Chapter 12 Pretending I Am You
Yan Shuang's consciousness was pulled out of the chaos.
She opened her eyes with a groan, immediately struck by a severe headache.
The ceiling spun in her vision, and she had to close her eyes again to wait for the dizziness to pass.
When Yan Shuang tried to look around again, she found herself lying in a familiar room.
But something was off. The windows were completely covered by heavy curtains, and the light coming through the cracks in the door suggested that it was still daytime outside or that the lights were on.
She tried to sit up, but found that her wrists were bound by something.
Looking down, she saw a silk scarf tied to the headboard railing of the bed.
This is utterly absurd and ridiculous; she was actually tied to the bed by her own family like a prisoner!
"Is anyone there?" Yan Shuang shouted, her voice hoarse from thirst. "Let me go!"
The door opened, and Yan You walked in carrying a glass of water.
"You're awake." Yan You sat on the edge of the bed and held a glass of water to Yan Shuang's lips. "Have some water first."
Yan Shuang abruptly turned her head away, spilling some water on the blanket. "You drugged me? And tied me up? Are you crazy?"
"Shuangshuang, listen to me..."
"What are you going to say? Tell me how you planned to get me to sleep with my brother-in-law?" Yan Shuang's voice trembled with anger. "Or explain how Mom drugged her own daughter?"
"We have no choice!" Yan You raised her voice. "If Brother Qiu Zhu finds out I'm not... our marriage is over..."
Yan Shuang sneered: "So I'm just supposed to be a sacrifice?"
“You’re not a sacrifice,” Yan You grasped her hand. “You’re my sister, we’re connected by blood. Your body is almost identical to mine, even our DNA…”
"Shut up!" Yan Shuang felt nauseous. "You make me want to throw up."
"This is the only way. We'll compensate you after this is all over..."
"Compensation?" Yan Shuang tugged at the restraints on her wrists. "How will you compensate me?"
The door opened again.
"Awake?" Zhou Yaqin sat down on the edge of the bed, holding a bowl of steaming porridge. "Have some porridge first. You've been asleep for a whole day and night."
Yan Shuang abruptly slapped her mother's hand away: "Don't touch me!"
Zhou Yaqin's hand froze in mid-air, her eyes reddening: "Shuangshuang, Mom is so sorry..."
"I'm sorry?" Yan Shuang forced herself to sit up, her back against the headboard, her voice trembling. "Do you know what you're doing? Making me go with my brother-in-law... Are you crazy?"
Zhou Yaqin's tears finally fell: "Mom really has no other choice..." She grabbed Yan Shuang's hand, "Your sister is so immature, she... what if Shang Qiuzhu finds out..."
Yan Shuang shook off her hand, her stomach churning: "So you came up with this despicable idea? To make me a substitute?"
"Shuangshuang!" Zhou Yaqin suddenly raised her voice, "Do you know what the situation is like at the company right now? The condition for Shang's investment was this marriage! If something goes wrong because of this..."
She took a deep breath, her voice softening again: "Mom knows you've been wronged... but you're twins, you look exactly alike, all we need to do is dim the lights a little..."
Yan Shuang stared intently at the exhaustion and anxiety that her mother couldn't hide beneath her exquisite makeup, and suddenly felt utterly absurd. She had known since childhood how important the Yan Group was to the family, but she had never imagined that one day she would be asked to sacrifice herself in this way.
“Mom,” she said softly, but each word was clear, “I am your daughter, not a tool.”
Zhou Yaqin's tears streamed down her face uncontrollably: "Shuangshuang, Mom begs you... please, for the sake of this family..."
“Over the years,” Yan Shuang said softly, “you’ve only ever had eyes for my sister.”
Zhou Yaqin was stunned: "Shuangshuang..."
"Now that sacrifice is needed, you finally remember you have a daughter?" Yan Shuang turned her head, tears silently streaming down her face. "Why should I?"
The room fell silent for a moment, except for Zhou Yaqin's suppressed sobs.
After a long silence, Zhou Yaqin wiped away her tears, her voice regaining its usual calm: "Shuangshuang, you can hate your mother, but this matter concerns the survival of the entire Yan family." She stood up. "Think it over carefully. Don't go anywhere during this time. I've already asked for leave from the company, saying you're not feeling well."
Yan Shuang then noticed that her phone, wallet, and coat were missing. "You can't imprison me like this! It's illegal!"
Zhou Yaqin ignored her threat and turned to Yan You: "Keep an eye on her, don't let her do anything foolish. I have an appointment at the beauty salon, an important dinner party tonight." After saying that, she left the room.
Yan Shuang suddenly felt both ridiculous and pathetic, wondering just how disgusting this family was.
It appears glamorous on the surface, but is rotten inside.
Yan You grabbed her hand, "Please, Shuangshuang, just this once... After Qiu Zhu and I get married, I'll find a way to make it up to you..."
Yan Shuang did not answer.
She turned to look out the window. Although the curtains blocked her view, she knew that outside was a world of freedom.
"You can leave now. I want to be alone," she finally said.
Yan You hesitated for a moment, then got up and left, gently closing the door behind her.
Three days have passed.
Yan Shuang stubbornly refused all food and water, her lips were cracked and bleeding, and her stomach was cramping from hunger.
She lay motionless on the bed, like a corpse waiting to die.
Late on the fourth night, when the whole house was asleep, Yan Shuang's door was gently pushed open.
A tall figure walked in silently and sat down by her bedside.
"Shuangshuang," Yan Zhenye's voice was hoarser than usual, "we need to talk."
Yan Shuang did not answer, but looked at him with a wary gaze.
Yan Zhenye sighed, took out a small pair of scissors from his pocket, and cut the silk scarf binding her wrists.
Yan Shuang weakly moved her free wrist, a dark red mark already left on her skin.
“I know you hate us.” Yan Zhenye looked directly into her eyes. “But there are some things you need to know.”
He took out a stack of documents from his briefcase, the top of which was a financial statement of the Yan Group.
Even in the dim light, Yan Shuang could clearly see those shocking red numbers.
“The company has been losing money for the past two years.” Yan Zhenye’s voice was eerily calm.
Yan Shuang finally spoke, her voice hoarse from thirst: "So you sell your daughter?"
Yan Zhenye's expression twisted for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure.
“It’s not about selling, it’s about saving. The livelihoods of more than 300 employees, our house, our car, your and your sister’s future... it all depends on this marriage.”
"For this... you'd rather destroy me?" Her voice was so soft it was almost inaudible.
"No one wanted to destroy you, Frosty. This is just a... sacrifice. For the greater good."
"What if I refuse?" she asked in a final struggle.
Yan Zhenye's expression hardened.
“Then an ambulance will come to pick you up tomorrow. The paperwork for the mental hospital is ready, and the doctor will certify that you have severe depression and self-harm tendencies, requiring long-term treatment.” He paused. “You know those kinds of places are easy to get into but hard to get out.”
Yan Shuang's blood froze instantly.
This is not a threat, but a notification.
Her family had already laid out two paths for her: either comply or be declared insane.
"You...you're terrifying..." Her voice was broken.
Yan Zhenye stood up, looking down at her. "Mom will bring breakfast tomorrow morning. I want to see you eat it all." He walked towards the door, then turned back and added, "When we get to the Maldives, you need to behave more politely."
The door closed, and Yan Shuang curled up on the bed. Her tears had dried up, leaving only endless emptiness and despair.
Perhaps it was due to dehydration and hunger, or perhaps it was due to a mental breakdown.
Yan Shuang fainted again.
When her consciousness slowly returned like the receding tide, Yan Shuang's first sensation was the exceptionally soft mattress beneath her, ten times more comfortable than the one at home.
Then came a delicate fragrance, like a blend of orchids and sea breeze, lingering around the tip of the nose.
She opened her heavy eyelids, and what came into view was an elegantly designed crystal chandelier.
This wasn't her bedroom, or even any place she was familiar with.
"Awake?" A familiar voice came from the right.
Yan Shuang turned her head abruptly, too forcefully, and a wave of dizziness immediately washed over her.
After she calmed down a bit, she saw Zhou Yaqin sitting in an armchair by the bed, holding a bowl in her hands.
"Where...is this?" Yan Shuang's voice was so hoarse it didn't sound like her own.
She tried to sit up, but found her whole body limp and powerless.
"Maldives, Huvafen Fushi Island." Zhou Yaqin stirred the contents of her bowl with a spoon.
Yan Shuang gasped and looked down at herself.
She was wearing a light pink silk nightgown with delicate lace embellishments at the neckline, which was definitely in line with Yan You's taste.
She raised her hand tremblingly to touch her face, her fingertips brushing against her meticulously drawn eyebrows, perfectly blended eyeshadow, and the sticky lip gloss on her lips.
"You... changed my clothes? Put on makeup?" Yan Shuang's voice began to tremble.
“You need to dress up a bit,” Zhou Yaqin leaned forward and handed over a porcelain bowl. “Here, drink this bird’s nest soup. I had the kitchen make it especially for you; it’s good for your health.”
Yan Shuang stared at the translucent gelatinous substance in the bowl and felt a wave of nausea.
The scene was ridiculously absurd.
She was wearing her sister's pajamas and makeup when she was drugged and taken to a foreign country. Zhou Yaqin acted as if nothing had happened and gently advised her to take supplements.
"I'm not hungry." She turned her face away.
Zhou Yaqin's smile froze for a moment, then quickly returned to its perfect form. "Don't be stubborn, Shuangshuang. Tonight... you need your energy."
Yan Shuang suddenly looked up, her pupils contracting: "Tonight?"
“Yes.” Zhou Yaqin scooped up a spoonful of bird’s nest and held it to Yan Shuang’s lips. “Good girl, open your mouth.”
Yan Shuang stared intently at Zhou Yaqin's well-maintained face.
"How much drugged me? From my home to the airport, and then on the plane... I have absolutely no recollection of it..."
Zhou Yaqin held the spoon steadily, unmoved by the question.
"A dose sufficient to put you to sleep peacefully. Don't worry, it's harmless to your body."
Yan Shuang felt a chill run through her body.
Why are you doing this to me? Do you hate me that much?
Zhou Yaqin finally put down her spoon and placed the bowl on the bedside table.
She reached out and stroked Yan Shuang's face. "Silly child, Mommy loves you."
Yan Shuang jerked away from the hand, her back slamming against the soft headboard. "Love? You drugged me, kidnapped me, threatened to send me to a mental hospital, and now you're transporting me abroad like cargo... Is this what you call love?"
Zhou Yaqin's expression turned sad. "Shuangshuang, why do you always think about things in such an extreme way?"
She sighed, "We're family, it's only right that we help each other. Once You'er and Qiu Zhu get married smoothly and the company overcomes the crisis, you'll understand that it was all worth it."
"And what about my feelings?" Yan Shuang's voice began to crack. "What about my life?"
"Feelings?" Zhou Yaqin suddenly laughed. "Shuangshuang, from childhood to adulthood, when have I not given you the best? The best formula, the best kindergarten, the best tutoring classes... Now the family needs you, and you're talking to me about feelings?"
Yan Shuang's lips trembled, but she couldn't utter a single word.
"Come on, drink the bird's nest soup." Zhou Yaqin picked up the bowl again, her tone softening. "Mom will feed you."
Yan Shuang looked helplessly at the spoon handed to her.
"Good boy, drink it."
A single tear finally broke free and slid down Yan Shuang's cheek.
But unexpectedly, there was only this one drop.
She thought she would break down in tears and become hysterical, but in fact, she felt a strange calm, as if her soul had floated up to the ceiling, coldly observing the absurd drama unfolding below.
Mechanically, Yan Shuang opened her mouth and accepted the spoonful of bird's nest.
It glided across her tongue, tasteless and cold, just like the emptiness in her heart at that moment.
Zhou Yaqin fed her spoonful by spoonful, "You need to behave properly tonight, like...like You'er."
Yan Shuang swallowed numbly, no longer resisting.
Her tears seemed to have dried up, and even her anger had burned away.
As the last spoonful of bird's nest disappeared between her lips, she felt a strange sense of relief.
No more thinking, no more struggling, all I need to do is play the role of Yan You's stand-in.
"Rest for a while, I'll pick you up later." She planted a kiss on Yan Shuang's forehead. "Remember, you are Yan You, the eldest daughter of the Shang family, and Qiu Zhu's fiancée."
The sound of the door closing was amplified infinitely in Yan Shuang's ears before quickly fading into silence.
She slowly slid down and lay in the center of the luxurious bed, staring at the intricate relief patterns on the ceiling.
Yan Shuang closed her eyes, letting her consciousness sink into darkness once again.
Before she completely lost consciousness, she vaguely remembered a game she played with Yan You when she was a child.
"Pretend I am you".
It was so much fun back then, being able to switch identities and experience each other's lives.
Now, this childhood game has become a nightmare she can't wake up from.
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