After the Fake Heiress Died, She Was Filled with Regret - Chapter 49

Chapter 49: Better to Leave, to Another New…

“Tang Yin, what are you saying!” Qian Yu rushed down the stairs. “Tang Yin, are you crazy? What nonsense are you talking about!”

Tang Yin looked at Xia Shinan, who was pale and looked ready to faint. “Every word I said, I meant.”

“Then the happiness we shared when we were together, was all a pretense?” Xia Shinan still refused to believe, walking up to Tang Yin.

“I could feel it. You were happy when we were together. Tang Yin, you do like me…”

“Don’t be naive.” Tang Yin sneered. “Of course, I was happy that I could fool you.”

“Did I ever say I liked you? You were the one who said you wanted to date me. Think carefully, did I really say I liked you?”

“I just held out my hand to you. Everything was voluntary on your part.”

“Even that night…” She paused. “That night, you were the one who initiated it, weren’t you?”

“Slap!”

Tang Yin’s face turned to the side from the sound of a slap.

Xia Shinan had no strength left. The slap didn’t hurt her face much, but… her heart felt like it had been sliced open.

Xia Shinan was drenched in tears, which made it hard for her to even see Tang Yin’s face clearly.

“If your revenge was to make me sad, to make me suffer, then you’ve truly succeeded.”

After saying that, she ran downstairs.

“Shinan!” Qian Yu immediately took off to chase her. As she ran down, she glared back at Tang Yin.

“Tang Yin, because of you, the Xia family disowned her!”

“You’re right, she is too foolish!”

“The moment she walked out of the Xia family, all she thought about was being with you forever. You don’t deserve Xia Shinan’s affection at all!”

“Pat-a-tap,” Tang Yin’s tears fell to the floor like broken strings of pearls, but she didn’t turn around, listening to Qian Yu’s footsteps leave to chase Xia Shinan.

Left alone upstairs, Tang Yin finally crouched down, burying her face and weeping bitterly, releasing all her emotions.

Qian Yu found Xia Shinan and brought her back to her own home.

As for the rental apartment she shared with Tang Yin, it was a place of sorrow for Xia Shinan. It was best not to go there.

She asked her mother to look after Xia Shinan and went to the apartment alone to pack all of Xia Shinan’s belongings.

From now on, Xia Shinan would be completely separated from Tang Yin. No one could hurt her best friend again!

Back home, Qian Yu first went to the kitchen to find her mother, speaking in a low voice: “How is she? Is she feeling better?”

Qian’s mother shook her head. “She hasn’t come out of your room. I passed by several times, and there’s been no sound at all.”

Qian Yu sighed heavily. “I’ll go check on her.”

“Don’t rush.” Qian’s mother stopped her daughter. “Heartbreak is a process. Right now, she just needs to cry it out alone, letting out all the sadness and resentment. She’ll gradually get better.”

“But…” Qian Yu was anxious and wanted to cry too. “I can’t stand to see her like this. Seeing her upset makes me upset.”

“If you really want to do something for her, then peel some apples. Take them up for her to eat later,” Qian’s mother said, handing the apples to her daughter.

Qian Yu looked at the apples, a pang of sadness hitting her heart.

“Mom… thank you. You’re so good to Shinan.”

“I love the house and everything in it. She’s your friend first, and she’s also a good child,” Qian’s mother said, glancing upstairs. “I heard something big is going to happen at the Xia family’s shareholder meeting tomorrow.”

Qian Yu didn’t understand company matters. “How big? Will it affect Xia Shinan?”

Qian’s mother shook her head. “Hard to say. But… Xie Wan arranging for her to study in the US was a decent thing to do.”

“Is that so? I don’t think so.” Qian Yu scoffed, looking down to peel the apple.

Xia Shinan was like a broken rag doll, lifeless, allowing Qian Yu to lead her home.

She lay blankly on the bed, her whole body trembling slightly, like a soul-less doll, with her eyes closed.

In her mind, Tang Yin’s cruel words repeated like a tape recorder, torturing her every sense.

It truly hurt so much, so unbearably…

Xia Shinan suddenly beat her chest, as if this would make her feel better.

“Shinan! What are you doing!” Qian Yu opened the door and was horrified to see this scene.

She put the apple down and rushed over to stop Xia Shinan from harming herself.

“It’s just one Tang Yin! It’s not a big deal. There are plenty more! You can’t hurt yourself for someone who hurt you!”

Xia Shinan looked at Qian Yu, her beautiful brows furrowed slightly, and tears flowed out. She sobbed, “Little Yu Mao, I hurt… it’s the kind of pain where I can’t breathe. I feel like I’m going to die.”

Qian Yu hugged her, crying with heartache. “Everything will be okay. Who hasn’t experienced a breakup! Just treat these past few months as being deceived by a dog!”

Xia Shinan hugged her friend tightly, crying softly.

After comforting her for a while, Xia Shinan cried less, and Qian Yu brought over the plate of sliced apples.

“Eat an apple? I just learned how to carve it into a little bunny for you,” she coaxed Xia Shinan. “Look, your favorite little bunny!”

Xia Shinan looked at Qian Yu’s red eyes, her heart filled with guilt.

“Thank you. I love it.” She took a piece and put it in her mouth. Even though she had no appetite, she didn’t want to disappoint her friend.

After eating the apple, Qian Yu encouraged Xia Shinan to take a good bath. “I told you about my two thousand eight hundred yuan bathtub! You absolutely have to try it!”

“Mmm!” Xia Shinan nodded obediently. Only when Qian Yu turned to get her clothes did the smile on her lips slowly vanish.

While Xia Shinan was taking a bath, Qian Yu’s phone rang. It was Ming Jing.

She knew instinctively that Ming Jing was calling to try and explain something for Tang Yin.

She hung up immediately, not bothering to answer.

But the phone rang again. Qian Yu answered this time, annoyed: “If you mention Tang Yin even once, I’m blocking you!”

Ming Jing paused on the other end. “I just wanted to ask how Shinan is doing.”

“How is she?” Qian Yu scoffed. “She’s been tormented to near death by your good friend. Ask her if she’s satisfied!”

“I’m confused. If she’s the real daughter of the Xia family, then she should go settle the score with the Xia family, not Xia Shinan! Did Xia Shinan switch their identities while still in the crib?”

“The wrongdoer is clear. Why is she taking it out on the innocent Xia Shinan?”

“Say something! If you can’t give me an explanation, let Tang Yin talk!”

Ming Jing pressed her temples on the other end. “My dear junior, didn’t you say not to mention Tang Yin…”

Qian Yu froze. “Forget it. You have your perspective, and I have mine. Where there is no common ground, there is nothing to talk about. Goodbye.”

“Wait a moment!” Ming Jing quickly stopped her. “I’m genuinely worried about Tang Yin. There are some things I still want to tell you and Xia Shinan.”

Qian Yu looked toward Xia Shinan in the bathroom. “Then tell me first. I’ll filter it for her.”

Qian Yu’s bathroom reflected her style. The floor tiles were blue and purple, and the walls were light gray plaid. Xia Shinan lay in the bathtub, smelling the lavender from the aromatherapy lamp nearby. Even in this environment, she couldn’t help but want to cry.

The bathroom was a private space where she could freely cry her heart out.

She eventually submerged herself in the water, blocking out all surrounding sounds. Her mind was emptied, with only her heartbeat remaining.

“Shinan! Shinan!”

Qian Yu’s anxious knocking came from outside the door. Xia Shinan opened her eyes and sat up in the tub.

She dried herself with a towel, got dressed, and then opened the door.

“What’s wrong?”

“Just now…” Qian Yu was stunned by Xia Shinan’s bloodshot eyes, then spoke: “You were in there for so long, and I was worried you might have done something rash.”

“I won’t.” Xia Shinan forced a small smile. “Little Yu Mao, I won’t do anything rash.”

No matter how much pain or heartache she felt, she wouldn’t do anything rash and punish the friends who cared about her.

“That’s good. Hurry up and dry your hair. Then shall we go eat?”

“Okay…”

Xia Shinan closed the door, and the sound of a hairdryer soon echoed from the bathroom. Qian Yu finally breathed a long sigh of relief.

She’d wait a couple of days. Once Xia Shinan calmed down, she would tell her.

Otherwise, receiving all that news one after another would be too much for Xia Shinan to bear.

Downstairs in the dining room, Qian’s parents had already prepared a table full of food, waiting for the two young girls.

“Thinking of Shinan visiting today, I made a special trip to the east market to buy an old hen. The soup is very fragrant,” Qian’s father said.

Qian’s mother nodded. “Yes, Shinan, don’t be shy. Eat whatever you like!”

“Thank you, Uncle and Auntie.”

Xia Shinan had always envied Qian Yu’s family atmosphere. There was no display of the wealthy’s arrogance, but instead, a family working together, always prioritizing their daughter.

“Shinan, your uncle still wants to kindly advise you, don’t go out tomorrow if you don’t have to,” Qian’s father thought for a moment before reminding her. “It’s the Xia family’s shareholder meeting tomorrow, and with your incident a few days ago, I’m afraid the media will be waiting outside for you.”

Xia Shinan paused, then nodded. “I understand. Thank you, Uncle.”

Qian’s mother smiled, then glared at her husband. “Too much talking. Eat.”

The Xia family’s shareholder meeting was unusually lively this time.

In addition to the usual board members, many media outlets gathered outside the company. Xia Shentu and Xie Wan arrived at the company entrance at the same time, a rare occurrence, and were immediately swamped as they exited the car.

“What is the future development plan for the Xia Group?”

“Was the thread exposed a few days ago a business conflict? Have you found out who was behind it?”

Xia Shentu and Xie Wan did not answer, letting their bodyguards escort them into the company. It wasn’t until a reporter suddenly pulled out a printed document.

“I’ve received a paternity test report here stating that Xia Shinan is not your biological daughter and that the Xia family’s true heiress is someone else. Are you aware of this?”

Xie Wan’s steps halted, a look of surprise on her face. “Who told you that?”

At nine in the morning, the shareholder meeting began on time, but Xia Shentu and Xie Wan entered the conference room ten minutes late.

Xia Shentu straightened his tie. “Apologies, there was a sudden issue.”

“Mr. Xia, if you can’t handle your family affairs, you don’t have to come,” said Jiang Shi, who had never thought highly of Xia Shentu.

“How can family matters be more important than the company,” Xia Shentu retorted. “Mr. Jiang, instead of using your breath on chatter, why not talk about last quarter’s financial report?”

Jiang Shi smiled. “The financial report data is indeed poor, but that’s inseparable from your influence, Mr. Xia… The recent rumors outside, I hear you’ve found a new lover and are about to become a father.”

“Also, your daughter has recently become a hot topic online. All this will affect the company’s operations.”

“A few days ago, our hotel in the western suburbs received malicious bad reviews, saying that cheating men frequent our Xia Group hotels.”

“Regardless, we hope Mr. Xia can provide an explanation.”

Another man beside him also spoke: “By the way, the media also received a paternity test report this morning… Although this is also your private family matter, we can’t let Mr. Xia’s family affect the entire company, right?”

“I suggest replacing the positions of CEO and General Manager for the second half of the year. Once Mr. Xia handles his family matters, we can reconsider.”

Xia Shentu’s face changed drastically. He hadn’t expected these people to be so prepared against him.

Just as he was about to speak, Xie Wan next to him also wiped away tears.

“As Mr. Jiang said, these are family matters. But regardless, I want everyone to hear some of my grievances.”

“I only learned today that Xia Shinan is not my biological daughter! But twenty years of mother-daughter affection is not a lie… I will continue to treat her as my own daughter. As for the other child, if she is willing, I will compensate her with everything for the motherly love she missed.”

“As for Mr. Xia—my husband, we are currently in divorce proceedings. I wanted to handle things decently, but he insists on being ruthless.”

“Although my shareholding in the company is not significant, I am willing to use my meager strength to support Mr. Jiang in replacing the CEO and General Manager positions.”

She coldly glanced at Xia Shentu. The original plan was for Xia Shinan to marry Lin Yu, and the Lin family would help her to sideline Xia Shentu and take his position.

But now, the Lin family was still unhappy and was absent from this shareholder meeting, which was attended by Mr. Jiang, who managed the western suburbs region.

But she had no choice but to get rid of Xia Shentu first.

Xia Shentu sneered. “Replacing the CEO? Who do you want to replace me with? Don’t say it’s someone from the Xie family near me.”

Jiang Shi smiled. “Of course, we have a better candidate. Young CEO Xia—Xia Tong.”

Xie Wan and Xia Shentu were both shocked, looking at the honest woman in a plain suit and glasses.

“In just two years, Young CEO Xia has made the Yuncheng branch company’s performance the best. She has both reputation and ability. I believe she is the best candidate.”

Xia Tong adjusted her glasses and smiled humbly. “Mr. Jiang, you are too kind.”

These past few days, Xia Shinan stayed at Qian Yu’s house without going out, but she still learned about the Xia family’s affairs.

A simple search online yielded a lot of news.

Aunt Xia Tong took over Xia Shentu’s CEO position; Xia Shentu and Xie Wan’s marriage dissolved; the Lin family denied ever having an alliance with the Xia family, and the Lin family’s daughter-in-law was someone else…

There was also one trending topic that made Xia Shinan pause. She clicked on it.

The Xia family’s biological daughter was lost outside…

Thinking of the paternity test Tang Yin showed her before, it was all true…

Xia Shinan tightly gripped her phone, still unable to forget the cruel words Tang Yin had said to her.

“Shinan, stop looking!” Qian Yu took the phone away. “These things have nothing to do with you. Just pretend you don’t know.”

Xie Wan had recently divorced, but she had arranged for Xia Shinan to go to the US, leaving on Saturday. Qian Yu was reluctant at first, but then thought it was for the best.

Everything here was so messy. Xia Shinan had been hurt too much. It was better to leave and start anew in a new environment.

“Mmm.” Xia Shinan’s smile was forced, but she still tried not to worry Qian Yu.

“I was just looking casually. Anyway… there’s nothing else to do.”

Qian Yu opened her mouth, remembering Ming Jing’s previous words, and tentatively asked: “Tang Yin’s kindness towards you was all self-serving. She deliberately led you into this situation. Now that you know the whole truth, do you still miss her?”

“I don’t know.” Xia Shinan leaned on the window, watching the birds on the tree branch. She asked, “Little Yu Mao, they are not trapped in a cage, yet they made their home on that big tree right in front of them and won’t fly far. Why is that?”

Qian Yu followed her gaze. “Because that tree is their home.”

Xia Shinan lowered her eyes. Yes, even birds have a home.

Where was her home?

And where was Tang Yin’s home?

The doorbell rang downstairs. It was the milk tea Qian Yu specially ordered for Xia Shinan.

“Don’t think about unhappy things anymore. I’ll get the milk tea. Shall we watch a movie later?”

Qian Yu went downstairs, leaving her phone on the table. It rang two seconds later. Xia Shinan didn’t intend to answer, but a glance showed it was a call from Ming Jing.

“Thank you.”

Taking the milk tea from the delivery person, Qian Yu looked back and saw Xia Shinan rushing downstairs, hastily putting on clothes.

“Shinan, what’s wrong?”

Xia Shinan looked flustered: “Sister Ming Jing called. She said Tang Yin drank too much and was admitted to the hospital. I have to go see her.”

“You’re not going!” Qian Yu shouted, blocking Xia Shinan. “Think about all the things she did. What’s the point of going? She won’t be grateful!”

Xia Shinan looked at her, crying. “Little Yu Mao, I’m leaving soon. Just let me see her, okay? I want to tell her I’m going abroad. I even hoped… she would ask me to stay.”

Qian Yu grabbed Xia Shinan tightly. “She won’t keep you! She hates you!”

She paused for a few seconds, finally saying what Ming Jing had told her two days ago.

“The week Tang Yin disappeared, her grandmother passed away. It seems… your mother went to see Tang’s grandmother and said something, and Tang’s grandmother fell that day and was admitted to the hospital.”

As she finished speaking, Xia Shinan’s body stiffened, filled with disbelief.

Tang Yin’s grandmother… such a kind person, was gone? She had no idea!

“So Tang Yin came back to you with hatred. She wanted revenge on you. She hates both you and the Xia family.”

“Shinan, you can’t go back.”

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