I Am More Paranoid Than the Villain – Chapter 78

A Bellyful of Grievances

She remembered her birthday and all her favorite things.

After a moment of silence, Shen Man put on a pure and innocent look.

She looked directly at Feng Na, her face a mask of confusion as she asked, “This is Shushu’s apartment. You know her temper. She probably wouldn’t allow anyone else to move in.”

At this, a flicker of contempt crossed Feng Na’s eyes. “What do you mean, her things?” she said arrogantly. “She just snatched them from someone else.”

“Manman, don’t you be fooled by Lin Shu’s innocent appearance. She’s just as malicious as her mother, always scheming behind people’s backs.”

“Huh?” Shen Man’s eyes widened in surprise. Realizing she’d been too loud, she quickly covered her mouth and said in a low voice, “Shushu isn’t that kind of person, is she? She’s very kind.”

“Look at you, she’s already fooled you.” Feng Na’s face was full of pity. She tsked and said, “She’s an expert at hiding her true self. She may not be old, but she’s a deep one, good at using her looks to win people’s trust.”

Shen Man wore an expression of disbelief. “Shushu wouldn’t…”

As she spoke, her voice trailed off, and her firm expression began to waver.

Seeing this, Feng Na smiled in satisfaction.

She took a watch from her wrist and said with feigned gentleness, “Manman, this watch is for you. You really must be careful around Lin Shu. If she bullies you, just tell me, and Auntie will back you up.”

Shen Man looked at the expensive watch and waved her hands, at a loss. “Auntie Feng, this gift is too valuable. I can’t accept it.”

“It’s just a watch. Go on, take it.” Feng Na gave a haughty smile, her voice tinged with mockery.

Seeing that she couldn’t refuse, Shen Man carefully took the watch, holding it in both hands.

Feng Na saw the cautious gesture and let out a sneer. She stood up and said, “I should get going. If Lin Shu comes back, let her know I’ll be sure to bring her a gift next time I visit.”

“Okay, I’ll tell her.” Shen Man stood up as well and said politely, “I’ll see you out.”

Feng Na walked ahead, her face a mask of arrogance.

Standing at the door, she said, “Alright, you don’t have to see me out. As long as you’re smart and know how to do things, forget watches—even designer bags and clothes, all you have to do is ask, and I can get them for you.”

“Thank you, Auntie Feng,” Shen Man said with a happy and sincere expression.

Swaying her hips, Feng Na left, thoroughly pleased with herself.

Shen Man watched the elevator doors close, and the smile on her face instantly turned to ice.

She gripped the watch tightly, her delicate brows furrowed.

After standing by the door for a moment, Shen Man closed it.

Walking into the living room, she said to Auntie He, “Don’t tell Shushu about what happened today.”

“Understood,” Auntie He replied with a serious nod.

Though she didn’t understand why, she didn’t ask.

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Shen Man returned to her room and casually tossed the watch into a drawer.

She pulled out her chair and sat down, leaning back with her head against the chair back, her eyes fixed on the ceiling.

Analyzing Feng Na’s words and actions, that woman was absolutely certain she could win this apartment for her son to live in.

The best-case scenario was that Lin Shu would swallow her anger and live with the son of the little three¹. The worst-case scenario was that Lin Shu would be kicked out.

As for where she would be kicked out to, it was hard to say right now.

A wave of frustration rose in Shen Man’s heart at the thought.

She pressed her lips together, suppressing the unpleasant feeling, and opened a book to start reading.

An hour passed. The page hadn’t been turned; it was still on the very first one.

Shen Man sighed softly.

She closed the book and stood up, grabbing her cup.

Just as she reached the door, the phone on her desk rang.

Shen Man immediately turned back, strode over to the desk, and saw the caller ID: ‘Lin Shu.’ She had a pretty good idea what this was about.

“Shushu,” Shen Man said, waiting for the person on the other end to speak first.

“Shen Man, I hate my dad…” Lin Shu’s voice came through the phone, punctuated by soft sobs.

Shen Man’s heart ached.

After a moment, she asked gently, “Shushu, what’s wrong? Was there some kind of misunderstanding between you and Uncle Lin?”

“What misunderstanding?” Lin Shu yelled, losing control for a second before calming down. “He just wants to marry that woman,” she said resentfully. “And he said it’s his son’s eighteenth birthday wish…”

“I will never let that woman’s scheme succeed! My mom said the Lin family’s assets can only be mine. That woman and her son won’t get a single cent!” As she spoke, her eyes were filled with hatred.

Even over the phone, Shen Man could feel Lin Shu’s resentment and sense of being wronged.

“Shushu, don’t be sad,” she comforted her. “You can try to talk it over with Uncle Lin.”

“What’s there to talk about? He doesn’t care about my opinion at all.” Lin Shu was so angry she couldn’t stop crying. “He even said that if I dare to cause trouble, he’ll disown me…” she choked out.

At that, Lin Shu squatted down on the side of the road and began to weep bitterly.

Listening to the suppressed sobs on the other end, Shen Man’s expression grew grave.

She clenched her fists, trying not to let her own emotions bleed through, and said calmly, “Shushu, stop crying for now. Where are you? I’ll come pick you up.”

Crying, Lin Shu gave her a location.

Shen Man immediately got up, grabbing her phone and heading out the door.

“Shushu, I’m on my way right now,” she said, comforting her as she walked. “Just stay right where you are and wait for me.”

Hearing the steady, calm voice on the phone was like finding her bearings in a vast, lost sea.

Without her realizing it, her heart began to feel steady.

She obediently sat by the roadside, wiping her tears, and said between sobs, “Shen Man, I hate them…”

“They are indeed hateful. Don’t cry anymore, Shushu.” Shen Man drove with her phone on speaker, her voice a gentle comfort.

Lin Shu sniffled, her crying gradually subsiding as she began to quietly pour out years of pent-up grievances. “All these years, whenever it’s about his son, he’s always so attentive, running around for him. But with me, he’s either impatient or completely indifferent. He never cares about what I like, what I want… he doesn’t even remember my birthday…”

As she said this, her sobs grew louder again, laced with resentment and pain.

Shen Man’s mood grew heavy along with hers.

She knew Lin Shu’s family situation very well and could imagine what she had been through.

But hearing it come directly from Lin Shu’s mouth, she couldn’t stop the anger from rising, the urge to teach Lin Huai and that woman a lesson.

Shen Man took a quiet, deep breath, forcing down the rage in her heart.

She softened her voice to soothe her. “Shushu, I remember your birthday. And all your favorite things.”

After saying it, Shen Man herself was taken aback for a second.

Lin Shu heard her and froze, her sobs caught in her throat.

After a couple of whimpers, she finally processed it and said haughtily², “Who… who needs you to remember? It’s not like I can’t remember it myself…”

Hearing her voice grow quieter over the phone, Shen Man said gently, “Shushu, I’ll be there in five minutes.”

“I know,” Lin Shu mumbled, looking up at the cars on the road.

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Shen Man pulled the car over.

She opened the door and walked toward a planter by the roadside.

A thin, delicate figure was sitting on the edge of the planter.

Her head was down, her backpack slung loosely over her arm. She looked pitiful and lonely.

“Shushu, let’s go home.” Shen Man crouched down and reached out to stroke the girl’s soft, dark hair.

Lin Shu looked up.

Seeing that face full of gentleness, the tears she had managed to stop began to flow again without warning.

“Shen Man, you’re finally here…” Lin Shu cried, throwing her arms around Shen Man.

Her grip was strong, her arms wrapped tightly around Shen Man’s neck as if she’d found a sliver of light in the darkness, unwilling to let go.

Shen Man was forced to lean forward, rising onto the tips of her toes to support their combined weight.

She gently hugged Lin Shu back and smiled warmly. “It’s okay now, Shushu.”

“Wuuu…” Lin Shu cried even harder.

Shen Man’s eyes darkened, and she pressed her lips together tightly.

The girl’s hot, crystalline tears slid down her pale cheeks and onto Shen Man’s collar, quickly soaking through the fabric to wet her skin. The cool dampness seemed to pierce through bone and blood, striking her soft heart directly.

Shen Man felt a suffocating pressure in her chest.

She closed her eyes, took a breath, and said gently, “Shushu, don’t cry. Let’s go home.”

Lin Shu nodded through her tears, still refusing to let go.

Her long, tear-laden eyelashes brushed against the delicate skin of Shen Man’s neck. Shen Man’s heart softened, and she lifted Lin Shu into her arms, carrying her toward the passenger seat.

“Shushu, sit tight,” Shen Man said softly, leaning over to fasten Lin Shu’s seatbelt.

Lin Shu sat quietly, her nose red as she sniffled, her round eyes fixed on Shen Man.

From the passenger seat to the driver’s seat, her gaze followed Shen Man until she sat down. Only then did Lin Shu look away, down at her own fingertips.

Shen Man turned sideways and handed her a bottle of water from the side. “Shushu, have some water.”

Lin Shu took the water, sipping it in small mouthfuls, her eyes still on Shen Man out of the corner of her eye.

Shen Man noticed her gaze and smiled faintly.

Lin Shu immediately looked away, put the water bottle aside, and said in a small voice with her head down, “Don’t you tell anyone about what happened today.”

After she said it, she stared fiercely at Shen Man, as if threatening her.

Her eyes, red and swollen from crying, looked like a goldfish’s—puffy and cute in a wronged, pitiful way.

Shen Man couldn’t help but laugh.

Lin Shu immediately pouted, her eyes glaring even wider. “Don’t laugh!”

Shen Man stifled her laughter and nodded. “I know. I won’t tell anyone.”

Only then was Lin Shu satisfied. She huffed and sat up straight.

Even a mess from crying, she didn’t lose an ounce of the stubborn pride in her bones, as if her earlier vulnerability had just been an illusion.

This stubborn, fragile beauty was like a rose still in full bloom amidst a storm.

It was captivating.

The corner of Shen Man’s lip curled up. She tapped the steering wheel with her elegant pinky finger and said with a smile, “I believe Shushu won’t lose.”

“Of course not!” Lin Shu’s eyes were resolute and filled with a refusal to admit defeat. “I won’t let them get what they want.”

The two returned to the apartment.

Auntie He brought out dinner. Seeing Lin Shu’s cold expression and red eyes, she shot a questioning look at Shen Man.

Shen Man smiled slightly and said, “I’ve got it from here. You can go get back to your work.”

Auntie He breathed a sigh of relief.

She served them both rice and returned to the kitchen.

Shen Man picked up a piece of meat and placed it in Lin Shu’s bowl. “Shushu, you must be hungry. Eat up,” she said with a smile.

Lin Shu bit into the meat forcefully, staring straight ahead, her cheeks puffing out with each chew.

Seeing this adorable sight, Shen Man’s mood improved, and she had the urge to reach out and pinch her cheeks.

Resisting the impulse, she said, “Shushu, eat your dinner. Don’t be angry anymore.”

Hearing this, Lin Shu glared at Shen Man with her cheeks still puffed. “I’m not angry…”

Her mouth was full of rice, making her words muffled.

It took Shen Man a moment to understand what she’d said.

Smiling, she picked up a stalk of green vegetable and moved to put it in her bowl.

Lin Shu immediately frowned and glared at Shen Man unhappily. “I don’t eat green vegetables.”

With that, she picked the vegetable out and placed it in Shen Man’s bowl.

Shen Man calmly ate the piece of vegetable.

After dinner, Shen Man went to wash up.

Lin Shu sat in the living room watching TV with a face mask on.

When something funny came on, she laughed along with it.

Coming out of the shower, Shen Man heard the laughter from the living room and couldn’t help but shake her head and chuckle.

Lin Shu’s bellyful of grievances had come on like a tidal wave, but it receded just as quickly. She didn’t know whether to say she was carefree or just had a strong ability to heal.

Although she talked a big game about making that mother-son pair pay, in reality, the most extreme thing she was capable of was probably just openly expressing her dislike and not giving them a pleasant look.

Such childish behavior had zero real impact and would, on the contrary, just be used to bite her back.

Shen Man also knew that any warning from her would be useless.

At the end of the day, she was just an outsider, with no right to interfere in Lin Shu’s family matters.

The thought put Shen Man in a bit of a gloomy mood.

With a somber face, she returned to her room and sat at her desk.

Out of the corner of her eye, she inadvertently saw the watch in the drawer, its flashy, brilliant gold stinging her eyes.

Shen Man let out a sneer and pushed the watch into the far back of the drawer.

She wasn’t stupid enough to be bought off with a single watch.

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