I Am More Paranoid Than the Villain – Chapter 76

Her Wish

What’s important is being with the person you like.

Shen Man started the car.

In the rearview mirror, she saw Tan Kai with his arm around Ding Xi’s shoulder, their intimate posture radiating sweetness and warmth.

The male number two’s¹ storyline, you could say, had been completely changed.

Shen Man turned her head to look at Lin Shu.

The young woman was sitting in the passenger seat, leaning against the backrest with her small head tilted slightly. Her round, bright eyes were veiled with a layer of fatigue as she stared listlessly ahead.

“Shushu, the news said there’s a meteor shower tonight,” Shen Man said, her gaze fixed on the road ahead and a relaxed smile on her face.

Upon hearing this, Lin Shu’s eyes instantly lit up, her spirits reviving.

She sat up straight, an excited expression appearing on her face as she asked enthusiastically, “Where can we see the meteor shower?”

“In about half an hour, we’ll be at the spot to watch it,” Shen Man said with a smile.

“Really? How come I didn’t hear about this?” After speaking, Lin Shu picked up her phone to search the news. When she saw the report, she nearly jumped out of her seat. “Shen Man, there really is a meteor shower!”

Seeing the young woman’s joyful excitement, the corners of Shen Man’s lips curled up slightly.

She said with a smile, “You should rest for a bit. I’ll call you when we get there.”

“No way, I’m not sleepy.” Lin Shu puffed up her little face and refused firmly, her eyes wide as she stared straight ahead.

Shen Man chuckled at this childish gesture and didn’t press further, focusing on driving.

The car moved along smoothly.

The soothing music playing inside was enough to make one drowsy.

Lin Shu’s eyelids grew heavy. Just as they were about to close, she jolted awake.

A moment later, she was overcome with exhaustion again, as if she would fall asleep in the next second.

Watching the young woman cycle between nearly dozing off and abruptly waking up, Shen Man couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

“What are you laughing at?” Lin Shu asked unhappily, pouting.

She shook her head forcefully, trying her best to stay awake.

“There’s water in the car. Have a drink, it might help you wake up a bit,” Shen Man said, suppressing her smile.

Lin Shu let out a cute huff, picked up the water bottle beside her, and slowly drank about half of it.

Shen Man opened the car window.

A cool, comfortable breeze blew in from outside, brushing past the young woman’s soft, black hair and tracing a lovely arc in the air.

Lin Shu propped her elbow on the window frame, a smile on her face as she watched the scenery fly by.

The fatigue from the day seemed to be swept away by the evening wind. She said cheerfully, “This breeze feels so nice.”

As she spoke, she closed her eyes, enjoying the cool evening wind.

“Mm,” Shen Man replied with a smile and started a conversation. “How did Tan Kai and the others’ wedding photoshoot go?”

“Tan Kai’s family took this wedding shoot very seriously. They spent a fortune to hire a famous photographer. The creative concepts, outfits, and poses were all very original, and the results were excellent…” Lin Shu chattered on happily, enthusiastically recounting all sorts of interesting little things that happened during the shoot.

The more she spoke, the more energetic she became, her round eyes sparkling brightly.

“I originally thought Tan Kai was just trying to make it up to Ding Xi, but watching how considerate and caring he was towards her during the shoot today, I finally understood that this happiness is a two-way street,” Lin Shu said, a look of envy in her eyes.

“A two-way rush towards each other² is the happiest kind of love,” Shen Man said, stopping the car. “Shushu, we’re here.”

“That fast?” Lin Shu blinked in surprise. When she saw the small hill, her face filled with doubt. “Can you really see a meteor shower from here?”

“Trust me, you can.” Shen Man smiled confidently, grabbing a small, thin blanket from the car before opening her door.

Lin Shu followed her out of the car.

Looking at the unfamiliar surroundings, she felt a little scared. “Are we really going to watch the meteor shower here?”

“Shushu, don’t worry. Follow me,” Shen Man said, taking Lin Shu’s hand.

Lin Shu froze, wanting to pull away.

After a moment of hesitation, she followed cautiously from behind, threatening in a way that was fierce on the outside but timid on the inside³, “Shen Man, if anything happens to me, I won’t let you off the hook.”

Shen Man chuckled softly, gripping the small, soft hand in hers even tighter.

Feeling this, Lin Shu looked up at the tall, slender back in front of her, and a sudden sense of security bloomed in her heart.

It was as if, so long as this person was by her side, there was nothing to fear.

“Shushu, we’re here. This is the spot,” Shen Man said, pointing ahead, a trace of excitement in her usually calm voice.

Lin Shu followed her gaze and saw only a large tree standing on a patch of bare ground.

She pouted, her eyes full of disappointment. “This is it?”

“Mm,” Shen Man nodded with a smile and led Lin Shu over.

She spread the small blanket on the ground and said, “Shushu, sit here. The meteor shower should be starting soon.”

Although disappointed, Lin Shu obediently sat down.

She propped her cheeks in her hands, looking utterly bored as she stared into the pitch-black night.

Shen Man sat down beside her.

Searching for the latest news on the meteor shower, she said, “The forecast predicts the meteor shower will arrive at nine-forty.”

“It’s nine thirty-five now, so five more minutes,” she said, then looked over at Lin Shu.

“Oh,” Lin Shu responded faintly, all her previous joy and excitement worn away by the simple surroundings.

Shen Man understood what the young woman was thinking.

She amusingly ruffled her hair. “Shushu, what’s important is who you watch the meteor shower with, not where you watch it.”

As she spoke, her cool, smiling eyes filled with gentleness.

Lin Shu turned her head, just in time to meet that captivating gaze.

Her heart fluttered in a panic. She quickly lowered her head and said haughtily, “Who wants to watch it with you…”

Before she could finish, a streak of light suddenly cut across the sky.

Lin Shu shot to her feet, pointing at the sky, incredibly excited. “Look, a shooting star!”

“Quick, make a wish,” Shen Man said with a calm expression and a light smile.

Lin Shu hurriedly closed her eyes, her hands clasped together.

Shen Man looked up and to her side.

The young woman’s delicate, fair face was full of devotion, unperturbed even as the breeze rustled her hair.

“I’ve made my wish,” Lin Shu said, opening her eyes. She looked at Shen Man and smiled, her eyes curving into crescents.

The smile was so clean and pure that it made Shen Man lose focus for a moment.

“What did you wish for?” Shen Man shifted her posture and asked with a light laugh.

“I…” Lin Shu pouted, the words hesitating on her lips.

Seeing this, Shen Man immediately promised, “I’ll definitely keep it a secret. I won’t tell anyone.”

“Alright then, I’ll tell just you,” Lin Shu said, her fine eyebrows raised in a proud expression, a happy smile on her face.

Shen Man leaned closer, feigning a look of intense concentration.

Lin Shu reached up to brush back a strand of hair that the wind had messed up. Gazing at the bright stars in the sky, she said softly, “I hope that in the future, there will be someone who will treat me well with all their heart, who will spoil me, tolerate me, and never, ever abandon me.”

Her voice, mingled with the sound of the wind, seemed to come from a faraway place, carrying a distant, hollow quality that was almost dreamlike.

A flicker of emotion crossed Shen Man’s eyes as she stared into the darkness ahead.

“Shen Man, do you think such a person exists in this world?” Lin Shu asked, her bright eyes fixed on Shen Man.

The young woman’s eyes were dark and clear, the emotions hidden within them plain to see.

Hearing her name, Shen Man’s heart gave an uncontrollable jolt.

She smiled faintly, staring into the night for a moment before saying softly, “Shushu’s wish will definitely come true.”

Seeing this evasive gesture, a flash of disappointment crossed Lin Shu’s heart.

She reached out and gently took hold of Shen Man’s long, slender fingers, her grip firm and slow.

Shen Man instantly wanted to pull her hand back.

The impulse to struggle was suppressed in an instant. She turned to look at Lin Shu and asked, her expression as normal as ever, “Shushu, are you cold?”

Lin Shu shook her head.

Just as she was about to speak, goosebumps broke out on her fair skin.

“Achoo…” She sneezed. The daze brought on by the meteor shower cleared, and she pulled her hand back. Standing up, she said, “It does seem a little cold. Let’s go back.”

With that, she turned and started walking down the hill.

Shen Man’s palm felt empty, and a sense of regret rose in her heart.

For a brief moment, she wanted to call out to the young woman’s departing figure, to let her finish the words she hadn’t said.

But reason told her that for some things, leaving them unsaid was the best outcome.

Shen Man clenched her fingers, suppressing the uncomfortable feeling rising in her heart.

She got up and caught up to Lin Shu.

They walked one after the other, neither of them speaking.

Lin Shu got into the car, lowered her head, and fastened her seatbelt.

She turned her head to the side, her expression listless, as if she were extremely sleepy.

Shen Man saw this in the rearview mirror and said softly, “Shushu, you should sleep. I’ll wake you when we arrive.”

“Mm,” Lin Shu replied coolly and closed her eyes.

The car fell silent.

A sour feeling suddenly churned in Shen Man’s heart.

She looked in the mirror, a hint of frustration in her usually calm eyes.

Shen Man took a deep, quiet breath and started the car.

She drove slowly, and the sound of breathing from beside her gradually became steady.

Upon entering the residential complex, Shen Man stopped the car.

Looking at the sleeping young woman in the passenger seat, she leaned over.

She gently brushed away the hair covering her eyes. Looking at the young woman’s beautiful and lovely sleeping face, she lightly pressed a kiss on her crimson lips.

If we had met in the same world, I would have done everything in my power to make your wish come true, she said in her heart, her eyes revealing a reluctant regret.

Shen Man watched in silence for a while, then gathered her complex thoughts.

She gently lifted Lin Shu into her arms and walked towards the elevator.

Just as they reached the apartment door, Auntie He opened it from the inside. Seeing them, she let out a sigh of relief and said in a low voice, “Manman, you’re finally back. Hurry and come in.”

“How did Miss Lin fall asleep?”

“Shushu was busy all day; she’s too tired,” Shen Man said as she carried Lin Shu into her room.

Auntie He followed behind them.

Shen Man didn’t linger. She helped cover Lin Shu with the blanket, then turned and left.

She gently closed the door and said to Auntie He, “You should go rest.”

“Manman, have you had dinner?” Auntie He asked.

“I’ve eaten,” Shen Man said, the fatigue in her voice hard to conceal.

Auntie He didn’t ask any more questions, saying quickly, “You don’t look well. You should get some rest early too. Don’t get sick.”

“Okay,” Shen Man nodded perfunctorily and returned to her own room.

After a quick wash, Shen Man lay down on her bed.

Her stomach rumbled, the sound exceptionally loud and impossible to ignore in the quiet room.

Shen Man was very hungry, but she had no appetite at all.

The image of the young woman making a wish on the shooting stars seemed to be etched into her mind. Whenever she closed her eyes, she would think of the disappointment in those eyes.

Her heart instantly felt heavy and stifled.

Shen Man sat up, staring into the pitch-black darkness.

She had never doubted her decisions, nor had she ever regretted the choices she made.

This time would be no exception.

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