Through Edward’s account, Leonard gained a far more tangible sense of the extre heat disaster that was unfolding.
Suzy lowered her gaze, silent.
No one understood the true terror of the coming heat better than she did. And this—this was only the beginning.
Across the room, Edward and Leonard had already begun reviewing and signing the rental contract.
"If everything looks correct, please sign here," Edward said, sliding a pen across the table. "I’ve also brought the keys to the apartnt. Would you like to see the place now? I can take you over."
Suzy and Leonard exchanged a glance before politely declining.
"No, that’s alright," Leonard said. "We’ll wait until evening when the weather cools down a bit, then we’ll go have a look ourselves."
Edward still had other business to attend to, so he soon stood to leave.
Before he went, Suzy handed him a chilled bottle of sports drink.
Edward looked genuinely grateful.
He still had several appointnts to run outside, and in this suffocating heat, a bottle of sothing cold felt like a lifesaver.
"Thank you, Miss Kale! That’s incredibly thoughtful!"
"You’re welco. Be careful on the road."
They walked him to the door. Just as he stepped out, Edward suddenly rembered sothing and turned back.
"Oh—Miss Kale, have you been added to the residents’ group chat yet? I almost forgot about that."
He scratched his head apologetically.
"I’ll ask the property manager to add you in a mont. Any community or managent announcents will be posted there, so it’s good to keep an eye on it."
Not long after Edward left, Suzy received notifications on her phone.
Her contact had been added to two different groups.
One was the main group for the entire residential complex. The other was the group chat specifically for their building.
Both chats were lively.
Most of the residents were complaining about the strange, oppressive heat and sharing news about people collapsing from heatstroke around the city.
Before long, Suzy noticed soone had forwarded an official notice.
The abnormal temperatures had clearly drawn the attention of the authorities.
Announcents about temporary suspensions of work and school due to extre heat began appearing one after another.
For many workers and students, it was a small relief.
After all, going outside in this kind of weather felt like walking into punishnt.
But the next day, the temperature continued to rise.
The number of heatstroke cases exploded.
News began spreading that hospitals were completely overwheld. So perceptive individuals sensed that sothing wasn’t right and quietly began stockpiling drinking water and food.
On the third day, the suspension of work and classes continued.
It was clear the authorities had realized how severe and abnormal the climate had beco, and broader ergency asures were starting to take shape.
During these two days, Suzy and Leonard spent the daylight hours indoors, catching up on sleep.
Only after the sun set and the heat slightly receded would they venture outside to buy supplies.
Money was the one thing they lacked no shortage of.
Both of them understood that currency would soon lose its value at an alarming rate.
Real, tangible resources—food, water, essentials—would beco the true currency.
The more they could buy now, the better.
In many places, bottled drinking water had already sold out.
That evening, as usual, the two of them went out again to shop.
This ti, they bought high-end items—seafood, abalone, and other premium ingredients.
By the ti they returned ho with their purchases, Leonard’s phone suddenly rang.
He answered and spoke briefly.
"Alright, as long as everything’s ready... yes, we’ll receive the delivery at the agreed ti. Thanks for arranging it."
Suzy took a sip of her ice-cold cola and asked curiously,
"Uncle, what did you order this ti?"
They had already stored a massive amount of supplies at ho.
If they kept buying at this rate, Suzy was half worried the floor might not be able to bear the weight.
Leonard chuckled. "Relax. It’s not for us."
He leaned back slightly.
"It’s for Thomas Kim. He’ll be back soon, rember? The apartnt’s been rented already, so I figured we should stock it with so basic supplies."
He was doing it entirely out of gratitude.
Years ago, Thomas had saved his life.
Now that he had the chance, Leonard wanted to repay that kindness as thoroughly as possible.
"His flight lands tonight," Leonard added, glancing at his watch before turning to Suzy. "Want to co with to pick him up?"
Suzy didn’t hesitate for even a second. "Okay!"
Thomas’s flight was scheduled to land late at night, so they still had plenty of ti.
Leonard drove ho first.
The supplies he had prepared for Thomas would be delivered soon, and he needed to be there to receive them. After dropping Suzy off at ho, he headed to the apartnt he had rented for Thomas to wait for the delivery.
anwhile, Suzy unpacked everything they had purchased earlier, sorting the items neatly before placing them in the refrigerator. Afterward, she went to the bathroom and took a quick shower.
The thought that she would soon see Thomas again made her heart flutter with a mixture of nervousness and anticipation.
More than anything, she was wondering whether she would finally be able to bind with him this ti.
If she succeeded, she would receive another reward.
Just imagining it made her excitent bubble over.
Two hours later, Leonard returned, drenched in sweat from running around.
He hurried to take a shower, then ca out and greeted Suzy, reminding her that they would leave for the airport in an hour.
Standing in front of the mirror, Suzy studied her reflection—bare-faced and fresh.
After a mont’s thought, she applied a simple layer of lipstick.
She had briefly considered putting on full makeup, but with the heat outside, it would probably lt off within minutes.
The idea was quickly abandoned.
Once Leonard had finished getting ready, the two of them set out.
Along the way, they passed several traffic accident scenes that had not yet been fully cleared.
Although work and school had been suspended, certain essential positions still required people on duty. And so individuals, believing they could get away with it, ventured outside during the day—only to suffer heatstroke while driving or working.
Since the extre heat began, traffic accidents had surged to dozens of tis the normal rate.
And it wasn’t just A City.
C City and many other places were facing the sa grim situation.
Fortunately, Suzy had already warned Adam Bennet to stay indoors as much as possible and work from ho if he could.
Adam had clearly taken her advice seriously. Suzy checked in with him every day to make sure he was safe.
The sa went for Derek Martin, who obediently remained at ho after listening to her warnings.
It was now midnight.
Despite the late hour, the roads were still busy.
After people realized that going out at night reduced the risk of heatstroke, many began shifting their schedules. Shops adjusted their hours accordingly, so the streets remained lively even at this ti.
At last, they arrived at the airport.
On the electronic display board, the flight carrying Thomas had already changed its status to "Arrived."
Suzy and Leonard walked to the dostic arrivals exit and waited.
Leonard checked the ti. "He should be out soon."
Suzy nodded, her gaze fixed on the steady stream of passengers erging from the terminal.
A few minutes later, a familiar—yet slightly unfamiliar—figure appeared among the crowd, pushing a luggage cart.
Thomas Kim.
It had been so ti since Suzy last saw him. He looked largely the sa as before.
His black hair was cut short and neat. Under the bright airport lights, the sharp lines of his brow and nose stood out even more distinctly than Suzy rembered. His complexion seed a shade darker than before.
He wore a simple black T-shirt, khaki cargo pants, and a pair of sturdy hiking boots.
Leonard recognized him as well and raised a hand, calling out loudly.
"Thomas! Over here!"
Hearing the shout, Thomas turned in their direction.
His eyes first landed on Leonard’s face. The tension in his jaw eased slightly.
"Mr. Kale—"
But the mont his gaze shifted to the person standing beside him... Every subtle change in his expression froze.
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