Surprise! The Fake Heiress is Actually an Ancient Master of Metaphysics! - Chapter 25

Although the Tan family was wealthy, they didn’t casually throw around figures like a hundred or two hundred million. At most, they’d mention earning a few million.

In truth, Tan Lingyin had never really had a clear concept of money growing up, let alone understood just how wealthy the richest family in Nancheng truly was.

Mrs. Zhao pointed to the jade pendant around her neck. “Master Tan, this piece of jade alone is worth over five hundred thousand. The lives of our family of four must surely be worth far more than a single piece of jade.”

Tan Lingyin thought for a moment and said, “Then… ten million! Any more than that, and I’d feel undeserving. I wouldn’t be able to sleep peacefully.”

Zhao Deming had some understanding of the karmic principles in metaphysics, so he didn’t press further. He nodded and said, “Alright. Send me your bank account details via WeChat, and I’ll transfer the money immediately.”

“Bank account…” Tan Lingyin hesitated. “I don’t have a bank card…”

Zhao Deming asked, “How could you not have a bank card? Didn’t your family set one up for you?”

The moment the words left his mouth, he regretted them. He lightly slapped his own cheek and quickly added, “Ah, what a poor memory I have. Of course that family wouldn’t bother with such things.”

Tan Lingyin pondered for a moment before turning to Huo Jingyan. “Mr. Huo, could I temporarily use your account? Once I get my own card in the future, you can transfer it to me.”

She would soon be heading to the capital to find her biological parents, so it wouldn’t be too late to open an account then.

She trusted Huo Jingyan enough to hold the money for her. Besides, she doubted he’d even bat an eye at ten million.

Huo Jingyan’s eyes flickered slightly as he replied indifferently, “Fine.”

He sent his account details to Tan Lingyin, who forwarded them to Zhao Deming.

Zhao Deming quickly completed the transfer on his phone.

A moment later, Huo Jingyan’s phone buzzed with a bank notification. He showed it to Tan Lingyin. “Ten million has been deposited.”

Tan Lingyin grinned happily. “Great! I finally have money!”

She stood up and said to the Zhao couple, “It’s late, and the matter is settled. We should head back now—I have classes tomorrow.”

Zhao Deming quickly rose to see her off. “Yes, yes, you must rest up for school tomorrow.”

The next day at school, Tan Lingyin was in high spirits all day, having earned ten million the night before. She studied diligently and was even more cheerful when Tan Yayue didn’t follow her after school.

So when she got home, she happily played mobile games to unwind.

Huo Jingyan sat on the sofa reading a book while Tan Lingyin played on her phone nearby.

After clearing a level, she cheered, “Finally beat it! So satisfying!”

“The college entrance exams are in just over two weeks. How can you still be so engrossed in games?” Huo Jingyan’s gaze remained fixed on his book as he spoke in a detached tone.

Only then did Tan Lingyin turn to look at him. “I study hard every day in class. Of course I need to relax after school~”

Huo Jingyan’s slightly lowered eyelids lifted, his narrow eyes sweeping over her. Paired with his refined features, he looked like a male fox spirit in human form.

If not for the purple dragon aura around him, Tan Lingyin would have been tempted to draw a talisman to reveal his true form—just to see if he was actually a fox demon.

The man’s thin lips curved slightly, his gaze cool. “Aren’t you planning to go to the capital? With this kind of playfulness, you won’t get into any university there.”

The documents Li Heng had retrieved included Tan Lingyin’s past academic records.

It was a complete mess—she couldn’t even get into a university in the southern city, let alone the capital.

Though her academic performance had nothing to do with him, since they would be living together from now on, he felt he should push her to do better.

Tan Lingyin knew he meant well and quickly agreed, “Got it, got it! Tomorrow after school, I’ll bring my textbooks home and study hard!”

Huo Jingyan stared at her for a moment before saying coldly, “Don’t brush me off. I’m not anyone to you. Even if you fail the exams, I’ll still take you to the capital and arrange a place for you to stay.”

“As long as you can resolve my life-and-death calamity, I’ll ensure you never want for anything.”

He cared about her, yet she dismissed him.

That made him a little unhappy.

That’s why he said those words—to remind himself that their relationship was purely transactional.

Tan Lingyin was about to say she hadn’t been brushing him off when she suddenly noticed a change in Huo Jingyan’s facial features. “Wait!”

She jumped up from the sofa and rushed over to him, reaching out to grip his chin firmly.

Huo Jingyan’s eyes flickered slightly. His fingers tightened around the page of the book he was holding, crumpling the corner as his entire body tensed up.

The girl’s fair, delicate face was now inches away, her large eyes scrutinizing his features.

She had just taken a bath, and the scent of her body wash lingered on her skin.

Jasmine. The same as his.

“What are you doing?” Huo Jingyan asked in a low voice.

He tried to turn his head, but her small hand forcefully pulled him back.

Tan Lingyin’s tone was serious. “Stop moving. There’s something on your face.”

Huo Jingyan’s gaze fixed on her slightly parted pink lips, his Adam’s apple bobbing involuntarily. Then, his eyes darted downward—only to land on the wide-open collar of her nightgown.

Her clothes had all been arranged by Li Heng, and naturally, none of them fit properly.

This nightgown was clearly too big for her.

When she leaned forward, the neckline drooped, revealing a generous expanse of pale, smooth skin.

Though she looked thin, certain areas had developed rather unexpectedly.

Huo Jingyan hastily averted his gaze, feeling a wave of heat rise through his body.

He set the book aside and grabbed her slender wrist, his voice deep. “Let go.”

The moment he touched her, a thought flashed through his mind.

So thin.

She was too frail.

He felt like if he exerted even a little more force, he could snap the bones in her wrist.

“Ah! The night view in the southern city is still quite nice!” Master Xuanqing strolled into the living room, fanning himself with a folding fan. “Huo Jingyan, it’s such a shame you can’t go out!”

“Whoa!” The moment he entered, his eyes widened in shock.

Huo Jingyan quickly turned his face away, releasing Tan Lingyin’s wrist in the process. “Master Xuanqing, you’re back.”

Master Xuanqing hurried over, staring at the two of them. “What are you two… doing?”

“Nothing—”

“Reading his face!”

They spoke in unison.

Hearing the words “reading his face,” Master Xuanqing immediately focused on Huo Jingyan. “What’s wrong with him?”

Tan Lingyin said coldly, “Tomorrow, he’ll face a calamity of peach blossoms.”

Master Xuanqing promptly sat beside Huo Jingyan, studying him while rapidly performing calculations with his fingers.

A moment later, his eyes widened. “There really is such a calamity!”

He scrutinized Huo Jingyan from all angles, muttering, “How did this happen? You haven’t even left the house—where did this peach blossom calamity come from?”

Because Huo Jingyan was burdened with a deadly calamity, Master Xuanqing had always forbidden him from leaving the villa, fearing that venturing out might disrupt his fortune.

Tan Lingyin explained, “It was planted when we went to the seafood restaurant last time.”

Master Xuanqing slapped his forehead. “Ah! It’s all my fault! Why did I insist on eating seafood for no reason!”

“Master Xuanqing, there’s no need to worry. As long as I’m here, no matter how fierce the peach blossom calamity is, it won’t be able to harm him,” Tan Lingyin said with a faint smirk, already knowing who was behind the mischief.

“A peach blossom calamity isn’t easy to resolve, especially since Huo Jingyan will become an active participant when the time comes,” Master Xuanqing murmured, stroking his beard with a deep frown.

Huo Jingyan asked, “An active participant? What does that mean?”