After the Fake Heiress Died, She Was Filled with Regret - Chapter 36

Chapter 36: There Are Many Ways to Express Gratitude, You…

It wasn’t difficult to find an apartment near A University. Within a few days, Xia Shinan moved in. She brought very few belongings, only some clothes and books, leaving everything else at her former home.

She neither liked nor needed those expensive clothes and jewelry.

Ming Jing helped her find the apartment. It was a pre-furnished flat provided by the developer, which, although stiff and somewhat dated, wasn’t messy. For almost a week, Xia Shinan and Tang Yin spent their time organizing the place and buying new items, slowly making the apartment feel cozy, except for when they had classes.

Xia Shinan took a deep breath, savoring the feeling of freedom. Even though she didn’t know how long she could stay, every extra day here felt like happiness.

She understood Xie Wan; her mother would find her someday. But it didn’t matter. She had already taken many brave steps, doing many things she hadn’t dared to imagine before, so… she wasn’t afraid.

Hearing the busy sounds coming from the kitchen behind her, Xia Shinan smiled. Plus, she had Tang Yin!

With Tang Yin by her side, she felt a surge of courage.

“Let me help!” Xia Shinan walked into the kitchen and saw Tang Yin washing the new rice cooker, preparing to rinse the rice.

Tang Yin smiled and shook her head: “You don’t know how to do this. Just wait outside.”

“I can learn if I don’t know how,” Xia Shinan watched intently, “Actually, it doesn’t have to be this complicated. We can just eat out.”

Ming Jing would also be coming over later. She had invited Qian Yu, but Qian Yu hadn’t confirmed if she would come.

Tang Yin continued her work and said, “Where I come from, moving or relocating is a big deal. Traditionally, you should hire someone to calculate the moving time based on birth dates, offer incense and make sacrifices, and finally invite friends and family over for a meal… But we don’t have time for that now, so let’s just do the last step.”

Xia Shinan nodded. Listening to her description, she suddenly said, “Tang Yin, do you think we’ll have our own place someday?”

Tang Yin paused her rice rinsing, looked up at her, “Housing prices aren’t cheap. We don’t know what things will be like after graduation. Let’s talk about it later.”

Xia Shinan’s eyes were full of longing: “When we have our own place, we’ll follow all the rules you mentioned. It will be… very ceremonial!”

Tang Yin was slightly taken aback. Their own place? That was a very difficult prospect.

Xia Shinan didn’t notice the change in Tang Yin’s expression, but she couldn’t help but feel excited remembering what Tang Yin had said to her last time.

Leaving A City and living together somewhere else.

“Tang Yin, if you could choose another city to live in, where would it be?”

Tang Yin glanced up at her, “Why are you asking?”

Xia Shinan was momentarily stunned. Had she forgotten what she said before?

“Just curious. Tell me.”

Tang Yin stopped and thought for a moment, “Hai City, I guess.”

“Hai City… that seems far. Why?”

“Because the climate in Hai City is good. There’s no winter,” Tang Yin answered, lowering her eyes.

“You don’t like winter?” Xia Shinan was curious, “Isn’t winter nice?”

Why? Tang Yin pressed her lips together and didn’t answer.

Because winter was the season she hated the most, especially winter in A City.

She had always believed that winter was a season only the rich could afford.

Winter was always gloomy and cold. When she was little in the countryside, her grandmother had to find ways to save more money every autumn to buy coal for heating the house. That was also when her health started to deteriorate.

Now, in A City, that rented room only had a small electric heater, but even so, the electricity bill was much higher than usual.

She always worried about her grandmother being cold and wanted to buy her more warm clothes, but decent clothes cost hundreds or even thousands. She glanced at Xia Shinan again. Xia Shinan probably never had to worry about these things and couldn’t even imagine how poor people survived the winter.

Right. No matter how unloved Xia Shinan was by her parents, at least she was dressed warmly in winter and never suffered from chilblains.

“Tang Yin, why are you not talking?” Xia Shinan blinked, unable to read the gloom in Tang Yin’s eyes.

“I was thinking about your question, but I couldn’t think of any reason not to like it,” she lied. She didn’t want to tell Xia Shinan about the harshness of her life.

Somehow, an inexplicable sense of inferiority arose in her heart. She didn’t want Xia Shinan to know, afraid she would pity her.

And given the stark contrast between their lives, speaking up would only make Xia Shinan uncomfortable.

So, Tang Yin forced a light smile, “Go rest outside. You really can’t help much here. If you’re bored, ask them what they want to drink. We can order milk tea for delivery now.”

About an hour later, the doorbell rang. Xia Shinan looked through the peephole and opened the door.

“Senior,” she knew Ming Jing was two years ahead of her and greeted her politely.

“Good evening, Junior! And… happy moving!” Ming Jing stammered with a laugh. She glanced behind her where no one was standing and then rushed to the stairwell to pull Qian Yu over.

“You’re already here. What are you afraid of?”

Xia Shinan’s eyes lit up, “Little Yu Mao!”

Qian Yu walked over awkwardly, seeing the joy in her friend’s eyes and muttering “Mhm,” “I… I was just passing by.”

Ming Jing tutted but didn’t expose her. When she got downstairs, she had seen Qian Yu sitting on a stone block, staring blankly at a vase.

Just passing by, and the vase was bought on impulse? And it clearly looked expensive.

She obviously wanted to come up but was still stubbornly holding onto her pride. So, Ming Jing had to bring the stubborn girl upstairs with her.

Xia Shinan nodded and found slippers for them, “Please come in.”

Qian Yu was uncomfortable, following Ming Jing like a shadow. She went in when Ming Jing did, and sat on the sofa when Ming Jing did, but her eyes scanned the small apartment, silently assessing its safety and convenience for Xia Shinan.

“Dinner will be ready soon. We’re having hotpot at home,” The milk tea delivery arrived at that moment. Xia Shinan handed them the drinks, specifically putting Qian Yu’s favorite one in front of her.

“Thank you,” Qian Yu said softly.

Xia Shinan was very happy, her eyes curving into crescents, “Mhm!”

Hotpot didn’t require complicated cooking, and they were soon ready to eat. Tang Yin also stir-fried two dishes and made a sweet soup, saying it paired best with hotpot.

“After all these years of being friends with Tang Yin, this is the first time I’ve tasted Tang Yin’s cooking,” Ming Jing exclaimed.

Tang Yin chuckled good-naturedly, “Hotpot doesn’t count as cooking, does it? Haven’t I mixed enough drinks for you?” She then glanced at Qian Yu and pushed the Kung Pao Chicken towards her.

“Shinan said you love Kung Pao Chicken the most, so I gave it a try. Want to taste it?”

Qian Yu immediately sat up straight, “Oh…” She took two bites with her chopsticks and said unnaturally, “It’s alright.”

Tang Yin smiled faintly, “Qian Yu, I sincerely apologize to you. Actually, Shinan mentioned telling you about us dating, but I selfishly stopped her.”

“I was worried you would think I wasn’t good enough for her, so I kept thinking I would wait for a better time to tell you, or… until I did better. But I didn’t expect it to cause conflict between you and Shinan. I’m sorry.”

Qian Yu pursed her lips, listening to Tang Yin, but her eyes kept darting towards Xia Shinan, quickly looking away when their eyes met.

“Ahem, what’s the use of saying all this now? It’s done, you two are dating. What can I do?”

“Little Yu Mao…” Xia Shinan looked at her with deep guilt, on the verge of tears again.

Qian Yu frowned, unable to tell if she was happy or unhappy, and said irritably, “You’re not allowed to cry, or else… I’ll break up with you!”

“Oh.” Xia Shinan immediately bit her lip, not daring to cry.

“Eat up. I have to go back to the dorm tonight,” Qian Yu said, then focused on eating, listening to Ming Jing and Tang Yin chatting idly. She did, however, finish the plate of Kung Pao Chicken that was specially made for her.

They didn’t linger long after dinner. Ming Jing had to leave first, and Qian Yu followed, saying she had to go too. Before leaving, she handed the vase to Xia Shinan.

“I saw it when I went to an exhibition with my mom recently. It’s for you.”

“Little Yu Mao… thank you. I knew you still care about me!” Xia Shinan really wanted to hold Qian Yu’s hand, to be affectionate like they used to be, but she knew Qian Yu was still upset. But she wasn’t in a hurry. She believed Little Yu Mao would forgive her!

“Oh…” She glanced at Tang Yin, who was busy cleaning up. Actually, she had come to terms with a lot of things recently and wasn’t that angry anymore, but she just didn’t know how to express it.

“I’m leaving now. Bye.” In the end, she stubbornly got into the elevator with Ming Jing.

“Bye.” Xia Shinan hugged the vase. Only after the elevator doors closed did she shut the apartment door, look around the room, and finally find a suitable spot to place it.

Then, she intentionally took a picture and sent it to Qian Yu.

Thank you to my best Little Yu Mao. I’m going to buy flowers tomorrow!

Qian Yu replied quickly with a cool “Oh” from a cat, but Xia Shinan was still very happy and sent a cheerful emoji back.

“Are they all gone?” Tang Yin came out of the kitchen, pulling down her sleeves, “You seem to be in a very good mood.”

Xia Shinan led her to the vase, “Little Yu Mao gave it to me! She must be a lot less angry with me… of course I’m happy!”

Tang Yin didn’t know much about vases, “You like vases?”

Xia Shinan nodded: “I do. Vases and flowers symbolize beautiful things. I really like them.”

Tang Yin curved her lips, “I see…”

Xia Shinan’s birthday was at the end of the month. Tang Yin hadn’t known what to get her, but now, she had a pretty good idea.

The phone on the dining table suddenly rang. Tang Yin walked over, glanced at it, and saw the caller ID: Aunt Qi.

She paused, turned to Xia Shinan and said, “It’s a call from my family. I’ll take it on the balcony. Why don’t you watch some TV?”

Tang Yin walked to the balcony, closed the glass door, and watched Xia Shinan turn on the TV and pick a movie, smiling at her.

She returned the smile, then answered the call, her tone a little cooler.

“Aunt Qi.”

The woman on the other end’s voice was gentle, “Tang Yin, what are you busy with? You took a while to answer my call.”

Tang Yin looked at Xia Shinan and instinctively lied.

“I was studying at the library. It took a moment to come out and answer the phone.”

“I see,” the woman on the phone sighed, “I’ve been busy lately and haven’t paid much attention to you. Is everything going smoothly at school? How is your grandmother’s health?”

“Grandma is very well. Everything is going smoothly here… with my studies and all,” Tang Yin replied, but her heart couldn’t help but feel uneasy.

Qi Ning: “That’s right… when life is too smooth, people tend to forget many things. Isn’t that right, Tang Yin?”

Tang Yin turned to look at the scenery outside, expressionless: “I haven’t forgotten… but didn’t we agree on a month? Aunt Qi, why are you rushing?”

Qi Ning: “A month is enough time for many things to happen. Tang Yin, I’m worried about you. You are a soft-hearted child.”

Soft-hearted? Tang Yin lowered her eyes and gave a bitter smile: “Soft-heartedness is a quality only the rich can afford. How could I, someone who is ruthless for survival, be soft-hearted?”

Qi Ning chuckled: “Silly girl. I’ve already transferred your grandmother’s medical expenses to your card. Remember to take her to the hospital for check-ups on time.”

“Mhm. Thank you, Aunt Qi.”

The call lasted for half an hour. When Tang Yin entered from the balcony, Xia Shinan was letting out her fifth yawn, pouting playfully: “Why did you take so long?”

“I talked with my family for a while. Are you sleepy?” Tang Yin sat down next to her and hugged her.

Xia Shinan was startled. Even though they were a couple and had even done the most intimate thing, she was still caught off guard by Tang Yin’s sudden closeness, which made her breath catch and her heart race.

But she really liked Tang Yin’s spontaneous hugs. They gave her a great sense of security and made her feel Tang Yin’s affection.

“I’m a little sleepy, but I don’t want to sleep. I wanted to wait for you. I have something to say,” she whispered.

“What is it?”

“I haven’t properly thanked you yet! Thank you for helping me find an apartment and move in, and for cooking tonight…” Xia Shinan paused, “But what I want to thank you for most is giving me courage. Without you, I wouldn’t be able to do anything.”

Tang Yin looked at her earnest eyes and couldn’t resist kissing her forehead: “You are much braver than you think. It has nothing to do with me. At most, I just gave you a push.”

“Besides, have you forgotten? We are partners. These are things I should do.”

Xia Shinan also leaned in and kissed her cheek, “But I still want to thank you.”

Tang Yin took the opportunity to kiss her lips, “There are many ways to express gratitude. Have you thought about it?”

Xia Shinan was startled, and her face suddenly turned red.

Although they had tacitly avoided discussing that night, she would involuntarily recall many details from time to time.

Seeing Xia Shinan lowering her head, blushing so hard it looked like she might bleed, Tang Yin also thought of that night.

Xia Shinan that night was very proactive, tears in her eyes, calling out her name, and even saying tearfully, “Tang Tang, I can’t take it anymore.” Even though she said that, she still clung to Tang Yin.

Thinking of this, a trace of darkness flashed in Tang Yin’s eyes. She deepened the kiss, using her lips and tongue to draw in Xia Shinan, and reached out to embrace her slender waist.

The frequency of their kisses increased, and Xia Shinan had also learned how to better manage her breathing, but when Tang Yin’s hand slipped under the hem of her skirt and touched her sensitive thigh, she couldn’t help but tremble slightly and opened her eyes.

Tang Yin was looking at her too, her eyes filled with desire, her breathing heavy: “I’m sorry. If you don’t want to, then forget it.”

She said this, but she didn’t loosen her grip on Xia Shinan, waiting quietly.

If Xia Shinan clearly refused, then she would stop.

But what if she didn’t?

Xia Shinan lowered her gaze, her long eyelashes fluttering like feathers. She gently bit her lip and said, “I’m sweaty. I haven’t showered.”

This was her answer.

Tang Yin reached up to cup her head and immediately kissed her, more eagerly than before, “We’ll go together.”

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