Captivating Beauty 4

Chapter 4

Xu Jinnan had just reached Shen Shu’s ward when she saw a small group gathered outside, a nurse attempting to disperse them. Her heart sank. She hurried forward, asking, “What’s happening?”

“Miss Xu… your wife…”

Before the nurse could finish, Xu Jinnan heard a man’s voice from inside: “Seriously? I just came to visit Nan-jie’s new wife, my sister-in-law. What’s the big deal?”

“Visit?” Cai Ying said coldly. “When I came in, what was in your hand? Do you dare show everyone?”

Xu Jinnan didn’t wait to hear more. She glanced back at the gawking Omegas at the door, disgust twisting her features. “Get lost.”

Xu Jinnan’s reputation was well-known in North City. No one dared to cross her. Mumbling apologies, they retreated to their rooms.

The man inside seemed to recognize Xu Jinnan’s voice and called out, “Nan-jie, you’re here! You know me. You have to get me justice!”

The room fell silent as Xu Jinnan entered.

Ignoring him, Xu Jinnan looked first at Shen Shu, whom Cai Ying was shielding. Shen Shu’s knuckles were white, her face pale, her body trembling despite her efforts to control it.

A wave of foreboding washed over Xu Jinnan. She frowned and asked, “Are you hurt?”

Shen Shu responded with a glare filled with loathing.

“Does someone have to bleed to be considered hurt?! If I hadn’t come in sooner, who knows what would have happened?” Cai Ying, pampered from a young age, was furious. In her anger, she forgot to be intimidated by Xu Jinnan.

Xu Jinnan froze, struck by her words.

Cai Ying was right. The emotional wounds inflicted on Shen Shu were far deeper than any physical injury. But the words also brought a sliver of relief.

Xu Jinnan turned to the man, her voice ice cold. “Show me what you have.”

Recognizing the dyed blond hair, she recalled his identity: Chen Bo, an Alpha, the only son of some company CEO.

Scum who ran with the original Xu Jinnan.

Chen Bo, assuming Xu Jinnan was joking around as usual, grinned and opened his hand. “See? Just regular candy. I was going to ask sister-in-law if she wanted some, but she freaked out.”

Xu Jinnan’s face remained impassive. “Then eat one. Let me see.”

“Eat it… Nan-jie, what are you saying?” Chen Bo lowered his voice, a smirk playing on his lips. “I can’t eat something meant to make an Omega go into heat.”

Xu Jinnan’s eyes narrowed, her fury reaching its peak. He dared to be this brazen in a hospital, not only due to his family background, but also because of the original Xu Jinnan’s tacit approval.

Just like last night, the original Xu Jinnan had given Chen Bo the code to their new home, inviting him in.

It had sent Chen Bo a clear message – Shen Shu was fair game.

Xu Jinnan remained silent. Chen Bo, thinking she hadn’t seen clearly, continued, “It’s just hangover candy, the kind you gave me…”

Slap!

Everyone in the room froze.

The sudden slap stunned Chen Bo. After a few seconds, he sputtered, “What the fuck? Xu Jinnan?!”

Xu Jinnan snatched the box of candy from his hand. “I’ll shove this entire box down your throat if you try anything like this again. Now get out.” She decided against using the original’s vulgar language given the setting and Shen Shu’s presence.

Chen Bo gaped, unable to form a coherent sentence.

He’d never encountered Xu Jinnan’s Alpha pheromones, but he’d assumed she was a weak Alpha. Otherwise, with her arrogant personality and a strong scent, she would have dominated every Omega in North City.

He wasn’t truly afraid of her, only tolerant because of her family background.

But that slap… it wasn’t that he didn’t have time to react. It was the sheer overwhelming suppression that paralyzed him. She wasn’t weak. She was stronger than him.

He stumbled out, the fear of suppression clinging to him. It wasn’t until he left the hospital that the shock wore off. Something was wrong. What the hell had just happened? Xu Jinnan had hit him, for an Omega?

As soon as Chen Bo left, Shen Shu collapsed, overwhelmed by the ordeal and her weakened state.

The room buzzed with activity. Xu Jinnan stood by the door, watching Shen Shu on the bed, her heart heavy. She took a few steps closer, but Shen Shu turned her head away, refusing even to look at her.

Xu Jinnan stopped. After everything that had happened, she couldn’t find the right words to explain or comfort. Finally, she whispered, “…I’m sorry.”

Shen Shu closed her eyes.

“I’ll leave if you don’t want to see me. Rest well.” Xu Jinnan touched the Omega blood test report in her pocket. Now wasn’t the time.

She desperately wanted to tell Shen Shu that this wouldn’t happen again, but the words wouldn’t come.

Actions spoke louder than words.

Xu Jinnan looked at the wary Cai Ying, her voice soft. “Thank you for taking care of her.”

Without hesitation, Cai Ying retorted, “Look who put her in this state. Don’t be a hypocrite. And you don’t need to thank me.”

Xu Jinnan paused, then left the room without a word. After reminding the nurse to ensure Shen Shu’s safety, she bypassed the elevator, taking the stairs to the roof. She sat down, needing to figure out her next move.

A cigarette would be nice right now.

Her phone vibrated in her pocket.

The group chat was called “Fishing Nightclub”, filled with the original Xu Jinnan’s fair-weather friends. The conversation was lively, with someone tagging her.

[Song Ronghui: @ItsYourM Nan, did you really slap Chen Bo?]

Xu Jinnan rolled her eyes at the original Xu Jinnan’s nickname, changed it back to her actual name, and replied.

[Xu Jinnan: Shen Shu is my wife. If any of you bother her again, it won’t just be a slap.]

[Xu Jinnan: I’ll put them in a wheelchair for life.]

The group chat exploded.

[Song Ronghui: …??? I thought you married her to toy with her?]

[Han Fu: Holy shit!!!]

[Chen Bo: See? I told you! What the hell? She’s taking this Omega marriage seriously after just one ceremony?]

[Song Ronghui: Seriously? You fell for her in one night? Is this Shen Shu even better than our Yin Xue?]

[Han Fu: @yX Are you two still fighting? Say something, knock some sense into your Alpha!]

Xu Jinnan remembered Yin Xue. She was the original Xu Jinnan’s favorite Omega. Even after Shen Shu, the original Xu Jinnan still doted on Yin Xue. Outsiders considered them lovers.

But now, all Xu Jinnan could think about was Shen Shu’s expression. She hadn’t even had a moment to smooth things over with Shen Shu before Chen Bo showed up.

Annoyed, Xu Jinnan didn’t want to engage with them any further.

Just as she was about to turn off her phone, a private message popped up.

Yin Xue: [If I bother her, will you slap me too?]

—

Translator’s Notes:

1. @ItsYourM (@是你M啊): A vulgar username, roughly equivalent to “@It’s Your Mom.” Xu Jinnan changes it immediately(lol).

2. @yX: Likely stands for Yin Xue