Chapter 8: Blood Recognition, Contract Space

Old Bai stared at her dumbfounded for a long time. In the end, Bai’s mother couldn’t hold back anymore and scooted closer to her, cautiously reaching out to touch her forehead. “Baby, do you have a fever?”

Bai’s father also nodded, his expression full of concern. “Yes, if you’re feeling unwell anywhere, let’s pack up right now and take you to the hospital.”

Bai Yalan was both amused and exasperated. She grabbed her parents’ hands and solemnly explained,
“Dad, Mom, I’m not sick. I’m serious. Let’s just try using a bit of blood. I study traditional Chinese medicine—taking a small drop of my own blood won’t harm me at all. If you’re really worried, you can help me draw it.”

Bai’s father’s eyes widened. “Daughter… you’re actually serious?”

“I am, Dad!” Since reasoning didn’t work, Bai Yalan simply acted spoiled. “Daddy! Just trust me, okay? Just a tiny bit of blood, it’s harmless. Whether what I said is true or not, I just want to try.”

“Okay, okay!”
Bai’s father instantly surrendered.

Bai Yalan was secretly pleased. This move always worked—ever since she was a child, whenever her parents didn’t agree to something, she would act cute and spoiled until they gave in—so long as it wasn’t something too outrageous.

Neither Bai’s father nor Bai’s mother could ever resist their beloved daughter. Bai’s mother coaxed her gently, “Alright, we’ll try. But just a tiny bit, okay? Promise me, no more scaring your mom like that.”

“I promise!” Bai Yalan immediately raised her hand in an oath, then turned to her mom. “I’m sorry, Mom. I didn’t mean to scare you.”

Her eyes sparkled with joy and anticipation, just like when she was a child—when she wasn’t allowed candy, she would throw a fuss until she got it.

Bai’s father and Bai’s mother were both exasperated and amused, but deep down they still felt she was being silly. They were also worried that maybe she had been traumatized or was suicidal.

Bai’s mother stayed glued to her daughter’s side, not daring to take a step away. Bai’s father hesitated, then went to the kitchen and brought back a kitchen knife. Bai Yalan immediately extended her finger, indicating:

Here, just cut the finger.

After all, she only needed her own blood. How silly of her earlier to insist on slitting her wrist—it had caused her parents to misunderstand and worry unnecessarily.

Bai’s father came close with the knife, and Bai’s mother’s eyes widened in horror.

But despite holding the knife for a long time, Bai’s father couldn’t bring himself to do it. Bai’s mother, watching, was on the verge of panic. “Old Bai… can you even do this?”

“Dad, hurry up,” Bai Yalan urged.

Bai’s father: “……”

He held the knife up for a long while but still couldn’t go through with it.

“Honey… maybe you do it instead,” he said, finally putting down the knife with a pained expression.

Bai Yalan was instantly deflated, and Bai’s mother was also speechless looking at the kitchen knife.

The saying goes: When the child is hurt, the parent feels the pain. It really wasn’t just an empty phrase.

If the father couldn’t do it, then as the mother, how could she possibly go through with it?

In the end, Bai’s father and Bai’s mother just couldn’t bring themselves to harm her—even with her consent. Nor could they let her handle the knife herself.

Seeing her daughter pout in disappointment, Bai’s mother hesitated for a moment, then cautiously asked again, “Just a tiny bit of blood, right? What if I find something sharp to poke you with instead?”

At least that sounded safer than using a kitchen knife.

Bai Yalan nodded vigorously. “Just a little is fine. A needle would work. Do we have one at home?”

Bai’s mother replied quickly, “Yes, yes! Wait here, I’ll go get it.” As she got up, she nervously ordered Bai’s father, “Old Bai, quick! Put the knife away!”

Just looking at it still made her tremble in fear.

She fetched a sewing kit from the top of the bookshelf in the living room. Bai Yalan couldn’t help but roll her eyes—no wonder she couldn’t find it earlier, Mom had hidden it too well.

Inside were also some scattered bills—no wonder she hid it that deep.

Bai’s mother took out a needle from the kit, and Bai’s father brought a match and candle. After lighting the candle, he disinfected the needle tip with fire.

Finally, Bai’s mother held her daughter’s hand and pricked her extended pinky. A drop of deep red blood immediately welled up. Bai Yalan lit up with joy and quickly pressed the drop to the bracelet beside her.

Then she stared intently at it.

Though the whole idea felt absurd and unbelievable, seeing her daughter’s seriousness, both parents huddled close to stare at the bracelet too.

To their astonishment, the blood slowly seeped into the jade!?

Father and mother Bai were dumbfounded, rubbing their eyes in unison, thinking they were hallucinating.

Before they could react, a blinding white light suddenly flared from the bracelet.

Bai’s father and Bai’s mother instinctively shielded their eyes. In just a flash, Bai Yalan was engulfed in white light—then vanished.

She turned into a stream of light and was absorbed into the jade bracelet.

By the time her parents reacted, she was gone.

Only the clear, sparkling bracelet lay quietly on the coffee table. The blood had disappeared as if nothing had ever happened.

Both of them were horrified, shouting her name in unison:
“Xiao Lan? Xiao Lan! Where are you!?”

They searched the entire house—behind walls, in corners, the kitchen, bathroom, even under the bed and in the wardrobe—but couldn’t find any trace of their daughter.

“What do we do now, Lao Bai?” Bai’s mother was in a panic, nearly in tears. “She just vanished! Did you see where she went?”

“No! She was right next to us the whole time!” Bai’s father was also frantic. “What the heck is going on!?”

“Should we… call the police?”

“Call the police? And say what—that she vanished without even leaving the house? Who would believe that? Don’t panic! Don’t panic! Let’s wait a bit! It must be this bracelet—it’s got something strange going on. Xiao Lan wouldn’t lie to us. What exactly did she say just now?”

Bai’s father returned to the living room and picked up the bracelet, turning it over and over in his hands as he mumbled to himself.

Bai’s mother also leaned in, worrying and studying it, while calling out again,
“Xiao Lan! Xiao Lan, where are you? Can you hear Mommy’s voice? Xiao Lan!?”

Meanwhile, Bai Yalan found herself in a strange new space.

She was standing beside a street—unfamiliar, yet oddly familiar.

There was a blue sign with white letters nearby. It read: Fangzhi Third Road.

She was startled. Wasn’t that the street where her family currently lived?

But… why did it look different?

She examined it closely and shook her head. No, it did look somewhat the same.

The layout—the location and the intersections—were identical to the real-world version.

What was different was the buildings and surroundings, which had completely transformed compared to her current reality.

At that moment, she felt like she must be dreaming.

She pinched herself hard. “Ow!” It really hurt.

So it was real.

She looked around with intense curiosity.

The streets were wide and clean. The surrounding high-rise buildings were of a style she had never seen before. Right in front of her was a house of unknown architectural style—standing quietly in a serene neighborhood.

It had gray exterior walls and a dark roof, nothing like the brick-tiled houses of her real-life world.

Most striking was the enormous glass window in the front—many times larger than the wooden-frame windows she was used to. Through it, she could see the entire living room inside, with a layout that felt strangely familiar, yet entirely unfamiliar.

Unable to resist, she stepped forward—and to her shock, the door opened by itself, as if welcoming her.

Even though she was mentally prepared, it still startled her.

This was… incredible.

Just as she was about to step inside, she faintly heard someone calling her name.

“Xiao Lan… Xiao Lan! Where are you, Xiao Lan!?”

She paused, listening intently.

It was her mother’s voice.

She smacked her forehead—how could she forget about her parents!?

She had suddenly vanished into this strange space. Her parents couldn’t see her. They must be frantic.

She quickly turned around and ran a few steps, calling out loudly,
“Mom! Mom, I’m here!”

Outside, Bai’s father and Bai’s mother seemed to hear something, and exchanged shocked glances.