LOT – Chapter 106 Fortune-telling on the Street

While the Third Prince was suffering on his end, Lin Mo, in stark contrast, was having a completely different kind of day.

Seeing Lin Mo and Bai Xiao with their arms full of large bags, Madam Lin fell silent for a few seconds, then took a deep breath and asked, “Did you two go out robbing people? Is our family starving you that badly?”

Bai Xiao immediately took two steps back, then quietly stretched out his hand and pushed Lin Mo forward.

【Momo, I’m just a guest under someone else’s roof. This is between you and your mother. I’m counting on you!】

Lin Mo was shoved forward, staring at him in disbelief. This guy is really a dog! Do systems, once they turn into humans, all become this shameless?

She gave Bai Xiao a fierce glare, then turned back to her mother with a bright smile and said,  “Mother, the capital has so many new delicious snacks today. I brought them back for you and Father to enjoy. How could the two of us possibly eat so much on our own?”

As she spoke, she reluctantly handed over all the food in her hands.

These were the best snacks she had come across all day—most of them had to be fought over just to buy!

Lin Ran couldn’t stop grinning at the sight of Lin Mo and Bai Xiao’s reluctant faces.

Madam Lin coughed twice, then promptly accepted everything. “Since you put it that way, I can’t let your filial heart go to waste. Your father and I will keep these, then.”

Lin Mo smiled and nodded, but inside she was howling.

【Wuwuwu! My pocket money is gone! My food is gone! My money is gone! It’s all your fault! Why can’t you earn some money!】

She touched her now-flat coin pouch, full of grievance.

Bai Xiao rubbed his nose in embarrassment. He was a man now—he couldn’t keep spending Lin Mo’s money, or he’d just be a useless freeloader. He had to think of a way to make some money.

When the two of them got back to the courtyard, they immediately began discussing. They both agreed on the same idea: set up a stall to tell fortunes.

Of course, it wasn’t really fortune-telling—just gossiping and divining trivial matters. But this happened to be exactly in the system’s area of expertise.

Bai Xiao said smugly, “Just wait. I’ll head out and start fortune-telling soon. I know astronomy, geography, everything there is to know under the heavens!”

Lin Mo shot him a skeptical look. She didn’t really believe him.

But they decided to do it anyway. That very afternoon, the two of them set up a little stall on the street.

Wei Zheng’an and Qin Zheng happened to be out strolling, and from a distance, they spotted the pair.

Wei Zheng’an immediately yanked Qin Zheng’s sleeve, pulling him back in a hurry. “Go, go, go! Let’s head back quickly! Today is not a good day to be out!”

Qin Zheng shook him off and asked in confusion, “Why not? The weather’s perfect—it’s the best day for a walk. Why do you always think so strangely?”

Wei Zheng’an nearly stomped his feet in frustration. “Look at who’s sitting over there!”

Qin Zheng lifted his head, then his eyes lit up. He waved happily and shouted, “Lord Xiao Lin! You’re out having fun too!”

Wei Zheng’an: …

Are you insane? They’re trying to avoid attention, and you go and greet them?!

Just as he was about to scold, Qin Zheng grabbed him and pulled him straight toward the stall.

Everyone in the capital already knew the system had turned into a beautiful young man, so they naturally recognized Bai Xiao.

Lin Mo looked at the two with surprise. “You’re out playing as well?”

Qin Zheng scratched his head with a silly grin. “Yeah, the weather’s great. This must be Young Master Bai, right?”

Bai Xiao politely smiled. He knew how quickly news spread in the capital—if a household gained even a single “cousin,” it would be the talk of the city within a day.

Especially gossip about which household gained a new cousin or relative—the noble ladies and madams thrived on this sort of chatter, since they had little else to do.

Wei Zheng’an, meanwhile, wanted nothing more than to dig a hole and crawl inside. The more he tried to avoid attention, the more it came straight for him.

Lin Mo waved generously. “We’re running a fortune-telling stall here. My friend knows everything under heaven. Since we’re acquaintances, let me give each of you a reading for free!”

Wei Zheng’an waved his hands frantically. “No, no need!”

But silly Qin Zheng nodded eagerly. “Sure, sure!”

By now, the stall had mysteriously drawn quite a crowd. Many were young masters, noble ladies, and officials in disguise.

Heavens! They’re gossiping right on the street! Good thing we came quickly, otherwise we wouldn’t even get a spot!

Qin Zheng asked happily, “Young Master Bai, my parents are arranging a marriage for me—with a distant cousin. She’s said to be virtuous, gentle, and beautiful. Could you tell me what she’s really like?”

Lin Mo and Bai Xiao exchanged a look, both smirking inwardly. A juicy melon, hand-delivered!

The others leaned in with excitement.

Bai Xiao cleared his throat, putting on the demeanor of a worldly sage. He squinted, pinched his fingers, and looked the part convincingly.

“Hmm… This cousin of yours already has a marriage fate. But it isn’t with you. She was once married back in her hometown and even has two children. Her husband passed away, and now she’s concealing her past to climb higher through this match.”

Everyone present: !!!

The Ministry of Personnel’s official picked such a match for his son? How unreliable can you get?!

Lin Mo instantly realized there was more to the story.

【Tell me everything right now! Don’t leave it half-finished!】

Bai Xiao replied,【That woman’s hiding her widowhood and two children. Qin Zheng is handsome but simple-minded, easy to fool. She set her sights on him to take advantage.】

Lin Mo:【That’s awful! Our silly beauty might be naïve, but he’s still a fine young man. She’s just trying to exploit him!】

Qin Zheng stared blankly, his feelings a tangled mess.

Seriously? My parents’ judgment is this bad? Are they trying to push me into a pit of fire?

Bai Xiao looked at him with a hint of pity. “She’s not a good match for you. Go home and tell your parents quickly.”

Qin Zheng nodded numbly.

Everyone else looked at him with sympathy.

A few disguised noble ladies even felt sorry for him. The Qin family’s young master was actually a decent person, handsome too—not a bad match at all.

His “foolishness” wasn’t due to stupidity, but pure innocence. He was good at studying, and in a few years he could sit for the imperial exams.

After solving Qin Zheng’s issue, Bai Xiao turned his gaze on Wei Zheng’an.

Wei Zheng’an’s heart skipped a beat. “I—I don’t have anything to ask!”

Bai Xiao only nodded. But just when Wei Zheng’an thought he was safe, Bai Xiao secretly told Lin Mo:

【That peacock’s pageboy disguised himself as his master and went to a brothel, then accidentally brought back a courtesan’s sachet and left it in the study.】

【As for these two, they weren’t planning to stroll at all. The silly beauty came to visit the peacock, but his household is in chaos right now, so they were forced to come out.】

【Oh, and the peacock’s father is currently being beaten up by his mother.】

Lin Mo’s eyes widened as she sucked in a sharp breath.

【Hiss! I really want to go see that drama in person!】

Everyone else had the same thought. Maybe they should change locations to catch the show live!

Peacock: … Do you people have any manners?!