Chapter 200: 500-Square-Meter Villa

A couple of days ago, the system had gifted him a villa in Emperor’s View Villa.

The property was located near his milk tea shop, so it was perfectly on the way for him to drop by and see exactly what condition it was in. Twenty minutes later, the 911 arrived at Emperor’s View Villa.

Situated in the city’s high-end residential district, the neighborhood was surrounded by lush greenery and fresh air. Despite being in the city center, the exceptionally high vegetation coverage completely isolated Emperor’s View Villa from the surrounding urban clamor. The main gates were heavily guarded; security personnel strictly inspected every passing vehicle and pedestrian to ensure the safety and privacy of the residents.

Before setting out, Li Xiao had already contacted the estate manager. Dressed in a sharp suit, the manager was waiting at the main gates bright and early. Catching sight of the vibrant yellow sports car, he hurried out of the guardhouse.

Seeing the man approaching, Li Xiao promptly rolled down his window.

The manager wore a warm, welcoming smile. “You must be Mr. Li. I’m Zhuang Lai, a manager here at Emperor’s View Villa. You can just call me Zhuang or Lai.

“I am the dedicated manager for the B2 zone. In the future, whenever you need any services within Emperor’s View Villa, please feel free to contact me.

“Would you like me to guide you to your newly purchased villa now, Mr. Li?”

Li Xiao nodded. “If you don’t mind, that would be great.”

Zhuang Lai’s smile grew even more respectful. “You’re too polite, Mr. Li. It’s my duty.”

With that, he quickly hopped onto a nearby electric golf cart, and the main gates of Emperor’s View Villa immediately swung open. The golf cart led the way, with Li Xiao driving slowly behind it.

As they drove along the tranquil roads, they passed row upon row of high-end villas, neatly arranged yet diverse in architectural style. The landscaping along the streets was exquisitely crafted, completely free of any cookie-cutter repetition. Every stretch of road and every distinct zone featured a unique arrangement of shrubs, trees, and flowers, offering a refreshing and varied visual experience.

Before long, the golf cart pulled up in front of a three-story villa. Zhuang Lai offered another deferential smile. “Mr. Li, this is the villa you purchased recently. Is there anything else you require?”

Li Xiao waved a hand dismissively. “Nothing for now. Thanks for your hard work.”

Zhuang Lai bowed slightly. “You’re too kind, Mr. Li. It’s what I’m here for. Since you don’t need anything else at the moment, I’ll take my leave. If you require any assistance, please call me immediately.”

After bidding farewell to the enthusiastic—perhaps slightly overly so—estate manager, Li Xiao stepped out of his car. He carefully inspected the villa’s exterior, finding himself quite satisfied with the system’s gift.

The villa boasted an elegant and grand European-style design, complete with a spacious garden. The garden didn’t feature any overly expensive plants, and likely due to a prolonged lack of maintenance and pruning, it looked somewhat overgrown and messy.

He opened the solid wood front doors and stepped inside. The spacious villa was completely empty. Although it had undergone basic renovations, it was entirely devoid of furniture.

To Li Xiao, however, this wasn’t a bad thing at all—in fact, it was a positive. He certainly wouldn’t have felt comfortable using secondhand appliances and furniture, as he had no habit of using used goods. If the villa had come fully furnished with old items, he would have had to hire someone to clear them out anyway. The empty space simply gave him a blank canvas to work with.

He took a quick glance around. The interior design wasn’t overly luxurious; rather, it leaned toward a minimalist style. While the details didn’t perfectly align with Li Xiao’s personal taste, it was about a ninety percent match. Rather than tearing everything down and starting over, it was better to just keep the existing finish. A full renovation would eat up a massive amount of time, not to mention he didn’t have the schedule to frequently drop by and supervise the construction. He’d also have to deal with airing out the fumes post-renovation.

Therefore, Li Xiao abandoned any plans to remodel. He would simply buy some new appliances and furniture, and it would be ready for move-in.

With a total area of over six hundred square meters, the villa was incredibly spacious. The master bedroom was particularly large, featuring expansive floor-to-ceiling windows that flooded the room with natural light and offered a wide-open view. The backyard was another major highlight, boasting a private swimming pool. It wasn’t exceptionally large, and because it had been neglected for some time, quite a few fallen leaves had gathered in the empty basin. He decided to hire someone later to spruce up the garden and pool area, restoring them to their former glory.

After all, he had no intention of continuing to live in his cramped, sub-100-square-meter apartment. While it was conveniently located near a subway station, that exact proximity made driving around the area a nightmare. Every time he went back, he had to navigate through several notoriously congested traffic lights.

Stepping back inside, Li Xiao began to mentally map out the interior layout and decor. The living room was massive; he planned to put in a plush sofa set and a large-screen TV to create a home theater setup. The dining area needed a grand dining table capable of accommodating multiple guests.

He paid special attention to the kitchen’s layout. As someone with a vested interest in cooking, he fully intended to put considerable effort into this space. The original kitchen was large, but it still felt a bit lacking for his needs. His gaze shifted to the adjacent storage room. Given that he’d likely be the sole occupant of the villa for the foreseeable future, a storage room was completely dispensable. The wall separating it from the kitchen was more than likely just a partition rather than a load-bearing structure. He could easily hire someone to knock it down, merging the storage room with the kitchen and doubling its original size.

Heading upstairs to the second floor, he found three bedrooms and a lounge area. Each bedroom featured its own en-suite bathroom, ensuring complete privacy and comfort. The lounge area could easily be converted into a study or a home office for handling business matters.

The third floor was what interested Li Xiao the most—he planned to transform it entirely into a private gym and entertainment zone. The gym would be outfitted with top-tier fitness equipment, while the entertainment lounge could house gaming setups or even a billiards table.

After doing a full lap around the villa, Li Xiao decided to contact a renovation company and furniture suppliers immediately to shape the place into his ideal home. Wasting no time, he retrieved the contact info for the renovation firm that handled his milk tea shop from Lai Chunjiao.

Upon hearing Li Xiao’s request, the renovation company dispatched a designer without hesitation. Thirty minutes later, the designer arrived on-site. After reviewing the blueprints and listening to Li Xiao’s requirements, the designer confidently assured him that the scope of work was incredibly simple. As long as the budget was met, workers could move in and start construction as early as tomorrow, finishing everything Li Xiao needed within just four days.

The company’s efficiency far exceeded his expectations. Since money was no object to him, Li Xiao signed the service contract right then and there.