CHAPTER 40: CHAPTER 40 CLAM OIL

With everyone looking at her like that, Xia Xiao, despite her thick skin, was still feeling a bit flushed. She dared to drink only a sip of water from the space each day, and didn’t dare to drink more, for fear that the change would be too obvious all at once.

However, now perhaps it was also because she had been eating vegetables grown in the space, and also stewing meat with water from the space, so the change was a little more pronounced.

Xia Xiao couldn’t help but touch her face, as she hadn’t looked in a mirror for a long time. She just washed her face with water every day, and though she bought Clam Oil, she hardly used it. Nowadays, everyone commonly used Clam Oil for skincare, as it was affordable and effective in moisturizing the skin and preventing dryness and cracking.

Back at the dormitory, Xia Xiao couldn’t resist taking out a mirror to look at herself, and to her amazement, she found that the face in the mirror was slowly starting to resemble her previous life’s appearance.

This discovery delighted Xia Xiao; perhaps this was the manifestation of "the outward appearance is shaped by the heart." Since she was reborn in the body of the original host, this body was also slowly starting to grow to look like her former self.

For a moment, Xia Xiao stared into the mirror and smiled foolishly, overjoyed.

"Dong Meihua sneered as she looked at Xia Xiao, who was currently gazing into the mirror. "Xia Xiao is getting prettier now. Our Youth Point has gained another flower."

At this time, Dong Meihua started developing acne. The weather here in the south was hot, and Dong Meihua had a heavy taste for spicy foods, which caused her acne to flare up.

Dong Meihua hadn’t had acne before, and being seventeen years old this year, she began to suffer from acne relatively late, which was quite frustrating for her.

After the Spring Festival, the He brothers returned to the army, and it was precisely around that time that Dong Meihua began to have breakouts. Now, when Youth Point was in full bloom with spring warmth and flowers, although she liked He Xuebing, she also hoped for more options. Therefore, she felt very annoyed about the acne on her face, especially upon seeing Xia Xiao’s clear and fair complexion, her envy and jealousy kicked in.

Feng Ying advised Dong Meihua, "Don’t pick at your face, or you’ll get scars, just look at my face to understand. Also, eat less spicy food. I used to have acne too, but as long as you avoid spicy and heaty foods, you won’t have it."

Wang Aihua also loved spicy food but was the type who could eat anything without breaking out or getting fiery; truly enviable.

Yang Xuehua had a preference for lighter flavors, and Sun Yuhua was simply someone who focused on self-cultivation and maintaining her figure. She would comb her hair whenever she had a moment to spare, and she couldn’t be separated from the mirror once back in the dormitory; that was Sun Yuhua.

Now, in the dormitory, aside from Xia Xiao, several girls had suitors.

Xia Xiao had grown a bit taller and her height had increased somewhat, but she still hadn’t reached 1.6 meters. Additionally, as she hadn’t had her first period, her breasts hadn’t developed much; she still looked like a child.

Xia Xiao thought to herself that she was now fourteen but hadn’t had her period yet. In her previous life, she got it when she was thirteen and a half, so it should be around fourteen or fifteen; not too late.

"Xia Xiao’s skin is really good," Dong Meihua uttered once more, then asked, "Do you still have any Clam Oil, Xia Xiao? May I borrow some?"

"Do you have it? But is it suitable to use it now that you have acne?" Xia Xiao asked.

"It will help, just lend it to me," Dong Meihua insisted.

Xia Xiao took out her Clam Oil and handed it to Dong Meihua, who couldn’t wait to open it and apply it.

Yang Xuehua observed, "You hardly use it at all."

Xia Xiao replied, "I do use it, just not much. I get up late in the morning, and I’m slow, as you all know. Sometimes, I’m afraid I won’t catch up with you guys and just brush my teeth, wash my face, and go."

Yang Xuehua smiled, thinking that was true, Xia Xiao was the biggest sluggard.

"Still, we should apply some. The weather in the south is humid and hot, the sun beats down hard, and sometimes we’re exposed to the wind, sun, and rain - it’s really damaging to the skin," Yang Xuehua said.

Xia Xiao nodded, and then Wang Aihua said, "Applying all this stuff is too much trouble. You all just love to primp."

Sun Yuhua glanced at Wang Aihua and said, "Madam leader, if you don’t take care of that face of yours, see if those male educated youths will give you a second glance. These men are so practical; they all judge by appearance. If you want to find a good match, choose a partner, you need to have a face to show."

Xia Xiao agreed with this point, although at this time, when everyone was busy working and earning work points, there were still some who valued labor. Yet, many men were indeed very practical, but there were also some who were pragmatic. Nevertheless, even the most pragmatic men would only choose someone they found visually appealing.

"Go on, I don’t care about that stuff. If he dislikes me, I don’t want him either. Men who judge by appearances are all shallow, and I don’t care for such men," Wang Aihua said.

Xia Xiao didn’t know what to say to that, but still, she said to Wang Aihua, "Sister Aihua, most men are shallow." And if not now, then they will be later – there isn’t a man who doesn’t like a beautiful woman.

"Xia Xiao is right; no matter what, you should still take care of that face," Yang Xuehua said. Among their dormitory, Wang Aihua had the best physique but cared little for her face, resulting in somewhat dry skin and her originally fair complexion turning dark.

Feng Ying was one of the few with a lower facial value, yet she took very good care of her face. So, by comparison, Wang Aihua’s skin was not as good as the others’, wasting her excellent physique.

"Come, Sister Aihua, let me apply some for you." After spreading Snow Cream on Xia Xiao, Dong Meihua scooped a large blob onto Wang Aihua’s face.

Wang Aihua said, "Meihua, that’s too much waste; you don’t need that much."

Everyone looked and indeed, the large amount on Wang Aihua’s face was wasteful.

Yang Xuehua then said, "Meihua, you’ve applied too much, that belongs to Xia Xiao."

Dong Meihua apologized, "Xia Xiao, I’m sorry, I scooped too much by accident."

Xia Xiao said, "It’s okay, let everyone use it." As she spoke, she went forward and spread half of the Snow Cream from Wang Aihua’s face onto Yang Xuehua’s, then helped Wang Aihua apply it evenly before massaging Yang Xuehua’s face.

"I didn’t expect Xia Xiao to have such a skill." Not just Yang Xuehua, but Wang Aihua also voiced praise, feeling very comfortable with Xia Xiao’s hands on her face.

"It’s nothing to praise, city masseuses all have this skill," Dong Meihua remarked.

Xia Xiao frowned involuntarily, and Wang Aihua frowned as well, "Meihua, what’s been going on with you lately? We’re all from the same dormitory, and you always speak with a sting. Do you have an issue with Xia Xiao?"

Dong Meihua awkwardly responded, "Not at all, I just speak without thinking. Xia Xiao, I’m sorry, don’t take it to heart."

Xia Xiao was truly speechless about Dong Meihua. Since her rebirth, Dong Meihua had always been like that. Sometimes Xia Xiao thought Dong Meihua was quite nice, but other times she was unbearable, mainly because of her strong jealousy, pettiness, and propensity for nitpicking.

Without saying anything to Dong Meihua, Yang Xuehua closed the jar of Clam Oil and handed it back to Xia Xiao.

Dong Meihua sulked, feeling like everyone in the dormitory favored Xia Xiao, and grew even less fond of her, finding an excuse to leave.