Some Masks, Worn Too Long, Become Limited Edition Skins

Le Yu's initial thought was to avoid getting too entangled with Qian Yuya.

However, due to Calamity for Qian Yuliu, Le Yu was forced to endure the humiliation of relying on Qian Yuya... He simply couldn't refuse such a good thing as increasing his Mental Power just by having dinner together. Besides, he also wanted to experience what Transcending Calamity was truly like.

Le Yu's personality was originally very different from Qian Yuliu's, and with the influence of Qian Yuliu's memories, Le Yu grew increasingly curious about this "free" younger sister. Actively helping with cooking, asking classmates about her recent situation... these actions were all Le Yu's attempts to get closer.

Le Yu himself vaguely realized that due to his recent arrival in a new world, a sense of loneliness and panic persisted in his heart, and he desperately sought an outlet. However, Lan Yan and Kui Zhao from the Statistics Department were eyeing him like tigers, his subordinate Chen Fu was a master at passing the buck, and his mentor Lin Jinyao had been killed by his own hand... It was truly a case of drawing his sword and looking around, feeling utterly lost.

At this moment, Qian Yuya, being blood-related to Qian Yuliu, held a higher position than anyone else—though she didn't have Le Yu's complete trust, she was Le Yu's only option.

Only children have choices; infiltrators have none.

It was only natural for Le Yu to have a good impression of Qian Yuya.

To some extent, Qian Yuya also reminded him of his sister from his previous life—but unlike Qian Yuya's quiet demeanor, his own sister had a terrible temper and loved causing trouble. She would even intentionally fart in his bedroom. Le Yu and his sister had practically fought since childhood.

Despite their difficult relationship, when Le Yu heard in college that his Wild Barbarian sister had been dumped by a scumbag, he had gathered a group of classmates to enforce justice across cities—they didn't physically attack anyone, but merely pretended to be a group of "0s" who rushed up during the scumbag's date to expose his abandonment. From then on, the scumbag became a well-known "1" across the surrounding universities.

It was because of this that Le Yu could completely understand Qian Yuliu's thoughts.

Whether my sister likes me or hates me, as her elder brother, I must protect her.

Perhaps it was the influence of Qian Yuliu's memories, or perhaps Le Yu had developed feelings from relying on her, but in any case, Le Yu was willing to continue executing Qian Yuliu's plan and maintain the persona of an "evil brother."

"Why?"

Qian Yuya's tone was complex, a look of disappointment on her face, as if she were expressing frustration: "Why would you do something like this?"

Le Yu smiled. "Do you really want to know why? Do you think the reason truly matters?"

"It matters. The person I knew before wasn't like this," Qian Yuya said softly. "You used to... although you didn't talk much, you would quietly offer help to those in need."

Qian Yuliu, oh Qian Yuliu, how did your sister even find out about your good deeds? Were you deliberately putting on a show for your sister? Did you keep a diary of good deeds and then deliberately let your sister see it?

Le Yu grumbled internally about Qian Yuliu, yet a smile appeared on his face as he spread his hands. "If I told you I was enduring humiliation to reform Huiyao from within, would you respect me? If I told you I was just pursuing fame and fortune, would you despise me?"

"My intelligent sister, let your brother teach you a life lesson: don't listen to what others say, look at what they do. There are too many silver-tongued people in this world. What you hear may not be the truth. Instead of giving the right to explain to others, why not trust the reality you see with your own eyes?"

Qian Yuya stared blankly at Le Yu, biting her lip. "You've changed."

"I've changed, and I haven't," Le Yu said with a smile. "Yuya, you just said you thought I was a quiet but helpful person, right? So, do you think my classmates, teachers, and friends also have the same impression of me?"

"Being quiet means being able to keep secrets and being mature and stable. Being helpful means being kind-hearted and approachable. This is an excellent mask—ever since I put on this mask, no one has disliked me. Everyone trusts me, relies on me, including my classmates, teachers, and... you."

Le Yu wasn't lying this time.

Silent and kind was indeed the mask Qian Yuliu had willingly put on.

Due to the influence of his Cold-Blooded Physique, Qian Yuliu had no "personality" to speak of from a young age. He could exhibit any personality, and he found that this mask brought him the greatest benefits, so he kept wearing it.

However, Qian Yuliu had worn this mask for too long; he never took it off until his death.

Yet, this explanation naturally sounded incredibly harsh to Qian Yuya.

With a smack, she slapped the table and stood up, her eyes fixed on Le Yu, her ears red with anger. "So, your previous personality was all fake? Your kindness and bravery were just deliberate attempts to curry favor with others?"

Le Yu smiled slightly. "You've never known the real Qian Yuliu."

But don't worry, no one in this world knows the real Qian Yuliu, except me... Le Yu thought, suddenly feeling a chill down his spine.

"I've never known the real Qian Yuliu..."

Qian Yuya murmured, then suddenly pushed her chair away and strode off. Le Yu quickly grabbed her hand. "Where are you going?"

"I'm going back to my room, I can't eat anymore!" Qian Yuya's voice grew louder and louder, the last word spat out fiercely.

Who's going to wash those dishes...? Le Yu quickly blurted out some noble-sounding words: "Really? You're going to waste food for such a reason? You're punishing yourself for my mistakes? Refugees in the Skyline District don't even have rice to eat right now, and you're going to waste meat patties here?"

There was no refrigerator here, and while the temperature was fine enough that leftovers wouldn't spoil overnight, the idea of eating food immediately after it was prepared and not wasting it was deeply ingrained. This reason perfectly hit Qian Yuya's sweet spot—as a medical officer candidate, she was somewhat of a soft-hearted idealist. Faced with the argument of "Skyline District refugees have nothing to eat while you waste food," she actually couldn't refute it.

After three seconds, Qian Yuya stomped her foot in anger, went back to sit down, and ferociously picked up food and ate, eating very quickly and without any manners, all while glaring at Le Yu.

However, Le Yu felt a secret delight in his heart: My sister is so cute even when she's angry and eating!

Bah, this thought must be influenced by Qian Yuliu; I'm not that kind of person.

"So, is this your new mask?"

Qian Yuya chewed her food forcefully, then said with a sudden realization, "You, who never returned home before dark, suddenly came home early today. Coincidentally, Li Ying came over to return a book to me today, and you just happened to open the door for her and chat with her for a while... If you hadn't told her you were Qian Yuliu, Li Ying might have had a pretty good impression of you."

Huh?

Le Yu blinked. He felt that Qian Yuya's train of thought had taken a peculiar turn.

"You even told me to invite Li Ying over when I had free time, so she would understand that you're not a bad person, to increase your time together, and you've put on this new mask: humorous, witty, sociable, sunny, slightly idiotic... Given Li Ying's personality, she would indeed like this mask."

The more Qian Yuya spoke, the clearer her thoughts became. She took a sharp intake of breath. "Li Ying's father is the Director of the Registrar Department... Is that your goal? To get close to the Registrar Department through Li Ying!?"

Except for the "slightly idiotic" comment, which Le Yu disagreed with, he had to give Qian Yuya credit in other areas—even a well-informed girl like Qian Yuya could easily veer into palace intrigue when thinking things through!

Most importantly, her fabricated story was so plausible and well-reasoned that Le Yu even wondered if Qian Yuliu had such a plan!

"Think whatever you want," Le Yu could barely hold back his laughter.

"I won't let you succeed!" Qian Yuya slammed her clean bowl and chopsticks on the table. There wasn't a single grain of rice left in the bowl, as if she felt this would make amends to the victims in the Skyline District.

Le Yu checked his system panel, confirmed that his Transcending Calamity progress was +1, then stopped Qian Yuya from leaving and stood up. "You're going to read in the living room, right? I'll go back to my bedroom and won't come down to disturb you."

Time to get out of here, otherwise I'll have to wash the dishes.

Watching Le Yu walk towards the second floor, Qian Yuya opened her mouth as if to say something.

However, after a moment of internal struggle, she shoved her right hand into her mouth and bit down hard, taking several deep breaths through her nose. Soon, her expression returned to normal, and the clenched fist of her left hand relaxed. Whatever she had wanted to say was no longer on her mind.

She touched the white teeth marks on her right hand, then calmly cleared the table and washed the dishes. Afterward, she sat in the living room, completely engrossed in her book, immersed in a sea of knowledge, seemingly unaffected by what had happened during dinner.

At 9:30 PM, Qian Yuya had already gone to bed.

Le Yu left the Qian Family home, a pocket watch and a map of Star Engraving Prefecture tucked away with him.

He was going to meet Star Picker.

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