The jade pendant wasn’t large, but its translucency was excellent, and the carved patterns looked as if crafted by heaven itself.
At a glance, it was clearly no ordinary object.
Given Bai Jingya’s family background, she truly didn’t deserve something like this.
Mother Xu took a closer look and immediately recognized it.
“It’s the token the Lu family gave our Xiaxia. I recognize it.”
There were very few jade pendants with such fine translucency. She remembered it clearly.
As soon as Xu Zhixia got the pendant back, she was eager to leave. She glanced at Bai Jingya, who was sitting on the ground, pale as ashes.
“This time, you’re not the one calling the police. I am.”
“You think stealing something this priceless how many years do you think that would get you?”
Hearing that, Bai Jingya began to feel afraid. She had only just transmigrated and hadn’t yet become rich how could she end up in prison?
Her whole body started trembling.
Xu Linye patted her back.
“It was just picking up the wrong jade pendant. Why make such a big deal and go to the police? When did you become so aggressive?”
Xu Zhixia looked at him.
“I didn’t know you’d become such a double-standard dog. Licking up to her like this who knows what rank you hold in her heart.”
Xu Linye had his thoughts exposed; his face flushed red.
“Don’t talk nonsense. She’s not that kind of person.”
But in his heart, he couldn’t help thinking that someone did often escort Bai Jingya home.
He wanted to ask what their relationship was.
Of course, with Xu Zhixia here, he couldn’t bring himself to say it.
Xu Shuisheng was experienced and worldly. He spoke up.
“Xiaxia, there’s no need to bring such a small matter to the police. Tell me what conditions would make you let her go?”
Mother Xu watched in a daze, as if she were meeting them for the first time today.
This was Xiaxia’s biological brother and biological father how were they both siding with an outsider?
Just moments ago they were clamoring to call the police, and now they didn’t want to.
Weren’t they afraid of being laughed at?
Her face filled with anger. She raised her hand and slapped her son.
“You truly disappoint me. When did you go blind? Can’t you see your sister is being bullied? And you still side with an outsider?”
Xu Linye stared at his mother in shock, clutching his cheek.
Since childhood he had excelled academically. After graduation, he entered a good work unit and rose through the ranks.
He was the model child everyone compared their kids to the pride of the neighborhood.
Yet now he had been slapped.
Out of the corner of his eye, through the window, he saw many people gathered outside their door watching the spectacle.
He felt deeply humiliated.
Mother Xu raised her hand to slap Father Xu as well, but he grabbed her arm.
“Have you made enough of a scene?”
Father Xu was no longer the poor student he once was. Years of being in a position of authority had given him an imposing presence even without anger.
Now that he was stern, it was even more intimidating.
Mother Xu said resentfully,
“You! You’re scolding me and your daughter for the sake of an outsider.”
Her heart went cold. He had never treated her like this before. Could it be that there really was something between them?
She suddenly began coughing from anger, clutching her stomach and breathing heavily.
Seeing this, Xu Zhixia hurriedly crouched down.
She took her mother’s wrist.
“Mom, where does it hurt?”
“My stomach…”
Xu Zhixia observed her complexion and pulse, and immediately knew she had been poisoned.
During those years in the apocalypse, she had read medical books when she had nothing to do. She could handle basic pulse-taking.
She just hadn’t expected her mother’s condition to be this serious already.
In her previous life, when her mother helped her open a shop, had she been in pain every night, unable to sleep?
And she hadn’t noticed at all.
Endless regret surged in her heart.
“Mom, come with me.”
She truly didn’t feel safe leaving her mother here.
If anything happened, she wouldn’t be able to bear it.
Turning to look at her father, she made her demand:
“I won’t call the police today. Within two days, give me five thousand yuan.”
Just the jewelry in this room alone was worth quite a lot.
Right now she barely had any cash on hand. What she needed most was money.
She could take the jewelry, but whatever she could squeeze out of her scumbag father, she would.
Sending Bai Jingya to prison wouldn’t resolve the hatred in her heart.
Bai Jingya let out a breath of relief. At least there was room to negotiate.
After all, it wasn’t her money being demanded.
Xu Zhixia began counting.
“I don’t have time to wait. You have three seconds. Choose prison or agree to my terms.”
“Three, two, one.”
Father Xu made the choice for her.
“Fine.”
Bai Jingya bit her lip, looking indignant.
“Uncle, I’ve already troubled you so much. How can I feel at ease if this continues?”
Xu Zhixia gave a light laugh.
“Such a good ‘uncle’ you have. Write a written statement then.”
It would be evidence. She wouldn’t let it go.
Watching Xu Zhixia pack up all her clothes and jewelry, Bai Jingya remained stunned.
She couldn’t understand how she had been on the verge of success, and suddenly everything turned out like this.
Suddenly she remembered something and shouted:
“Didn’t you have a date with Zhou Chunsheng today?”
Xu Zhixia paused.
She had almost forgotten.
In her previous life, in order to make Lu Xiuyuan completely give up on her, she had even followed Bai Jingya’s arrangement and acted out that farce.
She narrowed her eyes. Nothing had happened between her and Zhou Chunsheng that time.
But after she returned, her reputation had deteriorated.
Rumors spread.
That she was infatuated with a pretty boy.
That she looked untrustworthy, no wonder she was promiscuous.
Because of those rumors, when she later started doing business, all kinds of riffraff came to her shop.
Then one day, several police officers suddenly stationed themselves there.
They rounded up everyone in one sweep.
The case was publicly announced in the city for a week as a model example of cracking down on crime.
Only then did people stop causing trouble at her shop.
At the time, Xu Zhixia hadn’t known whether it was coincidence or deliberate.
She would meet the man.
But not now.
She smiled lightly.
“Your childhood sweetheart I wouldn’t dare see him. You keep him for yourself.”
Bai Jingya hurriedly glanced at Xu Linye and clenched her fists.
“What nonsense are you saying? He’s clearly been with you.”
Xu Zhixia shot her a look.
“You can eat carelessly, but you can’t speak carelessly. Say one more word, and I’ll send you to the police.”
Then she said to her mother,
“Mom, let’s go.”
Her mother looked very uncomfortable already.
And she couldn’t wait to go back and secure her space.
Every extra minute outside was an extra minute of risk.
When Mother Xu left the Xu house, her mind still hadn’t caught up.
What did her daughter mean earlier?
“Xiaxia, what’s wrong with my body?”
Recently she had felt dizzy and nauseous. When it was bad, her stomach hurt terribly.
She had gone for examinations, but nothing was found.
Xu Zhixia held her hand.
“Mom, you’ve likely been given a slow-acting poison. But don’t worry I’ll cure you.”
The spirit spring water had detoxifying effects. As long as she activated the spirit spring space, she could cure her mother.
Thinking of this, she quickened her pace.
Fortunately, their marital home wasn’t far. They arrived not long after.
Xu Zhixia settled her mother into the guest room.
“Mom, rest for a bit. I need to go to the bathroom.”
“Alright.”
Her mother was still in a daze.
Xu Zhixia returned to her room with the jade pendant. From her jewelry box, she took out a jade hairpin.
She sliced her index finger.
Blood instantly flowed and dripped onto the jade pendant. At once, it emitted a dazzling golden light.
Then a powerful force pulled her inside.
“Ding. Welcome, host, to binding with the Three-Lifetimes Love Space. Current status: initial state. Affection value: 0.”
Xu Zhixia froze when she heard the voice.
Back in the apocalypse, there hadn’t been any such voice.