Chapter 17: I’m Not an All-Powerful Person
But today, when the books fell, she couldn’t pick them up — and for some reason, tears just started falling.
Maybe she was different from other people — she didn’t cry over big things, but over small ones.
Lin Yuejiu felt so wronged. Why couldn’t she just pick up her books?
It was the same feeling as when a girl tries to tie her hair, struggles for a long time, and still can’t get it right — that sudden wave of frustration that makes you want to cry. Or like when you can’t solve a math problem no matter how hard you try, you get anxious, feel helpless… and end up in tears.
Once she started feeling wronged, the feeling only grew stronger. Her tears fell harder, soaking a large patch of the ground.
Why? Had she done something wrong? Why was there always someone commenting on her, judging her at will? Why was even saying a single extra sentence a mistake that people would misunderstand — when she never even meant it that way?
No one gave her the answer.
Across the street, a car was parked by the roadside. Inside, Lin Yimo watched Lin Yuejiu quietly crying alone, his fingers clenching tightly.
He had never seen her cry before. Even when she was bullied, even when she came home with scrapes and bruises, she always wore a smile. Never — not even once — had she looked like she did now, crying so heartbreakingly, making one’s chest ache to see it.
Lin Yimo couldn’t help wondering… had he misunderstood her? He hadn’t intended for things to turn out like that, but the moment he stood in front of her, the words just came out beyond his control.
Before he could think further, the girl had already picked up her books in silence, set them to the side, and wiped her tears. She kept adjusting her breathing, trying to calm herself down.
Suddenly, a sheet of tissue appeared in front of her. She lifted her red-rimmed eyes to look.
Xu Nianshen stood there, holding a clean white tissue.
Lin Yuejiu took it and murmured, “Thanks.”
Her voice was unmistakably hoarse.
Xu Nianshen looked at her reddened eyes, his dark pupils flickering slightly. “You can’t make family the entirety of your world. And besides, they have nothing to do with you anymore.”
Lin Yuejiu dabbed away her tears, cradled her books in her arms, and said softly, “I’m not an all-powerful person. I need time to adjust… to a lot of things.”
She hadn’t spelled it out, but Xu Nianshen understood.
“Heading back to school?”
“Mm.” Her voice was muffled.
“Let’s go.”
Lin Yuejiu looked up at him.
“I’ll walk you back.”
“…Okay.”
The two walked off side by side, and Lin Yimo also drove away.
When he got home, Lin Rumeng immediately came up to him. “Brother, did you clear things up with big sister?”
“Mm, we cleared it up.”
“So… does that mean she’ll never come back again?”
Lin Yimo’s fingers twitched slightly, and he gave a quiet “Mm.”
“Ah… that’s kind of a pity,” Lin Rumeng said wistfully.
But in her heart, she thought: It’s better if she never comes back. That way, no one will ever take the position of the Lin family’s young lady from me. I’ll make sure Lin Yuejiu can never return.
Lin Yimo lowered his eyes.
That evening, Mother Lin pulled Lin Rumeng into the living room. In front of her was a pile of clothes she had brought over.
“Here, Mengmeng — which one do you like?”
“Mom, what’s all this for?”
“There’s a banquet tonight. I’m taking you to meet some people and get acquainted.”
Lin Rumeng’s eyes lit up. “Is it to meet Dad, Mom, and Brother’s friends?”
“Mm, we’ll let them see how beautiful our Mengmeng is.”
Lin Rumeng smiled. “Alright!”
“Then hurry and pick the one you like best.”
Lin Rumeng picked through the dresses one by one — every single one was beautiful. She tried them all before finally choosing a thin-strapped, waist-cinching gown.
She was certain it would highlight her perfect figure, because she had absolute confidence in herself.
The banquet.
The Lin family arrived. One by one, they stepped out of the car, with Lin Rumeng being the last to alight. The whole family entered the venue, and immediately, all eyes turned toward them.
Lin Rumeng couldn’t help feeling a little nervous. Lin Yimo comforted her: “Don’t be afraid.”
“Mm.”
Lifting her chin and squaring her shoulders, she walked inside gracefully, enduring all the curious, evaluating gazes.
“So this is the Lin family’s real daughter?”
“She seems pretty well-behaved.”
“Mm, she does look well-behaved, and her looks… are fine.”
n a lower voice: “But don’t you think… the real daughter isn’t as good-looking as the other one?”
Honestly, I think so too…”
Lin Yuejiu and Lin Rumeng had very different kinds of beauty. Lin Rumeng resembled Mother Lin — her features were on the softer, more delicate side. Lin Yuejiu, however, had striking looks that couldn’t be confined to a single style.
Hearing this, Lin Rumeng’s smile froze.
Why was it that even after Lin Yuejiu had left the Lin family, she could still hear her name everywhere? That wretched woman!
Where there’s a fake, there’s a real one — and when both exist, comparisons are inevitable.
Even Lin Yimo’s friends whispered among themselves, one daring to ask: “Hey, bro, serious question — your old sister and your current sister, which one’s better looking?”
Lin Yimo shot the guy a cold glance, and the man immediately shut his mouth.
People at the banquet soon dropped the topic after a few words.
Mother Lin and Father Lin took Lin Rumeng around to meet various guests, and by the end, she had practically greeted the entire room. She also met quite a few heiresses from other prominent families.
By the middle of the banquet came the fixed “talent performance” segment, where many young ladies went on stage to perform and gain exposure.
Someone asked Mother Lin, “Hey, why isn’t your daughter performing this year?”
Mother Lin smiled. “Mengmeng just came back to us. The conditions at her foster family weren’t ideal, so she hasn’t learned any talents yet.”
The person nodded. “Ah, I see. But don’t you have another daughter? Lin Yuejiu, I think? In past years, she always performed. I still remember her violin piece — it was so beautiful!”
The entire Lin family’s expressions turned awkward.
Someone nearby, seeing this, quietly reminded, “Are you confused? That’s not their daughter. This one is.”
The man suddenly realized. “Oh, oh, I forgot! Sorry, sorry — my mistake, really sorry about that.”
Father Lin kept a polite smile. “It’s fine. I know you — you’re prone to forgetting things.”
“Really, I’m sorry. I have something to do, so I’ll take my leave.”
Unable to bear the embarrassment any longer, the man quickly walked off.
Mother Lin comforted Lin Rumeng. “Mengmeng, it’s alright, don’t listen to them. You only didn’t learn because you weren’t with me before.”
Lin Rumeng nodded.
Father Lin added, “That’s right, Mengmeng. You don’t need to compare yourself to her. You don’t need to know those things — Mom and Dad still like you just as much.”
“Hey, isn’t that your tutor over there?”
Father Lin looked over. Sure enough, it was. “I’ll go call him over.”
A moment later, Father Lin returned with a middle-aged man, greeting people as they came over.
Before the man could speak, Mother Lin introduced, “Teacher, this is my biological daughter, Lin Rumeng — you can call her Mengmeng.”
The man greeted her politely.
Father Lin said, “Didn’t expect to run into you here. I thought you didn’t like these kinds of gatherings? What made you come today?”
The middle-aged man smiled. “I actually came to see my apprentice.”
