Qin Siyang and Hu Chan took Zhao Longfei's official car back to South Glory University together.
Although both of them were outstanding young talents who thought highly of themselves, neither of them now had the courage to walk outside South Glory University on foot.
Qin Siyang said to Hu Chan, "I didn't expect you to be so bold. You actually dared to openly declare war on the Three Harmony Church on stage. Of course, what you said was also quite stirring. I can understand what you mean by that so-called 'people's hearts' now."
"Thank you. President Qin's impromptu speech was also very moving."
Zhao Longfei was drinking tea to the side, quietly listening to the two of them talk.
"No need to flatter me. After we get back, both your and Yu Ziying's rent will go up by half. I'll just put it directly on your tab."
Hu Chan's eyes widened. He hadn't expected that while they were chatting just fine, Qin Siyang would suddenly say something like this.
He couldn't help but ask in confusion, "President Qin… why raise the rent?"
"Didn't you provoke the Three Harmony Church again? That makes it even harder for you to leave South Glory."
"What does that have to do with raising the rent?"
"It does. I'm taking advantage of the situation."
"Pfft!"
Zhao Longfei, who was drinking water, heard Qin Siyang's words and sprayed water straight out of his nostrils.
"President Zhao, what's wrong?"
"It's nothing… cough! cough! nothing. You two keep talking."
Seeing that Zhao Longfei wasn't helping him speak up, Hu Chan could only look back at Qin Siyang, "President Qin, you're a vice chairman of a chamber of commerce. Why do you have to pick on me, a fallen Holy Son, over money?"
"Shamefully, I, this vice chairman of the chamber, haven't gotten a single copper coin from the chamber so far."
"How is that possible? The vice chairman of the Zhao Chamber of Commerce hasn't gotten even a bit of money? President Qin, stop joking. President Zhao is right here."
Hu Chan looked toward Zhao Longfei for confirmation, but Zhao Longfei continued staring straight out the window into the distance, his expression indifferent.
Hu Chan asked Qin Siyang, "Did you turn on dialogue shielding?"
"No. Haven't you noticed President Zhao is pretending not to hear?"
"President Qin, why are you making up the money you're short of from President Zhao on me?"
"Because you're easy to bully."
"I…"
Qin Siyang shook his head, "Stop struggling. If I could get money from the Zhao Chamber of Commerce, would I need to squeeze these few scraps out of you? Just accept it."
Zhao Longfei finally reacted and let out a long sigh, "Little Qin, you co-founded a chamber of commerce, you didn't join one to work for wages. How could you possibly have a large income in the first month? I already said I'll definitely give you dividends before the end of the year. Don't rush."
"Before, I really wasn't in a hurry. I had no worries about food or clothing and lived comfortably. But now, President Zhao, you should know why I'm anxious."
Zhao Longfei lowered his head and coughed lightly a couple of times, no longer meeting Qin Siyang's eyes.
He knew Qin Siyang was talking about forming a sequence team and needing money to recruit troops.
Zhao Longfei could only say, "You're short of money, and I'm short of money too. The Zhao Chamber of Commerce is at a critical stage of expanding territory. The capital chain is already running so hot it's burning. If I siphon off some money for you, it could very well cause a chain collapse. So, considering that our Zhao family has supported you quite a bit, be a little more tolerant."
"I understand," Qin Siyang didn't further blame Zhao Longfei. Every family has its own difficult book to read.
"Holy Son, you also heard my situation. Cutting a piece of flesh from you is something I have no choice about. Besides, at the prayer meeting I did my utmost to help you, far beyond your expectations. You can just show a bit of gratitude through the rent."
Hu Chan clenched his fists and replied humiliatingly, "I understand."
The small bit of guilt and gratitude he had just managed to build up toward Qin Siyang vanished in an instant.
But since Qin Siyang and Zhao Longfei hadn't hidden their conversation from him, it also made him realize that everyone really was at a critical moment right now.
Just three extra silver coins a day. He could afford it.
———
After returning to the guesthouse, he had nothing in particular to do.
While exchanging messages with Wen Shu, he learned that Wen Shu had returned early from the library today, so he met Wen Shu in the guesthouse's reception hall.
"I heard you got into a fight with a sophomore senior?"
As soon as they met, Wen Shu asked about Qin Siyang's duel with Rong Xin.
"Heard it from Gu Yunxuan?"
Wen Shu shook her phone, "I saw it on the forum."
"Our South Glory University forum isn't only viewable by our own students?"
"Xuanxuan found Zhao Sifang. Zhao Sifang figured out a way to help me solve the permission issue for your school's forum."
Qin Siyang couldn't help frowning and muttered, "That little Zhao is really not a decent person. Being a bootlicker himself is one thing, but why does he have to pee on my shoes too!"
"I think Zhao Sifang is pretty nice. Upright, kind, sincere."
"With that kind of personality, if his surname weren't Zhao, the grass on his grave could already be woven into a mat."
"Don't change the subject. When you dueled him, were you injured?"
"I was forced to… huh?"
Qin Siyang thought Wen Shu was questioning him about the duel, but didn't expect she was concerned about his body.
"Uh… I'm fine, not injured. It was that senior who was badly hurt. Actually, I don't like duels. It was really a case of having no choice but to fight."
Wen Shu sighed after hearing this, "You don't like it? I think you quite enjoyed it."
"No way. I'm not some muscle-brained barbarian. I mainly rely on my brain! Mental combat! Right, mainly mental combat! I won't make a move unless it's absolutely necessary!"
"You're not muscle-brained. You're muscular and smart." [T/N: After a few years, on a random day, he will realize she was flirting with him.]
Qin Siyang scratched his head, "Uh, if you put it that way, I really can't argue."
"Stop talking about me. Let's talk about you. How did it feel going to United Government Academy?"
"What's there to talk about? Yesterday Xuanxuan and I just walked around the teaching buildings and the sports field at United Government Academy. Oh right, they're holding a Zephyr Church prayer meeting. Because of your previous situation, I took a couple more looks."
"My situation?"
Only then did Qin Siyang remember that Zhang Yingrui had once sent two sequence level four believers to Area 14121 to cause him trouble, and Wen Shu had dealt with them.
"Qin Siyang, the Zephyr Church is holding a ceremony right now at United Government Academy, right under your nose. Have the troubles between you and the Zephyr Church been resolved?"
"They've been completely resolved. Today their Holy Son even invited me to give a speech at the prayer meeting."
Qin Siyang's smile was full of confidence.
After all, Zhang Yingrui, the Yellow Robe Protector who had once caused him trouble, was now being carefully studied by the Zhao family like a treasure map.
"That's good. I'll head back first."
"Huh? You're leaving already?"
"Grandma is still waiting for me to have dinner together."
Qin Siyang put away the disappointment in his eyes, "Oh… okay. Eating with the elderly is important."
———
Not long after returning to his room, while Qin Siyang was lying on the bed spacing out, there was a knock on the door.
"Who is it?"
"Hello, Ms. Wen ordered tiger-skin green peppers, braised fish, tomato scrambled eggs, and winter melon pork rib soup."
Qin Siyang did a swift kip-up from the bed, flipping his way to the door, opened it, and took the dishes.
"Thank you"
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