“Aren’t you coming in, Aria?” Granny Chan asked, her tone warm and inviting.

“I’m right behind you, Granny” I replied, following her inside.

The interior of the inn was absolutely enchanting. Every detail, from the polished wooden floors to the bamboo-framed windows and doors, exuded rustic elegance. At the heart of the space lay a spacious open courtyard, lush with greenery and alive with the fluttering of tiny birds and colorful butterflies. They seemed to dance, drawn by the natural beauty around them.

Neatly arranged rooms surrounded the central courtyard, their doors left ajar to invite in the gentle, fragrant breeze. Seashell wind chimes hung at each entrance, their delicate tinkling harmonizing with the soft symphony of rustling leaves and distant birdsong.

The entire inn felt like a haven—tranquil, magical, and brimming with a quiet joy. It was a simple yet perfect paradise, an oasis of peace that seemed too exquisite to have been crafted by one person alone.

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“You can put your boots over there, Aria,” Granny Chan said, gesturing toward a wooden shoe rack on the right.

I nodded and placed my boots neatly on the rack.

“You’re welcome to pick any room you like,” she added with a warm smile. “Make yourself at home. Treat this place as your own. We don’t have many guests, anyway.”

“Thank you, Granny,” I replied, her kindness making me feel instantly at ease.

Curiosity got the better of me, so I decided to explore the inn. The right side of the building had six guest rooms, with a kitchen at the very back and a large dining room next to it. The left side mirrored the right, also with six guest rooms, but it included a big communal restroom. At the far end of the hall were three rooms marked “Personal,” likely reserved for Granny Chan and her family.

Eighteen rooms in total, including the kitchen, dining area and the restroom—it was almost like a small hotel. If this was the most developed lodging on the island, Cassandra and Gideon should have been here. But they weren’t, which meant they were probably staying in someone’s house or somewhere else entirely.

While walking back, I saw Granny Chan emerging from one of the personal rooms, carrying a box.

“Haven’t picked a room yet, Aria?” she asked, smiling warmly.

“Are all the guest rooms empty, Granny? I haven’t seen any other visitors,” I said, thinking back to my little tour.

“Yes, dear,” she replied with a sigh. “It’s been that way for a while. It’s a pity, really. This place was meant to welcome travelers, but we rarely get any.”

I wasn’t sure how to respond. Running such a beautiful place with no steady flow of guests must be tough.

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Granny Chan must have noticed the concern flicker across my face because she gave me a reassuring smile and said, "Oh, whatever you're thinking, don't worry, dear. Just pick whichever room you like and enjoy yourself."

A wave of sadness washed over me. This inn was so beautiful and well-crafted—it deserved recognition, visitors, and the appreciation of more people. But I guess that’s just how it is. Then, realizing I hadn’t even checked how much money I had on me, I hesitated before asking,

“How much does it cost to stay here, Granny?”

She let out a soft chuckle. “Oh, don’t worry about that,” she said kindly. “City money doesn’t mean much here. Just relax and make yourself at home. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a few things to fetch from my room.”

“Oh,” I murmured, nodding as if I understood. But truthfully, her words only made me more curious. If city money didn’t mean much here, then... how did they afford supplies or maintain the inn? What did they even use to buy things?

Granny seemed busy and in a bit of a hurry, likely packing things. She had mentioned earlier that they’d be leaving again soon. After some thought, I chose Room 3 on the right side, a spot with a view of the courtyard. From there, I could see the central greenery, and it was one of the rooms closest to the exit—quiet, comfortable, and relaxing.

I set my bag down on the floor and took in the simplicity of the room. It was spacious enough for two people, with no bed but an open window draped in white lace curtains that fluttered gently in the breeze. There was a large wooden cabinet, a sturdy wooden table with a lamp, and two matching chairs. Simple, functional, and inviting.

The cool breeze wafting in added to the room’s charm. Curious, I opened the cabinet and found a rolled-up futon and two pillows tucked neatly in the upper corner. Satisfied, I closed it and decided to go find Granny Chan to offer any assistance.

When I reached her, I saw she was still busy, bending and packing.

“Granny, how should I pay for my stay here?” I asked as she straightened up. “I might need to stay a couple of days since I haven’t found any leads on Aunt Marie yet, and I haven’t heard from her either.”

Granny stopped what she was doing and turned to me with a smile. “Well, for starters, you can help me with these. Take this to the boat where Bill is waiting. We can sort out the rest later.” She bent down and handed me a box.

The box wasn’t very heavy, but I peeked inside and saw neatly folded white clothes—probably bed sheets for the bunks on the boat.

“Okay, Granny,” I said, nodding. I followed her instructions and headed outside, box in hand, ready to help.

When I reached the shore, I spotted the orange-haired guy sitting cross-legged on the sand while the little girls played with his hair. The sight made me smile—they looked absolutely adorable together. It seemed like whoever he was waiting for still hadn’t arrived. Poor guy, the sun was starting to get stronger. They should probably head back soon; the kids might get tired.

I walked past them, stepping into the cool, shallow sea to get to the boat.

As I stepped onto the deck, Charlie—whom I assumed was Granny Chan's grandson—approached with a friendly grin. "Here, let me help you with that," he said. I nodded in thanks, and Charlie headed to the back of the boat while I made my way toward the inn. He kept making rounds, going back and forth with the crates.

When I reached Granny, she handed me another box filled with fabric softeners and cleaning supplies, like dishwashing liquid. Just as I was about to carry it, Charlie reappeared, offering to take it from me. But Granny waved him off, telling him to start preparing lunch instead. He didn't argue and headed inside to get started.

Granny was with me, also carrying a box as we made our way back to the shore. I noticed that the orange-haired guy was gone. He must have decided to head home, realizing how late it was getting.

Once we finished our tasks, I saw other boats starting to return to their docks for the afternoon. Granny gave Bill a hand signal, and the three of us began walking back toward the inn. Before leaving, Bill double-checked the ropes, anchors, and everything else to make sure the boat was secure.

As we made our way back, Granny and Bill went to their rooms, and I offered to help in the kitchen. Charlie handed me the plates, saying, "The utensils are in the boat. Here are the cups." He smiled. The cups and plates were made of wood, which I found surprisingly impressive, as I wasn’t accustomed to eating from such simple, yet elegant pieces.

I made my way to the dining area and placed the plates and cups on the table. There were no chairs, so I guessed we’d have to squat or sit cross-legged later. Everything was made of wood, giving the space a natural feel. Despite the lack of air conditioning or an electric fan, it wasn’t hot—there was a cool breeze flowing through the open door and windows. Not long after, Charlie, now in a white t-shirt, joined me and began setting the prepared food on the table.

“Isn’t it a bit hot for that jacket?” Charlie asked.

I didn’t mind wearing my jacket, but I realized it might get in the way while eating. I smiled at him, not answering, and made my way to my room.

Once there, I removed my jacket and draped it over one of the wooden chairs. Reaching into my bag, I grabbed my phone. The battery had dropped by 3%, and I noticed I had three new messages. I wanted to check them but hesitated, worried about draining the battery further. Maybe I could ask Charlie if he had a charger.

I decided to take the phone with me, but before leaving, I quickly retied my hair.

When I arrived in the dining room, everyone was already seated, and it felt like they were waiting for me to join them before starting. I nodded awkwardly and took the seat next to Charlie, where there was an open spot.