To become flustered when one cares1
The moment she felt relieved, a boundless anger rose in her heart
Lin Shu sat in the car.
The car window was open, and the cold wind poured into her collar from time to time. The cold made her body tremble, and her heart also became calm.
Lin Shu carefully thought back on her own behavior today. The more she thought, the angrier she became, and she forcefully knocked on the car window glass.
With a thump sound, it was very loud.
She was startled and looked toward the car window, immediately seeing Shen Man standing outside with a sullen face.
“Shen Man, who provoked you?” Lin Shu opened the car window, her smile smug.
Shen Man hooked her lips, revealing a light smile. She exhaled a breath and said, “It’s a bit cold today.”
Lin Shu gave a sneering laugh.
Shen Man got into the car, her slender fingers tapping on the steering wheel.
Lin Shu glanced over, smiling even more happily. She fastened her seatbelt and said, “Shen Man, she is the Xia family’s thousand gold, and also a study-abroad student. She has seen much and knows a lot2; she doesn’t care about your ingratiation at all.”
Shen Man was angered to the point of laughing and started the car.
Seeing this, Lin Shu’s heart trembled. She put away her sarcastic thoughts3 and sat obediently without speaking.
Shen Man parked the car at the entrance of a milk tea shop.
Lin Shu glanced at it and couldn’t help but feel a flicker of joy, but she still kept a straight face and asked, “What are you stopping here for?”
“Don’t you want to drink milk tea?” Shen Man said, unbuckling her seatbelt. “What do you want to drink? I’ll go buy it.”
Lin Shu thought for a moment with aojiao pride4, and said nonchalantly, “Taro ball5 milk tea, thirty percent sugar, add extra coconut jelly.”
Shen Man nodded, closed the car door casually, and walked toward the milk tea shop.
Lin Shu’s lips curled up, her mood becoming cheerful.
Suddenly, she froze and muttered to herself in a low voice, “It’s just a cup of milk tea, what am I so happy about?”
After speaking, she returned to her cold expression.
Shen Man came back after buying a cup of milk tea.
Opening the car door, she handed it to Lin Shu and reminded her, “It’s a bit hot.”
“Thanks.” Lin Shu reached out to accept it, thanking her coolly.
Shen Man looked at Lin Shu suspiciously.
The two made eye contact.
Lin Shu held her chin high, picked up the straw, and forcefully pierced the seal. She asked with a displeased face, “What are you looking at?”
“Nothing.” Shen Man let out a light laugh, her gaze soft.
Lin Shu was suddenly stunned, her small face gradually turning red.
She lowered her head and took a sip of the milk tea, but she was too hasty and choked on it.
“Cough cough… so hot…” Lin Shu covered her lips and coughed, tears welling up in her eyes from the heat.
Shen Man leaned over, reached out, and cupped Lin Shu’s small face, blowing gently on that red lip.
Lin Shu’s heartbeat stopped, and her whole body froze in place.
A wave of heat rose from her back and climbed up her cheeks at an extremely fast speed.
Her face instantly turned red, and the air she exhaled carried a scorching temperature.
“Shushu, be more careful. I already told you the milk tea was very hot,” Shen Man chided with concern.
She pulled out a tissue and slowly wiped the milk tea that had dripped onto Lin Shu’s clothes, then asked again, “Did you get burned?”
Lin Shu lowered her eyes, quietly looking at the cool and clear face that was so close.
Her heart seemed to skip a beat.
“It should be fine now,” Shen Man said after a careful look.
Lin Shu came back to her senses, reached out, and slapped Shen Man’s hand away. She said with a cold face, “I was fine to begin with. You’re the one making a big fuss over nothing6.”
A trace of pain flared on the back of Shen Man’s hand.
Her eyes narrowed slightly, and a smile of unclear meaning hooked the corners of her lips.
Lin Shu’s heart tightened.
Her body shrank back slightly, her fingers clutching the milk tea tightly as she stared at Shen Man warily.
Shen Man smiled, leaned over again, and asked with a kind smile, “Shushu, is the milk tea sweet?”
Hearing this, Lin Shu instantly had a bad premonition in her heart.
Before she could answer, a shadow fell over her.
A warmth touched Lin Shu’s lips.
Shen Man’s eyes were open as she slowly licked/lapped at that soft, red lip.
The sweet flavor of taro balls spread between their lips.
Lin Shu’s eyes widened, her red lips slightly parted.
For a moment, she forgot to breathe.
A light laugh escaped from Shen Man’s throat.
She licked her glistening lips with satisfaction, sat up straight, and said, “Shushu’s milk tea is really sweet.”
She deliberately dragged out the tone of the last two words.
Lin Shu’s small face flushed crimson.
She hurriedly opened the car window for some air, lowering her head to drink the milk tea to hide the blush on her face.
Shen Man looked in the rearview mirror and smiled slightly.
She started the car leisurely and said with a smile in her voice, “The winter vacation is about to end. School starts tomorrow.”
Lin Shu gave a barely audible ‘en’.
She opened her lips, wanting to question the kiss just now, but the words died on her lips, and she swallowed them back down.
Shen Man noticed this action.
She smiled, looked straight ahead, and drove with a cheerful expression.
Lin Shu hung her head, biting her rosy lips, and issued a warning that lacked momentum, “In the future, you’re not allowed to kiss me again.”
These words had been said many times.
Shen Man chuckled lightly, being noncommittal.
The winter vacation ended, and everything returned to the school routine.
Auntie He made breakfast and served it on the table.
Lin Shu had put on exquisite makeup and was dressed up beautifully.
She walked out just in time to see Shen Man coming out of her room.
The two’s four eyes met.
Lin Shu snorted arrogantly and walked toward the living room.
Shen Man closed the door and followed behind at an unhurried pace.
“Manman, Miss Lin, come eat breakfast,” Auntie He said with a smile.
Shen Man nodded, glanced at the breakfast on the table, sat down, and ate slowly.
“Manman, today is the first day of school. Don’t forget the books you need to bring,” Auntie He reminded.
“I’ve brought them all,” Shen Man said, turning her head to look at Lin Shu. “Shushu, what about you?”
Lin Shu shot her a sideways glance. “You don’t need to be nosy.”
Hearing this, a trace of an awkward smile appeared on Auntie He’s face. She looked at Shen Man and said, “My apologies for my meddling.”
“You meant well, please don’t take it to heart,” Shen Man comforted.
Auntie He’s mood improved a little. She nodded and turned to get busy in the kitchen.
Just after they finished breakfast, Lin Shu’s phone rang.
Shen Man glanced and saw that it was Tan Kai calling.
Lin Shu wiped her mouth, answered the phone, and asked with a smile, “Tan Kai, how do you have time to call me?”
“I’m downstairs at your place. Have you finished breakfast? I’ll drive you to school,” Tan Kai said.
Hearing this, Lin Shu glanced at Shen Man and said cheerfully, “No need to trouble you. From now on, someone will be driving me to school exclusively.”
“Who is it, ya7?” Tan Kai asked curiously.
“Shen Man!” Lin Shu raised her volume smugly.
“Shen Man?” Tan Kai was extremely puzzled.
“She got her driver’s license during the winter vacation,” Lin Shu explained in a good mood, her eyebrows raised. “And she said that she will be the one driving from now on.”
As she spoke, she looked at Shen Man with a haughty expression.
That pair of round eyes seemed to be seeking confirmation of the credibility of her words.
Shen Man nodded.
Lin Shu instantly became even more smug.
“Alright then, I won’t disturb you two beauties,” Tan Kai said with a teasing laugh.
Lin Shu hung up the phone, her fine eyebrows raised high. “Shen Man, you have to be true to your word.”
“Of course,” Shen Man chuckled lightly, picked up her own schoolbag, and hooked her lips ambiguously. “It’s my honor.”
The smile on Lin Shu’s face froze, and she stood up quickly.
Her movement was too fast, moving the chair and causing a piercing screech sound.
Shen Man reached out and righted the chair.
Lin Shu pouted, turned, and walked outside, saying as she went, “Besides driving, you also have to carry my schoolbag for me.”
“Okay,” Shen Man smiled dotingly.
The two drove to school.
Shen Man carried her own schoolbag and held Lin Shu’s schoolbag.
Before they even reached the doorway, they could hear the lively clamor coming from the classroom.
Shen Man walked closer and saw a group of people gathered together. She took a careful look8 and saw a girl sitting in the middle of the crowd.
It was precisely Xia Ke.
Xia Ke also saw Shen Man.
She stood up, waved her hand, and said with a smile, “Manman, good morning.”
“Good morning.” Shen Man smiled lightly, swept her gaze over the crowd of onlookers, and said in a calm tone, “Xia Ke is a new classmate. Everyone, don’t be overly enthusiastic, lest you scare her. You should give the new classmate some space.”
Hearing this, the classmates immediately dispersed.
Xia Ke smiled gratefully. “Manman, I’ll sit with you.”
Just as Shen Man was about to speak, Lin Shu’s cold voice came from behind her.
“Shen Man, give me my schoolbag.” After Lin Shu finished speaking, she walked toward an empty seat.
Shen Man gave Xia Ke an apologetic smile. “I’ve already arranged with Shushu to sit together.”
Her voice was not too loud and not too soft, just enough for Lin Shu to hear.
Lin Shu propped her chin on one hand, her slender fingers tapping on the desk.
She glanced at the two of them, then shifted her gaze away as if nothing had happened.
“It’s okay, I’ll sit in front of you then,” Xia Ke said with a smile, changing her tune.
Shen Man nodded and sat down next to Lin Shu.
Xia Ke moved her position, holding her own books, and sat in front of Shen Man.
She turned her head, leaned against Shen Man’s desk, and said happily, “Yin Ruxu is so nice. She accompanied me to buy all sorts of things yesterday and was very enthusiastic in helping me.”
Hearing this, Shen Man smiled and reminded her, “Shushu told her your identity.”
“Lin Shu, thank you for helping me with the introduction,” Xia Ke immediately said happily to Lin Shu.
Lin Shu ignored her, opened a textbook, and stared intently at the words on it.
Xia Ke shot Shen Man a helpless look.
Shen Man chuckled lightly and said no more.
Compared to the female lead in the original book, Xia Ke was more like a silly, white, sweet9.
Good family background, pretty looks, and also simple, kind, enthusiastic, and cheerful.
Even if Yin Ruxu was being nice to her with a motive, she wouldn’t go so far as to harm her.
The bell for class rang.
Shen Man listened to the lecture attentively.
Lin Shu propped her cheek up, bored, occasionally glancing at the notes in Shen Man’s textbook.
Shen Man noticed her gaze and turned her head with a smile.
Lin Shu’s heart tightened, and she hurriedly turned her head to look elsewhere.
A class passed by quickly.
Xia Ke turned around, saw Shen Man’s notes, and praised with a smile, “Manman, your handwriting is so beautiful, just like you as a person, carrying a kind of cool, gentle, and delicate beauty.”
“Thank you.” Shen Man smiled, closed her book, and asked, “First class, are you getting used to it?”
“It’s pretty good,” Xia Ke replied with a smile, chatting about some interesting things from her classes abroad.
Shen Man listened quietly.
Lin Shu turned her head and looked at the two of them talking and laughing, and a wave of stuffy anger rose in her heart for no reason.
She lay down on the desk, her elbow bumping into Shen Man as if unintentionally.
Shen Man felt a slight pain and reached out to rub the place that was hit.
Xia Ke stopped her chatter and asked with concern, “Manman, are you okay?”
Shen Man shook her head with a smile, looked at the time, and said, “I’m going to wash my hands.”
Xia Ke nodded.
She stared at Lin Shu for a moment10 and said in a gentle tone, “Lin Shu, I want to become good friends with you.”
“Just like you and Manman,” she added with a smile.
“She and I are not good friends at all,” Lin Shu raised her head and retorted with a cold face.
“Then what is your relationship?” Xia Ke’s interest was suddenly piqued, and she asked in a lowered voice.
“We…” Lin Shu was stuck for a moment, then changed the subject irritably, “What business is it of yours!”
Faced with Lin Shu’s harsh tone, Xia Ke was not the least bit angry and still had a smile on her face.
She mimicked Lin Shu’s posture by lying on the desk and said in a small voice, “A cool and aloof beauty like Manman is very likable. If I also liked women, I think I would11 like Manman’s type.”
Hearing this, Lin Shu sat up with a whoosh sound. With a sullen face, she squeezed out a voice from her throat, “How do you know Shen Man likes women?”
Xia Ke was startled by the seriousness in her words, paused for a moment, and then explained with a smile, “I could tell. Abroad, this kind of thing isn’t considered strange.”
“This is China,” Lin Shu warned in a low voice.
Xia Ke hurriedly waved her hands and explained in a placating tone, “I know, I won’t12 speak carelessly.”
Lin Shu shot her a sideways glance and continued to lie down to rest.
Xia Ke sat for a moment13, finally reacted, and asked in a small voice, “You know Shen Man likes women?”
Her words carried a trace of surprise, as if she had discovered a secret.
Lin Shu felt it was inexplicable and said impatiently, “What are you trying to say?”
“Nothing, it’s just that I feel… something is a bit strange between you two,” Xia Ke said hesitantly.
“What’s strange about it?” Lin Shu retorted unhappily. “You’re the strange one, saying things that are so unclear.”
Xia Ke knew she was in the wrong and didn’t say any more.
Shen Man returned after washing her hands and glanced around the classroom.
Lin Shu was lying down, sleeping. Xia Ke was enthusiastically chatting with the classmate in front of her, not at all like a newcomer.
Shen Man felt a sense of relief in her heart for some reason. She returned to her seat and opened the notes she had taken in the last class.
Lin Shu heard the movement beside her, revealed a pair of eyes from her arms, and glared angrily at Shen Man.
Shen Man was baffled.
She leaned closer and asked in a small voice, “Shushu, what happened?”
“I advise you to put away your sexual orientation. If you let other people find out you like women, then you can forget about staying in this school,” Lin Shu warned in a cold voice.
Hearing this, Shen Man smiled with a relaxed expression and asked in return, “Is Shushu concerned about me?”
Lin Shu gave a cold snort. “I’m just advising you not to cause trouble for me.”
Her words were drowned out by the sound of the class bell.
Shen Man watched that red lip open and close, not hearing clearly the sounds that were emitted.
But she guessed it wasn’t anything good.
After finishing the morning classes, Shen Man was called to the office by the head teacher.
Xia Ke looked at Lin Shu and took the initiative to say, “Lin Shu, let’s go to the cafeteria for lunch together.”
“Sorry14, I’m not going,” Lin Shu said arrogantly, slinging her schoolbag over her shoulder and walking out.
Xia Ke stood where she was.
Soon, a classmate invited her to go to the cafeteria together, and Xia Ke happily agreed.
By the time Shen Man came out of the head teacher’s office, it was almost time for class.
She didn’t have time to buy lunch, so she took out her phone to call Lin Shu.
“What is it?” Lin Shu asked lazily, as if she had just woken up.
“Shushu, where are you?” Shen Man asked.
“In the car,” Lin Shu answered with a yawn.
“Class is about to start. Help me buy a loaf of bread; I didn’t eat lunch,” Shen Man said naturally.
Lin Shu wanted to refuse, but the words died on her lips, and she gave an irritated ‘en’.
Shen Man arrived at the classroom two minutes before class started.
Lin Shu was sitting in the last row, with a loaf of bread on the empty seat next to her.
Shen Man walked over, sat down, picked up the bread, and said with a smile, “Thank you, Shushu.”
“What were you doing, so busy that you didn’t even have time to eat?” Lin Shu propped up her face and asked as if casually.
“It’s the beginning of the school year, there are a lot of things to handle,” Shen Man said, taking a bite of the bread and chewing quickly.
Lin Shu passed her a bottle of water.
Shen Man was slightly surprised, then revealed a happy smile. “Shushu is so considerate.”
Lin Shu’s face turned red, and she said hurriedly, “The person selling the bread insisted that I buy water, that’s the only reason I bought it.”
Shen Man took a sip of water and didn’t expose this lie.
She finished the bread in two minutes.
The bell for class rang.
Shen Man wiped her hands with a tissue and listened to the lecture attentively.
Lin Shu stared at the bottle of water on the desk, zoning out in a daze.
She didn’t quite understand why she had bought this bottle of water on impulse.
Shen Man quickly took notes, the corner of her eye occasionally falling on the person beside her.
The position where they were sitting happened to have a ray of sunlight shining in.
The soft sunlight enveloped the girl’s slender figure, casting a faint golden layer over her.
The girl’s originally jet-black hair turned golden. Seen from a distance, it added a sense of unreal beauty.
Shen Man was stunned for a few seconds, then lowered her head and resumed taking notes.
After a moment15, she looked up again and made a gesture in the air with her pen.
Afterward, she lowered her head again, pinched the tip of her pen, and continuously sketched lines on the paper.
In no more than ten minutes, a simple sketch appeared on the paper.
Shen Man smiled with satisfaction and quietly passed the finished paper over.
Lin Shu felt the movement beside her, glanced over, and was instantly stunned.
She picked up the paper and looked at it carefully for a good while16. The corners of her lips curled up slightly, and she said in a small voice, “So even a bookworm has times when she doesn’t pay attention in class.”
Shen Man chuckled lightly. “Do you like it?”
Lin Shu reined in her unconcealable joy and said faintly, “It’s just so-so.”
Shen Man smiled without speaking, raised her head, and looked toward the lecture platform.
Lin Shu turned sideways, propping her head up with her arm to block the line of sight from beside her.
She pinched a corner of the paper, her lips curled up, and continued to admire the sketch.
Shen Man drew quite well, perfectly expressing that hazy sense of beauty from being bathed in sunlight.
The more Lin Shu looked at it, the more she liked it. She carefully tucked the drawing into a book.
Before she knew it, class was over.
Shen Man put down her pen and rubbed her somewhat sore eyes.
At this moment, her phone rang. The caller ID was Tian Yi.
Shen Man glanced at it, stood up, and walked outside.
Lin Shu looked at this secretive action, frowned in confusion, pouted, and sat in her seat to wait.
Xia Ke walked over, didn’t see Shen Man’s figure, and asked with a smile, “Where’s Manman?”
“Go find her yourself, ya. She went out to answer a call,” Lin Shu said in a cold tone.
“Who called?” Xia Ke asked.
“How would I know?” Lin Shu snorted unhappily, her gaze directed at Shen Man on the corridor.
Xia Ke followed her line of sight.
Seeing the smile on Shen Man’s face, she couldn’t help but say, “Who is Manman chatting with so happily?”
“Why are you so interested in Shen Man’s affairs?” Lin Shu’s face was cold, her eyes fixed tightly on Xia Ke.
“Manman and I are friends. Isn’t it natural for me to be concerned about her?” Xia Ke replied with a smile, her expression natural.
Lin Shu was at a loss for a rebuttal for a moment, turned her head, and stopped talking to Xia Ke.
After Shen Man finished her call, she walked into the classroom with a cheerful expression.
Instantly, she was met with two curious faces.
She smiled slightly, sat down, and asked, “What’s with your expressions?”
“Manman, who were you on the phone with just now, ya?” Xia Ke asked bluntly.
Lin Shu lowered her head, opened a book, and pretended to be reading it seriously.
Shen Man glanced at Lin Shu, chuckled lightly, and said, “A friend.”
“What friend?” Lin Shu asked subconsciously. After speaking, she realized something was wrong and hurriedly questioned, “If you’re calling a friend, you can just talk in the classroom. Why did you have to run outside?”
“It’s too noisy in the classroom, it’s hard to hear clearly,” Shen Man explained with a smile.
Lin Shu still wanted to press further, but she bit her lip and resisted the impulse in her heart.
This topic ended naturally.
Xia Ke said with a smile, “Manman, I’d like to invite you guys to have a meal together tonight.”
“And Yin Ruxu will be there too.”
“I have something on tonight, let’s do it another day,” Shen Man said.
“Alright then.” Xia Ke showed a trace of regret and turned back to her own seat.
A new class began.
Lin Shu sat in her seat, flipping the pages of her book with a rustling sound, turning her head from time to time to glance at Shen Man.
Shen Man was disturbed to the point she couldn’t concentrate on the lecture. She put down her pen and asked in a small voice, “Shushu, what’s wrong with you?”
Hearing this, Lin Shu stopped her actions, pursed her lips, and asked curiously, “Are you going to see that friend of yours tonight?”
Shen Man smiled and didn’t deny it.
“Male or female?” Lin Shu continued to press, her words carrying an anger that even she herself hadn’t noticed.
“Just an ordinary friend, Shushu, you don’t need to be nervous,” Shen Man said with a smile.
“When was I nervous!” Lin Shu retorted hurriedly, forcefully slamming her book face down on the desk. “If you don’t want to say, then don’t. It’s not like I’m dying to know.”
After she finished speaking, she lay down on the book with an unhappy face.
Shen Man glanced at her and listened attentively to the lecture.
The last class ended.
Shen Man packed up her things in a slow and methodical manner.
Lin Shu held her schoolbag and said with her chin up, “Shen Man, you have to drive me back.”
“Okay,” Shen Man said without raising her head. “Tell Auntie He that I won’t be eating dinner, and I will17 be back a little late tonight.”
Lin Shu was suddenly a bit annoyed. She slung her schoolbag on and walked out with a cold face.
Shen Man drove and dropped Lin Shu off downstairs.
She waited for a moment18, but Lin Shu still didn’t move. She couldn’t help but ask, “Shushu, is there anything else?”
“I don’t want to eat dinner. I want to go shopping. You will accompany me,” Lin Shu said, her tone carrying a hint of haughtiness.
“I have something to do. I’ll accompany you another day,” Shen Man coaxed in a soft voice.
“No, it has to be today. Otherwise, you’re not allowed to drive my car,” Lin Shu said forcefully, her pair of almond eyes staring intently at Shen Man.
After she spoke, her heart raced, and she waited expectantly for an answer.
Shen Man’s gaze sharpened. She thought for a moment19, unbuckled her seatbelt, and said, “Shushu, don’t play for too late.”
Lin Shu was instantly enraged. She quickly reached out and grabbed Shen Man’s wrist.
Shen Man turned her head, a questioning look in her eyes.
Lin Shu pursed her lips and said quickly, “You drive me to the shopping place.”
Shen Man smiled silently, re-fastened her seatbelt, and asked, “Where do you want to go?”
Lin Shu casually named a shopping mall.
Shen Man drove to the designated location.
Lin Shu opened the car door and stared at Shen Man as if giving a warning, “After I finish shopping, you have to come and pick me up.”
Shen Man nodded.
Only then did Lin Shu close the car door with satisfaction.
Watching Lin Shu’s figure disappear into the sea of people, Shen Man started the car.
She drove with one hand and dialed Tian Yi’s number with the other. “Sorry20, President Tian21, I was delayed by something. I might be about half an hour late.”
“It’s fine, it’s fine. It’s rush hour right now, the roads are a bit congested. Miss Shen, don’t worry,” Tian Yi said with a smile.
“Thank you for your understanding,” Shen Man said and hung up the phone.
The traffic was very congested.
Especially here at the commercial street that Lin Shu had chosen, it took Shen Man more than twenty minutes just to drive out.
By the time she reached the place she had arranged to meet Tian Yi, she was already an hour late.
“Sorry, I’m late,” Shen Man said with an apologetic expression.
Tian Yi stood up, gentlemanly helped pull out her chair, and said gently, “Miss Shen, you don’t need to be so polite.”
“Thank you.” Shen Man sat down, crossing her legs, her movements elegant and exuding complete confidence.
Tian Yi called the waiter over and had them serve the dishes.
Soon, all the dishes were served.
Tian Yi stood up and poured Shen Man a glass of wine.
Shen Man understood the style of the business world and raised her glass to clink with Tian Yi’s.
She took a light sip, barely drinking any.
Tian Yi didn’t mind. Before long, a glass of wine was down his gullet, and he said with some drunkenness, “I invited Miss Shen over today because I have something important to tell you.”
“Please, go ahead,” Shen Man said politely, raising her glass.
“It’s like this. Ever since my company was brought back from the dead22 with Miss Shen’s help, business hasn’t been too good recently. I would like to invite Miss Shen to be my company’s consultant director,” Tian Yi said sincerely.
“As for the salary, Miss Shen can name any price.”
Shen Man swirled the wine in her glass and did not agree immediately.
Tian Yi instantly understood tacitly23 and asked carefully, “Does Miss Shen have any other requests? Please feel free to say them. I will definitely do whatever I can.”
“This matter, I hope President Tian can keep it a secret,” Shen Man said, putting down her wine glass with a slight smile, her aura imposing.
“That’s only natural,” Tian Yi agreed readily, though he was a bit puzzled.
After finishing the discussion with Tian Yi, it was already ten o’clock.
Shen Man got into the car, opened the car window, and picked up the perfume in the car to spray on herself.
It was probably for psychological reasons, but she actually felt that she smelled of alcohol.
After doing all this, Shen Man was suddenly stunned.
Her body leaned heavily against the back of the seat, her gaze unfocused as she stared ahead.
Suddenly, Shen Man started to laugh, the corners of her raised lips carrying a trace of contempt.
She couldn’t quite figure out why she was afraid of Lin Shu smelling the alcohol on her.
Just like how she had asked Tian Yi to keep it a secret.
In fact, she could have told Lin Shu everything about her cooperation with Tian Yi.
But a voice in her heart stopped her from doing so.
Shen Man retracted her gaze, and her eyes returned to their usual calmness.
She opened her phone, scrolled through the call log, and saw no missed calls from Lin Shu.
She opened WeChat again, and there was still no message from Lin Shu.
Shen Man thought for a moment and dialed Lin Shu’s number.
But no one answered.
A trace of panic flashed through her heart, and her fingers quickly pressed Auntie He’s number.
“Manman, are you back?” Auntie He answered in a second.
“I’m still outside. Is Shushu back yet?” Shen Man asked, her brow slightly furrowed.
“Miss Lin isn’t back yet,” Auntie He said, unable to stop herself from asking worriedly, “Did something happen? Aren’t you two together?”
“It’s nothing, please don’t worry,” Shen Man soothed with a smile.
After hanging up the phone, her brow immediately locked tightly.
Shen Man continued to dial Lin Shu’s number, pressing the speakerphone button.
She drove the car, listening to the mechanical female voice on the phone over and over again, her mood becoming agitated.
Fortunately, at this time of night, the roads were not congested.
Shen Man took twenty minutes to reach the shopping mall.
Compared to the quiet darkness outside, the inside of the mall was brightly lit, and there were still quite a few people shopping.
Shen Man was instantly relieved a lot.
She got out of the car, turned off the speakerphone, and continued to dial Lin Shu’s number.
Every few seconds, Shen Man would lower her head to glance at her phone.
But it was still unanswered.
Shen Man’s inner agitation and worry intensified. She looked around everywhere, and her gaze fell on a brand-name store that Lin Shu often frequented.
She walked over, showed Lin Shu’s photo, and asked, “Hello, have you seen this girl?”
The store clerk immediately recognized Lin Shu and said with a smile, “This young lady is a member24 of our store. She just bought a new-style jacket today.”
“When did she make a purchase in the store?” Shen Man’s heart leaped with joy, and she asked hurriedly.
“I remember it was at nine o’clock,” the clerk said.
“Thank you.” Shen Man went out, thought for a moment, and looked through the shops one by one.
She searched a total of three floors but still did not see Lin Shu’s figure.
Shen Man’s heart became nervous, tiny beads of sweat seeped out on her forehead, and even her palms began to sweat.
She arrived at the top floor, scanned the area, and walked toward the movie theater.
“Excuse me, have you seen this girl?” Shen Man asked, holding her phone.
“Are you Miss Lin’s friend?” the staff member asked in return.
Shen Man instantly understood that Lin Shu was here.
The moment she felt relieved, a boundless anger rose in her heart.
This feeling, she had never had it before.
In almost an instant, it swept over her rationality.
Shen Man took a deep breath to suppress this strange and surging anger.
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