I Am More Paranoid Than the Villain – Chapter 79

Her Necklace

You can’t lose my face

After the last class on Friday.

Shen Man was unhurriedly packing up her books, mentally planning out her weekend.

Suddenly, someone tapped her on the shoulder.

She turned to see Xia Ke with a gloomy look on her little face, clearly troubled by something.

“Xiao Ke, what’s wrong?” Shen Man asked, putting down her schoolbag.

Xia Ke sighed and sat in the empty seat next to Shen Man. “Ah Xu hasn’t spoken to me in two days,” she said quietly, her voice glum.

“Did you two have a fight?” Shen Man guessed.

Xia Ke shook her head and slumped listlessly onto the desk. “Ever since we went to Yi Dan’s birthday party two days ago, Ah Xu has been acting like something’s weighing on her mind. She’s clearly not busy these past two days, but she’s been coming back really late every day and won’t tell me what she’s up to.”

“Don’t overthink it. Maybe she really is busy with something. Or perhaps she’s planning a surprise for you,” Shen Man said comfortingly.

“Really?” Xia Ke blinked, aggrieved. She wanted to believe it, but in her heart, she couldn’t.

Seeing the two of them dawdling, Lin Shu walked over. “Shen Man, what’s taking you so long? Hurry up.”

“Almost done.” Shen Man quickly grabbed her bag. Passing by Xia Ke, she paused and said, “Instead of letting your imagination run wild all by yourself, it’s better to face it head-on.”

Hearing this, a look of determination flashed in Xia Ke’s eyes.

She pressed her lips together and said seriously, “I’m going to get a clear answer tonight.”

Lin Shu scoffed. “Maybe she’s already decided you’re not good enough and is busy looking for your replacement¹,” she said coolly.

“Ah Xu isn’t that kind of person!” Xia Ke retorted immediately, glaring at Lin Shu.

Lin Shu glared right back, not to be outdone.

Xia Ke’s gaze faltered. She lowered her eyes, shouldered her bag, and left without another word.

Shen Man looked at Lin Shu.

Lin Shu stared back haughtily. “You think I was wrong?” she demanded.

Shen Man just smiled, shook her head, and walked out with her bag.

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Back in her room after dinner.

Shen Man was leaning against the headboard reading when her phone suddenly rang.

The call was from an unknown number.

After a moment’s thought, Shen Man picked up the phone and answered.

“This is Manman, right? This is Auntie Feng.” Feng Na’s voice came through, tinged with a smile.

Even though she deliberately softened her tone, she couldn’t hide her inherent arrogance. “Tomorrow is Saturday, and it just so happens my Xiao Jun is free. Let’s all have a meal together.”

“I’m sorry, I have something on tomorrow. I’m afraid I can’t make it,” Shen Man refused tactfully.

“What could be so important? It’s rare for my Xiao Jun to be free. You should just come.” Feng Na’s brow furrowed, her expression turning sour. By the end, her tone had become scolding.

Before Shen Man could speak, she added, “You have to come tomorrow. Your Uncle Lin took you in. You can’t be ungrateful and make your Uncle Lin lose face². If you do, you probably won’t be able to stay here anymore.”

Shen Man hadn’t even responded before the other party hung up.

She lowered her gaze and tossed the phone aside. Her fingertips traced the edge of her book, making a soft shh-shh sound.

A moment later, she threw the book onto her desk, got up, and walked toward Lin Shu’s room.

Just as she reached Lin Shu’s door, she heard Lin Shu’s angry, sarcastic voice from inside.

“So that’s why you were so ‘kind’ as to invite me to dinner. Turns out you just wanted to let that little three show off her military prowess³ in front of me. Lin Huai, are you really that desperate to help this little three secure her position?”

“Don’t even think I’ll agree. I will never let her through the Lin family’s door.” As soon as she finished speaking, the sound of a chair falling over came from inside.

A loud crash!

Shen Man’s heart tightened. She immediately knocked. “Shushu, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” Lin Shu yelled, annoyed.

Shen Man’s fingers hesitated in the air for a moment before she lowered her hand to her side.

She turned and went back to her room. Picking up the phone from her bed, she looked at it for a moment, then saved the recent caller’s number with the note “Feng.”

She had just put the phone down when Lin Huai called.

A flicker in her eyes, Shen Man answered, her voice soft. “Uncle Lin, is something the matter?”

“Manman, tomorrow is your Auntie Feng’s birthday. I need you to convince Lin Shu to come, no matter what,” Lin Huai said, his tone laced with anger. “Nana was kind enough to invite her, and she still throws a tantrum. She’s getting more and more unreasonable.”

The more Lin Huai spoke, the angrier he got, rattling off a list of Lin Shu’s faults.

He went on for over ten minutes, and Shen Man couldn’t get a word in.

“Manman, you tell her this: she’s coming whether she wants to or not,” Lin Huai said, his anger still simmering.

“I’ll… try my best,” Shen Man said quietly, her voice strained.

“Alright, I’m leaving this to you,” Lin Huai said in a commanding tone before hanging up.

Shen Man frowned.

Lin Huai’s heart was completely on Feng Na’s side. He paid no mind to Lin Shu’s anger and hurt; in his eyes, her resistance was just childish behavior.

Lowering her gaze in thought for a moment, Shen Man went to Lin Shu’s door again. She knocked and said, “Shushu, I need to talk to you.”

There was no response from inside the room.

Shen Man didn’t leave. She raised her voice and said, “Shushu, running away from it won’t solve anything.”

After she spoke, she waited quietly.

A moment later, the door was opened from the inside.

Lin Shu’s eyes were slightly red, her little face cold. “What is it you want to say?”

“I’ll go with you tomorrow. We’ll just have a nice meal,” Shen Man said gently.

The moment she finished, she saw Lin Shu start to close the door. Quick as a flash, she blocked it, her gaze firm. “Shushu, you have to go this time. Otherwise, it’s the same as admitting defeat.”

“I would never admit defeat!” Lin Shu was instantly provoked, gritting her teeth. “Fine, I’ll go. It’s not like I’m afraid of her.”

“Wear something nice tomorrow. Don’t let anyone outshine you.”

“Okay, I got it.” Shen Man chuckled and let go of the door.

Lin Shu slammed the door shut with a bang.

Shen Man gave a somewhat helpless smile.

She could already predict what would happen tomorrow.

Lin Shu had changed her mind after just a little prodding. Tomorrow, faced with the scheming Feng Na, she would probably lose her composure easily, get provoked, and act out in anger.

And if that happened, the only impression Lin Shu would leave on Lin Huai was that of a willful and shrewish daughter.

Just what Feng Na wanted.

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Lin Huai booked the most expensive private room at a high-end hotel for the dinner.

Lin Shu was up at the crack of dawn getting ready. She was dressed head to toe in various big-name brands, her carefully coordinated outfit making her look beautiful and elegant.

Shen Man wore a brand-name dress, accessorized only with earrings and no other jewelry.

Seeing Shen Man’s outfit, Lin Shu puffed out her cheeks unhappily. “I told you to dress up properly. Why are you so plain?”

As she spoke, she took off her jade bracelet⁴. “Come here, I’ll put this on you. You can’t lose face for me⁵ today.”

Shen Man chuckled lightly.

She obediently held out her hand. Looking at the girl’s cute, puffed-up expression, she said with a smile, “I’ll be on my best behavior. I won’t lose face for Shushu.”

Lin Shu huffed.

She looked Shen Man up and down, her gaze landing on her bare neck. “I’ll go back to my room and get a necklace for you.”

“You don’t have to—” Shen Man didn’t even finish before she was cut off by Lin Shu’s glare.

She immediately backtracked. “Okay,” she amended.

Lin Shu quickly ran back to her room and returned with a valuable necklace, reaching out to clasp it around Shen Man’s neck.

They were extremely close, close enough to clearly smell the light, fresh scent on each other.

If Shen Man just reached out, she could wrap her arms around the girl’s slender waist.

Her fingertips twitched. She moved her hands behind her back, clasping them together as if in restraint.

“There,” Lin Shu said with satisfaction. “Now you look a little better.”

Shen Man smiled. “Thank you, Shushu. This necklace must be very expensive.”

“Of course it is. This is my most expensive necklace. If it weren’t to piss that woman off, I’d never let you wear it,” Lin Shu said haughtily, shooting Shen Man a sideways glance.

Shen Man smiled without saying a word.

The two of them drove to the hotel.

As soon as they parked, a waiter came over to lead them to the private room.

Shen Man scanned her surroundings.

This floor was filled with roses. The scent of them was everywhere, so strong it was almost pungent.

The chandeliers on the ceiling were draped in red, with rose after rose twined around them.

As far as the eye could see, the rich fragrance of roses filled the entire floor. The romantic atmosphere was made somewhat tacky by the red chandeliers, and the red light they cast gave everything an unreal feeling after a while.

Lin Shu clicked her tongue in disdain. “Tsk. This woman has such vulgar taste.”

Shen Man remained noncommittal.

To them, the design here didn’t even pass muster. It was just a chaotic jumble based on personal preference.

Needless to say, this had to be Feng Na’s doing.

The two entered the private room.

The room was also filled with roses. A giant cake sat in one corner, and a banner stretched across the wall read, “Happy Birthday Nana, Forever Young.”

Seeing the setup, Shen Man found it a little amusing.

She didn’t let her smile show.

“My dad will really do anything for her. Roses and a banner… how could he come up with such a dated design?” Lin Shu said, her sarcasm biting.

“Shushu, this is Uncle Lin’s heartfelt gesture. Don’t say that in front of him, or he’ll be upset,” Shen Man said.

Lin Shu snorted contemptuously, found a chair, and sat down. Leaning back, she surveyed the decor with disdain.

Shen Man sat beside her.

She glanced at her watch. It was eleven o’clock, the appointed time, but Lin Huai and Feng Na’s mother-son duo had yet to appear.

Shen Man understood at once. Feng Na was putting on airs.

If Lin Shu complained about her being late, she could just act coy with Lin Huai and, in turn, accuse Lin Shu of being unreasonable. Given Lin Huai’s temperament, he would naturally take her side.

“Shushu, when Auntie Feng gets here, don’t say anything about them being late,” Shen Man reminded her.

“Why not? They set the time for eleven, but they’re the ones who are late. They have no sense of punctuality,” Lin Shu said indignantly.

Shen Man shook her head, reached out, and took Lin Shu’s hand. “She’s the birthday girl today,” she said seriously. “Whatever she does is excusable. If you pick a fight with her, you’ll only make Uncle Lin angry.”

“What we need to do today is just eat quietly and not let her provoke us.”

Hearing this, Lin Shu bit her lip.

She fumed for a while before nodding reluctantly. “I can avoid making trouble for her. But if she messes with me, don’t blame me for being rude.”

Hearing this, Shen Man gave up trying to persuade her.

With Lin Shu’s temper, it would only take a few words from Feng Na to set her off.

This meal today was bound to be trouble.

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