My Best Bro Got Bullied by Another Bad Woman Again - Chapter 31

What a coincidence.

Just then, Liu Nuanyu decided to steer the conversation toward Sun Du.

“So… Xiao-mei, let’s talk about Mr. Sun. What exactly is your relationship with him?”

Lu Xiaoxiao looked at her in surprise.

What does she mean by that?

Hadn’t she already explained this before?

Did Sister Liu forget again?

Although puzzled, Lu Xiaoxiao answered honestly.

“Sister Liu, didn’t I already tell you? Sun Du and I are childhood friends. We went to the same elementary school, middle school, and high school.”

Liu Nuanyu drew out her response with a teasing smile.

“Then… could you two actually be dating?”

“Of course not! I’ve already said we aren’t.”

“If that’s true, then why are you living together? Isn’t that villa Mr. Sun’s residence? Why are you staying there, Xiao-mei?”

“Uh…”

Lu Xiaoxiao froze.

Why did she have to ask that?

That was exactly the question she feared most.

If she continued living alone, it would be much easier to hide her secret. Living with Sun Du already made things difficult enough. She couldn’t stay in her magical girl form forever.

Maybe… it would actually be easier if I just admitted we were dating…

The thought flashed through her mind before she quickly shook it away.

Instead, she simply answered,

“…That’s a secret.”

It was the perfect response.

After all, being adorable had its advantages.

Of course, Liu Nuanyu already knew Lu Xiaoxiao really did have a secret.

But the person sitting across from them didn’t.

Childhood sweethearts…

Living in the same villa…

A secret…

Shino Genai’s thoughts instantly spiraled out of control.

Too many pieces fit together.

Who exactly is this man?

Suddenly, she raised her voice.

“X-Xiaoxiao!”

Lu Xiaoxiao blinked.

“Hm? What’s wrong?”

Realizing she had lost her composure, Shino quickly lowered her head again.

Countless questions filled her mind, but in the end she cautiously asked only one.

“…Is he… the person who’s closest to you?”

Lu Xiaoxiao nodded naturally.

“Yes. Aside from my parents, Sun Du is the person I’m closest to.”

Those words struck Shino like a bolt of lightning.

Although she had already guessed the answer…

Hearing it confirmed still shattered something inside her.

That meant…

In Lu Xiaoxiao’s heart…

That man ranked above her.

From Lu Xiaoxiao’s perspective, the answer was perfectly ordinary.

She and Sun Du had known each other since childhood.

Compared to someone she’d met only recently, there wasn’t even anything to compare.

But…

Shino Genai wasn’t thinking like an ordinary person.

That’s only because… I haven’t had enough time…

I can still change that…

A determination quietly formed within her heart.

Meanwhile, from Lu Xiaoxiao’s point of view, nothing seemed unusual.

Aside from calling her name once, Shino simply sat there quietly without saying another word.

Liu Nuanyu, however, understood exactly what was happening.

A stress reaction…

She had experienced something similar herself.

The difference was…

Shino’s reaction was far more intense.

Thinking back on her own behavior, Liu Nuanyu suddenly felt embarrassed.

She had once sulked outside someone else’s room like an idiot.

What right did someone who had known them for barely two months have to interfere in a friendship that had lasted for years?

The more she thought about it…

The more mischievous she became.

Watching her enemy suffer gave her an indescribable sense of satisfaction.

Especially someone like Shino.

Seeing her silently endure the blow felt as refreshing as taking a hot bath and putting on brand-new clothes during the New Year.

Smiling innocently, Liu Nuanyu decided to press a little further.

“Xiao-mei… have you and Mr. Sun ever… done anything intimate?”

“Intimate?”

Lu Xiaoxiao immediately blushed.

If “intimate” referred to actions that looked close between a man and a woman…

There actually were quite a few.

Not only with Sun Du, but with many of her old classmates.

Back in high school, during a camping trip, everyone had slept together in large tents.

Her sleeping posture had been so terrible that she’d kicked several classmates in her sleep.

She had even nearly shoved her foot into someone’s mouth.

Looking at her current petite appearance, it would sound incredibly inappropriate.

But back then…

She had been a rough, 1.7-meter-tall boy who got cursed at every morning for kicking everyone while sleeping.

“W-Well… there were some things that looked… kind of intimate…”

She nervously looked away.

“…But I can’t really explain them.”

Her evasive expression looked completely different to the others.

To them…

It was the shy reaction of a girl recalling embarrassing memories.

That expression…

Shino’s thoughts exploded.

What happened between them?

Held hands?

Hugged?

…Kissed?

Or even…

She couldn’t bear to continue imagining it.

Her surroundings seemed to fill with invisible darkness.

Only one emotion remained in her heart—

Rage.

That man…

How dare he do something like that to Xiaoxiao?

How dare he touch her…

Compared to Shino, Liu Nuanyu remained remarkably calm.

She was thoroughly enjoying herself.

Just as she was about to add more fuel to the fire, her phone vibrated.

It was a message from Sun Du.

Sun Du: “How’s the conversation going?”

Liu Nuanyu quickly summarized everything that had happened, including Shino Genai’s reactions.

After reading it, Sun Du replied,

“Hmm… If she isn’t acting, then she’s probably just extremely shy and uncomfortable around strangers.”

Liu Nuanyu frowned.

“Shy? Would a shy person look at me like that? Would she secretly want to harm me?”

“We still don’t have proof.”

Sun Du continued,

“But this may be the key.”

“Assume she’s socially anxious and Xiaoxiao is her only real friend. Xiaoxiao became the one person who eased her loneliness and fear.”

“That would naturally make Xiaoxiao occupy an unusually large place in her heart.”

“Her fear of losing that relationship could easily develop into obsessive possessiveness.”

“Think carefully.”

“When did the resentment in her eyes become strongest?”

“…When you took Xiaoxiao away for training, wasn’t it?”

Liu Nuanyu paused.

“…Now that you mention it… yes.”

“But… that still doesn’t explain why she approached Sister Xiao in the first place.”

“Exactly.”

Sun Du replied.

“And that’s the key we still need to uncover.”

“Now try guiding the conversation toward her.”

“Especially her relationship with Xiaoxiao.”

Liu Nuanyu looked puzzled.

“Why? Do you think she’ll actually talk about it?”

“She has no choice.”

“If her possessiveness truly comes from fear of losing someone important, then after learning how important I am to Xiaoxiao, she’ll likely react in one of two ways.”

“The first…”

“She’ll try to prove herself.”

“She’ll want to prove her place in Xiaoxiao’s heart—to convince both herself and everyone else that she still matters.”

“As long as she can still see hope, she’ll keep fighting for that place.”

“And the second?”

“She’ll fall into despair.”

“If that happens, she’ll either become hysterical…”

“…or retreat into complete silence.”

“Neither outcome is good.”

“Given everything you’ve described…”

“The first possibility is much more likely.”

“So long as she doesn’t completely lose control…”

“We can still help her.”