Long Ankang and An Yao were extremely satisfied as they watched the overwhelmingly negative public opinion online attacking Jing Pei. They couldn’t be blamed for it—she had brought this upon herself. Who told her not only to know the truth about her background, but also to act as though she intended to settle scores with them?

The next morning, the moment Jing Pei woke up, she sensed that the atmosphere inside the Long family estate was unusual.

The servants’ gazes toward her were openly unfriendly. Although they still performed their duties flawlessly, they treated the other members of the Long family with respect and politeness, while greeting her with nothing but cold expressions.

During breakfast, a little boy she hadn’t seen yesterday even pointed at her and shouted, “Illegitimate daughter! You want to steal our family’s things—shameless! Get out!”

The boy’s mother was Long Jin’s aunt, Long Peici, who—like Long Ankang and Long Yiming—was their father’s child by another mother. Atavist families that valued bloodlines usually recruited sons‑in‑law into the family rather than marrying daughters out, so everyone remained in the Long household together, making it lively and crowded.

And it was precisely because atavist families valued bloodlines so highly that illegitimate children were almost always brought back into the family without exception. If someone wanted to rise in status through a son or daughter, they usually succeeded every time. It was only because the Long family hadn’t produced an atavist in two hundred years—and had even begun doubting whether dragon blood still flowed in them—that Long Jin had been left outside all this time.

Whether in atavist families or ordinary households, illegitimate children brought home would inevitably infringe upon the interests of legitimate children. As long as marriage existed, it was only natural for young people to resent illegitimate siblings.

The moment Long Peici heard her son say this, she hurriedly covered his mouth. “What nonsense are you talking about? Is that how you speak to your cousin? If you keep talking like this, Mommy’s going to smack your mouth!”

“How is it nonsense? That’s what everyone online says! They’re saying she’ll bully Sister Ling too! I don’t want Sister Ling getting bullied, waaah…”

As she comforted her son, Long Peici repeatedly apologized to Jing Pei. “Ah Jin, this is all my fault. He’s been reading nonsense online. Please don’t be angry with him—he’s still young and doesn’t understand anything. I’ll definitely explain things to him properly.”

Jing Pei didn’t seem particularly affected. Sitting at the dining table, she continued eating breakfast, her eyes curving slightly. “Then Auntie should definitely teach him how to distinguish right from wrong and learn to judge people properly. After all, food can be eaten carelessly, but words can’t be spoken carelessly, right?”

How could someone use such a soft, gentle tone and still make people’s hearts tighten? Long Peici stiffened slightly before forcing a laugh. “Of course, of course.” Then she hurriedly tried to divert Jing Pei’s attention. “Ah Jin, your father and the others went out early this morning. They said you and your Second Uncle attending the press conference will be enough—they won’t be going.”

As Jing Pei ate breakfast, she browsed the internet. Several related hashtags were still hanging high on the trending list.

#Dragon#

#LongJin#

#LongCorporation#

When she clicked in, hundreds of thousands of comments were cursing Long Jin, Long Jin’s deceased mother, and the Long family. The primary targets were Long Jin and her mother. Occasionally someone would mention Long Ankang, but only lightly insult him as a “scumbag dad” before moving on, allowing him to vanish from the center of criticism entirely. An Yao and Long Ling had become the people everyone sympathized with most.

Long Ankang might not possess any real wisdom, but he had plenty of petty little schemes. Just listen to the way he phrased things—he had very deliberately avoided becoming the main target of criticism and instead redirected all public attention onto Long Jin. After all, the beneficiary who appeared more malicious always attracted more hostility.

Long Yiming walked over. “Ah Jin, don’t worry. At today’s press conference, I’ll help explain things to everyone.”

Jing Pei met his calculating eyes and smiled. “No need. I can explain it myself.”

“You’re sure?”

“I’m sure.”

And so the two lowered their heads and continued eating breakfast.

This old fox—if he truly wanted to help her, he wouldn’t have stayed silent last night. The best opportunity had long passed. Even if he explained things now, the public would only think he was trying to protect the Long family’s interests. After all, if even her biological father said those things, how could they possibly be false?

Even though Jing Pei had allowed him to continue managing the Long family’s businesses, how could he willingly accept someone forever standing above him? So perhaps he wouldn’t personally target Jing Pei, but he would certainly stand by and watch while Long Ankang and the others schemed against her. The entire Long family, who followed his lead, would adopt the same attitude.

Unless she conquered him through sheer strength rather than merely relying on her status as an atavist, this old fox would never truly lower his proud head.

…

The news of a dragon atavist appearing again spread throughout the nation alongside the scandalous gossip. In Changhai Prefecture, the teenagers who had just woken up also saw the news and immediately gathered in the hotel restaurant, chattering noisily.

“A dragon appearing again after two hundred years, and it turns out to be an illegitimate daughter. Great. Those bastards must be thrilled now—another powerful recruit joining their side!” The girl speaking wore twin ponytails, her voice sharp with anger.

“Not just that. They’re probably getting their hopes up too, dreaming they might awaken as atavists one day themselves. After all, awakening so close to adulthood is pretty rare,” another boy said bitterly, his black hair streaked with white like dyed highlights.

“This Long Jin is seriously disgusting. Suddenly that dud Long Ling doesn’t look so bad anymore.”

The “bastards” they referred to were naturally the group of illegitimate children. These people who stole their interests and hurt their mothers or fathers were obviously not welcome in their circles, so at school the divisions between the two groups were crystal clear.

Fortunately, among the families present, there had never been a case where an illegitimate child awakened as an atavist before the legitimate child—or possessed a higher purity.

Yet Long Jin’s existence changed everything. Not only did it give illegitimate children hope, it also caused the older generation within the families to value them more. After all, to the elders, all descendants were family blood. Whoever awakened as an atavist benefited the family. The more atavists, the better.

And that meant more of their own interests would be taken away.

“Hey, Long Ling.”

The moment they saw Long Ling pushing her luggage into the restaurant, they immediately called out to her.

Long Ling had already heard their indignant ranting from outside the door. Deep down, she was very satisfied that everything was proceeding according to plan, but none of it showed on her face. Wearing her usual cold expression, she ignored their commanding tone entirely.

“Long Ling, that Long Jin is going to attend Twelve Zodiac Academy too, right?” the twin‑tailed girl asked loudly.

“Maybe.”

“She’d better!” They had already made up their minds—they were definitely going to teach that Long Jin a lesson. The dragon bloodline awakening in her was simply an insult to dragons themselves.

They continued cursing nonstop. Even after Long Ling finished eating and left, they were still ranting away. It wasn’t until much later that someone suddenly remembered:

“Wait, where’s Senior Zhou Qian?”

“Probably still asleep. He drank so much last night—nobody got any response when they knocked.”

“The Long family’s holding a press conference today. I want to see what that woman actually looks like.”

As Long Ling got into the car heading for the starship dock, she took out her phone and browsed the online insults. The more she looked, the more she began anticipating Jing Pei’s future after entering school.

Even though Long Jin was a dragon atavist, most people at the academy hated illegitimate children. And she would never be able to find friends among the illegitimate students either—after all, those people would eventually have to rely on the legitimate heirs who had awakened as atavists. How would they dare offend them for Long Jin’s sake?

A timid, cowardly, ignorant little girl with not a single friend…

Someone like that would fall ill very quickly, wouldn’t she?

The dragon pearl is mine. I am the true dragon!

Long Ling clenched her fists, intense ambition churning in her eyes.

…

Not long after breakfast, Jing Pei headed to the press conference venue together with Long Yiming.

Thanks to last night’s explosive trending topics, an enormous number of media outlets had arrived today. Dragon atavist + illegitimate daughter—the traffic practically guaranteed itself.

The event was being livestreamed, so all the major media livestream chatrooms were already lively with activity. Curious yet contemptuous comments flooded the barrage as viewers waited to see the legendary dragon atavist.

Long Ankang and An Yao were also waiting for the livestream to begin, eager to see Jing Pei’s reaction.

Soon afterward, Jing Pei and Long Yiming arrived at the venue. Instantly, countless camera shutters exploded into rapid-fire clicks, and the livestream comments surged.

【She’s so dark】
【She looks super country】
【She’s nowhere near Long Ling】
【Honestly though, she’s not country-looking? She’s like a dark-skinned beauty】
【She actually has pretty good presence】
【Presence my ass. Ugly as hell】

Yesterday, Jing Pei had styled her hair, designed her makeup, and bought new clothes. Although years in the countryside without sunscreen had darkened her skin, it was smooth and evenly tanned. Her features were striking, her catlike eyes bright and clear. Combined with her calm elegance and effortless confidence, she wasn’t ugly at all—in fact, she carried a distinct exotic charm.

You could tell just from the flashes of amazement in many people’s eyes at the scene.

As the current head of the Long family, Long Yiming gave a short introduction and formally presented Jing Pei before stepping aside.

The moment Jing Pei walked forward, reporters below immediately shot their hands into the air.

The first few questions were relatively restrained, mostly asking about dragons and dragon atavists. Then one reporter seized onto the hottest topic and came out swinging:

“Miss Long Jin, after this, do you plan to bring your mother back into the Long family? And how do you intend to handle your relationship with the original wife and Miss Long Ling? Once you become family head, will you use your status as heir to drive them out of the Long family estate?”

Jing Pei replied softly, “That’s three questions in a row. Since time is limited, after this I won’t be taking questions from other reporters anymore.”

The reporter immediately felt the displeased looks from fellow journalists stabbing into him. They still had plenty of questions about dragons to ask—not everyone cared more about rich-family melodrama than actual atavist matters. Scandals like this happened constantly among wealthy families anyway; this one only exploded because it had been made public online.

“First,” Jing Pei said, “my mother passed away not long after giving birth to me. Second, my mother was Long Ankang’s true first wife in every meaningful sense. I’m one year older than Long Ling.”

“Oh really?” the reporter shot back immediately. “Are you questioning the official records of this country? Mr. Long Ankang’s marriage records only list Madam An Yao, and your registered birth date is later than Miss Long Ling’s.”

Others also looked at Jing Pei skeptically.

【The Long family’s doing PR damage control now huh】
【Of course they want to recover their reputation. She’s their so-called fortune-bringing dragon atavist after all】
【This is even more disgusting. Trying to flip the narrative now? As if a man with a stunning beauty like An Yao would cheat with some village woman】
【I seriously want to spit in her face】
【Let’s see how she’s supposed to bring fortune to the Long family. Starting today I’m boycotting every Long Corporation product】

Watching the livestream comments, Long Ankang and An Yao both looked relaxed.

Without evidence, no one would believe Jing Pei’s words.

And unfortunately for her, she could never produce any evidence.

After returning to the Long family, Long Ankang had regarded the thirty years he spent living among ordinary people as a humiliation. He cut off all contact with everyone from his past. That was why his adoptive parents eventually moved away with Long Jin to another distant town—hoping that if they disappeared from his life entirely, he might someday be willing to come back and see them.

Back then, An Yao had also secretly sent people to Long Ankang’s old village. When Long Jin was born, she altered the child’s registered birth date. She also bought and destroyed every wedding banquet video and photograph showing Long Ankang together with that village woman.

She wanted to erase every shred of evidence that could possibly damage her reputation.

After all, although Long Ankang and the village woman had never officially registered their marriage, meaning An Yao technically wasn’t interfering in a legal marriage, the public didn’t care about legal technicalities.

And so she had taken every precaution.

So they had seized the initiative first, leaving Jing Pei unable to defend herself, forced to swallow this injustice in silence. Even if she later managed to find some overlooked witness or evidence proving she wasn’t an illegitimate daughter, by then the hype would already be over. How many netizens would still care?

Watching her tell the truth while no one believed a word of it brought them immense satisfaction.

In the VIP waiting lounge, Long Ling, who was waiting for her starship flight, curled her lips into a smile as well. They had confirmed all of this long ago—that was why the entire family had decided to suppress and deceive Long Jin together, so they could achieve complete psychological control over her.

Yet Jing Pei merely opened the computer in front of her with a calm expression.

An old video projection appeared on the wall. The footage was obviously dated. A man and woman dressed in traditional red Chinese wedding attire first knelt before their ancestors in ceremony, then later changed clothes and walked around smiling as they toasted table after table of guests. Red flowers were pinned to their chests—the man’s reading “Groom,” the woman’s “Bride.”

Although the footage carried a strong sense of age, it was still clear enough for people to recognize faces and hear conversations. One could even see that the bride’s stomach was slightly rounded—she was already pregnant.

As the reporters stared at Long Ankang’s face on the screen—a little younger, a little darker, but otherwise identical to his current appearance—they were instantly dumbfounded.

And the woman beside him was clearly not An Yao.

Her facial features, however, bore a distinct resemblance to the young woman standing at the podium.

Watching the livestream, the expressions of Long Ankang and An Yao immediately turned ugly.

Long Ling’s face changed drastically as well.

“Back then, when Long Ankang was ‘stranded among ordinary people,’ he married my mother, and she became pregnant with me. Unfortunately, before they had time to officially register their marriage, he met Madam An Yao at university and very quickly registered a marriage with her instead.

“As for whether Madam An Yao knew about this at the time, whether Long Ankang deceived her while she was still just a university student, or whether the two of them both believed that because there had been no marriage certificate, what happened with my mother could simply be treated as though it never existed—and that they themselves remained perfectly innocent…”

Jing Pei’s tone remained calm and unhurried, gentle and composed. Yet at this moment, it carried overwhelming persuasive power.

Especially because after she finished speaking, she suddenly turned to look at Long Yiming.

“Second Uncle,” she asked softly, “what do you think?”