I Am More Paranoid Than the Villain – Chapter 35

Her Fragility

Shushu, let me hug for a while

The screaming sound by my ears was deafening.

There was excitement, and also fear; among them, the most prominent was Lin Shu’s voice.

It could be heard that she was very excited, as if she was not the least bit afraid.

“Shen Man, you should open your eyes.” Lin Shu said loudly.

Amidst the drop tower’s rapid up and down movements, she was like she was on a carousel, following the rhythm and leisurely dangling her legs.

Shen Man’s body was tense, and she bit her teeth tightly.

Her long eyelashes trembled uneasily, her hands gripped the safety bar forcefully, and on the back of her fair and tender hands, blue veins bulged.

Lin Shu tilted her head, and seeing her appearance of being tense to the extreme, she smiled and shouted loudly, “Shen Man, it’s not scary at all, if you don’t open your eyes soon, it will be over.”

Shen Man maintained the same posture, not moving at all, as if she had not heard.

The machine finally stopped.

Lin Shu’s little face was bright red, a brilliant smile on it, with an expression of not having had enough fun, “How was it so fast? It wasn’t as thrilling as before.”

After she finished speaking, she looked at Shen Man, “We have already landed.”

Shen Man did not react, still lowering her head, her hands tightly gripping the safety bar.

Seeing this, Lin Shu reached out and patted the back of Shen Man’s hand, saying with a teasing smile, “Shen Man, didn’t you say you weren’t afraid? How come you didn’t even dare to open your eyes.”

Hearing this, Shen Man opened her eyes, the corners of her eyes tinged with red.

Her eyes, which were always sharp and calm, now carried a fragility, inspiring affection.

Lin Shu was stunned for a moment, her smile frozen.

After being stupified for a good while, she finally came back to her senses, stood up, and looked elsewhere.

Shen Man lowered her eyes, sitting quietly, her reason thrown into chaos by the stimulation of the screams.

She did not know when it had stopped, only feeling a roaring in her brain, as if a long time had passed, yet also as if it had only been an instant.

During that time just now, her mind was a blank slate; she could not hear anything, and she could not feel anything.

This feeling of being out of control was even more terrifying than she had imagined.

“Shen Man, we should go,” Lin Shu said, turning around.

The excitement on her small face had already settled, becoming calm.

Shen Man raised her head, hooked the corners of her lips, and pulled out a light smile, “Okay.”

Her red lips opened and closed, yet did not produce any sound.

Lin Shu could see that this smile was very forced. She bent down, stared at that pale face for a while, and said, “Are you alright?”

Shen Man shook her head and slowly stood up.

Her steps were unsteady, as if she were still in the air, and her body uncontrollably fell downward.

Lin Shu subconsciously caught her.

The two of them were suddenly hugging.

Shen Man leaned against Lin Shu.

The pleasant, fresh fragrance from the young woman’s body spread through her entire body from the tip of her nose; the soft body carried a comforting temperature.

A wave of warmth came from where their skin touched, allowing her cold body to gradually warm up.

“Shen Man, aren’t you usually quite strong? How are you so weak today, sitting on a drop tower is like you’ve lost half your life.” Lin Shu was half-mocking and half-puzzled.

Her gaze swept around and found that many people were in the same state as Shen Man; some were even worse off than Shen Man, with weak legs and pale faces, unable to speak.

She thought for a moment, then said again, “Shen Man, are you afraid of heights?”

“No.” Shen Man answered, weak and powerless.

Lin Shu was instantly even more puzzled, supporting Shen Man as they walked out.

The two sat down in the rest area, right in the sunlight.

Shen Man leaned against the long bench, her eyes slightly narrowed.

She reached out, trying to twist open a water bottle; after twisting it a few times, it was as if her wrist had no strength, and she could not twist it open.

Lin Shu saw this action, reached out and took the water bottle, and twisted it open with ease.

She handed the water bottle back to Shen Man, made a ‘tsk’ sound, the meaning of her ridicule very obvious.

Shen Man ignored it.

After drinking a few mouthfuls of water, her body finally recovered its strength, her fingers no longer trembled, and her heartbeat also calmed down.

She raised her head, her gaze calmly looking at the towering and thrilling drop tower.

Lin Shu tilted her head.

Looking at Shen Man’s expressionless face, it gave her the false impression that the fragility from just now was fake.

“Shushu, let’s go bungee jumping,” Shen Man said, her tone calm.

Lin Shu’s fine eyebrows wrinkled, feeling puzzled, and she said in surprise, “You were that scared just now, and you’re still going bungee jumping?”

Shen Man nodded affirmatively.

“Alright then, if by any chance you get scared and cry, then I will comfort you,” Lin Shu said.

Shen Man gave a light laugh, turned her head, looked at Lin Shu, her eyes serious, “Some things, only by trying them can you overcome the fear in your heart.”

“Ah?” Lin Shu’s face was full of question marks, “Why are you suddenly being so philosophical? It’s just bungee jumping, not some matter of life and death.”

Shen Man smiled, did not speak, let out a light breath, stood up, and walked forward.

Lin Shu followed behind, puzzled.

She felt that Shen Man was very strange, her eyes carrying a sadness she could not understand.

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The two arrived at the bungee jumping project location.

Shen Man looked around; most of the people here were couples.

Right now on the jumping platform, a man and a woman were standing.

The two were hugging each other tightly, and at the instant they jumped, they shouted each other’s names and ‘I love you’.

The boy’s voice was very loud and clear; the girl was probably scared, as only her shouting of the name could be heard.

“Are you sure you want to play? I think bungee jumping is even more thrilling than the drop tower,” Lin Shu said, her eyes full of distrust.

Shen Man gave a light laugh, “Since we’re here, how can we flee at the last minute?”

After waiting in line for over ten minutes, it was their turn.

The instructor looked at the seriousness on Shen Man’s face and said with a comforting smile, “It’s a little nerve-wracking the first time you jump, you should relax a bit. Look, your friend isn’t nervous at all.”

“What’s there to be nervous about?” Lin Shu smiled smugly.

Shen Man did not speak, her gaze fixed tightly on the green mountains in the distance.

She did not dare to look down.

While fastening the ropes for the two, the instructor eased the atmosphere, “Many people who come here to jump are first-timers. Some of them will be so scared they cry, or they’ll desperately shrink back. It’s rare to be expressionless like your friend.”

Lin Shu, “……”

“Alright, you two get ready. I’ll count to three, and you hug each other and jump down together,” the instructor said.

“Do we have to hug?” Lin Shu frowned.

“That’s right, this is a two-person jump, and it’s your friend’s first time, so you should take good care of her,” the instructor said, glancing at Shen Man.

Lin Shu pouted and casually reached out to hug Shen Man.

Shen Man put one arm around Lin Shu’s waist and the other around Lin Shu’s back.

She hugged very tightly, as if to melt the young woman into her embrace.

Their bodies were pressed tightly together, each leaning into the other’s shoulder hollow.

Lin Shu felt the hug was too tight and struggled slightly.

“Shushu, don’t move, let me hug for a while,” Shen Man said with her eyes closed, her low voice carrying a bit of helplessness.

Like a small animal lost in the forest, lacking a sense of security.

Lin Shu’s heart trembled, and she felt a little itchy on her neck.

She tilted her head and said arrogantly, “On account of it being your first time, I’ll let you hug me for a bit.”

“Are you ready?” the instructor asked.

Lin Shu nodded.

Shen Man kept her eyes tightly closed, hugged Lin Shu even tighter, her sharp fingernails pressing against Lin Shu’s skin through the clothes, as if they were about to pierce through at any moment.

“Three, two, one!”

As the final count fell, Shen Man opened her eyes, staring intently at the scenery below.

Their bodies fell rapidly downward.

Lin Shu looked at the surroundings, her expression calm, without letting out any screams.

Shen Man clenched her jaw tightly, her eyes reflecting the beautiful landscape, but what emerged in her mind was the shadow of a graceful figure jumping from a building.

Just how much despair must there have been for that person to jump without any hesitation.

She clearly often reminded her not to play in dangerous places, not to climb to high places, why…

“Shen Man, stop spacing out, we’ve landed,” Lin Shu said loudly, a trace of anger on her small face, “Hurry up and let go of me, you’re hugging so tight, it’s so hot.”

Shen Man returned to her senses.

What met her eyes was not that desperate, frail figure, but the young woman’s beautiful face, full of youthful vigor.

That pair of almond eyes was bright and full of spirit, dazzling and brilliant.

Compared to a sad and miserable gaze, eyes filled with anger could make one feel the power of life even more.

As if she would not fear any difficulties, as if she would never be defeated.

“Have you looked enough!” Lin Shu roared, a faint blush on her fair and tender little face, “Why are you always looking at me?”

Shen Man smiled and sat down in a relaxed manner.

She looked at the surroundings, the green mountains and clear waters, the lively sounds of people not far away, and her gaze fell on the jumping platform again.

A couple jumped down together.

Shen Man’s heart tightened, her fingers unconsciously clenched, and after a moment, they slowly relaxed again.

She raised her head, brushed aside the strands of hair on her forehead, and enjoyed the comfortable feeling of the gentle breeze.

Lin Shu watched from the side, hesitated for a moment, and asked, “Shen Man, have you been through some kind of shock? I feel like you’re acting weird today.”

“Have I?” Shen Man asked back with a smile, enjoying the sunlight with her eyes slightly narrowed, looking very comfortable.

Lin Shu blinked her eyes, wanting to say something but stopping. After a pause, she swallowed the words that were on the tip of her tongue and muttered in a low voice, “Anyway, it’s none of my business.”

Shen Man heard it, laughed, and asked, “What should we play next?”

“There aren’t any other thrilling rides, whatever,” Lin Shu said with a bored expression.

The two walked out, and as they passed the bumper car area, they saw Yin Ruxu and Ding Xi.

“Shen Man, we were just about to go look for you,” Yin Ruxu waved her hand, trotting over, and carefully sized up Shen Man with a glance.

Seeing the sweat-soaked strands of hair on Shen Man’s temple, she asked with a light smile, “Was the drop tower fun? Was it very thrilling?”

“It was alright,” Shen Man answered with a faint smile.

Lin Shu crossed her arms and snorted, “You don’t dare to play it anyway, why ask so many questions?”

“It’s precisely because I don’t dare that I want to ask more about it,” Yin Ruxu tilted her head slightly, her expression innocent.

Lin Shu frowned in annoyance and walked forward alone.

“Shushu, where are you going?” Shen Man immediately asked.

“What’s it to you?” Lin Shu answered irritably.

Ding Xi glanced over, nodded slightly at the two of them, and turned to chase after Lin Shu.

Yin Ruxu stood on the spot, a look of astonishment on her face, as if she had made a mistake, and said pitifully, “Did I say something wrong?”

Shen Man shook her head with a light smile and asked, “Do you want to ride the bumper cars? I’ve never played before.”

“Okay, I’ve never played either,” Yin Ruxu nodded happily.

The two went to wait in line.

Yin Ruxu looked around and said in a low voice, “Shen Man, you’re so good to Lin Shu. I can tell you were scared of the drop tower, but I didn’t expect you’d still be willing to go play with her.”

“Was I that obvious?” Shen Man asked back with a smile, her expression completely relaxed.

Yin Ruxu nodded, hesitated for a moment, and asked carefully, “Shen Man, living at Lin Shu’s house, have you been bullied by Lin Shu?”

After asking, she immediately smiled and explained, “I don’t have any ill intentions, I just wanted to show my concern for you. If you don’t want to say, that’s okay too, just pretend I never asked.”

Shen Man smiled, a look of complete understanding in her eyes, “I am not playing with her because I was threatened by Lin Shu.”

“Are you really doing it willingly?” Yin Ruxu asked suspiciously, not believing these words, “Lin Shu is a young lady from a rich family, how could she welcome poor students like us.”

Shen Man let out a laugh, not wanting to say any more.

If it weren’t for the fact that the rides they played today were too thrilling, she would not have shared these heartfelt words with Yin Ruxu.

Yin Ruxu tactfully stopped talking about this topic.

The two each chose a bumper car and drove around the arena without direction.

Shen Man drove for a lap and felt it was a bit boring.

She stopped to rest and watched others play.

This ride was mostly played by children, and the joyous laughter of children filled the air everywhere.

A parent walked up to Shen Man and said embarrassedly, “Could you let my child play with this little car?”

Shen Man looked over.

A beautifully dressed little girl was standing behind this parent; that pair of round eyes looked a bit like Lin Shu’s.

However, Lin Shu was unrestrained and flamboyant, while the little girl was timid and shy.

“Okay,” Shen Man stood up and gave up the bumper car.

The little girl happily sat in it, blinked her big eyes, and said somewhat shyly, “Thank you, jiejie.”

“You’re welcome,” Shen Man’s eyes curved, revealing a gentle smile.

Lin Shu was standing outside the railing and happened to see this scene, and her heart thumped fiercely.

She stood there in a daze, feeling that something was not quite right, but she could not put her finger on the specific feeling.

Shen Man tilted her head, saw the milk tea in Lin Shu’s hand, and smiled lightly.

Lin Shu pouted, turned her head to one side, looking unhappy.

Shen Man walked out with a smile on her face.

Standing in front of Lin Shu, she said with a smile, “Shushu, thank you.”

“Thank me for what?” Lin Shu felt it was inexplicable, bit her straw, took a sip of milk tea, and almost choked, “Cough cough…”

Shen Man handed over a tissue.

Lin Shu’s face turned slightly red, she quickly took it and wiped the corner of her mouth, and asked with some annoyance, “What other rides do you still want to play?”

“Pretty much none,” Shen Man said.

“Good, then it’s time to go back,” Lin Shu was very satisfied with this answer, a happy smile appearing on her face.

Ding Xi stood behind, and hearing this, she was a bit reluctant and said in a low voice, “Lin Shu-jie, there are still many fun things here, are you not going to play anymore?”

“Those are all boring, if you still want to play, then continue playing,” Lin Shu said with a nonchalant expression, walking out with her milk tea.

“Help me tell Yin Ruxu that we’re leaving first,” Shen Man said.

Ding Xi nodded hastily, still not daring to make eye contact with Shen Man.

Shen Man turned around, quickly caught up to Lin Shu’s pace, and walked side by side.

Lin Shu glanced at her, biting her straw and saying, “What, you’re not going to play with Yin Ruxu anymore?”

When the young woman spoke, her beautiful little face was full of arrogance, as if she were angry, yet also as if she were jealous.

Shen Man’s lips hooked into a pleased curve. She leaned over and, by the young woman’s small ear, said with a light laugh, “Shushu is really cute today.”

Lin Shu’s heart tightened, and she glared back angrily, “I’m cute every day!”

This was said with such righteousness, as if it were a matter of course.

Shen Man laughed out loud, reaching out her hand to catch the sunlight falling on it. The shadow of the leaves was cast down, covering half of her palm.

She looked at the half-shadow, clenched her fingers, and when she opened them again, her hand was already full of sunlight.

A faint gold, beautiful and warm.

Shen Man lowered her fingers, her fingertips tapping lightly in the empty air a few times.

Suddenly, she grasped Lin Shu’s hand.

Lin Shu was startled, her eyes widening, “Why are you holding my hand?”

As she spoke, her face turned slightly red, and she shrank back, wanting to break free.

Shen Man squeezed it once, then let go at the right moment, saying with a smile, “Shushu, it’s very normal for friends to hold hands, why is your reaction so big?”

“Because…” Lin Shu prepared to retort, but meeting that pair of smiling eyes, her imposing manner instantly weakened.

She turned her head, looked around, and saw several pairs of girls holding hands, standing very close, talking and laughing, looking very happy.

“That’s other people, I don’t like holding hands with you,” Lin Shu said proudly, forcefully shaking her hand and striding forward.

Shen Man’s palm hurt slightly, and she followed behind at an unhurried pace.

Lin Shu walked for a distance, calmed down, and looked back.

Shen Man was picking up a leaf from the roadside. As if she had realized something, she looked up, smiled, and said, “Shushu, the maple leaves here are quite beautiful.”

Lin Shu did not speak, just kept a cold face.

She waited for a while, and seeing that Shen Man had not gotten up yet, she said loudly, “Hurry up and come over, or I’ll go back by myself.”

Shen Man glanced at Lin Shu and continued to pick maple leaves.

Lin Shu’s little face puffed up in anger. She walked a few steps forward and threw the finished milk tea into the trash can.

There was a long bench nearby.

She glanced at Shen Man and sat down with anger.

Shen Man finally found a satisfactory maple leaf.

Half red, half withered yellow, like half passion, half desolation.

Shen Man walked over with the leaf, placed it in front of Lin Shu’s eyes, and said with a smile, “Shushu, is it beautiful?”

Lin Shu responded with a snort.

“If Shushu doesn’t like it, I’ll go pick a better one,” Shen Man said in a soft voice.

“This is for me?” Lin Shu was somewhat taken aback.

“Yes,” Shen Man smiled, her eyes gentle.

Lin Shu’s little face turned red, she reached out to take the maple leaf, and said with a look of reluctance, “It’s alright, I guess. This one will do.”

After she finished speaking, she stood up, the corners of her mouth lightly hooking up.

Shen Man followed.

Yin Ruxu’s words echoed in her ears, “You’re so good to Lin Shu…”

These young girls were still too naive; simple accommodation was seen as being good to someone in their eyes.

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