Surprise! The Fake Heiress is Actually an Ancient Master of Metaphysics! - Chapter 41

In the villa, Li Heng happily showed his phone to Tan Lingyin. “Miss Tan, look! You’ve been voted the most beautiful examinee!”

Tan Lingyin leaned over to look and immediately saw the bold, black headline—”Nancheng’s Most Beautiful Examinee: Left Early Because She Knew All the Answers!”

“What a sensational headline,” she remarked with a light scoff. “But it’s true—I left early because I knew all the answers.”

Li Heng scrolled through the comments. “Look, people are even asking for your name!”

“And there are so many confessions! They’re asking which university you plan to attend!”

Tan Lingyin glanced at them and chuckled. “No need to pay attention. The hype will die down in a while.”

Every year during the college entrance exams, interviewed examinees attract online attention.

But suddenly, Li Heng exclaimed, “Wait, someone’s spreading rumors about you!”

“They’re saying you’re dating a sugar daddy, that you ranked last in school, and that you left early to meet some old benefactor! What nonsense!”

Tan Lingyin took the phone and stared at the comment. Below it, many replies were asking if it was true.

She clicked into the commenter’s profile and found several videos posted—all featuring her school’s scenery.

After scrolling for a while, she finally found a clue.

This was Li Lele’s account.

Of course, Li Lele’s rumor-mongering mouth would never stay idle.

Li Heng said, “How dare someone spread such a disgusting rumor? I’ll have the comment deleted and the account banned right away.”

Tan Lingyin raised an eyebrow in surprise. “You have that kind of power?”

“Ahem, not me—our CEO Huo does!” Li Heng quickly praised his boss and turned to Huo Jingyan. “Sir, should we delete it for Miss Tan?”

Huo Jingyan, sitting across from them, had also been watching the video. Seeing the flood of heart-eyed confessions in the comments, he felt inexplicably irritated.

Just as Li Heng asked, he replied in a low voice, “Go ahead. Take down the video as well.”

Tan Lingyin quickly interjected, “No, leave it as evidence. I know who’s spreading the rumors. I’ll deal with her after my results come out.”

Huo Jingyan looked at her and, seeing her serious expression, nodded. “Fine.”

At that moment, a text message arrived on Tan Lingyin’s phone.

[“Come to Xiangyun Restaurant for my engagement banquet. I have a secret to tell you. [Image]”]

The attached image showed a sandalwood plaque engraved with two characters—”Lingyin.”

The plaque looked incredibly valuable, and the craftsmanship of the engraving alone spoke volumes about the carver’s skill.

The number was unfamiliar, and Tan Lingyin couldn’t guess who it might be. Who would be getting engaged at this time?

She turned to Huo Jingyan. “Mr. Huo, is the restaurant we’re going to later Xiangyun Restaurant?”

Huo Jingyan nodded slightly. “Yes, but we can change locations if you’d prefer.”

“Let’s go there. We should leave now.” Tan Lingyin was eager to find out who had sent the message.

And what was this secret about?

Huo Jingyan stood up. “Alright, I’ll go change.”

His gaze swept over Tan Lingyin’s T-shirt and jeans, and he added in a deep voice, “You should change into a dress.”

“Why? Since when does dining out require a dress code?” Tan Lingyin was puzzled.

Li Heng explained, “The main event at Xiangyun Restaurant in the evening is a banquet, so there’s a dress code. Men must be dressed in suits, and women must wear elegant and appropriate dresses.”

“Among the clothes I bought for you earlier, there are quite a few suitable for a banquet. Just pick one to wear.”

Tan Lingyin responded, “Oh…”

Truly the world of the wealthy—even dining comes with its own set of rules.

She returned to her room and rummaged through the dresses in her closet, finally selecting one that wasn’t too mature or overly figure-hugging.

Though she was only eighteen, her figure was already quite curvaceous, and a fitted long dress would indeed look stunning on her.

But this time, she was going to dinner with Huo Jingyan, and their relationship was purely professional. Dressing too provocatively wouldn’t be appropriate.

Standing in front of the mirror, Tan Lingyin adjusted her long hair and clipped a pearl hairpin near her ear.

The white dress fell just past her knees, revealing her slender and well-proportioned calves. The waist tapered gradually upward, elongating her legs without clinging too tightly to her hips.

The neckline was off-the-shoulder, with loose bows draping down at each shoulder, modestly concealing her bust while showcasing her delicate, rounded shoulders and exquisite collarbones.

Her long black hair cascaded over one shoulder, slightly obscuring her graceful curves.

Tan Lingyin picked up a small handbag, hung it from her wrist, and tucked her talisman and phone inside.

Honestly, Huo Jingyan had been incredibly considerate toward her. Just the clothes, bags, and accessories alone must have cost a fortune.

Treating him to a meal was the least she could do.

The moment Tan Lingyin stepped out, Li Heng’s eyes widened in astonishment.

“My heavens, Miss Tan, you look absolutely stunning!”

Huo Jingyan turned around, and upon seeing her, his pupils contracted slightly, his heartbeat skipping a beat.

Eighteen was an age as fresh as a flower in bloom.

And she was the most radiant of them all.

Tan Lingyin also studied Huo Jingyan. Indeed, men’s black silk was best paired with suits and ties.

With his broad shoulders and narrow waist, Huo Jingyan in a suit was nothing short of breathtaking.

Master Xuanqing hadn’t changed his outfit, still clad in his dark blue traditional robe. Seeing the two locked in a prolonged gaze, he couldn’t help but urge, “What are you staring at? Let’s go! This old man is starving!”

Tan Lingyin quickly moved toward the door. “Let’s head out!”

The car pulled up in front of Xiangyun Restaurant, where luxury vehicles lined the streets.

After getting out, the driver went to park while the bodyguards escorted Huo Jingyan and the others inside.

As soon as they entered, they were met with a massive standing signboard.

The man pictured on it was unfamiliar to Tan Lingyin, but the woman was instantly recognizable.

“Tan Yayue?” Tan Lingyin hurried over and read the text on the sign aloud. “Engagement banquet. Groom: Liu Shaoyang. Bride: Tan Yayue.”

Master Xuanqing lowered his voice and scoffed, “She’s carrying a ghost fetus, yet she dares to get engaged to someone else?”

Tan Lingyin’s tone turned icy. “She even texted me, asking me to attend her engagement banquet, saying she had a secret to tell me.”

“I’m going to find out what the Tan family is up to!”

Master Xuanqing cautioned, “Be careful. If that ghost fetus manipulates her into harming others, with so many people here, things could turn disastrous.”

Tan Lingyin nodded. “I know. Let’s eat first. I’ll go find her later.”

The signboard listed the hall number for the engagement banquet. She could easily locate it by asking a waiter.

The Xiangyun Restaurant was enormous, boasting six banquet halls of various sizes and even more private dining rooms.

Li Heng had reserved a private room on the third floor. As they stepped into the elevator, Tan Lingyin detected a faint trace of ominous energy lingering inside.

The engagement banquet was being held on the second floor—it seemed this elevator had been used by Tan Yayue.

Once they entered the private room on the third floor, Tan Lingyin asked Huo Jingyan to order while she took out her phone to reply to Tan Yayue: I’m here. When should we meet?

[In half an hour. Come to private room 318 on the third floor.]

Tan Lingyin’s eyes darkened slightly—it appeared Tan Yayue had some scheme in mind.

She turned to Li Heng. “Assistant Li, could I trouble you to look into why the Liu family agreed to an engagement with the Tan family?”