I’m Really Scared
Chapter 191: The Scent of Another Woman

Guan Shan got up early that day because Xiao Shen had offered to come over and make him breakfast.

Not just for a day, but for every day from now on.

What did this signify? Guan Shan didn't know and didn't dare speculate, but he agreed.

Shen Dinghua kept her word. Just as Guan Shan reached the downstairs entrance, he heard the door opening—as part of their agreement, he had given Shen Dinghua a spare key to his place.

If Shen Dinghua was coming over to make breakfast and something unexpected happened to Guan Shan, he couldn't just leave her waiting outside indefinitely. Giving her a key made perfect sense...

The door clicked open, revealing Shen Dinghua bathed in the early morning light, dressed in sportswear.

It looked like she had even gone for a morning run. A fine layer of sweat glistened on her forehead and cheeks, with strands of slightly damp black hair clinging to her temples. Her cheeks, still retaining a bit of baby fat, were flushed. Her black sports bra outlined a full curve, reminiscent of a slime bouncing...

Her slender waist and the broad swathes of fair skin seemed to glow under the sunlight. Her loose sports pants and the jacket tied around her waist added a touch of athleticism and vitality, different from her usual demeanor.

As Shen Dinghua entered, her demeanor turned vigilant, almost like a cat with its ears pricked up, focusing intently on Guan Shan.

Guan Shan was about to greet her but froze in his tracks, "What... what's wrong?"

Shen Dinghua sniffed the air and then walked up to Guan Shan, standing face-to-face, almost touching him.

Guan Shan's body stiffened. He could almost smell the faint scent of morning dew and sweat from Shen Dinghua.

Of course, a girl's sweat couldn't just be called sweat—it was fragrant, a mix of pheromones, youth, and sensuality.

Shen Dinghua's nose brushed past Guan Shan's cheek, her warm breath trailing from his jaw to his neck and collarbone, finally stopping at his chest.

"I smell it."

Shen Dinghua squinted her eyes and sniffed again, a cute smile forming on her lips, "The scent of another woman."

"...!!!"

Guan Shan's eyes widened, almost in shock, and he hurriedly denied, "Impossible!"

But he soon realized he had reacted too strongly and added, "I only interact with colleagues at work. Recently, I've only met with an orphanage director and a subordinate of Officer Xia, no one else!"

Shen Dinghua pressed her finger to his Adam's apple, silencing him, then slid her finger down to a hard object and tilted her head, "What's this?"

Guan Shan looked down to see it was the [Worker Bee Pendant] hanging around his neck. The girl's delicate finger was pressing against the glass container through his shirt.

Currently, the Worker Bee within the pendant housed the souls of Queen Bee and Li Zhi Ying. Given the glass and shirt, she probably couldn't sense anything unusual.

Otherwise, the sight of such a large insect might have scared... well, he was overthinking. His Xiao Shen could catch mice and kill cockroaches without batting an eye.

She wouldn't be scared but might take it to study what species it was.

Shen Dinghua huffed, "I remember Xiao Shan saying he didn't like flashy accessories. When did you start wearing necklaces?"

So that's what it was...

Guan Shan sighed in relief, explaining, "I mentioned I went to Liaoshen's mountain village with Chief Li, right? This is a 'local specialty.' The villagers were so hospitable, I couldn't refuse and had to accept it."

Indeed, the villagers were so warm-hearted they were willing to risk their lives for him.

He took out the necklace, showing the peculiar gel-like liquid inside the glass container with a strange, ferocious hornet suspended within. It looked bizarre, definitely not something a woman would give to a man.

Shen Dinghua held the glass container, spinning it to examine it. She squinted and smiled, "I was just joking. If Xiao Shan finds another girl, I'll eat this little bug right here."

"But unfortunately, Xiao Shan won't."

"Even though it's true," Guan Shan said helplessly, "you don't have to put me down like that."

Shen Dinghua let go of the pendant, grinning, "Who knows you better than I do? Since childhood, Xiao Shan has always been a gentleman. He never gets too close to anyone, never forms deeper relationships, which others might see as a subtle coldness."

"If you can't take the first step, there's no way to proceed to the next."

She walked lightly to the kitchen doorway, glancing around the apartment, "Even I, your dear childhood friend, only just got allowed into this place."

Guan Shan couldn't refute. Ever since his parents passed, his attitude towards people and things had been exactly like that—more deeply closed off.

Shen Dinghua took a lap around but didn't enter the kitchen. Instead, she asked, "Are you going out today?"

Guan Shan nodded, hesitated, and then said honestly, "Going to that female doctor's house who helped with the investigation at Sacred Heart Hospital..."

Shen Dinghua's smile turned wry.

Guan Shan, feeling guilty, forced himself to continue, "She just needs to discuss something..."

Damn, the more I explain, the worse it sounds!

Shen Dinghua sighed, "Seems I made a mistake. Today, this bug is going to be eaten."

Guan Shan suddenly felt the [Worker Bee Pendant], previously still, give a violent shudder.

"?"

Guan Shan paused, thinking the Queen Bee felt offended, finding it both amusing and troubling.

He had been wondering how to make the Queen Bee speak up. Who knew Xiao Shen's teasing would prompt it into action?

But he couldn't let Queen Bee harbor any ill feelings towards Shen Dinghua. Guan Shan quickly said, "No, no, the bug is poisonous and has a sting. What if you get hurt? Even if you're willing, I'm not."

Shen Dinghua puffed her cheeks, "Then what do you suggest?"

Guan Shan had a sudden idea, "How about you come with me? That should be fine, right?"

Shen Dinghua blinked, "Xiao Shan, you've gotten quick-witted. Did this trip make you smarter?"

"Was I stupid before?"

"A big, stupid dummy."

"Alright..."

Guan Shan watched Shen Dinghua walk into the kitchen and start making breakfast like she knew her way around. It seemed she had already familiarized herself with the place when she stayed over last time.

Guan Shan smiled, feeling an odd sense of domesticity.

Undoubtedly, Shen Dinghua's understanding of him made him happy.

It showed that Xiao Shen valued him, just as he valued Xiao Shen.

As for Lu Qiuchi... she didn't specify that he had to come alone. If it involved Esper matters, they could discuss it another time.