[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-fake-heiress-turns-out-to-be-a-true-tycoon":3,"chapter-the-fake-heiress-turns-out-to-be-a-true-tycoon-the-fake-heiress-turns-out-to-be-a-true-tycoon-chapter-1255":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","The Fake Heiress Turns out to Be a True Tycoon!",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1893162,2516,"Chapter 1253: Extra Story: Stella Gibson, the Little Princess of Funerals","the-fake-heiress-turns-out-to-be-a-true-tycoon-chapter-1255",1255,"\u003Cp>Western Province, Cloud Edge Town.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ashton Todd followed Stella Gibson out of the station, Stella striding ahead while Ashton dragged a suitcase behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ashton Todd, hurry up! My great-uncle is getting anxious.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Stella spoke as she turned to chide him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ashton couldn’t help but roll his eyes, \"Then why don’t you carry the suitcase yourself?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Knowing they were traveling far, they should have brought Greta along, her strength is immense, carrying a suitcase effortlessly wouldn’t be a problem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Stella stopped in her tracks with arms akimbo,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why is it such a hassle for you to carry my suitcase? Is this the attitude of someone asking for a favor?! Old Todd, are you getting a bit feeble?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Stella didn’t bother to lower her voice, and passersby exiting the station couldn’t help but glance at Ashton upon hearing her words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ashton, under the inquisitive gaze of the crowd, almost lost his composure and quickly dragged the suitcases forward,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Shut up, let’s go.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Stella laughed heartily, and as they exited the station, they saw a luxury car parked at the exit. A middle-aged man in black clothes was waving towards them,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Stella! Over here!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Stella, upon seeing the person, immediately dashed over with delight,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Seventh Cousin! Why are you the one picking me up?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Heard you were coming back, so I specifically came.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The middle-aged man, known as Seventh Cousin, glanced at Ashton behind Stella, surveyed him with a slightly satisfied look,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Heard you’re bringing a friend home, borrowed the family’s new car for you, didn’t embarrass you, right?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Embarrass what? He knows what our family does.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Stella ushered Ashton into the car, which drove towards the north of the town. Ashton inadvertently looked outside and noticed the car entering a distinctly funeral-themed street.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As evening approached, the street was devoid of pedestrians, giving a slightly eerie vibe with various fashionable paper offerings displayed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Stella rolled down the window and poked her head out. Soon, folks from the shops greeted them,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Stella’s back?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m back, Third Granny.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Stella, come by the house, Granny made some tea sweets, they’re delicious.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sure thing, Seventh Aunt.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The car drove slowly along, with Stella greeting like a celebrity returning to the village. Ashton listened closely and realized almost everyone seemed related to her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps noticing his astonishment, Seventh Cousin remarked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Stella is indeed the pride of our family.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he asked Stella, \"Why didn’t you bring Greta this time? Great-uncle misses him.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Stella replied simply,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Gave him a vacation, though he’s a guardian, he should occasionally check on his brood.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seventh Cousin’s disappointment was evident, but he soon struck up a conversation with Ashton.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ashton had known about Stella’s importance due to her contract with Greta, but didn’t expect them to hold such regard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the car finally stopped, Ashton glanced at the funeral parlor nearby and couldn’t help but take another look.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without asking further, Ashton followed Stella into a Chinese courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they walked inside, they saw many people sitting, chatting, and they visibly quieted for two seconds upon seeing Ashton.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Stella’s back?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A middle-aged woman approached, glanced at Ashton and the empty space behind her, and asked with some disappointment,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Greta’s not back yet?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Greta has his own matters, stop worrying about him.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Stella said, ignoring some visibly disappointed family members, and directly introduced to the crowd, \"This is Ashton Todd, my colleague.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Boyfriend, right?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone joked, and a young aunt smiled lovingly, \"You know, they truly match our Stella.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Haha, coming back to meet the parents then.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Stella hastily intervened,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He’s here on business, Cousin-in-law, can you prepare some food for us? We need to head back to the village to pay respects to my great-uncle.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing this, Seventh Cousin merely said, \"Why don’t you stay with us? I wanted to show you the new urns we fired, mixed with soil from the mountain, they’re of top quality.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Stella finally relented, and amidst their enthusiastic company, managed to eat dinner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for Ashton, he experienced the strange sensation of being under scrutiny from so many people, making the food taste bland.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before coming, he knew Stella’s family had a unique heritage, but hadn’t expected it to be so vast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Throughout the meal, he overheard many stories about the family from those around him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For instance, the funeral street they had passed was all part of the family’s industry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For instance, the funeral business in Cloud Edge Town and Western Province was essentially monopolized by the family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And there’s also a nationwide funeral group by the Gibson Family, its business spans geomancy exploration, grave selection, tomb sales, and all essential funeral items.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In essence, anything funeral-related was covered by the Gibson Group.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As one family member remarked, the times have changed, and their clan must make suitable adjustments.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ashton listened in silence, and his perception of Stella changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Originally thinking she was just a regular office worker like him, who would’ve thought she was actually a funeral princess.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ordinary people might shun that industry for its ominous nature, although Stella, as a child, didn’t escape bullying from schoolmates.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Ashton was no ordinary person.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If you had said your family was this wealthy earlier, I wouldn’t have asked you to split those five bucks for two starchy sausages with me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ashton commented,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And I spent quite a bit paving my way in the Underworld, wouldn’t you sponsor me some?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To expedite research on an array to curb Shurath’s malevolent thoughts, liberating Five-Colored’s Divine Soul from Misfortune Cave, Ashton’s frequent trips to the underworld couldn’t be avoided.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Lord Yama and Ivan had issued him a special Passage Order, he couldn’t escape dealing with Ghost Messengers and Wandering Souls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Stella glanced at him,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Always trying to save on paper money ingots, you’re stingy to death!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two habitually quarreled, and by the time they finished dinner, night had fallen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seventh Cousin drove the two to the village, Stella remarked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This treatment is only because you came; when I was little, Seventh Cousin used the hearse to pick me up.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seventh Cousin responded,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It wasn’t as strictly regulated before; now national regulations prohibit using hearses to transport people.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His tone carried evident regret by the time he finished that sentence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The road into the village was a bit long, the car drove alone in the darkness, emitting a slightly eerie feeling, yet neither Seventh Cousin nor Stella seemed bothered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only now did Seventh Cousin casually inquire about Ashton’s purpose for visiting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Originally thinking he was here to meet Stella’s parents, but now since they’re to meet the great-uncle, questions must be asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ashton answered,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m currently researching an array, but it involves complex structures related to the Underworld, hence I’m looking for special materials.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For instance, thousand-year-old corpse soil.\u003C\u002Fp>",1124,"2026-06-10T07:19:06.274Z",1,"novelbin.me","177a9933cc0a53fc9d7b9b4fd4081796d684afbdd9aa780efaad2143caaae468","the-fake-heiress-turns-out-to-be-a-true-tycoon-chapter-1256","the-fake-heiress-turns-out-to-be-a-true-tycoon-chapter-1254",1286,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-fake-heiress-turns-out-to-be-a-true-tycoon-cover.jpg"]