Chapter 7: The Designs of Fate

Compared to Lin Xiao’s feelings of heartache, Xu Qing was utterly at a loss. Heaven help her! Could someone please explain how this guy could really produce five million? Was that even scientifically possible? And what was with that single cent? Was he mocking her?

Xu Qing still couldn’t bring herself to believe that the card Lin Xiao placed on the table actually held five million, but she also didn’t really want to swipe it and find out. If she did, and the money was there, she would have no grounds to refuse Lin Xiao’s admission. This wasn’t an ordinary retirement home—not just anyone could move in. Letting Lin Xiao stay here was simply unreasonable.

For a moment, Xu Qing was caught between a rock and a hard place.

“Um, maybe you should think it over again? And, our beds are already all full…”

“Xu, you mustn’t say things carelessly. There are plenty of vacant beds here. With your Grandpa Zhao and me around, you’d better not lie. Young man, rest assured, as long as there’s money in your card, we’ll make sure you get admitted,” said Liu Jiao and Zhao Hua.

Xu Qing could have wept. These two were her elders, and they knew full well what kind of place this was. How could they possibly let in someone whose background was unknown?

Lin Xiao, meanwhile, was still reeling from the pain of having gained and lost such a fortune so quickly. Hearing Xu Qing suggest he reconsider, he wavered for a moment, but in the end, he gritted his teeth—since he’d made his decision, there was no turning back.

“Sister, stop fussing and just swipe the card!” he said, bracing himself as though for execution.

Seeing Lin Xiao’s look of noble sacrifice, and egged on by Liu Jiao and Zhao Hua, Xu Qing finally gave in. If that was how it was going to be, she would process his admission. She still didn’t believe there could be that much money on his card!

She fetched the card reader and entered the amount—five million. Once Lin Xiao had entered his password, she watched as the screen flashed “Insufficient balance.” At last, a smile bloomed on her face, even tinged with a hint of mockery. It wasn’t shameful to be poor, but to put on airs was another matter.

“I’m sorry, insufficient funds.”

Lin Xiao was stunned. How could that be? He’d just deposited the money himself.

“That’s impossible! How much did you enter?”

“Five million!”

Lin Xiao finally relaxed. “Sister, you’re confused!” He pointed to the single coin on the desk.

“I told you, the card is one cent short of five million. If you enter five million, of course it’ll say insufficient balance!”

Xu Qing froze. Now that she thought about it, Lin Xiao had indeed mentioned that before, but she’d brushed it off. She entered the amount again, and this time, when the deduction succeeded, she was utterly thrown for a loop. Lin Xiao really did have that much money. For a moment, she had no idea what to do.

She looked pleadingly over at Liu Jiao and Zhao Lin.

Liu Jiao smiled, walked over, and patted Xu Qing on the shoulder. “Xu, a person is nothing without integrity. Since we promised this young man, we must keep our word. Process his admission. If there’s any trouble, I’ll take responsibility. To be honest, we could use some fresh blood around here.”

Hearing this, Xu Qing finally relaxed.

“Since you’ve spoken, Granny Liu, there’s no problem at all. I’ll handle his admission right away.”

“Good. Lin, you’ve come at just the right time. Since you’re now a member of our retirement home, once you’re settled in, go attend Old Sun’s birthday banquet.”

Lin Xiao rubbed his nose. He’d heard there was a birthday today—the very reason the gatekeeper had let him in by mistake earlier. Since that was the case, he might as well join in, especially since he was hungry and could use a free meal.

“That’s rather embarrassing, especially since I haven’t prepared a gift…”

“That’s fine, none of us prepared anything either. Xu, take him over once you’re done. We’ll head on first.”

“Alright, you two take care.”

Xu Qing glanced at Lin Xiao and sighed again. What a situation this was! Oh well, she decided to take things one step at a time.

She handed Lin Xiao a form. “Fill in your details, please.”

Lin Xiao accepted it and began filling it out carefully.

Meanwhile, Xu Qing snapped a photo of Lin Xiao’s ID and sent it to a friend via her Green Bubble chat app, quickly typing out a message:

“Find out everything about this guy for me. I want his full information within half an hour!”

The other side didn’t reply, but Xu Qing didn’t press. She knew her request would be seen.

…

Zhao Lin looked at Liu Jiao, puzzled. “Jiao, why did you agree to let this kid in? That’s not like you.”

“How many times have I told you not to call me Jiao! As for the boy, don’t worry. I don’t believe he’s been sent here by anyone—coming here would be a death sentence for a spy. Plus, don’t you think it’s interesting to have a young person among us? And aren’t plenty of our residents looking for an heir? I think this boy could be a good candidate.”

Zhao Lin nodded. “That’s true, but we should still check his background first.”

“Enough about that. Let’s go celebrate Old Sun’s birthday.”

“Alright, Jiao.”

“Call me that again, and I’ll make you pay for it!”

…

Lin Xiao handed the completed form to Xu Qing, who, after a quick check, found nothing amiss.

“Welcome to Red Sun Retirement Home. I’ll show you to your room first. Once you’re settled, I’ll take you to Old Sun’s birthday banquet.”

With that, Xu Qing led the way, and Lin Xiao hurried after her.

On the way, Xu Qing explained the setup. All rooms were doubles—not due to a lack of space, but so the residents wouldn’t feel lonely. This meant Lin Xiao would have a roommate.

From Xu Qing, Lin Xiao learned there were 107 elderly residents—he made the 108th. The number struck him as oddly familiar, as if he’d joined the legendary outlaws of Mount Liang.

Xu Qing remembered then that of the 107, only one lived alone. With Lin Xiao’s arrival, he’d have to share a room with that one, who was notoriously difficult to please. This would be interesting—she wondered how long Lin Xiao could last. But that wasn’t her concern; fate would decide.

At that moment, Xu Qing’s phone buzzed. It was Lin Xiao’s background information. She opened it, and had Lin Xiao seen the report, he would have been shocked—it was incredibly detailed. It covered which orphanage he’d grown up in, the mischief he’d gotten into as a child, the special ability he’d awakened, how he’d worked several jobs to please Liu Ruyan, how he’d come by the five million, and finally, the strange twists that had led him to the retirement home—all within roughly ten minutes since Xu Qing had made her inquiry.

Clearly, this was no ordinary retirement home.

Reading through Lin Xiao’s background, Xu Qing finally breathed a sigh of relief. At least he wasn’t sent here by anyone with ill intent.

The world was indeed full of surprises. If only she’d pressed a little more—who’d have guessed this young man really had five million? Perhaps it was just fate.