Chapter 91 — Shadows From the Past
The scream tore out of Bai Xia's throat before she even understood what was happening.
Every head in the lively streets turned toward her. Even Bai Xuan and Mei Mei—who had been chatting cheerfully by the stalls—froze mid-sentence, their smiles fading as they looked in her direction with confusion and growing concern.
Bai Xia stood trembling beside Fu Jian, her breathing uneven, her pupils shaking like a rabbit cornered by wolves. It felt as if her entire mind had cracked open.
The world around her twisted.
The gentle afternoon light dimmed, replaced by cold, distorted silhouettes. Her vision swam. When she blinked, the faces of the passersby morphed into figures she thought she had buried long ago.
On the left…
Three women appeared.
But they were not the curious strangers from moments ago. Their features shifted—and the faces that stared back at her were Bai Ai, Bai Gin, and… Shang Shan.
Their lips curled into malicious smiles.
"She's so pathetic," one voice hissed.
"She's going to die the same way she did in her past life."
"What a waste. Another man is going to ruin her again."
"Hurry up and die. I'll take all your money and kill your family."
Their laughter blended, high-pitched and cruel.
"HAHAHAHAHAHA!"
Bai Xia's heart lurched violently. Her hands flew to her head as she staggered backward, shaking uncontrollably.
"Stop it… stop it… Stop talking! I'll never let you hurt them… SHUT UP!"
Her mind felt like it was splitting open. The air around her thickened. Memories she fought for months to bury came rushing back without mercy.
She whipped her head toward Fu Jian for support—
But the face she expected to see… wasn't there.
It wasn't Fu Jian anymore.
It was him.
James.
The man who betrayed her.
The man who stole her life's work.
The man who destroyed her future.
Her blood turned to ice.
James smiled the same familiar, cold smile he wore the night her world ended. Shang Shan lingered behind him, her arm linked with his as if mocking Bai Xia's existence.
"Don't worry, Bai Xia," he said softly, almost gently—too gently.
"From now on, me and my darling Shang Shan will take care of everything."
His eyes sharpened, full of greedy satisfaction.
"Now die."
A gun materialized in his hand—just like before.
Before she could think, before she could breathe—
He raised it.
He pointed it at her forehead.
Her knees wobbled.
Bang.
Her mind supplied the sound.
Her body reacted before her logic could.
She collapsed to the ground, trembling like she had relived her death all over again.
In reality, Fu Jian's face was full of panic as he knelt in front of her.
"Bai Xia—Bai Xia! Calm down, okay? It's alright, I'm here. Don't be scared, I'm not angry, I'm sorry…" He reached out, wanting to comfort her, wanting to pull her into his arms.
His hand hadn't even touched her sleeve when—
"I said don't touch me, James!"
Her voice cracked, torn from the deepest part of her terror.
"Don't EVER touch me again!"
Then she bolted.
Before anyone could react, she sprinted down the path, her mind drowning in overlapping memories of betrayal, death, cruelty—every nightmare chasing her faster than her feet ever could.
"Bai Xia!!" Fu Jian called out, running after her.
"Xia'er!" Bai Xuan and Mei Mei were right behind him, their faces pale.
But Bai Xia couldn't hear them.
Her breaths came out in ragged gasps as she ran. Every step sent another shard of the past stabbing into her skull. Scenes from her previous life flashed relentlessly—James laughing at her helplessness, Shang Shan whispering poison into her ear, the gun, the fall, the cold.
She clutched her head as she stumbled forward.
"Leave me alone!" she cried.
"Please… please just go away…"
She didn't know if she was speaking to the past… or the present.
Her vision blurred. Tears streamed uncontrollably down her cheeks, her sobs tearing her chest apart. She ran blindly, desperately, until—
Hoooonnnk!!
A blinding horn ripped through the air.
She froze.
A pair of headlights roared toward her, burning white against the darkness in her mind. She stood in the middle of the road, stunned, her body refusing to move.
For a split second, she thought she saw James driving the car.
She tried to step aside—
But her legs were too slow.
The impact never came.
Instead—
Strong arms slammed into her, lifting her off the ground at the very last second. The world spun violently. She flew through the air, weightless for a heartbeat.
Then—
CRACK.
Her head hit the pavement.
Everything went silent.
Her vision dimmed, swallowed by black. The world dissolved into a distant hum.
Her last thought echoed softly—
Is this… the end?
Somewhere far away, someone screamed her name.
"BAI XIA!!!!!!!!!"
And then, darkness claimed her completely.