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During dinner, Tang Xi placed the form in front of Tang Zhenying and requested, “Please help me sign this.”
“What’s this?” Tang Zhenying was startled by this sudden gesture. He was surprised after taking a look at the paper, “The application form for living on campus? Why would you want to live on campus?”
“Yes, why? Do you not want to live here? Or do you not like how I decorated your room…” Yang Wenqiu asked disconcertedly.
“It’s too far.” Tang Xi interrupted her questioning.
Too far? That’s it?
All of them had the same thought.
“Xixi jie, the family car will take us to school every morning.” Tang Jing spoke up softly, “You don’t need to worry about being late. Plus, the dorms might be dirty. Staying at home is better.”
“I get carsick.” Tang Xi made up an excuse before taking a sip of the orange juice in front of her.
Tang Jing didn’t know how to respond to that.
“The school only has shared dormitories; how can you live there?” Tang Zhenying pushed the form back, “I remember No.1 high school is next to Jin Hu Yuan Garden. The environment there is good, and they also have strict security. Just buy a house there for Xixi, the kind that’s already decorated so she can move in straight away.”
…Tang Xi’s lips twitched. At first, she thought this cheap dad of hers was going to rent her an apartment or something. Who knew he would directly buy her a house! Tang Xi was speechless; she couldn’t believe Tang Zhenying made purchasing a house sound like going to the supermarket to buy a toy.
The world of the rich, incomprehensible.
*****
Having read the novel, Tang Xi is very clear that at this time, the contradiction between her and Tang Jing has not yet intensified. There was no intense grudge between them to speak off.
It was not that Tang Zhenying and Yang Wenqiu did not feel any guilt or heartache for their biological daughter, but the way they express this guilt and heartache was inappropriate. One gives money and the other buys things. It was like they believed they don’t need to feel sorry as long as they spend money on Tang Xi.  However, what the original owner wanted was not money, clothes or jewelries, it was her family’s genuine affection and care. It was their repeated neglect and partiality that distorted the original owner’s pure personality in the end.
At least Tang Xi thought that for a young girl that found her real family after suffering a lifetime of hardships, seeing her family treating Tang Jing, the girl who stole her life, as the apple of their eye would be the worst thing. What’s more, that same family that treated her with contempt. Anyone who’s not a holy mother would blacken if they experience something like this, including her.
*****
“Mom, Dad are you thinking of announcing Xixi jie’s identity at your wedding anniversary party this weekend?” Tang Jing asked in a pitiful voice, glancing at her parents cautiously.
Tang Zhenying and Yang Wenqiu were both dumbfounded. It was impossible to hide something this big. Everyone is going to find out about Tang Xi eventually now that she’s living with them. They need to give an explanation to their relatives and business partners. But if they told everyone the truth, what would happen to Tang Jing? They were the ones that brought Tang Jing back by mistake, she was an innocent party in this mess. They couldn’t bear to let their Jingjing, who they’ve spoiled and doted on since childhood, endure condescending gazes from others in the future.
“Or…say she’s your niece? Isn’t your brother abroad?” Yang Wenqiu suggested with some hesitance.
Tang Zhenying frowned, although it is true that his younger brother is in another country, everyone in their circle know he is not married. There would still be questions about this daughter that popped out of nowhere.
Tang Xi raised an eyebrow, “Just say I was adopted.”
“How can we say that?!” Yang Wenqiu subconsciously refused her.
Tang Xi pursed her lips in disdain, Is there any difference between an adopted daughter and a niece? They didn’t want to acknowledge her because they were afraid that Tang Jing will be wronged? Their estranged biological daughter is sitting right in front of them, how could they not take her feelings into consideration? They shouldn’t have brought Tang Xi back if they didn’t care about her.
Tang Xi took a tissue and wiped her mouth, “Anything will do, just one thing though—my grandma, oh, I meant Tang Jing’s grandma, she was an honest and upright person. Just make sure there won’t be any rumors of an illegitimate daughter or anything that would cause her to lose face. She would roll in her grave if something like that happened.”
“Watch what you’re saying!” Tang Zhao slammed the table and glared at Tang Xi once he heard that.
Tang Jing lowered her head, fingers clutching her skirt. Her small face immediately turned pale and she looked as if she’s about to burst into tears.
“Why, did I say anything wrong? Was that not your grandmother?” Tang Xi turned to look at Tang Jing with an innocent look on her face.
Tang Jing gritted her teeth, unable to answer the question. The paternity test has proved everything. She couldn’t deny this blood relationship even if the Tang family was willing to continue raising her as their daughter. Others would accuse her of disliking the poor and currying favor with the rich if she refused to acknowledge her biological family…
“That’s enough.” Tang Zhenying made a decision. He looked at his wife, “Just say you gave birth to twins that year. One went missing during the chaos and we only found her now.”
Of course, there are flaws in this explanation, but it was sixteen years ago, which means there won’t be any digital records. Many birth records from that period were missing because the fire burned down the entire obstetrics building. Most of the doctors and nurses that were working at the obstetrics department at the time had also retired. It’s not that difficult for an influential family like the Tang family to use their money to forge a few papers or shut someone up.
“As you like. I’m full, I’m going to go review my homework.” Tang Xi stood up and walked upstairs indifferently.
“…” Everyone stared at the place where she sat in amazement.
In the place where Tang Xi sat; the rice bowl was empty, there was a pile of fish bones and pork ribs next to the bowl on the table. How did she finish all that in a few minutes? Did she put a zipper on her stomach and poured everything in?!