Captivating Beauty 120

Chapter 120: Side Story 8

Xu Jinnan had a million excuses, a million justifications, for that hotel encounter with her first love.

Chen Shu, or Xiao Shu as she was known then, had been a childhood crush, a source of comfort and a symbol of… something Xu Jinnan couldn’t quite define, during a particularly difficult time in her life.

She had met Xiao Shu when she was just beginning to form memories, her sense of self still fragile, her world a confusing mix of love and violence, her father’s abuse and her mother’s complicity leaving deep scars on her young psyche.

Xiao Shu had been a lifeline, a beacon of hope in the darkness.

But then, Xiao Shu had seen her scars, the bruises and cuts a testament to her father’s cruelty, and had overheard the other children’s whispers.

“She’s scary. She has blood on her hands. Like a monster. I don’t want to play with her anymore.”

“Xu Jinnan is… creepy.”

Those words had been a crushing blow, shattering the original Xu Jinnan’s already fragile sense of self-worth.

Xu Jinnan didn’t remember the details of her childhood after that, only the fragmented memories of the original, and she only knew a few details about Chen Shu’s adult life, gleaned from Zhou Pei’s reports.

She had no real connection to this person, this ghost from the past.

Then, one day, after the Xu family scandal, Chen Shu had found her.

–

The weather was cold, the promised snow yet to arrive, the air crisp and biting.

As Xu Jinnan got out of her car at the office building, she heard someone call her name and turned around to see a woman in a beige turtleneck dress and a white down coat, her features delicate, her eyes, almond-shaped like Xu Jinnan’s own, holding a hint of something Xu Jinnan couldn’t quite place.

She recognized her after a moment.

–

At a nearby cafe, the woman sat opposite her, her gaze averted.

“What can I do for you?” Xu Jinnan asked, her voice calm and polite. Chen Shu, a figure from the original Xu Jinnan’s past, a symbol of both comfort and pain, had also suffered because of the original’s actions.

While Xu Jinnan wasn’t responsible for the original’s cruelty, to Chen Shu, she was still… that person.

Chen Shu’s face was pale, her voice trembling slightly. “Can I… borrow some money? My mother is ill, and I… I’ll do anything,” she said, her voice barely a whisper.

Xu Jinnan paused. “How much do you need?” she asked.

Chen Shu bit her lip. “One million.”

Xu Jinnan, without hesitation, took out a pen and a piece of paper. “Give me your number, and I’ll have my secretary contact you,” she said.

Chen Shu’s hand trembled as she reached for the pen.

Xu Jinnan, noticing her hesitation, said gently, “Don’t worry, I don’t expect anything in return.”

“Then what do you want?” Chen Shu asked, looking up at her, her eyes, though similar in shape to Shen Shu’s, lacking their warmth and depth, her expression a mixture of fear and desperation. This meeting had clearly taken a lot of courage, but seeing Xu Jinnan’s unexpected kindness, her earlier bravery had crumbled, replaced by a deep-seated anxiety.

She was afraid, her mind conjuring images of the original Xu Jinnan’s cruelty.

Xu Jinnan sighed inwardly. “Nothing. But I have to discuss this with my wife first,” she said, then stood up to leave.

She didn’t see the way Chen Shu’s expression hardened as she turned away, the tears that had been welling up in her eyes now replaced by a cold, calculating glint.

Everyone praises you now, Xu Jinnan, calling you a hero, a savior. You’ve even started believing it yourself, haven’t you?

Reformed your ways after getting married, conveniently forgetting your past sins?

Xu Jinnan, she thought, her gaze fixed on Xu Jinnan’s retreating figure, I’ll make you suffer too. I’ll make you feel the pain of being abandoned.

–

As soon as Xu Jinnan left the cafe, she called Shen Shu.

The background noise on the other end was loud and chaotic.

“I’ll call you back when you’re free,” she said.

“Wait,” Shen Shu said, and the noise subsided. After a moment, she continued, her voice soft, “What did you want to talk about?”

Xu Jinnan smiled. “It’s nothing urgent. I just wanted to… give you a heads-up.” She explained Chen Shu’s request, and Shen Shu said, “So, she’s your ex-girlfriend?”

“She’s not my ex. I told you, she was the original Xu Jinnan’s… childhood crush,” Xu Jinnan clarified patiently.

Shen Shu chuckled softly. “And how did you feel, seeing her again?”

“Nothing. She’s not you. Why would I feel anything?” Xu Jinnan replied, hearing Shen Shu’s soft laughter.

“Okay, you pass. One million isn’t a lot of money, but there’s no reason to just give it away. What happened between her and… Xiao Shu? Why are you being so generous?”

Xu Jinnan, turning up the heat in the car, glanced at Chen Shu, who was leaving the cafe, her hand clutching the collar of her coat.

The original Xu Jinnan had sought out Chen Shu years later, only to discover she was married.

She had then lured Chen Shu and her wife to a hotel room and, in front of the wife, “marked” Chen Shu, a cruel and humiliating act, though, as a dysfunctional Omega, she hadn’t been able to actually mark her.

Xu Jinnan had learned about this from Zhou Pei, when she had first investigated the original Xu Jinnan’s past, but she didn’t know the details, only that Chen Shu’s wife had divorced her shortly after.

And the original Xu Jinnan, having seemingly lost interest in Chen Shu, had returned to North City, where she had met Shen Shu, a woman who resembled her former crush.

And the rest, as they say, was history.

After hearing Xu Jinnan’s explanation, Shen Shu was silent for a moment. “Then she must hate you. If she’s still willing to ask you for money, she must be desperate. It’s fine to help her,” she said.

“Should I have Viola transfer the money to her then?”

“Sure,” Shen Shu replied, then asked, “It’s just a million. Why did you even ask?”

Xu Jinnan’s lips curved into a smile. “It’s for another woman. Who else would I ask?”

“Good,” Shen Shu said, her voice softening slightly.

Xu Jinnan: “…”

After hanging up, she sent Chen Shu’s contact information to Viola, along with Professor Qin’s, asking her to handle the money transfer.

–

That evening, Xu Jinnan, arriving home, called out, her voice deliberately loud, “Wifey, I’m home!”

Shen Shu emerged from the kitchen, her hands covered in flour. “Why are you shouting?” she asked, her voice slightly muffled.

Xu Jinnan took off her coat and walked over to her.

Shen Shu glanced at her, then turned back to the kitchen, and Xu Jinnan followed her, hearing her ask, “Met a pretty girl today? That’s why you’re in such a good mood?”

“What are you making?” Xu Jinnan asked, wrapping her arms around Shen Shu’s waist, her chin resting on her shoulder, inhaling the scent of flour and something else, something savory and delicious.

“Dumplings. Can’t you see?” Shen Shu replied, her tone slightly annoyed by the obvious question.

Xu Jinnan inhaled deeply. “That explains the… vinegar. Dumplings need vinegar, of course,” she said, her voice a playful murmur against Shen Shu’s ear.

Shen Shu nudged her elbow back, and Xu Jinnan caught her wrist, her thumb gently caressing the soft skin. “A pretty girl, indeed… seeing her always puts me in a good mood,” she whispered, her lips brushing against Shen Shu’s ear, her hand slipping beneath her apron. “Not just a good mood, but also… energized. And… motivated.”

Shen Shu’s lips parted slightly, her voice soft and breathless. “Not now. The dough will dry out.”

“Let it dry,” Xu Jinnan murmured, her fingers tightening around Shen Shu’s waist, pulling her closer, her gaze intense, as if she could see through Shen Shu’s clothes.

Shen Shu’s eyes met hers for a brief moment. “Couldn’t you tell?” she asked, her voice a husky whisper.

“Oh, so you wanted me to… discover it myself?” Xu Jinnan asked, a playful smile on her lips.

Shen Shu, rolling her eyes, turned to leave, but Xu Jinnan pulled her back, her back pressing against the refrigerator, the sudden contact making her gasp.

“Then let me… feel it,” Xu Jinnan whispered, her voice husky, her body close to Shen Shu’s, her warm breath on her skin.

–

Shen Shu’s face burned, her body tingling at Xu Jinnan’s touch.

Xu Jinnan was different during these moments, her words bolder, her touch more demanding, her kisses deeper, her passion a consuming fire.

And Shen Shu enjoyed it, her own inhibitions melting away, her responses matching Xu Jinnan’s boldness, their playful banter a subtle dance of seduction.

But Xu Jinnan was always the one in control, her movements more precise, her timing perfect, Shen Shu’s own reactions always a step behind, her body responding instinctively to Xu Jinnan’s touch, her desire a flame ignited by the slightest spark.

Even now, just standing here, Xu Jinnan’s hand on her waist, her gaze intense, her breath warm against her skin…

And if she kissed her…

She would melt.

–

After helping Shen Shu wash up, Xu Jinnan carried her to the bedroom.

“The dumplings are ruined,” she said, her hand resting on Shen Shu’s waist as she looked down at her. “How about lion’s head meatballs, kung pao chicken, stir-fried greens, and tomato and egg soup?”

Shen Shu, her fingers gently tracing the lines of Xu Jinnan’s abs, asked, “Aren’t you tired?”

Xu Jinnan raised an eyebrow, leaning closer, her voice a husky whisper. “You know how… resilient I am.”

Shen Shu’s cheeks flushed, and she gently pinched Xu Jinnan’s side.

Xu Jinnan didn’t pursue it any further. “Oh, right, I have to go to Rongcheng on a business trip in a couple of days,” she said.

“Rongcheng?”

“Yes. Why?”

“When?”

“The day after tomorrow. Wait, don’t you have a photoshoot on location around then?” Xu Jinnan asked, leaning against Shen Shu, her arm heavy.

Shen Shu smiled faintly. “I do,” she replied.

“Where?”

“I’m not telling you.”

Xu Jinnan clicked her tongue, her lips brushing against Shen Shu’s neck, a playful nip. “I’ll find out anyway.”

Shen Shu giggled, pushing her away gently. “I’m hungry…”

Xu Jinnan, hearing this, kissed her palm, then stood up. “Okay, I’ll go make dinner,” she said.

–

Two days later, Xu Jinnan left for Rongcheng on a business trip related to the three major construction projects. Since Viola was busy with an important project at the office, she didn’t accompany Xu Jinnan this time, bringing a new assistant instead.

The new assistant, not personally hired by Xu Jinnan, wasn’t as efficient or experienced as Viola, and after a long, tiring day, Xu Jinnan was exhausted when she finally returned to her hotel room.

She had just taken off her suit jacket when the doorbell rang.

She looked through the peephole and saw Chen Shu standing outside.

“What do you want?” she asked, not opening the door. “How did you find me?”

Chen Shu’s head was bowed, her voice muffled by sobs. “I’m sorry. Can you please open the door, Miss Xu…?”

Xu Jinnan sighed, putting her jacket back on, then opened the door.

Chen Shu looked up at her, her face pale and her eyes filled with tears. She opened her mouth to speak, then her eyes rolled back, and she collapsed against Xu Jinnan, her body limp.

“Chen Shu?!” Xu Jinnan exclaimed, catching her.

She carried her to the bed and called the front desk, asking for a doctor.

Hearing a soft moan, she looked up to see Chen Shu’s eyes fluttering open.

Xu Jinnan stood a few feet away, her voice cool and calm. “Miss Chen, what are you doing here?”

Chen Shu’s tears flowed freely as she sat up, her hand gripping the edge of the bed for support. “I’m desperate, Miss Xu. I need money. One million isn’t enough to save my mother. You said… you said you would give me anything, as long as I was willing to… be with you,” she said, her voice barely a whisper.

Xu Jinnan: “…”

Chen Shu’s eyes, large and round, filled with tears, resembled a deer’s, her expression pleading, vulnerable.

But Xu Jinnan felt nothing, only a vague sense of… discomfort.

“We can discuss your financial situation later. But as for… other arrangements, I’m not interested,” she said firmly. “The doctor will be here soon. Get some rest.” She took her phone and walked towards the door, which she had deliberately left ajar earlier, wanting to avoid any… misunderstandings.

As she reached the door, about to call her assistant and ask her to come up, she saw a familiar figure standing in the hallway.

Shen Shu, her arms crossed, a knowing smile on her face, was watching her.

Xu Jinnan’s eyes widened in surprise, a flicker of warmth in her gaze. “What are you doing here? I thought you were…” she began, but before she could finish, Chen Shu’s soft voice, choked with emotion, came from the bedroom.

“I’m willing to be with you,” she whispered.

“…” Xu Jinnan’s smile vanished as she looked at Shen Shu, whose lips were now curved into a cold, hard line.