My Best Bro Got Bullied by Another Bad Woman Again - Chapter 32

“So… do you understand now?”

“…Yeah.”

Liu Nuanyu nodded.

She understood Sun Du’s explanation, but one question still lingered in her mind.

“But she really gets on my nerves. Why do we have to figure out the reason behind all this? Wouldn’t it be easier to just arrest her before she causes trouble?”

Sun Du replied calmly,

“Everyone’s mistakes deserve to be judged fairly.”

“Arresting her isn’t difficult.”

“But if we don’t resolve the root of the problem, we’ll only leave hidden dangers behind. Those unresolved issues will eventually come back to affect the future.”

“Understanding another person’s mistakes is also a way of warning ourselves—so we don’t repeat them, and so we can prevent others from making the same mistakes.”

There was another reason he didn’t mention.

Shino Genai wasn’t the only troublesome woman he’d encountered.

If he didn’t understand how these women thought…

How could he guard against the next one?

“I understand.”

“There is one more thing.”

Sun Du continued,

“Has Xiaoxiao become close to any other girls with unusual personalities?”

“Other girls?”

Liu Nuanyu thought for a moment.

“I don’t think so.”

“That’s good.”

“Oh, and one more thing.”

“Your Chinese still needs work.”

Liu Nuanyu blinked.

“…Huh?”

“There isn’t a separate third-person pronoun based on gender the way you’re using it.”

“The standard third-person pronoun can refer to anyone.”

“Don’t invent new usages just because you’ve seen them online.”

“Language exists to communicate clearly.”

“If everyone starts making up words or changing their meanings, how is anyone supposed to understand each other?”

“Are we all going to develop telepathy?”

“I-I understand…”

“I won’t use it that way again.”

“Good.”

“If anything happens, contact me immediately.”

“I still have to deal with Dean Chang.”

“I’ll help whenever I can.”

“Okay.”

After ending the conversation, Liu Nuanyu lowered her phone.

Only then did she realize…

Both Lu Xiaoxiao and Shino Genai had been watching her the entire time.

“W-What?”

“Sister Liu.”

Lu Xiaoxiao tilted her head.

“Who were you talking to?”

“You’ve been chatting for quite a while.”

“Oh…”

“It was Mr. Sun.”

“We had something to discuss.”

“Brother Sun?”

Lu Xiaoxiao pouted slightly.

What could they possibly have talked about for so long?

“So…”

“What were you discussing?”

Liu Nuanyu froze.

Then inspiration struck.

“Well…”

“It’s about my… ‘True Love.'”

“It’s been looking unhealthy lately, so I was asking Mr. Sun how to take care of it.”

“‘True Love?'”

Lu Xiaoxiao looked confused.

“What kind of plant is that?”

“Maybe I can help.”

Plant?

Liu Nuanyu inwardly panicked.

She had completely forgotten she’d described it as a plant.

Thinking quickly, she blurted out,

“…A cactus.”

“A cactus?”

Lu Xiaoxiao scratched her head apologetically.

“I-I’m sorry…”

“I don’t really know how to care for cacti.”

Actually…

The real question was how someone could nearly kill a cactus.

“It’s fine.”

Liu Nuanyu hurriedly changed the subject.

“Let’s keep chatting.”

“How about this?”

“Xiao-mei…”

“How did you and Shino-senpai first meet?”

“Huh?”

Lu Xiaoxiao looked puzzled.

“Didn’t I already tell you?”

“It was during my first few days after arriving at Wutong Academy.”

Liu Nuanyu nodded casually.

Her real attention, however, was fixed entirely on Shino Genai.

As expected…

The girl’s body trembled ever so slightly.

She’d taken the bait.

“Really?”

“So there’s nothing more to tell?”

“I was actually thinking about introducing Shino-senpai to Mr. Sun someday.”

“That’s not true!”

Shino suddenly raised her voice.

Even Lu Xiaoxiao jumped in surprise.

Liu Nuanyu secretly celebrated.

Got you.

“Shino?”

Lu Xiaoxiao called softly.

But Shino couldn’t calm herself.

She bit her lip before speaking.

“No…”

“Our relationship…”

“It can’t be summarized with just a few words.”

“…Really?”

Even Lu Xiaoxiao looked surprised.

Had she really done that much?

“Of course.”

Shino gently took Lu Xiaoxiao’s hand.

Although her breathing was uneven, her eyes were filled with unwavering determination.

“To me…”

“Xiaoxiao is like the warm sun in winter.”

“You…”

“You chased away the darkness…”

“…and the cold inside my heart.”

“You taught me to keep hoping.”

“So…”

“I want to repay you.”

“I want to protect you…”

“I…”

Perhaps because she was nervous…

Or perhaps because her emotions were overflowing…

She couldn’t finish her sentence coherently.

Standing nearby, Liu Nuanyu looked utterly bewildered.

Lu Xiaoxiao herself seemed confused for a moment before smiling gently.

“Really?”

“But… I only did what anyone else would have done.”

“If anything…”

“I should be the one thanking you.”

“Thank you for always being with me, Shino.”

“…???”

Liu Nuanyu felt completely lost.

What exactly happened between these two?

It was like listening to half of a riddle.

Still…

She could now confirm one thing.

Lu Xiaoxiao had indeed done something important for Shino.

The problem was…

Shino had never been able to repay that kindness.

At first glance, that conclusion sounded vague.

But Lu Xiaoxiao’s genuine confusion revealed something significant.

Either…

She had never realized she helped Shino.

Or…

What she considered a small, ordinary act had completely changed Shino’s life.

Those were only guesses.

Liu Nuanyu needed more information.

So she deliberately interrupted the strange atmosphere.

“Really?”

“Then how did the two of you actually meet?”

Unexpectedly, Shino shot her a cold glare.

“That’s our secret.”

“I can’t tell you.”

So irritating…

Liu Nuanyu clenched her fists.

I seriously want to rub her face into the floor.

…But Xiaomei would definitely be upset.

Left with no choice, she looked toward Lu Xiaoxiao instead.

After glancing apologetically at Shino, Lu Xiaoxiao shook her head.

“If Shino doesn’t want to tell anyone…”

“Then I can’t tell you either.”

“I’m sorry, Sister Liu.”

Shino immediately smiled with obvious delight.

Meanwhile…

Liu Nuanyu nearly fainted.

Are you two taking turns torturing me?

“So precious that you can’t even talk about it?”

She made one last attempt.

Shino remained unmoved.

“Our memories…”

“Don’t need anyone else’s interpretation.”

“I…”

Liu Nuanyu slumped against the sofa.

She had never felt so exhausted.

Not even sparring with Sun Du had worn her down this much.

That battle had been physically impossible to win.

This one…

Was mentally impossible.

One person refused to speak.

The other couldn’t.

Just then…

Her phone vibrated.

The notification sound rang out.

The moment she saw it was a message from Sun Du, she nearly cried with relief.

Liu Nuanyu: “Mr. Sun, help! I… I…”

Sun Du: “What’s wrong?”

Liu Nuanyu immediately explained everything that had happened, adding several lines that practically conveyed tears through the screen.

After reading her report, Sun Du replied,

“That does make things difficult.”

“If neither of them is willing to explain what happened, uncovering the truth becomes much harder.”

“But…”

“It’s not without clues.”

“You previously guessed either Xiaoxiao forgot helping that girl…”

“…or that she helped her unintentionally.”

“There is another possibility.”

Liu Nuanyu frowned.

I’m asking for comfort, and he’s analyzing the case again…

Still, she knew the investigation came first.

“What possibility?”

Sun Du answered:

“A misunderstanding.”

“The information each of them believes to be true…”

“…may not actually be the same.”