I Am More Paranoid Than the Villain – Chapter 59

I Forgive You

Only you… are the most annoying

Lin Shu was still ignoring Shen Man.

The two of them: one sat at the very front, listening attentively to the lecture; the other sat in the last row, lying on her desk in a daze.

“This class’s assignment is to create a design based on the theme of ‘Spring.’ You can work in groups of two,” the teacher said from the podium with a serious expression. “This assignment is very important. It concerns your future, so everyone must approach it with the utmost seriousness.”

After hearing this, the students in the class began to form groups, but their faces showed no sign of taking it seriously.

Xia Ke looked at Shen Man and asked with a smile, “Do you want to be in a group with Lin Shu?”

Shen Man shook her head. “I’ll be in a group with you.”

“Why not with Lin Shu?” Xia Ke asked, confused.

Shen Man glanced back at Lin Shu. “It’s not that I’m unwilling, it’s that Shushu is unwilling.”

The words felt strangely familiar to Xia Ke.

She shrugged, looking helpless.

Lin Shu was packing up her textbooks.

A shadow suddenly fell over her desk. Without looking up, she said, “There’s no way I’m grouping up with you.”

After she spoke, the person at her desk didn’t react.

Lin Shu looked up and saw it was a girl from her class. She then glanced in Shen Man’s direction, but the spot was already empty.

A surge of anger rose in her heart.

The girl looked at Lin Shu and asked cautiously, “Lin Shu, can we… be in a group?”

“Not interested,” Lin Shu refused without a shred of mercy and slung her schoolbag over her shoulder to leave.

The girl followed her, not giving up.

Lin Shu grew impatient and turned to stare at the girl. “Wan Qing¹, do you not understand what I’m saying?”

“Lin Shu, I really want to be in a group with you,” Wan Qing said with a pleading look, her eyes full of sincerity. “I won’t hold you back. I can do all the material gathering myself.”

Lin Shu frowned. “Not necessary.”

As she finished speaking, she felt two gazes fall on her.

Lin Shu turned her head.

She saw Shen Man and Xia Ke standing together. It should have been a pleasant sight, but it made her feel very uncomfortable.

“Lin Shu, have you found a partner yet?” Xia Ke waved happily. “Manman and I are in a group.”

“Of course I have!” Lin Shu replied irritably, pointing at Wan Qing beside her. “I’m with her.”

“That’s good then.” Xia Ke smiled and said to Shen Man, “Let’s go to the library to look for some inspiration.”

Shen Man nodded.

Lin Shu shot a glance at the two of them.

With her bag on her back, she walked past them haughtily.

Wan Qing hurried to follow.

“How long are you and Lin Shu going to keep up this cold war?” Xia Ke asked in a low voice.

“That depends on when Shushu is willing to talk to me,” Shen Man replied with a smile.

Hearing this non-answer, Xia Ke shook her head. “Lin Shu is ignoring you, yet you’re not angry or anxious. You’re acting like nothing’s wrong.”

“With an attitude like that, the other person won’t feel that you care.”

“Do you have any ideas for the assignment?” Shen Man asked.

Xia Ke was silent for a moment, then sighed. “I’m not a genius. How could I have an idea so quickly?”

“Then focus more on the assignment and don’t worry about other things,” Shen Man said, her smiling tone held a hint of coldness.

Xia Ke quickly got the hint and nodded.

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After having lunch in the cafeteria, the two went to the library.

Shen Man looked at the neatly arranged books on the shelves, carefully searching for what she needed.

She scanned a row, picked out a book, and turned to walk toward another shelf.

A tall foreigner was standing at the end of the aisle.

The man was dressed in a well-fitting suit, with a full head of white hair and a kind smile on his face.

Although he was on the older side, he had excellent bearing.

Shen Man was certain this person was not from the school.

She walked over and asked with a gentle smile, “Is there a book you’re looking for? I can help you.”

“I’m just browsing,” the old man replied with a friendly smile.

His gaze swept over Shen Man, finally landing on the book in her arms. He asked with a smile, “You like design too?”

Shen Man smiled and nodded, instantly understanding who this person was.

In the original book, a famous foreign designer came to the school, wanting to find an outstanding student to take on as a disciple.

The controversy over who would be chosen naturally fell upon the female lead and Lin Shu.

In terms of design proposals, Lin Shu had the upper hand, but due to her character issues, the designer ultimately followed the plot and chose the female lead without any suspense.

Shen Man had no intention of following the plot.

She chatted briefly with the old man, then said admiringly, “Your insights on design are in a class of their own. There’s a classmate of mine whose style is very similar to yours.”

“Who?” The old man’s interest was immediately piqued.

Shen Man smiled with satisfaction, putting on an innocent expression. “Her name is Lin Shu. She’s the most talented person in our class. She’s always at the top of the class in every exam, and the creativity in her work satisfies every teacher.”

“There’s such an outstanding student? If I have the chance, I must meet her,” the old man said with a smile, a look of curiosity in his eyes.

Her goal achieved, Shen Man chatted casually for a few more moments before continuing her search for books.

Carrying three books, she left the stacks and sat down next to Xia Ke.

“Manman, who were you talking to just now?” Xia Ke asked.

“I don’t know him either,” Shen Man said with a cheerful smile.

Xia Ke didn’t ask any more questions and focused on her materials.

The two studied for the entire afternoon, but they had to abandon the few creative ideas they came up with due to disagreements.

In the end, they still hadn’t settled on a direction.

Shen Man took a sip of tea and pulled out her phone to message Lin Shu. “Shushu, how’s the assignment coming along?”

“None of your business!” Lin Shu replied in a second, then just as quickly retracted it.

Shen Man chuckled, leaning back comfortably in her chair. “Xia Ke and I have been busy all afternoon with zero progress.”

“I imagine with Shushu’s intelligence, you probably have a preliminary plan already.”

“None of your business!” Lin Shu sent the same reply.

Shen Man unconcernedly put her phone down, her expression still serene.

Xia Ke couldn’t read her expression and frowned. “What are you smiling so mysteriously about? What’s put you in such a good mood?”

“When everything is proceeding according to plan in an orderly manner, isn’t that something to be happy about?” Shen Man retorted with a smile.

Xia Ke stared at her for two seconds, then packed up her books and asked, “Do you want me to return your books for you?”

“Okay, thank you.” Shen Man handed the books over and leisurely admired the scenery outside the window.

When Xia Ke returned from shelving the books, she saw Shen Man was still in the same position.

Following her gaze, she cried out in surprise, “Look, the person sitting by the lake, isn’t that Lin Shu?”

“Mhm,” Shen Man affirmed, then said with conviction, “Shushu will definitely be the most outstanding for this design.”

“Probably,” Xia Ke nodded in agreement. “Even though she doesn’t seem to pay much attention in class, her schoolwork has never suffered.”

“That’s how talented people are,” Shen Man said with a smile, her voice filled with admiration.

“It really makes you envious,” Xia Ke laughed. “If Lin Shu were willing to study seriously, she could probably become a famous designer nationally, or even globally.”

“She definitely will,” Shen Man said with certainty.

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The two walked out of the library.

Xia Ke headed back to the dorm.

Shen Man walked toward the lake.

Lin Shu sensed someone behind her.

Turning to see a familiar face, she shot her an annoyed glare before lowering her head to continue her work.

Shen Man leaned in.

Lin Shu swiftly covered her drawing board, hugging it tightly to her chest. “What are you doing? Trying to peek at my idea?”

Shen Man immediately took a step back, gazing at the clear lake water before them.

The reflection of the willows, which had just sprouted tender buds, swayed with the wind, creating a soft and beautiful image in the water.

The aura of spring was all around them.

“Lin Shu, I brought the things you wanted,” a girl came running over, her face alight with excitement.

When she saw Shen Man, a flash of vigilance crossed her eyes before she returned to normal and asked with a smile, “Class Monitor, what are you doing here?”

“I came to find Shushu,” Shen Man said with a smile, her eyes sweeping over the girl as she asked deliberately, “Why didn’t you group up with anyone else? Why did you have to be with Shushu?”

“Because everyone else already had a partner,” Wan Qing said, lowering her head with a pitiful expression. “I’m so glad Lin Shu was willing to be with me.”

Shen Man frowned.

Lin Shu had probably been provoked by her and impulsively decided to team up with this girl.

With Lin Shu’s intelligence and personality, she always completed assignments on her own.

“Class Monitor, how are you guys doing?” Wan Qing asked with a smile, a hint of something unnatural in her expression.

Shen Man smiled lightly and said, “The head teacher told me a very famous designer has come to our school. I’ve sort of forgotten his name.”

“Is his surname Flins? He’s already at our school?” Wan Qing asked excitedly.

“That I don’t know,” Shen Man said.

A trace of disappointment appeared on Wan Qing’s face.

She lowered her head and thought for a moment, then said, “Lin Shu, something’s come up. If you need help with anything, just let me know.”

Lin Shu grunted in acknowledgment without turning her head.

Wan Qing left quickly.

Shen Man watched the girl’s retreating back and let out a soft scoff.

She sat down next to Lin Shu, looked at the azure lake, and said slowly, “Shushu, you and her don’t normally talk. Have you ever thought carefully about why she was so insistent on finding you?”

“With or without her, I can finish this assignment,” Lin Shu said nonchalantly.

Seeing that her hint was useless, Shen Man sat quietly to the side and said no more.

The sun was setting in the west.

The faint sunlight scattered across the lake, seeming to add a hazy golden layer to the blue water.

It looked dreamlike and mysterious.

The young girl worked on her creation with intense focus.

Her slender, soft figure was enveloped in the golden light, her delicate and small side profile serious and concentrated.

A gentle breeze stirred her hair, diluting the arrogance about her and making her appear much softer and quieter.

Shen Man quietly admired the beautiful scene before her.

Compared to the view of the lake and willows, she suddenly felt that Lin Shu was a better fit for the theme of ‘Spring.’

The proud young lady’s beauty was unrestrained and dazzling, her entire being exuding the vitality and liveliness of ‘Spring.’

More beautiful than the scenery, more moving than spring itself.

“Why do you keep staring at me?” Lin Shu frowned.

Perhaps it was from the sun, but her fair little face was faintly red.

Shen Man chuckled softly.

She twirled a lock of hair by her ear, remaining silent.

Lin Shu pouted, packed up her things, and stood up to leave.

Shen Man immediately followed.

Lin Shu hugged her drawing board, putting everything else in her bag.

She stared at Shen Man warily. “Don’t even think about peeking at my drawing.”

Shen Man couldn’t help but laugh. She got in the car and said, “You know to be on guard against me, so how come you don’t know to be on guard against others?”

She deliberately emphasized the last two words.

“Because only you… are the most annoying,” Lin Shu said, turning her head away in a huff.

Shen Man felt a bit helpless. “Shushu,” she advised, “if you’re so unguarded, you’ll easily eat a loss².”

“As long as I don’t eat your loss, I’ll be fine,” Lin Shu retorted angrily.

Shen Man was rendered speechless by this comeback.

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The two returned home.

Lin Shu placed her drawing in her room as if it were a treasure.

Shen Man stood in the living room, flipping through old magazines, and finally found the old man she had met today in one of them.

She opened it to that page, placed it on the table, and sat down leisurely.

Lin Shu came out into the living room, and her gaze immediately fell on the magazine.

She picked it up and looked seriously at the person on the page.

Then she looked up at Shen Man. “Did Teacher Flins Borg³ really come to our school?”

“I think so,” Shen Man replied. “I met a very gentlemanly old man in the library today whose appearance was very similar to the person in this magazine.”

“I even mentioned you to him,” she added with a smile.

Lin Shu’s eyes lit up.

She looked at Shen Man with anticipation and surprise, then said awkwardly, “You really mentioned me to the teacher? What did he say?”

Shen Man cleared her throat, leaned back comfortably against the sofa, and asked with a beaming smile, “Are you still mad at me?”

“Hurry up and tell me!” Lin Shu’s cheeks puffed out, her small face blushing. “If you tell me, I won’t be angry anymore.”

Shen Man smiled with satisfaction.

She reached out and took Lin Shu’s wrist.

Lin Shu frowned.

Meeting that pair of shrewd eyes, she bit her lip and sat down reluctantly.

“I told him nothing but good things about Shushu,” Shen Man said, holding Lin Shu’s small hand and feeling its softness.

Lin Shu struggled a couple of times but couldn’t break free. She threatened fiercely, “You’d better be telling the truth. If you dare to say bad things about me in front of the teacher, I will never forgive you.”

“I promise, everything I said was the truth,” Shen Man laughed, her mood joyous.

She leaned closer, her warm breath falling entirely on the girl’s fair, slender neck.

Lin Shu’s ears grew hot. She subconsciously shook her head, her face turning red as she averted her gaze.

Shen Man sat up straight, her long, slender fingertips stroking the girl’s delicate fingers as she asked as if nonchalantly, “Shushu, do you want to study with this teacher?”

“Of course I do! He’s the designer I admire the most. I hope that one day, I can design works that the whole world will go crazy for, just like him,” Lin Shu answered without thinking, her round eyes shining with excitement.

Shen Man lowered her eyes, the corners of her lips curling up. “There’s a very good opportunity right in front of you. You have to seize it. Don’t end up making a wedding dress for someone else⁴.”

“I don’t need you to remind me, I know,” Lin Shu said proudly, her small face filled with delight. “I will definitely give it my all and win the teacher’s recognition.”

Shen Man looked up.

Seeing the undisguised joy on that bright, innocent face, a sudden pang of discomfort pricked her heart.

She gave a light laugh. “Shushu is the best. You can definitely do it.”

Lin Shu smiled happily, then looked at Shen Man with some apprehension. “Do you really think I can?”

Shen Man nodded with certainty. “Besides you, I can’t think of anyone else who could.”

“But of course.” Lin Shu was so proud her eyebrows flew and her face danced⁵.

The barrier between them was washed away by the joyful atmosphere.

Lin Shu pulled her hand back, shook it lightly, and said, “I’ll thank you for this time. But don’t get cocky. I won’t go easy on you.”

“Even if you did, I couldn’t win against you,” Shen Man said with a doting smile. “Who can, when our Shushu is the best?”

Lin Shu’s face flushed, and her heart filled with even more confidence.

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