Chapter 443 Yan Jin, I Miss You

Night was falling.

A black Rolls-Royce slowly drove into the Nan Family Manor.

This was Tang Xiaoya's first time here. As the car drove up the winding mountain road, the entire mountain was illuminated by lights, making it as bright as day.

Security was extremely tight, with bodyguards in black suits and headsets everywhere, their expressions cold and their eyes like eagles.

This setup is far more impressive than the Yan family's ancient castle.

Tang Xiaoya was astonished, never expecting that Sister Nan's family was so wealthy.

Tang Xiaoya followed the butler into the main house and watched Nan Wan walk downstairs.

"Sister Nan, are you alright?" Tang Xiaoya asked with a gentle smile.

"Mm," Nan Wan replied, taking her hand. "Things have finally calmed down, let's celebrate properly tonight."

A hint of disappointment flashed across Tang Xiaoya's eyes. "If Qingning were here, that would be great."

Nan Wan smiled and said, "She's just the kind of person who can't sit still. She'll be coming over again next month."

Nan Wan led her into the restaurant.

The huge round table was already laden with a sumptuous feast.

It features exquisite Chinese dishes, top-quality seafood, and various rare meats, all with excellent color, aroma, and taste.

A lady with an elegant demeanor and well-maintained appearance walked over.

Nan Wan introduced, "This is my aunt, so you can call her aunt like I do."

"aunt."

Tang Xiaoya called out gracefully.

Tang Ling's gaze fell on her face, scrutinizing her closely, her eyes filled with an indescribable excitement.

She nodded, stepped forward, and held Tang Xiaoya's hand tightly.

"This is Xiaoya."

Upon seeing this, Nan Wan chuckled softly.

"Auntie, please don't scare Xiaoya."

A short while later, Lu Qinglin also came downstairs, holding a bottle of vintage red wine in his hand.

"Brother Lu," Tang Xiaoya greeted him politely.

Lu Qinglin nodded to her, his voice gentle, "Don't be shy, please take a seat."

The four people sat down.

The servants immediately served each of them a bowl of steaming soup.

Looking at Tang Xiaoya's obviously haggard face, Nan Wan said, "You don't look well. Are you too tired from filming? Have some soup to warm your stomach."

"Yes, we've been filming for six days straight, so it's definitely tiring." Tang Xiaoya nodded.

It's more than just tiring.

The main problem is that I suffer from insomnia every night and have no appetite.

She has lost a lot of weight; her once plump and adorable baby face is now just a pointed chin.

Nan Wan felt sorry for him and said, "If you need money, just tell me. You don't have to work so hard."

"Yan Jin is so stingy, can't she get you some decent jewelry?" Nan Wan's brows furrowed unconsciously.

His gaze fell on her bare neck and the slightly old-fashioned bracelet on her wrist.

The bracelet is adorned with a small jade safety buckle.

Tang Xiaoya quickly explained, a smile on her face.

"Yan Jin gave me a lot of jewelry, but it was all too flashy, and I don't like wearing it. I'm also afraid of losing it while filming."

She added, "He's very generous; he gives me three million in pocket money every month."

Upon hearing this, Nan Wan and Lu Qinglin exchanged a glance.

Three million.

It's also paid monthly.

That damned Yan Jin, she really treats her like a caged canary.

"Come on, let's eat. It's already 8 o'clock. Let the kids eat first," Tang Ling said, breaking the awkward atmosphere at the table. "Let's start eating."

While she ate, she observed Tang Xiaoya discreetly.

This child's facial features really resemble his older brother's.

Nanwan watched as she ate very attentively, chewing small bites, but she didn't touch the seafood on the table at all.

"Don't you like seafood?"

"No," Tang Xiaoya smiled, a little embarrassed, "My stomach hasn't been feeling well lately, so I haven't dared to eat too much. These dishes are all very well made."

Nan Wan served her some food and asked a question, seemingly casually.

"Later, your brother Lu visited Aunt Zhang in Shizi Village again and learned that your father was a hero."

She paused, her gaze fixed intently on Tang Xiaoya.

"His name is... Tang Yin?"

The moment her name was uttered, everyone at the table turned to look at her.

Tang Xiaoya's hand holding the chopsticks froze in mid-air.

She slowly put down her chopsticks, the light in her eyes dimmed instantly, and her tone was filled with unbearable sorrow.

"Yes, Dad is a hero."

"Six years ago, during an earthquake, he saved 43 children, but he himself...did not make it out."

Tang Ling and Nan Wan's eyes instantly reddened.

They bit their lips hard, trying to suppress the sobs rising in their throats and the bitterness in their hearts.

Lu Qinglin spoke up at the opportune moment, changing the subject, "Do you have any other relatives? Aunt Zhang, aren't you lonely living alone in the village?"

Tang Xiaoya shook her head. "My mother has a younger aunt who married and moved to Sichuan. The year my father had his accident, she told me that I also had an aunt and a sister, and that she would take me back to visit them during the Spring Festival. But, we never got to see them..."

Her voice grew softer and softer.

Tang Ling suppressed her emotions and continued, "Did your father leave you any inheritance?"

She quietly wiped away a tear from the corner of her eye.

“My father was just a primary school teacher; he didn’t earn much money,” Tang Xiaoya recalled.

"However, eight years ago, he left home for a month and came back with a lot of things."

"Later, he always bought gifts in pairs, like this bracelet of mine, which is also a pair."

She raised her wrist, showing off the old bracelet.

"My pendant has the character '雅' (elegance) engraved on it, and another one has the character '诗' (poetry) engraved on it. They're both kept in a box..."

Upon hearing the word "poetry," Nanwan could no longer sit still.

My heart was gripped so tightly that I couldn't breathe.

"I'm going to the restroom."

She jumped up and hurried away from her seat, afraid that if she lingered even a second longer, her tears would fall in front of everyone.

So that's why... so that's why Dad always cared about her.

He also prepared a gift for her...

Lu Qinglin followed her and, at the corner of the corridor, gently put his arm around her trembling shoulders from behind.

Don't be sad.

His voice was deep and gentle.

"Dad is watching over you from heaven. You and the baby must take good care of yourselves."

Nan Wan washed her face with cold water in the bathroom, forcing herself to calm down.

When she returned to the table, she had regained her composure.

For the rest of the time, no one brought up the painful past again, and they only talked about lighthearted topics.

After the dinner ended, Tang Xiaoya prepared to leave.

Tang Ling, however, held onto her tightly, insisting on putting the priceless jade bracelet, which was entirely emerald green, onto Tang Xiaoya's wrist.

Tang Xiaoya was so frightened that she repeatedly declined, saying she dared not accept it no matter what.

Nan Wan watched from the side and smiled.

She also took out an exquisite velvet box and opened it.

Inside was a jet-black jade plaque, warm to the touch, with a "South" character carved in relief using ancient techniques.

"Keep this with you."

Nan Wan placed the jade pendant into her hand.

"If you encounter danger, just mention the name of my Southern Gang, and no one will dare to touch you."

Tang Xiaoya's eyes widened in surprise.

Isn't that... a get-out-of-jail-free card?

She accepted it carefully and nodded solemnly.

"I accept it, thank you, Sister Nan!"

It feels so good to have someone protecting you!

Her exaggerated expressions successfully made Nanwan laugh.

Nanwan immediately ordered someone to drive her back.

As the car drove away, Tang Ling's smile slowly faded.

“I like this child. Once the DNA test results are out, I’ll take her back to Rongcheng for the Chinese New Year to recognize her family.”

"I'll do whatever you say, Auntie." Nan Wan nodded.

...

That night, Tang Xiaoya lay on the soft bed, but still couldn't fall asleep.

She picked up her phone and, as always, sent a message to Yan Jin.

Yan Jin, are you alright?

When are you coming back? Is your injury getting better?

Yan Jin, I miss you.

The message was sent out, but it disappeared without a trace.

He never replies, and his phone remains switched off and unreachable.

The next day, the alarm clock woke her up. She quickly washed up and went downstairs for breakfast. Aunt Chen cooked a fragrant chicken porridge and served it with freshly steamed shrimp dumplings.

She drank a few mouthfuls of porridge, and then her stomach inexplicably churned, making her want to vomit.

Finally, she only drank a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice before rushing out the door.

Today's filming schedule wasn't heavy; apart from the most important climax scene, we've basically finished filming everything else.

In the afternoon, she went to Teacher Hu's studio again.

She and Teacher Hu discussed the details of the Zhan Gu dance in detail, and Teacher Hu even personally choreographed a more explosive dance for her.

She climbed up that high platform once again and practiced diligently.

Hu Die watched from below, her eyes filled with amazement.

This girl's talent is terrifying; no one can perform such a difficult dance so freely in such a short time.

Tang Xiaoya jumped around on it, and with each leap, each spin, each leap, she landed steadily in the center of the platform.

Hu Die knew that she would become famous overnight with this dance.

After the dance practice, Hu Die once again sincerely invited her to join her studio.

Tang Xiaoya admitted that she was tempted.

But she still said, "I'll get back to you after filming wraps up."

She still needs to discuss this matter with Yan Jin.

As I stepped out of the studio, it was already getting dark.

A black Bentley was parked quietly by the roadside. Yan Chen leaned against the car door, a cigarette between his fingers, the crimson flame flickering in the twilight.

He arrived a long time ago and had watched her entire dance performance through the glass in the dance studio upstairs.

I was so amazed that I was speechless.

"Teacher Yan." Tang Xiaoya stopped and greeted her politely.

Yan Chen stubbed out his cigarette and opened the car door.

"Get in the car, I'll go have dinner with you."

"Teacher Yan, I have something to do tonight." Tang Xiaoya didn't really want to be alone with him, so she subconsciously took a step back.

In the end, she was half-forced into the car.

The atmosphere in the restaurant was oppressive.

Tang Xiaoya had little appetite and couldn't help but ask about Yan Jin's condition.

Yan Chen cut his steak and spoke slowly and deliberately.

"The family banquet was held a couple of days ago, and the head of the Si family brought Miss Si Nuan over."

He raised his eyes, looked at Tang Xiaoya's face which had turned deathly pale, and said, word by word.

"They came to discuss a marriage alliance."

Tang Xiaoya's heart sank little by little.

She clenched her fists, her voice trembling, "When...when can he return to Qingcheng?"

Yan Chen put down his knife and fork and wiped his mouth with a napkin.

"That depends on how much he compromises."

In an instant, all the food tasted bland and tasteless.

Tang Xiaoya couldn't eat anymore and put down her fork.

Yan Chen suddenly picked up a handkerchief, leaned forward, and wiped the sauce from the corner of her mouth.

Tang Xiaoya was startled, awkwardly snatched the handkerchief from his hand, and hastily wiped her mouth.

Yan Chen's smile deepened as he looked at her panicked expression.

The two walked out of the restaurant.

Not long after, the hashtag #YanChenTangXiaoYaSecretMeeting# suddenly appeared at the top of the trending searches.

As soon as Tang Xiaoya returned to the villa, she saw the photo on her phone taken from a tricky angle. It captured the intimate interaction between the two, showing Yan Chen tenderly wiping her mouth.

She was extremely worried; why was she photographed again?

In the end, she could only ask Yan Chen to deal with the trending topic.

Yan Chen made a phone call, and the trending topic was quickly removed. Hopefully, Yan Jin didn't see it.

The distant city of Los Angeles.

Yan Jin stood on the balcony, her face pale, looking at the trending topics on her phone screen.

His gaze finally settled on the words "secret meeting".

A raging fire instantly ignited in his eyes.

The fingers, with their distinct knuckles, clenched tighter and tighter, until the knuckles turned white.

He squeezed out her name, one word at a time, through gritted teeth.

"Tang, Xiao, Ya".

"Very good, well done..."

Yan Jin walked out of the room, and the butler was standing by the door.

He said coldly, "Tell the old man that I have agreed to all his conditions."

"Tomorrow, I'm going back to Qingcheng."