I Am More Paranoid Than the Villain – Chapter 51

A Joyful Smile

If you don’t tell me, I won’t let go.

By the time Shen Man finished organizing the materials, the sky had already darkened.

She walked out of the academic building and took out her phone; there were no missed calls.

She then opened WeChat, but there was still no message from Lin Shu.

Shen Man’s elegant brows knitted together as she dialed Lin Shu’s phone number.

Lin Shu was curled up on the sofa watching TV. When she saw the caller’s name, her brow furrowed slightly.

Just as the ringing was about to end, Lin Shu picked up and asked irritably, “What do you want?”

“Shushu, where are you?” Shen Man asked softly, a hint of joy in her gentle voice.

A surge of anger instantly welled up in Lin Shu’s chest, and she rebuked loudly, “How can you still be smiling?”

“I finally finished my work, can’t I be a little happy?” Shen Man asked back with an innocent look.

Lin Shu bit her lip and hung up the phone in a huff.

Shen Man’s mood became even more cheerful. She put her phone away and strolled leisurely toward the parking lot.

The traffic was a bit heavy at this time, so it took Shen Man five minutes longer than usual to arrive downstairs.

She got out of the car and locked the doors with her key fob.

The beep was exceptionally loud, loud enough to travel up to the floor they lived on and be heard by a certain someone.

Lin Shu’s heart tightened, and she hurriedly got up and ran to the balcony.

She looked down and saw a tall figure entering the building’s corridor.

Lin Shu froze for a few seconds, then dashed back into the living room.

She turned off the TV, scurried into her room in a fluster, and slammed the door shut with a bang, hiding under the covers.

Shen Man entered the apartment.

After changing her shoes, she glanced around the living room but didn’t see Lin Shu.

She walked over, picked up a throw pillow that had fallen on the floor, patted it a few times, and put it back in its place.

“Manman, you’re back. Dinner is ready,” Auntie He said with a smile, carrying a dish. She glanced at the living room and added, “Where is Miss Lin? She was just here watching TV a moment ago.”

“Shushu probably went back to her room. I’ll go get her,” Shen Man said, then turned and walked toward Lin Shu’s room.

Shen Man stood before Lin Shu’s door.

She reached out and knocked, her tone as normal as ever. “Shushu, it’s time for dinner.”

Lin Shu did not answer.

The corners of Shen Man’s lips hooked up slightly, revealing a hint of a smile.

She paced in place for a few moments, then leaned against the doorframe, waiting quietly.

Hearing that it had gone silent outside, Lin Shu sat up in bed.

She frowned in annoyance, feeling baffled and vexed by her own guilty conscience.

Lin Shu punched the side of her bed a few times in frustration, fixed her hair, and got up with a look of pride.

The moment she opened the door, a smiling face suddenly appeared on the other side.

With a smack, Lin Shu subconsciously slammed the door shut again.

The smile on Shen Man’s face froze. She squeezed a gentle voice from her throat, “Shushu, open the door. It’s time to eat.”

Lin Shu stood behind the door, her hand covering her heart.

It was beating wildly, as if it could leap out of her chest at any moment.

She took a deep breath, opened the door, shot Shen Man a glance, and walked haughtily toward the living room.

Shen Man followed behind her, her expression unchanged.

Auntie He looked at the two of them, feeling that something was a bit strange.

But she knew not to be nosy and said with a kindly smile, “Manman, I’ve seen how tired you’ve been these past few days, so I specially stewed some chicken soup. Remember to drink it after dinner.”

After saying this, she looked at Lin Shu and added in a somewhat fawning tone, “Miss Lin, there’s a lot of chicken soup. If you’d like some, I can get a bowl for you.”

“I don’t want any,” Lin Shu said with a cold face.

She shot an unhappy glare at Shen Man, picked up her chopsticks, and ignored them both.

Auntie He looked at Shen Man, her face filled with caution and confusion.

Shen Man smiled and said, “Auntie He, I don’t think there’s any fruit left in the fridge. Could I trouble you to go buy some?”

“Yes, yes, I’ll go right now. You two take your time eating,” Auntie He nodded hastily.

She untied her apron and walked toward the entryway.

The main door was closed, leaving only the two of them in the room.

Shen Man watched Lin Shu, the corners of her eyes and brows brimming with amusement.

Lin Shu could feel a gaze stuck to her, so hot that her back began to warm up unconsciously.

This heat slowly spread to her neck, and then to her cheeks.

Before long, her small face was flushed, and the tips of her ears were thoroughly red.

“What are you looking at?” Lin Shu slammed her chopsticks down, her face red as she rebuked loudly.

Shen Man let out a soft chuckle, looking as if she had a blade that had room to spare¹, and said lightly, “Shushu, don’t just eat meat. You need to eat more vegetables.”

“It’s none of your business,” Lin Shu retorted angrily, picking up a piece of meat and chewing on it forcefully.

As she chewed, she stared resentfully at Shen Man.

Meeting Lin Shu’s sharp, knife-like gaze, Shen Man smiled leisurely.

She took a sip of tea, leaned back in her chair, and asked casually, “Shushu, who made you angry?”

“I heard you went drinking this afternoon.” Her tone shifted on this sentence, carrying a hint of teasing.

Hearing this, Lin Shu became furious.

Her fingers gripped her chopsticks so tightly that blue veins bulged on her fair skin.

Shen Man glanced over, the smile on her lips deepening.

She set down her teacup, and her long, slender fingers caressed the back of Lin Shu’s hand.

Lin Shu instinctively flinched away.

Shen Man quickly grabbed her hand, her grip neither light nor heavy, but it allowed no escape.

“Let go of me!” Lin Shu panicked. She stood up and struggled forcefully.

Shen Man held onto that delicate hand with perfect composure. With a slight exertion of force, the young woman’s body fell uncontrollably into her embrace.

“Ah…” Lin Shu cried out in alarm.

Shen Man unhurriedly wrapped an arm around that slender waist, trapping the person in her arms.

“Let me go!” Lin Shu shouted even louder, her face extremely red.

“Shushu, don’t move,” Shen Man’s voice turned cold, her fingers tracing circles on her waist.

Lin Shu immediately dared not to move, her body tense.

Shen Man smiled with satisfaction.

She lowered her head and breathed into the young woman’s ear, “Shushu, tell me, why are you angry?”

As she spoke, her gentle laughter carried a threat.

Lin Shu’s breathing fell into disarray.

An infinite sense of grievance rose in her heart. Her round, almond-shaped eyes reddened silently, shimmering with specks of light. Her beautiful and proud face now looked weak and pitiful.

Shen Man’s eyes froze for a moment.

Quickly, she came back to her senses, a smile reappearing on her face. “Shushu, if you don’t tell me, I won’t let go.”

As she spoke, her lips brushed against a soft earlobe, her warm breath dyeing that fair, slender neck red.

Lin Shu’s body couldn’t help but tremble.

She hung her head, biting her red lip tightly, unwilling to say another word.

The atmosphere fell silent for a moment.

A smile played on Shen Man’s lips as her long fingers ceaselessly caressed that slender waist.

Lin Shu couldn’t help but let out a laugh. Half-laughing and half-angry, she said, “Don’t touch my waist!”

Shen Man chuckled softly, her fingers moving upward.

Lin Shu’s body stiffened. She quickly grabbed that mischievous hand and said loudly, “I’m not angry!”

“Really?” Shen Man didn’t believe her, and reversed her grip to hold Lin Shu’s hand.

Lin Shu tried to struggle but couldn’t break free. She said irritably, “Believe it or not!”

Shen Man pondered for a moment, then released Lin Shu. She immediately stood up and patted her clothes as if in disgust.

Shen Man smiled slightly, her tone drawn out, “Shushu, what do you think, will Shao Qi transfer majors?”

Lin Shu returned a white eye and retorted, “Why are you so concerned with Shao Qi’s business?”

“Because I know that Shushu cares about this matter,” Shen Man replied with a smile, a trace of a bitter smile in her eyes as they shifted.

Lin Shu instantly felt a stifling pressure in her chest. With a cold face, she glared at Shen Man, “When did I ever say I cared?”

Shen Man froze.

A look of disbelief flashed in her eyes, which quickly turned into joyous surprise.

She pressed her lips together, trying her best to suppress the smile at their corners. “Shushu, you really don’t care… about him?”

Seeing this smile that was mixed with caution and delight, Lin Shu still felt suffocated.

She kicked her chair away and turned to leave in a fit of anger.

Shen Man remained seated, her smile joyful.

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The news that Shao Qi was transferring majors spread like wildfire through the class.

Many of the girls in the class were expressing their regret and reluctance to see him go.

Shen Man sat in the first row, looking at the notes she had taken in class, listening to the girls’ chattering discussions.

Lin Shu sat next to her with an expression of ‘strangers, do not approach’ on her face.

A girl walked over and stood in front of Shen Man’s desk.

Shen Man looked up and asked with a gentle smile, “What is it?”

“Class Monitor, is Shao Qi really transferring? Can you persuade him not to?” the girl pleaded in a small voice.

“This isn’t something I can decide,” Shen Man said.

The girl immediately looked at Lin Shu. “Lin Shu, your family and Shao Qi’s family are close, right? You should persuade Shao Qi.”

“If he transfers, you’ll be sad too, won’t you?” the girl added.

“What’s it to me? Why would I be sad?” Lin Shu retorted, annoyed.

The girl was frightened by her irritated expression, shrank back, and hurried away.

Shen Man smiled.

Lin Shu shot her a sideways glance and asked coldly, “What are you smiling about?”

“Nothing, I’m just happy,” Shen Man replied cheerfully.

Lin Shu became even more annoyed. She slumped onto her desk and started playing with her phone.

“Class Monitor, Xia Ke doesn’t seem to be in a good mood,” the girl behind her tugged on Shen Man’s sleeve and whispered.

Shen Man turned her head and looked toward Xia Ke’s seat.

The usually lively and enthusiastic person was now hanging her head, as if something was weighing on her mind.

Shen Man thought for a moment, then stood up and walked toward Xia Ke’s seat.

Xia Ke sensed a shadow over her and looked up, a faint smile gracing her lips. “Manman.”

Her voice was heavy, filled with an indescribable sense of loss.

“Xiao Ke, what’s wrong?” Shen Man sat down and asked with concern.

Xia Ke shook her head. “I’m fine.”

Shen Man thought for a bit and asked in a low voice, “Is it because of Shao Qi?”

Xia Ke’s expression faltered, and she forced a smile. “Manman, you’re so smart.”

“Don’t overthink it,” Shen Man comforted her.

Xia Ke nodded, but still looked listless.

After a full day of classes, Shen Man received a message from her head teacher, asking her to come to the office.

Judging by the teacher’s tone, it seemed to be something important.

“Shushu, I have something to do. You can get a ride back with Tan Kai,” Shen Man said while packing her books.

“I’ll take a taxi back myself,” Lin Shu stood up with a cold expression.

“Alright,” Shen Man responded with a smile.

The students in the classroom left one after another.

Shen Man was the last to leave.

Arriving at the head teacher’s office, Shen Man knocked on the door, entered, and said, “Teacher, you wanted to see me?”

“Shen Man, you’re just in time. Have a seat,” the head teacher said with a grave expression.

Shen Man sat down.

“I imagine you’ve heard about Shao Qi wanting to transfer majors,” the head teacher said.

Shen Man nodded.

“Recently, Shao Qi’s mother has been putting pressure on the school, demanding that we must persuade Shao Qi not to transfer,” the head teacher said with a troubled look.

“This is Shao Qi’s decision, not something we can change. Even if we were to stop him, Madame Shao’s words would be more effective,” Shen Man said.

“That’s true in principle, but Shao Qi doesn’t listen to Madame Shao. If this isn’t handled well, it will be a dereliction of my duty,” the head teacher said, his face etched with worry and anxiety.

Shen Man understood immediately. After a moment’s thought, she said, “You should have Madame Shao’s phone number, right? I’ll speak with her.”

“You?” The head teacher was astonished, but meeting Shen Man’s confident gaze, he took out his phone.

After a while, the call was finally connected, and an arrogant voice came from the other end.

The head teacher said a few polite words and then handed the phone to Shen Man.

“Madame Shao, hello. My name is Shen Man, I’m the class monitor of Shao Qi’s class.” Shen Man’s tone was steady, not lowly and not haughty². “I’d like to talk to you about Shao Qi’s transfer.”

“You’re just a class monitor, what right do you have to discuss this with me?” Madame Shao’s contemptuous voice came through the phone.

Shen Man had seen plenty of high-and-mighty attitudes from wealthy families, so she wasn’t angered. She continued in the same calm tone, “Shao Qi transferring majors is a major event. As his mother, you should have been the first to know.”

Madame Shao was caught off guard and didn’t speak immediately.

Shen Man knew she had hit a sore spot and continued, “You should understand Shao Qi’s personality better than anyone. If even you can’t persuade him, then no one can.”

“If Shao Qi would rather listen to an outsider than his own mother, and word of this gets out, I’m afraid some people might say you are an incompetent mother.”

“Who would dare call me incompetent?” Madame Shao’s volume shot up, furious.

A faint smile touched Shen Man’s lips, and a trace of contempt flickered in her eyes.

She said in a gentle tone, “Madame Shao is beautiful and gracious, surely an excellent mother. I must trouble you to persuade Shao Qi further. This is something only you can do.”

“Alright, you all are truly useless,” Madame Shao said haughtily and hung up the phone directly.

Shen Man handed the phone back to the head teacher, tilted her head, and gave a slight smile.

“Shen Man, you’re really amazing. You even managed to persuade Madame Shao.” The head teacher praised her happily, his eyes full of admiration. “I couldn’t tell that at such a young age, you are so intelligent and calm. You will definitely find a good job in the future.”

Shen Man smiled and asked, “Is there anything else?”

“No, no, that’s all. You should head back early,” the head teacher smiled kindly.

Shen Man nodded and walked out of the office.

As long as Shao Qi leaves, the upcoming plot will be within my control.

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