Captivating Beauty 5

Chapter 5

Xu Jinnan replied with a single word, confirming Yin Xue’s question: “Yes.”

After a few minutes on the stairs to cool down, she slowly returned to her own ward.

The moment she sat on the bed, her phone buzzed again.

Yin Xue: [Xu Jinnan, do you have to be so infuriating?]

Yin Xue: [If you want to break things off, let’s make it clean.]

Xu Jinnan smiled faintly.

This wasn’t Yin Xue’s first attempt at this tactic, but it always worked on the original Xu Jinnan, who would inevitably go back to coax her within a few days.

Yin Xue, like the original Xu Jinnan, was a supporting character destined for a bad ending.

She had no morals. Many of the people the original Xu Jinnan pursued were delivered to her by Yin Xue. They even colluded in some truly despicable acts, which was why the original Xu Jinnan felt closer to her than to others.

Xu Jinnan was eager to sever this messy relationship.

At the Fanxing Restaurant in North City, Yin Xue, dressed in a dark blue Chanel-style suit, sat with her long, white legs crossed, elegantly cutting her steak.

Across from her sat a glamorous Alpha: “Xiao Xue, have you thought about it? Being with me won’t disappoint you.”

Yin Xue glanced at her lit-up phone.

Xu Jinnan: [I mean what I say.]

Yin Xue: “…” What the—?! Xu Jinnan, you’re ruthless!

Yin Xue choked back a breath, nearly throwing her cutlery. She barely managed to compose herself, a thought flashing through her mind. Looking at the Alpha across from her, she smiled slyly. “Aren’t you afraid of my relationship with Xu Jinnan?”

The Alpha paused. “Isn’t she already married to that beautiful Omega from the Shen family?” Hearing the description, she pictured Shen Shu’s exquisite face. Yin Xue’s expression cooled. “Shen Shu is boring. She’ll get tired of her in a couple of days.”

The Alpha hesitated. Xu Jinnan was a loose cannon; crossing her was asking for trouble.

Yin Xue observed her expression. “What? Scared now?”

The words, dripping with innuendo, were a challenge no Alpha could ignore.

The Alpha lifted her chin. “I’m not afraid of her. If you agree to be with me, I’ll handle Xu Jinnan.”

“How can I let you go alone? I heard she’s hospitalized with her new wife. Let’s go together in a few days.” Yin Xue picked up her wine glass, a seductive smile playing on her lips.

The Alpha’s eyes lit up. Did this mean she agreed?

Yin Xue took a sip. If Xu Jinnan wanted to play it cool, fine. Let her.

But would she remain so composed seeing her with another Alpha?

That woman was intensely possessive.

Xu Jinnan spent two days in the hospital, her phone off, using her family’s influence to block all visitors.

Even so, she couldn’t avoid her mother, Lu Yun.

Lu Yun, beautiful and elegant, entered the ward and rushed to embrace Xu Jinnan as if she were still a baby.

Unfamiliar with this kind of maternal affection, Xu Jinnan felt awkward. After a few seconds, she patted Lu Yun’s back. “Mom, I’m fine. It really was just a checkup.”

Lu Yun pulled away, her eyes teary as she stroked Xu Jinnan’s face, saying she looked thinner.

She bustled about, placing seven or eight thermal food containers on the table, opening each one and announcing its contents like a restaurant menu.

Xu Jinnan praised each dish.

Lu Yun paused, looking at her with surprise. “What’s gotten into you today?”

Xu Jinnan’s heart skipped a beat.

As far as she knew, the original Xu Jinnan acted out in public but put on a facade in front of her parents, especially her mother. Her performance should have been flawless.

The next second, Lu Yun continued, “Whenever you’re this sweet, it means you’re in trouble. What did you do this time?”

“…”

Xu Jinnan’s apprehension vanished before she could speak. Lu Yun patted her hand, a knowing look on her face. “It’s about that Shen Shu, isn’t it? I’ve already spoken to the Shen family. I told them to teach their daughter how to be a proper wife.” It was clear Lu Yun didn’t like Shen Shu.

Xu Jinnan tried to appeal to Lu Yun’s sense of fairness: “I’m not even an Alpha. I’m an Omega, a failed one at that…” I’m the one who’s not good enough.

Lu Yun frowned, her eyes turning cold. “Did she say something to you?!” She was actually asking if Shen Shu had discovered Xu Jinnan’s secret.

Xu Jinnan shook her head. “I just realized this whole thing is pointless.” She could tell that if she’d said yes, Lu Yun would be threatening Shen Shu, not her family.

Lu Yun gripped her hand tighter, concern replacing the coldness in her eyes. “Nannan, what’s wrong? Remember, you are the best! Whatever you want, Mom will get it for you, no matter the cost. So don’t ever say you’re a failure…”

It seemed impossible to change her mind for now. Xu Jinnan nodded helplessly. Lu Yun’s doting was genuine, but there was a palpable undercurrent of fear, of trying to appease her.

Lu Yun was clearly afraid of her going off the rails.

Then Lu Yun said something even more shocking: “When you want a divorce, don’t worry about your father. We know you only got married for fun. None of us take it seriously.” It took all of Xu Jinnan’s self-control not to curse.

She couldn’t understand it. Shen Shu was a top-tier Omega – talented, beautiful, and with a perfect figure. She had everything. Why did these people look down on her so much?

Ultimately, it was the original Xu Jinnan’s fault. Even the wedding had been a rushed, perfunctory affair at a cheap hotel, the whole thing lasting less than half an hour.

Lu Yun had only shown up to avoid gossip.

If it weren’t for the original Xu Jinnan’s humiliation and disdain, none of this would be happening.

“I don’t want to divorce her.”

Xu Jinnan spoke earnestly. “Unless she wants a divorce, I won’t divorce her.” For now, Shen Shu wouldn’t bring it up, still holding onto hope for her adoptive family.

Xu Jinnan didn’t want it to happen now either. If they divorced now, Shen Shu’s situation would be even more precarious. It was better to let her use their marriage to her advantage, to build a foundation for herself.

Lu Yun nodded absentmindedly, clearly not believing her.

After finally seeing her mother off, Xu Jinnan sat on the bed, her head buzzing. Now, she felt not only heartache for Shen Shu but also a burning sense of injustice.

Xu Jinnan resolved to help Shen Shu.

But first, she needed to repair their relationship.

Xu Jinnan glanced at the thermal food containers on the table.

She hadn’t seen Shen Shu in two days and had no idea how she was feeling.

After a moment of thought, Xu Jinnan sampled the contents of each container, finally choosing a shrimp porridge and carrying it to Shen Shu’s ward.

She hesitated at the door for a few seconds, then reached out to knock. Just then, the nurse opened the door.

She looked surprised to see Xu Jinnan, then stepped aside. “Miss Shen is asleep.”

Xu Jinnan felt a wave of relief. She entered quietly. The Omega lay curled on her side, serene as a sleeping beauty, her delicate face framed by the white sheets, strands of dark hair scattered across the pillow.

Placing the porridge gently on the table, Xu Jinnan gazed at Shen Shu’s face.

Unconsciously, she drew closer, bending slightly, her eyes fixed on Shen Shu’s. Her long, curled lashes were perfectly defined, as if meticulously drawn with a charcoal pencil.

Xu Jinnan murmured, “Wow, such long lashes…”

Suddenly, she saw Shen Shu’s lashes flutter.