Second Sister's Apology

It was obvious.

Second Sister’s attitude toward Cao Cheng had changed.

And honestly, it was understandable.

The bad first impression stemmed from Cao Cheng’s laziness and idleness. Half a year ago, the young master gave off the vibe of a useless good-for-nothing who couldn’t do anything right.

So,

When this "useless" state suddenly transformed, impressions naturally reversed themselves. Second Sister might even feel a sense of guilt—assuming she had a conscience and morals—or at the very least, a twinge of regret.

She’d realize how rash she’d been, slapping labels on someone without truly knowing them, jumping to conclusions, and misunderstanding him.

Maybe she was too proud to apologize outright.

But her demeanor would noticeably soften.

This…

Was actually a form of behavioral PUA!

There were many schools of PUA, and this one belonged to… the Five-Step Trap.

It unfolded in three stages: image subversion, emotional resonance, and creating uniqueness.

Right now, it was the first stage—image subversion.

Once this initial hurdle was cleared, the rest would come easily. After all, the hardest part was always getting started.

Of course,

For The Fourth, it was a different approach—the charming wit tactic.

First, you had to be humorous, or at least perceived as such. Then, you’d tease the girl, mock her playfully, and she wouldn’t get mad. Instead, she’d find you amusing…

Sprinkle in a bit of the Five-Step method, like playing the piano—another way to subvert expectations.

Playing dumb to outsmart others fell into the same category.

There were too many techniques to count.

And they could be mixed and matched.

Old Cao had mastered at least half of them.

As for Cao Cheng, with his deep life experience and worldly knowledge, he’d mastered them all… Yeah, right.

Cao Cheng knew nothing.

He was pure as snow.

At least in The Third’s eyes, he was utterly well-behaved.

……

“Aren’t you studying computer science? You can actually paint?”

“I can even do woodworking.”

“Woodworking?”

Cao Cheng pulled a wooden figurine from his pocket’s storage space and handed it to her. “Take a look at my craftsmanship.”

“…”

Second Sister accepted it, and her eyes lit up.

It was a carving of their mother!

Exquisitely lifelike, down to the finest detail.

A palm-sized wooden sculpture, incredibly delicate.

“You made this?”

“Of course.”

Second Sister adored it, but it was clearly a gift for their mother.

Given her strained relationship with Cao Cheng, she couldn’t bring herself to ask for one.

Cao Cheng seemed to read her mind. “So far, I’ve only carved one for my mom, The Third, and The Fourth.”

“What about… Eldest Sister?” Second Sister asked curiously.

“The relationship isn’t there yet. No inspiration, no emotional investment. The carving wouldn’t turn out well.” Cao Cheng shook his head.

The message was clear.

He only crafted these gifts for those who treated him well. Those on less familiar terms need not apply.

So.

No Eldest Sister meant no carving for her either.

A flicker of disappointment crossed Second Sister’s face. She really liked this little piece—so pretty, perfect for fidgeting with in her hands.

During investigations, fiddling with it might even help her think faster.

A pang of negativity surfaced.

Not anger, but still enough to trigger a critical hit.

……

Lately, Cao Cheng had collected quite a few emotional reactions but hadn’t cashed them in for rewards.

He was saving up.

Probably waiting to unlock a divine-tier treasure chest after his next system upgrade.

Since he’d been holed up at home lately, avoiding conflicts, there was no rush to boost his abilities.

By now, he could open seven diamond chests.

Just three more diamonds, and he could fuse them into one divine-tier chest.

Meaning he only needed another 20,000 emotional points at most.

Almost there!

A matter of days, tops.

……

Second Sister had five days off.

But she wasn’t idle—she had to attend meetings at the city bureau and an awards ceremony.

The case was closed.

But the discussions around it were far from over.

This investigation had mobilized half the criminal investigation team, plus several senior experts from the provincial level.

A collaborative effort involving over 300 officers from the investigative unit and local police stations.

The timing of the crime had been highly sensitive.

Yet,

Ten days in, they hadn’t cracked it.

Not only that, but they’d also gone down the wrong path from the start.

Mistakes happen.

But the key was learning from them, improving, and expanding one’s understanding.

Meetings big and small continued even after the case was solved. The details would be disseminated to police stations, investigative teams, and even other cities in the province for study, encouraging broader thinking.

In short,

Ren Fanxing had made a name for herself.

A promotion was inevitable.

Not an immediate jump, of course—solving one case didn’t mean an instant upgrade.

But commendations?

A collective second-class merit was practically guaranteed.

Maybe even an individual award.

When annual evaluations rolled around, these achievements—along with cracking major, complex cases—would be essential for climbing the ranks.

Without such accolades, she’d need at least three years of solid performance just to move half a step up.

So,

Solving cases was an accelerator, not a cheat code.

……

Second Sister also gave reports at the provincial and city levels.

Met plenty of higher-ups.

When discussing the case, she didn’t hog the credit. On one hand, she emphasized the team effort.

On the other…

Standing tall before a white-uniformed superior, Ren Fanxing spoke earnestly and humbly: “The breakthrough in this case actually came from… my brother’s insight. He’s brilliant. I’d say he deserves the lion’s share of the credit.”

“Well said. Modest, fair, and responsible. You embody the qualities of a modern policewoman.” The white-uniformed leader nodded approvingly.

This particular officer wore a single olive branch and three flowers on his lapel.

His words drew nods of agreement from the other officials.

Once this spread, an internal model worker award this year was practically in the bag.

Ren Fanxing would become a role model for female officers across the province.

With that status, she’d be on the fast track.

A few more high-profile cases, and she’d be nationally recognized…

……

Second Sister Ren Fanxing wasn’t naive. She knew exactly what this meant.

Never in her wildest dreams did she imagine that the "useless brother" she’d once dismissed would bring her such immense benefits.

The guilt only deepened.

She’d judged him by appearances.

As the old saying went: No investigation, no right to speak.

How had she been so sure of herself?

She’d even declared multiple times that she wouldn’t acknowledge him as family.

Looking back now…

He wasn’t a bad person.

At worst, at the very worst… he was just a little lazy, unemployed?

Right?

Now that she thought about it, she couldn’t quite pinpoint why she’d disliked him so much.

Logically, it didn’t add up.

Ren Fanxing knew herself—she was someone who stood firmly against evil, with zero tolerance for wrongdoing.

But this brother of hers… what had he actually done wrong?

So he was a bit lazy?

But he had skills—painting, woodworking… even computer science.

Right now, the bureau and the team were desperate for tech-savvy talent.

He was a high-tech asset.

Whenever a computer specialist joined the force, every department fought over them—including her criminal investigation unit.

The more she reflected, the more she realized how unfairly she’d judged him.

As for apologizing…

Second Sister hesitated.

She had her pride too—apologizing would indeed be a bit embarrassing.

But then again...

If it's family, maybe it's not such a big deal?

At worst, she could just apologize in secret, making sure The Third and The Fourth didn’t see. That way, she wouldn’t lose her dignity as the Second Sister!

But the moment she got home...

She was hit with a brutal blow!

[Ding~ Negative emotions 10002]