Transmigrated as a Scum Alpha Cannon Fodder, Sweetly Pampering the Heroine - Chapter 51

Xu Jinman’s head swam.

 

The room flooded with light. She gazed at Shen Shu’s slightly startled eyes, those beautiful, shimmering eyes, and the distinct, soft warmth of her lips. For a moment, she almost forgot the tense situation they were in.

 

Xu Jinman’s breath hitched. She tilted her head back slightly, creating some distance between them.

 

In the next instant, Shen Shu’s lashes lifted. Noticing the faint movement of the curtains, she grabbed Xu Jinman’s hand and pulled her close.

 

Their lips met again…

 

Unlike their previous fleeting touch, Xu Jinman’s lips parted slightly with her breath. Rather than a kiss, it felt more like she was holding Shen Shu’s lips between hers. The soft flesh inside her mouth could even clearly feel the curve of Shen Shu’s upper lip.

 

Xu Jinman’s throat moved reflexively, the swallow audible in the close proximity.

 

Both their bodies trembled.

 

“Alright, that’s enough.”

 

Xu Tao’s voice snapped them out of their daze. This time, Xu Jinman separated from Shen Shu with strained nerves.

 

Under the grayish light filtering through the curtains, she stared at Shen Shu for two seconds before abruptly averting her gaze as footsteps approached. She strained her ears to listen to the sounds.

 

Xu Tao simply opened the safe, presumably took something out, and then put it back.

 

He stared at it for a long time.

 

A knock came from outside the door. “Dad?”

 

It was Xu Li.

 

Xu Tao told her to come in.

 

“Dad, why aren’t you asleep yet?” Xu Li asked.

 

Xu Tao patted the documents on the desk and frowned. “Xiao Li, come here. I need to talk to you about the North District project.”

 

He briefly explained the plan to transfer half of the land use rights to Xu Jinman.

 

“What?!” Xu Li exclaimed. “How could he do that?! Xu Jinman is a fool—can she even handle such a massive project? If she messes it up, will the authorities ever trust us with important matters again? Dad, didn’t you explain the situation to my brother?”

 

“He’s determined to go through with it,” Xu Tao replied. “Just make the arrangements tomorrow.”

 

“But…”

 

“Enough.” Xu Tao closed the file, his mood souring. “The decision has been made.”

 

Xu Li pressed her lips together, suppressing her frustration. She asked slowly, “Brother wants to give everything to Xu Jinman. Does he even plan to give her the company in the end?”

 

Xu Tao gazed at the person standing before his desk and said, “I know what you’re thinking. Your ambition is commendable. Rest assured, the company will never be handed over to her. No matter how much power your brother wields, the Xu Corporation was built by me…”

 

After Xu Li left, Xu Tao continued to pore over his documents for a while longer.

 

Unbeknownst to him, two figures were concealed behind the curtains just a few meters away.

 

Xu Jinman was in agony.

 

Standing with her legs spread apart on either side of Shen Shu, she had trapped the other woman between her thighs. Their bodies were pressed so close that their skin nearly touched.

 

The skin above their knees burned beneath the thin fabric.

 

Their breaths mingled in the suffocatingly close space.

 

The soft flesh of their chests pressed together, making even a slightly deeper breath impossible.

 

The curtain brushed against their backs; any movement risked causing it to sway.

 

Xu Jinman’s entire body was rigid with tension, terrified that any relaxation would bring them even closer—though they were already impossibly close… especially her neck, which couldn’t move forward or backward, frozen in place.

 

Shen Shu fared no better. Xu Jinman was slightly taller, and beyond the physical sensations, the scorching breath cascading down from above tickled her skin with each exhale.

 

She couldn’t tell if Xu Jinman had noticed her flushed cheeks and reddening earlobes.

 

Time had never felt so agonizingly slow.

 

After what seemed like fifteen minutes, Xu Tao showed no sign of leaving. Then Lu Yun entered the study as well.

 

The aroma of coffee instantly filled the room.

 

Xu Jinman: “……”

 

Coffee’s here. This is going to take at least half an hour.

 

Xu Jinman lowered her gaze. At least Shen Shu can lean against the wall and doesn’t have to stand so awkwardly.

 

Outside the window:

 

“You’ve been getting worse at managing our daughter lately,” Lu Yun said, placing a cup of coffee on Xu Tao’s desk, her expression numb. “Is it my fault, or yours? If you hadn’t nearly hit her that day, I wouldn’t have had to throw away her phone over that photo. She wouldn’t still be blaming me now.”

 

Xu Tao’s temper flared instantly. He slammed his hand on the desk and stood up. “Don’t you dare speak to me in that tone! Don’t think I don’t know you lost control the moment she married that trash. You were so confident back then, saying marriage was just a game for her—that we should humor her whims to keep her happy and prevent her from going off the rails. And now? She doesn’t even acknowledge your existence!”

 

“You’re lying!” Lu Yun retorted. “I may have underestimated marriage, but why did I agree? Besides giving her someone to vent her anger on, wasn’t it for the sake of your Xu Family’s affairs?”

 

“Hmph, I haven’t even settled accounts with her for secretly investigating the Xu Family’s finances in Qucheng.”

 

“You dare settle accounts with her?” Lu Yun sneered. “If the Xu Family’s dirty secrets were exposed, the entire family would be ruined. Besides, with Xu Yincheng protecting her… do you really dare?”

 

Xu Tao narrowed his eyes. “What’s this? Now that your daughter has a powerful backer, she doesn’t even acknowledge me? Do you think you’re invincible now too?”

 

“I’m just reminding you,” Lu Yun said coldly, “what belongs to Manman will always belong to Manman. Next time you consider handing her things over to Xu Li, remember to ask Xu Yincheng for his approval first.”

 

Bang!

 

Xu Tao swept the coffee off the table, sending it crashing to the floor.

 

“B1tch! Who are you putting on this act for? Do you really think you’re some kind of benevolent mother now?” Xu Tao lunged forward, grabbing Lu Yun by the throat. “Don’t think I don’t know what you’re scheming. You think if these things end up with Xu Jinman, your future will be secure, right? You put on this facade of a virtuous wife and loving mother, but behind the scenes, you’re still using your daughter as a shield. Lu Yun, if Xu Jinman ever remembers how you dragged her in front of you to take the beating for you, do you think she’ll ever forgive you?”

 

Lu Yun’s face suddenly turned deathly pale.

 

Xu Tao, observing her reaction, felt a surge of satisfaction. “Think about what she said to you on her birthday. Could she have remembered something?”

 

Lu Yun instinctively retorted, “Impossible! She was only three years old! How could she remember?”

 

But as soon as she shouted, she seemed to regret her words, shaking her head. “I didn’t use her as a shield! It wasn’t intentional! If you hadn’t…”

 

Xu Tao was pleased with her reaction. Instead of getting angry at her accusations, he continued to provoke her. “Deep down, you know the truth. Don’t pretend the Xu Family is dirty while you’re clean.”

 

Behind the curtains, Shen Shu frowned and looked up, wanting to see Xu Jinman’s expression.

 

In the next moment, Xu Jinman sensed the gaze and lowered her eyes, meeting the anger and worry in the beautiful eyes before her.

 

Her brow furrowed as well, and a fire ignited deep within her heart.

 

Ever since that birthday, she had lost all hope for Lu Yun.

 

Yet she never imagined she would hear something even more absurd: Lu Yun had actually used such a young child as a shield.

 

Their conversation filled Xu Jinman with fury and disgust.

 

Parents? Did they even deserve the title? Even animals protected their young.

 

If not for the current circumstances, she would have stormed over and slapped them both.

 

Three years old.

 

She herself couldn’t remember anything from when she was three.

 

Xu Jinman wasn’t sure if the original owner of this body would remember either, since she hadn’t experienced such events herself.

 

The memories of ordinary people and those who have suffered abuse are fundamentally different.

 

Xu Jinman closed her eyes, making a firm decision: she would make these people regret their actions.

 

The conversation outside continued for several more minutes.

 

By now, Xu Jinman’s body and mind were both being tortured. Her neck was so stiff it felt like it was about to snap, yet there was no sign of the people outside leaving.

 

Shen Shu suddenly squeezed Xu Jinman’s hand and shifted slightly inward, as if signaling something.

 

Xu Jinman stared into Shen Shu’s eyes for a long moment before slowly lowering her head.

 

Their foreheads pressed together, both surprisingly warm and slightly damp with sweat, leaving a sticky sensation.

 

As Xu Jinman leaned closer, Shen Shu blinked at the warmth of her breath.

 

Though Shen Shu’s back didn’t touch the curtains behind her, the lace trim of her pajamas brushed against the fabric, creating a momentary ripple—like a barely perceptible breeze across a still lake.

 

Xu Jinman felt nothing, but Shen Shu’s spine stiffened abruptly.

 

At the same moment, Xu Tao said coldly, “Close the window. It’s time to go back to our rooms.” He glanced coldly at the dazed Lu Yun before rising to return the documents to the safe.

 

Hearing Xu Tao’s words, Xu Jinman noticed a flicker of tension and panic in Shen Shu’s eyes.

 

The sweat on their foreheads grew heavier.

 

Xu Jinman focused, a hint of determination flashing in her eyes. If they were discovered, she would make her escape first.

 

She heard Xu Tao’s footsteps fade away, leaving the room in silence. Judging by the sounds, Lu Yun had picked up the cup and was now approaching their hiding place…

 

Xu Jinman squeezed Shen Shu’s fingertips reassuringly. The curtain between them was suddenly pulled aside, and Lu Yun stood beside them. They could even see her hand closing the window in their peripheral vision.

 

There really was a tiny gap in the window.

 

Lu Yun quickly drew the curtain closed again, the study door shut, and the room fell silent once more.

 

They didn’t immediately emerge. After waiting a while to ensure no one would return, they finally slipped out from behind the curtain.

 

“You should go back first,” Xu Jinman said.

 

Shen Shu replied tersely, “Stop wasting time. What are you looking for? I’ll help you find it.”

 

Xu Jinman stared at her, thinking, Miss Shen can be quite fierce sometimes.

 

“The key under the drawer,” Xu Jinman said simply.

 

Without another word, Xu Jinman pulled open the drawer she hadn’t finished searching earlier. Shen Shu watched her reach under the drawer and opened the one beside it.

 

A minute later, Shen Shu yanked something out from under her drawer. “This?”

 

Just like the password box, the key was also custom-made.

 

After entering the house, Xu Jinman glanced at the time—it was already nearly three o’clock.

 

“Can you tell me now what this is all about?” Shen Shu asked. Based on what she’d overheard in the study earlier, she had a feeling that whatever Xu Jinman was doing was connected to her parents.

 

“Shu Shu, please don’t ask me right now. I don’t even know how to explain it…” Xu Jinman said, her gaze shifting from Shen Shu’s sweat-dampened bangs. “I still need to find something—something this key can open.”

 

“You can’t keep secrets from me,” Shen Shu insisted.

 

“I’ll tell you everything once I’ve figured it out myself, okay?” Xu Jinman promised.

 

Shen Shu nodded. “I’ll help you search.”

 

Xu Jinman smiled faintly. “Alright, but aren’t you tired?”

 

“Very tired, which is why we need to hurry,” Shen Shu replied, wiping the fine sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand.

 

Xu Jinman bent down, pulled a tissue from the table, and naturally reached out to wipe Shen Shu’s forehead. As she lowered her gaze to meet Shen Shu’s eyes, the damp warmth of sweat on her hand seemed to instantly conjure the image of their earlier encounter in the study.

 

Her lips felt suddenly warm.

 

Shen Shu took the tissue from her hand. “Let’s focus on searching first.”

 

Since they didn’t know what the object looked like, they had to resort to the most basic method: starting at the entrance and checking every piece of furniture.

 

After more than twenty minutes of fruitless searching, Xu Jinman’s frustration with their lack of progress and growing fatigue suddenly vanished as her gaze landed on the massive nude back hanging on the wall.

 

The painting wasn’t embedded in the wall; it was housed in a rectangular frame.

 

“You want to take it down?” Shen Shu asked. “It’ll be difficult. Plus, it’s locked with a key, and the frame is the size of a box. How would we even hide it?”

 

Xu Jinman approached the frame and examined its edges closely. “Actually, it might not be that hard. When I used to visit construction sites, I saw frames that were secured from the center, like a pivot. With a little force, we should be able to rotate it open.”

 

The original owner had separated the item from its key and hadn’t hidden it in the secret room within the walk-in closet, suggesting this object was even more important than the combination box.

 

It was likely there were other hidden compartments in the house.

 

She moved to the side and tried pushing the frame with force. Shen Shu joined her, lending her strength.

 

Sure enough, the rigid frame shifted slightly to the side. As the corner neared the door, Xu Jinman spotted a rough, palm-sized cavity in the wall, only a few centimeters deep.

 

Inside was a fist-sized box, perfectly sized for the key.

 

The box contained nothing but a small packet of transparent white powder…

 

Nothing else.

 

The original owner had been a prolific writer, as evidenced by the passages Xu Jinman had previously read.

 

Xu Jinman had hoped to find at least something, but there was nothing.

 

She opened the packet of powder, certain it wasn’t a Class D drug—such things wouldn’t be left here. In the end, she tucked it into her bag, planning to ask Professor Qin about it tomorrow.

 

After all the commotion, they showered and finally lay down around four in the morning.

 

Xu Jinman, who had been lying flat on her back, turned to her side. In the dim light, her voice was hoarse from exhaustion. “Let’s just sleep. We can talk more when we get home tomorrow. Okay?”

 

“Okay.”

 

Two seconds later, Xu Jinman lay flat again, a wave of fatigue washing over her. She drifted off to sleep almost immediately.

 

Shen Shu was equally exhausted, but she couldn’t fall asleep.

 

She kept replaying the unbelievable conversation between Lu Yun and Xu Tao in her mind. She had known Xu Jinman’s glamorous facade hid a difficult life, but hearing her own parents discuss their child in such terms was another matter entirely…

 

Some people truly didn’t deserve to be human.

 

Listening to Xu Jinman’s heavy breathing beside her, Shen Shu turned over. Her eyes, now adjusted to the darkness, could clearly see the frown etched between Xu Jinman’s brows. She was always plagued by nightmares.

 

Shen Shu’s heart sank slightly. She didn’t like seeing Xu Jinman like this. The Xu Jinman she knew should be bold and domineering, sometimes carefree and fearless, other times warm and sincere.

 

Just like Xu Jinman’s pheromones—she should be the sun.

 

Shen Shu raised her hand, her warm fingertips gently smoothing Xu Jinman’s furrowed brow.

 

After a few seconds, Xu Jinman’s expression didn’t relax; instead, her frown deepened. In the next moment, Xu Jinman grabbed Shen Shu’s palm and pressed it down against her chest.

 

Caught off guard, Shen Shu’s hand landed on a soft, warm expanse.

 

Shen Shu: “……”

 

She instinctively tried to pull back, but Xu Jinman, lost in her dream, gripped her hand with surprising strength.

 

Shen Shu’s pulse raced as she watched Xu Jinman’s expression gradually soften. She pursed her lips, thinking, This woman really can’t stay still in her sleep.

 

Because Shen Shu had to go to the studio, Xu Jinman woke up at eight, feeling groggy and disoriented.

 

After washing her face, the person in the mirror looked utterly exhausted. Shen Shu walked past her to wash her hands at the sink.

 

“Go home and get some rest this afternoon if you’re not busy,” Xu Jinman said, her face still wet.

 

Shen Shu’s complexion wasn’t much better; the bloodshot veins in her eyes were even more prominent than Xu Jinman’s.

 

As Shen Shu dried her hands and turned to leave, she paused and asked Xu Jinman, “Are you always this restless in your sleep?”

 

“……?” Xu Jinman thought for a moment. She had woken up feeling fine that morning, the blanket was neatly centered, and there were no signs of her having crossed over. “What do you mean? I didn’t do anything, did I?”

 

Shen Shu stared at her. “Mm-hmm, nothing at all.”

 

Xu Jinman let out a sigh of relief, only to hear Shen Shu say casually, “She was just talking in her sleep.”

 

She does that too? Xu Jinman thought, feigning composure. “What did she say?”

 

“She said…” Shen Shu paused, clearly enjoying Xu Jinman’s flustered expression. After a dramatic pause, she stepped out of the bathroom and said coolly, “She said she had good stamina.”

 

Xu Jinman: “……”

 

She had indeed had a dream last night. It started with a plate of pumpkin cakes she didn’t want to eat, frowning as she pushed them away. Overwhelmed by sleepiness in the dream, she drifted off on the sofa. Suddenly, the scene shifted bizarrely, and Shen Shu emerged from the bathroom wearing black lace.

 

Shen Shu asked her sternly if she had touched it.

 

Xu Jinman shook her head in denial, but Shen Shu’s expression instantly changed. She pressed the lace into Xu Jinman’s arms, declaring it was a gift for her.

 

When Shen Shu’s hand brushed against Xu Jinman’s chest, the atmosphere became unbearably charged. The two women naturally… well, kissed.

 

In the dream’s climax, Xu Jinman pinned Shen Shu down, ready to take things further, only to find herself utterly exhausted, her stamina failing her.

 

Shen Shu smirked coldly from beneath her, as if to say, “See? You can’t handle it.”

 

Indignant, Xu Jinman shouted something, and then…

 

I don’t remember the rest of the dream.

 

It was just… absurd.

 

Perhaps because Xu Jinman was unusually silent, Shen Shu’s steps shifted, her gaze fixed on Xu Jinman’s expression as she asked, “What did you dream about?”

 

Xu Jinman: “…Nothing much.”

 

Shen Shu: “Really?”

 

“Yeah, yeah,” Xu Jinman replied quickly, then grabbed skincare products and began applying them to her face, smiling. “Oh, right! My brother wants your autograph for his colleague. There’s a piece of paper on the table—could you sign it?”

 

Shen Shu knew Xu Jinman was trying to change the subject, but her attention still drifted toward the paper.

 

“Your brother’s colleague?” Shen Shu thought of Xu Yincheng’s demeanor.

 

Xu Yincheng’s presence alone triggered a primal sense of caution. His colleagues must be similar types. Wanting an autograph… Shen Shu paused, momentarily stunned.

 

Xu Jinman said, “Everyone in this family is a bit odd. You’ll get used to it.”

 

True enough, Shen Shu thought, pausing before replying, “Mm, you’re odd too.”

 

“How am I odd?”

 

“Your sleep-talking is weird.”

 

Xu Jinman: “……” How did we circle back to this?

 

Breakfast time had already passed. Knowing Xu Jinman’s usual wake-up time, no one had bothered to knock on her door.

 

The two girls finished getting ready and headed downstairs.

 

Shen Shu hurried to leave, and Xu Jinman, worried she might get hungry on the way, went to the kitchen to pack two cream buns for her. While there, she overheard two maids discussing the original Xu Jinman’s past actions, calling her “reckless” and “disgraceful.”

 

But Xu Jinman didn’t have time to dwell on it.

 

Xu Yincheng personally escorted them to the door.

 

He gestured for Xu Jinman to step aside, indicating he wanted to speak to Shen Shu alone. Shen Shu got into the car first.

 

“Even if I protect you, I can’t always be by your side,” Xu Yincheng said, his gaze turning cold. “My job keeps me away for months at a time. I can’t guarantee your safety. I only learned about what happened with Yin Xue after the fact. You need to protect yourself.”

 

Having grown accustomed to the faces of Xu Tao and Lu Yun, Xu Jinman felt a little awkward receiving such genuine concern and warnings.

 

“I’m fine,” she replied. “What happened with Yin Xue… it’s over now.” The incident hadn’t been reported in Beicheng, thanks to Li Lan’s efforts. Xu Jinman wondered if Xu Yincheng had learned about it from her.

 

“She’ll never get over it,” Xu Yincheng said, his voice dripping with undisguised malice. “She’ll never see the light of day again.”

 

The conversation Xu Tao and Lu Yun had last night made it clear: Xu Yincheng was fiercely protective of the original Xu Jinman.

 

But this protectiveness puzzled her.

 

Xu Jinman wondered if he knew about the suffering the original Xu Jinman had endured. Had she ever told him? Or did Xu Yincheng also know the secrets of Qucheng, and, being a member of the Xu family as Lu Yun had mentioned, was pretending ignorance to protect the Xu Family?

 

She hoped not, because for now, this brother seemed to be the only good person in the Xu Family.

 

She changed the subject. “Does Li Lan know you’re back? She asked you to contact her when you returned.”

 

“Yes,” Xu Jinman replied.

 

After a brief pause, he added, “I’ve made things clear with her.”

 

Xu Jinman hesitated before saying, “She’s a good person.”

 

Hearing this, Xu Yincheng suddenly smiled at her. “My little sister has changed. She’s become sensible. That’s good. Before, when you were hanging out with those troublemakers, I worried about you from afar. I always wanted to come back and straighten things out, to keep you from being led astray.”

 

“……” Given the original Xu Jinman’s behavior, it was hard to say who was leading whom astray.

 

“Shen Shu… I don’t know her well yet, but she seems decent enough,” Xu Yincheng continued. “The most important thing is that you like her.”

 

“Mm.”

 

“I’m leaving tonight. I don’t know when I’ll be back next. But I’ll call you as soon as I get a phone. If you run into trouble you can’t handle, don’t force it. Wait for me to come back and get revenge for you.”

 

Xu Jinman: “…Mm.”

 

He sounded more and more like a good person.

 

Without another word, Xu Jinman, fearing Shen Shu would be late, got into her car and drove away.

 

After she left, Xu Yincheng strolled leisurely to the pond in the backyard. He raised his hand, and a male Beta servant quickly approached, looking nervous.

 

“Eldest Young Master, what are your orders…?”

 

Xu Yincheng lowered his head to retrieve a cigarette. The female bodyguard beside him immediately lit it for him. He took a drag and asked, “Was that ‘bastard’ remark you made earlier?”

 

Servant: “I-I didn’t say that.”

 

Xu Yincheng’s lips twitched into a faint, emotionless smile. The male bodyguard behind the servant glanced at Xu Yincheng’s expression and kicked the man into the pond.

 

“Pull him out in ten minutes,” Xu Yincheng said, turning to walk back inside, cigarette in hand.

 

After dropping Shen Shu off at the studio, Xu Jinman called Professor Qin. She had intended to deliver the powder to him, but Professor Qin said he was leaving the country for an academic exchange and wouldn’t return for several days.

 

Xu Jinman decided to store the item temporarily.

 

She didn’t know what it was, but when she recalled the original owner’s extreme words—”termination”—she felt a chill.

 

This was definitely not something good. If the original owner valued it so highly, entrusting it to someone else without careful consideration could cause problems.

 

Xu Jinman decided to wait until Professor Qin returned before discussing it further.

 

She went to the company and found nothing urgent. The property management manager had come to report that a film crew wanted to rent the building.

 

Xu Jinman simply instructed them to ensure it wouldn’t disrupt other tenants, negotiate a reasonable price, and be flexible with arrangements.

 

Perhaps because Shen Shu was now working in the entertainment industry, Xu Jinman found herself feeling a certain warmth toward the term “film crew.”

 

In the afternoon, Xu Jinman texted Shen Shu, asking if she wanted a ride home.

 

Since the previous night, they hadn’t had a proper conversation about what had happened. Xu Jinman knew she owed Shen Shu an explanation.

 

Shen Shu replied after more than ten minutes: No need. I’m having dinner with the studio team tonight.

 

Xu Jinman asked: Oh, is someone driving you?

 

Shen Shu: There’s a nanny van.

 

Right, Xu Jinman had forgotten that Tong Jia had assigned Shen Shu a nanny van.

 

Xu Jinman: Stay safe.

 

Shen Shu: Okay.

 

That evening, Tong Jia drank a bit too much. She was in an unusually foul mood, having even rearranged her work schedule for the next day just to indulge in this drinking session.

 

Clutching Shen Shu’s arm, Tong Jia said, “Shu Shu, I’m really in a bad mood today.”

 

Shen Shu and Tong Jia weren’t particularly close yet, and she still felt a little awkward about such intimate contact. But seeing how distressed Tong Jia was, she didn’t pull away. “What’s wrong?” she asked.

 

Tong Jia sighed, glanced at the others chatting, and lowered her voice, which carried a hint of alcohol. “Qiao Rui and I had a fight… over s3x. She hasn’t touched me in ages. You know, that kind of incompatibility can really strain a relationship.”

 

Shen Shu: “…Ah.”

 

She didn’t know how to respond.

 

Tong Jia: “I have a question for you, and don’t hold back.”

 

Shen Shu: “Go ahead.”

 

Tong Jia: “How do you and Teacher Xu keep things fresh?”

 

Shen Shu: “……”

 

Shen Shu picked up her glass and took a sip. “Just… normal stuff. We maintain it.”

 

“Hah, newlyweds are different. Teacher Xu gave me the same answer.” Tong Jia took a swig of her drink. “She even teased me, saying I was too demanding. I was too embarrassed to admit we haven’t done it lately… Don’t tell her that, okay? Ugh, she also told me to stop thinking about it so much…”

 

Bang!

 

Tong Jia slammed her hand on the table, startling the other people in the studio.

 

Burp! Tong Jia burped.

 

Shen Shu sighed and gently pressed Tong Jia’s glass down. “You’ve had too much to drink. You should go home early.”

 

“She’s just talking big because she doesn’t have to deal with it!” Tong Jia completely ignored Shen Shu’s words, continuing her earlier rant. “How could that couple not have any thoughts about each other? What does ‘thinking about it every day’ even mean?”

 

For some reason, Shen Shu asked, “What kind of thoughts?”

 

“The kind where you look at her and just want to kiss her, want to make love to her!” Tong Jia exclaimed. “Look at Teacher Xu—don’t you have those thoughts? Don’t you want to kiss her, want to make love to her?”

 

Shen Shu fell silent.

 

Shen Shu unconsciously drank two more glasses. Though the beer was low in alcohol, her mind felt strangely blank.

 

Tong Jia had drunk even more, but thankfully she didn’t throw up. Shen Shu grabbed Tong Jia’s phone and called Qiao Rui. The first call went unanswered.

 

On the second attempt, Qiao Rui finally answered. “What’s wrong? Didn’t I tell you I had a late class today?”

 

Perhaps still upset from their argument, Qiao Rui’s tone was curt.

 

“This is Shen Shu.”

 

A pause on the other end. “Oh, Miss Shen. What are you doing here? Where’s Tong Jia?”

 

Shen Shu briefly explained Tong Jia’s condition. After a few seconds of silence, Qiao Rui said, “But I’m still in class. Could you please take her home?”

 

Hearing this, Shen Shu said nothing more. She had the driver take Tong Jia home first before heading back herself.

 

When she arrived, Xu Jinman was watching TV as usual, lounging casually on the sofa with her legs crossed and a laptop resting on her lap.

 

“Tong Jia isn’t cut out to be a manager,” Xu Jinman remarked, her tone half-joking, the corners of her mouth curving upward in her habitual smile. “Taking you, her only client, out drinking and getting drunk herself? What kind of behavior is that?”

 

“How do you know she’s drunk?” Shen Shu asked, slipping off her shoes as she entered.

 

Xu Jinman had already gotten up and walked to the counter, rinsing grapes under the faucet as she replied, “She just sent a string of voice messages. I couldn’t understand a word—she’s drunk as a ghost.”

 

“She and Qiao Rui had a fight,” Shen Shu said.

 

“No wonder…” Xu Jinman placed the grapes in a bowl and sliced open a mango. “Eat first or shower first?”

 

“I’ll shower first,” Shen Shu replied.

 

“Alright.”

 

Shen Shu emerged with her pajamas, her gaze drifting casually toward the counter. Her eyes froze.

 

Xu Jinman’s slender fingers held half a mango, the flesh scored into a grid pattern. Her fingertip pressed against the peel, causing the juicy cubes to bulge outward.

 

Her mouth opened, lips and tongue working in tandem, the sight intensely sensual.

 

It resembled a deep kiss.

 

The image struck Shen Shu’s vision like a blow.

 

Xu Jinman met her gaze, swallowed the mango, and casually wiped her fingertip across her lips, a teasing smile playing on her face. “Miss Shen, if you keep looking at me like that, I might think you have designs on me.”

 

Shen Shu’s gaze shifted from the glistening mango to Xu Jinman’s lips. “And if I did?”

 

Xu Jinman fell silent.