Free Web NovelChapter 52: Chapter 52: Mission Countdown
Renee looked expectantly at the virtual golden card.
The shimmering card flipped over, displaying "Eastgate Villa No. 8."
Renee blinked and murmured, "Is this real?"
She couldn’t believe her eyes. She never imagined happiness could arrive so suddenly.
[System 009: Miss Jennings, congratulations on winning. You’ve been awarded Eastgate Villa No. 8. Someone will be in touch shortly to handle the property transfer.]
Renee felt like she was dreaming.
No, that wasn’t right.
She wouldn’t have dared to dream this big.
Eastgate Villa was a newly developed villa district in Zenvia. It had taken three years to build and was even more luxurious than the Norvane Villa District—a place that money alone couldn’t necessarily buy.
’If this is real, then...’
[System 009: Miss Jennings, rest assured, it is absolutely real. You have one more draw remaining. Would you like to use it now?]
Hearing this, Renee looked at Eggy, a delighted smile gracing her lips. Her eyes curved into crescents, filled with mirth.
"I’ll save it. Not yet."
’This way I can be happy twice.’
Eggy keenly sensed her good mood.
"Renee, you seem really happy!" it asked.
Renee grinned. "Maybe in a day or two, I’ll have some good news for you."
As she was talking to Eggy, a voice suddenly came from behind her. "The young lady from earlier..."
Renee wasn’t sure if he was calling to her, but she glanced back anyway. It was the young caretaker from before, the one who had been treating the brindle dog’s wounds.
She blinked, puzzled. "Were you calling me?"
"Yes." The young caretaker nodded, looking embarrassed. "I didn’t get your name, but... my colleague has a dog that’s being very uncooperative. Could you possibly go over and try talking to it?"
He had actually tried talking to the dog using Renee’s method, but it hadn’t worked.
Perhaps it was because he wasn’t good-looking enough.
Renee readily agreed, "Of course."
She told Eggy to go back to the kennel, then followed the young caretaker to soothe the frantic dog.
In the cramped medical room, a jet-black dog, its body covered in whip marks, thrashed wildly, trying to break free of its leash. It let out low growls, its claws scrabbling frantically against the floor with a harsh, scraping sound.
Several caretakers had heard from the young man that Renee could turn a savage dog into a lapdog with just a few words. Filled with a mix of skepticism and curiosity, they gathered at the doorway to watch.
As Renee approached, the jet-black dog, soothed by her soft voice, began to visibly calm down...
The caretakers all stared in astonishment.
"She really calmed that jet-black dog down that easily?"
"She’s incredible! A natural-born dog trainer!"
"She’s so impressive..."
Renee modestly took her leave amidst the chorus of praise.
It was getting late, and Rhea Dempsey had already messaged her twice on WeChat, asking what time she’d be home.
As Renee was about to leave the animal shelter, she happened to run into Julian Nash at the entrance.
He wasn’t wearing a hat today, and his ombré purple hair was particularly striking.
Renee recognized him solely by his eyes; he had a mole at the end of his right eyebrow.
When Julian Nash saw her, his eyes lit up. His expression was full of gratitude as he said excitedly, "It’s you! Thank you! I found Sage!"
He was tall and slender, and he gave her a deep, formal bow.
"It’s good that you found him." Renee’s voice was calm. She added, "Is he badly hurt?"
Julian Nash straightened up, his brows knitting. "He has several whip marks on his body, but compared to the other injured dogs, his injuries are considered minor."
Renee nodded slightly. "When you have time, take Sage to the vet for a full check-up. Make sure he gets plenty of rest. I have to go now."
Without waiting for a response, she turned and strode toward the exit on her long, slender legs.
Julian Nash watched her slender figure retreat, looking as if he wanted to say something more but held back.
「At two in the morning.」
Renee returned home. As she was changing her shoes in the entryway, her phone screen suddenly lit up. fгeewebnovёl.com
She unlocked it and saw that Julian Nash had sent her 200,000 via a WeChat transfer.
Renee stared at the amount for a full minute before tapping the screen to reject the transfer. She quickly typed out a message and sent it: [Donate the money to the animal shelter instead.]
The veterinary hospital reeked of disinfectant. Julian Nash was keeping Sage company while he received an anti-inflammatory drip. Squatting beside him, Julian looked up, watching the fluid fall drop by drop, when he suddenly felt his phone vibrate.
He pulled out his phone and unlocked it. He was taken aback when he saw Renee’s reply.
***
「Two days later.」
Renee received a call from the Eastgate Villa staff, who scheduled an appointment with her to handle the property transfer for Villa No. 8.
Holding the brand-new property deed, Renee felt as if she were free from the pull of gravity, floating weightlessly as if walking on soft, fluffy clouds. It was surreal, like a dream.
And just like that, the billion-dollar villa was now an asset in her name.
However, at that very moment, the system’s prompt rang out abruptly.
[System 009: Task Countdown: 48 hours. Please complete the task as soon as possible.]
’Task?’
Renee’s brow slowly furrowed as she wracked her brain, trying to remember what task she hadn’t completed.
A moment later, her eyes lifted slightly. She remembered.
The day before New Year’s Eve, the system had issued a task: help the police find a murderer.
Renee went home and put the property deed in a drawer in her room.
She still hadn’t figured out how to tell her family about this incredible news.
Renee sat on the sofa next to Blueberry and Cici, repeatedly unlocking her phone. Her gaze lingered on Henry Stark’s WeChat profile picture as she debated whether to message him.
Unexpectedly, just as she was about to put her phone down, the screen suddenly lit up, displaying an incoming call from Henry Stark.
She immediately answered the call and said brightly, "Hello, Captain Stark."
A man’s low voice came from the receiver. "Miss Jennings, are you home?"
"Yes! I am!" Renee’s voice held a hint of anticipation. "Is there a case you need my help with?"
Hearing her eagerness, Henry Stark’s tone softened slightly. "Yes. We’re across the street from your complex. You’ll see the patrol car when you come out."
"Okay, I’ll be right down!" Renee shot up, went back to her room to grab a coat, and hurried out the door.
Blueberry and Cici watched her departing figure, feeling as if they’d been banished to the Cold Palace.
Renee hurried to the entrance of her complex, used the crosswalk to get to the residential building across the street, and saw a patrol car parked a short distance away in front of a fruit stand.
"Miss Jennings!" Kyle Morgan was looking around and immediately waved when he saw Renee. "Over here."
As Renee approached, he explained with a good-natured laugh, "The Captain sent me down to meet you."
"Thank you," Renee said with a small smile. "Let’s go."
As they headed inside, she had the faint feeling that the route was familiar, as if she had been here before.
Once they were in the elevator, Kyle Morgan reached out and pressed the button for the fourth floor.
Renee’s eyes fixed on the number. ƒгeewebnovёl.com
She remembered now. This was where she had come with Ginny to find her owner.
’What a coincidence.’
