Chapter 358
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Though Richard appeared modest, his old friend, who knew him well, couldn’t help but roll his eyes in disbelief. Richard’s grin was so broad that it seemed it might split his face in two, yet he feigned humility.
With the constant stream of compliments about how youthful he looked, his friend could only imagine the pride swelling within him.
His old friend thought, ‘Damn it, we agreed to grow old together, but here he is, secretly getting younger while the rest of us age. It’s infuriating. I swear, I’m never hanging out with him again!”
Luckily, Richard couldn’t hear his old friend’s thoughts. If he had, his grin would have grown even more expansive.
At his age, why bother with modesty? Compliment him, and he’d accept it with ease. Besides, he was getting younger, and he felt he deserved it. Surrounded by endless praise, Richard practically radiated joy.
His smile never faltered, giving those around him the impression that he was exceptionally approachable.
Seeing how easily he could be charmed, others began to feel bolder. Finally, one brave soul couldn’t hold back and asked cautiously, “Richard, we heard your retirement home project on the outskirts has partnered with Celestia Group?”
Celestia Group’s size was decent, but they seemed small next to Richard’s connections and reputation. The fact that he chose them for such an important project shocked everyone.
Many quickly scrambled to investigate the company’s background. To their surprise, Celestia Group was a perfectly ordinary company with no extraordinary ties or influence.
Once the news had settled, envy began to spread. Many were green with jealousy, wishing they could have secured the deal. They wondered, ‘Why them? Why did Richard choose them?‘
Word had spread that the investments in the retirement home were reaching a staggering, almost terrifying number.
But the real buzz came from rumors of something even more extraordinary—a mysterious substance called “Life Energy” that would allegedly be the home’s main selling point.
What “Life Energy” actually was, however, remained a mystery, though it didn’t take much to connect the dots.
The circle of elites was already speculating–it had to be related to the fruits Richard had been selling recently.
Those fruits had proven to possess remarkable properties, visible to all who had witnessed them firsthand. If this “Life Energy” were integrated into the retirement home, the stir it would cause could be unimaginable.
It would be a monumental event in their own Strate City and even on the global stage.
There was also talk about building the retirement home. Some areas had been designed with foreign architectural influences, which raised a few eyebrows.
If the retirement home didn’t limit its services to nationals, who would it cater to once it opened its doors? The possibilities were both thrilling and unsettling.
But even if they didn’t dive too deep into these thoughts, the mere hint of what was happening was enough to drive them mad with jealousy.
What kind of luck had Celestia Group struck to catch Richard’s eye? With his backing, they were on the fast track to soaring
success.
Seeing the nervous expressions on everyone’s faces, Richard only smiled warmly. But inside, he knew the real story. They had been the ones to notice the land development plans first.
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The developers suggested the idea of the retirement home, which was initially theirs. Back then, the fruits in his orchard hadn’t even ripened, and the surrounding land hadn’t skyrocketed in value like it had now.
It all started when the CEO of Celestia Group noticed how fresh the air was on a drive near his orchard. Inspired by the environment, he returned, considered the possibility, and decided that building a retirement home there was a great idea.
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They bought the land. When Richard heard of this, he was intrigued and saw potential in the project, so he decided to jump in, bringing his influence to bear.
The air around the area had naturally improved thanks to his orchard. With Richard’s notoriously miserly ways, he honestly considered charging people for the fresh air.
Richard thought, ‘I still have some sense left; I’m not mad enough to take it that far!
Still, he couldn’t help but get involved whenever a promising venture arose.
Despite being in his retirement years, Richard was far from slowing down. After all, he still needed to save up for Yvonne’s gold bars. Retirement wasn’t an option when there was so much at stake.
Richard thought, ‘Every time I feel drained, just one look at Yvonne when I get home fills me with energy again. Seventy is the age to fight for Yvonne’s future!
He was sharp, and if he didn’t want others to know something, he ensured no word of it escaped. So, while he seemed approachable, the information he revealed was minimal.
“It’s just a small company. You’ll see when the time comes,” Richard said with a knowing smile.
The group didn’t give up because they weren’t getting any useful information from Richard. They decided to seize the moment while he was in a good mood. Who knew when another opportunity like this would come around again?
They thought, “This project has endless potential. If there’s any way we can get in on this, we’ll grab our share.
Some in the medical equipment business were already itching to make their move. After all, standing across from them was Madam Tinley of the Adler family. They thought, “This isn’t some engagement party. It’s a golden opportunity. Nail the conversation, and the partnership is practically a done deal.
Right now, they were still in the early stages. The real competition would come in the middle stages, when who knows how many more players, including foreign medical companies, would join. The pressure of competition would only grow.
The more they thought about it, the more they felt they had to secure this opportunity.
But they weren’t the only ones eager to invest. Several other companies were also rushing to get in on the deal. It was likely a scene never before seen–so many CEOs of major corporations practically begging for the opportunity to invest.
Unfortunately, Richard had the money.
Even if his funds were tied up elsewhere, he had the support of the Holmes family’s massive reserves. He did not need anyone else’s help.
As for the medical equipment, Richard expressed his regret. The government had already contacted him and offered resources and funding for the project.
The project’s obvious value and potential made it no surprise that the government was interested, and they had moved quickly. Richard remembered it well–he had received the call while Yvonne hadn’t.even been on break yet.
An old acquaintance had informed him that the government was interested in investing in the retirement home. Richard had already expected this, so he wasn’t taken aback. Instead, he calmly accepted the offer.
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Richard thought, I know this retirement home will make a fortune
