I Am More Paranoid Than the Villain – Chapter 55

Swords Drawn and Crossbows Bent¹

You definitely think she’s cute too.

The two people’s cold war continued from home all the way to school.

Even Xia Ke, whose nerves were a bit thick-stranded², noticed that something was wrong.

“Manman, what’s wrong with you and Lin Shu?” Xia Ke asked with concern, her eyes full of curiosity. “Before, you two couldn’t wait to stick together, but these past two days you’ve always been sitting apart and not talking.”

“It’s nothing.” Shen Man’s expression was indifferent; she didn’t want to talk about it.

Xia Ke tactfully stopped pressing and pointed to her own makeup for the day, smiling happily. “Manman, do you see anything different about me today?”

Shen Man turned her head and glanced over. “Compared to your usual makeup, it’s a bit more simple and elegant. It doesn’t seem like your style.”

“Right, right, Ah Xu did this makeup for me. Does it look good?” Xia Ke nodded excitedly, her face full of a proud and triumphant expression.

Shen Man nodded, letting out a lukewarm “mm.”

Xia Ke’s enthusiasm did not diminish.

She happily talked about all the little details of doing the makeup, every little expression revealing the sweetness of being in love.

A trace of envy flashed through Shen Man’s heart.

She quickly composed herself and said teasingly, “You two changed over pretty quickly. Not like straight girls at all.”

“Manman, I feel that when you like someone, you don’t care about their gender. If Ah Xu were a boy, and was this gentle and considerate, I think I would like him too,” Xia Ke said happily, her words filled with absolute certainty.

Shen Man was noncommittal.

Xia Ke glanced at Lin Shu’s seat, then at the cold expression on Shen Man’s face, and said in a low voice, “Manman, how about we go to a bar tonight?”

“A Lesbian bar.” She deliberately lowered her voice.

Shen Man’s fine brows knitted together. “Why do you want to go there?”

“When I was abroad, a friend invited me, but I refused at the time. Now I’m very curious and want to go check it out,” Xia Ke said, blinking her eyes and looking at Shen Man imploringly.

Shen Man lowered her eyes, lost in thought.

A moment later, a hint of a smile appeared. “Alright.”

“Manman’s the best,” Xia Ke cheered happily.

Her voice was too loud, attracting the attention of many classmates.

Lin Shu looked over, just in time to meet Xia Ke’s gaze.

Xia Ke waved with a brilliant smile.

Lin Shu’s face turned cold, and she lowered her head nonchalantly.

Xia Ke’s smile faltered, and she complained pitifully to Shen Man, “A fire at the city gate brings disaster to the fish in the moat³.”

“I’m that pitiful little fish.”

Shen Man was amused by her exaggerated tone and expression.

She comforted her, “You don’t have to worry about the matter between me and Shushu. It’ll be fine in a couple of days.”

“Really?” Xia Ke was doubtful and couldn’t help but ask, “What on earth happened between you two?”

Shen Man just smiled and didn’t speak.

---

After a full day of classes.

Shen Man slowly packed up her textbooks.

Xia Ke glanced at Lin Shu’s seat and said in a low voice, “Manman, Lin Shu has already left.”

“Mm,” Shen Man replied without looking up.

“You two, really, having a cold war over nothing,” Xia Ke lamented, sitting to one side to wait for Shen Man. “Lin Shu is so cute. If it were me, I would have lowered my head to coax her long ago.”

“You think Shushu is cute?” Shen Man asked in return, her tone calm.

“Of course! She looks like an exquisite doll, and her voice is so soft. Even though her tone is always fierce, it doesn’t affect her cuteness,” Xia Ke commented earnestly, looking at Shen Man. “What do you think?”

Shen Man chuckled lightly.

Xia Ke understood the meaning of that smile and blinked slyly. “See? You definitely think Lin Shu is cute too.”

“We should get going.” Shen Man stood up, cutting off the topic.

Xia Ke followed behind, grinning.

She took a couple of quick steps to catch up to Shen Man and said with a smile, “We’ll take a taxi over.”

“I have to take Shushu home first,” Shen Man said.

“That’s perfect. Do you mind if I hitch a ride?” Xia Ke asked with a smile.

“This isn’t my car. You’ll have to ask Shushu,” Shen Man said.

“I really don’t have the confidence to get Lin Shu to agree.” Xia Ke showed a troubled expression, then suddenly had a flash of inspiration and asked mysteriously, “If Lin Shu asks, what should I say?”

“Tell her the truth,” Shen Man answered quickly, the corners of her lips hooking up slightly in a smile.

Xia Ke frowned hesitantly.

“Shushu isn’t against lesbians. Even if you tell her, she won’t go around publicizing it,” Shen Man added, the smile on her lips deepening.

Looking convinced, Xia Ke nodded in agreement.

The two walked over to the car.

Lin Shu was sitting in the front passenger seat, engrossed in her phone.

“Lin Shu, I’m catching a ride!” Xia Ke waved with a smile.

Lin Shu looked up, shot her a glance, then lowered her head with a cold little face and continued playing with her phone.

“Thank you, classmate Lin Shu,” Xia Ke said with great solemnity, making herself laugh after she said it.

Lin Shu didn’t even raise her head, completely ignoring her.

“Get in,” Shen Man said, opening the back door.

“Thanks, Manman.” Xia Ke’s eyes curved into crescents as she happily got into the car.

Lin Shu snorted coldly. “This is my car. Why are you thanking her?”

“Thank you, Lin Shu,” Xia Ke immediately changed her tune, revealing an expression of being grateful to the point of tears⁴ and said in a praising tone, “I knew Lin Shu was the best, the kindest person at heart.”

“Didn’t you say Shen Man was the best?” Lin Shu retorted with a cold face.

“You’re both the best,” Xia Ke cheerfully amended.

Lin Shu didn’t want to deal with her cheeky, smiling face⁵, and turned back to her phone.

Xia Ke looked at the rearview mirror and shrugged helplessly.

Shen Man chuckled lightly and started the car.

With one hand on the steering wheel, her posture was relaxed. “Xiao Ke, about us going to the lesbian bar, shouldn’t you tell Yin Ruxu?”

“After all, you’re a couple now.”

“Ah Xu has an event tonight,” Xia Ke said with a serious face. “She’s so innocent, I really wouldn’t be at ease with her going.”

“I’ll take her after I’ve familiarized myself with the environment.”

“You’re going to a lesbian bar?” Lin Shu asked in surprise.

Her gaze swept over Shen Man’s face before landing on Xia Ke. “Why go to that kind of place?”

“I think Manman is probably more familiar with it, so I’m having her take me to open my eyes,” Xia Ke answered honestly, looking at Lin Shu with great interest. “Do you want to go? I hear there are a lot of beautiful women there.”

Lin Shu shot her a sideways glance and didn’t speak.

“Xiao Ke, don’t be a bad influence on others. That kind of place is only suitable for people like us who are in the circle,” Shen Man said with a serious expression.

Her eyes were fixed on the rearview mirror, watching the expression on Lin Shu’s face.

“Of course I’m going!” Lin Shu said loudly, glaring angrily at Shen Man. “Don’t even think about using my car to attract bees and provoke butterflies⁶.”

Shen Man’s lips curved into a pleased smile. “With my qualifications, even without this car, there are plenty of people willing to throw themselves at me.”

“You…” Lin Shu was instantly infuriated, and she pouted disdainfully. “Someone like you can only fool those stupid women.”

“I really want to see just what kind of stupid woman would be fooled by you.”

Shen Man chuckled lightly. “You’ll find out tonight.”

Lin Shu snorted coldly.

Xia Ke sat in the back.

Watching the two of them argue, she tactfully kept silent, treating herself as if she were invisible.

---

Shen Man parked the car in front of a lesbian bar.

She took out a mirror and cosmetics to touch up her makeup, deliberately accentuating the color of her lipstick.

“No matter how much makeup you put on, you’ll still just be you. No one will be interested in you,” Lin Shu taunted from the side.

Shen Man stuffed her ears and didn’t listen⁷, focusing on her makeup.

Looking at the swords-drawn-and-crossbows-bent atmosphere between the two, Xia Ke felt a little regretful about her suggestion today.

She said weakly, “Manman, why don’t we forget it for today and come back another time.”

“Today is perfect. No need to change the day.” Shen Man pressed her lips together, revealing a satisfied smile.

She reached up and fluffed her hair.

Her entire aura instantly changed from cool and reserved to gorgeous and captivating, carrying a strong sense of aggression.

Lin Shu watched from the side, biting her lip in frustration.

She forcefully opened the car door and walked inside by herself.

“Manman, did you take it too far this time?” Xia Ke asked carefully. “Why do you have to deliberately provoke Lin Shu?”

“I’m not playing.” Shen Man’s lips curved. She took off her jacket and got out of the car unhurriedly.

Xia Ke frowned and followed her out. “Manman, I don’t get what you’re trying to do.”

Shen Man gave a standard smile and didn’t answer.

The bar was already crowded with people.

A single glance revealed beautiful women of all types, all dressed sexily.

Some were dancing wildly in the center of the dance floor, showing off their fine figures.

Others sat quietly, drinking and chatting.

Shen Man’s appearance instantly attracted a great deal of attention.

She scanned the room and saw Lin Shu sitting in a corner, with no one surrounding her.

She felt an inexplicable sense of relief.

“Wow, what a great beauty. Her looks and aura are top-class. Even standing in a pile of beauties, she’s the most eye-catching one,” someone whispered.

“She must be new. Go buy her a drink. Based on my experience, I bet she’s a top-tier T⁸,” someone next to them urged.

These two happened to be right next to Lin Shu.

Hearing their words, Lin Shu gritted her teeth in anger, her round eyes staring resentfully at Shen Man.

Shen Man calmly accepted all the amazed and fiery gazes.

She smiled and walked to the bar, expertly ordering a drink.

Xia Ke looked around curiously.

Seeing Lin Shu’s location, she said in a low voice, “Manman, I see Lin Shu.”

“Mm,” Shen Man replied with a smile, placing a drink in front of Xia Ke. “This one is suitable for you.”

“You’re not drinking?” Xia Ke asked, puzzled.

“Someone will buy me a drink soon enough,” Shen Man said, her face full of confidence.

The moment she finished speaking, a woman walked over and ordered a drink from the bar.

She flicked her hair, tilted her head, and rested one hand on the bar, her arm positioned just right to push up her chest.

“Hey, gorgeous. All alone?”

“I’m here with a friend,” Shen Man replied with a light laugh.

The woman’s eyes lit up. She pushed her drink in front of Shen Man and said with a seductive smile, “Interested in a drink?”

Shen Man glanced at the drink and pushed it aside. “I’d rather have a different kind of drink.”

She named the most expensive liquor they had.

Hesitation flashed across the woman’s face, worried that she might be a drink shill⁹.

After a moment of hesitation, she ordered the drink Shen Man had mentioned.

Shen Man raised her eyebrows and smiled faintly.

The woman was instantly stunned. She moved closer without being obvious and lowered her voice suggestively. “I still don’t know your name.”

“What would you like to call me?” Shen Man asked back with a smile, her slender fingers holding the glass as she drank elegantly.

The simple movement was dazzling.

The woman stared blankly, a look of desire in her eyes.

“I want to call you baby…”

The two of them were not far apart.

The woman’s body was leaning forward, almost touching Shen Man’s shoulder. From Lin Shu’s angle, it looked as if they were pressed right up against each other.

Lin Shu shot to her feet.

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