Captivating Beauty 107P2

Chapter 107 p2

As they drove, Shen Shu’s thoughts lingered on Xu Jinnan’s earlier words.

“Shu Shu, you mustn’t cry tonight.”

It was usually her who cried.

Especially during their more… intimate moments, when Xu Jinnan would tease her relentlessly, her touch, her words, always pushing Shen Shu to the edge, her eyes filling with tears.

Like last night.

Thinking about it, she suddenly realized she had fallen into her own trap.

.

After lunch, they parted ways, Xu Jinnan returning to the office, Shen Shu to the studio.

Three reporters were still loitering outside the Xu Corporation building, one of them with a video camera, practically shoving it in Xu Jinnan’s face as she approached.

As she pushed it away, it slipped from the reporter’s grasp and clattered to the ground.

“Assault! Assault!” the reporter yelled. “Who do you think you are, acting like you’re above the law?!”

“Xu Corporation CEO assaults reporter!”

Xu Jinnan turned to him, her gaze cold and sharp, silencing him momentarily, then, ignoring him, she entered the building.

Viola, following her, turned to the reporter. “You were endangering CEO Xu’s safety. She acted in self-defense. But if you misrepresent the facts or spread false rumors, we will sue you,” she said calmly.

“She broke my camera! Do you know how much that costs?! You have to compensate me!”

“As I said, you were the one who initiated the confrontation. We’re not paying for your camera,” Viola replied firmly.

–

It had seemed like a minor incident, but an hour later, a news article, accompanied by a short, edited video clip, appeared online.

The hashtag #XuCorpCEOAssault was trending.

With the Xu family scandal still dominating the headlines, this new controversy only added fuel to the fire.

Xu Jinnan clicked on the article and scanned the comments.

She even assaulted someone now? Is she crazy?

Daily reminder: are Xu Jinnan and Shen Shu actually divorced?

Waiting for updates on the Xu family.

Is this the full video? It looks edited.

Xu Jinnan rubbed her temples. She hadn’t even touched the reporter, but the edited video made it look like she had deliberately attacked him.

“CEO Xu, we’ve released the security footage from the building’s entrance,” Viola said.

Xu Jinnan nodded, then, worried Shen Shu might be upset, sent her a message, briefly explaining the situation.

Shen Shu sent a voice message, asking if she was okay.

“I’m fine,” Xu Jinnan replied. “You know I don’t care about what people say online.”

She had seen worse, the hateful comments and personal attacks doing little to faze her.

She had seen the worst of human nature and was rarely surprised by it anymore.

“You seem more suited for the entertainment industry than I am,” Shen Shu said, her voice tinged with amusement.

Xu Jinnan chuckled. “Don’t worry, it’s nothing. Their words mean nothing compared to yours.”

“But I don’t want them to insult you,” Shen Shu said softly.

“It’s fine. That reporter is an idiot. He didn’t even notice the security cameras. I’ve already had Viola release the footage on the Xu Corporation’s official Weibo account,” Xu Jinnan reassured her.

As expected, the release of the unedited footage silenced the trolls and critics.

Seriously? Is this guy even a reporter? Posting edited videos and spreading false rumors?

While the Xu family is definitely shady, this is a bit much. He practically shoved the camera in her face. I would have pushed him away too.

He deserved it.

Xu Jinnan didn’t pay much attention to the online drama, her focus on stabilizing both the Xu Corporation and her own company, waiting for the official statement from the Special Ward.

Once it was released, the pressure on Shen Shu would also lessen.

Otherwise, with the Xu family scandal constantly trending, Shen Shu would continue to be dragged into it.

–

Shortly after the incident, Viola came to her office for a signature. “CEO Xu, congratulations on your reconciliation with Miss Shen,” she said.

Xu Jinnan looked up, a smile spreading across her face, her earlier weariness momentarily forgotten. “You just remembered to congratulate me now?” she asked, her voice teasing.

“Not exactly. I wanted to say something earlier, but I just saw Miss Shen’s Weibo post,” Viola replied.

“What post?” Xu Jinnan asked. She hadn’t checked her phone in hours.

She opened Weibo and immediately saw Shen Shu’s latest post.

Shen Shu: We’re fine. We’re not divorced.

And she’s right.

We’ll wait for the truth to be revealed, just like with that so-called “assault” video today.

A photo accompanied the post – their hands clasped together, their wedding rings clearly visible.

Xu Jinnan’s heart skipped a beat. Shen Shu had taken the photo during breakfast.

A few negative comments had already appeared.

She sent Shen Shu a message.

[Wifey.]

Shen Shu: [Done with work?]

Xu Jinnan, surprised by her quick reply, put down her work. [Why did you post that? Seeing those hateful comments… it hurts me,] she typed.

Shen Shu: [Those comments hurt me too.]

Xu Jinnan leaned against her hand, a soft smile playing on her lips. [So, you’re saying… we should suffer together?]

Shen Shu: [Yep.]

Xu Jinnan, staring at the word, as if she could hear Shen Shu’s voice, her tone playful, replied: [I miss you. What should I do?]

Shen Shu: [Miss me how?]

Xu Jinnan’s fingers hovered over the keyboard, then she received a call and, after hanging up, saw a missed voice message from Shen Shu. She called her back.

“Not busy this afternoon?” she asked, her voice tinged with amusement.

“I am. Just a ten-minute break,” Shen Shu replied.

“Drink some water.”

“I know,” Shen Shu said, then paused. “You still haven’t told me what you miss.”

“I miss kissing you, hugging you… and other things,” Xu Jinnan said, her voice a husky whisper.

“Other things?” Shen Shu asked, her voice barely audible.

Xu Jinnan whispered two words.

Shen Shu: “…”

Shen Shu, not to be outdone, retorted, “Coincidentally, I miss those things too.”

“?”

“Xu Jinnan,” she whispered, her voice low and husky, “tonight… I’m on top…”

Xu Jinnan’s eyes widened, and she quickly interrupted. “No, you’re not.”

“Yes, I am,” Shen Shu insisted.

“I have to go. I have something to do. Bye, wifey,” Xu Jinnan said, trying to end the conversation.

“Don’t you dare hang up on me,” Shen Shu said, her voice a low growl.

Xu Jinnan: “…”

She didn’t dare hang up, quickly changing the subject, and fortunately, Shen Shu didn’t press the issue.

The call ended shortly after, another call coming in.

Shen Shu hung up, looking at her phone, a smile playing on her lips, her lipstick gleaming in the soft light.

Tong Jia, seeing her hang up, walked over, her voice full of playful innuendo. “Ah, young love…”

Shen Shu looked up at her. “Aren’t you and Viola getting along well too?”

Tong Jia raised an eyebrow. “Touché.”

Shen Shu chuckled softly, and Tong Jia continued, “Seriously, though, with Into the Dream still airing, and the Xu family drama still trending, I was impressed by your Weibo post. Not everyone can handle that kind of pressure.”

Shen Shu simply said, “I’m not afraid.”

She was willing to face the public scrutiny, the potential risks, with Xu Jinnan by her side.

“By the way, when is Little Cai coming back? You’ll have some free time soon. Let’s have a get-together,” Tong Jia said.

“In a couple of days,” Shen Shu replied.

–

Cai Ying returned earlier than expected, prompted by Shen Shu’s Weibo post.

Xu Jinnan, working late, knowing Shen Shu was going to Cai Ying’s place, said, “I’ve been sneezing all day. No wonder.” She had seen Cai Ying’s messages earlier, dozens of them, mostly question marks, with a few angry outbursts at the beginning, then a more subdued tone.

Cai Ying, upon seeing the trending topics, had wanted to rush back immediately, but her father and Tong Jia had managed to dissuade her.

“See? That’s what you get for bullying me,” Cai Ying had said.

“Okay, okay… it was my fault,” Xu Jinnan had replied. “Tell the driver to be careful. And let me know when you arrive.”

“I will.”

Hearing Cai Ying’s voice message, Xu Jinnan’s tension eased slightly, replaced by a wave of exhaustion, and she went to the small lounge and lay down in the massage chair.

“Are you coming home tonight?” Shen Shu had asked.

“Not sure,” Xu Jinnan had replied.

“Tsk. Okay,” Shen Shu had said, her tone slightly disappointed.

As the massage chair started, Xu Jinnan exhaled, the gentle kneading motion soothing her aching muscles. “Come home? I’ll pick you up,” she said.

Shen Shu chuckled softly. “Say something nice, and I’ll consider it.”

“What do you consider ‘nice’?”

“Use your imagination.”

The playful lilt in her voice, like a feather brushing against Xu Jinnan’s ear, made her smile.

“I miss you,” she said.

“Not good enough.”

“I love you.”

“Too cliché.”

Xu Jinnan paused, then said, “I’ll let you be on top tonight.”

“Then come and pick me up,” Shen Shu replied, then hung up.

Xu Jinnan stared at her phone, her mouth slightly agape, then burst out laughing.

–

As soon as they finished work, Shen Shu and Tong Jia went to Cai Ying’s apartment.

Cai Ying immediately pulled them into her room. “How could you forgive her so easily? After she hurt you like that!” she exclaimed, remembering Shen Shu’s heartbroken voice on the phone, hoarse and barely audible.

“That’s why I have to… re-educate her,” Shen Shu replied calmly.

Cai Ying handed them their gifts, her voice still tinged with indignation. “I’m so angry! I’m going to give her a piece of my mind next time I see her!”

“Do you even dare?” Tong Jia asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Of course I do! She made Shu Shu cry! I’ll defend her, even if she’s my master!”

Tong Jia clapped her hands. “You go, girl!”

Shen Shu, looking at the book Cai Ying had given her, a romance novel, one of her favorite genres, smiled faintly. “Okay, then give her a piece of your mind,” she said, her voice soothing.

Tong Jia chuckled.

She understood Cai Ying’s anger; she had also been upset for Shen Shu, especially considering their close friendship.

But she also knew that despite her words, Cai Ying wouldn’t actually do anything now that Shen Shu and Xu Jinnan had reconciled. Besides, Xu Jinnan’s actions, while hurtful, were understandable.

Cai Ying was simply being protective of Shen Shu.

“Even if I yell at her, you’ve already forgiven her, haven’t you?” Cai Ying said, pouting, then added, “If that’s not enough, you can use the gift I gave you! On her!”

“What gift?” Tong Jia asked, curious.

“Something you wouldn’t understand, you single pringle,” Cai Ying retorted.

Tong Jia: “?”

Was she just insulted by another single person?

Cai Ying, seeing her expression, burst out laughing. “Jia Jia, your mind is in the gutter!”

Tong Jia, not denying it, rolled her eyes dramatically. “How can I not misinterpret that? Tell me, what is it? Don’t tell me it’s porn.” She could resist watching it, but she had to know.

Shen Shu, seeing the conversation veering into dangerous territory, quickly changed the subject. “Why don’t you unpack your things? They’re all over the floor,” she said.

Tong Jia’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. “Trying to change the subject? I see what you’re doing. What is it that I, a mature adult, can’t handle?”

Cai Ying: “Hahaha, I’ll get you a custom-made set when you get married.”

“Oh, you think I can’t get married right now?”

“Oh, I’m so scared,” Cai Ying said sarcastically.

Shen Shu had noticed that anyone who spent time with Cai Ying seemed to regress slightly, their conversations often devolving into childish banter.

Cai Ying started unpacking her suitcase. “I brought you some souvenirs,” she said, taking out a few keychains and small trinkets she had bought during her travels.

Then, she pulled out a book.

“What’s that?” Shen Shu asked.

“This? I’ve been meaning to finish it… I brought it with me on my trip, but I forgot to read it,” Cai Ying said, handing her the book.

“I started reading it because one of the characters has a similar name to yours, and her story is… kind of sad, so I stopped. Then, things got… complicated. Anyway, I haven’t finished it yet.” The book also reminded her of Han Wenling, who had once suggested they read it together.

She had recently rediscovered it on her bookshelf and had packed it, but still hadn’t read it.

Shen Shu, intrigued, took the book, its black cover and white lettering a stark contrast.

The title: Savage Lover.