I Am More Paranoid Than the Villain – Chapter 29

Her Wish

She wants to have someone who will love her forever

The weather on Saturday was clear, the sun was bright, and there was no wind.

Shen Man got up, washed up, and put on light makeup.

After choosing from her wardrobe for a while, she finally selected a black half-skirt, paired with a white sweater.

Simple and fresh, it definitely wouldn’t snatch the limelight¹.

Shen Man went out, came to Lin Shu’s door, knocked, and asked, “Shushu, are you ready?”

“Don’t rush me, I’m still putting on my makeup,” Lin Shu replied, her delicate voice carrying a trace of annoyance.

“Okay, take your time with your makeup. I’ll wait for you outside,” Shen Man said, walking to the living room to sit down.

She casually picked up a magazine to read.

This was a new fashion magazine that Lin Shu had bought, containing a lot of knowledge about design that could be learned.

Although Lin Shu didn’t like to listen in class, she really liked to buy this type of magazine, and had basically finished reading them all. There were even marks made by Lin Shu in some places.

Auntie He came out of her room, carrying a gift, and said with an embarrassed smile, “Manman, could I trouble you to pass this to Miss Lin for me? It’s just a small, worthless trinket, I hope Miss Lin won’t dislike it.”

“Okay, Shushu will like it,” Shen Man said comfortingly with a light laugh, taking the gift.

Auntie He breathed a sigh of relief and went out to buy groceries.

Shen Man continued to read the magazine, waiting for Lin Shu.

Suddenly, her phone rang. The caller ID was ‘Uncle Lin’.

Shen Man picked it up and said with a polite smile, “Uncle, are you looking for Shushu?”

“No,” Lin Huai replied, paused for a moment, and then said, “Auntie Feng went to give Shushu a gift. She has already arrived downstairs, go and get her.”

Shen Man was stunned; she hadn’t expected this.

That ‘Auntie Feng’ should be the woman Lin Shu had thrown coffee on.

“Manman, go get the gift. Don’t let Auntie Feng wait too long,” Lin Huai said, his voice suppressing anger.

“Okay,” Shen Man agreed.

Glancing at Lin Shu’s room, Shen Man said loudly, “Shushu, I’m going downstairs to buy something.”

“I know, be quick,” Lin Shu replied impatiently.

Shen Man changed her shoes and went out.

She came out of the elevator and was walking in the corridor when she saw a pink luxury car worth over a million parked outside.

Judging by its newness, it had been bought not long ago.

This license plate number was not a car that was often parked here. Shen Man guessed it was driven by the one called ‘Auntie Feng’.

She walked over and tapped lightly on the glass.

The car window rolled down, revealing a meticulously made-up face. It was the woman from that day.

“You’re Manman, right?” Feng Na² took off her sunglasses and said with a gentle smile.

Shen Man smiled and nodded, “You must be Auntie Feng.”

Feng Na smiled and nodded, passing the gift through the window, and said with a gentle face, “This is a small token of my regard. I hope you will give it to Shushu. I think Shushu should like it.”

Shen Man took it, smiled politely, and said, “It would be better if you gave it to Shushu personally.”

“That child, she has some misunderstandings about me. I won’t go up, lest she throws a tantrum again,” Feng Na said, her face showing a bit of helplessness.

Her words seemed to insinuate that Lin Shu was an unreasonable child, giving them, the adults, a big headache.

Shen Man smiled, did not persuade further, and watched the woman drive away.

Among her former business partners, there were also those who kept mistresses.

Some of those women were arrogant and rude, while others knew how to put on a front, pretending to be gentle and virtuous.

This woman was the latter.

Shen Man carried the gift inside. Lin Shu was still in her room and hadn’t come out.

She thought for a moment and hid the gift in the utility cabinet.

Lin Shu finished getting ready and came out in a cheerful mood.

Looking at Shen Man, she said excitedly, “How do I look dressed like this today?”

“Very beautiful. Red complements Shushu’s skin tone even more,” Shen Man praised with a smile.

The young woman was wearing an expensive red dress that perfectly outlined her S-shaped curve. Her hair was tied up high in two ponytails, and she wore a red deer-ear hair accessory.

It was sexy, yet did not lose the purity and liveliness of a young girl.

“Of course. Today is my birthday, I want to be the most beautiful longevity star³,” Lin Shu tilted her head proudly, her slightly pouted red lips soft, tender, and crystalline.

Shen Man’s gaze landed on them. She pursed her lips and said, “We should be going.”

“Mhm,” Lin Shu nodded and happily went back to her room to get her bag.

Shen Man glanced at the gift placed in the cabinet, turned, and went to the entryway to change her shoes.

---

The location for Lin Shu’s birthday was a private room in a high-end hotel.

Not many people were attending, only five.

The two of them, plus Tan Kai, Ding Xi, and Yan Jie.

Tan Kai drove over to pick the two of them up. Seeing Lin Shu, he praised with a smile, “Great beauty, you’re so pretty today.”

Lin Shu raised her eyebrows proudly and sat in the front passenger seat.

Shen Man sat in the back.

Tan Kai handed over a gift and said with a smile, “Happy birthday, open it and see.”

“Thank you,” Lin Shu happily unwrapped the gift box.

She slowly opened it and saw it was the newest model of lipstick, with every single shade.

“Wow!” Lin Shu exclaimed excitedly, picking up one of the lipsticks. “This shade is super hard to buy, I couldn’t even get it.”

“I asked someone to buy it for me,” Tan Kai replied with a smile, took out a box from beside his seat, turned his head, and handed it to Shen Man. “My friend brought an extra one, this is for you.”

“Thank you, I don’t usually wear much makeup,” Shen Man politely refused.

Tan Kai did not retract his hand and insisted, “Today is Shushu’s birthday, just accept it.”

Shen Man had a polite smile on her face and did not want to accept this gift.

Lin Shu looked left and right, reached out to take it, and said, “I’ll accept it for her.”

Shen Man didn’t speak.

Tan Kai smiled happily and started the car.

In less than half an hour, they arrived at the hotel.

Ding Xi and Yan Jie were already waiting there.

Seeing Lin Shu, the two of them presented their gifts separately.

Lin Shu accepted them one by one and thanked them happily.

This private room was decorated very beautifully, filled with a romantic and cute girlish atmosphere.

Lin Shu looked around and said with a smile, “Let’s take pictures.”

“Okay,” Yan Jie immediately agreed.

“There’s a camera here,” Tan Kai said, taking out an expensive camera. “This is what my dad usually uses specifically to photograph cats. I borrowed it today.”

“Uncle Tan was actually willing to part with it?” Lin Shu asked with a surprised smile.

Tan Kai’s father’s only hobby was photography. He liked to photograph landscapes and people, and his photography skills were very good.

Tan Kai’s mother loved to raise cats, so Tan Kai’s dad specially bought a camera just for photographing cats.

In Tan Kai’s words, he, the biological son, couldn’t even compare to a single cat hair.

But Lin Shu knew that Tan Kai wasn’t jealous of the cats, just teasing his dad.

Tan Kai’s family atmosphere was warm and harmonious, a complete contrast to her family.

She had once thought, if her mom and dad also loved each other like Tan Kai’s parents, then, could she also be doted on by a mom and dad like other children, without having to face endless arguments every day.

Without being complained about by her mother for not being a boy, without being resented by her father for coming into this world.

But she knew that what had happened, had happened, and could not be changed.

In this world, even if no one liked her, no one loved her, she would still live well and not let anyone look down on her!

“I said it was Shushu’s birthday, so my dad agreed,” Tan Kai said.

Lin Shu’s eyes and brows curved, her smile becoming even happier. She took Ding Xi and Yan Jie to find a nice background for photos.

Shen Man found a place to sit down and quietly observed the surrounding decorations.

Tan Kai sat beside her, scratching his head a little embarrassedly.

Shen Man glanced at the shy big boy and moved her gaze elsewhere.

Tan Kai’s face was slightly red. He hesitated for a long time, then said with a smile in a low voice, “Shen Man, do you want to take a picture together?”

“No need, I’m fine just sitting here,” Shen Man replied with a light laugh, seriously fiddling with the flower vase placed on the table.

Tan Kai understood that this meant she didn’t want to talk to him.

He thought for a while, then mustered up his courage again and said, “Shen Man, when is your birthday? What gift do you want.”

“It’s still early, no rush,” Shen Man said with a faint expression.

The topic ended again, and the air became silent.

Lin Shu happily took a few photos, then turned her head and saw Tan Kai and Shen Man sitting opposite each other.

Against the tranquil and beautiful background, the scene of the handsome man and beautiful woman was very pleasing to the eye. The boy smiled shyly, the girl smiled gently. From a distance, they looked just like an enviable couple.

Lin Shu’s face instantly darkened, and she was in no mood to select photos.

She threw the camera to Yan Jie, and with a puffed-up face, walked over and stood with her hands on her hips, looking at the two of them, “What are you two doing sitting here? Like a pair of wooden figures. Hurry up, come and take pictures with me.”

After she spoke, she pulled Tan Kai up, “You’re the only boy here, you have to be responsible for taking pictures for us girls.”

Being pulled by her, Tan Kai walked forward with his body bent.

Lin Shu turned her head, her pair of almond eyes filled with anger, and shot Shen Man a glare.

Shen Man responded with a smile.

The four of them went to take pictures.

Shen Man sat alone quietly.

When Lin Shu had taken her fill of photos, Tan Kai said, “Lin Shu, pull Shen Man over, I’ll take a picture of you two.”

Lin Shu curled her lip, somewhat unwilling.

The other three looked at her, and Ding Xi said, “Lin Shu-jie, we’ve all taken pictures, only Shen Man hasn’t. You should take one with her.”

“Alright then,” Lin Shu agreed with a reluctant expression.

Lin Shu walked up to Shen Man and said haughtily, “You, come over and take a picture with us.”

Shen Man shook her head, refusing with a light laugh.

“Today is my birthday, everyone has to take a picture as a memento,” Lin Shu said, reaching out to pull Shen Man. “I’m the longevity star, you have to listen to me.”

Shen Man thought for a moment and obediently stood up.

Lin Shu pulled Shen Man and walked under the heart-shaped balloon decoration.

She let go of her hand and revealed a happy smile.

Shen Man stood there, the corners of her lips lightly curled up.

Tan Kai held the camera, took a picture of the two, and said with a smile, “One, two, three, eggplant⁴!”

Lin Shu cooperatively made a scissors hand⁵ with her fingers and placed it by her cheek.

Shen Man didn’t move at all. The instant the shutter clicked, her expression became serious.

Tan Kai looked at the photo that came out, his brows lightly furrowed, “Shen Man, why aren’t you smiling?”

“I did smile,” Shen Man replied.

“Let me see,” Lin Shu said excitedly, running over to look at the photo.

Shen Man also walked over, leaned in, and looked at the photo.

Tan Kai’s photography skills were not bad; the framing and lighting were very well chosen.

The young woman in the photo had a bright smile, full of spirit. Her red dress was dazzling and bright, very eye-catching.

In contrast, the woman beside her was unsmiling⁶, her cool face indifferent, carrying a maturity and depth that did not match her age.

“Shen Man, why aren’t you smiling?” Lin Shu pouted, dissatisfied. “Are you unhappy?”

“No,” Shen Man chuckled lightly, her expression a bit helpless. “I’m just like this when I take pictures.”

Lin Shu was still not satisfied and said, “Let’s take another one. You must smile.”

“Don’t you usually smile a lot?”

Shen Man, “…….”

That was a fake smile she had practiced over so many years of struggling.

Lin Shu chose another background.

This time, the two stood in front of a flower basket, with flowers of various colors behind them, emitting a pleasant fragrance.

It looked very romantic.

“Shen Man, remember to smile!” Lin Shu reminded in a low voice, tilted her head, and revealed a cute smile.

Shen Man pursed her lips, adjusted her mood, and tried to show a natural smile.

Lin Shu was dissatisfied, pouted her red lips, and instructed, “You should smile like this.”

As she spoke, she revealed a standard, brilliant smile, cute and beautiful.

Shen Man curled her lips and followed her lead.

The muscles on her face moved, but the smile that came out was stiff.

The two of them were teaching face-to-face.

Tan Kai found an opportunity for a candid shot, took several in a row, chose the best one, and showed it to Lin Shu, “This one is very beautiful.”

Lin Shu looked, and her heart suddenly skipped a beat.

In the photo, the two were looking at each other.

She was smiling happily and lively, revealing her pearly white teeth, while Shen Man was only lightly curling her lips, her gentle gaze looking at her as if with doting affection.

Because of the camera lens, although they were standing at a distance, the photo made it look like they were pressed closely together.

If it were angled just a little differently, it would look like they were kissing.

Lin Shu’s heart tightened, and she choked on her saliva, “Cough cough…”

“Shushu, are you okay?” Shen Man walked over and asked, her gaze falling on the photo.

Her eyes narrowed slightly; she couldn’t quite believe the person with the gentle, faint smile in front of the camera was her.

Some people are just born without a feel for the camera, not photogenic.

She belonged to this type.

Whether it was a graduation photo or a group photo, her smiling appearance always exuded a serious and cold aura, as if keeping people at a thousand li’s distance⁷.

That kind of brilliant smile that could infect others, she couldn’t even practice it in front of a mirror.

But Lin Shu could easily smile as brightly as the sun.

“Let’s go with this one then. I’ll send it to you guys later,” Tan Kai said with a smile, putting the camera aside. He glanced at the time and said, “Lin Shu, it’s time to eat the cake.”

“Okay,” Lin Shu smiled happily.

The hotel staff brought the cake.

It had three tiers, an exquisite design, and a Barbie doll made of cream on the very top.

Lin Shu looked at it and liked it very much.

Tan Kai placed the candles on it, lit them one by one, and led the singing of the birthday song, “Happy birthday to you…”

Ding Xi and Yan Jie also followed along, clapping to the beat.

Shen Man stood to the side, watching with a light laugh, not singing.

“Shen Man, why aren’t you singing? Don’t you want to wish Lin Shu-jie a happy birthday?” Yan Jie stared at Shen Man and said, dissatisfied.

Lin Shu immediately looked over, pouting, a little unhappy.

Shen Man smiled, began to clap to the beat, and said softly, “Happy birthday to you…”

The tune of her singing was more like she was reciting the words.

Only then did Lin Shu smile.

Amidst the chorus of blessings, she closed her eyes to make a wish.

Shen Man stopped her movements and watched quietly.

The young woman’s eyelashes were curled and thick, fluttering in the faint candlelight, casting a beautiful shadow.

Her expression was serious and focused, as if she were praying piously.

If this scene were captured, it would surely be beautiful.

Lin Shu finished making her wish and opened her eyes.

The light in her eyes was as bright as stars.

“Lin Shu, what did you wish for?” Tan Kai asked curiously.

“A wish won’t come true if you say it out loud,” Lin Shu smiled mysteriously, refusing to say.

She turned her head to glance at Shen Man, then quickly looked away.

Shen Man’s eyes froze for a moment as she stared at the string of blown-out candles.

“Time to eat cake!” Tan Kai cheered loudly, cut the first piece of cake for Lin Shu, and said, “Lin Shu, from today on, you are twenty years old. You must be happy every day from now on.”

“I know,” Lin Shu pursed her lips, her gaze firm.

Tan Kai then distributed cake to the others, finally handing a piece to Shen Man, “This piece is the biggest, you should eat more.”

“Thank you,” Shen Man accepted and walked to the side to sit down.

She only ate a few bites before putting it down, poured a cup of tea, and drank it slowly.

Lin Shu finished her cake and said loudly to the crowd, “Let’s go sing now!”

“Yeah!” the others responded loudly.

Shen Man turned her head, looked at the high-spirited group, and said, “I can’t sing, so I won’t disturb your fun.”

“No! You must go,” Lin Shu said, half haughty and half forceful, her tone allowing no refusal. “If you don’t go, we’ll drag you there.”

The two looked at each other for a few seconds.

Shen Man nodded helplessly.

The hotel had karaoke rooms, and Lin Shu had already booked one.

The room was very large, enough to accommodate more than twenty people. Now, with only the five of them, it was a bit quiet.

Tan Kai brought two microphones, handed one to Lin Shu, placed one on the table, and said loudly, “Now, let’s have our little longevity star bring us a beautiful song.”

Lin Shu took the microphone, stood up confidently, flicked the hair behind her ear, and chose a sweet love song.

Shen Man sat in a corner of the sofa, leaning back quietly.

It was as if the liveliness around her had nothing to do with her.

Tan Kai picked up the microphone on the table, walked over, and said with a smile, “Shen Man, today everyone has to sing a song to wish Lin Shu well.”

“But I can’t sing,” Shen Man replied.

“It’s okay, just sing whatever. Lin Shu can’t sing either. Anyway, it’s just for fun,” Tan Kai said.

Shen Man lowered her eyes and said nothing.

“If you don’t sing, Lin Shu will make you sing,” Tan Kai said again.

Shen Man turned her head and looked at the young woman who was singing.

The gentle and sweet love song was sung by the young woman with great momentum, completely devoid of the shyness and purity of love, as if she were overbearingly declaring sweet words of love.

Shen Man reached up, pressed the space between her eyebrows, and nodded.

Tan Kai immediately handed her the microphone in his hand.

Shen Man took it, placed it on her lap, and her eyes looked at the young woman’s bouncing back.

As Lin Shu sang, she swayed to the rhythm, her two high ponytails swinging back and forth, occasionally managing to step on the beat.

Shen Man watched, and unconsciously curled her lips into a faint smile.

After one song was finished, Lin Shu’s face was flushed with excitement. She asked loudly, “How did I sing?”

“Very good! Not a single note was out of tune,” Tan Kai clapped forcefully.

Lin Shu curled her lip.

She knew it was a lie, but still revealed a happy smile and said, “Next, I’m going to choose someone to sing.”

As she spoke, her gaze swept around, finally landing on Shen Man’s face, and she announced loudly, “Shen Man, it’s your turn! Let everyone see how your singing skills are.”

Shen Man chuckled lightly, stood up, and walked to the song selection machine.

She chose a song with a slow tempo and a hint of sadness.

“Shen Man, this song is very difficult. Are you sure you can sing it?” Lin Shu’s eyes widened as she asked.

“I just picked it randomly,” Shen Man smiled faintly and sat down facing the screen.

She crossed her legs, her expression relaxed.

The prelude began, and a faint sadness spread out with the music.

Shen Man held the microphone in her left hand, her slender index finger resting on the edge of the microphone. Her body leaned slightly forward, and her smooth, long hair fell down, covering half of her face.

In the dim light, she seemed to merge with the sadness of the song.

Lin Shu watched from the side, blinking blankly.

Shen Man had chosen the instrumental-only mode.

The first line of lyrics appeared. She followed the rhythm, her red lips slightly parted, and a slightly low, clear and beautiful voice came from the microphone.

Just like the original singer.

Lin Shu was stunned.

The others also had expressions of disbelief.

After Shen Man finished singing, she put the microphone aside, coughed lightly, and said, “I haven’t sung in a long time. I didn’t sing well, please don’t mind.”

As soon as her voice fell, the scoring system gave a score, as high as ninety-five percent.

“This is called not singing well?” Lin Shu shouted in surprise, staring at Shen Man. “You’re really hiding your talents⁸. How can you sing so beautifully?”

“Is it beautiful? I think it’s average,” Shen Man smiled faintly.

Lin Shu, “……”

“Shen Man, you sing so well, sing a few more,” Tan Kai said with a smile.

Lin Shu nodded.

“Alright then,” Shen Man agreed with a light laugh.

“I’ll choose the song,” Lin Shu said happily, quickly running to the song selection machine and choosing her favorite song.

Shen Man switched the microphone to her other hand, tucked the hair behind her ear, her posture elegant.

She sang along with the rhythm. In the high-pitched parts, she also hit the notes, without any sign of flushing or shortness of breath, as if she sang it very easily.

Lin Shu stared blankly for a while, then took out her phone to record the screen.

Shen Man looked over, her eyes narrowed slightly, paused, but did not stop her, and continued to sing.

“My throat is a little sore, you guys sing,” Shen Man said after finishing the song, putting down the microphone.

Yan Jie immediately took it and ran to select a song.

Shen Man stood up and returned to her original seat.

Tan Kai brought over a glass of clear liquor, his eyes full of surprise and admiration, “Shen Man, you’re really amazing. You can even sing Shushu’s favorite song so well. You didn’t even notice, Shushu was staring straight at you just now.”

Shen Man chuckled lightly, glanced at the glass of liquor, and asked, “When did you order alcohol?”

“This was sent over by the hotel,” Tan Kai replied, looking around and saying, “Just in the time you were singing, they’ve all had several drinks.”

Shen Man was relieved, took it, and took a sip.

A clear and sweet tangerine flavor spread in her mouth, flowing into her throat with a hint of sweetness.

“I’m going to sing. If you like to drink, there’s a lot more over there,” Tan Kai said, pointing to the corner by the entrance.

Shen Man nodded.

Lin Shu finished a song and gave the microphone to Tan Kai.

She carried a glass of peach-flavored clear liquor, walked over to sit next to Shen Man, leaned closer, and stared at Shen Man seriously, “How are you so good at singing? Have you studied it before?”

Shen Man shook her head, swirled the glass in her hand, and drank the remaining liquor in one gulp.

Her fingers were slender, and the motion of swirling the glass looked very beautiful. Her faint smile in the dim light was elegant and mysterious, fully displaying the charm of a mature woman.

Lin Shu glanced at her, hurriedly turned her head, and drank the liquor in her own glass.

“Shushu, what is your birthday wish?” Shen Man asked, her fingers tapping lightly on the glass, a smile on her lips.

Hearing this, Lin Shu was startled. She came back to her senses and said haughtily, “Why should I tell you?”

“If you say it, maybe I can help you realize your wish,” Shen Man said in a low voice, leaning over, her lips brushing against Lin Shu’s cheek.

Lin Shu’s heart tightened, and she hurriedly leaned back.

Her movements were a bit flustered, and she almost couldn’t hold the glass in her hand. A hand held hers, steadying the glass.

“I don’t need your help!” Lin Shu said, her face red, her heart accelerating, and she unconsciously lowered her eyes.

Shen Man chuckled lightly, released her hand, and coaxed in a low voice, “Actually, a wish can be told to one person. As long as she helps you keep the secret, the possibility of your wish coming true will increase.”

“Really?” Lin Shu blinked her eyes, a little disbelieving.

Shen Man nodded seriously, “This is a secret that not many people know.”

Lin Shu was still skeptical and took a sip of the liquor in her glass.

She stared at Shen Man, frowning in thought.

Shen Man looked at her with a serious face and continued, “Don’t you want to realize your wish?”

A hopeful look appeared in Lin Shu’s eyes. She hesitated for a moment, then said in a small and serious voice, “I’m only telling you. You have to promise me to keep it a secret and not tell anyone else!”

Shen Man nodded solemnly, “I promise not to tell anyone else.”

Lin Shu pursed her lips.

She felt that Shen Man was tricking her, but those cool eyes seemed to carry a bewitching magic, making her involuntarily believe.

“I’m telling you now, you can’t tell anyone, or else, I’ll make you pay,” Lin Shu moved closer to Shen Man and threatened in a low voice.

Shen Man controlled the corners of her upturned lips and nodded with a serious expression.

“My wish is…” Lin Shu leaned over, bent down by Shen Man’s ear, her red lips lightly parted, “Shen Man is a big idiot!”

After she finished speaking, she laughed loudly and quickly ran away, her delicate eyes and brows full of smugness.

Shen Man’s eyes were filled with astonishment. She came back to her senses and laughed in spite of herself.

Her fingers brushed past her ear, where the warm breath left by the young woman still lingered.

“I’m not that easy to trick!” Lin Shu glared at Shen Man haughtily, silently mouthing these words.

Shen Man was not annoyed either. She got up to pour herself a drink.

Lin Shu ran off to sing, sometimes singing alone, sometimes singing duets with Tan Kai and the others.

Shen Man drank her liquor, sat in the corner, and watched them have fun.

Actually, she didn’t particularly like occasions like KTV⁹.

In the past, she had to accompany clients for drinks and would frequently visit places like bars and KTVs.

In order to close a deal, she had to constantly drink and sing with clients.

Her singing skills and alcohol tolerance were developed this way.

Behind the stunning and enviable skills was a bitterness and hardship that only she herself knew.

---

After they finished singing, it was already dark.

Lin Shu was a little tipsy from drinking.

Yan Jie was also drunk.

Among the three, only Ding Xi had not been drinking.

Tan Kai had drunk a little, but it didn’t affect his driving.

He looked at the group and said, “Ding Xi, you take Yan Jie home.”

“Okay,” Ding Xi nodded meekly.

Shen Man got up, walked over to support Lin Shu, “Shushu, can you still walk?”

“I still want to sing!” Lin Shu raised her hand high and shouted excitedly.

Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes filled with mist. She stared at Shen Man’s face, reached out, and poked it forcefully, “Don’t you think you can trick me!”

Shen Man, “……”

Tan Kai looked at the two and asked, “Shen Man, do you need my help?”

“No need, I’ll help Shushu out,” Shen Man said, reached out to wrap her arm around Lin Shu’s waist, and helped Lin Shu walk out.

Lin Shu had a smile on her lips, her drunken eyes carrying a hint of smugness.

Shen Man helped Lin Shu into the car.

The young woman stopped making a fuss and leaned quietly on her shoulder, her pair of misty eyes staring blankly ahead, innocent and dazed.

Tan Kai sat down, fastened his seatbelt, turned his head, and said, “Shushu is a lightweight. I originally didn’t want to let her drink so much. But it’s her birthday today, and with you taking care of her, it’s okay for her to drink a little more.”

Shen Man ‘mhm’-ed, her fingers lightly tapping a few times on the young woman’s waist.

“Don’t touch!” Lin Shu dodged with a smile, forcefully swatting the hand on her waist.

“Lin Shu tends to act up when she’s drunk. Please bear with her a little,” Tan Kai said, a bit embarrassed.

“It’s fine, I will take good care of Shushu,” Shen Man chuckled lightly.

“Sorry to trouble you,” Tan Kai said and started the car.

Tan Kai drove the two home and got out of the car, saying, “Let me help you carry Lin Shu up.”

“No need, I can do it by myself,” Shen Man said.

Seeing her determined attitude, Tan Kai nodded, got in the car, and left.

“Shushu, watch your step,” Shen Man said, helping Lin Shu up the steps, reminding her softly.

“I know,” Lin Shu mumbled in reply, taking one step at a time, walking quite steadily.

The two entered the elevator.

Lin Shu stared at the person in the mirror, tilted her head, blinked her eyes, her crystalline eyes full of confusion, “How come there are two Shen Mans? And two of me too…”

“That’s a mirror,” Shen Man said.

“A mirror?” Lin Shu was puzzled, pressing her finger on the face of the Shen Man in the mirror, “Her face is so hard, I can’t even poke it.”

As she spoke, she turned back to poke Shen Man and revealed a satisfied smile, “Not like your face, soft, like a marshmallow.”

Shen Man pursed her lips, reached out to grab Lin Shu’s fidgeting fingers, and lowered her voice, “Shushu, don’t make a fuss, be good.”

Lin Shu curled her lip but really did obediently stop.

Shen Man helped Lin Shu onto the bed.

She glanced around the room; brand new designer clothes were placed everywhere.

They should all be the clothes Lin Shu had tried on in the morning and hadn’t put away.

Shen Man lowered her eyes, paused, and hung up these clothes.

Just as she finished, Lin Shu climbed up from the bed and walked towards her unsteadily.

Shen Man closed the closet door and turned around.

A soft body suddenly pressed against her. That pair of fair, slender fingers pressed on her shoulders, pinning her in front of the closet.

Shen Man’s eyes narrowed slightly as she stared fixedly at the young woman’s approaching face.

When the distance between their faces was one finger apart, the young woman stopped, her pure and crimson face suddenly smiled, as bright as rosy clouds.

Shen Man pursed her lips.

“Do you want to know my birthday wish?” Lin Shu asked with a smile, her expression innocent.

Shen Man didn’t speak, slightly tilting her head to avoid the breath falling on her face.

Lin Shu smiled and continued to move closer, her delicate, soft lips brushing past another pair of red lips.

Shen Man’s heart accelerated, and she swallowed.

She felt that soft red lip brush past her cheek and stop by her earlobe.

The warm breath she exhaled blew the hair by her ear, bringing a tickling sensation.

“I’ll tell you now, you can’t tell anyone else,” Lin Shu said, wrapping her arms around Shen Man’s neck.

Shen Man was silent for a moment, then nodded.

Lin Shu smiled happily, her moist eyes pure and serious, and said slowly, “My wish is to find someone who truly loves me and is good to me, and who is not allowed to change their heart for a lifetime.”

“What if they change their heart?” Shen Man’s heart tightened, and she asked, her throat dry.

“Change their heart? Hmph!” Lin Shu snorted delicately, her black-and-white almond eyes wide and round, and said loudly, “If they dare to change their heart, I will make them pay the price they deserve.”

This sentence, although tinged with the smell of alcohol, clearly showed the fierceness within it.

Shen Man was stunned, then laughed after a moment, and said softly, “Shushu, you’re drunk.”

“I’m not drunk…” Lin Shu pouted, retorting unconvinced, glaring at Shen Man, “I’ve told you my secret. If you dare to tell anyone else, I will definitely not let you go.”

Shen Man nodded.

Only then did Lin Shu smile in satisfaction, leaning comfortably on Shen Man’s shoulder, and said in a small voice, “I still like the gift you gave me the most. It’s really good, I’ve never received such a good gift before. In the future, when it’s my birthday, will you still give me a gift?”

She looked up, her eyes looking at Shen Man with anticipation.

They looked at each other for a few seconds.

Shen Man chuckled lightly and said, “It’s getting late, you should rest.”

“Then you have to promise me first that you’ll still give me gifts in the future,” Lin Shu said, almost like she was acting spoiled, reaching out to hug Shen Man.

Shen Man smiled and said nothing.

Lin Shu leaned for a while and fell asleep just like that.

Shen Man held the young woman’s soft body, placed her on the bed, was silent for a moment, and said, “Your birthday wish will come true. A Shushu like this deserves to be cherished, deserves to be protected for a lifetime.”

After she finished speaking, she covered the young woman with the blanket, turned off the light, and walked out of the room.

Shen Man came to the living room, poured a cup of tea, walked to the balcony, and felt the cold night wind.

The smell of alcohol on her body was gradually blown away by the wind, and her mind became clearer and clearer.

The sky outside was very dark, and only the faint lights in the distance could be seen.

If one were to get lost here, it would probably be impossible to find the right way out.

Shen Man’s fingers gripped the teacup tightly, as if she were about to crush it.

After being in the night wind for a while, the water in the cup turned completely cold.

Shen Man poured out the water, refilled the cup, sat on the sofa, and drank it slowly.

Her eyes stared ahead, her face expressionless.

Auntie He came out of her room and, seeing Shen Man’s ice-cold appearance, felt a little scared in her heart.

After standing for a while, she spoke, “Manman, I saw a very beautiful box in the cabinet, I don’t know whose it is. It’s a pity to put such a nice box with the miscellaneous items.”

“Just leave it there. I’ll ask Shushu tomorrow how to handle it,” Shen Man said, a faint smile appearing on her face.

Auntie He breathed a sigh of relief, nodded, hesitated for a moment, and said in a small voice, “Manman, when you weren’t speaking just now, you were really a bit scary.”

“Was I?” Shen Man raised an eyebrow, a trace of a smile in her eyes.

Auntie He immediately felt that chilling sensation again. She gave an embarrassed laugh and turned to go back to her room.

Shen Man continued to sit, reaching up to touch her own face.

Her former employees all said she was cold and ruthless and were very afraid of her.

She never thought that, even with a pure and gentle face, there would still be people who were afraid of her.

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