My Gorgeous Wife Relies on Her Beauty to Commit Crimes - Chapter 5

The atmosphere in the car was silent. This was the first time Xie Jing had called Shen Jin by her full name. Shen Jin was momentarily dazed as she stared into Xie Jing’s eyes, there was no trace of affection in them.

From the moment Shen Jin first met Xie Jing, she knew Xie Jing didn’t like Shen Tuo. Yet, she couldn’t understand why Xie Jing had agreed to be with him.

Now, Xie Jing didn’t like her either, yet she stayed by her side.

People change as they grow older. Ge Xinqing had once said it was for the best outcome, but Shen Jin knew that wasn’t true.

Ten years ago, Xie Jing’s birth mother, Xu An, drove off a winding mountain road with Xie Jing’s father, Xie Pan, in a suicide pact. The car was destroyed, and both perished.

Shen Jin didn’t know what kind of resolve Xu An had to choose to end her life along with the person she loved. But she knew Xie Jing must have been devastated. Shen Jin had tried to find Xie Jing back then, but the Xie family had gone bankrupt, and Xie Jing had long since disappeared without a trace.

If she had found Xie Jing back then, would Xie Jing have turned out differently?

Shen Jin didn’t answer. Xie Jing turned her head to look out the window, where their reflections overlapped closely on the glass. Yet inside the car, an unfathomable chasm lay between them so close, yet so far.

The silence persisted until they arrived at the Shen residence. The driver parked the car, and Xie Jing moved to leave, but Shen Jin grabbed her arm. She spoke to the driver in the front seat, “You can go first. I need to talk to her.”

The driver exited silently, leaving only the two of them in the car.

The setting sun slanted westward outside the window. The air conditioning had been running, but with the car stopped, the temperature inside gradually rose. Xie Jing shook off Shen Jin’s grip and rolled down the window, tilting her head to look at the sky. The sunlight was harsh, forcing her to squint.

Shen Jin asked, “Where did you go all those years?”

Xie Jing thought she was about to lecture her again, but instead, Shen Jin was inquiring about her whereabouts.

She raised a hand to shield her eyes from the sun, the light filtering through her fingers and casting patterns on her face. Xie Jing replied coldly, “That’s none of your business.”

Her fingers found the door handle, ready to leave, when she heard Shen Jin sigh behind her like a helpless mother at her wit’s end with a rebellious child.

Xie Jing almost laughed. She changed her mind and suddenly turned, her long hair whipping against Shen Jin’s arm as she abruptly closed the distance between them.

Shen Jin instinctively recoiled. After all, they were right at her family’s doorstep, with the window open, anyone could see them.

She pressed a hand against Xie Jing’s shoulder, trying to stop whatever she planned to do next.

Last time, it had been her own drunken impulsiveness, a moment of weakness after too long in solitude.

But Xie Jing wouldn’t let her retreat. Young and reckless, she acted on every impulse. She hated when Shen Jin brought up her family, it dragged her back to the past.

Dark crimson memories flooded her mind, violent and resentful emotions clouding her vision, turning her usually warm amber eyes dark with fury.

Shen Jin was startled by the change in her gaze, and before she could react, Xie Jing pushed her down.

Her back hit the car door with a thud, and Shen Jin hissed in pain. Xie Jing buried her face against Shen Jin’s slender neck, laughing lowly. “You want to know where I’ve been all these years? Sleep with me, and I’ll tell you.”

She was shameless, desperate, like a woman with no pride. Her scorching tongue traced Shen Jin’s pulse, making her shiver.

The sound of a car engine approached from a distance. Shen Jin abruptly pushed her away, turned to unlatch the car door, and stepped out.

Xie Jing lay sprawled across the seat, her dark hair disheveled, obscuring her expression. She could hear Shen Tuo speaking to Shen Jin.

“Mom? Why aren’t you going inside? Where’s Xie Jing? She’s not upset, is she?”

Shen Jin elegantly lifted the hem of her dress, casting a glance at the car. The black tinted windows shielded the interior from outside eyes. Her expression was cool as she said, “Where’s Luo Hong? Did you manage to calm her down?”

“Mom, why are you asking about her?” Shen Tuo chuckled awkwardly, momentarily forgetting about Xie Jing as he followed Shen Jin inside.

Shen Jin’s tone was indifferent. “The mess you made clean it up yourself.”

Shen Tuo grimaced.

Luo Hong was someone he’d casually flirted with years ago when he went to the Luo family to hang out with Luo Sen. Who would’ve thought she’d chase after him all these years? It wasn’t like Shen Tuo hadn’t given her a chance, they’d even been together for a while. But she was too controlling.

She demanded constant check-ins, insisted on going through his phone, and if she caught him so much as winking at someone else, she’d immediately start a fight. It got so bad that none of his friends dared to associate with him anymore except for Luo Sen. Unable to take it, Shen Tuo broke up with her and went abroad. Yet, she followed him there. They’d been in this push-and-pull for years, and now, before he knew it, Shen Tuo had reached marriageable age. But he still felt too young, and the idea of marrying Luo Hong? He’d rather die.

His wavering resolve hardened again. Shen Tuo had his own schemes in mind when he heard Shen Jin say, “Now that you’re back, you can’t just idle around. You’ve spent years studying in England, you should’ve learned something. Go see your grandfather tomorrow, then report to the company.”

“Huh?” Shen Tuo gaped, baffled by her meaning. Hesitantly, he asked, “Mom, why are you sending me to the company?”

Shen Jin’s voice was firm. “You’ll take over one of the subsidiaries. It’ll be your responsibility.”

Shen Tuo hadn’t expected Shen Jin to drop such a bombshell right away. Though he’d bragged abroad that the Shen family’s business would eventually be his, he never imagined it would happen so soon. He immediately shook his head and waved his hands. “No, no, I don’t know the first thing about this! Mom, you should take it back!”

Though not the sharpest tool in the shed, Shen Tuo was well aware of his own limitations. All these years, he’d claimed to be studying management abroad, but in reality, he knew the truth, he was just there for the prestige. After all, back home, he hadn’t even been able to get into university.

The only thing he’d improved during his time abroad was his spoken English. As for actual studying? He hadn’t done a lick of it.

“It’s settled.” Shen Jin had no patience for his excuses. This decision had been made by Old Guan, she was merely relaying it.

With graceful poise, she ascended the stairs to the second floor. Shen Tuo scratched his head in frustration before flopping onto the living room sofa. Just then, Xie Jing appeared without a sound, startling him.

“What are you doing?!” Shen Tuo complained. “You scared me half to death.”

Xie Jing’s voice was eerie. “Why did you take so long to come back?”

Shen Tuo coughed awkwardly and explained, “The Luo family is one of our most important business partners. I couldn’t just disrespect them. You saw it earlier, didn’t you? How much Old Master Luo dotes on Luo Hong? She got three percent of the Luo family’s shares Luo Sen, the eldest son, only has five! Of course I had to smooth things over!”

Seeing that Xie Jing still wasn’t responding, he quickly added, “Come on, don’t be mad. Didn’t I come back right after?”

Shen Tuo wanted to pull Xie Jing into his embrace, but she dodged by pretending to adjust her hair. Lowering her eyes, she focused intently on braiding her hair while casually asking, “I just overheard Aunt Shen mention giving you a company?”

Shen Tuo scoffed, “As if I’m cut out for that!”

At least he had some self-awareness in that regard.

He tried slinging an arm around her shoulders, only to be met with a glare from Xie Jing. “Don’t touch me.”

“Still mad, little princess?” Shen Tuo coaxed. “Tomorrow I’ll take you to meet my great-grandfather. He dotes on me the most, whatever I say goes. I’ll have him cancel that verbal engagement with Luo Hong!”

Confidence oozed from his words, but Xie Jing’s thoughts were elsewhere. She was preoccupied with the company Shen Jin had mentioned. If Shen Tuo could enter the group corporation, she’d gain access to insider information about the Shen conglomerate.

With feigned nonchalance, she remarked, “People say your family’s impressive. I’ve never visited your company before.”

Eager to please her, Shen Tuo immediately responded, “Sure, sure! Anything to make you happy. I’ll take you there soon!”

Xie Jing rewarded him with a smile that left him spellbound. When he reached for her hand again, she slapped it away, her expression turning cold as if scolding a dog. “I haven’t forgiven you yet!”

Shen Tuo sulked but knew he was at fault today. He could only grovel for her forgiveness.

After watching his performance for a while, Xie Jing finally said coolly, “I’m rather tired.”

“Then rest,” Shen Tuo hurriedly replied. “I won’t disturb you.” He knew Xie Jing valued quiet.

She flashed him another smile. “See you tomorrow.”

“See you tomorrow,” Shen Tuo echoed dazedly, waving as she left.

Only after Xie Jing went upstairs did Shen Tuo scratch his head in confusion.

Going to bed this early? He glanced outside where the sunset still lingered at dusk, the world outside still lively. But after all that socializing, he did feel exhausted.

Meanwhile, Shen Jin was removing her makeup in her room when a knock interrupted her.

Opening the door, she found Xie Jing standing there.

Clad in a form-fitting black dress that accentuated her slender waist and long legs, the hem stopping above her knees to reveal pale calves, Xie Jing leaned against the doorframe with visible fatigue. “Aunt Shen,” she said, “I think I’ve sprained my ankle.”

Shen Jin froze, her gaze dropping to where Xie Jing’s foot rested unnaturally on the ground. The black strappy sandal barely supported the delicate foot pressed against her other leg. Frowning, Shen Jin ordered, “Don’t move.”

She knelt, grasping Xie Jing’s calf to examine her ankle. “Does this hurt?”

Xie Jing nodded, watching as Shen Jin’s white dress pooled around her like a pristine lily blooming on the floor. Wincing in apparent pain, she pleaded helplessly, “Could you help me back to my room, Aunt Shen?”

Shen Jin studied the red marks on Xie Jing’s ankle whether from the sandal straps or the injury, she couldn’t tell as no medical expert. But faced with Xie Jing’s soft entreaty, she wasn’t heartless enough to refuse.

Standing up, Shen Jin wrapped one arm around Xie Jing’s waist while lifting the younger woman’s arm over her shoulders. “Careful now,” she said, steadying her. “I’ll help you back.”

The two of them walked unsteadily, stumbling into the room until they reached the bed. Shen Jin wanted Xie Jing to sit down so she could call the family doctor. She bent down to lower Xie Jing onto the bed when suddenly, she heard a soft laugh. Xie Jing wrapped both arms around Shen Jin’s neck, pulling her down onto the bed as well. Shen Jin collapsed onto Xie Jing’s embrace, their white and black skirt hems blooming across the sheets like flowers.

Shen Jin frowned again. She braced herself with her palms against the bed, refusing to sink completely into Xie Jing’s arms, doing so would bury her face entirely in Xie Jing’s chest.

Xie Jing giggled, pressing a finger between Shen Jin’s brows. “What’s Auntie Shen thinking about now?”

Shen Jin sat up, brushing Xie Jing’s hand away with a cold tone. “Is your foot actually hurt or not?”

Xie Jing pulled her foot back from the edge of the bed and sat up, gazing at Shen Jin with an amused smile.

“Oh? Auntie Shen cares about me? Then I suppose my foot is hurt.”

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