Chapter 62: Renting a House

Xia Yu looked at the still-drenched Yan Shining and realized he probably hadn't eaten yet. He said to him, "You must be hungry. I'll go get some food for you."

"Lei, you stay here. A doctor should be coming over to give an injection later. You handle the communication," Xia Yu instructed Xia Lei.

"Xia Yu, should I go instead?" Xia Lei asked.

"No need. I'll go; you can't drive."

"Alright. Be careful."

With that, Xia Yu nodded at Yan Shining and walked out.

After a few minutes, Xia Yu returned to the ward with a dinner and a large bag of clothes. He placed the items on a nearby table and said to Yan Shining, "I brought you some dinner. You should eat first. I also bought some clothes. Check if they fit."

"Thank you, benefactor!" Yan Shining gratefully responded. Probably because he was really hungry, he quickly began eating the dinner.

...

After spending a considerable amount of time in the ward and seeing no sign of the boy Yan Hong waking up, Xia Yu noted that it was getting late and his parents would likely be worried. He said to Yan Shining, "It's quite late now. We should head back. We'll come back tomorrow. I've already paid the medical expenses for these days, so don't worry. If anything happens, just call the doctor or nurse using the bell. Also, take this money for any emergencies."

Xia Yu then handed Yan Shining a handful of change from his pocket.

"Thank you so much. You've really gone out of your way. You're such good people. Thank you!" Yan Shining's eyes turned red with emotion as he bowed deeply to Xia Yu and Xia Lei in thanks.

Xia Yu didn't say much. He just nodded and left with Xia Lei.

Outside, Xia Lei looked at Xia Yu with a serious expression and asked, "Xia Yu, what do you think? Do you really believe him?"

After a moment of silence, Xia Yu replied, "Yan Shining brought his son to Xiangjiang. Whether his story is true or not, I can see that his feelings for his son are genuine."

Xia Lei nodded, not speaking. Words can deceive, but one's eyes cannot. True feelings or false intentions are something he can discern.

"I'm just worried you might be getting into trouble. You should think about your personal safety and consider hiring some bodyguards," Xia Lei expressed his concern.

Xia Yu had no intention of hiding anything from Xia Lei. He smiled and said, "Isn't there already someone suitable?"

"You mean Yan Shining?" Xia Lei was surprised but then thought about it and said, "He does seem appropriate. He's quite skilled, and I'm sure I couldn't beat him. He's also a former soldier, so his shooting skills should be good. Having him as your bodyguard shouldn't be a problem. Plus, since he brought his son, he'll be very eager to stay close to you. His weakness is his son, so he shouldn't pose any threat to you."

"Xia Yu, did you plan this from the start?" Xia Lei asked, his eyes wide in surprise.

Xia Yu smiled faintly and said, "I didn't think of it at first. I only started considering it when you mentioned it. Are you a worm in my stomach?"

"Haha!" Xia Lei laughed, scratching his head. He stopped discussing the matter, trusting that Xia Yu had a better plan in mind.

"Let's go. It's late, and I'll take you home first," Xia Yu said to Xia Lei.

They got in the car, and after dropping Xia Lei off, Xia Yu headed home. While driving, he couldn't help but think about Yan Shining.

Xia Yu had considered his own safety, but since there were no professional security companies in Xiangjiang, finding a bodyguard was challenging. The only option would be to look for one in Europe or America, but Xia Yu had no time for that.

Initially, Xia Yu helped Yan Shining out of sympathy for his son. However, when Yan Shining begged Xia Yu to save his son and even offered to work for him in return, Xia Yu started to think about it more seriously. As Xia Lei had pointed out, Yan Shining's combat skills and military background made him a suitable bodyguard, and his son's presence would ensure he remained loyal. Yan Shining had effectively exposed his weakness to Xia Yu.

Of course, this wasn't about being dark-hearted. It was a matter of practicality. Xia Yu wasn't a saint who would help unconditionally. He was willing to offer help, but if he were to make a significant effort, he needed to see some utilitarian value. Yan Shining had demonstrated his value, so Xia Yu was happy to assist.

Providing timely help is often the most rewarding, and as long as it doesn't significantly impact him, Xia Yu was more than willing to do so.

Soon, Xia Yu returned home, explained briefly to his parents, and then went to bed.

As the sun rose, a new day began.

After finishing breakfast, Xia Yu went to the office.

While dealing with work matters, Yan Wenhan entered to report on his findings.

After the interview yesterday, Yan Wenhan had started working and was assigned a task by Xia Yu: to assess the company's current situation, write his first impressions, and suggest improvements to be submitted today.

"Boss, everything else in the company is fine with only minor issues, but a significant problem is that the office space is too small, causing inconvenience and disorganized management. My suggestion is to expand the office space, which would solve most of the other issues."

After listening to Yan Wenhan's report, Xia Yu nodded in acknowledgment and then instructed him to leave.

Xia Yu had promised the employees earlier to address the office space issue. Due to being overwhelmed with other tasks, he hadn't had time to resolve it. Now that Yan Wenhan was on board, Xia Yu had the opportunity to tackle this problem.

"Let's go now and find a new office space within the next couple of days," Xia Yu thought and went out.

The current office space was old and not suitable for expansion. It was better to find a new location, saving time and effort.

To expedite the process, Xia Yu went directly to a real estate agency, conducted site visits, and fortunately found a small office building available for rent nearby. It was a five-story building; although it looked somewhat dated, it was spacious and clean inside. Only some office furniture was needed, and the five floors provided ample space for future expansion, eliminating concerns about space for several years.

Xia Yu made decisions swiftly and didn't have the time or inclination to compare different options. As long as it met the requirements, it was sufficient. Complete satisfaction would require constructing a custom office building in the future. For now, settling for what was available would work.

The contract was signed for five years. Xia Yu opted to rent rather than buy because the property was somewhat outdated, and he didn't want to tie up capital in real estate. Most importantly, property prices were expected to drop significantly in a few years, coinciding with a potential downturn in stock prices. By then, Xia Yu would have the funds to acquire a satisfactory building for the company.

Next, Xia Yu returned to the office, handed over the follow-up tasks to Yan Wenhan, and left the procurement and renovation details to him.