Chapter 46: Inside the Villa

Chapter 46: Chapter 46: Inside the Villa

As soon as the words left her mouth, a sharp CLICK echoed from the lock in front of them. The key in Chen Momo’s hand had successfully opened the door!

Xu Xiaoka was in disbelief. "Sister Momo, did it really open?"

Chen Momo silently thanked the owner of this key from the bottom of her heart. Not only had they provided her with a vehicle, but they had also given her a place to stay!

Inside, the villa was pitch black, making it impossible to see anything. Chen Momo turned on her flashlight and swept the beam across the space. She discovered that the villa was newly renovated, with many of the fixtures and furnishings completely brand new. The insulation was also excellent; at the very least, they didn’t feel cold standing there.

"We’ll stay here for tonight!" Chen Momo said. Holding the flashlight in her mouth, she unzipped her suitcase and pulled out a solar panel, an electric heater, and an electric blanket. After she connected the room’s lamps to the solar charging board, the entire space instantly lit up!

Now able to see the full layout of the room, they were stunned.

"Wow, it’s so big!" Xu Xiaoka exclaimed, running around the room in awe.

This villa was at least three hundred square meters! There was even a beautiful curved elevator tucked into the corner.

As a mischievous little boy, Chen Xiaobao’s curiosity was completely ignited. He ran all over the house—PITTER-PATTER—touching things here and peeking at things there.

Two large fireplaces were built into the walls. Chen Momo turned them on, and the glowing red hearths soon warmed up the entire room. Afterward, she walked into the kitchen. It was equally spacious and fully stocked with every cooking utensil imaginable. The downstairs area featured a beautiful, grand living room, while the bedrooms were located upstairs.

Chen Momo walked up the spiral staircase and found a total of five bedrooms. Each room was decorated in a distinct style—there was a dark knight theme, an elegant princess theme, and even a League of Legends theme. In short, it catered to the preferences of all different kinds of residents!

The large beds in the rooms were incredibly soft and came with a built-in massage function; once you lay down, you wouldn’t want to get back up. Chen Momo lay on the mattress and pressed the massage button. Instantly, her entire body felt as if it were surrounded by countless hands, gently kneading and soothing her muscles. It was exceptionally comfortable.

Next to the master bedroom was a massive walk-in closet filled with brand-new men’s and women’s clothing, neatly organized by the four seasons. There was also a dedicated section for children’s clothes. Chen Momo picked up a piece and realized it was the exact right size for her son, almost as if it had been prepared specifically for him.

"Xiao Bao!" she called out.

Chen Xiaobao answered the call, his footsteps going PITTER-PATTER as he ran over. The house was so huge that he almost went into the wrong room.

"Mommy?" he called out, his big, round eyes darting around as he searched the room for her.

"I’m over here, little stinker," Chen Momo said, popping her head out of the walk-in closet.

Chen Xiaobao slapped his forehead and ran toward his mother on his stubby little legs, his footsteps going PATTER PATTER PATTER.

Chen Momo thought to herself that having a house this big wasn’t necessarily a good thing; it made finding someone entirely too difficult. When Xiao Bao arrived, she picked up a small white down jacket and slipped it onto him.

"Try this on and see if it fits."

Since Chen Xiaobao was at that mischievous age, his old down jacket had somehow gotten a tear under the arm, letting the cold air blow inside with a WHOOSH. Chen Momo had been wanting to sew up the hole under his armpit for a while, but she didn’t have a needle and thread, so she had to drop the idea. She hadn’t expected to find a down jacket here that fit Xiao Bao perfectly. She silently apologized to the owner—she was going to take it for her son to wear first!

Chen Xiaobao put on the white down jacket, which made him look even more dashing and handsome.

"Mommy, I like it!" he said, admiring his stylish little reflection in the mirror.

Chen Momo casually flipped over the tag on the back of the jacket. When she saw the brand name, her heart nearly stopped. This piece of children’s clothing would normally cost at least six figures in a retail store. She figured that, thanks to the apocalypse, her son would finally get to wear a designer brand!

After finishing changing her son’s clothes, Chen Momo called Xu Xiaoka over.

Xu Xiaoka was a fresh graduate and office worker who usually lived very frugally. Chen Momo noticed that the down jacket she was wearing had been bought on discount and didn’t look very warm at all. Fortunately, the women’s clothing in this closet happened to be around the same size as hers and Xu Xiaoka’s, so Chen Momo told her to pick out a few pieces as well.

Xu Xiaoka had never worn such expensive clothes in her life. Her hands were shaking as she tried them on in front of the mirror.

Chen Momo patted her on the shoulder. "Don’t be so nervous. You’ll make big money in the future and wear expensive clothes like this all the time."

"Really, Sister Momo?" Xu Xiaoka asked excitedly. "Will I really make big money?"

Having graduated a year ago and earning a monthly salary of only five thousand yuan, she couldn’t believe she was destined to strike it rich.

Chen Momo encouraged her, "You need to be full of confidence in yourself. You have to believe that you can make big money first before you actually can. Do you understand?"

Bolstered by Chen Momo’s encouragement, Xu Xiaoka felt a surge of confidence. Touched, she said, "Sister Momo, you’re such a warm person. You always encourage me. You’re nothing like my old boss, who only knew how to gaslight me."

Ever since she started working, Xu Xiaoka hadn’t heard words of encouragement in a long time. When she was working at her company, her boss was constantly berating her, calling her an "idiot," "clumsy," or "slow-witted." The relentless criticism had battered her self-esteem until she had almost no confidence left.

But Chen Momo never brought her down; she only ever offered encouragement. Having a friend like her around—someone who felt like a big sister—was truly wonderful and heartwarming!

Chen Momo glanced at the clock on the wall. It was eight o’clock in the evening. "Are you hungry?"

Xu Xiaoka rubbed her stomach and nodded. "I’m starving."

The extreme cold made it easy to get hungry. The food they ate seemed to quickly convert into heat and dissipate away.

"Then let’s go make some dinner!" Chen Momo said.

At the mention of food, Xu Xiaoka’s eyes lit up, and she nodded repeatedly. "Yes, please!"

The two of them headed to the kitchen. Inside, there was a brand-new smokeless indoor grill, and the refrigerator was stocked with beer and various types of meat. Chen Momo took out a solid block of frozen pork belly and placed it on the cutting board to thaw.

"We’re having BBQ today," Chen Momo announced.

Xu Xiaoka raised both hands in enthusiastic agreement. Hot pot in the morning and BBQ in the evening—today’s meals were incredibly lavish.

"BBQ pairs best with beer," Xu Xiaoka said. "I’ll take two bottles out to thaw first. What should Xiao Bao drink?"

"Give Xiao Bao some juice!" Chen Momo replied.

"You got it," Xu Xiaoka replied cheerfully. She grabbed two bottles of beer and a bottle of juice from the fridge, retrieved three glasses from the cabinet, and headed downstairs.

As for Chen Xiaobao...

The bed was simply too comfortable. The exhausted little guy had fallen fast asleep the moment his head hit the mattress. He was completely oblivious to the fact that his mommy was preparing a barbecue feast for him.