The Imposter Princess

Yin XinYi didn't regret her choice of leaving. By leaving, she avoided a confrontation. However, she knew that she had only put off the confrontation, for now.

Yin XinYi frowned. It was unlike her to step out of character. Yin XinYi had never acted rashly without calculating the consequences. Usually, she would be able to calmly take the verbal abuse without even flinching, but this time, she had retorted.

Yin XinYi got up from her chair and started to pace. Her mind was in turmoil, premeditating the effects of her actions. While pacing, her feet unconsciously lead her to the bathroom. Yin XinYi looked up from the ground and into the mirror.

Her brows were furrowed and she was biting her lower lip. If anyone from Country 86 saw her, they would do a double take. Was this the emotionless second miss of the Yin family?

•••

Back in Country 86, Yin XinYi had built a reputation as an emotionless shadow. Many would compare her to the sun, Yin Yating. Yating was bright, cheerful and sincere while XinYi was cold, emotionless and distant.

Yet, no one could call Yin XinYi rude. Rather, she was very polite, even with those who were rude to her. Her etiquette was better than even Yating's. XinYi knew what to say, when to say. However, no one noticed.

Yating was a little clumsier but that was part of her charm. When she made mistakes, she would try her best to correct it. It softened people's hearts to see someone trying so hard to please them. Everyone's eyes would be drawn to Yating. She was pure, sweet and kind. She was a fragile bunny that everyone wanted to protect.

Yating overshadowed XinYi. No one noticed XinYi's elegance. They only noticed Yating's mistakes and her adorable efforts to correct them. No one noticed XinYi's hard work in always being perfect, whether in her behaviors or her actions. They only noticed Yating's efforts in trying to make everyone happy.

Yin XinYi can not act like Yating. XinYi can not make a single mistake. If XinYi made a mistake, society would rip her apart. If Yating made a mistake, upper society would drop everything to help her. That was the difference in treatment.

Yet, XinYi was happy back in the Yin family. She felt loved and cared for, but was she?

•••

Yin XinYi relaxed her face. Although she was known to be emotionless, XinYi was not. She just didn't show her emotions as much as Yating. When Yating is aggrieved, she would frown and pout cutely, causing others to wish to help her. When Yating is happy, she would smile brightly, causing others to feel her joy.

However, XinYi is different. Whether she is filled with joy, rage, or sorrow, XinYi does not react much. However, doesn't mean that she is emotionless.

When she's happy, XinYi's corner of her lips may curve up, or a slight smile might show up on her face. The reason as to why Yin XinYi s known as emotionless is due to the comparison between her and Yating. How can a faraway star compare to the Sun? The people are blinded by what they see up close and lose sight of something much greater.

XinYi put her hand on her face and c.a.r.e.s.sed it. She had a face that many would kill to possess and body that matched it perfectly.

Suddenly, she scrunched up her face in rage and spat to her reflection, "How pathetic!"

How could she let the episode with the Yin family still affect her? It even shook her most powerful weapon, her calm demeanor. Yin XinYi was not stupid. She would have never survived in upper society as long as she had if she was.

If she acted as innocent as Yin Yating, she might have been disowned long ago. Maybe, it was better to be disowned years ago than now. At the very least, Yin XinYi wouldn't have grown as attached as she had now.

Yin XinYi knew about the difference between Yating and herself long ago but pretended not to. It was blatantly obvious. If Yin XinYi really had the Yin family behind her, who would actually dare bully her? The only reason as to why she got harassed was due to the fact that her oppressors knew that the Yin name was just an empty title. Of course, there were also some idiots who were just jealous and needed to make someone feel inferior just to nurse their ego.

To mingle with upper society, she made use of what she had at her disposal and honed them into deadly weapons. She took psychology as her major to understand others. Yin XinYi used the information that she had gathered and made calculated choices based on them. The elegance that she learned from the Yins was sharpened into a subconscious habit so no one could find any flaws.

Every action and every word was used to manipulate others and situations to benefit herself the most. Yin XinYi won't deny that, at first, she had done all of it to gain recognition from the Yin family. Although Yin Hai's family tolerated her, the elders of the Yin family hated her. They never accepted her as a true Yin.

As she got older, however, Yin XinYi realized the truth. Her value to the Yin family was not the same as Yating. XinYi gave up on the idea of being loved like Yin Yating. She became much more content with her life than before. Never once did XinYi wish to harm Yating. Never was XinYi jealous of Yating. XinYi envied Yating for the love that Yating received but was never jealous.

Yin XinYi was rather grateful for the care that Yin Hai's family gave her. She would never wish to harm them. They took in an orphan at the request of a young Yating and raised XinYi up. They never ignored her or laid a hand on her. They gave her food, shelter and care. Her life was like a dream to many. For two decades, Yin XinYi lived happily with the Yin family.

When Yin XinYi was disowned, her heart was broken. Although XinYi was content with being second to Yating, it doesn't mean that she didn't crave for the love that Yating received. It was twenty years of living with the Yin family, yet they threw XinYi away like garbage.

XinYi never expected to be disowned. She knew her value was less than Yating's but thought that twenty years of love and affection would amount to something.

Anyone who was not shaken up in a situation like XinYi's, was heartless. Twenty years of attachment was hard to ignore.

Yin XinYi is emotionless? Yin XinYi was like any other person. She had a heart. It just that she didn't portray her emotions as much. Distant? She didn't want anyone to break her heart or take advantage of her. Cold? It made her seem unapproachable. The less people that came to her, the less troubles she'll have.

•••

Eyes filled with rage and viciousness, the woman in the mirror looked like a true villainess. All of it was directed at herself for being a fool.

Yin XinYi relaxed her face again. She took deep breaths to calm herself.

In and out. In and out. Once again, her emotionless face stared back at her in the mirror. She reminded herself:

XinYi. No one will pity you. Not until you find out the truth. Do not let your feelings get in the way. Do not let anything shake you.

Yin XinYi gave her reflection a nod and walked out of the bathroom.