I Am More Paranoid Than the Villain – Chapter 41

Accompany Her Together

Having someone accompanying you is the only way to not be lonely

Auntie He was not here, so the matters of cooking and cleaning all had to be done by Shen Man.

After eating lunch, Shen Man was busy in the kitchen.

Lin Shu leaned against the sofa, watching television, leisurely eating fruit.

The sunlight from outside the window shone in, plating the clean and tidy living room with a layer of warm gold.

Half of Lin Shu’s body was enveloped in the sunlight.

She raised a hand, shielding her eyes, and squinted her eyes to gaze at the sky outside.

In her impression, the Little New Year was always spent by herself.

In the enormous house, there was only her, and she did not want to do anything.

Auntie He would make her breakfast, and she would basically sleep until it was dark before getting up, eating her breakfast as dinner.

Outside was bustling with noise and excitement, yet she felt empty from the inside out.

She did not like celebrating the New Year.

Or, it should be said, she hated staying alone in the house.

After Shen Man finished her work, she came out and saw the young woman on the sofa staring blankly outside.

She smiled and asked, “Shushu, what are you looking at?”

Lin Shu returned to her senses.

She shot Shen Man a glance, her eyes resuming their usual arrogance, “How do you people over there celebrate the Little New Year?”

“Over at our place, ah…” Shen Man sat down, pondering, and after thinking for a while said, “There’s nothing special, just cleaning the house and eating dumplings.”

“Can you make dumplings?” Lin Shu’s eyes lit up as she asked with great interest.

Shen Man nodded.

“We’ll eat dumplings tonight.” Lin Shu immediately announced happily.

“There are no ingredients for making dumplings in the refrigerator, we need to go to the supermarket to buy them.” Shen Man said, looking at Lin Shu with a smile, “Shushu, you come with me.”

“Why should I go with you?” Lin Shu refused directly, using the remote control to change the channel, “I’m not doing that kind of tiring work.”

“The rule over at our place is, if you don’t work, you don’t get to eat dumplings.” Shen Man said slowly and deliberately.

Lin Shu paused, pursed her lips, stood up, and while walking towards her room said unhappily, “If I have to go, I’ll go.”

Shen Man chuckled lightly.

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The supermarket was very crowded, filled everywhere with the bustling sound of people.

Many parents were with their children, buying all sorts of delicious and fun things.

New Year songs were playing over the broadcast, and various couplets¹ and Fu characters² were displayed in conspicuous places.

It was filled with a thick New Year flavor.

Shen Man got a shopping cart.

Lin Shu followed behind, her fine eyebrows slightly furrowed, “Why are there so many people? It looks so crowded.”

“It’s almost the New Year, so it’s crowded and lively.” Shen Man said, turning her head to see Lin Shu’s frowning expression, and asked, “Shushu, you don’t like it?”

Lin Shu pursed her lips, did not speak, and looked around with wide eyes.

Shen Man bought some dumpling wrappers, pork, corn, shiitake mushrooms, and also celery.

Lin Shu looked at the ingredients in the shopping cart and asked, puzzled, “What are you buying these things for?”

“These are all ingredients for making dumplings.” Shen Man said, reaching out to grab a seasoning packet from the shelf and carefully reading the description.

Lin Shu stood to the side, bored.

She looked around. The little children were dressed beautifully, with happy smiles on their faces, following their fathers and mothers, getting whatever they wanted just by acting cute.

A trace of envy grew in Lin Shu’s heart.

She turned her head to glance at Shen Man, and imitating Shen Man’s manner, she picked up a packet of seasoning, turned it over and over to look at it, and said, “Just buy any packet, they all look pretty much the same anyway.”

“Different seasonings make for different flavors.” Shen Man said, selecting one of them, “This one is more suitable for the filling we are making today.”

Lin Shu could not understand, and pointed to the children’s toy section not far away, saying, “I want to buy something.”

“Okay.” Shen Man nodded.

The toy section had an especially large number of children.

They were jumping and running around, from time to time speaking to the parents beside them in milky voices, looking extremely cute.

Lin Shu walked up to a row of dolls and chose them seriously.

Shen Man stood to the side, watching her choose.

A little girl walked over, tilted her head up to look at Lin Shu, and asked softly, “Da Jiejie³, do you like stuffed dolls too?”

Lin Shu lowered her head, glanced at the little girl, and continued to choose.

Seeing this, Shen Man smiled gently and said, “Yes, big sister is just like you all, she also likes stuffed dolls.”

“My mom bought this for me.” The little girl said happily, showing the stuffed doll in her arms to Shen Man, “I think it’s the cutest.”

Lin Shu paused, her fingers gripping a corner of the stuffed doll tightly, and said in a cold voice, “What’s there to show off about this?”

“I’m not showing off, the teacher said we should share things we like with other children.” The little girl was not scared at all, retorting articulately.

Shen Man could not help but laugh out loud.

Lin Shu immediately glared at her, her small face filled with displeased anger, “What are you laughing at?”

“Nothing.” Shen Man shook her head, composing the smile on her face, “This little girl is quite cute.”

“Thank you, sister, sister is also very pretty.” The little girl smiled happily and ran off, hugging her cloth doll.

“Whose parents are they, not even watching their child properly, letting her run around.” Lin Shu grumbled unhappily, instantly losing the mood to buy a stuffed doll. She turned and glared at Shen Man, “Hurry up and go check out.”

After speaking, she strode forward by herself, looking to be in a very bad mood.

Shen Man tilted her head, looking at the red stuffed doll in the middle.

After pondering for a few seconds, she reached out, grabbed it, and put it in the shopping cart.

There were many people lining up to check out.

Lin Shu waited impatiently, and said with a cold little face, “You line up here, I’ll wait for you outside.”

“Okay.” Shen Man agreed with a light smile.

Lin Shu passed through the crowd and went outside to stand.

She leaned against the wall, looking at the checkout area.

It was only a few steps away, but it was exceptionally lively there, while here it was so quiet she could hear the sound of the wind blowing from the corridor.

Lin Shu lowered her eyes.

Thinking of what the little girl had said just now, she let out a self-mocking snort.

“Da Jiejie, why are you here by yourself? Where is that pretty sister?” A soft voice sounded beside her.

Lin Shu looked up and saw that it was the same little girl from before, holding a woman’s hand.

“I’m sorry, this child is too naughty, always likes to talk to people.” The woman had a gentle smile on her face.

Lin Shu was taken aback, turned her head away, and did not speak.

“Goodbye, big sister.” The little girl waved with a happy smile.

Lin Shu turned her head, gazing at the departing backs of the two.

“Shushu, this is for you.” A splash of red suddenly appeared before her eyes.

Lin Shu immediately saw it was the stuffed doll she had been choosing for a long time, and her hand moved faster than her brain to quickly take it.

Soon, the expression on her face froze, and she awkwardly held the stuffed doll out, “Here, take it back, I don’t want it.”

“This is my New Year’s gift to Shushu.” Shen Man said with a smile, holding two bags in her hands, and raised them in front of Lin Shu, saying, “I don’t have any hands to hold the stuffed doll anymore.”

“I’ll hold it.” Lin Shu said immediately, hugging the stuffed doll tightly, unable to stop the corners of her lips from hooking up.

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Back in the house.

Lin Shu sat on the sofa, hugging the stuffed doll and watching television.

Shen Man was in the kitchen preparing the dumpling filling.

After being busy for an hour, everything was ready.

Shen Man began to wrap the dumplings.

Lin Shu walked into the kitchen, saw Shen Man’s fingers flipping nimbly, and moved closer to ask curiously, “Are you wrapping dumplings?”

“Mhm.” Shen Man responded, placing the wrapped dumplings neatly.

Lin Shu reached out a hand, fiddled with one, and the sensation at her fingertip was soft and springy.

She took a dumpling wrapper, and imitating Shen Man’s actions, she placed the pork and other vegetable fillings in it one by one.

For the first few steps, Lin Shu learned with a striking resemblance to the real thing, and couldn’t help but say smugly, “This isn’t that hard.”

Shen Man gave a light chuckle and wrapped another one.

Lin Shu began to seal the edge, but the dumpling just wouldn’t seal tightly.

She puffed up her cheeks, looking at Shen Man, “Why won’t mine wrap properly?”

“You put too much pork filling.” Shen Man said, reaching out to take Lin Shu’s dumpling, redid it, and soon it was wrapped well.

Lin Shu watched seriously, her gaze falling on Shen Man’s long and slender fingers, and she curiously rubbed one, “How did you do that?”

Shen Man was caught off guard, her body stiffened, and the well-wrapped dumpling scattered on the table, the filling inside rolling out.

She said, “Shushu, go wait in the living room, don’t cause trouble here.”

“I’m not causing trouble.” Lin Shu retorted, unconvinced, “I’m clearly helping.”

“You were the one who said, if you don’t work, you don’t get to eat dumplings.”

Shen Man was stunned, a helpless smile appearing in her eyes. She took out a stack of dumpling wrappers and said, “You be in charge of putting in the filling, I’ll do the wrapping.”

“Mhm.” Lin Shu obediently did as she was told.

The kitchen quieted down for a moment.

Shen Man looked up.

She saw the young woman holding a dumpling wrapper, placing filling on it with a serious expression. That arrogant little face was full of caution, and she didn’t even notice that her expensive clothes had been stained with filling.

“Look, did I put too much or too little filling in these dumplings?” Lin Shu asked.

“You did a good job.” Shen Man glanced at them and praised.

Lin Shu immediately smiled happily, clapped the flour off her hands, and curled her lips smugly, “I told you it wasn’t hard.”

“Shushu, wait a moment.” Shen Man said suddenly.

“What’s wrong?” Lin Shu blinked her eyes and asked, puzzled.

Shen Man reached out her hand, her fingertip landing on Lin Shu’s face, gently rubbing it.

Lin Shu’s body stiffened.

She stared blankly at the beautiful face so close to her, and after being stunned for a few seconds, she came to her senses, preparing to scold her angrily.

Shen Man released her hand and said with a smile, “You got flour on your face.”

Lin Shu pursed her lips, her face red with a mix of shyness and anger, and said in a fierce tone, “You finish wrapping the rest yourself, call me when it’s done.”

“Okay.” Shen Man replied in a soft voice.

Lin Shu returned to the living room.

Sitting on the sofa, she forcefully pinched the two ears of the stuffed doll and muttered in a low voice, “Stupid Shen Man!”

Shen Man finished boiling the dumplings, came out carrying a full plate, and said with a smile, “Shushu, come and eat dumplings.”

Lin Shu put down the stuffed doll, walked over, sat down, looked at them carefully, and pointed at one of the dumplings, saying, “Why is this one so ugly?”

“That’s the one you wrapped.” Shen Man said.

Lin Shu choked, her face flushed red, and she opened her lips wanting to argue.

Meeting the smile in Shen Man’s eyes, she snorted, picked up that dumpling, and ate it in one bite.

Shen Man placed the mixed dipping sauces to the side and said, “I mixed two kinds of sauces, this one is on the spicy side, the other one has sesame paste.”

Lin Shu tasted a bite of both and nodded in satisfaction, “They’re both delicious.”

“As long as Shushu likes it.” Shen Man chuckled lightly, her eyes and brows gentle.

Lin Shu was stunned, her eyes flickered a few times, she lowered her head and ate her dumplings seriously.

Shen Man noticed that the young woman’s delicate cheeks were a pretty shade of red, and even the tips of her ears, veiled by her black hair, were flushed.

She chuckled lightly, picked up a dumpling and placed it in Lin Shu’s bowl, saying, “This one is a corn and shiitake mushroom filling, no meat.”

Hearing this, Lin Shu’s brow wrinkled slightly.

After hesitating for a moment, she still ate it.

After finishing the dumplings, Shen Man cleared the bowls and chopsticks.

Lin Shu leaned on the sofa, hugging the stuffed doll.

The sky outside had already turned dark.

Lin Shu gazed at the flashing neon lights on the tall buildings in the distance, her eyes slightly dazed.

Usually at this time, she would have just woken up, sitting alone in the cold and cheerless house, staring blankly outside.

This time, however, the light and sounds coming from the kitchen dispelled the coldness and loneliness in the house.

Lin Shu lowered her head, looking at the red stuffed doll in her arms.

The festive color and design carried a full New Year flavor, and along with it, made her feel a trace of liveliness as well.

Lin Shu pursed her lips, revealing a smile.

Shen Man was standing at the kitchen doorway and happened to see this scene.

The young woman’s eyes could not hide her loneliness and sorrow, yet the smile on her face was so stubborn, as if she had long been accustomed to it, and as if she didn’t care.

Shen Man was taken aback, a very subtle pain rising in her heart.

But in a moment, this strange feeling disappeared.

She let out a laugh and said, “Shushu, there are only a few days left until the New Year, do you have any plans?”

“Sleep at home, what other plans could there be.” Lin Shu said with a look of indifference.

“Do you want to go to Uncle Lin’s place for the New Year?” Shen Man asked, softening her tone.

Hearing this, Lin Shu sneered, “He’s very busy, how would he have time for the New Year.”

“Their family is having a reunion, how could I be so shameless as to go and disturb them.” This sentence was said with extreme sarcasm.

Shen Man roughly understood her feelings and did not bring up this topic again, saying with a smile, “Then this year, it will be just me and Shushu celebrating the New Year together.”

“Mhm.” Lin Shu responded, lowering her eyes, her face slightly red.

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From the Little New Year to the Thirtieth of the Year⁴, it was all sunny days.

Shen Man aired out all the bedding and clothes in the house.

Lin Shu just sat on the sofa every day, eating fruit and watching television.

“Shushu, I need to go down to buy groceries for the New Year’s meal⁵. There are snacks in the living room, if you get hungry, eat a little.” Shen Man said, standing at the entryway, changing her shoes.

“I’ll go with you.” Lin Shu immediately got up from the sofa.

Shen Man chuckled lightly and said, “The morning market is very crowded, it’s both packed and chaotic. You just play in the house, I’ll be back soon.”

Hearing this, Lin Shu hesitated for a while, sat down again, and said with a pouting mouth, “You have to come back quickly.”

“Okay, I’ll be back in half an hour.” Shen Man said with a smile, closing the door and leaving.

Lin Shu sat on the sofa, her eyes fixed on the television, yet she didn’t take anything in.

She frequently glanced at the wall clock; time was passing exceptionally slowly.

Lin Shu was a bit vexed.

The sound of the television was making her agitated, so she turned it off, stood up, walked to the balcony, and looked down at the path Shen Man had to take.

From time to time, a figure would appear in her field of vision, but none of them were Shen Man.

Lin Shu, with a cold little face, walked back to the sofa, picked up her phone, and saw that the time displayed showed only ten minutes had passed.

She pursed her lips, threw the phone away, and lay down somewhat listlessly.

The phone rang.

Lin Shu’s spirits lifted, and she immediately sat up.

Seeing the caller ID was ‘Old Man Lin’, she let out a disdainful scoff, answered it, and said impolitely, “What made you think of calling me?”

“What kind of attitude is this?” Lin Huai reprimanded with dissatisfaction.

“An attitude of surprise.” Lin Shu snorted coldly, saying words that were not from the heart.

Lin Huai’s face showed anger, but he endured it, controlled his anger and said, “Today you will come to my place for the New Year…”

“I don’t have time.” Lin Shu interrupted impatiently, her words full of mockery, “I’m afraid if I go over, I’ll see something I shouldn’t see, and it will dirty my eyes.”

“You…” A voice full of anger came from the other side.

Lin Shu hung up the phone directly, and as if victorious, she started to laugh happily.

She propped her cheeks with both hands, looking at the wall clock in a cheerful mood, counting along with it second by second in her heart.

Exactly half an hour had passed.

Lin Shu picked up her phone and decisively pressed Shen Man’s number.

After waiting for a while, the call finally connected, and she immediately said loudly, “Shen Man, why aren’t you back yet?”

“I’m at the door, can you help me open it.” Shen Man said.

Lin Shu, holding the phone, ran over, opened the door, and saw Shen Man’s hands full of things. She asked, puzzled, “It’s just the two of us eating, do we need to buy so many groceries?”

“The New Year’s meal needs to be sumptuous.” Shen Man said with a smile, walked into the house, changed her shoes and asked, “Shushu, how did you used to celebrate the New Year before?”

“I don’t know.” Lin Shu said unhappily, not wanting to talk about this topic.

Shen Man smiled and carried the groceries into the kitchen.

Lin Shu followed behind, curiously checking what was inside each bag, and asked, “You’re making so many dishes by yourself, how long will you be busy?”

“Probably until one or two in the afternoon.” Shen Man said, putting on an apron, sorting and putting away the groceries, and said, “Go play in the living room.”

Lin Shu didn’t move, picked up a green vegetable, and fiddled with its leaves.

Seeing this, Shen Man started to get busy and no longer paid attention to Lin Shu.

Lin Shu couldn’t help, and didn’t want to be bored playing in the living room alone, so she followed behind Shen Man like a little tail.

Whenever she saw something she didn’t understand, she would ask Shen Man.

Shen Man patiently told her one by one.

At one o’clock, Shen Man had finished all the dishes and said with a smile, “Shushu, go wash your hands. I’ll bring the dishes out, and we can start eating.”

Lin Shu’s eyes lit up, she touched her stomach, and obediently walked out.

Shen Man looked at the young woman’s skipping steps and smiled slightly.

She could feel that Lin Shu was clingy to her today, as if she was afraid she would run away.

Lin Shu quickly washed her hands, sat at the table, her eyes full of excitement, and said happily, “We can finally eat the New Year’s meal.”

Shen Man heard the meaning in her words, brought the dishes out, and said with a smile, “I’m very happy to be able to celebrate the New Year with Shushu this time.”

“Mhm.” Lin Shu curved the corners of her mouth and gave a muffled ‘mhm’.

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