I Am More Paranoid Than the Villain – Chapter 143

It’s an Extra Chapter

Yin and Xia Chapter 4

It’s Not Too Late to Meet Now

They kept their relationship a secret. Since they weren’t in the same class, they didn’t get to spend much time together during the day.

The girls in the next dorm had all noticed that Xia Ke was excessively good to Yin Ruxu. Sometimes the two of them would stand together, hugging and being incredibly close.

But no one said anything. They just envied Yin Ruxu for all her high-end, brand-name clothes.

After a full day of classes, Yin Ruxu returned to their dorm room.

She sat on Xia Ke’s bed, leaning back and playing on her phone.

Xia Ke returned with dinner for two, smiling as she said, “Ah Xu, let’s eat.”

“Okay,” Yin Ruxu replied with a slight smile, putting down her phone.

“Tomorrow’s Saturday, so I asked Manman to go shopping with us,” Xia Ke said, her face full of anticipation.

Yin Ruxu understood immediately: Lin Shu would be there too.

She didn’t want to spoil the mood, so she gave a small nod.

“Ah Xu, you’re the best.” Xia Ke happily planted a kiss on Yin Ruxu’s cheek.

Yin Ruxu smiled shyly. “Don’t mess around. Let’s eat first.”

“Alright.” Xia Ke nodded obediently, unable to hide the sweet happiness on her face.

After dinner, neither of them had any more classes.

Thinking about how they had to get up early for shopping tomorrow, Xia Ke turned off the lights at nine o’clock.

Lying in bed, she wrapped her arms around Yin Ruxu, an unstoppable smile on her lips.

Even in the darkness, Yin Ruxu could feel how happy the soft, fragrant body next to her was.

She shifted, adjusting into a more comfortable position pressed tightly against Xia Ke.

Xia Ke’s heart skipped a beat. She lowered her head and kissed the person in her arms.

She only kissed her for a moment before pulling away, saying happily, “Let’s sleep. We’ll get up early tomorrow.”

Yin Ruxu let out a soft “Mm.”

The weather on Saturday was nice, and the four of them went shopping together.

Yin Ruxu’s spirits weren’t high; while picking out clothes, her heart wasn’t present.¹

After shopping for the whole afternoon, the four of them went their separate ways.

Xia Ke led Yin Ruxu into a well-known Western restaurant.

Just as they sat down and ordered, a garishly dressed woman approached their table. She was holding a bottle of red wine, and the smile on her face was triumphant and twisted.

She smashed the bottle and screamed at Yin Ruxu, “Who the hell do you think you are? All you know how to do is pretend to be pure.² Everyone knows you’re just a slu—”

Hearing this, Xia Ke shot to her feet, furiously cutting the woman off. “Shut your mouth! You’re not allowed to insult Ah Xu.”

Yin Ruxu’s face went pale, her heart pounding in a panic.

The woman sneered. “You must be her classmate, right? Don’t be fooled by her innocent act. Her favorite thing to do is pretend to be weak and pitiful³ to trick people, men and women alike.”

“Don’t you dare talk about Ah Xu like that. Apologize to her,” Xia Ke said, glaring angrily at the woman.

Seeing the woman’s words grow uglier, Yin Ruxu quickly stood and pulled on Xia Ke’s arm, urging her softly, “Xiao Ke, forget it. She’s just drunk.”

At that, the woman’s expression became even more foul.

She was about to continue her tirade when the manager arrived with two waiters to stop her.

Seeing her chance, Yin Ruxu tugged on Xia Ke’s arm and said in a weak voice, “Let’s go eat somewhere else.”

“Ah Xu, she hasn’t apologized to you yet,” Xia Ke said indignantly, still wanting to argue.

Yin Ruxu shook her head, her eyes like misty water,⁴ filled with pleading.

Xia Ke’s heart instantly softened, and she obediently followed her out.

They went to a nearby hotel, where Xia Ke got a room.

She opened the door, led Yin Ruxu inside, and sat her down. “Ah Xu,” she asked gently, “who was that woman just now?”

The moment she finished speaking, Yin Ruxu’s eyes reddened. She lowered her head and began to cry softly.

Xia Ke panicked, rushing to comfort her. “Ah Xu, don’t cry…”

But that only made Yin Ruxu cry harder. With red-rimmed eyes, she said, “I want to be alone for a little while.”

“Okay, I’ll go,” Xia Ke said carefully, and she obediently left.

Yin Ruxu was alone in the room.

She lifted her head, trying to force the tears back, but they were uncontrollable, streaming endlessly from the corners of her eyes.

The appearance of that woman had exposed all the filthy and unbearable⁵ things from her past. It shattered the beautiful, sweet love she had enjoyed these past days.

No matter how pure and lovely she looked on the outside, it couldn’t hide the things she had once done in her pursuit of vanity.⁶

After crying for a long time, Yin Ruxu finally stopped.

She stood up and went to the bathroom to wash her face.

Staring at her own swollen, red eyes in the mirror, she let out a self-deprecating laugh.

Xia Ke pushed the door open.

“Xiao Ke…” Yin Ruxu stood by the bed, her tear-reddened eyes looking utterly pitiful.

Xia Ke’s heart softened. She walked over quickly and comforted her, “Ah Xu, don’t cry anymore. It’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have asked.”

“I don’t blame you. It’s my fault…” Yin Ruxu said, her tears escaping her control again.

She threw herself into Xia Ke’s arms, heartbroken, tears rippling⁷ down her face. “If only you were the first person I had ever met…”

Hearing this, Xia Ke’s eyes darkened, and she blamed herself even more.

She held Yin Ruxu tightly, patiently consoling her. “Ah Xu, it’s not too late for us.”

Yin Ruxu just cried and shook her head, her emotions nearing collapse.

Xia Ke didn’t know what to do, clumsily trying to comfort her.

Eventually, Yin Ruxu cried herself out and gradually fell asleep.

Xia Ke sighed and carefully laid Yin Ruxu down.

She stared blankly at the chandelier overhead, her thoughts numerous and jumbled.⁸

It wasn’t that she hadn’t heard some of the rumors about Yin Ruxu—even Shen Man had hinted at them several times—but she didn’t care about those things.

At least in the time Yin Ruxu had been with her, there hadn’t been a single piece of bad news.

“Ah Xu, I don’t care what those people say, and you shouldn’t take it to your heart⁹ either, okay?” Xia Ke whispered, looking at the small, tear-stained face.

Yin Ruxu let out a sob and instinctively snuggled deeper into the warm embrace.

Xia Ke smiled at that and began to gently pat her on the back.

After sleeping for over two hours, Yin Ruxu opened her eyes. The other person was gone.

A panic seized her heart, and she cried out, “Xiao Ke…”

“I’m here.” Xia Ke opened the door, a phone in one hand. She spoke into it, “I have something to do, so I’ll talk to you later.”

She hung up and walked quickly to the bedside. “Ah Xu, what’s wrong?” she asked softly.

Yin Ruxu didn’t say anything, just threw her arms around Xia Ke’s waist.

She clung to her tightly, desperate for a sense of security.

Xia Ke smiled gently. She sat on the edge of the bed, wrapped her arms around Yin Ruxu, and coaxed, “I have some good news to tell you.”

“What good news?” Yin Ruxu asked weakly, her voice still thick with tears.

Xia Ke reached out and gently brushed the stray hairs from her small face. “I have a good friend whose birthday is next weekend, and she invited me to go.”

Hearing this, a flicker of jealousy rose in Yin Ruxu’s heart. She blinked.

“She’s a huge star. You know her, too. Her name is Sang Yidan,”¹⁰ Xia Ke continued.

Yin Ruxu instantly sat bolt upright. “Is it really her?” she asked, overjoyed. “She’s my favorite celebrity.”

“Mhm,” Xia Ke confirmed with a gentle expression. “I’ll take you with me.”

“Me…” Yin Ruxu was stunned. She hesitated for a moment, then lowered her head. “In what capacity would I go?”

“As my girlfriend, of course,” Xia Ke said happily, her light blue eyes alight, her spirit and color flying high.¹¹

Yin Ruxu’s heart clenched. A difficult, complicated emotion coiled inside her.

She nodded and rested her head against Xia Ke’s chest, listening to the steady beat of her heart. The anxiety within her gradually faded away.

---

A week passed quickly.

Xia Ke helped Yin Ruxu pick out a suitable outfit and took her to the party venue.

Sang Yidan was keeping her birthday celebration low-key this time, inviting only a few close friends.

When she saw Xia Ke, she gave her a happy hug. “Xiao Ke, long time no see! You came back to the country and didn’t even tell me. I had to hear it from someone else.”

Xia Ke smiled and complimented her, “You look so beautiful today.”

“Really?” Sang Yidan’s eyes lit up, crinkling as she smiled. Her gaze fell on Yin Ruxu, and her voice became noticeably colder. “And this is?”

“This is my…” Xia Ke began to introduce her happily, but she was cut off.

“I’m her roommate,” Yin Ruxu said quickly, forcing a docile smile.

Xia Ke froze, then nodded under Sang Yidan’s questioning gaze.

“You two seem pretty close,” Sang Yidan said with a smile, linking her arm through Xia Ke’s. “It’s my birthday today, so you have to keep me company.”

“Okay,” Xia Ke agreed, glancing back at Yin Ruxu.

“Someone will entertain her. You come with me,” Sang Yidan said, pulling Xia Ke toward the second floor.

Yin Ruxu stood behind them, watching their intimate figures retreat, an indescribable pain in her heart.

Halfway through the party, Yin Ruxu went outside alone for some fresh air.

Listening to the sounds of laughter coming from nearby, she felt her self-esteem hit rock bottom.

The people at the party today were all socialites from the same circle. She felt like an ugly duckling¹² standing among a flock of white swans.¹³

The frequent, appraising glances they sent her way were filled with curiosity and a humiliation she could hardly bear.

“Ah Xu, what are you doing out here?” Xia Ke’s voice came from nearby.

Yin Ruxu quickly composed herself and offered a faint smile. “It’s a little stuffy inside. I wanted to come out for a walk.”

“Yidan’s birthday is a bit noisy, but it’s winding down now. She invited you to come up and sit with us,” Xia Ke said happily.

At those words, Yin Ruxu couldn’t muster a single shred of admiration for her idol.

She reached out, took Xia Ke’s hand, and said softly, “I’m a little tired. Let’s go back.”

“There are rooms here. I can take you up to rest,” Xia Ke said. She touched Yin Ruxu’s forehead. “You don’t look well,” she said with concern. “Have you been out in the wind too long?”

Yin Ruxu shook her head.

“Ah Xu, why are you unhappy?” Xia Ke knelt, her gaze fixed on Yin Ruxu. “Yidan said she can give you an autograph and a photo.”

“I’m not unhappy,” Yin Ruxu said, suppressing the bitterness in her heart and forcing a sweet smile.

“That’s good. Let’s go up, then.” Reassured, Xia Ke took Yin Ruxu’s hand and led her inside.

When they arrived at Sang Yidan’s room, the feeling of inferiority in Yin Ruxu’s heart grew even stronger.

Whether it was family background, education, disposition, or looks, she was in no position to compare herself to this true daughter of a wealthy and powerful family.¹⁴

“Xiao Ke, wait outside for a bit. I’d like to chat with this little fan alone,” Sang Yidan said with a smile.

Yin Ruxu keenly sensed the hostility in her words.

---

---