Chapter 3: You Promised to Be a Second-Generation Heir—Why Are You Sneaking Off to Level Up?

Inside the master bedroom.

Lin Tianhao leaned against the headboard, lighting a cigar with a look of satisfaction.

His bare upper body was covered in crisscrossing scars—the medals of a war god's glory.

"Still got it, Commander Lin."

Su Wan, wrapped in a silk robe, lazily rested her head on her husband's shoulder, her fingers tracing lightly over those scars:

"Looks like that demon dragon meat really paid off—your combat power hasn't faded a bit."

"Of course!"

Lin Tianhao smirked, raised an eyebrow, and waved his hand with a touch of bold swagger:

"Who do you think I am? Thunder God!"

"Just now in that fight, if I hadn't been afraid of making too much noise and waking Mo'er, I'd have unleashed two more rounds of 'Thundering Myriad Spears'!"

Su Wan rolled her eyes at him and pinched his arm lightly:

"Stop joking—you trying to tear the house down?"

At that, Su Wan's eyes grew worried:

"I hope this time we get a kid with decent talent—so if Mo'er gets bullied later, at least he'll have a younger brother or sister to protect him."

Lin Tianhao took his wife's hand.

"Don't worry—I've got a feeling this time it'll work!"

"Mo'er was… cough, an accident. If we tried again, he'd be a little monster!"

At that moment.

Vrrr—vrrr—

The phone vibrated from the nightstand.

Lin Tianhao frowned slightly, picked up the phone, glanced at the caller ID, and his expression instantly turned peculiar.

"Who's calling this late?"

Su Wan asked.

"Lao Zhao."

Lin Tianhao sneered, clearly disgusted, "That old bastard Zhao Lei—probably just here to show off."

The moment he answered, Zhao Lei's booming voice blared from the speaker:

"Hey! Lao Lin! Still up this late? Sounds like you haven't even rested yet?"

"Spit it out!"

Lin Tianhao snapped back, "I'm busy—don't have time for your nonsense."

"Heh, nothing important—just that my boy's awakening's done, thought I'd share the good news with an old war buddy."

Zhao Lei didn't mind, his tone brimming with pride.

Before Lin Tianhao could reply, Zhao Lei launched into his boasting.

"You know, my boy awakened as a Flame Mage—too bad his fire affinity rating's only S-grade, kind of average."

Zhao Lei sighed with feigned modesty.

Lin Tianhao snorted.

Flame Mage, S-grade fire affinity—you call that average?

My own Thunder God affinity? Also S-grade.

Anyone with an S-grade elemental affinity is guaranteed to be among the top-tier fighters in the city.

"Oh, that's nice," Lin Tianhao replied flatly. "Congratulations."

"Same to you!"

Zhao Lei pretended not to notice Lin Tianhao's irritation and continued:

"You won't believe it—my boy's already nearly level 3."

"By the way, Lao Lin, I heard your Lin Mo's awakening was pretty weak. How about I let my boy take yours leveling up? Give him some extra care? We've known each other so long…"

Beep…

Before Zhao Lei could finish, Lin Tianhao coldly hung up without a word.

The bedroom fell into a brief, dead silence.

Su Wan hugged his arm protectively and whispered:

"Angry about what Lao Zhao said?"

"Hmph, you know what that old bastard's like."

Lin Tianhao leaned back against the headboard again, but this time his hand gripping the cigarette trembled slightly:

"Back in college, I crushed him. Then when he joined the City Defense Force, I crushed him again."

"For decades, Zhao Lei never once stood tall in front of me!"

"Now the heavens have handed him an S-grade Flame Mage son…"

"He's been holding back for decades—and now he's finally found his chance to get even with me!"

Su Wan sighed, her eyes also filled with helplessness:

"Honey, an S-grade Flame Mage? That's a genius among geniuses."

"In three days, at the Careerist Exam, Zhao's boy will steal the spotlight—he might even break the city record."

"When that happens, if Mo'er's results are too poor… the gossip won't stop."

"He dares!"

Lin Tianhao's eyes flared, a surge of aura bursting forth, "If he dares say one bad word about Mo'er to my face, I'll rip his mouth apart!"

"Sigh, Old Lin, you can block Zhao Lei's mouth with your fist, but you can't block these endless rumors."

"Zhao Lei's son has always been arrogant and domineering; he's never gotten along well with our Mo'er. Come the time, he'll surely stir up some lackeys to spread gossip..."

Su Wan glanced at Lin Tianhao, looking somewhat worried.

After a long pause, Lin Tianhao exhaled a ring of smoke, his voice turning hoarse and low:

"The Grand Exam... based on considerations of fairness, only the most common Bronze-tier equipment will be allowed. It's a true test of strength, broadcast live across the entire city, under the gaze of all."

Speaking thus, Lin Tianhao fiercely crushed out the cigarette he had just lit, a trace of resolve flashing in his eyes:

"No! I can't let Mo'er go suffer that humiliation!"

"Wife, tell Mo'er tomorrow. On the day of the Grand Exam, just have him call in sick and not go!"

"Anyway, our family has plenty of money. Spend a bit to arrange something, find any university to slack off in for a few years."

"Rather than going to the scene and being treated as a joke by Zhao Lei and his whole family, it's better for him to sleep comfortably at home."

Su Wan paused for a moment, then her eyes reddened slightly as she nodded:

"I'll listen to you. We only have this one son. Face doesn't matter; as long as he isn't suffering, that's what counts."

Lin Tianhao fiercely crushed out the cigarette he had just lit, then turned to look at Su Wan:

"Wife, let's do it again!"

"Zhao Lei wants to bet on his son, does he? Fine! Then we'll bet against him to the very end!"

"As for Mo'er... for the rest of his life, we'll block all the wind and rain from reaching him. Even if he's a good-for-nothing, he's still my Lin Tianhao's most precious good-for-nothing!"

Su Wan actively wrapped her arms around her husband's neck, her gaze gentle: "Good. Our Lin family child is not for others to bully."

The next morning.

Lin Mo opened his eyes groggily and stretched.

He had slept especially soundly.

"Comfortable~"

Lin Mo rubbed his eyes and instinctively tapped open his Class Panel.

【Name: Lin Mo】

【Class: Mage】

【Level: Lv. 3 (25%)】

【Skills: Fireball (Lv. 3), Multi-Explosive Fireball (Lv. 3)】

Lin Mo's pupils suddenly contracted, and his sleepiness vanished instantly.

"Holy crap? I'm really Level 3?"

You have to know, in this world, leveling up is no easy task.

Even a genius from a wealthy family, led by a full team, might only reach Lv. 3 on the first day.

And what about me?

Slept through a whole night, did nothing, and I'm Lv. 3?

And the experience bar is up by another 25%!

"Is this the charm of fully automatic AFK grinding?"

Lin Mo couldn't help but sigh.

He glanced at the skill bar; beneath 【Fireball】 was another line of status text:

【Status: Catching up on sleep (snoring heavily)】

【Mood: Extremely exhausted (even a bit craving a late-night snack)】

【Last Night's Record: Slain Sharp-Toothed Rabbit x158, Grassland Gray Wolf x135, Poisonous Spider x112...】

【Message: I'm dead tired... Hey you, hurry up and get me some Fire-element food to replenish, or I'm going on strike!】

Looking at this somewhat irritable message, Lin Mo didn't get angry.

Why hold a grudge against one's own skill?

Besides, it's still helping me level up.

Just then, Mother Su Wan's gentle voice drifted up from downstairs:

"Mo'er, are you awake? Come down for breakfast."

"Coming!"

Lin Mo nimbly flipped out of bed, washed up quickly, changed into a set of casual clothes, and hummed a little tune as he went downstairs.

In the dining room, Mother Su Wan and Father Lin Tianhao were already seated at the table.

"Morning, Mom, Dad."

Lin Mo pulled out a chair and sat down, casually picking up a slice of toast bread, in high spirits.

Seeing her son's "carefree" appearance, Su Wan felt a fresh wave of bitterness in her heart.

Lin Tianhao's words from last night still echoed in her ears.

Although having her son call in sick and skip the Grand Exam was to protect his mental health and spare him from gossip...

... having to tell her son directly, "You can't do it, don't go and make a fool of yourself," was truly a cruel thing.

Su Wan weighed her words, preparing to bring up the matter of calling in sick.

Suddenly, the professional instinct of the Holy Grand Priest made her sense something was off.

The aura around Lin Mo...

Why is it a whole notch stronger than yesterday?

"Hmm?"

Su Wan instinctively looked over.

A 【Scout Spell】 was cast at Lin Mo.

The next second, Su Wan stood there stunned.

【Lin Mo, Level: LV. 3】

Level 3... Level 3?!

You promised to stay home safely as a second-generation rich kid, yet you snuck out in the middle of the night to grind levels?