I Am More Paranoid Than the Villain – Chapter 50

Heart Vexed, Mind in Disarray¹

Someone Will Definitely Like You

Shen Man arrived at the office and put down her schoolbag.

“Shen Man, this is all the students’ data, you reorganize it. If you’re too busy, you can ask two more classmates to help you,” the head teacher said.

“Okay.” Shen Man smiled and nodded.

She picked up one of the files, opened it, and saw that it was precisely Lin Shu’s.

In the photo, Lin Shu’s spirit and color were flying and soaring², a peerless arrogance in her beautiful eyes and brows.

Shen Man curled her finger and flicked it at that radiant, smiling cheek.

The trace of stuffiness in her heart finally dissipated.

She began to organize the data with a focused heart and concentrated will.

---

Lin Shu’s mood was terrible.

The people coming and going saw the anger on her face and all began to discuss it in low voices.

Lin Shu glared unhappily at the people around her.

After standing in place for a while, she walked in the direction Shen Man had disappeared.

She had only taken two steps when unwillingness surfaced on her face. She bit her teeth and angrily walked in the opposite direction.

“Ding Xi, come out for a drink,” Lin Shu said into the phone, loudly venting the misery in her heart.

“Lin Shu-jie, what’s wrong with you?” Ding Xi asked with concern.

“Don’t you ask,” Lin Shu said angrily, “I’ll wait for you at the school gate.”

After speaking, she walked out of the school with a cold expression.

Lin Shu stood at the school gate, her gaze coldly watching the passing vehicles.

Before long, Ding Xi arrived, her little face³ flushed, clearly having jogged all the way over.

“Lin Shu-jie, are you okay?” Ding Xi asked in a small voice.

Lin Shu didn’t speak, raising a hand to hail a cab and getting into the car with a cold face.

Ding Xi tactfully stopped asking questions, followed her into the car, and gave the driver the location.

They arrived at the commercial street near the school and the two got out of the car.

Lin Shu chose a high-end restaurant, entering and sitting down with a puffy-cheeked look of anger.

Ding Xi took the menu and ordered several dishes that Lin Shu usually liked to eat and some low-alcohol drinks.

She put down the menu and said to the waiter, “Serve the alcohol first.”

The waiter quickly brought the drinks.

Lin Shu picked up a bottle and took a huge swig.

The cool liquor stimulated her stomach, so cold it made her shiver.

“Lin Shu-jie, drink a little slower,” Ding Xi advised with worry.

Lin Shu didn’t listen to her advice, finishing a whole bottle before stopping.

The icy cool feeling carried away the depression and anger piled up in her chest. Lin Shu’s irritable mood found a moment of peace and relief.

She looked at Ding Xi, the corners of her eyes tinged with a faint red she herself hadn’t noticed, “Shen Man is so annoying!”

“What did she do?” Ding Xi asked cautiously.

“She…” Lin Shu said one word loudly, then paused, a wronged and furious expression appearing on her small face, “Who I like is none of her business! By what right does she…”

Speaking to this point, she paused again, picked up another bottle of wine with a look of unwillingness, and began to gulp gulp it down.

Ding Xi knew that there was no need to persuade her at this time.

All she needed to do was let Lin Shu vent the misery and anger in her heart.

The private room fell silent.

Only the sound of Lin Shu drinking alone remained.

After three bottles, Lin Shu forcefully exhaled.

The alcohol stimulated her nerves, allowing her to temporarily calm down.

Seeing this, Ding Xi poured a cup of warm tea and placed it in front of Lin Shu, saying softly, “Lin Shu-jie, have some tea.”

“Mm.” Lin Shu picked up the cup and drank the tea in one gulp, her expression becoming peaceful.

“Lin Shu-jie, I heard from Tan Kai that Shao Qi is transferring classes. Are you unhappy because of this?” Ding Xi asked tentatively.

Hearing Shao Qi’s name, Lin Shu’s just-cleared mood instantly felt as if a stone had been stuffed into it, blocking it up uncomfortably.

Ding Xi carefully observed Lin Shu’s reaction and tried to persuade her, “Lin Shu-jie, you’re so outstanding, there will definitely be a very, very good person who likes you.”

“Who?” Lin Shu asked subconsciously, Shen Man’s figure flashing through her mind.

Her heart jumped in alarm, and she hurriedly lowered her head to drink her tea.

Ding Xi didn’t notice this evasive action and continued with a smile, “The one you’re destined to fall in love with, of course.”

“You will have a very sweet romance, hold hands together, walk together, care for and think of each other, and you will be together forever and ever.”

Lin Shu listened to the joy and happiness revealed in the words and frowned suspiciously, “Are you in a relationship?”

Ding Xi’s face reddened, and a shy smile hooked the corners of her mouth.

“Who is it?” Lin Shu pressed aggressively, “Don’t you get cheated. Men all like the new and loathe the old⁴, and they like to play with feelings.”

“He won’t…” Ding Xi hurriedly denied, her face turning even redder.

“He won’t? You’ve already been tricked into speaking up for him.” Lin Shu said angrily, staring intently at Ding Xi, “You still haven’t said who that man is?”

“He is…” Ding Xi hesitated with a red face, her voice getting lower and lower, “Actually, you know him too.”

“Tan Kai.” Those two words were almost silent.

Lin Shu’s eyes widened in astonishment, and she blurted out, “Doesn’t he like Shen Man?”

The moment the words fell, her face darkened, “It’s Shen Man again!”

The smile on Ding Xi’s face froze, and she pursed her lips, “I know he likes Shen Man, but I want to give it a try. Maybe one day I can really move him.”

Lin Shu heard the humility and bitterness in her words and loudly comforted her, “Don’t worry, if he dares to bully you, I’ll help you sort him out.”

Ding Xi shook her head, revealing a faint smile, “Feelings are a matter between two people; they can’t be forced. If I still can’t make him like me in the end, then it’s just that I’m not outstanding enough.”

“But, to be able to have a relationship with him, I’m already very satisfied.” As she spoke, the glint of tears faintly shone in her eyes.

Lin Shu was stunned.

Her mood became exceptionally agitated.

The door to the private room was opened, and a waiter entered with the dishes.

Lin Shu picked up her chopsticks, suppressed the vexation in her heart and said, “Let’s eat first.”

“Okay.” Ding Xi blinked, a gentle smile reappearing on her face.

The two ate their food quietly.

The food at this restaurant was good, and Lin Shu’s mood gradually improved.

Ding Xi tried asking, “Lin Shu-jie, is there some conflict between you and Shen Man?”

Hearing Shen Man’s name, Lin Shu snorted coldly, poking forcefully at the meat in her bowl with her chopsticks, “Don’t mention her. Just hearing her name is annoying.”

“Alright, alright, I won’t mention her then,” Ding Xi immediately agreed.

When they were almost finished eating, Lin Shu put down her chopsticks, picked up the cup beside her, and her two fingers ceaselessly rubbed the rim of the cup.

Ding Xi waited quietly.

After hesitating for a good while, Lin Shu stammered as she asked, “What do you think of Shen Man?”

Ding Xi’s eyes darkened for a moment, then she said with a smile, “She’s very good, very outstanding, and deserves to be liked.”

Towards the end, her voice carried a trace of sadness.

Lin Shu’s attention was entirely on the last sentence, and she didn’t notice the change in Ding Xi’s emotions.

She let out a light scoff, retorting with anger on her face, “She’s not as good as you say. She is a person whose surface and inside are not one⁵.”

“Surface and inside not one?” Ding Xi was puzzled.

“Right, her surface and inside are not one. She pretends to be gentle and kind, but actually, she’s the best at playing tricks,” Lin Shu said resentfully, feeling more and more wronged as she spoke, “Someone as black-bellied and detestable as her, who would like her?”

“No one will ever like her at all!”

Ding Xi understood that these words were not meant for her.

She said no more, listening quietly as Lin Shu vented.

Lin Shu continuously accused Shen Man, venting the grievances in her heart.

After complaining for nearly half an hour, she finally stopped and looked seriously at Ding Xi, “So don’t feel inferior. You’re much better than Shen Man.”

Ding Xi smiled lightly, “Lin Shu-jie, thank you for comforting me. I know what I should do.”

Lin Shu was suddenly stunned, her eyes staring blankly for a few seconds, and muttered as if speaking words to herself, “I don’t even know what I should do…”

Ding Xi didn’t hear clearly and was just about to ask when her phone rang.

The screen lit up.

Lin Shu glanced over and saw the contact name on it, ‘Mr. Tan’.

Her heart skipped a beat; from those three words, she saw endless love and sweetness.

Ding Xi answered the phone, her small face slightly red, her eyes and brows curving into a happy arc, “I’m with Lin Shu-jie… mm… mm… okay.”

After she finished, she hung up, turned her head to look at Lin Shu, her face full of happiness, “Tan Kai said he’s coming over right away.”

Lin Shu stared intently at Ding Xi.

Ding Xi blinked, lowered her head in a fluster, then raised it again and asked in a small voice, “Lin Shu-jie, what’s wrong?”

“Why do you like Tan Kai?” Lin Shu asked, her face serious.

“Because…” Ding Xi’s face reddened, her voice growing smaller, “One time during a run in high school, I fell, and he was the one who helped me up and took me to the infirmary.”

“Just because of that?” Lin Shu found it a bit hard to understand.

Ding Xi pursed her lips and smiled lightly, her eyes full of happiness, “Sometimes love is just a momentary thing. When Lin Shu-jie has someone she truly likes one day, you’ll understand.”

“How do I not understand?” Lin Shu retorted, unconvinced.

Ding Xi paused, then said, “I don’t think Lin Shu-jie actually likes Shao Qi.”

After she spoke, she met Lin Shu’s angry gaze and continued, “Liking someone means you’ll think about them, you’ll be happy when you see them, and you’ll miss them when you don’t. You’ll try every way possible to get close to them, and you’ll want to understand everything about them.”

“But Lin Shu-jie has never been proactive with Shao Qi, rarely talks about Shao Qi, and usually doesn’t even make a single phone call.”

Lin Shu was speechless.

After thinking for a moment, she retorted loudly, “Pursuing is something boys should do. Girls have to be reserved.”

“But if you like someone, you should be a little more proactive, otherwise you’ll regret it for the rest of your life,” Ding Xi said earnestly.

Lin Shu immediately snorted, “Don’t you go regretting it in the future. Men’s faces change the fastest! When my dad married my mom, it was all oaths of the sea and vows of the mountains⁶, but he cheated in less than a year.”

“He won’t,” Ding Xi said, her eyes full of trust.

The moment her voice fell, the private room door was opened.

Tan Kai appeared at the doorway.

Ding Xi immediately stood up and ran over happily.

Lin Shu looked at that face brimming with happiness, and her heart was slightly moved.

“Lin Shu, who made you unhappy?” Tan Kai naturally put his arm around Ding Xi’s shoulder and asked with a smile.

Lin Shu immediately shot him a white-eyed glare, scolding him with a stern face, “Why didn’t you tell me about something so important? How long were you planning to hide it from me?”

“I was the one who told him not to say anything,” Ding Xi quickly explained.

Lin Shu swept a cold glance at her, “Don’t you speak for him. Let him say it himself.”

“Qianqian said not to announce it for the time being,” Tan Kai said immediately.

“She said not to, so you don’t? Are you boys so irresponsible?” Lin Shu berated loudly, “Are you afraid to announce it?”

“How am I afraid?” Tan Kai quickly begged for mercy, “It was all Qianqian’s idea.”

“You boys are all the same, only knowing how to push the responsibility onto girls. So useless!” Lin Shu rolled her eyes in disdain.

Tan Kai subconsciously rubbed his hair, his eyes looking towards Ding Xi.

“Lin Shu-jie, I wanted to wait until things were stable before saying anything,” Ding Xi said, helping him out.

Lin Shu understood the meaning in her words, feeling a bit of hating iron for not becoming steel⁷. She stared at Tan Kai and warned, “If you dare to bully Ding Xi, I will definitely not let you off.”

Tan Kai nodded hurriedly, promising with a serious face, “I will definitely be good to Qianqian.”

Only then did Lin Shu’s expression improve a little.

Tan Kai sat down and said with a smile, “Lin Shu, do you know why Shao Qi wants to transfer classes?”

“Why?” Lin Shu asked irritably.

“Because of that new girl in your class.” Tan Kai raised an eyebrow, a mysterious look on his face.

Lin Shu glared at him, “If you have something to say, just say it.”

Tan Kai smiled and continued, “You should also know that she is the thousand gold of the Xia Family Group⁸.”

Lin Shu nodded.

“The Shao family is interested in a marriage alliance with the Xia family. Shao Qi doesn’t want to be controlled by his mother, so he’s trying everything he can to get out of this marriage.” Tan Kai said, his tone becoming emotional and sympathetic, “Actually, this brother⁹ Shao Qi is a pretty good guy. If it weren’t for his mother always forcing him to interact with various girls, he wouldn’t be so cold to them.”

“What are you telling me this for?” Lin Shu pouted, looking bored.

Tan Kai looked at Lin Shu in surprise, “Don’t you like Shao Qi?”

“I…” Lin Shu was suddenly stuck.

Tan Kai was about to continue asking when Ding Xi tugged at the corner of his shirt.

He turned his head, saw the signal to stop in Ding Xi’s eyes, and immediately changed the subject, “Let’s not talk about this. Are you done eating? I’ll take you back.”

“Mm.” Lin Shu stood up, slung her schoolbag on, and walked out, her expression not looking too good.

Tan Kai followed behind, asking Ding Xi in a low voice, “What’s wrong with her?”

“Maybe she argued with someone,” Ding Xi replied softly.

“Who?” Tan Kai’s face was full of curiosity.

Ding Xi shook her head gently, her eyes downcast, and did not answer.

The three of them got into the car.

Lin Shu sat in the back, looking at the front passenger seat, a trace of envy appearing in her eyes.

She used to be the one sitting in the passenger seat, but now there was a more suitable person there.

“Want to see a movie tonight? A new sci-fi movie just came out, I hear it’s very good,” Tan Kai looked at Ding Xi and asked with a smile.

“Okay.” Ding Xi’s mouth curved into a happy smile, and she looked back at Lin Shu, “Lin Shu-jie, want to go together?”

“I don’t want to be a light bulb¹⁰ for you two on your couple’s business,” Lin Shu refused decisively, turning her head to the side.

Tan Kai smiled, “It’s fine, the more the merrier.”

Hearing this, Lin Shu shot him a white-eyed glare, “Just drop me off downstairs.”

“Alright then.” Tan Kai smiled and started the car.

They arrived downstairs at her apartment complex.

Lin Shu looked out the window and didn’t see her red car, and a sigh of relief escaped her heart.

---

---