Captivating Beauty 108

Chapter 108

Xu Jinnan went to pick up Shen Shu at 9:30 p.m. As she pulled up to Cai Ying’s apartment, Mr. Cai was just returning home from a business dinner, and he invited her in for a chat.

They discussed the recent Xu family drama and the progress of the three major construction projects.

Mr. Cai had been the first to publicly support Xu Jinnan after the news broke, followed by Chen Bo’s father.

In the study, Mr. Cai poured Xu Jinnan a cup of tea.

“Nannan, don’t worry too much about the company. You’re not involved in the Xu family’s… affairs. Those people criticizing you online, they don’t know you, they don’t know the truth. It’ll all blow over eventually,” he said, his voice kind and reassuring.

“I understand. Thank you for your concern,” Xu Jinnan replied, taking the teacup with both hands.

“I wouldn’t normally interfere, but after getting to know you, I trust your judgment. You’ve been having a tough time lately, haven’t you? You’ve lost weight. Since your wife is here, why don’t you both stay for dinner? I’ll make you something,” he offered.

A warmth, unfamiliar yet comforting, spread through Xu Jinnan, mingled with a touch of melancholy.

“Perhaps another time. You know Shu Shu and I…” she began, declining politely.

“Oh, right! I almost forgot! You two were having… marital problems recently. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, as they say,” he said with a chuckle.

Xu Jinnan smiled faintly. He had a point.

She had been thinking about Shen Shu all day, her usual afternoon coffee tasting sweet, her mind filled with thoughts of her, eager to finish her work and see her.

Perhaps that was the secret to success – motivation.

“Has Cai Ying said anything to you? Don’t take it to heart if she has. She’s just very protective of Shen Shu,” Mr. Cai said. Cai Ying’s mother had passed away when she was young, and having no siblings, she was incredibly close to Shen Shu, treating her like a sister.

Xu Jinnan understood, knowing Mr. Cai was trying to prepare her for Cai Ying’s potential… outburst, her tendency to be overly protective of Shen Shu.

“I understand. And I was the one who was wrong,” she said.

They chatted for a while longer, then Cai Ying knocked on the door.

She glanced at Xu Jinnan, then said to her father, “Dad, are you done? Shu Shu has an early call time tomorrow.”

“Alright, alright, I won’t keep you then,” he said.

He stayed in the study while Xu Jinnan and Cai Ying left, closing the door behind them.

Xu Jinnan turned to Cai Ying, who had deliberately avoided her earlier. “If you want to yell at me, now’s your chance,” she said.

“What? Do you think I’ll just yell at you because you told me to? Why would I?” Cai Ying retorted, her chin lifting slightly, a defiant glint in her eyes.

“…” Xu Jinnan glanced at Shen Shu, who was emerging from the bedroom, dressed in a white sweater and a short leather skirt, her legs covered in sheer stockings.

“Because you won’t have the chance tomorrow,” she said to Cai Ying, her gaze fixed on Shen Shu.

“Why not?”

“Do you plan on yelling at me every day?” Xu Jinnan asked, her voice tinged with amusement.

Cai Ying huffed. “Of course! You hurt Shu Shu!”

“…You’re exaggerating,” Xu Jinnan said dryly.

She walked towards Shen Shu and Tong Jia, Cai Ying trailing behind them, pretending to poke Xu Jinnan in the back.

Shen Shu and Tong Jia exchanged an amused look.

Xu Jinnan, noticing Cai Ying’s childish behavior, turned around just as Cai Ying withdrew her hand, her expression carefully neutral.

“What? What are you looking at?” she asked, her chin lifting slightly as she walked towards Shen Shu.

“Has your IQ dropped again?” Xu Jinnan asked, raising an eyebrow.

Cai Ying grabbed Shen Shu’s arm, her voice dramatic. “Shu Shu, look at her! She’s not a good person! You should reconsider! You’re letting her off too easy!”

Xu Jinnan: “…”

“You go, girl!” Tong Jia said, egging her on.

Shen Shu sighed. “How old are you two?”

Xu Jinnan, hearing this, walked over and pulled Shen Shu away from Cai Ying, into her arms. “This is my wife,” she said, her voice firm.

“And this is my best friend!” Cai Ying retorted.

Tong Jia burst out laughing.

In the study, Mr. Cai, hearing their laughter and banter, smiled faintly, shaking his head.

His daughter had changed since taking on more responsibilities at the company, her behavior more mature and her decisions more thoughtful.

It was as if, overnight, she had transformed from a spoiled child who needed to be bribed with designer bags to a responsible young woman.

While he was proud of her growth, he also knew it had come at a price, the pain of heartbreak a catalyst for her maturity.

He felt a pang of sympathy, a father’s love and concern, wanting his daughter to succeed, yet also wanting her to be happy.

Hearing her laughter now, he felt a sense of relief, knowing she had good friends, a support system that would help her through the inevitable challenges of life.

She would understand someday, when she was older.

It was a rare and precious gift.

—

As Xu Jinnan and Shen Shu were leaving, Shen Shu was carrying a small bag.

“What’s that?” Xu Jinnan asked.

“Two books,” Shen Shu replied, placing the bag on the floor by her feet.

Xu Jinnan started the car and drove in silence for a while, the road ahead empty.

As they waited at a red light, she reached for Shen Shu’s hand, their fingers interlacing, her thumb gently caressing Shen Shu’s knuckles.

“Why so quiet? What are you thinking about?” she asked.

Shen Shu, her gaze fixed on the traffic light, said, “Just wondering when this Xu family drama will finally be over.”

“Soon,” Xu Jinnan replied.

The investigation was nearing its end, the charges serious – trafficking, organized crime, possibly even murder, and the sentences would be severe.

Hearing Shen Shu’s noncommittal “mm-hmm,” she moved her thumb to Shen Shu’s palm, gently caressing it. “Shu Shu, is there something you want to tell me?”

Shen Shu hesitated.

Xu Jinnan, sensing her reluctance, said gently, “It’s okay. You can tell me later. Whatever it is, don’t keep it bottled up. Didn’t we agree to face everything together?”

Shen Shu turned to her, her gaze meeting Xu Jinnan’s. “Okay,” she said softly, her fingers tightening around Xu Jinnan’s, as if she was afraid of letting go.

Xu Jinnan, assuming she was still worried about the Xu family, tried to distract her, recounting her conversation with Mr. Cai.

She hadn’t interacted much with elders before, especially not business associates.

When she had first entered the business world, she had been criticized for her casual demeanor, her blunt honesty, her clear separation of business and personal matters, her almost unsettling calmness and rationality, her lack of… sentimentality.

She had been seen as cold and unapproachable, not the ideal businesswoman.

“They don’t know you,” Shen Shu said, listening to her story. Xu Jinnan was the most compassionate businesswoman she had ever met, even now, with the Xu family facing ruin, her concern for her employees and business partners evident.

“Perhaps I am too… detached sometimes,” Xu Jinnan admitted, the streetlights outside casting a warm, golden glow on her face, her expression thoughtful.

“Not in your actions, but in your… emotions,” she continued, her voice soft, her usual playful banter replaced by a rare vulnerability, perhaps influenced by her earlier conversation with Mr. Cai, or perhaps simply by the late hour and the quiet intimacy of the car.

She had never shared these thoughts with anyone before; no one would have understood.

But now, with Shen Shu, she had someone she could talk to, someone she could trust.

She had always thought she was the one protecting Shen Shu, shielding her from the world, but now, she realized it was Shen Shu who was her anchor, her safe harbor in the storm.

She looked at the road ahead, lifting Shen Shu’s hand to her lips and kissing it softly.

“I’ve always felt… adrift, like I didn’t belong anywhere. Shu Shu, I told you, you’re special to me,” she said, a faint smile playing on her lips. “You have no idea how lucky I feel, having met you.” Otherwise, she would be alone in this world, a solitary wanderer.

Shen Shu’s eyes softened, a flicker of concern in her gaze, which Xu Jinnan, though not looking at her, could still sense.

—

The weather had taken a turn for the worse, and as soon as they arrived home, Xu Jinnan went to close the balcony windows. When she returned, Shen Shu was in the kitchen, boiling water, her gaze fixed on the kettle.

Xu Jinnan walked over and wrapped her arms around Shen Shu’s waist, her warm breath on her neck.

After a moment, Shen Shu leaned back against her, her body relaxing against Xu Jinnan’s.

The kettle whistled, the steam rising, coating the handle and the spout with a fine mist of condensation.

Neither of them moved to turn it off, the water gradually cooling, forgotten.

Xu Jinnan’s hands moved to Shen Shu’s waist, her fingers gently massaging the sore muscles, her touch a silent apology, a wordless reassurance.

They stayed in the kitchen for a long time, their bodies close, their breaths mingling.

After their shower, Xu Jinnan told Shen Shu to go to bed, then, wrapping herself in a thick robe, returned to the kitchen, refilled the kettle, and turned it on, then bent down, her fingers brushing against the discarded skirt and torn stockings on the floor…

She made a cup of honey water, and just as she was about to take it to Shen Shu, Shen Shu emerged from the bedroom, her arms wrapping around Xu Jinnan’s waist, pulling her close.

Xu Jinnan, startled, quickly moved the cup away from Shen Shu. “Careful,” she said.

Shen Shu’s skin, still warm from the shower, felt hot against Xu Jinnan’s, her touch like a spark, and Xu Jinnan’s breath hitched.

Her own hands were cold, and she didn’t dare hold Shen Shu too close, her hand simply resting on Shen Shu’s head. “What’s wrong?” she asked softly. “Go back to bed. You’ll catch a cold.”

Shen Shu’s face was buried in Xu Jinnan’s stomach, her arms still around her waist, and she didn’t reply.

Xu Jinnan chuckled softly. “It’s almost midnight. Aren’t you tired?”

“Are you?”

“…” Xu Jinnan pulled the blanket over Shen Shu’s bare shoulders.

Shen Shu’s fingers toyed with the belt of Xu Jinnan’s robe, her nails slightly longer than Xu Jinnan’s, the sound of them scraping against the fabric strangely amplified in the quiet room.

The robe, loosened, slipped from Xu Jinnan’s waist, and she looked at Shen Shu, their eyes meeting, a silent question passing between them.

After a moment, she placed the cup of honey water on the table, her hand reaching out to gently cup Shen Shu’s chin, her lips finding Shen Shu’s, a soft, tentative touch that quickly deepened, the warmth of Shen Shu’s mouth a welcome contrast to the coolness of her own hand.

The balcony windows were closed, the only sound in the room the soft rhythm of their breathing.

As they fell onto the bed, their bodies entwined, Xu Jinnan turned off the light.

“You promised…” Shen Shu murmured against her lips, a hint of playful reproach in her voice.

Even knowing it was partly an act, Xu Jinnan couldn’t resist, her body responding to Shen Shu’s touch, her whispered words.

This reversal of roles, Shen Shu taking the lead, was a rare occurrence, only the second time.

She followed Shen Shu’s lead, her movements mirroring hers, their bodies moving together seamlessly.

But it felt different this time, the intensity greater, the pleasure more profound.

Xu Jinnan had seen cliffs, had seen the ocean’s depths, but now, she felt like she was falling into both, a dizzying descent into the unknown, her heart pounding, her breath catching in her throat, a sense of exhilarating terror.

She couldn’t resist, her fingers tangling in Shen Shu’s hair, her body surrendering to the moment.

If this is death, she thought, then I’m ready to die.

Time seemed to stop.

Shen Shu lifted her head, her lips finding Xu Jinnan’s chin, a soft, lingering kiss that brought Xu Jinnan back to reality, the gentle pressure of Shen Shu’s teeth against her skin a grounding sensation.

She couldn’t see Shen Shu’s face clearly in the darkness, but she could feel her possessiveness, her touch more demanding than usual.

She pulled Shen Shu up, her head tilting back slightly as Shen Shu’s lips moved to her neck, her teeth gently grazing the sensitive skin.

—

When Xu Jinnan emerged from the bathroom, Shen Shu was already asleep, exhausted from their lovemaking.

She lay on her side, her back to Xu Jinnan, the faint red marks on her neck a reminder of their intimacy.

Xu Jinnan adjusted the blanket, covering her, a soft smile playing on her lips.

She dried her hair with a towel and sat down on the edge of the bed, her mind still racing, her body still thrumming with the afterglow of their passion.

It was almost 2 a.m., the apartment silent, the only sound Shen Shu’s even breathing.

She put down the towel and looked at Shen Shu, who had been acting strangely today. It wasn’t just the Xu family drama; there was something else bothering her.

She had been fine that morning, so it must have been something she heard at the Cai residence.

Xu Jinnan, her thoughts returning to the present, stood up, her robe loosely tied, and went to get her pajamas.

She opened the wardrobe, then remembered Shen Shu had packed her clothes away and hadn’t unpacked them yet.

She would just borrow one of Shen Shu’s.

Then, her gaze fell on a bag and a small box at the bottom of the closet.

What’s she hiding in there?

She raised an eyebrow, remembering Cai Ying’s birthday gift, a book she had never seen.

What is that little minx up to? she wondered. Cai Ying, under Tong Jia’s influence, had become surprisingly… perceptive, her suggestive comments often even more explicit than Tong Jia’s.

Xu Jinnan bent down and retrieved the bag, thinking, My wife is being corrupted by those two.

She took out the two books. One was a romance novel, and as she glanced at the other one, her eyes widened, her blood running cold.

Savage Lover.

A shiver ran down her spine.

The cover was identical to the one she had seen in the original Xu Jinnan’s memories, the one she had transmigrated from.

She took a deep breath and opened the book, hoping she was mistaken, that it was just a coincidence.

But the more she read, the more her heart pounded, the more certain she became.

The story was the same, the only difference the characters’ names.

Shen Shu was called Xiao Shu.

A cold sweat trickled down her back.

She touched her chest, her heart racing, then glanced at Shen Shu, who was still asleep, and quietly left the room, needing some time alone to process this.

She sat down on the sofa in the living room, the cool air, the air conditioning off, sending a shiver down her spine, the room suddenly feeling cold and empty, like a tomb.

It was the same story, Savage Lover, the one she had read in her previous life.

But why was it here? In this world?

And why were the characters’ names just… shortened versions of their real names?

It was too much of a coincidence.

She flipped to the chapter she hadn’t read in her previous life, her mind racing, thinking, Perhaps because of my arrival, the story has changed.

She skipped ahead to the last few chapters, the epilogue, and the character profiles.

The current chapter was the original Xu Jinnan’s.

…

I had a long, long dream. A dream that became my wish.

I dreamed I was just a minor character in a book.

I dreamed that while I was living my miserable life in that book, another soul entered my body – at the age of four, she came for the first time.

Looking back, I remember feeling like I was disappearing, fading away, as she took over.

I really thought I was gone.

But in a way, she saved me, helping me through those difficult years – the abuse from my father, the torment from my mother, the cruelty of the Xu family… she was there.

…

I dreamed that when I returned, I had lost some of my memories from the age of four, but I knew they were still there, in someone else’s mind.

I didn’t know who she was.

But she came.

I didn’t tell anyone. I hoped she would come again.

Perhaps then, my nightmare would finally end?

I made a wish, hoping someone would hear me…

…

I dreamed she really did come.

Wherever she came from, I believed I had created her.

In my pain, in my despair, under the whip, I created her.

She was different from me. I liked black and white, I liked birds, only birds.

But she drew rainbows, skies, flowers, all the colors of the world.

I found her drawings in my sketchbook, the first time she came.

…

I dreamed I died in the book.

My body died.

My soul died.

She replaced me completely.

I left this world to her.

And I was finally free.

I dreamed I became a bird.

A sparrow in the mountains, an oriole on a branch, an eagle soaring through the sky.

I was truly free.

–

There was one more chapter – Shen Shu’s.

Her words, like her character in the book, were simple, cold, and detached.

– If you ask me what I wish for…

– I wish the person who saved me had come sooner.

– I wish I could fulfill my dream.

– I wish I could start over.

Xu Jinnan’s hands trembled.

So, she had transmigrated because of the original Xu Jinnan’s and Shen Shu’s wishes? But why was this book here?

A sudden thought struck her, and she quickly flipped through the pages, finding an extra chapter, a side story about a woman named Xiaoman transmigrating into the world of Savage Lover.

She had also transmigrated, and the events described in the book, the plot points, were all familiar… but there were also some differences.

She tried to calm down, to make sense of it.

The original Savage Lover had a main story and an epilogue.

But in this version, the main story, the epilogue, the character profiles… they were all jumbled together, the narrative structure disrupted, creating a new, slightly different world.

Perhaps that was why she had found this book, because it had existed in her original world.

And while the story was the same, the characters’ names were different.

And the original Xu Jinnan in this world had believed she had multiple personalities, even leaving messages for her replacement in the diary.

But in the original novel, there had been no mention of multiple personalities, no diary entries.

…

Was this really how it happened?

It was just a theory, but the original Xu Jinnan’s words, so raw and honest, so real, made her question her own sanity, the line between her memories and the original Xu Jinnan’s blurring.

And the events she had experienced, the ones not described in the book…

The thought was terrifying.

Am I even real? she wondered, her mind reeling. Is Shen Shu even real?

The thought was too much to bear, and she stood up abruptly, her legs unsteady, and went to the bedroom, opening the door to see Shen Shu asleep on the bed, her breathing even and calm, and she felt a sense of relief, a grounding sensation.

Perhaps disturbed by the noise, Shen Shu stirred, her eyes fluttering open.

“Xu Jinnan,” she murmured, her voice husky with sleep.

Xu Jinnan turned off the living room lights and went to the bed, her arms circling Shen Shu’s waist, pulling her close, her face buried in Shen Shu’s hair, her breath warm against her skin.

She finally understood the source of Shen Shu’s unease; she had read the book.

Even though the names were different, Shen Shu would have recognized the similarities, the shared experiences, the echoes of her own life in the story.

Anyone would be disturbed by such a discovery.

And Shen Shu had likely also read the original Xu Jinnan’s profile at the end.

“Shu Shu, let’s talk,” she whispered.

Shen Shu’s hand rested on Xu Jinnan’s waist. “About what?”

“About my past,” Xu Jinnan replied.