I Am More Paranoid Than the Villain – Chapter 37

Secretly Looking at Her

Do you hope I will stay?

Once the lively Christmas passed, everything seemed to become cold and desolate again.

The exams for each subject began to approach.

Besides having to study, Shen Man also had to handle various class affairs, and was basically in a busy state every day.

In contrast, Lin Shu was not the least bit anxious about the approaching exams; during class, she played on her phone and opened a small difference¹ as usual.

After finishing a day of classes.

Shen Man felt a little tired, reached out her hand, and rubbed the space between her eyebrows.

As she was packing up her textbooks, she turned her head to glance at Lin Shu behind her and asked, “Shushu, the exams are about to start, are you tense?”

“What is there to be tense about, it’s not like I’ll hang a subject².” Lin Shu replied with an unconcerned look on her face.

“I’ve never seen you pay serious attention in class, can you really pass the exams?” Shen Man asked suspiciously.

“Of course I can.” Lin Shu raised an eyebrow, the bottom of her eyes full of confidence, “A genius like me just needs to listen casually.”

Shen Man was amused to laughter by these words and no longer dwelled on this question.

Tan Kai walked over with his backpack on, looked at the two of them and said, “I’m going to transfer my major next semester, so I won’t be able to attend classes with you anymore.”

“Why did you suddenly think of transferring majors?” Lin Shu asked, not understanding.

Tan Kai scratched his head, a little embarrassed, and said with a smile, “This is my parents’ decision, they want me to take over the company as soon as possible.”

“Then have you chosen a major?” Lin Shu asked.

Tan Kai nodded.

“Then we can’t attend class together in the future.” Lin Shu sighed, her expression regretful.

“It’s alright, you can still find me if you need anything.” Tan Kai comforted with a smile, and after speaking, he looked at Shen Man and slowly smiled.

Shen Man smiled lightly and nodded.

Tan Kai sent the two of them back.

Shen Man stood in the entryway, and glimpsing the string of car keys, she said while changing her shoes, “Shushu, when winter break comes, I’m preparing to go get my driver’s license. Next semester I’ll drive you to school, to avoid always troubling Tan Kai.”

Lin Shu made an ‘en’ sound, sat on the sofa playing with her phone, typing quickly with one hand.

Shen Man walked over, glanced, and saw that it was a small group chat with three people.

Lin Shu was probably chatting with Ding Xi and also Yan Jie.

“Ai, Tan Kai is going to transfer majors, I’m also thinking a little about transferring.” Lin Shu typed.

“Ah! Which major is he transferring to?” Ding Xi replied in a second.

Lin Shu typed out the name of the major.

“Is he really going to transfer to this major?” Ding Xi asked again.

Lin Shu frowned and sent a voice message over, “He told me with his own mouth, how could this be fake?”

“I didn’t mean that, I was just a little surprised.” Ding Xi hurriedly typed to explain, and sent a cute sticker pack, “Lin Shu-jie, what major are you thinking of transferring to?”

“I don’t know, it was just heart blood coming to tide³.” Lin Shu said.

“Lin Shu-jie, you are very interested in design and have a talent for it, if you study well you can be a first-class designer in the future, maybe you can even walk onto the great international stage.” Ding Xi said in praise.

Lin Shu started to smile happily, “Forget it, I’m not transferring anymore, in the future I will definitely become the most outstanding designer. I will design many, many new products for my dad’s company, and make him scrape his eyes and look⁴.”

“I believe you definitely can.” Ding Xi said.

The two of them chatted and then started chatting about other topics.

Shen Man came out carrying the dishes and said softly, “Shushu, it’s time to eat dinner.”

“Got it.” Lin Shu finished typing, turned off her phone, and went to wash her hands with a face full of smiles.

Shen Man set out the bowls and chopsticks and sat down.

Lin Shu walked over smiling, looked at the dishes on the table, and said with a smile, “Today’s dishes are not bad.”

“It is good as long as Miss Lin likes them.” Auntie He said hurriedly.

After eating dinner, Lin Shu returned to her room.

Shen Man sat on the sofa eating fruit.

Auntie He was clearing the dining table and said as if making small talk, “Manman, you all are about to have winter break, right?”

Shen Man nodded and swallowed the tangerine in her mouth.

“Time passes quite quickly, in the blink of an eye, four months have passed.” Auntie He said with emotion, glancing at Lin Shu’s room and saying in a low voice, “Seeing you and Miss Lin getting along more and more harmoniously, I am also very happy in my heart.”

Shen Man lightly hooked her lips, but did not reply.

“Manman, are you going back home to celebrate the New Year during winter break?” Auntie He asked.

Hearing this, Shen Man’s hand movements paused for a moment, and after thinking for a moment she said, “I haven’t decided yet.”

“If you don’t go back, you can accompany Miss Lin more, she is quite lonely by herself.” Auntie He said, then the topic of conversation turned, and she added with a smile, “How could anyone not go back for a reunion during the New Year? Your family should also be hoping you go back.”

Shen Man suddenly thought of a question, raised her head, and looking at Auntie He asked, “When will you be going back to celebrate the New Year?”

“Me, I go back every year on the day of the Little New Year⁵.” Auntie He said with a smile, a look of anticipation on her face.

“Then what about Shushu?” Shen Man asked again.

“Miss Lin probably goes to Chairman Lin’s place.” Auntie He replied uncertainly, “Or, she goes out to have fun with her friends, I’m not clear on the specifics either.”

“I only know that every time I come back to work after the New Year, Miss Lin’s mood is not very good. On those days, she is especially difficult to serve, I even have to walk with extreme care.”

Shen Man’s delicate eyebrows wrinkled slightly.

Auntie He sighed, an expression of lingering fear still on her face, “I hope that with you here this year, Miss Lin will be a little better.”

Shen Man chuckled lightly and continued to eat her fruit.

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Busily, the final exams arrived in the blink of an eye.

After three days of testing, all subjects were finished.

Walking out of the classroom, the classmates all excitedly discussed how they would have fun during winter break.

Lin Shu carried her schoolbag, her small face cold, and walked through the crowd that was full of joyous sounds and laughter.

It was as if she was in a different world from everyone else.

Shen Man helped the teacher collect the test papers and delivered them to the office.

The head teacher said with a smile, “Shen Man, this semester’s scholarship will hit your account in the next two days, you pay attention and look.”

“Okay, thank you.” Shen Man revealed a happy and simple smile.

Coming out of the office, Shen Man walked toward the driving school enrollment area.

Probably because winter break was starting, there were several students making inquiries.

Shen Man stood to one side and listened.

The money in her hands was not much, enough to pay the tuition fee, but the school’s scholarship had to be used for next semester’s living expenses.

This winter break, she had to get a part-time job to earn money.

Shen Man took a photo of the driving school’s contact information and left with her schoolbag on her back.

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Back inside the house.

Shen Man was changing her shoes in the entryway when a bang came from the kitchen, like the sound of a plate falling to the ground and shattering.

Immediately following was Lin Shu’s angry accusation, “How can you not even hold a plate properly? Did my dad invite you here to have you smash plates for me to see?”

“I’m sorry… Miss Lin, I didn’t do it on purpose…” Auntie He apologized, nervous and afraid.

Shen Man walked over, her tall and slender figure blocking the light.

The two of them looked toward her.

“What are you looking at?” Lin Shu had an angry expression on her face, and after speaking, she walked outside, full of anger.

As she passed by Shen Man, she directly bumped into Shen Man’s shoulder.

Shen Man slightly ate pain⁶.

She looked at Auntie He and asked, “What happened? Shushu is sending out such a big temper.”

“I don’t know either.” Auntie He picked up the fragments on the floor, a look of grievance on her face, “Miss Lin’s facial expression hasn’t been good since she came back, one moment she says my clothes are wrinkled from drying, the next moment she says I didn’t mop the floor clean… she was nonstop finding problems and lectured me for a long time.”

“Manman, if you go back, I really don’t know how I’ll get along with Miss Lin.” Auntie He said, sighing worriedly.

Just as Shen Man was about to speak.

Her phone rang, the caller ID note was ‘Maternal Aunt’.

Shen Man answered it.

Just then, Lin Shu’s room door was opened, and Lin Shu came out carrying a stack of magazines, glared at Shen Man, and walked toward the living room.

“Maternal Aunt, is there anything?” Shen Man asked in a well-behaved voice, her eyes watching Lin Shu.

Lin Shu stood in front of the coffee table, her hands loosened, and she let the magazines fall from her arms, landing on the coffee table with thump thump sounds.

One magazine fell at her feet, and she kicked it far away.

“Manman, you’ve finished your exams, right? When are you coming back to celebrate the New Year?” Maternal Aunt asked with a smile.

“Celebrate the New Year…” Shen Man said hesitantly.

The sound of her voice had just fallen when she saw Lin Shu’s body stiffen, and she turned her head to look at her.

A trace of tension flashed through that pair of black-and-white distinct almond eyes, which then arrogantly moved to the side.

Lin Shu sat down on the sofa and casually picked up a magazine to look at.

Using the magazine as cover, she quietly looked toward Shen Man’s side.

Shen Man was standing.

Her height advantage allowed her to take in all of Lin Shu’s small movements.

“I haven’t decided when to go back yet.” Shen Man said, also sitting down on the sofa.

Lin Shu hurriedly lowered her head, her eyeballs staring at the person on the cover.

After a while, she held the magazine a little higher, using the corner of her eye to steal a glimpse of Shen Man.

Shen Man smiled lightly, and after the person on the other end finished speaking, she said in a troubled voice, “I have to learn to drive, I might not have a way to go back for the New Year this year.”

“Is that so, well then, if you want to come back, just say the word anytime, I’ll have your uncle⁷ go to town to pick you up.” Maternal Aunt said, somewhat disappointed.

Shen Man hung up the phone, leaned over, and her slender fingers tapped the magazine, she smiled and reminded, “Shushu, you’re holding the magazine upside down.”

Lin Shu hurriedly righted it, and after a moment’s pause, glared angrily at Shen Man, “What business is it of yours? Managing too many idle matters.”

As she spoke, she stood up.

Suddenly there was a force on her wrist.

“Ah…” Lin Shu exclaimed, her body falling uncontrollably into a soft embrace.

She raised her head and met a pair of smiling eyes.

Deep and charming, like a mysterious sea, causing one to be dazzled and mesmerized.

“Shen Man, let go of me!” Lin Shu struggled, her face flushing red.

Shen Man easily grasped that pair of wildly waving hands, moved closer, their faces touching, and asked with a pleasant smile, “Shushu, do you hope I will stay or go back to celebrate the New Year?”

Lin Shu instantly stopped moving, thought seriously for two seconds, and her fair little face was again full of anger, “What business is it of mine whether you go back or not? It’s not like I’m keeping you.”

“Is that so?” Shen Man drew out her tone, her rosy lips brushing past a white and tender earlobe, “If you don’t hope for me to stay, then I’ll go pack my things right now.”

“You wait!” Lin Shu shouted without thinking, her fingers grabbing Shen Man’s arm forcefully.

After speaking, she froze again, the tips of her ears flushing a little red, spreading to her snow-white, slender neck, and then continuing upwards to redden her cheeks.

Shen Man watched quietly, her smile full.

The warm breath continuously fell on that small, flushed face, dyeing the young girl’s cheeks even redder, like a gorgeous and moving rose.

Lin Shu looked at that pair of confident eyes and bit her teeth fiercely, “Whatever you want!”

As she spoke, she stood up, “Let go of me!”

Shen Man obediently released her hands, the smile on her face not diminishing.

Auntie He came out of the room and asked cautiously, “Manman, what happened? I thought I heard the sound of Miss Lin being angry.”

“It’s nothing.” Shen Man gave a faint smile, “Shushu probably won’t inexplicably send out a temper like today again.”

“That’s really great.” Auntie He let out a breath of relief, a smile appearing on her face, “I can tell that Miss Lin really likes you. Although she is always angry at you, as long as you coax her with a couple of sentences, it’s fine.”

“Is that so?” Shen Man chuckled lightly, her deep pupils obscure and unclear.

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