My Best Bro Got Bullied by Another Bad Woman Again - Chapter 34
Meanwhile, after Sun Du returned, Shino Genai remained exactly as she had been before.
She sat quietly with her head lowered, saying almost nothing.
In fact, unless Lu Xiaoxiao spoke first, she wouldn’t respond at all.
For example—
Sun Du smiled politely.
“Miss Shino, Xiaoxiao told me you helped her a lot when she first enrolled.”
“I’d like to thank you on her behalf.”
“…”
Silence.
“…Um…”
Sun Du waited for a response.
None came.
Lu Xiaoxiao looked at her friend.
“Shino?”
Shino finally raised her head in surprise.
“Ah… y-yes…”
“I’m sorry, Xiaoxiao.”
“I… I don’t know how to talk to strangers…”
Lu Xiaoxiao smiled awkwardly.
“Brother Sun… that’s just how Shino is.”
Sun Du nodded.
“It’s alright.”
“I don’t mind.”
After several similar exchanges, Sun Du arrived at a conclusion.
This wasn’t ordinary social anxiety.
People with normal social anxiety feared saying the wrong thing or offending others.
Shino was different.
To her…
Every stranger was dangerous.
It didn’t matter who they were.
That also explained why she held such hostility toward both him and Liu Nuanyu.
Someone with ordinary social anxiety wouldn’t secretly resent complete strangers.
Still…
Her refusal to speak made things much more difficult.
If he wanted answers…
He would have to push her a little further.
Sun Du began chatting casually with Lu Xiaoxiao.
Most of the conversation consisted of childhood memories and harmless stories.
Nothing unusual.
Yet after listening for only a short while…
Shino suddenly stood up.
“I-I’m sorry…”
“I should leave now.”
“We can… talk another day.”
“Oh.”
Lu Xiaoxiao stood up as well.
“I’ll walk you out.”
The moment they left the villa—
The moment Lu Xiaoxiao disappeared from sight—
Shino’s pace quickened.
Soon…
She broke into a run.
I have to gather my courage…
Yes…
Xiaoxiao told me before…
As long as I have courage…
Things will work out.
It was always like that.
Every time I found the courage… something good happened…
“…This really is troublesome.”
Watching the doorway, Sun Du quietly reviewed everything that had happened.
In front of anyone except Lu Xiaoxiao…
Shino barely spoke.
Perhaps it was because Xiaoxiao was present.
Or perhaps there was another reason.
Either way…
Before dealing with Shino, there was something he needed to confirm with Lu Xiaoxiao.
“Xiaoxiao.”
“When did you first meet Shino?”
Lu Xiaoxiao immediately looked troubled.
“I’m sorry, Brother Sun…”
“I promised Shino I wouldn’t tell anyone.”
“…So you really don’t remember?”
“I…”
She froze.
At first she wanted to make an excuse.
Then she realized…
There was no point trying to fool Sun Du.
“…You’re right.”
“I really don’t remember.”
“But…”
“How did you know?”
Sun Du smiled faintly.
“I could tell.”
“When I asked before, you hesitated for just a moment.”
“That wasn’t something you could fake.”
Everything Liu Nuanyu had reported earlier now fit together perfectly.
Previously, Sun Du had asked whether Lu Xiaoxiao had ever helped Shino.
She had answered yes.
At the time, he’d assumed her confusion came from wondering why he suddenly asked such a question.
After all…
She’d also told him that Shino was the one who approached her first.
Given Shino’s personality, that made little sense.
Now…
Sun Du understood.
When he’d asked the question earlier…
Lu Xiaoxiao had instinctively looked toward Shino.
That tiny reaction revealed everything.
“Xiaoxiao.”
“Tell me the truth.”
“…Alright.”
She lowered her head.
“I honestly don’t know why Shino liked me so much when we first enrolled.”
“I don’t think…”
“I’d ever met her before.”
“Then why didn’t you ask her?”
Lu Xiaoxiao hesitated.
“Because…”
“Shino is always so lonely.”
“If I really had forgotten spending time with her before…”
“…Wouldn’t she be heartbroken if she found out?”
Sun Du couldn’t help smiling.
Just as gentle as ever…
“So that’s why.”
“In that case…”
“The real key still lies with Shino.”
For now…
He had no intention of telling Lu Xiaoxiao the truth.
She knew too little herself.
The answers had to come directly from Shino.
The only question remaining…
Was how to make her reveal them.
“Xiaoxiao.”
“Promise me something.”
“If you spend time with Shino from now on…”
“Make sure either I, Miss Liu, or someone else you trust is with you.”
“…Why?”
“To help her overcome her fear of strangers.”
“…Will that really help?”
“Promise me.”
“Don’t you want your friend to get better?”
“…Okay.”
“I promise.”
Still as easy to persuade as always.
Later that afternoon—
Sun Du sat alone in his new office.
The room was located at the far end of the teaching building’s corridor.
Quiet.
Bright.
Perfect for working.
Beep.
The doorbell rang.
A small smile appeared on Sun Du’s face.
“Come in.”
He pressed the button on his desk.
The office door opened automatically.
Standing outside was Shino Genai.
She carried a stack of documents.
Naturally…
She was the one delivering them.
Since she rarely participated in group training because of her personality, she happened to be free.
“Just leave them here.”
Sun Du pointed toward his desk.
At that exact moment—
His phone rang.
It was the alarm he had deliberately set beforehand.
Of course…
Shino couldn’t possibly know that.
Sun Du calmly answered the call.
“Hello, Xiaoxiao?”
“Hm?”
“Lunch?”
“I didn’t bring anything today.”
“Oh?”
“You cooked for me?”
“If I said I’d already brought lunch…”
“Would you be disappointed?”
“Haha.”
“I don’t believe you.”
Out of the corner of his eye…
He noticed Shino stop walking.
The hand holding the documents slowly tightened.
Her fists gradually clenched.
Good…
Let your jealousy grow.
Show me who you really are.
Shino had no idea how powerful Sun Du truly was.
If he could provoke her into exposing herself…
Everything afterward would become much easier.
The evidence itself wasn’t the important part.
Breaking her emotional defenses was.
Sun Du continued speaking into the phone.
“Xiaoxiao.”
“When we get some free time…”
“Let’s go on a trip.”
“Just the two of us.”
“No one else.”
This time…
Shino slowly turned her head.
She looked at Sun Du from the corner of her eye.
Those eyes…
Cold.
Filled with resentment.
Even…
Murderous intent.
An ordinary person would probably have been terrified.
Someone without battlefield experience might have frozen on the spot.
To Sun Du…
It felt no more threatening than a kitten baring its tiny teeth.
Still not enough?
Then I’ll push a little harder.
A faint smile crossed his lips.
He delivered the final blow.
“Xiaoxiao.”
“I’m the person closest to you.”
“Right?”
“Hm?”
“Of course I am.”
“Then it’s settled.”
“From now on…”
“We’ll always stay together.”
“Alright?”
“…Really?”
“You agreed?”
“Good girl.”
Perfect.
Now tell me…
How does it feel knowing you’ll never have Xiaoxiao all to yourself?
How does it feel realizing that, no matter how desperately you cling to her… you’ll never be as important to her as she is to you?
The effect was immediate.
Shino walked silently to Sun Du’s desk.
Her face was dark.
She said nothing.
She simply stared straight at him.
Sun Du understood.
She hadn’t spoken because…
He was still on the phone.
So he smiled almost imperceptibly and ended the call.
“Xiaoxiao.”
“I’ve got work to do.”
“I’ll call you later.”
He put the phone down.
Then he looked directly into Shino’s eyes.
Now…
I’ve given you the opportunity.
Do you have enough courage… to make your move?
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