After returning to her room, Lin Ting began to take in the furnishings. It was obvious that this room had been hastily prepared by the servants from the guest room at Lin Guoqing's orders; in her past life, she had lived in this very room for two years. Although this room was far superior to a rural thatched cottage, it was a world apart from the princess room that Lin Nian had so meticulously arranged. In her previous life, Huang Mei had even considered redecorating Lin Ting's room, but under Lin Nian's influence, the Lin family grew to resent her. They completely ignored her existence—let alone help her with any renovations.
Now, Lin Ting no longer felt the sting of their partiality. Instead, she was determined to find a way to sever all ties with this family and leave the Lin household. However, she was still just an underage student with no financial means; breaking free from the Lin family completely was no easy task.
Just as Lin Ting was at a loss, a mechanical sound suddenly echoed in her ear.
[Reverse Victory System binding successful.]
"Reverse Victory System?"
"Could this be the golden finger for my reincarnation?"
Lin Ting welcomed the system. In her past life, her introverted nature had led her to pass the time by reading online novels.
[Yes, host. I am your golden finger. You can call me Jiu Jiu.]
The system's voice sounded like that of a child, which made Lin Ting chuckle.
"Jiu Jiu, can others hear your voice?"
[Not at all, host. In this world, only you can hear me.]
"That's good. So, what functions does this Reverse Victory System have?"
[Host, the Reverse Victory System will periodically issue tasks. Complete them to receive corresponding rewards.]
Just as Jiu Jiu spoke, a task panel appeared before Lin Ting.
[ Task: Assemble a simple outfit and go downstairs for dinner
Time Limit: 5 hours
Task Reward: Milk-like skin]
Upon seeing the reward, Lin Ting's eyes lit up. Her skin had become rough and tanned from long-term exposure to the countryside wind and sun—having a milk-like complexion would be ideal.
"Jiu Jiu, this task is way too simple," Lin Ting said confidently, having believed that putting together an outfit was an easy matter.
[Do not underestimate it, host. The 5-hour time limit is part of the challenge," Jiu Jiu reminded her]
Glancing at the clock and realizing she still had ample time to prepare, Lin Ting calmly walked into the bathroom to take a shower.
After her shower, she used an old phone obtained from her cousin to search online for outfit tutorials. Before she knew it, nearly two hours had passed as she watched video after video, and her head began to spin. It turned out that dressing well was far more complicated than she had imagined—she had to consider color matching, the occasion, makeup, and even hairstyles.
Lin Ting then approached the wardrobe and examined the clothes that the servants had hastily put together for her. These were expensive designer items, yet some of the dresses were too gaudy in color and clashed with her olive-toned skin. Drawing on the new knowledge she'd just acquired, she quickly assembled an outfit she was satisfied with.
She chose a cream-colored short-sleeved top with a collar for the upper half and paired it with trendy wide-leg jeans for the lower half—this cut was perfect for concealing her bowleggedness. After a final check in the mirror to ensure everything was in order, she headed downstairs. At that point, less than two hours had passed since the task was issued.
As she reached the stairwell, she heard Lin Nian's coquettish voice say, "Dad, why hasn't big sister come down yet? Is she still mad at me?"
Lin Ting snorted coldly and walked straight down. The moment everyone saw her, they were stunned. Lin Ting appeared neat and simple, exuding a unique aura.
At that moment, Jiu Jiu's cheerful voice resonated in her mind:
[Congratulations, host, task completed. The milk-like skin reward has been granted.]
Lin Ting felt a subtle warmth across her skin, realizing the reward had taken effect.
"Jiu Jiu, will they notice if I suddenly change like this?" she anxiously asked in her mind.
[hey won't, host. Others will simply think you've always looked like this. No need to worry.]
Hearing this, Lin Ting's anxious heart finally relaxed.
"Since you're here, let's have dinner together," came Lin Guoqing's voice from the living room, prompting everyone to rise and head to the dining table.
Lin Nian stood frozen, still processing the situation. "This bumpkin actually dresses so well—I even had the servants buy those gaudy, outdated dresses for her."
"I always assumed Lin Ting would opt for those princess dresses. Who would have thought her skin could look this good? How did I not notice it before?"
Suppressing her jealousy and doubts, Lin Nian forced a smile and linked her arm with Lin Ting's, putting on an act of deep sisterly affection. Although Lin Ting internally recoiled at Lin Nian's gesture, she couldn't show any discontent in front of Lin Guoqing and Huang Mei, so she played along. This only strengthened her resolve to eventually leave the Lin family.
Once everyone was seated, Lin Guoqing looked around and, seeing that everyone was present, began to eat. Occasionally, conversation turned to Lin Nian and Lin Zhou's schooling, and Lin Ting would occasionally contribute a word or two.
"By the way, in a few days, I'll have my assistant Xiao Li handle the matter of your household registration," Lin Guoqing mentioned, suddenly recalling the matter as he looked at Lin Ting.
At the mention of the household registration, Lin Ting's mind began devising a plan. The best way to sever ties with the Lin family was to not share the same household registry with them. However, as she was not yet capable of being independent, she had to delay the matter.
Having formulated a rough plan in her mind, Lin Ting said, "There's no rush about the household registration. I'd like to get used to the environment before starting school."
"Right, no rush," Huang Mei interjected, "After all, you'll be attending the same school as Nian Nian, so you can look out for each other."
At that moment, Lin Zhou, who had been silent until now, spoke in a somber tone, "With grades like hers, I doubt she can even get into a regular class."
Lin Zhou's comment plunged the atmosphere into silence.
Lin Guoqing glared at his blunt-mouthed son before turning to Lin Ting. "Our Lin family's daughter is certainly qualified to enter A School. Don't worry—Daddy will handle it."
A School, as mentioned by Lin Guoqing, was the international school Lin Ting had attended in her previous life, where the students were all the offspring of A City's elite families. Admission to A School was partly based on outstanding academic performance and partly on family connections and money. In her previous life, Lin Ting had been admitted only because Lin Guoqing donated a building to the school. Although her grades in the countryside weren't bad, they paled in comparison to those of the elite children who had been groomed for international education since childhood.
Because she had been admitted through a building donation, she was ridiculed by her classmates, and both Lin Guoqing and Huang Mei disregarded her academic performance. They focused solely on Lin Nian, who had excelled through her own hard work to get into A School, and Lin Nian would occasionally belittle Lin Ting in private, further eroding her self-esteem within the family.
Hearing Lin Guoqing's words, Lin Ting replied steadily, "No need—I'll get in on my own."
Her tone was resolute, leaving everyone momentarily stunned.
Lin Zhou was the first to react, sneering, "On your own? With your grades, even ten years of effort might not be enough."
Subconsciously, Lin Zhou had already assumed that Lin Ting's grades were abysmal—how could a rural school compare to the elite education he had enjoyed since childhood?
Fearing a rift between her children, Huang Mei quickly interjected, "Lin Ting will definitely get into A School; Mama believes in you."
Though Huang Mei wasn't entirely convinced that Lin Ting could gain admission solely through her own efforts, she didn't want to shatter her daughter's confidence.
"Big sister can surely do it. If you ever have any problems with your studies, you can always ask me," Lin Nian falsely added, always maintaining her image as the obedient daughter in front of their parents.
Lin Ting gave Lin Nian a cold glance before adding, "If I hadn't been sent to the countryside, I might have been just like you…"
Her tone was filled with regret and envy, without a trace of resentment, leaving the Lin family momentarily speechless.
Realizing the conversation was turning against her, Lin Nian quickly released her arm and resumed eating properly. The meal ended in an atmosphere that was both strange and silent.
Just as Lin Ting was about to go upstairs to her room, Lin Guoqing called her, signaling that she should follow him.
Lin Ting was led by Lin Guoqing to the study, where his words mirrored those of her past life.
"Lin Ting, the Lin family now tells others that you are the second Miss of the Lin family, and that you have been quietly recuperating in the countryside due to poor health since childhood."
His eyes fixed on Lin Ting—seeing that she showed no signs of discontent, he continued, "In two days, there will be a family gathering at the Lin ancestral mansion, and all our relatives will be present."
"It's essentially an ancestral recognition ceremony. Your uncles and aunts will also be there, so you can get acquainted with the younger members of the Lin family."
Originally, Lin Ting hadn't been paying much attention to Lin Guoqing's words. However, the moment she heard "uncles and aunts," her mind—already occupied with thoughts of how to break free from the Lin family—instantly began formulating a plan.
"Did you understand that clearly?" Lin Guoqing asked, noticing that Lin Ting was spacing out. He deliberately raised his voice to warn her.
"Yes, Dad," Lin Ting replied submissively, lowering her gaze.
Seeing her compliant demeanor, his dissatisfaction with her eased considerably. In truth, he had never been pleased with this daughter he had only recently acknowledged. All his life, Lin Guoqing had maintained a glamorous image, and now his own daughter was constantly falling short compared to his adopted daughter. Concerned for appearances, he naturally favored Lin Nian, whom he had raised for many years, and in his heart, he never truly recognized Lin Ting as his own—she was merely treated like a pet in the family.
Lin Guoqing's eyes shifted, and he suddenly remembered something else he wanted to say.
"Your arrival has made Nian Nian feel unsettled, so you must give her way. Don't let her feel wronged in this family."
Lin Ting snorted inwardly but nodded obediently, "I understand, Dad."
After leaving the study, Lin Ting returned to her room.
"Jiu Jiu, is there any way to quickly improve my academic performance?" Lin Ting asked.
[Host, there is a Study Gift Package task. Complete it and you will gain supercharged study abilities.]
"What task?"
[Task: Skillfully handle five instances of provocation from relatives at the family gathering and win the approval of three elders.
Task Reward: Study Gift Package]
Lin Ting silently resolved that she would complete this task. By accomplishing it, she would not only earn the reward but also find a way to break free from the Lin family—her plan centered on leveraging the uncles and aunts.