Volume 1 Chapter 18 She Shocked Everyone

Lu Ning's move was devastatingly effective, instantly taking out two of the opposing players and leaving another critically wounded. After landing, she cast a brief glance at Lu Liu, who was slumped on the ground in the game, his health bar depleted.

Lu Liu stared fixedly at the screen, a surge of shock and disbelief washing over him. He knew Lu Ning had talent, but he never expected her to be this formidable. No, that wasn’t right—she hadn't been this skilled before. When had she become so strong? When he had been caught earlier, he knew the match was lost, but after Lu Ning stepped in, her agile maneuvering and sharp game sense had stabilized the situation. She had even turned the tide, executing the legendary "Twelve-Hit Combo"—the signature move of the grandmaster King.

Lu Liu felt as though he had never truly understood his sister. She had become a complete stranger to him. A sudden, inexplicable panic gripped him—a haunting intuition that he was about to lose her.

Hesitating, Lu Liu started, "You..."

Lu Ning walked right past him, speaking into her headset, "The rest of you, report your positions and status. I'm coming over immediately."

Left behind, Lu Liu could only watch her confident, retreating figure in the game. He couldn't help but turn his head to look at her in reality. She was completely focused on the computer screen, her intensity striking and captivating.

"Sixth brother, what are you spacing out for?" Lu Nanfeng asked from beside him.

Lu Liu finally snapped back to reality and scrambled to catch up. By the time he arrived downstairs, he saw Lu Ning leading the rest of the team in a fierce assault. She controlled her gunner character with a cool, masterful style, her positioning and maneuvers displaying a high level of expertise—a stark contrast to Qin Xiang’s clumsy play. This was exactly what he had envisioned a gunner should be.

Ultimately, it was Lu Ning who pulled it off. Lu Liu’s emotions were a complex, indescribable mess. The game he valued most had been won only because of Lu Ning—the sister he had always underestimated. He had never felt such a jarring sense of disparity before.

The match ended quickly. As the gunner, Lu Ning stood amidst the ruined street, bathed in the glow of the sunset, welcoming the victory.

The host paused for a few seconds before announcing, "The outcome is decided! Team Lutian wins! Their substitute player is absolutely incredible—I wonder if she’s a disciple of the grandmaster King!"

The entire arena erupted, with fans chanting King's name. Hearing that name sent Lu Ning into a trance. In her past life, it was that person who had taught her the twelve-hit combo. She had once suspected a connection between him and King, but he had never admitted it, and she had never met him. King had never shown his true face; no one knew what he looked like.

Lu Ning took off her headset. As she stood up, the cheers of victory filled her ears. She offered a faint smile; finally, she could force the person who had insulted her parents to issue a public apology.

Lu Nanfeng was the first to reach her, his face beaming. "Ningning, your performance was brilliant. It was your effort that won this match for our Lu family. I knew it—you didn't refuse to join the team; you must have been secretly practicing all along, right?"

Lu Nanfeng was overjoyed. It turned out Lu Ning hadn't changed; they were still a family.

Hearing this, the smile on Lu Ning's face gradually faded. It was a bit of a buzzkill. She looked at the captain of the Tushan team and said, "You lost."

The opponent looked at her with complex eyes. "Who exactly are you?"

Lu Nanfeng said proudly, "She is my sister."

"But isn't the eldest daughter of the Lu family that woman who played so poorly earlier? Since when did the Lu family have another eldest daughter?"

Lu Nanfeng’s expression stiffened. "That was our adopted sister. She is our biological sister."

"Your Team Lutian is quite the player, isn't it? Sending out a fake sister with terrible skills to distract us, while keeping your biological sister—this secret weapon—hidden so well. You really caught us off guard."

Hearing this, Lu Liu could barely maintain his composure. He hadn't expected Lu Ning to be this good.

The Tushan captain walked up to Lu Ning. "I admit my defeat; you are very impressive." The twelve-hit combo wasn't something just anyone could learn. Since the grandmaster retired, no one had been able to master it; this girl was the first.

Lu Ning said flatly, "It's time to honor your promise."

"Fine. I said some inappropriate things during the match regarding your parents. I was wrong; I have a foul mouth, and I shouldn't have said those things. My apologies."

Lu Ning nodded. "Mind your tongue in the future."

Lu Liu, however, interjected, "Is that it? Just like that?"

Lu Ning looked at him in surprise. "?"

The Tushan captain sneered, "What business is it of yours? The one who beat us is your sister! If you don't have the skills, keep your mouth shut!"

Seeing an argument brewing, Lu Nanfeng quickly restrained Lu Liu to avoid further trouble.

As the match concluded and the crowd dispersed, Lu Ning headed backstage, where she immediately saw Qin Xiang, her eyes red and tear-streaked. The atmosphere turned awkward.

Qin Xiang looked up timidly, tears welling in her large eyes, looking utterly pitiful. Anyone would have softened at the sight.

Coldness flickered in Lu Ning’s eyes. She knew Qin Xiang was putting on an act—a tactic she had used countless times since childhood.

Qin Xiang called out weakly, "Sixth brother, it’s all my fault. I shouldn't have been so willful and left the match." She had initially felt embarrassed, assuming Lu Liu would have to rely on himself to finish the game, and had hoped he would come to comfort her. She never imagined Lu Ning would step in and win the game so brilliantly. Qin Xiang knew the situation was dire and that she had to salvage her image in Lu Liu's eyes.

Lu Liu kept his face stern. "You know to come back now? If it weren't for Lu Ning, what would have happened to this match?"

Qin Xiang sobbed, "It’s all my fault. I shouldn't have been so thin-skinned just because of a few insults. I was just too afraid of failure, which is why I did such a foolish thing. It won't happen again."

As Qin Xiang cried, the other team members chimed in, "Captain, she's already apologized, don't be so hard on her."

"Exactly, Captain. We won the game anyway. If Qin Xiang hadn't quit, the substitute wouldn't have even had a chance to play. How else would we have won?"

The same sense of helplessness returned to Lu Liu. It was suffocating.

Lu Nanfeng looked at Lu Ning. "What do you think?"

Lu Ning was surprised that her second brother would ask her this. She replied, "I agree. Since Qin Xiang has apologized, what else do you want from her? Sixth brother, you’re being too petty. Qin Xiang’s grades have dropped so much because of today's match; how can you be so unappreciative of her intentions?"

Qin Xiang bit her lip in frustration. Lu Ning was clearly saying this on purpose to sow discord between her and Lu Liu! When had this woman become so difficult to deal with?

Lu Liu felt as if he had been punched in the gut. This was complete gaslighting! It was Qin Xiang who was at fault, yet he wasn't allowed to say a word without it being turned around to make him the villain.

"Lu Ning," he said angrily, "you’re doing this on purpose, aren't you?"

Lu Ning smiled inwardly. Yes, she was. She had been treated this way countless times before. Sixth brother, you can't even handle it once?

Lu Ning turned to leave, but Lu Nanfeng called out to her, "Ningning, I officially invite you to join the team! From now on, our family will stand together, and all past grievances will be wiped clean!"

The smile at the corner of her lips grew even colder.