I Am More Paranoid Than the Villain – Chapter 130

A Lingering Knot in the Heart

I Look Forward to Your Guidance in the Future

When Lin Shu got off work, she drove straight to Shen Man’s residence.

She parked the car downstairs and sat inside for a while before heading up.

As she reached the door, Lin Shu noticed it was ajar, the aroma of a home-cooked meal drifting out from within.

She pushed the door open and walked into the living room, stopping to stand there.

Hearing the sound, Shen Man came out of the kitchen.

“Shushu,” she said with a smile, “I’m almost done with dinner. Sit down and rest for a bit.”

Lin Shu let out an arrogant “Heng” and tossed her bag onto the sofa.

She sat down and asked, “How’d you know I was coming?”

“I figured Shushu would definitely come over today to tell me some good news,” Shen Man said softly, her smile gentle. Those shrewd eyes of hers seemed to see through everything.

Hearing this, Lin Shu bit her lip in annoyance and retorted loudly, “I’m not here to tell you I got the job!”

“Then what are you here for?” Shen Man tilted her head slightly, a look of confusion on her face.

“I…” Lin Shu choked on her words, turning her head away in a mix of shame and anger.

Shen Man chuckled lightly and stopped teasing her.

She went to the kitchen and brought the prepared dishes to the table.

“Shushu, come and eat,” Shen Man said, scooping rice into two bowls.

Lin Shu walked over with a displeased look on her face, sat down, and stared at the rice in front of her, her little face puffed up.

“Shushu, who made you unhappy?” Shen Man asked with a smile, reaching out to pinch her soft little cheek.

The feeling was so nice that she couldn’t help but stroke it again.

Lin Shu twisted her head, as if dodging but also acting spoiled.

She picked up her chopsticks and ate her rice sullenly.

Shen Man smiled and sat down beside her.

She picked up a piece of boneless fish and placed it in Lin Shu’s bowl. Her expression turned serious as she said, “Shushu, thank you for telling me this good news.”

“From now on, we’ll be working together. I look forward to your guidance.”

Listening to that deep, pleasant voice, Lin Shu’s heart couldn’t help but speed up.

Her long eyelashes fluttered rapidly, forming a beautiful arc.

Watching from the side, Shen Man felt a tickle of an itch in her heart.

She leaned over and gave her a light kiss.

“Eat!” Lin Shu said, her face red as she put on a stern expression.

After a bite of rice, she looked up, stared at Shen Man, and said forcefully, “Since your job is confirmed, you should move into my place now.”

“Shushu, tomorrow is Saturday. Let’s just hang out here for these two days and go over on Monday,” Shen Man said in a soft, negotiating tone.

Seeing Lin Shu’s pouting face, she added, “Xia Ke is coming over to hang out tomorrow, and Yin Ruxu is coming with her.”

“What are they coming here for?” Lin Shu asked, displeased. “Yin Ruxu is a bright star¹ who’s hot enough to burn the hand² right now. If she gets photographed here, it’ll cause trouble.”

“Shushu, don’t worry. Xia Ke will arrange everything,” Shen Man said with a smile.

“With her status, what kind of woman hasn’t she seen? Why is she still so hung up on a little bright star?” Lin Shu scoffed, her confusion mixed with a trace of disdain.

“She was her first love, after all. It’s normal that she’s unforgettable,” Shen Man explained.

“To run into a woman like Yin Ruxu for your first relationship… she’s really unlucky,” Lin Shu said with a curl of her lip, a hint of indifference in her eyes.

“When it comes to matters of the heart, who can ever say for sure?” Shen Man smiled and stood up to clear the dishes.

Hearing this, Lin Shu suddenly thought of how she and Xia Ke were in the same situation—both of their first loves were scheming women.

She couldn’t help but glare at Shen Man and huff, “You’re not much better than her.”

Shen Man heard this and instantly understood what she meant.

She gave a somewhat helpless smile. “At least I’m not entangled with other women.”

“You’re telling me no women have tried to throw themselves into your arms and send hugs³?” Lin Shu asked, her chin slightly raised, her tone aggressive.

“Well, there have been,” Shen Man said, pondering and deliberately drawing out her words.

Lin Shu’s little face immediately flushed red with anger, and her gaze turned vicious.

Seeing this, Shen Man walked over, wrapped an arm around that slender waist, and leaned in to whisper in Lin Shu’s ear, “I only like Shushu. I don’t have the slightest interest in anyone else.”

“Never?” Lin Shu pressed, half-convinced.

“Mm,” Shen Man chuckled softly and nodded seriously, her dark eyes looking straight into Lin Shu’s.

After holding her gaze for a moment, Lin Shu was the first to look away.

Blinking, she said in a small voice, “Let go of me.”

Shen Man obediently released her.

She planted a kiss on that rosy cheek and said softly, “Don’t give Yin Ruxu any cold ridicule and hot sarcasm⁴ tomorrow. It’ll make Xia Ke unhappy.”

“I’ll say whatever I want. If you don’t like hearing it, then cover your ears,” Lin Shu raised her voice, her bright eyes wide.

Shen Man didn’t argue with her, smiling as she took the cleared dishes into the kitchen.

Lin Shu sat on the sofa, holding the TV remote.

She flipped through the channels over and over but couldn’t find a single program she was satisfied with.

When Shen Man came out after washing the dishes, she glanced at the flickering television.

Lin Shu was mashing the remote, complaining with a pout, “You don’t have a single good show here.”

“It’s time for the News Simulcast⁵ right now. Watching the news isn’t bad,” Shen Man said, taking the remote and stopping on a random channel.

Lin Shu picked up a throw pillow and patted the spot next to her.

Shen Man understood and sat down beside her.

A small smile touched the corner of Lin Shu’s lips. She turned sideways and lay her head on Shen Man’s lap, murmuring, “Rub my shoulders for me. They’re so sore after working all day.”

“Okay,” Shen Man said with a light laugh, massaging those fragrant shoulders with just the right amount of pressure.

Feeling the comfortable pressure, Lin Shu’s eyelids gradually drooped, finally closing into a tight line.

Shen Man couldn’t help but smile. She picked up the remote and turned the volume down.

She put the remote down, grabbed a small blanket from the end of the sofa, and draped it over Lin Shu.

A moment later, her phone rang.

Shen Man quickly picked it up. Seeing it was a call from Xia Ke, she pressed the answer key and said in a low voice, “Xiao Ke, what’s up?”

“Manman, why is your voice so quiet?” Xia Ke asked, also lowering her voice.

“Shushu just fell asleep,” Shen Man said with a light laugh.

Hearing the doting and happy tone in her voice, Xia Ke couldn’t help but smile.

She said quietly, “Manman, congratulations on successfully winning the beauty’s heart.”

“Thanks,” Shen Man’s smile deepened as her fingers gently stroked Lin Shu’s soft hair.

“I’ve already talked to Ah Xu. We’ll come over tomorrow morning, have lunch at your place, and leave at one in the afternoon,” Xia Ke said. “I don’t think I’ve ever tried your cooking, Manman.”

“Okay, what do you want to eat?” Shen Man asked with a smile.

“Make more vegetables and low-fat, low-calorie things. And don’t put cilantro in the dishes, Ah Xu doesn’t like it,” Xia Ke said seriously.

“You’re listing all her preferences. What about you?” Shen Man asked, her brow furrowing slightly.

Xia Ke paused. After a few seconds, she said in a muffled voice, “I’m not a picky eater. Anything is fine.”

“You, the gold master,⁶ are more competent than an assistant,” Shen Man said, half-reminding and half-joking. “If this keeps up, you’ll be the one getting wrapped around her finger.”

“She’s in a crucial period of her career right now. I can’t be careless at such an important time,” Xia Ke explained, lacking confidence.

“You gave her that career. Whether it rises or stalls is up to you,” Shen Man said seriously.

Hearing this, Xia Ke couldn’t help but lower her gaze. “She won an important award a few days ago,” she said quietly. “Seeing her so happy made me happy too.”

“You… you’re too soft-hearted,” Shen Man shook her head and sighed.

Just as she finished speaking, Lin Shu’s sleepy voice sounded from beside her. “Who’s soft-hearted?”

“I’m on the phone with Xia Ke,” Shen Man said softly, brushing the stray hairs from Lin Shu’s forehead. “Did I wake you?”

“Mhm,” Lin Shu mumbled quietly, turning over to hug Shen Man’s supple waist.

“Manman, I’ll let you go. We’ll see you tomorrow,” Xia Ke said, taking the initiative.

“Okay,” Shen Man said. She hung up, looked down at Lin Shu, and asked gently, “Shushu, are you still going to sleep?”

Lin Shu didn’t answer.

After a moment, she opened her eyes and reluctantly sat up.

“Go take a shower first. You can sleep after your shower,” Shen Man coaxed softly.

“I didn’t bring any pajamas,” Lin Shu said, blinking. Her little face, stripped of its daytime shrewdness, looked adorably dazed.

“You can wear mine,” Shen Man said with a smile, taking Lin Shu’s hand and leading her toward the bedroom.

Lin Shu followed slowly behind. At the bedroom door, she suddenly said, “Why did you have to invite Yin Ruxu over?”

“She’s at the height of her popularity right now. Plenty of people like her.”

Hearing the jealousy in her words, Shen Man’s gentle eyes took on a teasing glint.

She pinned Lin Shu against the doorframe, leaned in, and spoke in a low voice, “Shushu, you don’t think I’m interested in Yin Ruxu, do you?”

Her innermost thoughts exposed, Lin Shu’s fair little face flushed a pretty pink with embarrassment.

She lifted her head and met those bright eyes angrily. “Back in college, you’re telling me you didn’t like her?”

Shen Man shook her head without hesitation.

She stroked Lin Shu’s soft lips with her finger and said with a light laugh, “I never had any good feelings for her. Besides, I knew exactly what kind of person she was from the very beginning.”

Lin Shu was stunned, unable to believe that the thing she had been bothered by for so long had never even existed.

Her eyes widened as she questioned in a louder voice, “Then why were you so nice to her back then?”

“When was I ever nice to her?” Shen Man asked, finding it a little funny. “If it weren’t for Xia Ke, I probably wouldn’t even remember who Yin Ruxu is.”

“Yes, you were! You used to walk with her all the time in school, and you even drank milk tea together!” The more Lin Shu spoke, the angrier she got, her voice growing much louder.

Hearing this, Shen Man frowned in thought.

She thought for a long while before some fuzzy images appeared in her mind.

“Besides, Yin Ruxu is exactly your type,” Lin Shu said, lowering her head, the grievance in her delicate features impossible to hide.

“Shushu, the person I’ve always liked is you,” Shen Man said hurriedly, pulling her into an embrace and comforting her softly. “I used to think Yin Ruxu looked a lot like someone.”

“Your first love?” Lin Shu immediately asked, her tone full of displeasure.

“No,” Shen Man shook her head, her gaze growing distant. “It was someone who had a huge influence on me when I was little.”

“Who was that person?” Lin Shu pouted, feeling upset. “I thought you’d already told me everything about your past. Turns out there was someone I didn’t know about.”

“She was a very gentle Big Sister.⁷ She was ostracized by everyone around her because she liked women,” Shen Man said in a low voice, sadness in her eyes. “I watched her jump from a building to her death, and there was nothing I could do.”

Lin Shu hadn’t expected to hear such a sad and heavy story. She pressed her lips together and said quietly, “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have pushed you.”

“It’s all in the past, and I’m not a helpless child anymore,” Shen Man said, comforting her in return. “I now have enough power to protect the person I love, and a strong enough heart to face the gossip from the outside world.”

“As long as you like them, why should you care what other people think?” Lin Shu said proudly.

“There are some hardships and difficulties that people who haven’t experienced them can’t truly understand,” Shen Man said with emotion. After a pause, she asked, “Is Shushu scared?”

“What would I be scared of?” Lin Shu retorted proudly, her eyes filled with fearless confidence. “I do whatever I want. Even my dad can’t control me, so other people have even less right to.”

“Shushu is so amazing,” Shen Man praised with a smile.

Lin Shu smiled smugly, only then remembering she needed to shower.

She looked at Shen Man and said, “Let go of me. I need to hurry up and shower so I can sleep.”

Shen Man smiled and released her.

She went into the room and took a soft pajama set from the closet.

Lin Shu took the pajamas and walked toward the bathroom with a light spring in her step.

Shen Man watched that cheerful back, feeling slightly puzzled.

She stood there, lost in thought for a moment, and finally understood where Lin Shu’s hostility toward Yin Ruxu came from.

During college, Lin Shu had never once given Yin Ruxu a pleasant look.

She had originally thought Lin Shu just couldn’t stand Yin Ruxu’s way of doing things, but it turned out she was the reason for all of it.

When Lin Shu came out of the shower, she saw Shen Man still standing there.

Her brow furrowed. “What are you spacing out for, standing here?” she asked as she walked over. “Hurry up and go shower.”

“Okay,” Shen Man snapped back to reality, answering with a light laugh.

By the time she had washed up and returned to the room, Lin Shu was already asleep in bed.

Shen Man walked over on tiptoe and carefully lifted the covers to lie down.

The next second, a soft body rolled into her arms.

“Shushu, goodnight,” Shen Man chuckled for a moment, hugging her gently.

A soft little hum came from Lin Shu’s nose as she found a comfortable position and continued to sleep.

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The weather on Saturday was nice.

Shen Man got up early to buy groceries. When she returned, Lin Shu was still sleeping.

She cooked some porridge and kept it warm, waiting for Lin Shu to wake up and eat.

Just after eight o’clock, a luxurious but low-key car parked downstairs.

Hearing the sound, Shen Man glanced outside from the balcony and immediately recognized Xia Ke’s car.

She walked to the entryway and opened the door a crack.

Xia Ke got out of the car and turned back to the person inside. “Ah Xu, this is a high-end residential complex. There won’t be any puppy⁸ taking secret photos.”

Yin Ruxu nodded and got out of the car obediently.

Just in case, she still put on sunglasses and a mask.

The two entered the building one after the other and soon arrived in front of Shen Man’s apartment.

Xia Ke noticed the door was ajar. She smiled, knocked, and said loudly, “Manman, we’re here!”

Hearing her voice, Shen Man got up from the living room sofa.

She walked over and opened the door. Her gaze quickly shifted away after landing on Yin Ruxu, and she looked at Xia Ke. “Come on in. Shushu is still sleeping.”

“Miss Lin is here too?” Yin Ruxu asked in surprise, her voice soft, as if she were startled.

“Shushu has been with me the whole time,” Shen Man said, offering a polite smile, an imperceptible warning in her cool eyes.

Yin Ruxu clearly received the message.

She reached out and tugged on Xia Ke’s sleeve, saying quietly, “Since Miss Lin is still sleeping, let’s not disturb her.”

“It’s fine. Lin Shu isn’t that petty,” Xia Ke said, then looked at Shen Man. “Right, Manman?”

Shen Man smiled and nodded. “Make yourselves comfortable. I’ll go wake Shushu up.”

“Okay,” Xia Ke nodded, changing into slippers naturally.

Yin Ruxu stood outside the door, her gaze lowered, seemingly reluctant to enter.

“Ah Xu, what’s wrong?” Xia Ke asked, confused.

“I didn’t expect Miss Lin to be here. If I’d known she was, I wouldn’t have come to join the fun today,” Yin Ruxu said in a low voice, wringing her hands together, appearing very anxious.

“Lin Shu just has a sharp tongue. She’s actually a good person,” Xia Ke said.

Before she could finish, Lin Shu’s cold voice came from behind her. “Who has a sharp tongue?”

“I didn’t say anything!” Xia Ke shook her head frantically, holding up her hands. “I was just saying what nice weather it is today. It’s a shame you didn’t get up early, Lin Shu.”

Lin Shu shot her a glare and walked over to sit down in the living room.

Shen Man saw Yin Ruxu still standing outside and looked toward Xia Ke.

Xia Ke’s expression instantly became serious. She reached out, took Yin Ruxu’s hand, and said in a low voice, “Manman specially prepared lunch for us today. Don’t let her kindness go to waste.”

“Okay,” Yin Ruxu nodded, looking weak and timid.

A smile appeared on Xia Ke’s face. She took a new pair of slippers from the shoe rack and placed them in front of Yin Ruxu. “Ah Xu, change your shoes.”

Yin Ruxu obediently changed her shoes.

Shen Man saw this and thought of something to say, but held her tongue.

She went to the kitchen and brought out a plate of cut fruit, placing it on the coffee table.

Xia Ke naturally picked up a piece of fruit and started eating.

Yin Ruxu sat with her back straight, appearing very formal.

“Shushu, I made porridge in the kitchen. Do you want to eat now?” Shen Man asked, looking at Lin Shu with a light smile.

Lin Shu nodded lazily, leaning sideways against the sofa.

“Manman, you’re so virtuous,” Xia Ke said with a teasing smile, her gaze shifting to Lin Shu. “There aren’t many great beauties like Manman who are both beautiful and good at cooking.”

“If you’re envious of her cooking, go practice it yourself,” Lin Shu replied coolly.

“I just wasn’t born to cook. Whether it’s Western or Chinese food, I can’t do it well,” Xia Ke shrugged, looking regretful. “Cooking is something that requires talent.”

“Since you can’t do it yourself, you can find a girlfriend who can,” Lin Shu teased back, her eyes flicking toward Yin Ruxu as she said the last part.

Yin Ruxu pressed her lips together, her head lowered, and said nothing.

Back in college, Lin Shu would always greet her with cold ridicule and hot sarcasm, and every time she faced Lin Shu, a strong sense of inferiority would rise from the bottom of her heart.

Moreover, Lin Shu and Xia Ke had known each other since childhood, and their families had business dealings, so their relationship had always been very close.

“Shushu, have some porridge to tide you over,” Shen Man said, walking over with a bowl and sitting next to Lin Shu. “It’s a little hot. Blow on it before you eat.”

“I know, I’m not a child,” Lin Shu said coquettishly, her seemingly complaining words laced with a faint sense of happiness.

Yin Ruxu watched their intimate interaction and, remembering what Xia Ke had said earlier, asked in a small voice, “Shen Man, are you and Miss Lin together?”

“Yeah, you’re only just finding out?” Lin Shu raised an eyebrow, her face full of pride.

“I… I really did just find out. No one told me about this,” Yin Ruxu said in a soft tone.

“Why would we need to inform you about our business?” Lin Shu retorted rudely.

Even though she knew Shen Man had never had romantic feelings for Yin Ruxu, she just couldn’t stand Yin Ruxu’s deliberately fragile act; every word and action felt fake.

What’s more, now that Yin Ruxu was a big bright star, her acting was much more polished than it had been in college.

When she watched her dramas, she didn’t find Yin Ruxu that annoying, but seeing her in person was just repulsive.

“Lin Shu, Ah Xu doesn’t mean any harm. Don’t be so aggressive with your tone,” Xia Ke said. After speaking, she looked at Shen Man. “Manman, we agreed yesterday.”

Shen Man understood what she meant. She glanced at the porridge and said, “Shushu, the porridge has cooled down a bit. You can eat it now.”

“Oh,” Lin Shu huffed, her little face cold, and picked up the bowl to eat slowly.

Seeing this, Xia Ke secretly winked at Shen Man.

She deliberately drew out her words, “Manman is still the most capable. Only you can coax Lin Shu. Just like back in college, whenever Lin Shu was unhappy, you could coax her with just three words and two phrases.⁹”

“When did she ever coax me?” Lin Shu said coldly. Thinking of those things from college, she couldn’t help but glare at Shen Man. “She only ever makes me unhappy.”

Shen Man just smiled without refuting it, picking up a piece of fruit and chewing it slowly.

“Is that so?” Xia Ke blinked in confusion, looking up as she fell into a memory. “What I remember is that Manman cared about you a lot, especially that time with the design project. If it weren’t for Manman’s help, you probably wouldn’t have been chosen by Teacher Flins Boge.”

Hearing this, Lin Shu also remembered the past, but she still said defiantly, “Anyway, she made me unhappy more often than not.”

Hearing her almost childishly stubborn tone, Xia Ke dropped the topic.

She took the opportunity to say, “I saw Teacher Flins Boge’s new work a few days ago. It was truly stunning.”

“I saw it too. Teacher even talked to me about the original intention behind his new work,” Lin Shu said.

Shen Man nodded.

Seeing that both of them had seen the work, Xia Ke was delighted and began to chat about her own insights and opinions.

Her eyes were filled with adoration for the art of design.

Yin Ruxu listened to the three of them discuss, feeling like she didn’t belong.

She gave a light cough. Feeling all three of their gazes turn to her, she said quietly, “I’m fine. You guys can continue chatting.”

“You’re already inside, why are you still wearing a mask and sunglasses? No one is going to secretly film you here,” Lin Shu said coldly, her sharp words unconsciously revealing her disdain.

Just like before.

A feeling of displeasure rose in Yin Ruxu’s heart.

She controlled her expression well, taking off her sunglasses and smiling gently as she said, “It’s not that I’m being sensitive, but the puppy are everywhere, and they always report nonsense.”

“If I get photographed in the same frame as the chairman of the Lin Group, who knows what kind of lace-edged news¹⁰ they’ll cook up for me.”

“I’m not Xia Ke. I have no desire to be linked with you in any news,” Lin Shu said with a hint of disgust, not forgetting to shoot Xia Ke a glare. “You’re a CEO with a hefty net worth. Why are you always in that lace-edged news? Can’t you just focus on your career? Do you have to be so eager to provide material for those tabloids?”

“If Uncle Xia knew you were so idle in the country, he might get angry enough to fly back and deal with you.”

“My dad doesn’t meddle in these things. When I came back, he told me this company was mine to handle. If I mess it up one day, I can just go beg on the streets,” Xia Ke said jokingly, her face screaming ‘I don’t care.’

“Be careful you don’t really end up begging on the streets one day,” Lin Shu warned, her eyes shifting to Yin Ruxu.

“Lin Shu, don’t jinx me. My company is doing just fine, and I’m even planning to collaborate with your Lin Group,” Xia Ke said with a smile.

Hearing this, Lin Shu frowned slightly and didn’t respond to the topic.

Shen Man saw the situation and spoke up at the right time. “Xiao Ke, do you have any good projects to invest in recently?”

“I do, but we’ll have to wait a while. A lot of things still haven’t been finalized,” Xia Ke said.

“This project of yours isn’t tailor-made for a certain someone again, is it?” Lin Shu asked pointedly.

Xia Ke smiled without denying it, saying with a proud expression, “Ah Xu is now an actress with both acting skills and beauty. Many big directors and producers are interested in working with her.”

“Basically, the choice is in our hands now. I want to pick the most suitable script for Ah Xu and strive to win Film Queen this year.”

“You’re the big boss, so of course you have the right to choose,” Lin Shu said, her words dripping with dissatisfaction toward Yin Ruxu. “But winning Film Queen isn’t that simple. The roles Yin Ruxu has played so far are all very one-dimensional. If she wants to be on the big silver screen,¹¹ she’ll have to start with small roles.”

“If you let someone with no film experience take the lead, be careful you don’t empty your home and lose all of your property.¹²”

Xia Ke listened, knowing this was a reminder for her.

However, her attention was completely captured by another point. She smiled and asked, “Shushu, have you seen all the TV dramas Ah Xu has been in?”

Before Lin Shu could answer, Shen Man said, “Shushu loves watching TV at home. She’s basically seen every series Yin Ruxu has acted in, and she even remembers some situations very clearly.”

Hearing this, Lin Shu’s little face turned red. She wanted to argue but couldn’t find the right words.

“Miss Lin, do you really like watching my dramas?” Yin Ruxu’s eyes lit up as she asked happily.

For a moment, Lin Shu couldn’t tell if this expression was fake or genuine. She composed herself and said coolly, “I just use them to pass the time.”

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