Mr. Bai glanced at the mechanical watch on his wrist. It was almost 10 p.m.
Bai Jiao was completely entangled in vines, and it wasn't clear if she could even move. "Everyone, say goodnight to Jiao, then let's go to bed. We'll just leave her alone in the living room," Mr. Bai said.
Suddenly, the vines stirred, and Bai Jiao's disgruntled voice emerged. "You're isolating me!"
Mrs. Bai chided her with a laugh. "If you're awake, then hurry up and get up! Are you hungry?"
Bai Jiao controlled the indoor vines, retracting them. The wildly overgrown flowers shrank back to their original size. She let out a burp and flexed her arms, signaling that she was full and brimming with power. Suddenly, a faint voice drifted over.
'Auntie, Auntie, can you hear my voice?'
Bai Jiao blurted out, "I can. What's wrong?" The moment the words left her mouth, she knew something was off.
