Transmigrated as a Scum Alpha Cannon Fodder, Sweetly Pampering the Heroine - Chapter 16

Xu Jinman had anticipated that living under the same roof with someone as perceptive as Shen Shu meant she would always be at risk of suspicion. But being targeted on the very first day was a bit too quick.

Remaining calm and collected, Xu Jinman muffled her voice through her hand covering her nose, “Really? I tend to get a bit overheated after drinking.”

Shen Shu paused, studying her for a moment, then turned and walked out, the sound of the door opening and closing echoing behind her.

Xu Jinman curled her lips into a wry smile. Good thing I reacted quickly.

Normally, Shen Shu would never have been so patient with her. If she hadn’t already gained some insight into Shen Shu’s character, she might have fallen for the ruse.

Footsteps returned. Shen Shu entered with an ice pack, snatched a clean towel from beside Xu Jinman, wrapped the ice pack in it, and placed it on the counter.

“Use this.”

“Oh… thanks.” Xu Jinman was mildly surprised.

Her gaze drifted from Shen Shu’s retreating figure to the mirror, where she saw her own reflection: half her face smeared with dried bl00d.

This is a bit embarrassing.

Xu Jinman barely slept that night. The next morning, she stirred at a noise, her eyes fluttering open. The first thing she saw was a pair of elegant ankles, straight-legged trousers, a slender, flat waist beneath a crisp white shirt, and dark hair pulled back into a neat bun.

Perhaps sensing her gaze, Shen Shu turned around, holding the documents from the desk.

Xu Jinman’s eyes lit up, widening involuntarily.

The crisp white shirt, buttoned all the way to the top, stretched tautly with Shen Shu’s movements, the black suit draped over her wrist. The stark contrast of black and white framed her features with striking clarity.

Now I understand the impact of a ‘forbidden beauty’ protagonist, Xu Jinman thought.

“I’m going to work. Lock the door when you get up.”

“Mmm,” Xu Jinman mumbled, her voice raspy from a night of silence. Yet her drowsy mind had already snapped awake under the assault of Shen Shu’s beauty.

I’m still just a face-obsessed fangirl after all.

After Shen Shu left, Xu Jinman immediately called Professor Qin to discuss the potent tonic soup from the previous day.

“You’re not yet stable! How could you consume something so potent?” Professor Qin scolded.

I didn’t know it was this potent, Xu Jinman thought.

“Miss Xu, your first heat hasn’t even arrived yet. Taking such a substance could disrupt your Alpha hormone balance,” Professor Qin warned. “Especially for dual-gendered individuals like you, the first heat is far more intense than for ordinary Alphas. If your hormones are already imbalanced at that time, you could experience severe stress symptoms. Even if you could rely on wifely intimacy or marking for relief, it would still pose risks to both you and your wife.”

“Is there no way to alleviate it?” Xu Jinman asked.

What “married life” are you talking about? What “marked partner”?

Professor Qin paused. His first thought was, Could the promiscuous Miss Xu Jinman possibly lack female companionship? Then he remembered how much she seemed to have changed since getting married. “You mean when Miss Shen isn’t around, right? It’s definitely risky, but…”

Professor Qin assured her that they were already developing a more effective suppressant.

Xu Jinman hung up.

Let’s just hope I’m still alive by the time that suppressant is ready.

After tidying up, she went downstairs. Wei Wuqing and Chen Xiaxia’s mother had deliberately pulled Chen Xiaxia forward for a thorough scolding about the previous night’s incident.

Chen Xiaxia lowered her head, her voice filled with grievance. “I’m sorry. I won’t do it again.”

“You owe more than just me an apology,” Xu Jinman said, smoothing her skirt as she brushed past them.

This clearly wasn’t the first time Chen Xiaxia had pulled such a stunt. Xu Jinman remembered how Wei Wuqing had once woken Shen Shu in the middle of the night to berate her for being dissatisfied with Shen Shu’s arrangements at the company.

That sullen expression is just for show.

Shen Shu might be willing to tolerate their behavior, but Xu Jinman couldn’t let them think she was equally easy to push around. Otherwise, they’d assume both wives were pushovers.

Xu Jinman walked out, and Chen Xiaxia chased after her to the doorway, perhaps sensing her change of heart and hesitating to block her path. She fidgeted with her hands, large tears streaming down her face.

“Jinman-jie, I really didn’t mean to barge in yesterday. I’ll call my cousin to apologize right away. Can you please help me? I’m desperate.”

Xu Jinman glanced at the time.

Terrified of being rejected, Chen Xiaxia quickly explained the situation.

It turned out that Chen Xiaxia had been cast as the third female lead, but last night she received news that she’d been replaced. In her panic, she had recklessly stormed into Xu Jinman’s room.

Xu Jinman’s phone rang. She looked down at the caller ID. “I’ll think about it.”

She had important matters to attend to today. After getting into the car, Zhou Pei handed her a stack of documents.

“These are all film and television companies that have been struggling for the past two years. Some are being sold off, while others are waiting for funding. The list is ranked according to market projections.”

Xu Jinman flipped through the pages and pulled out the second-to-last sheet. “Let’s go to this one directly.”

Zhou Pei cautioned, “This company is considered the least promising overall, and the owner has a terrible reputation in the industry.”

“Could they be worse than me?”

“…No, I suppose not.”

Zhou Pei fell silent.

By the time the tour concluded, it was already 3 PM. Xu Jinman wanted to ask Shen Shu when she planned to return home, but after searching through her contacts, she realized she didn’t have Shen Shu’s phone number.

Of course, she wouldn’t have her on WeChat either.

Xu Jinman instructed Zhou Pei to drive directly to the Shen Family mansion. Shen Shu’s white BMW 3x was already parked in the garage beside the villa, and a gardener was trimming the overgrown greenery near the entrance. Xu Jinman strode inside.

In the living room, Shen Shu stood facing Wei Wuqing. “Director Yang discovered Shen Jun embezzling public funds.”

“Don’t try to fool me with Director Yang,” Wei Wuqing retorted. “Do you think I don’t know how close you two are at the company? Do you have any conscience at all? So you’re satisfied that an outsider humiliated your brother, causing the shareholders to question him?”

“Shen Shu, you’re the one in the wrong here,” Chen Xiaxia’s mother chimed in from the side.

“It doesn’t matter who took the money, as long as Shen Jun isn’t blamed. He’s the heir to the company—how can he ever work there again if this sticks?”

“The scandal has already erupted at the company,” Shen Shu said, taking a deep breath. “Even my father can’t suppress it. What can I possibly do?”

“There’s always a solution. If you’re still a member of the Shen Family, you’ll take the blame. They’ll suspend you for a few months, and the whole thing will blow over.”

Shen Shu stared at the people before her, having prepared herself thoroughly, yet still feeling utterly devastated.

Her fingers, clutching her bag, were pale and trembling slightly as she asked in a soft, wavering voice, “What if I can’t do it?”

Wei Wuqing’s face darkened. “If you can’t, you don’t deserve to be a member of the Shen Family! You’ve forgotten how your family treated you since you got Xu Jinman as your backer, haven’t you? Let’s be honest—you only got into the Xu Family’s good graces because of the Shen Family’s connections.”

Chen Xiaxia’s mother chimed in, “We’re not trying to criticize you, but Xiaxia came to you last night, begging for help through tears. And what did you do? You not only kicked her out but also coaxed Miss Xu into scolding me! Shen Shu, since you’re a member of the Shen Family, you should at least offer some assistance.”

After a tense silence, Shen Shu finally spoke, a self-deprecating smile twisting her lips.

“In your eyes, I’ve never been worthy.”

Wei Wuqing was about to retort when a tall figure emerged from the entrance hall. She froze, her face contorting into a grotesque mix of fury and forced laughter.

“M-Manny, why are you up so early…?”

Xu Jinman strode forward without a word, took the bag from Shen Shu’s hand, and grasped her wrist.

Shen Shu instinctively resisted for a moment, but Xu Jinman’s grip held firm.

Xu Jinman’s voice was cold and resolute. “Madam Wei, you’ve made one mistake. Without Shu Shu, your Shen Family means absolutely nothing to me.”

Wei Wuqing’s expression shifted at the way Xu Jinman addressed her, and she hurried to say something. Xu Jinman glanced at Chen Xiaxia’s slightly anxious mother and said calmly, “Originally, for Shu Shu’s sake, I might have been able to intervene in Chen Xiaxia’s situation. But now it seems I can’t be of any help.”

“Miss Xu, about this matter…”

Xu Jinman took Shen Shu’s hand and turned to leave.

As they walked from the Shen residence to the car, Xu Jinman lowered her gaze to study Shen Shu. The beauty’s face was drained of color, her eyes only slightly reddened.

Perhaps feeling Xu Jinman’s gaze, Shen Shu turned her head slightly and withdrew her hand from Xu Jinman’s grasp.

“You should go. I’m going back to the company.”

Xu Jinman’s tone darkened. “What’s the point? You don’t need to deal with this mess anymore.”

“You don’t need to do any of this either, Xu Jinman…” Shen Shu’s voice trailed off.

Zhou Pei was still in the car, so they couldn’t openly discuss their situation. But Xu Jinman understood the unspoken words: since their relationship was supposed to be a business arrangement, she didn’t need to meddle in Shen Shu’s family affairs.

Shen Shu turned her face away, her expression blank and lifeless, like a cold, shattered porcelain doll.

“Caring for you isn’t pointless,” Xu Jinman said softly, her cold, stifled tone softening.

Shen Shu’s eyelashes fluttered slightly as she heard Xu Jinman’s clear, gentle voice:

“Shu Shu, have you ever considered doing what you truly love?”