Chapter 40: The Watch of Warning
The school day went by the slowest it had ever gone. Bai Xia felt as if every tick of the clock mocked her. When the final bell finally rang, she rushed out of school like the wind.
At the gates, she looked around but didn't see An Yu anywhere. She sighed softly and stood aside to wait, hoping to use the time in the car later to enter her space and get some things.
As more and more students poured out through the gates, she felt a bit restless. If only I had a phone right now, she thought, I could call home and tell them to come pick me up earlier.
Just then, a soft voice called from behind her.
"Hey, Bai Xia."
She turned around to see a girl with delicate features. The girl's skin was pale and smooth, her hair neatly tied with a small ribbon. She had soft, graceful curves — a little on the busty side — and an elegant, almost gentle air about her.
"Classmate Qing Lan," Bai Xia greeted calmly. "What do I owe the honor?"
Bai Xia remembered her well. In her previous life, Qing Lan was the daughter of a prestigious family who had met a tragic end — killed by her own husband. It was said she went against her family to marry the man she loved from high school. But after only a few years, that same man had taken her life and then lived off her property.
Qing Lan held out a small white box. Inside was a sleek white wristwatch. "Please accept my gift," she said softly, her eyes serious. "And… stay away from Zhou Liang."
Bai Xia blinked. So, Zhou Liang again. She had already guessed that he'd shifted his attention from Qing Lan to her after realizing Bai Xia's family was richer.
She accepted the gift with a light smile. "I don't know Zhou Liang personally," she said calmly, "but I can tell he's not a good person. Since we're both girls, let me give you some advice — stay far away from him. He might just be the end of you. And besides," she added with a faint smirk, "he's the one chasing me, not the other way around."
Qing Lan's expression wavered for a moment. "Zhou Liang said you sent him love letters," she said quietly.
Bai Xia laughed so hard her shoulders trembled. "Do I look like someone who would send him love letters?"
That laughter said more than any words could. Seeing Bai Xia's genuine reaction, Qing Lan realized that Zhou Liang must have lied. She bowed slightly and said, "Thank you," before walking away.
Bai Xia watched her go, her gaze calm. It wouldn't be easy to convince Qing Lan completely, but at least she had planted a seed of doubt in her heart.
After waiting another ten minutes, An Yu finally arrived. Bai Xia stepped into the car and glared playfully. "Why didn't you come earlier? I almost got burnt to a shrimp under the sun."
An Yu smiled apologetically. "I'm sorry, young madam. You told me your school closes by 2 p.m., so I came at 2:10."
"I closed early today," Bai Xia muttered, still pouting.
"That was my miscalculation," An Yu replied gently. "I'll make amends next time."
Bai Xia knew it wasn't really her fault, but she was still annoyed. Talking to a few students just now had already been stressful — they kept asking her all sorts of silly questions.
Before the car could move, a knocking sound came from the window. Bai Xia looked over and saw Shang Shan. The moment she saw her, Bai Xia's eyes narrowed slightly. She hadn't forgotten that Shang Shan was the one who told Bai Gin about the money in her purse — clearly scheming again.
Still, she rolled down the window. "What is it?"
"Xia Xia," Shang Shan said sweetly, "could you please drop me home? It's too hot outside."
Bai Xia glanced behind Shang Shan. A group of girls was watching them from a distance, their eyes glinting with curiosity — or perhaps envy. In that instant, she understood. So, she made a bet with them, Bai Xia thought. Trying to show off again, huh?
But she had plans of her own for Shang Shan, so she smiled faintly. "Sure. Get in."
Shang Shan climbed in quickly, the heat outside instantly replaced by the car's cool air. Seeing the envious gazes from the girls outside, she smiled smugly, sitting a little straighter.
During the ride, Shang Shan tried to strike up a conversation several times, but all she got were short, cold replies or small nods. Eventually, she gave up, and the car fell silent until it stopped in front of her house.
As she stepped out, the hot air hit her again, and a wave of jealousy burned in her chest. Bai Xia had everything she wanted — comfort, luxury, attention.
Once Shang Shan was gone, Bai Xia took out a small bottle of perfume and sprayed it all around the car. "Just to get rid of the stench," she muttered, earning a faint chuckle from An Yu.
They drove for a while longer before Bai Xia suddenly said, "Stop here." She wanted to enter her space to get some things.
As soon as the car was parked, she closed her eyes and entered her space. Stella appeared almost instantly. "Master!" she said with a cheerful tone.
Bai Xia headed straight for the Everything Mall. On the keyboard, she typed: "Nokia 2110 in different colors."
In an instant, several shops appeared showing the phone models. She smiled — in 1995, having a Nokia meant real wealth.
She picked six:
One white (for herself)
One purple (for Bai Xuan)
Four black (for her father, mother, and brothers — Bai Yang and Bai Xin would share one).
Then she typed again: "Compaq LTE 5000 / 5100 Laptop."
These laptops were popular in China in 1995. She was tired of writing everything in notebooks and wanted to make life easier for everyone. Since her father and brother were running a company now, it would help them too.
She bought five laptops — one for herself, one for her father, one for her older brother, one for her younger brother, and one that her mother and sister could use at home.
When she was done selecting the laptops, Bai Xia smiled faintly as she remembered something.
Bai Yang had always shown a quiet interest in technology. Back at home, he would often sit beside the family computer, curiously tapping at the keyboard or studying how it worked. Though he didn't say much, she could tell he liked figuring things out.
Since he was still young, she wanted to give him a little encouragement — maybe, with the right tools, that small spark in him could turn into something great.
Next, she chose two bicycles — one for Bai Yang, one for Bai Xin — and then headed to the beauty section.
She smiled slightly. "Let's see… what would Mother like?"
She picked out fifteen women's beauty products, including:
Whitening cream
Moisturizing face mask
Anti-aging serum
Pimple cream
Herbal facial toner
Brightening essence
Sunscreen lotion
Rose-scented body oil
Lip balm
Eyelash nourishing serum
Night repair cream
Vitamin C serum
Gentle facial cleanser
Nail treatment oil
Hair strengthening mist
Then she added men's daily care products too — practical and refreshing:
Face wash
Aftershave lotion
Hair gel
Cologne
Shaving foam
Moisturizing cream
Deodorant spray
Hand cream
Lip balm
Beard comb
Hairbrush set
Nail grooming kit
Soap bar (sandalwood scent)
Bath towel set
Men's travel pouch
Once Stella packed everything neatly, Bai Xia exited the space, reappearing in the car with the items beside her.
They drove back home, and when Bai Xia stepped inside, she saw her mother Chu Sun and Bai Xuan with two strangers — women who seemed to be helping them pick qipaos in the living room.
As Bai Xia walked further in, she recognized one of the women. It was their neighbor.
"Xia'er, come here," Chu Sun called warmly. "I got you some dresses."
Chu Sun wore a soft green qipao that made her look elegant and noble. Gold jewelry shimmered faintly on her neck and wrists, and a matching green purse hung beside her.
As An Yu came in, carrying the packages from the car, Chu Sun's eyes widened. "What's all this?"
"These are just a few things I bought," Bai Xia said innocently.
"A few things?!" Chu Sun scolded lightly, though a small smile tugged at her lips. She turned her attention back to the qipaos. "We'll talk about this later."
The neighbor chuckled. "My younger sister just opened a luxury boutique," she said kindly. "I'm helping her find some customers."
Bai Xia nodded politely, though she was clearly tired from school. "Then I'll leave you to it. I'm heading upstairs."
As she stepped on the stairs, she paused. Her eyes shifted toward Bai Xuan, who was happily trying on a light blue qipao.
Her voice was calm but carried weight.
"Bai Xuan — tomorrow, you and I will be going somewhere."