This bracelet was a weapon a friend from the apocalypse had developed for her. Inside it was a pocket dimension.
Xia Wanqing closed her eyes and silently thought, Enter the space. When she opened them again, she was still in her room.
Could it be that she needed to recognize it as her master again?
She put a finger to her mouth, bit it to draw blood, and let a drop fall onto the bracelet.
The bright red blood vanished the instant it touched the bracelet. Mist spread everywhere, visibility dropping to almost nothing. Moments later came a sensation of weightlessness, and then her vision suddenly cleared.
Before her stretched an endless grassland. Standing upon it was a three-story villa, and not far away flowed a gently babbling stream.
Xia Wanqing was overjoyed. The little villa and the spirit spring had both come with her.
She hurried toward the spirit spring, cupped some water in her hands, and drank.
The sweet-tasting spring water was refreshing to the core, instantly driving away the exhaustion in her body. Her strength finally returned in full.
The spirit spring could enhance one’s physique, cure illnesses, and save lives. Plants watered with it and animals raised on it would gain the same benefits.
Squinting contentedly, Xia Wanqing then walked toward the villa.
She pushed open the door. The interior came into view—still the familiar furnishings, with all the supplies and medicines she had collected intact.
With the space and the spirit spring, her days ahead would be much easier.
Completely relaxed, Xia Wanqing yawned, closed her eyes, and lay down on the bed inside the space.
Everything in her bedroom at home was broken. That bed creaked at the slightest touch. The Simmons mattress in the space was far more comfortable.
Just as she was about to fall asleep, noisy voices sounded outside the door.
She vaguely made out that her stepmother had brought the children home. Xia Wanqing turned over and fell into a deep sleep.
The others in the house, however, couldn’t sleep at all.
Her son had fallen ill, so she had taken him to get an IV drip. They didn’t return from the hospital until late at night. She hadn’t expected that not only had the house not been transferred yet, they would also have to hand over money.
“What? She’s just a girl—what does she need so much money for?” Zhou Huiping shrieked, her expression sharp and somewhat ferocious.
Xia Jianye froze in shock. Zhou Huiping had always been gentle and considerate. How did she suddenly look like a shrew?
Realizing she had lost her composure, Zhou Huiping quickly tried to cover it up. “Husband, they say ‘a married daughter is like water that’s been poured out.’ Once Xia Wanqing marries, won’t all that money go to her husband’s family? We might as well keep it with her natal family.”
“Enough. Stop arguing. I’m still thinking about the money,” Xia Jianye said irritably, frowning. “Alright, go keep an eye on your daughter. She’s gotten mixed up with Gu Xing.”
There was a secret room in the house, filled with large quantities of gold, silver, and jewelry. It wasn’t easy to move, and its value far exceeded fifty thousand, so they had no choice but to buy the house outright.
But all the money in his accounts was in fixed deposits. If he withdrew it, he’d lose a large amount of interest, which he didn’t want to do.
If only he could get it without spending a single cent.
“What?!” Zhou Huiping shot up from the bed, slipped on her slippers, and rushed to the next room.
Xia Yiyi lay on her bed hugging a pillow, replaying her kiss with Gu Xing in her mind. A rosy blush spread across her cheeks.
Gu Xing had walked her back to her room. She had taken the initiative, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him.
In her previous life, when they were together, Gu Xing had already started a company and was far more mature than he was now.
Now he was still a green youngster. His kissing was clumsy—just thinking about it made her feel thrilled.
The pillow in front of her turned into Gu Xing’s face in her imagination, and Xia Yiyi couldn’t help leaning in to kiss it.
The next second, sharp pain shot through her ear as Zhou Huiping’s piercing voice rang out.
“You little slut! Your mother gave up her reputation so you and your brother could live well, and you go seducing Gu Xing? He doesn’t even have a house, he’s living with his uncle. Do you want to marry him and beg for food?”
“The younger one is sick and exhausting, and the older one won’t give me any peace either.”
Xia Yiyi cried out in pain. Her face was already swollen and aching; now her ear was being twisted too, so painful she couldn’t even speak.
Seeing Xia Yiyi’s face clearly, Zhou Huiping hurriedly let go. She felt both heartache and frustration at her daughter’s lack of resolve, slapping her thigh as she cried. “You’re really going to drive me to death.”
“Mom,” Xia Yiyi said, rubbing her ear, full of grievance. “I have my reasons for doing this.”
She briefly recounted what had happened in her previous life.
Zhou Huiping forgot her anger, staring uncertainly at Xia Yiyi’s face, trying to see if she was lying. “What you’re saying is true? Gu Xing will become the richest man in Southern Province, and this house will be worth tens of millions in the future?”
Xia Yiyi nodded solemnly. “Mom, it’s true.”
As her own daughter, Zhou Huiping could tell at a glance whether she was lying.
Her breath caught, followed by an earth-shaking shriek. The moment she cried out, Xia Yiyi covered her mouth. “Mom, don’t get excited yet. This can’t be known by anyone.”
“Right, right, right—hahaha! We’re going to live the good life now. You really are Mommy’s good daughter.” Zhou Huiping laughed uncontrollably.
Xia Yiyi was exhausted. “Mom, the most urgent thing is to get the house transferred. If I’m going to marry Gu Xing, we have to find a way to remove Xia Wanqing, this obstacle.”
“Alright, alright. I’ll make your dad scrape together the money as soon as possible.” Zhou Huiping’s steps were light as she trotted back to the bedroom and began rummaging through drawers.
Xia Jianye had just fallen asleep when the sound of drawers being opened woke him. He angrily thumped the bed with his foot. “Zhou Huiping, what are you making all this noise for? Are we sleeping or not?”
“Here, take it.” Zhou Huiping tossed what she was holding onto the quilt.
Xia Jianye picked it up irritably. It was a small red booklet labeled Demand Deposit Passbook. He opened it excitedly. At the bottom of the page was a flamboyant number: 11,524.00 yuan.
“Th-this…” Xia Jianye was so excited he couldn’t speak. He accidentally bit his tongue, grimacing in pain. “Wife, you’ve really helped me out big time.”
After marrying him, Zhou Huiping had lived a carefree life. Her skin was fair and unlined, not looking forty at all. In his good mood, Xia Jianye’s gaze toward her was tinged with desire.
“Tonight I’ll let you see what I’m capable of.”
Zhou Huiping lowered her eyes shyly, speaking in a soft, affected voice. “Husband…”
Three minutes later.
Zhou Huiping looked dissatisfied, a hint of disdain flashing in her eyes, though she still had to pretend to enjoy it. “Husband, you’re amazing.”
Xia Jianye felt a little awkward at first, but her words made him smug. He put an arm around her shoulders. “Once this is over, I’ll definitely reward you properly.”
“Okay.” Zhou Huiping curled her lips in contempt. Once her daughter became the wife of the richest man, she wouldn’t have to keep her head down anymore.
“Oh, right—did you persuade our daughter?” he asked.
“I’ve thought about it. Actually, Gu Xing isn’t bad. His family has only an old mother. Though his background isn’t as good as ours, our daughter wouldn’t suffer after marrying him.”
“Besides, that boy Gu Xing is wholeheartedly devoted to our daughter. He wouldn’t let her be wronged.”
“What if he covets our money?” Xia Jianye straightened up, putting on the authority of the head of the household. “Is that how you act as a mother? This matter is non-negotiable.”
Zhou Huiping was already dissatisfied and now was being scolded, a nameless fire rising in her chest. “Do you think all men in the world are like you—abandoning your wife and children for money?”
“Wasn’t it all for you and the kids? Without me, where would you be living like this now?” Xia Jianye withdrew his hand, pulled the quilt over his face. “Do whatever you want.”
He turned over, and soon his steady snores filled the room.
Zhou Huiping was furious, feeling like she’d punched cotton—utterly powerless.
She rolled her eyes at Xia Jianye and said angrily, “Just wait until I have money. If you dare talk to me like that again, I’ll be the first to kick you out!”
…
“Where are you going so early in the morning?”
No one answered.
Xia Jianye raised his voice. “Xia Wanqing, do you have no sense of propriety?”
Xia Wanqing stopped, turned around, and looked at Xia Jianye coldly, her gaze as icy and piercing as a thousand-year-old abyss.
Xia Jianye shivered, a bad premonition rising in his heart.
“Propriety? Is it the propriety of marrying my mother’s best friend less than a month after she died? Or the propriety of losing me for half a year without a word?”
“How can you think of your father like that? When you went missing, your father was more anxious than anyone,” Xia Jianye said, avoiding her gaze.
“You know the truth yourself.” Xia Wanqing sneered and turned to leave.
“Whew—” Xia Jianye wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. How had this little girl become so frightening?
Wait—where exactly was she going so early? Yesterday he’d heard Yiyi say Xia Wanqing had hidden a man in her room. Could she be going to see him?
If word got out, where would he put his face?
“Xia Wanqing, where exactly are you going?”
“To see my uncle. Want to come along?” Xia Wanqing raised an eyebrow.
Xia Jianye was first overjoyed. The property deed was in the hands of that old man’s adopted son, who had demanded that Xia Wanqing be at least twenty before handing it over.
All these years, he had tried countless excuses but failed to get the deed, even being threatened.
Then his face turned pale. He waved his hands repeatedly. “N-no, I won’t go. Oh right—remember to talk less with your uncle. He just wants to seize your mother’s property.”
Xia Wanqing ignored him. Just as she was about to leave, she thought of something and turned back, holding out her hand to Xia Jianye. “Money.”
“I don’t have any.”
Xia Jianye was about to make an excuse and leave, but thinking of the house, he could only grit his teeth and pull out money from his pocket.
He counted out several ten-yuan notes and hesitantly handed them over. But Xia Wanqing snatched all the money from his hand, not leaving even a single bill behind.
“That’s half a month’s food money for the family. If you take it all, what will we eat?”
“Didn’t my mother leave behind too little money?” Xia Wanqing replied coldly, striding out the door.
Xia Jianye was left speechless. Since when had Xia Wanqing become so sharp-tongued?
Whatever. As long as he got the house, it would be fine.
The moment she stepped outside, Xia Wanqing’s heart suddenly tightened.
She had done so many things that hurt her uncle. Would he forgive her?