Chapter 33: A Pricey Retirement Home

I am not exaggerating. Xu Zhixia and I are legally married, but the outside world only knows that she is married without knowing who her husband is.

My background is like a speck of dust compared to the mountain that is the Xu Group. Such a mismatched marriage brings only negative publicity to the conglomerate. Any unfavorable news about the Xu Group that appears online is promptly handled by their seasoned legal department. Of course, they do not just manage the spread of information, but also the people who spread it. While the Xu Group may not have total control over Tianhai, disposing of someone like that punk is as simple as crushing an ant.

The punk was clearly skeptical of my words. I released his collar and walked out with Ji Leqing. It is hard to save those who are hell-bent on their own destruction; I had already warned him, and what he chooses to do afterward is none of my concern.

Once inside the car, I felt a faint, stinging pain in the crook of my arm. I looked down and realized that the movement had caused the injection site to start bleeding again. Ji Leqing pulled a box of cotton swabs from the glove compartment and held one against my arm to stop the bleeding.

"Why be so impulsive? Just wait and see; you're definitely going to have a bruise."

I held the swab myself and gave a sheepish smile. "I didn't intend to be impulsive, but that punk was saying things that were truly intolerable."

"This concerns a man's dignity. If I hadn't stood up to him, it would have been as good as admitting he was right."

Ji Leqing’s expression remained calm and indifferent. "Suit yourself. It’s your body you’re wrecking, after all."

Having known each other for years, I knew she was angry, so I could only offer a conciliatory smile. "I know I was wrong. I promise it won't happen again."

Ji Leqing didn't respond to that; she simply placed a tote bag on my lap. "I prepared this for you in advance."

Inside the bag, along with the thermos, were two small thermal food containers. Opening them, I found a cheese and ham sandwich and a bacon and egg sandwich, both giving off an enticing aroma. The bread was still warm and soft to the touch, and the fillings were generous.

"Did you make these?"

"Who else? Did you expect Lin Xingfan to make them for you?"

Ji Leqing woke me up at seven this morning. Between washing up, getting dressed, and making the sandwiches, she must have gotten up at least an hour earlier.

"Thank you, Leqing. You’ve gone to so much trouble."

"Don't be so polite. I made them last night, put them in the fridge, and just heated them in the microwave this morning. It only took two or three minutes."

"It’s just a sandwich; it’s not exactly complex. And they aren't just for you—Lin Xingfan and I already ate. So, wipe that look of guilt off your face."

Hearing her say that, I felt a bit more at ease. I finished the two sandwiches with some honey water, and having something in my stomach made me feel much better.

"Do you have anywhere else to go today? I can drop you off directly, or we can head back to Bijiang Mansion."

After a moment of thought, I took out my phone, pulled up a flyer I had photographed earlier, and showed it to Ji Leqing. "Take me here."

Ji Leqing raised an eyebrow. "What made you think of visiting a nursing home?"

"Well, in the event that the treatment doesn't work, I need to make arrangements for my mother in advance."

Upon hearing my words, Ji Leqing’s thick, long eyelashes lowered like a feathered fan, masking the emotions swirling in her eyes. She started the engine in silence. After a long while, she finally said, "Jiang Jian, miracles will happen."

Neither of us spoke for the rest of the trip. The car was unusually quiet, save for the mechanical voice of the navigation system. The nursing home was located in the suburbs of Tianhai. We pulled up to the main gate.

Wait, who builds the entrance to a nursing home to look like the Old Summer Palace?

Ji Leqing didn't seem as surprised as I was. "The location is quite good; it's not too far from the city center."

After we explained our purpose to the security guard, a young man in a suit soon walked out, greeting us with eager enthusiasm.

"Are the husband and wife here together? Are there several elderly family members you are planning to admit to our Shouhe Nursing Home?"

I instinctively looked at Ji Leqing. Her expression didn't change, and she made no move to clarify. It seemed she also felt it was better to avoid unnecessary trouble; such a trivial detail wasn't worth explaining.

"Just one elderly person—my mother."

"For a single resident, we recommend our one-bedroom, one-living-room, and one-bathroom layout. Please, follow me, and I will give you both a tour of the Shouhe Nursing Home."

I had expected to walk around, but a large sightseeing cart, the kind you see in public parks, pulled up. Ji Leqing and I sat in the front row, while the young man sat next to the driver, turning around to provide commentary throughout the ride.

The scale of the nursing home was absurdly large; it even featured a fishing pond and a golf course. It was like a miniature city, with separate buildings designated for accommodation, entertainment, and medical care. I never would have imagined this was a nursing home. Each room was even assigned a "butler." However, such facilities and services meant the price would certainly not be cheap.

To live here, one must purchase an insurance policy for the resident—essentially, it was no different from topping up a balance. All of the resident's expenses at the home were covered by this insurance, as the facility included shops and some medical services that required separate fees.

The two-million-dollar insurance policy was merely the threshold for entry. For a resident capable of self-care, the annual nursing fee was two hundred thousand, with other scenarios carrying their own corresponding prices. My mother was not yet sixty this year; if she lived to be ninety, she would need to stay here for over thirty years, which would cost at least six million or more.

I thought about the savings I had accumulated over the years and my shares in Jianxia. If I could secure a few more big deals before I died, I could ensure my mother’s later years were free from financial worry.

However, I couldn't help but wonder why a nursing home of this caliber would hire college students to hand out flyers. It felt strange, and I wanted to ask, but I worried it might be impolite.

The young man led us to a reception room, where a server brought us tea and snacks.

"What do you and your wife think of Shouhe Nursing Home?"

"It's very impressive. We’ll go back, consider it, and ask for my mother's thoughts."

"Very well. I will see you both out."

Leaving the nursing home, I couldn't think of anywhere else I wanted to go. There were no new projects at Jianxia for the moment, and with Zhao Xinze there, I didn't need to supervise things personally.

"Are you planning to have your mother live there?"

"Yes. I checked, and their company is a national chain; they are essentially the industry leader in domestic eldercare. I’ll feel at ease knowing she’s there."

"Their fees are quite high, but the environment and services do look excellent. If you want to arrange for her to move in soon and are short on funds, I can help you."

"Thank you, Leqing, but I already owe you so much—so much that I don't know how I could ever repay it..."

"Jiang Jian, just live well. That will be enough to repay me."