Chapter 31: The Plans
Bai Xia wanted to explore. She looked at Chu Sun and said softly, "Mummy, I'd like to go to the library near the school and get some books."
Chu Sun didn't doubt her daughter, but worry still flickered in her eyes. "Come back quickly. This isn't the village—you can't walk around as you like."
Bai Xia nodded, indicating she understood. After hailing a taxi for her mother, she gave the driver the address of the inn and the transportation fare. Only when the taxi disappeared from her sight did she turn back toward the real estate building.
"Excuse me," she said as she walked in. "Can I speak with the interior designers for my villa?"
The front desk attendant blinked at her polite tone, quickly standing up. "Right away, miss."
Moments later, a young woman in a neat blazer appeared. "I heard you were looking for me, ma'am?"
"Yes," Bai Xia replied. "When you go to decorate my villa later, I want you to add the furniture I'll send there."
The designer nodded firmly. "Understood."
Satisfied, Bai Xia left and headed toward the villa. When her mother took the keys earlier, she had quietly slipped out one from the spare set. Now, standing before the grand villa gates, she twisted the key and stepped inside.
The living room smelled faintly of new paint. Without hesitation, she entered her space.
Unlike previous times, Stella wasn't there. Bai Xia frowned. "Stella?"
After a few calls, a blur of light rushed toward her. "Bai Xia! Are you hungry?" Stella asked with an expectant sparkle in her eyes.
"No," Bai Xia replied calmly. "I need your help with something."
"Oh! I can help, I can help!" Stella chirped, bouncing eagerly.
Looking at her, Bai Xia wondered whether Stella acted this way because of her childlike personality, loneliness… or perhaps because all robots were simply wired to please their masters.
Without another word, she gestured for Stella to follow her. In the blink of an eye, they both arrived at the Everything Mall—the endless virtual emporium within Bai Xia's space.
"Living room furniture," Bai Xia typed on the keyboard.
Instantly, the empty expanse shifted into rows upon rows of elegant furniture shops.
"System," Bai Xia asked, "can Stella leave and enter my space at will?"
"Only if you give her permission to do so," the mechanical voice replied.
She nodded slightly. "Don't you always want to see the outside world? I'll give you a treat today. Carry everything I touch to the outside of this space."
Stella's eyes lit up. "Yes, Master!"
From then on, they got busy—Bai Xia touched furniture, Stella carried it away, vanished, and reappeared empty-handed before dashing off again. The process repeated over and over as the villa gradually filled up with stylish modern furniture.
Next came "Dining room furniture." Then "Bedroom," "Bathroom," "Kitchen."
By the time they were done, Bai Xia was exhausted. She glanced at Stella, who still wore that innocent, unchanging smile.
"Is this the difference between humans and robots?" she murmured to herself.
"System, how many minutes have passed in the outside world?"
"None," came the reply.
Bai Xia almost choked. "You mean I wasted all this time for nothing?"
"You did not activate the time."
"Can't it activate on its own?"
"It cannot. You must activate it yourself."
Bai Xia sighed heavily. "Unbelievable." She rubbed her temple, then said, "Status."
---
Host: Bai Xia
Height: 5'6
Stamina: 20
Strength: 20
Intelligence: 20
Charisma: 20
Beauty: 23
Skills: Business Tycoon, Frost Eyes, Reaper Tears, Crystal Tears
Knowledge: Master of All Tongues (MAT), Martial Arts (MA)
EXP Points: 50
Mission Points: 20
Space Size: 2000 acres
Money Bag: ¥100,000
Missions:
Accumulate net worth of ¥100,000,000 (Reward: EXP +100, Mission Points +50)
Progress: 99,000 / 100,000,000
Own five different types of jade (Reward: EXP +100, Mission Points +50)
Notifications:
Congratulations on unlocking the Lucky Draw System!
---
Bai Xia's eyes widened slightly. "System, how do I use the lucky draw?"
"This system unlocked when you used a skill to play lucky draw earlier. You have five draws per day. Just say 'Draw,' and I'll tell you what you receive. Note: money gained here will not count toward your net worth."
"Draw," Bai Xia commanded.
"How many times?"
"Five."
The system chimed in sequence:
"Congratulations, you got nothing."
"Congratulations, you got ¥200,000."
"Congratulations, you got nothing."
"Congratulations, you got ¥100,000."
"Congratulations, you acquired new knowledge: God of Music."
Her eyes sparkled. "New knowledge?"
"It allows you to reach a God-level proficiency in any musical instrument," the system explained.
Bai Xia's lips curved slightly. "Not bad. I might not need it now, but it could come in handy."
She checked her updated status:
Money Bag: ¥400,000
Knowledge: MAT, MA, God of Music (GOM)
Satisfied, Bai Xia typed "piano" and "violin" into the mall's search bar. With Stella's help, she moved a grand piano and a sleek violin into the villa's main living room. The shining black piano stood perfectly near the glass wall—its presence dignified and noble.
After finishing, Bai Xia surveyed the villa interior. The furniture was scattered everywhere, like a storm had just swept through. She sighed, locked the door, and left.
She wandered around the city for hours, exploring business districts and modern shops. She wanted to know what kind of venture could bring her the most profit.
By the time she checked the time, it was 6:00 p.m.
She hailed a taxi and headed back to the inn.
Before she reached the hallway to her room, she heard muffled voices from her parents' room.
"How much is it?" Chu Sun's voice sounded cautious.
"Twenty million," Bai Sung replied.
"What? Forget it then."
"But it's a good company," he insisted.
Bai Xia paused outside, listening quietly. From their tone, she understood—her father was interested in buying the company where he currently worked. The owner wanted to sell and return abroad.
The price was high, but the opportunity was golden.
Then, a memory flashed in Bai Xia's mind—a conversation from her past life.
Madam Bai, sitting in the Bai family courtyard, had once complained bitterly: "A wretched man actually won the lottery—numbers so simple, 1-2-3-4-5-6—and walked away with one hundred million! And the fool wasted it all in a month!"
Bai Xia's eyes glimmered. That lottery win... it should happen soon.
If she could take it first, she'd have the perfect excuse for her sudden wealth.
Smiling faintly, she turned and walked toward her room.