Captivating Beauty 77

Chapter 77

Shen Shu returned to the studio, leaving Xu Jinnan alone in the spacious office, the silence amplifying the emptiness, like a still, deep lake.

She sat in her chair, facing the floor-to-ceiling windows, her gaze sweeping over the towering skyscrapers of North City, the sight making her feel strangely small and insignificant.

It was as if her soul had detached from her body, floating above the city, observing the scene from a distance, the bustling streets and towering buildings reduced to miniature scale.

The sky was overcast, the sunlight intermittent, casting fleeting shadows.

After a long silence, her mind finally calmed.

Lu Yun still hadn’t answered her question about how she had learned about the photos from Wang Zheng.

But it didn’t matter anymore.

Lu Yun, constantly by Xu Tao’s side, knew his weaknesses and had access to his secrets.

She would be a valuable asset.

If it weren’t for the Xu family’s dark secrets, Xu Jinnan wouldn’t be interested in the Xu Corporation. She didn’t care about money; it was easy enough for her to acquire, her current assets more than enough for her and Shen Shu to live comfortably for several lifetimes.

But she wouldn’t tolerate their repeated attempts to harm her and Shen Shu, and those children…

She thought about the children labeled X1, X2, X3, X4, around the same age as she and Shen Shu, their fates unknown, their lives potentially ruined by the Xu family’s cruelty.

The thought of them, especially the little girl she had seen in the courtyard, the one Xu Lian had abused, always made her heart ache.

She stood up, her brow furrowed, and poured herself a glass of cold water, the coolness soothing her as she drank it in one gulp.

Her phone vibrated.

Shen Shu: [I forgot something. Can you bring my bag home?]

Xu Jinnan remembered and went to the small lounge area, where a bag sat on the massage chair – the one she had given Shen Shu for her dirty clothes.

She touched her nose, rolled up the bag, and put it in her own bag, then replied to Shen Shu, “Okay.”

As she rolled up the bag, her heart raced slightly.

—

That evening, Xu Jinnan’s meeting ended early, so she joined Shen Shu and Tong Jia for dinner at the Cai residence.

The Cai family, also involved in real estate and hotel development, had a unique style, the walls of their villa covered in lush green vines, creating a spring-like atmosphere even in autumn.

It suited Cai Ying’s vibrant personality.

“Our daughter insisted on this design,” Mr. Cai explained, beaming with paternal pride. “She’s always been a bit eccentric, but it turned out quite well. Even our guests ask about the designer.”

Both Xu Jinnan and Shen Shu felt a pang of emotion, a longing for the kind of paternal affection they had never experienced. They exchanged a look, and Xu Jinnan instinctively reached out and took Shen Shu’s hand.

Tong Jia, noticing the gesture, said, “Hey, you two, be more discreet. Little Cai is right here.”

Xu Jinnan didn’t release Shen Shu’s hand, but Shen Shu gently pulled away.

Just then, Cai Ying emerged from her room upstairs and, seeing them on the sofa, pouted dramatically.

“Come down! We brought you some treats!” Shen Shu called out.

Cai Ying slowly descended the stairs, and Mr. Cai, patting her head affectionately, said he would leave them to their “girl talk,” then glanced at Xu Jinnan, who nodded, understanding.

Tong Jia, watching them go upstairs, turned to Shen Shu. “Shu Shu, I didn’t realize you and CEO Xu had such a significant age gap. How old is she again?”

Shen Shu: “…”

—

As they chatted, neither Shen Shu nor Tong Jia mentioned Han Wenling, but Cai Ying brought it up herself.

“I know you’re worried about me,” she said, her voice soft. “And I am sad.” Whenever you invested your emotions in something, whether a person or a thing, you were bound to experience a range of emotions.

Like when she was little, and she had lost her favorite stuffed bunny after only three days. It had taken her three months to get over it.

“Xu Jinnan was right. You have to experience heartbreak to grow… Actually, I haven’t just been moping around at home these past few days,” she continued, glancing towards the study upstairs.

“I noticed my dad has a lot of gray hair now.”

Her eyes reddened as she spoke.

“I couldn’t sleep last night, and I saw him in the living room, still working, making phone calls. But this morning, he still woke up early to make me my favorite egg pancakes.” She wiped away a tear. “I realized how inconsiderate I’ve been.”

Shen Shu and Tong Jia weren’t sure how to comfort her.

“I should grow up,” Cai Ying continued. “He’s my only father. When I’m sad, he’s sad too. I don’t want him to worry about me.”

Shen Shu’s heart ached for her.

—

Mr. Cai was on a call, and Xu Jinnan, emerging from the study, noticed the somber atmosphere in the living room and sat down beside Shen Shu.

She glanced at Cai Ying and Tong Jia, then at Shen Shu, and reached for her water glass.

“Xu Jinnan,” Cai Ying said.

Xu Jinnan paused, looking up.

“Can you… teach me?”

“Teach you what?”

“How to be a CEO.”

Xu Jinnan: “…”

After a few more questions, she finally understood what Cai Ying meant. She took a sip of water, her voice casual. “Sure, but I can’t just give away my secrets. Call me ‘Master,’ and I’ll consider it.”

“Master,” Cai Ying said immediately, without hesitation.

Xu Jinnan: “…”

She had been joking, but Cai Ying seemed serious.

Xu Jinnan, looking at her earnest expression, raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement in her eyes. She admired her determination.

Mr. Cai had actually made a similar request earlier, not for now, but for the future, when Cai Ying would eventually take over the family business, hoping Xu Jinnan would mentor her.

She had, of course, agreed.

Besides the potential business benefits, she genuinely wanted Cai Ying to succeed.

“Alright, I’ll teach you,” she said.

—

After dinner, they left the Cai residence.

Back at Xingcheng International, the cool October air sent a shiver down Shen Shu’s spine as they walked from the car to the apartment building, the breeze surprisingly strong.

Xu Jinnan put her arm around Shen Shu, pulling her closer.

The scent of Shen Shu’s vanilla pheromones filled the air, and Xu Jinnan’s gaze lingered on her smooth, pale cheek before quickly looking away.

“Shu Shu, wear a thicker jacket tomorrow,” she said.

“We’ll see,” Shen Shu replied.

“?”

Xu Jinnan looked down at her as they waited for the elevator. Shen Shu, leaning against her, had slipped her hand beneath Xu Jinnan’s jacket, her arm circling her waist.

She looked up at Xu Jinnan, her voice calm. “You’re warmer,” she said, as if stating a simple fact.

Xu Jinnan: “…”

She chuckled. “Do you want to wear me like a coat?”

“It’s not a bad idea,” Shen Shu replied.

“Oh? How would Miss Shen wear me? I’m intrigued,” Xu Jinnan asked, her voice teasing.

Just then, the elevator arrived.

Shen Shu pulled away. “Tong Jia,” she said.

Her expression and tone were so calm and composed that Xu Jinnan almost thought it had been someone else who had just hugged her so tightly.

But then, Shen Shu turned around and pulled her into the elevator.

Earlier, Xu Jinnan had been the one leading the way, but now, Shen Shu had taken the lead.

The elevator was empty.

“Is that not allowed?” Shen Shu asked, a playful glint in her eyes.

“It’s not that it’s not allowed…” Xu Jinnan began, then stopped. “Just don’t learn too many bad habits from her,” she said, referring to Tong Jia.

“Why not? Tong Jia said she learned everything from you,” Shen Shu retorted.

Xu Jinnan, sensing danger, said, “I didn’t teach her anything… we’re here.” She stepped out of the elevator, wanting to change the subject.

If she had known Tong Jia would become Shen Shu’s agent, and that they would become so close, she wouldn’t have given her any advice, even if Tong Jia had begged her.

“Really?” Shen Shu asked, her eyes narrowing slightly. “I’m starting to think…”

“Think what?”

“Teacher Xu has quite a few students.”

“…”

Shen Shu, seeing Xu Jinnan’s flustered expression, her attempt to appear calm failing miserably, smiled faintly. “Perhaps you could teach me sometime,” she said softly.

Xu Jinnan: “…”

Hearing the teasing tone in her voice, she placed Shen Shu’s slippers on the floor, then stood up, a playful smile on her lips. “And what would Miss Shen like to learn?”

Shen Shu looked at her, her chin lifting slightly. “What courses does Teacher Xu offer?”

“Quite a few,” Xu Jinnan replied.

“Such as?”

“Such as…” Xu Jinnan almost let slip a suggestive comment, then, seeing Shen Shu’s expectant expression, said, “Such as the optimal oil temperature for frying shrimp.”

Shen Shu: “…”

—

Xu Jinnan changed into her blue slippers and entered the living room, turning back to Shen Shu with a smile.

Shen Shu went to take a shower, and Xu Jinnan sat on the sofa, checking work messages on her phone.

Before doing so, she sent Tong Jia a message.

Xu Jinnan: [Stop teaching my wife those things.]

Tong Jia: [?]

Tong Jia: [?]

Xu Jinnan: [Just stop.]

Tong Jia: [If you insist, I’ll stay up all night writing a detailed lesson plan, compiling all the knowledge you so generously imparted, printing it out, and delivering it personally to Shu Shu.]

Xu Jinnan: [?]

She’s feeling bold today.

Tong Jia: [Wait, shouldn’t you be enjoying this? Why are you reacting like this? Something’s not right with you, CEO Xu.]

Xu Jinnan: “…?”

Enjoying this? What exactly did she teach Shen Shu?

She couldn’t focus, so she turned on the TV, muting the sound, and tried to concentrate on the work reports on her phone, the faint sound of the shower running in the background, a gentle, rhythmic drumming.

She suddenly remembered something and went to the entrance, retrieving the paper bag with Shen Shu’s dirty clothes.

She unfolded the bag, then realized her mistake.

The thin paper was stained with a dark purple blotch where the grape juice had seeped through, now dried.

Just then, the bathroom door opened, and Shen Shu, seeing the bag in Xu Jinnan’s hand, paused, her face and ears flushing.

She walked over and took the bag from Xu Jinnan. “What are you looking at?” she asked, her voice slightly sharp.

Xu Jinnan: “…?”

She realized that from Shen Shu’s perspective, it must have looked like she was examining the stained area of the bag.

She followed Shen Shu, her own face slightly warm, and said, “I wasn’t looking at anything.” She didn’t have any strange fetishes.

Shen Shu, seemingly unconvinced, didn’t reply, turning back to the bathroom.

As she turned, Xu Jinnan caught the scent of her pheromones, a blend of vanilla and milk…

The vanilla seemed stronger than usual.

“Remember to take your suppressants,” Xu Jinnan reminded her, noticing the increased intensity of the scent.

Shen Shu turned around. “I already took them,” she replied. “A few days ago.” She had been feeling the early symptoms of her heat cycle.

“Okay,” Xu Jinnan said, relieved, then thought, Then why are her pheromones so strong?

She heard the sound of running water again, this time Shen Shu washing something in the sink.

Her own thoughts, as she listened, seemed increasingly inappropriate, and she went to the guest room.

—

When Shen Shu emerged from the bathroom, she mentioned going to the Shen residence.

They had planned to go tomorrow, to retrieve the item her grandmother had left her, but she had decided to postpone it.

Wei Wuqing had messaged her twice, and Shen Shu suspected she wouldn’t give her the item unless Xu Jinnan came too.

She hadn’t told Xu Jinnan this.

Xu Jinnan, sensing her hesitation, had offered to go with her tomorrow, but after the incident with Lu Yun, Shen Shu didn’t want to burden her any further.

The Xu family was already causing enough trouble; this could wait.

“Why?” Xu Jinnan asked, unaware of Shen Shu’s thoughts.

“I have several magazine shoots and endorsement deals scheduled for the next two weeks. I’ll be very busy,” Shen Shu replied.

Xu Jinnan didn’t argue; she would also be very busy.

“Xu Jinnan, even if you’re busy, I can help you,” Shen Shu said. “I’m not just an actress.”

Xu Jinnan nodded. “Of course. Shu Shu is the most capable person I know.”

“I’m serious,” Shen Shu said, her voice firm.

Xu Jinnan looked at her for a moment. “I know. I’ll ask for your help when I need it,” she said sincerely.

—

Early November.

Despite being under surveillance, Zhou Pei hadn’t made any suspicious moves. This wasn’t entirely unexpected; she was cautious and discreet, and perhaps, having sensed something, or suspecting something, had cut ties with her accomplice for now.

Li Lan had told her they were conducting a second investigation into the Rongcheng incident, and if they could confirm Zhou Pei’s involvement, they would put her under surveillance.

Xu Jinnan wasn’t worried. She had an actress living with her; she knew how to play the game. If they wanted to pretend, she could pretend even better.

And she had another, more important matter to attend to.

The Xu Corporation’s shares.

Xu Tao held 65%, Lu Yun 5%, Xu Li 3%, and the original Xu Jinnan 2%.

The remaining 25% were held by individual investors and other shareholders.

Xu Jinnan had been buying up shares on the open market, and with her existing shares, she now held 7%. Combined with Lu Yun’s 5%, it was still only 12%, far from Xu Tao’s 65%.

But she wasn’t in a hurry.

She rubbed her neck, her voice hoarse from fatigue and lack of sleep, as she discussed her next move on the phone. “Continue acquiring Xu Corporation shares. Don’t worry about the price.” She had been sleeping in the guest room lately, afraid of disturbing Shen Shu.

“And there’s one more thing. You have connections at the bank…” she continued. “The Xu Corporation just secured a major project last week, and two new construction projects will be starting soon in North City. The Xu Corporation will definitely try to get both of them. That will strain their cash flow, and with limited liquidity, they might have to use assets as collateral. Xu Tao’s real estate holdings probably won’t be enough.” She didn’t have to spell it out.

“But with his shares as collateral, it would be enough,” the person on the other end said immediately.

Xu Jinnan smiled faintly and hung up.

It was a former manager at the Xu Corporation, someone Xu Tao had almost blacklisted after a minor mistake, which hadn’t been her fault.

Xu Jinnan had read about it in the novel and, knowing she was innocent, had recruited her.

She had also been helpful with the Song Ronghui incident.

Xu Jinnan looked at the stock market charts on her computer, thinking, Even with his shares as collateral, it still won’t be enough.

Just then, a knock came at the door.

Shen Shu opened the door, her eyes sleepy.

“When did you get back?” she asked.

Xu Jinnan paused. “Half an hour ago,” she replied.

Shen Shu, seeing her still in her work clothes, her hair slightly disheveled, frowned. “Do you know what time it is?”

1:30 a.m.

Shen Shu had woken up a couple of nights ago and seen her working late, reminding her of the time before going back to sleep.

It was happening again.

“Xu Jinnan,” she said, her voice slightly sharp, a warning in her tone.

Xu Jinnan coughed, closing her laptop and placing it on the bedside table. “I’m done, I’m done,” she said, standing up.

Shen Shu’s expression didn’t soften. “I’ll try to be more mindful of the time,” Xu Jinnan said.

“Go take a shower,” Shen Shu said.

“Right away,” Xu Jinnan replied, retrieving her pajamas from the closet, like an obedient child.

For a moment, she felt like she was being… domesticated.

It wasn’t an unpleasant feeling.

–Twenty minutes later, when she returned to the bedroom, she saw a figure curled up under the covers.

The bedside lamp cast a soft glow, and Shen Shu, her back to the light, seemed to be asleep.

Xu Jinnan’s hair was slightly damp, and she instinctively reached for a towel, then changed her mind, using a tissue to dry it instead.

She turned on the heater, setting a timer, then carefully slipped into bed beside Shen Shu. She had been so busy lately, sometimes even sleeping at the office, and perhaps because of this, her scent gland had been less sensitive.

But she and Shen Shu had barely spent any time together in the past two weeks, hadn’t even had a proper conversation.

She turned off the light and lay down, inhaling the sweet fragrance of Shen Shu’s pheromones, a familiar comfort.

She couldn’t sleep.

Her mind was racing, and Shen Shu’s presence beside her, the intoxicating scent of her pheromones, was both comforting and arousing.

Was it because she hadn’t been this close to Shen Shu in days? Shen Shu’s scent seemed especially… potent tonight.

She saw Shen Shu shift slightly, pulling the blanket down, as if she was suddenly feeling hot.

The movement released a wave of warm, sweet pheromones, and Xu Jinnan froze.

“Shu Shu?” she whispered, remembering Shen Shu had taken her suppressants two weeks ago. Had her heat cycle arrived early? Was it because her cycle was irregular?

Shen Shu bit her lip, holding her breath, then, hearing Xu Jinnan’s voice, exhaled slowly, but her voice, when she spoke, was barely a whisper.

Xu Jinnan’s throat tightened.

She gritted her teeth and sat up. “I’ll get your suppressants,” she said, but Shen Shu’s hand reached out and grasped her wrist, stopping her.