After the Fake Heiress Died, She Was Filled with Regret - Chapter 4

Chapter 4: With a Lollipop Dangling from Her Mouth, a Half-Smile…

“Xia Shinan? Of course! She’s in our class too! Why do you ask?” Chen Li was curious.

Tang Yin slightly raised her lips: “Just asking. I’ve heard of her; she sounds famous.”

Chen Li nodded: “She is famous. Last year, there was a vote for the Goddess of University A, and she topped the list! Her promotional photo is still on the school’s admissions website! During class, various people slip her love letters, both guys and girls…”

Tang Yin listened quietly. She held a potato in one hand and a knife in the other, slowly slicing the potato. Her dark, long eyelashes cast a shallow shadow beneath her eyes.

Chen Li continued: “She’s so rich. The clothes she usually wears cost tens of thousands! Celebrity-endorsed styles, exclusive limited editions, and the bags she carries to class are worth tens of thousands! Sigh… being born into a good family is also a skill.”

Tang Yin stopped her hand movement and suddenly said abruptly: “Even if you are born into a good family, it might not be useful.”

Just like herself. Born into a good family, only to be mistakenly swapped and abandoned in a village alley. If Grandma hadn’t found her and raised her, she would probably have frozen to death long ago.

Chen Li laughed: “You’re right. She’s a spoiled rich girl now, but what if her family goes bankrupt one day?”

Tang Yin: … She didn’t mean that, but she couldn’t explain.

“Let’s get back to work. The boss will be unhappy if he sees us chatting again. I’m going to work outside. This area is yours now.”

“Okay, okay, okay!”

Tang Yin walked to the back of the kitchen. The charcoal was burning fiercely. She put on heat-resistant gloves and used tongs to put the charcoal from the stove into the carbon tray. Finally, she carried the carbon tray to the front of the restaurant and saw Xia Shinan entering the establishment.

Xia Shinan came with Qian Yu.

The two originally planned to eat together, but before leaving, Xia Shinan received a WeChat message from her roommates asking her if she wanted to eat Korean BBQ together.

Qian Yu glanced at it: “Go! I’m going too! I want to see how these three roommates usually bully you.”

“But…”

Xia Shinan hesitated, but Qian Yu directly edited the text and sent it: “What are you afraid of! I’ve got your back!”

Miao Miao saw Xia Shinan as soon as she entered and smiled and waved. Then her sharp eyes spotted Qian Yu next to her.

If Xia Shinan’s attire was considered low-key, then Qian Yu really had “I am rich” plastered all over her. Fashion bloggers had detailed the outfit she was wearing—a celebrity-endorsed style costing tens of thousands… and she was carrying a black Y-brand bag, unafraid of getting it dirty at a BBQ joint.

In contrast, Xia Shinan’s clothes were much more approachable.

“Hello, everyone. I’m Shinan’s best friend, Qian Yu,” Qian Yu introduced herself first, deliberately emphasizing the word “best.”

Miao Miao smiled and nodded, “You must be the Little Feather that Shinan often mentions, right? We are Shinan’s good friends too.”

“Really? Shinan also often tells me how well you treat her,” Qian Yu sighed, “I used to worry that Shinan was being secretly bullied, but seeing you all now puts my mind at ease.”

“Of course…” Miao Miao lowered her head guiltily. Chen Tingting took the opportunity to ask.

“Shinan, how did I hear that you came back to school on the night of Miao Miao’s birthday? Why didn’t you come back to the dorm? We were waiting for you that day.”

Xia Shinan froze, then quickly apologized: “I’m sorry. I originally planned to return to the dorm to surprise you, but I received a call from Little Feather. She had an urgent matter, so I went to find her.”

Qian Yu immediately chimed in: “Yes! I wasn’t feeling well, and I really, really wanted my best friend to be by my side to accompany me, so I stole your Shinan…”

“You’re all kind-hearted sisters, so you definitely won’t be angry over such a small thing, right? Birthday girl, what do you say?”

Miao Miao, who was singled out, smiled and nodded: “Of course not. Little Feather, do you need to order any more dishes?”

Qian Yu raised an eyebrow, “Sure!” She turned and saw the waiter coming over to add charcoal, and said: “Waiter, we’d like to add a few more dishes.”

“Okay.”

Xia Shinan was stunned. That voice… it was so familiar.

She looked up. The voice came from a girl in a black uniform.

The other person was wearing a black mask, her hair tied in a low ponytail, and the bangs on her forehead obscured some of her eyes. But feeling Xia Shinan’s gaze, she subtly lifted her eyes to look at her.

Her deep brown pupils seemed to hold a smile, as if speaking: We meet again.

She… was the girl who helped her climb the wall last night, Tang Yin.

Tang Yin had already changed the charcoal and left, but Xia Shinan couldn’t help but look back a few times until Qian Yu patted her and whispered.

“What’s wrong?”

Xia Shinan quietly replied: “That waitress just now seems to be the girl who climbed the wall with me last time.”

Qian Yu exclaimed, “Wow! I’ll have to take a good look later and see what kind of master could make you take such an earth-shattering and soul-stirring step.”

Xia Shinan: …

Does she have to be so dramatic?

Although climbing the wall was indeed a bit unbelievable to talk about, it was nothing. Tang Yin said many people did it.

Tang Yin walked over again, holding the menu, “You’ve already ordered a few dishes. Do you want to add anything else?”

“Okay, let me see.” Qian Yu took the menu, but her eyes were still fixed on Tang Yin.

“Order the food!” Xia Shinan nudged her.

Qian Yu withdrew her gaze, casually marking a few dishes, “Thank you!”

“You’re welcome.” Tang Yin took the menu and walked straight toward the kitchen.

Qian Yu continued to whisper to Xia Shinan: “Are you sure it’s her? She’s wearing a mask. How did you recognize her?”

Xia Shinan smiled faintly, “Her voice.”

Tang Yin’s voice was very unique, slightly androgynous but not hoarse—very pleasant to listen to.

She just wondered if Tang Yin had recognized her. Or maybe the night was too dark that day, and Tang Yin didn’t know what she looked like at all.

Xia Shinan felt a little disappointed. That night, she did something she had never dared to do, but… perhaps only she remembered it.

The meal was very peaceful. Qian Yu didn’t deliberately antagonize the roommates, constantly whispering to Xia Shinan, making it feel like they were just sharing a table with the three roommates.

When it was time to pay, Qian Yu suddenly said her stomach hurt, “Shinan, come with me to the restroom. I feel uncomfortable.”

Xia Shinan looked at her nervously, “How did this happen… Miao Miao, I’m going to the restroom with her. We’ll be right back!”

“Hey…”

Xia Shinan was quickly led out of the barbecue restaurant by Qian Yu, her steps rushed. She tried to keep up and asked with concern:

“Are you okay? Maybe we should go to the hospital…”

Qian Yu suddenly stopped and started walking slowly towards the school with Xia Shinan.

“I’m perfectly fine! I just don’t want you to be a pushover and pay the bill.”

“Huh?” Xia Shinan blinked, then understood, “But wouldn’t it be bad if we just left like this?”

“What’s bad about it? Is it okay for them to talk bad about you behind your back and waste your kindness?” Qian Yu pulled Xia Shinan along, “Relax. I can tell those roommates of yours are only brave at home. Let’s see if they dare to ask you for money tonight.”

Xia Shinan knew Qian Yu was venting her anger for her and nodded happily, “I know! I have a club meeting at 8 o’clock. What about you?”

Qian Yu thought for a moment: “I’ll go back to the dorm and play games. 8 o’clock… then let’s grab a cup of milk tea first.”

“Mhm!”

“Are they coming back or not? They’re not answering the phone or replying to WeChat.”

Inside the barbecue restaurant, Miao Miao and the other two had been sitting for a while and were starting to get anxious.

Chen Tingting had a bad feeling: “Could they have left? Then we’ll have to pay first.”

Miao Miao looked at the table full of dishes. She thought Qian Yu or Xia Shinan would treat them… so she had added a few more expensive meat dishes and drinks later.

“Students, are you still eating?” Tang Yin walked over and asked proactively, “If you’re done, please scan the code to check out.”

“Why are you rushing us? We’re not refusing to pay!” Miao Miao glared at Tang Yin.

Tang Yin raised an eyebrow, “Then hurry up. People are queuing outside.”

“What an attitude!” Miao Miao muttered under her breath, scanned the code, and paid for the BBQ. Two hundred and fifty?! Why was it so expensive…

After paying, the three walked out of the barbecue restaurant, looking left and right but didn’t see Xia Shinan and Qian Yu. “Could they really have left? Did they do it on purpose?”

Miao Miao shook her head. She still didn’t think Xia Shinan would do such a thing. Every time they ate out before, Xia Shinan always took the initiative to pay. It must have been her friend’s idea!

She hadn’t even given her birthday present yet…

It was time for the annual City A University Microfilm Competition again. This year, it was hosted by the Film Club of University A. The club sent a notification in the group chat, saying there would be a brief meeting at 8 p.m. tonight about the competition content.

This was the last semester of her junior year. Logically, Xia Shinan didn’t have to come.

But the club president, Duan Xiaofei, approached her. One reason was that she needed her help with attracting sponsors, and the other was that she hoped she could play one of the female leads in this competition entry.

“We really can’t find anyone more suitable than you. Your image fits, and you have name recognition… Shinan, please, for the honor of University A, please take the role!!”

Xia Shinan finally agreed.

She didn’t dare ask her family for help with sponsorship, but fortunately, with Qian Yu’s connections, it wasn’t a big problem. As for acting…

She didn’t know what the future held after graduation. Maybe this could become a unique memory, so she agreed.

The main purpose of tonight’s meeting was to select other roles, and Duan Xiaofei asked her to help give some suggestions.

“My wish now is for our film club to also win first place,” Duan Xiaofei announced her grand vision at the beginning of the meeting.

A member quietly grumbled, “I’ve been in the film club for three years. Every year in this competition, we’re at the bottom. Last year was the best, but we didn’t even make the top five. First place? I don’t even dare to dream about it.”

Duan Xiaofei: …

She slammed the table in anger: “How can you be so unconfident! You’ve all read the script. Dual female leads! Youthful and beautiful! One of the leads is also played by Shinan. I refuse to believe it!”

“No more discouraging talk! Everyone, be enthusiastic and sign up! Contribute to the club! How can we proceed if no one volunteers? If I don’t see a list next week, I’ll draw straws!”

“Ah…”

“Can’t we just do behind-the-scenes work?”

“I joined the film club thinking I would watch movies, but I didn’t expect to have to act in them myself. I’m an introvert. I’m afraid to go.”

Members whispered amongst themselves. Suddenly, someone raised their hand, “President, can I recommend someone? She fits our script quite well.”

Duan Xiaofei was curious, “What kind of person? Post a photo in the group chat so everyone can see.”

“Sure thing!”

Xia Shinan and everyone else took out their phones and clicked on the group chat message.

The moment she opened the photo, Xia Shinan’s eyes widened slightly, a mix of surprise and incredulity.

It was actually Tang Yin.

In the photo, she was wearing a white tank top, which contrasted sharply with her wheat-colored skin. She was leaning lazily against a railing, hands in her pockets, her chin slightly lifted, a lollipop dangling from her mouth, looking at the camera with a half-smile.

It was like an invitation for the person opposite to join in the fun and fall into depravity, and yet also a cold, detached smile observing the other person.

Xia Shinan smiled softly. The world is truly wonderful.

The moment Duan Xiaofei saw the photo, she exclaimed, “Wow!”

“She’s good! She has such a distinct look and seems very photogenic! But her skin isn’t very fair, is it? We still need to see her in person, check her height and so on. Shinan, what do you think?”

Xia Shinan looked at the girl in the photo again and said with a smile: “I think she’s great.”

“There’s no rule that a girl’s skin must be fair. This is actually her distinguishing feature. Her facial features are beautiful, and her eyes are very expressive. As for her height… I believe it will meet the requirements.”

Duan Xiaofei immediately decided, “Okay, ask her if she can come for an interview tomorrow!”

That night, Tang Yin was so busy that she barely ate anything. It was almost ten o’clock when the boss finally smiled and let them off work.

Chen Li sighed with exhaustion, “He says he’s grateful for our hard work, but he didn’t give us any extra pay. So stingy…”

Tang Yin glanced at her: “This store’s hourly wage is already considered high. Be careful the boss hears you and fires you.”

Chen Li stuck out her tongue and quickly went to change her clothes.

Tang Yin took off her uniform, took out her phone from her bag, and saw one unread WeChat message.

Senior, can you come to the club for an interview at 1 p.m. tomorrow?

Tang Yin raised an eyebrow and smiled, replying: I can.

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