street, walked through the apartment complex grounds, then down the path to their building, their hands still clasped together.

They walked in silence, their thoughts elsewhere, yet a comfortable silence, a shared understanding passing between them.

Like a gentle breeze dispelling the morning mist, a sliver of light breaking through, faint but perceptible.

Neither of them dared to rush, afraid of shattering the fragile peace.

Only when they reached the elevator, Xu Jinnan, reaching for her phone, released Shen Shu’s hand.

—

Back at the apartment, Shen Shu went to take a shower, and Xu Jinnan, holding her pajamas, sat on the sofa, watching TV and scrolling through her phone.

A few minutes later, the bathroom door opened, and Shen Shu emerged, wearing her blue-gray pajamas. “You can go now,” she said.

“Okay.”

Xu Jinnan stood up, then, as Shen Shu was about to go to the bedroom, she paused.

“Shu Shu.”

“Yes?”

“You looked really beautiful today,” she said.

—

Xu Jinnan’s plans to visit Qucheng were put on hold due to some issues with the live streaming app and the North District project. She had been too busy to think about anything else, her phone constantly ringing.

By the time she had some free time, it was already time for Shen Shu to start filming her new drama.

The last day of September.

The Full Dress production held its opening ceremony at Dafo Mountain.

With Xia Chun and Tan Jie involved, and Shen Shu’s recent surge in popularity, a single photo from the ceremony quickly trended online.

#XiaChun

#ShenShuOutfit

#FullDressOpeningCeremony

Xu Jinnan clicked on Shen Shu’s trending topic. The photo showed Shen Shu standing at the foot of the temple steps, wearing an avocado green dress and a beige trench coat, her long, dark hair flowing down her back, her lips a bright red, a gentle smile on her face.

The breeze ruffled her hair and the hem of her dress.

Link to the trench coat, please!

She’s so beautiful! Every photo is stunning!

Wife!

I love you, sis!

Her again? Seriously?

Beautiful my ass. She’s ugly.

Xu Jinnan scrolled through the comments, then tapped on her phone, replying to one of the trolls.

Are you beautiful?

To her surprise, the troll replied a few seconds later.

None of your business, idiot!

Xu Jinnan: “?”

It had been a while since she had been called an idiot. It was strangely invigorating.

The troll’s ID was ICan’tBeTamed.

RichSisterWithStamina replied: @ICan’tBeTamed Who are you calling an idiot?

ICan’tBeTamed: Get lost, Shen Shu fans! Stop trying to be relevant!

ICan’tBeTamed: She’s disgusting. How can someone like that be an actress?

Before Xu Jinnan could reply, other users jumped in.

Why are you so hateful? She’s pretty.

ICan’tBeTamed: Pretty? She’s had plastic surgery!

ShuBaoYeah: You’re the one who needs plastic surgery! Are you insane? What did she ever do to you?

ICan’tBeTamed: So what if she had plastic surgery? I can’t even say anything now? My friend works at a plastic surgery clinic. She said Shen Shu had a nose job, twice! Putting on that aloof act, I bet she can’t even smile properly. Her smile is so fake. She’s ugly!

RichSisterWithStamina: I don’t know if you can be tamed, but you’re definitely about to be deleted.

ICan’tBeTamed: Oh, I’m so scared! Idiot! Shen Shu is a plastic surgery freak! And you fans, stop messaging me! I’ll call her a plastic surgery freak every time I see her!

Just then, Zhou Pei and Viola entered the office with a stack of reports, and saw Xu Jinnan leaning against her hand, rapidly typing on her phone.

Xu Jinnan looked up at them, then continued typing. “Someone get me Legal,” she said.

—

Chapter 55 p2

Shen Shu closed her bedroom door and stood there for a moment, the soft, yellow light of the bedside lamp casting a warm glow, like an old photograph.

She looked down at her fingertip.

She took a deep breath.

I should have washed my hands…

She glanced at the glass of water on her nightstand, then went to the bathroom and rinsed her hand under the faucet, the lingering warmth finally fading.

But the heat within her remained, and she touched her racing pulse. Her heat cycle was definitely approaching.

Otherwise, these thoughts and feelings wouldn’t be so persistent.

—

The next morning, with her meeting canceled, Xu Jinnan slept in, a rare luxury these days.

She woke up a little after 9 a.m.

“Are you having breakfast?” Shen Shu asked.

Xu Jinnan shook her head. “No, I have a lunch meeting.”

“Okay.”

“I’ll be near Wanhe Plaza. I can drop you off. No need to drive. Viola can take you to the studio later,” she offered.

Shen Shu considered it. “Alright,” she agreed. She didn’t enjoy driving.

—

Xu Jinnan dropped Shen Shu off at Wanhe Plaza, where Cai Ying was waiting.

After saying goodbye, Shen Shu walked over to Cai Ying, who was still looking around. “What are you looking at?”

Cai Ying stared at the white Bentley disappearing in the distance. “Who was driving? Someone new?” she asked. She remembered Xu Jinnan’s driver being a woman named Zhou.

“Xu Jinnan’s new secretary,” Shen Shu replied.

“New secretary? Alpha? Omega? Or Beta?”

“I don’t know.”

“Seriously? Don’t you have any sense of danger? Your wife has a female secretary, and you don’t even know what she is?” Cai Ying exclaimed.

I can’t exactly ask, Shen Shu thought.

“Let me tell you, some people, even with a beautiful wife at home, still crave novelty, especially with a secretary constantly by their side,” Cai Ying continued, exasperated by Shen Shu’s apparent indifference.

While Shen Shu had reason to be confident, Xu Jinnan’s past reputation was still a concern. Even if Shen Shu didn’t care, Cai Ying felt obligated to protect her.

—

After lunch, Viola arrived.

Cai Ying, making an excuse about having errands near the studio, joined them in the car, observing Viola for a moment before asking with a smile, “Viola, you’re so pretty! And so tall! Are you an Alpha?”

Shen Shu: “…” She hasn’t even gotten out of the car. How can you tell she’s tall?

“Thank you, Miss Cai. Yes, I’m an Alpha,” Viola replied.

Cai Ying’s eyes widened, and she immediately turned to Shen Shu – See? An Alpha! And your wife is an Omega!

Shen Shu: “…”

“Being Xu Jinnan’s secretary must be tough. Are you single? Otherwise, you wouldn’t have time for a girlfriend,” Cai Ying continued.

Viola smiled. “You’re right. I am single.”

Cai Ying turned to Shen Shu again – See? And she’s single!

Shen Shu stopped her before she could say anything more.

As they got out of the car, Cai Ying grabbed Shen Shu’s arm. “Shu Shu, even though Xu Jinnan is an Omega, and you’re married, and she seems to prefer Omegas, Alphas are naturally attracted to Omegas, and that secretary is pretty. You have to be careful!”

Shen Shu, after finally managing to get rid of Cai Ying, stood at the entrance of the studio, feeling a strange tightness in her chest.

—

That afternoon, after finishing her work, Xu Jinnan received a call from Chen Yue.

The late afternoon sun wasn’t as intense as earlier, and she drove to the same old residential area.

Chen Yue wasn’t wearing his usual chain today, his demeanor slightly more subdued, but he still greeted her with a familiar, slightly thuggish grin. “CEO Xu.”

“Call him,” Xu Jinnan said, getting straight to the point.

Half an hour earlier, Chen Yue had called, saying he had found Wang Zheng again, and this time, he hadn’t run. He had even agreed to talk to Xu Jinnan.

But Chen Yue couldn’t stay with him.

Xu Jinnan had agreed.

After all, Chen Yue alone might not be able to control him.

Chen Yue dialed the number Wang Zheng had given him. Xu Jinnan suspected he had simply been stalling for time, but the call connected.

“Hello?”

“This is Xu Jinnan.”

The sound of heavy breathing and exhaling smoke came through the line.

It was the second time she had heard Wang Zheng’s voice. “I didn’t run. This is too dangerous. I was going to risk it and sell you the information, but I was discovered,” he said, his voice hoarse. “The Xu family is too deep. It’s not worth risking my life.”

“Who’s threatening your life?”

“Anyone but you.”

Xu Jinnan paused. “Someone from my family?”

Wang Zheng took another drag from his cigarette. “Not just the Xu family. Everyone there is strange. But I haven’t investigated that deeply… Anyway, I destroyed everything I found. I can’t give you any information. CEO Xu, we’re both just trying to make a living. You’re not going to push me to my death, are you?”

“Of course not. I’m a reasonable person,” Xu Jinnan replied. “But you took my money, and I got nothing in return. Isn’t that a little unreasonable?”

Wang Zheng paused. “I can’t return the money. What do you want?” His tone was slightly pleading.

“How about this, answer one question, and we’ll call it even,” Xu Jinnan suggested.

Wang Zheng considered it. “Go ahead.”

“Who was the last person you investigated?”

“Lu Yun.”

“CEO Xu, you have to keep your word,” Wang Zheng reminded her.

“Of course. That money is nothing to me. I can even give you another million, as long as you tell me everything you know. Contact me when you’ve made up your mind.”

Xu Jinnan hung up.

Lu Yun.

This wasn’t what she had expected. She had thought it would be someone else in the Xu family, like Xu Lian, or perhaps her wife.

The original Xu Jinnan’s letter had mentioned meeting Xu Lian’s wife.

She gave Chen Yue some money.

He looked at the thick wad of cash, then asked, “CEO Xu, why didn’t you ask more questions?” Judging by the amount, she must have paid Wang Zheng a lot.

One question seemed like a waste.

“Find someone else, someone discreet, to keep an eye on him. No contact, just track his movements,” she instructed.

“I thought you were letting it go,” Chen Yue said.

“Do you think I print money?”

“Whatever is threatening him is also protecting him… If you can find it, the money is yours,” she said.

Chen Yue’s eyes lit up. “One million?”

Xu Jinnan nodded.

After he promised to find it, she added, “I need you to accompany me somewhere in a couple of days.”

“Where?”

“Qucheng.”

She felt like she needed to visit the place herself, perhaps to trigger more of the original Xu Jinnan’s memories.

—

It was a little past 4 p.m.

Shen Shu returned to the studio after her magazine photoshoot, and Xinxin helped her adjust her dress.

“You should have seen the looks on their faces!” Xinxin said excitedly. “And they were so polite to me today, catering to my every need, afraid of tiring you out. Look, even the cushion on the chair is new!” People were always quick to abandon those who fell from grace, and even quicker to fawn over those who rose to power.

The incidents with Ren Xiaoqi and the live stream had made Shen Shu famous.

“Speaking of Ren Xiaoqi, she’s having a tough time. After losing several endorsement deals, she can’t even get any decent roles. I heard she’s even auditioning for maid roles now,” Xinxin said.

Shen Shu took a sip of water through a straw, murmuring in acknowledgement, but didn’t comment.

Ren Xiaoqi had tried to ruin her reputation for clout.

This was her just desserts.

But she remembered Tong Jia mentioning that Xu Jinnan wasn’t satisfied with Ren Xiaoqi’s apology and was planning something else.

She hadn’t thought much of it at the time, but later, she had overheard Xu Jinnan on the phone, saying she wouldn’t let Ren Xiaoqi have an easy time in the industry for at least a year.

Xu Jinnan was fiercely protective of those she cared about…

Like with Qiao Rui, she had gone to great lengths to help Tong Jia, while also being considerate of her feelings.

Xu Jinnan was a good person, and once people realized she wasn’t the monster they imagined, once they saw her true nature, they would adore her.

Xinxin mentioned Tong Jia, saying she and Tong Jia had been reading a fanfic based on an ABO novel. “The one that was shared in the group chat. Have you read it?”

“No,” Shen Shu replied. She had seen the link, but hadn’t clicked on it. She wasn’t interested in novels.

It was probably a story about her and Xu Jinnan.

Hearing Xinxin’s description, she suddenly felt a flicker of curiosity.

Xinxin’s eyes crinkled as she smiled. “It’s quite steamy~ Imagine you dominating CEO Xu… You should check it out.” She returned to the topic of Tong Jia. “The author started updating again recently. I told Jia-jie about it, but she’s clearly just pretending to be happy. I wanted to cheer her up, but it seems pointless.”

“Heartbreak takes time to heal, no matter who you are. Give her some space,” Shen Shu said.

“Shu Shu,” Xinxin asked hesitantly, “have you ever experienced heartbreak?” Then, she bit her lip. “Sorry, you don’t have to answer that. I shouldn’t have asked.”

Shen Shu shook her head. “It’s fine.”

—

As she was sitting in front of the mirror, Xu Jinnan called, asking when she would be done.

She was coming to pick her up.

Xinxin’s eyes lit up. “So sweet! I wonder when I’ll find true love,” she said, helping Shen Shu pin up her hair so she could change.

Then, she remembered something. “Shu Shu, was that CEO Xu’s new secretary who drove you here today?” she asked.

“How did you know?”

“I called Jia-jie yesterday, and she said it was CEO Xu’s new secretary who called the police.”

“I see.”

“What is she? Alpha, Beta, or Omega?”

Shen Shu, looking at her lovestruck expression, sighed. “Alpha.”

“Whoa…”

After a moment, Xinxin hesitated. “Shu Shu, you should be careful. She’s pretty. And nowadays, Alphas like Alphas, and Omegas like Omegas. And a secretary is always by her side…”

Shen Shu: “…”

Xinxin wouldn’t normally say such things, but perhaps because of the drama with Tong Jia, she was being overly cautious, like Cai Ying.

Shen Shu’s feelings were complex. Two people had warned her in just a few hours.

“She is pretty,” she admitted softly.

“But not as pretty as you! I’ve never seen anyone more beautiful! But Jia-jie’s experience has traumatized me. You and CEO Xu are my relationship goals! Don’t break my heart! So, I’m a little… Don’t mind me, Shu Shu. I just love a good conspiracy theory,” Xinxin said.

Shen Shu: “…”

“I’m serious. You’re stunning, no matter how many times I see you,” Xinxin said, stepping back and admiring Shen Shu’s reflection in the mirror. “And that dress! Especially the back! To quote a popular saying, I could stare at it all day.” She giggled. She had a habit of saying suggestive things, like Tong Jia.

“If CEO Xu saw you like this, she wouldn’t be able to handle it,” she added.

Shen Shu’s long, dark hair, thick and glossy, had been styled in loose waves for the photoshoot, and a few strands had escaped her updo, framing her face.

The backless dress accentuated her elegant figure, her pale skin a stark contrast to her dark hair and red lips.

Her reflection in the mirror was breathtakingly beautiful.

“Your hair is done. Are you changing now?” Xinxin asked.

Shen Shu looked at her reflection, then said, “Later.”

Xinxin understood instantly.

—

When Xu Jinnan opened the door, the scent of makeup filled the air.

Shen Shu was sitting sideways, still wearing her sparkly dress. Xu Jinnan walked in, a habitual smile playing on her lips. “Not done yet?”

“No,” Shen Shu replied, glancing at her.

Xu Jinnan’s eyelashes fluttered, her eyes widening slightly.

Shen Shu’s dress was a nude-colored, sequined slip dress, the low neckline revealing the smooth, pale skin of her neck and chest.

The tattoo on her collarbone was covered with makeup and glitter, shimmering like a galaxy in the bright lights of the dressing room.

Her waist was slender, her legs long and shapely beneath the asymmetrical hem of the dress.

Xu Jinnan’s gaze lingered on her delicate ankles, thinking, An anklet would be perfect.

A thin, silver one.

“CEO Xu, you’re drooling,” Xinxin said, trying to suppress a smile.

“…” “Learn some manners from Tong Jia,” Xu Jinnan retorted.

Xinxin laughed.

Shen Shu, looking away, reached for her water glass, then realized it was empty.

The kettle was also empty.

“No more water?” Xu Jinnan asked.

“Can you refill it?” Shen Shu asked, a rare request.

Xu Jinnan, pleased, walked over to the kettle. “Of course,” she said, looking at Shen Shu for a moment.

As she left the room with the kettle, she licked her lips, thinking, How can someone be so beautiful?

On her way back, she almost bumped into a woman looking down at her phone.

“Excuse me,” the woman murmured.

Xu Jinnan realized it was Tan Jie.

She nodded curtly, about to walk past her, when Tan Jie said, “Miss Xu, are you here to pick up Shen Shu? I haven’t congratulated her yet. I heard she’s already getting offers from other productions.”

Xinxin had gone to return some props, leaving the door ajar, and Shen Shu, noticing people peeking inside, stood up to close it. As she reached the doorway, she glanced outside and froze.

Xu Jinnan was talking to Tan Jie.

Then, Xu Jinnan turned around, their eyes meeting.

Shen Shu quickly looked away and closed the door.

A moment later, the door opened again, and Xu Jinnan entered, placing the glass of water on Shen Shu’s table.

“Thank you,” Shen Shu said, her voice cool and distant, her gaze fixed on a game on her phone.

Xu Jinnan looked down, thinking for a moment. “Tan Jie congratulated you earlier. I ignored her,” she said.

“Okay,” Shen Shu replied, still not looking up.

What’s so interesting about that puzzle game? Xu Jinnan wondered.

She wasn’t offended by Shen Shu’s coldness, her mind elsewhere.

Just then, Xinxin returned, carrying two heavy garment bags. “These are for tomorrow’s shoot,” she said.

“Xinxin, can you help me with the zipper?” Shen Shu asked, putting down her phone. The dress was a fitted design, and she couldn’t reach the zipper.

“CEO Xu, can you help Shu Shu? I need to get a couple more outfits,” Xinxin said.

Xu Jinnan paused, her gaze drawn to Shen Shu’s back, the smooth skin shimmering with glitter, the nude-colored sequins accentuating the elegant lines of her spine.

A breathtakingly beautiful sight.

After a moment of silence, Shen Shu, looking at Xu Jinnan’s reflection in the mirror, said, “She can’t. You do it.”

She can’t?

How many times had Shen Shu said that now?

Xu Jinnan’s eyes darkened as she looked at Shen Shu’s back, then she placed one hand on the back of Shen Shu’s chair, the other on the table in front of her, leaning in close, as if enclosing Shen Shu in a protective embrace.

She smiled faintly. “Xinxin, why don’t you go ahead? I’ll take care of this.”

Chapter 55 p1

Shen Shu met her gaze for a brief moment, then calmly looked away.

Xu Jinnan raised an eyebrow. Shen Shu’s expression said, I knew you wouldn’t.

A playful glint entered Xu Jinnan’s eyes, and she leaned closer, her lips brushing against Shen Shu’s reddened earlobe, her warm breath a gentle caress.

A shiver ran down Shen Shu’s spine, the heat of Xu Jinnan’s breath, like the warmth of the sun, radiating outwards.

The privacy divider in the car slowly rose, enclosing them in a small, intimate space.

Xu Jinnan didn’t seem to notice, her head still bowed, her lips close to Shen Shu’s ear.

“Shu Shu,” she murmured, her voice husky, “does it still hurt? Should I blow on it again?”

Shen Shu’s breath hitched, a blush spreading across her cheeks and earlobes. She turned her head slightly, wanting to see Xu Jinnan’s expression.

The sudden proximity and the intoxicating scent of Shen Shu’s pheromones made Xu Jinnan instinctively pull back a few centimeters, her gaze shifting from Shen Shu’s flushed cheek to her lips, then to her eyes.

Their eyes met again, the air in the enclosed space suddenly charged with tension.

Just then, their phones vibrated simultaneously.

Xu Jinnan smiled faintly. “Guess who that is? I think it might be your little friend.”

“You’re in my work group chat too,” Shen Shu retorted.

“Want to make a bet?”

“On what?”

“A favor,” Xu Jinnan suggested.

“Alright,” Shen Shu agreed.

She took out her phone, and a notification from Cai Ying popped up in the “No PDA Allowed” group chat.

“I lose,” Xu Jinnan said. “What do you want?”

“I wouldn’t waste a favor from Miss Shen on something trivial,” Xu Jinnan replied, a smile playing on her lips as she opened the group chat. “I’ll hold onto it for now.”

Cai Ying: [Screaming incoherently]

Cai Ying: [@Xu Jinnan @Shen Shu Are you done yet? Are you free? Can you join the voice chat?!!!]

Cai Ying: [Why didn’t you invite me?!]

Cai Ying: [I missed part of it. Shu Shu, did that bitch hit you? I heard your agent say something about protecting you??? Tell me what happened!!!]

Cai Ying: [@Xu Jinnan I saw that kick! So cool! Xu Jinnan, tell me, after you turned off the live stream, did you beat her up?! If you say no, I’ll lose all respect for you!!!!!]

Xu Jinnan: [You’re hurting my eyes.]

Cai Ying sent a voice message. “Where’s Shu Shu? Did that bitch hurt her? The internet is going crazy! Can you join the voice chat?”

Xu Jinnan and Shen Shu exchanged a look, then called Cai Ying.

Cai Ying hung up and immediately initiated a video call.

Xu Jinnan handed the phone to Shen Shu.

“Shu Shu, let me see! Are you hurt?” Cai Ying’s earlier excitement had vanished, replaced by concern, having received no response to her frantic messages.

It was almost 8 p.m., the city lights visible through the car windows, but the back seat was still dimly lit.

Shen Shu angled her head slightly, showing Cai Ying her ear. “It’s fine.”

“It looks a little red in this light. How can it be fine? Xu Jinnan, how could you let her get hurt?! This is your fault!”

“Yes, it’s my fault,” Xu Jinnan said, her voice serious.

Shen Shu, without looking up, murmured, “It wasn’t her fault.”

“Oh, defending her already? It’s so red! It must hurt! Did she hit your face too? Your face looks a little red too,” Cai Ying said, her concern evident.

“No, it’s just the lighting,” Shen Shu replied.

Xu Jinnan looked at Shen Shu’s ear again.

It was definitely redder than before, but the dim lighting in the car made it difficult to tell how bad it was.

After a few more questions about the incident, and learning that Xu Jinnan had indeed “beaten up” Qiao Rui, Cai Ying’s mood improved considerably.

“You go, girl! That bitch deserves it! She hit my Shu Shu! I hope she gets beaten up in prison every day!”

Xu Jinnan said that certain types of criminals weren’t well-received in prison, especially those convicted of sex crimes, particularly those involving minors. Qiao Rui’s life wouldn’t be easy.

Cai Ying suggested having dinner together the next day, but Xu Jinnan had work, so they agreed to meet for lunch with Shen Shu.

After discussing the online frenzy, Cai Ying briefly mentioned Han Ling, saying things were progressing well, but they weren’t officially dating yet. She would let them know when they were.

Shen Shu didn’t comment. As Xu Jinnan had said, Cai Ying was an adult and could make her own decisions. She couldn’t treat her like a child, even if she was worried.

—

They arrived at Xingcheng International, and Xu Jinnan asked Viola to take the car back.

“CEO Xu, what time should I pick you up tomorrow morning?”

Xu Jinnan thought for a moment, then turned to Shen Shu. “What time are you leaving?”

“10:30 a.m. I’ll drive myself,” Shen Shu replied. She was planning to read scripts in the morning and meet Cai Ying at 11 a.m.

She subtly observed Viola, who had long, wavy auburn hair and pleasant, though not conventionally beautiful, features, the kind that grew on you.

“I have a meeting at 9 a.m. Come at 8:30 a.m.,” Xu Jinnan said to Viola.

“Certainly.”

—

Back at the apartment, Xu Jinnan turned on the lights and walked over to Shen Shu, bending down to examine her ear.

“This side is definitely redder,” she said, her hand gently brushing against Shen Shu’s earlobe, which felt hot to the touch.

“It’s a little warm,” she commented.

Shen Shu’s heart skipped a beat. Her first instinct wasn’t to pull away; Xu Jinnan’s hand was soft, her skin smooth.

Xu Jinnan went to the freezer, retrieved an ice pack, wrapped it in a washcloth, and handed it to Shen Shu. “Take a shower first, then use this,” she said.

Shen Shu stood there for a moment, listening to the faint chirping of cicadas, or perhaps it was something else. Her thoughts were scattered.

She watched as Xu Jinnan took a washcloth from the bathroom and wrapped it around the ice pack.

Even with such a simple task, Xu Jinnan was careful and attentive.

It made her feel strangely cherished, as if she was truly important, her heart warming at the gesture.

Then, a thought crossed her mind, and the warmth faded slightly.

Don’t be like Esmeralda, she reminded herself. Don’t be blinded by fleeting emotions.

But as Xu Jinnan returned with the ice pack, testing it against her own cheek before handing it to Shen Shu, Shen Shu thought, Perhaps even Esmeralda couldn’t have helped herself.

—

After her shower, Xu Jinnan sat in the living room for a while, as usual, then finally had time to check Weibo.

Several trending topics caught her eye.

#CheatingBitchExposedLive

#ShenShuWeibo

#ShenShuAgentGetsRevenge

Two of them were still trending high.

The live stream had been posted on Shen Shu’s Weibo account, the caption, “A cheater’s just desserts,” suggested by Tong Jia.

She noticed Xia Chun had reposted it, but didn’t think much of it.

The replay was still available, with over a hundred thousand views and countless comments.

My wife is so badass! I love her!

Yes! Rot in jail! Shu Shu is amazing! Poor agent, but I admire her courage! Expose all the cheaters!

Is that my wife’s wife who kicked her? So cool! I’m shipping them now!

Supporting Shu Shu! Hugs for the agent! Everything will be alright. Justice will prevail!

Thank you for exposing this! Thank you for showing everyone the true face of evil! While this isn’t ideal, it takes courage to stand up like this! I hope this serves as a warning to all cheaters! Those sixty-something women must be shaking in their boots right now! This is karma!

These were the top comments, with thousands of likes.

Many of them were about the social significance of the incident.

Xu Jinnan’s gaze lingered on the word “wife.”

Wife? she thought, a silent smile playing on her lips. Do they have a marriage certificate?

She clicked on the third trending topic and saw the top reply: The NanShu CP super topic is open! Join us!

Nan… Shu? What kind of name is that?

Curious, she clicked on the link.

There were already over thirty posts.

The first one, a giveaway post, was from a user named “WhoDaresBreakUpMyCP.”

NanShu CP Super Topic (Xu Jinnan x Shen Shu). Check in for a month + like, comment, and repost, and ten lucky winners will receive a 50,000 yuan red envelope. Monthly giveaway, no expiration date.

The accompanying image was… their marriage certificate.

Xu Jinnan: “…” 500,000 yuan per month, with no expiration date.

Were fans this rich nowadays?

She reread the post, a smile playing on her lips. It was rather amusing.

She followed the super topic and the user “WhoDaresBreakUpMyCP,” then checked in, reposting the giveaway post and adding a comment, mimicking the others: Long live the CP! Hoping to win!

She chuckled at her own comment.

Remembering her earlier troubles, she set her privacy settings to only allow messages from followers.

She immediately received a private message from ShuShu’sNumberOneFan.

ShuShu’sNumberOneFan: [Crying emoji Boss Lady, you’re a CP fan?!]

ShuShu’sNumberOneFan: [I’m Shu Shu’s solo stan!]

RichSisterWithStamina: [?]

Oh, right.

Just then, a notification from her work group chat popped up.

They were discussing the “Show” live streaming app, which had been developed using modified open-source code. It wasn’t the final product yet and still had some glitches, occasionally lagging when there were too many users.

But Xu Jinnan was satisfied with its popularity, even though it had been released earlier than planned.

The download count had exceeded one hundred thousand, and donations had reached over one hundred fifty thousand yuan in just one hour.

The initial success had boosted everyone’s morale.

Short videos and live streaming would become the dominant form of entertainment in the future, and she had been focusing most of her energy on this project, even designing the app’s icon herself – a white “Show” logo on a black background, surrounded by a translucent rainbow halo.

Their next step was to recruit streamers, which would be a significant expense.

Xu Jinnan did some quick calculations, then concluded – she was rich.

After discussing the next steps with her team, someone suggested: [After this is over, should we have a team-building event?]

Xu Jinnan: [Sure.]

Some suggested a camping trip with barbecue, others a day trip to a nearby scenic spot, and some suggested a farm stay.

Xu Jinnan: [Camping sounds good.] A change of scenery would be nice.

Designer Qi: [I know a great camping spot with hot springs! Looking forward to it!]

Finance Director Nana: [CEO Xu, can we bring our families?]

Xu Jinnan: [Of course.]

HR: [So, CEO Xu will be bringing her wife~]

Finance Director Nana: [We can meet the superstar then! Starry-eyed emoji]

Xu Jinnan paused. Bringing Shen Shu to a camping trip with her employees wasn’t ideal, but it was too late to backtrack now.

[We’ll discuss it later.]

Speaking of Shen Shu, she suddenly remembered Shen Shu was starting filming her new drama next week, and she hadn’t asked about the fan support yet.

She opened Weibo.

ShuShu’sNumberOneFan was tagging her in the group chat.

ShuShu’sNumberOneFan: [@RichSisterWithStamina Boss Lady!!! I wasn’t finished!!!]

ShuShu’sNumberOneFan: [Boss Lady, please don’t block me! Hear me out!]

ShuShu’sPuppy: [Hahaha, what did you do, Number One?]

ShuShu’sNumberOneFan: [@RichSisterWithStamina For the sake of your CP, I’m willing to ship it!!!]

MyNameIsKing: [lol]

ShuFan: [Hahaha, I thought you were a solo stan?]

ShuShu’sNumberOneFan: [That was before I saw the live stream! CEO Xu is such a badass! I’m totally shipping them now!]

RichSisterWithStamina: [CEO Xu is definitely a badass.]

RichSisterWithStamina: [How are the preparations for the fan support going?]

ShuShu’sNumberOneFan: [!! Everything is perfect! It’s all coming together! Shu Shu will be so happy!]

She posted a detailed list of their preparations, clearly well-organized and meticulously planned.

These fans were truly dedicated, spending their time and effort, even their own money, to support Shen Shu, some of them even working full-time jobs and staying up late to counter negative comments.

Xu Jinnan, touched by their dedication, unblocked ShuShu’sNumberOneFan and sent a message.

RichSisterWithStamina: [Thank you for your hard work.]

RichSisterWithStamina: [Red envelope]

Weibo red envelopes had limits on the amount and number of recipients, so she maxed them both out.

ShuShu’sPuppy: [Holy shit!!!]

ShuShu’sPuppy: [Boss Lady!!! Can I be your fan too?!]

ShuBaoYYDS: [It’s not about the money, it’s about your stamina. Blushing emoji]

MyNameIsKing: [How are you guys so fast? Can your routers handle this much traffic?]

Xu Jinnan raised an eyebrow. It was just a burner account; she could say whatever she wanted.

RichSisterWithStamina: [Sorry, you can’t handle my stamina.]

ShuShu’sNumberOneFan: [Hahaha!]

ShuShu’sPuppy: [Hahaha!]

…

A chorus of laughter followed.

Shen Shu’s work group chat was also celebrating her rising popularity, her follower count approaching three million, but they were also offering words of comfort and support for Tong Jia.

Tong Jia had sent a red envelope in the chat, suggesting a celebratory dinner tomorrow.

While the Qiao Rui incident seemed to have been resolved perfectly, with Shen Shu, Sacred Heart Pictures, Tong Jia, and even Xu Jinnan benefiting from it, it had come at Tong Jia’s expense.

Justice had been served, but it had also left a deep wound, a scar from a seven-year relationship.

It would take time to heal.

A long time.

—

Xu Jinnan reviewed the day’s events. It was almost midnight. She had only had some noodles with Shen Shu for dinner and was feeling hungry.

She got up and went to the kitchen, taking a package of sweet cream bread from the cupboard.

As she took a bite, her phone slipped from her hand and fell to the floor, sliding under the sofa.

Xu Jinnan: “…”

She put down the bread, crouched down, and reached under the sofa, her fingers brushing against the edge of her phone. She pushed it further with her fingertips, then lowered her body, finally kneeling on the floor.

The cold tiles sent a shiver down her spine.

Just then, Shen Shu opened the bedroom door and saw Xu Jinnan kneeling on the floor, her black T-shirt riding up, her legs exposed.

Shen Shu’s gaze lingered on the smooth skin of her thighs.

“Xu Jinnan…” she said, her voice tight.

Xu Jinnan, retrieving her phone, blew on it to remove the dust. “It fell,” she explained, standing up and meeting Shen Shu’s disapproving gaze. “Did I wake you?”

Shen Shu didn’t reply, her gaze drawn to the smear of cream on the corner of Xu Jinnan’s lips, her lips a soft, peachy pink, the color of a ripening fruit.

The sight made her want to reach out and touch them.

“Come here,” she said.

Xu Jinnan raised an eyebrow, puzzled, but walked over. “What’s—”

Shen Shu gently wiped the cream from her lips. Xu Jinnan’s lips parted slightly as she spoke, and Shen Shu’s fingertip brushed against her lower lip.

Xu Jinnan looked down at her, noticing the lingering redness on Shen Shu’s earlobes.

“Cream,” Shen Shu said calmly, looking away and wiping her finger with a tissue.

“Oh,” Xu Jinnan replied.

She had been about to say she could wash it off herself.

She watched as Shen Shu returned to her room, her thoughts wandering.

After a moment, she went to wash her hands, then picked up the pastry again, a smile playing on her lips as she ate.

—

 

 

Chapter 54 p3

They sat opposite each other at the table.

Tong Jia poured Qiao Rui a glass of her favorite orange juice, the same brand she always bought.

“Do you really want to go back to how things were?”

Qiao Rui’s eyes lit up. “Of course, Jia Jia! We’ve been together for so many years. You’re not just my lover; you’re family. I’ve grown accustomed to you, and I know you don’t want to lose me either,” she said, her voice full of emotion.

Tong Jia thought, How many times have I heard those words? How many times have I been fooled?

“If you truly feel that way, then let’s be honest with each other.”

“What do you want to know?”

“I saw the messages you exchanged with your students. Did you sleep with all of them? Anyone even remotely attractive?”

“Of course not, Jia Jia! I’m not that disgusting,” Qiao Rui said, the words making Tong Jia’s stomach churn. “Life was just so boring, and I needed some excitement. I never intended to sleep with my students. They were the ones who seduced me. I’m sorry, I just couldn’t resist… If you come back to me, I’ll change.”

“Don’t lie to me. I read every single message. Based on your chat history, you’ve slept with sixty-five women in the past two years, most of them your students. And besides the married ones,” Tong Jia said, her voice firm and unwavering, “you also slept with several newly differentiated Omegas.”

Qiao Rui’s face paled.

Tong Jia looked at her, her voice cold. “Newly differentiated Omegas are still considered minors. Sleeping with a minor, regardless of consent, is statutory rape. That’s why you used Shen Shu to threaten me, isn’t it?”

“You…”

Tong Jia had only seen the messages, no names. How had she found out so quickly?

Qiao Rui put down her chopsticks, her gentle facade crumbling. “Jia Jia, you didn’t invite me here for dinner, did you? You’re threatening me too?”

Tong Jia was silent for a long moment, then shook her head. “No, I just can’t understand. You knew it was illegal! How could you do that? Those students were minors!”

“There were only three! And they weren’t my students!” Qiao Rui exclaimed, her voice rising in panic. “Jia Jia, I won’t do it again! Let’s just pretend this never happened, okay?”

“Whether they were your students or not, they were still underage. Even if we got back together, how can I be sure it won’t happen again?”

“Those incidents with the minors were last year. I was scared too. I swear, it won’t happen again!” Qiao Rui pleaded, her voice trembling slightly.

She was scared.

Tong Jia smiled, her carefully applied makeup failing to hide the coldness in her eyes. “So, you admit it. You slept with minors.”

Qiao Rui, desperate to placate her, knowing this could ruin her career, her life, said, “Yes, I admit it. But I said it won’t happen again! Jia Jia, I was wrong! I truly was! I regretted it every time, but I also felt lucky…”

Tong Jia’s expression remained unchanged.

“If it happens again, do whatever you want. Even if you expose me and ruin my career, I won’t say a word!” Qiao Rui said, her voice and expression sincere.

“Qiao Rui, if you had said that from the start, perhaps things wouldn’t have come to this,” Tong Jia said, standing up. “But you were too scared, so you made the wrong choice. I can’t believe I loved someone like you.”

She glanced towards the closed bedroom door. “CEO Xu, Shu Shu, you can come out now.”

As soon as she finished speaking, the door opened.

Xu Jinnan emerged, scrolling through her phone.

Qiao Rui, turning to see her, was stunned. “Xu… you?!”

Xu Jinnan walked over to the bookshelf, gestured towards a small camera hidden in a gap between the books, then looked at Qiao Rui. “Miss Qiao, say hello to our viewers,” she said calmly.

“What are you talking about?” Qiao Rui asked, her blood running cold. “Live stream…?”

She instinctively lunged towards Xu Jinnan, trying to grab the camera.

Xu Jinnan kicked her to the floor. “I said say hello to the viewers, not to me,” she said coldly.

The camera’s view zoomed out slightly, showing the room.

The link to the live stream had been circulating on Weibo since Qiao Rui entered the apartment, and Xu Jinnan had paid to have it promoted as a trending topic.

And with Shen Shu’s recent popularity, she had included Shen Shu’s name and tagged her Weibo account, along with Sacred Heart Pictures’ official account, in the post.

A public spectacle.

#CheatingBitchExposedLive

#ShenShuAgentGetsRevenge

#ShowLiveStreamDownload

The hashtags quickly trended.

The comments sections exploded.

Within minutes, the first two live stream links had over two thousand comments each.

The viewer count on the first link jumped from five thousand to over ten thousand, everyone eager to witness the drama unfold.

While online exposés were common, a live stream broadcast of a confrontation like this was a first.

Combined with the sensitive topic of infidelity, the hashtags exploded.

The comments section was a flurry of activity.

Holy shit, what a bitch! Call the police!

Who’s the one who kicked her? So badass!

A minor?!?!?!

This trash deserves to die!

Beat her up!

Just tuned in. What happened?

I want to watch the replay! What about a minor?

Isn’t she a dance teacher? I think I’ve seen her before.

For those who missed it, the cheating bitch in gray slept with 65 women behind her girlfriend’s back (Shen Shu’s agent), most of them students, including three minors (she claims they weren’t her students, but admitted to sleeping with three minors). Afraid of being exposed, she tried to use Shen Shu as leverage… and now Shen Shu’s wife and her agent are getting their revenge.

Don’t try to scheme against someone smarter than you.

Thanks for the summary! Did anyone call the police? I just did.

Is that Xu Jinnan, the one with the powerful background?

I want the contact information of those 65 women…

The comments flew by too quickly to read.

The viewer count continued to climb. People watching in cafes, offices, buses, subways, even bathrooms… all glued to their screens, witnessing the drama unfold in that small apartment.

…

Qiao Rui scrambled to her feet, looking at Tong Jia in disbelief. “Tong Jia, you tricked me?!”

“You have the nerve to say that?” Tong Jia retorted. “I never knew you were such a good liar. But it doesn’t matter. Qiao Rui, you have to pay for your actions.”

“Do you want something to eat?” Xu Jinnan asked, her voice cold. “You won’t get such fine dining in prison.”

Qiao Rui gritted her teeth, her forehead damp with sweat, her heart pounding in her chest.

“You’re ruining me, Tong Jia! You’re ruining my life!” she shrieked, sweeping the dishes off the table. “Tong Jia!!!”

Tong Jia, looking at her frantic expression, her own eyes reddening slightly, said, her voice cold and hard, “You ruined yourself, Qiao Rui. You ruined yourself the moment you started living this disgusting life. Spend the rest of your days rotting in jail.”

“You bitch!!”

Qiao Rui lunged at Tong Jia, raising her hand to strike. Shen Shu, standing beside Tong Jia, instinctively stepped in front of her, shielding her.

The blow landed on Shen Shu’s ear, the impact stinging, the skin instantly turning red.

The casual amusement vanished from Xu Jinnan’s face. She grabbed Qiao Rui’s hair, yanking her head back.

“Let go of me!” Qiao Rui screamed.

Tong Jia turned to Shen Shu, her voice filled with concern. “Shu Shu, are you okay?! Why did you do that?!”

“I’m fine,” Shen Shu replied, shaking her head.

“Tong Jia, turn off the live stream,” Xu Jinnan said coldly, her voice brooking no argument.

Qiao Rui, struggling in her grasp, reached for Xu Jinnan’s hand.

Xu Jinnan shoved her to the floor, then, bending down, quickly pinned her arms behind her back.

Tong Jia looked at Qiao Rui, then at Xu Jinnan, and without hesitation, went to turn off the live stream.

“Let go of me! Xu Jinnan! Tong Jia, after all these years, this is how you treat me?! I never wanted to hurt you! Tong Jia! Ah!” Qiao Rui screamed, her Alpha pheromones surging as she struggled against Xu Jinnan’s hold.

Shen Shu, though an S-class Omega, felt a wave of nausea from Qiao Rui’s B-class pheromones and reached out to steady Tong Jia, whose face had paled.

Despite her anger and betrayal, she still cared about Qiao Rui, perhaps even loved her.

Qiao Rui, her face contorted in a mask of rage and despair, her life seemingly crumbling before her eyes, looked terrifying.

“Shu Shu, I’ve asked Viola to call the police. Go check if they’re here,” Xu Jinnan said, wanting to get them out of the room.

“Xu Jinnan, you…” Shen Shu began.

“Just go,” Xu Jinnan said gently.

They left the apartment, closing the door behind them.

Tong Jia stood at the doorway, listening to Qiao Rui’s screams, her eyelashes fluttering, not out of sympathy for Qiao Rui, but for herself, for the seven years she had wasted.

–Five minutes later,

Xu Jinnan returned to the living room, carrying a chair, and sat down in front of Qiao Rui, who was still struggling on the floor.

The pain of being suppressed by a stronger Alpha was more agonizing than any physical blow, a primal fear coursing through her veins.

Xu Jinnan crossed her legs, casually wiping her hands with a wet wipe. “Such weak pheromones, and you dared to challenge me? You’re truly delusional,” she said, her voice laced with contempt.

Qiao Rui looked up, her face bruised and bloodied, her lip split. She tried to speak, but only a scream escaped her lips.

Just as the door opened, Xu Jinnan stood up, looking down at her. “You might not know this, but before this happened, Tong Jia was planning to propose. Too bad. You don’t deserve her.”

---

Qiao Rui was arrested and charged with statutory rape.

The live stream recording, the text messages, and the testimonies of the three minors were more than enough to put her away for a long time.

Xu Jinnan, Shen Shu, and Tong Jia also gave statements to the police.

….

—It was past 7 p.m.

While Shen Shu stayed with Tong Jia, Viola, standing in the hallway, gave Xu Jinnan a work update. Xu Li had already started contacting luxury brands for the North District project, and she asked if they should also be involved.

Xu Jinnan listened, then said, “You’re adapting quickly.”

Viola smiled confidently. “You interviewed me personally. You should know what I’m capable of.”

Just as Xu Jinnan was about to reply, the bedroom door opened.

Shen Shu emerged, pausing as she saw the smiles on their faces. “Tong Jia is going back to her parents’ house,” she said.

“Oh, then let’s go. We’ll drive her,” Xu Jinnan said.

“Okay.”

Xu Jinnan sat in the passenger seat, Shen Shu and Tong Jia in the back.

They drove in silence, and after dropping Tong Jia off, she thanked them.

Xu Jinnan didn’t say anything, but Shen Shu said, “We’ll be here for you, Tong Jia.”

“Don’t worry, I’ve been through worse. I’ll recover quickly,” Tong Jia replied.

Xu Jinnan suddenly remembered Zhou Pei’s comment about Tong Jia’s “bad reputation” when she had first given her the information about Sacred Heart Pictures.

She had later learned that Tong Jia’s “bad reputation” wasn’t due to any personal scandals, but rather her high standards and demanding nature, and her refusal to allow her artists to be exploited.

While she seemed easygoing and driven by profit, she had strong principles.

—

As Viola drove, Xu Jinnan sat in the back with Shen Shu.

She noticed the redness on Shen Shu’s ear, a testament to the force of Qiao Rui’s slap.

She frowned. “I should have slapped her harder.”

“I’m fine,” Shen Shu said.

When she had entered the room, Qiao Rui’s face had been bruised and bloodied, and she could barely stand. Xu Jinnan had already been quite forceful.

Then, a thought crossed her mind. If Xu Jinnan was an Omega, even if she wasn’t affected by Alpha pheromones, she shouldn’t have been able to overpower Qiao Rui so easily. But the Alpha at the motel hadn’t affected her either.

Neither had Qiao Rui.

But she quickly dismissed the thought. It didn’t matter.

She suddenly realized something – Xu Jinnan’s lack of self-consciousness around her, her casual attire…

She had seen Xu Jinnan in short skirts, slip dresses, even wrapped in a towel, her leg carelessly exposed that morning, seemingly unconcerned about Shen Shu’s reaction.

Shen Shu’s fingers twitched.

Whether Xu Jinnan was an Alpha or an Omega, it meant she didn’t see Shen Shu as a romantic interest.

Oh, right. Xu Jinnan had said she wasn’t interested in Omegas.

Shen Shu took a deep breath.

“Does it still hurt?” she asked.

Xu Jinnan, noticing the subtle shift in Shen Shu’s expression, assumed she was referring to her ear.

Shen Shu, smelling the faint, sunny scent of Xu Jinnan’s pheromones, turned to her, and for some reason, asked, “What if it does?”

Xu Jinnan, surprised by her question, said jokingly, “Want me to kiss it better?” She suddenly regretted not knocking Qiao Rui’s teeth out.

“Go ahead,” Shen Shu said, meeting her gaze.

“?”

Xu Jinnan paused, looking at Shen Shu’s calm, almost challenging expression.

Was she being… flirted with?

Chapter 54 p2

Wanting a good night’s sleep, Xu Jinnan had instructed her staff not to contact her before 10 a.m.

She slept soundly for the rest of the night, until a knock on the door woke her.

“Come in. It’s not locked,” she called out, her voice still thick with sleep.

Shen Shu opened the door and saw Xu Jinnan’s long, pale leg draped over the blanket.

Xu Jinnan, having changed into a T-shirt after the mango incident, was lying on her side, the hem of the shirt riding up slightly.

Shen Shu quickly looked away, realizing Xu Jinnan rarely seemed self-conscious in front of her.

Her thoughts raced.

“Tong Jia called. Something happened,” she said. She had missed the call while she was in the kitchen and had seen a missed call notification from Tong Jia on Xu Jinnan’s phone as well.

“What is it?”

“Check your WeChat, or call her back. She tried calling you first,” Shen Shu said.

Xu Jinnan reached for her phone.

As soon as she answered, Tong Jia’s voice, choked with emotion, said, “Xu Jinnan, I’m sorry. I need your help.” Despite the tremor in her voice, her tone was relatively calm.

“Tell me what happened,” Xu Jinnan said.

Tong Jia explained the situation.

After returning to her parents’ house, she had thought about it for a day, then sent the messages from Qiao Rui’s iPad, along with a long, heartfelt letter, pouring out all her pain and anger.

She wasn’t one to cling to a lost cause, but Qiao Rui’s betrayal was deeply hurtful, enough to scar her emotionally.

She needed an apology, a sense of closure.

She needed an explanation from Qiao Rui.

And an end to their relationship.

Qiao Rui had called her back, but instead of an apology or an explanation…

She had threatened her.

“She said many of those women are influential, some of them quite powerful. If those messages were leaked, it could damage my reputation. She asked me to let it go, for the sake of our seven years together, and just break up peacefully.”

“Peacefully? Hahaha, that’s rich!” Tong Jia exclaimed. “She cheats on me, sleeps around, and tells me to let it go for the sake of our relationship?” She took a deep breath, and even through the phone’s speaker, Xu Jinnan and Shen Shu could sense her trembling with rage.

Even Shen Shu couldn’t help but mutter, “Disgusting.”

“I can’t believe it. Seven years, and I never really knew her. I never imagined she could be so shameless! And her tone, so calm and reasonable, as if she was doing me a favor! I told her I would make her regret this, and you know what she said?”

“She asked if I didn’t care about my own career, didn’t I care about Shen Shu’s? If this blew up, as Shen Shu’s agent, I would drag her down with me.”

Xu Jinnan leaned back against the headboard, a cold smile playing on her lips as she looked at Shen Shu.

“Oh, that’s what she said?”

…

Two hours later, Tong Jia arrived at Shen Shu’s apartment.

Xu Jinnan and Shen Shu sat together on the sofa, Tong Jia on a nearby armchair, her hands wrapped around a mug of warm water, her demeanor subdued.

In less than two days, she seemed to have aged, her eyes sunken and dark-circled, her face thinner than before, her usually stylish short hair unkempt.

Qiao Rui’s betrayal had clearly devastated her.

“Let me ask you something first,” Xu Jinnan said, her voice calm. “No matter what I do to Qiao Rui, you’ll support me, right?”

“Yes,” Tong Jia replied without hesitation.

Xu Jinnan nodded, relieved by her unwavering response.

Even if Tong Jia had hesitated, she wouldn’t have let Qiao Rui off easily. Dragging Shen Shu into this had crossed a line.

Qiao Rui had told Tong Jia that as Shen Shu’s agent, and the owner of the company she was signed with, if the news of her infidelity got out, and if any of her powerful lovers were affected, it would damage both their reputations.

They would blame Tong Jia, perhaps even blacklisting her in the industry.

Even if public opinion favored Tong Jia, it would still damage her career.

And as Tong Jia’s artist, Shen Shu would inevitably be affected as well.

“She knows you well enough to know you would expose her. And she also knows you’re sentimental, so she used Shen Shu as leverage,” Xu Jinnan said, picking up her glass of water.

“And she acted like she was doing it for my sake,” Tong Jia said, her voice laced with bitterness. “Saying she was worried about my reputation and Shen Shu’s. She was just protecting herself. I knew she was indecisive sometimes, even a little cowardly, but I never imagined she was like this. I feel so stupid.” Seven years.

How had she been so blind?

“It’s okay,” Xu Jinnan said. “Now, let’s discuss our next move.”

Tong Jia held the mug, the water now cold.

“The more she wants to keep this quiet, the more I want to expose her. But she’s right, I don’t care about my own career, but I have to consider Shen Shu’s. She’s just starting out…” This was the reason she had hesitated, finally coming to Xu Jinnan for help.

If it only concerned her, she wouldn’t be afraid.

Shen Shu’s heart warmed, hearing Tong Jia’s words. Even in her anger and despair, she was still prioritizing Shen Shu’s well-being.

Not everyone would do that.

“It’s fine,” Shen Shu said after a moment. “How powerful can her lovers be, compared to Xu Jinnan?” Her tone was calm, simply stating a fact.

Tong Jia looked up, a spark returning to her eyes.

“You two are ridiculous. Just break up already,” she muttered.

Xu Jinnan’s heart leaped, a smile playing on her lips. “She’s saying it’s not as simple as it seems,” she said to Tong Jia.

“What do you mean?”

“There aren’t many people in North City who would dare to cross me openly,” Xu Jinnan explained. “No matter how influential Qiao Rui’s lovers are, do you think they would risk offending me?” Anyone with even a little sense, even someone like the Han family, wouldn’t antagonize Tong Jia for this. In fact, considering Shen Shu’s connection to Xu Jinnan, they would likely blame Qiao Rui.

That was the key.

“Qiao Rui knows me well enough to know what I’m capable of. She risked offending me by dragging Shen Shu into this, meaning she was more afraid of this getting out than of my wrath,” Xu Jinnan said.

Tong Jia hadn’t considered this.

“Write down all the names and numbers from those messages. We’ll investigate each one. There’s either someone more powerful than me involved, or a deeper secret we don’t know about,” Xu Jinnan said.

Sixty-five numbers.

And that was just from the past two years. Who knew how many more there were?

Xu Jinnan handed the list to her new secretary, Viola. It was her first day on the job, a good opportunity to assess her abilities.

After all, she hadn’t hired her just for the North District project.

About four hours later, Viola sent her the information – names, ages, occupations, etc.

Xu Jinnan and Shen Shu, sitting side by side, reviewed the data.

Their eyes met as they reached a particular entry.

“What’s wrong?” Tong Jia asked.

“Wait,” Xu Jinnan said, continuing to scroll.

A minute later, she handed the iPad to Tong Jia, her voice cold. “No wonder.”

Shen Shu’s face darkened. She took a deep breath. “She’s irredeemable.”

Tong Jia, sensing their reaction, had a bad feeling. She started reading, her grip on the iPad tightening as she reached the end.

“That bitch!” she exclaimed, her voice shaking with rage.

Shen Shu gently took her hand, trying to calm her down, then took the iPad from her.

“I’m fine,” Tong Jia said, her face pale, her voice strained. “What are we going to do? Even if she begs for forgiveness, I won’t forgive her! Xu Jinnan, no matter the cost, help me ruin her! I want her to suffer!”

“Call her. Invite her to your apartment,” Xu Jinnan said calmly.

—

Qiao Rui arrived a little after 4 p.m., wearing a gray T-shirt and jeans that accentuated her dancer’s physique.

Her posture was elegant, her expression gentle, her demeanor calm and composed.

As she entered Tong Jia’s apartment, the familiar aroma of home-cooked food, the same scent that had filled this space for the past seven years, brought a pang of nostalgia.

She wasn’t without feelings for Tong Jia; they had been together for seven years, after all.

But seven years was a long time.

Long enough for the passion to fade, even when they were lying in bed together.

But she had grown accustomed to Tong Jia’s love and care. If Tong Jia hadn’t found out, if things could just go back to how they were…

She looked at Tong Jia’s back as she moved about the kitchen, at the food on the table, and felt a surge of longing.

“Jia Jia,” she said softly, the familiar endearment slipping out.

Tong Jia didn’t turn around. She opened the rice cooker, filled two bowls, and said, “Wash your hands. Dinner’s ready,” as if nothing had happened.

“You’re making me think you might take me back,” Qiao Rui said.

“I won’t,” Tong Jia replied. “But we were together for so long…” She paused, her fingers tightening around the bowl. “Let’s at least have a proper ending, like the day we started our relationship.”

Qiao Rui walked closer and noticed the dishes were the same as the ones they had eaten that day.

A wave of affection washed over her. “Jia Jia, I know you still care. I do too. You’re still in my heart. Perhaps we can talk… and find a way to resolve this without things getting ugly.”

“How do you propose we talk?”

“Jia Jia, I was wrong, but my feelings for you have always been true. At least emotionally, I haven’t betrayed you. I love you.”

“So, physical infidelity doesn’t count as betrayal?” Tong Jia asked, her voice cold.

Qiao Rui looked down at her. “It doesn’t have to be so complicated. If you can’t accept it, I can change. We can go back to how things were…”

Tong Jia looked at her, her gaze distant, as if looking at a stranger.

“Let’s eat first,” she said calmly.

Chapter 54 p1

Xu Jinnan’s breath hitched, her gaze fixed on the glistening mango slices sliding down her dress, settling in the valley of her cleavage.

Like a decadent still life, a human fruit platter framed by the dark wood of her décolletage.

Shen Shu’s lips felt dry, her throat tightening as Xu Jinnan looked up, her words catching in her throat.

But the heat in her eyes lingered, making Xu Jinnan’s voice falter slightly.

“Shu Shu… can you get the box…?”

Shen Shu’s nightgown was a simple, plain blue-gray, unlike the lacy one she had given Xu Jinnan.

The neckline of her robe was, as always, high, covering her collarbone.

The exposed skin of her neck, her cheeks, and her earlobes were all flushed a delicate pink, like rosebuds on a trellis.

A captivating blend of passion and shyness.

The emotions in Shen Shu’s eyes made Xu Jinnan’s heart pound.

Then, as Shen Shu lowered her gaze and reached for the box, Xu Jinnan caught the intoxicating scent of her pheromones.

“You should clean that up,” Shen Shu said, her voice slightly breathless, her gaze fixed on the spilled mangoes.

“Right,” Xu Jinnan replied, though she had already intended to.

The thin layer of juice had dried, leaving a sticky residue, the coldness of the fruit no longer perceptible against her skin.

She would take a shower after cleaning up.

But even as she cleaned, she couldn’t forget the charged atmosphere from moments ago.

As she turned around, holding the box, she noticed a trail of juice on the floor, then saw a single mango slice fall from her dress.

Shen Shu felt a strange compulsion, her first thought, It still carries her warmth…

“Tsk,” Xu Jinnan muttered, likely annoyed by the fallen mango.

If Shen Shu had known the consequences of that instinctive glance, she wouldn’t have looked up – Xu Jinnan, holding the plate over her cleavage, her long, elegant fingers picking out the mango slices one by one, the juice staining the thin, almost translucent fabric of her dress, clinging to her skin.

The outline of her body beneath the fabric was faintly visible.

…

They switched tasks, Xu Jinnan cleaning up the spilled mangoes while Shen Shu wiped the box and took it to the bedroom.

“You go shower first. I’ll clean this up,” Shen Shu said as Xu Jinnan finished cleaning herself and was about to mop the floor.

Xu Jinnan didn’t argue. She needed a shower…

…

When she emerged from the bathroom, the floor was clean, and Shen Shu was boiling water in the kitchen, staring at the kettle, lost in thought.

The flush had faded from her face.

Xu Jinnan, wearing her black T-shirt, asked, “You said something about photos of Little Crescent Moon?”

“Yes,” Shen Shu replied, pouring the hot water into a cup. “And two voice messages.” She glanced at the sofa.

Xu Jinnan understood. “Should I get my phone?”

“Yes.”

“What’s the password?”

“1212.”

Xu Jinnan frowned slightly at the unfamiliar number, then opened WeChat on her phone.

The photos Lin Wei had sent showed Little Crescent Moon wearing a white princess dress, a tiara on her head, and a pair of white, fluffy angel wings on her back.

Her hands were raised above her head, forming “V” signs, a bright smile on her face.

Xu Jinnan clicked on the voice messages.

Little Crescent Moon’s voice, childish yet clear, said, “Auntie Nannan, Auntie Shen Shu, it’s Little Crescent Moon! I received the clothes you bought me! And I… I ate red braised pork today, and pork ribs for dinner, and fruit! The director said you bought the fruit, and she asked me to thank you on behalf of all the children! And…” She paused, taking a breath. “And I gave each of my friends two of the candies you bought me, because there weren’t many left, and I didn’t want to eat them all.”

“Some of my friends were sad they didn’t get any, and I was sad too… so I gave them some anyway. Auntie Nannan, Auntie Shen Shu…”

“Next time, I don’t want new clothes, or anything else. Just candy, okay?”

Then, Shen Shu’s voice message played.

“Of course! Auntie Nannan and I will buy you even prettier clothes and lots and lots of candy next time. Be a good girl and eat your dinner and go to sleep, okay?” Her voice was gentle and soothing.

The sound, slightly distorted by the phone’s speaker, had a strange intimacy.

Xu Jinnan’s ear tingled, and she glanced at Shen Shu, who was still looking down at the kettle, then quickly looked away.

Little Crescent Moon hadn’t said anything else in the voice messages, just a brief exchange with Lin Wei, one sentence mentioning Xu Jinnan.

Lin Wei: [How is Miss Xu doing lately?]

Shen Shu: [My wife is fine. Thank you for your concern.]

Xu Jinnan paused. She hadn’t heard Shen Shu use that term before, only seeing it online, when Shen Shu had publicly acknowledged their relationship.

Not a sugar momma. My wife…

“What’s so funny?” Shen Shu asked, looking up.

Xu Jinnan smiled. “She’s adorable. Little Crescent Moon.”

“Yes, she is,” Shen Shu agreed.

Xu Jinnan hesitated, then said sincerely, “Your voice was adorable too, just now.”

Shen Shu was taken aback, then thought, She’s good with words, always knows how to flatter people.

“Not as adorable as you,” she retorted, “in your Winnie the Pooh pajamas.” She looked at Xu Jinnan, a playful glint in her eyes.

Xu Jinnan: “…”

And she says she’s not good with words?

—

After Shen Shu returned to the bedroom, Xu Jinnan leaned against the doorway. “I just realized, what does my birthday have to do with Cai Ying’s novel? Is she writing me into it?”

“Probably,” Shen Shu replied, still reading her script.

It was just a guess.

“What’s it about?”

“I don’t know. She didn’t tell me,” Shen Shu said, realizing her answer sounded dismissive.

“Oh,” Xu Jinnan said, seeing her engrossed in her script, then returned to the guest room, thoughtfully closing the door behind her.

Shen Shu put down her script, exhaling slowly.

She suppressed the familiar warmth spreading through her body and picked up the script again.

It was covered in highlighted lines and notes. She had a good memory and had almost memorized her lines, now focusing on perfecting her delivery.

She turned off the lights around midnight.

She hadn’t been very productive today, especially after Xu Jinnan returned.

She couldn’t deny the desire she had felt, the longing that had washed over her. She attributed it to her approaching heat cycle.

An Omega’s sensitivity heightened during this period.

She hadn’t been bothered by it before, but lately, like during her last heat, she had found herself drawn to Xu Jinnan.

It was happening again.

Her throat felt dry, her body still warm from that moment with the mango.

It was as if she had been injected with an aphrodisiac, the image replaying in her mind even as she tried to focus on her script.

She got up and drank some water, but it didn’t help.

The curtains were slightly ajar, letting in a sliver of moonlight.

She lay down on the bed, her long, dark hair spread out on the pillow, her eyes closed, her breathing gradually deepening – the image of Xu Jinnan and the mango resurfacing, a tantalizing thought taking root in her mind.

In the darkness, she imagined a flushed Omega, her eyes closed, trembling, a soft moan escaping her lips.

…

Xu Jinnan also stayed up late.

With the added responsibility of the North District project, she had become even busier. She had hired a new secretary, who would be starting tomorrow. She had high standards, requiring someone who could quickly adapt and take initiative.

She hoped this new secretary would free up some of her time, allowing her to focus on other matters.

Like the Xu family’s secrets, and spending time with Shen Shu.

The thought of Shen Shu made her pause, then she returned to the work reports on her phone.

She finally fell asleep around 2 a.m., then woke up a few hours later, her brow furrowed.

She felt a sudden sensation of falling, as if she had been pushed off a cliff. Not a single fall, but a series of endless descents, her body plummeting through darkness.

She landed with a jolt, the falling sensation replaced by a vivid memory.

She was three or four years old, her consciousness merged with the original Xu Jinnan’s.

Small and vulnerable, she sat on the ground, her eyes wide with fear, staring at the open car door.

“If you can keep up, I’ll let you in,” Xu Tao’s voice said.

Then, the door slammed shut.

She scrambled to her feet, her small body bundled in a puffy winter coat, reaching for the car door as if it were a lifeline. “Daddy, no! Don’t leave me!”

She ran after the car, but every time she almost caught up, it would accelerate.

She ran and cried, calling out to him.

But she could never reach him.

She stumbled and fell, the car disappearing in the distance.

She seemed to see her father’s sneering face in the rearview mirror.

It was cold.

The sky was gray, the road was gray, the grass by the roadside was gray.

Her white coat was now covered in dirt, the fabric torn at the elbows, revealing the white down feathers inside.

She stood alone in the middle of the road, a small, insignificant speck, unnoticed and uncared for.

After what felt like an eternity, the car returned, stopping in front of her.

The black SUV’s door opened, and her father, a cigarette dangling from his lips, looked down at her. “Do you know what you did wrong?”

Her face was numb from the cold, her hands frozen. She nodded, shivering. “Daddy, I know I was wrong. I won’t hide anymore.”

“We’re going to your grandmother’s house. If you embarrass me in front of the family, you’ll be punished.”

She nodded fearfully, her ears stinging from the cold wind. She covered one ear with her hand.

Finally, he said, “Get in.”

…

Another memory.

Her dirty white coat was deemed too embarrassing, so she was given a new one, also white.

A large house with white walls and black tiles, several buildings connected, red lanterns hanging festively.

It wasn’t a lively atmosphere; the house felt strangely quiet.

As she stood by the entrance, a plump woman approached, and she instinctively tried to hide, but the woman grabbed her face, pinching her cheeks, her other hand gripping her arm.

“Call me ‘Auntie’,” the woman said.

She struggled to free herself, then mumbled the word.

The woman smiled, satisfied, her purple fingernails tracing a path down the little girl’s cheek. “Xu Tao actually managed to produce such a beautiful daughter.” It was her aunt, Xu Lian.

The elderly woman, her grandmother, had three sons and one daughter.

Xu Jinnan’s own consciousness returned, like a soul returning to its body. She could see the original Xu Jinnan and her surroundings.

Xu Lian was of average height, heavier than Xu Tao, her cheeks puffing out when she smiled.

Her smile, directed at the little girl, was unsettling.

Then, Xu Tao’s voice came from behind them.

“Xu Lian, do you know whose daughter you’re touching?” he asked, walking over, a cigarette dangling from his lips.

Xu Lian chuckled. “Look who’s talking. Can’t I even tease her a little?”

“Don’t push your luck.”

“We don’t even know if she’s an Alpha yet, let alone an S-class. If she turns out to be an Omega… then your precious daughter is a failure.”

“Shut up!” Xu Tao snapped, as if she had uttered a curse.

Xu Lian sneered. “Mother has so much faith in your genes, already making plans for her future.”

“Let me remind you, you can tease the other children all you want, but don’t touch the one meant for our branch of the family. If anything happens to her, Mother won’t forgive you.”

…

The next memory was of the original Xu Jinnan running, Xu Jinnan’s consciousness merging with hers again, as she ran towards a courtyard.

A small, traditional courtyard. She didn’t remember how she got there.

Besides a few dark, closed-off rooms, the courtyard was small and easily surveyed – a small water tank in the corner, a rocking chair, and a swing set.

Then, she saw her aunt emerge from one of the rooms, carrying another child.

A little girl, about the same age as her, or perhaps younger?

She wasn’t sure, because the little girl was so thin, like a small cat.

The little girl’s mouth was covered, and she struggled in Xu Lian’s grasp, but to no avail.

Afraid of Xu Lian, Xu Jinnan hid behind the water tank.

She heard the little girl’s muffled sobs as Xu Lian sat down on a chair, placing the little girl face down on her lap and slapping her.

“Be quiet! Xu Tao told me not to touch you, but I want to see what Mother will do. Will she protect your branch of the family, or me?”

The little girl struggled even harder, and Xu Lian, seemingly annoyed, threw her onto the ground, kicking her twice.

Then, the little girl saw Xu Jinnan.

She was beautiful, her eyes filled with tears, her mouth covered.

Their eyes met, and Xu Jinnan felt a silent plea for help.

She needed her.

So, she made a noise.

A splash.

…

Xu Jinnan felt like she was drowning, her body submerged in cold water, a strong hand pushing her down, the world turning dark, the sound of rushing water filling her ears.

Her consciousness faded, her body sinking deeper and deeper…

Just as she was about to lose hope—

She jolted awake, sitting up in bed, gasping for breath, as if she had just escaped death.

Her heart pounded, her mind replaying the fragmented memories. They were dreams, but they were also the original Xu Jinnan’s memories.

But they were different from before.

These memories were fragmented, incomplete, and now, she couldn’t even remember their faces, only Xu Tao’s, Xu Lian’s… and the little girl’s.

Exhausted, she turned on the bedside lamp and checked the time. 12:30 a.m.

She had only slept for half an hour.

She got out of bed, intending to get a glass of water, when she heard the faint sound of the shower running.

Hadn’t Shen Shu already showered last night?

After finishing her water, she stood by the kitchen island, the sound of the shower triggering the memory of the original Xu Jinnan being held underwater by Xu Lian.

Shen Shu emerged from the bathroom to see Xu Jinnan standing by the kitchen island, lost in thought.

There was a coldness in her demeanor, a heaviness, a sense of loneliness…

Perhaps hearing her approach, Xu Jinnan looked up, their eyes meeting.

“Why aren’t you asleep?” Shen Shu asked.

Xu Jinnan looked at her for a moment. “Just getting some water,” she replied.

Shen Shu paused. “Did you have a nightmare?”

Xu Jinnan was surprised. “How did you know?”

“You always have nightmares,” Shen Shu said, walking over and pouring herself a glass of water.

She noticed the water in the kettle was cold, leftover from yesterday morning.

She glanced at the half-empty glass of cold water in Xu Jinnan’s hand.

Just as Xu Jinnan was about to take another sip, Shen Shu grabbed her wrist, placing her hand on the counter. “Don’t drink cold water in the middle of the night,” she said, taking the glass from Xu Jinnan’s hand.

The warmth of her touch, soft and gentle, seemed to dispel the lingering shadows of Xu Jinnan’s nightmare. As Shen Shu pulled her hand away, Xu Jinnan instinctively grasped her fingers.

“How about a handshake instead?” she asked, referring to their unfinished moment at Tong Jia’s apartment.

Her tone was gentle, almost indulgent, with a hint of playful manipulation.

After all, she was already holding Shen Shu’s hand.

Shen Shu looked down, her fingers twitching slightly in Xu Jinnan’s grasp.

But she didn’t speak.

Her silence was a subtle encouragement.

Xu Jinnan’s fingers tightened slightly, her touch firm but not restrictive.

Shen Shu’s cheeks, still flushed from the shower, were a tempting shade of pink.

But Xu Jinnan didn’t push it, her mind not on seduction. Shen Shu’s presence was enough.

Their hands clasped together, their fingers intertwined, a silent, intimate gesture. After a moment, their palms became damp with sweat.

Xu Jinnan released her hand.

“You didn’t turn on the air conditioning? Why are you showering so late?” she asked. It wasn’t that hot tonight.

“Just felt like it,” Shen Shu replied, picking up the kettle and refilling it with water.

If Xu Jinnan had been looking at her, she would have seen the flicker of discomfort in Shen Shu’s eyes.

The world outside was silent.

They stood in the quiet living room, making small talk, the conversation casual and aimless.

The water in the kettle began to boil, and the switch clicked off.

Shen Shu poured some hot water into Xu Jinnan’s glass, then filled the thermos, the sound of the water echoing in the silence.

“Good night,” she said softly.

“Good night,” Xu Jinnan replied.

She took her water and went to the guest room, and Shen Shu returned to her bedroom.

…