After the Fake Heiress Died, She Was Filled with Regret - Chapter 7

Chapter 7: Even if It Hurts the Little White Rabbit, Then…

“So Tang Yin has a cold. Why didn’t you say so earlier? How about we switch to a lighter place to eat?” Duan Xiaofei took a sip of hot water, which inadvertently relieved the spiciness, and she spoke normally now. She re-brewed a cup of cold medicine and placed it in front of Tang Yin, muttering, “Shinan, you didn’t even tell us.”

Xia Shinan covered her face and smiled awkwardly, “I didn’t expect you to be so reckless and drink Tang Yin’s medicine. Changing the place to eat is fine, of course! Tang Yin, what do you think?”

Tang Yin held the medicine, gently blew on it, and took a sip, slightly frowning. She disliked the overly sweet taste of the medicine, even hated it. But she still forced herself to drink it. After all, the good girl had specially bought it for her, hadn’t she?

“Thank you all for your concern. You don’t need to accommodate me. Hot pot is great,” she finished, smiling, “I usually live a rough life and ignore minor colds. It was Xia Shinan who heard about it and bought me medicine. Thank you.”

When she said the last sentence, she turned her head towards Xia Shinan and winked at her.

“No need to thank me, no need to thank me. It’s nothing…” Xia Shinan quickly waved her hand. Tang Yin had caught a cold because of her, so she should buy Tang Yin medicine.

“Then let’s order mildly spicy,” Duan Xiaofei quickly ordered the pot base, then handed over the ordering rights to Tang Yin and Xia Shinan.

“My treat today! I wanted to hold a welcome ceremony for Tang Yin. I asked for Tang Yin’s opinion, and she said she didn’t want too many people, so just the four of us will have a small gathering.”

Weiba added, “That’s because Tang Yin is kind. She knows you’re paying out of your own pocket and is trying to save you money.”

Duan Xiaofei was stunned, then realized, and said emotionally, “Is that so… Tang Yin, you’re too nice!”

Tang Yin helped pour drinks for everyone, smiling, “We are all students. When we win first place, my treat.”

“Yes! That’s the spirit, aim for first place!” Duan Xiaofei was excited, raising her drink to toast everyone.

Xia Shinan smiled, also happily raising her glass with her drink: “If we win first place, my treat!”

Duan Xiaofei laughed heartily: “Do you even need to say that? If we win the award, we’ll take turns treating everyone for a whole month!”

Everyone was full of confidence for the competition. As the atmosphere became lively, the waiter served the pot base and the meat and vegetable dishes. The four ate and discussed the script and the scenes that needed attention during filming.

Weiba asked Tang Yin if she had any thoughts on the script and encouraged her to say anything.

Tang Yin thought for a moment and put down her chopsticks.

“Mi Jia seems innocent, but she is actually a very meticulous and sensitive person. She is keenly aware of Xiaoying’s emotions and can hide her own sadness very well, only showing the happy side to others. She’s insincere, clearly cares a lot about Xiaoying, but always says indifferent things. She’s a girl who is a bit stubborn.”

“As for Xiaoying, she appears steady and mature, always stepping up for Mi Jia no matter what happens, but deep down, she is actually a person who lacks love. She is timid and actually needs the other person’s companionship more than Mi Jia does. She is also cowardly, not daring to express her feelings or openly clarify the misunderstanding between them. Well… she’s also very childish, saying they’ve broken off their friendship but always secretly paying attention to the other person.”

The three were stunned. Tang Yin had truly read the script seriously and put effort into it. She started reciting the character analysis instantly.

Duan Xiaofei nodded emotionally: “I think we will definitely win first place this year, sob sob sob!”

Weiba also felt like crying. Her own script and the character profiles she had carefully crafted were being taken so seriously by Tang Yin. This was the best feedback and encouragement!

“Tang Yin, I was right about you! You are the most suitable person for Xiaoying!”

Tang Yin smiled but didn’t hear Xia Shinan’s voice. She turned to look at her: “Mi Jia, do you have anything to say?”

Xia Shinan felt inadequate. She had already finished reading the script and thought she understood all the stories and characters, but she hadn’t analyzed them as thoroughly as Tang Yin.

Xia Shinan felt a small sense of frustration and shook her head dejectedly: “No, your analysis is amazing.”

Weiba: “It’s okay, it’s okay, Shinan, you don’t need to be nervous. You are the most suitable Mi Jia in my heart too!”

Xia Shinan looked at her earnestly, “Thank you, Little Tail. I will work hard!”

Weiba frowned, feeling something was off, and then suddenly realized, “Why are you calling me Little Tail all of a sudden… it doesn’t sound powerful anymore.”

Xia Shinan smiled happily, “I’m sorry, it just slipped out, but Little Tail sounds cuter, doesn’t it?”

As she spoke, she picked up a piece of fatty beef with her chopsticks and put it in her mouth. Two seconds later, her smile vanished. Her face crumpled, and she looked distressed.

“What’s wrong?” Tang Yin noticed her discomfort and quickly handed her a tissue, “Spit it out.”

Xia Shinan took the tissue, lowered her head to spit out the beef she had eaten, and when she looked up again, her entire face was red.

“What’s going on?” Duan Xiaofei quickly poured her some water, “Is the beef poisoned?”

Xia Shinan paused, her voice hoarse and slightly aggrieved: “There’s chili and Sichuan peppercorns in the beef…”

“Hahahaha…”

Weiba couldn’t help but laugh, “I’m sorry, I usually don’t laugh much, unless I can’t help it… why did you call me Little Tail~~”

Xia Shinan pouted, glaring at Weiba without saying a word.

A cup of drink appeared in front of her, handed over by Tang Yin.

“Ignore her. Let’s eat our food. We won’t buy her milk tea after we finish.”

Xia Shinan nodded heavily, meeting Tang Yin’s eyes and smiling again: “Mhm! We won’t buy her any!”

Weiba, who was about to miss out on milk tea, was not angry. Her seat was directly opposite the two of them.

She saw the interaction and eye contact between the two clearly. She couldn’t help but put down her chopsticks, cup her chin, and look at them with a very satisfied expression: “We haven’t even started filming, and I can already see the shadows of Mi Jia and Xiaoying. You two are a great match!”

Xia Shinan was seriously picking up the second piece of fatty beef. Her hand paused when she heard this sentence. The beef fell back into the pot. She subconsciously glanced at Tang Yin and said awkwardly, “Little Tail, what nonsense are you talking about? We… we’re both straight!”

Weiba said faintly: “Why are you so flustered? I meant that you two look like the characters in the movie. A great match.”

“Oh, oh…” Xia Shinan responded, secretly glancing at Tang Yin, no longer paying attention to Weiba’s gaze, and eating seriously.

The hot pot dinner was almost over when Xia Shinan’s phone suddenly rang.

Seeing the caller ID, her eyes flickered. “I… I’ll go out to answer the phone.”

“Be quick.” Duan Xiaofei and Weiba were fighting over the last beef ball and responded casually.

Tang Yin briefly closed her eyes. She had seen the caller ID: Mom.

Xia Shinan went to a quiet corner outside before answering the phone.

She spoke cautiously: “Mom.”

“Have you eaten?” The woman on the other end’s words were clearly a concern, but her cold tone made Xia Shinan feel no warmth.

“I ate! Just a simple meal… Mom, have you eaten?” Xia Shinan didn’t dare to say she was eating hot pot. In Xie Wan’s eyes, food like hot pot and BBQ were not respectable and would only lower the status of the Xia family.

“Mhm… I heard that you and that Qian girl invested in some competition? Why didn’t you tell me?” This was Xie Wan’s intention in calling.

This matter had not been discussed with her in advance, which was beyond her control. Xie Wan learned about it from others and was displeased.

“No, Mom!” Xia Shinan hastily explained, “It was Little Feather… Qian Yu who invested. I didn’t participate.”

“Is that so?” Xie Wan chuckled lightly on the other end of the phone. It seemed the information she received was inaccurate. “Then what about you? Are you participating in the competition?”

Xia Shinan paused, not daring to tell the truth: “I’m… still considering it.”

“What’s there to consider about such an unpresentable competition? If you’re idle, I’ll arrange an etiquette teacher for you. Learning more etiquette and rules is better,” Xie Wan belittled it mercilessly, “Even if University A is a famous institution, the students there are mixed. If you stay there too long, you’ll forget how a lady of a prominent family should behave.”

Xia Shinan bit her lip, “That’s not true, Mom.”

The phone call ended, but Xia Shinan hadn’t recovered yet. Just one sentence from Xie Wan could ruin all her good mood. If her mother knew she had already joined the filming, she would definitely be very angry.

But… thinking of everyone who had just raised their glasses and talked about winning first place, she was reluctant to give up, and she didn’t want to give up.

I’ll just do it secretly, without telling Mom.

Once the video is filmed and submitted, Mom’s anger will be useless. I’ll take it one step at a time.

Xia Shinan composed herself and returned to the hot pot restaurant.

“Shinan, why were you gone for so long?” Weiba asked with concern.

“My mom called. We talked for a while,” Xia Shinan briefly explained and then buried her head to continue eating.

After dinner, the four walked back to school together. Duan Xiaofei and Weiba had to go to the club to get some materials. Tang Yin said she had something to do and could drop Xia Shinan off at her dorm along the way.

The two walked very slowly. The surrounding cherry blossom trees had already withered, and the ground was covered with scattered petals. Xia Shinan would occasionally say a few words to Tang Yin, but her spirits were not high. Tang Yin immediately saw that something was bothering her.

“What’s wrong? You don’t seem very happy after talking to your mom,” she said directly, seemingly out of concern, but in reality… she was more concerned about what Xia Shinan would say about her “mother.”

“Ah?” Xia Shinan touched her face when she heard her words, “Is it that obvious?”

Tang Yin shook her head: “Not really. You hide it well. I’m just smart and noticed the details. You can talk about it. It will make you feel better.”

Xia Shinan couldn’t help but smile at her self-praise. After thinking for a moment, she decided not to tell Tang Yin the truth, in case it worried everyone.

“Actually, it’s just that my mom misses me too much and wants me to go back and see her this weekend, but we’re about to start filming, so I… spent a little more time coaxing her.”

Tang Yin’s smile gradually faded. She finally took a deep breath and looked into the distance, “I see… you have a really good relationship with your family.”

Xia Shinan nodded slightly, deep in thought: “Yeah… all mothers love their children, right?”

Tang Yin’s eyes became sharp, and her smile completely disappeared, “Yes, all mothers love their children.”

After saying that, she stopped, her tone cold: “I have things to do. I won’t walk you any further. Goodbye.”

“Tang Yin…” Xia Shinan felt strange and wanted to keep her, but a voice interrupted her.

“Shinan!”

Xia Shinan looked towards the voice. It was Miao Miao, waving and running towards her.

And when Xia Shinan turned her head back to look at Tang Yin, she could only see her back, which looked so lonely.

She… seemed unhappy, but Xia Shinan didn’t understand why.

Tang Yin walked to the football field and started running.

When she was in a bad mood, she would run. Exercise could help people focus, relieve stress, and ease worries.

But after running two laps, all that appeared in her mind was the phone call from that “mother.”

Four laps… Xia Shinan’s words echoed in her mind.

“Mom misses me too much… I spent a little more time coaxing her.”

“Misses me too much…”

“Misses me…”

Tang Yin stopped, gasping for breath. A ball of inexplicable fire was still burning in her chest, seeming to grow fiercer with every hurried breath.

This fire was probably called jealousy.

She had never enjoyed a mother’s love, not for a single day!

And all the happiness Xia Shinan had should have been hers!

She had to take it back, at all costs. Even if it hurt the little white rabbit, it didn’t matter.

Because… she desperately wanted a mother.

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