I Am More Paranoid Than the Villain – Chapter 96

Not Familiar With Her

Thank you, Director Lin, for speaking up for me

This charity gala invited only famous figures from the business world.

To be on the invitation list was, in a way, an acknowledgment of one’s identity and status.

Shen Man sat in the President’s office.

Her slender fingers pinched the bright red invitation, toying with it casually.

“President Shen, Chairman Tian’s intention is to have Assistant Tian accompany you,” Wen Lan said, standing before the desk.

Hearing this, Shen Man’s elegant brows knitted slightly.

She tossed the invitation onto the desk and said in a low voice, “Tell Chairman Tian that with Assistant Tian’s current qualifications and experience, it is not suitable for her to attend such an important event.”

“When Assistant Tian’s experience is adequate, Chairman Tian can personally bring her to attend various banquets.”

“Yes, President Shen.” Wen Lan nodded with a look of understanding and turned to leave.

Shen Man’s fingertips tapped on the desk, making a rhythmic ‘ding ding’ sound.

After a moment of thought, she sent a message to Tian Yi, “Chairman Tian, Assistant Tian’s ‘airdrop’ into this position has already caused a lot of dissatisfaction. If we continue to give her special treatment, it will not be a good thing for her.”

“I believe Chairman Tian should also understand the principle that ‘haste does not bring success’¹.”

“President Shen has a point. From now on, you will make all the arrangements,” Tian Yi replied.

“Many thanks for Chairman Tian’s understanding.” Shen Man smiled with satisfaction and began to handle her work.

After finishing her morning work, Wen Lan brought in an exquisite gift box.

Placing it on the desk, she said, “President Shen, this is the gown our partner custom-made for you. Please take a look.”

“Mm,” Shen Man acknowledged, picking up the gift box and walking toward the break room.

This gown was tailor-made for her.

The style was simple and elegant, and the pure black color gave it a noble and mysterious air.

The design of the hem had a slit up to her thigh, revealing her fair, slender, and beautiful legs as she walked, making her appear incredibly sexy in a subtle way.

After trying it on, Shen Man put the gown away.

She walked out and said, “I need to leave two hours early today.”

“Understood, President Shen,” Wen Lan nodded.

Seeing that it was about time, Shen Man shut down her computer, grabbed her bag and the gown, and left.

Returning to her own home, she went to her room, found a matching set of jewelry, packed it, and left.

Shen Man got in her car, took out her phone, and called Lin Shu.

Lin Shu picked up instantly, her voice cold. “What is it?”

“Shushu, I’m off work. I’m heading over now to shower and change,” Shen Man said with a smile, her tone light and cheerful. “Are you still at the company?”

“Mm,” Lin Shu replied coolly and hung up.

Shen Man put down her phone and started the car.

Arriving at Lin Shu’s house, she entered, changed her shoes, put her things down, and went to take a shower.

Just as she turned off the shower, the ‘clack-clack’ of high heels sounded from the hallway.

Shen Man unhurriedly put on her bathrobe.

A knock came at the bathroom door.

“Are you done yet?” Lin Shu asked loudly, knocking forcefully a few more times.

The ‘thump-thump’ sound was exceptionally loud in the quiet and spacious bathroom.

“I’m done,” Shen Man replied, opening the door. She smiled and said, “Shushu, after you’re done showering, we can leave together.”

“Who wants to go out with you?” Lin Shu shot her a sideways glance, walked into the bathroom, and slammed the door shut with a ‘bang’.

Shen Man smiled faintly and returned to the room.

She finished her makeup, changed into the gown, and tied her hair up high, appearing elegant and noble, yet not lacking a steady composure.

Shen Man opened her bedroom door.

She walked to Lin Shu’s door, knocked, and said, “Shushu, I’m leaving first.”

There was no reply from within the room.

Only the sound of a chair scraping across the floor.

Shen Man understood and turned to walk out.

She drove to the venue where the charity event was being held.

By this time, quite a few people had already arrived.

They stood together in twos and threes, chatting and laughing cheerfully.

Shen Man’s appearance attracted the gazes of many.

Someone walked over holding a wine glass and praised with a smile, “President Shen, you look truly beautiful today. It would be no exaggeration to say you outshine the whole crowd with your beauty.”

“President Xu, you jest,” Shen Man said humbly, offering a polite smile.

The two chatted and laughed, and soon others came over.

Shen Man handled them with ease.

Suddenly, the bustling crowd fell silent.

A white figure, under the gaze of everyone, walked in slowly with pride and elegance.

“That’s Chairman Lin’s precious daughter. Not only is she beautiful, but her talent for design is also first-class,” someone said.

“I wonder which gentleman will have the good fortune to invite Miss Lin to dance tonight,” another person next to him said with a smile, glancing at the others.

Shen Man understood the meaning of that glance.

Although everyone here could be called a successful person, compared to a top-tier wealthy family like the Lins, there was still a huge gap.

Here, Lin Shu was the golden peacock² everyone wanted to climb up to.

Less than a minute after Lin Shu entered, she was already surrounded by people.

Men and women, all wearing smiles as they complimented Lin Shu.

Shen Man stood outside the crowd, watching quietly.

Lin Shu looked up and inadvertently met a pair of calm eyes.

She raised an eyebrow contemptuously, averted her gaze, and listened to the various praises around her.

“President Shen, let’s go offer a toast to Miss Lin,” President Xu said.

Shen Man lowered her eyes, thought for a moment, and nodded with a smile.

Watching Shen Man walk toward her, Lin Shu’s heart began to race uncontrollably.

She turned her head to the side, deliberately avoiding looking at Shen Man.

President Xu led Shen Man over and said with a polite smile, “Miss Lin, has Chairman Lin been well recently?”

Hearing this, Lin Shu turned her head back.

Her gaze lingered on Shen Man for a second before quickly moving away.

She recognized the man who spoke as one of her company’s partners and said with a smile, “Thank you for your concern. My father has been very well recently.”

“That’s good.” President Xu laughed heartily and praised her effusively, “Chairman Lin is truly fortunate to have such a beautiful and talented daughter.”

Lin Shu maintained a polite smile on her face, listening to the flattery from the others.

She slowly started walking toward the rest area.

The people around her understood her intention, and most of them had the sense to stop crowding around her, with only a few still following.

“Miss Lin, allow me to make an introduction,” President Xu said happily, gesturing to Shen Man. “This is President Shen. She graduated from the same school as you.”

“Perhaps you were even classmates.”

Hearing this, Lin Shu looked up and tucked a strand of her beautiful hair behind her ear.

She stared at Shen Man, sized her up for a moment, then shook her head and said, “I don’t know her.”

Shen Man’s eyes narrowed, and the smile on her lips froze for a moment.

Quickly, her expression returned to normal as she introduced herself, “My name is Shen Man. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss Lin.”

“Miss Lin is even more beautiful than the rumors say, as beautiful as a little fairy unstained by worldly dust³,” she said, extending her hand.

Lin Shu glanced at it haughtily and let out a light snort from her nose.

She acted as if she hadn’t seen Shen Man’s outstretched hand, looking completely unconcerned.

Shen Man’s hand was left hanging awkwardly in mid-air.

Seeing this, President Xu immediately tried to smooth things over. “What would Miss Lin like to drink? Shall President Shen get it for you?”

“No need.” Lin Shu raised an eyebrow, her expression one of condescension.

She slowly reached out, took Shen Man’s hand, and smiled faintly. “I think I have a vague impression now. You were the only one in our class back then who got in without having to pay tuition, right?”

Her words were very tactful.

But the people around were all sharp cookies⁴, and they instantly understood the meaning behind her words.

“Judging by President Shen’s temperament and ability, she doesn’t seem like someone who could be cultivated by a poor family,” someone said bluntly, their words laced with ridicule.

“For Chairman Tian to hand the company over to a recent college graduate, it seems President Shen must have some tricks up her sleeve,” another person said with a smile, not bothering to hide the contempt on his face.

Listening to the slander and disdain in their words, the smile on Shen Man’s face did not change.

When she first joined the company, she had faced many doubts and criticisms; she had long since stopped caring about such gossip.

Hearing this, Lin Shu frowned in displeasure and stared coldly at that person. “Can’t a recent graduate manage a company? Are you looking down on me?”

The man panicked and hurriedly bowed to explain, “Miss Lin, you’ve misunderstood. I wasn’t talking about you.”

“Then what did you mean by ‘recent graduate’?” Lin Shu pressed with a cold face, not planning to let him off easily.

“It was a slip of the tongue in a moment of confusion. Miss Lin, please don’t be offended,” the man apologized with his head bowed. “I’ll punish myself with three glasses right now.”

Lin Shu snorted coldly. “We have two recent college graduates here. Shouldn’t you be drinking six glasses?”

“Six glasses?” The man was stunned. He looked at Shen Man, his heart full of reluctance, but upon meeting Lin Shu’s cold and arrogant gaze, he quickly nodded. “Six glasses it is. I’ll listen to Miss Lin.”

After speaking, he downed six glasses of wine in one go and staggered away.

Someone next to him helped him to the rest area.

The crowd around Lin Shu gradually thinned, leaving only Shen Man.

“Director Lin, thank you for speaking up for me just now,” Shen Man said, raising her glass, a look of gratitude on her face.

But there was no trace of joy in her eyes.

Lin Shu knew these were just polite words.

She elegantly crossed her legs, lifted her chin high, and smiled arrogantly. “President Shen, you don’t have to be so polite. I was merely speaking up for myself. Don’t flatter yourself⁵.”

“Is that so?” The corners of Shen Man’s lips hooked up slightly. Her deep eyes stared straight at Lin Shu.

She lifted one foot, shifted forward half a step, and her knee fit perfectly into the space where Lin Shu’s legs were crossed.

The warmth of their skin touching sparked a jolt of electricity.

Lin Shu couldn’t help but tense up. She subconsciously uncrossed her legs and warned in a cold voice, “What are you doing? There are a lot of people watching!”

“Shushu, don’t be nervous.” Shen Man chuckled, gently rubbing Lin Shu’s tender thigh with her knee. She lowered her voice and said, “This gown suits you very well.”

Lin Shu felt an itch spread across the skin of her leg.

She wanted to pull away, but Shen Man pressed firmly against her, making it seem impossible to escape.

Her heart raced, and her fingers couldn’t help but grip the armrest tightly. She glared at Shen Man. “If you do that again, I’ll have security throw you out!”

Hearing this, Shen Man smiled lightly.

She took a step back and leisurely took a sip of wine. “Miss Lin, you should remember me completely now, shouldn’t you?”

Lin Shu was annoyed, her small face flushing slightly.

She turned her head away and said nothing.

A pleased smile appeared on Shen Man’s face, and she stopped teasing Lin Shu.

Holding her wine glass, she went to chat and laugh with other people.

Lin Shu sat alone in silence.

Her gaze unconsciously followed that black silhouette.

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