To prepare for their confrontation, the group temporarily returned to the Li Family residence and gathered in the courtyard.
"Um, Qin Yu, you didn't have to lie for us earlier," Yanfei whispered, leaning close to Qin Yu's ear. "Even though we tricked them, we didn't gain anything from it. Even if the Millelith come, we'll be fine in the end! I'm a legal expert—I know every statute by heart. There won't be any trouble."
Don't whisper in my ear!
Qin Yu quickly backed away, covering her ears, her face flushed. "Please don't whisper in my ear."
"Eh? Oh... I'm so sorry! I didn't realize you were so sensitive—I mean, so bothered... Ugh, no matter how I phrase it, it sounds wrong. S-anyway, it's all my fault!"
Tsk, this damn skill is such a pain. Switching it on and off is a hassle, but if I leave it on, my sensitivity automatically increases by ten points.
Qin Yu sighed inwardly. She understood exactly what Yanfei was trying to say, but having a legal expert like Yanfei invited for "tea" by the Millelith would undoubtedly harm her career.
If a simple lie could prevent that, it would be ideal.
"Yanfei, you're really satisfied with your work, aren't you? As your best friend, I can't let anything jeopardize it. Don't worry, I'll handle everything."
Yanfei looked guilty. "But you shouldn't shoulder all the responsibility yourself."
"I've made up my mind!"
Li Yu's voice drew everyone's attention.
Perfect timing. This will stop the conversation from going any further. Qin Yu breathed a sigh of relief. Yanfei might think it was wrong, but for Qin Yu, it was both necessary and inevitable.
After all, she had deceived Yanfei, becoming her friend with ulterior motives, all for her own selfish reasons.
If she couldn't help Yanfei, at least she wouldn't drag her down.
As these thoughts swirled through her mind, Qin Yu heard Li Yu declare, "First, I challenge you to a strength contest! Don't let my looks fool you—I've been training hard!"
"A test of strength?" Qin Yu sized up Li Yu.
Hmph, you think you stand a chance?
"How shall we compete?" Qin Yu asked.
"Arm wrestling, of course."
Li Yu strode to the table and chairs in the courtyard. "Come on, best two out of three."
"Alright," Qin Yu replied.
They sat facing each other, and Li Yu asked Li Ren to be the referee. A smug smile played on her lips, clearly convinced of victory.
But as the match began, her expression gradually shifted.
"What's going on? It won't budge..." Li Yu strained with all her might, but Qin Yu's hand remained unyielding. While Li Yu sweated profusely, Qin Yu appeared effortlessly relaxed.
Is that all you've got? Qin Yu thought, easily pressing Li Yu's hand down.
"Ah! No fair! Again!"
The next round yielded the same result: Qin Yu's unwavering victory.
"F-fine, you're strong. But the next challenge won't be so easy! We'll compete in cooking! I've learned countless techniques from world-renowned chefs during my travels. I'll definitely win this time!"
A cooking contest? This will be even easier.
"H-how about... how about we compete in dodging balls instead? I'm incredibly agile, you know."
Agility... I can't lose at this either. After all, I'm Lady Ningguang's maid.
Thank you, Lady Ningguang! Qin Yu silently expressed her gratitude to Ningguang, who was far away in the Jade Chamber.
"Ouch! I lost again... Waaah..."
Qin Yu's unbroken winning streak had thoroughly shattered Li Yu's self-esteem.
A woman who looks just like me but is perfect in every way, competing for the position of granddaughter?
How can I even compare? Especially with Grandma still so confused, she'll definitely think this Qin Yu woman is better.
The old woman couldn't bear to watch any longer and sighed. "Li Yu..."
"I... I've had enough! You win, okay?!"
Li Yu rubbed her eyes and, ignoring the protests of Li Ren and the old woman, turned and fled.
Qin Yu stared after her, stunned by the sudden turn of events.
Why did she run away? Even if I've been winning every match, why would she break down like this? Yet, for some reason, Qin Yu quickly understood Li Yu's reaction.
She must feel unworthy.
They did resemble each other... Of course, Li Yu was younger and less mature, but the similarities were undeniable. Qin Yu let out a silent sigh.
A nagging unease settled over Qin Yu.
There's no choice. I have to go after her. It's what my character demands.
As Qin Yu reached this conclusion, Yanfei voiced the same concern. "I still can't shake this uneasy feeling. Let's go after her and see what's happening."
I knew Yanfei would say that. She's just too kind-hearted.
"Grandma, what's wrong?!"
To their surprise, the old woman suddenly collapsed. Her earlier vitality had vanished, replaced by a startling fragility.
Yanfei exclaimed, "Was she just forcing herself to stay strong?"
"That's probably it," Li Ren sighed, cradling the old woman. "Grandma and Grandpa adore Li Yu. They'd likely push themselves to the limit for her sake... That's just how they are."
Qin Yu pressed her lips into a tight line, then exhaled sharply. "Yanfei, I'm sorry to trouble you, but please take care of Grandma. I'll go after her."
"But Qin Yu, what if she runs into danger?" Yanfei worried.
"I'm counting on you!" Qin Yu called over her shoulder as she dashed off.
Yanfei let out a long sigh. What a mess. If I'd known it would turn out like this, I never would have told Qin Yu about this job in the first place.
Yanfei had no choice. She couldn't leave the old woman unattended. After settling her in and sending for a doctor, she would go after Qin Yu. With that decision made, Yanfei picked up the old woman.
Meanwhile, Qin Yu chased Li Yu into the streets, frantically asking passersby if they had seen her.
"A girl who looks just like you, Little Yu? Yes, I remember. She went that way."
Following the trail of inquiries, Qin Yu eventually reached the city gates.
She actually ran into the wilderness... Qin Yu thought with a sigh. This is such a pain. What if she runs into danger? Catching her breath, she continued her pursuit.
Whether it was luck or misfortune, she soon found Li Yu—in a Hilichurl camp.
When Qin Yu spotted her, Li Yu was being hurled aside by a Hilichurl wielding a wooden club. Her longsword had slipped from her grasp and fallen into a nearby pond.
I knew it... Frustrated, Qin Yu summoned her StG44 and unleashed a barrage of precise shots at the Hilichurls closing in on Li Yu.
With the entire magazine emptied, only one Hilichurl Berserker remained.
As the Berserker charged forward with its shield raised, Qin Yu had no time to reload. Her survival instincts kicked in, slowing down her perception of time. Seizing the opportunity, she dove sideways, narrowly evading the attack.
Qin Yu switched weapons, drew her revolver from its holster, cocked the hammer, and fired five shots in rapid succession. Finally, she finished off the Hilichurl Berserker with a quick draw technique using her double-barreled shotgun.
Qin Yu gasped for breath, her heart pounding from the adrenaline.
Not enough firepower... But at least it's dealt with. Now to check on her condition.
Qin Yu rushed to Li Yu's side and knelt down.
"It hurts so much..." Li Yu whispered weakly, her face drenched in sweat.
"Where does it hurt?"
"Everywhere... inside..."
Qin Yu lacked medical expertise and couldn't pinpoint the exact nature of Li Yu's injuries. Regardless, being wounded this far from the city was a problem. They couldn't get her to a hospital quickly.
But the System should have healing skills.
Qin Yu rapidly scrolled through her options: This one won't work, neither will that...
[Stim Shooter- When used, automatically adds a "Medical Pistol" to your inventory. The Medical Pistol deals no damage but heals those you shoot with it. It has three charges, each restoring 50% of the target's health. It cannot cure illnesses or neutralize toxins.]
"That's it!"
After activating the skill, Qin Yu immediately used "Stim Shooter." A boxy, red-and-white pistol materialized in her hand.
[Medical Pistol - A special weapon that fires healing projectiles, obtainable only through skills. It deals no damage, has a short range, mediocre accuracy, a three-round capacity, and requires manual reloading after each shot. Each projectile heals 50% of the target's injuries but cannot cure diseases or neutralize toxins. One bullet, one life saved—the only cost is a little pain.]
With its short range and mediocre accuracy, the Medical Pistol was only suitable for close-quarters use. Qin Yu pressed the pistol against Li Yu's chest.
"Wait! What are you doing?!"
"Saving you."
"With that thing? Didn't you just use it to wipe out those Hilichurls—ow!"
Qin Yu pulled the trigger. The healing projectile struck Li Yu's body, and a faint glow emanated from the muzzle.
"It doesn't hurt as much anymore. I don't need this..."
"No."
Since it was working, she had to keep using it.
If you hadn't been running around like a maniac, I wouldn't have been dragged into this mess!
Driven partly by personal resentment and partly by a desire to save Li Yu, Qin Yu pulled her gun from its holster and squeezed the trigger again.
After firing all three shots, Li Yu's injuries had nearly healed.
"Are you doing this out of personal spite?" Li Yu asked.
"Not at all," Qin Yu replied with a smile. "I just wanted to save you."
Li Yu looked half-convinced. "...Why? You're clearly a bad woman, and you even tried to steal my place as Grandma's granddaughter."
Who would even want that ridiculous title? Even if you begged me, I wouldn't take it!
Seeing that Li Yu was now able to reason, Qin Yu decided it was best to tell her the most important thing first.
"We never intended to harm your family. And just now, your grandmother collapsed. You need to go home quickly."
"Grandma...?! But... I'm so useless. Do I even deserve to go back?" Li Yu lowered her head.
Ha? Even now, she's still hung up on that?
But this was the perfect moment for the words her teacher had once spoken to her.
"Of course! Family love doesn't need qualification. Come on, your grandmother has been longing to see you for ages." Qin Yu reached out and helped Li Yu to her feet.
Li Yu hesitated, her words caught in her throat.
"I'm sorry, I take back what I said earlier. You're a good woman. You must have had a very important reason for pretending to be me..." she finally managed to say.
"It's just that your brother was too scared to go home alone," Qin Yu replied bluntly.
Li Yu's eyes widened. "Wow, that waste of space! Uh, wait, I don't completely believe you. You lied about forcing my brother and that girl before, didn't you?"
Qin Yu stammered, "That's..."
"You're a good woman, but you do love to lie, don't you?" Li Yu remarked.
Tch, she thinks I'm a good woman? Is she out of her mind? Qin Yu thought.
"...That's not true," Qin Yu replied with a forced smile.
"Hmph~ Alright, we need to hurry back. You should come too! Our first meeting wasn't exactly pleasant, but we're friends now. You can tell Grandma all about it—she'll definitely forgive you."
Really? Qin Yu wondered uneasily. If I were in her place, discovering that my family had been impersonated by someone else... I'm not sure I could forgive them.
But none of that mattered now. After all, she was completely alone.
As they headed back to the Li Family residence with Li Yu, they ran into Yanfei, rushing towards them.
Yanfei took one look at their dirt-streaked faces and likely guessed what had happened. She didn't say anything, simply offering them handkerchiefs to clean themselves.
Upon returning to the residence, they learned that the Old Woman's condition had stabilized under the physician's care. Li Yu let out a huge sigh of relief.
"Thank goodness she's alright. And... I'm back, Grandma."
The old woman lay in bed, a gentle smile gracing her face. "You've been away for so long, my dear. I almost thought you'd forgotten about home."
"There was a reason! When Mom and Dad were still alive, they always said I was the family's hope. I had to become someone better, so I went out to make my own way. But in the end, I still fell short... I'm nowhere near as capable as Qin Yu."
"Ah, it's just good you're back safe..." The old woman turned to Qin Yu.
Li Ren had reluctantly explained everything to her earlier. Even in her confused state, she now understood that the "granddaughter" she had just met was not her real grandchild.
"I'm sorry for deceiving you," Qin Yu said, bowing her head preemptively.
Yanfei echoed the apology.
The old woman showed no anger. Instead, she chuckled warmly. "What wonderful girls! I've had such a delightful day. You're welcome to visit anytime."
Impossible. I'll never come back here again, Qin Yu thought, forcing a smile. "Of course. We'll definitely visit again sometime. If there's nothing else, we should take our leave now."
Useless grandson, go fetch them a small gift from that cabinet over there."
"No, no, there's no need!" Qin Yu and Yanfei protested in unison.
"We can't possibly accept this!"
"If we stay any longer, they'll keep showering us with gifts, and I can't handle it."
Having reached a mutual understanding, they decided to leave immediately.
"I'm sorry, Grandma. I'm drowning in debt and couldn't even attend Grandpa's funeral... I'm truly worthless!"
"Enough nonsense, you useless person. But even a useless person like you is still our flesh and blood. Think of yourself more. Li Yu, you too—find someone to marry soon. It's hard being alone."
"Th-this isn't the time for that! My older brother's getting on in years and doesn't have a girlfriend. Why pick on me?"
"Hahahaha..."
Qin Yu paused to listen for a moment, then walked down the stairs and left the Li Family residence with Yanfei.
Looking up at the old house, she couldn't help but recall Li Yu's words:
"You won, didn't you?! Are you satisfied now?" Even in defeat, Li Yu had said those words, yet even then, she had people who accepted and embraced her.
The true victor was clear.
"You won," Qin Yu murmured with a lonely smile.
"Qin Yu? What are you doing?"
Yanfei's voice drifted over, and Qin Yu composed herself, thinking, "This ordeal is finally over. It wasn't easy."
Ugh, I'm exhausted!
She longed to go back and collapse into bed, but she hadn't yet accomplished her original goal.
Evaluation! Points! After all that effort, I deserve something good, right?
Qin Yu turned to Yanfei with a smile. "Did I help you at all?"
Yanfei had so much she wanted to say, but she simply smiled back. "Of course! You were a lifesaver! We still have plenty of time—want to go somewhere fun? My treat this time!"
Really?
Qin Yu's eyes lit up at the mention of a treat. "Really? Thank you, but... but it's the thought that counts. I just want to spend time with you."
Though if you insist, I won't say no, Qin Yu thought to herself.
Yanfei's face flushed. She just wants to spend time with me? If that's true, nothing could be better—because that's exactly what I want too.
"I-I want to spend time alone with you too... Ahem, but let me treat you anyway. After all, legal experts make pretty good money. A few meals are nothing!"
Qin Yu nodded and undid her ponytail.
Yanfei watched, a sudden pang of regret washing over her. Even though it was just an act, Qin Yu's uncharacteristic behavior had been undeniably charming. She hoped she would see that side of her again someday.
[Evaluation: A]