After the Fake Heiress Died, She Was Filled with Regret - Chapter 54

Chapter 54: Then I’ll Drink It For Her

Tang Yin got back into the car. The cold air from the air conditioner lingered, but she couldn’t feel any coolness. Instead, she felt intensely hot, perhaps because her heart and blood were boiling together.

But she didn’t know where to look for Shinan.

What was even harder to bear was the thought that she had missed Xia Shinan twice… she could have seen her sooner!

Why was Xia Shinan hiding? Why didn’t she just show up…

As soon as she thought of this, her eyes darkened. Was it because… she didn’t want to see her?

Tang Yin’s chest was heaving, and she even felt like she couldn’t breathe. She fiercely bit her lip, and tears suddenly dropped onto the back of her hand.

In these five years, she had constantly seen people who looked like Xia Shinan, frantically searching countless times, only for the search to end in disappointment.

She went to the US every year, and each time her heart sank again upon her return.

But it didn’t matter. She wouldn’t give up.

So now, what was one more missed opportunity?

Tang Yin took a deep breath and immediately got to work, dismantling the driving recorder. After some fiddling, she exported today’s video to her phone.

Then, she focused intently on the screen until the footage reached the traffic light. She paused it, zooming in on the ride-sharing car’s license plate number.

Tang Yin immediately took a screenshot and sent it to her assistant.

Zou Yue, trace this car. Help me contact the owner. The faster, the better.

Understood, CEO Tang.

After putting down her phone, Tang Yin hesitated for a moment before stepping on the accelerator and driving toward the airport.

She was afraid Xia Shinan had only come to deliver the wedding gift to Qian Yu and would leave as soon as the gift was delivered.

Qian Yu called again: “Tang Yin, can you find her?”

“Yes,” Tang Yin answered without thinking. Her eyes were bloodshot, but her voice was unwavering.

“Five years ago, I believed she wasn’t dead. Five years later, I also believe I will find her.”

Tang Yin arrived at the airport and asked the staff. The only flight to the US today was at 7 PM. There was still plenty of time for her to search.

But the airport was too crowded. She searched for a long time but didn’t see the woman wearing the straw hat.

At this moment, Tang Yin felt like she was back at the airport five years ago…

Her phone suddenly rang. She pursed her lips and answered.

“CEO Tang, the driver has been located.”

SN Media has ten floors, divided into different departments.

Xia Shinan and Wen Juan went to the seventh-floor film and television department for the audition.

This was the audition opportunity Wen Juan secured for Xia Shinan. The web drama to be filmed was a remake of a novel about female revenge.

The work had garnered immense attention during its serialization. SN was the first to recognize its remake potential and unhesitatingly bought all the rights to the novel at a high price.

When Wen Juan heard SN was doing a remake, she immediately submitted Xia Shinan’s profile.

She waited quietly outside. Although she was confident in Xia Shinan’s ability, she still felt a little uneasy inside.

The door opened, and Xia Shinan came out. Wen Juan quickly went to her.

“How was it?”

Xia Shinan smiled at Wen Juan. “The director seemed quite pleased.”

Wen Juan breathed a sigh of relief. She knew the person she favored wouldn’t have any problems.

The director was the famous Director Yu, who had made many award-winning TV dramas. The fact that she was willing to shoot a web drama this time showed that she valued the script. Since she was satisfied with Xia Shinan, there should be no problem. However, to be safe, they still needed to consider others…

“That was hard work. Go wait for me in the car downstairs. We’ll go back to the hotel together later.”

A trace of hesitation appeared in Xia Shinan’s eyes, but she didn’t say anything, took the elevator downstairs, and went to Wen Juan’s car.

Tang Yin returned to her office, waiting for Zou Yue to bring the person up.

On the phone earlier, the driver kept saying he couldn’t reveal private information and couldn’t remember anything, leaving her with no information.

Finally, not wanting to delay any longer, she spoke coldly, “Fifty thousand.”

But she wanted to see the driver in person to confirm whether he was lying.

During the wait, Tang Yin received a call from Manager Fang of the film and television department downstairs.

“CEO Tang, Seven Days just finished its auditions. The manager on their side would like to meet you, if you…”

“I’m busy.” Tang Yin pressed her temples. “Tell her if she has that time, she should focus on the actor’s skills.”

The manager was startled, clearly sensing the impatience in CEO Tang’s tone. She didn’t want to get into trouble.

“Understood, CEO Tang. I won’t disturb you.”

Soon, the driver arrived downstairs, and Zou Yue personally went to meet him.

The bald driver looked around and saw Zou Yue: “You’re the one who called me?”

“Yes… CEO Tang is waiting for you upstairs. Please come up.”

Looking at the grimacing Zou Yue, the bald driver couldn’t help but feel a little awkward, following Zou Yue upstairs.

The tenth floor was entirely SN’s presidential office. Normally, no one was allowed up there unless it was for urgent matters like reporting.

But CEO Tang had asked him to bring this driver up. It must be something extremely urgent and important. Thinking this, Zou Yue straightened his back even more, speaking sternly: “Just answer seriously whatever CEO Tang asks you later.”

“What’s with all the secrecy?” the driver muttered, feeling uneasy.

A knock sounded, and Zou Yue brought the person into the presidential office.

Tang Yin looked up at the driver, confirming he was the one she had encountered at the red light.

“Is the fifty thousand you promised me real?” The driver immediately asked about the money. “People from your big company can’t go back on your word! I’ve lost several fares coming over this afternoon!”

Tang Yin pursed her lips without answering. Instead, she handed the driver the screenshot of the hotel’s surveillance. “Did you take a ride from this girl today?”

The driver looked at it. “Yes… Huh?”

Tang Yin immediately frowned. “What is it?”

The driver was curious: “Didn’t she come here? I dropped her off downstairs! I even asked her if she was here for tourism, and she said she was here for work. She wouldn’t say anything more. She was quite aloof, but pretty…”

Tang Yin froze. Downstairs?

Zou Yue immediately understood and called the front desk on the first floor to bring up the visitor log.

The front desk staff nervously arrived with the logbook.

But Tang Yin searched through it repeatedly and couldn’t find Xia Shinan’s name. She frowned: “Are all the visitors here?”

Front desk: “CEO Tang, I’m very diligent at my job. I haven’t been negligent! It’s just that the film and television department had an audition this afternoon, and we usually just write down the visiting company’s name.”

Audition? Film and television department… Tang Yin suddenly realized.

“Zou Yue, give him the money. The rest of you, step out.”

“Yes.” Zou Yue nodded, taking the front desk staff and the driver downstairs.

“What’s wrong with CEO Tang today?” The front desk staff looked at her, full of gossip.

Zou Yue shook her head. “I don’t know, but it’s best not to provoke her.”

On the seventh floor, the film and television department, Manager Fang hung up the phone and smiled awkwardly at Wen Juan: “CEO Tang is busy right now. She probably doesn’t have time.”

“What a shame,” Wen Juan sighed. “Well, I’ve reserved a private room at Liangjing Restaurant tonight. I wonder if Manager Fang would honor me with her presence? And perhaps the producer as well? I heard the producer and Manager Fang have a good relationship. Let’s have a nice meal together.”

Manager Fang smiled. “Honoring you? Sister Juan, you exaggerate. We’re just communicating after work to make a better production, you know…”

Wen Juan smiled and nodded: “Then I’ll head off now. I’ll have Shinan prepare as well. We’ll eat together tonight.”

Manager Fang saw Wen Juan off. Just as she returned to her office, Tang Yin’s call came in.

Xia Shinan rested in the car. There was too much going on today, and her mind was still reeling.

For some reason, she felt a little uneasy, perhaps because she had been busy all day, or perhaps because she had been to Qian Yu’s wedding.

Although she hadn’t seen any familiar faces, she felt a slight heaviness in her heart, afraid of being seen or recognized.

She even regretted going to the wedding in person.

The door suddenly opened, and Xia Shinan opened her eyes to see Wen Juan smiling as she got into the car.

“That was hard work, Shinan.”

“Sister Juan, you’ve been with me for the auditions these past two days. That’s even more work,” Xia Shinan said.

Wen Juan smiled. Xia Shinan’s words were always so pleasant.

“I asked around. The director favors you, but… I heard another newcomer from Xinhai also auditioned, and the producer seems to prefer her.”

Xia Shinan slightly frowned. “Then…”

Wen Juan continued: “I’m treating everyone to dinner tonight. The director, SN’s Manager Fang, and Producer Chen will all be there. Let’s talk about our ideas for the production, okay?”

Xia Shinan looked up: “Alright, but Sister Juan, I’m on my period these two days, so I might not be able to drink too much.”

Wen Juan smiled and patted her hand: “It’s fine. Drinking isn’t the point. The point is to let everyone get to know you and gain an advantage, understand?”

Xia Shinan curved her lips into a smile. “Understood. Thank you, Sister Juan.”

Wen Juan: “Thank me for what? We’re a team. If you do well, I do well. Go back to the hotel, change into something nice, and put on some fresh makeup.”

Back at the hotel, Xia Shinan slept for half an hour before starting to prepare for the dinner party.

It was unavoidable to have meals with production teams and directors in this industry. Xia Shinan had accepted this long ago. There was no problem treating it as work, and as long as no line was crossed, she could handle it.

She changed into a light green dress, half her hair was tied up, and she reapplied her makeup. She looked radiant and composed.

Wen Juan knocked on the door and looked at her, completely satisfied.

“Let’s go, future big star.”

Xia Shinan smiled faintly. “Thank you for the compliment, Sister Juan.”

When they arrived at the reserved private room at Liangjing, there were already three or five people inside. Wen Juan, who had also changed into a cheongsam, entered the room with Xia Shinan and apologized awkwardly for arriving late since everyone else was already there.

“Sorry we’re late. Traffic was a bit congested.”

“Hecheng is a tourist hotspot right now. Traffic jams are normal. Besides, we arrived early,” Manager Fang said, smiling warmly, especially toward Xia Shinan. “Are you hungry? Should we ask the waiter to serve the dishes?”

“Manager Fang, please don’t be so polite.” Wen Juan raised her wine glass: “Shinan and I will toast everyone first. We’ll need your care and guidance in our future work.”

Xia Shinan’s expression remained unchanged. She maintained her smile and toasted with Wen Juan. However, after swallowing the first sip, she subtly frowned.

“This is our Hecheng’s unique Magnolia wine. Doesn’t it have a good taste?” Manager Fang asked Xia Shinan with a smile.

“It does,” Xia Shinan replied with a polite smile, but put down her glass, sitting next to Wen Juan and quietly listening to the conversation.

Xia Shinan subtly scanned the group, her gaze settling on Manager Fang.

She felt like Manager Fang was being overly concerned, even giving her the illusion of being sycophantic or trying to please her. Everything had seemed normal during the audition this afternoon.

Director Yu kindly asked about some of the past works Xia Shinan had filmed. Xia Shinan answered each question, thinking Director Yu probably hadn’t seen them, so she finally summarized: they were all small-budget online productions.

Unexpectedly, a trace of surprise appeared in Director Yu’s eyes. “Did you just mention Shuang Xiang? Is that the one that won first place in the Singapore Micro Film Competition?”

Xia Shinan was slightly taken aback. “Yes.”

Director Yu smiled. “I’m ashamed I didn’t recognize you. I really liked that work.”

“Not at all. It’s my honor that you’ve watched the film!”

Xia Shinan was surprised and very happy that her performance had been praised by a major director.

“Miss Xia shouldn’t only chat with the director. Talk to us too.”

Suddenly, a man wearing glasses spoke coldly. According to Wen Juan’s introduction, he was Producer Chen.

He lifted his chin, speaking with displeasure: “Miss Xia seems new to the industry. Maybe she doesn’t understand some of the rules. This is our first meeting. Who talks endlessly only with the director?”

Xia Shinan looked up, immediately smiling and apologizing: “I’m sorry, Producer Chen. That was my mistake. I got carried away after being praised by Director Yu. I’ll drink a penalty of one cup.”

With that, she immediately drank the first cup of baijiu (white spirits). Her throat was burning, but her face showed no sign of discomfort.

Producer Chen looked at Xia Shinan’s beautiful face and chuckled lightly: “One penalty cup isn’t enough. It should be three.”

Everyone was stunned, realizing Producer Chen was trying to assert his authority here.

It was said that the newcomer originally recommended for the audition was by Producer Chen, but the director preferred Xia Shinan, and they had even argued. Producer Chen was likely taking his frustration out on Xia Shinan.

Wen Juan smiled awkwardly, immediately trying to mediate.

“Producer Chen, Shinan has a low tolerance for alcohol. If she drinks three cups, how can she discuss work? I’ll drink it for her!”

The man leaned back in his chair. “If you drink it for her, can you also act for her?”

Manager Fang frowned, glancing at the man, desperately trying to signal to him, but it was useless.

Xia Shinan lowered her eyes, about to drink the second cup, when the door suddenly opened.

“Then I’ll drink it for her. Do I also need to act for her?”

Everyone looked at the woman who had entered, who carried a powerful aura. Her tone was clearly displeased, yet her gaze toward Xia Shinan was deep and unfathomable.

“CEO Tang!”

“Why didn’t you say you were coming?”

Everyone was surprised by Tang Yin’s sudden appearance and immediately went up to greet her.

But only Xia Shinan widened her eyes. Her back was to the newcomer, her body rigidly frozen, her face pale, not daring to turn around.

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