The next morning, the sunshine streamed through Lin Yue's window, but her awakening was accompanied by a profoundly offensive odor.
She sat up, wrinkling her nose, and looked down and gasped. A thick, sticky, black grime covered her entire body, staining the bedsheets beneath her.
It was an unmistakable expulsion of accumulated toxins. She recognized it instantly from Xiao Ai's explanation—the Spiritual Water had triggered a full-body detoxification and healing. The cut on her hand was now barely a faint red line.
Lin Yue flew out of bed and rushed to the bathroom, shedding her clothes and stepping under the scorching spray.
The Spiritual Water, she realized, recalling Xiao Ai's explanation of its potent beautification and detoxification effects.
After an hour under the shower, she emerged. She gazed into the mirror in disbelief.
Her skin was transformed: flawlessly smooth, supple, and possessing a faint, luminous, jade-like clarity.
Her eyes were brighter, and her posture felt inherently lighter, as if the physical burden of her past life's misery had been entirely purged. Her whole being felt invigorated and renewed.
Lin Yue changed into casual attire, and her eyes hardened as she recall that today is the day of an evening banquet, hosted by Lin Family.
In her previous life, Bai Lian had ruined her dress, leading to a humiliating wardrobe malfunction and a day-long kneeling punishment from Lin Aiguo. But today, things would be different in this life.
The scent of cooking drifted up the stairs. Lin Yue's gaze turned cold as she walked toward the dining room.
As she entered, she found the familiar, sickening scene: Lin Aiguo reading the paper, Bai Mei Ling dotingly pouring him tea, and Bai Lian looking pristine and demure.
Lin Yue took her seat, completely ignoring the three of them.
As Lin Yue sat down, Lin Aiguo lowered his newspaper, his expression were stern and cold and he start scolding "Lin Yue! Do you have no manners? You can't even acknowledge your family before eating?"
Lin Yue calmly filled her plate.
Bai Mei Ling jumped in, feigning concern. "Aiguo, dear, calm yourself. Perhaps Lin Yue is still tired from yesterday.
Then Bai Mei Ling turned to Lin Yue and said while feigning motherly tone "Yue, darling, please apologize to your father for your yesterday's behavior. "
Bai Lian, with tear-filled eyes, act like a pure flower and said "Father, please don't be angry. It's my fault! Big Sister is still angry with me from yesterday. I promise to be better."
Lin Aiguo took a deep breath, controlled his anger, his voice measured and said "Your manners yesterday were unacceptable. You will not speak to me or your mother in that tone again."
Then Lin Aiguo lean back on his chair and said with a stern and cold face "We are hosting a major banquet tonight, and I expect you to conduct yourself with maturity and decorum. No more outbursts, understood?"
Bai Mei Ling immediately added, her voice soft and genuinely earnest, "Your father is right, dear. We just want to see you happy and successful. High-society events are important for your future, and it is crucial to leave a good impression. Please, Lin Yue, just try to be more mindful of your behavior."
Bai Lian, observing the tension, offered a sweet, concerned smile. "Big Sister, it's going to be a fun night! Let's put yesterday behind us, okay?"
Lin Yue met their three-person performance with a cold, impenetrable stare. Without a word, she finished her breakfast and rose.
"I am done," she stated flatly, and walked back up to her room, leaving the trio spluttering in shock and indignation.
Safely behind her locked door, Lin Yue's mind was already racing, calculating time and points.
"Master! Master! The vegetables are fully ripe and ready for harvest!" Xiao Ai's voice chirped happily in her mind, preempting her entrance.
Lin Yue smiled and immediately willed herself into the spatial space. The sight that greeted her took her breath away.
The vegetable plot was vibrant with life. Tall, healthy tomato plants were laden with plump, deep crimson fruits. The eggplant bushes sagged under the weight of glossy, purple produce.
The Spiritual Water is miraculous. She thought to herself.
Lin Yue grinned. She quickly activated the Space Panel, navigating through the [Cultivation Lands] icon to [Harvesting].
The mature vegetables harvested themselves instantaneously, clean and perfect, stacking themselves neatly at the edge of the plot.
Lin Yue then clicked [Storage], and the entire harvest vanished, instantly cataloged in the [Warehouse].
Lin Yue opened the [Warehouse] to check the inventory:
[Crimson Tomato] (50,000 catties)
[Purple Eggplant] (50,000 catties)
"Fifty thousand catties each?!" Lin Yue jumped in delight. This bumper harvest was far beyond her wildest estimates for a single acre. This was enough wealth to change her future.
She navigated to the [Space Market] to sell her harvest.
[Crimson Tomato] (1 point per 1000 catties)
[Purple Eggplant] (2 points per 1000 catties)
Lin Yue's mouth twitched. "Still money-grubbing and stingy with my points" she grumbled.
Despite the low exchange rate, she approved the sale of all one hundred thousand catties.
She confirmed the sale of the entire stock.
50,000 catties of Tomatoes = 50 points
50,000 catties of Eggplants = 100 points
[Points Balance: 150]
Lin Yue immediately invested the profits. She bought another acre of land for 100 Points, placing it adjacent to the first plot near the Spiritual Spring River.
Next, she returned to the [Points Mall] and the [Vegetables] section to restock seedd.
This time, she chose to diversify. She spent 40 Points on new seeds: premium seeds for [Cucumber], [Green Beans], [Crimson Tomato], and [Purple Eggplant] (10 points each).
Lin Yue then checked her remaining points.
[Points Balance: 10]
Lin Yue then used the [Ploughing], [Sowing], and [Irrigation] functions on both plots, spreading the four seed varieties across the two acres.
The Spiritual Water flowed, soaking the newly sown earth. Her next harvest scheduled for the next morning.
Satisfied, she walked back to the Spiritual Spring River. The water glittered, beckoning her. She drank several long, refreshing sips, feeling the invigorating warmth spread through her body.
Lin Yue exited the space just as lunchtime approached. She ate the meal alone in her room, using her house arrest as an excuse to avoid the inevitable drama.
The house felt quieter during the afternoon, as Lin Aiguo was at the company.
Later that afternoon, when Lin Yue walked past the second-floor landing, she saw Bai Mei Ling waiting.
"Lin Yue, sweetie," Bai Mei Ling called, forcing a warm, motherly smile. "I know you are upset with your father, but you must be ready for the banquet tonight. Please, don't argue with him anymore. Just behave, and everything will be fine.
Bai Mei Ling paused and continue with her as usual fake smile "I am heading out for my hair appointment. Please remember to start preparing for tonight's event. The driver will take you to the venue at 6:30 PM. Your gown is in the wardrobe."
Lin Yue stopped, her eyes flat and cold. "Mind your business, and don't be so nosy, Stepmother." She emphasized the last word with stinging clarity."
Bai Mei Ling's smile faltered, replaced by a momentary flash of pure hatred that quickly vanished. "Very well. But do be ready on time, dear. The Chen family will be there too."
Lin Yue returned to her room, ignoring the sting of Bai Mei Ling's words.
Downstairs, Bai Mei Ling's composure broke and she curse "That wretched girl! She's acting like a rebellious brat! She's just like her vixen mother, pah!"
"She is ungrateful trash, Mom" Bai Lian hissed, her eyes gleaming with malice. "But tonight, she'll pay for it. I made sure to prepare her gown."
"You are so clever," Bai Mei Ling praised, touching her daughter's face.
Bai Lian leaned closer and said with malice and cruelty "I didn't just tamper with her dress mom, but I also prepare a surprise for every one present there, to make that wretched girl completely exposed in public."
A wicked smile spread across Bai Mei Ling's face. "Perfect. A public spectacle is exactly what she needs. That should cool down her arrogance."
"And Brother Chen Hao will be there too mom," Bai Lian blush as she mention of Chen Hao.
Bai Lian purred, a dreamy look entering her eyes. "Oh, Mom, Brother Chen Hao is so passionate. We were together last night, you know. He and that bitch Lin Yue never spend time with her but me. He hates her so much."
"I know, darling," Bai Mei Ling said, patting her hand. "You and Chen Hao are the rightful match. We just need Lin Yue to disgrace herself infront of the Chen family so that know only my precious daughter deserves Chen Hao."
Bai Mei Ling then dotingly fix Bai Lian's hair and continue "then, the Chen family will have no choice but to push for your hand instead. Tonight, we ensure that wild girl humiliation."
Bai Mei Ling then lowly curse "Hmph! If it's not that Old Chen who insist Chen Hao's marriage with that wretched girl, I already coax your father for my precious daughter and that Chen boy."
Lin Yue, back in her room, carefully pulled out the deep emerald gown from her wardrobe.
She had known the dress was the target, and she was no longer the foolish girl who accepted humiliation.
Lin Yue inspected the garment, her mind already forming a counter-scheme, her eyes shining with vengeful anticipation. A dangerous, chilling curve form on her lips.
She would make sure that Bai Lian's cheap schemes found the perfect target tonight, and it wouldn't be her.
She had been humiliated at this banquet once. This time, the Lin family's precious gem, Bai Lian, would taste the exquisite agony of public disgrace.