A Beauty That Moves the Heart (GL, ABO) - Chapter 4
As Xu Jinman approached the ward area where Shen Shu was staying, she saw several people gathered outside the door, with nurses trying to disperse them. Her heart sank, and she quickened her steps. “What’s going on?”
“Ms. Xu, your wife?”
Before the nurse could finish, Xu Jinman heard a man’s voice from inside the room: “What’s the big deal? I just came to visit the new wife my sister-in-law married. What’s wrong with that?”
“Visit?” Cai Ying retorted coldly. “When I walked in, what were you holding in your hand? Dare to show it now?!”
Xu Jinman didn’t wait to hear more. She turned and glanced at the few Omegas lingering at the door, her disgust flaring. “Get lost.”
Xu Jinman’s notorious reputation in Beicheng was well-known, and no one wanted to provoke her. They awkwardly retreated to their own wards with forced smiles.
The person inside seemed to have heard Xu Jinman’s voice and called out, “Sis Jinman, you’re finally here! You know me best, you’ve got to stand up for me here!”
The moment Xu Jinman stepped inside, the room fell silent.
She ignored the speaker and first looked at Shen Shu, who was being shielded by Cai Ying. Shen Shu’s fists were clenched so tightly her knuckles were white, her face drained of color, trembling as she struggled to maintain control.
Xu Jinman’s instincts flared. “Are you hurt?”
The only response was Shen Shu’s gaze, filled with hatred.
“Does it only count as hurt if there’s bl00d?! If I’d been even a second later, who knows what could’ve happened?” Cai Ying, spoiled since childhood and unafraid to speak her mind, didn’t care how intimidating Xu Jinman was in her fury.
Xu Jinman froze, the words hitting her like a hammer.
Cai Ying was right, the wounds on Shen Shu’s heart were far deeper than any physical injury. But the statement also gave her a sliver of relief.
Only then did Xu Jinman slowly turn to the man who had sidled up to her, her voice icy. “Hand it over.”
From the flash of yellow, she vaguely recalled his identity, Chen Bo, an Alpha, the spoiled only son of some company’s CEO.
A scumbag who used to run with the original Xu Jinman.
Chen Bo, thinking Xu Jinman was joking around as usual, grinned and opened his palm. “See? Just some regular candy. I was just asking if my sister-in-law wanted any, and she freaked out.”
Xu Jinman’s expression didn’t change. “Then eat one yourself.”
“Me? Come on, Sis Jinman, what are you saying?” Chen Bo lowered his voice, chuckling. “This stuff’s for sending Omegas into heat. How could I take it?”
Xu Jinman’s eyes narrowed, fury reaching its peak. That Chen Bo would dare something like this in a hospital wasn’t just because of his family’s influence, it was also due to the original Xu Jinman’s indulgence and tacit approval.
Just like last night, when the original Xu Jinman had given Chen Bo the passcode to the newlywed suite and invited him inside.
That was the signal Chen Bo had taken that Shen Shu was fair game.
Xu Jinman remained silent, and Chen Bo, mistaking it for hesitation, added, “It’s just hangover candy, the kind you used to give me.”
SLAP!
The entire room was stunned.
Chen Bo, too, was momentarily dazed by the sudden blow. A few seconds later, he finally spat out, “What the hell, Xu Jinman?!”
Xu Jinman snatched the box of “candy” from his hand. “If there’s a next time, I’ll shove every last one of these down your throat. Now, get out.”
Chen Bo’s mouth opened and closed, too shocked to form a coherent response.
He had never experienced Xu Jinman’s alpha pheromones before, but he could tell she was just a weak alpha. Otherwise, with her arrogant personality, if her pheromones were strong, she could probably dominate every omega in North City.
So he wasn’t really afraid of her, he only tolerated her out of respect for her background.
But that slap just now. It wasn’t that he couldn’t react in time. He was completely overpowered, unable to move at all. She wasn’t weak, she was stronger than him.
He stumbled away in a daze, only snapping out of his terrified stupor after leaving the hospital. What the hell was that? Did Xu Jinman just attack him over some omega?
As soon as Chen Bo left, Shen Shu collapsed from exhaustion and shock.
The ward erupted into chaos. Xu Jinman stood by the door, watching Shen Shu on the bed with mixed emotions. She took a few steps forward, but Shen Shu turned her head away, refusing to even look at her.
Xu Jinman stopped. After everything that had happened, she couldn’t think of any words to explain or comfort her. In the end, she could only murmur weakly, “ I’m sorry.”
Shen Shu closed her eyes.
“If you don’t want to see me, I’ll leave. Get some rest.” Xu Jinman touched the omega bl00d test report in her pocket now wasn’t the time.
She wanted to tell Shen Shu that something like this would never happen again, but the words died on her lips.
Actions spoke louder than words.
Xu Jinman turned to Cai Ying, who was watching her like an enemy, and said gently, “Thank you for taking care of her.”
Cai Ying didn’t hesitate before snapping back, “And who’s the reason she’s like this? Spare me the fake concern. And we don’t need your thanks.”
Xu Jinman paused, then walked out of the ward without another word. She gave the nurses another reminder about security and, instead of taking the elevator, climbed the stairs and sat down on the steps. She needed to think about what to do next.
A cigarette would be great right about now.
Her phone buzzed in her pocket.
The group chat, named “Nightclub Fishing,” was filled with the original host’s so-called friends, all chatting excitedly. Someone had tagged her.
[Song Ronghui: @YourMOM Man, did you really hit Chen Bo?]
Xu Jinman sighed at the ridiculous nickname and changed it back to her real name before replying.
[Xu Jinman: Shen Shu is my wife. From now on, if any of you mess with her, a slap won’t be the end of it.]
[Xu Jinman: I’ll put him in a wheelchair for life.]
The group exploded instantly.
[Song Ronghui: …??? Didn’t you marry her just to play with her slowly?]
[Han Fu: Holy sh1t!!!]
[Chen Bo: See? You all didn’t believe me! What the hell, did one wedding make you take that omega seriously?]
[Song Ronghui: Is she really that good? One night and you’re already smitten? Is Shen Shu even better than our Yin Xue?]
[Han Fu: @yX You two still not back together? Say something, snap your alpha out of it!]
Xu Jinman remembered that Yin Xue was the omega the original host had favored the most. Even after Shen Shu appeared, the original had still doted on Yin Xue. Everyone saw them as lovers.
But right now, all she could think about was the look in Shen Shu’s eyes when she had refused to meet her gaze. She hadn’t even had a chance to ease the tension between them before Chen Bo showed up.
Xu Jinman was too irritated to deal with them any longer.
Just as I was about to turn off my phone, a private message popped up.
Yin Xue: [“If I go provoke her, will you slap me too?”]