Chapter 74: Chapter 74: Ruby Preston Asks for Help

Renee Jennings had been observing Mona’s replies from the side. She didn’t let out a breath of relief until Mona had answered the final question.

*

Naomi Kenway hurried toward House #4 with Ian Shaw. Several villagers greeted them warmly along the way, and to her surprise, Ian Shaw actually responded.

Naomi Kenway was both surprised and indescribably overjoyed. Her son wasn’t shutting himself off like before. He was slowly starting to engage with and accept the world, his personality gradually becoming more outgoing.

Her heart filled with joy. ’This is exactly why I brought him on the show.’

Having a poor sense of direction, Naomi Kenway wandered around in a daze, clutching the card for their house. She finally stopped to ask a nearby villager, who enthusiastically pointed the way.

The little bamboo house was quite distinctive. Naomi Kenway followed the villager’s directions and soon saw a bamboo grove, where the silhouette of an exquisite bamboo house was faintly visible.

Naomi Kenway pointed ahead, showing Ian Shaw. “Ian, look! It’s a bamboo house!”

Ian Shaw’s eyes widened in amazement. “Mom, I’ve never stayed in a house like this before! It’s so pretty!”

Naomi Kenway smiled. “Come on, let’s go inside and take a look.”

The main gate was also made of bamboo. The lock was incredibly intricate, as beautiful as a work of art.

Taking out the key the production team had given her, Naomi Kenway unlocked the main gate and gave it a gentle push.

“Wow.”

Naomi Kenway led Ian Shaw inside.

Wind chimes tinkled.

The inside was also classically elegant. There was even a swing set in the courtyard.

“Someone wealthy must live here,” Naomi Kenway remarked with a sigh of admiration.

After looking around the courtyard, Naomi Kenway led Ian Shaw up to the second-floor bedroom. A large, traditional-style bed was draped with a light-colored canopy, giving the room a refined air. A pot of fragrant orchids sat on the table.

Finally, they went out onto the balcony, where they were met with a panoramic view of green mountains and clear waters. A lounge chair sat on the balcony. Naomi Kenway sat in it for a moment before placing Ian Shaw on it as well. “Isn’t this comfy, Ian?”

Ian Shaw nodded.

“I need to go find the task card. Do you want to rest here or come with me?”

Ian Shaw sat up instantly. “I want to go with Mom!”

Naomi Kenway picked him up and set him on the floor. “Okay, let’s start by looking around here.”

The house was full of furniture. Naomi Kenway checked under the bed but came up empty-handed. She then led Ian Shaw downstairs to continue the search. Her forehead was beaded with sweat from the heat. Even after checking every last corner, she still couldn’t find the card.

“Why is this so hard to find…” Naomi Kenway muttered to herself. She rarely complained in front of her son, afraid she would be a bad influence.

Suddenly, Ian, who was not far away, shouted, “Mom! There’s something in the flowerpot!”

Naomi Kenway walked over. “Let me see.”

There were several flowerpots in the middle of the courtyard, all planted with chrysanthemums. Naomi Kenway was about to lift one up when Ian Shaw said, “It’s inside, Mom.”

“In the soil?”

Naomi Kenway found a tool and started digging through the soil. Her movements were cautious, afraid of damaging the flowers.

The task card was buried near the surface. Naomi Kenway pulled it out, shook off the dirt, and remarked, “The production team is so sneaky.”

1. Figure out your own dinner for tonight.

2. Be at the home of the village’s wealthiest resident, Ford Warren, at 8:00 AM sharp tomorrow morning.

—The “My Super Mom” Production Team

“Two tasks?” Naomi Kenway mused. ’Dinner won’t be a problem. This luxurious bamboo house is nothing like the earthen hut from the first episode. The kitchen downstairs is fully equipped, and there are even some ingredients in the fridge. Making dinner will be easy. The second task is for tomorrow, which means we can relax for a bit.’

Putting the task card away, Naomi Kenway praised Ian Shaw, “You’re such a good boy! You helped me out so much!”

Ian always blushed when he was praised.

“Honey, how did you know the task card was here?”

The dirt completely covered the task card; it was impossible to see from the outside.

Ian Shaw pointed to the flowerpot where the card had been hidden. “The dirt here is fresh.”

’Fresh soil… so the production team dug up the pot to hide the card,’ she realized. ’And my son noticed such a tiny detail.’

Naomi Kenway was getting used to the surprises her son, Ian, kept giving her. “So that’s how you knew. You’re so smart, Ian!”

Suddenly, a knock came from the door. Naomi Kenway quickly went to check, carrying her son.

When she opened the door, she saw Ruby Preston and Simon Sawyer standing outside, looking a little hesitant.

“Is something the matter? Ruby, Sean, please come in.”

Ruby Preston waved her hand. “Nicole, I won’t come in. I actually came over to ask for your help with something.”

“Please, go on.”

“The window in our thatched cottage is broken. I checked the weather forecast earlier, and I’m worried it might rain tonight. It would be bad if the rain gets in. I was wondering… Nicole, do you have time?”

“I have time right now.”

Naomi Kenway dusted off the dirt that had gotten on her hands. “Let’s go now.”

House #5 looked even more dilapidated than in the photos. It seemed like no one had lived there for years. Ian and Sean played in the yard while Naomi Kenway followed Ruby Preston into the main room.

Looking at the large hole in the window, Naomi Kenway frowned. “A hole this big… it’d be bad if bugs got in. Do you have a hammer or anything?”

Several wooden planks were scattered nearby. Apparently, Ruby Preston had already tried to fix it herself before Naomi Kenway arrived.

“Yes, right here.” Ruby Preston hurriedly handed the tools to Naomi Kenway.

Thanks to her previous experience, Naomi Kenway was much more skilled at this kind of work. She stood on a stool and effortlessly repaired the window with the wooden planks.

One of the table’s legs was broken, causing the tabletop to tilt. Naomi Kenway used the remaining planks to fix that as well.

“Now you can eat at the table or put things on it.” After finishing, Naomi Kenway dusted off her hands. She scanned the room to make sure there was nothing else to fix.

Ruby Preston brought over a basin of water. “Come and wash your hands.”

She said gratefully, “Thank you so much, Nicole!”

“It’s nothing.” Noticing how empty the surroundings were, Naomi Kenway suggested, “I have some food at my place. Why don’t you bring Sean over for dinner?”

Ruby Preston looked quite embarrassed. She was a proud person who rarely asked for help, so asking Naomi Kenway to fix the window was already an exception for her.

“No, that’s alright, Nicole. A neighbor just kindly invited Sean and me over for dinner. But thank you.”

Naomi Kenway nodded. “Okay.”

Ruby Preston walked out of the room with Naomi Kenway. “Nicole, I owe you one for this. I’ll definitely repay you when I get the chance.”

“It was just a small thing. There’s no need to talk about repaying me.”

Naomi Kenway’s willingness to help and her easy-going nature made Ruby Preston’s fondness for her grow by leaps and bounds.

Ruby Preston looked like she wanted to say something but stopped herself. She had a role in a major production that would be perfect for Naomi Kenway, but filming a TV show was obviously not the right time to discuss it.

Pushing open the gate, they saw Simon Sawyer and Ian Shaw playing happily in the yard.

The two children were huddled together, engrossed in watching some ants at the base of a tree.

Because it was a little hot, Simon Sawyer was constantly fanning Ian with a hand fan.

Ian Shaw tried to take the fan to fan Simon Sawyer in return, but Simon refused. “I’m the big brother, so I should be the one taking care of you!”

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