On the first day after being released, Bai An'an did not wake up but remained asleep. This ti, however, her sleep was peaceful and sweet. Her fair and rosy little face radiated a happy smile, unaffected by the transformation her body had undergone.
As her maid, Yan stayed by her side for an entire day. It wasn't until the following morning, when Bai An'an showed signs of waking, that Yan hurriedly stood up, crossing her hands in front of her body, resuming her proper maid-like posture.
"Umm... Mom... I was wrong... let out..." Bai An'an mumbled as she half-opened her eyes, which had already turned a deep blue. But when she first saw the light, she was so startled that she quickly closed them again.
"It... it hurts..." Bai An'an cried out in pain, tears welling up in her eyes. Seeing her condition, Yan rembered sothing and quickly moved forward to cover her eyes.
"An... no, Young Miss, please calm down. Your eyes have just awakened, don't rush..."
"Sister Yan, is that Sister Yan?"
Slling the familiar lily fragrance and hearing the familiar voice, Bai An'an, whose eyes had just been painfully exposed to the bright light, paused for a mont. She couldn't believe her ears and reached out with her small hands—both familiar and unfamiliar to her—to touch Yan's face.
"Yes... it's ..." Yan nodded, trying hard to control her emotions.
Every ti she saw Bai An'an in pain, her heart would tighten with guilt. The reason for Bai An'an's transformation dated back to a much earlier ti, a secret known only to Yan and Bai Xuerou, and no one else.
"I... I can feel again, I can hear again... sob! Sister Yan, you finally ca to save ..."
Realizing she had finally escaped from that terrifying rose, Bai An'an could no longer contain the grievances she had suffered over the past year. She hugged her maid sister and began to cry.
She didn't know how long she had been imprisoned. She only knew that countless tis she had hoped that Gu Xue or Sister Yan would co to save her. Now, her seemingly impossible wish had finally beco reality.
"No... Young Miss, it wasn't who rescued you. It was the Mistress who released you."
Even though Yan was tempted to take credit, she still revealed the truth to avoid any misunderstanding that might lead to Bai An'an being punished again. As soon as she finished speaking, the white-haired girl in her arms noticeably trembled.
When Bai An'an heard that it was Bai Xuerou who had released her, she realized she hadn't been rescued at all—she had simply completed her sentence and been released.
"I see..."
She felt disheartened, but quickly forced a smile and continued asking:
"It's... it's fine, Sister Yan. By the way, how many days have passed since I was swallowed by that flower? It feels like it's been so long."
"Well..."
Yan found it difficult to answer Bai An'an's question. After all, it had been a whole year! Even prisoners convicted of serious cris wouldn't be deprived of all sensory perception for a year, let alone a seven-year-old girl.
Seeing Yan's reaction, Bai An'an deduced that this ti it hadn't just been one day—it could have been a week, a month, or even ten months!
But regardless, she needed to know how much ti had passed because it concerned her relationship with Gu Xue.
If too much ti had gone by and Gu Xue had forgotten about her, that would be terrible. After all, she was supposed to be with Gu Xue for a lifeti.
Bai An'an hadn't realized that she no longer felt any aversion to being with a girl—just thinking about it made her heart beat faster and faster.
"It's okay, Sister Yan. I can handle it."
Bai An'an, considering herself soone with the ntal age of 24, declared confidently, completely forgetting how terribly she had cried while inside the rose.
"Very well..." Eventually, Yan gave in. What's done is done, and even if she tried to hide it, Bai Xuerou would reveal it anyway. It might be better if she told Bai An'an directly, so there would be less chance of her breaking down.
"It's been 365 days since the Mistress punished you—one year..."
"W-what? A year?!"
In an instant, Bai An'an, who had just claid she could handle anything, was shocked. If Yan hadn't been covering her eyes, she might have been traumatized again.
"Young Miss... please calm down!"
Calm down... how could she possibly calm down? A whole year—an entire year! She had promised to stay in touch, but now, wasn't she just like those people who left the orphanage promising to keep in contact?
Liars, deceivers, frauds—in her previous life, every friend of Bai An'an had said they would play with her again, but she never heard from any of them until she left the orphanage.
So she hated that kind of person, but now, she had beco one herself...
At that mont, Bai An'an once again lost control of her tears, which ca streaming down her face.
But her crying attracted the most terrifying monster in this mansion.
"Hmm? My dear daughter, why are you crying so early this morning?"
The door was pushed open, and Bai Xuerou, dressed in a pure white coat and a long black pleated skirt, walked in wearing leather boots. She approached the embracing pair.
The latter, seeing her, instinctively retreated a few centiters.
"Heh..." Bai Xuerou couldn't help but chuckle.
Even though she was the mother, she seed like an outsider in front of this mistress and maid who shared the sa hair color.
"An'an, why are you so afraid of Mom? Co here, I'll take you to eat sothing delicious."
Bai Xuerou forcibly pulled the maid who was hugging Bai An'an away and threw her aside. She then extended her arms gently toward her daughter, who still had her eyes closed.
At this mont, Bai An'an really wanted to curse this wicked woman, but she was afraid of being locked up for another year, so she remained silent.
Better to keep quiet than to bring trouble upon herself. That way, she might avoid punishnt.
"Sigh, I only punished you a little bit. Mom promises never to treat you like that again. Be good, okay?"
Bai Xuerou frowned, but considering Bai An'an's current state, she restrained herself and coaxed her gently.
"I... You promise, right? Never put back in that terrible flower again..."
Seeing that Bai Xuerou had no intention of letting her go, Bai An'an finally surrendered and fell into her embrace.
Even though it felt similar to hugging Sister Yan, Bai An'an simply didn't like it as much.
"Of course~ But before breakfast, An'an should first admire her current appearance~"
"What?"
Bai An'an hadn't heard Bai Xuerou clearly, but she had a vague feeling that her body had undergone more changes.
She was carried to the dressing table by Bai Xuerou, facing the mirror.
"Hmm... let comb your hair first," Bai Xuerou picked up an exquisite and gorgeous comb and gently straightened Bai An'an's white strands one by one. After tying them into a side ponytail, she asked Bai An'an to open her eyes.
"Alright, An'an, look at yourself now~"
"No!" Bai An'an firmly refused. She was afraid of pain and didn't want her eyes to be irritated again. Besides, she wasn't particularly eager to see what she had beco.
"Co on, open your eyes slowly. Otherwise, I'll have to help you~"
As she spoke, Bai Xuerou placed her hands on either side of Bai An'an's eyes. A red light flashed from her hands, and the next mont, Bai An'an's eyes began to open involuntarily.
She endured the pain, trying to adapt, opening her eyes bit by bit. Light that she hadn't seen for a long ti once again entered her pupils. The dark world of the past year was once more covered by burning, brilliant colors and light.
But when her vision was restored, the first thing she saw was not the cute little black-haired, red-eyed girl she once was. In the mirror was an unfamiliar self.
Waist-length snow-white hair, eyes as pure and flawless as blue gems. Her appearance had undergone a trendous change—her once childish face now carried a fragile quality, and her eyes held a pitiful allure.
Her body had grown nearly ten centiters taller. Her previously undeveloped chest now showed two small mounds. Her entire skin had beco fair, and each finger was now slender and rosy.
If Bai Xuerou hadn't been standing behind her, Bai An'an would hardly have recognized herself.
To be honest, this young girl was beautiful. Compared to her forr self, it was as if a fairy tale filter had been applied—like a noble and elegant princess from so castle, filled with an unreal quality.
But considering how she could barely recognize herself, would Gu Xue be able to recognize her?
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