Yu Xiaxing checked the map. It really wasn’t far.
The students’ activity would end tomorrow, while her own contract-renewal mission still had two days left. She had plenty of time.
Once she finished this task, she could cross one more thing off her list. When she got home, she could finally sleep soundly instead of worrying about it every day.
A one-hour drive was well worth it.
Director Shao filled out the certificates of completion for them, leaving only the official stamp.
After leaving the office, Yu Xiaxing instructed Lu Yanzhao, “Take good care of the students here. Once the practical activity ends tomorrow, arrange for them to return on schedule.”
“My brother and I are going to get the certificates stamped. Once that’s done, we’ll head straight back to Pu City. We’ll see each other at school on Monday… Ah, no, wait. Since we worked over the weekend, we’ll have to take compensatory leave. So we’ll meet on Wednesday!”
Lu Yanzhao felt that there was absolutely no hope left for this inheritance competition mission…
But he would never question her decision. He nodded. “Understood.”
Soon, the siblings drove to the resort.
Although the procedure was a little troublesome, Yu Xiaxing was in a good mood.
The thing she feared most whenever she took on a mission was for everything to suddenly turn around at the very last moment.
This time, the negotiations had fallen through, and they had completely fallen out with each other.
Neither side was satisfied in the slightest!
She refused to believe there was still any chance of successfully renewing the contract!
—
Yuquan Resort.
Yu Zhining had already been there for two days, trying to complete the contract-renewal mission for a high-net-worth client.
The resort had beautiful scenery, with tropical plants such as palms, banana trees, and frangipani growing everywhere.
In the center was a large pond covered with water lilies. Several Southeast Asian-style stone statues stood beside it.
The statues had their eyes closed and their hands pressed together, their faces wearing expressions that seemed almost—but not quite—like smiles.
It was four in the afternoon, and the sunlight was soft.
Yu Zhining and her assistant stood in the corridor, looking into the distance.
On the lawn, several elderly people sat in a circle. They were all dressed in loose, comfortable linen-and-cotton clothing, each holding a small pot of succulents.
The flowerpots were labeled: “Grow Yourself All Over Again.”
It was a rather warm and idyllic scene.
But if you listened closely to what they were saying, it became considerably less heartwarming…
The elderly people were chatting animatedly.
“The international situation has been changing so quickly lately. It feels like the global order is being reshuffled.”
“Exactly. Energy, technology, finance… Everything is changing by the day. And I’m genuinely worried about reunification.”
“To hold the overall situation together, we still have to rely on our generation. Look at that country across the ocean—the people in power are still elderly men in their sixties and seventies. The younger generation simply doesn’t have what it takes to shoulder this kind of responsibility anymore.”
“I’m not interested in politics. I’ve been learning voice acting lately. You know those animated dramas? I’m already sixty-five, but my voice suits the female lead perfectly. The audience even praises me for having a sophisticated, mature voice!”
“How much do you earn in a day?”
She waved her hand with a smile. “Money isn’t the point. The important thing is having something to do. Otherwise, I’d be sitting around at home all day, annoying my children.”
“Exactly. I’ve been researching new energy too…”
—
In the corridor, Bai Xian said, “Director, we’ve been watching them for quite a while, but I don’t see any sign that they’ve been scammed… Why do I feel like these elderly people are perfectly normal?”
“As for that old lady who does voice acting—she probably doesn’t earn much, but that doesn’t really matter. The seniors who come to our wellness center are all from well-off families. The key is giving them something to do, something to build the rest of their lives around.”
“Could it be that they simply don’t want to live in a wellness center anymore? They just want to travel with a few old friends, brag to each other every day, and discuss major world affairs…”
Yu Zhining remained silent for a long time. “Let’s wait a little longer.”
—
Huo Mian approached from the other side of the garden.
She was carrying a tray with several cups of herbal tea on it.
Even though she was being extremely careful, one of the cups still spilled when she bent down.
It hadn’t hurt anyone, but Qin Mei still snapped impatiently, “How can you not even handle such a simple thing? You’re already a grown adult, yet you’re still so absentminded. Will you ever amount to anything in this life?”
Huo Mian lowered her head and apologized softly. “I’m sorry…”
Several of the elderly people couldn’t stand listening to it.
They hurried to smooth things over.
“Mei, don’t talk to her like that. Mianmian is actually a very sensible girl.”
“Exactly. Your daughter really is a good child. No matter what you say, she never talks back. Unlike my one—she argues with me every day. I told her, ‘If you refuse to marry or have children, no one will burn paper money for you after you die.’ And she immediately answered with some sarcastic remark, saying she had hands and feet and could keep working even after going down there. Honestly, I’ve given up on her.”
“Exactly. If my son were even half as filial as she is, I wouldn’t have ended up living in a wellness center.”
“Ms. Qin, you’ve clearly done a good job raising Mianmian. You should be a little kinder to her!”
Huo Mian handed the herbal tea to the elderly people one cup at a time and said gently, “Uncles and aunties, it’s all right. My mother is scolding me because she wants what’s best for me.”
The moment she said that, the elderly people felt even worse…
Just look at someone else’s daughter! Then think about the little monsters in their own families!
Before long, Huo Mian left.
Qin Mei spoke again. “Children can’t really be taught into becoming good people. A child’s personality is largely innate. With some children, no matter how you raise them, they’ll never be grateful.”
“I didn’t even raise Mianmian for very long. She went abroad to study when she was thirteen. Yet after she came back, she still obeyed everything I said.”
“That’s simply how she was born. Maybe it’s karma from a previous life. She doesn’t need to be taught in this life—she has to repay me for my kindness.”
The elderly people nodded silently.
The bond between parents and children was not something one could force.
In the end, one of them summed it up: “That’s enough. Children and grandchildren have their own destinies. It’s time we lived for ourselves for once!”
They chatted about their careers for a while longer.
Not once did anyone mention money.
Yu Zhining grew increasingly uncertain about her own judgment…
If young people were being scammed, they might be tricked out of their labor even if money wasn’t involved—or perhaps even have their hearts, livers, spleens, or lungs harvested. But these were elderly people who had no such things left to exploit. All they had was money.
Could she have been overthinking it?
Was this “Restart Life Travel Group” really just helping seniors rediscover themselves through travel?
Or had they simply not reached the point where the truth would finally be revealed?
Just then, a middle-aged man came over and said to the elderly people, “Teachers, it’s time for afternoon tea. Please make your way to the dining room.”
The elderly people all stood up.
—
After finishing their meal, the seniors once again went to the scenic garden to admire the view and take pictures.
So far, they looked like an exceptionally well-organized senior travel group. They had not even been subjected to sales pitches or shopping trips.
Yu Zhining walked over to one of the elderly people who had not yet left and sat down beside him. She took the initiative to greet him. “Mr. Gu.”
Mr. Gu looked especially spirited today. His face was flushed, and his eyes were bright.
The moment he looked up and saw her, he took the initiative to speak. “Director Yu? Are you here to ask me to renew my contract?”
Yu Zhining nodded. “Yes.”
Mr. Gu smiled. “Your wellness center really is excellent. The environment and facilities are both first-rate. You can read, tend flowers, and keep up with the news, and with you, a doctor, overseeing the place, life there is truly peaceful.”
Yu Zhining was curious. “Then why do you want to leave?”
