After the Fake Heiress Died, She Was Filled with Regret - Chapter 19

Chapter 19: Her Feelings Don’t Matter to the Xia Family…

The black Maybach was parked near the residential area. Passersby often glanced at it. Even without recognizing the license plate, the car’s luxurious presence alone suggested the occupants were wealthy and extraordinary.

Tang Yin stood in a corner, leaning against a streetlamp and staring blankly across the road. She had maintained this posture since Xia Shinan got into the car.

Tang Yin had met the “Madam” the man in the suit spoke of once. After graduating from high school, she worked part-time as a server at a high-end restaurant near University A during the summer vacation.

She usually worked in the back kitchen. Coincidentally, they were short-staffed that day, and she was assigned to serve in a private room.

There, she saw the “good girl” Xia Shinan, impeccably dressed and delicate, like a doll in a display case. Across from her were two extremely elegant and refined ladies.

One of the women smiled and said, “My Shinan is just a bit stubborn. She insisted on taking the college entrance exam with that Qian family’s daughter. Fortunately, she didn’t embarrass the Xia family. I initially wanted her to go to America with Lin Yu, but she wanted to attend University A to be closer to home. I also couldn’t bear for her to go so far away, so I had to agree.”

“Daughters are wonderful; they like to stay close to home. Unlike sons, I haven’t seen mine in two months. It’s good that Shinan stays in the country. I can see her from time to time. If she had gone to America, I wouldn’t see either child.”

“Indeed. Shinan, you must frequently accompany Mrs. Lin from now on, understand?”

Xia Shinan, who was quietly drinking soup, looked up and smiled upon hearing this: “I understand, Mom.”

Tang Yin stood frozen on the side, holding a bottle of red wine and wearing a mask.

Xia Shinan called the woman in the purple cheongsam “Mom.” That meant she… was her biological mother.

The woman spoke gently and courteously, and her gaze towards Xia Shinan was full of motherly love, something Tang Yin had never received. Why was fate so unfair to her? She should be the one sitting there, and she should be the one enjoying a mother’s love!

“Waitress, bring the wine quickly.” The other woman gestured, urging Tang Yin to serve the wine immediately.

Tang Yin snapped out of her daze, her eyes red, and walked forward to pour the wine. But perhaps because she was too nervous, seeing her mother for the first time, she accidentally spilled the red wine on the table.

“Oh dear! What’s going on? So clumsy!” Mrs. Lin quickly stepped back and stood up. She only relaxed when she saw her dress wasn’t stained.

“What’s the matter?” Xie Wan frowned and glanced at Tang Yin. Her anger was palpable without raising her voice: “Call your manager over!”

“I’m sorry.” Tang Yin was so scared that she immediately bowed and apologized. The manager quickly rushed over and also apologized.

“Madam Xie, this is a new server. She might be a little nervous. Please forgive her.”

Xie Wan glared at Tang Yin, “Does someone who can’t even hold a wine bottle properly deserve to serve us? If my dress were stained, could she afford to compensate me?”

“Yes, yes, yes, we’ll immediately call someone else over. Please don’t be angry, Madam Xie. We’ll send you your favorite dessert on the house in a moment. We’re truly sorry…”

Xie Wan was relentless, “Manager Zhou, you employ people like this? How can I dare to bring guests to dine here again?”

The manager: “I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I’ll ask her to leave right away! What are you standing there for? Get out!”

Tang Yin flinched at the shout, looking at Xie Wan in dismay, and then quickly left.

“Mom, just let it go,” Xia Shinan’s timid voice sounded. “She didn’t do it on purpose. Don’t make things difficult for her.”

Xie Wan glanced at Xia Shinan, who was pleading for her. Mrs. Lin also chimed in with a pleasant tone, “Exactly. Listen to Shinan. There’s no need to get angry over such a small matter. It’s not worth it.”

Upon hearing this, Xie Wan gave up, “Fine. Replace her with someone presentable.”

Tang Yin bit her lip, barely holding back her tears, but upon hearing that last sentence as she turned around, she finally couldn’t hold it in.

She wasn’t presentable. She wasn’t even fit to serve them.

But… she was her daughter!

So, her biological mother was such a harsh person, but she must be very gentle with Xia Shinan, right?

The memory abruptly stopped. Tang Yin’s gaze focused on the girl stepping out of the car.

Xia Shinan got out of the car, standing still and blankly, looking exactly like a puppet on strings.

As expected, Xie Wan was angry that she hadn’t come home over the weekend and was still wandering outside so late. After a lecture, she brought up another important matter.

“Go to the Lin family for dinner tomorrow. Lin Yu is back, and you should actively meet with him.”

Tomorrow… Xia Shinan remembered she had filming tomorrow. The President and the others were rushing the schedule, and it wasn’t easy to ask for leave.

“Mom, I have school matters tomorrow. Can we reschedule…”

“Tomorrow is Sunday. What school matters do you have? Even if you do, are they more important than going to the Lin family?” Xie Wan’s tone became heavier, “Xia Shinan, if you’re not a little more obedient, I can send you to study abroad next month.”

Xia Shinan was startled and tightly gripped her skirt. She knew Xie Wan would do what she said and quickly agreed. “I understand.”

Then, she paused, gathering her courage to ask: “Mom, I still have homework to do tonight. Can I not go home?”

Xie Wan glanced at her, “I’m going to the Xie family tonight anyway. If you don’t want to come back, then don’t. Just make sure you arrive at the Lin family early tomorrow and dress nicely.”

“Okay.”

It wasn’t until she watched Xie Wan’s car drive away that Xia Shinan felt like she could breathe again. She took a deep breath, and just as she was about to walk into the complex, she saw Tang Yin standing not far away.

Xia Shinan waved at her, “Tang Yin!”

Tang Yin saw her but made no movement and showed no expression, just quietly watching her. Xia Shinan looked around. There was nothing abnormal. So, she quickly ran over.

“Tang Yin, why are you still here?”

Tang Yin retracted her complex emotions, and in a blink, her expression returned to normal, “Your mother suddenly showed up. I was worried about you.”

Xia Shinan paused for a second, then smiled: “I’m fine. It’s just that I might have to ask for leave from the filming tomorrow afternoon. I have a family dinner.”

Tang Yin carefully observed Xia Shinan’s expression, noticing she was glum and her smile was forced. “What’s wrong? You don’t want to go to the dinner? Or did you argue with your mother?”

Xia Shinan bit her lip, not saying anything, but her brow remained furrowed, looking heavy-hearted. Tang Yin didn’t press, quietly waiting until Xia Shinan spoke.

“Tang Yin, what kind of person will you marry in the future?”

Tang Yin was a little surprised and raised an eyebrow. She hadn’t expected Xia Shinan to ask such a distant question.

“I haven’t thought about it. I might not get married.”

Xia Shinan tilted her head: “Why?”

Now it was Tang Yin’s turn to frown. She laughed softly, “Why so many whys? If I don’t meet someone I love, I won’t get married. Besides, even if I do, the future is so unpredictable. Are you sure you’ll be happy just because you’re married?”

Xia Shinan was dumbfounded, then finally nodded: “Mhm, that makes sense.”

Tang Yin leaned down slightly, looking closely at Xia Shinan’s face: “Why are you asking this? Do you have someone you like and want to get married?”

Xia Shinan looked up at her, nervously licking her lips, “No, it just suddenly occurred to me to ask.”

Tang Yin was startled, then thought of Fang Yue. She straightened up, “Don’t think about these silly things. Go back and rest early.”

Xia Shinan bit her lip and nodded, “It’s just that I have to go home for dinner tomorrow afternoon and ask the President for leave. I’m worried it will affect the filming.”

So, she was worried about that. Tang Yin nodded: “That’s easy to handle. If it comes down to it, we can film my solo shots tomorrow afternoon. Just discuss it with the President tonight.”

“Mhm!” Xia Shinan nodded, forcing a strained smile: “That’s great.”

The next day, the morning filming went very smoothly. After lunch with everyone, Xia Shinan got into the car that her family sent to pick her up and left University A.

Qian Yu had nothing to do in the afternoon, so she generously played the role of a boss, treating everyone to coffee. This was actually a secret request from Xia Shinan, who felt extremely guilty for taking time off and inconveniencing everyone.

Before the filming time started, everyone was drinking the coffee provided by Boss Qian and chatting. Someone brought up Xia Shinan.

“Upperclassman Xia’s family is indeed wealthy! The car that picked her up today must cost several million, right? The rumors online seem to be true.”

Qian Yu’s eyelid twitched: “What rumors?”

A girl stammered, “Just… that her family is powerful and wealthy, causing her roommate’s parents to lose their jobs, and that boy who confessed to her before… was expelled.”

“Cough, cough, cough!” Qian Yu choked on her coffee. After wiping her mouth, she looked directly at the girl, “You said it yourself it’s a rumor! Aren’t rumors half-truths at best? Xia Shinan has always treated you well. Be honest, is she really that kind of person?”

“Of course not… I’m sorry.”

Qian Yu stopped when she heard the apology. She then glanced at the silent Tang Yin, feeling extremely dissatisfied with Xia Shinan’s new friend.

After thinking for a moment, she poked her: “Tang Yin, I need to talk to you.”

Tang Yin nodded and followed Qian Yu to a quiet spot nearby.

“What’s wrong with you?” Qian Yu put her hands on her hips, “I see your relationship with Xia Shinan is so good usually, so why didn’t you speak up for her just now?”

Tang Yin smiled, “Xia Shinan and I are good friends, but everything must be based on reason. That student didn’t say anything wrong. How could I help?”

“You!” Qian Yu was so angry she stomped her foot, “Tang Yin, things aren’t as you imagine. It’s not appropriate for me to tell you too much about Xia Shinan’s private life, but you need to know she’s not that kind of person. Many things are beyond her control!”

Tang Yin leaned against the wall, her arms crossed over her chest, and she couldn’t help but laugh.

“I apologize. A poor, ordinary person like me cannot imagine what ‘beyond her control’ means. Miss Qian, can you elaborate?”

Qian Yu was furious and could only think of defending Xia Shinan.

“Do you know why she didn’t come back to school for several days that one time? Her mother hit her the first day she went home. Her face was swollen for days, and she couldn’t face anyone! You have no idea how terrifying her mother’s personality is.”

Tang Yin looked at Qian Yu in shock, seemingly disbelieving every word the other person said.

But… she suddenly remembered the call that day. Xia Shinan did sound like she was crying. Was it because she was hit?

Tang Yin swallowed and continued, “But I’ve seen her mother with my own eyes. She treats Xia Shinan very well and is very gentle.”

Qian Yu tsked, “Anyone can put on an act! To the Xia family, Xia Shinan is just a puppet. It’s a miracle she hasn’t developed any mental illnesses in that environment.”

“Do you know where she’s going tonight? She’s meeting the fiancé she was set up with when she was eighteen!”

Fiancé? Tang Yin frowned, “Isn’t it… just a simple dinner?”

Qian Yu also crossed her arms like Tang Yin, “If only it were just dinner. Do you know? On Xia Shinan’s eighteenth birthday, the coming-of-age gift her mother gave her was the status of the Lin family’s young master’s fiancée.”

“Even if she doesn’t like him, it doesn’t matter. Her feelings don’t matter to the Xia family at all.”

“Tang Yin, if you truly consider Xia Shinan a friend, try to understand her more. She has never, ever had an ounce of freedom.”

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