The summer heat was scorching and humid, making people sweat easily.
Lin Ting didn’t want to go anywhere and just lounged in her room, drowsy, wearing a loose, thin undergarment.
A servant lifted the curtain and came in.
“Seventh Miss, I’ve brought you some drinks.”
Lin Ting lazily opened her eyelids, sat up from the luohan couch, and took the drink the servant handed her, sipping it several times.
The drink contained a bit of crushed ice, making it cool and refreshing—just the thing to beat the heat.
After finishing the drink, she felt a bit more awake.
Lin Ting looked up at the tall red walls outside the window and couldn’t help but miss life in the modern world.
Back then, she could just turn on the air conditioner and spend the whole summer comfortably, without relying on a little ice that quickly melted away and brought the heat back again.
But reminiscing about modern life was useless; she had died of cancer there.
Being reincarnated into the restricted novel she once read meant she had a second chance at life, but there was no way back to her old world.
Counting carefully, she had been in this eighteen-plus restricted novel for nine years.
However, it wasn’t a full-body transmigration—she was reincarnated as a fetus and was only nine years old now, just a child, unable to do much.
Fortunately, she didn’t have a system.
Usually, transmigration came with a system, but Lin Ting didn’t have one.
She was free, conscious from birth and unaffected by the original story’s plot.
Once grown, she planned to open a shop and earn silver coins, with the goal of becoming Jingcheng’s richest person!
Thinking of this, Lin Ting stretched contentedly.
Just as she was about to lie down and sleep again, Li Jingqiu rushed in hurriedly.
“Lin Leyun!”
Lin Ting immediately recognized the anger laced in Li Jingqiu’s voice and instantly perked up, hastily rolling off the couch, looking for somewhere to hide.
She didn’t know why Li Jingqiu was angry again, but hiding was always the safest choice; otherwise, she would get scolded.
But being a child with short arms and legs, she was no match for an adult.
Before she could find a proper hiding spot, Li Jingqiu was already by her side.
“Where are you trying to hide?”
Lin Ting quickly put on an innocent and obedient expression.
“Mother, I didn’t do anything.”
Li Jingqiu stood with hands on her hips, looking down at Lin Ting.
The nine-year-old girl, annoyed by the heat, had tied her hair in a high ponytail and wore only a thin white undergarment.
Her delicate features—eyes, nose—all resembled her mother’s, exquisitely refined and a little striking.
Since Lin Ting was still young, her appearance wasn’t yet intimidating.
Li Jingqiu looked at her for a moment and suddenly found it hard to stay angry but still kept a cold face.
“Be honest. What did you do yesterday?”
Lin Ting seemed confused. “Yesterday I went to see a play with Linguan. I didn’t do anything else.”
Though she wasn’t controlled by the story’s plot, she had become friends with Duan Xinning.
Lin Ting remembered parts of the original story, knowing that Duan Xinning would be in danger last year.
The adults didn’t believe her then, so she had to rescue Duan Xinning herself.
After saving Duan Xinning, she considered Lin Ting a friend and visited often.
Lin Ting liked spending time with her, so she just went with the flow.
Li Jingqiu’s question was not about that.
“Did you hit your Fourth Brother yesterday?”
Third Master Lin ranked third among the Lin siblings.
The Fourth Brother Li Jingqiu mentioned was the son of Master Lin.
Lin Ting reached out to tug at Li Jingqiu’s sleeve.
“I only lightly pushed him. I didn’t hit him. Linguan was there too; she can vouch for me. If you don’t believe me, I’ll go get her.”
Li Jingqiu picked up Lin Ting, who was barefoot on the floor, and carried her back to the luohan couch.
She was half doubtful.
“Lightly pushed him? Then why is his eye swollen?”
Lin Ting shook her feet indifferently and said, “He must have fallen and hit it himself.”
“Then why did you push him?”
Lin Ting secretly pinched herself, hoping to squeeze out tears to look pitiful.
“Fourth Brother said I was like a fatherless child. I was so angry, I just pushed him.”
Li Jingqiu immediately saw through her little trick.
“If you can’t cry, then don’t.”
Lin Ting gave up on producing tears.
“Okay. But I’m telling the truth. He did say that to me. And worse things besides.”
Li Jingqiu was silent for a moment, then took out a handkerchief and wiped Lin Ting’s sweat.
“Forget it, he’s partly to blame. This isn’t all your fault. I’ll talk to your father’s side; no one will punish you.”
Lin Ting nodded repeatedly.
“But you can’t be so impulsive in the future. You’re a girl.” Li Jingqiu was rough and bold herself but didn’t want her daughter to be like that.
She wanted Lin Ting’s reputation to be good so that one day she could marry into a respectable family.
Unlike herself, married to someone like Third Master Lin, stuck for life.
“What’s wrong with being a girl?” Lin Ting reached for a piece of watermelon on the table and took a bite.
“If he’s a boy, should I just let him have his way?”
“Mother doesn’t mean that. You’re just being stubborn.” Li Jingqiu wiped the juice from the corner of Lin Ting’s mouth.
“You have to be a well-mannered, graceful noble girl in Jingcheng. Only then can you find a good husband. You must pay attention to your words and actions.”
Lin Ting didn’t agree but said nothing.
She was still a child with no say.
A maid behind Li Jingqiu spoke up, “Seventh Miss is still young. Madam, if you say these things to her, she might not understand yet. She’ll get it when she grows up.”
Li Jingqiu sighed, “I hope so. Otherwise, I’ll have a lot to worry about.”
The maid said some flattering words to cheer Li Jingqiu up.
“Seventh Miss is the smartest child I’ve ever seen. She’ll definitely achieve great things and find a good husband. Madam, please rest assured.”
Lin Ting quietly ate her watermelon.
Just as she finished a slice, a servant came to say that Duan Xinning had arrived and wanted to invite her out.
Lin Ting tossed the watermelon rind aside and got up to dress, aiming to get ready within fifteen minutes.
Li Jingqiu pulled out a pouch of silver coins from her sleeve and gave it to the head maid who would accompany Lin Ting.
“You can’t always let Third Miss Duan’s people pay when you go out shopping. Be smart and handle it well.”
The head maid replied, “Understood.”
Lin Ting put on her clothes and jumped down from the luohan couch.
Passing by Tao Zhu, also nine years old, she pinched her cheek and handed her a piece of watermelon.
“Wait for me.”
Tao Zhu was the youngest maid in the courtyard, sent to keep Lin Ting company and not made to work.
But Tao Zhu was too young to protect Lin Ting.
Li Jingqiu always insisted that only the head maid accompany Lin Ting out; Tao Zhu stayed behind.
As Lin Ting walked out, she greeted Li Jingqiu, “Mother, I’m going out now.”
“Walk slowly, be careful not to fall.” Li Jingqiu followed her to the door, reminding the maids to remember the parasol so she wouldn’t get sunstroke.
Right outside the Lin family gate stood a carriage.
Lin Ting made a shushing gesture to the maids and coachman, carefully stepped on the footstool, then quickly lifted the curtain and jumped inside.
“I’m here!”
Two pairs of eyes immediately landed on her—one belonging to Duan Xinning, the other to Duan Ling, Duan Xinning’s second brother.
Lin Ting had seen Duan Ling a few times since rescuing Duan Xinning last year and remembered his appearance.
Of course, she also recalled how the original novel described Duan Ling: handsome and elegant, outwardly a courteous and gentle nobleman of Jingcheng, but behind closed doors, a ruthless Imperial Guard.
He was four years older than her, just turned thirteen, and had not yet become an Imperial Guard.
But even before becoming an Imperial Guard, his character in the story wouldn’t change.
Since meeting Duan Xinning, Lin Ting kept her distance from Duan Ling, afraid she might offend him by mistake and cause trouble.
Lin Ting quietly lowered her hand.
She had almost grabbed the wrong person—the one sitting near the carriage curtain was Duan Ling.
She forced a smile, “Second Brother Duan.”
She and Duan Xinning called Duan Ling “Brother,” but always added the surname “Duan” in front.
Duan Ling’s gaze lingered on Lin Ting’s smiling eyes for a moment, his finger twitching slightly before he smiled back, friendly, “Little Sister Lin Qi.”
Duan Xinning saw Lin Ting’s puzzled look at Duan Ling traveling with them and pulled her down, explaining.
“My mother’s birthday is coming soon. My brother and I are out buying gifts for her.”
Duan Xinning had gotten used to going out with Lin Ting over the past year.
Without her, she felt awkward, so she had the coachman take a detour to Lin’s home to pick her up.
Lin Ting felt a bit uneasy.
“Alright.”
Children of wealthy families in ancient times were expected to learn etiquette early.
Giving gifts to parents on special occasions was normal.
She wasn’t surprised.
The carriage left the Lin family gate and headed toward the bustling main street.
Lin Ting watched the food stalls lining the street and silently swallowed, the discomfort in her heart slowly replaced by hunger.
In the end, the delicious smell won her over.
“Linguan, Second Brother Duan, I want to get off and buy something to eat. I’ll be quick and won’t take long.”
Before Duan Xinning could say anything, Duan Ling called out, “Little Sister Lin, go ahead.”
Duan Xinning nodded, “Go ahead. Leyun, what do you want to buy? Want me to come with you?” She started to lift her skirt.
“No need.” Lin Ting lifted the curtain and got down.
She was afraid they would wait too long, so she quickly bought some pastries and got back in the carriage.
Lin Ting never ate alone; she first fed a piece to Duan Xinning, then offered one to Duan Ling.
“You should try some.”
Duan Ling took it but didn’t eat.
Lin Ting barely noticed, eating pastries while watching the scenery outside the carriage.
They spent more than half an hour choosing gifts.
Lin Ting bought something neither too cheap nor too expensive.
Seeing there was still plenty of time, Duan Xinning suggested Lin Ting visit the Duan Mansion for an hour before returning.
At first, Lin Ting didn’t want to go—she was a little tired—but when she heard Duan Xinning had prepared a basket of lychees for her, she changed her mind immediately.
At the Duan Mansion, Duan Ling parted ways with them and went back to his study.
Duan Xinning glanced at his retreating figure.
“My Second Brother will enter the Imperial College next year. He’s been spending a lot of time in his study lately.”
Those aiming for Imperial College study were usually royal or high-ranking noble children and had to be at least fourteen.
Duan Ling was the former but not yet the latter; next year he would qualify.
Lin Ting understood.
Their parents didn’t know that Duan Ling would become an Imperial Guard in the future; sending him to the Imperial College to study before entering court as a civil official was normal.
Lin Ting complimented lightly, “Your Second Brother is really impressive.”
Duan Xinning suddenly remembered something.
“By the way, did Madam Li tell you to come here every day to do your studies?”
Lin Ting was puzzled.
“My mother never said that to me.”
Li Jingqiu had recently mentioned wanting Lin Ting to study more but never said anything about coming to the Duan family for lessons.
Besides, Lin Ting’s memory was good, but she wasn’t someone passionate about studying.
Duan Xinning took Lin Ting’s hand and said, “Maybe they’ll say it in a couple of days. My mother recently came to talk with Madam Li about it. They plan to have the tutor teach my Second Brother and us together.”
Since the lessons for Duan Ling, Duan Xinning, and Leyun were different, the tutor would adjust accordingly but having the three together made it easier to teach.
After all, the tutor was a famous scholar in Jingcheng and there was only one.
Lin Ting was dumbfounded, “The tutor will teach your Second Brother and us together?”
Duan Xinning nodded.
“Isn’t that a bit… strange?” Lin Ting glanced toward where Duan Ling had gone, unable to imagine what it would be like.
It felt awkward.
“Maybe I should go back and tell my mother to cancel this?”
Walking back along the corridor to her room, Duan Xinning didn’t understand.
“What’s wrong with that? I think it’s great. That way, we can see each other almost every day.”
“I’m afraid it’ll be a burden to you.”
Duan Xinning quickly said, “No, it won’t.”
Lin Ting thought: ‘she was really going to have “extra classes” with Duan Ling?’
She had a bad feeling about this.
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