Not getting too involved with Qian Yuya was Le Yu's initial thought.
However, due to the 'Tribulation of Qian Yu Flow', Le Yu had no choice but to endure the humiliation and rely on Qian Yuya for support... Such a good thing as increasing spiritual power just by having dinner together was something Le Yu simply couldn't refuse, let alone his curiosity to experience what 'Crossing the Tribulation' was truly like.
Le Yu's personality was originally vastly different from that of Qian Yu Flow, and coupled with the influence of Qian Yu Flow's memories, Le Yu became increasingly curious about this younger sister he gained for free: proactively helping with cooking, inquiring from classmates about her current situation... These actions were all preludes to Le Yu's attempts to get closer to her.
Le Yu faintly perceived that, due to being new to this other world, his feelings of loneliness and fear remained, desperately seeking an outlet. However, the likes of Kui Zhao from the Statistical Department and others were watching him closely, his subordinate Chen Fu was a master of shirking responsibility, and his mentor Lin Jinyao was killed by his own hand... Indeed, it was a situation where he felt at a loss wherever he turned.
At this time, Qian Yuya, who had a blood relationship with Qian Yu Flow, held a higher level of significance than the others—though she couldn't gain Le Yu's complete trust, she was his only choice.
Only children have choices, traitors have none.
It was only natural for Le Yu to have a fondness for Qian Yuya.
In some ways, Qian Yuya also reminded him of his past-life sister—though different from the quiet type like Qian Yuya, his biological sister had a bad temper and loved causing trouble, even purposely farting in his room; the two siblings practically fought from a young age.
Even though their relationship wasn't good, when Le Yu was in college and heard his unruly sister was dumped by a jerk, he once gathered a group of classmates to cross cities for 'law enforcement'—tactfully exposing the jerk's abandonment during a date, making the jerk notoriously infamous in surrounding universities.
Because of this, Le Yu completely understood Qian Yu Flow's thoughts.
Whether my sister likes me or dislikes me, as a brother, I must protect her.
Perhaps it was the influence of Qian Yu Flow's memories, or maybe it was developed feelings from relying on someone, but in any case, Le Yu was willing to continue executing Qian Yu Flow's plan, maintaining the persona of a 'villainous brother.'
"Why?"
Qian Yuya's tone was complex, looking frustrated: "Why are you doing this?"
Le Yu smiled: "Do you really want to know why? Do you think the reason really matters?"
"It matters. You're not like this before." Qian Yuya said softly: "You... You didn't talk much, but you would help those in trouble silently."
Qian Yu Flow, oh Qian Yu Flow, how did you manage to be caught doing good by your sister? Are you deliberately showing off in front of her? Did you write a good deeds diary on purpose and let her see it?
Le Yu internally criticized Qian Yu Flow endlessly, but he smiled on the surface and spread his hands: "If I said I'm enduring humiliation to reform Hui Yao from within, would you respect me? If I said I'm merely pursuing fame and fortune, would you despise me?"
"My smart sister, let your brother teach you a lesson about life: Don't listen to what others say, observe what they do. There are too many people with a sly tongue in this world; what your ears hear may not be the truth. Instead of letting others explain, why not trust what you see with your own eyes?"
Qian Yuya stared blankly at Le Yu, biting her lip: "You've changed."
"I've changed, yet I haven't." Le Yu laughed: "Yuya, you just said you thought I was a quiet but helpful person? Then, do you think my classmates, teachers, and friends share the same impression of me?"
"Being quiet means I can keep secrets maturely and be stable, being helpful means kind-heartedness to seek help. It's an excellent mask—as soon as I put on this mask, no one will dislike me, everyone trusts me, relies on me, including my classmates, teachers, and... you."
This time Le Yu wasn't lying.
Silence and kindness were indeed the masks Qian Yu Flow actively chose to wear.
Due to his cold-blooded constitution, Qian Yu Flow had no defined 'personality' from a young age; he could portray any personality, and he found that this mask brought him the greatest benefit, so he wore it continuously.
However, Qian Yu Flow had worn this mask for so long that he never took it off even until his death.
But this explanation sounded unbearably harsh to Qian Yuya.
She slapped the table and stood up, glaring at Le Yu, her ears red with anger: "So your previous personality was all fake? Your displayed kindness and bravery were meant to deliberately please others?"
Le Yu smiled: "You've never known the real Qian Yu Flow."
But rest assured, no one in this world knows the real Qian Yu Flow, except me... Le Yu thought, suddenly feeling a chill.
"I've never known the real Qian Yu Flow..."
Qian Yuya muttered, suddenly rising from her chair and walking away, Le Yu hurriedly 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, her last word shouted out fiercely.
Who's going to wash those dishes... Le Yu quickly grabbed onto some righteous words: "Really? You're wasting food over this reason? Are you punishing yourself because of my mistake? Refugees in Skyrim don't even have rice, and you're wasting patties here?"
There's no refrigerator here, though the temperature is okay and the food won't spoil overnight, the belief that food should be eaten right after it's made is deeply rooted, and this reason hit Qian Yuya's right spot perfectly—as a candidate Medical Officer, she had a bit of a saint complex, and faced with 'refugees in Skyrim don't have food and you're wasting', she surprisingly couldn't refute it.
After three seconds, Qian Yuya stomped her foot in anger, sat back down, and furiously ate, without any manners, glaring at Le Yu the whole time.
Yet, Le Yu felt secretly pleased: His sister's furious eating looked so cute!
Bah, this thought must be influenced by Qian Yu Flow; I am not like this.
"So is this your new mask?"
Qian Yuya chewed vigorously and suddenly came to a realization: "You, who never used to come home before dark, suddenly came home early today. Coincidentally, Li Ying came over to return a book today, and you opened the door for her and talked with her for quite a while... Hadn't you told her you were Qian Yu Flow, she might have liked you quite a bit."
Hmm?
Le Yu blinked his eyes, feeling like Qian Yuya's train of thought wandered to some peculiar place.
"You even told me to invite Li Ying over when I'm free, to show her you're not a bad person, increasing your time together, while you wear this new mask: humorous, witty, sociable, sunny, slightly moronic... Given Li Ying's character, she indeed would like this mask."
The more Qian Yuya spoke, the more coherent her thoughts became, she took a sharp breath: "Li Ying's father is the director of the Records Department... Is this your goal? To get close to the Records Department through Li Ying!?"
Aside from the 'slightly moronic' evaluation that Le Yu didn't quite agree with, he had to give a thumbs up to Qian Yuya for everything else—even a well-informed girl like her could easily veer into palace intrigue when thinking things over!
Most important, her accusations were detailed and seemed grounded, making Le Yu suspect whether Qian Yu Flow actually had such a plan!
"Think whatever you like." Le Yu almost burst out laughing.
"I won't let you get your way!" Qian Yuya slammed her empty bowl and chopsticks on the table, not leaving a single grain of rice, thinking this would make up to the refugees in Skyrim.
Le Yu checked the system panel, confirmed that the Crossing the Tribulation progress was +1, stopped Qian Yuya from leaving, and got up to say: "You'll continue reading in the living room, right? I'll return to my room and won't come down to disturb you."
Better slip away, or else I'll have to wash the dishes.
As Le Yu left for the second floor, Qian Yuya opened her mouth to say something.
However, after struggling for a moment, she instead stuffed her right hand into her mouth and bit down hard, taking deep breaths through her nose. Her expression soon returned to calm, and the tense fist in her left hand relaxed, the things she wanted to say also dissipated.
She touched the white teeth marks on her right hand, calmly cleared the table, washed the dishes, then sat back in the living room focusing on reading, diving into the ocean of knowledge, seemingly unaffected by the events of dinner.
...
...
At 9:30 PM, Qian Yuya was already in her room asleep.
Le Yu left the Qian family, carrying a pocket watch and a Star Engraving County map.
He was going to meet 'Zhaixing.'