After the Fake Heiress Died, She Was Filled with Regret - Chapter 55

Chapter 55: No matter who it is, it has nothing to do with CEO Tang…

Tang Yin learned from Manager Fang that Shiheng’s manager, Wen Juan, had reserved a private room at Liangjing and would be bringing her artist along.

The time was set for seven o’clock, but by less than five, she was already sitting in the room next door.

She mentally ran through many possibilities and scenarios: what to say to Xia Shinan when they met, whether Xia Shinan would leave as soon as she saw her, and if Xia Shinan hated her very much.

She thought of many things, but in the end, fear dominated.

So, she just stood by the window until Xia Shinan’s appearance.

A light green dress, tall and graceful, just as she was in her memory… her changes weren’t dramatic, but her looks were more striking and defined.

She smiled gently at the woman beside her, and they went upstairs together.

That smile used to be hers.

The room next door began to get lively, but Tang Yin didn’t dare to go over.

She felt it wasn’t the right time to appear. She should wait, wait for a better moment when they could properly talk about the past, about these last few days, and then she could… talk about her stupidity back then.

But that Chen Bin in the room was too oblivious. In an instant, Tang Yin completely forgot all her previous decisions and rushed into the room.

“Producer Chen, I remember telling you before not to bring bad habits into our SN,” Tang Yin said, looking coldly at Chen Bin. “Otherwise, I’ll have to consider whether to change the production team for future dramas.”

Chen Bin frowned, looking at Tang Yin, who had suddenly barged in. Although his production company wasn’t very famous, he had dealt with many investors, and his works were respectable. In fact, he had been in the industry much longer than SN!

Who would believe that a young woman like Tang Yin, who had built SN from the ground up and made it so successful in just a few years, was truly self-made?

Normally, he would just laugh it off, but in front of so many people today, Tang Yin didn’t give him any respect. If he let a woman lecture him like this, he would be a laughing stock. Chen Bin slammed his cup heavily on the table, his face stern.

“CEO Tang, this is my way of doing things. If you don’t like it, go ahead and change it! I’d like to see which production company will dare to cooperate with your SN in the future.”

Manager Fang wiped his cold sweat, quickly trying to smooth things over.

“Producer Chen, you’ve had too much to drink. Let me take you out to sober up…”

Chen Bin was forcibly led out by Manager Fang. Wen Juan’s gaze quickly switched between Xia Shinan and Tang Yin, then she smiled: “Thank you, CEO Tang, for helping Shinan out of that bind. Shinan, quickly thank CEO Tang.”

Tang Yin’s eyes had already focused on Xia Shinan. Although it was only her back, her heart was pounding wildly. She was waiting for Xia Shinan to turn around, to look at her.

To say: “Long time no see.”

Wen Juan’s words made Xia Shinan snap out of her complex emotions.

After returning to China, she had thought many times about whether she would run into Tang Yin and what to do if she did. But now, all those preconceived responses were forgotten.

She pursed her lips, looked up, smiled and nodded to Wen Juan, then turned around, but her eyelids were lowered, only looking at Tang Yin’s chin level.

“Thank you, CEO Tang, for the rescue. I toast you with this drink.”

“No need…” Tang Yin quickly said. Just as she reached out her hand, Xia Shinan took a small step back. Tang Yin retracted her hand and smiled faintly: “You’re both young women. It’s not good to drink so much alcohol.”

“CEO Tang, do you two know each other?” Wen Juan asked, noticing the unusual reactions of both of them.

Tang Yin looked at Xia Shinan, about to speak, but heard the other person immediately say: “Of course not.”

The flame in her heart felt like it was extinguished by a bucket of cold water. Her heart ached faintly, but she nodded, going along with Xia Shinan’s words: “This is the first time we’ve met.”

“Is that so… Then CEO Tang is being very considerate. We just started eating. If CEO Tang doesn’t mind, would you like to join us?” Wen Juan asked tentatively.

“Yes,” Tang Yin nodded.

Wen Juan smiled and quickly invited Tang Yin to sit down, asking the waiter to bring two more dishes. Tang Yin walked to the main table and sat down, directly opposite Xia Shinan.

By just looking up, she could clearly see the face she had missed for five years. Tang Yin felt her breathing slow down. She was much thinner and much more composed.

“CEO Tang, this is the newcomer in our company, named Xia Shinan,” Wen Juan said, noticing that Tang Yin seemed very interested in Xia Shinan, and introduced her voluntarily.

“She has a great talent for acting and is very grounded in her work. If we can cooperate with SN this time, it would be our good fortune.”

Tang Yin’s face was expressionless, her inquiry sounding formal: “What works have you filmed before?”

Xia Shinan lowered her eyes, tightly gripping the hem of her skirt. Upon hearing Tang Yin’s question, she spoke softly: “They’re all works not worth mentioning. A few micro-films, two web dramas. Nothing remarkable.”

Tang Yin looked up, her gaze gentle: “Miss Xia, you don’t need to belittle yourself. In this industry, many people only lack an opportunity. I believe you will reach a higher level in the future.”

“Thank you, CEO Tang,” Xia Shinan moved her lips and smiled gently.

Director Yu on the side laughed: “I’ve seen Shuang Xiang, which Xia Shinan filmed. It’s quite good.”

Xia Shinan looked at Director Yu, smiling gratefully: “Director Yu, you flatter me.”

Seeing this, Tang Yin offered a bitter smile. Xia Shinan wouldn’t look her in the eye under any circumstances. She took a sip of the wine in front of her, then smiled and looked at Wen Juan: “Shiheng seems to be doing well these two years, signing many excellent artists. It looks like you’ve invested a lot.”

Wen Juan smiled broadly: “We’ve signed quite a few newcomers. I managed to sign Shinan last year after visiting Singapore several times and pleading with her.”

“Is that so…” Tang Yin’s smile became shallower. So she went to Singapore? Singapore is nice too, good environment, many Chinese people…

She looked at Xia Shinan again, but the other person stood up. “Excuse me, I need to use the restroom.”

With that, she immediately walked out.

Wen Juan quickly said: “CEO Tang knows that girls on their period… are always a bit uncomfortable.”

Tang Yin frowned. “Mhm.”

After leaving the private room, Xia Shinan finally felt a moment to breathe.

She never imagined she would see Tang Yin under these circumstances. In these five years, except for occasional dreams, she had almost forgotten what Tang Yin looked like.

But just by having her back to her, and purely by her voice, she recognized Tang Yin and could even picture her appearance.

It turned out that some people aren’t forgotten; they are just buried deep inside, and a single voice can easily bring them back.

After spending a long time in the restroom, Xia Shinan came out and turned on the faucet to wash her hands.

A slight sound of footsteps came from behind. Xia Shinan’s body froze. She saw Tang Yin’s face in the mirror, and their eyes met.

She lowered her head and continued washing her hands, but the other person walked closer, turning the faucet to the other side. The water temperature warmed up within two seconds.

“Your manager said it’s your period these two days, so try not to use cold water,” her voice came from beside her ear, followed by a tissue being offered.

“Thank you, CEO Tang.” Xia Shinan didn’t take it. She turned off the faucet, turned around, and took a tissue herself to dry her hands. “I have something to do and must leave first. CEO Tang, please go back and enjoy your meal.”

Tang Yin’s presence made her feel suffocated and unable to breathe. She needed to leave this place.

“I’ll take you.” Tang Yin followed without a word. “I’ll take you back to the hotel.”

“No need.” Xia Shinan stopped and threw out these three words.

Tang Yin looked at Xia Shinan’s descending back, just like five years ago when she watched her leave. No… she couldn’t tolerate Xia Shinan leaving again.

Tang Yin strode over, her voice carrying a plea: “Shinan, let me take you.”

Xia Shinan froze. It had been a long, long time since she had heard anyone call her name with that voice, that tone.

“You don’t want the people in the private room to know what our relationship was before, do you?” Tang Yin dropped that line, her tone still pleading.

Xia Shinan looked up again. Five years apart, they had both changed.

One had learned to run away, and the other had learned how to use leverage.

Once in the car, Xia Shinan felt a little worried: “What about Sister Juan?”

Tang Yin started the car and turned on the air conditioning: “It’s easy to handle. I’ll have Manager Fang talk to her more about the signing.”

Xia Shinan chuckled softly. “I thought CEO Tang would be more worried about the past being exposed.”

Tang Yin turned to look at her, her eyes deep: “I don’t care. Do you?”

Xia Shinan curved her lips. “Of course, I care. I’m terrified.”

Tang Yin’s body flinched. Remembering the events of last year, it had indeed caused Xia Shinan considerable harm. It was normal for her to be afraid. “Don’t worry, the incident back then was handled very cleanly. No one will know.”

Is that so? Xia Shinan looked out the window. “That’s good.”

Tang Yin offered a bitter smile. The videos and photos from back then had hurt Xia Shinan, but later became… the nourishment that helped Tang Yin get through these five years.

They were proof of their past relationship, but Xia Shinan clearly didn’t want to bring it up again.

She took out her phone and handed it to Xia Shinan. “The name of the hotel?”

Xia Shinan lowered her eyes. After taking the phone, she searched on the map, then handed it back to her after a while.

Tang Yin looked at it. It wasn’t far from here.

The car slowly pulled out of the parking lot. Inside the car, besides the piano music playing, there was no other sound.

But even so, Tang Yin felt this was the most beautiful moment in five years.

She thought for a moment and initiated the conversation: “You went to Singapore?”

Xia Shinan closed her eyes, turning her head toward the car window. “Mhm.”

“Singapore is quite nice.”

Actually, she wanted to ask why she didn’t go to the US? Why didn’t she tell Qian Yu? How did you… get through these five years?

But the questions were stuck in her throat. She felt it was better not to ask for now.

They had just reunited. What if asking so many questions pushed Xia Shinan away? “Shinan, you…”

Xia Shinan suddenly opened her eyes, turning her head with an expressionless face. “Please don’t call me that, CEO Tang. It makes me uncomfortable.”

Tang Yin was stunned. “I’m sorry, Miss Xia.”

A ringtone suddenly sounded in the car: “Liebesleid” (Love’s Sorrow) on the violin.

Xia Shinan glanced at the screen and answered the call.

“Ziyu?”

“Sister, I’m back in the country! Where are you? Treat me to a meal!” A cheerful female voice came from the other end. Tang Yin’s attention was drawn to the conversation.

“I’m in Hecheng. Shall I treat you to a meal in a couple of days when I get back?” Xia Shinan’s tone carried a hint of indulgence. “Have you chosen the menu yet?”

“Alright…”

After hanging up, Tang Yin gripped the steering wheel. “The person on the phone is…”

Xia Shinan smiled at her phone, her tone cold: “No matter who it is, it has nothing to do with CEO Tang.”

“You have arrived at your destination. Searching for nearby parking lots.” The phone’s navigation system spoke up at this moment, almost deliberately.

“Just drop me off by the side of the road,” Xia Shinan immediately said.

“Okay.” Tang Yin didn’t dare to make any more requests. She could clearly feel Xia Shinan’s resistance toward her. She couldn’t rush things.

The car stopped. Xia Shinan left the two words “Thank you,” got out of the car, closed the door, and walked toward the hotel without looking back.

Tang Yin watched her figure get smaller and smaller until she disappeared inside the hotel.

She chuckled softly, but tears streamed down her face the next second.

Wen Juan returned to the hotel and immediately went to question Xia Shinan. “Shinan, what exactly is going on between you and CEO Tang? Don’t try to lie to me.”

Xia Shinan thought for a moment and answered truthfully: “We were classmates in A City before. We did know each other, but… we ended on bad terms later.”

Wen Juan looked at her meaningfully: “An ex?”

Xia Shinan’s body stiffened, and she nodded. She tried to ask:

“So… can I decline this role? Sister Juan, I know you’ve been fighting for this role for a long time, but I’m worried that under these circumstances, I won’t perform well.”

“I can take any role you get for me afterward, except for this one, okay?”

Wen Juan pursed her lips and thought for a while. “Then I’ll tell them we need to consider it further. Shinan, you can’t keep holding onto the past. Your career is the most important thing. Running away isn’t the solution, understand?”

“Understood.”

Xia Shinan replied, feeling confused.

Late at night, Tang Yin returned to the company and obtained the file on Xia Shinan sent by her assistant.

She graduated from university in Singapore, briefly joined an entertainment company there, which later went bankrupt due to poor management… She filmed micro-films Shuang Xiang and Nine Thousand Fingers, both suspense works.

After signing with Shiheng, she filmed two or three web dramas that didn’t make much of a splash…

She carefully read through the files, as if using these few pages of A4 paper to piece together how Xia Shinan had lived the past five years. It must have been very hard. In the photos, her attire was very simple. In one year, she looked a bit darker.

Her finger gently touched the photo of Xia Shinan. “I’m sorry. Thank you.”

Thank you for being alive. Thank you.

Her phone vibrated. It was Zou Yue’s call.

“CEO Tang, we’ve informed them to change the producer.”

Tang Yin nodded. “Good.”

“Also… I just received a call from Shiheng’s manager, saying they need to reconsider the participation in the show.”

Tang Yin frowned. Reconsider? Was it because of her? Her heart suddenly became troubled again.

In the early morning, Tang Yin parked her car at the hotel where she had dropped Xia Shinan off last night and walked into the lobby.

Thinking Xia Shinan was uncomfortable during her period, she specially bought a hot breakfast, including soybean milk, which Xia Shinan liked with the taste of A City.

“Hello, please deliver this breakfast to a guest named Xia Shinan.”

The front desk looked at Tang Yin. “Ma’am, do you know the room number?”

Tang Yin shook her head. “I don’t remember. Can you check which room she’s in and send it over? Just say it’s a breakfast service from SN Company.”

SN? The front desk knew the company and curiously looked at Tang Yin. She didn’t look like a liar. So, she helped search for Xia Shinan, but the system found no such person.

“We don’t have this guest here.”

Tang Yin was stunned. “What about Wen Juan? Do you have that name?”

The front desk entered it again. “No. Ma’am, are you sure you have the right hotel?”

“No way. I clearly dropped her off here yesterday…” Tang Yin mumbled to herself, suddenly realizing that Xia Shinan had lied to her.

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