Captivating Beauty 88

Chapter 88

The room was dark, Shen Shu cocooned in her blanket, as if seeking refuge from the world, from the memories that threatened to overwhelm her.

If she withdrew enough, if she became sufficiently detached, then nothing would matter anymore.

She clutched the blanket tighter, her thoughts drifting to Xu Jinnan, to the pained expression on her face in the elevator…

Her heart ached, a sharp, twisting pain.

And she felt helpless, her emotions beyond her control, the memories resurfacing, the ghost of her past self, the one she had tried so hard to forget, now a constant presence.

Back then, she hadn’t been Shen Shu.

The woman who had sold her hadn’t even used her name, only the affectionate nickname “Nannan,” a term of endearment used by elders for younger children.

She couldn’t remember the woman’s face, or anything from before she arrived at the Shen family. She had deliberately buried those memories, trying to erase them, to pretend they never happened.

She squeezed her eyes shut, her fingers digging into the blanket, as if she could somehow physically erase the memory of being carried away from that rusty metal gate, the rough metal scraping against her skin, the woman’s triumphant smile as she clutched the money, the terrifying faces of the men who had bundled her into a car, binding her hands and feet, covering her mouth…

The memory of the courtyard, the swing set, Xu Lian’s cruel face, made her shudder.

She didn’t want to remember.

She knew it wasn’t Xu Jinnan’s fault, that Xu Jinnan was also a victim of the Xu family’s cruelty.

But it still hurt, a deep, aching pain that intensified whenever she pictured Xu Jinnan’s heartbroken expression, the pain like a fistful of needles piercing her heart.

She buried her face in the pillow, the sound of the wind and rain a constant backdrop to her silent tears, lasting throughout the night.

–

Xu Jinnan didn’t know what time she had fallen asleep, but she woke up to a dark, rainy morning, her head throbbing slightly. She checked the time; it was past 9 a.m.

Her phone hadn’t rung.

She picked it up and realized it was dead. She hadn’t plugged it in last night.

She plugged it in, then left the room.

The apartment was silent, the only sounds her own footsteps and the soft patter of rain against the windows.

She glanced at Shen Shu’s bedroom; the door was ajar.

She didn’t go in, simply noticing the missing keys by the entrance; Shen Shu had already left.

She went to the bathroom and splashed cold water on her face, the coolness clearing her head slightly.

A drop of water trickled from her eyebrow to the corner of her eye, and she blinked, the movement mimicking a tear.

Perhaps finding the gesture too melancholic, she wiped her face, staring at her reflection for a moment, then turned and left the bathroom.

She knew Shen Shu needed time.

Everyone needed time to process such things.

-Her phone, now charged, buzzed with notifications.

She ignored Shen Shu’s message, which was pinned at the top of her list, and dealt with the urgent work messages first.

Then, she opened Lu Yun’s messages.

Lu Yun had called yesterday, but Xu Jinnan, not in the mood to talk, hadn’t answered, sending a brief, noncommittal reply on WeChat.

Lu Yun had sent two more messages, which Xu Jinnan had ignored.

Lu Yun: [Your grandmother called, asking about Xu Tao and the company’s finances. I managed to deflect her questions.]

Lu Yun: [She might call you. Just tell her to talk to me. I’ll handle it.]

A call from the Xu family was inevitable.

Xu Tao had been sending them a substantial sum of money every three months, and Xu Jinnan had learned from the CFO that on the two occasions the payment had been delayed, the Xu family had called to inquire, a clear sign of their dependence on it.

The agents Li Lan had sent to Qucheng hadn’t found anything yet. The Xu family was like a fortress, their secrets well-guarded.

Everything seemed normal.

That was why she had cut off their funding, to disrupt their carefully maintained facade, to force them to act.

And once they moved, Li Lan would have an opportunity to find a weakness, a crack in their armor. She also hoped Li Laijia would understand the message – Xu Jinnan was in control now.

She hoped Li Laijia would contact her again.

But she couldn’t arouse the Xu family’s suspicion yet.

Lu Yun was a crucial part of her plan. With Xu Tao incapacitated, and the Xu Corporation in turmoil, Lu Yun was the only one the Xu family could rely on.

After all, in their eyes, she was one of them.

That was why she and Li Lan had decided to keep Lu Yun out of prison for now.

–

Just as Lu Yun had predicted, Xu Jinnan received a call from an unknown number, a landline from Qucheng, while she was driving.

She didn’t answer.

The caller persisted, three calls in total, then, when she arrived at the office, another call came in, this time from a mobile phone.

Xu Jinnan smiled faintly and put the call on speakerphone.

Lu Yun’s listening device was still in her office; this would reassure her.

“Hello?!” a harsh voice barked.

Xu Jinnan instantly recognized Xu Lian’s voice, a chill entering her eyes as she replied calmly, “You stupid bitch.”

“Xu Jinnan! How dare you!” Xu Lian shrieked.

“Who is this?” Xu Jinnan asked, feigning ignorance.

Xu Lian sputtered, then snarled, “It’s Xu Lian!”

“Oh… what do you want?”

“What do I want?! Didn’t your father tell you that you have to send money home every quarter, now that you’re in charge of the company?!”

“What money?”

“Don’t play dumb! You’re the CEO now! If you hadn’t told the CFO to stop the payments, she wouldn’t have dared!”

“Really?”

“Xu Jinnan!” Xu Lian, hearing her dismissive tone, yelled, “That money is for the family! It’s our due! You have to reinstate the payments immediately, or else—”

Xu Jinnan chuckled softly, interrupting her tirade. She had lost her patience after only two sentences.

“So, you’re here to beg for money,” she said, her voice cold.

“What did you say?!”

“Shouldn’t beggars be kneeling and calling me ‘Grandmother’? What makes you think you can demand anything?” Xu Jinnan asked, her gaze fixed on the phone. “Trying to intimidate me with your… impressive physique?”

“You… you…!”

“Get lost,” Xu Jinnan said, about to hang up, when a deep, raspy voice, tinged with age and weariness, interrupted her.

“Nannan, it’s me.”

Xu Jinnan’s eyes widened slightly. She didn’t recognize the voice, but she knew who it was.

The Xu family matriarch.

–

After hanging up, Xu Jinnan messaged Lu Yun, briefly explaining the call.

She sat at her desk, thinking. The matriarch had been with Xu Lian, which wasn’t surprising, but it confirmed the importance of that money to the Xu family.

She had a feeling this stalemate wouldn’t last much longer.

She had followed Lu Yun’s instructions and deflected the matriarch’s questions, so she expected a call from Lu Yun soon.

She waited for half an hour.

It wasn’t long, but it felt like an eternity. In fact, the entire day had felt like it was dragging on, the hours stretching endlessly.

She knew Shen Shu was filming on location today, and Tong Jia had said it would be a late night.

Just as she was considering calling Shen Shu, Lu Yun called.

“I thought you would be angry with me,” Xu Jinnan said.

“Why would I be angry? I know you’ve always resented the Xu family, after all they did to you. Don’t worry, I told you, I’ll support you no matter what,” Lu Yun replied.

“What about Grandmother?” Xu Jinnan asked.

Lu Yun paused. “She only cares about the Xu family, never about us. Why should we care about her? I couldn’t do anything before, but now, my daughter is successful, and I’m not afraid of them anymore. Nannan, you’ve made me so proud! You have no idea how happy I am…” Her voice was filled with genuine excitement.

“I’ve never heard the old woman speak to me so respectfully, and I’ve never seen Xu Lian so defeated. Nannan, I’m truly happy for you,” she continued.

Xu Jinnan gently steered the conversation towards a different topic. “Don’t get too complacent. The Xu family has a lot of secrets, the incest, those children… if they’re pushed too far, if something happens to them, it could implicate the Xu Corporation as well.”

“Don’t worry,” Lu Yun said confidently. “Besides Xu Tao, the Xu Corporation has never been involved in the Xu family’s… affairs. Even if there are connections I’m not aware of, your grandmother wouldn’t allow it. The Xu family used to be powerful, but their influence is waning. They rely entirely on Xu Tao’s support now. The Xu Corporation is their lifeline.” She paused. “But you’re right, we shouldn’t push them too far. I’ll reinstate the payments in a few days, but a smaller amount, just to keep them on a leash.”

“I just took over, and the company’s finances are a mess. I’ve ordered an audit. It’ll take some time,” Xu Jinnan said.

Lu Yun told her not to worry, that a slight delay wouldn’t matter, and she would handle the Xu family.

Xu Jinnan didn’t say anything more.

Then, Lu Yun suddenly mentioned Shen Shu. “How is your relationship with Shen Shu lately?” she asked. “Just curious. Nannan, have you considered that with your current status, Shen Shu…”

“Enough,” Xu Jinnan interrupted, her voice turning cold.

Lu Yun was silent, startled by her sudden change in tone, the gentle, obedient daughter now showing her claws.

“Okay, okay, I was just asking. I won’t mention it again,” she said quickly. “But just remember, Nannan, only your mother will never leave you.”

Xu Jinnan hung up.

The only way to shatter her composure was to mention Shen Shu.

She held the phone, her fingers tightening around it, then heard the sound of rain against the window, the downpour having intensified without her noticing.

She turned to look, the raindrops splattering against the glass like tiny bombs, then sliding down the smooth surface, disappearing without a trace.

She opened her phone and sent Shen Shu a message.

[Remember to eat lunch.]

After waiting for a few minutes with no reply, she returned to her work, her mind still on the conversation with Lu Yun.

Besides her own company’s matters, she also had the Xu Corporation to deal with, the constant stream of reports, emails, phone calls, and meetings keeping her busy until midnight, when Viola entered, reminding her that her dinner was getting cold.

Viola reheated it for her, and as Xu Jinnan was eating, she saw a message in the group chat.

Cai Ying and Tong Jia were discussing Shen Shu’s promotional activities for Into the Dream.

Their first roadshow was coming up.

Xu Jinnan opened Weibo. She followed very few people, and a quick glance at the notifications revealed Shen Shu’s latest post, reposting the official announcement for the Into the Dream roadshow.

She returned to WeChat; Shen Shu’s profile picture was still dark.

Her last message to Shen Shu, “Remember to eat lunch,” was still unread.

She knew this was the kind of situation that could easily lead to misunderstandings, and she tried to push aside her anxieties, but her mood, like the gloomy weather outside, darkened.

–

“Finally a chance to sit down and relax. Have some water,” Tong Jia said, handing Shen Shu a bottle. “Are you hungry? I made this chicken breast this morning. Want to try some?”

They had been filming since early morning, the location changed from outdoors to a residential area due to the bad weather, the lighting and other details requiring adjustments, the other actors’ performances also strangely off, resulting in several retakes.

Shen Shu sat down in the makeshift resting area and took a few large gulps of water. “Not yet. Where’s my phone?”

Tong Jia handed it to her.

“That Weibo post you just shared is getting a lot of attention. People are already looking forward to the drama,” she said.

Shen Shu’s mind was elsewhere.

Several unread messages.

She opened WeChat and saw a notification from Xu Jinnan, her profile picture a clear blue sky, and felt a slight pang of relief, a momentary easing of the heavy ache in her chest.

Then, the sadness returned.

She opened the message.

It was from that morning.

Remember to eat lunch.

–

Xu Jinnan saw Shen Shu’s reply after her meeting.

It was already past 4 p.m.

Two short messages.

—[Okay.]

—[You too.]

While they seemed like normal replies, Xu Jinnan sensed a subtle distance in Shen Shu’s tone.

She rationally analyzed her own reaction – it was just her anxiety, her insecurity, coloring her perception. The messages were perfectly normal.

She tried to calm down, not to overthink it.

Shen Shu just needed some time. She would be fine in a few days.

Things would go back to normal.

They had to.

–

Xu Jinnan drove back to Xingcheng International, the apartment dark and silent as she entered.

She felt unusually tired, perhaps from skipping lunch, her body heavy and her movements sluggish.

After a quick shower, she made herself a bowl of noodles, but only managed a few bites, then sat on the sofa, lost in thought, until 9 p.m.

She called Shen Shu, but the call went straight to voicemail. She called Tong Jia.

“Oh my god, I’m so sorry, CEO Xu! It’s been crazy here today. Shu Shu asked me to call you, but I completely forgot,” Tong Jia said, her voice apologetic. “We’re not done yet. It’ll probably be 2 or 3 a.m. We’re staying at a hotel nearby.”

“Tell her to eat something,” Xu Jinnan said, her voice low.

“You two are so in sync! She also asked me to tell you to eat,” Tong Jia said, surprised.

Xu Jinnan paused. “Okay,” she replied.

She felt a sudden wave of heat, her earlier fatigue replaced by a growing warmth spreading through her body.

She recognized the pre-rut symptoms and went to her room, retrieving a green syringe from her bag – AOH suppressants.

Her sensitivity had subsided recently, but her ruts had become irregular, like Shen Shu’s heat cycles.

As she injected herself, she took a deep breath, then carefully placed the syringe back in its case and tossed it in the trash can.

She lay down on the bed and, exhausted from lack of sleep, quickly drifted off, the suppressants also taking effect.

But her sleep was restless.

She dreamed of Shen Shu crying, her beautiful eyes filled with tears, and she had reached out to wipe them away, but Shen Shu had pulled back.

Her heart aching, she had pulled Shen Shu into a hug, her arms tightening around her, feeling Shen Shu tremble in her embrace.

She had loosened her grip, her touch gentler, but Shen Shu had continued to tremble, and she had kissed her, her lips soft and hesitant against Shen Shu’s.

She woke up covered in sweat, her body aching, her lower half… aroused.

After showering and changing her underwear, she checked the time. 8 a.m. Time for work.

Before leaving, she sent Shen Shu a good morning message.

Shen Shu replied with a good morning message of her own.

–

Shen Shu had been filming on location for the past three days, working late nights, staying at a hotel arranged by the production team.

Their usual conversations had dwindled to simple good morning and good night messages, and occasional reminders to eat.

Xu Jinnan’s mood had been somber, and on the fourth day, hearing Tong Jia mention in the group chat that Shen Shu would be working late again, and that they were leaving for Lincheng tonight for the roadshow, she forced herself to focus on work, staying late at the office, not wanting to return to the empty apartment.

She hadn’t realized Shen Shu had returned home before leaving for Lincheng.

.

Shen Shu turned on the lights, the sudden brightness dispelling the shadows in the living room. She hadn’t taken off her coat, simply changing her shoes at the entrance, the silence of the apartment amplifying the sound of her footsteps.

She went to the bedroom, packed a few outfits, then glanced at the balcony, where the roses had withered, their petals fallen, awaiting their next bloom. Xu Jinnan must have watered the pothos that morning; the soil was still damp.

She paused at Xu Jinnan’s bedroom door, the familiar, sunny scent of her pheromones making her eyes sting.

She drew the curtains, then sat down on the edge of Xu Jinnan’s bed, her hand resting on the soft blanket, her fingers tracing the pattern unconsciously, then her gaze fell on the trash can.

Xu Jinnan rarely used it; it was usually empty.

Now, a small, green box lay inside. She recognized it; it was the suppressant Xu Jinnan used.

AOH.

She had been curious about it, even searching for it online, but hadn’t found anything.

Xu Jinnan had said it was a trial version, specifically designed for her condition.

She hadn’t asked any further questions.

Shen Shu sat there for a few minutes, then stood up and left the room, glancing inside the refrigerator. It was exactly as she had left it.

Had Xu Jinnan not been eating at home these past few days?

Or… had she simply not been eating properly?

The kitchen counter was also spotless, everything untouched except for the kettle.

She opened the cupboard; a few packages of bread were missing.

–

Xu Jinnan had spent the night in her office, sleeping in the massage chair.

Waking up feeling sticky and slightly achy, she decided to go home for a shower and a nap.

As soon as she opened the apartment door, she knew Shen Shu had been there.

She had left a grape-flavored candy by the entrance yesterday morning, and it was gone now.

Her heart skipped a beat as she entered the apartment, glancing around the living room, then noticing two dishes on the table – sweet and sour pork ribs and stir-fried potatoes with pork.

And a small note with Shen Shu’s elegant handwriting: Eat.

–

The drive to Lincheng took over two hours. Xu Jinnan hadn’t contacted the organizers beforehand, and they hadn’t wanted to let her in, until they realized she was associated with one of the event’s sponsors.

After a quick phone call, the investor himself came out to greet her.

She didn’t waste any time, asking for Shen Shu’s room and heading straight there.

She couldn’t wait any longer.

The backstage area wasn’t large, and she quickly found Shen Shu’s name on a door.

Just as she was about to knock, the door opened, and Shen Shu and Tong Jia emerged.

Shen Shu’s eyelashes fluttered as she saw Xu Jinnan.

“Miss Shen, you’re on in seven minutes,” a staff member called out.

Xu Jinnan had used a staff entrance, so Shen Shu, on her way to the stage, was heading in the same direction.

Shen Shu, in a light green dress that fell just above her knees, walked towards Xu Jinnan, her heels clicking against the floor, while Xu Jinnan stood still, waiting.

As Shen Shu reached her, their eyes met, and after a moment, Shen Shu said softly, “I have to go.”

“Okay,” Xu Jinnan replied, nodding. “I’ll be here when you’re done.”

Shen Shu’s lips curved into a faint smile.

Tong Jia winked at Xu Jinnan, giving her a thumbs-up. “CEO Xu, why don’t you wait in our resting room?”

Xu Jinnan nodded, watching as they walked away, then went to the small room, which was furnished with a vanity table, and closed the door behind her.

Just as she sat down—

The door opened again.

Shen Shu, her heels clicking against the floor, rushed in and practically jumped into Xu Jinnan’s arms.

Xu Jinnan, startled, instinctively stood up, catching her, her hands landing on Shen Shu’s waist as she lifted her slightly.

“Xu Jinnan, I missed you,” Shen Shu whispered, her face buried in Xu Jinnan’s neck.

Xu Jinnan’s lips found Shen Shu’s, her voice husky with emotion. “Me too,” she murmured.