"Saying they're exactly the same is a bit much, actually they're only somewhat similar in features," Li Nian said after thinking, "it's just that this seven-or-eight-tenths level of resemblance, combined with Zhu Ming sister your panicked reaction just now..."

"It's hard not to suspect there's some special relationship between you two."

Li Nian said this, and Lin Yu looked at her, then slowly asked in return.

"So what relationship do you think we have?"

"Duplicate, clone, backup body," Li Nian teased for a moment, then tentatively spoke the truth, "or mother and daughter... sisters or something?"

Lin Yu nodded, "That's right, she's my biological younger sister."

"That admission was so straightforward, really surprising."

Li Nian couldn't help but exclaim.

Lin Yu shrugged, "You already had suspicions, if you follow up on her it's easy to find out... besides, you even attend the same school as her."

"That's true, but you seem a little upset, don't you?"

Li Nian sized Lin Yu up and tilted her head to ask.

Lin Yu spoke thoughtfully, "Probably for the same reason you were upset that I came to your school."

"Everyone cares about different things. You don't seem to care much about your family, but for me... it's different."

Lin Yu said softly.

"Ha, so now I basically know your weak spot."

Li Nian laughed.

"So can you keep it a secret for me?"

Lin Yu still asked in a gentle tone.

But in that moment, Li Nian felt a subtle shift in the aura of the person beside her, an instinctive discomfort and sense of danger.

She quickly smiled, "What are you kidding, Zhu Ming sister, of course I'll keep it secret..."

"Moreover, it's a pretty big cost for a player to harm an ordinary person. Although not confirmed, people generally believe that besides being hunted by Order and the Night Watchmen, the Game itself will target you—like increasing dungeon difficulty and such."

"So, for moral and practical reasons I wouldn't do anything... I might even be able to look after things a bit when you're not at Shengle."

After saying this, Li Nian felt most of the unease and danger dissipate, and she breathed a sigh of relief.

"Anyway, we're even now," Li Nian said, "how wonderful, a cute younger sister—if I had such a good sister I'd cherish her too... but, Zhu Ming sister..."

"Since you care about her so much, why are you hiding from her?"

Lin Yu asked matter-of-factly, "Because I'm still 'faking death'... sociologically speaking, I'm a 'dead' person."

"I'm asking why you continue to maintain the fake death."

Li Nian asked curiously, "Though being declared dead and then 'reviving' is messy... the fact is you really are alive, that's indisputable."

"If there's anything that can't be explained, the Death Game will help patch it up for you."

Hearing Li Nian's words, Lin Yu shook his head again.

"We're all inside this Game. Every time we enter a dungeon it could be the last time. Even if you reach Third Tier or Fourth Tier and your name is on the ranking, who can say they'll definitely live long?"

"She and our mother have gradually accepted my death. If I reappeared now and told them I wasn't really dead, and then I had an accident in a weekly dungeon and stayed there forever... I can't imagine what kind of blow they'd take."

Lin Yu said in a low voice, "So rather than giving them a temporary, false hope, it's better to let them hurt just once."

"Of course, by staying away from them, I also hope fewer of these dangers around me will drag them in."

"After all, while most sensible players wouldn't attack ordinary people, you can't rule out lunatics... and I've met lunatics before."

Li Nian nodded, "That's true... but it's truly great, Zhu Ming sister."

"It's enviable."

Lin Yu looked at Li Nian, "Envious of what?"

"That you care so much about your family, they must care about you too."

"Yes, I love them dearly, and they love me."

Lin Yu said with feeling.

Li Nian pursed her lips, "You see, that's what I envy. I can't even freely say that word, at least not about my family. I can't..."

"Really? They treat you badly?"

Lin Yu asked.

"No, you've been to my home, you could see it's not terrible, there's no hitting or scolding," Li Nian sighed, "It's not that they don't care, it's more like... we're not close."

"They care about me because they need to—so that 'care' is conditional. I have to be outstanding, kind, cheerful, lively. They'll pay attention to my health and grades, and on holidays there are family outings..."

"But how to put it, those family activities feel less fulfilling to me than the Game's dungeons... taking photos, eating, chatting—I can tell they don't enjoy family life. Time spent with me as their daughter feels like part of their job as parents."

"Because they never mess up any job, that's why they do those things."

Li Nian said softly, then suddenly waved her hand and laughed, "Ah, sorry Zhu Ming sister, I talked too much... suddenly started nagging about my stupid original family. We have food, clothes, I can attend a private middle school, my parents are alive and earn decently, so it's not bad!"

"That's true," Lin Yu didn't comfort Li Nian, instead he put on a serious expression and said, "My father is dead, just my mother at home, and... we're pretty poor."

Li Nian fell silent, a complex "what did I say" expression on her face.

"Zhu Ming sister, I'm really sorry."

"It's okay, I don't mind."

Li Nian felt a little awkward, "Anyway... since you came and helped me out, there's a commission next week to take people into a dungeon. Want to join? We'll split the pay evenly; it probably won't be less than what that Fatty offered."

"I need more detailed information—who's the client, why do they need people, and if it's to avoid a Promotion Trial, what tier are they trying to promote to?"

Lin Yu followed Li Nian's topic and brought the Death Game conversation back up.

Li Nian took out her phone, "I'll just send it to you."

After seeing Li Nian type for a moment, Lin Yu nodded and then steered the topic back, "A Nian, can you return the thing you took from my sister?"

As Lin Yu spoke, Li Nian touched her nose and pulled out a meal card from her pocket.

"I just wanted to see what her name was, in case Zhu Ming sister you really weren't admitting it..."

"So her name is Xia Yang, what a nice name."