Two more days passed.
Qin Siyang called Wen Shu to confirm that she was finally arriving in South Glory.
From Area 14121 to Area 7, if they drove nonstop with three drivers taking turns, the trip would take about five days.
If there was only one driver, with time for sleeping and rest included, it would take roughly eight days.
Because Wen Shu's grandmother was elderly and couldn't handle long, bumpy rides, their journey had taken more than ten days in total.
Meanwhile, Qin Siyang had long since arranged for the guesthouse staff to prepare a room, fully equipped with items for two people.
When the vehicle pulled up in front of the guesthouse, Qin Siyang was already waiting at the door.
As he saw Wen Shu helping her grandmother down from the car, it felt as if even the wind around him stopped for a moment.
'It has been so long since we last met, why does Wen Shu… seem even more beautiful?'
As for the old man standing beside Wen Shu, Qin Siyang's gaze automatically slid past him without lingering.
He stepped forward with a smile and asked, "Wen Shu, you're here. Was the trip hard on you?"
Wen Shu shook her head, "Not really. On the way, Edward took great care of my grandmother and me."
Only then did Qin Siyang notice the elderly woman.
Wen Shu's grandmother had a head full of silver hair. Her eyes were clouded with a gray haze, and her forehead bore several old scars, she clearly had been blind for many years.
Her hand was clasped tightly with Wen Shu's, and the way the grandmother and granddaughter stood together was warm and tender to look at.
Qin Siyang greeted her politely, "Hello, Grandma."
Wen Shu's grandmother sniffed the air twice, hesitated for a moment, and then said to Qin Siyang, "Hello, Student Little Qin. Thank you for helping me and Little Shu arrange our lodging. Wen Shu has already told me about your kindness."
Qin Siyang grinned from ear to ear, "Grandma, there's no need to thank me. Wen Shu and I help each other."
Then Wen Shu added, "During our ten-plus days on the road, Edward was extremely attentive in taking care of my grandmother and me."
"Edward…"
After Wen Shu's second hint, Qin Siyang finally noticed Edward stepping down from the passenger seat.
Edward stood off to the side, looking a little awkward and puzzled.
'Is this constantly smiling fool really as deep-minded and calculating as father described?'
'Why does it feel like father might have overestimated Qin Siyang?'
Seeing Edward, Qin Siyang finally calmed the burst of happiness that had been welling inside him.
"Hello, Edward, I'm Qin Siyang," He extended his hand.
Edward collected his emotions and shook hands warmly,."Student Qin, your name precedes you."
Qin Siyang's eyes lit up, "Hmm? Nicely used idiom. Edward, your command of Mandarin must be excellent for a non-native speaker."
Edward nodded politely, "You flatter me, Student Qin. Before the apocalypse, my father believed that east would surely rise to prominence, so he arranged for me to study Mandarin from a young age."
"When the apocalypse came and the world collapsed, most of the survivors in our safe zone turned out to be eastern nationals. It was a stroke of luck that my Mandarin ended up being so useful."
Qin Siyang nodded thoughtfully, "I see. Governor Jonathan truly is a man who plans ahead and sees far."
"Oh right, Edward, do you have a place to stay?"
"I just arrived, so I haven't had time to arrange one."
"Then come with me to the guesthouse. I'll arrange your accommodations for these few days."
"Alright, thank you, Student Qin."
As they talked, Qin Siyang led Edward and Wen Shu's grandmother-granddaughter pair toward the guesthouse.
His pace was deliberately slow, he was being mindful of the old woman's limited mobility.
Wen Shu, supporting her grandmother, walked behind the two young men, not interrupting their conversation.
She understood very well that Edward had only taken such good care of her and her grandmother along the way because of Qin Siyang's influence.
Now that he was meeting Qin Siyang in person, it was only right to let him have a proper chance to talk.
"Oh, by the way, Edward, if Governor Jonathan plans to rent or buy you a place nearby, you can move out anytime. I'll even find people to help you relocate."
When Edward heard the words "buy a house," he was momentarily confused.
This boy, just like him, eighteen years old, spoke of buying a house as if it were the most ordinary thing in the world.
'But this is Area 7. Could buying a house here really be that easy?'
Edward asked, "Buy a house? Are the houses around here cheap?"
"Uh, not too bad. I heard you can buy a one-bedroom apartment for less than ten gold coins."
"Less than ten…", Edward choked on his own saliva.
'Ten gold coins?'
'And that is "not too bad"?'
'Isn't Qin Siyang supposed to be an orphan? Why does he sound like he has inherited a merchant guild's fortune?'
He asked again, "Then Student Qin, have you bought a house yourself?"
"Oh, I haven't. Principal Zhao arranged an entire floor of the guesthouse for me, so accommodation isn't a problem. I haven't had plans to buy yet. What about you, Edward? Has Governor Jonathan mentioned buying a house here?"
"Uh, no, he hasn't."
Edward's lips pressed down slightly.
To buy property in Area 7 on his father's salary was impossible.
As for whether the family's gray income might be enough, that only his parents would know.
Still, his father wanted him to approach Qin Siyang in Area 7. Buying a house outside school would only make that harder, while living in the guesthouse would make contact far more convenient.
At the front desk, Qin Siyang helped Edward check in.
"Except for the tenth floor, every other room is one silver coin per day, right?"
"That's right."
Edward felt a chill run through his teeth.
'One silver coin per day? That is daylight robbery!'
Thirty silver coins a month… hopefully his father Jonathan wouldn't be stingy.
Qin Siyang continued, "Which rooms are available right now?"
"Mr. Qin, since it's summer break, there are fewer guests. Other than the tenth floor, every floor has vacancies."
Qin Siyang turned and asked, "Edward, do you have any floor preference?"
"No, none."
"Alright, then I'll get you one near mine, so you can reach me easily if anything comes up."
"Thank you."
"Please find him a room on the ninth floor."
The receptionist typed on her computer, smiling, "Okay."
"As for the accommodation fee, just deduct it directly from my rent income."
"Mr. Qin, should I keep deducting Edward's rent from your income for as long as he stays?"
"As long as he's living here, keep deducting it."
"Understood."
Edward stood there, thunderstruck, frozen on the spot.
"Student Qin… are you saying, you'll pay all of my rent?"
Qin Siyang smiled and patted his shoulder, "It's just some money. Your father, Governor Jonathan, and I, and you as well, share a deep friendship. No need to worry about it."
Edward felt even more uneasy hearing that.
Something didn't sit right.
His father's so-called "friendship" with Qin Siyang definitely wasn't worth this much money.
'Is Qin Siyang… planning to sell me off or something?'