Landlord in the Arctic

With that, she deftly picked up the tray and turned to leave.

Xiaohua’s gaze followed the woman’s retreating figure until she was out of sight. Only then did she snap out of it, turning to Natasha with eyes full of curiosity and asking.

"Sister, are they your employees too?"

"They’re the housemaids," Natasha said, turning slightly to face Xiaohua with a gentle smile, her voice soft and low as she explained.

Hearing this, Xiaohua’s face immediately filled with envy. She couldn’t help but sigh.

"I’m so jealous. You even have maids. Not like me, I have to do everything myself. Even while pregnant, I have to cook and do laundry, and sometimes I even have to go work at the store."

As she spoke, Xiaohua gently caressed her slightly swollen belly, a hint of grievance in her eyes.

Sitting to the side, Hu Zi and Black Hide nearly had their jaws drop to the floor when they heard this.

They exchanged a look, both seeing a mix of helplessness and amusement in the other’s eyes.

’What does she mean she has to cook, do laundry, and work at the store while pregnant?’

’What a bald-faced lie!’

The Jade Emperor, the Queen Mother, and the Tathagata Buddha could all bear witness.

Ever since Hua’Er got pregnant, they hadn’t let her lift a finger for any housework, let alone cook or do laundry.

And as for working at the store, that was even more ridiculous.

Every time Hua’Er went to the store, aside from grabbing some snacks, they didn’t even let her stand behind the counter for a second. They were terrified she’d get tired or bump into something—they treated her like a treasure!

But now, looking at Xiaohua’s pitiful act, which she was putting on so convincingly, the two could only complain silently in their hearts.

’Women are born drama queens.’

"A woman has to be good to herself. Men are unreliable," Natasha said languidly. She shot a sidelong glance at Hu Zi and Black Hide, a look as sharp as a cold wind that sent a chill down their spines. It was as if they were being watched by some fierce beast, and they shifted uncomfortably.

Xiaohua, however, looked as if she had found a kindred spirit. Her head bobbed up and down like a bobblehead as she frantically agreed.

"Sister, you’re so right! We women have it so hard. If only I could be like you, Sister!"

Sitting at the other end of the sofa, Black Hide gave Hu Zi a speechless look, his eyes seeming to say, ’Are you going to do something about your wife? Listen to the nonsense she’s spouting.’

Hu Zi received Black Hide’s signal and gave a slight shake of his head, a wry smile on his face, as if silently replying, ’I don’t dare say anything. You know her temper.’

The two went back and forth like that, carrying on a silent conversation with their eyes.

Just then, the maid, Sofia, approached Natasha with a delicate jewelry box held in both hands. She bowed slightly before presenting the box to Natasha.

Seeing this, Natasha sat up straight, her posture elegant. She reached out with her long, slender fingers and gently opened the box.

In an instant, a necklace lying on the black velvet lining inside the box came into view.

The necklace looked like a rare treasure. It was inlaid with dazzling, colorful gems, which were surrounded by tiny, star-like diamonds. The overall design was opulent to the extreme, exquisite beyond compare.

The red and blue gems complemented each other perfectly. The former was passionate as fire, displaying a wild charm, while the latter was as deep as the night, silently exuding an air of mystery and nobility.

Under the soft lights of the room, the necklace glittered with a mesmerizing, dazzling luster.

"It’s so beautiful," Xiaohua said, her gaze instantly captivated by the necklace as if drawn by a magnet. Her eyes were filled with awe and envy.

Natasha raised a hand slightly, a gentle smile on her face. "This is a necklace I had custom-made at IDee," she said softly. "It would suit your skin tone. It would definitely look beautiful on you. Please, take it as a gift."

The maid, Sofia, immediately understood. She picked up the exquisite, magnificent jewelry box with both hands and walked gracefully over to Xiaohua.

She curtsied slightly and presented the jewelry box, her movements gentle yet formal.

Xiaohua’s gaze was drawn as if by a magnet, instantly locking onto the dazzling jeweled necklace.

Right before her eyes, it seemed to gather all the light in the world, radiating an irresistible magic.

Xiaohua’s breathing quickened, and her eyes shone with the same feverish light as a child seeing candy on a holiday.

But in a flash, as if she had suddenly remembered something, Xiaohua snapped out of her captivated daze.

She subconsciously gasped for air, taking a few deep breaths to calm the turmoil in her heart.

She stared deeply at the necklace, her gaze lingering on every gem and every detail, as if to permanently etch its image into her mind.

Then, Xiaohua shook her head firmly, her movement completely without hesitation.

"Thank you, Sister, but Brother Shan said I shouldn’t casually accept gifts from others. Taking things from people puts you in their debt."

Heh heh!

Natasha chuckled, her laughter soft and a little playful.

The corners of her mouth curved up into a faint, charming arc, revealing a hint of admiration for Xiaohua.

Then, she rose gracefully from the sofa, her movements fluid and natural.

Seeing this, the tiger at her feet perked up and got to its feet as well, ready to follow its master.

"You don’t need to follow. I’m going upstairs to rest for a bit. Just stay here in the living room," Natasha murmured to the tiger, turning slightly. Her tone was full of affection, as if she were talking to a close old friend.

Afterwards, her deep, ocean-blue eyes turned to the three people sitting on the sofa—Xiaohua, Hu Zi, and Black Hide.

As her gaze swept over them, the innate, lofty arrogance instantly reappeared on her face.

It was as if she had put on a mask of cold, noble beauty.

"I never take back something I’ve given away. This is a gift from Lengwan. If you don’t want it, then just throw it out."

Natasha’s voice wasn’t loud, but every word struck like thunder, carrying an authority that was impossible to defy.

With that, she turned and walked toward the stairs, her figure graceful and alluring, leaving behind only an inscrutable back.

Xiaohua, Hu Zi, and Black Hide stared at each other in bewilderment, their faces a picture of confusion.

They were clearly baffled by Natasha’s inexplicable reversal.

’A moment ago she was all smiles, so gentle and friendly. How could she just flip a switch like that?’

’Her mood changes as fast as Brother Shan’s.’

The three couldn’t help but complain to themselves.

’No wonder they say people of a kind flock together.’

’Look at Brother Shan and this Queen. They’re both so fickle, changing in an instant. It’s impossible to guard against.’

But in this situation, after she’d said something like that, if they didn’t accept the gift...

...given Natasha’s proud personality, she would probably do exactly as she said and just throw the necklace away.

Xiaohua couldn’t help but look at the jewelry box again.

The necklace lay quietly on the black velvet. Under the light, its gems sparkled, dazzling the eye.

Just from its appearance, you could tell it was incredibly valuable.

Xiaohua bit her lip, her heart tangled in knots. She hesitated for a long while before finally, slowly, reaching out and taking the troublesome jewelry box.

’I’ll just give it to Brother Shan to deal with later,’ she thought. ’After all, he’s seen the world. He’ll definitely know what to do.’

...

Back at the camp, many of the usual familiar faces were now gone.

The four old men, who were already a bit restless by nature, suddenly had nothing to do.

They wandered around the camp, feeling ill at ease, so bored that their bones were about to rust.

After thinking it over, they decided to just go with the construction company’s design team to Juneau City, the capital of Alaska, first thing in the morning.

You have to understand, building a road isn’t something you can accomplish with just lip service and armchair strategy.

In China, you might be able to get things nine-tenths of the way done over dinner and drinks at a banquet, during a game of cards, or while getting a foot bath and a massage.

But in the United States, the various approval procedures were incredibly complex, and you couldn’t miss a single one.

This was especially true since the project was being undertaken by a Chinese construction company.

Those people in the American Government were always putting on stinking airs, acting like they were number one in the world, and their conduct was terrible.

Faced with this situation, they would surely play dirty tricks and trip them up at every stage, trying every which way to obstruct the project’s approval process.

Fortunately, the North Slope Petroleum Company was helping to mediate, using their connections and resources for public relations.

This had saved the project from a lot of trouble.

It kept things from getting bogged down.

...