Paranoid Girlfriend [Transmigration into a Book] - Chapter 4

For a while, the atmosphere in the room fell silent, even carrying a faint heaviness.

Dai Shiyuan could not quite withstand the female lead’s gaze. Slowly, she lowered her head, her eyes fixed on the tips of her shoes. Behind her, both hands gripped the edge of the desk with force, and soon, the gaps beneath her fingernails were stained with paint from the tabletop.

This silent resistance showed an extremely firm attitude, completely exceeding Shan Yaxin’s expectations.

But once she thought of the personality hidden beneath this person’s sweet appearance, she found it understandable.

Shan Yaxin gave a light laugh and took the initiative to ease the tense atmosphere. Taking out her phone, she said, “Xiao Yuan, choosing a university is an important matter. You need to tell Mom and Dad about your decision.”

“Mm.” Dai Shiyuan immediately nodded, secretly letting out a breath of relief.

Confronting the female lead really did require a bit of courage.

Shan Yaxin dialed a number, switched on speakerphone, and placed the phone on the desk.

The call was quickly connected, and a deep male voice came from the other end. “Xiaoxin, has Xiao Yuan’s illness gotten any better?”

Hearing those words of concern, Dai Shiyuan’s eyes flickered, and a strange feeling brushed through her heart.

She had almost no memory of her father. Now that there was suddenly a father in name showing concern for her, she felt somewhat at a loss.

Seeing that Dai Shiyuan was standing there in a daze without replying, Shan Yaxin smiled softly and answered, “Dad, Xiao Yuan’s cold has already gotten better.”

Her tone was respectful and polite. She glanced at Dai Shiyuan and added, “Right, Xiao Yuan?”

“Yes.” Dai Shiyuan answered quietly. The word “Dad” was stuck in her throat, unable to come out.

“That’s good. Xiao Yuan, you need to pay more attention to your health in the future. Don’t set the air-conditioning temperature too low in summer. Drink fewer cold drinks. Girls should drink more warm water. You absolutely can’t rely on being young and stop caring about your body…” Father Dai nagged on and on, going through his whole set of health-preservation advice.

Dai Shiyuan nodded from time to time and answered with little “mms,” her youthful face looking extremely obedient and adorable.

Shan Yaxin watched from the side, a trace of coldness appearing in her eyes.

This woman really knew how to pretend. On ordinary days, she always looked like an innocent, lively young girl.

But Shan Yaxin knew that this younger sister-in-law of hers was far from as simple as she appeared.

Only after Father Dai had said just about enough did Shan Yaxin finally speak. With some worry, she said, “Dad, Xiao Yuan wants to study outside the province. No matter how I try to persuade her, it’s useless. Please hurry and talk to her. Tomorrow is the final deadline for submitting university preferences.”

Hearing this, Dai Shiyuan’s heart trembled.

This female lead was quite good at stirring things up. Since she could not persuade Dai Shiyuan herself, she had pulled someone else in to do it.

Now Dai Shiyuan was truly curious about the reason why the female lead insisted on keeping her here.

“Xiao Yuan, tell Dad. Why do you want to choose a school outside the province?” Father Dai did not come up and question her at once. Instead, he patiently asked for her reason.

Hearing this, Dai Shiyuan felt a little moved. A warm current passed through her heart. She pursed her lips and said, “Because I want to go outside the province and see more of the world.”

“If you want to broaden your horizons, then this summer, Dad will take you all around the country, all right?” Father Dai said gently, his deep voice carrying a pampering smile.

Dai Shiyuan’s eyes flickered, and she felt happy over the fatherly love revealed in those words.

However, her little life was still more important. She had to go to a university outside the province.

“I really like the schools I chose. I want to study there.” Dai Shiyuan spoke softly, her still-youthful voice carrying grievance and coquettishness.

As well as a trace of nervousness that was not easy to detect.

She was truly afraid that if this conversation went on too long, the person on the other end would notice something wrong.

Shan Yaxin stood at the side, watching the nervous expression appear on that innocent face. The coldness in her eyes grew heavier, and her brows furrowed even more deeply.

She was starting to find this younger sister-in-law a little hard to understand. Why was she so determined to study outside the province?

Clearly, going to university locally was the best choice.

“Xiao Yuan, a good university concerns the next four years of your life, as well as your future development. Although our family doesn’t lack money, and no matter what university you attend, you won’t have any pressure later on, if you go outside the province, what are your mom and I supposed to do? It won’t even be easy for us to see you. You’ve never left home before. Mom and Dad truly can’t bear to part with you.” As Father Dai spoke, his tone grew more and more choked.

For some reason, Dai Shiyuan felt a little heartache. She pursed her lips, not knowing how to respond.

She had once imagined countless times that if her father were still alive, would she also have been able to act spoiled like other children and be carefree and happy?

Now that such an opportunity had appeared before her, she was somewhat tempted.

But she also understood that she was fake. She was not truly this character’s daughter.

It was still better to keep her distance. If she accidentally revealed a flaw, things would be terrible.

“One day, I’ll have to grow up. I can’t live under my parents’ wings for my entire life.” Dai Shiyuan said this firmly, completely unmoved.

On the other end, Father Dai persuaded her for a long time, but still could not change Dai Shiyuan’s decision. In the end, he could only sigh helplessly. “You’ve grown up too and have your own ideas now. Dad respects your decision. It’s just that, Xiao Yuan, you should think it over carefully. Choose a local school so the family can take care of you more easily.”

“I still want to study outside the province and see the world outside.” Dai Shiyuan repeated, her gaze glancing at the female lead.

She could feel a surge of anger hidden in the female lead’s clear, beautiful eyes.

Father Dai sighed and turned to speak to Shan Yaxin. “Xiao Yuan is still young. The decisions she makes for herself may not necessarily be right. You’re a university teacher and have plenty of experience. Talk to her more and guide her.”

“All right, Dad.” Shan Yaxin answered with a smile, her voice gentle.

Once the call was hung up, Dai Shiyuan spoke first. “I’ve already decided that I’m going to study outside the province. You don’t need to persuade me anymore. I won’t change my mind.”

Hearing this, Shan Yaxin smiled gently. Her slender fingers rubbed over the tear in the preference form. After a few seconds, she suddenly leaned closer and said in a low voice beside Dai Shiyuan’s ear, “Xiao Yuan, tell Sister-in-law the truth. Why do you insist on studying outside the province?”

The sudden closeness and warmth startled Dai Shiyuan. Looking at that beautiful face so close to her, she could not help her heartbeat speeding up.

Especially the warm breath by her ear. It scorched her until her cheeks began to flush, and that blush continued all the way down to her snow-white neck.

“Because…” Dai Shiyuan’s brain was burned completely blank. At a loss, she blinked repeatedly and kept saying, “Because…”

She had already said the reason before, but right now, she had been so stimulated by the female lead that she could not concentrate enough to remember it.

The person she most wanted to avoid was standing right beside her at this moment. The safe distance between them was almost nonexistent.

The other party’s bright eyes were as beautiful as if they held stars, but Dai Shiyuan always felt that there was a chill inside them.

Shan Yaxin waited patiently and did not urge her.

At such a close distance, she only now discovered that this younger sister-in-law’s skin was truly tender. Her face was full of collagen, carrying the youthfulness and vitality unique to her age.

She was clearly shy and nervous, yet still pretending to be calm. It really made one feel that she was somewhat adorable.

Especially those curled lashes fluttering like butterfly wings, openly displaying their owner’s unease. For one instant, Shan Yaxin could not help wanting to bully her.

But she was very clear that all of this was only a disguise. This younger sister-in-law of hers was not so pure and harmless at all.

“Because I want to go outside and see more of the world, and live independently.” Dai Shiyuan finally remembered her earlier reason and hurriedly said it.

As she spoke, she did not even dare to meet the female lead’s eyes. She even quietly shifted her body back a little, pulling a bit of distance between them.

She was not used to being so close to others. It always made her feel a little endangered.

“Still this reason?” Shan Yaxin raised a brow, her face full of disbelief.

Dai Shiyuan immediately nodded. Hunching her shoulders, she moved back a little more, her face carrying a stiff smile.

In truth, she also did not want to use such an unconvincing reason. It was just that at this moment, she could not think of a better one.

Shan Yaxin stared at this little face, both strangely familiar and unfamiliar, for a long time. Then, suddenly, she gave a bright smile and revealed a gentle expression. “Since you’ve already decided, I won’t try to persuade you anymore. Rewrite the preference form. After I confirm that there are no mistakes, you can submit it online.”

“All right.” Dai Shiyuan hurriedly nodded, secretly letting out a breath of relief.

“I’ll go get you some fruit.” Shan Yaxin smiled and straightened up. After saying this, she turned and left the room.

She did not go to the kitchen. Instead, she returned to her own room.

Glancing at the fruit plate in the room, Shan Yaxin dialed another number.

This time, she waited a little longer before an impatient voice lazily came from the other end. “What is it?”

Shan Yaxin was not surprised at this attitude in the slightest. She lightly curved her lips, her eyes carrying a hint of coldness, while her voice remained respectful as she said, “Mom, Xiao Yuan still wants to study outside the province. I can’t persuade her.”

“You’re truly useless. You can’t even handle such a small matter.” Mother Dai scolded angrily, her tone full of dissatisfaction.

“I’m sorry, Mom…” Shan Yaxin immediately apologized with self-reproach, but her eyes remained cold, with not the slightest trace of apology inside them.

In the past, she would definitely have felt anxious and uneasy because she had angered the other party.

No matter how awful the other party’s attitude was, she would always think it was because she had not done well enough that her mother-in-law was dissatisfied.

Even if she was beaten or scolded, she would willingly continue serving this family.

But now, she had already cast aside that foolish idea.

She would no longer wrong herself just to please others, and she would no longer be stupid enough to be bullied without fighting back.

Moreover, she would absolutely not make the same mistakes as before. If someone bullied her, she would definitely find a chance to retaliate. She would not foolishly blame all the fault on herself again.

Whether it was her mother-in-law or that husband of hers who had disappeared ever since the wedding.

She was no longer that stupid.

Perhaps she should feel fortunate. That man was only her husband in name, and her body was still pure.

Hearing that weak tone, Mother Dai instantly grew angry. She gave a disdainful snort and said, “Since she doesn’t want to change it, then after she finishes filling in her preferences, go online and change them for her.”

“But if we do that…”

“Do that what? Just do as I say.”

Before Shan Yaxin could finish speaking, she was forcefully interrupted. She pretended to be afraid and nodded in agreement.

After the call ended, the smile in her eyes gradually spread. It was just that her beautiful face was filled with coldness.

She absolutely would not let this woman with an innocent appearance escape from the palm of her hand.