After the Fake Heiress Died, She Was Filled with Regret - Chapter 20

Chapter 20: Xia Shinan is the Most Important

As soon as Xia Shinan arrived home, she saw the stylist Xie Wan had hired.

“Miss Xia, Madam asked me to do your styling. Here is the outfit already prepared for you. I can start your styling once you change.”

“Okay.” Xia Shinan changed into the cream-colored Chanel-style suit. This was her mother’s favorite style. She always said that a young lady from a good family should dress this way. The clothes she wore at school were considered unpresentable in her mother’s eyes.

Her mother specifically had a stylist come over today, probably because she was afraid her daughter would embarrass her at the dinner party tonight.

Xia Shinan walked into the bedroom to change her clothes, and a strange thought suddenly popped into her mind. If Tang Yin were in her place, would she be so obedient?

Definitely not.

Tang Yin would certainly stick to her ways, perhaps showing up in a black T-shirt and sweatpants.

Then… Mom would definitely be furious.

Thinking of this, Xia Shinan couldn’t help but smile. Although she didn’t dare to do it, just the thought made her happy.

After changing, the stylist spent over an hour finishing her look. Then, without stopping, she got into the car and drove straight to the Lin family’s house. As they got closer to the Lin family, Xia Shinan’s mood grew heavier.

The Lin family was a prominent and reputable wealthy family in the capital. Their presence in City A was only the tip of the iceberg, yet their influence was extraordinary. The Xia family was merely a well-known enterprise that started with real estate ten years ago and had been significantly affected by the real estate turmoil in the past two years.

The Xia family needed to transform, and they required a stronger backer. Xie Wan had long ago established a connection with the third Mrs. Lin. If Xia Shinan could marry into the Lin family, what would the Xia family have to fear in the future?

Xie Wan had explained all of this to Xia Shinan when she came of age.

“You are a daughter of the Xia family. A marriage alliance is your mission. Your parents raised you, and this little bit of repayment is all they ask for.”

Xia Shinan always believed this was her destiny, but now, she didn’t seem to think so anymore.

When they arrived at the Lin family, Xia Shinan realized there were quite a few people today, which explained why Xie Wan had insisted on having a stylist dress her up.

“Shinan is here?” Mrs. Lin looked at her and smiled very happily, “Why didn’t you come with your mother? Auntie missed you and wished you had come earlier.”

Xie Wan glanced at her daughter, very satisfied with today’s attire, and said with a smile: “She was practicing the piano this morning. She didn’t get first place in the last competition in Hong Kong, so she said she must work hard to practice and win first place this time.”

Xia Shinan paused, then forced a faint smile. She hadn’t played the piano recently, but her mother saying so certainly saved face.

Sure enough, the wealthy wives around them smiled so wide their faces wrinkled, immediately praising, “Indeed, the Xia family daughter is outstanding.”

“Yes, Mrs. Xie really knows how to raise a daughter. Oh, by the way, I heard Shinan was engaged to Lin Yu early on, and you were just waiting for the young master to return home. Is the wedding coming soon now?”

Xie Wan smiled contentedly, looking at Mrs. Lin.

“Yes, after Shinan graduates, they’ll get married next year…”

“I have to say, Mrs. Lin, you are the fortunate one. Your son is handsome and talented, and your daughter-in-law is so beautiful and well-behaved…”

“A golden couple. Truly a wonderful match.”

Xia Shinan had been maintaining a polite smile, but she couldn’t keep it up after hearing this, and her smile gradually faded.

“Shinan, Auntie had a swing set up in the back garden. Why don’t you go take a look? It must be boring chatting with us here!” Mrs. Lin looked at her and said.

Xia Shinan nodded. She would seize any opportunity to escape. But she didn’t expect to run into Lin Yu in the back garden.

“Oh, isn’t this my fiancée?” Lin Yu had a cigarette dangling from his mouth, fiddling with a lighter in his hand. Seeing Xia Shinan, he gave an unsettling smile and walked towards her: “Haven’t seen you in a year or two. You’ve gotten even prettier.”

Xia Shinan backed away a few steps. She disliked Lin Yu and didn’t want him to touch her.

But the door was behind her; there was no way out.

Xia Shinan remembered the engagement everyone was talking about and felt this was a good opportunity. She mustered her courage and looked at Lin Yu: “Lin Yu, could you consider… calling off the engagement?”

Lin Yu paused, then laughed: “Why?”

Xia Shinan seriously said: “Because we don’t know each other at all!”

Lin Yu scoffed, took a deep drag from his cigarette, and blew a smoke ring right into Xia Shinan’s face.

“Cough, cough!”

Xia Shinan choked on the smoke, feeling uncomfortable. The next second, she heard Lin Yu say: “Xia Shinan, you’ve been engaged to me since you were eighteen. Not knowing each other is a poor excuse. Why would I call off the engagement? It brings me no benefit.”

Xia Shinan: “But… a marriage without feelings won’t be happy. It’s bad for both of us. You should go find someone you love…”

Lin Yu looked at her teasingly, “Who says I don’t love it? It’s nice to have a pretty fiancée, isn’t it? If you think we haven’t spent enough time together, then let’s spend some quality time.”

Xia Shinan was shocked that Lin Yu would say such a thing.

Lin Yu smiled, his eyes assessing Xia Shinan from head to toe. He even reached out to touch her, “How about we go upstairs to my room to talk?”

Xia Shinan was startled and immediately pushed him away.

Lin Yu tsked impatiently, “Why the act? Even if I touch you now, your parents won’t say anything.” After that, he walked straight into the house and went up to the second floor.

Xia Shinan looked at Lin Yu’s retreating figure, taking large, gasping breaths. Her fear and revulsion for him amplified infinitely at this moment.

The next few hours felt like sitting on pins and needles.

She had been through these moments before, but today felt especially difficult. At the dinner, people kept bringing up the wedding next year, constantly throwing stones into her heart, making her feel heavier and heavier.

The laughter and chatter of others seemed to have nothing to do with Xia Shinan. She felt like she was suffocating, wanting to scream and flip the entire table of food over.

However… she didn’t dare to do anything. She could only pray for time to pass faster.

After dinner, Xie Wan and a few ladies played mahjong. Since no one was watching her, Xia Shinan slipped into the restroom, sat on the toilet, and zoned out. She pulled out her phone and saw a WeChat message from half an hour ago.

Tang Yin: Are you done?

Xia Shinan replied with a crying rabbit emoji, Not yet. I really want to leave TAT

In less than a minute, the phone rang. Xia Shinan was momentarily stunned but immediately answered.

“Can’t you leave early?” Tang Yin’s voice came through the receiver, sounding very different from when they spoke face-to-face.

Listening to Tang Yin’s voice, her stagnant mood suddenly found a ripple of emotion.

“No,” she said glumly, “Tang Yin, I… feel so useless.”

Tang Yin on the other end was silent. Xia Shinan didn’t get a response, and she whispered, “There are people here I don’t like, but I have to eat with him. I don’t like these occasions either, but I can’t say no. I can only hide in the restroom. It feels like this is the only place I’m truly free.”

“Tang Yin, am I ridiculous?”

“Of course not,” Tang Yin finally spoke, “You’re very smart. At least you know to hide and catch your breath.”

Xia Shinan offered a small smile, “Really?”

“Mhm.”

“Hearing you say that makes me feel much better.” She let out a long sigh, “I really want to leave.”

“Then leave,” Tang Yin said without hesitation.

“But… if I leave, people will be angry…”

“Shinan, your own feelings are the most important, aren’t they?” Tang Yin interrupted her, “What you think, and what you like, that’s what matters most.”

Xia Shinan felt her heart pound thump-thump, as if she had come back to life because of Tang Yin.

She is the most important?

“Knock, knock.” Xie Wan’s voice came from outside, “Shinan, are you in there?”

Xia Shinan gasped, quickly saying, “I have to hang up.”

The door opened, meeting Xie Wan’s scrutinizing gaze. Xia Shinan was cautious: “Mom…”

Xie Wan looked at her daughter’s timid demeanor, and a flash of displeasure crossed her eyes, “What are you doing?”

“I don’t feel very well. Maybe… I ate something bad.” Xia Shinan’s eyes darted away, but she then remembered Tang Yin’s words, “Mom, can I go back first? I want to go home and rest.”

Xie Wan reached out and lightly touched Xia Shinan’s forehead, “You don’t have a fever. Wait a little longer, and we’ll leave.”

Xia Shinan nodded, then asked again: “I want to go back to school, okay? I have class early tomorrow, and it’s quite far from home to school. I want to sleep a little longer.”

Xie Wan frowned and hummed an agreement.

Around nine o’clock in the evening, Xie Wan finally left with Xia Shinan.

“You behaved well today. Mrs. Lin said she wants you to accompany Lin Yu to an art exhibition next week.”

Lin Yu… Xia Shinan felt disgusted just thinking about his frivolous look that afternoon.

“I have a heavy school workload. Maybe I shouldn’t go.”

Xie Wan glanced at her with the remaining corner of her eye. The smile she had maintained at the Lin house seemed to be all used up, and her face was cold: “I thought you knew what was more important, the Lin family or school.”

“But I don’t like being with Lin Yu,” she thought for a moment and said quietly.

Xie Wan sneered, “Does your dislike matter?”

Xia Shinan froze. At the same time, Tang Yin’s words echoed in her ears.

—“Your own feelings are the most important, aren’t they?”

The driver dropped the car off outside the complex. Xia Shinan mechanically got out, said goodbye to Xie Wan, and after watching the car drive away, the tears she had been holding back suddenly broke their banks.

She released the hand that was tightly clutching her skirt and quickly wiped away her tears, afraid of being seen.

The wind whistled past, seemingly able to blow her away at any moment.

Xia Shinan looked up at the dark sky. She wished the wind could take her away, preferably to a place where no one knew her, never to return.

“Plop.” A drop of rain suddenly fell from the sky, but Xia Shinan still stood there, lost in thought.

But the next second, a transparent umbrella appeared above her head.

Xia Shinan blinked, coming back to her senses. She turned around and saw Tang Yin.

“Tang Yin…” she called out blankly, “Why are you here?”

“Your phone call sounded off. I was a little worried.” Tang Yin held the umbrella with one hand, smiling at Xia Shinan, “So I’ve been waiting for you here.”

She’s been waiting for her here… all this time? Xia Shinan processed the sentence, instinctively placing her hand on her chest again, feeling the thump-thump of her heart.

“What’s wrong?” Tang Yin asked with concern, “Are you unwell or…”

Her words stopped abruptly. Her whole body froze in place.

The reason was simple: Xia Shinan had thrown herself into her arms, hugging her tightly.

“Tang Yin, I want to hear you say it again in person.”

“Say what?” Tang Yin felt her mind buzzing. She hadn’t expected the good girl to suddenly hug her. Even more surprisingly, the embrace felt incredibly warm.

Xia Shinan clutched Tang Yin’s clothes. Her tears soaked Tang Yin’s T-shirt, and she choked out: “You said… that my feelings are the most important.”

Tang Yin pursed her lips, listening to the girl’s crying nearby. Each sob stabbed her heart, making the wall she had built around her heart almost collapse.

She sighed softly, stroked the girl’s hair, and whispered:

“Xia Shinan is the most important.”

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