From Nun to Real Heiress: Expert at Turning the Tables

Lin Qing reads the text several times, back and forth, word by word. “I still can’t let go of my worries. I’m her real mother, but she refuses to see me even once. How could she have such a hard heart?”

Zhu Xiangxiang grumbles internally, thinking it’s because Ming Jing doesn’t consider her as her real mother.

But, outwardly, she speaks in a gentle tone: “Ming Jing’s status is different now. She’s the president of the Jockey Club, a top figure in Jiangzhou. Didn’t you see Mr. Shen and Madam Jiang attending her press conference the other day? It was so impressive. Perhaps you need to make an appointment to see her?”

“Can I be compared to those people? I’m her real mother!” Lin Qing repeats this same line every day, until Zhu Xiangxiang’s ears are calloused from hearing it.

“Right, right. I’ll continue to call Ming Jing. Or, should we wait at the school gate for Ming Chen and Ming Ti?”

Lin Qing immediately stands up: “Let’s go there now.”

As the two rush out, they arrive at the gate just in time for school dismissal.

Zhu Xiangxiang quickly spots Ming Chen and Ming Ti emerging from the school gate. The two girls have grown taller in just a few months, standing out among their peers like cranes among chickens.

Ming Ti is calm, and Ming Chen is lively, hopping and jumping as they walk. Despite having identical faces, they’re easily distinguishable at a glance.

Lin Qing quickly walks over: “Ming Chen, Ming Ti.”

Both girls look up at the sound of her voice, with Ming Chen smiling, “Mrs. Lin, what a coincidence.”

Zhang Yunfang secretly whispers to Cui Yumeng: “Is this Ming Jing’s real mother? And that lady… she must be the fake daughter.”

Eyes filled with malice fix on Zhu Xiangxiang. This woman obviously isn’t a good person, having seen the exposé online. It was the fake daughter who arrogantly drove Master Ming Jing out, while Master Ming Jing had just been merciful and didn’t retaliate.

Cui Yumeng nods: “Yes, that’s her. She looks far worse than Master Ming Jing. I don’t know who gave her the courage…”

“It’s not a coincidence, I’m here specifically to find you both,” said Lin Qing.

Ming Ti’s eyes flicker, “If you want to see my older sister, I advise you to give it up. She’s home recuperating from her injury, and not seeing anyone.”

Anxious, Lin Qing asks: “Is your sister seriously injured?”

Ming Chen’s eyes roll as she jumps in first: “Of course, it’s serious. That was the strongest concentration of sulfuric acid. A large wound on her arm, sigh…”

Ming Ti gives her a look, as if to say, what are you talking about?

Lin Qing’s face instantly pales; she seems unable to hold back. Zhu Xiangxiang quickly supports her and glares at Ming Chen: “What nonsense are you talking about? Didn’t Shenzhou Group release a statement that Ming Jing is fine?”

“Do you know better or do I? Besides, the statement is just meant to reassure people. You’re so strange–Why do you doubt me?”

Ming Chen’s words leave Zhu Xiangxiang at a loss for words, Zhu Xiangxiang can’t help but curse her in her heart, the little girl is so annoying as usual.

“Maybe she’s just worried about Master Ming Jing. After all, if Master Ming Jing got hurt, Mrs. Lin would be worried, and if my mom worried about my sister and not me, I’d feel pretty uncomfortable too,” Cui Yumeng sympathetically says.

Indeed, after hearing Cui Yumeng’s words, Lin Qing casts a suspicious glance at Zhu Xiangxiang.

Children often speak without thinking and would not lie, but they still reveal Zhu Xiangxiang’s little schemes.

Zhu Xiangxiang’s face stiffens: “Mom, I’m worried about Ming Jing too, but I’m not like what they’re saying…”

With so many people watching, Lin Qing cannot say anything and brushes off Zhu Xiangxiang’s support.

Zhu Xiangxiang clenches her teeth, her face showing hurt.

“Ming Chen, please take me to see Ming Jing. I’m her real mother, and it’s only natural for me to care for her,” Lin Qing pleads with a soft voice.

Ming Chen shakes her head, “That’s not up to me. It’s getting late, and if I’m home late, my older sister will be unhappy. Goodbye, Mrs. Lin.”

Ming Chen takes Ming Ti’s hand, and in the blink of an eye, they disappear into the crowd. Lin Qing can’t even catch up.

“Where did these two girls learn to be so slippery?” Lin Qing grumbles.

Zhang Yunfang suddenly grabs Cui Yumeng’s arm, excited: “Mr. Cen Ning…”

Following her gaze, Cui Yumeng sees a young man wearing gold-rimmed glasses walking out of the school gate.

Cui Yumeng scoffs, “I thought it’d be some handsome guy, but he’s just ordinary. Look how smitten you are.”

Zhu Xiangxiang only glances at him before looking away, for in her world, no man can compare to Master Xiao.

Lin Qing returns empty-handed and doesn’t notice the man’s gaze on her as she turns away.

“Mr. Cen Ning, is your home far from here?” Zhang Yunfang excitedly runs to Cen Ning’s side, gazing up at the man before her.

All the students in the class adore the gentle and attentive new teacher, Mr. Cen Ning, who never punishes them. –

Oh, except for the oddball Ming Chen.

Mr. Cen Ning smiles, and Zhang Yunfang nearly drowns in it.”It’s fine, just a ten-minute walk or so.”

“Huh? It also takes Ming Chen about ten-minute walk from home to school, do you two happen to live in the same community?”

Mr. Cen Ning raised an eyebrow: “Oh? I live in Tonghe Shengshi.”

Zhang Yunfang exclaimed in surprise, “What a coincidence! Ming Chen lives in Tonghe Shengshi too. Haven’t you ever run into him, teacher?”

Mr. Cen Ning shook his head.

Zhang Yunfang asked again, “Mr. Cen Ning, do you have a girlfriend?”

The young girl didn’t realize this was somewhat of a sudden question, her eyes wide and clear, waiting for an answer.

The man’s eyes sparkled behind his glasses, his smile becoming even gentler, but there was a trace of sadness in his gaze that moved the young girl’s heart.

“She’s been dead for many years….”

Zhang Yunfang hastily said, “I’m sorry, Mr. Cen Ning, I should not have asked.”

Poor Mr. Cen Ning.

“It’s fine, she will always live in my heart.”

Zhang Yunfang sniffed, not knowing if it was because of the cold or something else. She recalled a cheesy idol drama she’d watched with her family’s nanny, and found a line from it that seemed fitting for this situation.

“Mr. Cen Ning, you need to move on quickly. A person can’t live in the past forever. If she could see you happy, she would also be happy in heaven.”

The young girl’s eyes were full of sincere blessings.

The man stopped walking, ruffled her hair, and gently smiled, “Alright.”

“Fangfang…” From inside a car on the road, Zhang Qiao called out.

“Dad’s here to pick me up, bye, Mr. Cen Ning.” Zhang Yunfang waved and happily jumped into the car.

Zhang Qiao looked at the man standing on the side of the road, his eyebrows furrowed unconsciously: “Who’s that guy?”

“He’s our new math teacher, we all like him a lot, he’s handsome and gentle….” Zhang Yunfang began to list how good and good the teacher was.

Zhang Qiao bluntly said, “As long as the teacher teaches well, that’s enough. What’s the point of all that flashy stuff? It’s not like he’s going on a blind date.”

“Blind date?” Zhang Yunfang’s eyes lit up, “Dad, what do you think about having Mr. Cen Ning as my uncle?”

Zhang Qiao replied irritably, “What kind of nonsense is in your head all day at such a young age? Your aunt would be driven crazy by you.”

“No, she won’t. A few days ago, I told my aunt that instead of giving her a birthday present, I’d give her Mr. Cen Ning. They seem like a great match.”

“Alright, that’s enough. The more you say, the more ridiculous it gets.”

“What if they really hit it off? Wouldn’t it be nice for my aunt to have someone else love and care for her instead of sleeping alone every night?”

——

“You go do what you need to do, I don’t need any help.” Lin Qing brushed off Zhu Xiangxiang’s hand and went upstairs.

Zhu Xiangxiang stood there in a daze.

“Miss, you have a package.” Li Juan handed the package to Zhu Xiangxiang.

It was very thin, like a document.

Zhu Xiangxiang hesitated, “Mine?”

“Yeah, doesn’t it have your name written on it?”

Zhu Xiangxiang opened it, and there was only a thin piece of paper inside. After reading its contents, her expression changed dramatically.

Li Juan tried to peek, but couldn’t see anything.

Zhu Xiangxiang guarded the paper like a thief, quickly folding it and turning to go upstairs with a mysterious expression.

Li Juan squinted, feeling there was something strange about it.

“Madam Zhou, do you really think the young miss is Madam’s biological daughter? I don’t feel like they are alike.”

Madam Zhou quickly covered her mouth and looked around, “Nonsense, if the young Miss is not Madam’s daughter, then who could be? Don’t ever say such things again. If Madam hears you, she’ll kick you out.”

Li Juan pouted, muttering quietly, “Can a phoenix really be born from a rat’s nest? What a joke.”

“What did you say?” Madam Zhou didn’t hear clearly, but she was sure it wasn’t something good.

“I said, your pancake is about to burn…”