I Am More Paranoid Than the Villain – Chapter 77

She’s Worried

Miss Lin is very concerned about you.

Shen Man was awake nearly all night.

When she heard the sound of Auntie He’s footsteps outside, she got up and left her room.

Auntie He was a little surprised to see Shen Man.

Noticing her pale face, she asked with concern, “Manman, what’s wrong? Didn’t you sleep well last night?”

“It’s probably because I’ve been studying too hard lately,” Shen Man said with a light chuckle.

“Manman, your health is the most important thing. Don’t always study so late,” Auntie He urged.

Shen Man nodded and said, “I’d like some soy milk. Could you please buy me a cup when you go out?”

“With extra sugar,” she added.

“Of course, of course.” Auntie He agreed with a smile. “You go get some more sleep.”

Shen Man hummed in agreement and turned back to her room.

When Auntie He returned from her shopping, she put the groceries on the table, took a cup of soy milk, and knocked on Shen Man’s door.

After a moment, Shen Man opened it, the fatigue in her eyes hard to conceal.

“Manman, your soy milk,” Auntie He said, handing it to her. She couldn’t help but add, “Manman, you look really terrible. Do you want to go see a doctor?”

“Thank you, but there’s no need. I’ll be fine after a little rest. You don’t have to call me for lunch today.” Shen Man took the soy milk, a faint smile on her face.

This did little to ease Auntie He’s worry. “I bought some pork ribs,” she coaxed. “I’ll make a nice soup and bring it to you later.”

Shen Man hesitated for a moment, then nodded. “Thank you for the trouble.”

“Sigh.” Auntie He let out a smiling sigh and said helplessly, “You, honestly. Sometimes you’re even more worrying than Miss Lin.”

Shen Man smiled but said nothing.

---

After drinking the soy milk, the warmth in Shen Man’s stomach made her feel much better.

She lay down to rest. Just as she closed her eyes, there was a knock at the door.

The knocking was rapid and loud, as flamboyant and unrestrained as the person herself.

Shen Man reached up and rubbed the bridge of her nose, then threw back the covers and got up to open the door.

“What’s wrong with you?” Lin Shu stood outside, asking haughtily.

Her words of concern sounded like an accusation.

“I’m fine,” Shen Man chuckled.

“If you’re fine, why do you look so weak?” Lin Shu frowned, her serious little face etched with worry. “Don’t you dare get sick. I don’t want to take care of you again.”

“I know.” Shen Man smiled gently and reached out to pat Lin Shu’s head.

Lin Shu’s face flushed with annoyance, and she started to pull away.

Her body stiffened for a second, but she stopped herself. “You get some rest, now!” she said fiercely.

“Okay.” Shen Man smiled and closed the door.

---

It was four in the afternoon when Shen Man woke up.

As soon as she opened her bedroom door, she saw Lin Shu sitting on the living room sofa, hugging a throw pillow and staring blankly at the television.

“Shushu,” Shen Man called out, walking over to sit beside her.

Lin Shu felt the sofa dip beside her and finally snapped out of her daze.

She glanced at Shen Man, then turned her head back to the TV. “How are you now?” she asked.

“I’m fine now. Sorry to make you all worry,” Shen Man said with a light laugh.

“Who’s worried about you? It was Auntie He who wouldn’t stop talking about it,” Lin Shu said, her face a mask of impatience.

Just then, Auntie He came out of the kitchen with a bowl of soup. She froze for a second when she heard that.

Then she quickly smiled and said, “Manman, have some soup.”

“Okay.” Shen Man got up and sat at the table.

Auntie He ladled a bowl of soup, placed it in front of her, and whispered, “Miss Lin was very worried about you. She didn’t even go out on such a nice day. She’s been sitting in the living room watching TV the whole time, glancing at your door every now and then. I saw her wanting to go in and check on you several times.”

Shen Man took a sip of the soup, her mood lifting.

She looked over at Lin Shu with a gentle smile.

Lin Shu’s face immediately turned a little red. She glared at them and said loudly, “What are you two whispering about?”

“Nothing…” Auntie He shook her head quickly, then turned and scurried back to the kitchen.

The smile on Shen Man’s face widened.

Seeing this, Lin Shu frowned in displeasure. “You’re drinking soup, so drink your soup. What are you smiling about?”

“It’s nothing,” Shen Man said, suppressing her laughter as she lowered her head to focus on her soup.

Lin Shu pouted and started mashing the remote control buttons, making them beep.

Their interaction was no different from usual.

Last night’s wordless romance felt like an unreal dream, like a shooting star that flashed by without a trace.

---

After a day of rest, Shen Man’s energy was fully restored.

The two ate breakfast and went to school together.

Shen Man had some class-related business to take care of.

After getting out of the car, she slung her backpack on and headed for the academic building.

Just as she reached the office door, she heard an arrogant female voice from inside. “My son just happens to like this school, and he put it down as his choice for the college entrance exams. I came today to get a feel for the situation and see which major is the best.”

The words were spoken with supreme confidence and a high-and-mighty attitude.

The voice sounded a little familiar to Shen Man.

She knocked on the door and walked in to see a finely dressed matron sitting with her legs crossed, her face full of arrogance.

Shen Man recognized her instantly. It was Feng Na¹, the mistress of Lin Shu’s father.

She nodded to the teacher next to the woman and began to attend to her own business.

Feng Na glanced at Shen Man, then stood up with a gentle smile. “I remember you. You’re Shen Man, aren’t you?”

Hearing this, Shen Man offered a polite smile. “Auntie Feng.”

“Perfect. Manman, you must be very familiar with this school. Why don’t you tell me about the pros and cons of the different majors, so I can get a better understanding,” Feng Na said with extreme casualness, as if she and Shen Man were old friends.

“I’m sorry, I have some materials I need to organize before class starts,” Shen Man replied with a smile, declining. She then lowered her head and began sorting through her papers in earnest.

A flash of annoyance crossed Feng Na’s eyes.

It was quickly replaced by a smile as she adopted a magnanimous posture. “You’re busy, you’re busy. I won’t disturb you.”

Shen Man could hear the affectation in her voice. A flicker of disgust passed through her, but her expression remained unchanged.

She finished with her materials and turned to leave.

When she got to the classroom, Shen Man walked over to Lin Shu’s side.

She put down her backpack and said, “I just saw Feng Na in the office. Her son is interested in coming to this school.”

At these words, the anger inside Lin Shu flared up in an instant.

She gripped her phone tightly, practically grinding her teeth. “I’ll never let that xiao san² get her way. What gives her son the right to study at this school?”

With that, she lowered her head and began furiously tapping at her phone screen.

Shen Man glanced over and could vaguely make out the three characters for ‘Old Man Lin’.

Once Lin Shu had sent her message, Shen Man said calmly, “Shushu, it’s time for class.”

Lin Shu suppressed her rage and let out a long breath.

She casually opened a book and stood it on her desk to hide her face, then hunched over and continued playing on her phone.

Shen Man paid close attention in class.

Every so often, she would turn her head to watch the girl typing away with her cheeks puffed out in anger.

Judging from Lin Shu’s reaction, her conversation with her father must have gone very poorly.

The bell rang, signaling the end of class.

Shen Man put down her pen, gently tapped on Lin Shu’s desk, and asked in a low voice, “Shushu, what’s wrong?”

“My dad actually said he wants to get that xiao san’s son into this school, and he even asked me what major would be good.” Lin Shu was livid, her face flushed red with fury. “I suggested he enroll in an orphanage.”

Hearing this, Shen Man covered her mouth with her fingers and laughed.

Lin Shu was still indignant, her eyes wide as she stared straight ahead. “My dad isn’t even trying to hide it anymore. Feng Na could only have found her way to the school with his permission. Otherwise, how could a xiao san like her even get through the school gates?”

Shen Man nodded in agreement.

This school was, at its core, a school for the elite. Ordinary people couldn’t get in. Feng Na, with no background and no family connections, was just a woman of common status. For her to be able to put on such an air of superiority in the office, she must already see herself as ‘Lady Lin’.

“If your dad really is going to marry that woman, what will you do?” Shen Man asked seriously.

“I will never allow it!” Lin Shu said furiously, her fingers clenched into tight fists. “If they dare to have a wedding, I’ll definitely crash it.”

“That xiao san can forget about ever setting foot in my family’s home,” she said, her eyes turning red.

Shen Man reached out and took the girl’s soft hand in hers. “Shushu, don’t worry,” she soothed.

She couldn’t bring herself to say any other words of comfort.

The fact that Feng Na could enter the school grounds already meant her status had been acknowledged.

With Lin Shu’s current capabilities, there was no way for her to stop her father from marrying Feng Na. Even if Lin Shu, as his daughter, could raise a huge fuss, she was ultimately just a teenager with no experience in the world. She couldn’t outwit a deeply calculating woman like Feng Na.

Shen Man lowered her eyes, wondering whether or not she should get involved in Lin Shu’s family affairs.

She thought about it all morning but couldn’t come to a clear answer.

---

Lin Shu took the afternoon off from class.

Watching Lin Shu pack her things, Shen Man asked with some concern, “Shushu, where are you going?”

“I’m going to talk things out with him,” Lin Shu said resentfully, shoving her books haphazardly into her bag.

“Do you want me to go with you?” Shen Man offered.

“This is my family’s business, you don’t need to meddle!” Lin Shu snapped, her cheeks puffed. She slung the bag over her shoulder and stormed out with a grim look on her face.

Shen Man’s lips curved in a self-mocking smile, amused by her own unnecessary worry.

After her afternoon classes, Shen Man drove home.

When she reached the base of their apartment building, she saw an unfamiliar car parked in their spot.

After looking closely for a moment, she remembered it was Feng Na’s car.

Shen Man’s brow furrowed. She parked her own car nearby.

Getting out, she took out her phone and called Auntie He.

The moment the call connected, Auntie He’s cautious voice came from the other end. “Manman, a Miss Feng has come to visit. She…”

“Okay, I know. I’ll be right there,” Shen Man said, her expression turning serious as she quickly entered the building.

She opened the door to their apartment, changed her shoes, and walked into the living room. There, she saw Feng Na sitting casually, drinking tea, an expression of enjoyment on her face as if she were the mistress of the house.

Shen Man scoffed inwardly.

She walked closer and said with a polite smile, “Auntie Feng, what brings you here?”

“Lin Shu has never liked having outsiders over,” she added, feigning innocence.

“Oh, but I’m no outsider.” Feng Na smiled triumphantly, swirling the teacup and revealing a brand-name watch on her wrist. “This apartment is quite nice. The lighting and the view are both excellent. I think Xiao Jun³ will really like it.”

Shen Man heard the sound beyond the strings⁴ in her words, and her eyes flashed.

She had a faint feeling that this woman would be the key factor in Lin Shu being sent abroad.

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