My sister never calls me brother.

Zhou Han sat for a while until the noise of the crowd in the corridor gradually faded away.

He thought everyone had left, so he got up, picked up a broom, and prepared to sweep the floor.

Zhou Han had his back to the door and didn't notice Lin Nianwei standing there, peeking out at him.

Lin Nianwei didn't go far; instead, she avoided the crowd halfway and came back.

She noticed Zhou Han's behavior was a bit unusual yesterday, and today's garbage-taking was contrary to Zhou Han's usual style.

So Lin Nianwei wanted to know what Zhou Han was doing.

When Lin Nianwei saw Zhou Han doing her duty alone, she already knew what Zhou Han was up to...

However, Lin Nianwei still had one question: she didn't know why Zhou Han did this.

Based on Lin Nianwei's understanding of Zhou Han, he could simply ignore everyone else. Why did he suddenly become so proactive in trying to please others? This all seemed too illogical.

Seeing Zhou Han looking so lonely, Lin Nianwei felt a little soft-hearted. She quietly walked in, put her schoolbag aside, rolled up her sleeves, picked up a rag and rinsed it in the water, seemingly wanting to help.

Hearing the sound, Zhou Han turned around and looked at Lin Nianwei. Looking at her awkward movements, she didn't seem to have any work experience.

After a moment of silence, Zhou Han whispered, "Put it down..."

Lin Nianwei froze, put down the rag, and turned to look at Zhou Han.

Their eyes met, and neither of them spoke.

Lin Nianwei was the first to look away, picked up her schoolbag, and left decisively.

She walked down the corridor with a frown, feeling somewhat agitated.

Lin Nianwei made a mistake just now. Her attempt to help, though seemingly a kind gesture, actually trampled on Zhou Han's self-esteem.

Anyone can help Zhou Han, but not Lin Nianwei, because being pitied by someone you know is far more harmful than being pitied by a stranger.

Zhou Han breathed a sigh of relief when Lin Nianwei left. He leaned against the table, looking at the trash on the ground, lost in thought.

The door to the Seigaku office was pushed open.

"Clang clang!" Song Mingyuan slid in, one finger pointing to the sky, the other on his hip, and said narcissistically, "With a loud bang in the sky, I make my grand entrance!"

"Oh~" Lilith shook her ahoge (cowlick) and clapped her hands.

Lin Nianwei stared blankly at her book, seemingly unaware that someone had entered the activity room.

“You’re crazy…” Miyazaki Airi rested her chin on her hand on the table and rolled her eyes at Song Mingyuan.

“Uh…” Song Mingyuan’s expression fell, and he said, “This is crazy, that’s going too far…”

"Hmph~" Miyazaki Airi snorted coldly and shifted her gaze elsewhere.

Song Mingyuan glanced at the club activity room, frowned, and asked, "Where did Zhou Han go again? She didn't arrive later than me, did she?"

“You can rest assured now…” Miyazaki Airi said quietly, “The client from yesterday came by just now and said that he wanted to entrust the whole matter to Zhou Han. Right now… he’s probably handling the case, right?”

"Huh!? When did that kid become so reliable?" Song Mingyuan scratched his head in puzzlement, muttering to himself, "He didn't even discuss this kind of thing with me. What if I messed it up?"

“He didn’t violate the organization’s principles by doing this. On the contrary, I’m very curious about how he gained the client’s trust,” Lin Nianwei suddenly said, sounding quite surprised.

"Oh yeah~ Senior Zhou has actually gained people's trust now?" Lilith was also puzzled, revealing her little fangs, her tone suddenly changing as she said with a grin, "Senior Zhou wouldn't be selling his butt, would he? Pfft pfft pfft~"

“Very likely~” Song Mingyuan said with wide eyes and a serious expression.

"Hey! You two, master and apprentice..." Miyazaki Airi's face darkened, and she was too lazy to complain anymore.

"And..." Lin Nianwei looked at the book, her tone hesitant, and said, "He's been acting strangely lately..."

"Strange?" Song Mingyuan was completely confused. "What do you mean?"

"Oh yeah! It's strange, especially after we made the bet." Miyazaki Airi blurted out what happened last weekend.

"Hmm!?" Song Mingyuan was even more puzzled and pressed for an answer, "What bet?"

"Ugh..." Miyazaki Airi quickly covered her mouth, sweating profusely. Oh no! How did I let it slip?

"Stare—" Lin Nianwei stopped reading and stared intently at Miyazaki Airi.

Lilith looked at everyone, then at her senior Miyazaki, shaking her ahoge (cowlick) with some confusion.

Airi Miyazaki looked conflicted, feeling somewhat uncomfortable under everyone's gaze.

"Little vixen, why don't you tell your Grandpa Song the truth..." Song Mingyuan imitated a Beijing accent.

"Tsk!" Miyazaki Airi glared at Song Mingyuan with murderous intent in her eyes.

"Don't be angry! Don't be angry! I was just joking..." Song Mingyuan's momentum immediately weakened, and he continued, "Quickly tell us what you know, so everyone can hear what happened."

“This…” Miyazaki Airi looked troubled.

"Miyazaki-san?" Lin Nianwei suddenly called out.

"Huh?" Miyazaki Airi was stunned.

"We're good friends, right?" Lin Nianwei asked expressionlessly.

“Yes…yes…” Miyazaki Airi replied.

"Do you think it's okay for good friends to keep secrets from each other..." Lin Nianwei tilted her head, her jet-black hair cascading down, and continued, "Is that a good thing?"

“But…” Miyazaki Airi was torn, clutching her skirt. She felt she shouldn’t have interfered in Zhou Han’s affairs, much less reveal them.

Good friends shouldn't hide things from each other, but the three of them all have secrets they're covering up for each other, and they absolutely can't tell anyone easily.

“Miyazaki-san…” Lin Nianwei touched Miyazaki Airi’s hand and said, “If you say so, maybe we can help him together.”

"Huh!?" Miyazaki Airi's eyes widened in surprise. These words really struck a chord with her. She really wanted to ask Lin Nianwei to help Zhou Han.

Miyazaki Airi pondered to herself, "Since that idiot won't ask Vi-chan for help, can I ask for it on his behalf?"

Having made up her mind, Miyazaki Airi hesitated for a moment, glanced at everyone, coughed lightly, and said, "Ahem! This happened a few days ago..."

Some time later, Miyazaki Airi revealed the bet between Zhou Han and teacher Dong Yingxue, omitting her own involvement and only stating the key points.

After listening, Song Mingyuan came to his senses and said, "You met with Teacher Dong a few days ago? And you even made a bet with her with a seven-day time limit?"

“That’s right…” Miyazaki Airi nodded.

"Tsk! This is a bit troublesome..." Song Mingyuan clicked his tongue, adjusted his glasses, and began to think.

"I see. That's why he suddenly resorted to such a foolish method to please others in order to fulfill the bet." Lin Nianwei lowered her head and continued reading her book.

"Foolish? Surely not? It should still have some effect, it's just that there isn't enough time," Miyazaki Airi said doubtfully.

"He's oversimplifying things. Using this method, no matter how long it takes, there will be no progress; it will only put him in a more passive position," Lin Nianwei said calmly.

"Why?" Miyazaki Airi didn't quite understand, because Zhou Han's behavior was indeed in line with helping others, so shouldn't he have gained nothing at all?

"Because before you can repair interpersonal relationships, you need to solve the most basic problems," Lin Nianwei explained.

"What do you mean by 'simple question'?" Miyazaki Airi still didn't understand.

"Do you remember the games those kids from No. 8 Middle School played in the gymnasium?" Lin Nianwei asked.

“I remember, I took the beating in place of Gu Bai…” Miyazaki Airi recalled.

"This is the most basic question," Lin Nianwei said, seemingly unwilling to offer further explanation.

Airi Miyazaki raised her head and thought about it carefully—

The game where Gu Bai gets beaten up instead...

Repair Zhou Han's interpersonal relationships...

Is there any connection between these two things?

Although puzzled, the perceptive Miyazaki Airi realized the crux of the problem.

When Gu Bai was beaten, many of his close friends did not stand up for him immediately, but instead chose to remain indifferent, as if it were none of their business. This game completely shattered this false relationship.

Regardless of their motives, these people, who pretended to be close to Gu Bai, would feel ashamed, guilty, and angry when their hypocritical masks were forcibly torn off. These emotions would then turn into hatred and be transferred onto Zhou Han.

The group that has been constantly causing trouble for Zhou Han and stirring up trouble recently is this group of people. Because of Zhou Han's indirect actions, they are unable to maintain this fake relationship, so they are venting their negative emotions on Zhou Han.

Although this relationship is hypocritical, it is necessary and plays an important role in maintaining the stability of interpersonal relationships within the class.

Therefore, Zhou Han's priority in changing her situation is not to repair her own interpersonal relationships, but to repair the hypocritical relationships around Gu Bai.

“Miyazaki-san…” Lin Nianwei suddenly spoke, interrupting Miyazaki Airi’s thoughts.

"Hmm?" Miyazaki Airi responded.

"Why do you and Zhou Han... spend time together on weekends?" Lin Nianwei looked into Miyazaki Airi's eyes.

"Ah... this..." Miyazaki Airi broke out in a cold sweat, her expression embarrassed. She thought to herself, why did they suddenly ask this?!

Song Mingyuan was also startled. He knew the relationship between the three of them very well, and if it were exposed... he didn't know what would happen.

Based on Song Mingyuan's understanding of the three of them, their reactions to having their secrets revealed were all different—

If Miyazaki Airi knew the secret, she would definitely be unhappy because she hates being deceived. She would think to herself, "We're all good friends, why did you keep it from me?"

If Lin Nianwei knew the secret, although she appeared cold on the surface, she was actually quite jealous. She would be thinking... What?! My stepsister! And living together?! Can I kill someone with my words right now?

If Zhou Han knew his secret was exposed, even though he was very resilient, he would still think to himself... Holy crap! Everyone knows now? Am I going to die?

P.S.: Begging for monthly votes! I need monthly votes!

Chapter Ninety-Five: Zhou Han's Changes

"Hmm!?" Lilith glanced at Song Mingyuan, whose expression was strange, and asked, showing her fangs, "Master, are your hands shaking again?"

"Shaking...shaking about what?" Song Mingyuan's tone wavered, but he forced himself to remain calm. "Silly apprentice, all you do is spout nonsense all day long..."

"Huh...?" Lilith rested her chin on her hand and tilted her head, her ahoge (cowlick) turning into a question mark. She felt that her master was acting a little strange.

"Miyazaki-kun?" Lin Nianwei called out, her eyes fixed on Miyazaki Airi, trying to glean something from his expression.

Miyazaki Airi swallowed nervously, her expression slightly unnatural. She didn't dare to meet Lin Nianwei's eyes. She thought to herself, "What should I do? What excuse can I use to cover this up? If Wei-chan finds out I'm living with that idiot, how embarrassing will that be..."

Fortunately, Miyazaki Airi reacted quickly, remembering that Zhou Han had once used the excuse of "neighbor".

“Um…” Miyazaki Airi paused, composed herself, and said, “That idiot and I… are neighbors!”

Lin Nianwei paused, then asked expressionlessly, "Really?"

"Of course it's true!" Miyazaki Airi insisted.

Lin Nianwei looked away, feeling uneasy for some reason, her suspicions growing.