"Hello, is this Ms. Xiaoyou?" Roselle asked politely after dialing the number and hearing a mature, pleasant female voice on the other end, which took him by surprise.


    "Yes, who is this?" responded the woman named Xiaoyou.


    "Oh, I saw your listing online for a villa for rent. My last name is Luo…"


    "Ah, I''m sorry, I''ve just changed my mind and decided not to rent it out. I''m really sorry for the inconvenience," she interrupted.


    "Oh, it''s okay…" Roselle replied, frowning slightly. While he said it was fine, his tone betrayed his difficulty. With the 24-hour deadline approaching, it was not easy to quickly find a suitable place that met the task requirements. Now that he had finally found one, the owner had changed her mind.


    He hesitated and attempted, "Have you really decided not to rent it? I''m willing to pay more, or how about just for three months?"


    Surprisingly, there was a pause on the other end after his request. Just when Roselle thought it was hopeless, the woman spoke softly, "Mr. Luo, to be honest, I''m having some financial difficulties right now, but I also don''t have another place to stay temporarily. If you don''t mind sharing…"


    Listening to her embarrassed tone, Roselle realized that she was in financial trouble, which was why she had intended to rent out her villa. However, for some reason, she had decided against it due to not having another place to live. But after hearing his proposal, she reconsidered renting out the ground floor of her villa, leading to this negotiation.


    "I can lower the rent to 5000… no, just 3000. I''ll stay upstairs, and you can stay downstairs. We''ll share the kitchen and garden. I''m rarely home during the day, so I won''t disturb you much."


    The woman, who called herself Xiaoyou, seemed urgent; it was clear she was in desperate need of money, otherwise, she wouldn''t have offered such a low price. Renting a luxurious villa with a large garden for 3000 a month, even if just one floor, was a bargain, and she was taking the risk of sharing with a stranger.


    "Alright, I''ll be there shortly, how''s that?" After a moment''s thought, Roselle agreed readily, wanting to complete the task promptly. Any delay increased the risk of failure due to the time limit, and he found this woman, with her manner of speaking and apparent vulnerability, more trustworthy.


    "Okay, I''ll be here," she replied, sounding slightly relieved.


    …


    Hurrying to the location, Roselle found himself in front of a stylish yet leisurely villa within the residential area.


    The villa had two floors, each with roughly 130 square meters of interior space, with front and back gardens, covering a total area of about 500 square meters.This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    Wow! Renting such a serene environment for 3000 yuan was indeed a steal.


    Moreover, seeing the woman waiting at the villa''s entrance left Roselle pleasantly surprised—it was a great bargain.


    Zhu Lu was considered a beauty, but next to this woman, she seemed lackluster. Her lustrous black hair was elegantly piled, revealing a swan-like neck adorned with a pearl necklace, exuding an aura of intellect and tranquility.


    Her delicate brows shaded eyes as clear as autumn water, with long eyelashes, an exquisite nose, and soft red lips. Standing gracefully in the small garden where the breeze gently blew, she was truly captivating at first sight.


    Her appearance, temperament, and the natural grace she exuded made Zhu Lu, once hailed as the company''s beauty, appear inferior by comparison.


    "Ms. Xiaoyou?" Roselle snapped out of his daze and approached, asking tentatively.


    "Yes, I am. I didn''t expect Mr. Luo to be so young. My real name is Hera" She introduced herself with a reserved smile.


    Her fair hand extended, leaving Roselle momentarily stunned. Realizing he was awestruck by Hera''s poise and grace, he quickly scratched his head and wiped his hands before greeting her with a gentle handshake, saying somewhat sheepishly, "I didn''t expect Miss Hera to be so outstanding—you left me speechless. Please call me Roselle, or just Shengzi or Cheng, like everyone else."


    "Ha ha…" She chuckled lightly, perhaps finding his straightforwardness and exaggerated manner amusing, easing the initial tension between them.


    "Let''s go in and take a look. I must have embarrassed you on the phone earlier," Hera said, her initial anxiety somewhat eased. However, Roselle still noticed a hint of worry lingering between her brows.


    "It''s okay; everyone has times when they need money. Money isn''t everything, but without it, even the most dignified man has to bend over, let alone a woman…" Roselle joked self-deprecatingly, recalling past hardships.


    "True, but no macho attitudes allowed," Hera replied, winking. "I was a bit apprehensive before you arrived, but meeting you has put my mind at ease."


    "What, do I look that harmless?" Roselle feigned innocence, touching the back of his head, and they both laughed.


    Roselle hadn''t expected renting a place would lead him to meet such an extraordinary woman as Hera.


    Hera as in ''heroic,'' and ''dancing gracefully''… The elegance and depth of her name and demeanor contrasted sharply with Zhu Lu''s coquettish praise of Chen Jincheng. This comparison almost disrupted the pleasant atmosphere.


    Afterward, Roselle happily paid six months'' rent upfront—18,000 yuan. His decision was partly because of Hera''s composed and gentle presence and also because the environment of the two-story villa met his needs perfectly.


    Especially when he saw the serene backyard with a terrace, grass and swings, plus a small fish pond about ten square meters, his desire to stay grew.


    The pond was perfect for keeping the "Ice Crystal Fish Mother." After all, despite the extraordinary crystal bottle, its space was just too small, and he couldn''t keep a spirit creature confined to such a tiny space indefinitely, could he?


    In addition to the delightful backyard, the first floor included a kitchen, two bedrooms, a living room, a dining room, and a storeroom. Outside was a garage accommodating three commercial vehicles, and the front yard had a doghouse and flowers. With such amenities, 3000 yuan a month for half a villa, living with a beautiful woman, was almost too good to believe—like a protagonist in a transmigration story enjoying its perks.


    "Thank you." As Hera accepted Roselle''s prompt payment, the astute woman realized this sunny young man was indeed giving her a hand.


    "I''m just paying rent, and you''re the landlady. Sister Hera, I look forward to your care in the future," Roselle replied, waving with a smile.