I Am More Paranoid Than the Villain – Chapter 112

Quiet Calculations

Deeply Invested in Her Affairs

Shen Man came out carrying a bowl and chopsticks.

When she saw the enigmatic smile on Lin Shu’s face, a flicker of surprise went through her.

She set the bowl and chopsticks down and asked softly, “Shushu, what’s making you so happy?”

Lin Shu scoffed and didn’t answer.

With her chin held high, she gestured with her eyes.

Shen Man understood immediately.

She filled a bowl with rice and, holding it with both hands, placed it in front of Lin Shu.

Lin Shu picked up her chopsticks and began to eat with unhurried grace.

Shen Man sat beside her, watching quietly.

Lin Shu kept her head slightly lowered, her movements elegant and refined as she ate.

The layer of frost on her fair, beautiful face seemed to melt away, and her occasionally narrowed eyes revealed a hint of amusement.

Shen Man couldn’t help but let the corners of her lips curl up, a soft chuckle escaping her throat.

“What are you laughing at?” Lin Shu’s face hardened as she glared at Shen Man.

“The way you were eating just now was so cute, just like…” Shen Man trailed off, the smile in her eyes not fading.

Lin Shu’s brows knitted together, her tone turning hostile. “Like what?”

“Like a well-behaved and elegant little kitten,” Shen Man said with a smile.

“You’re the cat!” Lin Shu immediately retorted, her cheeks puffed out in a pout. “Get out of my sight.”

“Alright,” Shen Man agreed with a light laugh. She stood up and said, “Take your time, Shushu.”

With that, she walked over to the sofa.

Lin Shu lowered her gaze and continued eating, still fuming.

When she finished, she picked up a napkin, dabbed the corners of her mouth, and called out loudly without turning around, “Come clean this up.”

Shen Man heard her and immediately rose from the sofa.

As she cleared the table, she asked with a smile, “Shushu, was the food to your liking today?”

“It was still a notch below those pastries,” Lin Shu replied, her face cold.

Shen Man caught the sarcasm in her words and was about to respond when her phone rang.

She glanced down and saw the caller ID: ‘Assistant Tian.’

Lin Shu caught sight of the name on the screen and snorted.

Staring at Shen Man, she said mockingly, “Your blessings certainly arrive quickly, President Shen.”

Shen Man just smiled and answered the call.

“Shen-jiejie, I’m so sorry about today. Our hospitality was lacking, and I hope Miss Lin wasn’t upset,” Tian Meiying said apologetically.

“It’s fine,” Shen Man said with a smile, keeping her words brief.

“That’s good to hear.” Tian Meiying breathed a sigh of relief, a smile in her voice. “I was worried Miss Lin might be angry.”

Shen Man understood the implication behind her words.

She exchanged a few more pleasantries before hanging up.

“I wouldn’t stoop to getting angry with a stranger,” Lin Shu said disdainfully.

“Such a good girl, Shushu,” Shen Man praised with a raised eyebrow and a grin.

The retort caught in Lin Shu’s throat.

She shot Shen Man a fierce glare before getting up and returning to her room.

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Neither of them had anything planned for Sunday.

In her room, Lin Shu reviewed the small joint project with Shen Man’s company and prepared two targeted proposals.

After dinner, Shen Man received a message from Wen Lan.

“President Shen, the other party in this collaboration has requested to meet at our company. They’ve specifically asked for Assistant Tian to host them.”

“Alright. Have Assistant Tian prepare. Make sure they are treated well,” Shen Man replied.

“Understood, President Shen.” After confirming, Wen Lan called to inform Tian Meiying.

Shen Man put her phone down and went to shower, taking a change of clothes with her.

She had just stepped out of the bathroom when there was a knock on her door.

Shen Man walked over and opened it to find Lin Shu standing outside.

“I’ll be riding with you tomorrow,” Lin Shu stated, her tone practically an order.

“Okay, I’ll drop you off at the Lin Group first,” Shen Man agreed with a gentle smile.

“No,” Lin Shu countered coldly. “I’m going to your company.”

Hearing this, Shen Man’s fine brows furrowed slightly.

“Just drive your car. Don’t ask so many questions,” Lin Shu said haughtily with a raised brow.

With that, she turned and walked back to her own room.

Shen Man pondered for a moment before closing the door.

Leaning against the headboard, she called Wen Lan. “Who’s the person in charge of this collaboration from the Lin side?”

“It’s the manager of the design department,” Wen Lan said, sending over a file.

Shen Man opened it but didn’t see Lin Shu’s name.

After a moment’s thought, she said, “You’ll preside over tomorrow morning’s meeting.”

“Of course, President Shen,” Wen Lan acknowledged, then asked, puzzled, “President Shen, do you have something else tomorrow?”

“Perhaps,” Shen Man said, an inscrutable smile on her face.

Hearing the amusement in her voice, Wen Lan couldn’t help but shiver, not daring to ask any more questions.

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At seven o’clock on Monday morning, Shen Man got up to make breakfast.

The sounds from outside woke Lin Shu. She lay in bed with her eyes open for a while before getting up to wash.

Shen Man brought the porridge to the table.

Seeing Lin Shu emerge from her room, she said with a smile, “Shushu, time for breakfast.”

“Mm,” Lin Shu responded coolly as she pulled out a chair and sat down.

After they finished eating, Lin Shu took out a compact mirror and lipstick to carefully touch up her makeup.

Shen Man came out after clearing the dishes.

Seeing that Lin Shu was still busy, she didn’t rush her, sitting down to wait.

“Let’s go.” With a snap, Lin Shu closed her compact, a satisfied smile on her face.

“Okay.” Shen Man stood and led the way.

The two got into the car.

Lin Shu fastened her seatbelt and adjusted her hair in the rearview mirror.

Shen Man glanced over before starting the car.

She asked with a smile, “Shushu, you’re so beautifully dressed today. Are you meeting someone special?”

“None of your business,” Lin Shu replied without looking up.

Letting out a soft huff, she continued arranging her hair and said, “Just drive. Don’t ask so many questions.”

Shen Man said no more.

Her long, slender fingers tapped intermittently on the steering wheel, making a crisp tick-tock sound.

There was no traffic, and they arrived at the company in half an hour.

Lin Shu unbuckled her seatbelt and was the first one out of the car.

Shen Man immediately followed.

When they entered the elevator, Lin Shu pressed the button for the first floor.

Seeing this, Shen Man asked with a light laugh, “Shushu, aren’t you coming up to our company?”

Lin Shu didn’t answer.

With a ding, the elevator doors opened, and she walked straight out.

Shen Man held the ‘door open’ button with her fingertip.

She watched until Lin Shu’s figure disappeared, then slowly released it.

Upon entering the President’s office, Shen Man immediately re-examined the file Wen Lan had sent her the previous night.

When she saw that the meeting time was listed as ‘to be determined,’ her brows furrowed.

“Wen Lan, call the person in charge on their side and set a specific time with them,” Shen Man said, her expression serious.

“Right away, President Shen.” Wen Lan immediately contacted the other party.

The call connected quickly.

After a brief exchange, Wen Lan hung up.

“What did they say?” Shen Man asked, a hint of urgency in her voice.

“The time is set. Nine o’clock,” Wen Lan replied. A little confused, she couldn’t help but add, “President Shen, this is a minor project. You don’t need to trouble yourself with it.”

Only then did Shen Man realize she had, without thinking, become overly invested in this matter.

She chuckled and said, “You can go get back to your work.”

After a brief pause, she added, “If you see Miss Lin arrive, notify me immediately.”

“Understood.” Wen Lan nodded and left to prepare for the morning meeting.

Shen Man sat in her office, resting her head on one hand.

Her eyes were on the computer screen, but her mind was trying to figure out the purpose of Lin Shu’s visit.

Time ticked by, and soon it was nine o’clock.

Shen Man shook herself from her thoughts and focused on her work.

She was in the middle of signing a document when the landline on her desk rang.

“President Shen, Miss Lin is here. Assistant Tian is with her in the small conference room.”

Hearing this, the corners of Shen Man’s lips curled into a smile.

She put aside what she was doing and headed for the small conference room.

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