Captivating Beauty 106

Chapter 106

Tong Jia still sent Xu Jinnan the video.

Because of Xu Jinnan’s last words: Just let me see her, one glance.

Tong Jia rarely, if ever, witnessed Xu Jinnan showing vulnerability. In fact, it was only around Shen Shu that she seemed to let her guard down.

Xu Jinnan stood by Xu Yincheng’s car, a white Porsche, dressed in a gray turtleneck dress and a long, dark brown coat, her light brown hair loose around her shoulders, the sea breeze whipping it around her face as she looked down at the video on her phone.

Shen Shu was sitting in a chair in the resting room, a water bottle in one hand, a script in the other.

She seemed fine.

Xu Jinnan typed a message: Is her scent gland okay? Check it for me.

Tong Jia: […]

Xu Jinnan knew it was a sensitive request, even inappropriate, considering how private and personal scent glands were for Omegas.

After a moment, Tong Jia replied: [Sigh Were you both drunk last night? You don’t even remember what you did. Of course it’s not okay! It’s swollen! Good thing she’s wearing a high-necked dress today…]

Xu Jinnan: [I’m coming over.]

She had to see Shen Shu herself to be sure.

Tong Jia: [If you’re coming, wait a while. She’s still busy, and there are reporters outside. And after this, she has another meeting with the director and cast.]

Tong Jia: [Trust me, she’s fine.]

Xu Jinnan exhaled slowly, her anxiety easing slightly. She trusted Tong Jia, but the memory of Shen Shu’s injury after the fitting room incident, the inflammation of her scent gland, was a constant source of worry, a lingering shadow.

She replied to Tong Jia’s message.

[Okay. She had a lot to drink last night. Make her some honey water.] Then, she added, [Thank you.]

Tong Jia, after a moment, replied: [Okay.]

Xu Jinnan got into the car and was about to start the engine when another message from Tong Jia popped up.

[CEO Xu, I really don’t want you two to get divorced… Shu Shu is really hurting. You have to try harder! Don’t give up!]

Tong Jia: [I still want to come over for dinner!]

Xu Jinnan’s gaze lingered on the word “divorce.” [I won’t give up,] she replied firmly.

She remembered Shen Shu’s words last night, her soft voice saying “sensitivity” and “pheromone blockers,” the realization that Shen Shu knew everything, yet had still come to her.

Shen Shu knew the risks, the potential consequences of the Xu family drama, the danger of Xu Jinnan’s sensitivity, yet she had still come.

Xu Jinnan felt a pang of guilt and self-reproach. She had always thought her feelings for Shen Shu were stronger, but now, she realized Shen Shu’s love was just as deep, just as unwavering.

And compared to Shen Shu’s courage, her own fear and hesitation seemed cowardly.

Shen Shu could be brave.

Why couldn’t she?

Even if Shen Shu was still angry, it didn’t matter.

Shen Shu had made the first move; now it was her turn. She would face Shen Shu’s anger, her accusations, her pain, and she would do whatever it took to make amends.

She glanced at her phone, the notifications piling up, but she didn’t have time to read them, simply scrolling through the list – business partners, the Cai family, the Chen family, even Han Wenling.

And dozens of messages from Cai Ying, the last one: Xu Jinnan, are you becoming a scumbag too?

She didn’t open them; she knew what they were about.

She started the car, heading towards the hospital, her anxiety a tight knot in her chest, the memory of last night’s rut, the most intense one yet, a constant reminder of her own volatile nature.

The restraints had made it even more difficult to control herself, Shen Shu’s touch pushing her to the edge of sanity, her wrists still aching from the ropes.

And even her chest, though unmarked, still tingled with a phantom pain.

She touched her neck, the bandage replaced by Shen Shu, the skin beneath still slightly tender, the faint scent of ointment lingering.

Last night… the memory of it made her palms sweat, her fingers tightening around the steering wheel.

She had heard that even with a reverse marking, it was the Omega who was most affected.

But Shen Shu’s touch, her whispered words, had been intoxicating, a pleasure so intense it had almost erased the pain of her rut, the memory of it still vivid, despite the fragmented memories of the night.

Shen Shu had untied her hands, her face close to Xu Jinnan’s, her voice a husky whisper, “Xu Jinnan, I want to… mark you.”

Xu Jinnan’s throat tightened at the memory.

And then…

She had been free, unrestrained, like a wild beast released from its cage.

She remembered flashes of their lovemaking, her face burning, her palms damp, and she opened the car window, the cool air a welcome relief.

—

An hour later, she arrived at the hospital.

The Xu family scandal had affected the hospital as well, its reputation tarnished, many of its VIP patients having transferred elsewhere after learning of its connection to the Xu family.

The parking lot was unusually empty.

But Xu Jinnan’s mind wasn’t on the hospital’s troubles; she had more pressing concerns. She went straight to Professor Qin’s office.

He was waiting for her.

“Miss Xu, I’m sorry. When Miss Shen called the other night, I really couldn’t…” he began, recounting his conversation with Shen Shu.

Hearing him describe Shen Shu’s distress, her voice breaking, Xu Jinnan felt a lump forming in her throat, her heart aching.

She waited in silence for the test results, her anxiety a tight knot in her chest, desperate to know what was happening to her body.

Shen Shu’s scent gland had been inflamed, requiring medical attention, and Xu Jinnan’s own rut had been unusually intense last night, but…

“It wasn’t that bad,” she said, her voice barely a whisper.

“We’ll know for sure when the results are ready,” Professor Qin replied.

As she waited, she received a message from Viola about the company.

Her own company was fine, but the Xu Corporation was in chaos.

The stock price had been plummeting since the news broke, and Xu Jinnan felt the weight of the responsibility, the impact on the shareholders, the employees, and the thousands of investors.

Especially the employees.

Many of them had been with the Xu Corporation for decades, their loyalty unwavering, their livelihoods tied to the company’s success, as evidenced by their continued dedication even with Xu Tao incapacitated.

Her only consolation was that the three major projects hadn’t been affected.

She remotely managed the most urgent matters, her gaze fixed on her phone, the hours blurring together.

When the results were finally ready, it felt like only a few minutes had passed.

“Well?” she asked, her voice tight with anxiety, her gaze fixed on Professor Qin’s face.

His eyes widened slightly, a flicker of surprise and… something else she couldn’t quite place. “Miss Xu,” he said, his voice tinged with amusement, handing her the report, “take a look at this. It’s incredible. Your Alpha pheromone levels were sky-high a week ago, and now they’re almost normal…”

Xu Jinnan quickly scanned the report. Her Alpha levels were only slightly elevated, almost within the normal range.

“My sensitivity is triggered by high Alpha pheromone levels. Does this mean it’s less likely to occur now?”

“Yes, but…” Professor Qin paused. “Have you been in contact with Miss Shen recently? Your sensitivity is primarily triggered by her presence. If you haven’t been around her, it’s possible your pheromone levels have decreased.”

“I saw her yesterday,” Xu Jinnan replied.

Professor Qin’s eyes widened. “You haven’t had a check-up in days. Did you experience any symptoms? Any reactions when you were with Miss Shen?”

Yes.

She had even experienced a mild rut, the familiar tingling in her scent gland, but it hadn’t been as intense as before, hadn’t affected Shen Shu as much, which was why she had come here today, a flicker of hope, however faint, that perhaps she was recovering.

She hated this sensitivity, this unpredictable body.

Professor Qin pondered her words. “Sensitivity usually only occurs during the initial stages of secondary differentiation, and your case is unique,” he said. That was why it had been so difficult to diagnose and treat.

“It’s a complex phenomenon…” he began, then paused, a thought striking him. “What happened after your… episode yesterday?”

Xu Jinnan’s first thought was the restraints, the riding crop.

Then—

Her eyes widened.

The reverse marking.

Professor Qin paused. “Ah… an Omega’s pheromones usually don’t have much of an effect on an Alpha. But your physiology is… unusual. It’s possible it affected your pheromone levels,” he said, though such a dramatic decrease was still surprising.

But regardless of the reason, if her pheromone levels had returned to almost normal, even after being with Shen Shu, it meant her sensitivity was also likely to improve, perhaps even disappear completely.

As he spoke, he made notes on his computer. This was a significant development in his research on secondary differentiation, especially since Xu Jinnan was a high-ranking Alpha. Her case could be a valuable reference for future cases.

Disappear completely.

Xu Jinnan’s eyes stung at the words, a strange mix of relief and disbelief, the long-awaited possibility now within reach, yet still feeling somehow… unreal.

“Oh, and besides the reverse marking…” Professor Qin continued, “you also marked Miss Shen, didn’t you? Was it a temporary or permanent mark?” As a doctor, he wasn’t embarrassed to ask such personal questions.

Xu Jinnan hesitated.

“I don’t remember,” she admitted.

“…”

She rubbed her forehead. She had been in rut last night, her memories hazy, but she thought she had been in control.

Professor Qin coughed slightly. “Whether it was temporary or permanent, it’s good that you two have reconciled,” he said.

“Thank you,” Xu Jinnan replied.

“Just in case, I recommend being more careful. Come back for an Omega check-up in two weeks. If it was a permanent mark… while the chances of pregnancy are low for high-ranking Alphas and Omegas, it’s still a possibility. Unless you used… protection, of course,” he added.

—

As Xu Jinnan left the hospital, she instinctively rubbed her wrist, Professor Qin’s words echoing in her mind.

Pregnancy?

The thought of carrying Shen Shu’s child, even if it was just a hypothetical possibility, filled her with a strange sense of warmth.

Professor Qin had said the chances were low, even with a permanent mark, especially for high-ranking Alphas and Omegas, which was why they were so rare.

And besides… she didn’t even know if Shen Shu would forgive her.

As she opened the car door, she felt a sudden gaze on her and turned around to see someone taking pictures of her with their phone.

The person, seeing her look, didn’t even try to hide, even muttering something under their breath.

Xu Jinnan paused, then got into the car, ignoring them.

She had anticipated this kind of attention, but the thought of Shen Shu also being targeted made her heart ache.

But she wouldn’t back down now.

Her phone vibrated; it was Li Lan.

“This has blown up. We don’t even need your brother’s intervention anymore. The higher-ups are involved now, and the investigation is much more thorough. It’ll take a few more days to uncover the full extent of the Xu family’s crimes,” Li Lan said. “But once the official statement is released, I believe the public will be… rational.” They would understand that simply being a member of the Xu family wasn’t a crime.

Xu Jinnan nodded, looking at the traffic ahead.

“What about my brother?” she asked after a moment. She didn’t understand his motives.

“It’s nothing,” Li Lan replied, then added, “And one more thing, the authorities are discussing the Xu Corporation situation. They might contact you soon. In my opinion, the outcome might not be as bad as you think.”

“I hope so,” Xu Jinnan said. She always prepared for the worst.

She hung up and drove towards the office, the late December air cold and crisp, the wind like a knife against her skin as she opened the window slightly.

The trees lining the road were bare, their branches reaching towards the sky like skeletal fingers, yet there was a certain beauty in their starkness, a promise of renewal, the vibrant colors of autumn replaced by the quiet strength of winter.

As she approached the Xu Corporation building, she saw a crowd of reporters waiting outside, and knowing she had to see Shen Shu later, and not wanting to be delayed, she had Viola bring her laptop and some documents to the car, working while she waited.

“The live streaming platform and Meilai Jewelry have been slightly affected by the recent news, but our overall performance hasn’t declined,” Viola reported, handing her the financial reports. “A few smaller partners terminated their contracts, but the larger ones, like the Han, Cai, and Chen families, have actually increased their investments. The Han family even proposed a new project.”

Xu Jinnan reviewed the reports, her eyes widening slightly, then softening.

The CEOs of those companies had all contacted her personally, even Han Wenling.

[CEO Xu, are you interested in a new landmark project?]

Han Wenling’s message had been the most surprising. While she had a good relationship with Mr. Cai and Mr. Chen, thanks to their children, she and Han Wenling had a history of conflict, no personal connection whatsoever.

And yet, Han Wenling was offering her a new partnership. She was curious about her motives.

She returned their calls, then called Han Wenling.

“CEO Xu? I thought you would have run away by now,” Han Wenling said, her voice cool.

“Sorry to disappoint you,” Xu Jinnan replied.

She could hear the sound of typing in the background, and as they both worked on their computers, Han Wenling, after a moment, asked, “Have you seen Cai Ying lately?”

Xu Jinnan raised an eyebrow. “Is this about Cai Ying?”

The typing stopped. “Partly. And you allowing the Han Corporation to participate in those three projects was a significant gesture of goodwill. Besides, I don’t think this incident will bring you down. You’re capable. Even without the Xu Corporation, without your own company, you would still succeed,” Han Wenling said. She didn’t say it aloud, but she felt a certain kinship with Xu Jinnan, a shared understanding of ambition and resilience.

Xu Jinnan chuckled, her expression unreadable.

“How is… Cai Ying doing lately?” Han Wenling asked suddenly.

“I haven’t seen her,” Xu Jinnan replied.

Cai Ying had been busy with work, traveling abroad for training programs, her language skills improving rapidly, her earlier reluctance to study replaced by a newfound enthusiasm.

While Han Wenling’s actions had hurt her, they had also forced her to grow, to mature.

—

After hanging up, Xu Jinnan sat in the car for a while, lost in thought.

Starting over wouldn’t be difficult; she wasn’t concerned about material possessions. Her worries were about the potential consequences of the Xu family scandal, the fallout from the arrests in Qucheng, the resentment of those whose lives she had disrupted, their families.

She spent the afternoon working in a private office, her thoughts constantly drifting to Shen Shu.

It was as if her mind was divided into two worlds – one with Shen Shu, and one without.

As she waited at a red light, she glanced down at her wrist, the faint bruises still visible beneath the cuff of her sweater.

A sudden thought struck her, a memory flashing through her mind.

Last night…

Their fingers intertwined…

Their hair tangled, their bodies close, her lips on Shen Shu’s neck, her teeth sinking into the soft skin, the scent of her pheromones intoxicating…

Her eyes widened. Last night, she had permanently marked Shen Shu.

—

It was 5 p.m.

The script reading had ended half an hour ago, but with the recent media attention, they waited before leaving.

“I’ll change into your clothes and go first, with Xiaodong. Xinxin, you take Shu Shu through the back exit,” Tong Jia instructed. “We’ll meet at the corner.”

“Okay,” Xinxin replied, putting down her phone, which she had been looking at.

“What were you looking at?” Tong Jia asked.

“I saw a photo of CEO Xu. In the CP super topic,” Xinxin replied. The follower count of the “NanShu” super topic had dropped significantly after the divorce news, many fans waiting for an official statement, as Shen Shu hadn’t confirmed or denied the rumors.

Shen Shu, overhearing their conversation, paused, her expression hardening slightly, the subtle shift noticed by Tong Jia.

“What photo?” Tong Jia asked, winking at Xinxin, who immediately caught on.

“Oh, a photo of CEO Xu at the hospital,” she said.

Shen Shu’s back stiffened.

“Just a photo of her leaving the hospital. Someone took it,” Xinxin added quickly.

Tong Jia, glancing at Shen Shu, said, “Is CEO Xu sick?”

Shen Shu bit her lip, her gaze fixed on the floor, her eyelashes hiding her worry.

She had been startled by Xu Jinnan’s appearance that morning – the leather restraints on her wrist, the disheveled state of the room, the exposed wound on her neck, the dried blood…

It had made her heart ache.

Her own head had been throbbing after last night’s drinking, but strangely, the memories were vivid, the way she had used the riding crop, the feel of it against Xu Jinnan’s skin…

A subtle unease had settled over her. Was Xu Jinnan unwell? Had she been injured?

Lost in thought, she and Tong Jia reached the designated exits.

“There are a few reporters outside,” a staff member warned them.

“Good thing I told Xu Jinnan not to come,” Tong Jia said.

“Yes,” Shen Shu agreed, then turned and left with Xinxin, her phone clutched tightly in her hand.

To avoid the reporters, they took a less conspicuous exit, and Xinxin held the car door open for her. “Shu Shu, get in quickly,” she said.

Shen Shu glanced at her watch.

5:10 p.m.

She scanned the area, a strange sense of disappointment washing over her.

As she was about to get into the car, she heard the sound of an approaching vehicle and instinctively turned her head.

A white Porsche pulled up beside them.

The driver’s side door opened, and she saw Xu Jinnan get out and walk towards her…