I Am More Paranoid Than the Villain – Chapter 128

Like and Love

Will you be my girlfriend?

The two of them were busy until eight o’clock at night, finally getting everything set up.

Looking at the vast sea of vibrant roses, Shen Man frowned slightly.

After a moment of thought, she asked, “Is this lighting a little too dim?”

Before Xia Ke could answer, she spoke again. “Those flowers over there would probably look better moved a little to the left.”

“Manman, this layout is already perfect. I guarantee Lin Shu will be satisfied,” Xia Ke said with a helpless smile.

Seeing the lingering¹ nervousness on Shen Man’s face, she comforted her. “Manman, you don’t have to worry. Tonight’s confession will definitely be a success.”

“Mm,” Shen Man nodded with a serious expression and let out a soft breath. “I’m going to take a shower.”

“Do you need me to stick around and help you with the next part?” Xia Ke asked with a raised eyebrow and a smile.

“No need,” Shen Man refused decisively.

Xia Ke let out a knowing laugh, then closed the door and left.

The room instantly fell quiet.

Shen Man could clearly hear the ‘Peng peng’ sound coming from her heart, as if it might leap out of her chest at any moment.

She pressed a hand over it, trying to calm her racing pulse.

After a quick shower, Shen Man stood before the mirror and meticulously got herself ready. Only after confirming that every little detail was perfect did she reveal a standard, practiced smile.

The fresh fragrance of roses filled the entire room, and their brilliant red color created a romantic atmosphere.

Shen Man stood beside a flower basket, took out her phone, and her slender fingers dialed that familiar number.

After a good while, Lin Shu’s displeased voice came from the other end. “What do you want?”

“Shushu, have you eaten dinner yet?” Shen Man asked in a low voice, her fingers unconsciously fiddling with a rose beside her.

“Not yet,” Lin Shu replied, her tone still unhappy.

“I’ve prepared dinner. Why don’t you come over and eat?” Shen Man said, her voice extremely gentle.

Lin Shu wanted to refuse, but her stomach let out an inopportune² ‘Gu’.

Shen Man heard it and couldn’t help but chuckle softly.

“What are you laughing at? If your cooking is bad, I’m coming right back,” Lin Shu said, her face flushing red as she pouted.

“Alright, I promise you’ll be satisfied,” Shen Man said, covering her lips to hide her smile.

Lin Shu hung up the phone in a huff and quickly left.

Shen Man took a deep breath and put her phone aside, feeling a slight pain at her fingertips. She looked down and only then noticed the faint red marks on her fair skin.

Shen Man rubbed her fingertips and sat down on the sofa to wait.

She glanced at the clock on the wall from time to time, feeling as if every second was passing with excruciating slowness.

After sitting for a while, Shen Man couldn’t help but stand up. She walked to the balcony, looking down through the sparse glow of the streetlights.

She didn’t know how much time had passed before the familiar sound of a car came from downstairs.

Shen Man’s heart skipped a beat, and she immediately went to place the prepared steak and red wine on the table.

Just as she finished, there was a knock on the front door.

Shen Man’s heart instantly began to race.

She bit her lip, suppressing the fluttering in her chest. Walking over to open the door, she revealed a faint smile and said, “Shushu, you’re here. Close your eyes first.”

“Why do I have to close my eyes?” Lin Shu asked, dissatisfied. As she spoke, she caught the scent of roses. Her expression softened, and she obediently complied.

Shen Man held a hand up, covering Lin Shu’s eyes.

Lin Shu was plunged into darkness and subconsciously leaned toward Shen Man.

As they walked further inside, the scent of roses grew stronger, mingled with the aroma of steak. Lin Shu faintly smelled burning candles, and a guess immediately formed in her mind.

Suppressing her excitement, she said, “What are you being so secretive and mysterious for?”

“Shushu, you can open your eyes now,” Shen Man said softly, slowly moving her hand away.

Lin Shu opened her eyes and was greeted by a room full of roses, passionate and romantic. Although she had been somewhat prepared, she was still stunned into a daze.

“Shushu, I have something to say…” Shen Man began seriously.

‘Gu.’ Lin Shu’s stomach rumbled at an inopportune moment, interrupting Shen Man’s words.

“Let’s eat dinner first,” Shen Man said with a light laugh, changing the subject as she pulled out a chair.

Lin Shu sat down, her face flushed with embarrassment.

Shen Man sat across from her, a gentle smile in her eyes.

Lin Shu took a bite of steak, then pouted her lips and asked coquettishly, “What were you trying to say just now?”

Hearing this, Shen Man cleared her throat with a soft cough. Her expression instantly became serious and solemn as she said in a deep voice, “Shushu, will you be my girlfriend?”

“Before you ask someone to be your girlfriend, shouldn’t there be a proper confession?” Lin Shu raised an eyebrow, her expression charming.

Shen Man instantly tensed up, her body as stiff as a board.

She stood up, her gaze burning as she stared at Lin Shu, and said seriously and slowly, “Shushu, I like you. Be my girlfriend, okay?”

“Just like?” Lin Shu tilted her chin up proudly, her beautiful red lips pressed into a thin line.

“Shushu, I love you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you,” Shen Man said, her expression gentle and full of deep affection. The words she thought would be so difficult to say now flowed naturally from her heart.

Lin Shu smiled in satisfaction, her eyes curving into beautiful crescent moons. She leaned back comfortably in her chair, her whole body relaxing as she tilted her head and said, “I’ll think about it.”

“When will you be done thinking?” Shen Man asked, sitting down gracefully. “I’d like to have your answer as soon as possible.”

“I’m hungry,” Lin Shu hummed coquettishly, eating her steak with an elated and high-spirited air.

Shen Man secretly took a breath, gazing fixedly at Lin Shu.

“You staring at me like that is going to affect my appetite,” Lin Shu said in a dissatisfied tone, though she couldn’t hide the smile on her delicate face.

“Take your time eating,” Shen Man said, restraining her inner anxiety.

The steak in front of her was perfect in color, aroma, and taste, but she had no appetite at all.

Lin Shu finished her steak unhurriedly and picked up a napkin to dab at the corners of her mouth.

“Shushu, how’s your consideration coming along?” Shen Man asked eagerly.

“I haven’t decided yet,” Lin Shu said slowly, a triumphant smile hidden in her bright eyes. Seeing that Shen Man was about to speak, she added, “If you rush me, I might take even longer to think about it.”

Hearing this, Shen Man swallowed the words that were on the tip of her tongue.

She stood up and said, “I’ll go cut some fruit.”

Lin Shu nodded in satisfaction, the curve of her lips tilting higher and higher. Watching Shen Man walk toward the kitchen, she covered her mouth and began to laugh happily.

Shen Man came out with a plate of cut fruit and placed it in front of Lin Shu.

“Are there any other plans?” Lin Shu asked, picking up a cherry.

Shen Man paused, a look of surprise on her face. “What other plans?”

Seeing her dazed expression, Lin Shu couldn’t help but ask with a smile, “Is this your first time confessing to someone?”

“Yeah,” Shen Man nodded.

“No wonder your methods are so old-fashioned,” Lin Shu said with a disdainful pout, though her voice was filled with delight. Suddenly thinking of something, her expression changed, and she asked seriously, “How many girlfriends have you had before?”

Shen Man fell silent at her words.

“Are there too many to count?” Lin Shu was instantly furious, her eyes wide as she stared at Shen Man. “Since you want me to be your girlfriend, then I have the right to know about your past.”

“My past is actually very boring,” Shen Man said, letting out a soft, gentle laugh.

“I want to hear it!” Lin Shu said, her tone half-commanding and half-coquettish.

“Alright, I’ll tell you,” Shen Man reached out, her fingertips brushing through Lin Shu’s dark hair. Her gaze fell on the flickering candlelight, tinged with an indescribable sadness, as she began to speak slowly. “When I was very young, my parents passed away, and my grandparents raised me. I always studied hard and got the best grades so I wouldn’t disappoint them. But when I was in high school, they passed away one after another.”

Hearing this, Lin Shu reached out and took Shen Man’s hand, her eyes filled with concern.

“I’m fine,” Shen Man shook her head gently, playing with Lin Shu’s delicate fingertips. “I realized I liked women in high school, but I didn’t start meeting similar people until after I graduated from college.”

“So how many times have you been in a relationship?” Lin Shu asked, her gaze intense.

“Only one ex-girlfriend. I ended things with her when I found out she was cheating,” Shen Man replied calmly, a smile appearing in her eyes as she looked at Lin Shu. “I probably didn’t really like her. She just happened to show up at the right time and fit my preferences.”

“I’m not exactly the gentle and virtuous type,” Lin Shu reminded her loudly, pouting.

“I know. Shushu is a precious, pampered young miss³,” Shen Man smiled dotingly and leaned down to place a kiss on Lin Shu’s cheek.

Lin Shu’s fair cheeks, already tinged with pink, instantly turned a deeper shade of red. She let go of Shen Man’s hand and, remembering their first time together, said with a mix of anger and shyness, “If it weren’t for you, I would never have liked women.”

Shen Man just smiled, not revealing the truth of the matter.

Whether this world was a book or not no longer mattered. To her, Lin Shu was no longer the vicious female side character⁴ described in cold text, but a living, breathing person—a person she genuinely wanted to protect for a lifetime.

“Alright, I get it. I’ll tell you when I’ve made up my mind,” Lin Shu said with a proud smile, then looked at Shen Man. “Where am I sleeping tonight?”

“I only prepared one room,” Shen Man chuckled, her deliberately lowered voice laced with endless ambiguity.

Lin Shu’s ears turned red, and she quickly stood up. She walked to the bedroom door, then turned back and said loudly, “I’m sleeping on the bed. You’re sleeping on the sofa tonight.”

Shen Man didn’t answer, just smiled without a word as she cleared the dining table.

By the time she finished everything, it was nearly eleven o’clock.

Shen Man opened the bedroom door and saw Lin Shu already lying in bed, seemingly asleep.

She walked over and lifted the covers.

“What are you doing?” Lin Shu’s eyes snapped open. There wasn’t a trace of sleepiness in those bright eyes; instead, they were full of life⁵.

“I’m used to sleeping in a bed,” Shen Man said, lying down as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Lin Shu let out a ‘Heng’ but didn’t try to stop her further, clutching the blanket tightly as she said, “We each get half. You’re not allowed to cross the line.”

“Okay,” Shen Man agreed obediently and reached out to turn off the light.

The room was instantly plunged into dark silence.

Lin Shu blinked, taking a moment to adjust. She turned her head, looking at Shen Man’s blurry silhouette in the darkness, and couldn’t resist reaching out a hand.

Before her fingertips could land, they were caught by a pair of slender fingers.

The next second, a figure appeared above her.

“Shushu, can’t sleep?” Shen Man whispered, her warm breath fanning across Lin Shu’s ear.

Lin Shu felt her heart instantly accelerate, and a wave of heat spread through her body from the inside out. Although she couldn’t see clearly, she could feel how scorching that gaze was in the darkness.

A lingering, gentle kiss landed on her, sliding from her cheek down to her neck.

Lin Shu closed her eyes, trying to control the sounds escaping her lips.

After a long while, it was nearly two in the morning.

Lin Shu was so tired her whole body ached, and she let Shen Man carry her to the bathroom for a shower.

“Shushu, your skin is so delicate. Even the slightest mark shows up so clearly,” Shen Man said with a satisfied chuckle, looking at the red marks covering that fair body.

Lin Shu shot her a glare, complaining like a spoiled child, “You knew my skin was delicate, so why were you so rough?”

“Because I wanted to hear Shushu’s voice,” Shen Man whispered, lightly nibbling on Lin Shu’s earlobe.

“Don’t…” Lin Shu begged, trying to pull away.

“I’ll only help you wash up,” Shen Man promised with a smile.

Lin Shu let out a coquettish hum and closed her eyes, enjoying the comfortable feeling of the water streaming over her body.

“Shushu is so beautiful today. It makes me like you so much,” Shen Man murmured, her eyes full of laughter.

“Is there any day I’m not beautiful?” Lin Shu retorted playfully. Suddenly, her body went limp, and she looked at Shen Man through misty eyes. “You liar, you just said you wouldn’t…”

“Shushu, please say yes,” Shen Man pleaded, her voice hoarse. Her usually cool and composed expression was gone.

“I agree…” Lin Shu’s eyes welled with tears, and she practically sobbed out those two words.

Shen Man smiled in satisfaction and whispered, “From now on, we’re lovers.”

Hearing the word ‘lovers’, Lin Shu’s mind went blank for a moment. It was as if fireworks were exploding by her ears, leaving her dazed for a long time.

After their shower, Shen Man carried Lin Shu back to bed.

The moment her head hit the pillow, Lin Shu fell asleep, her small nose twitching as if in protest.

Shen Man let out a soft laugh, leaned over, and placed a kiss on that tender little face.

“Goodnight, Shushu,” she said gently.

Lin Shu gave a very soft hum, as if in response.

Shen Man couldn’t sleep.

She held Lin Shu, quietly feeling the soft warmth in her arms. The room was very quiet; they could hear each other’s breathing. Shen Man could even hear her own heartbeat, faster than usual, every beat revealing her contentment and happiness.

She watched Lin Shu, tracing the outline of that charming little face with her finger.

She only gradually drifted off to sleep as the sky began to lighten.

When Lin Shu opened her eyes, she realized it was already noon. Thinking about what happened last night, she couldn’t help but pout and complain under her breath.

“Shushu, you’re awake. I’ve made lunch,” a smiling voice suddenly came from the doorway.

Shen Man stood there, a knowing look in her eyes, as if she had heard everything.

Lin Shu was startled, and her face flushed red. Maintaining her proud demeanor, she said, “I know.”

Shen Man was about to turn back to the kitchen but, on second thought, walked into the room instead.

Lin Shu’s vision darkened, and before she could react, a pair of soft lips were on hers.

“Why did you suddenly kiss me?” Lin Shu asked, her face red and her eyes glistening.

“I’m kissing my girlfriend. Is there a problem?” Shen Man replied, her expression one of complete self-assurance, as if it were a matter of course.

Lin Shu was at a loss for words, her cheeks quickly turning a deep shade of red.

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