Chapter 120: Chapter 120: Unaccustomed

Renee Jennings had Nathan Lynch rest by the roadside for a bit. Along the way, a friendly auntie offered to give them a ride.

Renee Jennings glanced at the leftover vegetable leaves and dirt in the back of the woman’s tricycle and declined, “We’re almost there. Thank you, Auntie, but you should get going.”

She smiled politely, and the auntie said her goodbyes and left.

After resting for a moment, the color returned to Nathan Lynch’s cheeks. Renee Jennings took him by the hand and they continued on their way.

They finally reached the last house, but its exterior was not as stunning as Renee Jennings had imagined. It was utterly unremarkable.

Renee Jennings frowned. ’This is the best house the show arranged for Naomi Kenway?’

’Maybe there’s more to it on the inside?’

She consoled herself.

When Renee Jennings pulled Nathan Lynch to the front door, she remembered she had to use the magic words. She called them out, her voice filled with delight.

But the main door didn’t react at all.

Renee Jennings frowned and pushed the door hard a few times. “What’s going on? Why is this door broken?”

She looked at the nearby staff. “I already said the magic words, why aren’t you opening the door for me?” Her tone was smug as she added pointedly, “Whoever drew this house gets to live in it. Any previous arrangements don’t count!”

“Rachel!”

Hearing the voice, Renee Jennings instantly turned around. She frowned. “Pearl, what are you doing here?”

As if she’d realized something, her frown smoothed over. “Here to be a guest? Of course, you’re welcome. We’ll go in as soon as this door is fixed.”

“Rachel…” An awkward expression appeared on Margaret Jennings’s face, as if she didn’t know where to begin.

Renee Jennings said with an understanding nod, “Is the house you drew too run-down? You can stay with me if you want. This house is definitely spacious.”

Carina Sanders couldn’t stand her mother’s hemming and hawing and said directly, “Aunt Jennings, this house is ours.”

“What?!”

Then, under Renee Jennings’s dumbfounded gaze, Carina Sanders skillfully recited the magic words from the card.

The previously locked main door was suddenly opened by the staff.

“This…” Renee Jennings’s face turned ashen. She couldn’t believe what was happening right before her eyes.

Margaret Jennings patted her shoulder. “Rachel, you don’t have to look anymore. ’House Number Five’ should be the one you drew. Um… would you like to come over to my place and rest for a bit?”

In a daze, Renee Jennings refused, “No, there’s no need…”

With that, she took Nathan Lynch and started back the way they came.

’House Number Five is that dilapidated one.’

Renee Jennings racked her brain but couldn’t figure out why this had happened.

[What a dramatic turn of events…]

[Renee Jennings is acting so weird. I understand her less and less.]

[Good thing Nina didn’t get that card, or she’d be sleeping in a cowshed with Ian again.]

[Hiss, the conditions are so rough. I hope Renee Jennings can take good care of Nathan.]

[Rachel, we’ll always believe in you and support you! We’re looking forward to the surprises you’ll bring us!]

…

Opening the door to House Number Five, Renee Jennings’s heart sank. A foul smell hit her, making her instinctively gag. She yanked Nathan back a step, staring at the house before her as if it were something terrifying.

Renee Jennings had brought two handkerchiefs. She handed one to Nathan Lynch, then covered her own nose and mouth with the other and went inside.

[You’d think there was a biohazard crisis if you didn’t know better…]

[Hiss, is it really that bad?]

Renee Jennings’s expression grew worse and worse the more she looked around.

She pushed open a CREAKING wooden door, and the interior was just as desolate.

Renee Jennings did a full turn, confirming the reality of the situation. Besides a bed and two tables, there was no other furniture.

Sitting on the slightly cleaner part of the bed, Renee Jennings sighed and groaned, her brow tightly furrowed.

’This is the “good house” the show secretly arranged for Naomi Kenway? What the hell?!’

Then, she recalled Naomi Kenway’s performance in the first episode. It was as if her governor and conception vessels had been cleared; the defeated look on her face instantly vanished.

’How could I have forgotten…’

’Naomi Kenway got famous in the first episode by DIY-ing furniture. She was dealt a bad hand but managed to play it brilliantly. Is Naomi planning to use this house to perform another miracle?’

’Too bad this house is mine now.’

A fierce fighting spirit ignited in Renee Jennings’s heart.

’First, I need to find a carpenter…’

***

Liam Sherman could hardly believe it when he pushed open the door. He handed over the printed report and asked in surprise, “President Shaw, you’re not going home yet?”

“I mean, you’re usually already home by this time.”

It was nearly seven in the evening.

“No rush,” Ethan Shaw replied faintly.

“Aren’t you picking up your son today?” Liam Sherman asked.

They had worked together for several years and would occasionally chat about personal matters.

“My son…” Ethan Shaw paused. “He went with his mother to be on a variety show.”

Liam Sherman nodded in understanding.

“It’s getting late. What about our meeting?”

“We’re continuing, of course.” After speaking, Ethan Shaw stood up and walked out of the office.

By the time the meeting ended, it was already 8:30 PM. Since Ethan Shaw wasn’t leaving, Liam Sherman had no choice but to stay and work overtime.

It was 11:00 PM when Ethan Shaw returned home. Nanny Young took his briefcase, smiling. “Ethan, dinner is ready. It’s all your favorites.”

“It’s very late, Nanny Young. You’re getting older; please don’t wait up for me next time. Go and get some rest.” Ethan Shaw had already changed his shoes.

“Alright, alright. You get some rest soon, too, Ethan,” Nanny Young said before leaving.

Walking through the familiar living room, Ethan Shaw felt like something was missing. The usual sounds of laughter and chatter that would greet him when he opened the door were gone.

’How many days has it been since Naomi and Ian left?’

’The first day.’

Back in the bedroom, he was met with a cold, empty space. He lay down on the bed but found he couldn’t focus on his financial magazine.

He rubbed his temples, a headache forming. Ethan Shaw pushed the strange feelings from his mind and picked up the magazine again.

After some time, he found he had opened the livestream for *Super Mom*. But Naomi Kenway’s stream had already ended, perhaps because it was too late.

Ethan Shaw had to watch the replay instead.

***

At 8:00 AM, Naomi Kenway brought Ian to the location designated by the production team for the task.

The table in the courtyard was already laden with food, including a lot of seafood.

The guests greeted one another and then took their seats. They soon noticed that Renee Jennings was absent.

“Where did Rachel go?” Chelsea Raines asked.

The cameraman said, “We’ve already sent someone to get her.”

***

Renee Jennings had started her woodworking project first thing in the morning. She had intentionally practiced beforehand, so making a stool now went much more smoothly.

It was just that…

Renee Jennings lowered her gaze to study her finished product. No matter how she looked at it, she felt it wasn’t as nice as the ones Naomi Kenway made.

[Rachel is so amazing, she can even make a difficult stool like that!! Thumbs up for you!]

[It’s not bad, but I still feel it’s not as good as Naomi Kenway’s…]

[This is Rachel’s segment. Can we not mention Naomi Kenway?]

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep