Chapter 3 – Heaven's Return
Bai Xia looked around and realized she had returned to the year 1995, when she was only seventeen, still living in her grandmother's compound.
Her grandmother had five children:
First uncle Bai Lan and his wife Gu Yang, with two children—daughter Bai Ai and son Bai Dang.
Second uncle Bai Lang and his wife Ye Fan, with one son, Bai Xiangtin.
Third uncle Bai Ling and his wife Mu Yen, with two daughters, Bai Gin and Bai Gan.
Her own father Bai Sung and mother Chu Sun, who had five children—elder sister Bai Xuan, elder brother Bai Yan, herself Bai Xia, younger brother Bai Yang, and youngest sister Bai Xin.
Her aunt Bai Shin, who had a pair of twins.
The Bai family, the children seemed to have been born in pairs, as if fate had arranged them neatly by age. Her first uncle's daughter, Bai Ai, was the same age as her elder sister Bai Xuan, both 20 years old, already stepping into womanhood. Her first uncle's son, Bai Dang, her second uncle's son, Bai Xiangtin, and her own elder brother, Bai Yun, shared the same youthful vigor at 18 years old,
Bai Xia herself and her third uncle's first daughter, Bai Gin, were both 17. Her younger brother, Bai Yang, was a spirited 12-year-old, mischievous yet kind-hearted, while her youngest sister, Bai Xin, and her third uncle's second daughter, Bai Gan, were both 9 years old.
The family hierarchy was cruel. Boys were valued more than girls, and her father—least educated and poorest—was looked down upon. He worked in the same factory as his brothers but earned only fifty yen a month, the lowest of them all. Each month, he still had to hand most of it to the Old Madam.
Her first uncle's family lived comfortably. The Old Madam favored him for being the eldest son and inheritor of most of the lands. Her second and third uncles also held high-paying jobs—200 and 250 yen a month—while her father bore the family's scorn with quiet dignity.
Today, she remembered, was the day she had once been beaten by her cousins, Bai Ai and Bai Gin, for wanting to attend school instead of going to the family farm.
Her hands clenched into fists.
This time… no one would lay a hand on her again.
Bai Xia turned to the mirror once more. The reflection that met her eyes was breathtaking—a beauty like a goddess, her features delicately sculpted, her brows gracefully defined, and her gaze holding the calm of distant mountains.
Then—suddenly—pain.
A sharp pulse struck through her head.
"Enter the system," a voice echoed.
She froze.
"Enter… the system?"
The voice came again, clear and commanding. "Enter the system."
Her heart leapt. A system? Like in those novels from my past life?
She straightened her back. "Enter the system," she whispered.
A soft light shimmered before her eyes, forming a translucent screen.
---
Host: Bai Xia
Height: 5'5
Stamina: 0
Strength: 2
Intelligence: 10
Charisma: 10
Beauty: 13
Skills: Business Tycoon
EXP Points: 10
Mission Points: 5
(Notification)
Congratulations on completing the mission [Enter the System].
EXP +10 | Mission Points +5
---
Bai Xia nearly fainted from joy. The gods were smiling upon her!
"System," she called excitedly.
"Yes, host."
Her status screen appeared again. She noticed the skill: Business Tycoon.
"What does this do?"
"It allows the host to make a profit from any business venture she enters."
Her lips curved upward. "I must have awakened this from my past life."
"Yes, host."
She grew curious. "System, how can I gain more skills?"
"By completing missions, host. Each mission grants EXP, points, and potential rewards. Using your current skill can also yield minor points."
Her eyes sparkled. "Then let's begin."