Days slipped away amidst the scratching of her pen and the crunching of snacks. She had been incredibly busy lately, doing nothing but eating and writing, without even scheduling time to swim in the sea.
When inspiration struck, it was unstoppable; once she picked up the pen, it was hard to put it down again.
The manuscript for "The Secret History of Wanmin Restaurant: Is Guoba the True God of Cookery??" grew taller. Beside it lay scattered inspiration drafts for the sequel to "secret tales of feiyun," featuring blurry silhouettes of figures under the moon, by the lake, with their clothes soaked... Lovia wrote with total abandon until one evening, as she stretched and her gaze swept across the seaside shack, a thought suddenly crystallized.
It was time to have a real home.
Not a temporary rental where she always worried if the Landlord would take it back, but a stable little nest that belonged entirely to her, where she could decorate, renovate, and even expand as she pleased.
Once this thought took root, it grew rapidly.
Influenced by her previous life, Lovia had a deep-seated, almost obsessive desire to "own her own property." No matter how cheap the rent was, it was still someone else's house. Only when her name was written on a bright red Property Deed would it truly be home.
She had wanted to renovate this little shack for a long time! She only held back because it was a rental.
Now, under her pen name "Lovia," her income from manuscript fees had become quite stable. Combined with the Mora she had saved through frugal living, while not wealthy, buying this remote, abandoned shack shouldn't be a problem.
She had lived in this house for a while, and although it was dilapidated, she liked it. She could see the sea and hear the waves just by opening the window, and the location was secluded enough to satisfy her need for low-profile concealment.
No time like the present!
Lovia carefully counted her savings. The clinking of Mora was a reassuring sound—there were over a hundred thousand! (Let's establish here that Mora has denominations; otherwise, carrying that many coins for daily errands would be a hassle.)
It's definitely enough!
She tucked her money pouch away, put on her versatile Hooded Cloak once more, took a deep breath, and headed out to find the Landlord.
The Landlord lived in the coastal area of Liyue Harbor, a middle-aged man who looked quite well-off. When she found him, he was sitting under a grape trellis in his courtyard, leisurely sipping tea.
When he heard Lovia's intention to buy the rented shack, the Landlord was clearly taken aback. He sized up the tenant before him, who was wrapped up tightly and sounded very much like a child.
The Landlord smacked his lips, set down his teacup, and asked, "Little girl, you want to buy that place?"
Lovia nodded vigorously, her voice coming from beneath the hood: "Yes! Sir, I'm sure I want to buy it."
She was about to say how much she liked it, but then she remembered that you shouldn't show too much interest before making a purchase. So, she changed her tune: "Although it's a bit run-down, I really want a stable place to live. How much... Mora would it cost?"
The Landlord stroked his chin, squinting as he calculated for a moment.
That little shack was indeed dilapidated, the location wasn't great, and with the rumors of it being haunted, no one usually inquired about it. Being able to rent it out was already lucky; he hadn't expected someone to actually want to buy it. Moreover, what was worth anything wasn't the shack itself, but the plot of land.
Finally, he quoted a price. It was slightly higher than Lovia had estimated, but still within her budget.
Lovia felt a small wave of relief but didn't agree immediately.
Recalling the home-buying strategies she'd seen in her previous life, she began to haggle: "Sir, look at that house... the roof seems a bit unstable. It leaked during the last rain, didn't it? And the door hinges are so rusty they creak whenever I open it, and the windows let in drafts. I'll have to spend more money on renovations after I buy it..."
"And, that place... is a bit strange..."
"Sir, could the price be..."
Lovia tried her best to recall the house's flaws, her voice timid but her points clear.
The Landlord seemed a bit surprised. He looked her over a few more times before finally waving his hand: "Alright, alright. I see it hasn't been easy for a little girl like you. If you're sincere, let's go with this amount."
He quoted a new price, half of what it was before. After all, if he didn't sell it now, the house and the land might just rot in his hands. It was better to sell it cheap; at least he'd still make a profit.
Lovia quickly calculated in her head—this price was perfect! She almost nodded instantly but suppressed her excitement, pretending to hesitate for a moment before slowly nodding: "...Alright, thank you, sir."
The rest of the process went more smoothly than Lovia had imagined. The Landlord was a straightforward man (perhaps also feeling relieved to finally be rid of that shack) and took her directly to handle the paperwork.
Paying the Mora, signing the contract, pressing her thumbprint... When that thin but weightier-than-gold Property Deed was finally in her hands, Lovia felt her fingertips tremble slightly.
The name on the Property Deed was "Lovia."
This was the first thing in this world that truly belonged to her!
The afterglow of the setting sun dyed Liyue Harbor a warm gold. In the distance, a few birds gradually flew away.
Although she had spent a large chunk of her savings, her heart was filled with an unprecedented sense of stability and fulfillment.
Lovia gripped the Property Deed tightly and carefully tucked it away against her body.
From now on, that little shack where she could hear the waves belonged entirely to her!
She practically skipped all the way back, her steps so light she felt like she might fly.
Standing before the shack, Lovia looked at the familiar, slightly mottled wooden door, and it felt completely different.
This was her door! Her house! Her home!
Even the way she pushed the door open was filled with excitement.
"I'm back!" Lovia shouted cheerfully to the empty room, her voice echoing in her own space.
Lovia took off her Hooded Cloak, her antennae swaying happily. After being excited for a good while, she began to plan how to renovate her little nest.
"Hmm... I can nail some shelves here for my books and manuscripts. I'll find a carpenter tomorrow to custom-make them!"
"I'll put a thicker, softer carpet by the window, so I can lie down, soak up the sun, and listen to the sea!"
"Maybe I can paint the walls a warmer color? I like blue; it's the same color as the fur on my tail!"
"And, and! I'll hang a sign I made myself on the door with a Little Melusine head drawn on it, saying 'Do Not Disturb'! Hehe... wait, no, wouldn't that let people know a Melusine lives here? No way!"
Lovia planned excitedly, full of anticipation for the future. Now that she had a space entirely her own, that sense of security was incomparable to anything else.
She even thought that later, she might clear a small patch of land behind the house to try growing some glowing plants. She could also dig a small cellar specifically to store her special snacks, so she wouldn't have to go out as often!
After all, she was still a socially anxious shut-in at heart!
A beautiful blueprint unfolded in her mind, and the wallet that had thinned out from the house purchase didn't seem so painful anymore.
Lovia hummed a tune as she categorized her newly bought snacks. Then, she sat back at her desk. Looking at the half-finished "guoba the god of cookery" and the inspiration fragments for Xingqiu and Chongyun nearby, she suddenly felt a surge of inspiration.
When you're in a good mood, even causing trouble... ah, no, even creating is more motivating!
A stable home, freedom of creation, and a few harmless (or so she thought) pranks—this transmigration life seemed to be getting more and more flavorful.
As for Xingqiu's possible suspicions? (Regarding Lovia.)
Well... since the house is already bought, the cost of running away has gone up. Besides... she probably (strike that) definitely wouldn't be found out!
Yeah!
No need to scare herself!
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