After the Fake Heiress Died, She Was Filled with Regret - Chapter 10

Chapter 7: Like… She Cried.

779 Express Hotel, the closest hotel near University A. It usually didn’t have much business except for when small couples checked in, only relying on the week of exams and the start of the semester to boost occupancy.

It had barely managed to stay open for many years.

The lobby décor looked simple and generous. The soft, sagging black fabric sofa suggested to guests that this hotel certainly lived up to the words “economical and affordable.”

Xia Shinan stood next to Tang Yin, listening to Tang Yin explain to the front desk why she didn’t have her ID card to check in, hoping the auntie would be kind enough to make an exception.

She thought it definitely wouldn’t work, but unexpectedly, the front desk auntie nodded and accepted Tang Yin’s ID card.

The front desk auntie glanced at them, “You don’t look like bad students, so I’ll secretly make an exception this time! Only this once! Next time, you must remember!”

“Of course. Thank you, Auntie, you’re so kind,” Tang Yin thanked her with a smile. After getting the room card and ID card, she asked Xia Shinan to join her in the elevator.

The room was on the third floor. The two entered the elevator and swiped the card. Only then did Tang Yin look at Xia Shinan and ask:

“Why didn’t you choose the second option? Worried my dorm isn’t clean?”

Xia Shinan shook her head vigorously, “Of course not! You’ve already helped me so much and accompanied me to relax tonight. How could I impose on your rest? And it would also disturb your roommates, which wouldn’t be good.”

Tang Yin tilted her head: “Then, when you said you wanted to move dorms and live with your friend, did her roommates agree?”

On the way to the hotel, Xia Shinan had told Tang Yin that she suspected her roommates were involved in the confession incident and that she wanted to move out and live with her childhood friend afterward.

Xia Shinan thought for a moment, “Her dorm happens to have an empty bed, so it should be possible… Even if not, there must be another way. We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it!”

Tang Yin nodded. The elevator door opened just then. She stopped Xia Shinan from walking out immediately, stepped out halfway herself to look around, and then let Xia Shinan come out.

The room was right next to the elevator. Tang Yin paused for a second while holding the room card at the door, then heard a “beep” sound. She then inserted the room card by the door, and the room immediately powered up.

Tang Yin only then spoke: “You need to be more vigilant. Try not to go out late at night. Order takeout to the front desk and don’t let them deliver it upstairs. Lock the door properly when you sleep, and check the peephole before leaving in the morning.”

Xia Shinan smiled, listening to Tang Yin’s warnings: “Tang Yin, I’ve stayed in hotels before…”

Tang Yin paused, continuing along with her words: “Is that so? I thought this was the good girl’s first night away from home.”

As she spoke, she glanced around. This room… was truly too simple. The old, yellowed wallpaper, the washed-out white bedding, the lighting fixtures that looked like they hadn’t been replaced in ages, and the air conditioner of unknown vintage.

Tang Yin frowned, looking at Xia Shinan, who had placed her bag on the table after entering the room, “How about we still go to the one three kilometers away?”

Xia Shinan looked up and said with a smile, “Tang Yin, I’m not that delicate! It’s just for one night, and this is already much better than the activity room!”

Tang Yin paused, “Fine. Then I’ll head back to school. Get some rest early.”

After saying goodbye, Tang Yin quickly walked out of the hotel. The cool breeze hit her, clearing her mind significantly. She had actually… just thought that this two-hundred-a-night accommodation was not good enough for Xia Shinan.

Thinking of the house her grandmother lived in in the alley, this was already much better! Tang Yin frowned. She shouldn’t be too good to Xia Shinan…

But after walking two steps, she stopped again.

No, I must be better to her.

But I must not feel sorry for her.

“Tang Yin!”

A voice broke the silence of the night, also bringing Tang Yin back to her senses. She looked up to find the source of the voice and saw a window on the third floor of the hotel with the lights on, and a head poking out.

Seeing her turn back, Xia Shinan waved excitedly.

Tang Yin stood with her hands in her pockets, just looking up at her.

Tang Yin suddenly felt like she was the most insignificant pauper in a fairy tale, hiding in a dark corner, always looking up, always peeking. Now… she had finally gotten the attention of the castle’s princess.

The cool wind gently brushed past her ears, yet it brought the princess’s words: “Thank you, Tang Yin.”

Tang Yin took a deep breath. If she didn’t have the surname Xia, but Zhang or Qin, or was the daughter of any big boss, then they would have become true friends.

Seeing her not reply, the princess cupped her hands around her mouth and shouted: “Tang Yin, my treat for lunch tomorrow!”

Tang Yin gently curved her lips, “Okay.”

It was a pity there was no “if.” They were surnamed Tang and Xia, destined to be on opposite sides.

The next day, Tang Yin woke up early and went to work at the coffee shop. Around ten o’clock, thinking Xia Shinan should be awake, she was about to message her about what to eat for lunch when she saw a WeChat message Xia Shinan had sent half an hour ago.

Morning! OVO

Tang Yin, I have something to do and need to go home for a bit. We can’t have lunch together. How about we reschedule for tomorrow?

Cat apologizes.jpg

Tang Yin looked at the message for a few seconds, pursed her lips, and replied: [It’s okay. Let’s talk when you’re free.]

She put down her phone, staring blankly at the ordering screen. Going home? She probably felt wronged and needed to find her mom…

“Student? Can I order now?”

Tang Yin immediately snapped back, smiling: “Yes, what would you like to drink?”

“Three lattes, no sugar, thank you.” The girl who ordered scanned the code and started chatting with her classmates nearby. Coincidentally, they were talking about the confession incident from yesterday.

Just as Tang Yin had predicted, the gossiping power of university students was endless. The entire University A, and even the neighboring schools, had heard about it.

But Tang Yin also heard the follow-up.

“Early this morning, the counselor called Qu Bo to the office. His parents were also summoned.”

“Huh? Just because of a confession? That’s too much… He’s over eighteen; freedom to date isn’t illegal.”

“They said he violated the school’s ban and posed a certain safety hazard to students. Anyway, he was taken for an education.”

Safety hazard?

Tang Yin raised an eyebrow. The things she had said yesterday about calling security guards were all fabricated to scare Qu Bo. She hadn’t actually reported anyone.

“It’s strange. There are many more incidents of lighting candles to confess downstairs in the dorm buildings every year. Why did the school bother to manage it this time?”

“I don’t know, maybe the incident got too big? I heard there was a live stream of the confession last night, which attracted external attention, so the school had to deal with it urgently…”

Tang Yin listened to their gossip, finished making the coffee, and handed it over, “Students, the coffee is ready.”

“Okay, thank you… Aren’t you the girl who was with Xia Shinan last night?”

Tang Yin smiled at the girl opposite her, “Yes.”

The girl looked awkward, feeling like she had been caught speaking ill of someone by the person involved, “Then Xia Shinan, she…”

Tang Yin smiled without genuine warmth, and said faintly: “She’s not here. But students, it’s not good to spread gossip about people all the time! Be careful not to become the main character one day.”

The girl was intimidated by Tang Yin, apologized, and quickly left with her classmate.

Tang Yin lowered her eyes. She suddenly remembered Xia Shinan saying she had to go home for a bit. Could it be that the school had found Qu Bo, and now they were going to cause trouble for Xia Shinan too?

Xia Shinan woke up a little after nine in the morning. She sent a good morning message to Tang Yin. She was about to scroll through her phone when she received a call from Assistant Li.

Usually a bit slow, she quickly took a shower after hanging up the phone and saw the driver waiting to pick her up at the entrance of University A.

Once in the car, Xia Shinan’s anxiety intensified. She already had an answer in her heart. She just wondered how angry her mother would be.

So angry that… she didn’t even call her personally, but asked her assistant to do it.

During the half-hour drive, Xia Shinan’s heart remained uneasy. But she didn’t forget her promise to Tang Yin. As the car drove into the villa area, she sent a message to Tang Yin.

Arriving at the front door, Xia Shinan got out of the car, involuntarily shivering as she looked at the villa in front of her.

“Miss, Madam is waiting for you inside.”

The auntie at the door greeted her with a smile, helping her put on the soft slippers.

“Thank you,” Xia Shinan whispered, putting on the slippers. She walked into the house, each step feeling heavy.

She uncomfortably smoothed her clothes and hair. After taking a deep breath, she looked up and saw Xie Wan sitting on a red-brown leather sofa, with a stack of documents casually placed in front of her.

“Mom,” Xia Shinan paused, then softly called out.

Xie Wan only slightly looked up, then continued to sip her tea. After a while, she finally spoke.

“So you still remember that I am your mother.”

With just one sentence, Xia Shinan instinctively shuddered.

Her tone was flat, but her words were like bone-chilling cold water, offering no warmth.

Xie Wan: “I never thought the daughter of the Xia family would be so popular. I heard a boy threw a grand confession party for you last night, with many people watching.”

Xia Shinan said softly: “It wasn’t a big deal. I… I also rejected him.”

“Bang!” The teacup on the table was knocked over. Xie Wan’s expression was stern, her eyes filled with anger. “Not a big deal? The entire University A knows about it! It’s trending online! If I hadn’t asked the assistant to handle it, do you know what the consequences would be!”

Xia Shinan was startled by Xie Wan’s sudden outburst of anger and froze in place.

Xie Wan sneered: “I never thought that the daughter I raised for twenty years would make me lose face in one night.”

Xia Shinan bit her lip, feeling deeply wronged.

Since entering the house, Xie Wan hadn’t shown her any concern. It made her feel like… it was all her fault.

Tears fell involuntarily. After taking several deep breaths, she mustered the courage to look at Xie Wan: “But this isn’t my fault! I didn’t make him like me, nor did I make him confess to me. Why do you keep blaming me, Mom? I’m clearly the victim…”

“Slap!”

Xia Shinan looked in shock at Xie Wan, who had always prided herself on being noble and refined, unable to believe the stinging pain on her cheek was from her mother’s hand.

Xie Wan was also stunned, but only for a second, before she regained her usual haughty demeanor.

“It’s all because you’re too disobedient! I shouldn’t have agreed to let you study at University A in the first place. I should have made you go abroad with Lin Yu to study!”

“I told you a long time ago that you are the fiancée of the Lin family and should always be mindful of your words and actions. Have you forgotten? If you upheld this status and studied diligently, how would something like this have happened?”

The courage Xia Shinan had just mustered was shattered by that slap. She remained silent, staring blankly at the floor. Like a delicately shattered porcelain doll.

Xie Wan looked at Xia Shinan’s appearance, feeling a moment of pity. She sighed and walked forward to gently stroke her daughter’s cheek, “Mom was impulsive just now, but you’re also to blame. How could you talk back to your mother?”

Xia Shinan looked up, tears falling heavily, but she couldn’t say a single word.

Xie Wan turned her head and called out, “Aunt Zhang, make some of Miss’s favorite food.”

Then she took a tissue to wipe Xia Shinan’s tears, “Go to your room, freshen up, and come down to eat.”

Xia Shinan obediently went upstairs. After locking the door of her room, she finally let out her sadness.

Her body felt weak. She sat on the floor leaning against the door, curling up, holding herself tightly. This seemed to be the only way to feel safe enough. Yet, she didn’t even dare to cry out loud.

She was afraid of making a sound that would displease her mother.

Yes, ever since she was little, even when she was sad, she had to hold it in and couldn’t make her mother angry. Her mother hated it when she cried.

Xia Shinan didn’t know how long she cried until her phone vibrated repeatedly in her pocket. She took it out and looked at it.

It was a call from Tang Yin.

Xia Shinan instinctively wanted to hang up, but her finger stopped just above the screen, not pressing the button.

Last night, only Tang Yin stood by her side, taught her how to curse… stayed with her all night just to cheer her up.

Although they had only been friends for a few days, she was better than the roommates she had lived with for three years, and even better than… her biological mother.

Why is that?

The call hung up while Xia Shinan was spacing out, and then another one came through.

Xia Shinan hesitated for a few seconds, cleared her throat, took a few deep breaths, and answered the call.

She wanted to hear Tang Yin’s voice.

“Hello?” Xia Shinan tried to sound normal.

“Xia Shinan, are you okay?” Tang Yin asked immediately.

Xia Shinan tensed up, “I… I’m fine! What’s wrong, Tang Yin?”

Tang Yin chuckled on the other end: “It’s good that you’re fine. I heard Qu Bo’s parents were called in by the school. I don’t know the full situation. Um… if the school also looks for you, you can call me to be a witness.”

Xia Shinan bit her lip tightly, trying not to let herself cry out loud. She couldn’t speak. If she opened her mouth, she would give herself away.

Tang Yin paused on the other end, “Hello? Are you still there?”

The next second, Xia Shinan hung up the phone.

She couldn’t hold back her tears any longer and had to hang up.

Tang Yin listened to the “beep, beep” sound, looking at her phone in confusion. But Xia Shinan immediately sent her a WeChat message.

The signal is a bit bad! It seemed to have hung up out of nowhere.

Thank you, Tang Yin! I’m fine! I haven’t received any notice from the school!

See you tomorrow!

Bunny dances.jpg

Tang Yin looked at the WeChat message Xia Shinan sent. It seemed no different from before.

But just before the call disconnected, she faintly heard something was wrong. Xia Shinan’s first “hello” was very strange.

It sounded like… she was crying.

She’s crying?

Support