Captivating Beauty 104

Chapter 104

The beach met the ocean in a seamless gradient, the wind carrying the salty tang of the sea and the dampness of the spray across the sand.

Xu Jinnan’s steps faltered, her lips moving soundlessly, the words caught in her throat, unable to speak.

Shen Shu stood in the dim light, her long, flowing dress a blur of red and white against the dark backdrop of the ocean, the hem swaying gently in the breeze.

Her beautiful eyes glistened with unshed tears, her cheeks and nose flushed with cold.

While Shen Shu was usually careful about her diet, maintaining a slender figure, her face, already small, seemed even thinner now, her cheekbones more prominent.

Xu Jinnan’s fingers trembled, her heart aching at the sight of her, her vulnerability a raw, exposed wound.

A gust of wind made Shen Shu shiver, and Xu Jinnan, her eyes softening, quickly took off her robe and draped it around Shen Shu’s shoulders, pulling her close.

Shen Shu was wearing heels, and they were almost the same height now, Xu Jinnan’s hands tightening around the robe, the familiar warmth of Shen Shu’s body a comforting presence after so many days apart.

She felt Shen Shu tremble slightly in her arms, her gaze meeting Shen Shu’s tear-filled eyes.

Before the tears could fall, Xu Jinnan’s hand moved from Shen Shu’s shoulder to her hand, her fingers gently interlacing with Shen Shu’s.

Shen Shu’s hand was ice-cold, her gaze fixed on Xu Jinnan’s face, her eyes filled with a silent pain, her body trembling slightly, but she didn’t resist, her vulnerability a fragile, broken thing.

Xu Jinnan’s heart ached, a heavy, suffocating pressure in her chest, and she led Shen Shu towards the villa, Shen Shu following her silently, her hand still clasped in Xu Jinnan’s.

They entered the living room, the housekeeper discreetly disappearing as they approached.

Xu Jinnan led Shen Shu to the sofa, then poured her a glass of warm water.

As she turned around, she saw a tear trace a path down Shen Shu’s cheek, and her own eyes filled with tears, her throat tightening, the words caught in her throat, unable to speak.

The tear on her fingertip was burning hot.

“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry…” she whispered, her voice hoarse.

Shen Shu’s tears flowed freely now, silent, heartbroken sobs, her gaze fixed on the bandage on Xu Jinnan’s wrist, the faint pink stain beneath the gauze a stark reminder of her near-death experience.

Many people had been arrested in Qucheng, most of the Xu family.

She had seen the news online, the photos of the Special Ward officers clashing with the Xu family members, the blood, the violence.

Someone had even died.

Xu Jinnan had been there too, and the thought of the danger she had faced, the gunshots, the blood…

It had terrified her.

The fear and anxiety had been a constant companion during the long, agonizing hours she had been unable to reach Xu Jinnan.

“Shu Shu, I’m sorry. Please don’t cry,” Xu Jinnan pleaded, her voice thick with emotion, feeling helpless and inadequate. Xu Yincheng had been right; she had thought she was doing the right thing, protecting Shen Shu, but she had only caused her more pain.

She had unilaterally decided to end their relationship.

How much must Shen Shu be hurting?

All she could do was apologize, the words empty and meaningless.

Shen Shu pulled her hand away, her own hand clutching her chest. “Xu Jinnan, my heart hurts. It hurts so much. Do you even know… how much I’m suffering?”

Xu Jinnan’s own tears flowed freely now, and she pulled Shen Shu into a tight embrace. “It’s my fault. It’s all my fault,” she whispered, her voice breaking.

They held each other for a long time, Shen Shu’s sobs gradually subsiding as she leaned against Xu Jinnan’s shoulder, her breathing ragged.

Xu Jinnan gently wiped away her tears. “Don’t cry anymore. You’ll hurt your eyes,” she murmured.

“Do you even care if I hurt my eyes? You don’t care about anything anymore,” Shen Shu said, her voice thick with tears, her cheeks flushed from crying, the redness a stark contrast to her pale skin.

Xu Jinnan’s heart ached, her guilt a heavy burden. “I do care…” she whispered. How could she not?

Then, she noticed the dampness on Shen Shu’s skirt. “Your dress is wet. Let’s get you changed, okay?” Shen Shu hadn’t worn a coat, just the dress, and the night air was cold.

She wrapped her robe around Shen Shu, her touch gentle and careful.

Shen Shu, looking at her, her eyes still filled with tears, asked softly, “Xu Jinnan, do you really care?”

Xu Jinnan’s heart ached. “I do. I care,” she whispered, then, seeing the redness in Shen Shu’s eyes, the vulnerability in her gaze, she lifted her into her arms.

“You’ll catch a cold. Let’s get you changed,” she said.

The villa had three floors and a private elevator, as well as a spiral staircase near the living room.

She carried Shen Shu into the elevator, the soft lighting and luxurious decor a stark contrast to the darkness and turmoil they had just endured.

The elevator ascended slowly, the five-second journey feeling like an eternity, their eyes meeting in the mirrored walls, their breaths mingling, their bodies trembling slightly, as if they hadn’t touched in years.

The air crackled with unspoken desire.

Shen Shu’s arms tightened around Xu Jinnan’s neck, her fingers carefully avoiding the bandage on her wrist, her touch a gentle caress against Xu Jinnan’s warm skin.

Her lips, still slightly swollen from crying, were a soft, inviting pink.

Xu Jinnan’s gaze lingered on them, her throat tightening, and as the elevator doors opened, she lifted Shen Shu slightly, her hand supporting her back, and kissed her, their lips meeting in a soft, tentative touch that quickly deepened, their bodies moving closer, their arms entwined.

They kissed as they walked out of the elevator, Xu Jinnan gently pressing Shen Shu against the wall, their bodies close, their breaths mingling.

It was past 10 p.m., the only sounds the occasional crashing of waves against the shore and their soft moans echoing in the quiet hallway.

Shen Shu’s hand moved from Xu Jinnan’s neck to her chest, her fingers gently tracing the curve of her ribcage, the light touch sending a shiver down Xu Jinnan’s spine, her scent gland tingling, but she ignored it, her mind focused on Shen Shu, on the warmth of her body, the sweet scent of her pheromones.

They entered the bedroom.

Perhaps subconsciously, Xu Jinnan still remembered Shen Shu’s wet clothes, her need for warmth and comfort.

The bathroom window, frosted glass, was partially open, the bathtub beneath it, the cool night air, carrying the distant sounds of the ocean, mingling with the steam from the shower.

During the day, with the warm sun and the gentle sea breeze, it would have been a beautiful, serene scene.

But now, the coolness of the air, the dampness of the night, seemed to seep into their bones, their skin tingling.

Shen Shu leaned against the cool tiles of the wall, shivering slightly.

Xu Jinnan, her mind clearing slightly at the movement, looked down at her, noticing the slight furrow in her brow, a familiar expression of discomfort she had seen many times before.

Shen Shu’s eyes, still slightly puffy and red-rimmed, met hers, then her gaze drifted to Xu Jinnan’s neck, where her scent gland, slightly swollen and flushed, was visible.

She knew Xu Jinnan’s sensitivity was acting up, that she was trying to control herself, to resist the urge.

She reached out, pulling Xu Jinnan closer, her lips finding Xu Jinnan’s in a soft, searching kiss.

Then, Xu Jinnan gently pushed her against the wall, their positions reversed, Shen Shu’s back now against the cool tiles, her body caught between the heat of Xu Jinnan’s embrace and the chill of the wall.

Xu Jinnan’s Alpha instincts surged, the primal urge to possess and dominate almost overwhelming, her body burning with a need she hadn’t felt since that day in the fitting room, her control slipping.

Having missed her pheromone blocker injection, her sensitivity heightened, she felt like she was drowning in Shen Shu’s scent, her body yearning for a release, a connection, a deeper intimacy.

She glanced at the dark window, the flashes of lightning in the distance a reflection of the storm raging within her.

Then, with a sudden surge of power, like lightning splitting the sky, she pushed Shen Shu away, turning her back to her, as if even a single glance would shatter her resolve.

“Shu Shu, I… I can’t…” she whispered, her voice hoarse and strained, her mind still reeling from the sudden surge of pheromones, her actions a betrayal of her own desires, her earlier intentions.

Even an apology felt inadequate now.

She stumbled out of the bathroom, ignoring the throbbing pain in her scent gland, her body aching with a need she couldn’t fulfill, her mind a jumble of conflicting emotions.

“Xu Jinnan!”

She almost fell, then heard Shen Shu’s voice, cold and sharp, “You tease me, then you run away? What kind of person are you?”

Xu Jinnan licked her lips, her throat dry, her mind still clouded by the intoxicating scent of Shen Shu’s pheromones.

“If I don’t run, I’ll become a monster,” she whispered, then, before leaving the villa, afraid Shen Shu might leave and she wouldn’t be able to find her, she left a message with the housekeeper, asking her to keep an eye on Shen Shu.

She didn’t go far, simply walking down to the beach, the cool night air a welcome relief against her burning skin.

She had no more suppressants, so she could only rely on time and… other methods to regain control.

She took off her shoes and waded into the water, the waves crashing against her legs, the cold spray a shock against her skin. She looked up at the dark, vast expanse of the ocean, its surface shimmering under the moonlight, and took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm raging within her.

She didn’t know how long she stood there, lost in her thoughts, the rhythmic crashing of the waves a soothing counterpoint to the chaos in her mind.

A security guard, seeing her standing alone in the darkness, had even approached her, concerned she might be contemplating suicide.

She had only realized how much time had passed when he asked, almost three hours.

She was still wearing her pajamas, the thin fabric now damp and clinging to her skin, the cool night air doing little to dispel the heat within her.

But the tingling in her scent gland had subsided, the swelling reduced.

She checked her phone; the housekeeper hadn’t called, and Shen Shu was still at the villa.

But she knew Shen Shu must be furious, having been rejected again, and again.

I’m such a mess, she thought.

Just then, her phone, which she had left on the sand, vibrated. It was a call from an unknown number.

She answered.

“Miss Xu… perhaps you should come back,” the housekeeper’s voice said.

The pheromone blockers were losing their effectiveness, but she still injected herself before returning to the villa, hoping it would help, even a little.

Shen Shu’s influence on her was too strong; she knew she might not be able to control herself, but she couldn’t stay away.

As she entered the apartment, the strong scent of alcohol assaulted her senses.

She went to the bedroom and saw Shen Shu lying on the bed, her back to her, her body curled up, the thin silk of her nightgown clinging to her skin.

Several empty wine bottles lay on the floor. The housekeeper had said she couldn’t stop her, hadn’t even dared to try.

The room was quiet, and Xu Jinnan had assumed Shen Shu was asleep, but then she saw her shoulders shaking slightly, a soft sob echoing in the silence.

Her heart ached, and she walked over to the bed, seeing Shen Shu’s tear-streaked face, her eyes red and swollen. “Do you find me that repulsive? That you’d rather…” she began, her voice breaking.

Xu Jinnan’s heart lurched, and she grabbed a tissue, ignoring the tingling in her scent gland as she knelt beside the bed, gently wiping away Shen Shu’s tears.

“No, of course not,” she whispered, her voice hoarse. “You’re drunk. Just sleep. I’ll explain everything tomorrow, okay?” She hadn’t intended to keep it a secret any longer.

Shen Shu’s tears flowed freely, and Xu Jinnan wanted to slap herself, her own eyes stinging.

“Don’t cry. It’s breaking my heart. It’s my fault…” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. “Wifey, please don’t cry.”

Shen Shu pushed her away. “I’m not your wife!” she said, her voice thick with tears, sitting up, her face flushed, her eyes still glistening with unshed tears. “We’re divorced! Xu Jinnan, I’m not your wife anymore!”

Xu Jinnan’s eyes reddened.

“You asked for the divorce, remember? We’re divorced,” Shen Shu repeated, her voice barely a whisper, her heart aching, her body trembling.

Xu Jinnan gently wiped away her tears, her hand brushed aside by Shen Shu. “Is an apology enough? Will an apology make the pain go away? Xu Jinnan, you abandoned me. You left me…”

“I didn’t leave you!” Xu Jinnan exclaimed, her voice rising in panic. “I didn’t.”

Shen Shu, drunk and distraught, her body swaying slightly as she sat on the bed, her hand gripping the edge for support, looked at her, her eyes filled with a raw, unfiltered pain.

She knew, deep down, that these were Shen Shu’s true feelings.

She had truly hurt her.

“It’s my fault. It’s all my fault. Yell at me, hit me, do whatever you want… just don’t be sad. Don’t cry,” Xu Jinnan pleaded, her own tears threatening to spill. Shen Shu’s pain was a hundred times more agonizing than her own.

She reached out to comfort her, but Shen Shu pushed her hand away, trying to get out of bed, then stumbled as her feet touched the floor.

Xu Jinnan caught her, Shen Shu’s face buried in her neck, her arms wrapped around Xu Jinnan’s waist.

Xu Jinnan bit her lip, the scent of alcohol and vanilla filling her senses, a heady mix, and she heard Shen Shu’s soft murmur against her skin, “Anything?”

Xu Jinnan’s eyes darkened, her body responding to Shen Shu’s touch, the desire a powerful, almost overwhelming force, but she suppressed it, her mind still clinging to a sliver of rationality, wanting to help Shen Shu up, to comfort her.

Shen Shu straightened up, then suddenly slapped Xu Jinnan’s chest. “You lied! You lied to me again!”

Xu Jinnan winced, the impact stinging, then, her mind slowly catching up, she said, “I didn’t lie. Anything, as long as you’re not… hurting… Shu Shu, let’s go back to bed, okay?”

“Back to bed?”

“Yes, okay?”

Shen Shu seemed to understand. “Back to bed… bed… let’s go,” she murmured, her words slurred, her body swaying, then she stumbled, her legs giving way.

Xu Jinnan caught her, lifting her into her arms, but before she could even reach the bed, Shen Shu’s hands were fumbling with the buttons of her shirt, pulling her down, her lips finding Xu Jinnan’s, her kiss urgent and demanding.

Xu Jinnan’s body responded instinctively, the scent of alcohol intoxicating, her own desire flaring.

As if sensing Xu Jinnan’s intention to pull away, Shen Shu’s fingers tightened on her shirt. “Are you going to lie to me again? You just promised… you said anything,” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion, her breath warm against Xu Jinnan’s skin.

“I…” Xu Jinnan began, then stopped, her voice softening, her resolve crumbling under Shen Shu’s touch, her whispered pleas.

“Then don’t move, Xu Jinnan. Don’t you dare move,” Shen Shu said, her voice a low growl, her heart pounding. “If you move, I’ll never speak to you again.” While her words were slurred, her tone was firm, unwavering, and Xu Jinnan, her heart pounding, a strange fear gripping her, froze, believing her.

Then, she felt Shen Shu’s weight shift, and she was pushed back onto the bed, Shen Shu’s hands quickly untying the ribbon of her silk nightgown.

Xu Jinnan’s eyes widened, her throat tightening as she saw Shen Shu tie one of the ribbons to the carved wooden post of the bedframe.

“Shu… Shu…?” she asked, her voice barely a whisper, her hands tugging at the ribbon, testing its strength.

“Don’t move,” Shen Shu murmured, her voice husky. “It’ll hurt.”

Xu Jinnan: “…”

“No, you’ll be the one hurting. Just you wait,” Shen Shu said, reaching for Xu Jinnan’s other hand—

Xu Jinnan pulled away, trying to sit up, to untie her hand, but Shen Shu pushed her back down, her warm breath on Xu Jinnan’s face, the scent of alcohol heavy and sweet. “You kept so many secrets from me. The sensitivity, the fear of hurting me, the pheromone blockers… how could you do that to yourself… just you wait,” she whispered, her voice a low growl.

“…Shu Shu, you…”

Shen Shu pushed her down again, pinning her arms above her head. “Don’t move, or I’ll… I’ll spank you,” she said, her voice a mixture of playful teasing and genuine threat.

“…”

Xu Jinnan watched as Shen Shu retrieved a riding crop from under the bed, the leather handle intricately braided, the same one the stable manager had given her as a gift.

She couldn’t ignore the throbbing in her scent gland, the surge of pheromones, her body on the verge of losing control, her hands tied, her resistance futile.

She thought, I’m going to die today.