Now, dressed and ready, she left her apartment, locked the door, and took the elevator all the way down to the lobby. The security guard greeted her politely, and she nodded back before stepping outside. Morning air brushed against her face, cool and fresh, but she did not pause to take it in. She had already booked a cab while in the elevator.
Right on time, a white car pulled up by the entrance. Bai Li got inside, fastened her seatbelt, and quietly told the driver to head to the company address. The driver gave a friendly reply and started the engine.
As the cab moved through the streets, she watched the city wake up. Shops opening their doors, workers rushing to offices, old couples doing morning walks. Everything looked normal, peaceful, almost boring. Nobody knew what was coming. Nobody knew the world only had a few days left.
Thirty minutes later, the cab reached the main business district of Jianghua city. Tall glass buildings surrounded them, shining under the bright morning sun. Bai Li paid the fare, stepped out, and looked up calmly.
There it was. The name "Xunren Renovation Pvt. Ltd." was quite eye-catching. It was a huge building and looked quite grand and luxurious.
Bai Li stepped through the glass doors of the massive building, her footsteps steady as she crossed the lobby. The polished floor reflected her figure clearly, and the cool air inside brushed lightly against her face. The whole place smelled faintly of coffee, new furniture, and something expensive.
Without wasting time, she went straight to the reception desk. The receptionist looked up with a polite smile, ready to greet her, but that smile froze for half a second when Bai Li stated her request in the plainest way possible.
"I would like to renovate my apartment into the highest grade possible with military grade protection. The budget is not a problem."
For a moment, the receptionist just blinked. Then her professional instincts kicked in. Someone saying budget is not a problem was basically the same as someone flashing a gold card in her face. She straightened her back, fixed her smile, and her tone instantly turned respectful.
"Of course. Miss…?"
"Bai Li."
"Of course, Miss Bai. We can definitely handle that. Please follow me. I will take you to a private room, and an expert will come shortly to discuss the full plan with you."
Bai Li nodded and followed without another word. The receptionist led her through a hallway lined with framed photos of completed projects. Luxury villas, high end offices, giant mansions, proof of the company's skill.
The private room was quiet, clean, and designed to look calming. Soft lighting, warm colors, and a low table with a few magazines on top. Bai Li sat down on a single couch and leaned back slightly. When the receptionist left after asking her to wait a few minutes, Bai Li pulled out her phone.
She opened Weibo first, but nothing caught her eye. Some celebrity gossip, a trending drama, and a few photos of influencers posing next to fancy cars. She scrolled a little before getting bored. She switched to TikTok, watched two short videos, then closed it. Nothing interesting.
Instead, she stared ahead at the wall, letting her mind wander back to the plans she had already made. Reinforced doors. Solar power. Rainwater system. Window replacements. She needed all of it done fast.
A few minutes passed before the sound of the door opening pulled her out of her thoughts.
A middle aged woman walked in, dressed in a clean, elegant suit. She wore gold rimmed glasses and moved with a steady confidence. Every step carried the kind of presence that came from years of experience. Behind her was a man in his twenties, holding an iPad tightly with both hands. He seemed nervous but alert, probably her assistant.
Bai Li stood up out of courtesy. The woman approached her with a warm yet professional smile and extended her hand.
"Hello, Miss Bai, is it? Nice to meet you."
Bai Li shook her hand lightly, offering a small smile of her own. "Yes. I am Bai Li. Nice to meet you too. You must be…"
The woman stepped right in. "I am an architect under Xunren Renovation Pvt Ltd. I am also the person in charge of overseeing the military level renovations. My name is Shiao Kyan. And this is my assistant, Little Mo."
The young man beside her nodded quickly but didn't speak.
Bai Li nodded politely. "It's a pleasure meeting you, sister Shiao. I think you already know what kind of renovation I'm looking for."
"Oh yes," Shiao Kyan replied with a knowing smile. "Let's sit down and discuss it properly."
Both of them took seats across from each other, while Little Mo stood beside Shiao with his tablet ready, already prepared to type out the details.
"What would you like to drink, Miss Bai? Tea or coffee?" the architect asked.
"Just black coffee would be nice."
Shiao turned her head slightly, and her assistant instantly understood. He stepped aside and took out his phone to place an order, typing fast before returning to his spot at her side.
Once that was handled, Shiao leaned forward slightly, her eyes focused and attentive. "Alright then. Please tell me everything. As detailed as you can. The clearer your picture, the better the plan I can design."
Bai Li nodded once, her expression calm as always, before she continued speaking. Her voice wasn't loud, but every word was clear and firm, leaving no room for misunderstanding.
"I want full reinforcement," she said simply. Then she began listing everything one by one, like she had already prepared the entire structure in her mind.
She started with the doors. "The entrance needs a second door. A full metal one. High density steel, no weak spots. The lock must be manual so it still works without power. And the inner door should be upgraded too. Military grade if possible."
.
.
.
To be continued.