Surprise! The Fake Heiress is Actually an Ancient Master of Metaphysics! - Chapter 27

When Tan Lingyin first started school, she had actually achieved good grades.

It was during the first grade of elementary school, during the winter final exams, when she ranked first in her grade.

When she returned home, she thought she would be praised.

But she was wrong.

When Liu Yun saw her report card, her eyes glared at her fiercely as she cursed, “You wretched girl! Who told you to do so well? Did you cheat?”

At the time, Tan Lingyin didn’t understand why Liu Yun and Tan Hongzheng were so indifferent toward her—especially Liu Yun, whose gaze held a hint of disgust.

She thought it was because she wasn’t playing the role of their daughter convincingly enough, which was why her mother looked at her that way.

So she studied hard, hoping to make her parents happier.

“Don’t you dare think that ranking first will earn you any rewards! Let me tell you, this family doesn’t need you showing off!”

Liu Yun tore the report card into pieces while yelling.

Then she grabbed young Tan Lingyin and struck her multiple times.

“I sent you to school to pass the time, not to study! If you get such good grades again, I’ll beat you to death!”

“Do you hear me?”

Tan Lingyin was only seven years old at the time and couldn’t break free, enduring the beating as she cried out in pain, “Mom! I understand!”

She wasn’t truly an elementary school student—she was the Ancestor of the Mystic Arts, an adult.

Right then, she decided she would never achieve good grades again.

From then on, every report card she brought home barely scraped a passing grade.

It wasn’t low enough to warrant criticism from her teachers, nor did she fail to the point of requiring a parent-teacher meeting, so she wouldn’t cause Liu Yun any trouble.

Every time Liu Yun saw her report card, she was pleased—sometimes even letting her eat at the same table.

“Ding-ding-ding—”

“Exams have begun! No cheating—the teachers are watching you!”

The invigilator’s stern voice snapped Tan Lingyin out of her thoughts.

Now, she finally understood why Liu Yun had acted that way.

Because she wasn’t their biological child. Of course, Liu Yun couldn’t stand to see her do well—she probably wished for her to die early so she could take Tan Yayue’s place.

……

The morning exams passed quickly.

Tan Lingyin finished her math paper early and handed it in so she could eat sooner.

After setting her tray down at the table, she took out her phone to message Huo Jingyan.

Her fingers paused over the keyboard, but after a moment’s thought, she decided to make a video call instead.

Huo Jingyan was also having lunch when his phone lit up. Seeing it was her, he answered immediately.

The screen showed a tray piled high with various meat dishes and a mountain of rice.

Tan Lingyin’s bright fox-like eyes stared unblinkingly at him through the screen. “Mr. Huo!”

In the small frame, she looked like an exquisite porcelain doll.

Huo Jingyan responded with a low hum. “Why the sudden video call?”

“Move closer—I want to see you,” Tan Lingyin said before quickly stuffing a piece of meat into her mouth and chewing.

Huo Jingyan brought the screen closer to his face. “See what?”

“Your face, of course!” she mumbled through her food, her gaze fixed intently on his face.

Huo Jingyan met her stare, his heartbeat involuntarily speeding up, his fingers gripping the phone so tightly his knuckles turned white.

After a moment, Tan Lingyin smiled. “Good, good. No changes.”

“No changes is a good thing?” Huo Jingyan sighed softly. “I’ve already turned down two invitations today.”

Tan Lingyin said between bites, “Of course it’s a good thing. I can resolve the Peach Blossom Misfortune, but if this affects your death calamity, I’ll be in a real bind!”

“You can’t solve it?” Huo Jingyan watched her eat, finding the sight oddly appetizing.

Originally, he hadn’t had much of an appetite, but now he picked up his chopsticks and took a bite of meat as well.

“I can solve it, but my current abilities aren’t strong enough. I’ll need to spend more time with you first.”

Tan Lingyin wolfed down her food and then added, “You’ll definitely go out this afternoon. When you do, send me a message and tell me where you’re going.”

“Oh, and it’d be best if you sent a car to pick me up. I’ll come find you right after my exam.”

Huo Jingyan’s voice softened unconsciously. “Got it. How was your exam?”

A confident smile spread across Tan Lingyin’s face as she declared firmly, “It went great! If I’m not first place this time, I’ll write my name backward!”

Huo Jingyan chuckled. “That’s good to hear. Looking forward to your results.”

Tan Lingyin nodded with a grin before diving back into her meal.

Huo Jingyan also ate while holding his phone, and for a while, both of them forgot to end the video call.

Occasionally glancing at the girl on the screen, Huo Jingyan found today’s meal especially delicious.

Sitting across from him, Master Xuanqing: “…”

Speechless.

He felt like he shouldn’t be sitting here—Tan Lingyin should.

Then, noisy chatter came through the phone, and Tan Lingyin’s voice rang out, “My classmates are here for lunch. Gotta go.”

Before Huo Jingyan could respond, the screen went black.

A soft ding sounded as his phone vibrated in his palm.

He set it down, frowning slightly as he stared at the dishes on the table.

“Tsk, tsk. Don’t know what happened, but suddenly this food doesn’t taste so good anymore,” Master Xuanqing remarked sarcastically.

Huo Jingyan’s ears tinged pink as he suddenly realized what he’d been doing.

Clearing his throat, he picked up another bite and said, “Ahem, Master Xuanqing, if there’s anything you’d like to eat, just let the kitchen know for next time.”

“Huh? So it’s me who thinks the food isn’t good?” Master Xuanqing blinked in confusion.

When Huo Jingyan looked up, his expression carried an unspoken authority.

Master Xuanqing quickly grinned and said, “Well, it really isn’t that great. I’ll have a word with the kitchen tomorrow.”

Huo Jingyan’s thoughts drifted.

Since when had she started affecting his mood like this…?

Was it because of the death calamity?

…

As evening approached, Li Heng rushed into the living room.

“President Huo! Something terrible has happened!” he exclaimed, panic in his voice.

Master Xuanqing urged, “Out with it!”

“President Huo, there’s a problem with the land we bid on—they dug up a coffin!”

Li Heng panted before continuing, “You need to go there immediately. The partners are all waiting for you to resolve this!”

Huo Jingyan tapped his fingers on the armrest and said calmly, “Even if they unearthed an ancient tomb, it’s not unusual. Let the team handle it.”

“But a passing mystic said the coffin is strange. Now no one dares to keep working…” Li Heng swallowed hard. “If we really can’t proceed, we could lose over 300 million—maybe even more…”

Master Xuanqing immediately interjected, “Just 300 million? Jingyan has plenty! Let’s just drop it!”

Huo Jingyan frowned. “It’s not about the money. It’s about credibility.”

In the business world, only credibility can win people’s hearts.

He opened WeChat and sent an address to Tan Lingyin, saying he was heading there immediately.