Chapter 071: You Call This a House?

The team spent the better part of half a day returning to Los Angeles.

Reunited with the sprawling urban countryside of LA, he felt a sense of belonging that the city of sin, with its dazzling high-rises and dizzying excess, could never quite offer. Here, the climate was more suited to him—sunshine and beaches, the breeze in his hair as he sped along Sunset Boulevard in a convertible, or meandering through the shops at the heart of Beverly Hills. At least here, one wasn’t confined to roaming within the boundaries of a hotel. There was freedom.

Li Lekang was headed back to his villa in the Hollywood Hills to rest; the team dispersed, each to their own plans. The sisters had their own arrangements, and Olivia informed him, “The bishop has provided us with a house here in LA. We’ll clean it up and prepare it for you, and then invite you to stay and oversee our work.”

“I’ll leave it all in your capable hands,” he replied.

Li Lekang was a man who preferred to relax; if someone else could handle it, he saw no reason to involve himself.

Olivia nodded. “Once everything is ready, I’ll report back to you, Father.”

“OK.”

He wasn’t overly concerned. At that moment, he was longing for his pool and the mountain view from his home. As for serving as a priest to a group of nuns? He could think about that when the time came.

He hoped he wouldn’t lead them astray… But then again, after all the chaos Rudolph had stirred up in the past, surely he couldn’t be worse. At least he wasn’t as wild as the other man.

Two days passed like this. One afternoon, as Li Lekang was lounging in his garden, basking shirtless in the sun and watching Mike—who had returned to his former silly-dog self—chase butterflies in the breeze, someone arrived at the house.

“Oh my God, Lekang—no, Father, your nun sisters are here!”

Daisy, her makeup only half done, came rushing out, exclaiming at the top of her voice.

“What?” Li Lekang turned his head and saw two guests entering the house.

Dressed head to toe in black habits, leaving only their faces exposed, their attire was as conservative as the most devout neighbors. Few people realize this obscure fact: these two faiths worship the same God!

Surprising, isn’t it? In their language, Jesus is called “Isa,” regarded as one of the prophets, though not divine; and the leader who guided humanity through the great flood is Noah (Nuh). There’s another figure revered across Christianity, Judaism, and their green-garbed neighbors—Moses (Musa)—respected in all three faiths.

But these two had clearly put thought into the only visible part of their appearance, their faces, which were tastefully made up. With their high-bridged noses, blue eyes, and tall, graceful figures, they truly seemed chosen by Heaven; as the saying goes, even a burlap sack would look good on them.

Li Lekang sat up a bit straighter. Lounging bare-chested in the sun, he paused, suddenly remembering that as their Father, he should have offered them seats and water before excusing himself to get dressed.

Olivia smiled gently at him. “There’s no need to rush.”

“Just give me a few minutes.”

Li Lekang returned, now properly dressed, and Olivia informed him, “We’ve arranged for accommodations. Now we need you to inspect the premises and advise us on any updates or changes you’d like made.”

“Oh? All right!”

He hadn’t been particularly interested in their living arrangements—after all, wasn’t his own villa with its mountain view comfortable enough? But since the two young women had come all this way, he couldn’t very well dismiss them without at least a cursory inspection.

So he went with them, climbing into the black Escalade parked outside. In America, the Escalade was the king of SUVs, and even the ladies seemed to love it.

The car left the Hollywood Hills, heading west along Sunset Boulevard. They passed through Beverly Hills, arriving at a neighborhood beside a golf course, where the streets were lined with lush trees and everything gleamed with the cleanliness and openness of a true enclave of wealth.

After turning a few corners under the shade of the trees, the Escalade approached a property surrounded by a high wall of greenery, nearly ten feet tall. A gate equipped with license plate recognition slid open, and the car glided inside.

Through the front yard, Li Lekang caught his first glimpse of the house the sisters had mentioned, nestled among the trees.

It had a touch of French architectural style—long and symmetrical, with whitewashed walls, three stories tall. Though not particularly striking from the outside, the building occupied a vast area; it looked less like a home and more like an institution, perhaps a museum or library.

The car stopped in front of a fountain. Following the gently worn steps upwards, he saw several other nuns already waiting in formation at the side.

They pushed open the grand double doors, each door a full three meters high, and stepped inside. The ceilings soared at least four or five meters, with inner corridors lined with oil paintings, porcelain, suits of armor, and banners hanging on the walls. Overhead, the ceiling was adorned with frescoes!

Every upward glance revealed another sprawling masterpiece, gilded and brilliant, stirring awe in the heart of any onlooker. Art, after all, is what money can buy at its most extravagant.

The space was so vast that footsteps echoed on the floor, and somewhere in the distance, he could faintly hear the chanting of hymns, as if in a cathedral… Li Lekang’s head was spinning. He almost wanted to ask Olivia, “You call this a house?”

It wasn’t his fault if he seemed provincial—this place was the very embodiment of Versailles!

It felt like touring the palace of some prince or noble. According to the introduction, there were eighteen bedrooms alone, two subterranean levels, and the garage alone could accommodate forty-five cars!

There was a private theater for thirty or more guests, a wine cellar holding over ten thousand bottles, and the indoor heated swimming pool, gym, and nightclub seemed almost mundane by comparison. There was even an underground shooting range!

Five elevators were located throughout the premises, central air conditioning covered every area, and smart home systems were in extensive use. Every room and hall was furnished with contemporary luxury brands.

Hermès leather goods, PF sofas, Tangcao porcelain, and all the mattresses were from Hästens—top of the industry. But even these were sometimes outshone by the antique treasures tucked away in the corners.

Though the exterior was understated, the interior spared no expense, lavishing every inch with luxury—even the unassuming corners held valuable antiques.

Outside, the estate was even more extravagant: five acres—about three football fields in size! The backyard could probably accommodate a Cessna taking off, and there were private gardens and a hedge maze.

The most crucial detail—this was in the wealthiest part of Los Angeles! In rural California, you could find even larger properties—farms, ranches, vineyards—but this was Beverly Hills, where every inch of land was worth its weight in gold!

A billionaire here who could buy a villa with a pool and tennis court already had status and success. But this—a miniature estate with its own artificial lake? That was simply on another level.

At a minimum, the price couldn’t be less than a hundred million—dollars, of course. Even at two or three hundred million, it might still be a bargain.

Curious, he asked Olivia about its history. She replied, “The church purchased this land over a hundred years ago. The two neighboring buildings were also part of the original property, though they were sold off during a period of financial difficulty.”

“This house now primarily serves the bishop and his aides. It’s also a gathering place for church members—sometimes the bishop holds events here as well.”

So there were other places just as extravagant?

Li Lekang didn’t ask, but he couldn’t help thinking—the saints truly were in a league of their own!

After such a sugar-coated display, even a devil like him was tempted to join their ranks in earnest!

After all, in two lifetimes, he’d never lived in a house this grand.

A backyard the size of a football field, a basement that could house a karting track, and the master bathroom alone was bigger than his own living room—who could say no to that?

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