I Am More Paranoid Than the Villain – Chapter 25

Heartbeat Out of Control

Be good, don’t provoke me

The sky darkened.

A fine, silk-like rain began to fall from the misty sky, dripping onto the car window, splashing up small water droplets that blurred and slid down the clean, transparent glass, leaving a faint trail.

Shen Man helped Lin Shu sit in the car and turned on the interior light and the windshield wipers.

“I hate the rain…” Lin Shu pouted, her delicate brows lightly wrinkled, her drunken eyes full of unhappiness.

She stuck out her foot and kicked the car, making a ‘kuang dang’ sound.

“Shushu, don’t fidget,” Shen Man said in a low voice.

Lin Shu immediately stopped and sat properly.

The rain outside brought a chill that blew in through the crack of the window.

Shen Man still felt hot; every cell in her body was heating up. This heat felt trapped in her body, unable to be dispelled.

Tiny beads of sweat seeped out on her forehead, dampening the fine hairs at her temples.

Shen Man’s gaze was fixed straight ahead. She tilted her head slightly and rolled up a section of her sleeve, revealing snow-white skin.

The cars on the road increased in number, all with their taillights on, a stretch of red, as scorching as fire.

Shen Man instantly felt even hotter.

“Cold…” Lin Shu shivered, her body leaning limply against the seat, her hazy eyes staring at the reflection in the car window.

Hearing this, Shen Man immediately closed the window tightly.

The inside of the car instantly became stuffy and hot.

Shen Man took out a bottle of water, twisted it open forcefully, and gulped down more than half of it in one go.

The cool water flowed down her throat into her body, bringing a refreshing coolness that dispelled much of the heat inside her.

Shen Man pursed her lips and, with a ‘thunk’, accurately tossed the water bottle into the cup holder.

She leaned over, approaching the passenger seat, and said to the drunk person, “I’ll help you fasten your seatbelt.”

Lin Shu didn’t speak. Her long eyelashes blinked, and she turned her head to stare blankly at the person in front of her.

Shen Man raised her eyes.

Reflected in her pitch-black pupils was a pair of misty, vaporous eyes.

The internal fire that had just cooled down flared up at once, burning her throat dry and itchy.

Shen Man licked her lips, controlled the heat inside her, and said in a deep voice, “Don’t move.”

Lin Shu obediently stayed still.

Shen Man pinched the seatbelt and tried to buckle it into the clasp.

For some reason, a simple action she usually performed, her hand kept slipping and she couldn’t buckle it in.

Lin Shu let out a low laugh, “So clumsy!”

Shen Man looked up, her eyes darkening.

Lin Shu didn’t notice at all and said with an innocent smile, “It should be like this.”

As she spoke, she reached out, took hold of Shen Man’s hand, and buckled it in with ease.

“Why is your palm sweaty?” Lin Shu asked, tilting her head in confusion.

The young woman’s face was flushed, her skin dewy and tender, like a top-quality honey peach, tempting one to take a bite.

Shen Man’s throat tightened. She lowered her eyes, pulled her hand away, and sat back in her seat.

She picked up the remaining half bottle of water and drank it all in one go. Her slender fingers continued to exert force, and the bottle crumpled with a ‘kacha kacha’ sound.

Lin Shu watched quietly, her eyes blinking a few times, then gradually closed.

Shen Man let out a heavy breath and slowly wiped the sweat from her palm with a tissue.

She turned her head and looked at that well-behaved and pure sleeping face.

The usually spoiled and arrogant young woman, when asleep, had retracted hern arrogant flame. Her slightly pouted red lips were dewy and cute. At this moment, she was just like an obedient and well-behaved good girl.

But once those eyes opened, this well-behaved illusion would be shattered.

Shen Man watched quietly for a few minutes, her body relaxing against the seat, her fingers tapping irregularly on the seat back.

A slight ‘dong dong’ sound echoed in the quiet car, accompanied by the sound of falling raindrops, like a chaotic and disorderly piece of music.

It was so noisy it made one’s eardrums hurt.

Shen Man instantly felt annoyed. She took a breath and started the car with a swift motion.

The rain gradually grew heavier.

Droplets of water fell rapidly from the sky, hitting the car’s windshield. The speed of the wipers couldn’t keep up with the speed of the falling droplets.

The field of vision became blurry.

The cars ahead were congested, and the vast expanse of red made one’s eyes sore.

Shen Man rubbed her eyes, turned her head, glanced at the seatbelt on the passenger seat, and reached out to tug it, confirming it was securely fastened.

She slowed down the car and stopped one car length behind the car in front.

The sound of the rain grew louder and louder, washing this noisy street until only the sound of raindrops remained.

Shen Man turned on the music, scrolled through the selection, and chose a soothing instrumental piece.

It was even a piano piece.

Shen Man raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised.

She hadn’t expected that with Lin Shu’s arrogant and unreasonable personality, she would actually listen to such a tranquil and elegant piece of music.

Listening to the music, Shen Man’s mood calmed down a lot.

Even if the cars ahead moved forward at the speed of a turtle, her state of mind was exceptionally stable.

After more than an hour, they finally returned to the Lin family home.

Shen Man held an umbrella with one hand and wrapped the other around Lin Shu’s slender waist as they walked into the building.

Fortunately, Lin Shu was obedient and didn’t fidget.

The two walked into the building. Their clothes were only slightly dampened by the rain that drifted in, which didn’t have much effect.

Shen Man took out her keys, preparing to open the door.

The door was opened from the inside.

Auntie He looked at the two of them leaning intimately together, didn’t ask much, and said, “Manman, come in quickly. I’ll go boil some ginger tea¹ for you to drink.”

Shen Man nodded and helped Lin Shu into the house.

As she was changing her shoes, Lin Shu suddenly woke up and staggered towards the living room.

The young woman’s back was slender and frail, as if she could fall at any moment.

Shen Man had only changed one shoe and hurriedly followed behind her.

Lin Shu sat on the sofa, turned on the TV, and watched it intently.

Everything looked exactly the same as usual, except for the excessive quietness.

Shen Man stood to the side, watched for a while, felt relieved, and walked back to the entryway to change her shoes.

When she finished changing her shoes and walked over, Lin Shu had already fallen asleep leaning against the sofa, the remote control still clutched tightly in her hand.

Shen Man sat down, wanting to take the remote control out.

She tried a few times without success and had to give up.

Shen Man got up and placed a small blanket over Lin Shu.

She sat beside her, her body straight, watching the TV that Lin Shu had turned on. However, she didn’t take in any of the content being shown on the TV.

Auntie He came out of the kitchen carrying two bowls of ginger tea. She glanced at Lin Shu and said in a low voice, “Manman, you drink first.”

Shen Man took one of the bowls and took a slow sip.

“Should I cook some sobering-up soup² for Miss Lin, so she won’t have a headache tomorrow morning,” Auntie He added in a low voice.

“I’m not drunk!” Lin Shu suddenly sat up from the sofa.

“Cough cough…” Shen Man was caught off guard and startled.

The spicy ginger tea went down the wrong pipe, and she covered her mouth, coughing incessantly.

“So clumsy, you even choke on tea!” Lin Shu glanced over, a gloating smile on her flushed little face.

Shen Man pursed her lips, endured the spiciness, and swallowed her coughs.

Auntie He watched from the side and couldn’t help but ask in a low voice, “Manman, Miss Lin… did she drink?”

She didn’t dare to mention ‘drunk’ or ‘alcohol’, afraid of provoking Lin Shu again.

Shen Man nodded affirmatively.

Lin Shu’s current smug and spoiled little appearance was no different from usual.

If it weren’t for the obvious smell of alcohol on her, it would indeed be easy for people to think she wasn’t drunk.

“Auntie He, you can go rest. I’ll take care of Shushu,” Shen Man said.

Auntie He looked over worriedly and asked in a low voice, “Manman, can you manage by yourself? Why don’t I stay here and take care of Miss Lin with you.”

Shen Man shook her head with a light laugh. “No need. In her current state, who knows what she might do.”

“You go rest. I can handle it.”

Thinking of Lin Shu’s usual unreasonable attitude, Auntie He felt a lingering fear. She nodded and said, “Then I’ll go rest. If you need anything, just call me.”

“Okay,” Shen Man nodded with a smile.

Auntie He returned to her room.

Only the two of them were left in the living room.

Lin Shu frowned, widened her misty eyes, moved closer to Shen Man, and said with a serious expression, “What were you two talking about behind my back?”

“Speak, are you trying to seize the scepter in my hand?” As she spoke, she held the remote control high, her face firm with a vow-to-die-rather-than-submit expression.

Shen Man, “……”

“You, lowly handmaiden with ill intentions, were you plotting with that old witch just now?”

“I’m telling you, don’t even think about taking everything from me. The prince will come to save me!” Lin Shu stood up with a ‘whoosh’, clasped her hands together, her eyes half-closed, her face full of anticipation.

“Who is the prince?” Shen Man frowned.

“Idiot! The prince is the prince. Do you need to ask such a simple question?” Lin Shu said haughtily, pointing the remote control at Shen Man’s forehead. “Listen, you have been hit by my magic and will be turned into stone for all eternity. Only with sincere repentance can you become human again.”

Shen Man, “……”

“Quick, say it, do you know you were wrong?” Lin Shu questioned loudly.

“I’ve turned into a stone, I can’t speak,” Shen Man said after a long silence.

“Eh, that seems to be right,” Lin Shu’s small face wrinkled as she blinked her eyes, thinking in distress.

Shen Man watched quietly, her feelings complicated.

She had never thought she would play such a childish game with anyone.

Adding both her lifetimes together, she had never been as speechless as she was tonight.

“I permit you to speak now. Now, quickly say you know you were wrong, or I’ll turn you into a stone,” Lin Shu finally thought of a solution and said with a happy smile.

Her expression was arrogant, as if she were a princess from a fairy tale world.

The corner of Shen Man’s mouth twitched. After a moment of thought, she said, “I know I was wrong. Can you go to sleep now?”

“Insolence! Are you planning to steal my things while I’m asleep?” Lin Shu hugged the remote control tightly, glaring at Shen Man vigilantly. “I’m telling you, don’t even think about it! I won’t let you, this evil witch, succeed.”

Shen Man, “……”

A moment ago she was a lowly handmaiden, and now she had suddenly become an evil witch.

“Shushu…” Shen Man said.

Lin Shu immediately interrupted haughtily, “Call me Princess Shushu!”

Shen Man paused, then cooperatively changed her words, “Princess Shushu, it’s time to sleep.”

“I’m not sleeping. I’m waiting for my prince to come and save me,” Lin Shu said seriously, running to the balcony and opening the window.

A cold wind blew in, and she shivered all over, “Achoo!“

Shen Man immediately followed her.

“I hate the rain,” Lin Shu muttered with a frown. She made a gesture with her fingers, pointed at the sky, and said with a serious little face, “Damn weather, turn sunny immediately!”

Another gust of cold wind blew in from outside.

Shen Man swiftly closed the window and drew the curtains.

She turned her head and looked at Lin Shu.

The young woman stared at the remote control in her hand, her expression dazed. Her misty eyes seemed to have cleared up.

Shen Man softened her voice and said tentatively, “Shushu, how are you feeling?”

“So cold…” Lin Shu sneezed and frowned in confusion. “Why isn’t my magic working anymore?”

“It’s almost twelve o’clock, so the magic has worn off. Beautiful Princess Shushu, you should be sleeping now,” Shen Man coaxed in a gentle voice.

Even she herself hadn’t expected that she would have such good patience to play with Lin Shu until now.

“I’m not sleeping, I want to play the piano,” Lin Shu said, throwing the remote control in her hand and walking to the piano.

This piano was usually placed in a corner of the living room. Shen Man had never seen Lin Shu play it.

Lin Shu sat down, placing her hands on the piano with standard posture.

Her fingers were slender, her fingertips round and pearly white. Pressing on the piano keys, her fingers flew with ease, and beautiful, soothing music flowed from her fingertips.

The piece Lin Shu was playing was the exact instrumental piece she had heard in the car earlier.

Shen Man didn’t understand the piano, but she could tell that Lin Shu played very well, without a single note being off.

Compared to the relaxing tranquility of the original piece, Lin Shu’s playing had an added touch of loneliness and sorrow.

The young woman’s gaze was focused intently ahead, her slender waist sitting perfectly straight, her long neck held high like a swan.

That little red face had shed its earlier willfulness and became very serious. Her long eyelashes drooped down, casting a small shadow on her face.

Her fingers seemed to have a consciousness of their own, dancing skillfully on the piano.

At this moment, Lin Shu was like a beautiful and elegant princess, noble and holy, captivating the heart.

Shen Man was almost stunned, staring intently at the engrossed young woman.

The last note fell from her fingertips.

Lin Shu stood up, and as if there were countless spectators below the stage, she bent over and bowed elegantly.

Shen Man came back to her senses, the corners of her lips curling up as she applauded with a light laugh.

Lin Shu smiled lightly, her moist eyes carrying specks of starlight, sparkling and bright.

Shen Man walked over and said softly, “Shushu, the performance is over. It’s time to go back to your room and rest.”

“You haven’t given me a score yet,” Lin Shu pouted in protest.

“Full marks,” Shen Man said immediately.

“Really?” Lin Shu’s eyes lit up, and she laughed happily. She opened her arms and hugged Shen Man tightly. “Then I’m number one.”

“Yes, you’re the best,” Shen Man coaxed along, her body slightly stiff.

The young woman’s soft body was pressed tightly against hers. The air exhaled from her red lips carried the smell of alcohol, spraying onto the tip of her nose and mingling with her own breath.

Shen Man hadn’t been drinking, but she vaguely felt a little intoxicated. Her heart pounded in her chest like the sound of gongs and drums, vibrating her eardrums.

Lin Shu laughed even more happily, her entire body clinging to Shen Man.

Shen Man composed herself, reached out, and wrapped her arm around that slender and delicate waist.

She half-supported, half-carried Lin Shu back to her room.

From the living room to Lin Shu’s room, a short distance of just a few steps, beads of sweat appeared on Shen Man’s forehead, dampening the hair at her temples.

“Now, I’m going to sleep. You have to tell me a story to lull me to sleep,” Lin Shu said, leaning against the headboard, her face flushed, her chin held high as proud as a princess.

Shen Man felt a little helpless. She paused for a moment, pressed the space between her eyebrows, and said, “What story do you want to hear?”

“Eh…” Lin Shu tilted her head, thinking seriously.

Shen Man waited patiently.

Lin Shu thought for a while, pouted her lips, and said, “The story of the princess and the prince.”

“Okay,” Shen Man nodded and began to tell the story of Snow White.

Lin Shu listened attentively. When she heard the part where ‘the princess ate the poisoned apple, and the prince woke the princess with a kiss’, she leaned closer to Shen Man and asked, “Can a kiss really wake someone up?”

The young woman’s expression was innocent, her delicate, soft red lips slightly parted, like a luscious rose.

Shen Man’s heart tightened. She leaned her body back, creating a little distance.

Lin Shu frowned in dissatisfaction, reached out to press on Shen Man’s shoulders, and stared at those tightly pressed red lips, thinking.

Shen Man’s throat tightened, and she couldn’t help but lick her lips.

The force on her shoulders was not heavy; she could easily break free, but she didn’t move. Her calm eyes were dyed with a scorching heat, waiting for the young woman’s next move.

Lin Shu thought for a long time, and as if she had finally figured it out, she suddenly smiled, lowered her head, and approached those red lips.

Shen Man watched quietly.

A warmth on her lips. Soft, fragrant lips carrying the scent of alcohol pressed against her own, and licked them lightly as if in exploration.

“Soft, a little sweet,” Lin Shu commented seriously.

Shen Man’s eyes darkened, her voice low and hoarse, “You’re the one who provoked me!”

The heat rising in her body almost drowned her rationality.

Shen Man reversed her grip, pinching the young woman’s slender waist, and leaned forward, turning from passive to active, fiercely kissing those restless red lips.

Lin Shu blinked her eyes in confusion, her curled, thick eyelashes closed, and her hands clung tightly to Shen Man’s shoulders.

The air in her lungs was taken away bit by bit.

Lin Shu began to find it hard to breathe, and a sound escaped her lips, “Mmph…”

The sweet, soft, and glutinous sound, carrying the intoxicating scent of alcohol, echoed in her ear, crushing the last shred of reason Shen Man had left.

Shen Man felt that she was drunk.

The word ‘calm’ no longer existed in her brain. Her slightly reddened eyes were filled entirely with the moving, gorgeous, delicate, and soft face in her arms.

“Mmph mmph… my clothes…” Lin Shu let out a soft cry.

The clothes on her shoulders slipped off, revealing her snow-white and delicate collarbone and fragrant shoulders.

Shen Man’s breath hitched. She closed her reddened eyes, letting her reason sink.

A clap of thunder sounded outside the window, its ‘boom’ shaking the entire dark night.

“Ah…” Lin Shu screamed, wrapped her arms around Shen Man’s neck, closed her eyes tightly, and trembled with fear.

This sound was like a basin of cold water poured on Shen Man’s burning nerves, pulling her back to reality.

Shen Man’s reason returned. She looked down, and what met her eyes was a large expanse of fair and delicate skin.

Only the middle button of the young woman’s shirt remained, hanging loosely on her body, revealing red lipstick marks on the exposed fair skin.

The short skirt on her lower body was messily tossed aside, and that pair of straight, slender long legs was in full view.

Shen Man closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and then slowly exhaled.

She licked her lips, pulled her hand away from the young woman’s waist, and said in a hoarse voice, “Don’t be afraid.”

Lin Shu hugged her even tighter.

Their bodies pressed even closer.

Shen Man’s throat was scorching hot. An unprecedented thirst swept through every cell of her body.

She desperately craved water, like a traveler walking in the desert.

Shen Man knew that if she just lowered her head, she could drink the most wonderful sweet spring in the world.

She gritted her teeth, her body stiff, enduring.

Another rumbling clap of thunder sounded outside the window.

Lin Shu was so scared she screamed out loud, her slender legs unconsciously wrapping around the person above her.

Shen Man’s waist sank. She hurriedly supported herself with her hands, trying hard not to press down on the person beneath her.

Lin Shu was now like a koala, her hands tightly wrapped around her neck, her legs entwined around her waist, her head pressed against her chest, and her soft hair brushing across her face, shoulders, and arms.

Shen Man felt very itchy.

This itchiness penetrated her skin, followed her blood vessels, and eroded every part of her body.

Shen Man’s breathing became heavier and heavier. She bit the corner of her lip hard.

The pain kept her awake.

The person in her arms gradually fell silent and became quiet.

Shen Man breathed a sigh of relief and gently removed the hands from her neck.

“Mmph…” Lin Shu was startled awake and opened her eyes.

Shen Man was like she had been turned to stone, not moving at all, even her breathing was extremely light.

Lin Shu pouted her lips, snorted, closed her eyes again, and released her legs from Shen Man’s waist, curling up to sleep.

Shen Man waited for a while, then slowly got up, making sure not to make the slightest sound.

The room was so quiet that only the sound of raindrops outside could be heard.

Shen Man glanced at herself.

She was stripped down to only her undergarments and shirt.

She was slightly better off than Lin Shu.

Only one button of her shirt was undone.

Shen Man rubbed the space between her eyebrows.

She couldn’t even remember when she had taken off her clothes.

Nor could she remember if she was the one who had taken off Lin Shu’s clothes.

Shen Man pursed her lips, found the water in the room, and drank it in big gulps from Lin Shu’s cup.

The icy coldness completely sobered her up. The amorous scene just now felt like a dream.

Shen Man quickly got dressed, combed her hair with her fingers, and casually tied it into a ponytail.

She walked to Lin Shu’s bedside.

Lowering her eyes, she watched in silence for a long time, then picked up the short skirt from the bed and placed it on a nearby chair.

Lin Shu was sleeping peacefully.

Her delicate brows were slightly furrowed, as if she were uncomfortable.

She turned over, and the thin blanket slipped from her shoulders, revealing her snow-white jade back.

She stretched out a long leg, pressing the blanket underneath it, her body arching into a perfect curve.

Shen Man’s gaze unconsciously followed that long leg. Her breath hitched, her heart accelerated, and she hurriedly looked away.

She left the room as if she were fleeing.

She opened the room door.

Auntie He was standing outside with a worried look on her face.

Shen Man immediately adjusted her breathing and spoke in a steady tone, “Auntie He, why aren’t you resting?”

When she spoke, her face was slightly red, and if one listened carefully, one could hear her panting.

Auntie He didn’t notice and said in a low voice, “I’m still a little worried.”

As she spoke, she glanced into Lin Shu’s room. “I heard Miss Lin scream just now. What happened to her?”

A strange look flashed across Shen Man’s face, but she quickly regained her composure and said, “Shushu is afraid of thunder. She’s asleep now.”

Auntie He nodded in understanding. “Miss Lin is indeed a bit afraid of thunder and lightning, but she should be fine once she’s asleep.”

“You should go rest,” Shen Man said with a smile.

Auntie He glanced at her, her gaze falling on her lips, and asked with concern, “Manman, how did the corner of your lip get broken? Does it hurt? Let me find some medicine to put on it for you.”

Shen Man hurriedly shook her head, reached out, gently touched the corner of her lip, and said with a smile, “I’m going to take a shower. You should go to bed quickly, no need to busy yourself.”

Seeing the insistence in her eyes, Auntie He nodded and turned to go back to her room.

Shen Man’s body relaxed, her back covered in a cold sweat.

It stuck to her body, extremely uncomfortable.

Shen Man took her change of clothes and went to take a shower.

She used cold water.

The cool stream of water rushed over her body, but she didn’t feel cold at all.

Shen Man closed her eyes, tilted her head back, and let the cool water fall on her face.

In her mind, the scene from the room just now couldn’t help but surface.

If it weren’t for that clap of thunder, perhaps she would have finished it, just like the first time.

Shen Man opened her eyes, a hint of regret flashing in her cool eyes.

Soon, she frowned and suppressed this emotion.

In her past life, in the eyes of others, her style of doing things was cold and ruthless.

Many business partners liked to use ‘flower of the high peaks’³ and ‘domineering and cold’ to describe her.

In her circle, she was famous for being ‘abstinent/unfeeling’.

Countless women wanted to climb into her bed, but no one succeeded. Even if they stripped naked in front of her, she wouldn’t give them a second glance.

And today, she had lost control in front of a drunk person.

If word of this got out, probably many people wouldn’t believe it.

Shen Man herself couldn’t believe it either.

She had always been the one in control, navigating love with ease, never showing a disheveled side in front of anyone.

Today was an exception.

Shen Man wiped the water droplets from her face and rinsed her chest with cold water.

On her back, where she couldn’t see, there were several faint red marks.

After staying in the bathroom for nearly an hour, Shen Man came out after her shower.

A blast of cold air hit her, and she couldn’t help but shiver.

Passing by Lin Shu’s room, Shen Man paused, hesitated for a moment, and opened the door.

She looked inside.

The soft light illuminated the person on the bed.

Lin Shu was lying on the bed, her sleeping posture very proper.

Her hands were by her sides, and the blanket was covering her chest, concealing her half naked body.

That small face was calm and gentle, her small nose breathing lightly, her chest rising and falling rhythmically.

Shen Man watched for a while, then closed the door.

She returned to her own room to rest.

---

That night, Shen Man slept very restlessly.

When she closed her eyes, all she could see was the moving image of Lin Shu’s face flushed, making sweet cries in her ear.

At the crack of dawn, Shen Man got up.

After a simple wash-up, she sat in her room reading a book.

The tranquility of the house was broken by a deafening scream.

Lin Shu sat up in bed, looking at her disheveled appearance, and tried hard to recall what had happened yesterday.

However, she only remembered that she was in a bad mood and had dragged Yan Jie and Ding Xi out for drinks.

As for when she drank until, what time she came back, and how she got back, she had no impression in her mind at all.

Lin Shu looked at her messy shirt, feeling both ashamed and angry. She quickly got up and took a shower.

She came out after changing into a new set of clothes. Her phone rang; it was Ding Xi.

“Ding Xi, who sent me back last night?” Lin Shu asked hurriedly.

As she asked, an answer was already vaguely forming in her mind.

“Yesterday, you and Yan Jie were both drunk. I called Shen Man, and she came to pick you up,” Ding Xi replied. Sensing the anger in Lin Shu’s words, her voice unconsciously lowered. “Lin Shu-jie, did something happen?”

“Nothing,” Lin Shu quickly hung up the phone and stormed out of her room.

Arriving in front of Shen Man’s room, Lin Shu knocked hard on the door, “Shen Man, open the door!”

Hearing this, Shen Man put down her book, coughed lightly, and walked over to open the door.

The two made eye contact.

Lin Shu’s anger suddenly extinguished, and she didn’t know how to begin.

“Shushu, is something wrong?” Shen Man chuckled lightly, her expression gentle.

“You…” Lin Shu frowned to question, but got stuck, her small face twisted in a struggle.

Shen Man knew what she wanted to ask.

She smiled beamingly and said nothing, waiting for what was next.

Lin Shu paused for a moment, pursed her lips, her almond eyes bright and spirited, and asked in a low voice, “Yesterday, I was drunk. Did you help me take off my clothes?”

After she finished speaking, her face turned red. She bit her teeth hard, refusing to look away.

Shen Man smiled lightly and said with a calm expression, “I helped you to the bed and then left. As for the rest, I don’t know.”

“Really?” Lin Shu frowned, feeling a sense of relief in her heart, yet also a little disbelieving.

Shen Man raised an eyebrow, her tone becoming teasing as she retorted, “Could it be that you hoped it was me who helped you undress?”

“Of course not!” Lin Shu refused flatly, shot Shen Man a sideways glance, her small face as arrogant as ever.

Shen Man laughed and closed the door.

She opened her palm; it was seeping with fine sweat.

---

After breakfast, the two went to school.

Tan Kai drove over. Seeing Lin Shu’s arrogant face, he asked with a smile, “Yesterday all you girls had a class meeting. What did you talk about?”

“You’re not a girl, what are you asking about this for?” Lin Shu replied irritably, not wanting to recall yesterday’s events.

Tan Kai was choked by her words but wasn’t angry at all. His gaze turned to Shen Man. “Class Monitor, how about you hold a meeting for us boys some other day?”

Shen Man laughed, sat down, and joked in a cheerful mood, “How about we let the Dean’s Office⁴ hold a class meeting for you?”

Tan Kai hurriedly shook his head and refused, “Let’s just forget it.”

They drove to school.

Lin Shu was the first to get out of the car, carrying her school bag, and walked ahead alone.

Shen Man followed behind, keeping a certain distance.

A boy ran from the side to the front of Shen Man and said with a smile, “Shen Man, what a coincidence.”

Shen Man saw it was He Tao and responded with a polite smile.

Tan Kai saw this scene from behind, immediately took two steps to catch up with Shen Man, stared at the boy with a hostile gaze, and asked with a serious expression, “Who is he?”

“A senior from a higher grade, He Tao,” Shen Man said, deliberately slowing her pace and gradually moving behind Tan Kai.

Tan Kai blocked the boy’s line of sight, his eyes carrying a warning. “Whoever dares to have ideas about our Class Monitor is making an enemy of our entire class.”

He was tall, and when his face darkened, he exuded a sense of pressure.

He Tao knew his family background, laughed awkwardly, and said in an explanatory tone, “It was just a chance encounter.”

After speaking, he waved at Shen Man and quickly ran away.

Lin Shu saw everything.

She turned back, stared at Tan Kai, and frowned unhappily, “Why are you meddling so much?”

“Uncle Lin told me to take care of you guys, so naturally I can’t let other boys bully you,” Tan Kai replied justifiably, not daring to look at Shen Man.

Lin Shu glanced at him, her gaze shifting to Shen Man. “Why are people always flocking to you?”

As soon as her voice fell, Yin Ruxu’s voice sounded from behind, “Shen Man, what a coincidence.”

Shen Man turned her head and chuckled lightly, “Yes, it is.”

Tan Kai’s gaze shifted between the three of them, feeling that something was strange.

Seeing the anger on Lin Shu’s face, he didn’t dare to ask more and said with a smile, “I’ll go to the classroom first to save you guys seats.”

Lin Shu glanced at Yin Ruxu unhappily, wanting to speak.

Yin Ruxu showed a friendly smile and spoke first, “Lin Shu, good morning.”

Her smile was sweet, gentle, and harmless.

Lin Shu felt even more unhappy in her heart. She snorted disdainfully and walked forward.

She should have been going to find Yan Jie and Ding Xi now, but her steps were slow as she walked ahead, listening to the two behind her chat.

“Shen Man, the color of your lipstick today is very special. Compared to your makeup, it seems a bit dark, but it’s also very beautiful,” Yin Ruxu said with a smile.

“Thank you,” Shen Man pursed her lips, her finger brushing over the broken skin at the corner of her mouth.

Lin Shu stopped in her tracks, turned around, and glared at Shen Man.

Shen Man looked up, looked over with a smile on her face, and asked, “Shushu, is something wrong?”

“Nothing,” Lin Shu said huffily and strode forward.

“Lin Shu seems to be angry every day,” Yin Ruxu said in a low voice.

Shen Man glanced at Yin Ruxu and said faintly, “It’s alright, not every day.”

Yin Ruxu heard the protectiveness in her words and smartly did not bring up the topic again.

The two walked to an intersection, where they had to go in two different directions.

Yin Ruxu waved gently and said softly, “Shen Man, goodbye.”

She paused for a moment, and facing Lin Shu’s back, she raised her voice, “Lin Shu, goodbye.”

Lin Shu ignored her, stopped, and turned back to stare at Shen Man.

Shen Man walked over with a smile.

“You know what her purpose is, why do you still hang out with her?” Lin Shu was puzzled, her small face full of anger.

Shen Man’s expression was calm as she stared at Lin Shu. “I don’t have any conflict with her, why can’t we hang out together?”

Lin Shu understood the meaning behind her words and was momentarily stuck, “You…”

“Who doesn’t like a gentle and soft girl?” Shen Man continued with a smile.

An nameless anger rose in Lin Shu’s heart, accumulating in her chest like a small volcano about to erupt at any moment.

She bit her lip, her teeth chattering with anger. After thinking for a long time, she squeezed out a sentence, “I definitely don’t like them!”

After speaking, she strode forward.

Shen Man stood where she was, her smile gradually disappearing.

A gust of autumn wind blew past, and a yellowed leaf landed on her clothes.

Shen Man reached out to take the leaf, held it in her hand, and squeezed it hard. A ‘kacha’ sound came from her palm.

She opened her palm and let the autumn wind blow away the fragments.

Shen Man walked slowly to the classroom and found a seat.

She opened her textbook and reviewed her lessons.

A girl ran over, handed her a letter, and said with a difficult expression, “Class Monitor, this is from a senior xuejie⁵.”

“Xuejie?” Shen Man frowned.

The girl nodded and walked away, looking a little scared.

Shen Man opened the envelope.

Inside was a beautiful piece of letter paper, with a line of words written in red pen, “I’m warning you, don’t you dare seduce my boyfriend!”

The font was very large, and the few short words took up the entire sheet of paper. Some strokes even tore through the paper, and the last exclamation mark was thick and red.

It was clear that the person who wrote this letter was very angry.

Shen Man glanced at it, tore the letter into shreds, and threw it into the trash can.

She walked up to the girl who had delivered the letter just now and asked in a low voice, “Who gave you this letter?”

The girl shook her head and said carefully, “I don’t know either. I was going to the restroom just now, and two senior xuejies stopped me. They looked fierce and told me to give this letter to you.”

Shen Man nodded and returned to her seat.

The person who wrote the letter knew her name and could accurately find her class. It seemed they had a certain understanding of her.

Shen Man lowered her eyes and searched her mind for the senior girls she knew.

After thinking it over, she still had no clue.

Shen Man didn’t plan to pay it any mind.

The tricks these little girls could pull were not enough to make her afraid.

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