LOT – Chapter 96 Lin Mo’s ‘Tragic’ Childhood

Lin Mo became even more excited when she heard that her father and older brother had arrived.

She immediately grabbed Princess Huayao’s hand and pulled her right over to her own brother.

Minister Lin had already very tactfully stepped aside to make room.

His son wasn’t young anymore; it was about time for him to start a family. Although Princess Huayao was a bit taller than average, she was still a good match. Today, this bratty girl had finally done something proper.

Lin Qi and Princess Huayao both wore embarrassed expressions, yet Lin Mo, standing between them, didn’t feel awkward at all—in fact, she was positively thrilled.

“Brother! Hurry up and perform flying up to the heavens for the Princess! Come on, quick!”

Lin Qi: ??? What nonsense are you spouting! How am I supposed to perform flying to the heavens?!

Princess Huayao quickly struggled to pull her hand free from Lin Mo’s grasp, giving an awkward smile. “Really, there’s no need, no need at all.”

Lin Mo: “Yes, yes, we must! I know you’re trying to test my brother. My brother really can fly up to the heavens!”

Even the system couldn’t bear to watch anymore. 【Fly to the heavens, my foot! How is he supposed to get up there?!】

Lin Qi looked desperately toward his father for help, but Minister Lin averted his gaze to avoid meeting his son’s eyes.

Lin Qi: !!! What’s that supposed to mean?! Why are you avoiding my eyes?! Am I still your biological son or not?!

Minister Lin: Of course you are my biological son. But this isn’t something I can meddle in. After all, this is a major life event for you, and as your father, it wouldn’t be appropriate for me to interfere.

Lin Mo, still muddleheaded, only thought the two of them looked more and more like a good match. She chuckled to herself, then grabbed her father’s arm and started walking away.

“Dad, let’s go home and leave them alone so they can spend some time together and build their relationship. Let’s go home, okay?”

Minister Lin quickly nodded. “Yes, yes, let’s go home.” Then he turned to Lin Qi and said, “Have a good talk with the Princess. And don’t be rude to her.”

System: 【… This father and daughter really are cut from the same mold. Not only do they look alike, but sometimes their personalities are eerily similar.】

Lin Qi: …

Princess Huayao: …

And just like that, the courtyard was left with only the two of them. Lin Qi rubbed his nose, feeling like he didn’t even know what to do with his hands and feet.

“Um, Princess, I’m really sorry. My little sister must have caused you trouble.”

Princess Huayao smiled awkwardly. “Not at all. Little Lord Lin’s personality is very… interesting. I rarely meet someone so sincere.”

It was the first time Lin Qi had heard anyone speak well of his little sister. With a puzzled yet serious look, he asked, “You really think she’s interesting? Aren’t you afraid of her?”

In the capital, people reacted to his sister the way mice reacted to cats. He honestly suspected that she would end up single for life.

Princess Huayao nodded seriously. “Yes. Lord Lin has a pure and honest heart, and that’s already very rare.”

“If most people had her kind of ability, their ambition would only grow bigger and bigger. They might even end up doing things that could shake the stability of the nation. But Lord Lin has never used her ability for anything like that.”

“She and her system have very good personalities. Although the things she likes to do aren’t anything big, they’ve brought a lot of joy to everyone—and in subtle ways, she’s helped many people. That’s already more than enough.”

Lin Qi felt a little embarrassed hearing his little sister being praised like that.

This girl wasn’t lacking in ambition at all—her ambitions just weren’t in this area.

Her ambition was probably to eat every melon under the heavens; as for national affairs, with that brain of hers, she probably couldn’t even imagine it.

(Lin Mo: I’m your biological sister! How can you talk about me like that!)

“The County Princess seems to really like my little sister. She’s been different from other official daughters since she was young, so she’s never had many friends. She’s always mingled with the maids and old servant women.”

Speaking of this, Lin Qi felt quite distressed. When Lin Mo was little, she was very precocious and liked to hang around various maids and servant women, chatting with them. No matter how much they tried to stop her, it was useless. Eventually, they just let her be.

But what friends could an official daughter make by mixing with servants? Even if she wanted to make friends with people of her own status, they wouldn’t be willing—the class divide was right there. If you got too close, they might even think you were deliberately looking for a sense of superiority over them.

Luckily, this girl had a big heart. Apart from gossip, she didn’t care much about anything else.

“If County Princess Huayao ever has nothing to do, you can come and play with my little sister. She’s had no friends since childhood. Later, when she got the system, she finally had a playmate—but the system isn’t a person, after all.”

County Princess Huayao hadn’t expected Lin Mo to have no friends. By all logic, with a personality like hers, she should have friends all over the world.

“I remember you have three siblings, right? Don’t you and your elder sister take her out to play?”

Judging from Little Lord Lin’s personality, she must have grown up spoiled and adored.

Lin Qi gave a helpless smile. “We want to, but she looks down on us. She says we’re too old-fashioned, that playing with us is worse than playing alone.”

“She doesn’t just look down on the two of us—she thinks all of our friends are old-fashioned too. She’s isolated herself from all of us.”

County Princess Huayao: … Why did the sudden feeling of sadness just disappear?

“Well, in that case, I’ll drop by and play with Little Lord Lin when I’m free. She can show me around the capital—it’s been so many years since I’ve been back.”

Lin Qi’s smile was radiant. “Then I must thank you, County Princess.”

Lin Mo, unaware that her brother had just found her a new playmate, was currently dragging Minister Lin along the road, dancing nonstop.

“Look at my flying steps! Aren’t they beautiful?”

Lin Mo spun left, then spun right. Minister Lin held her to keep her steady while turning with her, his head almost spinning off.

“Very beautiful, very beautiful. Can we dance when we get home?” Minister Lin’s head was about to explode. Every time she drank, she caused trouble, and she had no self-awareness about her alcohol tolerance.

The system also chimed in to help persuade her:

【Mo Mo, let’s go back. Stop tormenting your father. Following your steps, he’s practically twisted into some kind of demonic dance. He’s dancing better than you.】

Minister Lin: … If you hadn’t spoken, we could still be friends.

Hearing the system’s words, Lin Mo instantly exploded. “Dad! When did you secretly learn to dance without telling me? And you dance better than me?!”

Minister Lin wiped his forehead—he was already drenched in sweat. Even his usual martial arts training wasn’t this exhausting.

“I learned to dance in your dreams! Now walk properly! If you don’t, I’ll carry you back myself!”

Upon hearing that, Lin Mo immediately plopped down on the ground, widened her innocent eyes, and said, “Then carry me back, I’m tired.”

System: …

Minister Lin: …

Fine. When it comes to being shameless, you’re unbeatable.