The False Heiress In The 1980s

2. The Table of Strangers

Lin Yuqi took a deep breath as she stepped out of her room, the wooden door creaking softly behind her. Her heart raced, but she forced herself to appear calm. This wasn't her home, these weren't her parents, but for now, she had no choice but to play her part.

She entered the small dining area, her eyes immediately landing on the four people seated at the table. 

Father Lin, stone-faced and silent, sat at the head of the table, his posture rigid. His eyes barely flicked toward her as she stepped into the room. 

Mother Lin, sitting beside him, looked up, her lips pressing into a thin line. She was plump, in her forties, but she had managed to maintain her looks—aside from the sharp, narrow eyes that gave her a permanently cunning expression. Those eyes bore into Lin Yuqi with barely concealed irritation, as if her mere presence was a reminder of something unwanted.

Seated next to Mother Lin was Xia Ning. Lin Yuqi's chest tightened involuntarily at the sight of her. 

Xia Ning, the real daughter, had a look of triumph hidden behind her thin smile. She had inherited those same sharp eyes from Mother Lin, a striking resemblance that made the connection between them unmistakable. 

Xia Ning was thinner than Lin Yuqi, likely from her life in the countryside, but she wasn't as tanned as most villagers, a sign that she hadn't done much hard labor despite her humble upbringing. Spoiled even as a daughter in the countryside.

And then there was Lin Jiahao, sitting across from Xia Ning. He glanced at Lin Yuqi with open disdain, a sneer tugging at his lips. His spoiled nature was written all over his arrogant posture, his chin slightly lifted as if daring her to speak or even sit at the table.

Forcing herself to keep a steady face, Lin Yuqi walked toward the dining table. She noticed the simple meal spread across it—a stir-fried meat dish paired with a common vegetable side, the kind typical of 1980s China. Nothing fancy, but nothing poor either, a reflection of their middling military status. 

As she approached the empty chair, she caught the subtle shift in Xia Ning's expression. The girl's eyes flickered with jealousy as they darted over Lin Yuqi's face, no doubt comparing her own looks to Lin Yuqi's fair skin, full lips, and beautiful phoenix eyes.

Lin Yuqi sat down quietly, feeling the unspoken tension thick in the air.

"Let's eat," Father Lin said gruffly, barely looking up from his food as he began to serve himself. The rest of the family followed suit, and the clinking of chopsticks against plates filled the awkward silence.

For a few moments, no one spoke. Lin Yuqi picked at her food, trying to stay inconspicuous while keeping her thoughts steady. Xia Ning's gaze was on her again, that triumphant glint in her eyes still lingering. Lin Yuqi kept her expression blank, refusing to give Xia Ning any satisfaction.

It wasn't long before Mother Lin broke the silence. Her voice was as sharp as her eyes. "Tomorrow, you'll be going back to the countryside," she said, her chopsticks never pausing as she spoke. "It's time you returned to your real family."

Lin Yuqi's stomach clenched. Back to the countryside. They were going to send her away tomorrow, as though she were some unwanted guest, no longer of any value now that the truth had come out.

She didn't have a choice. Not yet.

"Yes," Lin Yuqi said, her voice calm, hiding the bitterness that had settled in her chest. "I'll go."

Across the table, Xia Ning sneered again, though it was a subtle twist of her lips that only Lin Yuqi could see. Xia Ning's jealousy was obvious, though she tried to hide it. Lin Yuqi could see it in the way her eyes lingered on her—comparing their features. Lin Yuqi was fairer, with fuller lips and those distinct phoenix-shaped eyes, while Xia Ning's sharp eyes, though similar to her mother's, were narrower and less striking.

Xia Ning's thoughts were practically written across her face, though she kept her silence. Even if Lin Yuqi was more beautiful, she would soon be sent to the countryside, where her beauty would fade, and she would become just another village girl.

The rest of the meal passed in awkward silence. Father Lin said nothing more, focused solely on his food, and Lin Jiahao looked as though he was counting down the minutes until he could escape from the table. Mother Lin didn't bother to ask Lin Yuqi about her feelings or if she had any preparations to make. To her, this was already decided.

When dinner was over, Mother Lin turned to her once more. "Go back to your room and pack up your things. You'll be leaving early tomorrow morning. Make sure you don't leave anything behind."

Lin Yuqi stood up slowly, nodding as if in agreement. She glanced one last time at the table—the family that wasn't hers, the life that was slipping through her fingers. Xia Ning's sneer had returned, though she tried to hide it behind her cup of tea.

Without another word, Lin Yuqi turned and walked back to her room, closing the door softly behind her. Inside, the reality of her situation began to settle in. This wasn't just a nightmare. She would be leaving in the morning, sent away like discarded trash to the countryside.

But this wasn't the end for her. Not yet.

As Lin Yuqi stared at the books scattered across her floor, her resolve began to harden. She would have to play along for now. But no one—not even Xia Ning—would dictate her fate.

Tomorrow would be the start of something new.