From Nun to Real Heiress: Expert at Turning the Tables - Chapter 589

Chapter 589: 296 Ferry Me (First Watch)

The last time they met, it was very unpleasant.

Ran Tengxiao’s fingers traced his lips as if tinged with a faint chill, like mint, like ice and snow, involuntarily arousing layers of tremors in his heart every time it resurfaced in his mind.

More than half a month had passed, time went by silently.

There is no turning back on any path.

As expected, her expression was indifferent, with the black riding attire accentuating her skin as crystal clear as snow, exuding a faint chill that startled people.

She sat down across from him and effortlessly picked up the tea-making tools from the tea table to make tea.

Her movements were fluid and graceful.

Through the misty tea fog, he quietly watched her.

He asked her to join him for tea, and here she was for tea.

Her jade-like hand held a purple-clay tea cup in front of him, the faint tea fragrance wafting into his nostrils.

“I’ve always thought you were a person without desires, devoted to Buddha. It turns out I was wrong.”

His tone was ambiguous, either mocking himself or the other party.

Ming Jing’s face remained unchanged, she spoke softly, “What the eye sees is where the heart goes. When the heart is in chaos, everything is in chaos.”

“Do you have a heart?” he interrogated.

The atmosphere in the room became heavy in an instant.

Ming Jing’s fair hand held the teapot’s handle, the brown tea soup drawing a curve in mid-air, accurately landing in the purple-clay cup.

“The past heart cannot be found, the present heart cannot be found, the future heart cannot be found, all is transient but constant, everlasting.”

The girl’s serene face in the misty tea fog appeared overly compassionate, and he saw pity in her eyes.

Ran Tengxiao felt an inexplicable surge of anger. Why could she speak such liberating words so indifferently? Pity for what?

To him, her pity was nothing but a blatant insult.

Although he considered himself to have a good temperament, facing her time and again, her calmness was like a bloodless knife, slashing him open, leaving him battered and bruised.

A spark fell into the barren grassland, igniting a blaze that consumed his rationality in an instant.

“I suppose you didn’t come here today to discuss Buddhist principles with me?”

The girl’s cold, calm voice seemed like ice and snow extinguishing the fire in his heart. Ran Tengxiao clenched his fists and slowly lifted his gaze.

“Now the Jockey Club’s momentum is growing, and you’ve played a major role in that. You’ve been elected as the new President of the Jockey Club through internal recommendation. What are your thoughts on this?”

A foolproof deal with good standing.

The youngest President of the Jockey Club, what a grand title.

Her performance on the horse track meant no one could deny her talent, and her influence would even lead the Jockey Club to new heights.

As a huge pie fell from the sky, Ming Jing remained unruffled, smiling faintly, “To gain government support, we need to accomplish tangible results. The Jockey Club has huge profits that everyone covets. If we take from the people and use it for the people, we can silence the public’s criticism. What do you think, Mr. Ran?”

Ran Tengxiao immediately grasped her meaning: “You want to engage in charity? The Jockey Club has already invested a lot of money in charity before.”

“That’s far from enough. The Jockey Club is involved in the gambling industry, with enormous benefits at stake. If you want a legal license, you can only cooperate with the government. Just creating huge tax revenues and driving local economic and tourism development is not enough. You also need a good reputation among the public, because public opinion is fundamental. Charity is a hundred benefits without harm.”

Ming Jing took a sip of tea, her eyelashes slightly lowered.

“Twenty percent of Jockey Club’s annual profits will be used for charity…”

Ming Jing shook her head with a smile, “Mr. Ran, do not be too greedy.”

“Fifty percent.”

Ran Tengxiao squinted, then suddenly laughed, “You really know how to bargain, but your reasons have convinced me.”

Using half of the profits for charity would definitely be a groundbreaking move. After subtracting horse expenses, dividends, and management fees from the remaining half, the profit margin would become pitifully small.

“Following Ms. Ming Jing, I’ve become a good person for once.” His tone was sarcastic.

“The people will be grateful for Mr. Ran’s kindness. Heaven appreciates good deeds, and good people will receive good rewards.”

“Enough, that may fool others, but not me.” Ran Tengxiao didn’t buy into it.”The charitable aspects will be entrusted to my Wishful Foundation, which I will manage exclusively.”

At present, there are five cooperating partners under Ming Jing’s charitable foundation, which is operated and managed by a professional team that covers education, medicine, science, poverty alleviation, and other fields, working together with the government to orderly promote and implement their projects.

Ran Tengxiao hooked the corner of his lips and spoke coldly, “I’m not sure if you’re genuinely concerned about the country and its people, pitying all living beings, or simply using charity as a cover for your ulterior motives. Miss Ming Jing, your ambitions aren’t small.”

Using the profits from the Jockey Club to support her charitable endeavors, Ming Jing always knows what’s best for her interests and is an expert in managing her reputation. It is a pity that people now regard her as the reincarnation of Guan Yin Bodhisattva, the goddess of mercy and compassion.

“You were born with a silver spoon and naturally don’t understand the suffering of the world. In the vast world, with countless lifetimes, if you can ferry even just one person, it is considered a merit; ferrying hundreds, thousands, or countless souls brings immeasurable merit.”

“Buddha preaches universal compassion—to share joy is loving-kindness and to remove suffering is compassion.”

The young girl delicately picked a flower, and the Buddha’s light shone from her brows: “Amitofo.”

The sunlight poured in through the floor-to-ceiling windows, illuminating her entire figure, as she suddenly seemed distant and vague amidst the golden light.

Ran Tengxiao suddenly grabbed her wrist tightly, and she looked up at him without any unease.

Her dark pupils were clear and soulful, as if they could contain and forgive the entire world, except for the one heart that could not be let go.

He asked, “Since you’re a compassionate master, can you save me with your own body?”

Her gaze was filled with a tender warmth, like that of a mother’s love from a distant dream in childhood. Suddenly feeling frustrated, he released her hand and turned away, gasping for breath.

“Get out.”

It took only a few moments for him to catch his breath. When he turned back around—

He was stunned.

The spot where she had just been sitting was now empty, and the room was completely quiet. She had vanished without a trace.

“Crash!” He suddenly swung his arm, sweeping all the valuable teaware on the table to the floor, shattering them into pieces.

Ye Shuang heard the noise and immediately entered the room, only to find Ran Tengxiao suddenly raging out of control, and subconsciously felt shocked.

“Master Xiao…”

“Where is she?”

Ye Shuang hesitated, then realizing he was referring to Ming Jing, lowered her eyes and replied, “She just left.”

Ran Tengxiao’s chest heaved violently, as if he was very angry.

Ye Shuang had never seen Master Xiao so emotional before, and it must be because of that woman.

Ye Shuang took a few steps closer and said, “Master Xiao, I’ve made a major discovery about Miss Ming Jing.”

As his rage gradually subsided, Ran Tengxiao coldly commanded, “Speak.”

“A few months ago, when Master sent my senior brother and me to probe Madam Jiang, we had initially succeeded. But suddenly, a mysterious person emerged. Not only was she skilled in martial arts, but she also revealed our background. In order not to scare away our prey, my senior brother and I had to retreat in failure. Today, when Zhu Xiangxiang’s horse went out of control, Miss Ming Jing suddenly tamed the horse. The silhouette of her leaping onto the horse’s back resembled that of the mysterious person who had thwarted us months prior. Therefore, I suspect that Miss Ming Jing is the mysterious person who blocked us back then.”

Without waiting for any reactions, Ye Shuang continued, “In this case, she must be in league with Madam Jiang, plotting something in secret. Master Xiao, this woman is hypocritical and deep-hearted, please don’t be deceived by her.”

To Ye Shuang’s surprise, Ran Tengxiao didn’t exhibit typical shock from her revelation. Instead, he questioned, “Why do you think she’s in league with Madam Jiang? What if she’s intentionally winning Madam Jiang’s trust?”

Ye Shuang pursed her lips. Had Master Xiao really become infatuated with her?

“Master Xiao, she isn’t the real daughter of the Zhus at all! She’s a pawn that Madam Jiang placed by your side. Have you forgotten about Yu Jiang?”

Ye Shuang’s face turned pale, realizing her blunder and lowering her head.

Suddenly feeling a chill on her neck, Ye Shuang immediately knelt down.

Zhu Xiangxiang, that fool, wanted to set up Ming Jing behind the scenes. Previously, she had overheard Zhu Shaodan’s conversation with her in the hall, and so had Master Xiao.

From the very beginning, Ming Jing’s appearance was a conspiracy.

Ye Shuang couldn’t just stand by while Master Xiao was being deceived.

Risking her life, she opted to expose Ming Jing on that very day, intending to snuff her out in the cradle.

However, to her surprise, a nonchalant voice came from above, “I need evidence, not just hearsay.”

Ye Shuang gritted her teeth and said, “I will find the evidence.”

With her head lowered, Ye Shuang failed to notice the cold mockery and playful smile in the man’s eyes.