The bathroom was a symphony of sophistication. Its interiors were intricately designed prioritizing both comfort and functionality. Luminescent panels embedded in the walls emitted a soft, ambient glow, creating a serene atmosphere.
Despite the evident luxury and high-tech features surrounding her, Xiao Luning couldn't fully appreciate it. The trauma from her previous hospital experience lingered, casting a subtle shadow on her excitement.
Chen Mingtian did not mind and proceeded with the introductions.
The ambient lighting adjusted to his presence, and he began explaining, "This is the bathroom. There's a shower and a bath, both equipped with a state-of-the-art AR display. You won't need to worry about spilling water over the technology if there is none in the first place. But if you find yourself struggling, there's a waterproof remote modular over there where you can adjust the settings to your liking."
Xiao Luning nodded and thought, 'He must love bathing so much that it's the only thing in this whole mansion he described in great detail.'
Before Chen Mingtian could leave the bathroom, he turned around and added, "Just a quick reminder of the emergency system here. If you experience any signs of difficulty breathing or staying underwater for longer than prescribed in the statistics, it will activate and call emergency services."
"Also, if you find yourself uncomfortable living with me, don't worry about it. This isn't my main house. Feel free to explore and make yourself at home."
Xiao Luning nodded, silently contemplating, 'Why did he explain so much himself? He could've just had Hu Chengjun do all of this. Well, it's better than being handed off to someone and forgotten. On second thought, that might also be a really good option.'
As Chen Mingtian left the bathroom, a subtle cringe crossed his face, leaving him to wonder, 'Why did I react like that? Has being single for so long made the mere thought of having a girl on my private property this nerve-wracking? I'm not even doing anything wrong, nor am I planning on it!'
The following morning, Xiao Luning woke up in a daze, still in disbelief that everything was real. Unfortunately, it was as real as it could get, and now she was living the dream.
Back in her timeline, she had been so consumed by busyness that only functionality and convenience guided her when picking a house to live in. When her bank account reached the so-called overflowing funds, she had already forgotten how to live a normal life.
In the silent pre-dawn hours, she decided to explore the mansion as quietly as possible. Everywhere she went, there was no one in sight. Upon returning to the living room, Xiao Luning noticed a conspicuous object draped in a large white cloth.
'Is that what I think it is?'
Eagerly and discreetly lifting the cloth, she confirmed her suspicions. 'Uwah! It is!'
Suddenly, footsteps approached from behind. Hu Chengjun appeared, and Xiao Luning swiftly restored the cloth to its original position.
Hu Chengjun walked towards her, tinkering with the modular in his hands. "Miss, I have a couple of things to ask."
Xiao Luning nodded, subtly arranging the cloth as if nothing had happened.
Hu Chengjun proceeded with his questions, "Here is your new modular. I've included my info and the young master's info. Feel free to touch and swipe through it. Additionally, here is the complete physical manual in case you're interested."
As Xiao Luning began examining the modular, Hu Chengjun continued, "We managed to salvage what little information could be extracted from your e-watch modular. Unfortunately, aside from your first name and birthday, it's really hard to retrieve more from it."
Connecting it to her tablet, Hu Chengjun displayed the screen of her damaged e-watch modular. Some sections resembled broken TV screens due to the incident, while others showed signs of corrupted data. It seemed as though someone had forcibly deleted data from her modular and the system, creating a breach in the network.
With her familiarity with such cases, Xiao Luning didn't dwell on it but focused on the clear data on the screen—her first name, Luning, and her birthday, April 17th.
A puzzling realization struck her, 'Same first name and birthday? How could there be such a coincidence? Was it just a coincidence? The ancients already said that there was no such thing as coincidence. But if it wasn't, then what was this?'
Overwhelmed by information, Xiao Luning's head injury began to ache. Hu Chengjun quickly stowed the modular and assisted her until she safely sat down on the sofa.
"My apologies," he said, bowing deeply.
Waving off the concern, Xiao Luning gave a thumbs-up, as if to say that it was okay to continue.
Hu Chengjun continued, presenting an AI teddy bear robot, "This robot will take your measurements and order you a couple of clothes. Do you have any preferences? You can input anything, and it'll order it for you."
Spotting the big AI teddy bear robot, Xiao Luning's eyes lit up. 'Oh! I was looking for it yesterday! It was just here, how dreamy~.'
However, a thought dimmed her sparkling eyes. [Pay?], Xiao Luning typed.
"Miss, you really don't need to worry about anything. Before you can manage to stand on your own two feet, we're obliged to do everything in our power to ensure you'll be okay after all of this."
Relieved, Xiao Luning nodded, 'If I don't have to pay, then there's nothing to worry about. I can just be mindful of what I'll buy. Based on that handsome man's personality, he was clearly not stingy, but I don't know if he would think of me as a gold digger after ordering expensive stuff.'
"Also, the workers are here." Hu Chengjun called out to the key personnel in the mansion. "Other than the robots, they are the only regular people in the vicinity."
"Aunty Xi, Xi Lian, our head maid. She oversees occasional staff, and robots, and manages the entire household."
"Brother Lu, Lu Ming, our chief of security. Given the extensive size of the mansion, it is necessary to have a robust security framework."
[How big?] Xiao Luning wondered.
"It spans all the way to the horizon, encompassing a landscape where buildings are no longer visible."
Xiao Luning marveled at the sheer vastness of her new surroundings, realizing the magnitude of the world she was going to live in.
"Eng. Gomez, Helio Gomez, our tech maintenance expert. Any tech we have is being managed by him."
Xiao Luning's eyes lit up at the mention of Helio Gomez. With him around, she felt confident about keeping up with the latest trends and technology.
"Sir Cavanagh, James Cavanagh, our chief gardener. our chief gardener. He oversees the land, gardens, farm, and stables."
[Stables?]
"There's a ranch, a barn, and a farmhouse not too far from the mansion. It was designed to ensure that any smells won't affect the mansion."
As expected, this place differed significantly from any others Xiao Luning had seen. It stood out as a rich, high-tech countryside mansion, the kind that likely appealed to every earthling, even the most reclusive individuals.
"That's all for the introductions. Anything else?" Hu Chengjun asked.
Xiao Luning simply shook her head. While she had numerous questions, she decided to wait until her voice came back. It was important to direct her questions to the right person to avoid unnecessary repetition.
Once everyone dispersed, Xiao Luning ensured that Hu Chengjun had left to follow wherever was Chen Mingtian.
Xiao Luning quickly pulled the cloth down and unveiled a gorgeous grand piano that reflected the sunlight from the big window sills. She sat down and leveled herself in a comfortable position.
As she gently lifted the cover and pressed the keys, she made sure not to create excessive noise that could attract the attention of the workers. Scaling the piano keys, she searched for any out-of-tune notes but found none.
Silently applauding her discovery, Xiao Luning couldn't contain her excitement. 'Which piece should I start with?'
Ting~! Ting~!
'Let's begin with some 'Spring.''