Chapter 9 Just a Friend
Under the eaves, she blew on her hands and looked at me.
"Actually, Nanfang, there's something I've always wanted to know the answer to."
She paused.
"Today, don't treat me as Officer Tu. Just treat me as an ordinary friend. Can we chat?"
I avoided her gaze.
"Let's talk here. I need to get back soon. Mom and Dad will worry."
"Okay." She nodded, straightforward as always. "Nanfang, what kind of person do you think your sister is?"
"Does what kind of person she is have anything to do with where she ended up?" I shot back.
Tu Xuan gave a small smile.
"It does. For example, if she's a strong and brave child, she's more likely to survive tough situations... But I'm only asking because I'm worried. We still don't have any solid leads."
She stood close—close enough that I caught the fresh scent of shampoo on her short hair.
I tried to brush it off.
"...She's very obedient, of course. Everyone likes her."
"And you?" she asked suddenly.
I stepped back, instantly feeling offended.
Tu Xuan smiled again and added, "I mean, you love her a lot too, right?"
"Mm-hmm." My response came out muffled. I just wanted this conversation to end.
She noticed my resistance and didn't push further. She let me go.
But after I took a few steps, she called from behind.
"Nanfang—"
I stopped but didn't turn around.
Her voice drifted over.
"Study hard and keep improving."
"You have to live on with the part your sister lost too."
I kept turning those words over in my mind, searching for hidden meaning.
Did she know my secret? Had she seen through my tricks?
Would she come after me?
Even though she had never done anything to hurt me—in fact, she had protected me more than once.
So why was I so uneasy?