I Am More Paranoid Than the Villain – Chapter 138

This is a Date

How Do You Plan to Take Responsibility?

Lin Shu had a very relaxing weekend.

On Monday morning, she and Shen Man arrived at the office one after the other.

“Morning, Chairman Lin,” her colleagues greeted her hurriedly.

Lin Shu responded with a rare smile.

Everyone froze. The moment she was gone, they huddled together, whispering.

“Chairman Lin actually smiled. It’s… kinda nice.”

“She’s always been beautiful. She’s just so serious at the office, it’s intimidating.”

“I’m telling you, she has to be in love.”

That comment set off a flurry of excited speculation about the identity of Lin Shu’s partner.

Shen Man, filling her mug at the water cooler, listened to all their theories and simply smiled without saying a word.

Lin Shu sat down in her office and started going through the documents on her desk.

Her secretary came in. “Chairman Lin, Xiao Gao submitted her resignation.”

The words immediately made Lin Shu think of Shen Man’s auntie.

Her brow furrowed. “What was the reason?” she asked, her voice cold.

“She said she needs to go home to take care of her mother,” the secretary explained, a look of confusion on her face. “A job like this is hard to come by, and it was obvious Xiao Gao was working so hard. Why would she suddenly decide to quit?”

“Go tell her,” Lin Shu said, her expression serious, “that I’m giving her a three-month leave of absence with full pay. If she still decides to resign after three months, then the company will respect her decision.”

The secretary’s eyes widened in astonishment, unable to believe what she was hearing.

“Well? Go,” Lin Shu said, her gaze sharpening, her presence suddenly imposing.

“Right away, Chairman Lin.” The secretary snapped back to attention and hurried out.

Lin Shu pressed her lips together, feeling a little frustrated. She picked up her phone and sent Shen Man a message: “Come to my office.”

“Okay, Chairman Lin,” came the instant reply.

Arriving at the Chairman’s office, Shen Man knocked before entering.

“Gao Rou resigned,” Lin Shu said, her expression grim.

“That was my auntie’s idea,” Shen Man nodded.

“You knew about this?” Lin Shu asked, surprised. She looked at Shen Man, confused. “Why would your auntie do that? Does she hate me so much that she’d force her own daughter to give up her future?”

“Shushu, don’t worry about it. My auntie is targeting me, not you,” Shen Man soothed her gently.

“She couldn’t stand the sight of me that day. She didn’t give me a single pleasant look,” Lin Shu said with a pout, her face full of grievance.

“She’s lived in the countryside her whole life. Her way of thinking is more traditional, and she can’t accept things that are incomprehensible to her,” Shen Man explained, reaching out to stroke Lin Shu’s soft hair. “Shushu, don’t overthink it. In the end, my auntie is just an outsider. What she thinks doesn’t matter to me.”

Hearing that made Lin Shu feel much better. The corners of her lips tilted up, and her voice softened unconsciously. “Do you want to go talk to Gao Rou?”

Shen Man shook her head. “Gao Rou might seem soft and indecisive, but she’s actually very independent in her thinking and quite mature about how she considers things. She wasn’t completely forced into this decision.”

“That’s good, then.” Lin Shu broke into a happy smile.

Shen Man leaned down and pressed a light kiss to those soft lips. She pulled back with a smile. “Now that I’ve cut ties with my family and am all alone, how does Shushu plan to take responsibility for me?”

“I…” Lin Shu bit her lip, her long lashes fluttering. “This Saturday, I’m taking you somewhere.”

“Alright,” Shen Man agreed happily, not asking for details.

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Time flew, and soon it was Friday. Lin Shu stayed late to work overtime. Shen Man didn’t have to, so she drove home to make dinner.

By the time Lin Shu finished her work, the sky outside was already dark. She shut down her computer, grabbed her bag, and made a call as she walked out. “Is the ring I ordered ready?”

“Chairman Lin, yes, it’s been finished according to your specifications. Should we have it delivered to you now?”

“No need. I’ll pick it up myself.” With that, Lin Shu quickened her pace and left.

Shen Man finished cooking dinner, but Lin Shu still wasn’t back. She glanced at the time and went out to the balcony to wait. After about ten minutes, Lin Shu’s car came into view.

Shen Man smiled and turned to go serve the food.

Lin Shu changed her shoes and headed for the bedroom, still holding her handbag. Shen Man found this a little strange; usually, Lin Shu just left her bag on the sofa. She didn’t point it out, just smiled and said, “Shushu, come and eat.”

“Okay!” Lin Shu called back.

She took the ring out of her bag and put it in a cabinet. Feeling uneasy, she moved it again, tucking it under the quilt beneath her pillow.

“Shushu, was work busy today?” Shen Man asked with a smile.

“Mhm,” Lin Shu nodded, sitting down to eat.

Shen Man observed her subtly, placing some food in Lin Shu’s bowl. “I haven’t been to see Uncle Lin since I got out of the hospital,” she remarked casually.

At that, Lin Shu looked up, met Shen Man’s knowing gaze, and puffed out her cheeks in annoyance. “How did you know I was taking you to see him tomorrow?”

“It was just a random thought,” Shen Man said, her face a mask of surprise, but her eyes were full of mirth.

Lin Shu let out a coquettish huff. “You totally knew.”

Hearing that, Shen Man dropped the act, the laughter in her eyes deepening. She looked at Lin Shu and lowered her voice. “Is Shushu taking me to meet the parents?”

“It’s not like you’ve never met him before,” Lin Shu pursed her lips. The mention of her father still angered her. “What kind of parent is he, anyway?”

“Shushu, don’t be angry,” Shen Man said, comforting her with a smile and dropping the subject.

After dinner, Lin Shu took a sip of water. “You’re sleeping in your own room tonight,” she announced, trying to sound haughty¹.

Shen Man was clearing the table. She paused for a second, then quickly nodded. “Alright.”

Lin Shu suppressed her excitement and returned to her room, her expression carefully neutral.

Shen Man watched her go, noticing the barely-contained bounce in her step. Her own expression darkened.

After cleaning the kitchen, Shen Man walked to Lin Shu’s door. She reached for the handle, but it wouldn’t turn. It was locked from the inside. A knot of anxiety tightened in her stomach, followed by a wave of displeasure.

Lin Shu heard the rattling doorknob and quickly threw a pillow over the spot where she’d hidden the ring. She patted it down twice before feeling composed enough to get up and open the door.

“Shushu, what are you busy with?” Shen Man asked, tilting her head with a smile.

“Work stuff,” Lin Shu answered quickly, her fingers gripping the doorframe. “Did you need something?”

Shen Man’s eyes narrowed slightly at the question. She shook her head and smiled. “We have to go see Uncle Lin tomorrow. You should get some rest.”

“Mhm,” Lin Shu nodded, pushing the door closed.

Shen Man stood in the hallway, her expression as cold as ice and frost².

She lifted her hand, wanting to force the door open, but after a long moment of hesitation, she turned and walked away.

After washing up, Shen Man lay in bed, replaying every one of Lin Shu’s strange behaviors from the day. All of it pointed to one thing: she was hiding something, trying to keep Shen Man from finding it out. The thought made her chest tighten with an indescribable frustration.

She stared into the darkness, her mind churning with anxiety, making sleep impossible.

As the sky outside slowly began to lighten, Shen Man picked up her phone. It was 6 a.m. She got out of bed, washed up, and went to make breakfast as usual.

Lin Shu heard the sounds from outside and opened her eyes. Her first instinct was to check for the ring under her pillow. She stared at it for a long moment, a happy smile spreading across her face, before carefully placing it in an inner pocket of her handbag.

Shen Man finished making breakfast, her heart heavy with irritation. She walked to Lin Shu’s door and was just about to knock when it swung open from the inside.

“Good morning,” Lin Shu said with a dazzling smile, her makeup perfectly applied.

Shen Man froze, a flash of awe in her eyes. She couldn’t tear her gaze away from that beautiful face. “Shushu, breakfast is ready.”

“Mhm.” Lin Shu nodded with a light laugh. She blinked once, then suddenly leaned in and kissed Shen Man on the cheek.

Shen Man was stunned. Her usually calm mind descended into chaos, completely unable to process the gesture’s meaning. She lowered her gaze and sighed softly. I never thought I’d be the type to feel so utterly at a loss³ in a relationship.

“Today we’ll go see my dad, and then we’re going to a hotel for dinner. I’ve already booked the room,” Lin Shu said matter-of-factly. She looked down and started eating her congee, her tone so casual it was as if she were discussing any other ordinary thing.

“So, this is a date, then,” Shen Man countered, her composure returning as she smiled.

“Keke…” Lin Shu choked on her food. She grabbed a napkin to wipe her mouth. “We’re a couple,” she said, feigning nonchalance. “It’s not like we can’t go on dates.”

“Of course we can. I’m very much looking forward to Shushu’s arrangements for the day,” Shen Man murmured, her voice low, her features as perfect as a painting⁴.

Lin Shu’s heart skipped a beat, and she quickly looked down to hide her reaction.

After breakfast, the two of them set off for the hospital with Lin Shu driving.

Shen Man sat in the passenger seat, resting her head on her hand as she watched the scenery go by. A light breeze stirred her hair, lifting it in a lovely arc.

“Shen Man,” Lin Shu said suddenly.

Shen Man turned, a small smile on her face. “Yes, Shushu? What is it?”

“Nothing,” Lin Shu shook her head, focusing intently on the road ahead.

Shen Man’s eyes narrowed as she studied Lin Shu carefully. After a long moment, she turned back to the window.

Lin Shu let out a secret sigh of relief. She wiggled her fingers slightly and realized her palms were slick with sweat. She glanced in the rearview mirror, stealing a look at Shen Man’s cool, elegant face.

“What’s wrong, Shushu?” Shen Man asked, still looking out the window.

“Nothing!” Lin Shu answered quickly, sitting up ramrod straight.

A soft chuckle escaped Shen Man. The frustration that had built up overnight began to dissipate, as if carried away by the wind. She lowered her arm, leaned back against the seat, and closed her eyes to catch up on sleep.

An hour’s drive brought them to a high-end private hospital. The moment the car came to a stop, Shen Man’s eyes opened. They got out together and followed a nurse to Lin Huai’s room.

“Wait for me here,” Lin Shu said, her expression serious.

“Okay.” Shen Man nodded, giving her a reassuring look.

Lin Shu went into the room and sat by the hospital bed. She leaned back, her face calm as she gazed at the comatose man lying there. All the old resentment and hatred seemed to have faded in importance.

“I’m in a relationship,” she stated, her tone flat. “With a woman. You know her. It’s Shen Man.” A smile touched her lips at the mention of her name. “If you were awake, you definitely wouldn’t approve. But it’s not like I need your approval.”

With that, she let out a short, derisive laugh, then rose proudly and walked out.

Shen Man was waiting outside. The moment she saw Lin Shu emerge, she went to her side. “Shushu, how did it go?” she asked with a smile.

“It’s done. Let’s go,” Lin Shu said, her eyebrows raised in a brilliant smile. “Our date can officially start now.”

At that, Shen Man smiled warmly. She took Lin Shu’s hand, and they walked out side by side.

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