Chapter 100 p1
Bai Xiao’s identity had been revealed online, and news of her death had quickly spread, the incident trending on social media. Xu Jinnan had even overheard hushed conversations at the office, everyone speculating about what had really happened.
The increased attention had prompted news outlets to cover the story, and entertainment bloggers, never ones to miss an opportunity for gossip, had turned their attention to Shen Shu.
Xu Jinnan scrolled through the trending topics on her phone:
#XuCorpExWifeFallsToDeath
#XuCorpChairmanCriticalCondition
#OffendingShenShuLeadsToBlacklisting
#ShenShuPersona
#ShenShuSecretChild
She clicked on each one, her eyes scanning the comments.
Is anyone else aware that the Xu family’s eldest daughter is in prison?
Xu Jinnan is trending again. Is this the beginning of the Xu family’s downfall?
Conspiracy theory time: the former chairman is critically ill, his half-sister is in prison, and her mother just fell to her death. Something doesn’t add up.
Rich people problems. Some people will do anything for money… sigh. Human nature.
I can’t believe she already has a child, and it’s so old! I saw someone say it was conceived before the marriage, and that there was some kind of… coercion involved. Holy shit.
That’s disgusting.
Shen Shu’s innocent persona is just an act. She’s no better than the rest of them. It’s all about the money. I’d marry into the Xu family too, if I had the chance.
Those two are a menace to society, one ruining people’s lives, the other creating drama in the entertainment industry.
Xu Jinnan’s eyes narrowed as she read the hateful comments, a wave of anger and frustration washing over her.
She messaged Li Lan, asking when the official statement would be released.
If they didn’t release it soon, she would handle this herself.
These comments were infuriating, and she couldn’t imagine how much worse it was for Shen Shu, constantly exposed to the negativity of the entertainment industry.
The thought made her blood boil.
She forwarded the links to her legal team, then immediately contacted Tong Jia, asking about Shen Shu.
“It’s fine. We’ll just wait for the official statement from the Special Ward. This will all blow over, and it’ll even boost Shu Shu’s popularity. Don’t worry, she’s fine,” Tong Jia said, her voice calm and reassuring, even teasing Xu Jinnan for being overly concerned.
“Shu Shu has dealt with this before, remember? Trending topics, trolls… she’s used to it. Why are you so worried? She’s not even bothered. But you two are definitely in sync; she’s also worried about you seeing these comments.”
After hanging up, Xu Jinnan sat at her desk for a while, lost in thought.
She had been on edge these past few days, her anxiety intensifying after her last visit with Professor Qin.
You could be strong and capable one moment, then helpless and vulnerable the next. Her carefully cultivated composure, her emotional control, now seemed like a cruel joke.
She couldn’t control anything.
The thought brought tears to her eyes.
She was becoming like the original Xu Jinnan again, her sensitivity to Shen Shu’s pheromones returning, the risk of a rut, of hurting Shen Shu, a constant threat.
She pressed her fingers against her temples, trying to ease the throbbing pain.
—
The Special Ward released an official statement, detailing the events leading up to Bai Xiao’s death, referring to Little Crescent Moon simply as a child under Xu Jinnan and Shen Shu’s care, omitting any mention of their connection to Yin Xue.
Shen Shu and Sacred Heart Pictures immediately reposted the statement, Shen Shu adding a simple comment: The truth will prevail.
As expected, public opinion shifted, the trolls and haters disappearing as quickly as they had arrived, their earlier accusations now a mocking reminder of their own ignorance.
But it wasn’t as simple as Tong Jia had claimed; Shen Shu’s reputation had still been tarnished, a shadow cast by Bai Xiao’s death, the lingering doubts and suspicions like seeds planted in the public’s mind, dormant for now, but with the potential to sprout and grow.
But for now, the drama had subsided.
However, the truth about Bai Xiao’s past remained a mystery. Xu Li, after learning about Bai Xiao’s death, had had a mental breakdown, refusing to speak.
Xu Jinnan thought, Whatever Bai Xiao endured, it was ultimately the Xu family’s fault.
Just then, Xu Lian called, her voice as harsh and demanding as ever, her focus, as always, on the money.
This time, Xu Jinnan didn’t make any excuses, simply telling her she would personally deliver the money to the Xu family matriarch on her birthday next month.
Xu Lian, surprisingly, offered a few words of insincere praise, then casually asked about Bai Xiao.
“That woman lost her mind after divorcing Xu Tao, rambling nonsense. She must have hated him deeply. And now that he’s incapacitated, she’s targeting you,” she said.
Xu Jinnan, standing by the window of her office on the 26th floor, the city spread out below her, felt no sense of triumph, only a heavy, oppressive feeling, as if the city itself was suffocating her.
“She did say a few things,” she replied calmly. “But it didn’t sound like nonsense.”
“What did she say?” Xu Lian asked, her voice suddenly sharp.
“She said… it was all the Xu family’s fault,” Xu Jinnan replied slowly.
Xu Lian scoffed. “Don’t believe the ramblings of a madwoman. She deserved to die…”
Xu Jinnan, disgusted by even this brief interaction, hung up without another word.
She sat down, closing her eyes, her mind racing, then, after a long moment, she exhaled slowly.
Four more days until her trip to Qucheng.
The closer it got, the more anxious she felt, the weight of the Xu family’s secrets, the potential dangers, a constant pressure, a tightening knot in her chest.
Just as she was thinking this, her phone rang again, and she picked it up, her movements sluggish, her mind still elsewhere.
Then, seeing the “Unknown” caller ID, her heart sank.
She had assumed it was Li Laijia, Xu Lian’s wife, who had called before, but there hadn’t been any further contact, and she had almost given up hope.
She quickly answered the call, starting the recording app.
“Hello?”
“Is this Xu Jinnan?” a hesitant voice, trembling slightly, asked.
Xu Jinnan straightened up, her drowsiness vanishing. “Yes, speaking.”
“I… I’m Li Laijia. Can you help me?”
—
Xu Jinnan immediately contacted Li Lan. Li Lan had initially planned to infiltrate the Xu family compound with her team, planting listening devices and gathering evidence, but Li Laijia’s call could expedite the process. She was a crucial piece of the puzzle.
The Xu family was a formidable opponent, and with Li Laijia’s earlier reluctance to cooperate, extracting her from Qucheng wouldn’t have been easy. But now that she had reached out, if she was willing to leave, Li Lan’s team could arrange it.
A day and a half later, Li Laijia, escorted by undercover agents from the Special Ward, arrived in North City.
Xu Jinnan, in a meeting when she received the news, immediately excused herself and rushed to the North City Special Ward.
She messaged Shen Shu, saying she wouldn’t be home tonight. She knew Shen Shu’s event had ended at 7 p.m. It was past 9 p.m. now; she must be home.
As she typed the message, a wave of sadness washed over her. They hadn’t seen each other in two days, their conversations brief and infrequent, no video calls.
She missed Shen Shu, but the thought of her, the image of her face, only intensified the ache in her chest.
What if I can never touch her again? she wondered, a fear she couldn’t quite suppress, despite her usually rational mind, her ability to compartmentalize her emotions.
The sky outside was dark and overcast, the streetlights casting a dim glow, the raindrops splattering against the windshield, the wipers clearing the glass momentarily before the world blurred again, a rhythmic cycle of clarity and distortion.
Her phone vibrated, and after a moment, she answered.
“Xu Jinnan,” Shen Shu’s voice, cool and calm, said, the sound of clinking glass echoing through the phone’s speaker, “you’re not even coming home anymore?” It was a short sentence, but Xu Jinnan could picture her standing by the kitchen island, her expression slightly annoyed, a glass of water in her hand.
Xu Jinnan initiated a video call.
Shen Shu answered almost immediately.
“Where are you going?” she asked, her voice soft.
Xu Jinnan, taking advantage of the light traffic, glanced at the screen. Shen Shu, in the warm glow of the kitchen lights, was leaning against the counter, sipping her water.
“Going to the Special Ward,” she replied, her voice low.
Shen Shu frowned. “What happened now?”
“Remember Li Laijia, Xu Lian’s wife? She left the Xu family. I’m going to see her,” Xu Jinnan explained.
“She…?”
“She called me.”
“Oh.”
The traffic light turned red, and Xu Jinnan stopped the car, glancing at the screen again. Shen Shu, in her strawberry pajamas, her skin glowing in the soft light, looked like she was made of porcelain.
A brief silence followed.
“Can you adjust the camera? I can’t see you,” Shen Shu said.
Xu Jinnan adjusted the phone, their eyes meeting through the screen. She quickly looked away, glancing at the traffic light.
Ten seconds.
“Look at me,” Shen Shu said.
Xu Jinnan looked back at the screen, a faint smile playing on her lips.
“Hmm?” she murmured.
“Are you really not coming home because of this? Does it require an entire night?” Shen Shu asked, her voice soft, the air in the car suddenly feeling close, almost intimate.
Xu Jinnan glanced at the traffic light again.
Three seconds.
“Yes, it’ll be late,” she replied.
“Xu Jinnan, are you upset?” Shen Shu asked, her voice gentle. “If something’s bothering you, you should talk about it. Even Little Crescent Moon knows that.”
Xu Jinnan bit her lip, then started the car. “I’m fine,” she said. “I’ll be there soon. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
Shen Shu paused. “Okay.”
“Shu Shu, get some rest. Good night,” Xu Jinnan said.
“Say it differently,” Shen Shu replied.
“Say what differently?” Xu Jinnan asked, slowing down slightly.
“That,” Shen Shu said, referring to the endearment.
Xu Jinnan’s fingers tightened around the steering wheel, then she said softly, “Wifey, get some rest. Good night.”
She didn’t see Shen Shu’s expression soften at her words.
The car fell silent again, Xu Jinnan’s breathing heavy, as if a weight had settled on her chest.
—
At the Special Ward, Li Lan led Xu Jinnan to a small room with warm lighting, a black leather sofa, and a long wooden table.
After waiting for a few minutes, a knock came at the door.
“Come in,” Li Lan said.
Two officers escorted a woman into the room.
Xu Jinnan had last seen Li Laijia at the parking lot in Qucheng, standing silently beside Xu Lian.
Her voice on the phone yesterday had been filled with fear, but now, she seemed calmer, more composed.
Xu Jinnan asked why she had decided to contact her for help.
“Because I know you’re investigating the Xu family,” Li Laijia replied.
Xu Jinnan pieced together the timeline; it must have been during the original Xu Jinnan’s first visit to Qucheng.
“I didn’t realize you were working with the Special Ward,” Li Laijia said, her voice low. “If I had known, I would have contacted you sooner.”
Li Lan pushed a glass of water towards her. “We need you to tell us everything you know about the Xu family. Don’t worry, we’ll protect you,” she said, then glanced at Xu Jinnan.
“Since I’m working with the Special Ward, I’ll make sure the Xu family is brought to justice, for your sake, for everyone’s sake, and for my own,” Xu Jinnan said, her voice firm. “The Xu family has committed many crimes, and Officer Li already has some evidence, but it’s not enough, especially direct evidence. If you’re willing to cooperate, we’ll ensure your safety and provide for your future. With the Special Ward’s protection, you’ll be able to live a peaceful life.”
Li Laijia shook her head.
Both Xu Jinnan and Li Lan paused, surprised.
“I’m willing to cooperate, but not for… compensation,” she said.
She was about 35, her appearance a pleasant blend of youthful beauty and mature elegance. She was clearly well-educated, her speech articulate and her thoughts organized, even remembering to thank Xu Jinnan during their phone call yesterday, despite her obvious fear.
For the next three hours, she recounted her experiences with the Xu family, every detail, from the moment she had married into the family.
She wasn’t from Qucheng. She had been an orphan, arriving in the town at the age of five, then adopted by a local family.
Everything had been normal at first, until the Xu family started visiting regularly.
She had overheard a conversation and learned the truth about her adoption. She had already differentiated as an A-class Omega at the time. And the Xu family wanted her to marry Xu Lian, whose ex-wife had recently been admitted to a mental institution.
—
The first part of her story corroborated the information they had already gathered, including the Xu family’s connection to the gambling den owner, Liu Yong, and their use of drugs as a means of control.
“The old madam and Xu Lian made the drug themselves. I overheard Xu Lian talking about it one night when she was drunk. I don’t know where they made it, but the old madam rarely leaves the house, so I assume it was somewhere on the property,” Li Laijia said. “I’ve never taken it myself… I’ve been very careful since marrying into the Xu family. Fortunately, Xu Lian never gave it to me, but I saw her give it to others.”
Her words were like bombshells, each revelation more shocking than the last.
Xu Jinnan and Li Lan exchanged a look, their faces grim.
The original Xu Jinnan had been drugged by Lu Yun as a child, the trauma contributing to her mental instability.
Then, Li Laijia mentioned the children with high differentiation probabilities.
“The price varied depending on their potential. The higher the probability of differentiating as an S-class Omega, the more expensive they were. And of course, the Xu family kept the best ones for themselves. I know they chose one for you. I saw her name on Xu Lian’s list,” she said.
Xu Jinnan pulled out the photos on her phone, and Li Laijia, after glancing at them, said, “Yes, that’s her. You knew about her? But I heard she… disappeared. I don’t know the details.”
The child was Shen Shu.
Xu Jinnan’s heart ached, thinking about her.
“What about the others?” she asked. “The other children?”
Li Lan had discovered that some of the women on the list with Lu Yun were married and living in Qucheng.
And based on her investigation, some had been trafficked by the Xu family.
“I overheard Xu Lian calling them ‘products,’ referring to the ones with lower differentiation probabilities as ‘defective.’ Some of them were sold, through that middleman, Liu Yong. And others… well, this has been going on for generations… The Xu family would give some of these children to families in Qucheng, families with only Betas,” Li Laijia explained, her voice hesitant, as if the topic was too disturbing, even for her, after all these years.
Xu Jinnan and Li Lan didn’t interrupt, waiting patiently.
Betas had only a 1% chance of producing an Alpha or Omega offspring, and if there were no Alphas or Omegas in the family for three generations, the probability was even lower.
And in this world, the ratio of Alphas and Omegas to Betas was already skewed. Qucheng was no exception. And back then, the desire for Alpha and Omega children had been even stronger, the belief that they were the only ones with a future, creating a demand for the Xu family’s… services.
Xu Jinnan’s hands trembled, despite the warm air and the mug of warm water in her hands, a chilling coldness spreading through her.
For the rest of the meeting, Li Lan and Li Laijia continued their discussion.
“The Xu family had just started gaining power then. They were shrewd, using these ‘gifts’ as leverage, as a means of control. And the local Special Ward and hospital were also involved. They were all in cahoots, though I don’t know who specifically. But I know Xu Lian has a ledger,” Li Laijia said.
“It’s in the safe in her room, along with other… things. But her room is guarded, and there are hidden compartments. It’s difficult for outsiders to get in. And she has a remote-controlled self-destruct device connected to her phone, so be careful.”
She wrote down the combination to the safe, then took out her phone.
“There are a few videos here. One of them shows the contents of the closet, but I was too scared and only recorded half of it. I don’t know if it’s enough to convict them,” she said.
Li Lan took the phone. Besides the incriminating evidence from the closet, there were also videos of the children in the courtyard, and recordings of Xu Lian’s transactions with the middleman, some of the people involved already identified by the undercover agents.
It was irrefutable evidence.
The matriarch might escape punishment, but Xu Lian and that middleman, Liu Yong, were definitely going down.
—
It wasn’t until Li Laijia was led out by the Special Ward personnel and Li Lan walked up to Xu Jinnan that Xu Jinnan came back to her senses.
Li Lan said, “Do you have any thoughts?”
Xu Jinnan looked up: “What do you mean?”
“I’m going to call a meeting in a moment to deploy the operation, but unlike what was said before, we are going to the Xu family not to investigate, but to arrest people,” Li Lan said seriously. “This means there will be some risks on this trip. Of course, I will guarantee your safety even if it costs me my life.” She added, “But I still need you to confirm, are you still willing to go now?” Li Lan’s words were not said suddenly.
Under the warm lighting, it was evident that Xu Jinnan’s face was pale; she needed confirmation.
Xu Jinnan didn’t hesitate: “Don’t ask me this question again. I am willing to go. The evil the Xu family has done should have a consequence.” Her voice was very flat.
Li Lan still sensed something else from that flatness: “Are you alright?” Xu Jinnan’s back was pressed against the chair, and from Li Lan’s angle, she could see a curved arc, as if she was bent by something.
She could feel Xu Jinnan’s pressure.
And a hint of emotion that was hard to detect, like sadness, melancholy, like entanglement, and pain.
Hidden deep within.
Excessively deep.
Therefore, even Li Lan was affected.
“I know that part of Qucheng Town was built with the Xu family’s money. I guessed that perhaps those people had some financial dealings with the Xu family, or something else. But I didn’t expect…” Xu Jinnan rested her elbows on the table, her skin pressing a small groove into the edge of the table.
Like it was sinking in.
Xu Jinnan’s voice lowered: “I didn’t expect it to be like this.”
The matter would be so big, involving the entire families of those people in Qucheng, and possibly even the Qucheng Town Special Ward and so on.
Bai Xiao’s death alone had plunged her and Shen Shu into a vortex. What kind of storm would it be once the matters of the Xu family and Qucheng Town were exposed?
Would those people understand her? Would they believe her?
Even if the truth surfaced and the wicked were punished, the authorities couldn’t imprison everyone.
And then?
She would become the target of public criticism, and Shen Shu, being by her side, would be the first person to be affected.
Was this still a result she could bear? Was this something she could handle and resolve?
Xu Jinnan didn’t have that confidence.
So she felt dejected, helpless and powerless, and in pain.
Li Lan’s gaze settled on Xu Jinnan’s lowered posture. She took a cigarette from her pocket, her pale lips slightly parted, and bit the cigarette.
Then she placed the cigarette and lighter beside Xu Jinnan’s hand.
Li Lan turned around, leaning halfway against the edge of the table.
She didn’t say anything; she wasn’t good at comforting people anyway.
The sound of the lighter’s wheel rubbing came from beside her. In the silent space, there was only a faint scent of tobacco.
Li Lan took a deep drag of the cigarette.
Letting Xu Jinnan bear this risk made her feel bad too. From a personal perspective, what she least wanted was to involve Xu Jinnan.
The transfer was a decision made by the higher-ups, and to some extent, it was to help Xu Yincheng look after Xu Jinnan.
And now she had to personally pull Xu Jinnan into the muddy waters.
But at this point, Xu Jinnan couldn’t avoid it.
“Your brother will definitely blame me,” Li Lan smiled helplessly. “But I have my duty.” Xu Jinnan shook her head and said, “If the Xu family isn’t dealt with, no one will have a good time.” There was another moment of silence.
After finishing her cigarette, Li Lan was about to give Xu Jinnan some space. At this moment, Xu Jinnan gave her a sense of being on the verge of falling off a cliff.
But the next second, Xu Jinnan called out to her.
The cigarette butt burned down to the last inch. Xu Jinnan pressed it into the ashtray, the crimson firelight fleeting.
The chair was pushed back, and Xu Jinnan stood up: “Before going to Qucheng, there’s one more thing to resolve.” Li Lan looked at the dead cigarette butt, then glanced at Xu Jinnan, as if seeing a hint of detachment from her.
As if her soul was about to leave.
—
The next day.
Xu Jinnan went to the South District.
Viola glanced at the back seat through the mirror.
Xu Jinnan’s state these past two days was surprisingly poor. This was the first time she had seen her in such a state since working for Xu Jinnan.
Viola couldn’t quite describe it.
It wasn’t her work state, but her spirit seemed to be in a state of languor.
And her whole being was immersed in ultra-intense work.
Xu Jinnan seemed to be making some plan, asking for all the accounts of the Xu Corporation and the company. These past few days, lawyers had also been coming to the office.
Every time she went in, Xu Jinnan’s desk was piled high with documents.
Since Xu Jinnan didn’t say anything, she naturally wouldn’t ask.
Tong Jia had also asked once. Shen Shu seemed a bit unsettled these past two days, so she could only guess that perhaps something had happened between the two of them.
…
“Didn’t argue.”
Shen Shu sat on the folding rest chair, holding a new script in her hand.
Tong Jia sat beside her, handing her water and saying, “That’s good. I just saw you were a bit unsettled these past two days.” After spending time together, she realized that Shen Shu’s social life and personal life were simple to a certain extent. It could be said that, so far, besides acting, only Xu Jinnan could cause significant emotional fluctuations in her.
Therefore, she had a valid reason to ask.
Shen Shu lowered her eyes, her long, dark eyelashes casting a soft shadow on her eyelids. She let out a barely audible sigh.
They hadn’t argued, but she always had a sense of unease…
In the past, even when she was very busy, Xu Jinnan would send her messages tirelessly, but these past few days, apart from morning and evening greetings and yesterday’s video call, her contact with Xu Jinnan had significantly decreased.
“I should be free tomorrow noon, right?”
“No, why?”
Shen Shu was silent for a moment and then asked, “Jiajia, does a person get tired of being the one who is unilaterally proactive for a long time?” Tong Jia looked at Shen Shu when she heard this and nodded: “Definitely.” Shen Shu thought that she seemed to have gotten used to Xu Jinnan’s proactive presence and care in her life.
She was much busier and worked overtime more than Xu Jinnan. Xu Jinnan had never said anything; she always accepted Xu Jinnan’s kindness more, while giving back less than Xu Jinnan.
Was Xu Jinnan a little tired lately? Bai Xiao’s matter also put some pressure on her… Thinking of this, Shen Shu felt a surge of guilt and self-reproach.
She should be more concerned about Xu Jinnan.
“You don’t need to prepare lunch for me at noon,” Shen Shu said.
Tong Jia smiled knowingly: “Alright.”
Although she didn’t know what was wrong between them, two people who loved each other so much would probably be fine after meeting.
—
