I Am More Paranoid Than the Villain – Chapter 28

Happy Birthday

Hateful Shen Man, kissed me again!

Not far away, there were stone tables and stone benches for people to rest.

Shen Man and Tan Kai sat down facing each other.

“When Lin Shu was little, her parents often argued, sometimes even in the middle of the night. At that time, my family and Lin Shu’s family were in a downstairs-upstairs relationship, so I could always hear Lin Shu crying. Occasionally, my mom would go upstairs to mediate the fight and would see Lin Shu sitting outside alone, hugging a doll and crying,” Tan Kai’s tone became heavy as he spoke of the past.

“Lin Shu’s mom dressed Lin Shu up beautifully every day and wouldn’t let her play with other children. Later, Lin Shu’s mother passed away, and Lin Shu stayed at home every day, rarely coming out.”

“What about Lin Shu’s father?” Shen Man asked, her chest feeling a bit suffocated.

She gently exhaled, relieving the stuffy feeling in her heart.

“In my memory, I rarely saw Lin Shu’s father. Every time her father came back, he would either argue with her mother or leave very quickly. Only for a period of time after Lin Shu’s mother had just passed away did her father come back often, but then he rarely appeared again,” Tan Kai said. “Sometimes when I went to find Lin Shu to play, it would just be the nanny and her at home.”

“I still remember, at that time, my mom wanted me to cheer Lin Shu up. I don’t know what happened, but I wanted to play with toys with her, and instead, it made Lin Shu unhappy.”

Listening to the first part, Shen Man’s brows furrowed slightly.

The last sentence, however, made her want to laugh with a bit of helplessness.

But based on Tan Kai’s words, it could be seen that the conflict between Lin Shu’s parents was very great, and they argued often.

The two of them could even argue in front of their daughter, which showed they completely did not have their daughter in their hearts.

Growing up in such a family full of arguments and conflict, Lin Shu had lacked love since she was a child.

Coupled with her good family conditions and abundant material wealth in all aspects, it was inevitable that she would be somewhat arrogant and spoiled, and unable to get along with others.

“Do you know about the matters between her parents?” Shen Man asked.

Tan Kai shook his head, hesitated for a moment, and said in a low voice, “I heard from my mom that Lin Shu’s dad is keeping a mistress outside.”

“You must never tell Lin Shu about this, otherwise, I can’t even imagine what she would do.”

Shen Man nodded.

For this kind of unspeakable matter, adults would always choose to hide it from their children.

Even if there were outsiders who knew, they wouldn’t meddle in such private affairs.

---

Shen Man returned to the classroom.

She glanced around and did not see Lin Shu’s figure.

She took out her phone, pondered for a moment, and dialed her number.

It rang for a few seconds and was hung up.

Shen Man looked up and saw Lin Shu’s figure appear at the doorway, holding a phone, her face unhappy.

Lin Shu walked over, her face stern, and glared at Shen Man, “What?”

“Shushu, are you okay?” Shen Man asked with concern.

“What could be wrong with me?” Lin Shu curled her lip and sat down.

Her small face was as arrogant as ever, only the corners of her eyes were a little red.

After a while, Lin Shu asked, “What did the principal say?”

“Expel Qiu Bing,” Shen Man replied.

Hearing this, a smile appeared on Lin Shu’s face, “Serves her right! A person like her should have been expelled long ago.”

Shen Man smiled, “It’s all thanks to Shushu. If it weren’t for Shushu, she might have continued to act tyrannically¹ in school.”

Lin Shu snorted proudly, “If she dares to offend me, I definitely won’t let her have it easy!”

Hearing this, the smile on Shen Man’s face paused.

With Lin Shu’s vengeful personality, in the future, if she were to offend Lin Shu, she would probably be held in grudge as well.

And Lin Shu’s family background was good, she had connections, so she could exact revenge for any grudge.

“Shen Man, what are you thinking?” Lin Shu asked, her face puffed up.

Shen Man immediately came back to her senses, shook her head, and took out her textbook to preview the lesson.

Seeing this, Lin Shu boredly began to play on her phone.

The morning was full of classes, and the afternoon had only two.

After class, Lin Shu left with her school bag on her back.

Shen Man stayed in the classroom to organize her notes.

After she finished her notes and packed her textbooks, her phone rang.

It was the head teacher calling.

Shen Man picked it up.

“Come to my office for a moment,” the head teacher said, her tone somewhat serious.

“Okay, I’ll be right there,” Shen Man quickly packed her things.

She arrived at the head teacher’s office.

Shen Man knocked and entered.

The first thing she saw was an unfamiliar middle-aged woman sitting there with an arrogant expression, while the head teacher stood beside her.

Behind the woman stood Qiu Bing.

Qiu Bing stared at Shen Man with a resentful gaze and loudly accused, her teeth gritted, “It was her who hit me, hit me twice, and beat me until I was covered in injuries.”

The woman snorted coldly, “Is this how you educate your students? And to think she’s the Class Monitor, to actually hit my daughter. Does your school have any rules?”

The head teacher stood to the side, wanting to explain, but was rendered speechless by the other party’s aggressive attitude.

Shen Man immediately understood.

Qiu Bing was picking the soft persimmon to pinch². She couldn’t win against Lin Shu, so she was using her to make an example.

“Shen Man, quickly apologize to Qiu Bing,” the head teacher said hurriedly.

Shen Man chuckled lightly, her cool face showing no sign of panic. She said unhurriedly, “Qiu Bing deliberately slashed my school bag and brought people to bully me. I was merely acting in self-defense.”

“It’s wrong for you to hit someone. I have a medical report from a doctor here. You must apologize to my daughter, otherwise don’t even think about staying in this school,” the woman threatened viciously.

“Hurry up and kneel down for me!” Qiu Bing smiled smugly, completely devoid of her wretched appearance from the morning.

Hearing this, the head teacher hurriedly said, “Shen Man, apologize quickly, make amends to Qiu Bing, and this matter will be over.”

Shen Man remained unhurried, her voice steady as she said, “If even my self-defense is wrong, then how should we settle the matter of your daughter gathering hooligans to gang up on Tan Kai and smash beer bottles at Lin Shu yesterday?”

Hearing this, the woman’s face tightened, her arrogant flame somewhat subdued. After a pause, she put on a superior posture again, “That has nothing to do with you. What I’m settling with you now is the matter of you bullying my daughter. My daughter was beaten and is being forced to drop out of school, yet the perpetrator can continue to study. Is this how the school educates people?”

The head teacher was speechless, not knowing what to say.

Shen Man smiled contemptuously, staring coldly at the woman, “If you were smart enough, you would know that this matter should end here. If you continue to be unreasonable and provoke the anger of the Lin and Tan families again, the consequences will not be as light as they are now.”

Being stared at, the woman felt a pang of fear, and her original unreasonable arrogance became less confident.

Qiu Bing glared at Shen Man, unwilling to give up, and shouted, “You little bitch, you got me expelled from school, don’t you think you’ll have it easy either.”

Shen Man said with a cold voice, “Since you’re still unrepentant even in death, then I’ll give Lin Shu a call and have her come and educate you.”

After speaking, Shen Man dialed Lin Shu’s number.

She deliberately put it on speakerphone.

The ringing sound echoed in the quiet office.

The woman’s face immediately became unsightly.

Qiu Bing immediately said, “Mom, don’t listen to her trying to scare you. Lin Shu won’t listen to her at all.”

As soon as her voice fell, the call connected.

Lin Shu’s usual arrogant voice came through, “Why are you calling me?”

“Shushu, Qiu Bing is in the head teacher’s office right now, saying she wants to seek justice,” Shen Man said with a light laugh.

Lin Shu was instantly furious and said loudly, “What justice does she want? Does she want me to send her to jail for a couple of days? Just having her expelled is already letting her off easy. If she dares to cause trouble again, I’ll make her whole family go bankrupt!”

“Did you hear that?” Shen Man looked at the woman with a smile.

The woman was scared, her face turning pale.

Qiu Bing was still not convinced and roared into the phone, “Lin Shu, you dare!”

“Then you just watch if I dare!” Lin Shu said and hung up the phone.

Shen Man chuckled lightly, “Mrs. Qiu, you’re probably going to be busy.”

“You…” The woman was too angry to speak, yet couldn’t let go of her pride. She stomped her foot forcefully and left in a huff.

Qiu Bing glared at Shen Man angrily and followed her out.

The head teacher wiped the sweat from her face, sat down as if exhausted, and revealed a forced smile, “Shen Man, you’re really capable, to be able to handle such a difficult person.”

Shen Man smiled and said, “Is there anything else?”

“No, you can go back. Be more careful in the future, don’t offend people you shouldn’t offend,” the head teacher reminded.

Shen Man nodded obediently.

---

Coming out of the office, Shen Man happened to receive a call from Lin Shu.

“Come over now and go somewhere with me,” Lin Shu said, her voice filled with anger.

“Okay,” Shen Man noted down the address.

She checked the route and found it was a residential complex near the Lin Corporation.

Lin Shu was at a bubble tea shop near the school.

Shen Man went over and saw that Ding Xi and Yan Jie were both there.

Every time Lin Shu was in a bad mood, it seemed she liked to ask these two girls to hang out with her.

Seeing Shen Man arrive, Lin Shu slung her school bag over her shoulder and walked out with a cold expression.

“Lin Shu-jie, where are you guys going?” Ding Xi asked in a small voice.

“To find someone!” Lin Shu replied coldly.

Ding Xi didn’t dare to ask any more questions.

Shen Man hailed a taxi.

She opened the car door and let Lin Shu get in first.

Lin Shu sat down, threw her school bag into the middle of the seat, and leaned her entire back heavily against the seatback.

Every wisp of air from her body revealed that she was very unhappy.

Shen Man closed the car door, gave the address to the driver, and sat quietly without saying a word.

As they passed a coffee shop, Lin Shu suddenly spoke, “Stop the car!”

The driver was startled and immediately pulled over.

Lin Shu forcefully opened the car door and ran towards the coffee shop in a great hurry.

Shen Man paid the fare, carrying one school bag on her right shoulder and another in her right hand, and followed behind.

Lin Shu stood outside the coffee shop, her gaze fixed straight ahead in a certain direction inside.

Shen Man looked over.

A fashionably dressed beautiful woman was sitting elegantly, reading a magazine while drinking coffee.

Lin Shu confirmed her target and rushed in quickly.

Shen Man hurriedly followed.

Lin Shu ran up to the beautiful woman and stood there, her small face furious, her eyes flashing with deep hatred.

Shen Man had never seen her look like this, as if she hated the person to the bone.

“Lin Shu?” The woman looked up, called out Lin Shu’s name in surprise, and then hurriedly lowered her head, wanting to pretend she didn’t know her.

“Bad woman!” Lin Shu gritted her teeth, picked up the coffee on the table, and fiercely threw it at the woman.

“Ah…” The woman’s scream echoed through the coffee shop.

Many people looked over curiously.

Lin Shu forcefully threw the coffee cup.

With a ‘peng’ sound, the frightened woman screamed again.

Lin Shu glared at the woman with hatred and stormed out.

Shen Man followed closely behind.

After walking for a distance, Shen Man asked in a low voice, “Shushu, who was that woman just now?”

“Who else could it be? A shameless, bad woman!” Lin Shu replied angrily, the hatred in her eyes not yet faded.

Shen Man immediately understood.

This person should be the mistress Lin Shu’s father was keeping outside.

Everyone thought Lin Shu didn’t know, but not only did Lin Shu know, she also recognized the woman.

---

The two of them stopped at the entrance of a high-end residential complex.

Lin Shu skillfully took out a key card and led Shen Man through various turns inside.

It was clear that Lin Shu was very familiar with this place.

This complex was very large, and outside vehicles were not allowed to enter.

After walking for about five minutes, they finally reached their destination.

Lin Shu entered the elevator and pressed the button for the eighth floor.

She looked at her own ice-cold face in the mirror, bit her lip, and said hatefully, “Do you know who that woman just now was?”

“Who was it?” Shen Man asked with an innocent face.

“The mistress that old man Lin is keeping outside!” Lin Shu said, her teeth grinding with a ‘kacha’ sound.

Shen Man showed a surprised expression, “How did you know?”

“How could I not know?” Lin Shu retorted angrily.

The elevator doors opened.

Lin Shu strode out, her little white shoes ‘deng deng’-ing on the smooth, clean floor.

She took out her key, opened the door, and walked straight in without changing her shoes.

Shen Man glanced at the entryway.

There were two pairs of slippers placed there, one was a large men’s size, and one was a small women’s size.

It seemed they were prepared for Lin Shu’s father and Lin Shu.

Shen Man changed into Lin Shu’s slippers and walked in.

This apartment was very large, spacious and bright, with many decorations inside, but it gave off a very cold feeling.

It was the kind of coldness that comes from a place that has been uninhabited for years, lacking a human touch.

But everywhere was spotless, so it was clear that someone came to clean the house regularly.

Lin Shu sat on the sofa, half of her body leaning against it, her shoes kicked off randomly on the floor, her two legs propped up, swinging left and right.

This was a posture she had never taken in that other house.

Shen Man sat down on the opposite sofa and placed the two school bags to the side.

She quietly watched Lin Shu.

Lin Shu took out her phone and dialed her father’s number.

It connected quickly. She said coldly, “I’m here, come over now.”

“I’m in a meeting,” her father said in a low voice.

“I don’t care what you’re doing. Come over now, or I’ll go to your company,” Lin Shu’s tone was even colder. She hung up directly after speaking.

She rolled over onto her stomach, swinging her two feet, shaking her head, and playing on her phone.

Shen Man sat without a word.

Lin Shu’s current behavior was like a completely different person from usual. Such rebelliousness was probably deliberately put on for someone to see.

In less than ten minutes, the sound of a key unlocking the door came from outside.

Shen Man immediately stood up and walked over.

A middle-aged man appeared at the doorway.

He wore glasses, was slightly overweight, but one could tell he was very handsome when he was young.

“Uncle Lin,” Shen Man greeted with a polite smile.

“Manman, you’re here too,” Lin Huai³ revealed a kind smile, entered, and changed his shoes. “This past period, how have you been getting along with Shushu?”

“Very well, Shushu takes good care of me,” Shen Man replied obediently.

“That’s good,” Lin Huai nodded.

Entering the room and seeing Lin Shu lying there playing on her phone without any regard for her image, Lin Huai’s face changed, and he began to scold, “Lin Shu, how do I usually teach you? How many times have I told you, you can’t lie on the sofa and play on your phone.”

“And your shoes, why are they thrown all over the place?”

Lin Shu snorted, sat up, and crossed her legs.

“Girls can’t cross their legs, it’s so unladylike,” Lin Huai continued to reprimand.

Lin Shu lazily ignored him, threw her phone to the side, spread her hands, leaned against the sofa, and with a sidelong glance, said in a cold voice, “That crazy woman from the Qiu family wants to kill me, are you going to help me or not?”

“Who are you talking about?” Lin Huai frowned, dissatisfied, and sat down to the side angrily.

“Who else could it be? It’s that lunatic who cut my clothes, and you still said it was nothing,” Lin Shu said disdainfully.

Lin Huai couldn’t remember, and his brows furrowed even deeper.

Shen Man said, “Uncle Lin, it’s the Qiu family’s daughter, Qiu Bing. She smashed beer bottles at Shushu yesterday.”

“Lin Shu, why did she smash them at you? Did you bully her?” Lin Huai asked with a blaming expression.

Lin Shu snorted, her eyes lowered, her expression even more disdainful.

Shen Man keenly sensed that hidden behind the young woman’s rebelliousness was disappointment and sadness.

When something happened, instead of receiving comfort and care from her only relative, she got a round of accusations. Anyone would be sad.

Lin Huai was completely unaware and said again, “You clearly know she’s a lunatic, why did you have to provoke her?”

“I didn’t come here today to listen to your lecture. In the future, you are not to have any more cooperation with the Qiu family,” Lin Shu gritted her teeth, her expression cold.

“This is our adults’ business, you’re just a child…” Lin Huai chided.

“Otherwise, next time I’ll throw boiling water in her face!” Lin Shu finished angrily, stood up, put on her shoes, and strode out the door.

Lin Huai was instantly speechless.

Shen Man nodded politely, took the two school bags, changed her shoes, and chased after her.

Outside the complex.

Lin Shu walked on the road with a blank expression.

The young woman’s eyes were empty, her small face tense, like the calm before a storm, just waiting for a moment to erupt.

Shen Man walked beside her and asked with concern, “Shushu, are you okay?”

“What could be wrong with me?” Lin Shu retorted with a smile, the corners of her raised lips carrying self-mockery.

Shen Man was just about to offer a few words of comfort.

Lin Shu said again, “Put away that sympathetic gaze of yours, I don’t need your pity!”

After she spoke, her face returned to its arrogant expression.

Shen Man smiled and put away her unnecessary thoughts.

Even when down and sad, the arrogant young miss did not need others’ sympathy.

Lin Shu saw a bubble tea shop and said, “I want to drink bubble tea, are you going?”

Shen Man nodded.

The two found a place to sit.

Lin Shu lowered her head to play on her phone.

Shen Man put down the school bags and walked to the restroom.

Just as she finished washing her hands and came out, her phone rang. The caller ID was ‘Uncle Lin’.

Shen Man picked it up and said with a light laugh, “Uncle Lin, is something the matter?”

“You guys…” Lin Huai began, his expression hesitant.

Shen Man instantly understood what he wanted to ask and waited patiently.

Lin Huai paused, then asked hesitantly, “Did Shushu meet her Auntie Feng today?”

Shen Man thought for a moment, did not answer directly, and said, “Shushu threw a cup of coffee all over a woman at a coffee shop today.”

“How could she do that?” Lin Huai accused angrily, then his tone weakened, and he asked again, “What’s the deal with Qiu Bing?”

Shen Man briefly explained the matter.

“Always causing trouble for me,” Lin Huai said, displeased.

“What does Uncle Lin plan to do?” Shen Man asked.

“You tell Lin Shu, I will handle the Qiu family’s matter. Tell her to study well and not cause any more trouble, or I’ll send her abroad to study,” Lin Huai said in a deep voice, his tone filled with anger.

The call ended.

Shen Man curled her lips into a smile, her eyes filled with contempt.

A man like Lin Huai was really not respectable.

His wife had already passed away, yet he didn’t dare to remarry, insisting on keeping a mistress, treating the outside as his home, and ignoring his own daughter.

When Lin Shu talked to him, she didn’t use a pleading attitude, but a threatening one.

Such an irresponsible person was not a qualified father.

Shen Man returned to her seat.

Lin Shu was drinking coffee while playing on her phone, and would laugh out loud when she saw something funny.

She had a carefree appearance.

Shen Man couldn’t figure her out for a moment.

Was this feigned optimism, or did she truly not care.

She took a sip of coffee and asked tentatively, “Shushu, when did you start to know your dad had someone outside?”

“I’m not stupid, I knew since I was very little,” Lin Shu replied, her expression relaxed as she spoke, only her eyes held disgust.

Shen Man observed for a while and was more or less certain that Lin Shu had truly ‘thought it through’.

“When my mom passed away, she told me that I could never let that bad woman enter our home,” Lin Shu said, biting down hard on her straw. “The Lin family’s assets can only be mine, they shouldn’t even think about it!”

Shen Man noted the word ‘they’.

It seemed that Lin Shu’s mother, without any regard for whether Lin Shu was young or could accept it, had passed all her hatred onto Lin Shu.

This had its pros and cons, but at the very least, it made Lin Shu aware of the danger and know how to protect what she deserved.

After finishing her coffee, Lin Shu glanced at the residential complex with disgust, sneered, and said in a low voice, “I really don’t like coming to this disgusting place.”

Shen Man stood to the side, not expressing any opinion.

At this moment, Lin Shu was full of vigor and vitality, not needing anyone’s comfort at all.

“Shen Man, remember that woman’s face. Absolutely do not allow her to take a single step into my house,” Lin Shu said through gritted teeth.

Shen Man immediately nodded.

The two took a taxi back.

As soon as Lin Shu entered the house, she went back to her room.

Auntie He was cooking in the kitchen.

Shen Man walked into the kitchen and said with a smile, “Auntie He, what are you stewing? It smells so good.”

“Chicken soup, to replenish your bodies,” Auntie He glanced at Shen Man’s arm and replied with a smile.

“Thank you,” Shen Man said gratefully.

“The cooking fumes are heavy here, you should go out quickly. I’ll call you when the food is ready,” Auntie He said.

Shen Man nodded, turned, and left the kitchen.

---

After a few days of rest, the wound on Shen Man’s arm healed, and she only needed to apply ointment.

After breakfast, Shen Man carried her school bag, and also held Lin Shu’s school bag in her hand.

The two stood downstairs, waiting for Tan Kai.

In less than a minute, Tan Kai arrived, a brilliant smile on his face, looking to be in a very good mood.

“What’s the matter, smiling so happily?” Lin Shu asked as she sat down.

“Lin Shu, did you know?” Tan Kai said mysteriously, immediately earning a roll of the eyes. He stopped being coy and continued, “The Qiu family recently lost a big project, their capital chain broke, and they’re begging for help everywhere. Qiu Bing’s dad was so overcome with anxiety and anger that he was hospitalized. With this anger, her dad locked Qiu Bing up, but as a result, Qiu Bing made a fuss about jumping out the window, and accidentally really did jump. Her leg is broken, and she was being rescued in the hospital yesterday. I heard her leg couldn’t be saved.”

“Serves her right!” Lin Shu said indignantly.

“It does serve her right!” Tan Kai agreed with a smile. “Even heaven couldn’t stand her and had to punish her.”

Shen Man chuckled lightly, very satisfied with this outcome.

“By the way, Lin Shu, it’s your birthday in a few days. What gift do you want? Tell me,” Tan Kai said.

Lin Shu pouted, in a cheerful mood. She thought for a moment and said, “A gift should be given with sincerity. How can you ask someone to say what they want.”

“You girls’ minds are too hard to guess. It’s better to just say it directly,” Tan Kai retorted in a low voice. Meeting Lin Shu’s glare, he immediately changed his tune, “Okay, okay, I promise to give you a gift you’ll like.”

Lin Shu snorted haughtily.

Hearing this, Shen Man asked, “Shushu, is it your twentieth birthday soon?”

“Yeah? What’s up?” Lin Shu retorted. “Don’t tell me you’re going to give me a gift?”

“You don’t want one?” Shen Man asked with a smile.

“What kind of gift can you give?” Lin Shu curled her lip, not a hint of anticipation on her face.

“I’ll strive to give Shushu a gift she’ll be satisfied with,” Shen Man chuckled lightly.

Lin Shu glared at her, which was as good as a tacit agreement.

---

Perhaps because her birthday was approaching, Lin Shu was in a good mood every day.

It just so happened that her birthday was on a Saturday, so she could celebrate and have fun to her heart’s content, and even party until dawn.

After Friday’s classes were over, Shen Man returned to the house and shut herself in her room without coming out.

Lin Shu sat in the living room watching TV and eating fruit, her gaze frequently glancing at Shen Man’s door.

These few days, Shen Man was acting out of character. After coming back, she would hide in her room, not even studying, who knows what she was tinkering with.

Lin Shu was curious in her heart, but was too proud to ask.

Seeing Auntie He walk over, Lin Shu said, “Go see what Shen Man is doing. She can’t be studying herself silly in her room, can she?”

“Okay, Miss Lin,” Auntie He said, walked to Shen Man’s door, and knocked, “Manman…”

Hearing the sound, Shen Man opened the door and asked, “Auntie He, is something the matter?”

Auntie He glanced at Lin Shu.

Lin Shu immediately started watching TV seriously, her fingers constantly changing the channel.

Shen Man chuckled lightly, looked at Lin Shu, and said, “Shushu, how about a surprise for you tomorrow?”

“I don’t care for it,” Lin Shu said nonchalantly, but a faint blush appeared on her small face.

Shen Man closed her room door.

Lin Shu couldn’t help but look over there, curled her lip, and continued watching TV.

She watched for a while, but her heart felt like it was being scratched by a cat’s paw. She was always unconsciously distracted, wanting to open that door and see what on earth Shen Man was doing.

After struggling for half an hour, Lin Shu had completely no mind to watch TV.

She pursed her lips, stood up, walked over, and knocked on Shen Man’s door.

The moment she knocked the first time, Lin Shu immediately stopped, her heart instantly filled with regret. She quickly pulled back her hand and ran back to the sofa.

She pretended to watch TV seriously, but Shen Man did not come out.

Lin Shu puffed up her cheeks angrily, thought for a moment, put down the remote, and ran to Shen Man’s door again.

This time, she knocked very hard.

Shen Man couldn’t even pretend not to hear.

“Shushu, is something wrong?” Shen Man looked at Lin Shu and asked with a gentle smile.

Lin Shu turned her head slightly, averted her gaze, held her chin high, and said with an arrogant expression, “Didn’t you say you were going to give me a gift? Is it ready?”

For the last sentence, her tone weakened, and the ears hidden in her hair turned red.

Shen Man chuckled lightly, looked at the young woman’s awkward and arrogant appearance, and said, “It’s almost done. I’ll show you tomorrow.”

“No, I want to see it now,” Lin Shu said loudly. “This is my gift, I can see it whenever I want.”

She said it with perfect justification.

Shen Man felt a little helpless.

The two looked at each other for a few seconds, and Shen Man relented.

Lin Shu immediately smiled happily.

“You can see the gift, but you have to close your eyes,” Shen Man said.

Lin Shu frowned, dissatisfied, “If I close my eyes, I won’t be able to see it. Are you tricking me?”

Shen Man, “……”

After a stalemate for a while, Lin Shu curled her lip and closed her eyes.

Shen Man smiled in satisfaction, turned off the light in the room, and turned on her phone’s flashlight function.

She reached out and took Lin Shu’s hand.

Lin Shu’s body stiffened. She wanted to pull her hand back, but it was held even tighter.

“Shushu, you can’t open your eyes, or you won’t be able to see the gift,” Shen Man said.

Her voice in the darkness was gentle and light, as if coming from a distance, yet also as if whispering in her ear.

Lin Shu couldn’t see, and for a moment couldn’t tell the direction. All her attention was on their clasped hands.

She was a little afraid to walk forward, her feet stuck to the spot, unwilling to move.

“Shushu, don’t be afraid, I’m holding you,” Shen Man coaxed softly.

Lin Shu bit her lip and, as if to embolden herself, said, “If you make me fall, I’ll make you pay!”

Shen Man was amused and said in a low voice, “How could I let Shushu get hurt?”

The drawn-out final sound carried an ambiguous air and landed on Lin Shu’s cheek.

Lin Shu subconsciously turned her head, touched her cheek with her hand, and pouted her red lips, “Don’t stand so close to me.”

Shen Man smiled, did not answer, and led her forward.

Lin Shu followed step by step.

Although she was afraid of falling, she obediently did not open her eyes.

Shen Man stopped and said softly, “There’s a chair next to you, sit down.”

Lin Shu fumbled around and obediently sat down.

Shen Man quietly took a breath to slow her heart rate.

She turned off the flashlight function, and the room became completely dark, without a trace of light.

“Shushu, there’s a small booklet in front of you. Open your eyes and take a look,” Shen Man said softly, her voice carrying a tension she herself hadn’t noticed.

Lin Shu opened her eyes to a pitch-black scene.

She was a little scared, but feeling Shen Man’s breath right next to her, she immediately calmed down.

Lin Shu kept her eyes open, waited for a while, and adjusted to the darkness.

She reached out her hands, fumbled on the table, and soon found something in the shape of a booklet.

She opened the first page.

On it was a cartoon version of a girl, with a round face, two cute little pigtails, and a sweet and lovely smile on her face.

She bore some resemblance to her.

“Is this me?” Lin Shu smiled in pleasant surprise and eagerly flipped to the next page.

Each page had a drawing of a girl, either smiling or angry. The posture, expression, and clothes were different on each one.

It was clear that a lot of thought and time had been put into it.

“Huh, why can I see these drawings so clearly in the dark?” Lin Shu asked curiously.

“That’s a secret,” Shen Man chuckled lightly, leaned over, her cheek brushing against Lin Shu’s ear, “Shushu, do you like it?”

The warm breath carrying a deep voice landed by her ear. Lin Shu’s heart thumped wildly, and her cheeks unconsciously turned red.

She held the small booklet, stood up abruptly, and said quickly, “It’s alright. I’m going out now.”

“Just alright?” Shen Man reached out, accurately wrapped her arm around that slender waist, and held the young woman in her embrace.

Lin Shu’s heart tightened, and the small booklet in her hand fell to the floor.

The ‘clang’ sound was very clear in the silent, dark night.

Shen Man lowered her head.

Their noses touched, their breaths intertwining.

“Shushu, do you like this gift?” Shen Man asked in a low voice, her cool voice containing a gentle smile.

It seemed doting, yet also seemed to be currying favor.

Lin Shu nervously pursed her lips and said in a small voice, “I like it, alright?”

“It’s good that you like it,” Shen Man chuckled lightly and reached out to press the back of the young woman’s neck.

Her voice in the darkness shed its usual gentleness and coolness, becoming like a seductive demon, sexy and alluring.

“Mmph…” Lin Shu was forced to look up, her lips inadvertently touching something soft.

She instantly understood what it was, wanted to retreat, but in the moment of her gasp, she was kissed forcefully.

Shen Man held those delicate, soft, and sweet red lips, and after tasting enough, she let go in satisfaction and said with a smile, “This will be Shushu’s return gift.”

“Why do you need a return gift for a birthday present?” Lin Shu questioned loudly, her cheeks red.

A slight sob in her voice, as if she had been bullied.

Shen Man chuckled lightly and said, “Then let’s just consider it an early birthday present for me.”

“Who wants to give you a birthday present?” Lin Shu said angrily, wiped her lips with her hand, her dark eyes glaring at Shen Man. “Hurry up and turn on the light!”

“Okay,” Shen Man turned on the light in a cheerful mood.

The moment the light came on, Lin Shu raised her hand to block her eyes.

She quickly picked up the fallen booklet, snorted at Shen Man, and ran out with a pout.

Shen Man licked her lips, her eyes and brows curved.

This was the first time she had put so much effort into making a gift for someone.

The hard work of these past few days seemed to be worth it.

Lin Shu ran back to her room, sat on the bed huffily, hugged her doll, and complained in a small voice, “Hateful Shen Man, kissed me again! So annoying.”

As she spoke, another wave of heat rose on her face, and her eyes sparkled with a beautiful, crystalline light.

Lin Shu snorted and lay down hugging her doll.

After a while, she abruptly sat up again, picked up that little booklet, and looked at each drawing on it very seriously.

This little picture book had a total of twenty pages, and each page had a line of words in the upper right corner.

From the first page to the last, they all wished her a happy birthday, only the age of the blessing was different.

Lin Shu continued to look at the drawings and found that each one was drawn according to her usual style of dress.

She herself might not even remember clearly what she wore every day, but Shen Man had drawn it all.

“Why did you draw my legs so long?” Lin Shu stared at one of them, muttered in a low voice, flipped to another, and said haughtily, “I would never cry!”

The twenty drawings, she looked at them over and over again and discovered more and more small details.

On each drawing, there were small flower petals floating around.

Some were roses, some were peach blossoms, some were peonies, and each one was different.

As Lin Shu looked, an hour passed without her realizing it.

She carefully placed the picture book in a separate cabinet.

Lying on the bed, Lin Shu blinked her eyes, reached out, and touched her own lips.

It seemed as if the breath of another person still lingered on them.

Lin Shu hurriedly pursed her lips, shook her head, and rubbed her lips incessantly with her fingers, driving away that strange feeling.

She touched her heart; it was beating very fast.

Lin Shu got out of bed, drank a large gulp of water, sat quietly, and calmed her heartbeat.

She didn’t know how long she had been in a daze.

A message suddenly popped up on her phone, “Shushu, happy birthday.”

The time was exactly midnight.

Lin Shu’s heart immediately started pounding again, and she couldn’t help but let the corners of her lips curve up slightly.

She replied, “Thank you.”

Shen Man looked at her phone and typed, “Good night, rest early.”

Lin Shu sent back a ‘hmph’ emoji.

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