Surprise! The Fake Heiress is Actually an Ancient Master of Metaphysics! - Chapter 23

Liu Yun frowned and muttered under her breath, “Who has the nerve to compete with you for the bidding project?”

“It’s the man who took Lingyin away that day,” Tan Hongzheng sighed. “I looked into it—his name is Li Heng, and people call him Assistant Li.”

Liu Yun immediately grew anxious. “Why him? Who does he think he is? How dare he snatch our company’s project!”

Tan Hongzheng said gloomily, “No wonder I couldn’t find out who that man was no matter how much I asked around. It wasn’t until we lost the bid yesterday that I learned they came from the capital.”

“The capital?!” Liu Yun was shocked. “Are they influential there?”

Tan Hongzheng shook his head. “I couldn’t get a clear answer, but I could tell the tendering party was fawning over Li Heng…”

“Most likely, he has some clout in the capital.”

Liu Yun rubbed her hands together, momentarily at a loss for words.

The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. “That wretched girl, Tan Lingyin—how on earth did she latch onto someone like that?”

Tan Hongzheng said, “Let’s avoid any further contact with Lingyin. I don’t want to provoke them.”

Liu Yun nodded obediently. “Understood.”

Just then, Tan Hongzheng received a phone call and said, “I won’t be back tonight. There’s an emergency meeting, so I’ll stay at the company.”

Liu Yun didn’t stop him. In the past, she would have insisted on going with him or refused outright.

But today, she didn’t want to upset Tan Hongzheng any further.

Tan Yayue stormed in, flung her bag onto the sofa, and shrieked, “That bitch Tan Lingyin—why isn’t she dead yet?”

Liu Yun asked, “What happened?”

“That bitch Tan Lingyin actually called me fat! I’m so mad!” She plopped down beside Liu Yun, pouting dramatically.

Liu Yun couldn’t bear to see her daughter upset and quickly soothed her. “You’re not fat at all. You have the best figure.”

“Mom, when can I meet that man?” Tan Yayue whined.

Liu Yun patted her back, recalling Tan Hongzheng’s words.

If that man really was her daughter’s destined one, then that wretched Tan Lingyin was now stealing her daughter’s man!

“In a few days, Mom will definitely arrange for you to meet him!”

“Great! I knew you were the best, Mom!”

……

The time for her appointment with Zhao Deming arrived. Tan Lingyin returned to the villa, took a shower, and began preparing the items she would need later.

Around ten in the evening, Zhao Deming called.

Tan Lingyin was in the living room with Master Xuanqing and Huo Jingyan.

She answered the phone and asked calmly, “Well? Are they dead?”

Zhao Deming’s voice was choked with tears on the other end. “Yes… my father passed very suddenly… just like that…”

Though others might see his father as a villain, decades of living together had forged real affection between them.

Tan Lingyin remained unmoved by his grief and asked instead, “Have your son and daughter returned?”

Zhao Deming replied hoarsely, “Yes, they’re both here.”

Tan Lingyin said indifferently, “Wait. I’ll be there soon.”

With that, she hung up and turned to Master Xuanqing. “Master Xuanqing, let’s go.”

Huo Jingyan also stood up.

Tan Lingyin noticed the slight weariness in his eyes and said, “President Huo, there’s no need for you to come. This matter doesn’t concern you.”

Huo Jingyan, however, replied, “Everything about you concerns me.”

After speaking, he immediately felt it was inappropriate.

“What I mean is, it’s related to my life-and-death calamity,” he added, his thin lips pressed together, his jawline tense, feigning seriousness.

Tan Lingyin raised an eyebrow slightly and chuckled lightly. “You’re right. Then let’s go together.”

Soon, they arrived at the Zhao family’s doorstep.

The gate was wide open, and a young man was waiting at the entrance.

After they got out of the car, Zhao Xingchen immediately stepped forward. “Master Tan, you’ve finally arrived!”

He spoke directly to Tan Lingyin, likely because Zhao Deming had already informed him that Master Tan was a young woman.

“Please, come in! My father is waiting inside!” Zhao Xingchen eagerly followed Tan Lingyin, his eyes never leaving her.

He truly hadn’t expected Master Tan to be so beautiful!

Huo Jingyan glanced at Zhao Xingchen’s profile, noticing how his gaze seemed glued to Tan Lingyin, and couldn’t help but frown slightly.

Compared to three days ago, the black miasma of yin energy was no longer present here.

Tan Lingyin followed Zhao Xingchen into the villa, making her way to the second floor.

The familiar room, the familiar stench of decay.

This time, it was even stronger than when she had left.

She held her breath slightly and stepped inside.

Zhao Deming was sitting by the bed, his eyes red as he wiped away tears.

Tan Lingyin couldn’t be bothered to remind him that the two deserved their fate. After all, his grief was his own business.

“Master Tan!” Zhao Deming quickly stood up. “Your prediction was incredibly accurate—three days, just as you said. They really did pass away suddenly…”

Tan Lingyin surveyed the room and saw the two translucent ghostly figures floating by the bed.

When people die, their souls remain near their bodies for three days before departing, unless they were heinous criminals, in which case the underworld would send ghost enforcers to take them away immediately.

Mrs. Zhao sat with a young girl, who was also crying, her eyes swollen.

Only Mrs. Zhao showed little sorrow, instead holding the girl tightly.

Zhao Deming introduced, “This is my daughter, Zhao Xingyue. She’s currently in college.”

“Xingyue, come greet Master Tan.”

Zhao Xingyue quickly stood up. Seeing a girl even younger than herself, she was surprised but obediently bowed her head. “Greetings, Master Tan.”

Tan Lingyin gave a slight nod, then said, “Lately, have you felt particularly unlucky when you’re out?”

Zhao Xingyue immediately nodded. “Yes, exactly! I keep losing things—pens, notebooks—they just vanish for no reason!”

This was unbelievable!

They had just met, and Master Tan already knew she’d been unlucky lately!

Mrs. Zhao asked worriedly, “Xingyue, why didn’t you tell me about this?”

“I thought it was just bad luck, and the things I lost weren’t valuable…”

Tan Lingyin interjected, “At first, it’s small things. Later, it’ll be valuable items, and eventually, your life.”

“The evil deeds your grandfather committed in his lifetime should have been repaid upon himself. But because your grandmother sought vengeance, causing his early death, his karmic debts were transferred to his closest blood relatives.”

“If you and your brother don’t resolve this misfortune soon, it will affect your original fortunes.”

Zhao Deming said nervously, “Master Tan, can you resolve this? I’m willing to pay any amount! Just ensure my children aren’t affected by this bad luck!”