The Beauty Is Seducing Me Again Chapter 15
byChapter 15: 015 Yes, a Physiological Reaction.
The first faint light of dawn had not yet fully dispelled the night when Shen Qing’an was startled awake from her restless, shallow sleep.
Shen Qing’an practically sprang up, her heart still pounding rapidly from the lingering effects of the dream. That absurd yet intensely real dream from last night clung to her like a brand.
She subconsciously looked to the side.
Chen Xiaonuan was still sound asleep, lying on her side, the redness and swelling on her cheek having faded considerably. Her breathing was steady, one hand resting on the pillow Shen Qing’an had just vacated. The corners of her mouth were slightly turned up, as if she were having a sweet dream.
Shen Qing’an averted her gaze, quietly and quickly slipping out of bed, her movements almost hurried. She walked into the bathroom and repeatedly splashed cold water on her face, trying to extinguish the heat that was spreading from the depths of her heart.
The mirror reflected her cool, composed face, though it was slightly pale, and the panic in her eyes was undeniable.
She couldn’t stay here any longer, she couldn’t face Chen Xiaonuan again.
This thought clearly dominated Shen Qing’an’s mind. She quickly changed her clothes, not even heading to the gym as usual. Instead, she grabbed her phone and keys, intending to go straight downstairs.
Just as she turned the doorknob, Shen Qing’an paused, pulled out her phone, and tapped the green icon.
The screen displayed a small sunflower.
Her fingertip hovered over the screen for a few seconds before she finally typed a dry line of text and hit send.
Shen: New clothes are on the right side of the closet. Find them and change. Something came up at the company. I’ll be back tonight.
Shen Qing’an turned off her phone, quickly left the bedroom, and gently closed the door.
Downstairs, Yuan Yanyu was emerging from the kitchen when she saw Shen Qing’an rushing down the stairs, looking as if someone were chasing her out the door.
“Qing’an, you’re leaving so early? Aren’t you eating breakfast?” Yuan Yanyu asked in surprise.
Shen Qing’an didn’t stop, nor did she look at her mother. “No, something came up at the company.”
Before her words finished, she had already disappeared through the entrance. Immediately after, the sound of an engine starting up was heard, quickly fading into the distance.
Yuan Yanyu stood frozen, looking at the empty doorway, and couldn’t help but mutter to herself, “This child, she seems so strange today.”
She frowned, recalling the arrangement from last night, which made her even more confused.
She had asked Qing’an to stay with Xiaonuan, so why did she run off first thing in the morning, not even stopping for breakfast?
Yuan Yanyu looked at the butler, who was arranging breakfast nearby. “Butler Xu, does Qing’an have an emergency meeting this morning?”
Butler Xu looked bewildered. “To my knowledge, the Young Miss’s schedule does not include any meetings or external trips this morning.”
“That’s odd then,” Yuan Yanyu shook her head, unable to figure it out. “Never mind her. Butler Xu, when Xiaonuan wakes up, ask Auntie to bring her the warm milk from the kitchen.”
“Yes, Madam.”
Shen Corporation, CEO’s office.
Shen Qing’an sat behind her large desk, facing a department director who was briefing her on the market plan for the new quarter.
The director spoke clearly and logically, with detailed and accurate data analysis.
Although Shen Qing’an appeared to be looking at the report in front of her, her thoughts had drifted far away.
The delicate, warm sensation in the darkness was inescapable. The wet eyes in the dream staring at her, tempting her to commit a crime, the rosy lips carrying a sweet fragrance that she couldn’t kiss enough… the electrifying current when they were pressed close together.
“CEO Shen? CEO Shen?” The director finished his report and waited for instructions, but after a long silence, he couldn’t help but call out softly.
Shen Qing’an snapped back to attention, a rare hint of embarrassment flashing in her eyes. She quickly composed herself, her gaze returning to the report in her hands, though she hadn’t heard a single word.
Shen Qing’an frowned, closed the report, and tapped her fingers on the desk, her voice regaining its usual coolness. “The focus is vague, the data support is insufficient, and the market risk assessment is overly optimistic. Take it back and redo it. I want to see the revised version before the end of the workday today.”
The director: “…”
This plan had been rushed out after several all-nighters by the team, and he thought it was quite comprehensive. He hadn’t expected his superior to dismiss it as worthless.
He didn’t dare argue and could only reluctantly agree. “Yes, CEO Shen, I will go back and revise it immediately.”
The director left the office, his spirits heavy, clutching the documents.
Shen Qing’an pressed her temples, trying to drive the chaotic images from her mind.
She pressed the internal intercom button and asked, “Secretary Lin Wei, what is today’s schedule?”
Secretary Lin Wei’s voice quickly responded, “CEO Shen, there is a non-urgent video coordination meeting at three o’clock this afternoon, which you may choose not to attend. There are no other arrangements for the rest of the time.”
No other arrangements meant she had a lot of free time, and free time was precisely what Shen Qing’an needed least right now.
Without any hesitation, Shen Qing’an immediately instructed, “Contact the subsidiary in the Science and Technology Park. Tell them I will be making an impromptu inspection of their work. Have them prepare. We will leave in one hour.”
“Understood, CEO Shen, I will arrange it immediately.” Lin Wei was surprised by her boss’s sudden inspection order—inspections were usually announced several days in advance—but she executed the command efficiently.
One hour later.
The car drove toward the subsidiary located in the high-tech park on the outskirts of the city. For the rest of the day, Shen Qing’an immersed herself in high-speed work.
She inspected every research and development department, listened to several lengthy reports, and posed rigorous and detailed questions, running the subsidiary’s management and technical staff ragged. Shen Qing’an even personally participated in two technical seminars, her professionalism and sharp remarks putting immense pressure on the engineers present.
Shen Qing’an tried to fill every minute and second with endless work and meetings, leaving herself no time to recall that absurd dream, to contemplate that heart-stopping touch, or to analyze her unusual, uncontrolled physiological reaction.
Yes, a physiological reaction.
Shen Qing’an defined the abnormality of last night and this morning as such. It must be due to excessive stress lately, lack of sleep, and the shock she experienced yesterday, leading to this ridiculous physiological confusion. She absolutely refused to admit that the shock she felt yesterday largely stemmed from Chen Xiaonuan herself, rather than the incident.
She was Shen Qing’an, the helm of the Shen Corporation, the head of the main Shen Family household. Calm, rational, and powerful, she would never be affected by a mere dream or a trivial physical contact.
Shen Qing’an used an entire day of almost self-abusive work intensity to try and prove this point, attempting to bring everything back under her control.
In the evening, as the city lights came on.
After a day of inspections, Shen Qing’an returned to the Shen Family Villa, exhausted.
The physical fatigue temporarily brought Shen Qing’an peace of mind. She had almost convinced herself that everything during the day was an accident and that she had regained control of the situation.
The car pulled into the courtyard.
Shen Qing’an took a deep breath, adjusted her expression, and prepared to face Chen Xiaonuan with the most normal demeanor possible. She kept telling herself to treat her like any ordinary guest temporarily staying at the house.
She pushed open the entrance door; the light in the foyer was soft.
Yuan Yanyu smiled and said, “Qing’an, you’re back. Hurry and change your shoes, wash your hands, and come eat.”
Another voice immediately followed, clear and soft, carrying undisguised intimacy, like an overly sweet candy that directly smashed through the psychological defenses Shen Qing’an had built up all day.
“Sister, you’re back.”
Shen Qing’an looked up to see Chen Xiaonuan jogging over from the living room.
The girl had clearly rested well; the swelling on her face was almost invisible, restoring her usual fair and delicate appearance. She had changed into a new goose-yellow dress, which made her look even more charming and lively.
Her face was radiant with a bright smile, her eyes sparkling, full of joy at seeing her return. That call of “Sister” was so sweet and natural, as if she had called it a thousand times in her heart.
Chen Xiaonuan was like a beam of scorching, bright sunlight, unexpectedly cutting through the gloom and shattering the facade Shen Qing’an had painstakingly constructed through a day of high-intensity work.
Shen Qing’an felt as if the tightly wound string in her mind had snapped.
All the psychological preparation, all the self-persuasion, all the calmness and rationality, collapsed at this moment, utterly defeated by Chen Xiaonuan’s pure, dependent smile.
Shen Qing’an stood rooted to the spot, watching the figure running toward her. Her heart felt as if it had been violently struck by something, and then it began to pound wildly.
She could no longer deceive herself.
Physiological reaction, excessive stress, lack of sleep—none of it was true. It was all because of her. Shen Qing’an liked Chen Xiaonuan.
“Sister, I sent you a message this morning, why didn’t you reply?” Chen Xiaonuan frowned. She hadn’t seen Shen Qing’an when she woke up, but she had seen the message Shen Qing’an sent on her phone. “Or maybe my message didn’t go through? Did Sister see my message?”
Shen Qing’an’s voice softened slightly. “I didn’t look. The company was very busy today; I didn’t check my phone all day.”
She didn’t dare look at her phone messages, afraid that seeing Chen Xiaonuan’s texts would completely unleash her chaotic thoughts.
“Oh.” Chen Xiaonuan nodded, pulling Shen Qing’an toward the dining room. As they walked, she said, “Sister works so hard. You got up so early today; I didn’t even see you when I woke up.”
“I made sweet and sour pork ribs with Auntie Shen! Auntie Shen said you love them. They can be your reward for working hard all day!”
Listening to Chen Xiaonuan’s tone, which sounded like she was coaxing a child, Shen Qing’an couldn’t help but smile. “Alright.”
Chen Xiaonuan secretly glanced at Shen Qing’an’s expression, which seemed quite cheerful. She stopped and tugged at Shen Qing’an’s sleeve.
She looked a little pitiful, with a hint of pleading. “Then… can I still sleep with Sister tonight?”
As if worried Shen Qing’an would find her troublesome, Chen Xiaonuan quickly added, “Just for these two days, okay?”
Sleeping with Shen Qing’an made Chen Xiaonuan feel an unprecedented sense of comfort and security.
“Sister?”
That voice again, calling her “Sister” so sweetly, breaking the rules.
Shen Qing’an’s heart melted completely. Thinking of last night’s dream, a flicker of discomfort crossed her eyes. She quickly walked toward the dining room, leaving Chen Xiaonuan with only two words.
“You can.”